Addendum to “Switching effect and the metal–insulator transition in electric field” by A.L. Pergament et al. [J. Phys. Chem. Solids 71 (2010) 874]

In the paper mentioned above we reported on the switching mechanism in vanadium dioxide which was shown to be based on the electronically-induced Mott insulator-to-metal transition occurring in conditions of the non-equilibrium carrier density excess in the applied electric field, and the proposed model involved the dependence of the carrier density n on electric field (the Poole–Frenkel effect), as well as the dependence of the critical electric field on n. The data on the n(T) dependence were obtained on the assumption of a temperature-independent carrier mobility μ, and the problem of n reduction at lower temperatures was not fully understood. In this Letter we revisit this problem in the light of some recent data on the μ(T) dependence for VO₂. It is shown that the adjusted values of n, taking into account this μ(T), correspond to the Mott critical density within an order of magnitude.     

Fields,particles and universality in two dimensions

We discuss the use of field theory for the exact determination of universal properties in two-dimensional statistical mechanics. After a compact derivation of critical exponents of main universality classes, we turn to the off-critical case, considering systems both on the whole plane and in presence of boundaries. The topics we discuss include magnetism, percolation, phase separation, interfaces, wetting.     

The phase stability of Ca2TiO4 and related Ruddlesden–Popper phases

The Ruddlesden–Popper phases of the Ca–Ti–O system, Ca_n+1Ti_nO_3n+1, are investigated by means of atomistic simulations employing empirical pair potentials. The stability of the phases is examined in terms of various reaction schemes: the formation from the binary oxides, the addition of the perovskite oxide to a given phase, and the reaction between perovskite and rock-salt oxides. The energies of these reactions are compared with results previously obtained for the Ruddlesden–Popper phases of the Sr–Ti–O system. The importance of the disproportionation reaction of the various R–P phases in both Ca and Sr systems is also emphasized. The results obtained are in good agreement with experimental observations regarding both systems.     

Phase unwrapping by accumulation of residual maps

We present a path independent (global) algorithm for phase unwrapping based on the minimisation of a robust cost function. The algorithm incorporates an outlier rejection mechanism making it robust to large inconsistencies and discontinuities. The proposal consists on an iterative incremental scheme that unwraps a sub-estimation of the residual phase at each iteration. The sub-estimation degree is controlled by an algorithm׳s parameter. We present an efficiently computational multigrid implementation based on a nested strategy: the process is iterated by using multiple resolutions. The proposal׳s performance is demonstrated by experiments with synthetic and real data, and successfully compared with algorithms of the state of the art.     

Synthesis of Mixed Alkylphosphites and Alkylphosphates

Some mixed phosphites having two different alkyl chain were obtained as forerunners for mixed phosphates Mixed dialkyl phosphates were obtained in good yields (40-80%) by phase transfer catalysis in liquid-liquid sistem, starting from different dialkyl phosphites and aliphatic alcohols. The reaction conditions were optimized in order to obtain good yields in phosphites and phosphates respectively. Compounds were analyzed by IR, P 31 -NMR.     

KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF PHASE TRANSFER CATALYZED FREE RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL ACRYLATE

The kinetics of free radical polymerization of methylacrylate (MA) was investigated using benzyltributylammonium chloride (BTBAC) as phase transfer catalyst and potassium peroxydisulfate as initiator at aconstant temperature, 60°C, in an inert atmosphere under unstirred condition. The effect of concentrations of the monomer, initiator and the catalyst on polymerization was discussed and a mechanism of polymerization has been proposed. The order with respect to the monomer, initiator, and phase transfer catalyst was found to be 2, 0.5, and 0.5, respectively.     

Synthesis,Photophysics and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Stilbenoid Pyrimidine‐Based Dyes Bearing Methylenepyran Donor Groups

The nonlinear properties and the photophysical behavior of two π‐conjugated chromophores that incorporate an electron‐deficient pyrimidine core (A) and γ‐methylenepyrans as terminal donor (D) groups have been thoroughly investigated. Both dipolar and quadrupolar branching strategies are explored and rationalized on the basis of the Frenkel exciton model. Even though a cooperative effect is clearly observed if the dimensionality is increased, the nonlinear optical (NLO) response of this series is moderate if one considers the nature of the D/A couple and the size of the chromophores (as measured by the number of π electrons). This effect was attributed to a disruption in the electronic conjugation within the dyes’ scaffold for which the geometry deviates from planarity owing to a noticeable twisting of the pyranylidene end‐groups. This latter structural parameter also has a strong influence on the excited‐state dynamics, which leads to a very efficient fluorescence quenching.