Electrochemical and thermal properties of hyperbranched polymer electrolytes for batteries

Terminal-acetylated hyperbranched poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives containing diethylene, triethylene, and hexaethylene and 3,5-dioxybenzoate branching units (poly-Ac1a, poly-Ac1b, and poly-Ac1c) were synthesized. Electrochemical and thermal properties of the hyperbranched polymer electrolytes with lithium salts such as LiCF₃SO₃ and LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂, the composite hyperbranched polymer electrolytes with LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂ containing α-LiAlO₂ and γ-LiAlO₂ fillers, and the hyperbranched polymer blended poly(ethylene oxide) electrolytes with LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂ were investigated and discussed. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeire, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16–22, 2001.     

S 3 flavor symmetry and leptogenesis

We consider leptogenesis in a minimal S₃ extension of the standard model with an additional Z₂ symmetry in the leptonic sector. It is found that the CP phase appearing in the mass matrix of the left-handed neutrinos is the same as that for the CP asymmetries responsible for leptogenesis. Because of the discrete S₃ x Z₂ flavor symmetries, the CP asymmetries are strongly suppressed. To obtain a realistic size of the baryon number asymmetry in the universe, we therefore have to assume that resonant enhancement of the CP asymmetries takes place, and that three degenerate right-handed neutrino masses of O(10) TeV are present. Arrival of the final proofs: 22 November 2005 PACS: 11.30.Hv, 12.15.Ff, 14.60.Pq     

Selective retention of some polyaromatic hydrocarbons by highly crosslinked polymer networks

Highly crosslinked polymer networks were characterized in terms of structural differences based on the crosslinked network structures with their chromatographic molecular retentivity for some polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Because PAHs and some sterically bulky solutes were used in the chromatographic characterization, tiny differences in the crosslinked polymer networks were observed in terms of the chromatographic molecular retentivity. Ethylene dimethacrylate afforded molecular retentivity for anthracene, and this recognition ability changed with the polymerization time. In addition, 1,4‐butanediol dimethacrylate afforded molecular retentivity for pyrene, and this retentivity was larger than that for anthracene. The polymerization methods also affected the resulting polymer networks drastically. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2556–2566, 2005     

Development of a new traceless aniline linker for solid-phase synthesis of azomethines. Application to parallel synthesis of a rod-shaped liquid crystalline library

A new traceless linker was developed to synthesize a library of 42 compounds possessing an azomethine linkage using combinatorial solid-phase parallel synthesis. The loading of the substrates on a solid support and cleavage from the solid support were performed by an imine synthesis and by imine-exchanged process under mild conditions, respectively. Thioesters with a hydroxy group on the central core exhibited liquid crystalline properties with the widest transition temperatures in the library.     

Kaon condensation and lambda–nucleon loop in the relativistic mean-field approach

The possibility of kaon condensation in high-density symmetric nuclear matter is investigated including both s- and p-wave kaon–baryon interactions within the relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory. Above a certain density, we have a collective state carrying the same quantum numbers as the antikaon. The appearance of the state is caused by the time component of the axial-vector interaction between kaons and baryons. It is shown that the system becomes unstable with respect to condensation of K– pairs. We consider how the effective baryon masses affect the kaon self-energy coming from the time component of the axial-vector interaction. Also, the role of the spatial component of the axial-vector interaction on the possible existence of the collective kaonic states is discussed in connection with Λ-mixing effects in the ground state of high-density matter. Implications of condensation for high-energy heavy-ion collisions are briefly mentioned.     

The Effect of Bulk Magnetic Susceptibility on Solid State NMR Spectra of Paramagnetic Compounds

The effect of bulk magnetic susceptibility (BMS) on solid state NMR spectra of paramagnetic compounds was investigated theoretically and experimentally. The BMS shift was calculated for cylindrical and spherocylinderical containers with some ratios of the lengthLand the diameterD. The results show the best resolution can be obtained by using a long cylindrical sample container withL/D> 10 and by exciting only the region near the center of the container. The effect of the random orientations and distributions of crystallites in a powder sample was also calculated according to a model proposed by Schwerket al.[J. Magn. Reson. A119, 157 (1996)] with removing the Fermi contact term from their model. Static and the magic-angle spinning¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on two paramagnetic compounds of Ln(C₂D₅SO₄)₃· 8H₂O where Ln = Pr, Yb. The modified theory predicts the BMS broadening of the experimental spectra very well.     

Submillimeter-wave spectrum of carbonyl sulfide: rare isotopic species

Rotational spectra of four rare isotopic species of OCS were observed in the 110-690 GHz region with a source-modulated submillimeter-wave spectrometer. Spectral lines of ¹⁸O¹³CS, O¹³C³⁶S, ¹⁸OC³⁶S, and ¹⁸O¹³C³⁴S were measured in their natural abundances, 21.4, 1.51, 0.29, and 0.95 ppm, respectively. The rotational constants and centrifugal distortion constants were precisely determined from observed line frequencies by least squares methods. In order to facilitate sensitivity examination in the submillimeter-wave region, transition frequencies and peak absorption coefficients were calculated and tabulated for the spectral lines of the four species up to the 1000 GHz region.     

Polymer electrolytes plasticized with hyperbranched polymer for lithium polymer batteries

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) with different terminal groups and different ethylene oxide (EO) chain lengths were prepared, and the influence of the HBP structures including molecular weights and molecular weight distribution on the ionic conductivity and the mechanical property of the composite polymer electrolytes composed of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), HBP, BaTiO₃ as a ceramic filler, and LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂ as a lithium salt were investigated. It was found that the molecular weights of the HBP do not affect significantly the ionic conductivity, but the molecular weight distribution might affect it, and also further branching at the terminals of the HBP led to a decrease in the ionic conductivity. The HBP with longer EO chain length was effective for enhancement of the ionic conductivity in comparison with the HBP with shorter one. The increase in cross-linkable groups (acryloyl group) at the terminals of the HBP improved the tensile strength, but caused the ionic conductivity to decrease. Loosely cross-linked composite polymer electrolyte showed higher ionic conductivity and higher tensile strength than no cross-linked one. Paper presented at the Patras Conference on Solid State Ionics — Transport Properties, Patras, Greece, Sept. 14 – 18, 2004.     

Microwave preionization of the tokamak discharge at the electron cyclotron resonance

When ohmic heating power is applied during the microwave discharge at the electron cyclotron resonance, the plasma current and density build-up become fast and the loop voltage required to start the tokamak discharge decreases. The micro-wave burst observed in the initial stage is reduced and the burst of hard X-rays, occurring at the quasi-steady stage of discharge in the case of no microwave injection, disappears, suggesting that the production of run-away electrons is suppressed strongly.