Low frequency dielectric spectroscopy of two room temperature chiral liquid crystal mixtures

Dielectric spectroscopy of two room temperature chiral liquid crystal mixtures (W-96 and W-97) have been carried out in the frequency range of 100?mHz–10?MHz. Low frequency dielectric relaxation modes corresponding to collective behavior of molecules (Goldstone- and soft-modes) in the SmC* phase have been found to be masked by the ionic conductance. Two slow modes of dielectric relaxation due to the ionic conductance have been detected (below 15?Hz) in planar-aligned samples. It has been observed that the effect of ionic conductance decreases with the number of thermal annealing cycles on the materials. With large number of thermal annealing cycles it has been possible to wipe out the effects of ionic conductance and then to detect other weak modes of dielectric relaxation which are otherwise masked.     

Exact entropy of dimer coverings for a class of lattices in three or more dimensions

We construct a class of lattices in three and higher dimensions for which the number of dimer coverings can be determined exactly using elementary arguments. These lattices are a generalization of the two-dimensional kagome lattice, and the method also works for graphs without translational symmetry. The partition function for dimer coverings on these lattices can be determined also for a class of assignments of different activities to different edges.     

On modeling of MPS‐based multiphase fluid flow with low density ratios

A divergence‐free moving particle semi‐implicit framework has been formulated for modeling of multiple miscible fluids having small density ratios (≤ 1.10) in the presence of free surface. A density‐weighted pressure gradient along with a hybrid free‐surface treatment is specifically adopted to incorporate the effect of marginal density difference through a higher‐order kernel. The hybrid free‐surface treatment reduces error in velocity divergence and resulting spurious velocity fluctuation in the vicinity of free surface for low‐velocity system. Scalar transport equation is resolved to update density associated with the particles at every time step. A total of 9 cases of lock‐exchange flow with different lock positions and density ratios have been utilized to validate the proposed framework. The model performs satisfactorily irrespective of lock positions and low density variations (3%‐9%).     

A tetranuclear organorhenium(i) complex of the 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane radical anion, TCNQF4 (-)

The radical complex {(mu(4)-TCNQF4)[Re(CO)(3)(bpy)](4)}(PF(6))(3), as prepared and isolated from the reaction between TCNQF4 and [Re(CO)(3)(bpy)(MeOH)](PF(6)), was studied electrochemically and by IR vibrational spectroscopy, UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy, and by EPR at 9.5, 190 and 285 GHz. The isotropic g factor of 2.0058, the detectable g anisotropy, and the (185,187)Re EPR hyperfine coupling of 0.95 mT for four equivalent metal nuclei support predominant, but not exclusive, spin localisation at the bridging ligand. Nitrile and metal carbonyl stretching frequencies as well as the typically structured near infrared absorption band lend further support to (TCNQF4 (-))(Re(I))(4) as the most appropriate oxidation state formulation. In comparison to the non-radical complex {(mu(4)-TCNQ)[Re(CO)(3)(bpy)](4)}(PF(6))(4) an X-ray structure analysis of {(mu(4)-TCNQF4)[Re(CO)(3)(bpy)](4)}(PF(6))(3) shows a marginally more twisted (ReNCCCNRe)(C(6)X(4))(ReNCCCNRe) configuration and a different up/down arrangement of the [Re(CO)(3)(bpy)](+) groups. This first isolation, electrochemical, structural and spectroscopic characterisation of a discrete tetranuclear radical complex of a TCNQ-type ligand suggests a link between the stability of such materials and the rather small structural changes on ligand-based electron transfer.     

Deformation and microhardness studies on natural apophyllite crystals

Microhardness testing of three different planes of natural apophyllite crystals is reported. Variation of Vicker's microhardness value H_v with applied load ranging from 10–100 g indicates two distinct regions. In the low load region (10–70 g) H_v increases with load till it attains maximum value and then decreases thereafter. This variation is explained qualitatively in terms of depth of penetration of the indentor. Variation of orientation of the indentor w.r.t. each of the (100) and (111) planes indicates microhardness anisotropy.     

Characteristics of electrical properties of wide temperature range TGB phases in liquid crystal dimers

4-n-decyloxy-4′-(cholesteryloxycarbonyl-1-butyloxy) chalcone and its two successive homologous are optically active dimeric compound derived from cholesterol. They possess wide temperature ranges of two twist grain boundary (TGB) phases namely TGBA and TGBC*. Comprehensive dielectric studies have been carried out for these compounds in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz for different conditions of molecular anchoring. Various electrical parameter viz. dielectric permittivity, dielectric anisotropy, dc conductivity, and activation energy have been determined for these two TGB phases. Weak relaxation processes have been detected under planar anchoring of molecules in the TGBA and TGBC* phases presumably due to amplitude (soft mode) and phase (Goldstone mode) fluctuations.     

A comparative study of soliton switching in a two- and three-core coupler with TOD and IMD

A numerical study of soliton switching in a two- and three-core coupler is carried out taking into account the effect of intermodal dispersion and third-order dispersion. A two and three-core coupler with linear and triangular configuration is considered. It is found that the three-core coupler with linear configuration shows the best switching characteristics.     

The first ionic liquid-promoted three-component coupling strategy for an expeditious synthesis of β-nitrocarbonitriles/thiocyanates

A novel and convenient three-component coupling reaction of nitromethane, aromatic aldehydes and trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) or ammonium thiocyanate has been developed for an expeditious synthesis of β-nitrocarbonitriles or β-nitrothiocyanates, respectively, via C-C and C-S bond-forming reactions. The synthetic protocol strategically involves a one-pot sequential Henry reaction and a Michael addition efficiently promoted by the same ionic liquid [bmim]OH. The main advantages of the present approach include the use of inexpensive simple substrates and an ionic liquid as an efficient reaction promoter for the mild synthesis in a one-pot procedure.