Anodic etching of SiC yields a highly monodisperse distribution of nanometer dimension porous structures which extend to a significant depth. Cathodoluminescence (CL) studies of the porous layers yield luminescence peaks in the UV region, above the band gap energy of bulk SiC. Higher etching current densities produce porous silicon carbide (PSiC) with peak CL emission wavelengths deeper in the ultraviolet. Photoluminescence (PL) is also blueshifted in anodically etched PSiC, although not to the extent of the CL emission, suggesting that different emissive states are accessed in CL and PL. Raman investigations of the polar A1 LO mode, which couples strongly to the macroscopic electric field accompanying the LO phonon, were conducted in an attempt to discern whether quantum confinement effects could effectively explain the blueshifted emission. The principal feature of the Raman spectra was a significant low-frequency shoulder on the A1 LO mode, the magnitude of which correlates with the magnitude of the blueshift in PL and the intensity of the blueshifted CL emission. The shoulder was fit quantitatively with a model incorporating the effects of extraordinary LO modes and longitudinal and transverse Fröhlich modes. The Fröhlich mode widths derived from the fit are too wide to be due solely to Fröhlich modes and likely indicate the combined effects of diffuse scattering, broadening of spectral lines, and violation of the symmetry selection rules. The preponderance of the evidence, especially the inability to fit the low-frequency shoulder in the Raman spectra with a phonon confinement model, support an interpretation in which defect structures or surface states are responsible for the UV emission.

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Electroosmotic water vapor transport (WVT) across very thin, flexible, functionalized conducting polymer (CP) microporous (μP) membranes at a very high rate is reported. Both passive and active (6 VDC applied) WVT are reported, the latter for the first time ever. WVT occurs with concomitant, effective blocking of chemical warfare (CW) agents, again demonstrated for the first time ever. Initial active liquid||membrane||liquid interface studies demonstrated WVT rates of >1.7 × 10^-5g ^.mm^-2s^-1, >3 × the highest prior reported values of 5 × 10^-6g.mm^-2s^-1. Subsequent vapor||membrane|| vapor interface studies using industry-standard methods (including ASTM E96B Upright Cup (“WVT”), ASTM F2298 (“Dynamic Moisture Permeation Cell”) and ASTM F1868 (“Sweating Guard Hotplate”) were done at independent, external labs for independent corroboration. These yielded, e.g., WVT values of2564.4 g.m².d^-1 (passive) and3706.7 g.m²d^-1 (active), to be compared with the highest (passive) value ever reported previously,984.8 g.m².d^-1 for a μP-Nylon membrane. More than 15 different membrane configurations, porosities and types were studied, including membranes with CP + organophosphate hydrolase (OPH), an enzyme reactive to CW agents. Efficient blocking of the actual CW agents GB, HD, VX is also reported, using the TOP-8-2-501standard. Membranes also passed all Industry-standard durability tests, e.g. ASTM D2261 (Tearing), ASTM D5034 (Breaking), ASTM D3886 (Abrasion), ASTM F392 (Gelbo Flex). Inco...

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