Synthesis, structure, and field emission properties of sulfur-doped nanocrystalline diamond

The synthesis and properties of sulfur-doped nanocrystalline diamond films were investigated. The films were deposited by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition on Mo substrates using methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen disulfide. The nanocrystalline nature of the material arises from the induction of continuous secondary nucleation in the chemical vapor deposition environment. Complementary characterization tools were employed in order to obtain a comprehensive and coherent understanding of the correlations between the structural and electronic properties. In particular, sulfur-doped nanocrystalline diamond films show n-type Hall conductivity, enhanced field emission properties, and insensitivity to ion radiation. It was found that n-type doping of the tetragonally-bonded carbon matrix together with a nano network of trigonally-bonded carbon are crucial elements for enhanced field emission from nanocrystalline diamond. These conclusions and the corresponding supporting evidence are discussed.     

Electrodeposited carbon nanotube thin films

A successful attempt to grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by electrodeposition technique for the first time is reported here. Carbon nanotubes were grown on Si (001) substrate using acetonitrile (1% v/v) and water as electrolyte at an applied d.c. potential ∼20 V. The films were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Raman, optical absorbance, Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) measurements. The effect of magnetic field on the growth of nanotubes was studied critically. It was found that the presence of magnetic field during electro-deposition played a crucial role on the growth of carbon nanotubes and hence the electronic properties. Photoluminescence (PL) studies indicated band edge luminescence ∼0.72-0.83 eV. Field emission studies indicated lower turn-on voltage and higher current density for films deposited with magnetic field.     

Rocking stiffness of mounting arrangements in electrical cabinets and control panels

Several studies have shown that the consideration of a rigid body-rocking mode in a cabinet is necessary to evaluate accurate incabinet spectra. Observations from finite element analyses are used to study cabinet rocking behavior and to show that accurate representation of the boundary conditions at the cabinet base is essential in the evaluation of correct rocking mode. Simple formulations for evaluating the rocking stiffness are developed by conducting detailed analytical studies for three different types of cabinet mounting arrangements. Availability of these formulations enables incorporation of a cabinet rocking mode in the Ritz vector approach [Nucl. Eng. Des. 190 (1990) 225] for evaluating the cabinet dynamic properties in significant mode and for generating the incabinet response spectra.     

CVD growth and characterization of 3C-SiC thin films

Cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) thin films were grown on (100) and (111) Si substrates by CVD technique using hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) as the source material in a resistance heated furnace. HMDS was used as the single source for both Si and C though propane was available for the preliminary carbonization. For selective epitaxial growth, patterned Si (100) substrates were used. The effect of different growth parameters such as substrate orientation, growth temperature, precursor concentration, etc on growth was examined to improve the film quality. The surface morphology, microstructure and crystallinity of grown films were studied using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).     

CtpB Facilitates Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth in Copper-Limited Niches

Copper is required for aerobic respiration by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its human host, but this essential element is toxic in abundance. Copper nutritional immunity refers to host processes that modulate levels of free copper to alternately starve and intoxicate invading microbes. Bacteria engulfed by macrophages are initially contained within copper-limited phagosomes, which fuse with ATP7A vesicles that pump in toxic levels of copper. In this report, we examine how CtpB, a P-type ATPase in M. tuberculosis, aids in response to nutritional immunity. In vitro, the induced expression of ctpB in copper-replete medium inhibited mycobacterial growth, while deletion of the gene impaired growth only in copper-starved medium and within copper-limited host cells, suggesting a role for CtpB in copper acquisition or export to the copper-dependent respiration supercomplex. Unexpectedly, the absence of ctpB resulted in hypervirulence in the DBA/2 mouse infection model. As ctpB null strains exhibit diminished growth only in copper-starved conditions, reduced copper transport may have enabled the mutant to acquire a “Goldilocks” amount of the metal during transit through copper-intoxicating environments within this model system. This work reveals CtpB as a component of the M. tuberculosis toolkit to counter host nutritional immunity and underscores the importance of elucidating copper-uptake mechanisms in pathogenic mycobacteria.     

Broad line proton magnetic resonance investigations on solid L-alanine: Crystal structure and molecular reorientations

Broad line NMR investigations on solid L -alanine have been carried out over the temperature range 77°K to 493°K. A comparison between the observed and theoretical values of the second moment has been made, to provide check on the crystal structure and to study the molecular motions. Investigations reveal the presence of NH₃ group motion at about 230°K. The activation energy for NH₃ group rotation has been computed to be 7.19 ± 1.0 kcal/mole. The crystal lattice remains rigid below 230°K. There is a possibility of torsional oscillation of the CH₃ group at about 352°K.     

Preparation of Trimethylsilyl Derivatives of Polysaccharides

Trimethylsilyl derivatives of starch, amylose, amylopectin, and glycogen have been prepared by using hexamethyldisilazane as the silylating reagent and formamide as solvent. The degree of silylation ranged from 0.9 to 2.2 and is believed to be dependent on the structure and solubility of the polysaccharide. An important property of these trimethylsilyl derivatives is their complete solubility in common organic solvents like benzene, toluene, chloroform, etc.     

A new extrinsic dc model for high speed lattice matched InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT with a predicted 135 GHz cut-off frequency

Extrinsic lattice matched InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT model, incorporating the parasitic source and drain resistance, for very high frequency application is developed. The current voltage characteristics and the transconductance have been evaluated and the influence of carrier concentration dependent mobility on frequency has also been analyzed. A cut-off frequency of 135 GHz is obtained.     

Oxidation of Starch by Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of UV Light-Part II

Various reaction variables in the hydrogen peroxide oxidation of starch in the presence of UV light have been investigated. Higher carboxyl and carbonyl contents of oxystarches were obtained under acidic than under alkaline conditions. Extent of oxidation was found to increase with time. Increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide results in an increase in the carboxyl and carbonyl contents. Apparently, air has no effect on the degree of oxidation whereas, oxygen seems to accelerate it.     

Teaching to Facilitate the Transfer of Learning [Educator's Corner]

An amusing anecdote that is old (having appeared in Esquire and Reader's Digest over half a century ago) concerns a man who experienced severe motion sickness during train travel whenever he would ride backwards, i.e., sat facing the rear of the train; so he learned to exchange such a seat by requesting the passenger sitting opposite to him. When he got off the train very sick and nauseated one day, his friend receiving him at the train station asked what was wrong. He replied that he had been riding the train backwards. Why didn't you ask the person sitting across from you to change seats with you? asked his friend. How could I, said the traveler, There wasn't anybody in that seat.