First‐Principles Study of Na‐Ion Battery Performance and Reaction Mechanism of Tin Sulfide as Negative Electrode

We study the Na‐ion battery characteristics of SnS as a negative electrode by first‐principles calculations. From energy analyses, we clarify the discharge reaction process of the Na/SnS half‐cell system. We show a phase diagram of Na?Sn?S ternary systems by constructing convex‐hull curves, and show a possible reaction route considering intermediate products in discharge reactions. Voltage‐capacity curves are calculated based on the Na?SnS reaction path that is obtained from the ternary phase diagram. It is found that the conversion reactions and subsequently the alloying reactions proceed in the SnS electrode, contributing to its high capacity compared with the metallic Sn electrode, in which only the alloying reactions progresses stepwise. To verify the calculated reaction process, x‐ray absorption spectra (XAS) are calculated and compared with experimental XAS at S K‐edge, showing meaningful XAS changes associated with Na₂S and SnS in discharged and charged states, respectively.     

Nuclear physics with RI Beam Factory

Research activities of nuclear physics at Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory over 10 years are reviewed and future directions are also discussed. Conceptual ideas in designing the facility as well as experimental devices are introduced. Special emphasis is given to highlighted results obtained at RIBF.     

Electroluminescence of a bichromophoric molecule with a benzoxyazolylcoumarin and carbazole moiety

The electroluminescent properties of a bichromophoric molecule in which a benzoxyazolylcoumarin and carbazole moiety is combined with 1,2-ethylene linkage, i.e. 3-(2-benzoxyazolyl)-7-[2-(9-carbazolyl)ethoxy]-coumarin (CmCz), were investigated. CmCz exhibits fluorescence of different colors in a solid state and solution. Two types of device were made. One consisted of a vacuum vapor-deposited film of CmCz as an emission layer to utilize fluorescence in the solid state; the second consisted of a spin-cast film doped with CmCz as an emission material to utilize fluorescence in the solution. The device with a vapor-deposited CmCz film between electrodes shows a green emission with a luminance of less than 10⁻² cd/m². The multiple layer device in which the CmCz film was sandwiched between a hole transport layer and electron transport layer showed a green emission whose spectrum is identical to the photoluminescent spectrum in the vapor-deposited CmCz film. A maximum luminance of the multiple layer device is about 5000 cd/m². On the other hand, the devices consisting of a spin-cast film containing a hole transport material, an electron transport material and CmCz showed a blue emission whose spectra are identical to the photoluminescent spectrum of CmCz in chloroform. Luminance of these devices is over 100 cd/m². © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homogenization of Weakly Coupled Systems of Hamilton–Jacobi Equations with Fast Switching Rates

We consider homogenization for weakly coupled systems of Hamilton–Jacobi equations with fast switching rates. The fast switching rate terms force the solutions to converge to the same limit, which is a solution of the effective equation. We discover the appearance of the initial layers, which appear naturally when we consider the systems with different initial data and analyze them rigorously. In particular, we obtain matched asymptotic solutions of the systems and the rate of convergence. We also investigate properties of the effective Hamiltonian of weakly coupled systems and show some examples which do not appear in the context of single equations.     

Studies on polymers containing functional groups. VI. Kinetics of the polymerization and copolymerization behaviors of o-hydroxystyrene

Some kinetic studies were made of the homopolymerization of o-hydroxystyrene and its copolymerization behavior with styrene and methyl methacrylate in tetrahydrofuran using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator were done. The rate of polymerization experimentally obtained is given by R_p = K[M][I]^0.72. Accordingly, it is likely that the growing chain radicals are terminated not only by mutual termination but also by a chain-transfer mechanism, the latter occupying a considerable portion. The latter is mostly attributed to the transfer to monomer, i.e., C_m for o-hydroxystyrene was 1.3 × 10^?2. Some transfer mechanisms were assumed, although it is difficult to elucidate the mechanism in detail, owing to its complexity. Effects of solvent on the rate of polymerization were examined, dioxane, methyl ethyl ketone, ethanol, and tetrahydrofuran being used. However, no differences were found among the solvents. The apparent activation energy of polymerization was found to be 21.5 kcal./mole. Monomer reactivity ratios and Alfrey-Price Q–e values for o-hydroxystyrene were determined. The Q–e values (Q = 1.41, e = ?1.13) are rather similar to those of p-methoxystyrene. Thus, the e value for o-hydroxystyrene is more negative than that for styrene.     

Organic solid photochromism by photoreduction mechanism: Polar aprotic viologen copolymers

Copolymers of vinyl viologens such as N-vinylbenzyl-N′-yalkyl and N-(γ-methyacryloyloxy)propyl-N′-propyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dihalides and polar aprotic comonomers such as N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (VP) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) were prepared by the copolymerizations of vinyl viologens with DMA and the chemical modifications of VP copolymers containing reactive halogens. Copolymers containing various viologen anions such as Br^?, BF, SO, and I^? were also prepared by the anion exchange of copolymers containing Cl^?. The photocolor developments of these aprotic copolymers in the film state were completely reversible and faster than for the corresponding copolymers with protic comonomers such as acrylamide and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, all with characteristic absorption spectra attributable to single radical cations.     

Total synthesis of gambierol

The convergent total synthesis of gambierol (1) is described. The octacyclic ether framework of 1 was constructed via the intramolecular allylation of alpha-chloroacetoxy ether followed by ring-closing metathesis. A modified Stille coupling was successfully applied to the synthesis of the triene side chain.