Enhanced diamagnetism in YBa2Cu3O7−δ by hydorgen-plasma treatment

We report that the diamagnetism of as-grown YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ powders can be enhanced by treatment with RF-generated hydrogen plasma. The field-cooling susceptibility at 5 K is found to increase by up to 24%. The enhancement is reproducible for all five samples studied. The lattice parameter c decreases after hydrogenation. For a sample treated for the shortest period, its pinning potential,obtained from magnetic relaxation measurements, is reduced following H-treatment.     

Synthesis and characterization of new ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a (2S)-2-[6-(4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)-2'- naphthyl] propionate mesogenic group and oligo(oxyethylene) spacers

Three series of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a (2S)-2-(6-(4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)-2'-naphthyl)propionate mesogenic group and oligo(oxyethylene) spacers were synthesized. These obtained liquid crystal compounds were characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarized microscopy (POM), and X-ray powder diffraction measurements. Some of these materials containing four phenyl rings of ester cores (i.e. -Ph-Ph-COO-naph-) and chiral heptyl tail exhibited a rich mesomorphic behaviour, a blue phase (BP), a cholesteric phase (Ch), a smectic A (S_A), a twist grain boundary A (TGB_A), and a chiral smectic C (S_C*) phase. Another series containing four phenyl rings of ester cores and chiral butyl and pentyl chain tails revealed only a S_A phase and a S_C* phase. Moreover, a crystal E phase was observed in the short spacer chain (n = 0 or 1) homologues of three series of compounds. Also, the mesomorphism properties were discussed as a function of spacer units, numbers of aromatic rings of core, and different terminal asymmetric moieties.     

A primer of the Euclidean Steiner problem

We give an up-to-date survey on the Euclidean Steiner problem which deals with the construction of a shortest network interconnecting a given set of points in the Euclidean plane.     

Transformation toughening of a ceramic in stable crack growth under plane stress conditions

A finite element study of stable crack growth in ceramics that can undergo a stress-induced martensitic phase transformation is performed under plane stress and small scale transforming conditions. The finite element method is based on the continuum model developed by Budiansky et al. (Int. J. Solids Structures 19, 1983). To guarantee the subcritical transformation behavior without loss of ellipticity of the governing equations, the possibility of strain localization is first re-examined. It is found that the plane stress conditions greatly favor transformation instability in that supercritical transformation occurs when the bulk modulus ¯B during transformation is below –G/3, instead of –4G/3 for three-dimensional or plane strain cases, whereG is the shear modulus. Next, transient crack extension under continuously increasing tensile load is simulated by a node release technique. Transformation zones and crack growth resistance curves are obtained.     

First-principles study of electronic structure and optical properties of barium strontium titanates (BaxSr1−xTiO3)

Using first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory in its local-density approximation, we investigate the energy band structures and total density of states (TDOS) of barium strontium titanates (BSTs). Direct band gaps of 1.89 and 1.87 eV at the Γ point in the Brillouin zone are calculated for Ba_xSr_1−xTiO₃ (x = 2/3 and 1/3), respectively. The optical properties of the above perovskites in the core-level spectra are investigated by the first-principles under scissor approximation. The real and imaginary parts of the complex dielectric function and derive optical constants, viz., the refractive index, extinction coefficient, reflectivity, and the electron energy-loss spectrum are calculated.     

Combinatorial synthesis of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s

The combinatorial synthesis of oligo(phenylene ethynylene) tetramers, both in solution and on solid support, is described. These products are of interest for molecular electronics applications. An iterative sequence, coupling of aryl halides to alkynes under Sonogashira conditions, was used. Five monomers functionalized with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups were synthesized, and used to generate a library of 25 trimers in a solution-phase based process. A library of 24 tetramers was prepared by subsequent protodesilylation and coupling with the alligator clip 4-iodo-1-thioacetylbenzene. The solution-phase based sequence was successfully adapted to a higher yielding directed split-and-pool solid-phase process, with average yields of 78–86% for each step over seven steps. A triazene linker group was used to attach the starting monomer to the polymer beads. At the completion of the solid-phase-based process, traceless cleavage of trimers from the resin was achieved by sonication of the resin in 10% HCl/THF solution. The released products were then poised for the final step in the sequence, attachment of the alligator clip.     

High electroluminescent properties of conjugated copolymers from poly[9,9‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐vinylene]‐co‐(2‐(3‐dimethyldodecylsilylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene)] for light‐emitting diode applications

A new series of copolymers with high brightness and luminance efficiency were synthesized using the Gilch polymerization method, and their electro‐optical properties were investigated. The weight‐average molecular weights (M_w) and polydispersities of the synthesized poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐vinylene) [poly(FV)], poly[2‐(3‐dimethyldodecylsilylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] [poly(m‐SiPhPV)], and poly[9,9‐di‐n‐octylfluorenyl‐2,7‐vinylene]‐co‐(2‐(3‐dimethyldodecylsilylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene)] [poly(FV‐co‐m‐SiPhPV)] were found to be in the ranges of (8.7–32.6) × 10⁴ and 2.3–5.4, respectively. It was found that the electro‐optical properties of the copolymers could be adjusted by controlling the feed ratios of the comonomers. Thin films of poly(FV), poly(m‐SiPhPV), and poly(FV‐co‐m‐SiPhPV) were found to exhibit photoluminescence quantum yields between 21% and 42%, which are higher than those of MEH‐PPV. Light‐emitting diodes were fabricated in ITO/PEDOT/light‐emitting polymer/cathode configurations using either double layer (LiF/Al) or triple layer (Alq₃/LiF/Al) cathode structures. The performance of the polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) with triple layer cathodes was found to be better than that of the PLEDs with double layer cathodes in poly(FV) and poly(FV‐co‐m‐SiPhPV). The turn‐on voltages of the PLEDs were in the range of 4.5–6.0 V, with maximum brightness and luminance efficiency up to 9691 cd/m² at 16 V and 3.27 cd/A at 13 V, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5062–5071, 2005     

具有体膨胀和剪切效应的结构陶瓷相变塑性细观本构模型:Ⅰ.非比例加载历史

本文在对结构陶瓷的四方至单斜(t→m)马氏体相变进行细观力学、热力学和微观机制分析的基础上,导出了在非比例加载条件下考虑材料的体膨胀和剪切效应的相变塑性细观本构模型。作者首次采用 Mori-Tanaka 方法以自洽的方式导出了材料构元的 Helmho-ltz 自由能及余能函数的解析表达式,它是外加宏观应力(或应变)、温度、相变夹杂体积分数以及夹杂内平均相变应变的函数,其中夹杂体积分数和平均相变应变为描述材料构元微结构变化的内变量。最后按 Hill-Rice 本构理论框架导出相变塑性屈服面方程及增量本构关系。     

Catalytic formation of hydrogen peroxide from H2 and O2 over hydrogen transfer agent-anchored Pd°/beta zeolites

Hydrogen transfer agents (HTAs) have been successfully anchored on Pd°/H-beta zeolite and exhibit enhanced catalytic activity in the formation of H₂O₂ from H₂ and O₂ at atmospheric pressure compared with that of the Pd°/H-beta and the HTA included catalysts.