Hydrophobic Monomers Recognize Microenvironments in Hydrogel Microspheres during Free-Radical-Seeded Emulsion Polymerization

The three-dimensional structure of nanocomposite microgels was precisely determined by cryo-electron micrography. Several nanocomposite microgels that differ with respect to their nanocomposite structure, which were obtained from seeded emulsion polymerization in the presence of microgels, were used as model nanocomposite materials for cryo-electron micrography. The obtained three-dimensional segmentation images of these nanocomposite microgels provide important insights into the interactions between the hydrophobic monomers and the microgels, that is, hydrophobic styrene monomers recognize molecular-scale differences in polarity within the microgels during the emulsion polymerization. This result led to the formation of unprecedented multi-layered nanocomposite microgels, which promise substantial potential in colloidal applications.     

Distance-based classifier by data transformation for high-dimension,strongly spiked eigenvalue models

Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics - We consider classifiers for high-dimensional data under the strongly spiked eigenvalue (SSE) model. We first show that high-dimensional data...     

Energy extraction in dual-wavelength Q-switched laser with a common upper laser level

The effect of lower-laser-level lifetimes on Q-switched pulse generation in a dual-wavelength solid-state laser with a common upper laser level was numerically and experimentally investigated. A rate-equation model that accounts for finite lower-laser-level lifetimes was developed, and for a Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 and 1319 nm, numerical simulations of dual-wavelength pulse generation were performed with and without the effects of lower-laser-level lifetimes. In the laser experiments, characteristics of the dual-wavelength Q-switched pulses agree reasonably well with theoretical predictions. As a result, we found that both the total energy of the two Q-switched pulses and the ratio of 1064–1319-nm pulse energies were strongly affected by the lower-laser-level lifetimes when the Q-switched pulse width was comparable or shorter than the lower-laser-level lifetime.     

High‐performance liquid chromatography separation of unsaturated organic compounds by a monolithic silica column embedded with silver nanoparticles

The optimization of a porous structure to ensure good separation performances is always a significant issue in high‐performance liquid chromatography column design. Recently we reported the homogeneous embedment of Ag nanoparticles in periodic mesoporous silica monolith and the application of such Ag nanoparticles embedded silica monolith for the high‐performance liquid chromatography separation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. However, the separation performance remains to be improved and the retention mechanism as compared with the Ag ion high‐performance liquid chromatography technique still needs to be clarified. In this research, Ag nanoparticles were introduced into a macro/mesoporous silica monolith with optimized pore parameters for high‐performance liquid chromatography separations. Baseline separation of benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene was achieved with the theoretical plate number for analyte naphthalene as 36 000 m^?1. Its separation function was further extended to cis/trans isomers of aromatic compounds where cis/trans stilbenes were chosen as a benchmark. Good separation of cis/trans‐stilbene with separation factor as 7 and theoretical plate number as 76 000 m^?1 for cis‐stilbene was obtained. The trans isomer, however, is retained more strongly, which contradicts the long‐ established retention rule of Ag ion chromatography. Such behavior of Ag nanoparticles embedded in a silica column can be attributed to the differences in the molecular geometric configuration of cis/trans stilbenes.     

Iron–Oxalato Framework with One‐Dimensional Open Channels for Electrochemical Sodium‐Ion Intercalation

Discovery of a new class of ion intercalation compounds is highly desirable due to its relevance to various electrochemical devices, such as batteries. Herein, we present a new iron–oxalato open framework, which showed reversible Na⁺ intercalation/extraction. The hydrothermally synthesized K₄Na₂[Fe(C₂O₄)₂]₃ ? 2 H₂O possesses one‐dimensional open channels in the oxalato‐bridged network, providing ion accessibility up to two Na⁺ per the formula unit. The detailed studies on the structural and electronic states revealed that the framework exhibited a solid solution state almost entirely during Na⁺ intercalation/extraction associated with the reversible redox of Fe. The present work demonstrates possibilities of the oxalato frameworks as tunable and robust ion intercalation electrode materials for various device applications.     

A Triphenylamine with Two Phenoxy Radicals Having Unusual Bonding Patterns and a Closed‐Shell Electronic State

Reported herein is the structure and the electronic properties of a novel triphenylamine derivative having two phenoxy radicals appended to the amino nitrogen atom. X‐ray single crystal analysis and the magnetic resonance measurements demonstrates the unexpected closed‐shell electronic structure, even at room temperature, of the molecule and two unusual C? N bonds with multiple‐bond character. The theoretical calculations support the experimentally determined molecular geometry with the closed‐shell electronic structure, and predicted a small HOMO–LUMO gap originating from the nonbonding character of the HOMO. The optical and electrochemical measurements show that the molecule has a remarkably small HOMO–LUMO gap compared with its triphenylamine precursor.     

Stress-concentration factors for semielliptical notches in beams under pure bending

Elliptical notches in rectangular beams under pure bending are examined photoelastically. Stress-concentration factors due to a single elliptical notch are obtained for wide ranges of 2a/h andd/h, where 2a, d, andh are the width of notch, depth of notch, and depth of beam, respectively. In particular, the geometries of the optimum elliptical notches producing the least stress concentrations are obtained. Almost the whole elliptical boundary of these notches are stressed to the same peak, which indicates that these notches will probably produce the least stress concentrations among all notches, elliptical or nonelliptical. The graphs herein will enable the designers to find the stress-concentration factors of elliptical notches and to pick out the geometry of the optimum notch which will give the least stress concentration for any given values of 2a/h andd/h. Stresses and the stress-concentration factors at the bottom of the beam opposite the notch are also obtained. These stresses, though smaller in magnitude, are of an opposite sign to the peak stress at the notch. For brittle materials, a smaller tensile stress may be more critical than a large compressive stress; therefore, these stress-concentration factors are also given.