Plasticized microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) separators for lithium‐ion batteries. II. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) dense membrane swelling behavior in a liquid electrolyte—characterization of the swelling kinetics

Some microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) separators for lithium‐ion batteries, used in liquid organic electrolytes based on a mixture of carbonate solvents and lithium salt LiPF₆, were characterized by the study of the swelling phenomena on dense PVdF membranes. Various aspects of the kinetics of the carbonate solvents and the solvent mixture sorption in dense PVdF slabs were studied at different temperatures. Non‐Fickian behavior, characterized by S‐shaped sorption curves, was highlighted, and a salt effect, which resulted in two‐stage sorption, was studied. Diffusion coefficients and activation energies were calculated for the Fickian portions of the sorption curves, that is, at short times and low swelling ratios. A strong influence of the different interaction parameters was shown for the swelling kinetics. This study proved that the swelling of microporous PVdF membranes could be considered instantaneous. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 544–552, 2004     

Unexpected end‐groups of poly(acrylic acid) prepared by RAFT polymerization

Low‐molecular‐weight poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization with a trithiocarbonate as chain‐transfer agent (CTA). With a combination of NMR spectroscopy and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, the PAA end‐groups of the polymer were analyzed before and after neutralization by sodium hydroxide. The polymer prior to neutralization is made up of the expected trithiocarbonate chain‐ends and of the H‐terminated chains issued from a reaction of transfer to solvent. After neutralization, the trithiocarbonates are transformed into thiols, disulfides, thiolactones, and additional H‐terminated chains. By quantifying the different end‐groups, it was possible to demonstrate that fragmentation is the rate limiting step in the transfer reaction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5439–5462, 2004     

A new interpretation of quantum mechanics and its consequences in epistemology

A rather recent interpretation of quantum mechanics, known under the various names of consistent histories, decohering histories, or logical interpretation, has brought interpretation into a standard deductive theory and is now investigated in many places. A key difference with the Copenhagen interpretation is the status of classical physics, now derived completely from quantum principles in both its dynamical and logical aspects. After describing briefly this new interpretation in its essentials, leaving aside technical details, it is shown how its consequences in epistemology differ drastically from the familiar outcomes of the Copenhagen interpretation, leading in particular to a well-defined theory of knowledge. Some more speculative philosophical consequences associated with the unsolved problem of actuality are also mentioned.     

Combined charge and spin density experimental study of the yttrium(III) semiquinonato complex Y(HBPz3)2(DTBSQ) and DFT calculations

High-resolution X-ray diffraction and polarized neutron diffraction experiments have been performed on the Y-semiquinonate complex, Y(HBPz3)2(DTBSQ), in order to determine the charge and spin densities in the paramagnetic ground state, S = (1/2). The aim of these combined studies is to bring new insights to the antiferromagnetic coupling mechanism between the semiquinonate radical and the rare earth ion in the isomorphous Gd(HBPz3)2(DTBSQ) complex. The experimental charge density at 106 K yields detailed information about the bonding between the Y3+ ion and the semiquinonate ligand; the topological charge of the yttrium atom indicates a transfer of about 1.5 electrons from the radical toward the Y3+ ion in the complex, in agreement with DFT calculations. The electron density deformation map reveals well-resolved oxygen lone pairs with one lobe polarized toward the yttrium atom. The determination of the induced spin density at 1.9 K under an applied magnetic field of 9.5 T permits the visualization of the delocalized magnetic orbital of the radical throughout the entire molecule. The spin is mainly distributed on the oxygen atoms [O1 (0.12(1) mu B), O2(0.11(1) mu B)] and the carbon atoms [C21 (0.24(1) mu B), C22(0.20(1) mu B), C24(0.16(1) mu B), C25(0.12(1) mu B)] of the carbonyl ring. A significant spin delocalization on the yttrium site of 0.08(2) mu B is observed, proving that a direct overlap with the radical magnetic orbital can occur at the rare earth site and lead to antiferromagnetic coupling. The DFT calculations are in good quantitative agreement with the experimental charge density results, but they underestimate the spin delocalization of the oxygen toward the yttrium and the carbon atoms of the carbonyl ring.     

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Semiempirical calculations on triplet and doublet states

Restricted open-shell SCF calculations are carried out on triplet states of electron systems and doublet states of some of their ions. The results are compared with the ones obtained by limited configuration interaction and by the use of Koopman's theorem. For some examples open-shell SCF wavefunctions are expanded into linear combinations of Slater determinants representing configurations built from closed-shell SCF orbitals. This allows a more detailed comparison of the different methods of calculation.

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Zusammenfassung Berechnungen nach der beschränkten SCF Methode für offene Schalen werden an Triplettzuständen von -Elektronensystemen und Dublettzuständen einiger ihrer Ionen ausgeführt. Die Resultate werden mit denjenigen verglichen, welche die beschränkte Konfigurationswechselwirkung und der Satz von Koopmans liefern. Die SCF Wellenfunktionen für offene Schalen werden, für gewisse Beispiele, in Linearkombinationen von Slater-Determinanten entwickelt, welche aus SCF Orbitalen für geschlossene Schalen aufgebaut sind und verschiedene Konfigurationen darstellen. Dies erlaubt einen eingehenderen Vergleich der verschiedenen Berechnungsmethoden.

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Résumé Des calculs selon la méthode SCF avec restriction pour les couches ouvertes sont effectués sur les états triplets de systèmes d'électrons et sur les états doublets de certains de leurs ions. Les résultats sont comparés à ceux obtenus par la méthode d'interáction de configurations limitée et par l'emploi du théorème de Koopmans. Pour certains exemples les fonctions SCF à couches ouvertes sont développées en combinaison linéaire de déterminants de Slater représentant des configurations bâties à partir d'orbitales S.C.F. de couches fermées. Cela permet une comparaison plus détaillée des différentes méthodes de calcul.

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Presented in parts at the Theoretical Chemistry Symposium in Vienna, March 1967.     

Calcul théorique des énergies de divers arrangements géométriques de la molécule (η5-C5H5)2TiCl2

The molecular energy of the complex (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂TiCl₂ has been calculated for experimental geometry and for several hypothetical forms by a semi-empirical CNDO/2 approach. The energy difference between experimental (quasi-tetrahedral) geometry and a planar geometry is ca. 20 kcal mol^?1. This difference is sufficiently high to explain the difficulty of the inversion process.