PAN-based activated carbon nanofiber/metal oxide composites for CO2 and CH4 adsorption: influence of metal oxide

In the present study, we successfully prepared two different electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based-activated carbon nanofiber (ACNF) composites by incorporation of well-distributed Fe₂O₃ and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs). The influence of metal oxide on the structural, morphological, and textural properties of final composites was thoroughly investigated. The results showed that the morphological and textural properties could be easily tuned by changing the metal oxide NPs. Even though, the ACNF composites were not chemically activated by any activation agent, they presented relatively high surface areas (S_BET) calculated by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) equation as 212.21 and 185.12 m²/g for ACNF/Fe₂O₃ and ACNF/Co₃O₄ composites, respectively. Furthermore, the ACNF composites were utilized as candidate adsorbents for CO₂ and CH₄ adsorption. The ACNF/Fe₂O₃ and ACNF/Co₃O₄ composites resulted the highest CO₂ adsorption capacities of 1.502 and 2.166 mmol/g at 0 °C, respectively, whereas the highest CH₄ adsorption capacities were obtained to be 0.516 and 0.661 mmol/g at 0 °C by ACNF/Fe₂O₃ and ACNF/Co₃O₄ composites, respectively. The isosteric heats calculated lower than 80 kJ/mol showed that the adsorption processes of CO₂ and CH₄ were mainly dominated by physical adsorption for both ACNF composites. Our findings indicated that ACNF-metal oxide composites are useful materials for designing of CO₂ and CH₄ adsorption systems.     

Reflection and transmission of plane acoustic waves in an infinite annular duct with a finite gap on the inner wall

The diffraction of acoustic waves by an infinitely long annular duct having a finite gap on the inner wall is investigated rigorously. The related boundary‐value problem is formulated into a modified Wiener–Hopf equation, which is then reduced to a pair of simultaneous Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. At the end of the analysis, numerical results illustrating the effects of the width of the coaxial cylindrical waveguide and the gap length on the diffraction phenomenon are presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Oxide Ionic Conductivity of Binary β‐(Bi2O3)1‐x(Lu2O3)x System

In this research, the effects of doping Lu₂O₃ to α‐Bi₂O₃ in the range of 0.01 < x < 0.10 in a series of different mole fractions (1% < n < 10% mole ratios) was studied. Beside, heat treatment was performed by applying a cascade temperature rise in the range of 700‐800 °C for 72 hours and new phases were obtained in the (Bi₂O₃)_1‐x(Lu₂O₃)_x system. After heat treatment for 72 hours at 800 °C; mixtures, containing 2‐8% mole Lu₂O₃, formed a tetragonal phase. As a result of subjecting mixtures, containing 9% and 10% mole Lu₂O₃, to a quenching process at 825 °C, tetragonal phases were obtained. With the help of XRD, the crystal systems and lattice parameters of the solid solutions were obtained and their characterization was carried out. Thermal measurements were made by using a simultaneous DTA/TG system. The total conductivity (σ_T) in the β‐Bi₂O₃ doped with Lu₂O₃ was measured using the four‐probe DC method.     

Global existence and boundedness for a class of second-order nonlinear differential equations

In this paper we obtain new conditions for the global existence and boundedness of solutions for nonlinear second-order equations of the form ${\left(r\left(t\right){\left|u^{\prime }\right|}^{p?2}{u}^{\prime }\right)}^{\prime }+g(t,u,u^{\prime })u^{\prime }+a\left(t\right)f\left(u\right)=e\left(t\right)\text{,}$ where $p>1$ is a real constant. The results are applicable to well-known Emden–Fowler and Lienard type equations. An illustrative example is also provided.     

On asymptotic equivalence of linear and quasilinear difference equations

The asymptotic equivalence of systems of difference equations of linear and quasilinear type is investigated. The first result on the asymptotic equivalence of linear systems is a discrete analog of an improved version of the Levinson's well-known theorem on asymptotic equivalence of linear differential equations, while the second one providing conditions for asymptotic equivalence of linear and quasilinear systems is related to that of Yakubovich in differential equations case.     

On the Diophantine equation x 2 − kxy + y 2 − 2 n = 0

In this study, we determine when the Diophantine equation x ²?kxy+y ²?2 ⁿ = 0 has an infinite number of positive integer solutions x and y for 0 ? n ? 10. Moreover, we give all positive integer solutions of the same equation for 0 ? n ? 10 in terms of generalized Fibonacci sequence. Lastly, we formulate a conjecture related to the Diophantine equation x ² ? kxy + y ² ? 2 ⁿ = 0.     

Oscillation of even order nonlinear delay dynamic equations on time scales

One of the important methods for studying the oscillation of higher order differential equations is to make a comparison with second order differential equations. The method involves using Taylor’s Formula. In this paper we show how such a method can be used for a class of even order delay dynamic equations on time scales via comparison with second order dynamic inequalities. In particular, it is shown that nonexistence of an eventually positive solution of a certain second order delay dynamic inequality is sufficient for oscillation of even order dynamic equations on time scales. The arguments are based on Taylor monomials on time scales.     

Novel dinuclear and polynuclear copper(II)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate supramolecular complexes with 1,3-propanediamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine and 2,2′-bipyridine

Three novel Cu(II)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate complexes with 1,3-propanediamine (pen), [Cu₂(μ-pzdc)₂(pen)₂] · 2H₂O (1), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmen), {[Cu(μ-pzdc)(tmen)] · H₂O}_n(2), and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), {[Cu(μ-pzdc)(bipy)]·H₂O}_n(3) have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental and thermal analyses, magnetic susceptibilities, IR and UV/vis spectroscopic studies. The molecular structures of dinuclear (1) and polynuclear (2 and 3) complexes have been determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate acts as a bridging ligand through oxygen atom of carboxylate group and N atom of pyrazine ring and one oxygen atom of neighboring carboxylate. It links the Cu(II) ions to generate a distorted square pyramidal geometry forming a one-dimensional (1D) chain. Adjacent chains of 1 and 2 are then mutually linked via hydrogen bonding interactions, which are further assembled to form a two and three-dimensional network, respectively. The chains of complex 3 are further constructed to form three-dimensional framework by hydrogen bonding, C–H?π and ring?ring stacking interactions. In the complexes, Cu(II) ions have distorted square pyramidal geometry. Thermal analyses properties and thermal decomposition mechanism of complexes have been investigated by using thermal analyses techniques (TG, DTG and DTA).     

Pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid complexes of nickel(II) with 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline coligands; syntheses,crystal structures,spectroscopic and thermal studies

Two pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (pydcH₂) complexes of nickel(II) with 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline were synthesized and characterized by elemental, spectroscopic, thermal analysis, magnetic measurements and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Both [Ni(pydc)(bipy)₂]·7H₂O and [Ni(pydc)(phen)₂]·6.5H₂O crystallize in the monoclinic system and P2₁/c space group. The Ni(II) ions are coordinated by two bidentate bipy or phen ligands and one pydc dianion in a distorted octahedral geometry. The pydc ligand is coordinated through the pyridine nitrogen atom and oxygen atom of carboxyl group as a bidentate ligand. Both carboxylate groups of pydc are deprotonated but only the 2-carboxylate is coordinated to the metal. Thermal decompositions of the complexes have been studied over the range 30–600 °C on heating in a static air atmosphere.     

A new donor–acceptor double‐cable carbazole polymer with perylene bisimide pendant group: Synthesis,electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties

We report here electrochemical synthesis of novel soluble donor–acceptor (D–A) polymer with suitably functionalized perylenetetracarboxylic diimide dye derivative covalently linked to carbazole moiety (Cbz‐PDI). The band gap, E_g was measured using UV–Vis spectroscopy and compared with that obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Efficient intramolecular electron transfer from carbazole‐donor to perynediimide‐acceptor leads to remarkable fluorescence quenching of the perylene core. Furthermore, spectroelectrochemical property and surface morphology of the polymer film were investigated. Characteristic monoanion and dianion radical bands on the UV–Vis absorption spectra attributed to the electrochemical reduction of the neutral polymer were observed. During the reduction process, red color of the film turned into blue and violet, respectively. Finally, the photovoltaic performance of the D–A double‐cable polymer was checked and nearly 0.1% electrical conversion efficiency is obtained under simulated AM 1.5 solar light with 100 mW/cm² radiation power. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6280–6291, 2009