X‐ray induced degradation of surface bound azido groups during XPS analysis

Mesoporous silica SBA‐15 was synthesized and silanized with azidopropyl triethoxysilane in order to design a clickable material. Fourier transform infrared analysis permitted to prove the attachment of the azidopropylene groups to SBA‐15 resulting in the reactive and functional material N₃‐SBA‐15. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the surface composition of SBA‐15. However, we unexpectedly found that the surface bound azido groups undergo X‐ray induced decomposition during the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis resulting in the formation of nitrenes. These are very reactive groups able to intercalate C―C and C―H bonds of the propylene chains as judged from the N1s peak shape. Possible mechanisms of intercalation are suggested. C1s and N1s peaks were recorded at different exposure time. N/C, N⁺/N and N⁺/C undergo exponential decay. N⁺/N reaches the value of zero in less than 80 min of exposure to the X‐ray source. The N⁺/C decay plot was fitted with first‐order kinetics, and the decomposition kinetic constant (k_dec) was found to equal to 516.4 s^?1. This is a fast X‐ray induced degradation which must be considered with care when examining clickable materials with surface bound alkyl azido groups. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorbing behavior of polycarboxylate superplasticizer in the presence of the ester group in side chain

The effect of the ester group in side chain on adsorbing behavior and dispersion of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PC) was studied by comparing the performance of two types of PC. The fluidity of cement paste was tested to discuss the dispersing ability and dispersing retention ability of PC. The total organic carbon analyzer was used to measure the adsorption amount, and the adsorption layer was obtained by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and pH value were used to verify the stability of the ester group, and the electrokinetic properties of cement particle were confirmed using the zeta potential measurement. The results show that the ester group in side chain reduces the initial dispersing ability while it increases the dispersing retention ability. The dispersing retention ability depends on the increase of adsorption amount and adsorption layer in 5–60 minutes, and the greater increase leads to the better dispersing retention ability. The ester group can be decomposed to release carboxyl group to enhance the adsorbing ability of PC under the condition of cement hydration, which is the main reason for the greater increase of adsorption amount and adsorption layer and the improvement in dispersing retention ability. It suggests that grafting the ester group is a good way to enhance the dispersing retention ability.     

Unusual electro-optical behaviour of the nematic polyacrylate

ABSTRACT

High sensitivity of liquid crystals to the electric field makes them highly demanded and widely used in different applications. Despite the large number of the electro-optical research on the low-molar-mass liquid crystals electro-optics of the liquid crystalline (LC) polymers is much less studied. Herein, the comparative electro-optical behaviour of two nematic comb-shaped polyacrylates with phenylbenzoate mesogenic side groups was studied in detail. These two polyacrylates have completely the same structure of polymer backbone and spacer length but different in the direction of the ester group in the phenylbenzoate fragments. It was found that this difference predetermines their completely opposite electro-optical properties.

The influence of the electric field of different strength and frequency on the orientation of the mesogenic groups of these polymers is studied. It is shown that application of the electric field at temperatures above the glass transition temperature (~25°C) induces reorientation of the mesogenic groups along or perpendicular to the electric field direction depending in its turn on the ester group direction. For one of the polyacrylates an unusual textural transition is found; during cooling of the polymer sample under applied field at definite temperature a sharp change in the mesogen’s orientation from homeotropic to planar one is found. This electro-optical phenomenon is observed for the first time and probably associated with sharp change in sign of anisotropy of dielectric permittivity from positive (at high temperatures) to negative one (at lower temperatures). Kinetics of the electro-optical switching at different temperatures, influence of the molar masses of the polymer and frequency of the applied AC field on electro-optical behaviour of the polymers are studied. The possibility of the fixation of the electroinduced homeotropic alignment of the mesogenic groups by photopolymerisation of the diacrylate dissolved in the polymer is demonstrated.     

Synthesis and properties of allyloxy-based tolane liquid crystals with high negative dielectric anisotropy

A series of tolane liquid crystals (LCs) containing 2,3-difluorophenyl and allyloxy terminal groups have been synthesised via multi-step reactions. Their thermotropic mesophases, birefringences and dielectric anisotropy properties are discussed by comparison with the non-fluorinated analog. The results show that the allyloxy-based tolane LC 3TOV reveals a high value of the birefringence (0.29), negative dielectric anisotropy (?4.44) and a broad nematic mesophase with a low melting point and high clearing point. The effects of the terminal alkyl chains, the lateral fluoro substituents, the allyloxy terminal group and alkyne bridge on the mesomorphic and physical properties were also discussed. Meanwhile, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of molecular conformation and polarisability were used to correlate the experimental findings.     

Interaction between Low and High-Frequency Modes in a Nonlinear System: Gas-Filled Cylinder Covered by a Movable Piston

A simple mechanical system containing a low-frequency vibration mode andset of high-frequency acoustic modes is considered. The frequencyresponse is calculated. Nonlinear behaviour and interaction betweenmodes is described by system of functional equations. Two types ofnonlinearities are taken into account. The first one is caused by thefinite displacement of a movable boundary, and the second one is thevolume nonlinearity of gas. New mathematical models based on nonlinearequations are suggested. Some examples of nonlinear phenomena arediscussed on the base of derived solutions.     

Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer of New Diphenylethylene Derivatives Bearing Imino Group: A Combination of Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

In this paper, we described the synthesis and characterization of new diphenylethylene bearing imino group. We concentrated particularly on the investigation of the possibility of the excited state intramolecular charge transfer (ESIPT) of the new dyes experimentally and theoretically. The absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the dyes were determined in various solvents. The results showed that the maximal absorption wavelength of 2‐[(4′‐N,N‐dimethylamino‐diphenylethylene‐4‐ylimino)methyl]phenol ( C1 ) and 4‐[(4′‐N,N‐dimethylamino‐diphenylethylene‐4‐ylimino)methyl]phenol ( C2 ) exhibited almost independence on the solvent polarity. While as contrast, the maximal fluorescence wavelength of the dyes showed somewhat dependence on the solvent polarity. In particular, C1 displayed well‐separated dual fluorescence spectroscopy. The second fluorescence peak was characterized with an "abnormal" fluorescence emission wavelength in aprotic solvents with large Stokes shift (ca. 140 nm in THF), which was much more than normal Stokes shift (ca. 30 nm in THF). This emission spectroscopy could be assigned to ESIPT emission. On the other hand, the ESIPT fluorescence of C1 was much reduced or lost in the protic solvents. While, only normal fluorescence emission was detected in various solvents. Although the absorption maxima of C1 exhibited about 10 nm red‐shift with respect to those of C2 , the normal fluorescence maxima of C1 and C2 were almost identical in various solvents. These results suggested that C1 could undergo ESIPT, but C2 was not able to proceed ESIPT. The molecular geometry optimization of phototautomers in the ground electronic state (S₀) was carried out with HF method (Hartree‐Fock) and at DFT level (Density Functional Theory) using B3LYP both, while the CIS was employed to optimize the geometries of the first singlet excited state (S₁) of the phototautomers of C1 and C2 respectively. The properties of the ground state and the excited state of the phototautomers of C1 and C2 , including the geometrical parameter, the energy, the frontier orbits, the Mulliken charge and the dipole moment change were performed and compared completely. The data were analyzed further based on our experimental results. Furthermore, the absorption and fluorescence spectra were calculated in theory and compared with the measured ones. The rate constant of internal proton transfer (9.831×10¹¹ s^?1) of C1 was much lower than that of salicylidene methylamine ( C3 , 2.045×10¹⁵ s^?1), which was a typical Schiff base compound and was well demonstrated to undergo ESIPT easily under photoexcitation.     

A novel soluble polyamide containing xanthene structure and trifluoromethylphenoxy pendent

<正>A novel polyamide containing xanthene structure and trifluoromethylphenoxy pendent was prepared from 9,9-bis[4-(4- aminophenoxy)phenyl]xanthene,a novel diamine with 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)terephthaloyl chloride,by the low temperature polycondensation.This new polyamide with the inherent viscosity of 0.95 dL/g was amorphous and readily soluble in polar solvents such as DMAc,m-cresol,etc.This polyamide showed the glass transition temperature(T_g) of 236℃,decomposition temperature (Td) at 5%weight loss of 455℃and char yield of 56%at 800℃in N_2.Transparent,flexible,and tough film of the polymer cast from DMAc solution exhibited tensile strength of 93 MPa,elongation at break of 14%,initial moduli of 2.2 GPa.The electric properties such as the dielectric constant of 3.03(1 MHz) and surface resistance(2.78×10~(14)Ω),and the moisture uptake of 1.36% were also described.     

The design and synthesis of a novel organophosphorus compound containing the structure of both β-amino acid and β-aminophosphonate

<正>A novel organophosphorus compound containing the structure of bothβ-amino acid andβ-aminophosphonate is designed and synthesized.Arbuzov reaction with P(OEt)_3,the N-Boc protected iodide 3 cannot provide the desired product but 2-oxazolidinone 4 because of the neighboring-group participation of the Boc moiety.To avoid the intramolecular participation of the carbamates,the Ts protecting group is employed and the Ts-protected iodide 5 affords the target product successfully.     

荧光酮取代基对碳纳米管协同增效作用的影响研究

以金属离子(Pb2+、Mn2+)与荧光酮(苯基荧光酮、水杨基荧光酮、邻氯苯基荧光酮)的显色体系为模型,在阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTMAB)的存在下,研究了显色剂荧光酮不同的取代基对碳纳米管协同增效作用的影响。结果表明,碳纳米管作为一种新型增效剂,与荧光酮产生π-π作用,使荧光酮类显色体系的灵敏度得到提高。3种荧光酮的增敏强度为ΔA苯基荧光酮ΔA水杨基荧光酮ΔA邻氯苯基荧光酮。该文从空间位阻、氢键以及取代基的电子效应等方面进行了机理的探讨。水杨基荧光酮和邻氯苯基荧光酮由于邻位取代基的存在,增加了荧光酮分子与碳纳米管之间π-π作用的空间位阻,导致显色体系的增敏强度较小;与带有—Cl吸电子基团的邻氯苯基荧光酮相比,水杨基荧光酮上的供电子基团—OH可与碳纳米管上的含氧基团形成氢键,由于氢键的作用以及电子效应的不同导致了增敏效应的差异。对体系的实验条件进行优化,得出最佳测锰体系的线性范围为0.04~0.56 mg/L,回归方程为A=0.016+1.541C(mg/L),表观摩尔吸光系数ε=9.45×104L/(mol.cm),r=0.997。利用该体系对自来水中的锰进行了测定,结果令人满意。