Measuring Magnetoresistance in a 2D Intergranular Magnetic-Semiconducting Material

A new 2D intergranular semiconducting-magnetic material obtained by depositing magnetic clusters of permalloy in a doped Si surface, is presented. The material, exhibiting ohmic contacts, has an ample range of properties and versatility by simply controlling deposition time. We can have clusters separated by relatively large, intermediate distances or a continuous film. This permits to study the magnetic and electrical properties of the clusters mediated by currents through the n-doped Si. We observe anisotropic and giant magnetoresistances of and between clusters. Also, by preventing oxidation of the Si surface, we suggest the possibility of formation of magnetic Si up to 205 K. The material reported here is technologically promising since it is grown directly on Si and its magnetoresistance of up to 1.5% is obtained at low fields and RT. The spin transfer occurs for long distances since the current flows coherently from cluster to cluster via the Si matrix. The method developed may be also adequate to study superconductivity properties of isolated or weakly percolative clusters by coupling through Josephson currents. The system is diluted when clusters are separated on average by 50 nm. This could help to better understand dilute magnetic semiconductor materials in general. We also put forward a method to distinguish univocally giant from anisotropic magnetoresistance by depositing a thin film of gold and comparing magnetic properties by spin transfer through Si or metal.     

Yttrium oxide based metal-insulator-semiconductor structures on silicon

Yttrium oxide based metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structures on silicon have been studied. Yttrium films of thickness of nearly 200 Å were deposited by electron beam evaporation on silicon substrates held at room temperature. The oxidation of yttrium was performed at 750 °C for 1 h in dry oxygen. Scanning electron microscopy showed a smooth surface morphology for oxidized films. X-ray diffraction analyses were also performed, but did not confirm the crystalline nature of the oxide. Capacitance-voltage and current-voltage measurements were conducted to characterize aluminum-yttrium oxide-silicon MIS structures. The results have demonstrated the potential of using yttrium oxide as a gate dielectric.     

Corrosion aspects of alkyd paints modified with linseed and soy oils

The anticorrosive performance of medium-long (54-59%) alkyd paints modified with linseed and soy oils was compared by accelerated tests (Prohesion Cycle) and natural exposition in marine and industrial atmospheres. Differences on the protection mechanism of anticorrosive pigments due to substitution of linseed oil by soy oil were investigated by polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Complementary tests such as water vapor and ions permeability in freestanding films were also performed. Results suggested that the type of oil influenced the barrier properties of the paint pigmented with zinc phosphate. The same tendency was verified by resistance values obtained from impedance diagrams. Polarization curves suggest that the action of the pigments in the alkyd paintings is practically the same for both oils. The substitution of linseed oil by soy oil did not impair the anticorrosive performance of alkyd paints and from the economic point of view this substitution could be very interesting.     

Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of permethrin in mice: Micronuclei analysis in peripheral blood erythrocytes

Pyrethroids such as permethrin are synthetic compounds widely used in the agriculture of many countries to combat plagues and in domestic products, such as acaricides. Not so long ago these chemicals were characterized as non‐toxic for non‐target organisms; however, recent studies have showed that these compounds could present toxic potential for many organisms. In this sense, this study presents genotoxic and mutagenic potential of permethrin administered intraperitoneally in mice under artificial conditions by the use of micronucleus assay in the peripheral blood of these animals. The mice were divided into five groups: group I = negative control (distilled water), group II = positive control (cyclophosphamide), group III = 30% of permethrin LD₅₀ (96 mg/kg), group IV = 50% of permethrin LD₅₀ (160 mg/kg), and group V = 80% of permethrin LD₅₀ (256 mg/kg). The peripheral blood was collected 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment. Results showed that all the tested permethrin dosages presented genotoxic and mutagenic effects 24 h after treatment, which would contradict the classification of this chemical product as moderately toxic, i.e., unable to cause damages to the cell DNA. Microsc. Res. Tech. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Bacteriophages of enteric bacteria in drinking water, comparison of their distribution in two countries

The presence of bacteriophages infecting enteric bacteria was tested in more than 1500 drinking water samples in Israel and Spain. Bacteriophages tested were somatic coliphages, F-specific bacteriophages and Bacteroides fragilis bacteriophages. The three groups of bacteriophage were isolated in 100 ml water samples by the presence/absence test with similar frequencies, which ranged from 4.4% for somatic coliphages to 6.1% for bacteriophages infecting Bact. fragilis. In contrast, the frequency of isolation of bacteriophages was significantly higher than the frequency of isolation of faecal coliforms, which averaged only 1.9%. No significant differences were observed between the frequencies of isolation between the samples tested in Spain and those tested in Israel. The percentage of groundwater samples containing faecal coliforms and somatic coliphages was reduced significantly by chlorination, despite known deficiencies. However, there was no effect on the occurrence of F-specific bacteriophages and Bact. fragilis bacteriophages.     

NiMo/C Used as Magnetic Support for SILP Catalysts

In this work, supported ionic liquid (IL) phases catalysts were prepared based on Pd dispersed in IL phases supported on magnetic particles of nickel/molybdenum covered with carbon (NiMo/C). The magnetic support was prepared via CVD method at 800 °C. XRD analysis showed the phases of metallic nickel and molybdenum carbide. The presence of carbon in these materials was confirmed by TEM/EDS and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) analysis. Pd particles were dispersed in 1 and 2.5 wt% of the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIm·BF₄), which were immobilized on the support surface via impregnation method. TG analysis shows a weight loss between 300 and 420 °C attributed to the BMIm·BF₄, confirming the existence of IL on the support surface. The prepared materials were investigated in hydrogenations reactions of 1,5-cyclooctadiene and nitrobenzene, and the influence of IL on the activity and selectivity of these catalysts were observed. These materials have great potential for catalysis applications, because they bring together the advantages of the IL in the catalyst surface and the facility of magnetic materials separation.