The electric saturation of molecular alignment in liquid nitrobenzene as studied by NMR

Quadrupolar line splittings in the ¹⁴N and ²H spectra of liquid nitrobenzene, induced by an external electric field, were studied up to very high electric field strengths (E ≈ 1.8 × 10⁷ V m^?1). At moderate fields the line splittings are proportional to E²; at the fields attained in the present experiments higher order effects become detectable. This phenomenon is related to electric saturation: the change of the permittivity in a strong electric field. Nitrobenzene has been reported to exhibit an anomalous saturation effect of the permittivity, but the saturation of the molecular alignment appears to be normal     

Analysis of impact-excited HeI states by applying magnetic and electric depolarization techniques

The magnetic depolarization of the impact radiation at λ(4¹ D?2¹ P)=492 nm and λ(3¹ D?2¹ P) = 668 nm as well as the splitting of the magnetic depolarisation signals in electric fields were investigated for 10–25 keV H ₂ ⁺ (D ₂ ⁺ )-He collisions (only 492 nm line) and for 5-22.5 keV He-He collisions (both lines). The results are compared with analogous measurements for He⁺- He and Ne⁺ - He collisions and the dynamics of the excitation process are qualitatively discussed. In particular, we emphasize the importance of inertia for the evolution of the electron cloud during the final phase of the collision process.     

The pair polarizabilities of Li+/Li+ and Cl−/Cl−

Ab initio SCF MO energies and pair polarizabilities are reported for the pairs Li⁺/Li⁺ and Cl^?/Cl^? over the ranges of internuclear separation which are of importance in molten LiCl. The shapes of the β(R) curves resemble those of inert gas diatoms. The Cl^?/Cl^? interaction is predicted to make a rather small contribution to those properties of molten LiCl which depend on $\text{α}$⁽²⁾(R), and a larger contribution to properties which depend on β(R). The Li⁺/Li⁺ interaction contributes almost nothing to the bulk polarizability.     

Dispersion interaction between helium atoms

Accurate values for the coefficients of the R^?6, R^?8 and R^?10 in the series representation of the dispersion interaction between two helium atoms at distance R are obtained by a simple variation method.     

Free-radical decarboxylation of carboxylic acids as a concerted abstraction and fragmentation reaction

Two variants of the reaction of radicals with the carboxyl group of carboxylic acids, namely, RO ₂ ^? + R _i COOH → ROOH + R _i CO ₂ ^? and RO _i ^? + R _j COOH → ROOH + R _i ^? + CO₂ are theoretically analyzed. It is demonstrated by the intersecting-parabolas method that if the reaction proceeded via the formation of an intermediate carboxyl radical, it would be much slower than is actually observed. Quantum-chemical calculations carried out by the density functional method using the nonempirical functional PBE have shown that the reactions of the methyl radical with the carboxyl group of acetic, butyric and vinylacetic acids include concerted H atom abstraction and C-C bond breaking. In the framework of the intersecting-parabolas model, an algorithm has been developed to calculate the activation energy and rate constant for X^? + R _i COOH → XH + CO₂ + R _i ^? reactions, where X = R^?, RO^?, HO^?, ArO^?, Ar₂N^? or H^?     

A highly efficient electric additive for enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

N-cetylpyridinium iodide (N-CPI) as a new electric additive for enhancing photovoltaic performance of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was studied. It showed high efficiency for enhancing both the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current density of DSSC when the suitable amount of N-CPI as 0.02 M was added in liquid electrolyte. The energy conversion efficiency of DSSC increased from 4.429% to 6.535%, with 47.55% enhancement. Therefore, it is a highly efficient electric additive for DSSC. The intrinsic reason is owing to the special molecular structure of N-CPI, which contains two different polarity groups. As a surfactant, N-CPI could form ordered arrangement in liquid electrolyte, which affects the diffusing ability and the redox reaction of I^?/I ₃ ^? , and further affects the photovoltaic performance of DSSC.     

CEPA calculations of potential energy surfaces for open-shell systems.: III. Van der Waals interaction between O(3P) and He(1S)

Quantum-chemical ab initio calculations have been performed for the van der Waals interaction between helium and oxygen atoms in their respective ground states: He(¹S)+ O(³P). As long as fine-structure effects are neglected, there are two low-lying electronic states, ³Σ^? and ³Π resulting from the degeneracy of the O(³P) ground state. Both states are purely repulsive at the SCF level, after inclusion of electronic correlation by the CEPA method they exhibit shallow van der Waals (dispersion) minima at large interatomic separation: R_? = 3.61 Å, ? = 1.0 meV (³Σ^?) and R_? = 3.05 Å, ? = 2.3 meV (³Π). The analysis of the results shows the very slow convergence of the dispersion interaction with increasing basis size, while SCF repulsion and the repulsion due to the change of the intra-atomic correlation are obtained reasonably accurately with moderate basis stes. Van der Waals coefficients C₆, C₈, C₁₀, potential curves of the type HFD (i.e. Hartree-Fock plus damped dispersion) and the influence of fine-structure effects (mainly spin-orbit coupling) on the shape of the adiabatic potential curves are discussed as well.     

Anisotropy in radiative decay of Ca I in an electric field

The angular distribution of the electric-field-inducedE1 radiation is asymmetric with respect to the electric field direction as a result of mixing of states of different parity. Measurement of this anisotropy in atomic calcium permits the experimental determination of the decay rate between the¹ P and metastable¹ D levels. We obtain the resultA(4s4p ¹ P ₁ ⁰ ?5s4d ¹ D ₂)=(3.32±0.85±0.50)×10³ s^?1.     

Comparative performance of LiMn2O4 spinel compositions with carbon nanotubes and graphite in Li prototype battery

We reported previously the superiority of electrochemical characteristics of the mechanical mixtures of micrometer LiMn₂O₄ spinel with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MCNT) over those of spinel compositions with natural graphite in the prototypes of the Li-ion batteries. In the presented work, we extended the investigation of the kinetic and interfacial characteristics of the spinel in the redox reaction with the Li ion. Slow-rate scan cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were used. Carbon electroconductive fillers, their nature, and particle sizes play the key role in the efficiency of the electrochemical transformation of spinel in Li-ion batteries. Electrodes based on the composition of the spinel and MCNT show a good cycling stability and efficiency at the discharge rate of 2C. Chemical diffusion coefficients of Li ion, which were determined in spinel composite with MCNT and graphite near potentials of peak activity in deintercalation/intercalation processes, change within one order of 10^?12 cm² s^?1. The value of this chemical diffusion coefficient for the composition of the spinel with MCNT and with graphite change within one order of 10^?12 cm² s^?1. The data of the impedance spectroscopy shows that the resistance of surface films on the spinel (R _s) is low and does not considerably differ from R _s in composites of the spinel with MCNT and graphite. The investigation shows that the resistance of charge transport (R _ct) through the boundary of surface film/spinel composite is dependent on the conductive filler. Value of R _ct in spinel electrode decreases by the factor of thousand in the presence of carbon filler. Exchange current of spinel electrode increases from the order of 10^?7 to 10^?4 A cm^?2 under the influence of MCNT. At the potentials of maximum activity in deintercalation processes, exchange current of spinel composite electrode with MCNT is 2.2–3.0 times more than one of the composite with graphite. Determining role of the resistance of charge transport in electrode processes of spinel is established. The value of R _ct is dependent on the resistance in contacts between spinel particles and also between particles and current collectors. Contact resistance decreases under the influence of MCNT with more efficiency than under the influence of graphite EUZ-M because of small the size of its particles with high surface area of the MCNT.     

Continuous sorption of synthetic dyes on dried biomass of microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The sorption of thioflavine T (TT) and malachite green (MG) cationic synthetic dyes on dried biomass of green microalga (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) immobilised in polyurethane foam under continuous column systems conditions using spectrophotometric methods of detection was investigated. Data characterising the sorption of TT and MG on microalgal biomass immobilised in polyurethane foam in a column system from single (C ₀ = 25 μmol dm^?3) or binary equimolar (C ₀ = 25 μmol dm^?3) dye solutions in the form of breakthrough curves were well described by the Thomas (R ² = 0.994–0.912), Yoon-Nelson (R ² = 0.994–0.911), and Clark (R ² = 0.993–0.911) models. Useful parameters characterising the sorption column system were obtained from these mathematical models. The Thomas model, in particular, provided the Q _max (maximal sorption capacity in μmol g^?1) parameter for characterisation of biosorbent and also for evaluation of competitive effects in the TT and MG dyes sorption. For the purposes of biomass regeneration, a one-step desorption of the dyes studied from the microalgal biomass in batch and continuous column systems was performed. Efficiency of TT desorption from microalgal biomass increased in the order: deionised H₂O (50.7 %), 99.5 vol. % 1,4-dioxane (67 %), 20 mmol dm^?3 NiCl₂ (83 %), 96 vol. % ethanol (85 %), 0.1 mol dm^?3 HCl (89 %), 1 mol dm^?3 acetic acid (89 %). In the case of MG, the desorption efficiency increased in the order: deionised H₂O (13 %), 20 mmol dm^?3 NiCl₂ (50 %), 0.1 mol dm^?3 HCl (91 %), 99.5 vol. % 1,4-dioxane (94 %), 1 mol dm^?3 acetic acid (99 %), 96 vol. % ethanol (> 99 %). The presence of carboxyl, phosphoryl, amino, and hydroxyl groups, the important functional groups for sorption of cationic xenobiotics, was also confirmed on the algae biomass surface by potentiometric titration and ProtoFit modelling software. The data obtained showed that the dried immobilised algae biomass could be used as a sorbent for removing toxic xenobiotics from liquid wastewaters or contaminated waters and also presenting the possibilities of mathematical modelling of sorption processes in continuous column systems in order to obtain important parameters for use in practice.     

1H NMR utilization of through-space effects in configurational assignments. I—application to nitriles; determination of the separate effects of the electric field and anisotropy of the CN group

The changes in chemical shift induced by isomerization for all the ring protons of the Z- and E-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenylidene acetonitriles depend only on the through-space effects of the cyano group. The configurational assignments were made taking into consideration the anisotropic and electric field effects, either separately or together. In the first case, the total effects are Δ_XCN^T=?14.7×10^?6cm³ mol^?1 and bμ_CN^T=14.7×10^?30 cm³, respectively. The second approach allows the estimation of the values Δ_XCN=?4.9 × 10^?6 cm³ mol^?1 and bμ_CN=9.8 × 10^?3 cm³, reflecting the combined contributions of magnetic anisotropy and electric field to the total effect.     

On the validity of a modified Buckingham potential for the rare gas dimers at intermediate distances

The Buckingham potential has been modified to include the R^?8 and R^?10 dispersion terms. All the potential parameters are known for the rare gas dimers either from SCF or TFD calculations at short distances or perturbation calculations at long distances. Computed well potential parameters R₀ and R_m are found to be in excellent agreement (< 5%), while ? values are in reasonable agreement (≈ 25%) with the most recent experimental results.     

Semiclassical variational study of size effects in neutral and charged jellium droplets

An analytic expression for the total energy of metallic clusters composed ofN identical atoms of valencev and with net chargeQ is obtained by means of a variational solution of the Thomas-Fermi-Weizsäcker energy density functional within the spherical jellium model. The minimum energy is given as an expansion in decreasing powers of the cluster radiusR=r _s Z ^1/3, withZ=vN andr _s the radius per electron of the bulk metal. The coefficients are obtained as functions ofr _s . Terms of volume (R ³), surface (R ²), curvature (R), constant (R ⁰), (1/R) and (1/R ²) are clearly separated in the formula, as well as the different contributions (kinetic, coulombic and exchange-correlation) to each of them. The asymptotic values (R→∞) for the work functions,W(r _s ), and surface energies σ(r _s ), are compared to analogous semiclassical and Kohn-Sham calculations of jellium-like surfaces and to the experimental values. The size dependent behaviour of chemical potentials, μ(R), electron affinities,AF(R), and ionization potentials,IP(R), are easily obtained for any kind of metallic clusters. In particular we discuss the Coulomb and quantum corrections to the coefficients β, δ in the asymptotic formulae:IP?W+β/R andAF?W+δ/R.     

Photoelectric,nonlinear optical,and photorefractive properties of composites based on poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylcarbazole) and gallium phthalocyaninate

Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) layers containing tetra-5-crown-5-gallium phthalocyaninate (R₄Pc)Ga(OH) are shown to possess photoelectric and photorefractive sensitivity at a wavelength of 1064 nm. This effect is associated with the formation of supramolecular ensembles of (R₄Pc)Ga(OH) molecules with electronic optical absorption in the near-IR range and nonlinear optical properties. For the composite containing 5 wt % (R₄Pc)Ga(OH) supramolecular ensembles, the dependence of the quantum efficiency of mobile-charge photogeneration on electric field E ₀ is well fit by the Onsager equation expanded to E ₀ ³ at a quantum yield of electron-hole pairs of φ₀ = 0.9 s with an initial separation radius of r ₀ = 9.8 Å susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ equal to 1.85 × 10^?10 esu is measured via the well-known method of electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation. Two-beam-coupling gain coefficient Γ is found to be 80 cm^?1 at E ₀ = 120 V/μm.     

Potential energy curves for ground and excited states of NaLi from ab initio calculations with effective core polarization potentials

Sixteen low-lying electronic states of NaLi are investigated by SCF/valence Cl calculations including core polarization effects by means of an effective potential. Spectroscopic constants are obtained with estimated uncertainties of ΔR_e ? 0.01 Å, Δω_e ? 0.6 cm^?1 and ΔD_e ? 80 cm^?1. From a comparison of experimental and theoretical G(υ) values, we suggest a ground-state dissociation energy of 7093 ± 5 cm^?1. Using our rovibrational energies and recently measured excitation lines, we are able to improve the T_e values and dissociation energies of five excited states to an accuracv of ±8 cm^?1.     

Nature of interaction energy anisotropy in the Li(<Superscript>2</Superscript>S)–HF (˜X<Superscript>1</Superscript>Σ<Superscript>+</Superscript>) van der Waals complex. A theoretical study

The potential-energy surface for the Li(²S)–HF (? X¹Σ⁺ interaction, where HF is kept rigid, is calculated using the supermolecular unrestricted fourth-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory. The basis set superposition error corrected potential indicates two minima. The global minimum occurs for the bent Li...FH structure at R=1.95 Å and θ=70° with a relatively deep well of D_e=1,706 cm^?1 and the secondary minimum is found for the linear Li...HF configuration at R=4.11 Å with a well depth ofD_e=288 cm^?1. A barrier of 177 cm^?1 (with respect to the secondary linear minimum) separates these two minima. In this study 27 bound states of the bent Li...FH minimum and eight bound states of the linear Li...HF minimum up to the Li+HF dissociation threshold are calculated. The energy partitioning using the intermolecular perturbation theory scheme shows that the origins of the stability of the structures studied are entirely different. The global minimum is stabilised using the attractive Coulombic interaction and unrestricted Hartree–Fock deformation energy. The latter term originates from the mutual electric polarisation effects. The secondary linear minimum is mostly determined by the anisotropy of the repulsive Heitler–London exchange-penetration and attractive dispersion energies.     

Rydberg and autoionization tm states investigation by the three-step laser excitation and electric field ionization method

The energies of 190 Rydberg and autoionization 4f ¹³ 6snp-states of the Tm atom (ground electron configuration 4f ¹³ 6s ², nuclear chargeZ=69) have been measured by the laser multistep excitation with subsequent electric field ionization method. The investigation range of these states has been extended towards states with higher and lower values of the principal quantum number. As a result the energies of 160 states have been obtained for the first time. The experiment has been carried out on an automated laser photoionization spectrometer. The measurement accuracy has been ±0.5 cm^?1.     

Raman optical activity of tartaric acid and related molecules

The Raman optical activity spectra of (2R, 3R) (+)- and (2S,3S) (?)-tartaric acid, (2R, 3R) (+)-dimethyl tartrate, (2R,3R) (?)-2,3-butanediol and (2S, 3S) (+)-dibenzoyl tartaric acid are presented. A large couplet at about 500cm^?1 in the first three molecules, which probably originates in deformations of a chiral structural unit, might serve as an indicator of conformation and absolute configuration.     

Calculation of molecular electric polarizabilities and dipole moments. III. BH molecule

We use a previously proposed variation-perturbation method to calculate the electric polarizabilities and the electric dipole moment at equilibrium nuclear distance of the BH molecule. We obtain 3.56 × 10^?24 cm³ for the perpendicular polarizability α_xx and 3.22 × 10^?24 cm³ for the parallel polarizability α_zz. Our result for the electric dipole moment μ₀ is 1.734 debye units; there is no reliable experimental result to compare it with.     

Effects of Aerosol-OT reversed micelles in carbon tetrachloride on acid-base indicator equilibria

ApparentpK _a values of thymol blue solubilized in Aerosol-OT reversed micelles in carbon tetrachloride at 25 °C were determined spectrophotometrically. The effects of the Aerosol-OT concentration and the (water)/(surfactant)R ratio were investigated. The apparentpK _a values increase as a function of increasing (R). All the measuredpK _a values are less than that in water. The decrease ranges from 1.23 units (detergent=0.4 M,R=1.39) to 0.42 units (Aerosol-OT=0.6 M,R=9,25). These results are rationalized in terms of decreased hydronium ion activity in the micellar core due to its binding to the detergent SO₃ ^? groups.