Facile Synthesis of Free‐Standing Polymer Brush Films Based on a Colorless Polydopamine Thin Layer

A free‐standing polymer brush film with tailored thicknesses based on a colorless polydopamine (PDA) thin layer is prepared and characterized. The surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is performed on a PDA layer with thickness of ca. 6 nm, which generated an optically transparent and colorless free‐standing PHEMA brush film (1.5 cm × 1.5 cm). Because the cross‐linked PDA layer is used as the base for the polymer brushes, the reported method does not require cross‐linking the polymer brushes. The free‐standing film thicknesses of ≈16–75 nm are controlled by simply changing the ATRP reaction time. The results show that the free‐standing PHEMA brush film transferred onto a plate exhibits a relatively smooth surface and is stable in any solvent.

     

Microscopic Studies of 2H-NbSe2 Probed by Positive Muon

Abstract

The microscopic state of the positively charged light particle in the transition metal dichalcogenide 2H-NbSe₂ was studied using the muon spin relaxation method (μ⁺SR) and muon level crossing resonance method (μ-LCR). Muons are expected to stay at interlayer position and behaves as a hydrogen like intercalant. We discuss the relation between conduction electron properties and the muon's behavior.     

Ecosystems perspective on financial networks: Diagnostic tools

The world economy consists of highly interconnected and interdependent commercial and financial networks. Here, we develop temporal and structural network tools to analyze the state of the economy and the financial markets. Our analysis indicates that a strong clustering can be a warning sign. Reduction in diversity, which was an essential aspect of the dynamics surrounding the financial markets crisis of 2008, is seen as a key emergent feature arising naturally from the evolutionary and adaptive dynamics inherent to the financial markets. Similarly, collusion amongst construction firms in a number of regions in Japan in the 2000s can be identified with the formation of clusters of anomalous highly connected companies. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 19: 22–36, 2013     

Parameter settings in a compact laser-nitriding system for titanium composed of a focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nitrogen gas blow

The aim of the present study was to form a nitride layer on a titanium (Ti) substrate through a compact laser-nitriding system comprising a focused pulsed Nd:YAG laser and nitrogen gas blow. To obtain a high-quality layer, the effects of pulse frequency and gas flow rate on the surface characteristics were investigated by using plasma emission analysis as well as X-ray analyses. Optical emission spectra from the laser-induced plasma mainly consisted of ionic Ti lines, and their intensities when the pulse frequency was 15 Hz were much higher than those for 8 Hz. Similarly, the reflections from the δ-TiN phase in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern were enhanced when using 15 Hz. On the other hand, the flow rate of nitrogen gas blow had a significant effect on the thickness of the thin oxide layer that formed above the nitride layer. Using a lower flow rate resulted in the formation of a thicker oxide layer. The higher pulse frequency and the faster flow rate were beneficial for obtaining a higher-quality layer because of the enhancement of nitridation and the suppression of oxidation, respectively.     

Initial quantum levels of captured muons in CO,CO2, and COS

The role of valence electrons for the muon capture process by molecules is experimentally investigated with the aid of cascade calculations. Low-momentum muons are introduced to gas targets of CO, CO₂, and COS below atmospheric pressure. The initial states of captured muons are determined from the measured muonic X-ray structure of the Lyman and Balmer series. We propose that the lone pair electrons in the carbon atom of CO significantly contribute to the capture of a muon with large angular momenta.

     

Determination of structures of cobalt(II)-chloro complexes in hydrochloric acid solutions by X-ray absorption spectroscopy at 298 K

The anion exchange reaction is fundamental to the adsorption and desorption of a specific species from a solution phase to an extracting phase, and it is widely used for separation and waste fluid treatment in industrial fields. However, the details of the anion exchange reaction are poorly understood. Quantitative thermodynamic analysis needs a precise solution condition before and after the exchange reaction. Identification of species adsorbed on the anion exchanger is also necessary because there are multiple species in the solution phase in general. Cobalt is a base metal that is widely used in modern society. One of the authors determined the distribution of cobalt-chloro complexes in hydrochloric acid solutions. It is necessary to know what species are adsorbed on anion exchangers for the thermodynamic analysis of the anion exchange reaction. The comparison in structures between the species in the solution phase and adsorbed on anion exchangers reveals what species are adsorbed. Therefore, the determination of the structures of cobalt-chloro complexes in the solution phase is the next step for quantitative analysis. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used for the structure analysis. Factor analysis can decompose extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra consisting of multiple species into individual spectra of single species using the distribution determined using UV-Vis absorption spectra. Fitting EXAFS theoretical models to the decomposed individual spectra determined the structures of three cobalt-chloro complexes: an octahedron of [Co^II(H₂O)₆]²⁺, a distorted octahedron of [Co^II(H₂O)₅Cl]⁺, and a tetrahedron of [Co^IICl₄]^2?. The XANES spectra showed us that the Cl ligand in [Co^II(H₂O)₅Cl]⁺ was attracted to the center atom of Co^II by an electrostatic force, and the bonding system between Cl ligands and Co^II in [Co^IICl₄]^2? involved covalency.

     

A Mechanistic Dichotomy in Two-Electron Reduction of Dioxygen Catalyzed by N,N’-Dimethylated Porphyrin Isomers

Selective two-electron reduction of dioxygen (O₂) to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been achieved by two saddle-distorted N,N’-dimethylated porphyrin isomers, an N21,N’22-dimethylated porphyrin ( anti -Me₂P ) and an N21,N’23-dimethylated porphyrin ( syn -Me₂P ) as catalysts and ferrocene derivatives as electron donors in the presence of protic acids in acetonitrile. The higher catalytic performance in an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was achieved by anti -Me₂P with higher turnover number (TON=250 for 30 min) than that by syn -Me₂P (TON=218 for 60 min). The reactive intermediates in the catalytic ORR were confirmed to be the corresponding isophlorins ( anti -Me₂Iph or syn -Me₂Iph ) by spectroscopic measurements. The rate-determining step in the catalytic ORRs was concluded to be proton-coupled electron-transfer reduction of O₂ with isophlorins based on kinetic analysis. The ORR rate by anti -Me₂Iph was accelerated by external protons, judging from the dependence of the observed initial rates on acid concentrations. In contrast, no acceleration of the ORR rate with syn -Me₂Iph by external protons was observed. The different mechanisms in the O₂ reduction by the two isomers should be derived from that of the arrangement of hydrogen bonding of a O₂ with inner NH protons of the isophlorins.     

Synthesis and Metalation of Doubly o‐Phenylene‐Bridged Cyclic Bis(dipyrrin)s with Highly Bent Skeleton of Dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1)

Facile synthesis of dibenzoporphyrins(2.1.2.1) has been successfully reported by the simple condensation reaction of o‐dipyrrolylbenzene with various aldehydes in the presence of a Lewis acid. This reaction enables the preparation of various dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) derivatives with p‐substituted phenyl groups, five‐membered heterocycles, and ethynyl groups at the meso‐positions. Dibenzoporphyrins(2.1.2.1) consist of two dipyrrin units that are connected by o‐phenylene bridges, which adopt highly bent saddle‐shaped structures; this was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. We found that dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) can be described as a 20π antiaromatic conjugated system, but practically, it is not an antiaromatic macrocycle, which we revealed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The redox potentials had good correlations with Hammett substituent constant (σ_p) of the substituents at the meso‐positions. The free‐base dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) was able to form the metal complexes with nickel(II), copper(II), palladium(II), platinum(II), and tin(IV) ions. These results suggested that dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) derivatives can be utilized as novel macrocyclic dianionic tetradentate ligands for various metal ions to give complexes with varying optical and electrochemical properties.