Effect of Atomic‐Scale Differences on the Self‐Assembly of Thiophene‐based Polycatenars in Liquid Crystalline and Organogel States

Two series of polycatenars are reported that contain a central thiophene moiety connected to two substituted oxadiazole or thiadiazole units. The number, position, and length of the peripheral chains connected to these molecules were varied. The oxadiazole‐based polycatenars exhibited columnar phases with rectangular and hexagonal or oblique symmetry, whereas the thiadiazole‐based polycatenars exhibited columnar phases with rectangular and/or hexagonal symmetry. All of the compounds exhibited bright emission in the solution and thin‐film states. Two oxadiazole‐based molecules and one thiadiazole‐based molecule exhibited supergelation ability in hydrocarbon solvents, which is mainly supported by attractive π–π interactions. These gels showed aggregation‐induced enhanced emission, which is of high technological importance for applications in solid‐state emissive displays. X‐ray diffraction studies of the xerogel fibers of oxadiazole‐based polycatenars revealed a columnar rectangular organization, whereas a hexagonal columnar arrangement was observed for thiadiazole‐based polycatenars. Rheological measurements carried out on the samples quantitatively confirmed the formation of gels and showed that these gels are mechanically robust. The impact of an atomic‐scale difference (oxygen to sulfur, <2 % of the molecular weight) on the self‐assembly and the macroscopic properties of those self‐assembled structures are clearly visualized.     

Coexistence of Jahn-Teller effect and superconductivity in high-Tc superconductors

Using a simple model, the coexistence of superconductivity (SC) and the Jahn-Teller (JT) effect are studied for high-T _c cuprate systems. The interplay of SC and JT gaps is studied and found that in the coexistence phase the SC gap as well as the JT gap are suppressed. For calculations, the single particle Green’s function technique of Zubarev is used. The density of states (DOS) and dispersion curves are also studied in the coexistence phase.     

Determination of chromium in steel by atomic-absorption spectrometry with an air-acetylene flame

A new atomic-absorption procedure is described for the determination of chromium, at levels up to 1%, in steel. The method involves the use of the air-acetylene flame and incorporates 8-hydroxyquinoline as a releasing agent to suppress metallic interferences. Chemical operations have been reduced to a minimum in order to provide a simple, rapid and accurate procedure.     

Vinyl polymerization of acrylonitrile by the cerium(IV)-propane-1,2-diol system

The polymerization of acrylonitrile (M) initiated by the Ce(IV)-propane-1,2-diol (R) redox system has been studied in aqueous sulphuric acid under nitrogen in the temperature range 30 to 40°. The rate of polymerization is proportional to [M]², [R] and [Ce(IV)]^?1 and the rate of ceric ion disappearance is proportional to [R], [Ce(IV)]. The effects of certain salts, acid, solvent and temperature on both rates have been investigated. A kinetic scheme has been proposed, and various rate and energy parameters evaluated.     

Selective determination of airborne hexavalent chromium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A new method for determining ultra-trace levels of hexavalent chromium in ambient air has been developed. The method involves a 24-h sampling of air into potassium hydroxide solution, followed by silica gel column separation of chromium (VI), then preconcentration by complexation and solvent extraction. The chromium (VI) complex was dissolved in nitric acid. The resultant chromium ions were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) using a dynamic reaction cell (DRC) with ammonia as the reactive gas to reduce polyatomic interferences. The interconversion of chromium in potassium hydroxide solution and air sample matrix were investigated under ambient conditions. It was found that there was no conversion of chromium (VI) into chromium (III) species. However, it was observed that some chromium (III) species were converted into chromium (VI) species. For a KOH solution containing 100 μg l⁻¹ of chromium (III) species, the rate of conversion was found to be 3% after 24 h exposure, 8% after 48 h, 10% after 72 h and no further conversion was observed thereafter. However, in a solution containing air sample matrix, 9.3% of chromium (III) converted to chromium (VI) within 6 h, and during the course of a 11-day exposure period, 13% (range 8–17%) of chromium (III) converted to chromium (VI). The method detection limit (MDL) for chromium (VI) in potassium hydroxide solution (0.025 M) was found to be 2×10⁻² μg l⁻¹. This is equivalent to 0.2 ng m⁻³ (for 23 m³ air sampled into 200 ml of KOH solution over a 24-h period). The recovery of spiked chromium (VI) from solutions containing air sample matrix was 95±9% (n=8). Matrix related interferences were estimated to be less than 10% based on recovery studies. The concentration of airborne chromium (VI) in Sydney residential areas was found to be less than 0.2 ng m⁻³, however, in industrial areas the concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 1.3 ng m⁻³ using this analytical procedure.     

Medium effects on the reactions of coordination complexes: Base hydrolysisof(αβS)(p-hydroxybenzoato)(tetraethylenepentamine) cobalt(III) in iso-propanol–water,tert-butanol–water and dimethyl sulfoxide–water media

The base hydrolysis of (S)(p-hydroxybenzoato)-(tetraethylenepentamine)cobalt(III) has been investigated in aqueous–organic solvent media using i-PrOH, t-BuOH and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as cosolvents at 20.0 T (°C) 40.0 (I=0.02 mol dm ^-3) with 80% (v/v) of cosolvents. Only the base-catalysed path (k_obs=k_OH[OH^-]) is observed. The relative second order rate constant k _OH ^os /k _OH ^ow at I=0 increases nonlinearly with increasing mol fraction (x_O.S.) of the cosolvents, the rate acceleration in alcoholic cosolvents being greater than in DMSO. The destabilization of ^-OH in mixed solvent media alone does not explain the observed rate acceleration. The solvent composition dependence, log k _OH ^os = log k _OH ^ow + a_ix _os ⁱ [i=1,2,k _OH ⁰ denotes k_OH at I=0 in mixed solvent(s) and water (w)] indicates specific solute–solvent interactions. The values of the relative transfer free-energy data [_TG(t.s.) - _TG^o (i.s.)](sw)(25 °C)(G), where t.s. and i.s. denote the transition state and initial state of the substrates respectively, are positive for all substrates at all compositions, indicating a greater destabilizing effect of the mixed solvent on the transition state than on the initial state. The G values also correlate with G^E(G = ax_O.S. + cG^E) for all solvents, supporting the fact that solvent structural effects mediate the rates and energetics of the reaction. However, the solvent effects on the solvation components of H and S are mutually compensating, thus indicating that there is no change in the mechanism.     

Effects of solvents on the reactions of coordination complexes: Part 20. Kinetics and mechanism of base hydrolysis of (αβS) (Salicylato) (Tetraethylenepentamine) Cobalt(III) in aquo-organic solvent media

The kinetics of base hydrolysis of (αβS) (salicylato) (tetraethylenepentamine) cobalt(III) have been investigated in aquo-organic solvent media at 15.0 < t, °C < 40.0, and I = 0.10 mol dm (ClO₄^?) using propane-2-ol (?70% v/v), t-butanol (?60% v/v), acetone (?70% v/v), acetonitrile (?50% v/v), and ethylene glycol (?70% v/v) as cosolvents. Both the spontaneous and base-catalyzed hydrolysis of the phenoxide species [(tetren)CoO₂CC₆H₄O]⁺ were appreciably accelerated by the cosolvents PrⁱOH, Bu^tOH, Me₂CO, and MeCN. On the contrary the base hydroylsis (k₂) was retarded while spontaneous aquation (k₁) was accelerated to a small extent with increased EG content. Variation of log k₁ and log k (k = k₂ at I = 0) with mole fraction (_X0.S) or reciprocal of the relative permitivity (D_s^?1) of the media were nonlinear. The transfer free energy of the transition state relative to that of the initial state of the substrate for transfer of species from water to mixed solvents also varied nonlinearly with _X0.S, or D_s^?1 indicating solvent specificity. The activation parameters, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠ varied nonlinearly with solvent composition exhibiting extrema. The preferential solvation and solvent structural effects mediated the kinetics and energetics of the reaction. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A study of growth and morphological features of TiOxNy thin films prepared by MOCVD

The growth and morphological features of MOCVD TiO_xN_y films have been characterized to evaluate the effect of various process parameters on film growth. XRD analysis of the films deposited at 600°C on Si(1 1 1) and mica show a TiN(1 1 1) peak at 2θ=36.6°, but only anatase peaks are detected below 550°C. Above 650°C, both anatase and rutile peaks are detected. The presence of ammonia is not effective below 550°C as the deposited film is mostly TiO₂. Also, ammonia does not play any role in homogeneous nucleation in the gas phase, as evident by the deposition of anatase/rutile particles above 650°C. The following changes in the morphological features are observed by varying process parameters. By increasing the ratio of titanium-isopropoxide to ammonia flow, the cluster shape changes from angular to rounded; dilution of the flow results in larger elongated clusters; increase in flow rate at constant precursor to ammonia ratios, changes the cluster shape from rounded to elongated and the cluster size deceases. Deposition at higher temperatures results in finer clusters with a slower growth rate and eventually results in a very thin film with particle deposition at 650°C and above.