Effect of sphere to rod transition on the probe microenvironment in sodium dodecyl sulphate micelles: A time resolved fluorescence anisotropy study

The effect of different hydrotropic salts on the microenvironment at the anionic head group region of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micelle has been studied through time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements of a solubilized probe, coumarin-153 (C153). The organic cations of the hydrotropic salts used in this study, i.e. aniline hydrochloride (AHC) and o-, m- and p-toluidine hydrochlorides (OTHC, MTHC and PTHC, respectively), differ in their charge to size ratio and hydrophobicity. Present study utilizes the sensitivity of the fluorescence technique to understand the changes in the micropolarity and microviscosity experienced by the fluorescent probe, C153, solubilized in the micellar Stern layer, on addition of different hydrotropic salts. Significant changes are observed in the rotational relaxation dynamics of the probe with increasing concentration of the salts. The changes in the rotational relaxation dynamics clearly reflect the sphere to rod transition in the SDS micelles and correspond nicely with the reported results from dynamic light scattering measurements. The growth behavior of SDS micelles is found to be sensitive to the hydrophobicity of the organic cations. The charge to size ratio of the organic cations also indicated to play a role in inducing the sphere to rod transition in the SDS micelles. The interesting observation made from this study is that the sphere to rod transition of SDS micelles is largely facilitated by the presence of the hydrotropic salts and such a transition is successfully indicated by the simple fluorescence anisotropy measurements of a probe in the micelle carried out in the presence of different hydrotropic salts.     

Solution structure of copper-seamed C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arene nanocapsules with varying chain lengths

The stability of copper-seamed C-alkylpyrogallol[4]arene hexamers with varying chain lengths in solution has been studied using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The progression in diameter of spherical capsules with increasing alkyl chain lengths of copper-seamed hexamers in solution suggests both robustness as well as a close correlation between the solid phase and solution phase structures.     

Structural characterisation and thermo-physical properties of glasses in the Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system

This article aims to shed some light on the structure and thermo-physical properties of lithium disilicate glasses in the system Li₂O–SiO₂–Al₂O₃–K₂O. A glass with nominal composition 23Li₂O–77SiO₂ (mol%) (labelled as L₂₃S₇₇) and glasses containing Al₂O₃ and K₂O with SiO₂/Li₂O molar ratios (3.13–4.88) were produced by conventional melt-quenching technique in bulk and frit forms. The glass-ceramics (GCs) were obtained from nucleation and crystallisation of monolithic bulk glasses as well as via sintering and crystallisation of glass powder compacts. The structure of glasses as investigated by magic angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) depict the role of Al₂O₃ as glass network former with four-fold coordination, i.e., Al(IV) species while silicon exists predominantly as a mixture of Q ³ and Q ⁴ (Si) structural units. The qualitative as well as quantitative crystalline phase evolution in glasses was followed by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) adjoined with Rietveld-reference intensity ratio (R.I.R.) method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The possible correlation amongst structural features of glasses, phase composition and thermo-physical properties of GCs has been discussed.     

Mesoscopic spin-dependent reflection experiments on InSb- and InAs-based heterostructures

Spin–orbit interaction in two-dimensional electron systems can lead to a spin-dependent reflection of carriers off a lithographic barrier. Scattering of a spin-unpolarized beam from the barrier leads to the creation of two fully spin-polarized side beams in addition to an unpolarized specularly reflected beam. We experimentally demonstrate a method to create spin-polarized beams of ballistic electrons in mesoscopic samples fabricated on InSb/InAlSb and InAs/AlGaSb heterostructures. We describe two geometries, one open and one closed, in which the spin-dependent reflection and spin-dependent semiclassical trajectories were observed.     

Measurement of the transverse kinetic energies of argon recoil ions produced in 120 MeV -Ar collisions

Measurements were carried out to deduce the transverse kinetic energies of highly charged argon recoil ions produced in single collisions of 120 MeV ions with argon atoms in which the post collision charge states of the projectiles were not determined. A time of flight spectrometer was designed and fabricated to detect the charge states of recoils. Experimental procedures for optimizing the spectrometer for extraction, transmission and detection of recoils are described. A simple approach for determining the transverse kinetic energy of the recoil ions from FWHM of the peaks is reported. This method is shown to be independent of the choice of collision partners and requires only the knowledge of the physical values of “optimized parameters” of time-of-flight spectrometer used in the experiment. The transverse kinetic energy of the recoil ions determined from the present approach is found to vary from 0.03 eV for to 4.02 eV for Ar¹⁰⁺. These values are compared with the results reported by earlier workers and are shown to follow a q²-behaviour up to a charge state q =8+ of the recoil ions. Received: 5 February 1998 / Revised: 8 June 1998 / Accepted: 11 June 1998     

Radiation grafting of acrylonitrile on ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer rubber: Optimization of grafting parameters and oil resistance properties

Radiation induced grafting of acrylonitrile (ACN) on ethylene-propene diene terpolymer (EPDM) rubber film was investigated by mutual radiation grafting technique. Effect of experimental variables viz. radiation dose, dose rate, type of solvent and monomer content on extent of grafting was studied. From the kinetic studies a mathematical relation R _g α[M]^0.7 D ^0.68 showing non-linear relationship for rate of grafting with monomer concentration and dose was deduced. The grafted samples showed increased hardness and oil resistance.     

Electroproduction of π+ mesons in the resonance region

Results on the reaction ep→e′nπ⁺ are presented in the mass range 1.355 ?W ?1.775 GeV at q₂=1GeV² and in the range 1.415 ? W ? 1.595 GeV at q²=0.6 GeV². From the angular distribution of the π⁺ meson the polarization terms σ_u + ?σ_L, σ_p and σ_I have been determined in the range of production angles 0 <θ_π⁺ ?63°     

Polarization dependent reflectivity and optical constants of single crystal rutile RuO2 in the range 0.5 to 9.5 eV

We have measured the near-normal incidence reflectivity of single crystal RuO₂ (rutile) for $\text{E}$ 6 $\text{c}$-axis and $\text{E}$ ⊥ $\text{c}$-axis at room temperature in the photon energy range 0.5 – 9.5 eV. From a Kramers-Kronig analysis of the reflectivity we have obtained the spectral dependence of the real, ?₁(ω), and imaginary, ?₂(ω), parts of the complex dielectric constant. Comparison with recent band structure and density of states calculations and past experimental studies of related solids has enabled us to gain further insight into the nature of the oxygen $\text{p}$-electrons and metal $\text{d}$-electrons in this material.     

Formation of benzoic acid in the palladium(II) catalyzed cleavage of phenyl-antimony and phenyl-phosphorus groups of Ph3Sb and Ph3P

Palladium (II) catalyzed cleavage of phenyl-antimony and phenyl-phosphorus groups of Ph₃Sb and Ph₃P under carbon-dioxide or CO/NO atmosphere leading to benzoic acid, has been demonstrated.