The effect of interface deformation due to gravity on line tension measurement by the capillary rise in a conical tube

Much research has been done on line tension measurement and interpretation, and attempts have also been made to measure line tension with simple, cheap and reliable methods that do not require excessive sophistication. Of particular interest is the method of determining line tensions of solid–liquid–vapor systems from the capillary rise in a conical tube. This simple and relatively inexpensive method gives line tension values comparable to those reported in the literature obtained via highly sophisticated instruments or techniques such as the well known axisymmetric drop shape analysis technique. The absolute value of line tension obtained using the conical tube method and assuming a spherical liquid–vapor interface is larger but of the same order of magnitude (1 μJ m⁻¹) as that reported in the literature. A theoretical analysis presented herein shows that by including the deformation of the liquid–vapor interface due to gravity in the conical capillary analysis, the line tension value inferred from the experimental data is reduced by approximately 50% and compares better with values in the literature obtained using other sophisticated methods. Thus a relatively simple, cheap, accurate and reliable method of line tension measurement has been advanced.     

Modification of polysulfone membranes 4. Ammonia plasma treatment

The effect of NH₃ and NH₃/Ar plasma on ultrafiltration polysulfone membranes have been studied. Results of contact angle, FTIR-ATR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments clearly showed that both plasmas introduced hydrophilic, nitrogen- and oxygen-containing moieties on the polymer surface and that NH₃/Ar plasma was more efficient. That plasma was also more aggressive--signs of strong etching could be seen on the SEM pictures. Redeposition of etched material seemed to take place inside the pores. On the contrary, ammonia plasma was soft and caused cleaning the surface and pores enlargement. Performance of ammonia plasma modified membranes was greatly improved and independent on solution pH. The last observation proved amphoteric character of the surface. NH₃/Ar plasma treatment gave membranes of acidic surface and filtration indices not so good as for ammonia plasma.     

Combined application of 2D NMR correlation methods and ab initio chemical shift calculations to the structure determination of new heterocyclic compounds

The combined use of 2D NMR correlation methods and ab initio chemical shift calculations is efficient and, in some cases, virtually the only way to determine the structures of new organic compounds. This approach enabled us to establish the structure of the major unusual product of the three-component reaction of imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4-one, bis(2-chloroethyl)amine hydrochloride, and potassium carbonate in DMF. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2172–2179, December, 2006. Dedicated to Professor A. V. Il’yasov on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

苯腙基乙酰基二取代乙酸乙酯的合成和晶体结构

报道了标题化合物C12H14N2O3(Mr=234.25)的合成和晶体结构.晶体属单斜晶系,P21/c空间群.晶胞参数:浕=0.84589(17)nm,b=1.7597(4)nm,c=0.82599(17)nm,α=90°,β=91.21(3)°,γ=90°,V=1.2292(4)nm3,Z=4,Dc=1.266g/cm3,μ=0.092mm-1,F(000)=496;偏离因子R=0.0760,Rw=0.1932.     

Corrugated single-layer graphite sheet as a model of stepped surface of a crystal

Electronic structure calculations have been performed for flat graphite sheets and periodically distorted sheets with different values of deformation angle and hydrogen adsorption. These characteristics do not all behave monotonically with increasing deformation angle. At small deformation angles, the electrons pass from the atoms of terraces to those of edges, while at larger angles the reverse pattern is observed. The position of the Fermi level also varies nonmonotonically. The binding energy of hydrogen depends significantly on the adsorption site, and the difference can be doubled. Based on the ata obtained, it was concluded that a priori statements derived from the “general concepts” on the difference in the physicochemical properties of, for example, terrace and edge atoms on high-index facets are unreliable.     

Molecular Recognition and Crystal Energy Landscapes: An X‐ray and Computational Study of Caffeine and Other Methylxanthines

We introduce a new approach to crystal‐packing analysis, based on the study of mutual recognition modes of entire molecules or of molecular moieties, rather than a search for selected atom–atom contacts, and on the study of crystal energy landscapes over many computer‐generated polymorphs, rather than a quest for the one most stable crystal structure. The computational tools for this task are a polymorph generator and the PIXEL density sums method for the calculation of intermolecular energies. From this perspective, the molecular recognition, crystal packing, and solid‐state phase behavior of caffeine and several methylxanthines (purine‐2,6‐diones) have been analyzed. Many possible crystal structures for anhydrous caffeine have been generated by computer simulation, and the most stable among them is a thermodynamic, ordered equivalent of the disordered phase, revealed by powder X‐ray crystallography. Molecular recognition energies between two caffeine molecules or between caffeine and water have been calculated, and the results reveal the largely predominant mode to be the stacking of parallel caffeine molecules, an intermediately favorable caffeine–water interaction, and many other equivalent energy minima for lateral interactions of much less stabilization power. This last indetermination helps to explain why caffeine does not crystallize easily into an ordered anhydrous structure. In contrast, the mono‐ and dimethylxanthines (theophylline, theobromine, and the 1,7‐isomer, for which we present a single‐crystal X‐ray study and a lattice energy landscape) do crystallize in anhydrous form thanks to the formation of lateral hydrogen bonds.     

Drying dissipative patterns of colloidal crystals of silica spheres in organic solvents

Drying dissipative structural patterns formed in the course of drying colloidal crystals of silica spheres (110 nm in diameter) in water, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, 1-propyl alcohol, diethyl ether, and in the mixtures of ethyl alcohol with the other solvents above have been studied on a cover glass. The macroscopic broad rings were formed in the outside edges of the dried film for all the solvents examined. Furthermore, much distinct broad rings appeared in the inner area when the solvents were ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, and their mixtures. Profiles of the thickness of the dried films were sensitive to the organic solvents and explained well with changes in the surface tensions, boiling points, and viscosities of the solvents. The macroscopic and microscopic spoke-like crack patterns formed. The drying area (or the drying time) increased (or decreased) as the surface tension of the solvent decreased. However, the absolute values of these drying parameters are determined also by the boiling points of the solvents. Importance of the fundamental properties of the solvents is supported in addition to the characteristics of colloidal particles in the drying dissipative pattern formation.     

Structure determination of homoleptic AuI, AgI, and CuI aryl/alkylethynyl coordination polymers by X-ray powder diffraction

This article describes the structure determination of five homoleptic d(10) metal-aryl/alkylacetylides [RC triple bond CM] (M=Cu, R=tBu 1, nPr 2, Ph 3; R=Ph, M=Ag 4; Au 5) by using X-ray single-crystal and powder diffraction. Complex 1.C6H6 reveals an unusual Cu20 catenane cluster structure that has various types of tBuC triple bond C-->Cu coordination modes. By using this single-crystal structure as a starting model for subsequent Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data, the structure of the powder synthesized from CuI and tBuC triple bond CH was found to have the same structure as 1. Complex 2 has an extended sheet structure consisting of discrete zig-zag Cu4 subunits connected through bridging nPrC triple bond C groups. Complex 3 forms an infinite chain structure with extended Cu-Cu ladders (Cu-Cu=2.49(4)-2.83(2) A). The silver(I) congener 4 is iso-structural to 3 (average Ag-Ag distance 3.11 A), whereas the gold(I) analogue 5 forms a Au...Au honeycomb network with PhC triple bond C pillars (Au-Au=2.98(1)-3.26(1) A). Solid-state properties including photoluminescence, nu(C triple bond C) stretching frequencies and thermal stability of these polymeric systems are discussed in the context of the determined structures.     

MZr2（AsO4）3（M=Na,K,Rb,Cs）的水热合成与结构表征

用水热晶化法合成了MZr_2(ASO_4)_3(M=Na,K,Rb,Cs)系列化合物。研究了反应物浓度、配比及不同砷源等水热晶化条件对产物物相的影响。用XRD、IR和Raman光谱对产物进行了表征。4种晶体的振动光谱由钠到铯呈现出规律性变化。     

Electron radiation effects on the structure of ultradisperse polytetrafluoroethylene

Electron radiation effects (40 mrad, 70 mrad, and 100 mrad) on the molecular and supramolecular structure and morphology of ultradisperse polytetrafluoroethylene obtained by the thermogas dynamic (TGD) method were studied by IR and EPR spectroscopy, X-ray phase analysis, and atomic force microscopy. Irradiation of ultradisperse powder in air leads to oxidized polymer forms due to the terminal carbonyl groups and stable peroxide radicals that appear in the structure. Fast electron radiation in doses of up to 100 mrad did not change the polymer crystallinity and particle entity, while thin films on the surface of ultradisperse polytetrafluoroethylene powder decomposed.