Surface study of ladderlike polyepoxysiloxanes

By using the two‐liquid geometric method and the three‐liquid acid‐base method, we are the first to determine the surface tensions of ladderlike polyepoxysiloxanes by the measurement of contact angles on thin films. Three kinds of ladderlike polymers have been synthesized: A C (which has the alkyl group and the epoxy group graft to the ladderlike polysilsesquioxane chain), A C P (which has the alkyl group, phenyl group, and epoxy group graft to the ladderlike chain), and A P (which has the phenyl group and epoxy group in the ladderlike side chain). The results showed that when different liquids and different theories are chosen to determine the surface energies, there are some minor differences in the values but a similar trend is still exhibited. The surface energies of these three polymers are in the following order of γ_{SA C} < γ_{SA C P} < γ_{SA P}. Interestingly, the surface energy increases for these polymers are mainly from the nonpolar part of the polyepoxysiloxanes. XPS surface analysis indicated that the Si and O ratios of these polymers at the air‐polymer interface were in the order of A C > A C P > A P, suggesting Si atoms were more likely to migrate to the polymer surface and the bulky effect of the phenyl groups could also interfere with the migration of the Si atoms. As a result, Si and O ratio at the interface determines the order of apparent surface energy for these three polymers. Experimental data also reflect that there are differences between the ladderlike polyepoxysiloxanes and the commercially available linear polysiloxanes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 138–147, 2000     

Impact of eigenvalues on the pseudopotential calculation of superconducting parameters of metals Ga, Cd and In

In the present paper some superconducting (SC) state parameters of metals Ga, Cd and In have been studied through Harrison’s First Principle [HFP] pseudopotential technique using McMillan’s formalism. The impact of choosing two different sets of core energy eigenvalues viz. Herman-Skillman and Clementi (or Experimental) has been studied. It has been observed that the choice of eigenvalues has appreciable impact on the form factor and consequently on the SC state transition parameter viz. electron-phonon coupling strength (λ) and superconducting transition temperature T _c . Hence the choice of suitable eigenvalues is essential for these computations. Reasonable agreement with experimental and theoretical data have been obtained.     

Improved Bioethanol Production Using Fusants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Xylose-Fermenting Yeasts

The present research deals with the development of a hybrid yeast strain with the aim of converting pentose and hexose sugar components of lignocellulosic substrate to bioethanol by fermentation. Different fusant strains were obtained by fusing protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and xylose-fermenting yeasts such as Pachysolen tannophilus, Candida shehatae and Pichia stipitis. The fusants were sorted by fluorescent-activated cell sorter and further confirmed by molecular characterization. The fusants were evaluated by fermentation of glucose?Cxylose mixture and the highest ethanol producing fusant was used for further study to ferment hydrolysates produced by acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of cotton gin waste. Among the various fusant and parental strains used under present study, RPR39 was found to be stable and most efficient strain giving maximum ethanol concentration (76.8?±?0.31?g L^?1), ethanol productivity (1.06?g L^?1 h^?1) and ethanol yield (0.458?g g^?1) by fermentation of glucose?Cxylose mixture under test conditions. The fusant has also shown encouraging result in fermenting hydrolysates of cotton gin waste with ethanol concentration of 7.08?±?0.142?g L^?1, ethanol yield of 0.44?g g^?1, productivity of 0.45?g L^?1?h^?1 and biomass yield of 0.40?g g^?1.     

Raman studies on nanocomposite silicon carbonitride thin film deposited by r.f. magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures

Raman studies of nanocomposite SiCN thin film by sputtering showed that with increase of substrate temperature from room temperature to 500 °C, a transition from mostly sp² graphitic phase to sp³ carbon took place, which was observed from the variation of I_D/I_G ratio and the peak shifts. This process resulted in the growth of C₃N₄ and Si₃N₄ crystallites in the amorphous matrix, which led to increase in hardness (H) and modulus (E) obtained through nanoindentation. However, at a higher temperature of 600 °C, again an increase of sp² C concentration in the film was observed but the H and E values showed a decrease due to increased growth of the graphitic carbon phase. The whole process got reflected in a modified four‐stage Ferrari–Robertson model of Raman spectroscopy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self‐Assembled Helical Arrays for the Stabilization of the Triplet State

Room‐temperature phosphorescence of metal and heavy atom‐free organic molecules has emerged as an area of great potential in recent years. A rational design played a critical role in controlling the molecular ordering to impart efficient intersystem crossing and stabilize the triplet state to achieve room‐temperature ultralong phosphorescence. However, in most cases, the strategies to strengthen phosphorescence efficiency have resulted in a reduced lifetime, and the available nearly degenerate singlet‐triplet energy levels impart a natural competition between delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence, with the former one having the advantage. Herein, an organic helical assembly supports the exhibition of an ultralong phosphorescence lifetime. In contrary to other molecules, 3,6‐phenylmethanone functionalized 9‐hexylcarbazole exhibits a remarkable improvement in phosphorescence lifetime (>4.1 s) and quantum yield (11 %) owing to an efficient molecular packing in the crystal state. A right‐handed helical molecular array act as a trap and exhibits triplet exciton migration to support the exceptionally longer phosphorescence lifetime.     

Optical,Electrical and Morphological Studies of SnSe2 Crystals Grown by Physical Vapour Transport Method

Tin diselenide single crystals have been grown by the physical vapour transport (PVT) method. Optical absorption studies give an indirect allowed transition at 1.03 eV at room temperature. The electrical resistivity parallel and perpendicular to c-axis, mobility and carrier concentration have been determined. Dependence of resistivity parallel to c-axis on temperature gives an activation energy of 0.072 eV. Growth spirals observed for the first time on the as grown faces of these crystals are also presented here.     

Hydrogenation of acetophenone over bifunctional multi metal oxide catalysts

The vapor phase hydrogenation of acetophenone at atmospheric pressure is carried out for the synthesis of 1-phenylethanol in a fixed bed reactor using Cu-Zn-Al-O (LTS-1) and LTS-2, Zn-Cr-Al-O (HTS-1) and Zn-Cu-Cr-Al-O (HTS-2) metal oxide catalysts. Our studies clearly indicate that a catalyst of low temperature hydrogenation activity, when modified for its acidity with magnesium oxide, shows maximum selectivity of 1-phenylethanol. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diffusion in a generalized thermoelastic solid in an infinite body with a cylindrical cavity

A dynamic problem of an infinite isotropic cylinder of radius r subjected to boundary conditions of the radial stress, temperature, or concentration of the diffusing substance is studied by using the equations of state of a elastothermodiffusive solid with one relaxation time and the Laplace transform technique. The distributions of the displacement, temperature, and concentration are displayed graphically and analytically.     

Influence of substrate nature on the growth of copper oxide thin films

Cu thin films were deposited on Si(111), glass, and quartz substrates by magnetron sputtering. X‐ray diffraction, SEM, and photoemission electron microscope studies were carried out to characterize the films. An influence of the nature of substrate on the Cu₂O and CuO phases formed was observed. Copper silicide formation in case of silicon substrates aided in formation of Cu₂O rather than CuO unlike glass and quartz substrates. Formation of nanocrystallites was observed by SEM and X‐ray diffraction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.