Optical Properties and Photopolymerization of Liquid Crystalline (Acetyl) (Ethyl) Cellulose/Acrylic Acid System

The structure and properties of a chiral nematic phase, which reflects one hand of circularly polarized light in a narrow region of wavelength, of fully acetylated (ethyl) cellulose [(acetyl) (ethyl) cellulose, AEC] in acrylic acid (AA) were studied in comparison with (ethyl) cellulose (EC). AEC mesophase formed right-handed chiral nematic structure while EC formed left-handed one. AEC mesophase showed higher birefringence and reflection intensity. The relationship between the reflection wavelength and the polymer concentration was negatively correlated for both AEC and EC mesophases. The relationship between the reflection wavelength and the molecular weight was also negative for AEC mesophase whereas positive for EC mesophase. AEC mesophase was solidified by photopolymerization of AA moiety. It was revealed that the optical properties of AEC mesophase could be preserved by photopolymerization, since the resulting solid material reflects selectively one hand of circularly polarized light.     

Calcium-Mediated Adsorption of Neutral Amino Acids to Carboxymethylated Chitin

Among various divalent metal ions, calcium has been found to be adsorbed tightly onto carboxymethylated chitin. The adsorption was completed not only by induced carboxyl groups but also by the support of acetamide, as well as primary and secondary hydroxyl groups. Although the adsorption capacity for transition metal ions was enhanced appreciably by regeneration into fibrous form, only that of calcium ion, among alkali-earth metals, was at the same level as that of transition metals. Since little effect was shown on the adsorption of phenylalanine by the blocking of α-amino and α-carboxyl groups of L-Phe, and since D-Phe was so a little adsorbed, the chiral specific adsorption of phenylalanine might be supported by mediation of calcium ion and by the contribution of hydrophobicity of the β-phenyl group.     

Nonlinear optical properties and phase-relaxation processes in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have investigated third-order nonlinear optical properties of bundled and isolated semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by means of Z-scan method, pump-probe method, and two-beam time-resolved degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) method. The figures of merit Im χ⁽³⁾/α in both bundled and isolated SWNTs samples were found to be enhanced with increasing tube diameter. The measured Im χ⁽³⁾/α value in the bundled SWNTs was an order of magnitude smaller than that in the isolated SWNTs. Both population relaxation time T₁ and phase-relaxation time T₂ for bundled samples were smaller than those in the isolated samples. These experimental results can be explained by an increase in nonradiative recombination rate and phase-relaxation rate in the bundled sample. The phase-relaxation time T₂ is considered to have a significant role in the enhancement of Im χ⁽³⁾/α.     

Novel solid acid fuel cell based on a superprotonic conductor Tl3H(SO4)2

We have fabricated a fuel cell based on a superprotonic conductor, a Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ crystal, and have measured the electrical properties of this fuel cell. It is found that the open-circuit voltage in the fuel cell based on the Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ crystal increases by supplying H₂ fuel gas and typically becomes 0.83 V. Moreover, we have observed that the cell voltage decreases with increasing current density, as observed in fuel cells such as proton exchange membrane fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, etc. These results indicate that it is possible to use the Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ crystal as the electrolyte of a solid acid fuel cell. In addition, we suggest that the selection of the electrode and the preparation of the very thin electrolyte are extremely important to achieve high-efficiency of power generation of this fuel cell.     

Diameter-dependent relaxation dynamics of 1D excitons in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have studied 1D exciton relaxation dynamics in semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by femtosecond pump–probe experiments. The time evolution of change in transmittance ΔT/T induced by photo-excitation varies depending on the tube diameter. The decay time decreases with a decrease in the tube diameter. Pressure measurements have been conducted to explore the relaxation mechanism. The deformation potential estimated from the pressure dependence of photoluminescence spectra increases with decreasing tube diameter. This means that the exciton–phonon interaction becomes stronger in the smaller diameter tubes. The diameter dependences of decay time and deformation potential suggest that the exciton–phonon interaction plays an important role in exciton nonradiative relaxation process in semiconducting SWNTs.     

The Coalitional Rationality of the Shapley Value

We establish a necessary and sufficient condition under which the Shapley value of ann-person game lies in the core.     

New routes to the v-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine ring systems

New routes to the v-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine ring systems are described. Treatment of the N-amine salts of 2-picolinealdehyde oxime or 2-pyridyl ketone oximes with polyphosphoric acid gave v-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines in fair yields. Treatment of 2-picolyl ketones or their oximes with O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine produced directly pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyridines. These reactions were extended to the quinoline cases.     

Partially coherent optical waves in random gradient fibres

The excitation characteristics and spatial coherence of partially coherent optical waves in gradient fibres are demonstrated for incident light waves radiated from semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes. Lower modes are efficiently excited in the case of coherent laser beams, while incident waves of low coherence such as lightwaves of LEDs excite higher modes. Pulse propagation of partially coherent optical waves in dispersive gradient fibres is also discussed for random index fluctuations. Mode coupled equations for temporal correlation functions of the electric field that are generalizations of coupled power equations are found. Mode filtering and pulse improvement with a lossy inhomogeneous cladding are described.     

Molecular dynamics of [(CH2OH)3CNH3]2SiF6 by phase transition of 178 K

We have investigated the molecular motions of TRIS⁺ ([(CH₂OH)₃CNH₃]⁺) and ions in the [(CH₂OH)₃CNH₃]₂SiF₆ crystal below room temperature from the measurements of the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ and the NMR absorption line of ¹H and ¹⁹F nuclei, in order to elucidate the changes of the molecular motions by the phase transition of T_c=178 K. The narrowing of the ¹⁹F-NMR line was observed around T_c=178 K and the reorientation of the anion appears above T_c. Moreover, from the analysis of the temperature dependence of T₁, we have observed that the activation energy of the reorientational motion of ions changes from 0.168 eV (T>T_c) to 0.185 eV (T<T_c). Based on these results, we found that the reorientational motion of ions is closely related to the origin of the phase transition at T_c. In addition, from the measurement of the ¹H-NMR line, we also found that the reorientational motion of H₂ in the -CH₂OH group becomes active accompanied by the phase transition.