Nonvanishing cohomology and classes of Gorenstein rings

We give counterexamples to the following conjecture of Auslander: given a finitely generated module M over an Artin algebra Λ, there exists a positive integer n_M such that for all finitely generated Λ-modules N, if Ext_Λⁱ(M,N)=0 for all i?0, then Ext_Λⁱ(M,N)=0 for all i?n_M. Some of our examples moreover yield homologically defined classes of commutative local rings strictly between the class of local complete intersections and the class of local Gorenstein rings.     

The first bismuth(III)-catalyzed guanylation of thioureas

This work describes the first catalytic bismuth-promoted synthesis of polysubstituted guanidines in good yields through the guanylation reaction of N-benzoyl or N-phenylthioureas with primary and secondary amines, but now employing equimolar amounts of each organic reagent. Both bismuth iodine and bismuth nitrate were efficient as inorganic thiophiles at only 5 mol % in relation to substrates, being the first example of inorganic thiophiles acting in guanylation at catalytic levels.     

2-Propanol oxidation on platinum and platinum–rhodium electrodeposits

The electrocatalytic oxidation of 2-propanol was investigated using on line differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) on electrodeposited Pt and an arrange of bimetallics: Pt_0.84Rh_0.16, Pt_0.70Rh_0.30, Pt_0.55Rh_0.45. It has been observed that the Pt_0.84Rh_0.16 bimetallic electrode presented the best catalytic activity for 2-propanol electrochemical oxidation. Since 2-propanol is a secondary alcohol, only acetone and CO₂ are produced. The total yield of CO₂ and acetone has been determined from the DEMS measurements. It is found that acetone is the major product, as reported before for other electrodes. The acetone and CO₂ yield depends on the electrode composition. High amount of rhodium in the electrode composition strongly diminish the reaction rate as indicated by the decrease of both the acetone and CO₂ yield. However, acetone inhibition is much more intense. The only bimetallic electrode that presents considerable mass spectroscopy signals intensity for CO₂ and acetone is the Pt_0.84Rh_0.16 electrode. This electrode shows a slight increase in CO₂ selectivity, compared to the other electrodes studied in this work. Only very low coverages of stable adsorbates were present during the reaction. Two and one carbon adsorbate were observed for all the electrodes. Three carbon adsorbates were detected only for the Pt_0.84Rh_0.16 electrode. Therefore, acetone production does not require a stable adsorbate.     

Carrier diffusion in InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells grown on vicinal GaAs(0 0 1) substrates

We have investigated the influence of vicinal GaAs substrates on the optical and electronic properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells (QWs). A single In_0.10Ga_0.90As QW was grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on a vicinal GaAs(0 0 1) substrate with a miscut angle of 0° (nominal), 2°, 4° and 6° towards [1 1 0]. The carrier diffusion was obtained by a micro-photoluminescence scan technique that permits to observe the effective diffusion length characterized by the lateral spread of carriers in the QW followed by radiative recombination. The carrier diffusion length was obtained parallel (L_||) and perpendicular (L) to the atomic steps. The diffusion length decreases as the temperature increases up to 100 K. Above this temperature we found different behaviours that depend on the sample miscut angle.     

A high spin isomer in 153Eu

A search for new isomers of nanosecond lifetimes were carried out in ¹⁵³Eu via the ¹⁵⁰Nd(⁷Li,xnγ) reaction. The single particle angular momentum alignment and dynamical moment of inertia estimated from the experimental data indicate a configuration change at rotational energy ħω∼ 0.30 MeV. A decrease of B(E2) values is also observed at the same frequency. An isomeric level is identified at an excitation energy of 3100 keV (J^π=35/2⁻) which corresponds to this frequency. The lifetime of the level is found to be 8.6 ± 1.3 nanosecond. Received: 22 April 1997 / Revised version: 26 September 1997