A shape model for the twisting power of chiral solutes in nematics

The twisting power of chiral probes in nematics is interpreted in terms of a shape model, in which the surface elements of the solute molecules tend to align with the local director. The theoretical treatment is based on a previous approach, suitable for relating order parameters in nematics to molecular shape, and leads to the definition of a molecular pseudo-tensor whose orientational average determines the pitch and handedness of the helical macrostructures. Results of numerical calculations performed for distorted biphenyl and binaphthyl molecules are in agreement with the experimental results.     

Spectroscopic investigation of Pt—methanol interface in perchloric acid medium by sum-frequency generation

We recorded vibrational spectra of the CO poison resulting from the electrochemical decomposition of CH₃OH on platinum by sum-frequency generation using the infrared free electron laser CLIO. At high CH₃OH concentration (0.1 M) in the electrolyte, both multi-bonded and linearly bonded CO are equally present. At lower CH₃OH concentration (0.004 M), the multi-bonded species is predominant. The CO poison still remains on the surface at potentials (0.05 V/NHE) close to the hydrogen evolution onset.     

Advanced in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds from aliphatic nitro derivatives. A review

The literature on the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds from aliphatic nitro derivatives in the past decade has been summarized.Moscow State Textile Academy, 117918, Moscow. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1299–1336, October, 1994. Original article submitted October 6, 1994.     

Collisions for the quantum Coulomb Hamiltonian

We study the propagation of phase space singularities for the time dependent Schrödinger equation with potential having Coulomb-type singularities in space dimension equal tothree. We prove that the singularities (frequency set) of the solution are reflected by a Coulomb center exactly as in the classical problem, i.e. the frequency set follows theregularized trajectories of Classical Mechanics after a collision.     

Method of fictitious regions for second-order quasilinear elliptical equations

We consider the application of the fictitious region method to solve the first and second boundary-value problems for a second-order quasilinear elliptical equation. Rate of convergence bounds are obtained for two versions of the fictitious region method.Translated from Vychislitel'naya i Prikladnaya Matematika, No. 56, pp. 7–14, 1985     

Dimensionally and thermally stable polymer,containing disordered graphitic structure and adamantane

In an attempt to develop a low‐k interlayer dielectric, adamantane‐diphenyldiethynyl moiety containing oligomer is prepared. Oligomerization of 1,3,5,7‐tetrakis[3/4‐ethynylphenyl]adamantane ( 4 ) is accomplished by a Glaser–Hay oxidative coupling with 1,3,5‐triethynylbenzene and phenylacetylene end‐capping agent. The CHCl₃ soluble oligomer is then thermally treated by step‐curing at 200, 300, 380, and 450 °C for 30 min at each temperature under nitrogen flow to render a shiny void‐free black polymer. TGA analysis indicates that the polymer is stable under nitrogen up to 500 °C with a marginal decomposition up to 800 °C. Solid‐state ¹³C NMR, Raman scattering, and FTIR are used to characterize the structure of the polymer. The polymer consists of amorphous carbon networks with the adamantane moieties and nanosized graphitic regions (clusters), which are generated from the thermal crosslinking of the diphenyldiethynyl units. It shows a remarkably low linear coefficient of thermal expansion (～25 ppm/°C), presumably due to the presence of the disordered graphitic structure. Its high density (～1.21 g/cm³), refractive index (～1.80 at 632 nm), and Young's modulus (～17.0 GPa) are also consistent with the interpretation. This study reveals important details about the effect of microscopic structure on the macroscopic properties of the highly crosslinked polymer. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6909–6925, 2006