Monatomic rarefied gas as a singular limit of polyatomic gas in extended thermodynamics

We show that, in the theory of extended thermodynamics, rarefied monatomic gases can be identified as a singular limit of rarefied polyatomic gases. Under naturally conditioned initial data we prove that the system of 14 field equations for polyatomic gases in the limit has the same solutions as those of the system of 13 field equations for monatomic gases where there exists no dynamic pressure. We study two illustrative examples in the process of the limit, that is, the linear waves and the shock waves in order to grasp the asymptotic behavior of the physical quantities, in particular, of the dynamic pressure.     

Development of a high‐resolution confocal micro‐XRF instrument equipped with a vacuum chamber

A confocal micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (micro‐XRF) instrument equipped with a vacuum chamber was newly developed. The instrument is operated under a vacuum condition to reduce the absorption of XRF in the atmosphere. Thin metal layers were developed to evaluate the confocal volume, corresponding to depth resolution. A set of thin metal layers (Al, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zr, Mo, and Au) was prepared by a magnetron sputtering technique. The depth resolutions of the new instrument were varied from 56.0 to 10.9 µm for an energy range from 1.4 to 17.4 keV, respectively. The lower limit of detection (LLD) was estimated by comparison with a glass standard reference material NIST SRM 621). The LLDs obtained by a conventional micro‐XRF were compared with the LLDs obtained by a confocal micro‐XRF instrument. The LLDs were improved in the measurement under confocal configuration because of the reduction of background intensity. Finally, layered materials related to forensic investigation were measured. The confocal micro‐XRF instrument was able to nondestructively obtain the distribution of light elements that cannot be detected by measurement in air. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

K* 0 Σ+ Photoproduction with Evidence for the Kappa Meson Exchange at SPring-8/LEPS

Recently, LEPS collaboration reported the parity spin asymmetry for the γ p → K* ⁰Σ⁺ reaction using linearly polarized photons at beam energies from 1.85 to 2.96 GeV. The parity spin asymmetry ( ${P_{\sigma} = 2\rho^{1}_{1-1} - \rho^{1}_{00}}$ ) was obtained, with large positive asymmetry at forward angles. This supports that natural-parity exchange is dominant at forward angles for K* ⁰Σ⁺ photoproduction, which is consistent with κ meson-exchange. The differential cross sections for the γ p → K* ⁰Σ⁺ reaction are presented at forward angles averaged over all beam energies. There is good agreement with the differential cross sections from the CLAS and the CBELSA/TAPS collaborations.     

Nonlinear-map model for bus schedule in capacity-controlled transportation

We study the schedule of shuttle buses in the transportation system controlled by capacity. The bus schedule is closely related to the dynamic motion of buses. We present the nonlinear-map model for the dynamics of shuttle buses. The motion of shuttle buses depends on the inflow rate. The dependence of the fixed points on the inflow is derived. The dynamic transitions occur with increasing the value of inflow rate. At the dynamic transition point, the motion of buses changes from a stable state to an unstable state and vice versa. The shuttle buses display periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motions in the unstable state. In the unstable state, the number of riding passengers fluctuates complexly with varying trips. The bus schedule is governed by the complex motion of buses.     

Effect of ultrasound sonication on electroplating of iridium

Effect of ultrasound sonication was examined on the electroplating of iridium in aqueous hexabromoiridate(III) solution. The electrodeposits were evaluated by observing the defects of the iridium deposits by means of voltammetry, in which the current-potential curves of the iridium deposits on copper were measured. Applying ultrasound sonication to the electroplating of iridium decreased the defects including the cracks in the deposit whenever the glycerol as the additives was contained or not in the electrolyte.     

Paintable Room‐Temperature Phosphorescent Liquid Formulations of Alkylated Bromonaphthalimide

Organic phosphors have been widely explored with an understanding that crystalline molecular ordering is a requisite for enhanced intersystem crossing. In this context, we explored the room‐temperature phosphorescence features of a solvent‐free organic liquid phosphor in air. While alkyl chain substitution varied the physical states of the bromonaphthalimides, the phosphorescence remained unaltered for the solvent‐free liquid in air. As the first report, a solvent‐free liquid of a long swallow‐tailed bromonaphthalimide exhibits room‐temperature phosphorescence in air. Doping of the phosphor with carbonyl guests resulted in enhanced phosphorescence, and hence a large‐area paintable phosphorescent liquid composite with improved lifetime and quantum yield was developed.     

MOF‐on‐MOF: Oriented Growth of Multiple Layered Thin Films of Metal–Organic Frameworks

The precise alignment of multiple layers of metal–organic framework (MOF) thin films, or MOF‐on‐MOF films, over macroscopic length scales is presented. The MOF‐on‐MOF films are fabricated by epitaxially matching the interface. The first MOF layer (Cu₂(BPDC)₂, BPDC=biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate) is grown on an oriented Cu(OH)₂ film by a “one‐pot” approach. Aligned second (Cu₂(BDC)₂, BDC=benzene 1,4‐dicarboxylate, or Cu₂(BPYDC)₂, BPYDC=2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐dicarboxylate) MOF layers can be deposited using liquid‐phase epitaxy. The co‐orientation of the MOF films is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. Importantly, our strategy allows for the synthesis of aligned MOF films, for example, Cu₂(BPYDC)₂, that cannot be grown on a Cu(OH)₂ surface. We show that aligned MOF films furnished with Ag nanoparticles show a unique anisotropic plasmon resonance. Our MOF‐on‐MOF approach expands the chemistry of heteroepitaxially oriented MOF films and provides a new toolbox for multifunctional porous coatings.     

Chemical Bonding in Polarised Push–Pull Ethylenes

1,1‐Diamino‐2,2‐bis(triflyl)ethylenes with both twisted and planar structures around the partial “C=C” bond were synthesised. Bonding properties in these compounds were analysed by an experimental approach using high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction data treated with X‐ray wavefunction refinement (XWR). In the twisted compound, a dominant contribution of the charge‐separated resonance structure was revealed. On the contrary, the nearly planar compound still showed π‐bonding character, however, with a considerable contribution of the charge‐separated resonance structure.     

Core–Shell‐Structured LaTaON2 Transformed from LaKNaTaO5 Plates for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

LaTaON₂ is a photocatalyst with intense visible light absorption up to 650 nm, but exhibits low H₂ evolution activity owing to uncontrolled facets and high defect densities. In this work, core–shell‐structured plate‐like LaKNaTaO₅/LaTaON₂ was synthesized by nitriding a layered perovskite‐type LaKNaTaO₅. The volatilization of K and Na species during the nitridation promoted the rapid transformation of LaKNaTaO₅ into LaTaON₂ along [010] direction with the plate‐like shape retained. This yielded high‐quality LaTaON₂ shells exposing (010) facets on the lattice‐matched LaKNaTaO₅ cores. After loading with a Rh co‐catalyst, LaKNaTaO₅/LaTaON₂ showed photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity four times greater than that obtained from conventional irregular‐shaped LaTaON₂ powders and utilized visible light up to 620 nm. This work provides a novel strategy yielding oxynitrides with well‐defined facets and low defect densities by selecting lattice‐matched oxide precursors containing volatile components.