Prediction of Structure and Energy of Trans-1,4-Polybutadiene Glassy Surface by Atomistic Simulations of Free-Standing Ultrathin Films

Atomistic modeling of amorphous trans-1,4-polybutadiene (TPBD), using molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, is performed to generate three-dimensionally periodic bulk and two-dimensionally periodic thin film condensed phases. The condensed structures are constructed using multiple polymer chains. Structural and energetic relaxations and sampling of properties are performed using MD in the canonical ensemble (NVT) by a procedure that relieves local high-energy spots and brings the system to realistic thermodynamic states. The calculated surface energy for TPBD, 30.72 erg/cm², is in excellent agreement with the reported experimental value of 31 erg/cm². The structure of the surface layers is probed in terms of the atomic mass density variations, bond-bond orientation function profiles, and the distribution of the dihedral angles about the rotatable backbone bonds. The thickness of the surface layer over which the density varies smoothly but rapidly is found to be approximately 15 Å. The level of agreement of the calculated surface energy with the experimental value is superior in comparison to previous investigations in the literature using the atomistic approach for flexible polymers.     

Vibrational Spectroscopic Investigation and Theoretical Calculations of (E)-3-Phenyl-N-[4-(Phenyl-Amino) Quinazoline-7-yl] Acrylamide

ABSTRACT

Optimized geometrical structure and harmonic vibration frequencies of prior synthesized (E)-3-phenyl-N-[4-(phenyl-amino) quinazoline-7-yl] acrylamide were computed by ab initio HF and DFT/B3LYP methods using both 6-31G* and 6-311G** basis sets and the Moller–Plesset second-order perturbation (MP2) method merely at the 6-31G* level. The infrared (IR) spectrum of the title compound has been measured in the range of 400–4000 cm^?1. Complete vibrational assignments of the IR spectra were proposed. Moreover, the calculated wavenumbers of the title compound were compared with the experimental data. The correlation analyses indicate that good linearity relationships exist between the scaled theoretical vibration frequencies and the experimental values. Additionally, the atoms in molecules (AIM) method was applied to explore the possible intramolecular interactions in the title compound.     

Energy Transfer from the Upper Triplet States of Aromatic Molecules

The energy transfer from the upper triplet states of diphenylamine, naphthalene and triphenylene to toluene and hexene-1 is studed. Two mechanisms of dissipation transferred energy in solvents are discussed.     

Normal Coordinates Analysis for The M(NH3)2+ 4 Complex Ions in D4h and Td Symmetries. Simplified Molecular Models

A normal coordinates analysis for the M(NH₃)²⁺ ₄ complex ions in T_d symmetry (M = Zn, Cd, Co) and in D_4h symmetry (M = Cu, Pd, Pt) has been undertaken on the basis of a General Valence Force Field (GVFF), using simplified molecular models. Throughout the course of the present work, we have relaxed the point mass approximation for the NH₃-ligands in order to investigate, on a quantitative basis, some relevant ligand - framework coupling vibrations. The simplest molecular model able to accomplish this purpose is to treat the ammino group, in a linear ligator approximation. We show that these model calculations provide a satisfactory set of vibrational frequencies as well as consistent sets of force constants.     

A Double Isotopic Labelling Study of the Infrared Spectra of the Linkage Isomers [Pd(bipy)(SCN)2], [Pd(bipy)(NCS)2] and Related Complexes

Abstract

The IR spectra of the linkage isomers [Pd(bipy)(SCN)₂] and [Pd(bipy)(NCS)₂] have been determined in the C≡N stretching region (2200–2000 cm^?1) and below 500 cm^?1. The band shifts resulting from deuteration of the 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) ring and ¹⁵NCS-labelling are shown to provide a ready means for distinguishing between the internal ligand modes, the μPd-N(bipy) and μPd-SCN/μPd-NCS vibrations. The assignment technique has been further extended to the complexes [Pt(bipy)(SCN)₂] and [Pd(phen)(SCN)₂] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). Finally, a comparison between the IR spectra of [Pd(bipy)(NCO)₂], [Pd(bipy)(NCS)₂] and [Pd(bipy)(SCN)₂] reveals that the frequencies μM-NCO, μM-NCS and μM-SCN decrease in the sequence NCO > NCS > SCN.     

High pressure X-ray diffraction study on BaWO4-II

BaWO₄-II has been synthesized at 5 GPa and 610°C. Its high pressure behavior was studied by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature up to 17 GPa. BaWO₄-II retains its monoclinic structure. Bulk and axial moduli determined by fitting a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state to lattice parameters are: K ₀=86.2±1.9 GPa, K ₀(a)=56.0±0.9 GPa, K ₀(b)=85.3±2.4 GPa, and K ₀(c)=146.1±3.2 GPa with a fixed K′=4. Analysis of axial compressible modulus shows that the a-axis is 2.61 times more compressible than the c-axis and 1.71 times more compressible than the b-axis. The beta angle decreases smoothly between room pressure and 17 GPa from 93.78° to 90.90°.     

Carbon and oxygen isotope working standards from C3 and C4 photosynthates

A preparation of organic working standards for the online measurement of ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios in biological material is presented. The organic working standards are simple and inexpensive C₃ and C₄ carbohydrates (sugars or cellulose) from distinct geographic origin, including white sugar, toilet and XEROX papers from Switzerland, maize from Ivory Coast, cane sugar from Brazil, papyrus from Egypt, and the core of the stem of a Cyperus papyrus plant from Kenya. These photosynthetic products were compared with International Atomic Energy standards CH-3 and CH-6 and other calibration materials. The presented working standards cover a 15 ‰ range of ¹³C/¹²C ratios and 9 ‰ for ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, with a precision<±0.2 ‰ for n>10.     

Generating and shifting a spherical focal spot in a 4Pi focusing system illuminated by azimuthally polarized beams

We aim to theoretically investigate the focusing property of a 4Pi configuration under the illumination of azimuthally polarized high-order Bessel–Gaussian beams. The radial component is produced in the focal region through the introduction of a spiral phase plate. The focal region differs from the zero radial intensity component of the azimuthally polarized beams without the spiral phase plate. The spherical focal spot is generated by selecting an appropriate annular obstruction. The position of the focal spot can be shifted.     

Ionic conductivity of PVdF-co-HFP/LiClO4 in terms of free volume defects probed by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

Polymers based on ionic conducting materials have important interest because of their potential applications in polymer electrolytes and membranes for fuel cell application. PVdF-co-HFP poly(viniliden-co-hexafluoropropylene) was chosen as a polymer matrix because of its high ionic conductivity and better mechanical properties. Polymer matrix composites were prepared with various amounts of LiClO₄ salt by a solution casting method. The sample-ionic conductivity measurements were recorded by AC impedance analyzer at different frequencies from 0.1?Hz to 20?MHz and at different temperatures from 273 to 373?K.

The changes of nanoscopic free volume and free volume fraction in these materials were investigated in terms of temperature from 273 to 373?K using Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) and Simha-Somcynsky (SS) Hole Theory. The free volume had a bump at about 3% in weight percentage of the salt and there is a slight increase after 10%. The effects of weight percentages of LiClO₄ and temperature were investigated. The mechanism of the ac ionic conductivity was presented in terms of the free volume models, however thermo-occupancy function justifies the best accurate representation of the data.     

γ-irradiation effect on the spectroscopic and electrical properties of K2SO4—Na2SO4 mixed system

Abstract

Measurements of electron paramagnetic resonance, infrared and electrical properties were carried out for the K₂SO₄—Na₂SO₄ mixed system before and after γ-irradiation. EPR measurements revealed the presence of a quartet of lines characterized by an isotropic g-value of 2.0034. These lines are mainly attributed to the formation of a SO^? ₃ center which results from the interaction of γ-rays with the sulfate ion. A decrease in the absorption intensity of the Infrared radiation was observed after γ-irradiation due to radiation damage in the sulfate group. The electrical conductivity, σ, was measured for the K₂SO₄—Na₂SO₄ system before and after γ-irradiation in the temperature range from 30 up to 430°C. A considerable decrease in the conductivity value accompanied by an increase in the activation energy was observed after γ-irradiation. The energy of formation of Frenkel defects was estimated to be 2.94eV. The current-voltage characteristics were measured at different temperatures in order to estimate the type of conduction in the samples. Isothermal annealing kinetics was investigated at different temperatures before and after γ-irradiation. The electrical conductivity decreases with increasing time of annealing and the annealing process is dominated by a unique rate process.