Double‐Wall Carbon Nanotube–Porphyrin Supramolecular Hybrid: Synthesis and Photophysical Studies

Double‐wall carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) with pyridyl units covalently attached to the external wall through isoxazolino linkers and carboxylic groups that have been esterified by pentyl chains are synthesized. The properties of these modified DWCNTs are then compared with an analogous sample based on single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Raman spectroscopy shows the presence of characteristic radial breathing mode vibrations, confirming that the samples partly retain the integrity of the nanotubes in the case of DWCNTs, including the internal and external nanotubes. Quantification of the pyridyl content for both samples (DWCNT and SWCNT derivatives) is based on X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermogravimetric profiles, showing very similar substituent load. Both pyridyl‐containing nanotubes (DWCNTs and SWCNTs) form a complex with zinc porphyrin (ZnP), as evidenced by the presence of two isosbestic points in the absorption spectra of the porphyrin upon addition of the pyridyl‐functionalized nanotubes. Supramolecular complexes based on pyridyl‐substituted DWCNTs and SWCNTs quench the emission and the triplet excited state identically, through an energy‐transfer mechanism based on pre‐assembly of the ground state. Thus, the presence of the intact inner wall in DWCNTs does not influence the quenching behavior, with respect to SWCNTs, for energy‐transfer quenching with excited ZnP. These results sharply contrast with previous ones referring to electron‐transfer quenching, in which the double‐wall morphology of the nanotubes has been shown to considerably reduce the lifetime of charge separation, owing to faster electron mobility in DWCNTs compared to SWCNTs.     

Modelling of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with different designs of indirect internal reformer

The cell performance and temperature gradient of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell with indirect internal reformer(IIR-SOFC) fuelled by natural gas, containing a typical catalytic packed-bed reformer, a catalytic coated wall reformer, a catalytic annular reformer, and a novel catalytic annular-coated wall reformer were investigated with an aim to determine the most efficient internal reformer system. Among the four reformer designs, IIR-SOFC containing an annular-coated wall reformer exhibited the highest performance in terms of cell power density(0.67 W cm-2)and electrical efficiency(68%) with an acceptable temperature gradient and a moderate pressure drop across the reformer(3.53×10-5kPa).IIR-SOFC with an annular-coated wall reformer was then studied over a range of operating conditions: inlet fuel temperature, operating pressure, steam to carbon(S : C) ratio, gas flow pattern(co-flow and counter-flow pattern), and natural gas compositions. The simulation results showed that the temperature gradient across the reformer could not be decreased using a lower fuel inlet temperature(1223 K–1173 K)and both the power density and electrical efficiency of the cell also decreased by lowering fuel inlet temperature. Operating in higher pressure mode(1-10 bar) improved the temperature gradient and cell performance. Increasing the S : C ratio from 2 : 1 to 4 : 1 could decrease the temperature drop across the reformer but also decrease the cell performance. The average temperature gradient was higher and smoother in IIR-SOFC under a co-flow pattern than that under a counter-flow pattern, leading to lower overpotential and higher cell performance. Natural gas compositions significantly affected the cell performance and temperature gradient. Natural gas containing lower methane content provided smoother temperature gradient in the system but showed lower power density and electrical efficiency.     

Stress-Induced Domain Wall Motion in a Ferroelastic Mn3+ Spin Crossover Complex

Domain wall motion is detected for the first time during the transition to a ferroelastic and spin state ordered phase of a spin crossover complex. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) revealed two distinct symmetry-breaking phase transitions in the mononuclear Mn³⁺ compound [Mn(3,5-diBr-sal₂(323))]BPh₄, 1. The first at 250 K, involves the space group change Cc→Pc and is thermodynamically continuous, while the second, Pc→P1 at 85 K, is discontinuous and related to spin crossover and spin state ordering. Stress-induced domain wall mobility was interpreted on the basis of a steep increase in acoustic loss immediately below the the Pc-P1 transition     

不同色浆质量分数的水性聚氨酯涂料对聚氯乙烯表皮低温爆破性能的影响

本文制备了一系列不同色浆质量分数的水性聚氨酯涂料,并将其喷涂在汽车仪表板聚氯乙烯(PVC)表皮的背面形成复合材料。 用旋转流变仪表征了涂料的粘度以评价其喷涂性能;用差示扫描量热仪表征了材料的玻璃化转变温度(T_g);利用万能材料试验机表征了材料在-30 ℃条件下的拉伸性能及抗撕裂性能;用动态热机械分析仪表征了材料的损耗比随温度的变化。 结果表明:不同色浆质量分数的涂料都能喷涂,含有涂层材料PVC表皮在-30 ℃低温爆破性能与涂层材料的T_g、低温拉伸性能、抗撕裂性能的关系并不大,而与涂层材料的阻尼性能直接相关。 材料的阻尼性能越好,其低温爆破性能越好。     

Gastroprotective Effects of Inulae Flos on HCl/Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Inulae Flos, the flower of Inula britannica L., is used as a dietary supplement, beverage, and medicine in East Asia. In this study, we evaluated the gastroprotective effects of Inulae Flos extract (IFE) against gastric mucosal lesions induced by hydrochloric acid (HCl)/ethanol in rats and explored its potential mechanisms by measuring antioxidant enzyme activity, mucus secretion, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels. Pretreatment with IFE at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg significantly inhibited gastric lesions in HCl/ethanol-treated rats. IFE increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the levels of glutathione and PGE₂ in gastric tissues. The administration of IFE also significantly increased the gastric wall mucus contents in HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions. These findings suggest that IFE has gastroprotective effects against HCl/ethanol-induced gastric lesions and exerts these effects through increased antioxidant levels and gastric mucus secretion. Inulae Flos may be a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of gastritis and gastric ulcers.     

阻尼对空爆荷载等效静载动力系数的影响

为考查阻尼参数对空爆荷载等效静载动力系数的影响,理论推导了空爆荷载下结构等效单自由体系弹塑性位移解及延性比解,设计并计算了阻尼比0.000 1～0.1、延性比1～4的20种典型工况的动力系数,并与现行抗爆设计规范动力系数公式结果进行了对比。结果表明:阻尼比小于0.000 1时可基本代表无阻尼状态,阻尼比0.01的动力系数比无阻尼的最大降低幅度为2.08%,数值差异很小,因此阻尼比为0.01以内时,可忽略阻尼对动力系数的影响;阻尼比0.05的动力系数比无阻尼的降低幅度约9.92%,数值差异较大,认为阻尼比0.05以上时将具有明显的经济效益;现行设计规范动力系数更适用于柔性结构体系,运用于刚性结构抗爆设计时,计算误差较大,对阻尼比较小的结构设计更不利。     

一类具有连续变量的二阶非线性阻尼差分方程的振动准则

考虑了一类具有连续变量的二阶非线性阻尼差分方程,利用积分变换和广义R iccati变换,给出了此类方程的振动准则.     

Design of a tuned vibration absorber for a slender hollow cylindrical structure

Abstract

In this paper, details of the design work for a tuned vibration absorber to be used on a hollow cylindrical structure is presented. The vibration problem is of resonant type and the tuned vibration absorber is designed to suppress the displacement vibration response of the free end of the slender hollow structure dominated by the contribution of its lowest transverse vibration modes. The structure is modeled using a commercial finite element software. Finite element model of the structure is verified using experimentally obtained frequency response functions and modal parameters. Effective parameters of the tuned vibration absorber design are then determined based on finite element analysis simulations of the vibration suppression performance of the tuned vibration absorber as it is used on the structure. Details of the tuned vibration absorber design are determined and a prototype is fabricated. Prototype tuned vibration absorber is then characterized experimentally both as a standalone system and also as it is used on the main structure. Vibration reduction performance of the physical prototype of the tuned vibration absorber is also compared with its vibration reduction performance estimated from finite element analysis simulations so that the analysis based design process can be validated.

Communicated by Dumitru Caruntu.     

Effect of microencapsulation using soy protein isolate and gum arabic as wall material on red raspberry anthocyanin stability,characterization, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions

This study involves microencapsulation of anthocyanin extract (AC) from red raspberry using a freeze drying technique involving ultrasonication of soy protein isolate (SPI), gum arabic (AG), and their combination. Analyses included microcapsule properties, encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant capacity using the DPPH assay, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), color, thermal stability, stability during storage, morphology, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) ranged from 93.05% to 98.87% for all microcapsules. The morphology of microcapsules by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated a broken glass shape, with mean size of microcapsules ranging from 21.07 ± 2.71 μm to 48.19 ± 2.33 μm using Mastersizer analyzer. A good relationship obtained between zeta potential (ZP) and FTIR spectrum indicated that there is a chemical cross linking interaction between wall material and core material. All microcapsules enhanced the thermal stability of AC in the temperature range 80–114 °C. Furthermore, AC retention (up to 48%) during storage at 37 °C for 60 days revealed that treatment H combination of SPI and AG was best. In addition, SPI and AG combination presented good release behavior under simulated gastrointestinal conditions compared with unencapsulated anthocyanin.