From model compounds to extended pi-conjugated systems: synthesis and properties of dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phospholes

To explore their suitability for applications in molecular optoelectronics and as sensory materials, novel dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phospholes have been synthesized and their reactivity and properties investigated. An efficient two-step synthesis allowed for a modular assembly of differently functionalized compounds. The dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phosphole system exhibits extraordinary optoelectronic properties with respect to wavelength, intensity, and tunability. Owing to the nucleophilic nature of the central phosphorus atom, its significant electronic influence on the conjugated pi system can be altered selectively by chemically facile modifications such as oxidation or complexation with Lewis acids or transition metals. All the dithienophosphole species presented show very strong blue photoluminescence with excellent quantum yield efficiencies supporting their potential utility as blue-light emitting components in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Furthermore, depending on the electronic nature of the phosphorus center, the materials exhibit distinctive optoelectronic properties suggesting that the dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phosphole system may be useful as sensory material. Theoretical calculations, including time-dependent DFT methods, revealed the excellent predictability of the structures and optoelectronic properties of the functionalized dithienophospholes allowing the design of future dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]phosphole-based materials to be "stream-lined". By using tin-functionalized dithienophosphole monomers, a strategy, which involves Stille coupling, towards extended pi-conjugated materials with significantly redshifted optoelectronic properties is also presented.     

Investigation into new materials for optical devices: the miscibility and solvent effects of azobenzene derivative blends

With the increasing demand for novel devices with optical applications the search for new materials to data store and process becomes a priority. By introducing blends, tailor made properties and low cost give added advantage. Miscibility is an essential requirement for a new material, this research thus involves miscibility studies of poly(4‐(N‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl)‐N‐ethylamino)‐4′‐nitroazobenzene)₉₀‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)₁₀, (azobenzene derivative) with polymethyl‐methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylacetate (PVAc) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) prepared in tetrahydrofuran (THF), and/or dimethylformamide (DMF) and/or dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂). The glass transitions, solvent and varying molecular weight effect were investigated, since these all primarily influence the miscibility. THF was found to encourage miscibility at specific compositions of PVAc and PVC blends. However, with CH₂Cl₂ and DMF immiscibility is encouraged. The Fox–Flory equation was applied to the blends analyzing the PVC blends in DMF as deviations from ideality. Different molecular weights of PMMA were identified as immiscible regardless of solvent. PMMA's lower solubility in THF and CH₂Cl₂ compared to the azobenzene derivative, displayed the existence of PMMA islands. In all blends the favorable and unfavorable interactions between polymer–solvent–polymer systems are considered. Furthermore, the miscibility effect on increasing the MMA content of the azobenzene derivative was also investigated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

溶剂热法制备纳米氧化镍及其表征

以乙酰丙酮镍、油酸、油胺为原料，十八烯为溶剂，聚乙烯吡咯烷酮为表面活性剂，采用溶剂热法，在不同反应条件制备了纳米级氧化镍材料.通过X射线衍射（X-ray diffraction，XRD）、透射电子显微镜（Transmission electron microscope，TEM）、紫外-可见光吸收光谱（Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy，UV-Vis）光谱分析以及塔菲尔（Tafel）测试考察了反应物比例、保温时间、表面活性剂（PVP）、油胺的量对产物微结构、粒径、形貌、光学以及电化学活性性能的影响.实验结果表明：在反应物n[Ni（acac）₂]∶n（OA）=1∶2、添加剂PVP质量分数为1.66%、油胺物质的量为30 mmol、200℃下保温8 h时，可获得粒径约为30～40 nm纯相氧化镍，具有最佳电化学活性，交换电流密度为J₀=1.23×10^-2 mA·cm^-2.     

Classification of oxide glasses: A polarizability approach

A classification of binary oxide glasses has been proposed taking into account the values obtained on their refractive index-based oxide ion polarizability α_O2−(n₀), optical basicity Λ(n₀), metallization criterion M(n₀), interaction parameter A(n₀), and ion's effective charges as well as O1s and metal binding energies determined by XPS. Four groups of oxide glasses have been established: glasses formed by two glass-forming acidic oxides; glasses formed by glass-forming acidic oxide and modifier's basic oxide; glasses formed by glass-forming acidic and conditional glass-forming basic oxide; glasses formed by two basic oxides. The role of electronic ion polarizability in chemical bonding of oxide glasses has been also estimated. Good agreement has been found with the previous results concerning classification of simple oxides. The results obtained probably provide good basis for prediction of type of bonding in oxide glasses on the basis of refractive index as well as for prediction of new nonlinear optical materials.     

Doped Sol-Gel Films for Silica-on-Silicon Photonic Components

Further expansion of optical communication systems depends strongly on the development of cheap component technologies for functions such as switching, demultiplexing and amplification. Silica-on-silicon is increasingly recognised as the best approach to low cost integrated optics for such applications, but so far the functionality is limited. The purpose of NODES, a basic research collaboration sponsored by the European Union under the programme ESPRIT, has been to examine the application of sol-gel to a highly functional silica-on-silicon technology. In particular, the project has investigated film processing and characterisation, rare-earth doping for amplification, and semiconductor nanocrystallite doping for nonlinear functions. This paper presents the background and context to this work, summarises the technical results obtained, and discusses requirements and challenges for successful application of sol-gel in photonics.     

ω-9-蒽多亚甲基羧酸-甲基取代香豆素酯的合成及其光性能研究

合成了9个新的双荧光团化合物ω-9-蒽多亚甲基羧酸-甲基取代香豆素酯和3个模型化合物,讨论了这些化合物的结构与光性能之间的关系。     

Partial transfer of enantioselective chiralities from α-methylated amino acids, known to be of meteoritic origin, into normal amino acids

There is overwhelming evidence that meteorites bring α-methylated amino acids to earth with some l(S) enantiomeric excess. How does that get transferred into normal biological molecules? In this brief account, we show that an α-methylated amino acid, d(R)-α-methylvaline, can react with pyruvate and phenylpyruvate salts in dry mixtures to form alanine and phenylalanine with l enantiomeric excesses, under sensible prebiotic conditions. Thus the meteoritic l(S) excesses of this compound would produce excess d-alanine and d-phenylalanine, which are found in some organisms.     

Study on thermal stability of poled non-linear optical polymers

A logarithmic expression is proposed to describe relaxation of the polar order in side chain polymers,together with a new way of plotting temperature dependent relaxation data.This results in a straight line extending even below the glass transition temperature in the case of poled nonlinear optics (NLO) side chain polymers.A simple procedure to determine the rotational diffusion constant Dr is given and Dr values of several polymer systems have been evaluated and compared with each other.It appears that,starting from the conventional and well known poled polymer system currently applied,a further lowering of Dr by about 3 orders of magnitude is necessary in order to reach an acceptable orientational stability or lifetime of poled polymers for practical applications.Attempts have been made to introduce electron push-pull substituents into high thermostable molecular frameworks and results of preliminary measurements are reported.     

互穿网络型二阶非线性光学极化聚合物

报导了二阶非线性光学材料含对硝基苯偶氮苯烷基胺发色基团的聚氨酯和聚丙烯酸酯的互窗网络聚合物的合成和极化工艺，考察了微观形态，用电致色变法测定了其极化膜发色基团的取向度及取向的热稳定性，其二阶非线性光学系数ｘ＾（２）可达１０＾－７ｅｓｕ量级。该互穿网络聚合物极化膜有良好的光学性质和优异的热稳定性，在１２０℃温度下序参数可长期保持稳定。     

Preparation of Saccharide-Silica Composites by a Sol-Gel Method and the Application for Optical Resolution of Metal Chelate Compounds

A novel organic-inorganic composite was prepared by a sol-gel process using hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) reacted with a saccharide. During the process, ethoxy groups of the TEOS were replaced with hydroxyl groups of the saccharide and, consequently, saccharide molecules were combined with silica through their hydroxyl groups. Samples obtained under different reaction conditions were used for optical resolution of a metal chelate compound. The resolution ability of the composites was affected by the amount of water added for hydrolysis and of the saccharide. In particular, the amount of water drastically influenced the optical resolution performance. Composites obtained at the lower H2O/TEOS ratio gave the metal chelate compound a higher optical rotation. Three types of composites with the same composition were prepared by kneading, impregnation and by the sol-gel method, and were compared. The sol-gel composite showed the best optical resolution ability. It was concluded that the optical resolution ability was closely related to dispersibility of saccharide in the silica matrix.