Electrical Conductivity and Thermoelectric Power of Silver Iododichromate Fast Ion Conducting Electrolytes

Fast ion conducting solid electrolytes are becoming increasingly important owing to their application in solid state ionic devices. The present work deals with the silver ion conducting x AgI – (1–x)Ag₂Cr₂O₇ electrolyte system. These electrolytes have been characterised by X-ray diffraction, electrical conductivity, electronic conductivity and thermoelectric power techniques. A high ionic conductivity of the order of 10⁻³ S/cm has been observed for the composition mol% 80 AgI–20 Ag₂Cr₂O₇, at room temperature. The electronic conductivity of this electrolyte is three orders of magnitude lower than the ionic conductivity.     

3D zinc(II) coordination polymers built up by triazole and benzene-polycarboxylate anions: Synthesis,crystal structure,thermal and photoluminescence characterization

Two coordination polymers of the formula [Zn₅(tmaH)₄(trz)₂(H₂O)₄] (1) and [Zn₃(bta)(trz)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (2) [tmaH₃ = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid/trimesic acid, trzH = 1,2,4-triazole, btaH₄ = benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. Both complexes are 3D coordination polymers containing [Zn₄(trz)₂] units connected by benzene-carboxylate anions. In particular, an undulated layer containing 6- and 18-membered rings is outlined in the network of 1. Hydrogen bonds, involving the coordinated and lattice water molecules with carboxylate oxygen atoms, contribute to the stabilization of the networks. Their thermal stability was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The fluorescence spectrum of 1 features two peaks at 419 and 323 nm, originating from a π–π∗ intraligand transition and LMCT, respectively. For 2 a broad band at 410 nm is assigned solely as a π–π∗ intraligand transition.     

Recovery of palladium using chemically modified cedar wood powder

Japanese cedar wood powder (CWP) was chemically modified to a tertiary-amine-type adsorbent and studied for the selective recovery of Pd(II) from various industrial waters. Batch adsorption tests performed from 0.1 M to 5 M HCl and HNO₃ systems reveal stable performance with better results in HNO₃ medium. The maximum loading capacity for Pd(II) was studied in HCl as well as in HNO₃. A continuous-flow experiment taking a real industrial solution revealed the feasibility of using modified CWP for the selective uptake and preconcentration of traces of palladium contained in acidic effluents. In addition, stable adsorption performance even on long exposure to γ-irradiation and selective recovery of palladium from simulated high-level liquid waste (HLW) are important outcomes of the study.     

Experimental and finite element modelling studies on single-layer and multi-layer 1-3 piezocomposite transducers

Finite element modelling (FEM) using ATILA code and experimental studies have been carried out on 1-3 piezocomposite transducers. FEM study was initially carried out on a piezocomposite infinite plate and then extended to transducers of finite size. The infinite-plate model results agree well with that of a simple analytical model and experiments. The acoustic performance of multi-layer finite-size piezocomposite transducers was also studied. Transducer stacks were fabricated with different number of layers. The transducer characteristics such as the electrical impedance, the transmitting voltage response (TVR) and the receiving sensitivity (RS) of the 1-3 piezocomposite transducers were evaluated as functions of frequency, ceramic volume fractions and the number of layers. TVR increases and RS decreases with increase in ceramic volume fractions. The model results are found to agree with the experimental data, especially when the number of layers is less.     

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of actarit in rabbit plasma: application to pharmacokinetics and metabolic stability

Actarit (ATR), 4‐acetylaminophenylacetic acid is an orally effective disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drug widely prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The present study demonstrates the first report on a selective and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of ATR in rabbit plasma using p‐coumaric acid as an internal standard (IS). Following liquid–liquid extraction, chromatographic separation of the reconstituted samples was achieved isocratically on a Syncronis‐C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of aqueous ammonium acetate (10 mM, pH 4)‐ methanol and acetonitrile mixture (8 : 92, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. ATR and IS were detected using electrospray ionization operated in negative multiple reaction monitoring mode. The calibration curve was linear (r² ≥ 0.990) over the concentration range of 1–4000 ng/ml with a lower limit of quantitation of 1 ng/ml. The mean extraction recovery of ATR and IS from rabbit plasma was greater than 85%. The method complied well with US Food and Drug Administration guidelines for selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, matrix effect, dilution integrity, carry‐over effect and stability. The method was successfully applied to in vitro metabolic stability (using rabbit liver microsomes) and in vivo pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of ATR at a dose of 10 mg/kg in New Zealand rabbits. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetism and candidate muon-probe sites in RBa2Cu3O y

Key results of zero-field (ZF) and transverse-field (TF) muon-spin-relaxation (μSR) experiments on superconducting and insulating RBa₂Cu₃O _y (R123 _y , with R=Eu, Gd, Pr and Pr/Y:y=6, 7) are examined. The chemical behavior of the positive muon probe is addressed, and muon-oxygen bonding is shown to occur in all these cuprates. To explain magnetic fields at muon-probe sites in Pr _x Y_1−x Ba₂Cu₃O _y (0<=x<0.5,y=7 andx=0,y=6) samples, improvements on the reported magnetic structures from neutron diffraction are necessary. Cu magnetism in Pr123y (y=6,7) is observed belowT _N1, which is near RT. The magnetism seen belowT _N2 can be interpreted assuming an additional ordering in the Cutt-O chain layers. Alternatively, Pr ordering is also considered as the cause of the second phase transition. Considering the specific muon-probe location, a more detailed interpretation can be provided for the μSR parameters, measured in the normal and mixed states of these unconventional superconductors.     

On the development of exponential ansatze for quantum dynamics in finite dimensional vector spaces

Summary A Wei-Norman type of exponential ansatz is constructed for the time evolution operator in finite dimensional vector spaces. Based on an analysis of the structure of the concerned operator algebra, it is shown that a reduction principle exists even for simple algebras that goes beyond the Wei-Norman result when a specific ordering of the operators is used such that the equations of motion for different generators belonging to different classes are decoupled. It is shown that the solution in this case is global. Some specific approximation schemes are considered and their strengths and weaknesses are analyzed. Model calculations are presented to bring out these features.     

Phase behavior and surface tensions of amphiphilic fluorinated random copolymer aqueous solutions

Phase behavior and surface tension of aqueous solutions of fluorinated random copolymers [perfluoroalkylacrylate]–[poly(ethyleneoxide)methacrylate], [C_mRf-acrylate]-[EO_n-methacrylate] with fluroalkyl carbon number m = 8, 6, 4, 2 and number of ethyleneoxide unit, n = 9 and 4.5 were investigated as a function of composition and different combinations of m and n. Isotropic solutions are formed at lower temperatures over wide concentration range of copolymer but at higher temperature phase separation occurs. The cloud point of copolymer decreases with decreasing n as well as m, and also with decreasing the number of poly(ethyleneoxide)methacrylate chain per perfluorinatedalkylacrylate chain, suggesting that the copolymers become more hydrophobic on decreasing m and n. Equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements show that copolymers become increasingly surface active as m as well as n decrease but the adsorption at the air–water interface is very slow due to bulkiness of the molecules. No clear evidence of the formation of micellar aggregates could be obtained from surface tension–composition curves.     

Vapor phase acylation of phenol over Hβ, CeHβ and SO42-/ZrO2a

Phenol acylation on Hβ, CeHβ and SO₄ ^2-/ZrO₂ using acetic acid and acetic anhydride as acylating agents is compared in the temperature range 250-400°C. Acetic acid formed phenyl acetate (PA) and o-hydroxy acetophenone (o-HAP) and acetic anhydride formed p-hydroxyacetophenone (p-HAP ) along with PA and o-HAP. The formation of o-HAP and p-HAP, the products of C-acylation of phenol using acetic acid is proposed by studying phenyl acetate conversion on Hb, CeHβ and SO₄ ^2-/ZrO₂. Our studies show that for phenol acylation the most suitable acid site is available on CeHβ. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.