Quantitative analysis of crystallization kinetics by light depolarization technique. Possibilities and limitations

The kinetics of isothermal crystallization of various polymers was investigated by light depolarization technique (LDT) using the new setup with direct registration of depolarization ratio. Experimental data were analyzed using new method proposed by Ziabicki who shown that degree of crystallinity is a non-linear function of degree of depolarization, crystal thickness, and its birefringence. Other experimental methods were involved providing supplementary information on crystal thickness (SAXS) and allowing comparison of crystallization kinetics (WAXS, DSC). The advantage of LDT relies on high sampling rate allowing on-line measurements and lack of inertia effects that exist in other methods like calorimetry. The limitations of the applicability of the method are discussed. The method needs supplementary information not only on crystal thickness but also on variable optical birefringence of real crystals. Our results show that LDT can be used in a simple way for investigation of crystallization kinetics at relatively high temperatures, providing large and perfect crystals. In such a case it is sufficient to use crystal intrinsic birefringence and final crystal thickness typical at particular temperature of crystallization. On the other hand, depolarization ratio combined with measurements by other methods (crystallinity and crystal thickness) can be used for estimation of crystal birefringence.     

Semiderivative real filter for microoptical elements quality control

The article presents a proposal for a new method of automatic quality control of microlenses arrays, which is based on a semiderivative real filter. The use of the semiderivative filter for examining pure-phase objects involves modifying the spatial frequency. The basis of the proposed setup is a 4f correlator setup with coherent light. The phase object examined is placed in the input plane of the correlator. Next, the light passes through a filter located in the frequency plane, which gives an intensity signal. In the output plane a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera registers the light intensity, the range of which informs the shape of the phase object. The proposed method is shift invariant, so it allows for examination of single elements or a set of micro-optical elements simultaneously. Additionally, the same setup allows for measuring the phase of objects whose thickness is either considerably smaller or much bigger than 2π.     

Oligomeric complexes of some heteroaromatic ligands and aromatic diamines with rhodium and molybdenum tetracarboxylates: 13C and 15N CPMAS NMR and density functional theory studies

Seven new oligomeric complexes of 4,4′‐bipyridine; 3,3′‐bipyridine; benzene‐1,4‐diamine; benzene‐1,3‐diamine; benzene‐1,2‐diamine; and benzidine with rhodium tetraacetate, as well as 4,4′‐bipyridine with molybdenum tetraacetate, have been obtained and investigated by elemental analysis and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ¹³C and ¹⁵N CPMAS NMR. The known complexes of pyrazine with rhodium tetrabenzoate, benzoquinone with rhodium tetrapivalate, 4,4′‐bipyridine with molybdenum tetrakistrifluoroacetate and the 1 : 1 complex of 2,2′‐bipyridine with rhodium tetraacetate exhibiting axial–equatorial ligation mode have been obtained as well for comparison purposes. Elemental analysis revealed 1 : 1 complex stoichiometry of all complexes. The ¹⁵N CPMAS NMR spectra of all new complexes consist of one narrow signal, indicating regular uniform structures. Benzidine forms a heterogeneous material, probably containing linear oligomers and products of further reactions. The complexes were characterized by the parameter complexation shift Δδ (Δδ = δ_complex ? δ_ligand). This parameter ranged from around ?40 to ?90 ppm in the case of heteroaromatic ligands, from around ?12 to ?22 ppm for diamines and from ?16 to ?31 ppm for the complexes of molybdenum tetracarboxylates with 4,4′‐bipyridine. The experimental results have been supported by a density functional theory computation of ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts and complexation shifts at the non‐relativistic Becke, three‐parameter, Perdew‐Wang 91/[6‐311++G(2d,p), Stuttgart] and GGA–PBE/QZ4P levels of theory and at the relativistic scalar and spin‐orbit zeroth order regular approximation/GGA–PBE/QZ4P level of theory. Nucleus‐independent chemical shifts have been calculated for the selected compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoluminescence of gamma-, proton- and alpha-irradiated LiF detectors

Lithium fluoride (LiF), one of the most pervasive alkali halides in optical device research, is routinely used in optical data storage and radiation protection. LiF crystals may contain different aggregate defects produced by several types of ionizing radiation, with the number of defects being proportional to the cumulative radiation dose. Stimulation of irradiated LiF detectors by heating or with blue light causes thermoluminescence (TL) or photoluminescence (PL), respectively. We developed a new PL reader equipped with a blue light-emitting diode for stimulation and a Hamamatsu photomultiplier for registering green emissions, dedicated to examining LiF detectors as well as more broadly investigating TL/PL emission from standard LiF detectors irradiated with gamma rays, 60 MeV protons and alpha particles. The results confirmed very high efficiency PL signal from alpha-irradiated LiF detectors corresponding to their low efficiency after gamma irradiation, and vice versa for TL readout. Combining the TL and PL readouts permits us to discriminate between how different kinds of radiation affect efficiency in LiF detectors.     

Ion‐Induced Fragmentation of Amino Acids: Effect of the Environment

In general, radiation‐induced fragmentation of small amino acids is governed by the cleavage of the C? C_α bond. We present results obtained with 300 keV Xe²⁰⁺ ions that allow molecules (glycine and valine) to be ionised at large distances without appreciable energy transfer. Also in the present case, the C? C_α bond turns out to be the weakest link and hence its scission is the dominant fragmentation channel. Intact ionised molecules are observed with very low intensities. When the molecules are embedded in a cluster of amino acids, a protective effect of the environment is observed. The fragmentation pattern changes: the C? C_α bond becomes more protected and stable amino acid cations are observed as fragments of the molecular clusters. Evidently, the molecular cluster acts as a “buffer” for the excess energy, capable of rapidly redistributing excess energy and charge.     

On the aromatic stabilization of corannulene and coronene

The application of set of homodesmotic reactions allowed us to estimate the aromatic stabilization energy (ASE) of corannulene and coronene. Appropriate reactions have been applied to balance syn/anti mismatches in di-, tetra- and hexamethylene substituted derivatives. Based on many different polycyclic reference structures that compensate the effect of strain in the corannulene moiety the value of ASE comes to 44.5 kcal mol(-1). Planar corannulene is more stabilized by cyclic π-electron delocalization by ca. 10.7 kcal mol(-1), as compared with a bowl-shaped system. A similar approach for coronene leads to an ASE equal to 58.4 kcal mol(-1).     

Hydrogen-Bonded Cyclic Dimers at Large Compression: The Case of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-h]quinoline and 2-(2′-pyridyl)pyrrole

1H-pyrrolo[3,2-h]qinoline (PQ) and 2-(2′-pyridyl)pyrrole (PP) are important systems in the study of proton-transfer reactions. These molecules possess hydrogen bond donor (pyrrole) and acceptor (pyridine) groups, which leads to the formation of cyclic dimers in their crystals. Herein, we present a joint experimental (Raman scattering) and computational (DFT modelling) study on the high-pressure behaviour of PQ and PP molecular crystals. Our results indicate that compression up to 10 GPa (100 kbar) leads to considerable strengthening of the intermolecular hydrogen bond within the cyclic dimers. However, the intramolecular N–H∙∙∙N interaction is either weakly affected by pressure, as witnessed in PQ, or weakened due to compression-induced distortions of the molecule, as was found for PP. Therefore, we propose that the compression of these systems should facilitate double proton transfer within the cyclic dimers of PQ and PP, while intramolecular transfer should either remain unaffected (for PQ) or weakened (for PP).