Shape memory effects of polynorbornene modified by in-situ reactive thermoplastic polyurethane

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) based on polynorbornene (PNB) was prepared and modified by In-situ reactive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Analysis shows that the TPU formed in PNB matrix slightly decreases T_g of PNB from 24.1 to ca. 23.4, which is beneficial to study the shape memory performance at room temperature. A small amount of TPU can be uniformly dispersed in PNB matrix to form interpenetrating network structure, which can significantly toughen and strengthen PNB. Simultaneously, the interpenetrating network can replace the physical entanglement of part of the PNB, increase the free volume among the molecular chains of PNB, make shape fixing easier, and reduce energy consumption in overcoming friction during the recovery process. Therefore, the PNB/TPU composites have higher shape fixing ratio and recovery ratio than PNB. When the content of TPU in PNB matrix is lower, the interpenetrating network of chain entanglements is formed with no phase separation; therefore, the improvement of shape memory performance is remarkable.     

Atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers: a comparison with vacuum matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation quadrupole ion trap (AP-MALDI/QIT) mass spectrometry has been investigated for the analysis of polyethylene glycol (PEG 1500) and a hyperbranched polymer (polyglycidol) in the presence of alkali-metal salts. Mass spectra of PEG 1500 obtained at atmospheric pressure showed dimetallated matrix/analyte adducts, in addition to the expected alkali-metal/PEG ions, for all matrix/alkali-metal salt combinations. The relative intensities of the desorbed ions were dependent on the matrix, the alkali-metal salt added to aid cationisation and the ion trap interface conditions [capillary temperature, in-source collisionally-induced dissociation (CID)]. These data indicate that the adducts are rapidly stabilised by collisional cooling enabling them to be transferred into the ion trap. Experiments using identical sample preparation conditions were carried out on a vacuum MALDI time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometer. In all cases, vacuum MALDI-ToF spectra showed only alkali-metal/PEG ions and no matrix/analyte adducts. The tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) capability of the ion trap has been demonstrated for a lithiated polyglycol yielding a rich fragment-ion spectrum. Analysis of the hyperbranched polymer polyglycidol by AP-MALDI/QIT reveals the characteristic ion series for these polymers as also observed under vacuum MALDI-ToF conditions.     

Nanometer-size cluster formation in alkali-metal-doped fullerene layers

Kinetic Monte Carlo methods have been used to simulate structural transformations in fullerene layers during electrochemical intercalation with alkali-metal ions (A). Special attention is paid to the thermodynamic stability of the A(x)C(60) phases. The calculations point out a phase separation in the doped fullerene layer into alkali-metal-rich and alkali-metal-depleted areas at room temperature. The final state is represented by two phases which coexist as a stable fine mixture of nanoscale particles. The instability of homogeneous layers has potentially critical impact on their electrical properties and can explain the formation of nanostructures (20-50 nm) at the fullerene-electrolyte interface. Rb(3)C(60) clusters are predicted to be larger than K(3)C(60) ones for equal mean alkali-metal concentrations. Experimental data on electrochemical metal deposition on alkali-metal-doped fullerene substrates-in particular, atomic force microscopy measurements-are also consistent with the model proposed.     

Nanoscale observation of morphological transformation during ageing of silica and silica-alumina

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used for in-situ observation of nanoscale morphological transformations during the ageing step in sol-gel synthesis. Silica, alumina and silica-alumina samples with different Si/Al ratios were prepared from inorganic salt precursors and geled at low pH. Silica and silica-alumina samples formed branch-like gel network made of nanometer-sized clusters. During ageing at room temperature, the overall structure of the gel network remained unchanged but the clusters underwent phase transformation, coaslesence, coarsening, fragmentation, as well as dissolution resulting in the internal restructuring of the gel material. Morphological transformation associated with crystallization of pseudo-boehmite phase was observed for the alumina samples. These nanometer-scale processes are expected to play a key role in dictating the material properties of the final sol-gel product.     

Low-temperature vacuum reduction of BiMnO3

Low-temperature vacuum reduction was used for the preparation of the oxygen-deficient BiMnO(2.81) sample in a bulk form from stoichiometric BiMnO(3). The transformation occurs in vacuum better than 10(-3) Pa at a narrow temperature range of 570-600 K. The structure of the new phase was analyzed using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data. BiMnO(2.81) crystallizes in a perovskite-type cubic structure (space group I-43d) with a = 15.88552(5) ? corresponding to a 4a(p) superstructure, where a(p) is the parameter of the cubic perovskite subcell. Oxygen vacancies are ordered, and one oxygen site in BiMnO(2.81) is completely vacant, resulting in MnO(5) pyramids. BiMnO(2.81) is rather unstable in air and slowly restores its oxygen content even at room temperature.     

Self-association of telomeric short oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing a dG cluster.

Oligonucleotides containing a dG cluster, d(TmGnTm), are models of single-stranded parts of telomeric deoxyribonucleic acid and substitutes for poly(dG). Electrophoretic and spectroscopic analyses of the oligomers indicate that the oligomers can form two alternative structures, single- and quadruple-stranded helices, in solution at room temperature. The transformation of the single-strandef form into the quadruple-stranded form or vice versa is undetectable in 0.1 M NaCl at 4.3 x 10(-5) M strand concentration at room temperature. However, at a 50-fold higher strand concentration, the single-stranded oligomer is gradually converted into the quadruplex. An increase in ionic strength stabilizes the single-stranded structure, so it seems to inhibit the formation of the quadruplex. The quadruplex, [d(TTGGGGTT)]4, is resistant to denaturation in 7 M urea, in which the Watson-Crick type d(TTGGGGTT).d(AACCCCAA) duplex dissociates. An increase in the number of T residues facilitates the dissociation of the quadruplex by heating. Thus the number of T residues surrounding the dG cluster might control the rigidity of the quadruplex structure.     

Surface-layer properties of glass electrodes responsive to sodium and hydrogen ions

Cation-sensitive glasses exhibit an alkali-metal ion concentration profile and an electrical conductivity profile which increase smoothly with the distance in towards the bulk glass, as a result of interaction with aqueous solutions. In a pH-sensitive glass, however, a stepwise alkali-metal ion-distance profile is obtained and a low electrical-conductivity region is restricted to a thin film near the gel-layer/bulk-glass transition region. The replacement of silicon by aluminium causes the degree of H(+)-M(+) ion-exchange to decrease, and consequently favours alkali-metal ion selectivity of the glass. Lower conductivity is attributed to a low proton-interdiffusion coefficient. The conductivity is lowest where the SiOH concentration is high, i.e., where the water concentration and the SiO(-) concentrations are low. High conductivity of the gel-layer of pH-sensitive glasses is caused by the presence of water which depolymerizes the glass structure. The network of alkali-sensitive glasses is less affected by water owing to the aluminium decreasing the concentration of terminal oxygen atoms in the structure. A low-conductivity surface layer on the latter glasses contributes to the sluggishness in the response of the electrodes.     

Thermo-responsive mending of polymers crosslinked by thermally reversible covalent bond: Polymers from bisfuranic terminated poly(ethylene adipate) and tris-maleimide

Remending properties of a network polymer with reversible reactivity are described. The network structure is constructed by a Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between furyl-telechelic poly(ethylene adipate) (PEAF₂) and a tris-maleimide, M₃. When a film sample was cut into two pieces and the cut surfaces were kept in contact with each other at 60 °C, rejoining of the cut pieces was observed. This mending was induced by the reversible cross-linking reaction bridging the cut surfaces. At the cut front, the “weak” DA adducts are selectively dissociated sacrificially to release the stress so as to protect the chemical structure of the prepolymer and the linker against the scission or degradation. The dissociated furan and maleimide readily reconnect by forward DA reaction to mend the material. The remending was also observed for the samples kept at room temperature after melting at 60 °C. So, the PEAF₂ network polymer is a thermo-responsive mendable material in which crack healing is induced by a prompt thermal stimulus.     

热致型光敏液晶高分子在液晶场中光交联反应的研究

研究了具有肉桂酸酯侧链基的热致型液晶高分子的光交联行为．结果表明，在２０ｍｉｎ紫外光照射的条件下，形成液晶相的液晶高分子膜的光交联凝胶百分率要明显高于尚未形成液晶相的同种高分子膜．对形成液晶相的高分子膜，在环境温度低于液晶各向同性温度Ｔ时，温度对光交联凝胶百分率的影响甚微．这表明，由于液晶高分子中致介单元的聚集和有序排列形成的微区结构也影响了大分子链侧基肉桂酸酯的聚集状态．从而使其光化学性质发生变化．     

The influence of fuel additives on the behaviour of gaseous alkali-metal compounds during pulverised coal combustion

The alkali-metal vapour release during pulverised hard (bituminous) coal combustion was investigated in a semi-technical drop flow reactor in the temperature range 1100-1400 degrees C. Absolute concentrations of total gas-phase sodium and potassium species were determined using the in situ/on-line excimer laser induced fragmentation fluorescence technique (ELIF). Alkali-metal concentrations measured for the untreated coals were found to be in the range 0.1 to 4.7 ppm, depending on the temperature. As well as observing the temperature dependence, the effect of co-feeding defined amounts of silica and clay minerals was studied. In addition, to assist interpretation of ELIF measurements, ash samples were taken and analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The additives lead to a pronounced binding of the alkali-metal species and suppression of the sharp temperature dependence observed without co-feeding. Therefore, the use of such getter materials can be confirmed as an effective way to remove corrosive alkali-metal species from the flue gas in pulverised coal combustion.     

Cation Size Effect on the Framework Structures in a Series of New Alkali-Metal Indium Selenites, AIn(SeO(3))(2) (A = Na, K, Rb, and Cs)

A new family of quaternary alkali-metal indium selenites, AIn(SeO(3))(2) (A = Na, K, Rb, and Cs) have been synthesized, as crystals and pure polycrystalline phases through standard solid-state and hydrothermal reactions. The structures of the reported materials have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. While AIn(SeO(3))(2) (A = Na, K, and Rb) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group, Pnma, with three-dimensional framework structures, CsIn(SeO(3))(2) crystallizes in the trigonal space group, R3?m, with a two-dimensional structure. All of the reported materials, however, share a common structural motif, a network of corner-shared InO(6) octahedra and SeO(3) groups. Interestingly, the size of the alkali-metal cations profoundly influences the bonding nature of the SeO(3) group to the InO(6) octahedra. Complete characterizations including infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and thermal analyses for the compounds are also presented, as are dipole moment calculations. A detailed cation size effect on the framework structure is discussed.     

Effect of molecular weight on the polymorphic transformation of isotactic poly(1-butene)

The effect of molecular weight on the polymorphic transformation of isotactic poly(1-butene)(iPB) under room temperature had been investigated by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR). The phase transformation time, phase transformation rate and phase transformation time difference between phase I and phase II at a given transformation degree were used to analysis the phase transformation kinetics of iPB aging at room temperature. The results show that the reduction of phase II can occur quickly at room temperature and seem less dependent on the molecular weight. However, the molecular weight has great effect on the formation of phase I. When the phase transformation degree for phase I reach 90%, a distinct transformation time difference can be observed. In order to clearly explain the difference in the reduction of phase II and the growth of phase I, a phase transformation model from the chain conformation level for iPB with different molecular weight have been drawn. DSC analysis was used to support the proposed model.     

Selectivity Control in Gold‐Mediated Esterification of Methanol

The Midas touch : The low‐temperature transformation of methanol to methyl formate, formaldehyde, and formic acid is promoted by atomic oxygen adsorbed on metallic gold (see picture). The reactions occur with O‐containing Au nanoparticles formed on Au(111) upon oxidation with ozone at 200 K; the facile esterification to methyl formate occurs well below room temperature.

     

Influence of structural disorder on the photoluminescence emission of PZT powders

Intense and broad visible photoluminescent (PL) band was observed at room temperature in disordered Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 powders. Structural order-disorder was evaluated by different methods. XANES results pointed to the presence of different coordination modes of disordered Ti powders, and in the ordered sample the local structure around titanium atoms is characteristic of the structurally ordered PZT with only TiO6 units. Only samples containing simultaneous structural order and disorder in their network present the intense visible PL emission at room temperature.     

Alder-ene reaction of aryne with olefins

A novel intermolecular Alder-ene reaction based on aryne and olefins was developed. We performed this transformation under mild conditions such as at room temperature, and this reaction displayed high selectivity and good yields only in the presence of CsF. Hence, the intermolecular Alder-ene reaction of aryne with olefins provides an effective route to synthesize derivatives of olefins.     

铌酸盐 Ba5YTi3 Nb7 O30的结构与介电性能

在BaO-TiO2-Mb2O5体系中通过掺Y3－合成了铌酸盐Ba5YTi3Nb7O30 ,采用粉晶X射线衍射（XRD）对其结构进行了分析,并测试了其烧结体的介电特性,结果表明,在室温下Ba4YT3 Nb7O30属于填满型四方钨青铜结构,晶胞参数,a=1.24332(2)nm,c=0.39453(1)nm,α=β=γ＝90度,Ba5TYi3Nb7O30在100度从铁电相转变为顺电相。     

Oleylamine-catalyzed Tandem Knoevenagel/Michael Addition of 1,3-Cyclohexanediones with Aromatic Aldehydes

A convenient and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of 2,2'-(arylmethylene)bis(3-hydrox-ycyclohex-2-enone) derivatives via the oleylamine-catalyzed tandem Knoevenagel/Michael addition reactions of aromatic aldehydes and cyclohexane-1,3-diones. This transformation proceeded without any metal catalyst in non-toxic solvent at room temperature with high isolated yields. A plausible mechanism for this process was proposed.     

Superexchange and electron correlations in alkali fullerides AC60, A=K, Rb, Cs

Superexchange interactions in alkali fullerides AC(60) are derived for C(60) molecular ions separated by interstitial alkali-metal ions. We use a multiconfiguration approach which comprises the lowest molecular orbital states of the C(60) molecule and the excited s and d states of the alkali-metal atom A. Interactions are described by the valence bond (Heitler-London) method for a complex (C(60)-A-C(60))(-) with two valence electrons. The electronic charge transfer between the alkali-metal atom and a neighboring C(60) molecule is not complete. The occupation probability of excited d and s states of the alkali atom is not negligible. In correspondence with the relative positions of the C(60) molecules and A atoms in the polymer crystal, we consider 180 degrees and 90 degrees (angle) superexchange pathways. For the former case the ground state is found to be a spin singlet separated from a triplet at approximately 20 K. For T<20 K there appear strong spin correlations for the 180 degrees superexchange pathway. The results are related to spin lattice relaxation experiments on CsC(60) in the polymerized and in the quenched cubic phase.     

Structure des savons alcalins

Summary This is a systematic x-ray diffraction study of the structure of alkali-metal di-soaps as a function of temperature. Two types of structure have been identified. The first is lamellar with both polar groups and paraffin chains in the crystalline state. The second is also lamellar, but with polar groups and paraffin chains in the liquid state. These structures have been discussed and compared to those of usual alkali-metal and alkaline-earth soaps.

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Zusammenfassung Aus r?ntgenographischen Daten wurde die Struktur der Lithium-, Natrium-, Kalium-, Rubidium- und C?siumsalze von Alkylendicarbons?uren („Doppelseifen“) abgeleitet. Es wurden zwei lamellare Strukturtypen gefunden. In einer davon entspricht die Anordnung der polaren Gruppen und der Paraffinketten dem kristallisierten Zustand, in der anderen dem geschmolzenen Zustand. Die beobachteten Strukturen wurden mit denen der einfachen Seifen (Monos?uren) mit einwertigen und zweiwertigen Metallen verglichen.

     

ESR investigation of a stable trapped hydrogen atom in X-ray-irradiated beta-tricalcium phosphate at room temperature

A stable trapped hydrogen atom in X-ray-irradiated beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-Ca3(PO4)2, beta-TCP) was successfully detected at room temperature. This hydrogen atom is stable at ambient temperature for several months. Hyperfine structure of the hydrogen atom and superhyperfine structures of the two phosphorus atoms were observed by means of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Electron spin-echo (ESE) of the hydrogen atom was observed in X-ray-irradiated beta-TCP. At room temperature, relaxation times of the hydrogen atom in X-ray-irradiated beta-TCP were very long (phase memory time TM = 19.4 mus, spin-lattice relaxation time T1 = 75.8 mus) compared with those of usual paramagnetic species. The most important facts are the detections of ESE and electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) at room temperature. At room temperature, the observations of ESE and ESEEM and the estimations for the relaxation times (TM, T1) of the hydrogen atom were carried out for the first time until now. TM was able to be measured from room temperature to 9 K. The short relaxation time TM below 20 K might be explained by the quantum tunneling effect of the hydrogen atom. Fourier transformation of the electron spin-echo envelope modulation (FT-ESEEM) at room temperature suggests the overlapping of the wave functions between the hydrogen atom and the two phosphorus atoms. The site of the hydrogen atom in the X-ray-irradiated beta-TCP was discussed on the basis of the continuous wave ESR (CW-ESR) and pulse-ESR analyses.