Preparation and Characterization of Electroactive Anion‐Exchange Acrylic Polymer–Gold Composites

The characteristics and performance of an ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC), prepared with an anion‐exchange acrylic copolymer, was examined. The acrylic copolymer was synthesized by the radical copolymerization of fluoroalkyl methacrylate and 2‐(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate(AMA). Effects of the AMA repeating unit's content in the copolymer and effects of the anion type present on the actuation of the IPMC were observed. The optimal content of 19.4 wt% AMA in the IPMC copolymer yielded the best actuation. The actuation also improved according to the type of anion present in the composite, in the following order: Br^???4 ^?.     

Influence of the surface morphology on the melting of polymer crystals. I. Loops of random length and adjacent reentry

A polymer crystal with a noncrystalline surface layer formed by chain loops of different lengths is considered. It is assumed that the length of each loop can be changed by longitudinal diffusion of the molecule through the crystal lattice. From the condition that the free energy of the system is minimum, the loop length distribution and the average loop length as function of temperature are calculated. In contrast to the results for loops of equal length, for the present model, a substantial thickness of the noncrystalline surface layer and a broad melting range is obtained also for the case of adjacent reentry. In order to get this result one has to take into account that even an “ideal fold” consists of at least four rigidly arranged CH2 groups in energetically unfavored conformation.     

Performance and Mechanism of Epoxy Resin for Reinforcement of Styrene–Butadiene Rubber

Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates reinforced by epoxy resin (EP) have been synthesized by an in-situ vulcanization and curing process. The influences of synthetic parameters, such as the contents of EP, carbon black, and types of compatilizers, on the microstructures, vulcanization, and mechanical properties of SBR have been investigated. It was found that EP in SBR exists in the form of a fibrillar interpenetrating network, which is important for the enhancement of mechanical properties of SBR. The experimental results showed that when the percentage of EP was in the range of 10–20%, the composite materials had the best comprehensive performance. In comparison with pure SBR, the tear strength and the tensile stress at 300% elongation of SBR-EP composite were increased significantly. The method can be applicable for other rubber vulcanizates to improve their mechanical properties.     

Vibration-rotation bands in ethane

The absorption spectrum of ethane was recorded at 0.014 cm^?1 resolution in the range 4500–6500 cm^?1 using a Fourier transform spectrometer and at room temperature. Eighteen bands could be identified and their type assigned. Upper state rotational constants are provided for the band at 5948.338 cm^?1 and Coriolis constants are obtained for most perpendicular bands. Vibrational assignments are suggested for the bands at 5948 cm^?1 (v7 + v10), 5914 cm^?1(v8 + v ₁₀+ v ₁₁), and 5852cm^?1 (v ₅+v ₁₀). All vibrational bands reported in the literature are gathered.     

Binding Study of Phenformin with Bovine Serum Album Using a Combined Technique of Equilibrium Dialysis with Flow-Injection Chemiluminescence Detection

ABSTRACT

The interaction between phenformin hydrochloride and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by the methods of chemiluminescence combined with equilibrium dialysis technique. A novel N-bromosuccinimide (NBS)–eosin Y (EY) chemiluminescence (CL) method was established for the determination of phenformin. The mechanism of this chemiluminescence system was proposed. Optimization studies were performed to determine the phenformin. Under the optimal conditions, the CL intensity was linear for a phenformin concentration over the range of 4.6 × 10^?8 to 5.0 × 10^?5 g/mL. The detection limit was 1.5 × 10^?8 g/mL. The data obtained by the present equilibrium dialysis–CL system were analyzed using the Klotz plot and the Scatchard analysis. The results showed that the Klotz plot and the Scatchard plot are linear with good correlation coefficient, indicating that the phenformin has only one type of binding site on BSA. The binding parameters were the number of the binding sites n (1.02) and the estimated association constant K (2.66 × 10⁴ L/mol). The chemiluminescence system combined with equilibrium dialysis developed in this work demonstrated its use for determination of interaction between drug and protein by using relatively simple instrument.     

Epoxy/Silica Nanohybrids or Nanocomposites: Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Investigation of the Processing–Structure–Property Relationships

The structural and morphological features influencing the glass transition temperature of epoxy/silica nanohybrid and nanocomposite materials containing 25–30 phr of nanoscale silica phases are discussed in this letter to answer the questions related to the processing–structure–property relationships. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy are used to study the surface chemical structure and morphology of epoxy/silica nanohybrids and nanocomposites. Nanohybrids are synthesized via in situ sol-gel process, while the respective nanocomposites are prepared by mechanical blending of preformed silica nanoparticles into epoxy resin. Differential scanning calorimetry is used to determine glass transition temperature of different materials. The surface analytical characterizations reveal that in situ sol-gel process is more suitable for producing organic–inorganic hybrid materials with superior glass transition temperature owing to the achievement of stronger interfacial compatibility and greater crosslink density. A number of other factors affecting glass transition temperature are explored and discussed with reference to surface chemistry, microstructure, and morphology of epoxy/silica nanohybrids and nanocomposites, respectively.     

A Novel Pyrene Fluorescent Sensor Based on the π–π Interaction Between Pyrene and Graphene of Graphene–Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dot Nanocomposites

In this article, water-soluble graphene–cadmium telluride quantum dot nanocomposites were fabricated through the synthesis of cadmium telluride quantum dots in the presence of graphene aqueous dispersion. It was found that pyrene could remarkably quench fluorescence of graphene–cadmium telluride quantum dot nanocomposites. On this basis, a novel method for the determination of pyrene was developed. Factors affecting the pyrene detection were investigated, and the optimum conditions were determined. Under the optimum conditions, a linear relationship could be established between the quenching of fluorescence intensity of graphene–cadmium telluride quantum dot nanocomposites and the pyrene concentration in the range of 6.00 × 10^?8–2.00 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9959. The detection limit was 4.02 × 10^?8 mol L^?1. Furthermore, the nanocomposites were applied to practical determination of pyrene in different water samples with satisfactory results.     

Franck–Condon Factors and r‐Centroids for the B–, C–, F–, and G–X Band Systems of YF Molecule

The Franck–Condon factors and r‐centroids, which are very closely related to relative transition probabilities, have been evaluated by a more reliable numerical integration procedure for the B¹π–X¹Σ⁺, C¹Σ⁺–X¹Σ⁺, F¹Σ⁺–X¹Σ⁺, and G¹π–X¹Σ⁺ band systems of the YF molecule, using suitable potentials.     

Rotational Analysis of the 1–4 Band of the B 2Σ+–X 2Σ+ System of 14C16O+

ABSTRACT

High-resolution emission spectrum of the 1–4 band of the B ²Σ⁺–X ²Σ⁺ transition of ¹⁴C¹⁶O⁺ was observed for the first time by conventional emission spectroscopy. The band spectrum was excited in a water-cooled Geissler lamp filled with commercial gaseous carbon monoxide enriched in about 80% of the radiocarbon ¹⁴C. A rotational analysis has been carried out and obtained molecular constants have been merged with previously published data for the B ²Σ⁺–A ²Π_i and A ²Π_i–X ²Σ⁺ transitions. The principal equilibrium constants for the ground X ²Σ⁺ state obtained from this work are ω_e = 2121.7726(98), ω_e x _e = 13.9055(27), B _e = 1.815290(30), α_e = 1.6594(33) × 10^?2, and γ_e = ? 0.377(73) × 10^?4 cm^?1. Also, presently known experimental equilibrium molecular constants of the X ²Σ⁺ states of the CO⁺ isotopic molecules are summarized and isotopic dependence of the B _e and ω _e constants is discussed.