Overtone spectroscopy of some benzaldehyde derivatives

Overtone spectrum of o, m and p-nitrobenzaldehydes and p-chlorobenzaldehyde has been studied in 2000–12000 cm⁻¹ region. Vibrational frequencies and anharmonicity constants for aryl as well as alkyl CH stretch vibrations have been determined. We have also determined the internuclear distances for the aryl CH bond in the different molecules. The small variation observed in these distances is an indication of the substitution effect. It is observed that in the case of p-disubstituted benzens, the shift in aryl CH bond is proportional to sum of the Hammet σ of the substituents. However in the case of o-disubstituted benzenes it is only 80% of the para-substituted shift.     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of chlorine atoms with CH2F2, CH3CCl3, and CF3CFH2 over the temperature range 253–553 K

Relative rate techniques were used to study the title reactions in 930–1200 mbar of N₂ diluent. The reaction rate coefficients measured in the present work are summarized by the expressions k(Cl + CH₂F₂) = 1.19 × 10^?17 T² exp(?1023/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (253–553 K), k(Cl + CH₃CCl₃) = 2.41 × 10^?12 exp(?1630/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (253–313 K), and k(Cl + CF₃CFH₂) = 1.27 × 10^?12 exp(?2019/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 (253–313 K). Results are discussed with respect to the literature data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 401–406, 2009     

Synthesis of crystalline Ge nanoclusters in PE-CVD-deposited SiO2 films

The synthesis of evenly distributed Ge nanoclusters in plasma-enhanced chemical-vapour-deposited (PE-CVD) SiO₂ thin films containing 8 at. % Ge is reported. This is of importance for the application of nanoclusters in semiconductor technology. The average diameter of the Ge nanoclusters can be controlled in the range of 3–6 nm by variation of the annealing parameters. Using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and Raman-scattering spectroscopy, the nanoclusters were shown to be crystalline. However, photoluminescence measurements showed no light emission that could be definitively correlated to the presence of the nanoclusters. PACS 61.82.Rx; 78.67.Bf; 81.07.Bc     

A new material for hydrogen storage; ScAl0.8Mg0.2

A novel aluminium rich alloy for hydrogen storage has been discovered, ScAl_0.8Mg_0.2, which has very promising properties regarding hydrogen storage capacity, kinetics and stability towards air oxidation in comparison to hydrogen absorption in state-of-the-art intermetallic compounds. The absorption of hydrogen was found to be very fast, even without adding any catalyst, and reversible. The discovered alloy crystallizes in a CsCl-type structure, but decomposes to ScH₂ and Al(Mg) during hydrogen absorption. Detailed analysis of the hydrogen absorption in ScAl_0.8Mg_0.2 has been performed using in situ synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction, neutron powder diffraction and quantum mechanical calculations. The results from theory and experiments are in good agreement with each other.     

On a cycle partition problem

Let G be any graph and let c(G) denote the circumference of G. We conjecture that for every pair c₁,c₂ of positive integers satisfying c₁+c₂=c(G), the vertex set of G admits a partition into two sets V₁ and V₂, such that V_i induces a graph of circumference at most c_i, i=1,2. We establish various results in support of the conjecture; e.g. it is observed that planar graphs, claw-free graphs, certain important classes of perfect graphs, and graphs without too many intersecting long cycles, satisfy the conjecture.This work is inspired by a well-known, long-standing, analogous conjecture involving paths.