Cholesterol-based hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals

Hydrogen bonding is a powerful tool for assembling molecules and building new liquid crystalline structures. In this study, non-symmetric dimesogens were prepared by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between rationally designed H-bond donor (3-cholesteryloxycarbonylpentanoic acid) and acceptor (4-(pyridine-4-ylmethyleneimino)phenyl 4-alkoxybenzoate) moieties. Their liquid crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Cholesteric and smectic phases were observed. As for the covalently linked dimesogens, several types of smectic periodicities occur for these H-bonded cholesteryl compounds depending on the molecular parameters.     

Enzymatic polymerizations using surfactant microstructures and the preparation of polymer-ferrite composites

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Horseradish peroxidase has been used as a biocatalyst to synthesize a polymeric material from alkyl-substituted phenols. The synthesis is carried out in a...     

Properties and Photoelectrocatalytic Behaviour of Sol-Gel Derived TiO2 Thin Films

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films have been prepared on indium doped tin oxide (ITO) glass by sol-gel dip-coating method. Properties of the films were determined as a function of heat-treatment by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoelectrochemical tests. The films heat-treated at higher temperatures show better crystallinity and photoresponse. The microscopic structure on the film after heat-treatment is attributed to the incorporation of organic polymer into the precursor solution. The performance of the electrodes treated at different temperature on photoelectrocatalytic degradation of methyl orange was investigated. The effect of applied potential and the ability of the electrode to be repeatedly used in photoelectrocatalytic degradation were also evaluated.     

Effects of polymer architecture and composition on the adhesion of poly(tetrafluoroethylene).

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate), PGMA, chains in linear and arborescent structures were incorporated onto surfaces of poly(tetrafluoroethylene), PTFE, films by hydrogen plasma and ozone treatment and atom transfer radical polymerization. The epoxide groups of the PGMA chains were further reacted with acetic acid (AAc), oxalic acid (XAc), allyl amine (AA), and ethylenediamine (EDN) to introduce hydroxyl and amine groups to the surfaces of the PTFE films. Surface characterizations performed by Fourier Transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the surface modification and the chemical structure. The PGMA chains in arborescent structures show a high effectiveness for the enhancement of the adhesion of PTFE films. The adhesion of PTFE films was also significantly enhanced by ring-opening reactions of the PGMA epoxide groups with acetic acid and amine compounds. A high value of 9.5 N cm(-1) in the optimum 180 degrees peel strength test was observed with PTFE/copper assemblies.     

Depolymerization and chemical modification of lignite coal byPseudomonas cepacia strain DLC-07

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Coal metabolizingPseudomonas cepacia DLC-07 was isolated from soil and shown to use soluble lignite coal as a carbon/energy source.Pseudomonas modified coal...     

Synthesis of bridged heteroaromatic compounds as reference standards for coal degradation products

The synthesis of 2-naphthyl 2′-dibenzothienyl ether, 1-(1′-naphthyl)-2-(4″-acridinyl)ethane and a series of naphthylethyldibenzothiophenes is reported.