Effect of Hydrothermal on the Crystalline Phase and Morphology of Manganese Oxide Nanocrystals

The effect of hydrothermal on the crystalline phase and morphology of manganese oxide nanocrystals was studied. The Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles were transformed into γ‐MnOOH nanowires after hydrothermal treatment. The pH plays an important role in the transformation of crystalline phases. The whole nanowires of γ‐MnOOH were formed at pH 8 and pH 9 while the crystalline phase of Mn₃O₄ was still remained in the mixture of Mn₃O₄ and γ‐MnOOH at pH 10.     

半焦的多循环气化活性及微观结构分析

为了研究工业流化床气化条件下多循环过程中半焦的气化活性及微观结构变化规律,在快速反应固定床装置上,对三种不同煤阶的半焦进行了模拟多循环气化.通过残焦质量计算得到了循环次数对半焦碳转化率的影响,并利用孔隙分析仪和XRD分析仪考察了半焦的微观结构变化.结果表明,随循环次数的增加,低阶霍林河褐煤半焦的转化率增加,而神木烟煤和晋城无烟煤半焦的转化率降低.多循环过程中"冷淬"效应的存在使得半焦的BET比表面积和微孔比表面积随循环次数呈"山形"趋势变化,而石墨化结构与转化率的变化趋势一致,是决定碳转化率变化的决定性因素.     

Thermoplastic polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals prepared from solvent‐induced phase separation with predictions using solubility parameters

The optical effects of liquid crystals can be realized when the mesogens are dispersed in a supporting and stabilizing polymer phase. Thermoplastics were chosen for their structural reversibility and ease of fabrication of polymer‐dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) from solution via solvent‐induced phase separation (SIPS). The component match and tuning in PDLCs was achieved in a common solvent through predictions of solubility parameters. The PDLCs were first prepared using SIPS and were then exposed to thermal treatments on a hot stage polarizing microscope or in a differential scanning calorimeter. At elevated temperatures the polymer and mesogen may become miscible, while upon cooling thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) should occur, preferably above the isotropic–nematic transition temperature. The nematic phase existed within disperse phase droplets that were stabilized and supported by the matrix polymer. The temperature range of the nematic phase was extended in the PDLC configuration. The droplet size was important for liquid crystalline optical behaviour. Polymer–mesogen interactions, identified through solubility parameters, were important in ensuring sufficient but not coarse phase separation.     

New side chain ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymers based on (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoic acid: synthesis and phase behaviour

The synthesis of four new chiral mesogenic monomers (M₁–M₄) and side chain ferroelectric liquid crystalline polymers containing (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoate is described. The chemical structures and phase behaviour of the monomers and polymers obtained in this study were characterised by Fourier transform infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The selective reflection of light was investigated with ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis). Their structure–mesomorphism relationships were discussed. M₁ and P₁ all showed a chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase. M₂ and M₃ revealed a SmC* phase and cholesteric phase, while their corresponding polymers P₂ and P₃ revealed a SmC* phase and smectic A (SmA) phase. M₄ only exhibited a cholesteric phase, whereas the corresponding polymers P₄ showed a SmA phase. Moreover, the selective reflection of light shifted to the long-wavelength region at the SmC* phase range and to the short-wavelength region at the cholesteric range with increasing temperature, respectively. The results seemed to demonstrate that the tendency towards melting temperature (T_m), glass transition temperature (T_g), isotropic temperature (T_i) and mesophase range for the monomers and polymers increased by increasing the mesogenic core rigidity or the number of phenyl ring. The polymerisation effect could lead to higher liquid crystalline to isotropic phase transition temperature, wider mesophase range and more ordered smectic phase formed. In addition, all the obtained polymers had a very good thermal stability and the corresponding T_d increased by increasing the number of phenyl ring.     

Effect of the site of hydrogen-bonding on the liquid crystalline behaviour of supramolecular complexes

Two series of hydrogen-bonded side-chain liquid crystal polymers have been prepared by mixing components containing carboxyl acid and pyridyl-based fragments. We have focused our attention on the effect that the position of the hydrogen bond donor or acceptor site attached to the side-chain backbone has on the hydrogen-bonding interactions and liquid crystalline phase transitions of the system. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the complexes is studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that the phase transition temperatures of the complexes are influenced by the site of hydrogen-bonding.     

Triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals: star-shaped oligomers and branched-chain polymers

Liquid crystalline main-chain polymers based on a repeat hexaalkoxytriphenylene moiety have previously been made by the reaction of dihydroxytetraalkoxytriphenylenes with α,ω-dibromoalkanes catalysed by caesium carbonate in N-methyl pyrrolidone. We now show that the molecular weights of these polymers can be increased by adding ?5 wt% of a tribromide (a 1,3,5-trialkoxybenzene or trialkoxymethylbenzene with three ω-bromoalkyl substituents) to the reaction mixture. Studies of model oligomer systems show that, provided the ω-bromoalkyl chains are long enough, the presence of these branching points should not affect the formation of the Col_h mesophase. Indeed, if ?5 wt% of the tribromide is used in the synthesis of the polymer, it remains liquid crystalline. However, if >20 wt% of the tribromide is used, introducing a high degree of branching and cross-linking, the liquid crystal behaviour disappears.     

Mesomorphic azomethine complexes of Iron(III) based on 4,4′-dodecyloxybenzoyloxybenzoyl-4-salicylidene-2-aminopyridine

A new series of liquid crystalline (LC) complexes Fe(III) based on azomethine 4,4′-dodecyloxybenzoyloxybenzoyl-4-salicylidene-2-aminopyridine with counter-ions PF₆^?, NO₃^?, Cl^?, BF₄^?, ClO₄^?, CNS^? and SO₄^2– was synthesised. According to elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and mass spectrometry (MALDI ToF), it was found that bi(ligand) Fe(III) complexes were formed with octahedral packing of the metal ion. The presence of the counter-ion in the complexes was confirmed by Infrared spectroscopy. The thermotropic LC properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM). All the seven complexes in this series exhibit thermotropic mesophases.     

Thermal Decomposition of Plasma-Polymerized Organosilicon Thin Films

Thermal decomposition of plasma-polymerized hexamethyl-cyclotrisilazane (PP-HMCTSN) thin films was studied by using various techniques. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography investigation of thermal decomposition products and IR examination of the polymer films showed that methylsilyl groups present in the monomer were highly susceptible to form disilymethylene and disilyethylene cross-linkages under plasma conditions. A three-stage mechanism of the thermal decomposition found by thermogravimetry proved a great complexity of the thermal reactions which occur during this process and, in turn, provided strong evidence for a very complex structure of plasma polymer. Electron microscopy investigation revealed a marked effect of the thermal decomposition process on the film microstructure. The trend observed in the morphological changes was consistent with kinetics of this process. The high temperature thermal treatment reduced the organic content of polymer film, correspondingly increasing its inorganic character. Films produced with this process were of unusually interesting properties, displaying strong adhesion to metal substrates and high resistance to corrosive agents.     

Thermotropic behaviour,self-assembly and photophysical properties of a series of squaraines

A series of squaraine dyes, based on 2,4-bis[4-(N,N-di-n-alkylamino)-2-hydroxyphenyl] squaraine including ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and heptyl derivatives, were synthesised by condensation of the corresponding 4-(N,N-di-n-alkylamino)-2-hydroxyphenol with squaric acid. The thermal behaviour of the series was recorded using both thermogravimetic analysis and differential scanning calorimetry while their crystalline structures were elucidated via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The length of the alkyl chain proved to have a significant effect on both the thermotropic behaviour and the crystalline structure of the squaraine series. Two derivatives, butyl and heptyl, revealed the presence of liquid crystalline mesophases, smectic and nematic, respectively, which were confirmed and characterised via polarised light microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Several of the derivatives formed H- and/or J-aggregates upon thin film formation via spin coating before and after the thermal annealing treatment as indicated by UV–vis spectroscopy. The molecular and crystal structure, aggregation and thermal behaviour provide insight into the supramolecular assembly of this important class of materials. Photophysical measurements revealed large molar absorptivity, reasonably high fluorescence quantum yields and significant fluorescence anisotropy by making these derivatives suitable candidates for a number of electro-optic and photonics applications.