Copper azine compounds: Synthesis,structure and magnetic analyses of Cu(phenazine)Cl2, (phenazinium)2CuCl4 · H2O,and [Cu(phenazine)Cl2 · H2O]2

Three compounds composed of phenazine and copper chloride have been prepared and studied by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and variable temperature magnetization. The compounds synthesized and studied are: Cu(phenazine)Cl₂ (1), (phenazinium)₂CuCl₄ · H₂O (2), and [Cu(phenazine)Cl₂ · H₂O]₂ (3). Compounds 1 and 2 are described as antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains with exchange constants ∣J∣/k_B = 33.8 K and 8.6 K, respectively.     

Die-swell,splashing drop and a numerical technique for solving the Oldroyd B model for axisymmetric free surface flows

This work deals with the development of a numerical method for simulating viscoelastic axisymmetric free surface flow of an Oldroyd B fluid. A novel formulation is developed for the computation of the non-Newtonian extra-stress components on rigid boundaries and on the symmetry axis. The full free surface stress conditions are employed. The resulting governing equations are solved by finite differences on a Marker-and-cell (MAC) type grid. Validation is provided by simulating a pipe flow problem. The classical die-swell problem is solved and swelling ratios are provided. The height of the splash caused by a falling liquid drop for various Reynolds and Weissenberg numbers is then studied, and the height of the splash is shown to diminish with increasing viscoelasticity.     

Synthesis and characterization of white‐light‐emitting polyfluorenes containing orange phosphorescent moieties in the side chain

Two orange phosphorescent iridium complex monomers, 9‐hexyl‐9‐(iridium (III)bis(2‐(4′‐fluorophenyl)‐4‐phenylquinoline‐N,C^2′)(tetradecanedionate‐11,13))‐2,7‐dibromofluorene (Br‐PIr) and 9‐hexyl‐9‐(iridium(III)bis(2‐(4′‐fluorophenyl)‐4‐methylquinoline‐N,C^2′)(tetradecanedionate‐11,13))‐2,7‐dibromofluorene (Br‐MIr), were successfully synthesized. The Suzuki polycondensation of 2,7‐bis(trimethylene boronate)‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene and Br‐PIr or Br‐MIr afforded two series of copolymers, PIrPFs and MIrPFs, in good yields, in which the concentrations of the phosphorescent moieties were kept small (0.5–3 mol % feed ratio) to realize incomplete energy transfer. The photoluminescence (PL) of the copolymers showed blue‐ and orange‐emission peaks. A white‐light‐emitting diode with a configuration of indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/PIr05PF (0.5 mol % feed ratio of Br‐PIr)/Ca/Al exhibited a luminous efficiency of 4.49 cd/A and a power efficiency of 2.35 lm/W at 6.0 V with Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.46, 0.33). The CIE coordinates were improved to (0.34, 0.33) when copolymer MIr10PF (1.0 mol % feed ratio of Br‐MIr) was employed as the white‐emissive layer. The strong orange emission in the electroluminescence spectra in comparison with PL for these kinds of polymers was attributed to the additional contribution of charge trapping in the phosphorescent dopants. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JPolym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1746–1757, 2007     

Development of confocal micro X-ray fluorescence instrument using two X-ray beams

A new confocal micro X-ray fluorescence instrument was developed. This instrument has two independent micro X-ray tubes with Mo targets. A full polycapillary X-ray lens was attached to each X-ray tube. Another half polycapillary lens was attached to a silicon drift X-ray detector (SDD). The focal spots of the three lenses were adjusted to a common position. The effects of the excitation of two X-ray beams were investigated. The instrument enabled highly sensitive three-dimensional X-ray fluorescence analysis. We confirmed that the X-ray fluorescence intensity from the sample increased by applying the two independent X-ray tubes in confocal configuration. Elemental depth profiling of black wheat was demonstrated with the result that each element in the surface coat of a wheat grain showed unique distribution.     

2‐Cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate mediated reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of acrylonitrile targeting a polymer with a higher molecular weight

The reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) mediated by 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate was first applied to synthesize polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with a high molecular weight up to 32,800 and a polydispersity index as low as 1.29. The key to success was ascribed to the optimization of the experimental conditions to increase the fragmentation reaction efficiency of the intermediate radical. In accordance with the atom transfer radical polymerization of AN, ethylene carbonate was also a better solvent candidate for providing higher controlled/living RAFT polymerization behaviors than dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. The various experimental parameters, including the temperature, the molar ratio of dithiobenzoate to the initiator, the molar ratio of the monomer to dithiobenzoate, the monomer concentration, and the addition of the comonomer, were varied to improve the control of the molecular weight and polydispersity index. The molecular weights of PANs were validated by gel permeation chromatography along with a universal calibration procedure and intrinsic viscosity measurements. ¹H NMR analysis confirmed the high chain‐end functionality of the resultant polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1272–1281, 2007     

Atomic Fisher information versus atomic number

It is shown that the Thomas–Fermi Fisher information is negative. A slightly more sophisticated model proposed by Gáspár provides a qualitatively correct expression for the Fisher information: Gáspár's Fisher information is proportional to the two-third power of the atomic number. Accurate numerical calculations show an almost linear dependence on the atomic number.     

Control of calcium carbonate crystallization utilizing amphiphilic block copolypeptides

Control over the morphology of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) crystals has been achieved through the use of anionic, amphiphilic block copolypeptides during crystallization. Microspheres of CaCO₃ can be synthesized by the introduction of preformed organic, amphiphilic block copolypeptide templates, poly(l-aspartate sodium salt)₁₀₀-block-[poly(l-phenylalanine)₂₅-random-(l-leucine)₂₅] (1) and poly(l-glutamate sodium salt)₁₀₀-block-[poly(l-phenylalanine)₂₅-random-(l-leucine)₂₅] (2). When cationic amphiphiles are used in lieu of the anionic amphiphiles, only CaCO₃ rhombohedra are produced. The self-assembling amphiphile controls the precipitation of the microspheres by acting as a template to form giant CaCO₃ microspheres. These microspheres are composed of nanocrystals ranging in size from 10 to 60 nm using 1 and 20 to 100 nm using 2.     

The influence of hard‐segments on two‐phase structure and shape memory properties of PCL‐based segmented polyurethanes

Poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐based segmented polyurethanes (PCLUs) were prepared from poly(ε‐caprolactone) diol, diisocyanates (DI), and 1,4‐butanediol. The DIs used were 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Differential scanning calorimetry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and dynamic mechanical analysis were employed to characterize the two‐phase structures of all PCLUs. It was found that HDI‐ and MDI‐based PCLUs had higher degree of microphase separation than did IPDI‐ and TDI‐based PCLUs, which was primarily due to the crystallization of HDI‐ and MDI‐based hard‐segments. As a result, the HDI‐based PCLU exhibited the highest recovery force up to 6 MPa and slowest stress relaxation with increasing temperature. Besides, it was found that the partial damage in hard‐segment domains during the sample deformation was responsible for the incomplete shape‐recovery of PCLUs after the first deformation, but the damage did not develop during the subsequent deformation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 557–570, 2007