A series of long-chain lamellar hydrated copper(II) alkylsulfonates with different chain molecular assemblies

Reaction of copper(II) salts with n-alkylsulfonate anions yields light blue lamellar Cu(C(n)H(2n + 1)SO3)2 x zH2O displaying distinct (mono/bi-layer) chain packing with increasing alkyl chain lengths. This may be attributed to the amphiphilic nature of the surfactants, i.e., the hydrophilic sulfonate head groups, mediating the coordination, and H-bonding interactions, and the hydrophobic alkyl chains.     

Theoretical investigation of the mechanisms of reaction of NCN with NO and NS

Quantum-chemical calculations were performed on the mechanisms of reaction of NCN with NO and NS. Possible mechanisms were classified according to four pathways yielding products in the following four possible groups: N2O/N2S + CN, N2 + NCO/NCS, N2 + CNO/CNS, and CNN + NO/NS, labeled in order from p1/p1s to p4/p4s. The local structures, transition structures, and potential-energy surfaces with respect to the reaction coordinates are calculated, and the barriers are compared. In the NCN + NO reaction, out of several adduct structures, only the nitroso adduct NCNNO lies lower in energy than the reactants, by 21.89 kcal/mol; that adduct undergoes rapid transformation into the products, in agreement with experimental observation. For the NS counterpart, both thionitroso NCNNS and thiazyl NCNSN adducts have energies much lower than those of the reactants, by 43 and 29 kcal/mol, respectively, and a five-membered-ring NCNNS (having an energy lower than those of the reactants by 36 kcal/mol) acts as a bridge in connecting these two adducts. The net energy barriers leading to product channels other than p4s are negative for the NS reaction, whereas those for the NO analogue are all positive. The channel leading to p1 (N2O + CN) has the lowest energy (3.81 kcal/mol), whereas the channels leading to p2 (N2 + NCO) and p2s (N2 + NCS) are the most exothermic (100.94 and 107.38 kcal/mol, respectively).     

Studies on polymers and composites from lignin and fiber derived from sugar cane

Sugarcane fiber (i.e. bagasse) lignin has a larger fraction of aromatics unsubstitution in the ortho position than hardwood or softwood lignin and hence has the greater ability to be derivatized. Furthermore, organosolv lignin has a higher purity than sulfonated and kraft lignins. This work examines the purification of organosolv lignin derived from bagasse and the physico‐chemical properties of the lignin and lignin‐phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin coatings, and composites. The wetability tests have shown that lignin and lignin‐PF resin films are effective water barrier coatings, though the contact angles of lignin‐PF resin films were considerably less than the wax films. The overall mechanical properties (i.e. peak stress, peak strain and modulus) of the bagasse fiber composites were lower than the values obtained with the composites without the inclusion of bagasse fiber. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of an ancient bronze statue by external beam pixe

A quantitative analysis of an ancient Buddha statue was performed by external beam Proton Induced X-ray Emission for the purpose of identifying its originality. It is shown how the PIXE method can be applied for archeological study. The elemental composition of the statue is compared with that of several samples with definite ages. The experiment was performed by extracting 2.4 MeV proton beam through a 2 mm diameter collimator and 7.6 m kapton foil to the He atmosphere. X-rays were measured by a Si(Li) detector. The analysed elements were Fe, Cu, Ag, Au and Hg for gold coating and Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Sn, Au, Pb and Bi for bronze body.     

Stacking sequence effect of aramid–UHMPE hybrid composites by flexural test method: MATERIAL PROPERTIES

Aramid fibre–ultra-high modulus polyethylene (UHMPE) fibre interply hybrid composites were fabricated with changes in the stacking sequence. The flexural strength and modulus of hybrid composites were measured in order to investigate the effect of stacking sequence. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the fracture surface of interply hybrid composites. When aramid fibre was at the compressive side and dispersion extent of fibers was small, the higher flexural strength and positive hybrid effect were observed. In addition, the different stacking sequence resulted in a change in flexural failure mechanism which had an effect on the flexural strength. As the dispersion extent of fibers decreased, the introduction of cohesive failure in aramid–aramid interface and PE–PE interface improved the flexural strength of hybrid composites.     

The measurement of rates of initiation in the thermal polymerization of styrene

The thermal initiation of the polymerization of styrene has been studied at temperatures from 60–140°C using DPPH as a free radical scavenger. Rates of free radical formation, measured by the decrease in absorbance at 525 nm, are about seven times greater than those obtained from inhibition period measurements. The difference is probably due to the much greater reactivity of trinitrobenzene derivatives towards diradicals from styrene than towards styryl monoradicals. This view is supported by the different behaviour of the AIBN initiated polymerization of styrene in the presence of DPPH. The thermal initiation process has a low efficiency of initiation and the activation energy is 121 kJ/mole. The results strongly support the diradical mechanism for the thermal initiation of styrene polymerization.     

DNA-templated self-assembly of protein and nanoparticle linear arrays

Self-assembling DNA tiling lattices represent a versatile system for nanoscale construction. Self-assembled DNA arrays provide an excellent template for spatially positioning other molecules with increased relative precision and programmability. Here we report an experiment using a linear array of DNA triple crossover tiles to controllably template the self-assembly of single-layer or double-layer linear arrays of streptavidin molecules and streptavidin-conjugated nanogold particles through biotin-streptavidin interaction. The organization of streptavidin and its conjugated gold nanoparticles into periodic arrays was visualized by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.     

Comment on "Adsorption of naphthalene on zeolite from aqueous solution" by C.F. Chang, C.Y. Chang, K.H. Chen, W.T. Tsai, J.L. Shie, Y.H. Chen

A paper contributes not only by its originality and creativity, but also by its continuity and development toward subsequent research. Referencing and quotation accuracy are an important part of a scientific article. This study presents a literature review concerning the precision of 50 first authors' publications, which originally cited Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression paper in kinetics model for solute sorption on various sorbents. This model applies to a range of solid-liquid systems such as metal ions, dyestuffs, herbicides, oil, and organic substances in aqueous systems onto various sorbents. In addition, citations of Lagergren and Elovich rate equations are also discussed. This comment offers information for citing the original idea of Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression and Lagergren's pseudo-first-order kinetic equation. It is also suggested that the cited paper should be accurately quoted.     

Photochemistry of 5-phenyl-1-pentene in the gas phase

The photochemistry of the title compound has been studied in the gas phase using 254-nm irradiation. In addition to meta cycloadducts analogous to those observed in solution, population of S1(vib) in the gas phase gives several products, the relative amounts of which depend on quencher gas pressure but not on excitation wavelength. For example, in the absence of butane, the major photoproduct is compound 5. This product is formed by a [1,5] hydrogen shift in the primary photoproduct, compound 4. Compound 4 is an intramolecular meta cycloadduct that is generated in the gas phase with sufficient excess vibrational energy to undergo rearrangement unless quencher gas is present. Likewise, there is evidence that two other meta cycloadducts (2 and 3) are also formed with appreciable vibrational energy in the absence of a quencher gas. A unique intramolecular ortho cycloadduct is also formed from 1 but only within a narrow range of quencher gas pressures. This is a two-photon product, with the initial cycloadduct (11) ring opening to a cyclooctatriene (12) that photochemically closes to 6. The pressure dependence of this ortho cycloaddition may be due to a requirement for vibrational deactivation of 11 (Scheme 5) or a precursor species (Scheme 6). The overall chemistry is outlined in Scheme 7.     

Imidazole-based excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer materials: synthesis and amplified spontaneous emission from a large single crystal

We have synthesized a novel class of imidazole-based excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) materials, i.e., hydroxy-substituted tetraphenylimidazole (HPI) and its derivative HPI-Ac, which formed large single crystals exhibiting intense blue fluorescence and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). Transparent, clear, and well-defined fluorescent single crystals of HPI-Ac as large as 20 mm x 25 mm x 5 mm were easily grown from its dilute solution. From the X-ray crystallographic analysis and semiempirical molecular orbital calculation, it was deduced that the four phenyl groups substituted into the imidazole ring of HPI and HPI-Ac allowed the crystals free from concentration quenching of fluorescence by limiting the excessive tight-stacking responsible for intermolecular vibrational coupling and relevant nonradiative relaxation. Fluorescence spectral narrowing and efficient ASE were observed in the HPI-Ac single crystal even at low excitation levels attributed to the intrinsic four-level ESIPT photocycle.