Aqueous Titanate Sols from Ti Alkoxide-α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acid System and Preparation of Titania Films from the Sols

Aqueous titanate sols were prepared by reactions of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TIP) with -hydroxycarboxylic acids in water. IR and Raman spectra, and elemental analyses of the precipitates obtained from the sols revealed that the carboxylates were chelated to titanium but the Ti species were polymerized to form a cluster that had a colloidal nature. Spin-coating of titania (TiO₂) thin films from these sols was also examined. Interestingly, it was found that (004) preferentially oriented anatase films with refractive index of 2.54 were obtained from TIP-lactic acid-NH₃ (1:1:1, molar ratio) aqueous sol. This crystallographic orientation was characteristic of the TIP-lactic acid-NH₃ (1:1:1) system, and was not affected by the kinds of substrates used and the heating rate of the film. TEM observation indicated that small anatase grains had already formed at 200°C. Therefore, the crystallographic orientation might depend strongly on the structure of the chemical species of the precursor solutions.     

Small-angle neutron scattering study on microstructure of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) in water

By employing small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), we investigated the microstructures of, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (NE) in deuterated water D₂O, as related to macroscopic behaviors of fluidity, turbidity and synerisis. SANS revealed following results: (i) microphase separation occurs at around above 17 °C in a temperature range of transparent sol below 30 °C. In the microdomain appeared in the transparent sol state, both block chains of PNIPA and PEG are swollen by water; (ii) for the NE solution of polymer concentration W_p > 3.5% (w/v), corresponding to opaque gel above 30 °C, a percolated structure, i.e., network-like domain is formed by NE as a result of macrophase separation due to dehydration of the PNIPA chains. As the temperature increases toward 40 °C, the network domain is squeezed along a direction parallel to the NE interface, which leads to increase of the interfacial thickness given by swollen PEG chains and to the macroscopic synerisis behavior.     

Quantitative estimation of NH3 partial pressure in H2 desorbed from the Li-N-H system by Raman spectroscopy

The partial pressure of NH3 gas estimated by Raman spectroscopy indicates that approximately 0.1% NH3 inevitably contaminates the H2 desorbed from a hydrogen storage material composed of LiH and LiNH2 at any temperature up to 400 degrees C in a closed system.     

Synthesis of the JKLM-ring fragment of ciguatoxin

A stereoselective synthesis of the LM-ring fragment has been achieved starting from a sugar derivative. A stereoselective synthesis of the JKLM-ring fragment has been achieved through a coupling between two segments via heteroconjugate addition, seven-membered ether ring formation mediated by an acetylene cobalt complex, and spiroketalization reaction.     

Ionic liquid crystal as a hole transport layer of dye-sensitized solar cells

Use of a new ionic liquid crystal, 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide, and iodine as an electrolyte of dye-sensitized solar cells leads to a high short circuit photocurrent density and a high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency, due to a self-assembled structure of the imidazolium cations, resulting in high conductivity of the electrolyte.     

Monomer-isomerization polymerization. XX. Monomer-isomerization polymerization of 2-, 3-, and 4-octenes with Ziegler–Natta catalyst

A study of the monomer isomerization polymerization of 2-, 3-, and 4-octenes has been made with TiCl₃–(C₂H₅)₃Al catalyst at 80°C in comparison with the ordinary polymerization of 1-octene. It was found that all these octenes underwent monomer-isomerization polymerization to give high-molecular-weight homopolymer consisting exclusively of the 1-octene unit. The addition of an isomerization catalyst such as nickel acetylacetonate accelerated this polymerization. The rates of polymerization were found to decrease in the following order: 1-octene > 2-octene > 3-octene > 4-octene. These results indicate that the isomerization proceeded by a stepwise double-bond migration. It was also found that the monomer-isomerization copolymerization of 2-octene and 2-butene occurred under similar conditions and produced copolymers of both 1-olefin units.     

Efficient Separation of Hydrophobic Molecules by Molecularly Imprinted Cyclodextrin Polymers

Cyclodextrins were cross-linked with toluene 2,4-diisocyanate in dimethyl sufoxide in the presence of hydrophobic biomolecules as templates, and the imprinted polymers were applied to the stationary phases of high performance liquid chromatography. Molecular imprinting efficiently promoted the binding-affinity and substrate-selectivity towards the template molecule, compared with the control polymers prepared in their absence. When cholesterol (template molecule) was complexed with cyclodextrins prior to the polymerization, for example, the imprinted polymer retained cholesterol more strongly than other steroids. Upon the polymerization without a template molecule, the binding towards steroids was much weaker. Besides steroids, imprinting was effective for various hydrophobic and rigid template molecules. Since binding of the guest molecule was based on inclusion complex formation with cyclodextrins, separation could be achieved in the solvents containing water. These polymeric receptors are also applicable to selective recognition of biologically important molecules or removal of toxic molecules from aqueous media. Thus, imprinting of cyclodextrins is useful for the preparation of synthetic tailor-made receptors for various kinds of hydrophobic guest molecules.     

Cope elimination and complexation of poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate N-oxide)

Poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate N-oxide) (poly(DMAEMNO)) was prepared by oxidation of poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) with hydrogen peroxide in methanol. From thermogravimetric and IR spectroscopic investigations Cope elimination of amine oxide group in poly(DMAENO) was found to occur at 120–150°C. The postpolymerization of partially pyrolyzed polymer carrying vinyl ester group as pendant was performed with azobisisobutyronitrile at 60°C in methanol to give cross-linked polymer that was found to form hydrogel. Poly(DMAEMNO) gave metal–polymer complexes with CuCl₂, ZnCl₂, and CoCl₂. Cobalt–polymer complex had a constitution of 1:2 of metal ion to amine oxide group, while copper– and zinc–polymer complexes seemed to have structures of 1:1 and 1:2 of metal ion to amine oxide group. Furthermore, polymer complexes of poly(DMAEMNO) with poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) were found to be formed by mixing aqueous solutions of both polymers and also by radical polymerization of the acid monomers in the presence of poly(DMAEMNO). From elemental analysis, thermogravimetric investigation, and measurement of turbidity it was concluded that the resulting polymer–polymer complexes contained more than one acid monomer unit per one N-oxide unit.     

Preparation of Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) and Gd(2)O(2)S : Eu(3+) phosphor fine particles using an emulsion liquid membrane system

Size- (submicrometer-sized) and morphology- (spherical) controlled composite Gd-Eu oxalate particles were prepared in an emulsion liquid membrane (water-in-oil-in-water emulsion) system. The oxalate particles thus prepared were calcined in air to obtain Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) phosphor particles and in sulfur atmosphere to obtain Gd(2)O(2)S : Eu(3+) phosphor particles. These submicrometer-sized spherical phosphor particles showed photoluminescence properties with emission peak at 614 nm for Gd(2)O(3) : Eu(3+) and 628 nm for Gd(2)O(2)S : Eu(3+).     

Synthesis of Zeolite L. Tuning Size and Morphology

Summary. A convenient synthesis of zeolite L is presented. The size of the crystals can be tuned between 30 and 6000nm, spanning a volume range of seven orders of magnitude. The zeolite L crystals, which typically feature a cylindrical morphology, are synthesized with various aspect ratios ranging from elongated to disc-shaped. The importance of obtaining zeolite crystals with well-defined size and morphology is discussed in view of potential applications of zeolite L containing organic dye molecules as guests.This revised version was published online in February 2005. In the previous version the issue was not marked as a special issue, and the issue title and the editor was missing