Positron annihilation lifetime study of organic-inorganic hybrid materials prepared by irradiation

Silica based hybrid materials, some containing zirconia, prepared by gamma-irradiation, were studied by positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy, in the temperature range of 30-370 K. One long-lived component was observed in group of samples without zirconia. The behavior of this component as a function of temperature resembles that for polymers. This is explained by the elastomer like structure of the samples and the excellent linking between the inorganic and organic networks. The average radius, R, of the free-volume holes was in the range 0.26-0.42 nm depending on the temperature. In the group of samples containing zirconia two long-lived components were observed. A model with three different free-volume holes was suggested to explain the PAL results. Small closed holes (R ∼ 0.26 nm) and large closed holes introduced by Zr (R ∼ 0.5 nm), the sizes of both holes not changing with the temperature, together with intermediate polymer-like free-volume holes - the same behavior as those present in samples not containing zirconia.     

Dynamic process of crystallization of Sb2Se3 from Sb50Se50 amorphous film

Dynamics of crystallization of amorphous antimony-selenium film deposited on carbon substrate have been studied by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The amorphous film was suddenly crystallized at 200°C by heating in vacuum. By the electron beam irradiation crystallization occurred at the focused electron beam region in the amorphous film. The growth process of crystallization by electron beam irradiation was recorded on a video image at the atomic resolution mode. The growth front of crystallization showed nano-concave and -convex shapes. The recrystallization with the different orientation at the first grown crystal have been found, and discussed as the influence of remaining antimony crystallites at the first crystallized film region.     

Highly dispersed clay-polyolefin nanocomposites free of compatibilizers, via the in situ polymerization of alpha-olefins by clay-supported catalysts

In situ polymerization by certain transition metal catalysts supported on and activated by acid-treated montmorillonite produces well-dispersed clay-polyolefin nanocomposites, without requiring either organic surfactants to be present in the clay phase or modification of the polyolefin structure.     

Formation of periodic layered pattern of tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrates in porous media

Directional growth of tetrahydrofuran (THF) clathrate hydrates was studied in a mixture of glass beads and a stoichiometric THF-water solution. Results showed that disseminated pore space type hydrates formed in a mixture containing 50-microm beads. However, a pure hydrate layer formed pushing the beads in a mixture containing 2-microm beads (frost heaving of hydrates). As the growth proceeded, new layers were formed repeatedly, leading to the eventual formation of a periodic layered pattern. It was found that as the growth rate increased, both the thickness of a hydrate layer and the interval between the neighboring layers decreased according to power laws. The effects of the applied temperature gradient and the weight ratio of the solution and glass beads were also systematically studied. Further, the possibility of applying our model experiments to the formation of natural methane hydrates was discussed.     

Investigation of the origin and sedimentary environment of marine sediments from coastal areas of western Japan by INAA

Trace elements such as Sc, lanthanoids, Th and U were determined by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in marine sediment core samples collected from 5 coastal areas in western Japan mainly facing the Pacific. The origin of the coastal sediments and the sedimentary environment are discussed in terms of such parameters as the La*/Lu* and Ce*/La* ratios, the Th/Sc ratios and the Th/U-Ce/U plot obtained from the analytical data. In particular, it was confirmed that the Th/U-Ce/U plot introduced in this work is extremely useful for estimating the sedimentary environment, including redox conditions.     

Optimized conditions for high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of oligosaccharides using 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin as a reductive amination reagent

Reductive amination reaction using 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) as a fluorescent probe enabled analyses of glycoproteins' monosaccharides and N-linked oligosaccharides. Reductive amination of N-acetylhexosamines and AMC using sodium cyanoborohydride or dimethylamine-borane complex indicated slight recovery of derivatives, but pyridine-borane achieved better recoveries. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses of monosaccharides constituting glycoprotein glycans using fluorimetric detection revealed linearity for 0.2fmol to 1pmol, with less than 5% RSD quantitation reproducibility. Reversed-phase HPLC analyses of glycoprotein glycans, combined with negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS), enabled their structural determination. Using this highly hydrophobic reagent, AMC-labeled oligosaccharides displayed one-order to two-order higher ESI-MS intensity than derivatives labeled using other reagents.     

High enrichment of 15N by chromatographic chemical process

Nitrogen isotope enrichment experiments were conducted to obtain highly enriched (15)N by ion-exchange process. (15)NH(4)Cl ((15)N=80%) as feeding materials were used to perform the chromatographic operation with two different flow rates and column diameters. Both separation coefficient (epsilon) and height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) have same values in two run experiments. The value of HETP was more enlarged when high enrichment of (15)N was obtained in comparison with that of low enrichment. 99.756% (15)N and 13.63 g (15)N whose percentage was over 99.0% were successfully achieved by 25 m chromatographic migration with the flow rate and column diameter at 50 cm(3)/mL, 3.0 cm, respectively. High flow rate and large column diameter have advantages to the enrichment of (15)N by ion exchange process.     

Photoelectron angular distribution in valence shell ionization of heteroaromatic molecules studied by the continuum multiple scattering xalpha method

Photoelectron angular distributions are calculated for the valence shell ionization of heteroaromatic molecules of pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyrrole, and furan by the continuum multiple scattering Xalpha method. The asymmetry parameters exhibit strong energy dependences in ionization from pi orbitals but are almost invariant in ionization from sigma orbitals, in good agreement with experimental results. The asymmetry parameters in ionization from nonbonding orbitals appear generally higher than those in ionization from bonding orbitals. These features are interpreted in terms of the Coulomb phase and photoelectron angular distribution in the molecular frame.     

The glass transition and dielectric secondary relaxation of fructose-water mixtures

Broad-band dielectric measurements for fructose-water mixtures with fructose concentrations between 70.0 and 94.6 wt% were carried out in the frequency range of 2 mHz to 20 GHz in the temperature range of -70 to 45 degrees C. Two relaxation processes, the alpha process at lower frequency and the secondary beta process at higher frequency, were observed. The dielectric relaxation time of the alpha process was 100 s at the glass transition temperature, T(g), determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The relaxation time and strength of the beta process changed from weaker temperature dependences of below T(g) to a stronger one above T(g). These changes in behaviors of the beta process in fructose-water mixtures upon crossing the T(g) of the mixtures is the same as that found for the secondary process of water in various other aqueous mixtures with hydrogen-bonding molecular liquids, polymers, and nanoporous systems. These results lead to the conclusion that the primary alpha process of fructose-water mixtures results from the cooperative motion of water and fructose molecules, and the secondary beta process is the Johari-Goldstein process of water in the mixture. At temperatures near and above T(g) where both the alpha and the beta processes were observed and their relaxation times, tau(alpha) and tau(beta), were determined in some mixtures, the ratio tau(alpha)/tau(beta) is in accord with that predicted by the coupling model. Fixing tau(alpha) at 100 s, the ratio tau(alpha)/tau(beta) decreases with decreasing concentration of fructose in the mixtures. This trend is also consistent with that expected by the coupling model from the decrease of the intermolecular coupling parameter upon decreasing fructose concentration.