XPS enables visualization of electrode potential screening in an ionic liquid medium with temporal- and lateral-resolution.

We present an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) investigation of potential screening across two gold electrodes fabricated on a porous polymer surface which is impregnated with the ionic liquid (IL) N-N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [DEME-TFSI]. The IL provides a sheet of conducting layers to the insulating polymer film, and allows monitoring charging and screening dynamics at the polymer + IL/vacuum interface in a laterally resolved fashion across the electrodes. Time-resolved measurements are also implemented by recording F1s peaks of the IL, while imposing 10 mHz square-wave (SQW) pulses across the two electrodes in a source-drain geometry. Variations in the F1s binding energy reflect directly the transient local electrical potential, and allow us to visualize screening of the otherwise built-in local voltage drop on and across the metal electrodes in the range of millimeters. Accordingly, the device is partitioned into two oppositely polarized regions, each following polarization of one electrode through the IL medium. On the other extreme, upon imposing relatively fast 1 kHz SQW pulses the charge screening is prevented and the device is brought to assume a simple resistor role. A simple equivalent circuit model also reproduces the observed voltage transients qualitatively. The presented structure and variants of XPS measurements, enabling us to record voltage transients in unexpectedly large lateral distances away from the electrodes, can impact the understanding of various electrochemical concepts.

Tribological interaction between polytetrafluoroethylene and silicon oxide surfaces.

We investigated the tribological interaction between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and silicon oxide surfaces. A simple rig was designed to bring about a friction between the surfaces via sliding a piece of PTFE on a thermally oxidized silicon wafer specimen. A very mild inclination (~0.5°) along the sliding motion was also employed in order to monitor the tribological interaction in a gradual manner as a function of increasing contact force. Additionally, some patterns were sketched on the silicon oxide surface using the PTFE tip to investigate changes produced in the hydrophobicity of the surface, where the approximate water contact angle was 45° before the transfer. The nature of the transferred materials was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XPS results revealed that PTFE was faithfully transferred onto the silicon oxide surface upon even at the slightest contact and SEM images demonstrated that stable morphological changes could be imparted onto the surface. The minimum apparent contact pressure to realize the PTFE transfer is estimated as 5 kPa, much lower than reported previously. Stability of the patterns imparted towards many chemical washing processes lead us to postulate that the interaction is most likely to be chemical. Contact angle measurements, which were carried out to characterize and monitor the hydrophobicity of the silicon oxide surface, showed that upon PTFE transfer the hydrophobicity of the SiO2 surface could be significantly enhanced, which might also depend upon the pattern sketched onto the surface. Contact angle values above 100° were obtained.

The compressibility of high purity YbB2.

The compressibility and phase stability of Y bB(2) are investigated under high pressure using high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. The bulk modules of high purity Y bB(2) is obtained as ∼182 GPa using the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. The patterns measured up to 20 GPa and the pressure dependence of normalized lattice parameters, a/a(0) and c/c(0), reveal that the compressibility of Y bB(2) is low and fairly isotropic, and this material can be classified as a hard material. X-ray photoemission studies demonstrate that Yb in Y bB(2) has a mostly trivalent valence state at room temperature. Moreover, sample preparation details provide a new insight into the high purity synthesis of Y bB(2) at ambient pressure and moderate temperatures. The presented structural and compressibility results are in agreement with the available theoretical and experimental data on binary rare-earth borides and can serve as a reliable reference for future studies.

Time-related wettability characteristic of acrylic resin surfaces treated by glow discharge.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Adhesion and cohesion have important roles in denture retention, and attempts have been made to improve the wettability of the acrylic resin material by surface treatments. PURPOSE: This study examined the initial and subsequent wettability of an acrylic resin denture base material treated under air or argon plasma atmosphere before and after exposure to air or distilled water. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Acrylic resin specimens were treated with plasma under air or argon atmosphere and were either exposed to air or distilled water for up to 60 days. Wettability characteristics of the acrylic resin specimens were determined by contact-angle measurements after 2 hours and after 60 days. Surface composition of the specimens also was analyzed with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) measurements. RESULTS: Statistically significant difference was found between control and each of the plasma treatment groups (P <.05). Although the storage condition and storage period caused statistically significant difference on contact angle values (P <.05), atmosphere type did not have any effect on the results (P >.05). XPS spectra of the plasma-treated specimens differed from control specimens only in the O1s region with a narrower and more intense peak that could be assigned to -COH groups. During 60 days of exposure, the O/C atomic ratios decreased within the first 2 weeks but settled to 0.40 and 0. 32 up to 60 days compared with 0.26 for untreated control specimens. CONCLUSION: Glow discharge plasma altered the surfaces of the acrylic resin and increased thc wettability as shown both by XPS and contact-angle measurements, and plasma treatment seemed to offer a durable (at least up to 60 days) wettability.

Electron spectroscopic investigation of Sn coatings on glasses.

Float glasses of different thicknesses and a conducting tin oxide glass have been investigated using Photo and Auger Electron Spectroscopy induced by AlKalpha X-rays. On the basis of measured chemical XPS shifts in the binding energies the chemical state of Sn (+2 or +4) incorporated on the float glasses could not be assigned. The use of the Auger parameter allows to separate relaxation and chemical contributions. The derived true chemical shifts of Sn on float-glasses are larger than those of SnO and/or SnO(2) due to the larger ionic environment of the glass matrix. Ar(+) or HF etching reveals that the concentration of Sn decreases exponentially as a function of depth from the surface.

Electron spectroscopic investigations of CdS and CdTe electrochemically coated on glass.

The electrodeposition of CdS and CdTe is investigated to improve the stoichiometric properties of CdS/CdTe layers on ITO-glass substrates for solar cell applications. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is utilized for the characterization of the CdS and CdTe layers. The influence of the electrodeposition potential, the pH and the thiosulfate concentration on the stoichiometry of CdS and CdTe layers are discussed.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic investigation of conducting polymer blends.

Electrochemically prepared films of conducting polymers of polypyrrole and polythiophene and their blends with polyamide have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In the N1s region of the spectra of films containing polypyrrole the peak corresponding to N(+) at 402.0 eV is separated from that of neutral N. The intensity of the N(+) peak can be correlated with the electrical conductivity of the films and the spectroscopically derived ratio of F/N(+) is close to 4 indicating that one BF(-)(4) dopant ion is incorporated for every oxidized nitrogen center. In the spectra of films of polythiophene and its blends peaks corresponding to S and S(+) can not be resolved but again the F/C ratio correlates with the electrical conductivity.

FTIR studies of vitamin E-cholesterol-DPPC membrane interactions in CH(2) region.

Binary and ternary mixtures of alpha-tocopherol (alphaT), cholesterol and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in the form of multilamellar liposomes have been investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Investigation of frequencies, bandwidths and band shapes of CH(2) stretching and scissoring bands indicate that the effect of alphaT is dominant in comparison with cholesterol and alphaT decreases the interaction of cholesterol with phospholipid membranes.

IR and turbidity studies of vitamin E-cholesterol-phospholipid membrane interactions.

Binary and tertiary mixture of alpha-tocophenol, cholesterol and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine in the form of multilamellar liposomes were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared and visible spectroscopy. Results of the FTIR and turbidity experiments indicate that alpha T decreases or diminishes the effect of cholesterol on the frequency and the bandwidth of the C-H stretching, CH2 scissoring and C = O stretching bands in FTIR spectra and the turbidity measurements (recorded as absorbance values at 440 nm) in phospholipid model membranes.

The sites of photoconversion of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide in barley seedlings.

The photoreduction of protochlorophyllide a to chlorophyllide a in intact 6-day-old seedlings of etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare) exhibits a small initial phase, followed by an induction period of about 1 hour before a rapid phase of additional chlorophyll formation begins. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, has no effect on the initial phase of conversion of preformed protochlorophyllide, but it either abolishes or severely inhibits the subsequent phase of rapid chlorophyll synthesis within 45 minutes of its application to the seedlings. An analysis of the biphasic inhibition process suggests that the lifetime of the enzyme controlling protochlorophyllide synthesis (probably delta-amino-levulinic acid synthetase) is not longer than 10 minutes.The rapid phase of chlorophyll formation can be effected by a series of brief (15 second) pulses of light spaced at least 5 minutes apart. When longer dark intervals are used, no increase is observed in the yield of chlorophyll per pulse. We interpret the findings to indicate that the photoconversion takes place at distinct enzymatic sites whose concentration does not increase during a period of 4 hours following the initial illumination. The sites can be used repeatedly with a turnover time determined by the removal of the product chlorophyllide and the synthesis and placement of a new protochlorophyllide molecule.