Synthesis and mechanochemical properties of biobased ABCBA-type pentablock copolymers comprising poly-d-lactide (A), poly-l-lactide (B) and poly(1,2-propylene succinate) (C)

The ABCBA pentablock copolymers (p-d -l -PPS) comprising poly(d -lactide) (PDLA: A), poly(l -lactide) (PLLA: B) and poly(propylene succinate) (PPS: C) were successfully synthesized by two-step ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of d - and l -lactide using a dihydroxy-terminated PPS as a macro-initiator. The pentablock copolymers revealed the high stereocomplex (sc) crystallinity, thermal stability and elastomeric property in their solution-cast films. It was found that the T_g was found to be proportional to the PPS content, whereas the T_m was proportional to their average block length. The thermal resistivity of the copolymer films was found to be as high as 202°C owing to their sc formation. The copolymers also showed improved stereocomplexibility compared to the enantiomeric mixtures of triblock copolymers (PLLA-PPS-PLLA and PDLA-PPS-PDLA) having similar PLLA and PDLA chain lengths. These pentablock copolymers can afford thermoplastic elastomers or flexible plastic materials having a 100% bio-based content, showing high heat-resistive property.     

Potassium-ion-selective sensing based on selective reflection of cholesteric liquid crystal membranes

It is well-known that cholesteric liquid crystals have an optical property, selective reflection, due to changes in the pitch of their helical structure. This unique property of cholesteric liquid crystals can be used to attain a visual sensing system showing color changes as the detection signal. In this paper, we report a visual sensing membrane comprising cholesteric liquid crystals, in which a 15-crown-5 derivative was incorporated as ion recognizing sites, for K⁺ in aqueous solution. The resulting CLC membrane showed a shift of the reflection peak sensitive to K⁺ in water. We have also designed polymer-dispersed liquid crystal membranes that showed ion-selective reflection peak shifts with improved response time.     

A Novel Synthesis of α-Tellanyl α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes Using α-Tellanyl β-Alkoxyalkenyl Lithiums

Abstract

β-Ethoxy-α-phenyltellanylvinyl lithiums were successfully generated in situ from phenyltellanylacetaldehyde diethyl acetal with lithium 2,2,6,6-tetrame-thylpiperidide (LTMP) and underwent methylation or nucleophilic addition with aldehydes and ketones. The successive dehydration of the allylic alcohols with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) gave α-phenyltellanyl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, which transformed to some useful compounds.     

Non-linear dielectric spectra of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

The non-linear dielectric relaxation spectroscopy has been recently developed and applied to soft materials such as polymers. We have applied this new method to the S*_C phases of some ferroelectric liquid crystals. Under a weak AC electric field, the original and third order harmonic frequency components of electric displacement are proportional to the first and third powers of the applied electric field, respectively. The linear spectrum obtained from the original frequency component shows the relaxation of Debye type and the third order non-linear spectrum shows the relaxation with an extended form of Debye type to the non-linear case. The third order non-linear dielectric increment is found to be negative, which implies that the dielectric non-linearity of the liquid crystal in the S*_C phase is due to the saturation of molecular dipole moments induced by the applied electric field. The temperature dependence of the linear and third order non-linear spectra in the S*_C phase are also studied. Both spectra do not change their forms much through the whole temperature range of the S*_C phase. In the vicinity of the S_A–S*_C transition temperature, the critical behaviour is more remarkable in the third order spectrum than in the linear one.     

Radiation-induced degradation of aqueous 2–chlorophenol assisted by zeolites

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - This study aims to demonstrate that zeolite has the potential to increase the efficiency of radiolysis treatment of aqueous organic pollutants by...     

Spin-dependent transport in a nanopillar non-local spin valve

We investigate the injection of a pure spin current into a non-magnetic Cu wire in a lateral spin valve. We detect the spin accumulation occurring at the interfaces between the magnetic nanopillars and the non-magnetic wire in the non-local geometry. We confirm that the accumulated spins diffuse equally in the Cu wire irrespective of the presence of a charge current. The inversion of the injector and detector magnetic nanopillars does not affect the spin signal, in agreement with analytical predictions for this system.     

High-Field and Multifrequency ESR Studies at KYOKUGEN in Osaka University

We have developed high-field and multifrequency (HFMF) electron spin resonance (ESR) apparatus for the magnetic fields up to 65 T at frequencies up to about 6 THz. In addition to this pulsed field ESR apparatus, we are making a multifrequency ESR apparatus with very high sensitivity in a static field. We report the results of ESR studies on BaCoV₂O₈ and NiGa₂S₄, followed by recent developments and future plans of our HFMF ESR apparatus.