Mechanochemical synthesis of poly(2,5-dimethoxy aniline) nanobelts and its electrochemical performance in hybrid supercapacitors

A solvent-free mechanochemical route for the preparation of poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) hydrochloride nanostructures is developed and reported in the article. High conductivity, good crystallinity, and nanostructured morphology are observed for the prepared polymer. This polymeric powder is utilized as a cathode material in hybrid supercapacitor and its electrochemical performance is evaluated and discussed in this short report. The maximum specific capacitance of the poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) hydrochloride/activated carbon hybrid supercapacitor is found to be 125 F g⁻¹ at 1 mA cm⁻² current density. The cell delivers a specific energy as high as 50 Wh kg⁻¹ at a specific power of 97 W kg⁻¹ and also exhibits an excellent cycle performance with more than 99% coulombic efficiency and the maintenance of 85% of its initial capacitance after 1,000 cycles.     

Zeros of polynomials embedded in an orthogonal sequence

Let $\{x_{k,n}\}_{k=1}^n$ and $\{x_{k,n+1}\}_{k=1}^{n+1}$ , n?????, be two given sets of real distinct points with x _1,n?+?1?<?x _1,n ?<?x _2,n?+?1?<?...?<?x _n,n ?<?x _n?+?1,n?+?1. Wendroff (cf. Proc Am Math Soc 12:554?C555, 1961) proved that if $p_n(x)=\displaystyle{\prod\limits_{k=1}^n(x-x_{k,n})}$ and $p_{n+1}(x)=\displaystyle \prod\limits_{k=1}^{n+1}(x-x_{k,n+1})$ then p _n and p _n?+?1 can be embedded in a non-unique infinite monic orthogonal sequence $\{p_n\}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ . We investigate the connection between the zeros of p _n?+?2 and the two coefficients b _n?+?1????? and ?? _n?+?1?>?0, which are chosen arbitrarily, that define p _n?+?2 via the three term recurrence relation $$ p_{n+2}(x)=(x-b_{n+1})p_{n+1}(x)-\lambda_{n+1}p_n(x). $$      

Brønsted Acidity and the Medium: Fundamentals with a Focus on Ionic Liquids

Fundamental aspects of Brønsted acidity in ionic liquid systems, in relation to those of simple protic molecules in the gas phase, pure protic molecules in the condensed phase and solutions of protic molecules in molecular systems, are presented. The variety of acidities possible, beyond those observed in aqueous systems, is emphasised and discussed in terms of differences of solvent levelling, ionisation, dissociation, homo‐/hetero‐conjugate ion speciation and the stabilisation of proton‐transfer products from solvent to solvent. It is argued that data regarding aqueous systems do not necessarily explain acid/base behaviour in other liquids satisfactorily. Methods of measuring acidity are reviewed, particularly by spectrophotometry and electrochemistry and recommendations proffered for estimating speciation and acidity of ionic liquids of various complexities.     

The local physical structure of amorphous hydrogenated boron carbide: insights from magic angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques are applied to the elucidation of the local physical structure of an intermediate product in the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition of thin-film amorphous hydrogenated boron carbide (B(x)C:H(y)) from an orthocarborane precursor. Experimental chemical shifts are compared with theoretical shift predictions from ab initio calculations of model molecular compounds to assign atomic chemical environments, while Lee-Goldburg cross-polarization and heteronuclear recoupling experiments are used to confirm atomic connectivities. A model for the B(x)C:H(y) intermediate is proposed wherein the solid is dominated by predominantly hydrogenated carborane icosahedra that are lightly cross-linked via nonhydrogenated intraicosahedral B atoms, either directly through B-B bonds or through extraicosahedral hydrocarbon chains. While there is no clear evidence for extraicosahedral B aside from boron oxides, ～40% of the C is found to exist as extraicosahedral hydrocarbon species that are intimately bound within the icosahedral network rather than in segregated phases.     

The effect of branching on chain diffusion in ultralong N-alkane crystals observed by 13C NMR

¹³C NMR progressive saturation measurements are used to investigate solid state chain diffusion in semicrystalline alkanes. Monodisperse, ultralong n-alkanes, of 198 and 191 carbon atoms in length, are characterized and prepared in such a way that they comprise crystals containing chains which are exclusively of once-folded conformation. This preparation is confirmed with DSC and SAXS. The progressive saturation experiments show that the longitudinal relaxation of magnetisation is consistent with a solid state chain diffusion process. Reptation and one-dimensional diffusion models are demonstrated to satisfactorily represent the data. The addition of branches to the alkane chains is shown to result in a decrease in the diffusion coefficient. The obtained diffusion coefficients range from 0.0918 nm²s⁻¹ for the linear chain to 0.016 nm²_s⁻¹ for a chain with a branch 4 carbons in length. These diffusion coefficients are consistent with those previously obtained for polyethylenes.