On the evaluation of the nonisothermal kinetic parameters of (GeS2)0.3(Sb2S3)0.7 crystallization using the IKP method

The isoconversional method suggested by Friedman and the invariant kinetic parameters method (IKP) were used in order to examine the kinetics of the nonisothermal crystallization of (GeS₂)_0.3(Sb₂S₃)_0.7. The objective of the paper is to show the usefulness of the IKP method both for determining the activation parameters as well as the model of the investigated process. It was shown that the kinetic triplet [(E, A, f(α), where E is the activation energy, A is the preexponential factor, and f(α) is the differential function of conversion], which results through the application of the IKP method, depends on the set of kinetic models considered. For different sets of kinetic models, proportional values of f(α) are obtained. A criterion for the selection of this set, the use of which lead to the true kinetic triplet corresponding to the analyzed process (E = 163.2 kJ mol^?1; A = 2.47 × 10¹² min^?1 and the Avrami‐Erofeev model, A_m, for m = 2.5–2.6 was suggested. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 309–315, 2004     

Selectively protected galactose derivatives for the synthesis of branched oligosaccharides

Synthesis and characterization of several new anomerically pure galactose derivatives, based on simple and effective protective group manipulations of benzyl β-d-galactopyranoside, are reported. The monosaccharides described contain selectively protected/deprotected hydroxyl functionalities at their 1,2,3,4- and 6-positions rendering them useful as building blocks for construction of branched oligosaccharides.     

Dynamics of the surface layer in cyanobiphenyl-aerosil nanocomposites with a high silica density

Composites were prepared from an aerosil and 4-n-alkyl-4'cyanobiphenyls with five to eight carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Their high silica density of ∼7 g aerosil in 1 cm³ of liquid crystal (LC) allows the observation of the behaviour of a thin cyanobiphenyl layer (having nearly a monolayer structure) on the silica particles. The systems are investigated by dielectric spectroscopy (10^-2-10⁹ Hz) in a large temperature range (220-370 K). All the composites show a (main) relaxation process at frequencies much lower than the processes observed for the bulk LC that was assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. The temperature dependence of its characteristic frequencies obeys the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann law, which is found to be typical for glass-forming liquids. The quasi two-dimensional character of the glass transition in the surface layer is discussed for the first time. At the nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature of the bulk, the composites show a continuous decrease of the characteristic frequencies as a function of the alkyl chain length, while the bulk LCs show the well known odd-even behaviour. The magnitude and temperature dependence of the slow relaxation process in the composites (molecules on an outer surface) agree with those of the same molecules confined to the nanopores of molecular sieves (internal surface).     

Nanostructured polymetallaynes of controlled length: Synthesis and characterization of oligomers and polymers from 1,1′‐bis‐(ethynyl)4,4′‐biphenyl bridging Pt(II) or Pd(II) centers

The reactivity of square planar palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes in trans or cis configuration, namely trans or cis‐[dichlorobis(tributylphosphine)platinum(II)] and trans‐[dichlorobis(tributylphosphine)palladium(II)] with 1,1′‐bis(ethynyl) 4,4′‐biphenyl, DEBP, leading to π‐conjugated organometallic oligomeric and polymeric metallaynes, was investigated by a systematic variation of the reaction conditions. The formation of polymers and oligomers with defined chain length [? M(PBu₃)₂ (C?C? C₆H₄? C₆H₄? C?C? )]_n (n = 3–10 for the oligomers, n = 20–50 for the polymers) depends on the configuration of the precursor Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes, the presence/absence of the catalyst CuI, and the reaction time. A series of model reactions monitored by XPS, GPC, and NMR ³¹P spectroscopy showed the route to modulate the chain growth. As expected, the nature of the transition metal (Pt or Pd) and the molecular weight of the polymers markedly influence the photophysical characteristics of the polymetallaynes, such as optical absorption and emission behavior. Polymetallaynes with nanostructured morphology could be obtained by a simple casting procedure of polymer solutions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3311–3329, 2007     

Calculation of polarization aberrations by the method of polarization-wave matrices

The technique of calculation of polarization aberrations with the help of the method of polarizationwave matrices is proposed. Radiation is represented as a coherent set of the Hermitian-Gaussian modes with a certain amplitude, phase, and polarization state; the longitudinal component of the field is also taken into account. Polarization aberrations are considered as a set of spurious modes. Polarization aberrations caused by a cylindrical converging lens and a diaphragm are studied.     

Determination of Ascorbic Acid by Electrocatalytic Response of an Electrode Coated with Polyvinylpyridine Film and Palladium-Plated

A procedure was developed for analysis of ascorbic acid with a carbon glass electrode coated with a palladium-modified poly(2-vinylpyridine) film.     

Calculation of impulsively started incompressible viscous flows

The paper's focus is the calculation of unsteady incompressible 2D flows past airfoils. In the framework of the primitive variable Navier–Stokes equations, the initial and boundary conditions must be assigned so as to be compatible, to assure the correct prediction of the flow evolution. This requirement, typical of all incompressible flows, viscous or inviscid, is often violated when modelling the flow past immersed bodies impulsively started from rest. Its fulfillment can however be restored by means of a procedure enforcing compatibility, consisting in a pre‐processing of the initial velocity field, here described in detail. Numerical solutions for an impulsively started multiple airfoil have been obtained using a finite element incremental projection method. The spatial discretization chosen for the velocity and pressure are of different order to satisfy the inf–sup condition and obtain a smooth pressure field. Results are provided to illustrate the effect of employing or not the compatibility procedure, and are found in good agreement with those obtained with a non‐primitive variable solver. In addition, we introduce a post‐processing procedure to evaluate an alternative pressure field which is found to be more accurate than the one resulting from the projection method. This is achieved by considering an appropriate ‘unsplit’ version of the momentum equation, where the velocity solution of the projection method is substituted. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of the structure and electronic structure of condensed phases of small fullerenes C<Subscript>28</Subscript> and Zn@C<Subscript>28</Subscript>

A comparative analysis of the stability factors and electronic structure of two possible crystalline forms of small fullerene C₂₈ and endohedral fullerene Zn@C₂₈ with diamond and lonsdaleite structures is performed using a cluster model. Atoms of elements that, when placed inside C₂₈ cages, have no significant effect on the stability of free small-fullerene molecules are shown to be able to dramatically change the electronic properties and reactivity of the C₂₈ skeleton and to be favorable for forming small-fullerene crystalline modifications, which are covalent crystals. In contrast, if the presence of foreign atoms inside C₂₈ cages stabilizes the isolated nanoparticles, then molecular crystals (such as C₆₀ fullerites) are formed due to weak van der Waals forces.