Model for phase coexistence in phase transitions

We propose a general model for describing the phenomena of phase coexistence in relation to pressure induced phase transformations by means of the T–P distribution in statistical thermodynamics. Using the well‐known B1–B2 transition in NaCl as a prototype, we demonstrate how phase coexistence gives rise to the changes in the bulk modulus and the equation‐of‐state across the transition. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

AC calorimetric study of phase transitions in phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol systems

Using an ac calorimetric method, detailed behaviour of the heat capacity in dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol system was studied in the cholesterol concentration less than 5 mol%. It was revealed that the heat capacity near the main transition was composed of at least four anomalies, i.e., multipeak took place in the heat capacity. This fact indicates that a simple theory explaining coexistence of two phases in two component systems does not work in the multipeak region. Then, relation between the multipeak heat capacity and the change of the ripple structure with the cholesterol concentration should be taken into account, when we consider thermodynamical behaviour of the systems.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels AC-Kalorimetrie wurde bei Cholesterol-Konzentrationen von weniger als 5 mol% das Verhalten der Wärmekapazität im System Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholin-Cholesterol untersucht. Es wurde gezeigt, daß sich die Wärmekapazität in der Nähe der Hauptumwandlung aus mindestens vier Anomalien zusammensetzt, d.h. bei der Wärmekapazität kann ein Multipeak beobachtet werden. Diese Tatsache zeigt, daß eine einfache Theorie, welche die Koexistenz zweier Phasen in einem Zweikomponenten-System erklärt, für die Multipeakregion nicht geeignet ist. Weiterhin sollte bei Überlegungen zum thermodynamischen Verhalten von Systemen eine Beziehung zwischen der Multipeak-Wärmekapazität bzw. der Welligkeitsstruktur und der Cholesterol-Konzentration berücksichtigt werden.

     

Photoinduced phase transitions and helix untwisting in the SmC* phase of a novel cinnamoyl-based liquid crystal

A photoinduced phase transition and helix untwisting in a new liquid crystal forming the SmC* phase were studied in detail. The compound consists of a cinnamoyl photosensitive fragment with C?=?C double bond capable of photoisomerisation and photocycloaddition. It was shown that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (365 nm) induces an extreme decrease in phase transitions temperatures (SmC*–SmA*, SmA*–N*, N*–I). Vertically aligned samples in the SmC* phase cause selective light reflection in the visible spectral range. The light action results in a noticeable helix untwisting that causes a shift in the selective light reflection peak to the long-wavelength spectral region. The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarisation P _s was measured and it was found that UV irradiation induces a decrease in the values of P _s. Photo-optical phenomena taking place in the liquid crystal are attributed to the formation of photoproducts having low anisometry, which disrupts mesophases.     

Surface crystallization and phase transitions of the adsorbed film of F(CF<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>12</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>16</Subscript>H at the surface of liquid tetradecane

The interaction between a long chain alkane, tetradecane (abbreviated H₁₄), molecule and a semi-fluorinated alkane, 1-perfluorododecyl-hexadecane F(CF₂)₁₂(CH₂)₁₆H (abbreviated F₁₂H₁₆), molecule at the air/ H₁₄ solution interface was studied by measuring the surface tension of the H₁₄ solutions of F₁₂H₁₆ as a function of temperature and bulk concentration under atmospheric pressure. Pure liquid H₁₄ freezes without forming a condensed film at its surface. Nevertheless, a very small amount of F₁₂H₁₆ initiates the surface freezing of H₁₄. In contrast to the F₁₂H₁₆-hexadecane (abbreviated H₁₆) system, the condensed monolayer of H₁₄ has a finite solubility of F₁₂H₁₆ in the F₁₂H₁₆-H₁₄ system. By further increasing the bulk concentration of F₁₂H_16, the F₁₂ chains of the F₁₂H₁₆ molecules form the other closely packed condensed state. Hence, as in the case of the H₁₆ system, the H₁₄ system also exhibits a surface hetero-azeotrope behavior in the lower temperature region. Below the surface hetero-azeotropic point, the condensed H₁₄ monolayer containing a small amount of F₁₂H₁₆ is completely replaced by the condensed monolayer of F₁₂H₁₆. At 2 °C, for example, a surface of H₁₄ solution of F₁₂H₁₆ covered with a gaseous film of F₁₂H₁₆ is replaced by a condensed H₁₄ monolayer containing an almost gaseous state of F₁₂H₁₆, and is then completely replaced by the condensed monolayer of F₁₂H₁₆ with increasing bulk concentration. Above the temperature of the triple point for the F₁₂H₁₆ monolayer, the F₁₂H₁₆-H₁₄ system exhibits a gaseous, expanded, and condensed state.     

Nematic to smectic-A phase transition in mixture of liquid crystal and nonmesogenic impurities: existence of tricritical point

Experiments on the mixture of liquid crystals and nonmesogenic impurities showed the significant role of nonmesogenic impurities on the nematic–smectic-A phase transition. Using both Flory–Huggins theory of isotropic mixing and Landau–de Gennes theory, we present a phenomenological theory that discusses the role of such impurities on the nematic–smectic-A phase transition in a mixture of smectic liquid crystal and nonmesogenic impurities. We discuss the impact of nonmesogenic impurities on the order parameters, Frank elastic constants (splay and bend) and transition temperature of the nematic–smectic-A phase transition. Our theoretical results show that there exists a tricritical point for which the second-order nematic–smectic-A phase transition becomes first order at a tricritical point by increasing the concentration of nonmesogenic solute. We find a remarkable agreement between theoretical and experimental results.     

Observation of multiple phase transitions in some even n-alkanes using a high resolution and super-sensitive DSC

The phase transitions of even n-alkanes, n-C₃₄H₇₀, n-C₃₆H₇₄, n-C₄₀H₈₂ and n-C₄₂H₈₆ with high purity have been measured using a high resolution and super-sensitive DSC. A new transition in the low temperature phase was observed in all the samples in the heating run. The surface freezing phenomenon was observed by thermal measurement for the first time in all the samples both in the heating and in the cooling run. The difference of the thermal behaviors between the heating and cooling run was also observed in all the samples.     

Distinct phase transitions and dielectric anomalies in two 4-methylanilinium salts

Solid-state phase transitions of 4-methylanilinium perchlorate (4-CH 3 C 6 H 4 NH 3 ·ClO 4 , 1) and tetrafluoroborate (4-CH 3 C 6 H 4 - NH 3 ·BF 4 , 2) were investigated with variable-temperature X-ray single-crystal structure analysis and thermal studies. Both 1 and 2 undergo first-order phase transitions and exhibit distinct dielectric anomalies at 385 and 247 K, respectively.     

Thermal characteristics of solid-solid phase transitions in long-chain dialkyl ammonium salts

A series of symmetrical dialkyl ammonium salts, DC_nX, has been prepared and characterized with respect to temperature and enthalpy of solid-solid phase transitions, temperature of melting, thermal stability as well as the reversibility of the phase transitions. The number of carbon atoms, C_n, was varied between 8 and 18 and as anions X halides, nitrate, chlorate, perchlorate and hydrogen sulphate had been chosen. In dependence on chain length and anion type transition temperatures from 20 to 100 °C were observed. Mass specific solid-solid transition enthalpies reach values of 185 J g⁻¹, which makes this class of substances attractive for heat storage applications. The influence of anion type on the transition enthalpies is explained in terms of packing requirements, hydrogen bond network formation and contributions from hindered anion rotation.     

DSC study of phase transitions of cephalin pseudo-binary systems in excess water

The gel-liquid crystal phase transitions of the pseudo-binary systems of cephalins DMPE and DHPE in excess water were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The phase diagram of the pseudo-binary systems has been given. The experiments showed that the partial phase separation in gel phase might occur at least at the mole fractions of DHPE below 0.1. The analysis by the model of ideal solution showed that both the cephalins were non-ideally miscible both in the gel phases and in the liquid crystal phases. The analysis by the model of regular solution showed that all the non-ideality parameters in the gel phases were larger than those in the liquid crystal phases at the same temperature. All the non-ideality parameters were not constant, but rather dependent on temperature.     

Infrared analysis of phase transitions in liquid crystal acrylate monomers bearing urethanic groups and cholesteryl as mesogen

An infrared analysis of phase transitions in three enantiotropic liquid crystalline acrylate monomers with different spacer lengths bearing urethane groups and cholesteryl as mesogen was carried out. Through heating and cooling, spectral modifications especially at the level of carbonyl, –NH– and urethane alkoxyl oxygen groups were found. These findings reveal the influence of hydrogen bonding on mesomorphic properties of the studied compounds mentioning that both liquid crystal transitions are evidenced by the spectral changes. For all the compounds studied, the values of the transition temperatures deduced from the spectral modifications are in good agreement with those obtained from DSC measurements.     

Ferroelectric phase transitions in Pb2xSn2(1-x)P2Se6 system

Heat capacities of the Pb_2xSn_2(1-x)P₂Se₆ crystals (x=0, 0.098, 0.251, 0.402 and 1.0) were measured using an adiabatic calorimeter at temperatures between 10 and 350 K. In the crystal of x=0, two heat capacity anomalies corresponding to the ferroelectric commensurate - intermediate incommensurate(C-IC) phase transition temperature T _i, and the incommensurate - paraelectric (IC-N) phase transition temperature T _c, were observed at 193.24±0.10 and 220.07±0.15 K, respectively. The phase transition temperatures decreased with an increase in Pb²⁺ concentration. The anomaly at Ti disappeared at x=0.251 in the mixed systems of the Pb_2xSn_2(1-x)P₂Se₆. In the crystal of Pb₂P₂Se₆ (x=1.0), no phase transition was observed. The normal heat capacities for the mixed crystals were determined by least squares fitting of the Debye and Einstein functions to the experimental data. The anomalous heat capacities gave the phase transition entropies of 8.5 and 1.5 J mol^-1 K^-1 for x=0. The large transition entropies are consistent with an order-disorder mechanism in the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transitions in x=0. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spontaneous formation of liquid crystalline phases and phase transitions in highly concentrated plasmid DNA

The liquid crystalline (LC) properties of two supercoiled plasmid DNA samples, pBSK (2958 bp) and pGEM (3000 bp), have been studied using polarised light microscopy (PLM), circular dichroism (CD) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The influence of methods of isolation on plasmid LC behaviour is described, and using PLM we have demonstrated the spontaneous formation of cholesteric fingerprint-like textures. Preliminary studies of LC phase transitions in pGEM show the irreversibility of LC phase formation, as a consequence of changes in the tertiary structure of supercoiled plasmids. Using UV–Vis spectroscopy a hyperchromic effect was observed with increasing temperature. The CD spectra clearly showed structural changes, and probably mismatching of DNA bases, during cooling. Finally, we have observed an irreversible phase transition in plasmid DNA which is very different from that previously reported in linear DNA.     

Specific heat study of the complex phase transitions in magnetism and dielectricity on triangular lattice antiferromagnets

The complex phase transitions involving dielectricity and magnetism on distorted triangular lattice antiferromagnets, "KNiC_l3-family" crystals, which have the crystal structures derived from the prototype CsNiCl₃, were studied through the heat capacity measurements. These crystals are classified into characteristic three groups from the viewpoint of magnetic and structural properties clarified so far. The results of the dielectric constant measurement as a function of temperature are also presented in detail. The present calorimetric study reveaed that the structural successive phase transitions rather than the magnetic transitions in these crystals are recognized more distinctly as the presence of specific heat anomalies at the respective phase transition points. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structural phase transitions in Zn(CN)2 under high pressures

High pressure behavior of zinc cyanide (Zn(CN)₂) has been investigated with the help of synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction measurements. Our studies reveal that under pressure this compound undergoes phase transformations and the structures of the new phases depend on whether the pressure is hydrostatic or not. Under hydrostatic conditions, Zn(CN)₂ transforms from cubic to orthorhombic to cubic-II to amorphous phases. In contrast, the non-hydrostatic pressure conditions drive the ambient cubic phase to a partially disordered crystalline phase, which eventually evolves to a substantially disordered phase. The final disordered phase in the latter case is distinct from the amorphous phase observed under the hydrostatic pressures.     

Surface effects on phase transition behavior and thermal polymerization of long-chain diynoic acids in micro DSC measurements

Effects of metal surfaces, such as aluminium, silver and gold, on the melting behavior and thermal polymerization of long-chain diynoic acids having a diacetylene group at different positions were investigated by thermal analyses using DSC, TG and other methods. The surface effects of metals were significant in the order of Ag, Al and Au. These effects are attributable to the anchoring of carboxyl group on the surface by chemisorption, which leads to unfavorable condition for polymerization of heptadeca-2,4-diynoic acid. In the case of tricosa-10,12-diynoic acid, containing a flexible methylene chain, inserted between COOH and C≡C?C≡C groups, the anchoring of COOH on the metal surface causes rather favorable effect on the polymerization.     

Surface modification of MCM-41 and its application in DNA adsorption

Three types of MCM-41 absorbents, namely, Al~(3+)–MCM-41, La~(3+)–MCM-41, and Zn~(2+)–MCM-41, were prepared through amine grafting, phosphonate modification, and metal ion chelation and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2adsorption–desorption analysis. Results revealed that functionalized MCM-41 maintains the original structure of the molecular sieve and that the pore diameter and surface area are reduced compared with those of pure MCM-41. The adsorption behavior of DNA molecules on the surface of the modified molecular sieves was discussed according to the hard-soft acid–base(HSAB) principle. Experimental results showed that DNA purification could be effectively carried out on functionalized MCM-41 and that DNA is easily released by3–4 molL~(-1)NaCl solution. This study could be used as a general platform for future work on DNA adsorption and enrichment.     

Cation disorder and phase transitions in the four-layer ferroelectric Aurivillius phases ABi4Ti4O15 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb)

Crystal structures of a series of bi-layered compounds ABi₄Ti₄O₁₅ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb) have been investigated using a combination of synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. All four oxides adopt an orthorhombic structure at room temperature and the structures have been refined in space group A2₁am. This orthorhombic structure is a consequence of a combination of rotation of the TiO₆, resulting from the less than optimal size of the A-type cation, and displacement of the Ti atoms towards the Bi₂O₂ layers. There is partial disorder of the Bi and A-type cations over two of the three available sites, which increases in the order Ca<Sr and Pb<Ba.     

High spin/low spin phase transitions of a spin-crossover complex in the emulsion polymerization of trifluoroethylmethacrylate (TFEMA) using PVA as a protective colloid

We have studied the magnetic properties of an Fe(II) spin-crossover complex near its high spin/low spin (HS/LS) phase transition in the emulsion polymerization of trifluoroethylmethacrylate (TFEMA) using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a protective colloid, in comparison with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Morphological analysis was used to establish that the nanodispersed spin-crossover complex was incorporated into the cores of polymer particles covered with PVA shells. The obvious bi-stability of the HS/LS phase transition was considered by the identification of multiplet states such as the triplet (S = 1) and quintet (S = 2) states, and the paramagnetic state (S = 1/2), by noting a gradual shift of g-value anisotropy in the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum at 5 K. This was thought to have arisen from the exchange interaction as a Jahn–Teller effect in the emulsion particles. Chemical modifications such as ligand substitution, and the nature of the central metal atom in the emulsion particle, especially influenced the HS/LS phase transition.     

Structure and phase transitions in poly[bis-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy) phosphazene]

The structure and phase transitions in poly[bis-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)phosphazene] have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction. Two crystalline phases and one mesomorphic phase are found, denoted I, II, and III, respectively. These phases convert reversibly one into the other on heating and cooling. The Phase I–Phase II transition occurs in a temperature range from 5 to 30°C whereas the Phase II mesophase (Phase III) transition proceeds above 80°C. Heats of transitions are measured to be about 29.0 J/g and 3.6 J/g, respectively. Crystalline Phase I is characterized by a monoclinic unit cell with the parameters: α = 24.4 Å, b = 9.96 Å, c = 4.96 Å, γ = 123°. The axes of both chains, traversing the unit cell, are directed along the “c” axis, the main chains having cis-trans conformation. Phase I is the common crystalline structure for the main chain and side chains. The structure of Phase II is controlled mainly by packing of the side chains. Transition of Phase II into mesomorphic Phase III is accompanied with distortion of packing of the side chains. Only regular packing of the main chains of macromolecules in the plane perpendicular to their axes exists in Phase III. Mesomorphic phase III is stable up to the degradation temperature of the polymer. A significant effect of stress on the Phase II–III transition in oriented samples was found.     

Separation and concentration of sulfonylurea herbicides in milk by ionic‐liquid‐based foam flotation solid‐phase extraction

The ultrasound‐assisted ionic liquid foam flotation solid‐phase extraction of sulfonylurea herbicides in milk was developed and validated. The proteins and lipids were isolated from the sample matrix by adding salt and adjusting the pH value. The target analytes eluted from the solid‐phase extraction cartridge were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Some experimental parameters, including the pH value of sample solution, amount of NaCl, ionic liquid type, extraction time, flow rate of carrier gas, flotation time, and solid‐phase extraction cartridge type were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the limits of detection for metsulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, chlorimuron‐ethyl, and nicosulfuron were 1.3, 0.6, 0.7, and 1.1 μg/L, respectively. When the present method was applied to the analysis of milk samples the recoveries of the analytes ranged from 84.3 to 105.2% and relative standard deviations were >5.7%.