Electro-optical Kerr effect in the isotropic phase of the two antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures

We have experimentally studied for the first time the electro-optical Kerr effect and the pre-transitional behavior in the isotropic phase of two antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures, W-232 and W-204D, composed of rod-like ester molecules exhibiting the direct smectic-A to isotropic (SmA-I) phase transition. The Kerr law has been confirmed for the two compounds and the variation of inverse Kerr constant with temperature above the smectic–isotropic transition temperatures were determined. Both the mixtures with very broad antiferroelectric phase around room temperature have similar sequence of the phases (i.e., Cr-SmC*A-SmC*-SmA-I). Although, the pre-transitional behavior is usually complex in the isotropic phase of the chiral smectic liquid crystal compounds, the investigated compounds showed a similar behavior compared to that of nematic–isotropic behavior.     

Thermodynamics and surface properties of liquid Cu–B alloys

The study of the thermodynamic and the surface properties of liquid Cu–B alloys can help better understanding of a complex interfacial chemistry related to liquid Cu–brazes in contact with boride substrates. Despite a simplicity of the Cu–B phase diagram, only a few thermodynamic data are available in the literature, while in the case of the surface properties a complete lack of data is evident. The quasi-chemical approximation (QCA) for the regular solution has been applied to describe the mixing behaviour of liquid Cu–B alloys in terms of their thermodynamic and surface properties as well as the microscopic functions. In view of joining processes related to liquid Cu–brazes/solid boride systems a particular attention is paid to the surface properties of the Cu-rich part of the system and the calculated values are substantiated by the new surface tension experimental data of liquid Cu and Cu–10 at.% B alloy. The tests have been performed by the sessile-drop method under the same experimental conditions. Considering the experimental uncertainties, the effect of oxygen on the surface tension of liquid Cu and Cu–10 at.% B alloy has been analysed by simple model that combines the physical property data included in Butler’s equation with the oxygen solubility data and it gives the same results as Belton’s adsorption equation.     

Zirconia supported 12-molybdophosphoric acid: Physico-chemical characterization and non-solvent liquid phase oxidation of styrene

A series of solid catalysts comprising 12-molybdophosphoric acid (PM) and hydrous zirconia (Z) have been synthesized by wet impregnation and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. The structure of PM onto the surface of the support has been confirmed by ³¹P MAS NMR and XPS. Non-solvent liquid phase oxidation of styrene has been carried out with 30% aqueous H₂O₂ as an oxidant by varying different parameters over fresh catalysts. The catalytic activity of calcinated catalysts has also been evaluated by carrying out same oxidation reaction under optimized conditions. As solid catalysts, they show high conversion of styrene with good selectivity towards benzaldehyde and styrene epoxide.     

Simulation of the ignition of liquid fuel with a local source of heating under conditions of fuel burnout

The processes of heat and mass transfer with phase transitions and chemical reactions in the ignition of liquid fuel by a local source of heating, a hot metal particle, under conditions of fuel burnout are studied. The influence of liquid fuel burnout on the ignition characteristics is analyzed, and the results of investigation of the extent of influence of this factor for solid and liquid condensed materials under conditions of local heating are compared.     

Facile synthesis and photochromic properties of diarylethene‐containing terpyridine and its transition metal (Zn2+/Co2+/Ru2+) complexes

Several transition metal complexes based on 2,3‐bis(2,4,5‐trimethyl‐3‐thienyl)maleic anhydride (DTE) bearing terpyridine (TPY) have been designed and synthesized. Furthermore, the photochromism of the free ligand and the influence of transition metal moieties on the photochemical properties have been thoroughly characterized by monitoring the changes in their UVvis spectra. Compounds 3–6 all display excellent response to UV irradiation, especially Co complex 5 with optimum sensitivity that took only 5 s to reach photostationary state. The photochromic properties of DTE unit have been found to be strongly influenced by the bridging transition metals, as complexes 4 (L–Zn–L) and 6 (L–Ru–L) exhibit much better photochromic properties in tetrahydrofuran solution than complex 5 (L–Co–L) and the free ligand 3 (L). It is worth noting that the optical/chemical thermal stabilities of photochromic compounds 3–6 are all greatly improved after the precursor functionalized with TPY and further coordinated with metal ions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of amphotericin B on liquid crystal state of the Cholesterol/Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayer in the presence of different metal cations

Amphotericin B is a very effective antifungal drug,but it has an adverse reaction to the membrane of mammals' cells.The interaction between Am B and cholesterol(Chol) causes the formation of pores on the membrane to destroy its integrity.In particular,Am B has a significant effect on the permeability of membrane for K~+ions.It has been reported that Na+ions and Ca~(2+)ions may have some influence on the interaction between amphotericin B and lipid molecules.In this work,the effects of these metal cations on the physical state and intermolecular interaction of the Cholesterol/Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(Chol/DPPC) monolayer with and without Am B have been investigated.The addition of Am B induces the change of physical state of the lipid monolayer from liquid-gel phase to liquid phase.Different metal cations could influence the phase transition of the Am B-lipid monolayer.The K~+ions and Ca2+ions make the obvious phase transition disappear.However,the presence of Na+ions has little influence on the phase transition of the Am B-lipid monolayer.The addition of Am B and the presence of different metal cations weaken the attractive force on the monolayers.After addition of Am B,the force between the molecules is the strongest in the environment of K+ions,thus is the weakest in the environment of Ca~(2+)ions,which may be due to the distribution of these metal cations inside and outside of cells.A large number of K+ions distribute inside of the cells,thus most of Na+and Ca~(2+)ions exist out of the cells.Hence,it may be possible that when Am B molecules are out of the cells,the reaction between the drug and lipid molecules is weaker than that inside the cells.These results may have a great reference value for further studying the toxicity mechanism of Am B and the influence of metal cations on the membrane.     

Spin Kinetics of Liquid <Superscript>3</Superscript>He in Contact with a DyF<Subscript>3</Subscript> Micropowder at Ferromagnetic Ordering of Dy<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Ions

The spin kinetics of liquid ³He in contact with a mixture of LaF₃ (99.67%) and DyF₃ (0.33%) micropowders at temperatures of 1.5–3 K has been studied by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The DyF3 is a dipolar dielectric ferromagnet with the phase transition temperature T_c= 2.55 K, whereas the diamagnetic fluoride LaF₃ is a diluting substance for the optimal observation conditions of ³Не NMR in powder pores. The magnetic phase transition in DyF₃ is accompanied by a considerable change in the character of fluctuations of the magnetic moments of dysprosium ions, which affect the spin kinetics of ³Не in contact with the substrate. Significant changes in the relaxations rates of the longitudinal and transverse magnetizations of 3Не have been discovered in the region of magnetic ordering of the solid matrix. The technique of studying the static and fluctuating magnetic fields of a solid matrix at low temperatures using liquid ³He as a probe has been proposed.     

Structural, electro-optical and dielectric characterizations of ferroelectric liquid crystals showing the SmC*–SmA*–N* phase sequence

Structural (helical pitch), electro-optical (tilt angle, spontaneous polarization and response time) and dielectric (Goldstone mode) characterizations have been performed on two pure ferroelectric liquid crystals of a biphenyl alkyloxy benzoate series and they show the N*–SmA*–SmC* phase sequence. The different results are discussed: the helical pitch, the spontaneous polarization and the rotational viscosity which is determined as a function of temperature by two methods using electro-optical or dielectric measurements. An Arrhenius behaviour of the rotational viscosity is found for the two compounds. The corresponding activation energies are determined.     

Dynamic nuclear polarization of liquid helium-three

At Kazan State University a number of experiments have been proposed using solid paramagnetic compounds to produce nuclear polarization in liquid helium-three, for which the nuclear resonance frequency isf _n=32.4 MHz T^?1. This note suggests the application of magnetic resonance in antiferromagnetic compounds to this problem. In addition to a range of 3d ions, two compounds of lanthanide ions which become antiferromagnetic at liquid helium temperatures are discussed. Also, electron paramagnetic resonance is proposed using trivalent erbium ions at low abundance in metallic silver.     

Effect of the chiral chain length on structural and phase properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Studies of structural and phase properties obtained on several ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials with 2-alkoxypropionate group used as a chiral centre and without any lateral substitution are presented. In dependence on the chiral chain length these compounds exhibit the cholesteric N* phase, the ferroelectric smectic C* and a low-temperature SmX phase. Values of the spontaneous polarization and spontaneous tilt angle have been determined within the whole range of the SmC* phase. A low-temperature SmX phase has been identified as the orthogonal hexatic SmB* phase. The molecular parameters, namely the layer spacing in the SmC* and SmB* phases and the average intermolecular distances (D) between neighbouring parallel molecules in all investigated phases have been determined using the results of the X-ray diffraction obtained on non-oriented samples. The effect of the chiral chain length on mesomorphic, structural and physical properties of the studied ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials is discussed.     

In situ observation of Ni–Mo–S phase formed on NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst sulfided at high pressure by means of Ni and Mo K‐edge EXAFS spectroscopy

To obtain direct evidence of the formation of the Ni–Mo–S phase on NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts under high‐pressure hydrodesulfurization conditions, a high‐pressure EXAFS chamber has been constructed and used to investigate the coordination structure of Ni and Mo species on the catalysts sulfided at high pressure. The high‐pressure chamber was designed to have a low dead volume and was equipped with polybenzimidazole X‐ray windows. Ni K‐edge k³χ(k) spectra with high signal‐to‐noise ratio were obtained using this high‐pressure chamber for the NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst sulfided at 613 K and 1.1 MPa over a wide k range (39.5–146 nm^?1). The formation of Ni–Mo and Mo–Ni coordination shells was successfully proved by Ni and Mo K‐edge EXAFS measurement using this chamber. Interatomic distances of these coordination shells were almost identical to those calculated from Ni K‐edge EXAFS of NiMo/C catalysts sulfided at atmospheric pressure. These results support the hypothesis that the Ni–Mo–S phase is formed on the Al₂O₃‐supported NiMo catalyst sulfided under high‐pressure hydrodesulfurization conditions.     

阿莫西林与锌(Ⅱ)、镉(Ⅱ)、汞(Ⅱ)配合物的合成及配位位置的研究

阿莫西林是一种广谱抗生素,本文通过共沉淀法合成了阿莫西林与d¹⁰组态金属离子的固体配合物,并对其进行了光谱及波谱研究,确定了配合物的配合机理及配位点.     

阿莫西林与锌(Ⅱ)、镉(Ⅱ)、汞(Ⅱ)配合物的合成及配位位置的研究

阿莫西林是一种广谱抗生素,本文通过共沉淀法合成了阿莫西林与d¹⁰组态金属离子的固体配合物,并对其进行了光谱及波谱研究,确定了配合物的配合机理及配位点.     

Microwave‐assisted facile synthesis of liquid crystalline non‐symmetrical hexaalkoxytriphenylenes containing a branched chain and their characterization

Two novel series of liquid crystalline non‐symmetrical hexaalkoxytriphenylenes containing a branched alkyl chain have been prepared using microwave dielectric heating. Series 1 contains 2‐ethyl hexyloxy group as the branched chain whereas series 2 contains 3,7‐dimethyl octyloxy as the branched chain along with five normal alkoxy chains. The number of carbon atoms varies from four to eight in the normal alkoxy chains. Mesophase behaviour of the compounds has been characterized by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and mesophase structure has been characterized by X‐ray diffractometry. All the compounds show enantiotropic mesophase transitions with columnar hexagonal structure. In series 1 ( 4a – e ) the mesophase range and transition temperatures of all the compounds are lowered as compared to the parent compounds whereas in series 2 ( 5a – e ) the transition temperatures of all the compounds are lowered, mesophase range for lower members are decreased, however, higher members show more mesophase stability. Both melting and clearing temperatures of series 2 ( 5a – e ) show strong odd–even effect. The intercolumnar distance increases as expected for compounds of both the series with increase in alkyl chain length with some degree of interdigitation of the alkyl chains. The intercolumnar distances for the compounds of the series 2 are slightly higher than the compounds of the series 1 . Compound 4c displays homeotropic alignment without using any special technique for alignment of the columnar phase or application of any external force. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and photophysical behavior of 2,2′-bipyrimidine/lanthanide ion complexes in various environments

The photophysical behavior of 2,2′-bipyrimidine has been studied alone and in the presence of several lanthanide or other metal ions. This substance, which is employed as bridging ligand in homo- and hetero-dinuclear complexes, can form stable complexes with luminescent lanthanide ions like Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺. Complexes precipitated from common solvents are crystalline with a structure that consists of discrete, centrosymmetric dinuclear entities with a planar ligand configuration. These complexes are strongly luminescent. Luminescence is sensitized by ligand-to-metal energy transfer. However, when the ligand and metal ions are mixed in an unconventional solvent, like a poly(ethylene glycol) oligomer, all reagents stay in solution and produce a different type of complex where only an enhanced ligand-centered fluorescence can be observed. It is possible that such fluorescence is emitted by 2,2′-bipyrimidine in a non-planar configuration. This behavior has also been observed with other heterocyclic ligands that can exist in different conformers, like terpyridine, and it may explain why some ligand-lanthanide complexes sometimes fail to sensitize efficient photoluminescence.     

Distinct effect of xenobiotics on the metal‐binding properties of protein molecules

The X‐ray standing‐wave method was applied to study the elemental composition and molecular organization of ordered protein films of alkaline phosphatase exposed to different xenobiotics (drug compounds, lead). Binding of metal ions from triply distilled water to protein molecules has been experimentally observed. Definite differences in the arrangement of impurity metal ions in the films have been established. The considerable enhancement of protein–metal interactions is attributed to partial rearrangement of the protein native structure, induced by xenobiotics.     

Ultrasonically-promoted synthesis of mandelic acid by phase transfer catalysis in an ionic liquid

An efficient and facile process to synthesize mandelic acid through phase transfer catalysis (PTC; also phase transfer catalyst) using ultrasound in an ionic liquid has been developed. Mandelic acid was synthesized from benzaldehyde with chloroform in an 89.6% yield at 60°C for 2h by using tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) as a phase transfer catalyst. Effects of different factors, such as frequency of ultrasound, reaction temperature, kinds of PTC and solvents had been investigated to obtain the optimum condition. It was observed that the ultrasonically promoted synthesis of mandelic acid by PTC in the ionic liquid exhibited significant enhancement in reaction yields under ambient conditions.     

Polymer track membranes for atmospheric pressure field extraction of ions from liquid solutions

An approach to the generation of gas phase ions by field extraction from liquid solutions has been investigated. The method uses a polymer membrane with nano-size channels as an interface between the liquid and the atmospheric pressure gas. Ions are produced by dissociation in the polar solvent and secondary ion-molecular reactions in the solution, which fills the channels of the membrane. Field extraction of the ions from the channels is stimulated by pulses of the electric discharge between the membrane and an adjacent electrode in the gas. The gas-phase ions are removed from the extraction zone by air flow and are detected by mass spectrometry. Possibilities of the membrane interface for generation of gas phase ions have been demonstrated from mass spectral investigation curried out for angiotensin II, gramicidin S and cytochrome C solutions. The current kinetics of the membrane ion source has been investigated to elucidate the mechanism of the ion extraction.     

Liquid–liquid phase transition and anomalous diffusion in simulated liquid GeO2

We perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of diffusion in liquid GeO₂ at the temperatures ranged from 3000 to 5000 K and densities ranged from 3.65 to 7.90 g/cm³. Simulations were done in a model containing 3000 particles with the new interatomic potentials for liquid and amorphous GeO₂, which have weak Coulomb interaction and Morse-type short-range interaction. We found a liquid–liquid phase transition in simulated liquid GeO₂ from a tetrahedral to an octahedral network structure upon compression. Moreover, such phase transition accompanied with an anomalous diffusion of particles in liquid GeO₂ that the diffusion constant of both Ge and O particles strongly increases with increasing density (e.g. with increasing pressure) and it shows a maximum at the density around 4.95 g/cm³. The possible relation between anomalous diffusion of particles and structural phase transition in the system has been discussed.