Browsing by Subject "Molecular spectroscopy"

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Open Access
The formation and characterization of cyclodextrin functionalized polystyrene nanofibers produced by electrospinning
(2009) Uyar, Tamer; Havelund, R.; Hacaloglu J.; Zhou X.; Besenbacher F.; Kingshott P.
Polystyrene (PS) nanofibers containing the inclusion complex forming beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were successfully produced by electrospinning aimed at developing functional fibrous nanowebs. By optimization of the electrospinning parameters, which included varying the relative concentration of PS and β-CD in the solutions, bead-free fibers were produced. Homogeneous solutions of β-CD and PS in dimethylformamide (DMF) were used with concentrations of PS varying from 10% to 25% (w/v, with respect to DMF), and β-CD concentrations of 1% to 50% (w/w, with respect to PS). The presence of β-CD facilitated the production of bead-free PS fibers even from lower polymer concentrations as a result of the higher conductivity of the PS/CD solutions. The morphology and the production of bead-free PS/CD fibers were highly dependent on the β-CD contents. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) images showed that incorporation of β-CD yielded PS fibers with rougher surfaces. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and direct insertion probe pyrolysis mass spectroscopy (DP-MS) results confirmed the presence of β-CD in the PS fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra of the fibers indicated that the β-CD molecules are distributed within the PS matrix without any phase separated crystalline aggregates up to 40% (w/w) β-CD loading. Furthermore, chemical analyses by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies confirm that β-CD molecules are located within the PS fiber matrix. Finally, preliminary investigations using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight static secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-static-SIMS) show the presence of the cyclodextrin molecules in the outer molecular layers of the fiber surfaces. The XPS and ToF-SIMS findings indicate that cyclodextrin functionalized PS webs would have the potential to be used as molecular filters and/or nanofilters for the purposes of filtration/purification/separation owing to surface associated β-CD molecules which have inclusion complexation capability. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Open Access
Photoswitchable molecular rings for solar-thermal energy storage
(2013) Durgun, Engin; Grossman J.C.
Solar-thermal fuels reversibly store solar energy in the chemical bonds of molecules by photoconversion, and can release this stored energy in the form of heat upon activation. Many conventional photoswichable molecules could be considered as solar thermal fuels, although they suffer from low energy density or short lifetime in the photoinduced high-energy metastable state, rendering their practical use unfeasible. We present a new approach to the design of chemistries for solar thermal fuel applications, wherein well-known photoswitchable molecules are connected by different linker agents to form molecular rings. This approach allows for a significant increase in both the amount of stored energy per molecule and the stability of the fuels. Our results suggest a range of possibilities for tuning the energy density and thermal stability as a function of the type of the photoswitchable molecule, the ring size, or the type of linkers. © 2013 American Chemical Society.
Open Access
Raman and TEM studies of Ge nanocrystal formation in SiOx: Ge/SiOx multilayers
(Wiley, 2007) Dana, Aykutlu; Aǧan, S.; Tokay, S.; Aydınlı, Atilla; Finstad, T. G.
Alternating germanosilicate-siliconoxide layers of 10-30 nm thickness were grown on Si substrates by plasma enhanced chemically vapor deposition (PECVD). The compositions of the grown films were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The films were annealed at temperatures varying from 670 to 1000°C for 5 to 45 minutes under nitrogen atmosphere. High resolution cross section TEM images, electron diffraction and electron energy-loss spectroscopy as well as energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) data confirm presence of Ge nanocrystals in each layer. The effect of annealing on the Ge nanocrystal formation in multilayers was investigated by Raman spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). As the annealing temperature is raised to 850°C, single layer of Ge nanocrystals observed at lower annealing temperatures is transformed into a double layer with the smaller sized nanocrystals closer to the substrate SiO2 interface.