3D‐morphology reconstruction of nanoscale phase‐separation in polymer memory blends

In many organic electronic devices functionality is achieved by blending two or more materials, typically polymers or molecules, with distinctly different optical or electrical properties in a single film. The local scale morphology of such blends is vital for the device performance. Here, a simple approach to study the full 3D morphology of phase‐separated blends, taking advantage of the possibility to selectively dissolve the different components is introduced. This method is applied in combination with AFM to investigate a blend of a semiconducting and ferroelectric polymer typically used as active layer in organic ferroelectric resistive switches. It is found that the blend consists of a ferroelectric matrix with three types of embedded semiconductor domains and a thin wetting layer at the bottom electrode. Statistical analysis of the obtained images excludes the presence of a fourth type of domains. The criteria for the applicability of the presented technique are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1231–1237     

PtII-Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Terminal Aliphatic C(sp3)−H Bonds with Molecular Oxygen

The practical application of Shilov-type Pt catalysis to the selective hydroxylation of terminal aliphatic C−H bonds remains a formidable challenge, due to difficulties in replacing Pt^IV with a more economically viable oxidant, particularly O₂. We report the potential of employing FeCl₂ as a suitable redox mediator to overcome the kinetic hurdles related to the direct use of O₂ in the Pt reoxidation. For the selective conversion of butyric acid to γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a significantly enhanced catalyst activity and stability (turnover numbers (TON)>30) were achieved under 20 bar O₂ in comparison to current state-of-the-art systems (TON<10). In this regard, essential reaction parameters affecting the overall activity were identified, along with specific additives to attain catalyst stability at longer reaction times. Notably, deactivation by reduction to Pt⁰ was prevented by the addition of monodentate pyridine derivatives, such as 2-fluoropyridine, but also by introducing varying partial pressures of N₂ in the gaseous atmosphere. Finally, stability tests revealed the involvement of Pt^II and FeCl₂ in catalyzing the non-selective overoxidation of GHB. Accordingly, in situ esterification with boric acid proved to be a suitable strategy to maintain enhanced selectivities at much higher conversions (TON>60). Altogether, a useful catalytic system for the selective hydroxylation of primary aliphatic C−H bonds with O₂ is presented.     

Characterization and Computation of Canonical Tight Windows for Gabor Frames

Let (\gnm)_{n,m ? \Zst}(\gnm)_{n,m\in\Zst} be a Gabor frame for \LtR\LtR for given window gg. We show that the window \ho = \SQI g\ho=\SQI g that generates the canonically associated tight Gabor frame minimizes ||g-h||\|g-h\| among all windows hh generating a normalized tight Gabor frame. We present and prove versions of this result in the time domain, the frequency domain, the time-frequency domain, and the Zak transform domain, where in each domain the canonical \ho\ho is expressed using functional calculus for Gabor frame operators. Furthermore, we derive a Wiener--Levy type theorem for rationally oversampled Gabor frames. Finally, a Newton-type method for a fast numerical calculation of \ho\ho is presented. We analyze the convergence behavior of this method and demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm by some numerical examples.     

Choquet-type Integral Representation of Invariant Functions for some Product Semigroups

We show that functions which are invariant for suitable product semigroups (one of which is a quasi-Poisson semigroup on a general state space) decompose into a singular eigen-function and a mixture of products of minimal eigen-functions.     

Multiple Wavelength Extinction Technique for Particle Characterization in Dense Particle Clouds

In utilizing the advantages of extinction measurements in micron and especially submicron particle characterization, the properties of a multiple wavelength extinction technique have been the subject of extended theoretical studies. Furthermore, an experimental set-up was designed which provides high flexibility owing to its modular design. The performance of the technique described is demonstrated by a large variety of applications in aerosol and combustion research and in large-scale industrial systems. It was found to be a reliable tool in characterizing dense particulate systems.     

Essentially optimal explicit Runge–Kutta methods with application to hyperbolic–parabolic equations

Optimal explicit Runge–Kutta methods consider more stages in order to include a particular spectrum in their stability domain and thus reduce time-step restrictions. This idea, so far used mostly for real-line spectra, is generalized to more general spectra in the form of a thin region. In thin regions the eigenvalues may extend away from the real axis into the imaginary plane. We give a direct characterization of optimal stability polynomials containing a maximal thin region and calculate these polynomials for various cases. Semi-discretizations of hyperbolic–parabolic equations are a relevant application which exhibit a thin region spectrum. As a model, linear, scalar advection–diffusion is investigated. The second-order-stabilized explicit Runge–Kutta methods derived from the stability polynomials are applied to advection–diffusion and compressible, viscous fluid dynamics in numerical experiments. Due to the stabilization the time step can be controlled solely from the hyperbolic CFL condition even in the presence of viscous fluxes.     

Fir laser stabilization using stark effect: Data on CH3Br and CH3Cl

Data on the influence of the Stark Effect on an optically pumped FIR laser with CH₃Cl or CH₃Br as active medium are given for various wavelengths. A very simple method for an effective FIR power stabilisation based on the Stark Effect is described. Its working is illustrated with the EPR signal of a 10% diluted DAG sphere.     

Broadband Analysis of Holographic Power Combining Circuits

Holography is a promising technique for power combining applications in the frequency range of short millimeter and submillimeter waves. In this paper, quasi-optical holographic power combining circuits are investigated. An equivalent network is utilized which rigorously models horn arrays and biperiodic dielectric structures in order to design computer-generated holograms. We apply the network model to a 5-element quasi-optical power combiner and demonstrate its capability. The hologram is designed for 150 GHz and has an efficiency of 92.5 % with a 90 % bandwidth of 5.3 %. With the aid of a broadband waveguide power divider and a vector field measurement system, the circuit is analyzed.