Influence of the catalyst type on the growth of carbon nanotubes via methane chemical vapor deposition

The preparation of the catalyst is one of the key parameters which governs the quality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown by catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CVD). We investigated the influence of three different procedures of catalyst preparation on the type and diameter of CNTs formed under identical growth conditions via methane CVD. In the first one, chemically synthesized colloidal iron oxide or iron molybdenum alloy nanoparticles were used, which were homogeneously deposited on silicon substrates by spin coating to prevent them from coalescence under CVD growth conditions. The obtained multiwall CNTs (MWNTs) exhibited diameters corresponding to the catalyst particle size, whereas no formation of single-wall CNTs (SWNTs) was observed. In the second method, commercial porous alumina nanoparticles were used in association with iron and molybdenum salts and the Fe/Mo catalyst was formed in situ. We determined that the alumina concentration significantly influenced the morphology of the catalyst and that below a critical value of the range of 1 g/L no CNTs were formed. While yielding nearly defect-free SWNTs, their diameter could not be controlled using this procedure, resulting in a large distribution of tube sizes. In a third, new preparation method, associating alumina and iron-based nanoparticles, SWNTs of a different size and narrower diameter distribution as compared to the second method were obtained. Our results are evidence of the essential role of alumina particles in the formation of SWNTs, and the newly developed method opens up a way to the synthesis of diameter-controlled SWNTs via catalyzed CVD.     

A simple and selective method for the O-AcCl removal using sodium borohydride

A deprotection of chloroacetylated alcohols using NaBH₄ is reported. The free alcohols are obtained in excellent yields. The reaction was performed on primary, secondary, alkyl, allyl, benzylic alcohols and phenols. The compatibility of the method with other sensitive or protective groups is demonstrated.     

Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions towards the synthesis of well-defined thiophene-oligomers

Heck- and Ullmann-type palladium-catalyzed reactions were used in order to perform the synthesis of 3′,4″-dioctyl-2,2′,5′2″,5″,2′″-tetrathienyl. The desired oligothiophene was synthesized in five steps with a total yield of 38% by a Heck-type reaction of bromo-derivatives and a yield of 45% by an Ullmann-type reaction of iodo-precursors.     

Diastereomeric resolution of nucleoside analogues, new potential antiviral agents, using high-performance liquid chromatography on polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phases

This paper describes the separation of the four sets of stereoisomers of nucleoside analogs, new potential antiviral agents by direct analytical HPLC methods using derivatized cellulose and amylose chiral stationary phases. The resolution was made using normal-phase methodology with a mobile phase consisting of n-hexane-alcohol (ethanol or 2-propanol) in various percentages, and a silica-based cellulose tris-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate (Chiralcel OD-H), or tris-methylbenzoate (Chiralcel OJ) and a silica-based amylose tris-3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate (Chiralpak AD) or tris-(S)-1-phenylethylcarbamate (Chiralpak AS). The effects of structural features on the extent of discrimination between the stereoisomers were examined through the retention, the selectivity and the resolution factors as well as the elution order. Baseline separation (Rs>1.5) was easily obtained in many cases. The resolution results were complementary between the different columns.     

Bulk analysis by IR laser ablation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Two laser ablation systems dedicated to bulk analysis were evaluated for steel and PVC samples, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry detection. These systems were characterized by the use of a Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm, the absence of observation device and a large laser spot size. The 1064 nm wavelength was selected to avoid the use of frequency-multiplying optics, and to be less critical to the sampling position. Calibration graphs and limits of detection are given for both types of materials. LODs were in the range 3–120 μg/g for steel, and in the range 0.07–15 μg/g for PVC. In the case of steel samples, similar calibration graph slopes were obtained between polished and unpolished samples.     

Viscoelasticity behavior for finite deformations,using a consistent hypoelastic model based on Rivlin materials

When constructing viscoelastic models, rate-form relations appear naturally to relate strain and stress tensors. One has to ensure that these tensors and their rates are indifferent with respect to the change of observers and to the superposition with rigid body motions. Objective transports are commonly accepted to ensure this invariance. However, the large number of transport operators developed makes the choice often difficult for the user and may lead to physically inconsistent formulation of hypoelasticity. In this paper, a methodology based on the use of the Lie derivative is proposed to model consistent hypoelasticity as an equivalent incremental formulation of hyperelasticity. Both models are shown to be reversible and completely equivalent. Extension to viscoelasticity is then proposed from this consistent model by associating consistent hypoelastic models with viscous behavior. As an illustration, Mooney–Rivlin nonlinear elasticity is coupled with Newton viscosity and a Maxwell-like material is investigated. Numerical solutions are then presented to illustrate a viscoelastic material subjected to finite deformations for a large range of strain rates.