Electron-specimen interactions in low-voltage scanning electron microscopy

Measurements of the electron range R, and the backscattering coefficient η and the secondary electron yield δ at normal and tilted incidence for different elements show characteristic differences for electron energies in the range of 0.5 to 5 keV, compared with energies larger than 5 keV. The backscattering coefficient does not increase monotonically with increasing atomic number; for example, the secondary electron yield shows a lesser increase with increasing tilt angle. This can be confirmed in back-scattered electron (BSE) and secondary electron (SE) micrographs of test specimens. The results are in rather good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations using elastic Mott cross-sections and a continuous-slowing-down model with a Rao Sahib-Wittry approach for the stopping power at low electron energies. Therefore, this method can be used to calculate quantities of BSE and SE emission, which need a larger experimental effort. Calculations of the angular distribution of BSEs show an increasing intensity with increasing atomic number at high takeoff angles than expected from a cosine law that describes the angular characteristics at high electron energies. When simulating the energy distribution of BSEs, the continuous-slowing-down model should be substituted by using an electron energy-loss spectrum (EELS) that considers plasmon losses and inner-shell ionizations individually (single-scattering-function model). The EELS can be approached via the theory for aluminium or from EELS spectra recorded in a transmission electron microscope for other elements. Measurements of electron range Rα Eⁿ of 1 to 10 keV electrons are obtained from transmission experiments with thin films of known mass thickness. In agreement with other authors the exponent n is lower than at higher electron energies.     

Correlated Donor/Acceptor Crystal Orientation Controls Photocurrent Generation in All‐Polymer Solar Cells

New polymers with high electron mobilities have spurred research in organic solar cells using polymeric rather than fullerene acceptors due to their potential of increased diversity, stability, and scalability. However, all‐polymer solar cells have struggled to keep up with the steadily increasing power conversion efficiency of polymer:fullerene cells. The lack of knowledge about the dominant recombination process as well as the missing concluding picture on the role of the semi‐crystalline microstructure of conjugated polymers in the free charge carrier generation process impede a systematic optimization of all‐polymer solar cells. These issues are examined by combining structural and photo‐physical characterization on a series of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (donor) and P(NDI2OD‐T2) (acceptor) blend devices. These experiments reveal that geminate recombination is the major loss channel for photo‐excited charge carriers. Advanced X‐ray and electron‐based studies reveal the effect of chloronaphthalene co‐solvent in reducing domain size, altering domain purity, and reorienting the acceptor polymer crystals to be coincident with those of the donor. This reorientation correlates well with the increased photocurrent from these devices. Thus, efficient split‐up of geminate pairs at polymer/polymer interfaces may necessitate correlated donor/acceptor crystal orientation, which represents an additional requirement compared to the isotropic fullerene acceptors.     

Phenolic compounds in tomatoes. Natural variations and effect of gamma-irradiation

A method for determination of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin and naringenin in tomatoes based on HPLC with coulometric electrode array detection was developed. After lyophilisation and extraction the compounds were separated isocratically (acetonitrile/buffer: 14:86, v:v, or acetonitrile/buffer: 27:73, v:v, flow rate: 0.8 ml/min) on reversed phase columns (LiChrospher 60 RP select B or Spherisorb ODS2) and detected at 16 respectively 10 working electrodes set at potentials between +50 and +750 mV against palladium reference electrodes. The natural content of these components showed a strong variation between different varieties, harvests and degrees of maturity. Gamma-irradiation reduced the concentration of the phenolic compounds markedly in all tomato samples investigated, however, this change was smaller than the naturally occurring differences. The irradiation products vanillin and eriodictyol, identified in standard solutions, could not be found in irradiated tomatoes.     

Aroma development in high pressure treated beef and chicken meat compared to raw and heat treated

Chicken breast and beef muscle were treated at 400 and 600 MPa for 15 min at 5 °C and compared to raw meat and a heated sample (100 °C for 15 min). Vacuum-packed beef meat with a smaller fraction of unsaturated fatty acids showed better oxidative stability during 14 days of cold storage, as shown by a low steady-state level of hydroperoxide values, than vacuum-packed chicken meat. Accordingly, the critical pressures of 400 MPa and 600 MPa for chicken breast and beef sirloin, respectively, were established. Volatiles released after opening of the meat bags or during storage of open meat bags, simulating consumer behaviour, were measured under conditions mimicking eating. Quantitative and olfactory analysis of pressurised meat gave a total of 46 flavour volatiles, mainly alcohols (11), aldehydes (15), and ketones (11), but all in low abundance after 14 days of storage. Overall, beef meat contained less volatiles and in lower abundance (factor of 5) compared to chicken meat. The most important odour active volatiles (GC-O) were well below the detection thresholds necessary to impart a perceivable off-flavour. Lipid oxidation was significantly accelerated during 24 h of cold storage in both cooked chicken and beef when exposed to oxygen, while the pressurised and oxygen-exposed chicken and beef meat remained stable. Pressure treatment of beef and chicken did not induce severe changes of their raw aroma profiles.     

AI in Process Industries – Current Status and Future Prospects

The chemical industry is one of the key industrial sectors in Germany and at the same time one of the largest consumers of energy and raw materials. A successful energy transition and the development of a circular economy can only succeed if they are actively supported and shaped by the chemical industry – through the redesign of existing production processes and the exploration and implementation of new process routes. The challenge is to realize this transformation within a very short time and for many production processes, whereby a much larger number of process routes must be explored. Digital technologies are key to master this transformation towards more sustainability, climate, and environmental protection. The KEEN project aims to explore and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities in process industry. The newly developed AI methods are tested wherever possible in real working environments and production plants to prove the economic benefit, applicability, and reliability of the methods and technologies.     

Cation selective tubular carrier-PVC-membranes containing polymeric plasticizer with low tendency of migration for Solid State Contact Electrodes

The lifetime of cation selective carrier-PVC-membranes partially depends on the components' remaining in the membrane. An exchange of monomeric by polymeric plasticizers with low tendency to migrate lengthens the function time drastically. Other than for Na⁺ - and NH-selective membranes, it is essential for K⁺ - and Ca²⁺-selective membranes and optional for H⁺-selective membranes to incorporate lipophilic anions in order to make the phase transfer catalysis more efficient. The resistence to saponification of phthalic acid polyester gives H⁺-selective membranes a high stability of measured values even in the alkaline range. For anion selective PVC-membranes, instead of cation selective plasticizers the plasticizing qualities of a liquid charged ligand should be used. The tubular carrier-PVC-membranes of our ion selective flow through measuring systems are diffusion welded to the ends of two PVC-tubes [1] so that they are absolutely tight with no risk of potential leakage. Migration of the membrane components plasticizer and ionophore across this border as well as their extraction [2, 3] into the measuring solution [4] will naturally reduce the membrane's functionning time [5].