Heat capacities of copper(II) formate tetrahydrate and tetradeuterate: A comparative study of phase transitions in layer hydrate crystals

The heat capacities of copper(II) formate tetrahydrate and tetradeuterate have been measured from 12 to 300 K with an adiabatic calorimeter. They have sigmoidal temperature dependence except near the antiferroelectric-paraelectric transition temperatures, 235.78 ± 0.05 K and 245.64 ± 0.05 K, respectively. The corresponding enthalpy changes are 836.0 ± 1.0 J mol^?1 and 936.9 ± 0.5 J mor^?1. The entropy changes are 3.546 ± 0.005 JK^?1mol^?1 and 3.814 ± 0.002 JK^?1 mol^?1. The heat capacities are larger in the high temperature phase than in the low temperature phase, the difference amounting to 5.74 JK^?1 mol^?1 and 7.15 JK^?1 mol^?1 for the hydrate and the deuterate, respectively. The heat capacity anomaly is compared with those in tin(II) chloride dihydrate and potassium hexacyanoferrate trihydrate and discussed in relation to the structure of the hydrogen bond networks in these substances. The discussion is extended to include possible properties of the hydrogen bond frameworks in ices I_h and II.     

Superstring thermodynamics and its application to cosmology

The thermodynamics of superstring theories (SST-I, SST-II and heterotic string theory) and its application to the cosmology are studied. The free energy of superstring gas is calculated in the one-loop approximation and the stability of the extra torus dimensions is discussed. Assuming that the Einstein equation dictates the evolution of the universe, we show that matter dominated universe filled with massive particles would never be realized at the beginning of the universe, contrary to the naive expectation in the superstring cosmology.     

X-ray absorption spectral analyses by theoretical calculations for TiO2 and Ni-doped TiO2 thin films on glass plates.

Ni L- and Ti L-edge as well as Ti K-edge X-ray absorption experiments for TiO2 thin films and Ni-doped TiO2 thin films coated on glass plates were performed using synchrotron radiation to investigate the structures around Ni and Ti ions in the films. The obtained spectra were compared with the results of theoretical calculations. It has consequently been found that the spectral features were affected by a change in the oxidizing form of Ni ions due to hydrogen reduction, by the charge variation and/or slight orbital splitting of Ti ions, and by the magnitude of the interaction between the center Ti ion and neighboring Ti ions.     

Orientationally disordered solid monolayers of tetramethylsilane on graphite and a bilayer nature of the 2-D fluid

A calorimetric investigation of the monolayers (MLs) of tetramethylsilane (TMS) adsorbed on graphite demonstrates two remarkable features: (i) occurrence of an orientational order–disorder phase transition in the 2-D solid (at 107 K at the coverage θ<1 and at 138 K at 1<θ<2) accompanied by a large entropy change (ranging from Rln8 to Rln3) depending on the coverage, and (ii) possible formation of a fluid bilayer around 220 K, above the 2-D critical temperature. A high-resolution incoherent neutron scattering experiment reveals a considerable motional disorder in the disordered 2-D solid.     

Femtosecond two-photon stereo-lithography

We report herein a method for the three-dimensional (3D) fabrication of microstructures by means of direct fs-beam writing (scanning) inside a polymerizable resin. Photopolymerization takes place via two-photon absorption (TPA), as indicated by measurements of transmission power dependence. This concept of fabrication is based on two principles: the use of short, sub-picosecond pulses and simultaneous tight focusing (numerical aperture, NA>1). This approach creates a unique opportunity for avoiding self-focusing even at very high intensities, as the power is lower than the self-focusing threshold. Under such conditions, no filament formation takes place and no thermal convection disturbance occurs in the focal vicinity during photo-polymerization. This technique requires no sacrificial layers or structures in real 3D micro-stereo-lithography. Received: 31 May 2001 / Accepted: 6 June 2001 / Published online: 30 August 2001     

Characterization of Natural Chromite Samples from Ophiolite Complexes in the Philippines by 57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Mössbauer spectroscopy was applied to natural chromite samples from ophiolite complexes in the Philippines. Chemical and structural characterization of the chromite samples was also carried out using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The Mössbauer spectra of the samples consisted of quadrupole doublets ascribable to Fe³⁺ in octahedral site, Fe³⁺ in tetrahedral site, and Fe²⁺ in tetrahedral site. The relative percentage of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions suggested that these Philippine samples were formed under relatively high oxygen fugacity.     

Photoswitching of intramolecular magnetic interaction using diarylethene with oligothiophene pi-conjugated chain.

Diarylethenes having two nitronyl nitroxide radicals at both ends of the molecule with oligothiophene spacers were synthesized. The diradicals underwent photochromic reactions upon alternate irradiation with UV and visible light. ESR spectra of the diradicals reversibly changed with the photochromism. The magnetic interaction between spins through oligothiophene spacers was stronger than that through oligophenylene spacers, and the photochromic reactivity of the diradical diarylethenes with oligothiophene spacers was much reduced. The difference of the exchange interaction between open- and closed-ring form isomers was estimated to be more than 150-fold.     

The static deformation of the asymmetric Japanese bow: modelling bow asymmetries with the elastica theory

Meccanica - The static deformation of symmetric bow limbs has been widely studied in the last century. However, asymmetries in shape and length which correspond to a more realistic situation, have...     

Synthesis and reactions of optically pure cyclohexyl(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine-borane and t-butyl-(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine-borane

Cyclohexyl(o-methoxyphenyl)menthyloxyphosphineborane and t-butyl(o-methoxyphenyl)menthyloxyphosphine-borane were prepared from dichlorocyclohexylphosphine and t-butyldichlorophosphine by successive treatments with (−)-menthol, o-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide, and borane-THF complex. The separated pure diastereomers of each of the compounds underwent reaction with lithium naphthalenide to afford optically pure cyclohexyl(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine-borane and t-butyl(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphine-borane, respectively. These secondary phosphine-boranes reacted readily with various electrophiles in the presence of bases with virtually net retention of configuration. A new chiral phosphine ligand, (S,S)-1,2-bis[cyclohexyl(o-methoxyphenyl)phosphino]ethane was synthesized via the optically pure phosphine-boranes.