Self-organization of polybases neutralized with mesogenic wedge-shaped sulfonic acid molecules: an approach toward supramolecular cylinders

Complexes consisting of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and mesogenic wedge-shaped ligands 4'-[3",4",5"-tris(dodecyloxy)benzoyloxy]azobenzene-4-sulfonic acid and 4'-[3",4",5"-tris(octyloxy)benzoyloxy]azobenzene-4-sulfonic acid have been prepared with different monomer/ligand ratios. Upon protonation of the poly(4-vinylpyridine) chains by the wedge-shaped sulfonic acid molecules a hypsochromic and hyperchromic effect was observed with the pi-pi* transition of the azo-chromophor, allowing us to monitor the neutralization process by means of UV-vis spectroscopy in solution. The changes of the absorption characteristics implied a conformational change of the polymer backbone. In the bulk the interaction between pyridine and sulfonic acid moieties was proved by FT-IR spectroscopy. Polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction measurements were used to study the bulk structure of the complexes. The complexes formed a liquid crystalline lamellar phase at low degrees of substitution, while a hexagonal columnar mesophase was observed at degrees of neutralization of 80% and higher.     

Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of mixed-ligand cycloplatinated complexes based on 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine and 2-phenylpyridine with 1,10-phenantroline and its 1,4-diazine derivatives

A comparative study of dipyrido-and dibenzo-substituted 1,4-diazines {dipyrido[f,h]quinoxaline (dpq), dipyrido[a,c]phenazine (dppz), 6,7-dicyanodipyrido[f,h]quinoxaline (dicnq), dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline, dibenzo[a,c]phenazine, 6,7-dicyanodibenzo[f,h]-quinoxaline}, o-phenantroline (phen), and also of the complexes [Pt(N∧C)(N∧N)]⁺[(N∧C)^? are deproronated forms of 2-phenylpyridine and 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine; (N∧N) is ethylenediamine, phen, dpq, dppz, dicnq] was carried out by the methods of ¹H NMR, electronic absorption, and emission spectroscopy and by cyclic voltammetry. It was found that in frozen solutions of [Pt(N∧C)·(N∧N)]⁺ complexes the photoexcitation energy decay from two lowest in energy electronic excited states has isolated character and is localized on {Pt(N∧C)} and {Pt(N∧N)} metal-complex fragments: (d-π _N∧C ^* ) and (d-π _phen ^* ) [(N∧N) = phen, dpq, dicnq)] or (d-π _N∧C ^* ) and (π-π _diaz ^* ) [(N∧N) = dppz]. Thermal quenching of the luminescence from the (d-π _phen ^* ) and (π-π _diaz ^* ) states gives rise to luminescence of the complexes in liquid solutions at 293 K only from the (d-π _N∧C ^* ) state.     

Magnetic,dielectric and magnetoelectric properties of new family of orthorhombic multiferroic Eu1−xYxMNO3 manganites

Multiferroic ground states with a spatially modulated antiferromagnetic structure and electric polarization have been revealed in Eu_1−xY_xMnO₃ (0.2?x?0.5$0.2?x?0.5$) single crystals. While the slightly substituted (x?0.1$x?0.1$) compounds exhibited a transition from the incommensurate (IC) to the canted antiferromagnetic (CAF) state at _TCA<_TN$T_{\mathrm{CA}}<T_{\mathrm{N}}$, the transitions from IC to commensurate ferroelectric (C/FE) phase were observed at _Tlock<_TN$T_{\mathrm{lock}}<T_{\mathrm{N}}$ for x>0.2$x>0.2$. Various phase transitions were observed in the magnetic fields up to 250 kOe along a, b, c axes by magnetization, magnetostriction and electric polarization measurements which show an existence of a spontaneous electric polarization below T_lock.     

Basic properties of natural vibrations of an extended segment of a pipeline

Natural transverse vibrations of an extended segment of a pipeline containing a uniformly moving fluid are considered. The mechanical model under study takes into account the inertial forces of the pipe and environment and the moment of Coriolis and centrifugal forces arising because of the medium motion. It is proved that all natural frequencies of the pipeline rigidly clamped at both ends are real (and hence no flutter can arise in this model). For the first three modes, the dependence of the eigenvalues on the fluid flow velocity (varying from zero to the buckling velocity) are constructed, and their properties depending on the inertia parameter are studied. Families of vibration mode shapes of the pipeline are constructed and investigated.     

Structural Analysis of Aluminum Oxyhydroxide Aerogel by Small Angle X-Ray Scattering

The work presents studies on the microstructure and mesostructure of nanostructured aluminum oxyhydroxide formed as a high porous monolithic material through the surface oxidation of aluminum liquidmetal solution in mercury in a temperature- and humidity-controlled air atmosphere. The methods of X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal analysis, the low temperature adsorption of nitrogen vapors, transmission electron microscopy, small-angle and very small-angle neutron scattering, and small-angle X-ray scattering are used for comprehensive investigation of the samples synthesized at 25°С as well as that annealed at temperatures up to 1150°C. It is found that the structure of the monolithic samples can be described within the framework of a three-level model involving primary heterogeneities (typical length scale of rc ≈ 9–19 Å), forming fibrils (cross-sectional radius R ≈ 36–43 Å and length L ≈ 3200–3300 Å) or lamellae (thickness T ≈ 110 Å and width W ≈ 3050 Å) which, in turn, are integrated into large-scale aggregates (typical size R _c ≈ 1.25–1.4 μm) with an insignificant surface roughness. It is shown that a high specific surface (~200 m²/g) typical for the initial sample is maintained upon its thermal annealing up to 900°С, and it decreases to 100 m²/g after heat treatment at 1150°С due to fibrillary agglomeration.     

Generation of High-Voltage Pulses by Sharp-Recovery SiC Drift Diodes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Base versus <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Base Diodes)

The time characteristics of pulse generators based on sharp-recovery 4H : SiC drift diodes have been calculated. It has been found that the speed of n-base 4H-SiC diodes is superior to that of p-base diodes with the amplitude and initial pedestal in the output voltage (<5% of the amplitude) versus the time curve being the same.     

Choice of Efficient Linear Scale and Generalized Description of Internal Heat Transfer Coefficient in Porous Structures

The expedience of using the ratio of inertial β and viscous α hydraulic coefficients of a fluid flow in porous structures as the characteristic linear scale, when generalizing the experimental data on internal heat transfer in porous media, is shown. It is demonstrated that the correlation Nu = A · Pe, with both criteria based on β/α ratio, most efficiently describes the experimental data for a wide set of ordered and disordered porous structures, including sintered spheres, network materials, sintered felt and cellular foams of high porosity. The coefficient A depends on porosity and is equal to 0.004 for spheres, networks and felts, and 0.0004 for foams. For any specific case the values of α and β coefficients can be readily obtained from testing materials under consideration, control samples, or full-scale articles.     

New measurement of the neutron lifetime with a large gravitational trap

The lifetime of the neutron is one of the key physical quantities used to determine the weak interaction parameters and to test predictions of the theory of primary nucleosynthesis. The lifetime of the neutron has been measured in the reported experiment by the method of storing neutrons in a material trap with a gravitational valve. Fomblin grease UT-18 hydrogen-free fluorine polymer has been used as coating. The resistance of the coating to repeated cooling down to 80 K combined with heating up to 300 K has been studied. The probability of losses in the trap is as small as 1.5% of the neutron decay probability. The lifetime of the neutron τ_n = (881.5 ± 0.7_stat ± 0.6_syst)s obtained at the new step is in good agreement with a commonly accepted value of (880.2 ± 1.0) s presented by the Particle Data Group.     

Purcell effect in one-dimensional photonic quasicrystals

The change in probability of spontaneous emission for emitter placed in one-dimensional photonic quasicrystal (optical Fibonacci lattice) was examined. When the dipole is placed in Fibonacci lattice two different scenarios can be expected: enhancing (if frequency and direction of the dipole emission correspond to optical eigenmode of structure, and position corresponds to maximum value of modes electric field profile) or suppression (in case of photonic band gap) of spontaneous emission rate. Fact that both effects are expressed in quasicrystals less than in the Bragg reflectors and in the microcavities was demonstrated.     

Justification of equivalent substitution circuits used to optimize the dissipative properties of electroelastic bodies with external electric circuits

We consider elastoplastic systems which are piecewise homogeneous bodies composed of piezoelectric elements some of which have piezoelectrical properties. Electric series circuits consisting of resistors, capacitors, and inductance coils are applied to piezoelectric elements through the electrode coating on the body surface. The goal of the study is to develop efficient methods of mathematical modelling for determining the parameters of elements of the external electric circuit, which ensure, at prescribed resonance frequencies, the maximum damping properties of electroelastic bodies with external electric circuits. To choose effective circuits for solving the problem posed above, we suggest to pose the problem of natural vibrations of elastic bodies whose elements exhibit piezoeffect and have external electric circuits.As the most efficient approaches for calculating the electric circuit parameters necessary for the maximal damping, we propose some versions of equivalent circuits, which can be used to substitute elastic systems with piezoelectric elements. The most reliable equivalent substitution circuits are justified on the basis of the proposed problem of natural vibrations. Numerical results are obtained for a cantilever plate with a piezoelement connected through the electrode coated surface with a series electric circuit consisting of resistors, capacitors and inductance coils.