Rapidly converging lattice sums for nonelectrostatic interactions

The relative energies of one-, two-, and three-dimensional Bravais lattice Lennard-Jones particles can be calculated by lattice sums. The expression of lattice sums over a Lennard-Jones potential can be manipulated into a form that converges rapidly. A formalism capable of calculating the lattice potential at arbitrary points of a completely general lattice has been developed. This method provides an alternative way to calculate the relative energies from the surface and the interior bulk sites of many chemical systems. The method is illustrated with application to hcp and fcc Lennard-Jonesium, both for the relative binding energy and for calculating the potential along the geometric diffusion pathway between tetrahedral and octahedral interstitial sites. Diffusion from the tetrahedral site to the octahedral site experiences a barrier of 752.600 in units of 4 epsilon. The reverse pathway experiences a barrier of 1035.614 in units of 4 epsilon.     

Evaluation of a retention model in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Modeling the retention in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) was achieved using retention indices obtained in conventional GC. Predicted results were compared with experimental data obtained in the two-dimensional separation of a synthetic hydrocarbon mixture. This proved to be helpful in optimizing the operating conditions of GC x GC separation of a complex petroleum sample and in identifying chemical families.     

All Solid‐State pH Electrode Based on Titanium Nitride Sensitive Film

Titanium nitride was used as pH‐sensitive material to fabricate all solid‐state pH electrode. The fabrication and the response performance of the pH electrode were described in the paper. The TiN film electrode showed a linear response in the pH range of 2–12 with a near‐Nenstian response (?55 mV/pH). The response time was within 1 min, and the electrode had good reproducibility, stability and low sensitivities for different species. Compared with the glass pH electrode, the electrode exhibited some advantages, for example, without activation, rapid response and high mechanical strength. In addition, the electrode performed excellently in a corrosion medium containing F^?(1 M). Electrochemical behaviors of TiN electrode in Britton‐Robinson buffers were studied with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS).     

The initial oxidation of magnesium: an in situ study with XPS,HERDA and ellipsometry

The initial oxidation of magnesium at oxygen partial pressures between 1.3 × 10^?8 and 1.3 × 10^?5 Pa and at temperatures ranging from 273 to 550 K has been investigated in situ with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry and high resolution elastic recoil detection analysis (HERDA). Quantitative analysis of the XPS spectra showed a clear oxygen deficiency with respect to MgO for the initial oxide. HERDA measurements confirmed this relatively low oxygen content in the thin oxide layers formed. Ellipsometry measurements showed that the electronic structure of the initially formed oxide differs significantly from that of bulk MgO. The band gap values at room temperature for the oxide layers investigated are clearly smaller than the value for bulk MgO. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of temperature-sensitive micron-sized monodispersed composite polymer particles and its application as a carrier for biomolecules

 Temperature-sensitive micron-sized monodispersed composite polymer particles were prepared by seeded copolymerization of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate with 1.77 μm-sized monodispersed polystyrene seed particles. The change in surface property at temperature above and below 35 °C was examined by differential scanning calorimetry, trypsin activity and the adsorption/ desorption behaviors of low molecular weight cationic emulsifier as well as biomolecules. Received: 6 August 1997 Accepted: 16 January 1998     

Structure and dynamics of self-assembled poly(ethylene glycol) based coiled-coil nano-objects.

Herein we describe the structure and dynamics of self-assembled nano-objects generated from poly(ethylene glycol) based (PEG-ylated) coiled-coil hybrid block copolymers. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments on spin-labeled samples provided a strong indication for a parallel alignment of the peptide helices in at least the dimeric coiled-coil nano-object and indicated that the PEG chains are folded rather closely around the peptide core of the nano-objects. The EPR results were supported by AFM studies, which revealed the presence of discrete nanosized objects in thin, spin cast films of the block copolymers on mica substrates. Since their size and structure may be engineered via directed mutations in the amino acid sequence, these nano-objects may be interesting building blocks for the development of supramolecular materials with various potential applications.     

A low-cost lead-acid battery with high specific-energy

Lightweight grids for lead-acid battery grids have been prepared from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer followed by coating with lead. Subsequently, the grids have been electrochemically coated with a conductive and corrosion-resistant layer of polyaniline. These grids are about 75% lighter than those employed in conventional lead-acid batteries. Commercial-grade 6V/3.5Ah (C₂₀-rate) lead-acid batteries have been assembled and characterized employing positive and negative plates constituting these grids. The specific energy of such a lead-acid battery is about 50 Wh/kg. The batteries can withstand fast charge-discharge duty cycles. Dedicated to Prof J Gopalakrishnan on his 62nd birthday.     

On the Rigidity of Polynorbornenes with Dipolar Pendant Groups

A range of polynorbornenes (PNBs) with fused dipolar pendant groups at C‐5,6 positions was synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization catalyzed by a ruthenium carbene complex (Grubbs I). Photophysical studies, EFISH measurements, and atomic force microscopy images have been used to investigate the structures and morphology of these polymers. These results suggest that the polymers may adopt rigid rod‐like structures. The presence of the double bonds in PNBs appeared to be indispensable for the rigidity of the polymers. Interaction between unsaturated pendant groups may result in coherent alignment leading to a rod‐like structure.     

Nonisothermal Kinetics of Sub‐Solidus Phase Transitions in C10Zn,C16Zn and Their Binary System

Nonisothermal kinetics of the solid‐solid phase transition in (n‐C₁₀H₂₁NH₃)₂ZnCl₄(C₁₀Zn), (n‐C₁₆H₃₃NH₃)₂ZnCl₄(C₁₆Zn) and their binary system were determined by Kissinger and Ozawa methods from DSC measurements. The activation energy E_a of the binary system shows a waving dependence on W_C10Zn%, which is caused by not only an intermediate (C₁₀H₂₁NH₃)(n‐C₁₆H₃₃NH₃)ZnCl₄ but also three solid solution ranges (α, β, γ) in the phase diagram of C₁₀Zn‐C₁₆Zn. The variations of the layer d‐spacing are also convenient for the above result.     

Photocycloaddition of Cyclohex‐2‐enones to Penta‐1,2,4‐triene

Dihydrothiinone 9a undergoes photocycloaddition regioselectively to all three C?C bonds of penta‐1,2,4‐triene ( 10 ), the relative stabilities of the biradical intermediates determining the product distribution. In contrast, cyclohexenone 9b and dihydropyranone 9c afford more complex mixtures of bicyclo[4.2.0]octanones, which also turn out to be less stable on chromatographic workup, reflecting the higher strain due to the shorter bond lengths (C? O and C? C vs. C? S) in the six‐membered rings, respectively.