Shear modulus of single wood pulp fibers from torsion tests

Cellulose - The shear modulus of pulp fibers is difficult to measure and only very little literature is available on this topic. In this work we are introducing a method to measure this fiber...     

Magnetic Measurement Techniques for the Large-Scale Production of Undulator Segments for the European XFEL

The European X-ray free electron laser (EXFEL) facility is currently under construction [1 M. Altarelli, The European X-ray Free-electron Laser, Technical Design Report (2006). [Google Scholar]]. Using the principle of self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) [2 A.M. Kondratenko and E.L. Saldin, Part. Accel., 10, 207 (1980). [Google Scholar], 3 R. Bonifacio, C. Pellegrini, and L.M. Narducci, Opt. Commum. 50, 373 (1984).[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]], intense FEL radiation is generated in three gap-tuneable undulator systems called SASE1, SASE2, and SASE3. The electron beam energy of the EXFEL is variable between 8.5 and 17.5 GeV. SASE1 and SASE2 are hard X-ray FELs using planar undulators with a period length of 40 mm, called U40s. By a suitable choice of the beam energy and undulator gap, the wavelength can be tuned from 0.05 to 0.4 nm. SASE3 is a soft X-ray FEL using planar undulators with a period length of 68 mm, called U68s. Under the same conditions, the wavelength can be tuned from 0.4 to 5.2 nm.     

Towards a microchannel‐based X‐ray detector with two‐dimensional spatial and time resolution and high dynamic range

X‐ray detectors that combine two‐dimensional spatial resolution with a high time resolution are needed in numerous applications of synchrotron radiation. Most detectors with this combination of capabilities are based on semiconductor technology and are therefore limited in size. Furthermore, the time resolution is often realised through rapid time‐gating of the acquisition, followed by a slower readout. Here, a detector technology is realised based on relatively inexpensive microchannel plates that uses GHz waveform sampling for a millimeter‐scale spatial resolution and better than 100 ps time resolution. The technology is capable of continuous streaming of time‐ and location‐tagged events at rates greater than 10⁷ events per cm². Time‐gating can be used for improved dynamic range.     

Spin density matrix of the $$\omega $$ in the reaction $${\bar{p}p}\,\rightarrow \,\omega \pi ^0$$p¯p→π0

The spin density matrix of the \(\omega \) has been determined for the reaction \({\bar{p}p}\,\rightarrow \,\omega \pi ^0\) with unpolarized in-flight data measured by the Crystal Barrel LEAR experiment at CERN. The two main decay modes of the \(\omega \) into \(\pi ^0 \gamma \) and \(\pi ^+ \pi ^- \pi ^0\) have been separately analyzed for various \({\bar{p}}\)momenta between 600 and 1940 MeV/c. The results obtained with the usual method by extracting the matrix elements via the \(\omega \) decay angular distributions and with the more sophisticated method via a full partial wave analysis are in good agreement. A strong spin alignment of the \(\omega \) is clearly visible in this energy regime and all individual spin density matrix elements exhibit an oscillatory dependence on the production angle. In addition, the largest contributing orbital angular momentum of the \({\bar{p}p~}\)system has been identified for the different beam momenta. It increases from \(L^{max}_{{\bar{p}p~}}\) \(=\) 2 at 600 MeV/c to \(L^{max}_{{\bar{p}p~}}\) \(=\) 5 at 1940 MeV/c.     

The potential energy surface of singlet cyclobutadiene and substituted analogs: a coupled-cluster study

Coupled-cluster investigations (CCSD/cc-pVDZ and CCSD/cc-pVQZ//CCSD/cc-pVDZ) of singlet cyclobutadiene and fifteen-substituted analogs were conducted. A local minimum with a square frame does not exist on their potential surfaces. The well-known rectangular D_2h minimum, the square D_4h transition state, and two additional stationary points were found on cyclobutadiene’s potential surface. This included a transition state with a rhombic carbon ring and C_2h symmetry, separating two equivalent puckered C_2v local minima. The predicted barriers were 19.7 and 19.8 kcal/mol at the CCSD/cc-pVDZ and CCSD/cc-pVQZ//CCSD/cc-pVDZ levels, respectively. The relative strain energies of rectangular D_2h cyclobutadiene and all fifteen-substituted analogs were obtained from isodesmic reactions. Progressive substitution with methyl or BH₂ groups continuously lowers ring strain while increasing substitution with fluorines or trifluoromethyl groups steadily increases ring strain. C₄(BH₂)₄ is 16.6 and 13.3 kcal/mol less strained than cyclobutadiene while C₄F₄ is 17.7 and 21.5 kcal/mol more strained at the levels above. Cyclobutadiene is more strained than both cyclopropene and cyclobutene by 12.2 and 37.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Electron density contours indicate that fluorine substitution raised the electron density especially in the short C=C ring bonds above/below the ring plane (π-electrons) but not in the ring plane (σ-electrons). BH₂-substitutions lower the ring π-electron density with little effect in the ring plane. Methyl substituents have little effect on electron densities. All rings retain a strong bond alternation tendency (rectangular) whether substituted with electron-donating or -attracting groups. One-bond coupling constants and the percent p-character in ring C-to-C and C-to-substituent bonds are described.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of binuclear ytterbium(III) complexes with 2-amino and 3-amino benzoic acid

Two novel homobinuclear ytterbium(III) complexes, [Yb₂(2AMB)₆(H₂O)₄] · 2C₂H₆O (I) and Yb₂(3AMB)₆(H₂O)₄] · 3H₂O (II) (2AMB = 2-aminobenzoic acid, 3AMB = 3-aminobenzoic acid) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray crystallography (CIF files CCDC nos. 950103 (I), 921652 (II)). Complex I crystallizes in triclinic space group \(P\bar 1\) and complex II crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/n. X-ray analysis shows that both complexes (I, II) have the dinuclear structure. The central Yb³⁺ ions in both complexes are eight-coordinated adopting distorted YbO₈ dodecahedral geometry. Each Yb³⁺ ion is coordinated to two O atoms from bridging carboxylate, four O atoms from the chelating carboxylate ligands and two O atoms of water molecules. The crystal structure of I and II are stabilized by N-H…O, O-H…O, O-H…N, and C-H…O hydrogen bonds, C-H…π interactions and weak π-π stacking interactions.     

Sustainable Three‐Component Synthesis of Isothioureas from Isocyanides,Thiosulfonates, and Amines

Multiple applications of isothioureas as fine chemicals (or their precursors) are known, but a general sustainable method for their synthesis was hitherto unavailable. We report a novel general approach towards S‐alkyl and S‐aryl isothioureas through a copper(I)‐catalyzed three‐component reaction between amines, isocyanides, and thiosulfonates. The formal synthesis of a superpotent sweetener further illustrates the applicability of our method.     

Novel one-pot synthesis of 4H-chromene derivatives using amino functionalized silica gel catalyst

A simple, efficient, and environmentally benign method for the synthesis of 4H-chromene derivatives was developed using well ordered and recoverable amino functionalized silica gel as a base catalyst. The 4H-chromene derivatives were obtained in short time and excellent yield(87%–96%) by three component reaction of aldehydes, malononitrile and cyclic 1,3-diketones in water at 70 8C.     

Modelling of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with different designs of indirect internal reformer

The cell performance and temperature gradient of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with indirect internal reformer(IIR-SOFC) fuelled by natural gas, containing a typical catalytic packed-bed reformer, a catalytic coated wall reformer, a catalytic annular reformer, and a novel catalytic annular-coated wall reformer were investigated with an aim to determine the most efficient internal reformer system. Among the four reformer designs, IIR-SOFC containing an annular-coated wall reformer exhibited the highest performance in terms of cell power density(0.67 W cm-2)and electrical efficiency(68%) with an acceptable temperature gradient and a moderate pressure drop across the reformer(3.53×10-5kPa).IIR-SOFC with an annular-coated wall reformer was then studied over a range of operating conditions: inlet fuel temperature, operating pressure, steam to carbon(S : C) ratio, gas flow pattern(co-flow and counter-flow pattern), and natural gas compositions. The simulation results showed that the temperature gradient across the reformer could not be decreased using a lower fuel inlet temperature(1223 K–1173 K)and both the power density and electrical efficiency of the cell also decreased by lowering fuel inlet temperature. Operating in higher pressure mode(1-10 bar) improved the temperature gradient and cell performance. Increasing the S : C ratio from 2 : 1 to 4 : 1 could decrease the temperature drop across the reformer but also decrease the cell performance. The average temperature gradient was higher and smoother in IIR-SOFC under a co-flow pattern than that under a counter-flow pattern, leading to lower overpotential and higher cell performance. Natural gas compositions significantly affected the cell performance and temperature gradient. Natural gas containing lower methane content provided smoother temperature gradient in the system but showed lower power density and electrical efficiency.