Angular and frequency dependent spin relaxation study of liquid crystalline cyanobiphenyls

NMR field-cycling measurements of the Larmor frequency (v) and angular (Δ) dependences of the longitudinal proton spin relaxation time T₁ for the nematic liquid crystals 5CB and 8CB allow a more detailed analysis of the underlying molecular motions than data available previously. All T₁ (v, Δ) dispersion profiles essentially distinguish three frequency ranges where T₁ is governed by either local field effects, collective motions (director order fluctuations), or rotational and translational diffusion of individual molecules or molecular groups, respectively. The angular dependence supports and extends previous conclusions about the significance of the order fluctuation term at low (kHz) and high (MHz) Larmor frequencies; in addition it is the basis for the disentanglement of local field effects, which involve Jeener's dipolar relaxation, and of the sophisticated rotational relaxation models suggested in the literature by Dong, Nordio and Vold. It is found that Vold's third rate concept gives the best explanation of the measurements. The results on the rotational diffusion processes essentially agree with deuteron studies from the literature, but also reveal clear distinctions with regard to the anisotropy parameter σ, essentially due to the improved separation from the order fluctuation contribution.     

Thermodynamic stabilities of NiTeO3 and Ni3TeO6 by solid oxide electrolyte e.m.f. method

The e.m.f. of the galvanic cells Pt,C,Te(l),NiTeO₃,NiO/15 YSZ/O₂ (P_o2 = 0.21 atm),Pt and Pt,C,NiTeO₃,Ni₃TeO₆,NiO/15 YSZ/O₂ (P_o2 = 0.21 atm),Pt (where 15 YSZ=15 mass% yttria-stabilized zirconia) was measured over the ranges 833–1104 K and 624–964 K respectively, and could be represented by the least-squares expressions E₍₁₎±1.48 (mV) = 888.72 − 0.504277 (K) and E_(II) ±4.21 (mV) = 895.26 − 0.81543T (K).

After correcting for the standard state of oxygen in the air reference electrode, and by combining with the standard Gibbs energies of formation of NiO and TeO₂ from the literature, the following expressions could be derived for the ΔG^°_f of NiTeO₃ and Ni₃TeO₆: ΔG_f^°(NiTeO₃) ± 2.03 (kJ mol⁻¹) = −577.30 + 0.26692T (K) and ΔG^°_f(Ni₃TeO₆)±2.54 (kJ mol⁻¹) = −1218.66 + 0.58837T (K).     

Vibrational spectra and density functional study of propylgermane

Raman and infrared spectra of propylgermane, CH₃CH₂CH₂GeH₃, and its Ge-deuterated analog, CH₃CH₂CH₂GeD₃, were investigated in their gaseous, liquid and solid states. The normal coordinate treatment was carried out by density functional theory (DFT) calculation, using B3LYP/6-31G^* and 6-311++G^** basis sets, and the corresponding fundamental vibrations were assigned. The trans (T) and gauche (G) forms around the central C–C bond coexisted in the gaseous and liquid states and only the T form existed in the solid state. From the temperature dependent measurements of the Raman spectra in the liquid state, the enthalpy difference was found to be ΔH(T−G)=−0.36±0.02 kcalmol⁻¹ with the T form being more stable. The energy differences between the isomers obtained by DFT calculations were ΔE(T−G)=−0.46 kcalmol⁻¹ and ΔE(T−G)=−0.87 kcalmol⁻¹ by the 6-31G^* basis set and 6-311++G^** basis set, respectively.     

Gradient expansion of the kinetic energy density functional: Local behavior of the kinetic energy density

Calculations with Hartree—Fock electron densities for the rare gas atoms He through Xe show that the gradient expansion for the kinetic energy functional, T[] = T₀[] + T₂[] + T₄[] + … = ∫t() dτ, approximates the kinetic energy by averaging over the shell structure present in the true local kinetic energy density, t(), and that the accuracy of the gradient expansion improves with increasing atomic number. Components of t(), t₀(), t₂() and t₄(), are exhibited and discussed. The defined function t() is everywhere positive.     

Induced smectic C* phases

Induced ferroelectric S*_C phases are formed by non-chiral S_C host phases doped with chiral dipolar guest molecules. In those mixtures the spontaneous polarization P_s and the tilt angle Θ has been investigated as a function of the mole fraction x_G of the chiral dopant. In most cases the reduced polarization P₀ = P_S/ sin Θ has been found to depend linearly on x_G. The polarization power which is defined by δ_P=(∂P₀/∂x_G)ΔT is discussed in terms of the molecular structure of the chiral dopants. There are systems in which P₀(x_G) deviates positively from linearity. This behaviour can be understood by considering a local field correction to P₀. By assuming a local field of Lorentz type a theoretical relation for P₀(x_G) has been derived which explains the experimental results. The effect of a local field is considerable if the transverse dipole moment and the polarizability of the chiral dopant are large.     

Dynamic, electrooptical and energetic nonequivalency of NH bonds in 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of aminopyridines with proton acceptors

The influence of the –NH₂ group position in the pyridine ring on the proton donor ability of N–H groups in hydrogen bonding as well as on the spectral behaviour of stretching and bending vibrations of aminopyridines has been studied. The proton donor ability was shown to increase in the row: meta-, ortho-, and para-aminopyridines. It was established tha N–H bonds in ortho-aminopyridine were not equivalent, and the evaluation of their dynamic nonequivalence was made.

The influence of temperature on the spectral characteristics of the absorption bands of the stretching vibrations of amine groups in the free and hydrogen bonded molecules in CCl₄ has been studied (in temperature range 290–330 K), the formation constants of the complexes have been determined, enthalpy of the 1:1 complexes formation (−ΔH₁) between ortho- and meta-aminopyridines with dimethylformamide, dimethylsulphoxide and hexamethylphosphoramide has been calculated in temperature range 290–330 K. The 1:2 complexes of ortho-, meta- and para-aminopyridines with acetonitrile, tetrahydrofurane, dimethylsulphoxide, hexamethylphosphoramide were studied at the indoor temperature. Enthalpy of the 1:2 complex (−ΔH₂) was estimated on the basis of ‘intensity rule’; −ΔH₁=ΔB^1/2 assuming that parameter does not depend on the composition of a complex.

The vibrational and electrooptical tasks were solved for the free and H-bounded molecules of aminopyridines as well as its complexes of the 1:1 and 1:2 compositions. Dynamic, electrooptical and energetic nonequivalency of NH bonds of aminogroups in aminopyridines was studied quantitatively. The independent calculations of dynamic constants proved mentioned above nonequivalency of NH bonds.

Correlations between spectral characteristics of the absorption bands, geometric, dynamic and electrooptical parameters of –NH₂ group in aminopyridines in the free and hydrogen bonded molecules have been established. Those correlations allow to determine the most important molecular characteristics obtained on the basis of spectral measurements in the range of the absorption bands of the stretching vibrations of aminogroup.     

Adsorption and desorption of lysozyme on nano-sized magnetic particles and its conformational changes

Adsorption and desorption of lysozyme on nano-sized magnetic particles and its conformational change were studied in this work. Adsorption of lysozyme on nano-sized magnetic particles (Fe₃O₄) was carried out at different pH. Maximum adsorption of lysozyme (4.65 mg/m²) occurred at its isoelectric point (pI=11.1). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show that the lysozyme adsorbed on magnetic particles did not show any thermal transition over the range 20–100 °C. High desorption of lysozyme from magnetic particles was achieved using NaH₂PO₄ (pH 4.0) (90%) and NaSCN (pH 6.0) (97%) as desorbents. The conformational change of the lysozyme desorbed by NaH₂PO₄ was small, while the lysozyme desorbed by NaSCN underwent a significant conformational change as measured by the intrinsic fluorescence. Eighty-eight and 82% activity was retained in the desorbed enzyme for desorption by NaH₂PO₄ and NaSCN, respectively.     

Molecular motion and phase transition in perovskite-type (CH3)nNH4−nSnCl3 (n=1–4) studied by proton NMR spin–lattice relaxation

Powder X-ray diffraction, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra, and ¹H NMR spin–lattice relaxation times, T₁, were measured for (CH₃)_nNH_4−nSnCl₃ (n=1–4). From the Rietveld analysis, it is shown that all four compounds crystallize into deformed perovskite-type structures at room temperature. The temperature dependence of ¹H T₁ was analyzed in terms of the CH₃ reorientation and other motions of the whole cation. Except for the phase transition in CH₃NH₃SnCl₃, which is from monoclinic to rhombohedral at 331 K, ¹H T₁ was continuously changed at other phase transitions in this compound as well as in the n=2–4 compounds, suggesting that the transitions are not caused by the change of the motional state of the cation but by an instability of the [SnCl₃]_nⁿ⁻ perovskite lattice.     

Comprehensive study of positronium formation in polymer blends between polyethylene and ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer

The intensity I₃ of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) in a polymer blend system consisting of polyethylene (PE) and ethylene-vinylacetate (EVA, random copolymer with a vinylacetate content of about 14%) was measured as functions of EVA weight content (Φ=0–100%), electric field (E=0–60 kV/cm ), positron irradiation time (t=0–200 h) and temperature (T=100–300 K). It was found that the addition of small amounts of EVA to PE significantly alters the electric field, positron irradiation time and temperature dependence of I₃. Positron trapping on polar EVA is suggested to be responsible for the sensitive effects of EVA.     

Guest and host deuterium effects of the large ZFS parameters D of dimethylbenzaldehydes in durene single crystals

The ZFS parameters D of 2,4-, 2,5- and 3,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde-1h₁ and -1d₁ guests in perhydrogenated and perdeuterated durene single crystals are determined by comparing the experimental and calculated resonance curves. It is found that the deuterium substitution of the guest aldehydic group in a given host leads to the decrease of the D values and to the increase of the energy gaps ΔE_T between the zero-point levels of the ³nπ* and ³ππ* states of the guests. On the other hand, the perdeuteration of the host results in the decrease of ΔE_T with a corresponding increase of the D value of a given guest. The D value of 1 cm⁻¹ determined for 2,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde-1h₁ in perdeuterated durene is the lategest ever found for an aromatic carbonyl compound. Correlations between D and ΔE_T indicate that the ZFS parameters D of the guests are determined by contributions from both spin-spin and spin-orbit interactions between the ³nπ* and ³ππ* states. The large guest and host deuterium effects observed on the D values are attributed to the changes of the gaps ΔE_T of the guests.     

Studies on the enzymatic hydrolysis of polyesters I. Low molecular mass model esters and aliphatic polyesters

The bio-catalysed cleavage of ester bonds in low molecular mass model esters and aliphatic polyesters was studied in detail with the aim to gain improved information about the underlying mechanism and the parameters controlling polyester degradation. Among various hydrolytic enzymes the lipase of Pseudomonas species (PsL) was chosen for the investigations. In the heterogeneous phase system the specific hydrolysis rate of the esters was constant as long as free substrate surface was available. In addition to aliphatic low molecular mass model esters, also cycloaliphatic and aromatic esters were cleaved by PsL, indicating that a steric hindrance of the enzymatic ester cleavage is not the predominant controlling factor in polyester degradation. However, the cleavage rates of the aliphatic model esters are larger by more than an order of magnitude. For aliphatic polyesters the temperature difference between the melting point of the polymer and the temperature where degradation takes place (ΔT_mt), turned out to be the primary controlling parameter for polyester degradation with the lipase. Only if ΔT_mt<30 °C, a measurable enzymatic degradation rate is found. ΔT_mt can be regarded as a measure of the mobility of the polyesters chains in the crystalline domains, necessary for the access of the esters to the active site of the lipase. Though aliphatic homopolyesters are seemingly very similar with regard to their chemical structure and reactivity of the ester bonds, their enzymatic degradation rates still differ significantly even at the same ΔT_mt. These differences have obviously to be attributed to small changes in the chemical structure, as, for instance, the C number of the aliphatic diacid.     

Solvent extraction of Fe(III) by dehydrated castor oil fatty acids

The effect of temperature on the extraction of FE(III) by dehydrated castor oil fatty acids (DCOFA) has been studied in the temperature range 283–313 K at 1.0M constant ionic strength (NaClO₄). The temperature dependence of the conditional constant of extraction is given in the form: ln K_ext=31.95 − 12800(1/T). Also, it was found that the average thermodynamic parameters, ΔH°_ext, ΔG°_ext, and ΔS°_ext are 106.5 kJ/mole, 27.3 kJ/mole, and 0.3 kJ. mole⁻¹.K⁻¹, respectively. The extracted species in toluene solution were identified as FeR₃.HR and Fe(OH)R₂, where HR represents the fatty acid used.     

High pressure studies of the static permittivity tensor components in the nematic phase of 6CB

The dielectric permittivity tensor components, ε_II and ε_⊥, in the nematic phase of 6CB (4-n-hexyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl) were measured in the pressure range 0.1-130 MPa and the temperature range 12-58°C. The dielectric anisotropy, Δε(p, V, T) = ε_II - ε_⊥, was analysed in isothermal, isobaric and isochoric conditions taking into account the pVT data and the well known Maier and Meier equation. On that basis the nematic order parameter S(p, V, T) was determined. This was used to calculate the parameter Γ relating the interaction potential with the volume (density). Its value Γ = 4.1 agrees very well with other estimates.     

Thermodynamics of micelle formation of the ephedrine-based chiral cationic surfactant DMEB in water, and the intercalation of DMEB in montmorillonite

The solubility and the micelle formation of the chiral cationic surfactant (1R,2S)-(−)-N-dodecyl-N-methylephedrinium bromide (DMEB) in aqueous solution were investigated by conductometry and titration microcalorimetry in the temperature range of 278–328 K. The Krafft temperature of DMEB is T_K = 280 K and the solubility of the surfactant at this point is 4.5 mM. The cmc versus T curve passes through a shallow minimum close to room temperature. The micelle formation changes from endothermic to exothermic at this characteristic temperature. The apparent degree of dissociation of the micelles _app increases slightly as the temperature is raised. The isosteric enthalpies of micelle formation, ΔH_{st mic}, are close to the calorimetrically measured enthalpies, ΔH_mic, provided that the real degree of dissociation, _st = 1, is used in the calculations. ΔH_mic and the temperature dependence of ΔH_mic of DMEB are markedly similar to those of sodium dodecylsulfate and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The micelle formation of DMEB is favored by both enthalpy and entropy at and above room temperature. The enthalpy–entropy compensation results in a slight decrease in the Gibbs free energy on increase of the temperature. Sodium montmorillonite (M) was rendered organophilic by DMEB via ion-exchange to produce the clay/organocomplex DME-M. The swelling properties of the organoclay were investigated by XRD measurements in a variety of organic solvents. The basal spacing of DME-M varied from 1.8 to 3.5 nm, depending on the nature of the solvent. DME-M is a heterogenized ephedrine derivative, which may be regarded as a potential catalyst for enantioselective organic syntheses.     

Transport phenomenon as a function of counter and co-ions in solution: chronopotentiometric behavior of anion exchange membrane in different aqueous electrolyte solutions

Anion exchange membrane has been investigated in different electrolyte solutions by chronopotentiometry to explore the influence of co-ion and counterion of the exchange group of the membrane, on the transport phenomena. Chloride, nitrate, sulfate and acetate in sodium salts were used as counterions and sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium in chloride salts were used as co-ions. The membrane showed a potential drop (E₀) in all these electrolytes when a constant current was applied across it, which remained constant for a period less than τ, called the transition time and rose gradually to a maximum (E_max) value. The parameters such as τ, E₀ and E_max and the potential jump (ΔE) and τ and the inflection zone (Δt) along the time axis have been measured and compared at an applied current density (I) of 10 mA cm⁻² in 10 mM solutions. The values of τ^1/2/z_A[A₀] or τ^1/2/z_C[C₀], with or , E₀ and ΔE with or (where r_A and r_C are the ionic radii of counter and co-ions, respectively) have been correlated. Permselectivity (P) and transference number of the membrane with respect to each one of the above electrolytes have been evaluated and discussed.     

Rates of the reactions CN + H2CO and NCO + H2CO in the temperature range 294–769 K

The rate coefficients of the reactions: (1) CN + H₂CO → products and (2) NCO + H₂CO → products in the temperature range 294–769 K have been determined by means of the laser photolysis-laser induced fluorescence technique. Our measurements show that reaction (1) is rapid: k₁(294 K) = (1.64 ± 0.25) x 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹; the Arrhenius relation was determined as k₁ = (6.7 ± 1.0) x 10⁻¹¹ exp[(−412 ± 20)/T] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Reaction (2) is approximately a tenth as rapid as reaction (1) and the temperature dependence of k₂ does not conform to the Arrhenius form: k₂ = 4.62 x 10⁻¹⁷T^1.71 exp(198/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. Our values are in reasonable agreement with the only reported measurement of k₁; the rate coefficients for reaction (2) have not been previously reported.     

Theoretical and experimental study of the biamperometry for irreversible redox couple in flow system

The biamperometry for the direct determination of irreversible redox analytes in flow system has been proposed based on coupling two independent and irreversible couples to form the biamperometric detection scheme. In this work, the method is studied both theoretically and experimentally. Equations describing the current–voltage characteristics and the current–concentration relationship are presented. The influence of the applied potential difference (ΔE) and the half-wave potential difference (ΔE_1/2) between two irreversible couples on the method are discussed. It shows that small ΔE_1/2 is favorable to construct the biamperometric detection system and to achieve high sensitivity and selectivity. Increasing ΔE leads to an increase in sensitivity. This is, however, accompanied by a decrease in selectivity and signal-to-noise ratio. To construct the biamperometric scheme for the irreversible systems with large ΔE_1/2, two approaches, adjusting acidity of supporting electroyte or adding new irreversible couple, are proposed by taking uric acid/platinum oxide and phenol/permanganate systems as examples. Uric acid and phenol are, respectively, detected in a flow injection system with a biamperometric detector.     

Evaluation of the adsorption affinity of proteins to calcium hydroxyapatites by desorption and pre-adsorption methods

The adsorption affinity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LSZ) to calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHAP) was evaluated by desorption and two step adsorption methods. These experiments were carried out at 15°C in a 1×10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ KCl solution of pH 6.0. BSA molecules were scarcely desorbed, exhibiting an irreversible adsorption of BSA, though LSZ slightly desorbed. This result supports our previous findings that LSZ adsorbs weakly onto phosphate ions exposed on ac or bc faces of CaHAP while BSA adsorbs strongly onto positively charged sites on ac or bc faces of CaHAP. The amount of adsorbed LSZ was markedly increased by the pre-adsorption of BSA, where LSZ was adsorbed onto BSA-covered CaHAP. On the other hand, the amount of adsorbed BSA was not changed by the pre-adsorption of LSZ. In both pre-adsorption systems it was confirmed by an HPLC method that no protein molecule pre-adsorbed was desorbed after the post-adsorption procedure. Therefore, it was interpreted that the enhancement of adsorption of positively charged LSZ is induced by an electrostatic attractive force through pre-adsorption of negatively charged BSA molecules with a high coverage. However, since the coverage of LSZ onto CaHAP is considerably low, no stimulation of BSA adsorption occurred on the LSZ-covered surface. The formation of double protein adsorbed layers consisting of pre- and post-adsorbed proteins was proposed.     

Non-linear dielectric studies of the isotropic-smectic phase transition in 6-DBT and 7-DBT

Results are reported for measurements of Δε/E₂ for 6-DBT and 7-DBT (5-trans-n-alkyl-2(4'-isothiocyanianophenylo)-1,3-dioxane, n = 6, 7) in the isotropic phase, in the vicinity of T_SA1, and for 6-DBT solutions in dioxane over a broad range of temperatures. In the immediate vicinity of T_SA1 divcrgence from the Landau-de Gennes model was observed. From measurements made in solutions of 6-DBT in dioxane it was concluded that the antiparallel orientation of dipoles is preferred.