Alkane Shape- and Size-Recognized Selective Vapor Sorption in “Channel-Like” Crystals Based on Thiacalixarene Assemblies

Alkanes composed of C−C and C−H show a low electric polarization, and therefore, there is only very weak interaction between alkanes and adsorbents. Thus, it is difficult to separate a specific alkane from a mixture of alkanes by adsorption. Here, two activated “channel-like” crystals generated from brominated thiacalix[4]arene propyl ethers, which adopt 1,3-alternate and partial cone conformations, recognize specific alkane vapors depending on alkane-shape and -size, sorting in three-type alkane guests such as linear, branched, and cyclic alkanes. Two activated crystals, which are prepared by removal of solvent upon heating under reduced pressure, incorporate branched and/or cyclic alkane vapors by a unique “gate-opening” mechanism via a crystal transformation in the process. Linear alkane vapors do not trigger gate opening and are not taken up by the activated crystals. The shape and size molecular-recognition properties of the activated crystals promises considerable usefulness for the separation of linear, branched, and cyclic alkanes.     

Electronic transmission and dwell time on a double barrier system with an accelerating quantum well

Resonant tunneling quantum structures consist of asymmetric wells and barriers have been investigated to find their optimized geometrical parameters and potential profile by the numerical calculations. The results show that the widths and the depths of the asymmetric wells have a significant effect on the transmission coefficient and the dwell time. The properties exhibited in this work may establish guidance to the device applications.     

An efficient and facile synthesis of Zn(II) complexes with 2-substituted benzothiazoles and glycine- and alanine-based ligands having antifungal and antibacterial activities

We carried out an efficient and facile synthesis of Zn(II) complexes with heterocyclic ligands based on 2-substituted benzothiazole moieties, 2-(2′-hydroxynaphthyl)benzothiazole, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole, and 2-(2′-merceptophenyl)benzothiazole, and amino acids, glycine and alanine, are reported and also examined for antifungal and antibacterial activities. Ligands and complexes were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis.     

Comparative study of the electrical and dielectric properties of PVA–PEG–Al2O3–MI (M=Na,K, Ag) complex polymer electrolytes

Plasticized nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (PNCPEs) based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–MI (M=Na, K, Ag) dispersed with nanofillers Al₂O₃ and plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been prepared by solution cast technique. The structural properties of the samples have been characterized using various experimental techniques such as XRD, DSC, FTIR and B-G spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity and dielectric constant of the samples have been estimated using a LCZ meter in a wide temperature range, i.e. from 30 to 170 °C. It has been observed that the presence of water molecules in polymer electrolytes significantly affects the mobility of ionic species. The temperature dependent ionic conductivity shows the Arrhenius type behavior separated in three distinct regions. The ionic transference number for all PNCPE samples is found to be ≈1, which strongly suggests their ionic nature.     

Facile room-temperature coprecipitation of uniform barium chlorapatite nanoassemblies as a host photoluminescent material

As an emerging host phosphor material, barium chlorapatite (Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl), is attracting growing attention. However, rare earth-doped Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl phosphors have mainly been obtained via high temperature-based, energy-consuming techniques. In this contribution, we developed a straightforward, facile room-temperature coprecipitation method in the presence of a specific amount of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt that provided Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl nanoparticles self-assembled to construct uniform Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl nanoassemblies (diameter: 80–120 nm) as well as rare earth Tb³⁺-doped Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl:xTb³⁺ nanophosphors. The nanoassemblies were transparent within the ultraviolet and visible spectral range. The Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl:xTb³⁺ nanophosphors exhibited four emission peaks under 228-nm excitation, and the optimal doping amount of Tb³⁺ was 4.0%. In contrast to traditional energy-consuming, high-temperature techniques, the facile room-temperature coprecipitation method developed here represents an attractive alternative route to obtain uniform Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl nanoassemblies and Ba₅(PO₄)₃Cl:xTb³⁺ nanophosphors that are candidate luminescent hosts.     

Sustainability,indeterminacy and oscillations in a growth model with environmental assets

We consider an economy where welfare of a continuum of (identical) agents depends on three goods: leisure, a free access renewable environmental asset and a produced good which can be consumed or saved to accumulate physical capital. We assume that aggregate consumption depletes the natural resource and that economic agents take as exogenously given the negative impact on the environmental asset by aggregate consumption. In this context, we show that indeterminacy and oscillating behavior may arise.