Effects of wavelength, pulse duration and power density on laser activation of glassy carbon electrodes

The hypothesis that laser activation of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes is thermally driven was investigated by comparing simulated surface temperatures for several lasers and experimental conditions. Assuming no phase changes, the surface temperature vs. time profile for a laser pulse striking a GC electrode was predicted by finite difference simulation. It was predicted that peak surface temperature depends on power density, wavelength, pulse duration and the optical properties of the carbon. Experimentally, laser activation is weakly wavelength dependent for ascorbic acid and Fe . The surface temperatures required for activation were consistent for different lasers, supporting the conclusion that laser activation is thermally driven. Furthermore, predicted surface temperatures during activation were below the melting point of carbon but well above the boiling point of water. The results should be useful for predicting the effectiveness of different laser conditions on electron transfer activation.     

Comparison of dissolution methods for the determination of potassium in rocks and minerals by atomic absorption spectrometry

Lithium metaborate fusion and hydrofluoric acid dissolution methods used before the flame emission or atomic absorption spectrometric determination of potassium in rocks and minerals are compared with regard to accuracy and precision. Possible contamination by potassium in borosilicate glassware was avoided by the use of platinum or polyethylene vessels; solutions were prepared and measured by weight instead of volume. Separation of potassium by cation-exchange chromatography enabled potassium in all solutions of a given sample to be measured against one set of standard solutions. When the various dissolution methods were used carefully, the results did not differ in precision. Significant systematic errors were not detected; in particular, potassium was not lost by volatilization during fusion for 15 min with lithium metaborate at 9OO°C.     

Temperature and humidity aging of poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fibers: Chemical and physical characterization

In recent years, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers have become prominent in high strength applications such as body armor, ropes and cables, and recreational equipment. The objectives of this study were to expose woven PBO body armor panels to elevated temperature and moisture, and to analyze the chemical, morphological and mechanical changes in PBO yarns extracted from the panels. A 30% decrease in yarn tensile strength, which was correlated to changes in the infrared peak absorbance of key functional groups in the PBO structure, was observed during the 26 week elevated temperature/elevated moisture aging period. Substantial changes in chemical structure were observed via infrared spectroscopy, as well as changes in polymer morphology using microscopy and neutron scattering. When the panels were removed to an ultra-dry environment for storage for 47 weeks, no further decreases in tensile strength degradation were observed. In a follow-on study, fibers were sealed in argon-filled glass tubes and exposed to elevated temperature; less than a 4% decrease in tensile strength was observed after 30 weeks, demonstrating that moisture is a key factor in the degradation of these fibers.     

Heterogeneous binding of lipoteichoic acid to the surface of titanium dioxide as determined with 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy

The adsorption of lipoteichoic acid onto the surface of titanium dioxide is shown to be heterogeneous. 31P CPMAS solid-state NMR reveals two distinct phosphate species. The chemical shift anisotropy, asymmetry parameter, and rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation suggest that 50% of the phosphates are bound to the surface. The remaining phosphates also exhibit restricted molecular motion, but do not have a direct surface bond.     

Pentamethyldisilylmethyl and related complexes of iron involving skeletal rearrangements,FeCSiSi → FeSiCSi

For the new complex Me₃ SiMe₂ SiCH₂ Fe(CO)₂Cp the metalcarbon bond undergoes normal insertion reactions;however, under certain conditions the SiSiCFe framework rearranges to the siliconiron bonded system SiC SiFe.     

An efficient closed-shell singles and doubles coupled-cluster method

A reformulated set of equations for the closed-shell singles and doubles coupled-cluster (CCSD) method is presented. A computational cost of n_v⁴n₀²+7n_v³n₀³+1n_v²n₀⁴ for the n⁶ steps is obtained, where n_v is the number of virtual molecular orbitals included in the CCSD procedure, n₀ is the number of doubly occupied molecular orbitals and n=n₀+n_v. Test calculations for the cis and trans isomers of FNNF and planar and pyramidal CH₃⁻ are presented. Equilibrium structures determined with large Gaussian basis sets at the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation level of theory are reported and used for the other electron correlation methods. With the largest one-particle basis set (144 contracted Gaussian functions), the equilibrium geometries of cis- and trans-FNNF agree with experiment. Based on analyses of planar and pyramidal CH₃⁻ wavefunctions and the calculated inversion barrier, it is suggested that the molecular anion may not exist in a planar configuration but that autodetachment of an electron occurs before the transition state is reached. Comparisons of our new CCSD procedure demonstrate that coupled-cluster methods are not significantly more expensive than similar electron correlation techniques.     

High-energy irradiation of chlorinated hydrocarbons

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) are jointly investigating the decomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbons using bremsstrahlung radiation produced by electron accelerators and gamma photons from spent reactor fuel. Experimental results demonstrate an exponential type decay of concentration with dose for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ground water and for both polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and insecticides in organic solutions. Experiments were performed at several photon energies and dose rates with various initial concentrations. Mass balance analysis suggests complete mineralization of VOCs in ground water and indicates significant degradation of PCBs and insecticides to VOC type compounds in organic solutions.Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy, DOE Contract Nos. W-7405-ENG-48 and DE-AC07-76IDO1570.     

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. Part 31: Synthesis of rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-10-ol, and azocine-8-ol, the ortho-c and the para-c oxide-bridged phenylmorphan isomers

Two of the 12 possible oxide-bridged phenylmorphans, were synthesized, rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-10-ol (7) (the ortho-c compound), and rac-(3R,6aS,11aS)-2-methyl-1,3,4,5,6,11a-hexahydro-2H-3,6a-methanobenzofuro[2,3-c]azocine-8-ol (8) (the para-c compound). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the dihedral angle between the least squares planes through the phenyl ring and the atoms C₁, C_11a, C₁₂, and C₃ in the piperidine ring in both 7·CHCl₃ and 8·HBr was 6.9°. The C₁₂-C_6a-C_6b-C_10a torsion angle was found to be 139.3° for both compounds. The angular relationship between the phenolic ring and the piperidine ring in phenylmorphans that interact with specific opioid receptors as agonists or antagonists is of considerable theoretical interest.