An Experimental Study of a Flux Modulated Solid State Metathesis Reaction

A solid state metathesis (SSM) reaction was investigated with respect to the formation of rare‐earth carbodiimides, the role of the co‐produced salt (LiCl), and the eutectic flux medium (LiCl/KCl). A SSM reaction is characterized by an exothermic reaction in which a salt (often LiCl) is coproduced. When the salt melts, it can serve as a useful medium for the crystallization of a desired product. An improved crystal growth can be observed by using an eutectic flux. However, the composition of an eutectic LiCl/KCl flux is altered when LiCl is produced during the reaction. The thermal effects concerning the endothermic melting of the flux and the exothermic ingnition of the SSM reaction may compensate each other, which is not necessarily a drawback for the reaction to proceed.     

ThSi2 Type Ytterbium Disilicide and its Analogues YbTxSi2–x (T = Cr,Fe, Co)

YbSi₂ and the derivatives YbT_xSi_2–x (T = Cr, Fe, Co) crystallizing in the α‐ThSi₂ structure type were obtained as single crystals from reactions run in liquid indium. All silicides were investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, I4₁/amd space group and the lattice constants are: a = 3.9868(6) Å and c = 13.541(3) Å for YbSi₂, a = 4.0123(6) Å and c = 13.542(3) Å for YbCr_0.27Si_1.73, a = 4.0142(6) Å and c = 13.830(3) Å for YbCr_0.71Si_1.29, a = 4.0080(6) Å and c = 13.751(3) Å for YbFe_0.34Si_1.66, and a = 4.0036(6) Å, c = 13.707(3) Å for YbCo_0.21Si_1.79. YbSi₂ and YbT_xSi_2–x compounds are polar intermetallics with three‐dimensional Si and M (T+Si) polyanion sub‐networks, respectively, filled with ytterbium atoms. The degree of substitution of transition metal at the silicon site is signficant and leads to changes in the average bond lengths and bond angles substantially.     

Comparison of adjustable permanent magnetic field sources

A permanent magnet assembly in which the flux density can be altered by a mechanical operation is often significantly smaller than comparable electromagnets and also requires no electrical power to operate. In this paper five permanent magnet designs in which the magnetic flux density can be altered are analyzed using numerical simulations, and compared based on the generated magnetic flux density in a sample volume and the amount of magnet material used. The designs are the concentric Halbach cylinder, the two half Halbach cylinders, the two linear Halbach arrays and the four and six rod mangle. The concentric Halbach cylinder design is found to be the best performing design, i.e. the design that provides the most magnetic flux density using the least amount of magnet material. A concentric Halbach cylinder has been constructed and the magnetic flux density, the homogeneity and the direction of the magnetic field are measured and compared with numerical simulation and a good agrement is found.     

Intramolecular proton transfer in the isomerization of hydroxyacetone: Characterization based on reaction force analysis and the bond fragility spectrum

The mechanism of isomerization of hydroxyacetone to 2-hydroxypropanal is studied within the framework of reaction force analysis at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Three unique pathways are considered: (a) a step-wise mechanism that proceeds through the formation of the Z-isomer of their shared enediol intermediate, (b) a step-wise mechanism that forms the E-isomer of the enediol, and (c) a concerted pathway that bypasses the enediol intermediate. Energy calculations show that the concerted pathway has the lowest activation energy barrier at 45.7 kcal mol⁻¹. The reaction force, chemical potential, and reaction electronic flux are calculated for each reaction to characterize electronic changes throughout the mechanism. The reaction force constant is calculated in order to investigate the synchronous/asynchronous nature of the concerted intramolecular proton transfers involved. Additional characterization of synchronicity is provided by calculating the bond fragility spectrum for each mechanism.     

Diversity of Strontium Nitridogermanates(IV): Novel Sr4[GeN4], Sr8Ge2[GeN4], and Sr17Ge2[GeN3]2[GeN4]2

Single crystals of three new strontium nitridogermanates(IV) were grown in sealed niobium ampules from sodium flux. Dark red Sr₄[GeN₄] crystallizes in space group P2₁/c with a = 9.7923(2) Å, b = 6.3990(1) Å, c = 11.6924(3) Å and β = 115.966(1)°. Black Sr₈Ge₂[GeN₄] contains Ge^4– anions coexisting with [Ge^IVN₄]^8– tetrahedra and adopts space group Cc with a = 10.1117(4) Å, b = 17.1073(7) Å, c = 10.0473(4) Å and β = 115.966(1)°. Black Sr₁₇Ge₆N₁₄ features the same anions alongside trigonal planar [Ge^IVN₃]^5– units. It crystallizes in P1 with a = 7.5392(1) Å, b = 9.7502(2) Å, c = 11.6761(2) Å, α = 103.308(1)°, β = 94.651(1)° and γ = 110.248(1)°.     

Diels-Alder reaction mechanisms of substituted chiral anthracene: A theoretical study based on the reaction force and reaction electronic flux

Quantum chemical calculations were used to study the mechanism of Diels-Alder reactions involving chiral anthracenes as dienes and a series of dienophiles. The reaction force analysis was employed to obtain a detailed scrutiny of the reaction mechanisms, it has been found that thermodynamics and kinetics of the reactions are quite consistent: the lower the activation energy, the lower the reaction energy, thus following the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle. It has been found that activation energies are mostly due to structural rearrangements that in most cases represented more than 70% of the activation energy. Electronic activity mostly due to changes in σ and π bonding were revealed by the reaction electronic flux (REF), this property helps identify whether changes on σ or π bonding drive the reaction. Additionally, new global indexes describing the behavior of the electronic activity were introduced and then used to classify the reactions in terms of the spontaneity of their electronic activity. Local natural bond order electronic population analysis was used to check consistency with global REF through the characterization of specific changes in the electronic density that might be responsible for the activity already detected by the REF. Results show that reactions involving acetoxy lactones are driven by spontaneous electronic activity coming from bond forming/strengthening processes; in the case of maleic anhydrides and maleimides it appears that both spontaneous and non-spontaneous electronic activity are quite active in driving the reactions.     

纳米储能纤维复合过滤膜的制备及性能

以静电纺丝技术制备的同轴聚甲基丙烯酸十八烷基酯(PSMA)/聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯(PET)纳米储能纤维为支撑层,经聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)涂覆成膜和溶剂化处理,制备了一种低压高水通量的纳米储能纤维复合过滤膜(NFCM),其中以水或乙醇为凝固溶液的复合过滤膜分别记为NFCM@H2O或NFCM@EtOH.分析并讨论了不同溶剂处理方式对NFCM力学性能和表面形貌的影响,表征了膜的纯水通量和抗污性能,用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了膜的横断面形貌.结果表明,PSMA/PET纳米储能纤维具有明显的吸放热行为,熔融温度和热焓值分别为36.5℃和10.7J/g,NFCM的熔融温度和热焓值分别为36℃和2.7J/g.NFCM的形貌结构、纯水通量和截留率与溶剂处理方式相关,NFCM@EtOH膜的水通量介于100~1400L/(m2·h)之间,而NFCM@H2O膜的水通量仅在40~220L/(m2·h)之间.NFCM的拉伸强度由初始0.925MPa(PVDF)提高到4.28MPa以上.NFCM中的相变材料对膜过滤性能有重要影响,并在过滤温度低于50℃时具有减缓作用.     

Performance enhancement of a DC-operated micropump with electroosmosis in a hybrid nanofluid: fractional Cattaneo heat flux problem

The purpose of this investigation is to theoretically shed some light on the effect of the unsteady electroosmotic flow (EOF) of an incompressible fractional second-grade fluid with low-dense mixtures of two spherical nanoparticles, copper, and titanium. The flow of the hybrid nanofluid takes place through a vertical micro-channel. A fractional Cattaneo model with heat conduction is considered. For the DC-operated micropump, the Lorentz force is responsible for the pressure difference through the microchannel. The Debye-Hükel approximation is utilized to linearize the charge density. The semi-analytical solutions for the velocity and heat equations are obtained with the Laplace and finite Fourier sine transforms and their numerical inverses. In addition to the analytical procedures, a numerical algorithm based on the finite difference method is introduced for the given domain. A comparison between the two solutions is presented. The variations of the velocity heat transfer against the enhancements in the pertinent parameters are thoroughly investigated graphically. It is noticed that the fractional-order parameter provides a crucial memory effect on the fluid and temperature fields. The present work has theoretical implications for biofluid-based microfluidic transport systems.

     

Design of square-shaped heat flux cloaks and concentrators using method of coordinate transformation

A square-shaped heat flux cloak and a square-shaped heat flux concentrator have been designed theoretically according to the invariance symmetry of steady state thermal conductive equation. The direction of heat flux in these devices can be modulated as desired. Using the method of coordinate transformation, the inhomogeneous and anisotropic thermal conductivity in the transformation region have been acquired. Two-dimensional finite element simulations were performed to confirm the theoretical results.