Crystallization behavior and morphology of one-step reaction compatibilized microfibrillar reinforced isotactic polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (<Emphasis Type="Italic">i</Emphasis>PP/PET) blends

One-step reaction compatibilized microfibrillar reinforced iPP/PET blends(CMRB) were successfully prepared through a "slit extrusion-hot stretching-quenching" process.Crystallization behavior and morphology of CMRB were systematically investigated.Scanning electronic microscopy(SEM) observations showed blurry interface of compatibilized common blend(CCB).The crystallization behavior of neat iPP,CCB,microfibrillar reinforced iPP/PET blend(MRB) and CMRB was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and polarized optical microscopy(POM).The increase of crystallization temperature and crystallization rate during nonisothermal crystallization process indicated both PET particles and microfibrils could serve as nucleating agents and PET microfibrils exhibited higher heterogeneous nucleation ability,which were also vividly revealed by results of POM.Compared with MRB sample,CMRB sample has lower crystallization temperature due to existence of PET microfibrils with smaller aspect ratio and wider distribution.In addition, since in situ compatibilizer tends to stay in the interphase,it could also hinder the diffusion of iPP molecules to the surface of PET phase,leading to decrease of crystallization rate.Two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction(2D-WAXD) was preformed to characterize the crystalline structure of the samples by injection molding,and it was found that well-developed PET microfibrils contained in MRB sample promoted formation ofβ-phase of iPP.     

Synthesis,Characterizations, Magnetism and Thermal Degradation of a 2‐Fold Interpenetrated 3D Cobalt‐Organic Framework

A new coordination polymer, [Co₂(L)₂(4,4′‐bipy)]_n·3nH₂O ( 1 ) based on 5‐(3‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)isophthalic acid (H₂ L ) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, XRPD, IR, and elemental analysis. Temperature‐dependent magnetic susceptibility and thermal degradation for 1 were also studied. The asymmetric unit of compound 1 consists of two crystallographically independent Co(II) ion, two L ^2? ligand, one 4,4′‐bipy ligand, and three lattice water molecules. The 2D triangle networks were linked by the bridging 4,4′‐bipy ligand to give rise to a 2‐fold interpenetrated 3D architecture. The simplest cyclic motif of the 2D networks is a triangle ring consisting of three Co(II) cations and three L ^2? ligands. So we can define Co(II) ions as 4‐connected nodes and the L ^2? ligands as 3‐connected nodes. Thus, the 3D structure can be described as a 2‐fold parallel interpenetrated ins InS 3,4‐conn topology.     

Rapid Sample Pretreatment,Identification and Determination of Active Constitutents in Water‐soluble Radix isatidis Extract via MAE,ESI‐MS and RODWs‐HPLC

In this study, we successfully studied water‐soluble extract from Radix isatidis. Optimized conditions of MAE were listed, the sample can be extracted completely in 10 minutes under microwave power of 400W and solid/liquid ratio of 1:80. Active compounds in water‐soluble extract from R. isatidis were identified with HPLC‐DAD/ESI‐MS, these compounds followed by cytidine, uridine, guanosine, (R,S)‐goitrin and adenosine. RODWs–HPLC as a new sensitive chromatography were also first proposed and investigated, we favoringly used this method for simultaneous determination of these active constitutents in water‐soluble R. isatidis extract. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Diamonsil C18 column (5 μm, 150 mm × 4.6 mm) with a mobile phase gradient consisting of methanol and water at a flow‐rate of 1.0 mL/min, detection wavelengths 240, 250, 260 and 270 nm, the retention times of the tested five compounds were about 4.2, 5.8, 11.1, 14.2 and 20.8 min respectively, the limits of detection were 15, 12, 20, 5.8 and 24 ng/mL for cytidine, uridine, guanosine, (R,S)‐goitrin and adenosine respectively, their linear ranges were between 0.045 and 350 μg/mL with correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9998‐0.9999. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra‐day and inter‐day assays were 0.30‐2.36% and 0.86‐2.54% respectively. Extraction recoveries were 94.25‐106.21%. This novel analytical method was shown to be simple, low‐cost, sensitive and reliable for multiple components in complex or undeveloped materials via MAE, ESI‐MS and RODWs‐HPLC.     

Electroactive conducting polymers for corrosion control

There is an intensive effort underway to develop new corrosion control coatings for structural metals. In part, this effort has been motivated by the desire to replace chromium(VI)-containing coatings currently used for corrosion control of iron and aluminum alloys. Cr(VI) has been shown to be hazardous to the environmental and to human health, and its use in many countries will be sharply curtailed in the coming years. Electroactive conducting polymers (ECPs) represent a class of interesting materials currently being explored for use in corrosion control coating systems, possibly as a replacement for Cr(VI)-based coatings. The electroactivity and the electronic conductivity (or semiconductivity) of ECPs set them apart from traditional organic coatings. As with chromate, interesting and potentially beneficial interactions of ECPs with active metal alloys such as steel and aluminum are anticipated, with concomitant alteration of their corrosion behavior. A review of this active research area will be presented in two parts. Here in Part 1, a general introduction to the topic of corrosion control by ECPs will be presented, including an overview of corrosion and its control by traditional methods, an introduction to ECPs and their properties, and a discussion of the processing issues surrounding the use of ECPs as coatings. Part 1 also includes a review of the literature on the use of ECPs as coatings (or components of coatings) on non-ferrous active metals, principally aluminum and aluminum alloys, although some work on zinc, copper, silver, titanium and silicon will also be described. In Part 2 of this review (to be published in the next issue of this journal), the rather extensive literature on the use of ECPs for the corrosion control of ferrous alloys (steels) will be reviewed. Electronic Publication     

Effects of retrograde-zoning of garnet on Sm-Nd isotopic dating of eclogite and oxygen isotopic disequilibrium between eclogitic minerals

The compositional zoning of the garnet in a strongly deformed eclogite from Raobazhai foliated peridotite has been recognized. The CaO concentrations of the garnet are decreased from the core to the rim, while its MnO concentrations are increased, suggesting the retrograde origin of such CaO—MnO zoning. The tie line of garnet + omphacite from this eclogite gives a Sm-Nd age of (187 ± 5) Ma, which is less significant than the Sm-Nd ages of (221±5)—(228 ± 3) Ma and (210 ± 6)—(214 ± 6) Ma for ultrahigh-pressure eclogites in the southern Dabie zone and in the northern Dabie zone, respectively. This younger Sm-Nd age could result from the¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd ratio decrease of the retrograde zone in the garnet. The δ¹⁸O values of the garnet and omphacite show that their fractionation values are less than the equilibrium fractionation value between the garnet and omphacite at 500—900°C, which suggests an oxygen isotopic disequilibrium between them.     

A Conjugated Copolymer Bearing Imidazolium-based Ionic Liquid:Electrochemical Synthesis and Electrochromic Properties

An imidazolium-based ionic liquid(IL) modified triphenylamine derivative,namely 1-(4-((4-(diphenylamino)benzoyl) oxy)butyl)-3-methyl imidazole tetrafluoroborate(TPAC_6 IL-BF_4),was designed and synthesized,and further applied with 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene(EDOT)to prepare conjugated copolymer P(EDOT:TPAC_6 IL-BF_4) via electrochemical polymerization.The cyclic voltammetry curves show that the copolymer P(EDOT:TPAC_6 IL-BF_4) possesses two pairs of redox peaks,which should be ascribed to the redox behaviors of EDOT and triphenylamine.The ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis) absorption spectrum of P(EDOT:TPAC_6 IL-BF_4) exhibits one maximum absorption peak at 580 nm and a small shoulder characteristic peak at 385 nm under neutral state which are assigned to π-π~* conjugated structure of EDOT and triphenylamine.After being applied at the positive voltage,the copolymer color changes from dark blue to light blue,which is close to the color of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT).Surprisingly,the copolymer P(EDOT:TPAC_6 IL-BF_4) shows shorter switching time of 0.37 s,0.30 s at 580 nm and 0.38 s,0.45 s at 1100 nm compared with PEDOT.It is more intriguing that the copolymer P(EDOT:TPAC_6 IL-BF_4) exhibits electrochromism even in free supporting electrolyte.The results confirm that the existence of imidazolium-based ionic liquid has an improvement on the ion diffusion properties and the switching time of conjugated polymer,which may provide a potential direction for the preparation of high-performance electrochromic materials.     

Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Molecular Clusters with Cu2I2 Rhomboid Dimer Core as Light-Emitting Coating Materials

Journal of Cluster Science - In this paper, a series of light-emitting copper(I) iodide inorganic–organic hybrid clusters has been synthesized, and they are 0D-Cu2I2(fmp)4 (1,...     

Synthesis and Infrared Multi‐band Absorption Properties of Core‐shell NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+@SiO2 Nanoparticles

Due to the unique size effects, nanomaterials in infrared absorption have attracted much attention for their strong absorption in the infrared region. To achieve the infrared multi‐band absorption, we propose to synthesize a core‐shell structure nanomaterial consisting of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺ core and a layer of SiO₂ as shell. A series of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺ nanocrystals were synthesized through hydrothermal method by adjusting the ratio of citric acid(CA)‐to‐NaOH, and the effects of CA concentration, and NaOH concentration were studied in detail. NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺@SiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by sol‐gel method using TEOS as silica source. The results show that the core‐shell NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺@SiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. Up‐conversion spectra of these nanoparticles were recorded with 980 nm laser excitation under room temperature. There are no changes of the emission centers of nanoparticles before or after silica coating, but the emission intensities of nanoparticles after silica coating are weakened. Furthermore, the property of infrared multi‐band absorption was tested through ultraviolet‐visible‐near infrared spectrophotometer and infrared absorption spectra. The results illustrate that the multi‐band infrared absorption nanomaterial was successfully synthesized.     

Direct Dynamic Evidence of Charge Separation in a Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Obtained under Operando Conditions by Raman Spectroscopy

Interfaces play an important role in enhancing the energy conversion performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The interface effects have been studied by many techniques, but most of the studies only focused on one part of a DSC, rather than on a complete solar cell. Hence, monitoring the interface evolution of a DSC is still very challenging. Here, in situ/operando resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopic analyses were carried out to monitor the dynamics of the photovoltaic conversion processes in a DSC. We observed the creation of new species (i.e., polyiodide and iodine aggregates) in the photosensitization process. We also obtained molecular‐scale dynamic evidence that the bands from the C=C and C=N bonds of 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy), the S=C=N bonds of the NCS ligand, and photochemical products undergo reasonably strong intensity and frequency changes, which clearly demonstrates that they are involved in charge separation. Furthermore, RR spectroscopy can also be used to quickly evaluate the performance of DSCs.