University of Pittsburgh

Other

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

John T Yates, Jr

Vincent S Smentkowski

Gregory Griffin

Maya Kiskinova

Todd H Ballinger

Joseph Anthony Rossin

Patrick L Hagans

Joseph H Keller

Roy S Brown

William D Partlow

W J Choyke

Douglas B Mawhinney

Scott R Lucas

J A Sch Afer

Richard A Newton

James E Kotary

Gyleen Fitzgerald

Andreas H Ubner

Mohamed I Zaki

Karl G Gerhart

Dilip K Paul

Peijun J Chen

Helen A Mearns

M Luigi Colaianni

The invention provides reactive sorbents and methods of making and using the same in order to decontaminate surfaces contaminated with toxic agents, such as chemical warfare agents and/or industrial toxins. The reactive sorbents are of two general types, one of which comprises dehydroxylated aluminum oxide and the other comprises porous carbon impregnated with a reactive solution, so that both sorbents take up and then detoxify toxic agents.

Decontamination of chemical warfare agents using a reactive sorbent

An improved method for the fluorination of a diamond surfaces comprises condensing a layer of perfluorinated alkyl iodides consisting of C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 I (where n is a positive integer from 1 to 13) on the diamond surface, producing perfluorinated alkyl free radicals by photodecomposing C--I bonds of said perfluorinated alkyl iodides on the diamond surface, reacting the diamond surface with photochemically produced perfluorinated alkyl radicals thereby anchoring photochemically induced photofragments of the perfluorinated alkyl iodides to the diamond surface forming a perfluorinated alkyl layer, and decomposing the perfluorinated alkyl layer on the diamond surface to cause the fluorination of the diamond surface by atomic F. The method achieves greater than one fluorine atom per surface carbon atom chemisorbed on the diamond using C.sub.4 F.sub.9 I. A fluorinated diamond made by the above method is also disclosed wherein a fluorinating perfluoroalkyl iodide, C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 I, is selected from the group consisting of n=1 to 5. In one case, the fluorinating perfluoroalkyl iodide is C.sub.4 F.sub.9 I. In another case, it is CF.sub.3 I.

Method for fluorination of diamond surfaces and associated product

An improved method for the lubrication of diamond-like carbon surfaces comprises condensing a layer of perflourinated alkyl halides of the formula C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 X, wherein n is a positive integer from 1 to 13 and X is selected from I, Br and Cl, on the diamond-like carbon surface. Perflourinated alkyl free radicals are then produced by photodecomposing C--X bonds of said perflourinated alkyl halides on the surface. The diamond-like carbon surface is reacted with photochemically produced perflourinated alkyl radicals thereby anchoring photochemically induced photofragments of the perflourinated alkyl halides to the surface forming a perflourinated alkyl layer. The perfluorinated alkyl layer is preferably decomposed on the diamond-like carbon surface to cause the fluorination of the surface by atomic F. The method preferably achieves greater than one fluorine atom per surface carbon atom chemisorbed on the diamond-like carbon. The fluorination process produces lubricated diamond-like carbon surfaces that are particularly suitable for computer hard disks.

Method for lubrication of diamond-like carbon surfaces

An improved method for the fluorination of a diamond surfaces comprises condensing a layer of perfluorinated alkyl iodides consisting of C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 I (where n is a positive integer from 1 to 13) on the diamond surface, producing perfluorinated alkyl free radicals by photodecomposing C--I bonds of said perfluorinated alkyl iodides on the diamond surface, reacting the diamond surface with photochemically produced perfluorinated alkyl radicals thereby anchoring photochemically induced photofragments of the perfluorinated alkyl iodides to the diamond surface forming a perfluorinated alkyl layer, and decomposing the perfluorinated alkyl layer on the diamond surface to cause the fluorination of the diamond surface by atomic F. The method achieves greater than one fluorine atom per surface carbon atom chemisorbed on the diamond using C.sub.4 F.sub.9 I.

Method for fluorination of diamond surfaces

This invention discloses a method of synthesizing a Group III-V compound semi-conducting film from a Group III metal alkyl and Group V hydride wherein the method comprises providing a vacuum chamber in which the synthesis takes place, adsorbing at least one monolayer of said Group III metal alkyl on an inert surface, backfilling the chamber with a Group V hydride, adsorbing the Group V hydride on the inert surface, providing atomic hydrogen atoms from electron-induced dissociation of Group V hydride adsorbed on the surface, inducing an electron-induced depletion of carbon at a rate which is dependent on the pressure of the Groups V hydride, retaining substantially all Group III metal on the surface and providing a thermally stable Group III-V compound semi-conducting film on the inert SiO.sub.2 surface. Methods for synthesizing a multilayer Group III-V semi-conducting film and specifically a GaN film are also disclosed, along with the apparatus for the synthesis of Group III-V compound semi-conducting films.

Method for forming pure group III-V compound semi-conductor films

A process for chemically converting surface hydroxyl groups present on an uminum oxide supported rhodium catalyst that is suitable for use as an automotive catalyst in controlling automotive exhaust emissions is disclosed. The process includes converting the hydroxyl groups on the aluminum oxide supported catalyst by reacting the aluminum oxide support with an alumina modifier which comprises an inorganic compound containing the cation Y, wherein Y is either an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. This process involves replacing the hydroxyl groups on the aluminum oxide support with OY groups to resist the oxidative conversion of supported metallic rhodium Rh.sub.x .sup.(O) to Rh.sup.(I). An associated catalyst suitable for use in automotive catalytic converter technology for environmental protection is provided.

Process for the inorganic chemical modification of rhodium alumina

A process for spatially controlling the etching of a silicon substrate by omic hydrogen. The process may be generally carried out at room temperature. The process involves implanting a boron dopant in selective portions of the silicon substrate followed by etching with atomic hydrogen. The implanted portions exhibit no etching by atomic hydrogen. A silicon device that is produced by this process is disclosed.

Process for controlling silicon etching by atomic hydrogen

A process for chemically removing surface hydroxyl groups present on an aluminum oxide supported rhodium catalyst that is suitable for use as an automotive catalyst in controlling automative exhaust emissions is disclosed. The process includes removing the hydroxyl groups from the aluminum oxide supported catalyst by silation at a temperature preferably equal to or greater than about 450 K so that the conversion of active metallic rhodium Rh.sub.x (0) to oxidized rhodium species Rh.sup.(I) cannot substantially occur by reduction of the active hydroxyl groups. The silation is carried out by exposing the aluminum oxide supported rhodium catalyst to a gas phase alkylhalosilane. Subsequent to the silation, evacuation of the alkylhalosilane treated aluminum oxide supported rhodium catalyst is effected to remove substantially all unreacted alkylhalosilane. An associated catalyst suitable for use in automotive catalytic converter technology for environmental protection is also provided.

Process for the chemical modification of aluminum oxide supported

Temperature programmed spectroscopy wherein particles of a substrate under investigation are attached in a non-overlapping manner to a heating filament. The temperature of the filament is increased in a controlled manner, thus increasing the temperature of the attached substrate particles as well. An instrument for analyzing the gases is a mass spectrometer. Gases desorbed from the particles can be studied according to this technique, or the nature of heterogeneous catalytic chemical reactions of a gaseous atmosphere on the particles' surface may alternativel

Temperature programmed spectroscopy techniques

A method of catalytic oxidation of organophosphonate esters includes introducing the organophosphonate esters in gaseous form into contact with a molybdenum catalyst and effecting such introduction in the presence of oxygen to cause the organophosphonate ester to be oxidized on the molybdenum catalyst surface. The process is preferably carried out at a temperature of at least 900.degree. K. in the presence of excess oxygen. A chemisorbed oxide coating or molybdenum oxide coating or both may be established on all or part of the molybdenum catalyst. Among the organophosphonate esters which may be oxidized in this manner are dimethyl methylphosphonate, diisopropyl methylphosphonate, diphenyl methylphosphonate, and other molecules with the structure: ##STR1## The catalytic oxidation results in emission of carbon monoxide and phosphorus oxides(s) without undesired buildup of carbonaceous or phosphorus overlayers on the Mo catalyst surface.

Heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of organophosphonate esters

Temperature programmed spectroscopy wherein particles of a substrate under investigation are attached in a non-overlapping manner to a heating filament. The temperature of the filament is increased in a controlled manner, thus increasing the temperature of the attached substrate particles as well. An instrument for analyzing the gases is a mass spectrometer. Gases desorbed from the particles can be studied according to this technique, or the nature of heterogeneous catalytic chemical reactions of a gaseous atmosphere on the particles' surface may alternatively be detected and studied.

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Allison Park, PA, United States of America

John T Yates, Jr