Dark Energy with Phantom Crossing and the H0 Tension

We investigate the possibility of phantom crossing in the dark energy sector and the solution for the Hubble tension between early and late universe observations. We use robust combinations of different cosmological observations, namely the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), local measurement of Hubble constant (H0), Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) and SnIa for this purpose. For a combination of CMB+BAO data that is related to early universe physics, phantom crossing in the dark energy sector was confirmed at a 95% confidence level and we obtained the constraint H0=71.0−3.8+2.9 km/s/Mpc at a 68% confidence level, which is in perfect agreement with the local measurement by Riess et al. We show that constraints from different combinations of data are consistent with each other and all of them are consistent with phantom crossing in the dark energy sector. For the combination of all data considered, we obtained the constraint H0=70.25±0.78 km/s/Mpc at a 68% confidence level and the phantom crossing happening at the scale factor am=0.851−0.031+0.048 at a 68% confidence level.     

Influence of Polarity and Activation Energy in Microwave–Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS)

The aim of this work was to determine the parameters that have decisive roles in microwave-assisted reactions and to develop a model, using computational chemistry, to predict a priori the type of reactions that can be improved under microwaves. For this purpose, a computational study was carried out on a variety of reactions, which have been reported to be improved under microwave irradiation. This comprises six types of reactions. The outcomes obtained in this study indicate that the most influential parameters are activation energy, enthalpy, and the polarity of all the species that participate. In addition to this, in most cases, slower reacting systems observe a much greater improvement under microwave irradiation. Furthermore, for these reactions, the presence of a polar component in the reaction (solvent, reagent, susceptor, etc.) is necessary for strong coupling with the electromagnetic radiation. We also quantified that an activation energy of 20–30 kcal mol⁻¹ and a polarity (μ) between 7–20 D of the species involved in the process is required to obtain significant improvements under microwave irradiation.     

Microwave‐assisted polycondensation of 4‐octylaniline with dibromoarylene

The Pd‐catalyzed polycondensation of 4‐octylaniline with various dibromoarylenes was carried out under microwave heating. Microwave heating led to a decrease in the reaction time and an increase in the molecular weight of the polymers as compared to conventional heating. Microwave heating also allowed the catalyst loading to be reduced to 1 mol %, yielding polymerization results that were comparable to those under conventional heating and 5 mol % catalyst. Investigations regarding field‐effect transistors and organic photovoltaic cells using the obtained poly(arylamine) with azobenzene units revealed that increasing the molecular weight of the polymer led to improved device performance, including hole mobility and power conversion efficiency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 536–542     

Development and Optimization of Pre-Concentration Procedure of Rare-Earth Elements (REEs) in Their Minerals,Using Microwave - Assisted Sample Dissolution for ICP-Atomic Emission Spectrometric Detection

The aim of this research was to develop and optimize a procedure for determination of REEs in xenotime and monazite samples collected from Bangka Island, which were compared to Standard Monazite (71 AG) of Bureau of Analyzed Samples, London. ICP-OES method was used for the determination. The samples were dried and sterilized by heating for a week at 110 °C, before digesting with nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid, using a microwave-assisted digestion system. After a careful line selection, at the detection limits for all REEs in the ng/mL the REEs were reliably obtained at the 0.09 – 38% level.     

Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Microwave and Conventional Heated Almond Shells Using Phosphoric Acid Activation

Activated carbon production from almond shells using phosphoric acid activation agent was achieved by applying both conventional heating and microwave heating in succession. The morphology and surface properties of activated carbon were studied using thermogravimetric and differential gravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. A surface area of 1128 m²/g was achieved by optimizing the microwave power (500?W), microwave application time (15?minutes), conventional heating time (45?minutes), conventional heating temperature (500?°C), and the phosphoric acid:sample ratio (0.7:1). An adsorption capacity of methylene blue of 148?mg/g and an iodine value of 791?mg/g was obtained for the prepared activated carbon.     

ZnS中电子陷阱能级对光生电子弛豫过程的影响

采用微波吸收法,测量了在不同助熔剂条件及不同气氛下烧制的ZnS材料受到超短激光脉冲激发后的光电子衰减过程,并且测量了材料的热释光曲线。样品A采用过量的SrCl作为助熔剂,在1150℃下灼烧制备而成;其热释光曲线显示材料中有浅电子陷阱,电子陷阱密度小,光生电子衰减过程为双指数衰减过程,快过程寿命为45ns,慢过程寿命为312ns。样品B中加入了少量的NaCl作为助熔剂;热释光曲线显示有浅电子陷阱和深电子陷阱,且都有较高的密度,其光电子寿命为1615ns。在NH₄Br气氛中烧制样品C,热释光谱显示只有浅电子陷阱形成,光电子寿命为1413ns。结果表明材料的光电子寿命和浅电子陷阱密切相关,浅电子陷阱密度越大,光生电子寿命越长,深电子陷阱对光生电子瞬态过程影响很小。     

Nuclear Quadrupole Coupling Constants of Chlorine and Microwave Spectrum, Structure, and ab Initio Calculation of 1-Chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane

The microwave spectrum of the ³⁵Cl and ³⁷Cl isotopic species of 1-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-133b) has been investigated in the frequency region 10 to 50 GHz using a Stark modulation microwave spectrometer. A pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectrometer was also used for the measurement of hyperfine splittings. A least-squares analysis of the observed b-type Q- and R-branch transition frequencies gave rotational and centrifugal distortion constants and components of the chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling constant tensors in the principal axes system as follows: A=4625.161 (3) MHz, B=2004.127 (2) MHz, C=1875.813 (2) MHz, Δ_J=0.144 (9) kHz, Δ_JK=1.0748 (8) kHz, Δ_K=1.57 (1) kHz, δ_J=0.01376 (4) kHz, δ_K=−0.146 (4) kHz, χ_aa=−57.958 (10) MHz, χ_bb=21.231 (11) MHz, and χ_cc=36.727 (11) MHz for ³⁵ClCF₂CH₂F species, and A=4607.684 (6) MHz, B=1960.565 (2) MHz, C=1834.823 (2) MHz, Δ_J=0.106 (7) kHz, Δ_JK=1.022 (3) kHz, Δ_K=1.48 (1) kHz, δ_J=0.0142 (2) kHz, δ_K=−0.18 (2) kHz, χ_aa=−46.268 (11) MHz, χ_bb=17.319 (13) MHz, and χ_cc=28.950 (13) MHz for ³⁷ClCF₂CH₂F species. The structural parameters are calculated from the observed six rotational constants by assuming the partial structure of ab initio calculation. The electronic properties of the C-Cl bond are evaluated from the observed nuclear quadrupole constants of chlorine. These molecular properties are compared with those of other related molecules.     

On additives, morphological evolution and dielectric breakdown in low density polyethylene

A series of low density polyethylene systems has been studied with respect to structural evolution and short-term dielectric breakdown behaviour. All materials were based upon a single polymer, that is commonly used in high voltage applications, but with different additives. In all three of these systems, multiple melting transitions were observed, as a result of molecular fractionation effects during crystallization. In the virgin polymer, a space-filling banded spherulitic morphology was found to develop at low temperatures (102 °C and below) whereas, at higher temperatures, only a few isolated axialites were observed. Inclusion of the antioxidant resulted in greatly increased nucleation densities, such that, at low temperatures, no evidence of spherulitic organisation remained. At higher temperatures, sheaf-like lamellar aggregates developed, which were much smaller and much more numerous than in the case of the virgin polymer. Further addition of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) resulted in the rapid formation of a crosslinked network at 200 °C. Some crosslinking also occurred at 150 °C, but over a much longer timescale. Where extensive crosslinking occurred prior to crystallization, the resulting gel inhibited structural development, such that only a few small, isolated sheaves were able to form at 102 °C. In view of the principal application area of this material, the breakdown strength of each of the above systems was then measured and the whole data set was analysed statistically. When structural factors were considered alongside the statistics, no clear trends emerged to indicate that either the compositional or morphological variations were reflected in the short-term electrical failure processes.     

Efficient microwave induced direct α-halogenation of carbonyl compounds

A novel and direct method for the synthesis of α-halocarbonyl compounds using sequential treatment of carbonyl compounds with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene followed by magnesium halides under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions is described.     

A convenient strategy of dimerization by microwave heating and using 2,5-diketopiperazine as scaffold

A novel and convenient microwave-assisted dimerization of an active peptide compound using the DKPs as scaffold is described. The key reaction giving rise to the diketopiperazine scaffold is the intermolecular coupling. No epimerization was detected in the reactions used. Conventional and microwave heating of the reactions are compared. Synthesis by microwave irradiation gave the desired compounds in higher yields and in shorter reaction times than those obtained by conventional heating.