The effect of the finite size of ions and Debye layer overspill on the screened Coulomb interactions between charged flat plates

Screened repulsion between uniformly charged plates with an intervening electrolyte is analyzed for strongly overlapped electrical double layers (EDL), accounting for the steric effect of ions and their expulsion from EDL edges into the surrounding solution. As a generalization of a study by Philipse et al. which does not account for these effects, an analytical expression is derived for the repulsion pressure in the limit of infinitely long plates with a zero-field assumption, which agrees closely with the corresponding numerical solution at low inter-plate separations. Our results show an augmented repulsive pressure for finite-sized ions at strong EDL overlaps. For plates with a finite lateral size, we demonstrate a further extended domain of low inter-plate gaps where the repulsion pressure increases with ion size due to a strong interplay between the steric interaction of ions and the EDL overspill phenomenon, considered earlier in a study by Ghosal & Sherwood limited to the linear Debye-Hückel regime (which cannot account for the steric effect of ions). This investigation on a simple model should enhance our understanding of the interaction between charged particles in electrophoresis, nanoscale self-assembly, active particles, and various other electrokinetic systems.     

Multivariate logistic regression with incomplete covariate and auxiliary information

In this article, we propose and explore a multivariate logistic regression model for analyzing multiple binary outcomes with incomplete covariate data where auxiliary information is available. The auxiliary data are extraneous to the regression model of interest but predictive of the covariate with missing data. Horton and Laird [N.J. Horton, N.M. Laird, Maximum likelihood analysis of logistic regression models with incomplete covariate data and auxiliary information, Biometrics 57 (2001) 34–42] describe how the auxiliary information can be incorporated into a regression model for a single binary outcome with missing covariates, and hence the efficiency of the regression estimators can be improved. We consider extending the method of [9] to the case of a multivariate logistic regression model for multiple correlated outcomes, and with missing covariates and completely observed auxiliary information. We demonstrate that in the case of moderate to strong associations among the multiple outcomes, one can achieve considerable gains in efficiency from estimators in a multivariate model as compared to the marginal estimators of the same parameters.     

Fluorescence behavior of intramolecular charge transfer probe in anionic, cationic, and nonionic micelles

The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) property of trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino) cinnamate is used to probe the anionic, cationic, and nonionic micelles by steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The ICT fluorescence band intensity was found to increase with concomitant blue shift with addition of surfactants. All the experimental results suggest that the probe molecule resides in the micelle-water interface rather than going into the core. However, the penetration is more toward the micellar core in nonionic surfactants when compared with ionic micelles. The decrease in nonradiative decay constants in micellar environments indicate restricted motion of the probe toward the formation of ICT state. Critical micelle concentrations were determined from the sharp change in fluorescence intensity and effective dielectric constants of the micelle-water interface were calculated from the correlation diagram of 0,0 transition energy with polarity of the medium.     

Surfactant-colligend particle size effects on ion flotation: Influences of mixing time,temperature, and surfactant chain length

Summary The ion flotation of Cr(VI) from 0.926 x 10^–3 M aqueous suspensions at pH 4.1 is related to particle size distribution data, obtained by filtration of the surfactant-Cr(VI) suspensions prior to flotation. The effects of surfactant-Cr(VI) mixing (precipitation and aggregation) time and of temperature are established over 10–45 °C, with particle size and flotation generally increasing with temperature. Five, rather high purity, quaternary ammonium surfactants are used, with chain lengths from C₁₀ to C₁₈. The optimum chain length at 13° and 23 °C is C14 and at 33° and 43 °C is C16. An increase in the molar surfactant/Cr(VI) ratio in the initial suspension improves flotation until values of the ratio of 1.1, 1.2, and 2.2 are exceeded for C₁₆, C₁₈, and C₁₄ surfactants, respectively. The four roles of a surfactant in ion flotation — as a precipitant, as a dispersant (with surface adsorption opposing aggregation), as a collector, and as a frother — are discussed in terms of flotation, particle size distributions, and surface charge measurements.

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Zusammenfassung Die Flotation von Cr(VI)-Ionen aus 0.926 × 10^–3 M wässeriger Suspension bei pH 4.1 steht in Beziehung zu der Verteilung der Teilchengröße, die sich durch Filtration einer Suspension von Benetzungsmittel-Cr (VI) vor der Flotation ergibt. Die Wirkung von Benetzungszeit (=Fällung und Zusammenballen) sowie der Temperatur im Bereich von 10–45 °C wurden untersucht; Teilchengröße und Flotation nehmen im allgemeinen mit steigender Temperatur zu. Fünf quaternäre Ammonium-Benetzungsmittel hoher Reinheit und mit Kettenlängen von C₁₀ bis C₁₈ wurden benutzt. Die optimale Kettenlänge bei 13° und 23 °C ist C₁₄, bei 33° und 43 °C dagegen C₁₆. Eine Vergrößerung des Verhältnisses von Benetzungsmittel:Cr(VI) in der anfänglichen Suspension ist für die Flotation so lange vorteilhaft, bis die Verhältniswerte 1.1 (C₁₆), 1.2 (C₁₈) bzw. 2.2 (C₁₄) überschritten werden. Die vier Aufgaben des Benetzungsmittels in einer Ionenflotation — als Fällungsmittel, Verteilungsmittel (die Oberflächenadsorption wirkt der Zusammenballung entgegen), Sammler und Schaummittel — werden in Bezug auf die Flotation, die Verteilung der Teilchengröße und Messungen der Oberflächenladung diskutiert.

     

Effects of monomer structures on the evolution of liquid–crystal texture and crystallization during thin-film polymerization

We investigated in situ the effects of monomer structures on the formation and evolution of liquid–crystal texture and crystallization during thin-film polymerization of a series of liquid–crystalline and crystalline polymers. The monomers used in this study consisted of 2,6-acetoxynaphthoic acid (ANA), p-acetoxybenzoic acid (ABA), acetoxy acetanilide (AAA), and isophthalic acid (IA). The polycondensation reactions were conducted on the heating stage of a polarizing microscope. The formation of liquid crystallinity was found to be strongly dependent on the straight-monomer structures of ANA and ABA and their percentages as well as the reaction temperature. For the ANA/AAA/IA and ABA/AAA/IA reaction systems, the critical straight-monomer content (ANA or ABA) existed to form the liquid–crystalline (LC) state. Interestingly, the critical content to form liquid crystallinity decreased with an increase in the reaction temperature. Above the critical content, the appearance of a defective LC phase and the annihilation of disclinations were observed during the polycondensation reactions. The number of defects decreased with increasing reaction time through annihilation. The annihilation rate increased whereas the defect density decreased with increasing straight-monomer content. For the same molar ratio, the reaction system containing ANA had a faster annihilation rate than that containing ABA. Below the critical content, crystalline polymers were formed. Nucleation and crystal growth were observed during the reactions, and the rate of crystal growth decreased with increasing ANA or ABA content. For the systems having the same molar ratio of ANA or ABA, the ANA/AAA/IA system had a higher tendency to yield the LC phase than the ABA/AAA/IA system because ANA has a longer mesogenic unit. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3084–3096, 1999     

Dithioannulation of Alkynes

A direct method for the preparation of 2,3-diphenyl-1,4-dithiins has been developed. The process involves treating alkynes with nickel bisdiphenyl-dithiolene in refluxing chlorobenzene in the presence of pyridine. Pyridine appears to be essential in order to avoid further transformation of 1,4-dithiins to thiophenes.     

Thermosensitive water‐soluble poly(ethylene glycol)‐based polythiophene graft copolymers

Diethyleneglycol methylethermethacrylate(MeO₂MA) and oligoethylene glycol methylethermethacrylate(OEGMA) are polymerized on polythiophene(PT) backbone to produce water‐soluble PT‐g‐PMeO₂MA(PTD) and PT‐g‐P(MeO₂MA‐co‐OEGMA)(PTDO) using atom transfer radical polymerization. They are characterized by ¹H NMR and GPC techniques. TEM micrographs indicate that PT‐chains self‐organize as nanospheres, and atomic force micrographs suggest that aggregated PT‐chains are present at the centre surrounded by dispersed PMeO₂MA fibers producing miceller‐type aggregates. Dynamic light scattering study indicates an initial decrease followed by sharp increase of Z‐average particle size of PTD with temperature for attaining lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 20 °C. The LCST increases with OEGMA concentration in PTDO. The temperature dependent PL emission of PTD shows a minimum at 19 °C, followed by a sharp increase till 21 °C, and in the cooling cycle, it shows a complete reversibility. In the PTDO copolymers, the PL intensity shows the hike at progressively higher temperatures due to the increase of LCST with increasing OEGMA concentration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Diffusion thermopower of the two-dimensional electron gas in GaN single quantum wells

Diffusion thermopower ($S_d$) of the two-dimensional (2D) electron gas in GaN single quantum wells is calculated in the temperature range 1 K–12 K using the Fermi–Dirac distribution function. Scattering of carriers through acoustic phonons via deformation potential and piezoelectric couplings, and through background and remote ionized impurities is included. $S_d$ is found to decrease with temperature and the 2D electron concentration, and is primarily controlled by deformation potential acoustic scattering. The dependence of $S_d$ on the well width and the ionized impurity concentration is found to be quite weak.     

Magnetoelectronic transport of the two-dimensional electron gas in CdSe single quantum wells

Hall mobility and magnetoresistance coefficient for the two-dimensional (2D) electron transport parallel to the heterojunction interfaces in a single quantum well of CdSe are calculated with a numerical iterative technique in the framework of Fermi-Dirac statistics. Lattice scatterings due to polar-mode longitudinal optic (LO) phonons, and acoustic phonons via deformation potential and piezoelectric couplings, are considered together with background and remote ionized impurity interactions. The parallel mode of piezoelectric scattering is found to contribute more than the perpendicular mode. We observe that the Hall mobility decreases with increasing temperature but increases with increasing channel width. The magnetoresistance coefficient is found to decrease with increasing temperature and increase with increasing magnetic field in the classical region.