Unveiling the correlation between non‐diffracting tractor beam and its singularity in Poynting vector

This paper investigates the singular optics of nonparaxial light beams in the near field when the light behaves as a tractor beam. New insights into the optical pulling force, which is usually represented by integrating the stress tensor at a black box enclosing the object, are interpreted by the optical singularity of the Poynting vector. The negative nonconservative pulling force originates from the transfer of the azimuthal Poynting vector to the longitudinal component partly owing to the presence of a scatterer. The separatrice pattern and singularity shifts of the Poynting vector unanimously exhibit a differentiable near‐field distribution in the presence of optical pulling force. A new method is established to calculate the near‐field optical force using the differential Poynting vector in the far field. The results obtained provide a clear physical interpretation of the light–matter interaction and manifest the significance of singular optics in manipulating objects.

     

Adsorption-Inhibition of Clathrate Hydrates by Self-Assembled Nanostructures

The mechanism by which safranine O (SFO), an ice growth inhibitor, halts the growth of single crystal tetrahydrofuran (THF) clathrate hydrates was explored using microfluidics coupled with cold stages and fluorescence microscopy. THF hydrates grown in SFO solutions exhibited morphology changes and were shaped as truncated octahedrons or hexagons. Fluorescence microscopy and microfluidics demonstrated that SFO binds to the surface of THF hydrates on specific crystal planes. Cryo-TEM experiments of aqueous solutions containing millimolar concentrations of SFO exhibited the formation of bilayered lamellae with an average thickness of 4.2±0.2 nm covering several μm². Altogether, these results indicate that SFO forms supramolecular lamellae in solution, which might bind to the surface of the hydrate and inhibit further growth. As an ice and hydrate inhibitor, SFO may bind to the surface of these crystals via ordered water molecules near its amine and methyl groups, similar to some antifreeze proteins.     

Mono- and Diamination of 4,6-Dichloropyrimidine, 2,6-Dichloropyrazine and 1,3-Dichloroisoquinoline with Adamantane-Containing Amines

N-heteroaryl substituted adamantane-containing amines are of substantial interest for their perspective antiviral and psychotherapeutic activities. Chlorine atom at alpha-position of N-heterocycles has been substituted by the amino group using convenient nucleophilic substitution reactions with a series of adamantylalkylamines. The prototropic equilibrium in these compounds was studied using NMR spectroscopy. The introduction of the second amino substituent in 4-amino-6-chloropyrimidine, 2-amino-chloropyrazine, and 1-amino-3-chloroisoquinoline was achieved using Pd(0) catalysis.     

Statistics of the Popularity of Chemical Compounds in Relation to the Non-Target Analysis

The idea of popularity/abundance of chemical compounds is widely used in non-target chemical analysis involving environmental studies. To have a clear quantitative basis for this idea, frequency distributions of chemical compounds over indicators of their popularity/abundance are obtained and discussed. Popularity indicators are the number of information sources, the number of chemical vendors, counts of data records, and other variables assessed from two large databases, namely ChemSpider and PubChem. Distributions are approximated by power functions, special cases of Zipf distributions, which are characteristic of the results of human/social activity. Relatively small group of the most popular compounds has been denoted, conventionally accounting for a few percent (several million) of compounds. These compounds are most often explored in scientific research and are practically used. Accordingly, popular compounds have been taken into account as first analyte candidates for identification in non-target analysis.     

Real time microscopy, kinetics, and mechanism of giant fullerene evaporation

We report in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observing the shrinkage of single-layer giant fullerenes (GF). At temperatures approximately 2000 degrees C, the GF volume reduces by greater than one 100-fold while the fullerene shell remains intact, evolving from a slightly polygonized to a nearly spherical shape with a smaller diameter. The number of carbon atoms in the GF decreases linearly with time until the small subbuckyball cage opens and rapidly disappears. Theoretical modeling indicates that carbon atoms are removed predominantly from the weakest binding energy sites, i.e., the pentagons, leading to the constant evaporation rate. The fullerene cage integrity is attributed to the collective behavior of interacting defects. These results constitute the first experimental evidence for the "shrink-wrapping" and "hot-giant" fullerene formation mechanisms.     

A Close-to-Aromatize Approach for the Late-Stage Functionalization through Ring Closing Metathesis

An efficient approach for the synthesis of monosubstituted aromatic compounds relying on a ring-closing metathesis followed by spontaneous 1,2-elimination is presented. The efficiency for late-stage functionalization is highlighted in various solvents (up to 920 TON). This approach is compatible with strained cycles and other multiple bonds in the substrate.     

Uncertainty budget for high temperature heat flux DSCs

This study addresses the lack of published information regarding uncertainty for high temperature heat flux differential scanning calorimeters. No data were found in the existing literature stating an uncertainty budget for temperatures above 1,000 °C. The presented results identify the main influencing factor for uncertainty with the instruments used—measurement repeatability—up to a temperature of 1,400 °C. Results show findings from analyzing a series of repeated baseline and sapphire measurements and the influence from different working equations. The uncertainty budget for temperature calibration of DSCs is crucial in cases where accuracy in temperature is significant. Data are also provided from repeated temperature calibrations on the melting point of pure metals from a supplied standard set that comes with the instrument. In addition, carbon eutectics have been used to address an issue resulting from the lack of available calibration materials for high temperatures up to 1,500 °C (above the melting point of gold).