Multisegmented one-dimensional nanorods prepared by hard-template synthetic methods

In the science and engineering communities, the nanoscience revolution is intensifying. As many types of nanomaterials are becoming more reliably synthesized, they are being used for novel applications in all branches of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Since it is sometimes desirable for single nanomaterials to perform multiple functions simultaneously, multicomponent nanomaterials, such as core-shell, alloyed, and striped nanoparticles, are being more extensively researched. Nanoscientists hope to design multicomponent nanostructures and exploit their inherent multiple functionalities for use in many novel applications. This review highlights recent advances in the synthesis of multisegmented one-dimensional nanorods and nanowires with metal, semiconductor, polymer, molecular, and even gapped components. It also discusses the applications of these multicomponent nanomaterials in magnetism, self-assembly, electronics, biology, catalysis, and optics. Particular emphasis is placed on the new materials and devices achievable using these multicomponent, rather than single-component, nanowire structures.     

Enhancement of high harmonics generated by field steering of electrons in a two-color orthogonally polarized laser field

We demonstrate enhancement by 1 order of magnitude of the high-order harmonics generated in argon by combining a fundamental field at 1300 nm (10(14) W cm(-2)) and its orthogonally polarized second harmonic at 650 nm (2 × 10(13) W cm(-2)) and by controlling the relative phase between them. This extends earlier work by ensuring that the main effect is the combined field steering the electron trajectory with negligible contribution from multiphoton effects compared to the previous schemes with 800/400 nm fields. We access a broad energy range of harmonics (from 20 eV to 80 eV) at a low laser intensity (far below the ionization saturation limit) and observe deep modulation of the harmonic yield with a period of π in the relative phase. Strong field theoretical analysis reveals that this is principally due to the steering of the recolliding electron wave packet by the two-color field. Our modeling also shows that the atto chirp can be controlled, leading to production of shorter pulses.     

Comprehensive Characterization of Chain End Groups of Vinylidene Fluoride Based Polymers

Summary: In this work an investigation of the chain end groups produced in the free radical copolymerization of vinilydene fluoride (VDF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) is performed. Type and amount of chain end groups are evaluated by a meticulous analytical characterization of VDF/HFP copolymer. At first pulsed gradient spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (spin-echo NMR) is used to identify all the chain end groups also at very low concentration (equal to 0.1 mmol · Kg⁻¹). The instrument sensitivity is increased of an order of magnitude in comparison with the traditional NMR. Moreover potentiometric titration and ion chromatography (IC) are also used to study the chain end groups and, as a consequence, the nature and the amount of the acidity showed by the polymer chains. In details two intensity of acidity are detected by potentiometric titration, namely strong and weak. The strong acidity is associated to the presence of residual surfactant and can be removed washing the polymer, while the weak acidity is due to free molecules of fluoride acid (HF). The standard ion chromatography facility is properly modified to quantify the fluoride in the polymer matrix without any pre extraction in water. Thanks to this the HF concentration in the polymer is evaluated with high accuracy. A detailed kinetic scheme for the VDF/HFP polymerization is also proposed taking into account all the findings obtained studying the chain end groups.     

Differential Algebras with Banach-Algebra Coefficients II: The Operator Cross-Ratio Tau-Function and the Schwarzian Derivative

Several features of an analytic (infinite-dimensional) Grassmannian of (commensurable) subspaces of a Hilbert space were developed in the context of integrable PDEs (KP hierarchy). We extended some of those features when polarized separable Hilbert spaces are generalized to a class of polarized Hilbert modules and then consider the classical Baker and τ-functions as operator-valued. Following from Part I we produce a pre-determinant structure for a class of τ-functions defined in the setting of the similarity class of projections of a certain Banach *-algebra. This structure is explicitly derived from the transition map of a corresponding principal bundle. The determinant of this map leads to an operator τ-function. We extend to this setting the operator cross-ratio which had previously been used to produce the scalar-valued τ-function, as well as the associated notion of a Schwarzian derivative along curves inside the space of similarity classes of a given projection. We link directly this cross-ratio with Fay’s trisecant identity for the τ-function. By restriction to the image of the Krichever map, we use the Schwarzian to introduce the notion of an operator-valued projective structure on a compact Riemann surface: this allows a deformation inside the Grassmannian (as it varies its complex structure). Lastly, we use our identification of the Jacobian of the Riemann surface in terms of extensions of the Burchnall–Chaundy C*-algebra (Part I) provides a link to the study of the KP hierarchy.     

The Robin problem for the scalar Oseen equation

We study the Robin problem for the scalar Oseen equation in an open n‐dimensional set with compact Ljapunov boundary. We prescribe two types of Robin boundary conditions, and prove the unique solvability of these problems as well as a representation formula for the solution in form of a scalar Oseen single layer potential. Moreover, we prove the maximum principle for the solution to the Robin problem of the scalar Oseen equation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid Assembly of Saturated Nitrogen Heterocycles in One‐Pot: Diazo‐Heterocycle “Stitching” by N–H Insertion and Cyclization

Methods that provide rapid access to new heterocyclic structures in biologically relevant chemical space provide important opportunities in drug discovery. Here, a strategy is described for the preparation of 2,2‐disubstituted azetidines, pyrrolidines, piperidines, and azepanes bearing ester and diverse aryl substituents. A one‐pot rhodium catalyzed N–H insertion and cyclization sequence uses diazo compounds to stitch together linear 1,m‐haloamines (m=2–5) to rapidly assemble 4 ‐, 5 ‐, 6 ‐, and 7 ‐membered saturated nitrogen heterocycles in excellent yields. Over fifty examples are demonstrated, including examples with diazo compounds derived from biologically active compounds. The products can be functionalized to afford α,α‐disubstituted amino acids and applied to fragment synthesis.     

Solubility Thermodynamics of CyMe$$_{}$$-BTBP in Various Diluents Mixed with TBP

The two organic ligands 6,6′-bis(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2,4]triazin-3-yl)[2,2′]bipyridine (CyMe\(_{4}\)-BTBP) and tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) have previously been investigated in different diluents for use within recycling of used nuclear fuel through solvent extraction. The thermodynamic parameters, \(K_{\mathrm{S}}\), \(\Delta C_{p}\), \(\Delta H^{0}\) and \(\Delta S^{0}\), of the CyMe\(_{4}\)-BTBP solubility in three diluents (cyclohexanone, octanol and phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone) mixed with TBP have been studied at 288, 298 and 308 K, both as pristine solutions and pre-equilibrated with 4 mol\(\cdot \)L\(^{-1}\) nitric acid. In addition, the amount of acid in the organic phase and density change after pre-equilibration have been measured. The solubility of CyMe\(_{4}\)-BTBP increases with an increased temperature in all systems, especially after acid pre-equilibration. This increased CyMe\(_{4}\)-BTBP solubility after pre-equilibration could be explained by acid dissolution into the solvent. Comparing the \(\Delta H^{0}\) and \(\Delta S^{0}\) calculated using \(\Delta C_{p}\) with the same parameters derived from a linear fit indicates temperature independence of all three thermodynamic systems. The change in enthalpy is positive in all solutions.