A simple electro-optic technique for studying the electroclinic effect in the smectic A* phase

The critical behaviour of the electroclinic response in the chiral smectic A* phase in the vicinity of the second-order smectic A* to smectic C* phase-transition temperature has been investigated using a new electro-optic technique. The temperature variation of the electroclinic coefficient, the relaxation frequency and the coefficient of the quartic term in the tilt angle in the Landau free energy expansion have been studied. The electroclinic coefficient diverges with decreasing temperature as the smectic A* to smectic C* phase-transition temperature is approached with a critical exponent, as predicted in the mean field Landau theory. The measured quartic coefficient varies strongly with temperature, contrary to the usual assumptions of the mean field Landau theory.     

Experimental determination of the flexoelectric coefficients of some nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

We report measurements of the temperature variation of the flexoelectric coefficient (e ₁–e ₃) of a number of nematic liquid crystals like phenylcyclohexanes, cyanobiphenyls, etc. We have also measured (e ₁+e ₃) of a few systems using appropriate methods of applying an electric field gradient to the sample. In most of the systems, (e ₁–e ₃)/k, where k is a curvature elastic constant, is found to be positive and independent of temperature, as expected. However, in 4-heptyl-1-(4-cyanocyclohexyl)cyclohexane and a few other compounds with relatively flexible parts, |(e ₁–e ₃)/k| increases with temperature. We discuss the possible molecular origin of the sign and temperature dependence of the flexoelectric coefficients of the systems studied.     

Electroclinic behaviour of polymer doped low molar mass ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

Recently there has been much interest in the electroclinic effect due to its potential application in high speed optical modulators and grey scale displays. In present materials, however, the electroclinic effect is very dependent on temperature and falls off rapidly with increasing temperature. This limits the useful device operating range. In this paper the electroclinic behaviour of new, side chain polymer doped, low molar mass ferroelectic liquid crystal mixtures is reported. By measuring the rate of change of the electroclinic coefficient with temperature it is shown that the temperature range over which the electroclinic effect exists increases with polymer concentration. Data are also presented on electroclinic response times.     

Dielectric properties of four room temperature ferroelectric and antiferroelectric multi-component liquid crystalline mixtures

Dielectric properties of four recently formulated room temperature multi-component liquid crystalline mixtures with paraelectric (SmA*), ferroelectric (SmC*) and antiferroelectric (SmC*_A) phases have been studied as a function of temperature and frequency. Under planer anchoring condition, dielectric spectroscopy revealed all the characteristic modes: low frequency P_L and high frequency P_H mode in SmC*_A phase, Goldstone mode (GM) in SmC* phase and soft mode (SM) in SmA* phase. Dielectric behaviour has also been studied under the application of DC bias electric field. With bias electric field, we have been able to study the soft mode dielectric behaviour in the SmC* phase. An unknown high frequency mode (X-mode) with and without bias is also observed in SmC* phase. Dielectric results are explained in the light of generalised Landau theory. The mixtures show very high soft mode electroclinic coefficient in the SmA* phase in addition to fast switching in SmC*_A and SmC* phases [30].     

KINETICS,MEDIUM, AND DEUTERIUM ISOTOPE EFFECTS IN THE ALKALINE DECOMPOSITION OF QUATERNARY PHOSPHONIUM SALTS III1 Tetraphenylphosphonium Chloride in Dimethylsulphoxide-Water Mixtures

Abstract

The reaction between tetraphenylphosphonium chloride and hydroxide or deuteroxide anions was studied kinetically in a series of dimethylsulphoxide-water mixtures at several temperatures. The rate is first-order in the phosphonium cation and second-order in the hydroxide or deuteroxide anions. The reaction shows a dramatic increase in rate, up to about 10¹⁰ times, as the DMSO content is increased. The rate enhancement is attributed to a considerable drop in activation energy affected not only through an increased desolvation of reactant anions, but also through an increase in solvation of the transition state, brought about by gradual addition of DMSO. The kinetic solvent deuterium isotope effect in 60% DMSO-40% D₂O is strongly dependent on temperature. The rate constant in the latter solvent mixture is represented by k ⁱ = 11.9 e ^?12700/RT l ² mole^?2 sec^?1 as compared to k ⁱ = 19.0 e ^?22500/RT l ² mole^?2 sec^?1 in the corresponding 60% DMSO-H₂O mixture. The thermodynamic parameters of activation show strong dependence on solvent composition and are related to structural changes and solvation power of the reaction medium.     

Introduction to the dynamic theory of the (H+, e−) couple insertion in γ-MnO2

This paper presents a phenomenological theory of coupled H⁺ and e⁻ diffusion in γ/ɛ-MnO₂. A set of five dynamic regimes governs the (H⁺, e⁻) insertion during the entire reduction (0.08 < r < 1) of the dioxide. It is imposed by a global balance of several physical quantities which depend on the reduction level r. The principal potential factor for the diffusion in a given direction is the difference between the components, along this direction, of the self velocities V _e− and V _H+. The longitudinal component E _ld of the internal electric field vector E _d plays, with respect to electrons and protons, the velocity regulator role. The transversal component E _td allows some homogenisation of (H⁺,e⁻) concentration during the first half of the reaction and trapping of electrons in the second half. Towards r≈ 0.50, V _e− and V _H+ are equal, the internal electric field reverses its orientation after taking a null value and the first Mn³⁺ ions appear. This introduction to the dynamic theory of γ/ɛ-MnO₂ is a new finding and can interpret most of its physical/chemical properties, especially the behaviour change around r≈ 0.50. Received: 11 November 1998 / Accepted: 25 March 1999     

N-(二茂铁酰胺基)硫脲类阴离子受体

我们将N-(苯甲酰胺基)硫脲类阴离子识别受体研究拓展至N-(二茂铁酰胺基)硫脲, 设计合成了N-(二茂铁甲酰胺基)-N'-(取代苯基)硫脲(3a～3e, 取代基X＝p-OCH₃, p-CH₃, H, m-Br, m-CF₃), 其中二茂铁基系芳香性的电化学活性基团、“—NH—”为连接臂．研究的目的是进一步理解 “—NH—”连接臂的特性和3a～3e作为阴离子的电化学响应受体的可行性. 我们发现, 3a～3e分子中的N'-苯环取代基不影响其半波电位(0.31V vs. Ag/AgNO₃); 二茂铁环芳香质子和酰胺基—NH质子的核磁化学位移不受取代基的影响, 而N'-苯基芳香质子和硫脲—NH质子的化学位移显著地受制于取代基; 说明受体3分子中酰肼基N—N单键高度扭曲, 阻碍了N'-苯环取代基电子效应传递至二茂铁基. 我们观察到乙腈中3的氧化电位因阴离子如CH₃CO₂^－和F^－的结合负移200 mV, 二茂铁基芳香质子的化学位移向高场移动, 意味着阴离子结合诱导了受体3分子中酰肼基N—N单键构型变化, 使阴离子结合信息得以传递至二茂铁环. 吸收光谱滴定实验表明, 乙腈中3a～3e与阴离子结合时在约315 nm处出现新的吸收峰, 光谱红移达5820 cm^－1, 阴离子如CH₃CO₂^－和F^－的结合常数在10⁶ mol^－1&#8226;L, 均远高于传统的二苯基硫脲类受体(1); 我们还发现, 尽管1和3a～3e分子中硫脲—NH质子酸性对取代基的依赖性相近, 3a～3e之阴离子结合常数的取代基效应强于1. 我们认为, 这是由于N—N键的变构作用导致3a～3e的吸收光谱红移、阴离子结合常数和阴离子结合常数的取代基效应远高于传统的N,N'-二苯基硫脲类受体, 因而体现了“—NH—”连接臂的独特性质.     

Characterization of the electroclinic effect of smectic LCs in terms of the transitional dielectric constant in the SA phase

Abstract

The electric-field dependence of the dielectric constant of some materials which show a strong electroclinic effect in the S_A phase, has been studied by measurement of the transitional dielectric constant. We suggest that the observed variation of the dielectric constant may originate from the electric field induced dielectric biaxiality; this is inherent in a material that exhibits the electroclinic effect.     

Empirical Relationships between Transport Coefficients of Liquid Metals over a Range of Thermodynamic States

Abstract

Assuming the Wiedemann-Franz law, measured data for electrical conductivity α of liquid Cs and Rb is converted to λ_e , the electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity A. While the major part of the measured thermal conduction is thereby accounted for, the “residual” ionic contribution, denned as (^λ-1—λ_e ^?1)^?1, does not simply increase as the metal-insulator transition is approached along the coexistence curve.

Since λ is dominated by _λe, it is surprising that a hard sphere model, which predicts λ/n = 5k_B/2M with n the shear viscosity and M the ionic mass, still gives correctly a relatively constant ratio, though a difference in behaviour of λ/n as a function of thermodynamic state is noted for liquid Rb and Cs compared with liquid argon.

A generalization of Andrade's formula for shear viscosity at the melting point is also discussed, including the work of Zwanzig relating the self-diffusion coefficient D to n via the bulk viscosity.     

Über Reaktionen von Arylbiguaniden mit Benzoin beimpH der Biguanidbasen

Summary Arylbiguanides2 a–e react with benzoin (1) at thepH of the base to two different products.1 undergoes in presence of the base2 a–e oxidation to benzil and benzoic acid, which reacts fast with the arylbiguanides2 a–e to yield N-[4-(arylamino)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl]benzamides3 a–d. After lowering thepH of the reaction mixture, the bases2 b–e react with benzil to yield 2-[1-aryl-5-oxo-4,4-diphenyl-2-imidazoline-2-yl]guanidine4 b–e. The mechanism of the formation is discussed. The structure of4b was established from a single crystal x-ray structure analysis. The analysis was carried out at 100K: C₂₃H₂₁N₅O,M _r=383.5, monoclinic, C 2/c,a=15.842(6),b=8.419(3),c=30.223(10) Å, =98.44(3)°,V=3 987.3(9) ų,Z=8,d _x=1.277 g/cm³, =0.81 cm^–1,R=5.89%R _w=4.97% (1 537 observations, 233 parameters).

     

Estimation of the Critical Temperature of Thermal Explosion for the Highly Nitrated Nitrocellulose Using Non-isothermal DSC

Two methods for estimating the critical temperature (T_b) of thermal explosion for the highly nitrated nitrocellulose (HNNC) are derived from the Semenov's thermal explosion theory and two non-isothermal kinetic equations, d/dt=Af()e^–E/RT and d/dt=Af()[1+E/(RT)(1–T_o/T)]e^–E/RT, using reasonable hypotheses. We can easily obtain the values of the thermal decomposition activation energy (E), the onset temperature (T_e) and the initial temperature (T_o) at which DSC curve deviates from the baseline of the non-isothermal DSC curve of HNNC, and then calculate the critical temperature (T_b) of thermal explosion by the two derived formulae. The results obtained with the two methods for HNNC are in agreement to each other.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A shock tube study of the reaction NH2 + CH4 → NH3 + CH3 and comparison with transition state theory

The rate coefficient for NH₂ + CH₄ → NH₃ + CH₃ (R1) has been measured in a shock tube in the temperature range 1591–2084 K using FM spectroscopy to monitor NH₂ radicals. The measurements are combined with a calculation of the potential energy surface and canonical transition state theory with WKB tunneling to obtain an expression for k₁ = 1.47 × 10³ T ^3.01 e^?5001/T(K) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 that describes available data in the temperature range 300 –2100 K. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 304–309, 2003     

Ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of nylon 11/poly(vinylidene fluoride) bilaminate films

The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of a new class of polymer ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials, nylon 11/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF₂) bilaminate films, prepared by a co-melt-pressing method, is presented. The bilaminate films exhibit typical ferroelectric D-E hysteresis behavior with a remanent polarization, P_r, of about 75 mC/m², which is higher than the value of 52 mC/m² observed for PVF₂ or nylon 11 films measured under the same conditions. The coercive field, E_c, of the bilaminate films is ～ 78 MV/m, which is higher than that of either PVF₂ or nylon 11 films. Measurements of the temperature dependence of the piezoelectric strain coefficient, d₃₁, and the piezoelectric stress coefficient, e₃₁, were also carried out. The bilaminate films exhibit a piezoelectric strain coefficient, d₃₁, of 41 pC/N at room temperature, which is significantly higher than the PVF₂ films (25 pC/N) and the nylon 11 films (3.1 pC/N). When the temperature is increased to 110°C, d₃₁ of the bilaminate films reaches a maximum value of 63 pC/N, more than five times that of PVF₂ (11 pC/N) and more than four times that of nylon 11 (14 pC/N) at the same temperature. The piezoelectric stress coefficient, e₃₁, of the bilaminate films shows a value of 109 mC/m² at room temperature, almost twice that of the PVF₂ films (59 mC/m²) and about 18 times that of the nylon 11 films (6.2 mC/m²). Measurement of the temperature dependence of the hydrostatic piezoelectric coefficient, d_h, of the bilaminate films also shows an enhancement with respect to the individual components, PVF₂ and nylon 11. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Isomeric Composition of D-Xylo-hexos-5-ulose (5-Keto-glucose) in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

1,2-O-Isopropylidene-α-D-xylo-hexofuranos-5-ulose (2) was deprotected in aqueous acid solution to give a mixture of at least six isomeric forms and one anhydro form of the parent ketoaldohexose, D-xylo-hexos-5-ulose (3), commonly referred to as 5-keto-glucose. Structural assignment of each form was made based on high field ¹H and ¹³C NMR studies of the mixture in aqueous (D₂O) solution. The dominant isomeric form of 3 was observed to have the pyranose structure 1R,5R-D-xlyo-hexo-pyranos-5-ulose (3a, 67 %) with the next most abundant form being an anhydro structure, 1S,5S-l,6-anhydro-D-xylo-hexopyranos-5-ulose (3c, 18 %). Included among the other isomers were the a and β-1,4-furanose (3d, 3e) and 1-aldehydrol β-5,2-furanose (3f) structures. The isomer present in least amount (3g, > 1 %) is assigned as the α-anomer of 3f. Experimentally determined J_C-1,H-1 values were useful in support of assigned isomer structures.     

A New Modified Pseudoequilibrium Calculation to Determine the Composition of Hydrogen and Nitrogen Plasmas at Atmospheric Pressure

This paper proposes a modified pseudoequilibrium calculation, which gives almost the same results as those of kinetic calculations to determine the composition of hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas at atmospheric pressure. The computing time is two to three orders of magnitude faster than that of the kinetic calculations. First, according to experimental results, a relationship between the electron temperature T_e and the heavy species one T_h has been proposed. The ratio T_e/T_h varies as a function of the logarithm of the ratio n_e/n _e ^max , _e ^max being the electron density in the plasma core for which equilibrium is achieved _e ^max ~ 10 ²³ ). The kinetic calculations have been performed assuming the microreversibility where the backward kinetic rate coefficient k_b is calculated by k_d/k_b=K_x, where k_d is the direct kinetic coefficient and K_x the molar fraction equilibrium constant. When electrons are involved in both direct and backward reactions, k_d and K_x are expressed as functions of T_e . However, when the direct reaction involves electrons while the backward one is due to collisions between heavy species (or the reverse), a temperature T* between T_e and T_h is introduced. T* is determined as a function of the ratio of the electron flux to that of neutral species in such a way that T*=T^e for n_e > 10²³ and T*=T_h for low values of n_e(n_e < 10¹⁵ m^–3). Compared to hydrogen, the nitrogen composition exhibits a very abrupt variation between 6000 and 6500 K, corresponding to a shift from the dissociation-dominated regime to that of ionization. It occurs because dissociation of nitrogen starts almost simultaneously with its ionization, which is not the case of H₂, for which dissociation is terminated long before ionization starts. If the charge transfer reaction, whose activation energy is low for both gases, is neglected, in both cases the electron density increases drastically below 9000 K. These results are quite similar to those obtained when calculating the composition with the multitemperature mass action law. The kinetic calculations are dominated by the reactions with a low activation energy: dissociation, dissociative recombination and charge transfer. Thus, a modified pseudoequilibrium calculation has been introduced, the plasma composition being calculated with the equilibrium constants corresponding to low activation energies[X₂ 2X, e+X ₂ ⁺ 2X, X ₂ ⁺ +X X⁺ + X₂ both for hydrogen (X=H) and nitrogen (X=N)] at the temperature T* between T_e and T_h. The results are in very good agreement with those of the kinetic calculations.     

Impact of ferroelectric nanoparticles on the dielectric constant of nematic liquid crystals

ABSTRACT

The influence of ferroelectric BaTiO₃ nanoparticles on the dielectric constant in the isotropic phase of the isotropic-nematic phase transition is studied within Landau phenomenological theory. The ferroelectric BaTiO₃ nanoparticles dependence of transition temperature and dielectric constant in the isotropic phase is calculated. We compare our theoretical results with experimental data available in the literature.     

Maximum Thermodynamic Electrical Efficiency of Fuel Cell System and Results for Hydrogen,Methane, and Propane Fuels

The maximum electrical efficiency of fuel cell system, η_e^max, is important for the understanding and development of the fuel cell technology. Attempt is made to build a theory for η_e^max by considering the energy requirement of heating the fuel and air streams to the fuel cell operating temperature T. A general thermodynamic analysis is performed and the energy balances for the overall operating processes of a fuel cell system are established. Explicit expressions for the determination of η_e^max are deduced. Unlike the Carnot efficiency, η_e^max is found to be fuel specific. Except for hydrogen fuel, chemical equilibrium calculations are necessary to compute η_e^max. Analytical solutions for the chemical equilibrium of alkane fuels are presented. The theoretical model is used to analyze the effects of T and the steam contents of CH₄, C₃H₈, and H₂ on η_e^max for systems with various degrees of waste heat recovery. Contrary to the common perception concerning methane and propane fuels, η_e^max decreases substantially with the increase of T. Moreover, η_e^max of hydrogen fuel can be higher than that of methane and propane fuels for a system with a medium level of waste heat recovery and operated at 700 ℃≤T≤900 ℃.     

Mode-Coupling Theory for Glass Transition of Active-Passive Binary Mixture?

Collective behaviours of active particle systems have gained great research attentions in recent years. Here we present a mode-coupling theory (MCT) framework to study the glass transition of a mixture system of active and passive Brownian particles. The starting point is an effective Smoluchowski equation, which governs the dynamics of the probability distribution function in the position phase space. With the assumption of the existence of a nonequilibrium steady state, we are able to obtain dynamic equations for the intermediate scattering functions (ISFs), wherein an irreducible memory function is introduced which in turn can be written as functions of the ISFs based on standard mode-coupling approximations. The effect of particle activity is included through an effective diffusion coefficient which can be obtained via short time simulations. By calculating the long-time limit of the ISF, the Debye-Waller (DW) factor, one can determine the critical packing fraction η_c of glass transition. We find that for active-passive (AP) mixtures with the same particle sizes, η_c increases as the partial fraction of active particle x_A increases, which is in agreement with previous simulation works. For system with different active/passive particle sizes, we find an interesting reentrance behaviour of glass transition, i.e., η_c shows a non-monotonic dependence on x_A. In addition, such a reentrance behaviour would disappear if the particle activity is large enough. Our results thus provide a useful theoretical scheme to study glass transition behaviour of active-passive mixture systems in a promising way.     

Temperature dependence of volumetric behaviour for methyl tert-butylether+1-butanol system

Excess molar volumes and excess isoentropic compressibilities of methyl tert-butylether (MTBE)+1-butanol at 288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15 and 308.15 K and atmospheric pressure have been studied. In order to analyse the temperature dependence of this mixture, isobaric expansibility a, (dV _m ^e dT) _P,xand (dH _m ^e dP ) _T,x, were computed by analytical differentiation of the density and excess molar volume fitting equations. Cubic equation of state (Soave-Redlich-Kwong) has been applied to excess molar volume correlation obtaining binary interaction parameters using different mixing rules. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.