No description available.

The systematic study of the formation of β-SiC formed by low energy carbon ion (C-)implantation into Si followed by high temperature annealing is presented. The research is performed to explore the optimal annealing conditions. The formation of crystalline β-SiC is clearly observed in the sample annealed at 1100 °C for a period of 1 hr. Quantitative analysis is performed in the formation of β-SiC by the process of implantation of different carbon ion fluences of 1×1017, 2×1017, 5×1017, and 8×1017 atoms /cm2 at an ion energy of 65 keV into Si. It is observed that the average size of β-SiC crystals decreased and the amount of β-SiC crystals increased with the increase in the implanted fluences when the samples were annealed at 1100°C for 1 hr. However, it is observed that the amount of β-SiC linearly increased with the implanted fluences up to 5×1017 atoms /cm2. Above this fluence the amount of β-SiC appears to saturate. The stability of graphitic C-C bonds at 1100°C limits the growth of SiC precipitates in the sample implanted at a fluence of 8×1017 atoms /cm2 which results in the saturation behavior of SiC formation in the present study. Secondly, the carbon cluster formation process in silica and the characterization of formed clusters is presented. Silicon dioxide layers ~500 nm thick are thermally grown on a Si (100) wafer. The SiO2 layers are then implanted with 70 keV carbon ions at a fluence of 5×1017 atoms/cm2. The implanted samples are annealed 1100 °C for different time periods of 10 min., 30 min., 60 min., 90 min., and 120 min., in the mixture of argon and hydrogen gas (96 % Ar + 4% hydrogen). Photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals UV to visible emission from the samples. A detail mechanism of the photoluminescence and its possible origin is discussed by correlating the structural and optical properties of the samples. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy are used to characterize the samples.

No description available.

Ion chromatography coupled with a conductivity detector was used to investigate the analysis of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in aqueous samples. An IC methodology for Cr(III) was developed using a cation column and an eluent containing tartaric acid, ethylenediamine, and acetonitrile at pH 2.9. The detection limit of this method can reach 0.1 ppm level with good precision. Several operational parameters were evaluated during the regular use of the method. Comparison of the IC method with AA method showed good agreement between the two methods. The anion exchange column was used for Cr(VI) determination. The best results were obtained with an eluent containing sodium gluconate, borate buffer, glycerin, and acetonitrile. The retention time for the Cr207 2 - sample was 11 min. and the calibration curve was linear between 1.0 and 100 ppm.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Gas-phase ion/ion covalent modification was coupled to ion mobility/mass spectrometry analysis to directly correlate the structure of gaseous ubiquitin to its solution structures with selective covalent structural probes. Collision cross-section (CCS) distributions were measured prior to ion/ion reactions to ensure the ubiquitin ions were not unfolded when they were introduced to the gas phase. Ubiquitin ions were electrosprayed from aqueous and methanolic solutions yielding a range of different charge states that were analyzed by ion mobility and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Aqueous solutions stabilizing the native state of ubiquitin generated folded ubiquitin structures with CCS values consistent with the native state. Denaturing solutions favored several families of unfolded conformations for most of the charge states evaluated. Gas-phase covalent labeling via ion/ion reactions was followed by collision-induced dissociation of the intact, labeled protein to determine which residues were labeled. Ubiquitin 5+ and 6+ electrosprayed from aqueous solutions were covalently modified preferentially at the lysine 29 and arginine 54 residues, indicating that elements of secondary structure, as well as tertiary structure, were maintained in the gas phase. On the other hand, most ubiquitin ions produced in denaturing conditions were labeled at various other lysine residues, likely due to the availability of additional sites following methanol and low pH-induced unfolding. These data support the conservation of ubiquitin structural elements in the gas phase. The research presented here provides the basis for residue-specific characterization of biomolecules in the gas phase.

Répondre aux besoins croissants en termes de stockage électrochimique sans épuiser les ressources naturelles exige de promouvoir des technologies de batteries en rupture à la fois efficientes mais aussi à faible impact au plan environnemental. La conception de batteries organiques pourrait s'avérer être une partie de la solution. En effet, la richesse de la chimie organique offre une multitude de possibilités pour développer des matériaux d'électrode innovants à partir d’éléments abondants et peu coûteux. Près de 40 ans après la découverte des polymères conducteurs, des batteries Li-organiques offrent maintenant d’intéressantes performances en cyclage. Pourtant, la synthèse de matériaux organiques lithiés électroactifs à haut-potentiel ainsi que celle de matériaux organiques de type p électroactifs à bas potentiel se sont avérées assez complexes et par conséquent, très peu d'exemples de cellules « tout organique » existent. Au cours de ce travail de recherche, nous avons mis en lumière une approche chimique originale consistant à perturber la structure électronique de l’entité organique électroactive (modulation des effets inductifs) au moyen d’un cation spectateur faiblement électropositif ce qui conduit à une augmentation significative du potentiel redox des matériaux d'électrodes organiques lithiés déjà connus. Cette découverte nous a permis de développer une batterie Li-ion « tout organique » capable d’offrir une tension de sortie d’au moins 2,5 V sur plus de 300 cycles. Ensuite, nous avons cherché à concevoir des matériaux de type p capables de fonctionner à bas potentiel et ainsi élaboré des batteries Anion-ion « tout organique ». Enfin, une étude préliminaire d’une nouvelle famille de composés potentiellement bipolaires au plan redox (intégration de centres redox de type n et de type p) a également été réalisée. / Meeting the ever-growing demand for electrical storage devices, without depleting natural resources, requires both superior and “greener” battery technologies. Developing organic batteries could well provide part of the solution since the richness of organic chemistry affords us a multitude of avenues for uncovering innovative electrode materials based on abundant, low-cost chemical elements. Nearly 40 years after the discovery of conductive polymers, long cycling stability in Li-organic batteries has now been achieved. However, the synthesis of high-voltage lithiated organic cathode materials and the synthesis of low-voltage p type organic anode materials is still rather challenging, so very few examples of all-organic cells currently exist. Herein, we first present an innovative approach consisting in the substitution of spectator cations and leading to a significant increase of the redox potential of lithiated organic electrode materials thanks to an inductive effect. These results enable developing an all-organic Li-ion battery able to deliver an output voltage above 2.5 V for more than 300 cycles. We then design two p type organic electrode materials able of being charged at low potentials for developing all-organic Anion-ion batteries able to deliver an output voltage at least 1.5 V. Finally, we present a preliminary study of a new family of potentially bipolar compounds.

No description available.

Lead is an omnipresent pollutant, and its contamination in natural waters is an issue of current regulatory concern throughout the world including Canada. The free divalent ion of lead (Pb2+) is considered to be the most bioavailable and toxic form of lead. Pb2+ is known to be a calcium antagonist in vertebrates including fish. It is believed that lead causes toxicity to freshwater fish primarily by disrupting ionic homeostasis both during acute and chronic waterborne exposure. Lead can also potentially act as a respiratory toxicant since it is known to impair hemoglobin synthesis in both vertebrates. To date, the mechanistic underpinnings of lead accumulation and toxicity in aquatic invertebrates are not well understood, particularly during acute exposure. Therefore, the main objectives of the present study were in two folds: (i) to investigate the mechanisms of waterborne lead uptake, and (ii) to understand the physiological basis of lead toxicity during acute exposure. I used freshwater crustacean, <i>Daphnia magna</i>, as a model freshwater invertebrate species for my study. <i>Daphnia</i> are known to be quite sensitive to metals and widely used as a model species for toxicity assessments. The results of my study suggest that lead inhibits waterborne Ca2+ uptake in <i>Daphnia</i> in a concentration dependent manner, and this inhibition occurs predominantly through a direct competitive interaction. The entry of waterborne Pb2+ in <i>Daphnia</i> likely occurs via both lanthanum-sensitive and verapamil-sensitive epithelial calcium channels. Moreover, my results also indicate that acute waterborne lead exposure severely disrupts both Ca2+ and Na+ uptake from water, which are concomitant with the increase in the lead body burden in <i>Daphnia</i>. Interestingly however, acute exposure to lead does not affect the rate of oxygen consumption in <i>Daphnia</i>, indicating no acute respiratory toxicity of lead. Overall, it appears that lead acts as an ionoregulatory toxicant to <i>Daphnia</i> during acute waterborne exposure.

Lead is an omnipresent pollutant, and its contamination in natural waters is an issue of current regulatory concern throughout the world including Canada. The free divalent ion of lead (Pb2+) is considered to be the most bioavailable and toxic form of lead. Pb2+ is known to be a calcium antagonist in vertebrates including fish. It is believed that lead causes toxicity to freshwater fish primarily by disrupting ionic homeostasis both during acute and chronic waterborne exposure. Lead can also potentially act as a respiratory toxicant since it is known to impair hemoglobin synthesis in both vertebrates. To date, the mechanistic underpinnings of lead accumulation and toxicity in aquatic invertebrates are not well understood, particularly during acute exposure. Therefore, the main objectives of the present study were in two folds: (i) to investigate the mechanisms of waterborne lead uptake, and (ii) to understand the physiological basis of lead toxicity during acute exposure. I used freshwater crustacean, <i>Daphnia magna</i>, as a model freshwater invertebrate species for my study. <i>Daphnia</i> are known to be quite sensitive to metals and widely used as a model species for toxicity assessments. The results of my study suggest that lead inhibits waterborne Ca2+ uptake in <i>Daphnia</i> in a concentration dependent manner, and this inhibition occurs predominantly through a direct competitive interaction. The entry of waterborne Pb2+ in <i>Daphnia</i> likely occurs via both lanthanum-sensitive and verapamil-sensitive epithelial calcium channels. Moreover, my results also indicate that acute waterborne lead exposure severely disrupts both Ca2+ and Na+ uptake from water, which are concomitant with the increase in the lead body burden in <i>Daphnia</i>. Interestingly however, acute exposure to lead does not affect the rate of oxygen consumption in <i>Daphnia</i>, indicating no acute respiratory toxicity of lead. Overall, it appears that lead acts as an ionoregulatory toxicant to <i>Daphnia</i> during acute waterborne exposure.

Conventional ion imaging techniques utilized grid electrodes to extract and to accelerate ions toward the detector. The disadvantages of grid electrodes caused transmission reduction, severe image distortions and image blur due to the non-point source geometry. All these problems can be solved by the utilization of an open lens electrode assembly. In velocity mapping, the extracting electric field of an open electrostatic lens that projects the ion cloud onto the detector. The major advantage of the combination of ion lens optics and two-dimensional detection is that ions from different positions with the same initial velocity vector would be mapped onto the same position on the detector, which was named ¡§ velocity map imaging .¡¨ The kinetic energy resolutions achievable with this method are not generally considered as being competitive with the best photofragment translational spectroscopy technique. But Ashfold and co-workers have demonstrated that velocity imaging methods can provide dissociation energy with one wavenumber resolution, i.e., it compares favourably with all rival photofragment translational spectroscopy techniques. We construct an ion imaging apparatus and the pressure inside can be maintained at ~ 10-6 Torr with differential pumping when the pulsed nozzle is shut off. The pressure in the source chamber raises from 2.1¡Ñ10-6 to 1.0¡Ñ10-5 Torr and the pressure in the photolysis chamber raises from 2.4¡Ñ10-7 to 3.6¡Ñ10-7 Torr, when the pulsed nozzle is turned on with a stagnation pressure at 3 bar. Because reactive chemicals attack the piezo disk translator and ruin the Viton O-ring, a modified pulsed nozzle and Teflon O-ring are adopted to overcome these problems. This pulsed nozzle is mounted on a three-dimensional translational stage such that the nozzle can be aligned inside vacuum. The homogeneity of the accelerating electric field is crucial to the performance of the ion imaging apparatus. To meet this requirement, parallel electrodes of identical dimensions have been assured in the manufacture of the ion lens assembly.