Thermal behavior of selected ferroelectric liquid crystals

Thermal properties of three ferroelectric liquid crystals, namely: 3-octyloxy-6-[2-fluor-4-(fluoroctyloxy)phenyl]-pyridine (FFP), 3-(3-fluor-nonyl)-6[4-heptyloxyphenyl]-pyridine (FNHPh-P), 4-[(S,S)-2,3-epoxyhexyloxy]phenyl 4-(decyloxy)benzoate (EHPhDB) were studied using heat flux differential scanning calorimetry method. All the transitions expected in this compounds, except the SmC^*-SmA^* and SmC^*-S₃ transitions, were detected in the DSC curves. The temperatures of the phase transitions and the enthalpy changes associated with them were determined. The transition from the liquid crystalline to the crystalline state showed significant hysteresis for all three compounds studied. The following transitions: SmA^*-Is, SmG^*-SmC^* for FNHPh-P, N^*-Is for EHPhDB, N^*-Is and SmC^*-N^* for FFP also showed a small hysteresis basing on which first-order character of all the above transitions was implied. All three substances studied in this work are characterized by a complex polymorphism in the solid state.The author is grateful to Dr. Stanislaw Wróbel for his stimulating interest, valuable discussions and supplying the samples. This work has been done in the framework of the KBN grant 2 P302 139 07.     

Determination of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) in diesel fuel by high performance liquid chromatography and photodiode-array detection

An oxidation method (sulfone method) for the determination of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) in diesel fuel is presented. The aromatic fraction of a diesel fuel, isolated by solid phase extraction, is oxidized under controlled conditions with hydrogen peroxide. The oxidation products, mainly methylated dibenzosulfone, are determined and quantified directly, without further clean-up, by HPLC with photodiode-array detection.     

On the Proper Normalization Constraint

In the variational optimization of a trial function the proper functional to be varied is the Rayleigh quotient with the normalization constraint explicitly imposed. It will be shown that only under certain very rigorous conditions can one use the energy functional to replace the Rayleigh quotient and that, therefore, the normalization constraint is by no means a matter of no consequence.     

Nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of fluorobenzenechromium complexes with P-chiral secondary phosphine-boranes: synthesis of optically pure P-chiral (dialkyl)arylphosphine-boranes

Optically pure P-chiral (dialkyl)arylphosphine-boranes having high structural diversity were prepared by two- or three-component coupling of fluorobenzenechromium complexes, P-chiral secondary phosphine-boranes, and other nucleophiles. The stereochemical integrity at the P-stereogenic center was completely retained during the S_NAr process when the reaction was carried out in THF at low temperature.     

Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Spinel LiNi1−xMnxVO4

Spinel compound LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ (0≤x≤0.4) had been prepared by using the moist chemical method. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that the lattice constant increased with x in the LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄, XPS spectra indicating that Li1s had a chemical shift towards lesser binding energy, and manganese in LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ existing as the mixed valence of Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺. The electrochemical charge and discharge testing at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm² between the potentials of 4.0 and 3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ in 1 mol/dm³ LiPF₆/EC+DEC (1:1 by volume) at 25°C showed that LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ cell has a better rechargeability, but a lower cell voltage of 4.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ than that without the doping sample, and the capacity and the cycle efficiency of the Li/LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ cells increased with x in the LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄.     

Application of an Ion Beam Technique for the Design of Visible Light-Sensitive, Highly Efficient and Highly Selective Photocatalysts: Ion-Implantation and Ionized Cluster Beam Methods

As a new concept for the design of effective photocatalysts, an ion beam technology using accelerated metal ions, a metal ion implantation and an ionized cluster beam (ICB) method, have been applied to design unique photocatalysts. The metal ion implantation of TiO₂ and Ti-containing zeolites with highly accelerated metal ions (V⁺, Cr⁺, etc.) is useful in designing photocatalysts that can operate efficiently under visible light irradiation. Also, an ICB method with a low acceleration energy is useful in preparing transparent TiO₂ thin films on various types of substrates for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants diluted in water and air. The combination of the ICB method and metal ion implantation can develop the TiO₂ thin films that are able to operate not only under UV light but also under visible light irradiation.     

A straightforward preparation of a polystyrene thiol resin

A mild and efficient two-step synthesis of a polystyrene thiol resin is reported. Firstly, a polystyrene resin was reacted with an activated sulfoxide to afford the resin bound bis-(2-methoxy-carbonylethyl)-sulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate. Smooth β-elimination based dealkylations afforded the polystyrene thiol resin with good and controlled loading. Its reactivity was assessed through a derivatisation step.     

Comparison between adsorption isotherm determination techniques and overloaded band profiles on four batches of monolithic columns

The adsorption isotherms of 4-tert.-butyl phenol were measured on four different monolithic columns, using three different techniques, classical frontal analysis (FA), the perturbation on a plateau method (PP) and the recently introduced numerical procedure known as the inverse numerical method (IN). This last approach requires only the recording of a few overloaded profiles and has the potential advantage of affording a dramatic decrease of the amounts of compounds, solvent, and time needed to determine accurate estimates of the coefficients of the isotherm. The reproducibility of the adsorption data measured on the four columns is discussed with reference to the specific techniques used for obtaining these data and to the most suitable equation used for modeling them. The data obtained for the different columns were highly consistent. The inverse numerical approach was confirmed to provide a powerful, accurate, and economic method for measuring single component adsorption data.     

Preparation of Mullite Fibers by the Sol-Gel Method

Mullite fibers were synthesized from an aqueous solution of aluminum isopropoxide, aluminum nitrate and tetraethylorthosilicate by the Sol-Gel method. The starting solution was prepared by adding aluminum isopropoxide and tetraethylorthosilicate simultaneously to an aluminum nitrate aqueous solution. The spinnability of the starting solution was investigated by varying the molar ratio of aluminum isopropoxide/aluminum nitrate in the solution. Gel fibers were obtained from solutions in a composition range of aluminum isopropoxide/aluminum nitrate of 3 to 5. Gels obtained from spinnable solutions appeared to have high homogeneity in the mixing of the Al/Si components, leading to a sharp 980°C exothermic peak in the DTA curve and a mullitization temperature of 1000°C. However, in the case of gels obtained from unspinnable solutions, a small 980°C exothermic peak was detected, and the mullitization temperature was as high as 1200°C, probably due to greater heterogeneity in the mixing of the Al/Si components.