Inorganic surface

For a radionuclide to be an effective oceanic tracer, various criteria that link the tracer to a specihc process or element must be met. Foremost, the environmental behavior of the tracer must closely match that of the target constituent. Particle affinity, or the scavenging capability of a radionuclide to an organic or inorganic surface site i.e. distribution coefficient, Kf, is one such vital characteristic. The half-life of a tracer is another characteristic that must also coincide well with the timescale of interest. This section provides a brief review of the role of various surface sites in relation to chemical scavenging and tracer applications. 

The silane coupling agent is physically adsorbed on the inorganic surface. 

Levi E, Lancry E, Gofer Y, Aurbach D (2006) The crystal structure of the inorganic surface films formed on Mg and Li intercalation compounds and the electrode performance. J Solid State Electrochem (2006) 10 176-184... 

In thick samples, a boron oxide/boron carbide crust has been detected on the surface of the polymer. This inorganic surface layer has a shielding effect on the inner polymer layers, further enhancing the thermal stability of the material. Poly(m-carborane-siloxane)s have therefore been considered as surface coatings for organic materials, providing protection from erosion effects. 

The following sections discuss the organosilane compounds commonly used for conjugation to inorganic surfaces. These reagents and many other silane derivatives are available from a number of commercial sources, which include Dow Corning, Gelest, Aldrich, and others. 

Figure 13.10 The isocyanate-containing silane coupling agent can be used to couple hydroxyl-containing molecules to inorganic surfaces. The reactions should be done in dry organic solvent to prevent hydrolysis of the reactive group.

Many other functional silane coupling agents are available from commercial suppliers, including hydroxyl, aldehyde, acrylate and methacrylate, and anhydride compounds. Substrate modification procedures similar to those discussed above can be used with these reagents to link a biomolecule to an inorganic surface or particle. 

We shall also outline how bond distances and information pertaining to the distribution of electron density may, in principle, be extracted from measurements carried out using electron microscopy. Finally we touch upon future possible lines of development likely to be of value to the inorganic, surface and analytical chemist. 

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