Search for a precursor crystal-to-crystal phase transition to amorphization in α-GeO2 and α-AlPO4 under pressure

Recent X-ray diffraction studies on α-quartz (SiO₂) by Kingmaet al [1], have shown the occurrence of a reversible, crystalline-to-crystalline, phase transition just prior to amorphization at ≈ 21 GPa. This precursor transition has also been confirmed by our recent molecular dynamics simulation study [2]. In order to investigate the possibility of a similar behaviour in other isostructural compounds, which also undergo pressure induced amorphization, α-GeO₂ and α-AlPO₄ (berlinite form) were studied using energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. In either of these materials, no such phase transition is detected prior to amorphization. The onset of amorphization and its reversal is found to be time dependent in GeO₂.     

Mechanosynthesis of YIG and GdIG: A Structural and Mössbauer Study

We have investigated the mechanosynthesis of gadolinium and yttrium iron garnets by high-energy ball-milling of α-Fe₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃ or α-Fe₂O₃ and Y₂O₃, respectively, followed by short thermal annealings conducted at moderate temperatures. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy, in order to determine the influence of the milling time and annealing conditions on the final products. For as-milled samples of each rare-earth system, the results revealed the formation of perovskite phases, in relative amounts that depend on the milling time. The formation of garnet phases was observed in as-annealed samples treated at 1000°C for 2 h or 1100°C for 3 h, i.e., at very modest annealing requirements when compared with ordinary solid-state-reaction processes performed without previous high-energy milling. Also, the occurrence was verified of a milling time for which the relative amount of garnet phases formed by annealing was maximized. This time depends on the rare-earth composing the garnet phase and on the annealing temperature.     

Behaviors of the positive temperature coefficient of resistance of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butylacrylate) filled with Ni‐plated core‐shell polymeric particles

Conductive composite films of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butylacrylate) copolymers filled with low‐density, Ni‐plated core‐shell polymeric particles were prepared and their behaviors of positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) were investigated. When the conductive fillers in the composite film were loaded beyond the critical volume, 10 up to 25 vol %, composite films exhibited a unique electrical resistant transition behavior, which the electrical resistance rapidly increased by several orders of magnitude at the critical temperature. The PTCR transition temperature, in general, occurred before the glass transition temperature of polymer matrix. Further increased the conductive filler loading to 30 vol %, the overpacked conduction paths were formed in the entire composite and the PTCR effects became blurred. While the composite film treated with thermal cycle several times from room temperature up to 120 °C, the electrical resistivity increased accompanied with the shift of the PTCR transition to lower temperature. The reason might have been caused by the formed interfacial cracks within the composite film. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 322–329, 2007     

Mimicking catalase and catecholase enzymes by copper(II)-containing complexes

An imidazolate-bridged copper(II)-zinc(II) complex (Cu(II)-diethylenetriamino-μ-imidazolato-Zn(II)-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine perchlorate (denoted as “Cu,Zn complex”) and a simple copper(II) complex (Cu(II)-tris(2-aminoethyl) amine chloride (“Cu-tren”) were prepared and immobilised on silica gel (by hydrogen or covalent bonds) and montmorillonite (by ion exchange). The immobilised substances were characterised by FT-IR spectroscopy and their thermal characteristics were also studied. The obtained materials were tested in two probe reactions: catalytic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (DTBC) (catecholase activity) and the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (catalase activity). It was found that the catecholase activity of the Cu,Zn complex increased considerably upon immobilization on silica gel via hydrogen bonds and intercalation by ion exchange among the layers of montmorillonite. The imidazolate-bridged copper(II)-zinc(II) complex and its immobilised versions were inactive in hydrogen peroxide decomposition. The Cu(II)-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine chloride complex displayed good catalase activity; however, immobilisation could not improve it.     

Micromechanics of ferroelectric polymer-based electrostrictive composites

Electrostriction refers to the strain induced in a dielectric by electric polarization, which is usually very small for practical application. In this paper, we present a micromechanical analysis on the effective electrostriction of a ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene [P(VDF-TrFE)] polymer-based composite, where the exact connections between the effective electrostrictive coefficients and effective elastic moduli are established, and numerical algorithm for the prediction of the effective electrostrictive coefficients of the composite in terms of its microstructural information is developed. From our calculations, enhanced electrostriction in the composite has been demonstrated, and optimal microstructure for electrostriction enhancement has been identified. Our analysis provides a mechanism for the electrostriction enhancement, where the electrostrictive strain several times higher than that of polymer matrix can be obtained, if the microstructure of the composites can be carefully tailored.     

Structural and spectroscopic studies of silylated cyclo- and bicyclosilanes

A number of cyclo-and bicyclosilanes have been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. 1,1,4,4- and 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)octamethylcyclohexasilanes were found to exhibit unusual twist- and twisted boat-conformations. The UV absorption properties of all compounds were studied and found to show absorption maxima red shifted compared to the parent compound dodecamethylcyclohexasilane. Dedicated to Prof. Mitsuo Kira on the occasion of his reception of the Wacker Silicon Award 2005 and in recongnition of his numerous outstanding achievements in organosilicon chemistry.     

Study of thermal aging effect on space charge in poly(methyl methacrylate)

Charges evolution in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) samples under thermal aging effect has been studied by means of two complementary techniques, thermal step method (TSM) and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC). For the first method, measurements reveal that injected charges, whose quantity is found depending on the number of applied temperature cycles, remain close to the surface sample. TSDC measurements have been carried out for different temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 140 °C. Three distinguishable dipolar relaxations (β₁, β₂ and α) have been highlighted. In the same way, the presence of polarization and injected charges has been confirmed. In support of electric characterization, X-ray reflectometry has been used. The obtained results equally emphasized the thermal aging effect on the material.     

Effects of oxygen in gamma irradiated aromatic polyesters in film

The effect of gamma irradiation in air is investigated on four thermoplastic polyesters (PET, PBT, PEN, PCT-co-ET) in films containing aromatic rings, in order to evaluate the influence of aromatic density and the role of oxygen on radiation resistance. Physical-chemical-nuclear analyses were used to this purpose. EPR measurements were carried out to detect radical stability against oxygen permeation. Viscometric investigations reported a very similar trend for all the investigated polyesters: a chain break effect that decreases at the highest doses. FT-IR analyses focused on the formation of oxidized species. Positron annihilation spectra pointed out a decrease of the intensity of ortho-positronium formation, while its lifetime remains unchanged with radiation dose.     

采用级联原子滤光器的新型卫星激光链路系统研究

提出级联佛克脱型原子滤光器(Linked VADOF)的新构想。从理论上分析并计算了级联佛克脱型原子滤光器的透射谱。结果表明，级联佛克脱型原子滤光器将佛克脱型原子滤光器的多峰改造为单峰结构，具有比佛克脱型原子滤光器更窄的线宽和更高的噪声抑制比。将这种新型结构应用于激光信标锁频。该锁频方案提高了信标光频率的稳定性。在此基础上，给出了发射端采用级联佛克脱型原子滤光器锁频，接收端采用法拉第型原子滤光器(FADOF)滤光的新型卫星激光链路系统。外场初步联调实验表明了该系统的可行性。     

X-ray absorption spectra of plasmas

In this paper we present a theoretical method to calculate the absorption spectra of hot dense plasmas. Based on our fully relativistic treatment incorporated with the quantum defect theory to handle the huge number of transition arrays from many configurations with high principal quantum number, we can calculate the absorption spectra for any element or multi-element plasmas with little computational efforts. We calculate the absorption spectra of C10H1605 plasmas, which are in good agreement with the experimental spectra. We can then provide diagnostic analysis for plasmas in relevant inertial confinement fusion (lCF) experiments; namely not only to determine plasmas' temperatures and densities, but also to provide the population densities of various ionic stages. Our theoretical method verified by "benchmark experiments" will be a basic tool to provide "precise" opacity data for the ICF research.``