Enhanced optical transmission by light coaxing: Mechanism of the TEM-mode excitation

This paper presents a theoretical study showing the mechanism of light transmission through opaque metallic films perforated with nanocoaxial apertures thanks to the excitation of their cutoff-free TEM (Transverse ElectroMagnetic) guided mode. Full three-dimensional Finite Difference Time Domain (3D-FDTD) together with a Body-Of-Revolution FDTD simulation results are presented and discussed in order to optimize this extraordinary transmission. Very promising findings are pointed out opening the path to the design of new devices for both nano-optic and photovoltaic applications.     

Differential estimation of U(VI) and U(IV) ions in aqueous solutions by Arsenazo 1

The spectrophotometric determination of pure U(IV) or U(VI) ions in solution with Arsenazo I is greatly dependant on the pH of the solutions. The experimental conditions for the differential estimation of the different oxidation states of U ions, in the same sample, using Arsenazo I have been identified and implemented. The results showed that the applied method is rather rapid and accurate.     

Computational design of cyclic nitroxides as efficient redox mediators for dye-sensitized solar cells

Cyclic nitroxide radicals represent promising alternatives to the iodine-based redox mediator commonly used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). To date DSSCs with nitroxide-based redox mediators have achieved energy conversion efficiencies of just over 5?% but efficiencies of over 15?% might be achievable, given an appropriate mediator. The efficacy of the mediator depends upon two main factors: it must reversibly undergo one-electron oxidation and it must possess an oxidation potential in a range of 0.600-0.850?V (vs. a standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) in acetonitrile at 25?°C). Herein, we have examined the effect that structural modifications have on the value of the oxidation potential of cyclic nitroxides as well as the reversibility of the oxidation process. These included alterations to the N-containing skeleton (pyrrolidine, piperidine, isoindoline, azaphenalene, etc.), as well as the introduction of different substituents (alkyl-, methoxy-, amino-, carboxy-, etc.) to the ring. Standard oxidation potentials were calculated using high-level ab initio methodology that was demonstrated to be very accurate (with a mean absolute deviation from experimental values of only 16?mV). An optimal value of 1.45 for the electrostatic scaling factor for UAKS radii in acetonitrile solution was obtained. Established trends in the values of oxidation potentials were used to guide molecular design of stable nitroxides with desired E(ox)°, and a number of compounds were suggested for potential use as enhanced redox mediators in DSSCs.     

Alkylated phenol series in lacustrine black shales from the Nördlinger Ries, southern Germany

Several series of alkylated phenols were detected for the first time in the extractable bitumens of organic matter-rich sediments from the N?rdlinger Ries (southern Germany). Most abundant and significant constituents comprise those with n-octadecyl, n-eicosanyl, phytanyl, and iso-pentadecyl and anteiso-pentadecyl substituents. The structures of these compounds are suggested from mass spectrometric and retention time data and coinjection with synthetic standards. Diagenetic alteration of phenolic algal lipids is suggested as a possible way to the formation of these compounds in the N?rdlinger Ries sediments. Copyright ? 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands derived from chiral Feist's acid

The hemilabile chiral C2 symmetrical bidentate substituted amide ligands (1R,2R)-5(a-d) and (1S,2S)-6(a-d) were synthesized in quantitative yield from (1R,2R)-(+)-3-methylenecyclo-propane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-(-)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1S,2S)-3, in two steps, respectively. The chiral Feist's acids (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-3 were obtained in good isomeric purity by resolution of trans-(±)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid from an 8:2 mixture of tert-butanol and water, using (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzyl amine as a chiral reagent. This process is reproducible on a large scale. All these new synthesized chiral ligands were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis and their specific rotations were measured. These new classes of C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands could be of special interest in asymmetric transformations.     

A note on the convergence of trivariate extreme order statistics and extension

Necessary and sufficient conditions, under which there exists (at least) a sequence of vectors of real numbers for which the distribution function (d.f.) of any vector of extreme order statistics converges to a nondegenerate limit, are derived. The interesting thing is that these conditions solely depend on the univariate marginals. Moreover, the limit splits into the product of the limit univariate marginals if all the bivariate marginals of the trivariate d.f., from which the sample is drawn, is of negative quadrant dependent random variables (r.v.'s). Finally, all these results are stated for the multivariate extremes with arbitrary dimensions.     

Metal-Clad Multilayer Waveguide: Circle-Chain Convergent Method and Two Perturbation Methods

Computer modeling studies for the calculation of the propagation constants and attenuation coefficients of TE mode in an asymmetric metal/ dielectric/dielectric layers structure are presented. Two different perturbation methods, circle chain convergent method and Downhill method are used. The last two methods can be used easily for the waveguides consist of any number of layers with complex refractive index due to gain and loss. The developed programs were run on a personal computer and numerical results are presented.     

On the beam propagation through active media

An analytical iterative procedure has been established to determine the amplitude of a laser beam propagating through an active medium. The treatment is valid for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening, and for arbitrary inhomogeneities of the parameters characterizing the active medium, namely, the refractive index, the small-signal gain and the saturation intensity. After a supplementary approximation, a thin-sheet gain approach is derived from the first iteration. The formalism enables us to provide analytical criteria for evaluating both the accuracy of each iteration and the propagation distances for which the thin-sheet solution can be used. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal conductivity of the ferrites Ni0.65Zn0.35CuxFe2−xO4

A series of samples of the type Ni_0.65Zn_0.35Cu_xFe_2?xO₄ (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) were prepared by a ceramic technique. The existence of a single phase was confirmed by X-ray studies. The thermal conductivity and specific heat were measured at 53°C. The thermal conductivity had a minimum value atx=0.3, due to the maximum porosity at this composition. The phonon frequency was estimated to have an optimum value at x=0.3, due to the increase in phonon scattering.     

New trends in removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater

Innovative processes for treating industrial wastewater containing heavy metals often involve technologies for reduction of toxicity in order to meet technology-based treatment standards. This article reviews the recent developments and technical applicability of various treatments for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. A particular focus is given to innovative physico-chemical removal processes such as; adsorption on new adsorbents, membrane filtration, electrodialysis, and photocatalysis. Their advantages and limitations in application are evaluated. The main operating conditions such as pH and treatment performance are presented. Published studies of 94 cited references (1999–2008) are reviewed.It is evident from survey that new adsorbents and membrane filtration are the most frequently studied and widely applied for the treatment of metal-contaminated wastewater. However, in the near future, the most promising methods to treat such complex systems will be the photocatalytic ones which consume cheap photons from the UV-near visible region. They induce both degradation of organic pollutants and recovery of metals in one-pot systems. On the other hand, from the conventional processes, lime precipitation has been found as one of the most effective means to treat inorganic effluent with a metal concentration of >1000 mg/L. It is important to note that the overall treatment cost of metal-contaminated water varies, depending on the process employed and the local conditions. In general, the technical applicability, plant simplicity and cost-effectiveness are the key factors in selecting the most suitable treatment for inorganic effluent