Fabrication and morphological control of ion-induced zinc nanostructures.

An efficient method for the fabrication of zinc (Zn) nanostructures (nanoneedles and nanofibers) of controllable density and morphology without any catalyst, hazardous chemicals or external heat supply has been investigated. By varying the ion irradiation time and the ion current density, morphological control and the density of Zn nanostructures were successfully achieved using a fast and viable ion irradiation technique. Scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed that the sputtered surface was almost entirely covered with densely distributed conical and needle-like protrusions with linear shaped (sometimes curved) nanostructures (such as nanoneedles and nanofibers) with diameters and lengths of about 20-50 nm and several hundred nanometers, respectively. Detailed analysis of selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns with TEM analysis indicates that the Zn nanofibers were polycrystalline in nature. A possible mechanism of the formation of Zn nanostructures is briefly discussed. These aligned arrays of Zn nanoneedles/nanofibers could be a promising material for the fabrication of zinc oxide nanostructures by subsequent oxidation of Zn nanostructures and their future application in nanodevices. Thus, it is believed that this ion irradiation technique could open up a new approach for the fabrication of many kinds of nanomaterials of controllable density.

Quantitative backscattered electron imaging of field emission scanning electron microscopy for discrimination of nano-scale elements with nm-order spatial resolution.

Discrimination of thin film elements by backscattered electron (BSE) imaging of field emission scanning electron microscope was examined. Incident electron acceleration voltage dependence on thin films' BSE intensities in five elements (Au, Ag, Ge, Cu and Fe) on a silicon substrate was experimentally measured from 3 to 30 kV. Normalization of BSE intensities using the difference between maximum and minimum brightness was proposed and allowed reproducible comparison among the elements. Measured intensities, which have correlation with electron backscattering coefficient against atomic number, indicated the existence of adequate acceleration voltage for improvement of resolution to discriminate different elements, showing the possibility of discriminating at least these six elements simultaneously by BSE imaging with nanometer-scale spatial resolution.

Electrohydrodynamic effect on phase separation morphology in polymer blend films.

We have investigated the effect of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) convection on the domain structure in a polystyrene (PS)/polyvinyl acetate (PVA) blend film to demonstrate the feasibility of using the EHD effect as a means of mixing and morphology control in a polymer blend film prepared by solvent evaporation. Here, polymers-toluene solutions were spread on a glass substrate with patterned electrodes to apply a dc electric field, and well-defined structures of EHD convection were formed in the polymer solutions. As a result, regular patterns were formed in the PS/PVA polymer blend film in which PVA-rich domains were confined within each unit of patterned electrodes, i.e., between positive and negative electrodes, at an appropriate electric voltage. In addition, it was demonstrated that such novel morphology is not due to the wetting/dewetting effect of polymer components to the Pt electrodes deposited on the glass substrate, by experiments with a SiO2-covered substrate.

Water-soluble constituents of dill.

From the water-soluble portion of the methanol extract of dill (fruit of Anethum graveolens L.), which has been used as a spice and medicine, thirty-three compounds, including a new monoterpenoid, six new monoterpenoid glycosides, a new aromatic compound glucoside and a new alkyl glucoside were obtained. Their structures were clarified by spectral investigation.