Post-synthetic modification of isomorphic coordination layers: exchange dynamics of metal ions in a single crystal to single crystal fashion

A diverse set of guest molecules template the consistent formation of fifteen iso-structural layered structures containing a pyridine based tripodal ligand, divalent metal ions and anions. These materials have shown a remarkable ability to interconvert from Zn(II) to Cu(II), Cd(II) to Cu(II), Cu(II) to Cd(II) complexes in a SCSC (single crystal-to-single crystal) fashion.     

Forces between cylindrical nanoparticles in a liquid crystal

Using classical density functional theory, the forces between two cylindrical nanoparticles in a liquid crystal solvent are calculated. Both the nematic and isotropic phases of the solvent are considered. In the nematic phase, the interaction is highly anisotropic. At short range, changes in the defect structure around the cylinders leads to a complex interaction between them. In the isotropic phase, an attractive interaction arises due to overlap between halos of ordered fluid adsorbed on the surfaces of the cylinders.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the crystal nucleation behavior of a single chain touching a substrate surface

Molecular dynamics simulation has been used in exploring the crystal nucleation behaviour of a single chain touching a substrate surface. It shows that a polyethylene chain (980 CH₂) changed its overall shape from an isotropic coil to an oriented one in the case of touching a substrate surface of amorphous carbons at 300 K. Most repeats of the chain were aligned and ordered in a zigzag package. Surprisingly, the direction of the package is not parallel to the plane of the substrate, but almost perpendicular to it. This is in accordance with experimental observations.     

Unexpected relaxation dynamics of a self-avoiding polymer in cylindrical confinement

We report extensive simulations of the relaxation dynamics of a self-avoiding polymer confined inside a cylindrical pore. In particular, we concentrate on examining how confinement influences the scaling behavior of the global relaxation time of the chain, tau, with the chain length N and pore diameter D. An earlier scaling analysis based on the de Gennes blob picture led to tau approximately N(2)D(13). Our numerical effort that combines molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations, however, consistently produces different tau results for N up to 2000. We argue that the previous scaling prediction is only asymptotically valid in the limit N"D(53)"1, which is currently inaccessible to computer simulations and, more interestingly, is also difficult to reach in experiments. Our results are thus relevant for the interpretation of recent experiments with DNA in nano- and microchannels.     

Structure and dynamics of the interface between a Ag single crystal electrode and an aqueous electrolyte

The aim of this work is to elucidate the initial steps of the electrochemical oxidation of Ag(111) in alkaline electrolytes. We use electrochemical as well as ex situ (XPS) and in situ (SHG) spectroscopic techniques to reconstruct the Ag(111)/electrolyte interface as a complex dynamic entity. Moving in the direction from negative to positive potentials we first observe specific adsorption of hydroxide ions, which starts at ca. -1.1 V vs. Ag/Ag2O in 0.1 M NaOH. SHG data prove that hydroxide retains its negative charge. At -0.3 V oxidation of the surface sets in with the formation of negatively charged adsorbed oxygen species and Ag+ ions, which give rise to peaks at 528.2 +/- 0.2 eV and at 367.7 eV in the O 1s and the Ag 3d(5/2) XP spectra, respectively. Around -0.1 V the adlayer is transformed into an ordered surface oxide phase which grows via a nucleation and growth mechanism. Above the reversible Ag/Ag2O potential the 2D Ag(I) oxide transforms into a 3D Ag(I) oxide. The electrochemical oxidation is compared with the previously studied gas-phase process, demonstrating both remarkable similarities as well as some differences.     

Thermal expansion of a polydiacetylene single crystal

Summary Fractural length changes l/l of a polydiacetylene (toluene sulfonate) single crystal and its monomer have been measured along the crystallographica-,b-, andc-direction in the temperature range 100 to 400 K. Small steps in the temperature dependence of l/l at 194 K for the polymer and 159 K for the monomer are assumed to be caused by a well known phase transition. From the volume coefficient of thermal expansion the bulk Grüneisenparameter _b has been calculated. Temperature dependence as well as absolute values of _b for the polymer crystal are found to be in accordance with current theories assuming that both inter and intrachain vibrations strongly influence the thermoelastic behaviour of polymer crystals.

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Zusammenfassung Die relative Längenänderung l/l eines Polydiacetylen (Toluolsulfonat) Einkristalls und des zugehörigen Monomerkristalls wurde entlang der kristallographischena-,b-undc-Richtung im Temperaturbereich 100 bis 400 K gemessen. Kleine Stufen im Temperaturverlauf von l/l bei 194 K für den Polymerkristall und bei 159 K für den Monomerkristall werden als Einfluß einer bekannten Phasenumwandlung gedeutet. Aus dem Volumenausdehnungskoeffizienten wurde der Bulk-Grüneisenparameter _b berechnet. Sowohl die Temperaturabhängigkeit als auch absolute Werte von _b für den Polymerkristall befinden sich in Einklang mit theoretischen Modellen, wenn man annimmt, daß sowohl Inter- als auch Intrakettenschwingungen das thermoelastische Verhalten von Polymerkristallen beeinflussen.

     

Transient photoconductivity of a polydiacetylene single crystal

Pulsed photoconductivity results are presented for single crystals of a fully-conjugated polymer, poly-2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol bis(p-toluene sulfonate). Carriers of both sign are observed and are found to have essentially identical action spectra with a photoconduction onset around 3 eV. Upper and lower limits could be placed on the charge carrier mobilities normal to the (011) crystallographic plain, which is roughly the polymer chain direction: 3 ? μ_e,h ? 10^?3 cm²/V s. The mobilities normal to the chain are about a factor of 10 less. The carrier lifetimes are about 0.5 μs for both holes and electrons but strongly dependent on the method of polymerization of the precursor monomer crystals.     

Determination of trace element in a silicon single crystal

Neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of trace impurity elements in a silicon ingot. Detection limits of 36 elements were calculated semi — empirically and compared with minimum concentrations detected in a silicon single crystal. The sources of the impurities were estimated from element concentrations detected in polycrystalline silicon and a quartz crucible. Segregation coefficients were determined from the concentration curves in a single crystal and discussed by comparing with reported values.     

Determination of trace elements in a silicon single crystal

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of trace impurity elements in a silicon single crystal. Impurity concentrations in polysilicon melt were compared with those in a single crystal. Impurity concentrations in artificial quartz were also compared with those in natural quartz. Segregation coefficients in Au, Ir and Sb were determined at different concentrations. The segregation coefficient of an element in a silicon single crystal is constant over a critical concentration, it becomes larger gradually under the critical one, and at last it becomes larger than 1.     

Finite-amplitude dynamics of coupled cylindrical menisci

The cylindrical meniscus is a liquid/gas interface of circular-cap cross-section constrained along its axis and bounded by end-planes. The inviscid motions of coupled cylindrical menisci are studied here. Motions result from the competition between inertia and surface tension forces. Restriction to shapes that are of circular-cap cross-section leads to an ordinary differential equation (ode) model, with the advantage that finite-amplitude stability can be examined. The second-order nonlinear ode model has a Hamiltonian structure, showing dynamical behavior like the Duffing-oscillator. The energy landscape has either a single- or double-welled potential depending on the extent of volume overfill. Total liquid volume is a bifurcation parameter, as in the corresponding problem for coupled spherical-cap droplets. Unlike the spherical-cap problem, however, axial disturbances can also destabilize, depending on overfill. For large volumes, previously known axial stability results are applied to find the limit at which axial symmetry is lost and comparison is made to the Plateau-Rayleigh limit.     

Observation of vibration-electronic exchange in gas-surface collisions

Intensity increase of exoelectronic emission in the interaction of vibrationally excited hydrogen beam (v1) with emitter surface (CaSO₄) has been found. The effect proves to be due to the transfer of vibrational energy from molecules to trapped electrons, i.e. to the v-e transition in gas-surface collisions.

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- (v1) (CaSO₄). , .. v-e- -.

     

The stability diagram of a nematic liquid crystal confined to a cylindrical cavity

Different nematic structures confined to a long cylindrical cavity with homeotropic surface anchoring are studied using a numerical minimization of the free energy of the uniaxial nematic liquid crystal. The stability of escaped radial structures and planar polar structures (with and without line defects) is analysed in terms of the ratio of elastic constants K₂₄/K₁₁, K₃₃/K₁₁, anchoring strength and external magnetic field applied perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the cylinder. We draw the analogy between the stability diagram of the cylindrical structures and structures in a spherical droplet. In particular, a simple way extracting the value of the saddle-splay elastic constant K₂₄ from the stability studies is discussed.     

Permeation through a single crystal of Zeolite NaX

Steady state permeation through a 120 μm single crystal of zeolite NaX has for the first time been observed. Each crystal was imbedded in an epoxy film, polished to expose opposite faces to feed and permeate gases, and mounted in an apparatus with pmol/s permeation rate sensitivity. Permeation was constrained to occur by an intracrystalline diffusion mechanism, confirmed by temperature dependence and selectivity measurements. Rates decreased at higher temperatures due to opposing sorption and diffusion effects. Intracrystalline butane diffusivity at 25°C was 3 x 10^?4 cm²/sec, in agreement with other methods. Anomalously long time lags for approach to steady state are explained by a transition between two states of the zeolite, differing in permeability by 10²-10⁴. The state with lower permeability was selectively permeable to isobutane from a methaneísobutane mixture.     

Negative thermal expansion of a polydiacetylene single crystal

Macroscopic thermal expansion in the chain direction has been measured for the first time on organic polymeric single crystals. Negative linear thermal expansion coefficients αM are reported and related to chain torsional motion and equilibrium point-defect formation for a solid-state polymerized phase of 2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol bisphenylurethane (HDU) which contains crystallographically located interstitial dioxane and for a dioxanefree phase obtained by thermal annealing. Data for as-polymerized single crystals (which are probably of extended chain morphology) between ?50 and 100°C give αM = ?(1.686 ± 0.039) × 10^?5 ? (1.35 ± 0.18) × 10^?7 t with t in °C. During volatilization of 11.7 ± 1.0 wt-% interstitial dioxane and a resulting crystal structure change, the as-polymerized fibers fibrillate and shrink irreversibly by 0.16 ± 0.04%. Although dichroism and diffraction measurements indicate both a high degree of crystallinity and chain alignment for the dioxane-free phase, the average thermal expansion coefficient, (?3.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?6 °C^?1 between ?50 and 150°C, is about an order of magnitude less than for the as-polymerized single crystals.     

Lattice frequencies of a single crystal of benzylidenemalononitrile

Far i.r. and the Raman spectra of benzylidenemalononitrile have been recorded at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures. Lattice frequencies are calculated using an intermolecular potential of the atom-atom type, involving interactions between all pairs of atoms on neighboring molecules. The experimental frequencies are compared with those calculated.     

Bioengineering single crystal growth

Biomineralization is a "bottom-up" synthesis process that results in the formation of inorganic/organic nanocomposites with unrivaled control over structure, superior mechanical properties, adaptive response, and the capability of self-repair. While de novo design of such highly optimized materials may still be out of reach, engineering of the biosynthetic machinery may offer an alternative route to design advanced materials. Herein, we present an approach using micro-contact-printed lectins for patterning sea urchin embryo primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) in vitro. We demonstrate not only that PMCs cultured on these substrates show attachment to wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A patterns but, more importantly, that the deposition and elongation of calcite spicules occurs cooperatively by multiple cells and in alignment with the printed pattern. This allows us to control the placement and orientation of smooth, cylindrical calcite single crystals where the crystallographic c-direction is parallel to the cylinder axis and the underlying line pattern.