Wave processes in media with hysteretic nonlinearity: Part 2

Nonlinear processes caused by the propagation of low-frequency and high-frequency acoustic pulses in an unbounded medium and the propagation of continuous waves in a ring resonator are theoretically studied on the basis of two hysteretic equations of state for media with imperfect elasticity. The profiles and parameters of pulses, the resonance curve and the Q factor of the resonator, and the ratio of the nonlinear resonance frequency shift to the nonlinear damping decrement are determined. For nonlinear wave processes in such media, the distinctive features that allow one to choose an appropriate hysteretic equation of state for analytically describing the experimental data are revealed.     

Selectively protected galactose derivatives for the synthesis of branched oligosaccharides

Synthesis and characterization of several new anomerically pure galactose derivatives, based on simple and effective protective group manipulations of benzyl β-d-galactopyranoside, are reported. The monosaccharides described contain selectively protected/deprotected hydroxyl functionalities at their 1,2,3,4- and 6-positions rendering them useful as building blocks for construction of branched oligosaccharides.     

Dynamics of the surface layer in cyanobiphenyl-aerosil nanocomposites with a high silica density

Composites were prepared from an aerosil and 4-n-alkyl-4'cyanobiphenyls with five to eight carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Their high silica density of ∼7 g aerosil in 1 cm³ of liquid crystal (LC) allows the observation of the behaviour of a thin cyanobiphenyl layer (having nearly a monolayer structure) on the silica particles. The systems are investigated by dielectric spectroscopy (10^-2-10⁹ Hz) in a large temperature range (220-370 K). All the composites show a (main) relaxation process at frequencies much lower than the processes observed for the bulk LC that was assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. The temperature dependence of its characteristic frequencies obeys the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann law, which is found to be typical for glass-forming liquids. The quasi two-dimensional character of the glass transition in the surface layer is discussed for the first time. At the nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature of the bulk, the composites show a continuous decrease of the characteristic frequencies as a function of the alkyl chain length, while the bulk LCs show the well known odd-even behaviour. The magnitude and temperature dependence of the slow relaxation process in the composites (molecules on an outer surface) agree with those of the same molecules confined to the nanopores of molecular sieves (internal surface).     

Synthesis, morphology and random laser action of ZnO nanostructures

Three-dimensional (3-D) ZnO random-wall nanostructures and one-dimensional (1-D) ZnO nanorods were prepared on silicon substrates by a simple solid-vapour phase thermal sublimation technique. Optical pumped random lasing has been observed in the ZnO random-wall arrays with a threshold intensity of 0.38 MW/cm² in the emission wavelength from 380 to 395 nm. The optical gain was attributed to the closed-loop scattering and light amplification of the ZnO random-wall. The experimental result suggests that the morphology of nanostructure is the key factor to effect random lasing.     

Thermal behavior of the maleic anhydride modified poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB has been structurally modified through reaction with maleic anhydride, MA. Transesterification reaction was carried out fixing the PHB and MA and besides time and temperature the concentration of the triethylamine (used as catalyst) was changed. Glass transition, melting and crystallization temperature obtained from DSC curves and thermal degradation temperatures obtained from TG traces were used to evaluate the influence of the reaction conditions on the modification of PHB according to factorial design. On the base of the results the optimum conditions are to perform the PHB modification reaction with MA reaction at 110°C for 1 h with 5% v/v triethylamine.     

Nanostructured polymetallaynes of controlled length: Synthesis and characterization of oligomers and polymers from 1,1′‐bis‐(ethynyl)4,4′‐biphenyl bridging Pt(II) or Pd(II) centers

The reactivity of square planar palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes in trans or cis configuration, namely trans or cis‐[dichlorobis(tributylphosphine)platinum(II)] and trans‐[dichlorobis(tributylphosphine)palladium(II)] with 1,1′‐bis(ethynyl) 4,4′‐biphenyl, DEBP, leading to π‐conjugated organometallic oligomeric and polymeric metallaynes, was investigated by a systematic variation of the reaction conditions. The formation of polymers and oligomers with defined chain length [? M(PBu₃)₂ (C?C? C₆H₄? C₆H₄? C?C? )]_n (n = 3–10 for the oligomers, n = 20–50 for the polymers) depends on the configuration of the precursor Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes, the presence/absence of the catalyst CuI, and the reaction time. A series of model reactions monitored by XPS, GPC, and NMR ³¹P spectroscopy showed the route to modulate the chain growth. As expected, the nature of the transition metal (Pt or Pd) and the molecular weight of the polymers markedly influence the photophysical characteristics of the polymetallaynes, such as optical absorption and emission behavior. Polymetallaynes with nanostructured morphology could be obtained by a simple casting procedure of polymer solutions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3311–3329, 2007