Diffusion in three-dimensional random systems at their percolation thresholds

Extensive Monte Carlo simulations of theant-in-the-labyrinth problem on randomL* L* L simple cubic lattices are performed, forL up to 960 on a CRAY-YMP supercomputer. The exponentk for the rms displacementr witht inrt ^k is found to bek=0.190±0.003. As a second approach, large percolation clusters with chemical shells up to 300 are generated on a simple cubic lattice at criticality. The diffusion equation is then solved by using the exact enumeration technique. The corresponding critical exponentd ^w is found to be 1/d ^w =0.250±0.003.On leave from I. Institut für Theoretische für Physik, Universität Hamburg, D-2000 Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.     

Evaluation of semiconducting sensor materials on the basis of catalytic test reaction

Oxidative-reductive properties on the acid-base surfaces of the oxide compositions Sn-Ce-Rh-O and Zr-Mg-Y-O, active as catalysts in the ketonization of secondary alcohols were determined based on the isopropanol conversion selectivity. The kinetics of isopropanol conversion was measured in the oxygen-free atmosphere. Activation energies for both directions of conversion (dehydration to propylene and dehydrogenation to acetone) were calculated. The results were compared with the kinetics over SnO₂ and ZrO₂. Both oxide compositions, Sn-Ce-Rh-O and Zr-Mg-Y-O are oxidative-reductive catalysts containing Lewis acid centers.     

Normal contact stiffness of elastic solids with fractal rough surfaces

Using the boundary element method, we calculate the normal interfacial stiffness and constriction resistance of two elastic bodies with randomly rough surfaces and varying fractal dimensions. The contact stiffness as a function of the applied normal force can be approximated by a power law, with an exponent varying from 0.51 to 0.77 for fractal dimensions varying from 2 to 3.     

Spectroscopically determined potential energy surfaces of the H2O, H2O, and H2O isotopologues of water

Adiabatic potential energy surfaces (PESs) for three major isotopologues of water, H₂¹⁶O, H₂¹⁷O, and H₂¹⁸O, are constructed by fitting to observed vibration-rotation energy levels of the system using the nuclear motion program DVR3D employing an exact kinetic energy operator. Extensive tests show that the mass-dependent ab initio surfaces due to Polyansky et al. [O.L. Polyansky, A.G. Császár, S.V. Shirin, N.F. Zobov, P. Barletta, J. Tennyson, D.W. Schwenke, P.J. Knowles, Science 299 (2003) 539-542.] provide an excellent starting point for the fits. The refinements are performed using a mass-independent morphing function, which smoothly distorts the original adiabatic ab initio PESs. The best overall fit is based on 1788 experimental energy levels with the rotational quantum number J = 0, 2, and 5. It reproduces these levels with a standard deviation of 0.079 cm⁻¹ and gives, when explicit allowance is made for nonadiabatic rotational effects, excellent predictions for levels up to J = 40. Theoretical linelists for all three isotopologues of water involved in the PES construction were calculated up to 26 000 cm⁻¹ with energy levels up to J = 10. These linelists should make an excellent starting point for spectroscopic modelling and analysis.     

Critical behaviour of the smectic A*–C* phase transition and electroclinic effect of ferroelectric liquid crystals with terphenyl rigid core

The SmA*–SmC* phase transition was studied by measuring the temperature and electric field dependences of the optical tilt angle, the electric polarisation and the dielectric spectra collected in a wide frequency range. Critical behaviour of the phase transition was analysed by varying the length of the fluorinated part of the alkyl terminal chain and by differing fluorine substitution in the terphenyl core. Both tilt and polarisation show tricritical mean-field behaviour for all homologues with n?>?2. Almost all coefficients that describe the SmA*–SmC* transition in the frame of the Landau theory were derived for homologue series. Double fluorine substitution in the central ring of the core seems to promote the ‘de Vries'-type smectic A*–C* phase transition with a little layer shrinkage. These well correspond with the lower tilt angle and smaller changes of the birefringence at the phase transition compared to the other homologues.     

Facile one-pot synthesis of 5-aryl/heterylidene-2-(2-hydroxyethyl- and 3-hydroxypropylamino)-thiazol-4-ones via catalytic aminolysis

A multicomponent synthetic approach for 5-aryl/heterylidene-2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)- and 2-(3-hydroxypropylamino)-thiazol-4-ones starting from 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one or 2-methylsulfanylthiazol-4-one was developed. The proposed method involves simultaneous aminolysis of 2-thioxo- or 2-methylsulfanyl groups and Knoevenagel condensation with (hetero)aromatic aldehydes using 2-aminoethanol or 3-aminopropan-1-ol as catalysts. Side-chain prototropic amino–imino tautomerism was observed for target 5-ylidene-2-alkylaminothiazol-4-ones.     

X-ray structure of 2,6-dimethoxy-7-methylpurine

The title compound (C₈H₁₀N₄O₂) is monoclinic, with a = 7.740(2), b = 17.044(7), c = 6.992(3) Å, = 100.60(1)°, and space group P2₁/c. Two O-methyl groups are coplanar with the pyrimidine ring. Whereas, the O(6)-methyl group is directed away from the imidazole ring toward the N(1) atom, the O(2)-methyl is pointed away from the N(1) atom toward the N(3) atom. Two intermolecular hydrogen bonds H(8)···N(1) and H(711)···O(2) of 2.48(2) and 2.58(3) Å make a linear arrangement of the molecules. The conformation of the O-methyl groups explains some results of thermal rearrangement of 2,6-dialkoxy-7-methylpurines and differences in alkylations of 2,4-dialkoxypyrimidines and 2,6-dialkoxy-7-methylpurines.     

Apparent activation energy of structural relaxation for Se70Te30 glass

Differential scanning calorimetry and dc conductivity measurements were used to study structural relaxation of Se₇₀Te₃₀ glass. A single set of Tool-Narayanaswamy-Moynihan (TNM) parameters was obtained from the curve-fitting procedure. The value of apparent activation energy Δh∗ was further confirmed by two non-fitting techniques. Results of the Δh∗ evaluation from the T_g dependence on cooling rate are discussed in terms of how the T_f determination might be influenced by the material’s structure type and by the interference of the crystallization process.     

Micellar and microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography of hop bitter acids

The elution order of the hop α- and β-acids has been studied under different modes of electrokinetic separation. A model is advanced to explain the shorter migration times of the more hydrophobic β-acids compared to the α-acids in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). For quality control of the bitter principles in hops, the ruggedness of electrokinetic separation could be improved by replacing MEKC by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC).