Charge transfer interactions between conjugated block copolymers and reduced graphene oxides

The charge transfer interactions between reduced graphene oxides and conjugated block copolymers were confirmed by various spectroscopic methods, giving rise to manipulation of the electrical properties of the former.     

Unique Properties of 2 D Layered Titanate Nanosheets as a Building Block for the Optimization of the Photocatalytic Activity and Photostability of TiO2‐Based Nanohybrids

In comparison with the hybridization with 0D TiO₂ nanoparticle, 2D layered TiO₂ nanosheets are much more effective in the improvement of the photocatalytic activity and photostability of semiconducting compounds. The 2D TiO₂–Ag₃PO₄ nanohybrid described in this paper shows a greater decrease in the electron‐hole recombination upon hybridization and a stronger chemical interaction between the components than the 0D homologue. This result confirms the benefits of 2D layered TiO₂ nanosheets as a building block for efficient hybrid‐type photocatalyst materials.     

One-step fabrication of well-defined hollow CdS nanoboxes

Hollow CdS nanoboxes, having paper-thin walls of well-defined facets, were synthesized at 170 degrees C via a simple reaction using Na(2)SeO(3) for interior quasitemplates and ethylenediamine for exterior molecular templates.     

Two-dimensional gradient mapping technique useful for detailed spectral analysis of polymer transition temperatures

This paper demonstrates the potential of a two-dimensional (2D) gradient mapping technique that utilized the eigenvalue manipulating transformation (EMT) of the spectral data set. The EMT technique, by lowering the power of a set of eigenvalues associated with the original data, enhances the contributions of minor principle components (PCs). The operation converts the original spectral data set to the one with subtle differences among the responses of the system being exaggerated. Small shoulders and obscure minor features may become much more visible, because such small differentiating features are often captured only by the minor PCs enlarged by the EMT treatment. This improvement for 2D mapping is potentially very important to determine the transition temperatures, which are not readily detected in convention spectral analysis.     

Two‐Dimensional Infrared Correlation Spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis on the Carbonation of Sterically Hindered Alkanolamines

Despite the academic and industrial importance of the chemical reaction between carbon dioxide (CO₂) and alkanolamine, the delicate and precise monitoring of the reaction dynamics by conventional one‐dimensional (1D) spectroscopy is still challenging, due to the overlapped bands and the restricted static information. Herein, we report two‐dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy (2D IR COS) and principal component analysis (PCA) on the reaction dynamics of a sterically hindered amine, 2‐[(1,1‐dimethylethyl)amino]ethanol (TBAE) and CO₂. The formation of carbonate rather than carbamate species, which contribute to the unusual high working capacity of ～1 mole CO₂ per mole of TBAE at 40 °C, occurs through deprotonation of the hydroxyl group, protonation on the nitrogen atom of the amino group, and formation of a carbonate species due to the steric hindrance of the tert‐butyl group. In particular, PCA captures the chemical transition into a carbonate species and the main contributions of ${\nu _{{\rm{CO}}_2 } }$ , ${\nu _{{\rm{OH}}} }$ , ${\nu _{{\rm{C - N}}} }$ , and ${\nu _{{\rm{C}} = {\rm{O}}} }$ bands to the carbonation, while 2D IR COS verifies the interrelation of four bands and their changes. Therefore, these results provide a powerful analytic method to understand the complex and abnormal reaction dynamics as well as the rational design strategy for the CO₂ absorbents.     

A Monte-Carlo study of ring formation during step-growth polymerization in three dimensions

The formation of ring and chain molecules during an irreversible step-growth polymerization has been modelled on a three-dimensional twenty six choice cubic lattice, and examined by the Monte-Carlo method. Movements were not allowed in the system in this preliminary study. The limiting value of the extent of reaction was found to be p = 0,9837 (±0,0003), and the number fraction of molecules found to be rings was 0,300 (±0,045), but the weight fraction was much smaller, 0,056 (±0,005).