Evolution of magnetic order in mechanically alloyed Al–1 at%Fe

The evolution of ferromagnetic order in high-energy ball-milled Al–1 at% Fe before the onset of a considerable Fe–Al solid solution phase has been investigated using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and bulk magnetization studies. The unmilled sample does not exhibit bulk magnetic properties and an onset of bulk magnetization is observed only after 30 min of milling, when the grain size becomes comparable to the ferromagnetic exchange length. The Curie temperatures of all the samples are less than that of pure iron. The reduction in grain size is accompanied by an increase in coercivity and reduced remanence and a decrease in T_C. The effective magnetic moment per iron atom decreases with the development of a non-magnetic, Al-rich Fe–Al solution on longer milling. The clustering of Fe at grain boundaries is responsible for the observed bulk magnetic ordering. The systematic variation of the magnetic properties has been qualitatively correlated with the evolution of microstructure, reduction in grain size and enhanced inter-granular exchange coupling.     

Multiply Nitrated High‐Energy Dense Oxidizers Derived from the Simple Amino Acid Glycine

Various energetic polynitro esters, carbamates, and nitrocarbamates that were derived from the amino acid glycine were fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman), multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Owing to their positive oxygen balance, the suitability of these compounds as potential oxidizers in energetic formulations was investigated and discussed. In addition, the heats of formation of the products were calculated by using the Gaussian 09 program package at the CBS‐4M level of theory. From these values and the calculated densities (from the X‐ray data), several detonation parameters, such as detonation pressure, velocity, energy, and temperature, were computed by using the EXPLO5 code. Furthermore, their sensitivities towards impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge were tested by using a drop hammer, a friction tester (both BAM certified), and a small‐scale electrical‐discharge device, respectively.     

Correlation of charge transport with structural order in highly ordered melt‐crystallized poly(3‐hexylthiophene) thin films

A series of well‐defined poly(3‐hexylthiophene)s (P3HT) of different molecular weight (MW) and high regioregularity was investigated for charge transport properties in as‐cast and melt‐crystallized films. The semicrystalline structure of the P3HT was characterized by X‐ray scattering and Atomic force microscopy. Crystallization by cooling from the melt led to a substantial increase in crystallinity and a stronger alignment of the crystals in comparison to as‐cast films. The increase in crystallinity went along with an increase in hole mobility of up to an order of magnitude as measured by the space charge limited current method. Additionally, the hole mobility depended on the long period of P3HT lamellae and consequently on the MW. In compliance with the long period, the charge carrier mobility first increased with the MW before decreasing again at the onset of chain folding. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 943–951     

Safety first portfolio choice based on financial and sustainability returns

The aim of this paper is to expand the methodological spectrum of socially responsible investing by introducing stochastic sustainability returns into safety first models for portfolio choice. We provide a foundation of the notion of sustainability in portfolio theory and establish a general model for generalized safety first portfolio management with probabilistic constraints and three specifications of it. Moreover, we prove theorems about conditions for unique optimal solutions and for the constraints of one model being more restrictive than those of another. In an empirical part, we calculate the costs of investing according to our approach in terms of less financial return.     

A Microgel Construction Kit for Bioorthogonal Encapsulation and pH‐Controlled Release of Living Cells

pH‐Cleavable cell‐laden microgels with excellent long‐term viabilities were fabricated by combining bioorthogonal strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) and droplet‐based microfluidics. Poly(ethylene glycol)dicyclooctyne and dendritic poly(glycerol azide) served as bioinert hydrogel precursors. Azide conjugation was performed using different substituted acid‐labile benzacetal linkers that allowed precise control of the microgel degradation kinetics in the interesting pH range between 4.5 and 7.4. By this means, a pH‐controlled release of the encapsulated cells was achieved upon demand with no effect on cell viability and spreading. As a result, the microgel particles can be used for temporary cell encapsulation, allowing the cells to be studied and manipulated during the encapsulation and then be isolated and harvested by decomposition of the microgel scaffolds.