Measurement of diffusion process of iron atoms under high pressure of hydrogen by time-domain analysis of nuclear resonant scattering of X-rays

We applied the time-domain analysis of nuclear resonant scattering (NRS) of X-rays for the study of the hydrogen-induced enhancement of atomic diffusion. The time-domain analysis of NRS is a powerful technique for studying diffusion processes on an atomic scale. The NRS measurement combined with high-pressure technique enables the direct measurement of self-diffusion processes under high hydrogen pressures. In this preliminary experiment, self-diffusion in 4 μm thick ⁵⁷Fe foils at 0.8 GPa was investigated. The samples of the ⁵⁷Fe were encapsulated with MgO or NaCl. Faster decays caused by diffusion of Fe atoms were observed in the time spectra of NRS at high temperatures. This enhancement of diffusion is believed to be the hydrogen-induced effect. In the present experiment, hydrogen should have been supplied to the samples by reaction with water originally adsorbed on NaCl/MgO powder particles. It was concluded that the diffusion of ⁵⁷Fe atoms under high pressure can be studied by nuclear resonant scattering of X-rays using a compact cubic-anvil press. The NRS method can also be extended to the study of atomic diffusion in the subsurface region by doping ⁵⁷Fe layer(s) at known depths.     

Effects of mechanical stresses around single tube on ash shedding in pulverized coal combustor

In this study, the effects of mechanical stresses on the shedding of ash deposits in a coal-fired boiler were evaluated. We have confirmed that the shedding occurred because of the fracture within the initial deposit layer, which was formed by powdered ash residues. Therefore, assuming that the mechanical stress acting on the initial layer influenced the shedding, the distribution of the tensile stress and shear stresses acting on the initial deposit was calculated on the basis of elastic mechanism. Because the ash deposits were brittle in nature, it was assumed that the initial deposit failed on the basis of the maximum principal stress theory (MPST). The stress values were calculated based on the data for deposit shapes, which were obtained through previous ash deposition experiments on two bituminous coals, one subbituminous coal, and two lignite coals. The fracture strength of the deposit increased with a decrease in the ash fusion temperature. This result indicated that the strength of the deposit increased because of ash coalescence. Moreover, as the MPST, the starting point of fracture was estimated from the position where the principal stress became the largest, and the stress value was used to presume whether the fracture depended on tensile stress or shear stress. The deposit with a narrow adherence region failed because of tensile stress, and the signature of peeling due to tensile stress was observed in the cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of the deposit after ash shedding. In contrast, the deposit with a wide adherence region failed because of shear stress. Therefore, peeling was not observed in the cross-sectional SEM image of the deposit after ash shedding. The results obtained from the analysis on the basis of the MPST well with the actual behavior of ash shedding.     

(Poly)terephthalates with Efficient Blue Emission in the Solid State

We prepared dimethyl and diaryl 2,5‐dialkoxytere‐phthalates from dimethyl 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalate in good‐to‐high yields via alkylation or a sequence of alkylation, hydrolysis, chlorination, and condensation. The absorption spectra of the dialkoxyterephthalates contain a small band at 332–355 nm, which could be assigned to intramolecular charge‐transfer transition from the alkoxy to alkoxycarbonyl groups on the basis of theoretical calculations using density functional theory. The dialkoxyterephthalates exhibited blue fluorescence with moderate‐to‐excellent quantum yields not only in solution but also in the solid state, such as a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film and a powder. The solid‐state quantum yields of the diisopropoxy‐substituted terephthalates were similar or considerably higher than those of the dimethoxy‐substituted counterparts. Copolymerization of 2,5‐diisopropoxyterephthaloyl chloride and 1,4‐butanediol with or without terephthaloyl chloride gave brilliantly blue fluorescent polymers, whose quantum yields were 0.72 and 0.71 in toluene and 0.46 and 0.40 in the neat film, respectively. Furthermore, white emission was achieved when a fluorescent yellow 2,5‐diaminoterephthalate was doped into the thin film of the blue fluorescent polymer at 0.4 wt %.     

Subkilohertz linewidths measured by heterodyne-detected coherent population trapping in sodium vapor

Subkilohertz spectroscopy by coherent population trapping (CPT) has been performed in Na atomic vapor. The system employs a frequency-swept acousto-optic modulator for bichromatic excitation as well as a heterodyne-lock-in detection technique that permits the direct measurement of the CPT dispersion curves at a good signal-to-noise ratio. A CPT linewidth of -400 Hz was measured as well as a steep refractive-index dispersion of as much as 3.3 x 10(-10) Hz(-1), corresponding to a group velocity of 1800 m/s.     

Electronic delocalization in discotic liquid crystals: a joint experimental and theoretical study

Discotic liquid crystals emerge as very attractive materials for organic-based (opto)electronics as they allow efficient charge and energy transport along self-organized molecular columns. Here, angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS) is used to investigate the electronic structure and supramolecular organization of the discotic molecule, hexakis(hexylthio)diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, deposited on graphite. The ARUPS data reveal significant changes in the electronic properties when going from disordered to columnar phases, the main feature being a decrease in ionization potential by 1.8 eV following the appearance of new electronic states at low binding energy. This evolution is rationalized by quantum-chemical calculations performed on model stacks containing from two to six molecules, which illustrate the formation of a quasi-band structure with Bloch-like orbitals delocalized over several molecules in the column. The ARUPS data also point to an energy dispersion of the upper pi-bands in the columns by some 1.1 eV, therefore highlighting the strongly delocalized nature of the pi-electrons along the discotic stacks.     

Size control of mixed egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EggPC)/oleate vesicles

The size distribution after addition of oleate surfactant to preformed Egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) vesicles was investigated by gel filtration chromatography combining with dynamic light scattering. Phospholipid and oleate concentration, fluorescence intensity and size of the vesicles were measured for each elution fraction. The spontaneous vesiculation of oleate at pH 8.5 was accelerated in the presence of preformed EggPC vesicles. The size distribution of newly formed vesicles was dependent on the preformed vesicular size. For example, oleate addition to large preformed vesicles (230 nm) resulted in altering of vesicles to both larger and smaller than preformed ones, while addition of oleate to small preformed vesicles (50 nm) led to the formation of only larger vesicles without exhibition of newly small vesicles. The combinations of gel filtration chromatography and dynamic light scattering could provide more detailed insight into the size change of newly formed vesicles.     

Iridoid glucosides from the fruit of Genipa americana

Four new iridoid glucosides, called genamesides A-D, have been isolated from the fruit of Genipa americana L. (Rubiaceae), along with four known iridoid glucosides, geniposidic acid, geniposide, gardenoside and genipin-gentiobioside. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data.