New (1R,4R)-2-arylidene-p-menthan-3-ones with a bridging ester group in the arylidene fragment. Synthesis and behavior in liquid-crystalline systems

(1R,4R)-2-(4-Hydroxybenzylidene)- and (1R,4R)-2-(4"-hydroxybiphenyl-4-yl)methylene-p-menthan-3-ones were synthesized by condensation of (–)-menthone with O-tetrahydropyran-2-yl derivatives of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4"-hydroxy-4-formylbiphenyl, respectively, in a DMSO—base medium followed by the removal of the protective group. The reactions of these hydroxy derivatives with 4-alkylbenzoic, 4-alkyloxybenzoic, trans-4-alkylcyclohexane-4-carboxylic, and 4"-alkylbiphenyl-4-carboxylic acids afforded three series of new chiral esters. Compounds containing the arylidene moiety with three benzene rings were found to exhibit liquid-crystalline properties. The characteristic features of these compounds are discussed based on the results of studies by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering. It was found that the mesomorphic compounds under study can form a smectic A mesophase, twist grain boundary mesophases (TGBA), and blue phases in a wide temperature range. Upon dissolution of certain of chiral compounds in 4"-cyano-4-pentylbiphenyl, a rather high twisting power and the thermal stabilizing effect on mesophases were observed.     

Preparation and Characterization of Microencapsulated Hexadecane Used for Thermal Energy Storage

Polyurea microcapsules about 2.5μm in diameter containing phase change material for thermal energy storage application were synthesized and characterized by interfacial polycondensation method with toluene-2,4-diisocyanate and ethylenediamine as monomers in an emulsion system. Hexadecane was used as a phase change material and OP, which is nonionic surfactant, and used as an emulsifier. The chemical structure and thermal behavior of the microcapsules were investigated by FTIR and thermal analysis respectively. The results show encapsulated hexadecane has a good potential as a solar energy storage material.     

Charge storage mechanism of copper hexacyanoferrate nanocubes for supercapacitors

The widely accepted theory concerning the electrochemical energy storage mechanism of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) for supercapacitors is that CuHCF stores charge by the reversible redox processes of Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ couple and Cu cations are electrochemically inactive. In this work, CuHCF nanocubes (CuHCF-NC) were synthesized in the presence of potassium citrate and its electrochemical properties were tentatively studied in 1 mol/L Na₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte. Good supercapacitive performance was exhibited. The combined analyses of cyclic voltammogram (CV) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) disclosed that the CuHCF nanocubes underwent the redox reactions of Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ couples to store charges. The Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ redox couple was activated due to the strong coordination interaction between the carboxylate groups of citrate ions and surface Cu cations.     

络合氢化物Ti-NaAlH4的制备与储氢特性

采用Ti粉为催化剂前驱体、预处理Al粉和NaH为合成原料, 通过机械球磨-加氢方法合成出络合氢化物Ti-NaAlH4, 系统研究了球磨保护气氛、球磨时间和氢化加氢压力等制备参数对其储氢性能的影响. 结果表明, 制备方法对Ti-NaAlH4储氢特性有很大影响. 与氩气保护气氛相比, 在氢气气氛中球磨制备的复合物具有更高的吸放氢性能. 在氢气保护气氛下, 随着球磨时间从6 h增至24 h, 复合物的吸氢容量和吸氢速率先增后减, 12 h时达到最佳值, 而复合物的放氢容量和放氢速率则逐渐增高; 进一步延长球磨时间会使颗粒发生团聚, 从而导致吸氢性能下降. 随着氢化加氢压力从7.5 MPa升至13.5 MPa, 复合物的吸氢容量(质量分数)由2.83%逐渐增至4.21%. 复合物球磨后出现的Na3AlH6中间氢化物相表明, 在氢气下掺Ti球磨对NaH和Al的氢化反应起到很好的促进作用.     

The Effect of SiO2 Addition on the Grain Size and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Thin Films

The uniform transparent TiO₂/SiO₂ nanometer composite thin films were prepared via sol-gel method on the soda lime glass substrates, and were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FTIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET surface areas. It was found that the addition of SiO₂ to TiO₂ thin films could suppress the grain growth of TiO₂ crystal and increase the hydroxyl content of the surface of TiO₂ films. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared TiO₂/SiO₂ composite thin films increases for SiO₂ content of less than 5 mol%.     

Influence of Cycle Temperatures on the Thermochemical Heat Storage Densities in the Systems Water/Microporous and Water/Mesoporous Adsorbents

The adsorption equilibrium of water on microporous adsorbents (zeolites of NaA-, NaY- and NaX-type as well as their ion exchanged forms) and on mesoporous adsorbents (different silica gels and composite material i.e. silica gel + salt hydrate) has been studied experimentally and theoretically. Using the Dubinin theory of pore filling the characteristic curves of the adsorption systems and other relevant dependences such as isotherms, isobars, isosteres and the curve of the differential heat of adsorption were calculated. For all systems investigated the adsorption were calculated. A_ads and the desorption potential A_des of the closed heat storage system were estimated. These values define the working range of the adsorption/desorption cycle and allow to calculate the specific heat storage density Δ h_sp. On the basis of Δ h_sp the different adsorbents were compared in order to select the optimal porous storage material for a given application. The presented experimental and theoretical investigations show that the adsorption systems water-zeolite and water-composites are promising working pairs for thermochemical heat storage processes for hot tap water supply and space heating of single family dwellings. The advantage of the water-composite system is the low desorption temperature (solar energy) the main shortcoming the low temperature lift. The advantage of the water zeolite system is the high temperature lift, the shortcoming are the relative high desorption temperatures.     

The detection of oxygen in magneto-optical layers with SIMS

The detection of oxygen in magneto-optical layers is of fundamental importance for the characterization of the stability of RE-TM material. The magnetic properties are directly influenced by oxide formation. Oxygen depth profiles are carried out by using the SIMS technique. A comparison with magnetic measurements showed a clear conformity. We were able to study the oxidation behaviour of various layers at room temperature and at higher values up to 250° C for several hours. It could be shown that aluminum is a successful material for the protection of RE-films against oxidation. The difficulties of translating SIMS counting rates into concentration values were overcome by using EPMA. Specially prepared reference samples were measured by this technique and could then be used as standard samples for SIMS.     

金属元素在氢能利用过程中的作用

将金属元素分为主族、Ⅷ、镧系、其他d区等4个类别,综述了它们在氢气的生产、储存、氢燃料电池等3个氢能利用的主要过程中的作用。对现有研究结果的不完全统计表明,在元素周期表中除放射性金属元素之外的65种金属元素中,有46种金属元素以单质、合金、氧化物、盐等多种形式参与了氢能利用过程,包括作为载体、反应物、催化剂等,其中以铂系为代表的d区金属元素和以镧为代表的轻稀土金属元素应用最为广泛。     

Sorption equilibrium of methanol on new composite sorbents “CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>/silica gel”

This paper presents experimental data on methanol sorption on new composite sorbents which consist of mesoporous silica gels and calcium chloride confined to their pores. Sorption isobars and XRD analysis showed the formation of a solid crystalline solvate CaCl₂⋅2MeOH at low methanol uptake, while at higher uptake the formation of the CaCl₂–methanol solution occurred. The solution confined to the silica pores showed the sorption properties similar to those of the CaCl₂–methanol bulk solution. Calorimetric and isosteric analyses showed that the heat of methanol sorption depends on the methanol uptake, ranging from 38±2 kJ/mol for the solution to 81±4 kJ/mol for the solid crystalline phase CaCl₂⋅2MeOH. The above mentioned characterizations allowed the evaluation of the methanol sorption and the energy storage capacities, clearly showing that the optimal applications of these new composite sorbents are the methanol removal from gaseous mixtures, heat storage and sorption cooling driven by low temperature heat.     

Thermal characteristics of solid-solid phase transitions in long-chain dialkyl ammonium salts

A series of symmetrical dialkyl ammonium salts, DC_nX, has been prepared and characterized with respect to temperature and enthalpy of solid-solid phase transitions, temperature of melting, thermal stability as well as the reversibility of the phase transitions. The number of carbon atoms, C_n, was varied between 8 and 18 and as anions X halides, nitrate, chlorate, perchlorate and hydrogen sulphate had been chosen. In dependence on chain length and anion type transition temperatures from 20 to 100 °C were observed. Mass specific solid-solid transition enthalpies reach values of 185 J g⁻¹, which makes this class of substances attractive for heat storage applications. The influence of anion type on the transition enthalpies is explained in terms of packing requirements, hydrogen bond network formation and contributions from hindered anion rotation.