Synthesis,anti‐migration and burning rate catalytic mechanism of ferrocene‐based compounds

One of the most important components of solid rocket propellant is the burning rate catalysts (BRC) which enhance burning rate of solid composite propellant. Low‐pressure exponents and stable burning rate are the key features of an excellent solid propellant. Addition of BRC to the propellant results in the increase of burning rate of the propellant and decrease in pressure exponents. Among all BRC, ferrocene‐based BRC have attracted much attention because of their better microscopic homogeneities in distribution, ignitability of the propellants and good compatibility with organic binder. However, the main barrier for the development and practical applications of ferrocene‐based BRC is their migration property. This article reviews the field and highlights recent progress. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unraveling σ and π Effects on Magnetic Anisotropy in cis‐NiA4B2 Complexes: Magnetization,HF‐HFEPR Studies,First‐Principles Calculations,and Orbital Modeling

By using complementary experimental techniques and first‐principles theoretical calculations, magnetic anisotropy in a series of five hexacoordinated nickel(II) complexes possessing a symmetry close to C_2v, has been investigated. Four complexes have the general formula [Ni(bpy)X₂]ⁿ⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine; X₂=bpy ( 1 ), (NCS^?)₂ ( 2 ), C₂O₄^2? ( 3 ), NO₃^? ( 4 )). In the fifth complex, [Ni(HIM₂‐py)₂(NO₃)]⁺ ( 5 ; HIM₂‐py=2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazolyl‐1‐hydroxy), which was reported previously, the two bpy bidentate ligands were replaced by HIM₂‐py. Analysis of the high‐field, high‐frequency electronic paramagnetic resonance (HF‐HFEPR) spectra and magnetization data leads to the determination of the spin Hamiltonian parameters. The D parameter, corresponding to the axial magnetic anisotropy, was negative (Ising type) for the five compounds and ranged from ?1 to ?10 cm^?1. First‐principles SO‐CASPT2 calculations have been performed to estimate these parameters and rationalize the experimental values. From calculations, the easy axis of magnetization is in two different directions for complexes 2 and 3 , on one hand, and 4 and 5 , on the other hand. A new method is proposed to calculate the g tensor for systems with S=1. The spin Hamiltonian parameters (D (axial), E (rhombic), and g_i) are rationalized in terms of ordering of the 3 d orbitals. According to this orbital model, it can be shown that 1) the large magnetic anisotropy of 4 and 5 arises from splitting of the e_g‐like orbitals and is due to the difference in the σ‐donor strength of NO₃^? and bpy or HIM₂‐py, whereas the difference in anisotropy between the two compounds is due to splitting of the t_2g‐like orbitals; and 2) the anisotropy of complexes 1 – 3 arises from the small splitting of the t_2g‐like orbitals. The direction of the anisotropy axis can be rationalized by the proposed orbital model.     

Poly(2‐oxazoline) hydrogels crosslinked with aliphatic bis(2‐oxazoline)s: Properties,cytotoxicity, and cell cultivation

A series of hydrogels from 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline and three bis(2‐oxazoline) crosslinkers—1,4‐butylene‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline), 1,6‐hexamethylene‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline), and 1,8‐octamethylene‐2,2′‐bis(2‐oxazoline)—are prepared. The hydrogels differ by the length of aliphatic chain of crosslinker and by the percentage of crosslinker (2–10%). The influence of the type and the percentage of the crosslinker on swelling properties, mechanical properties, and state of water is studied. The equilibrium swelling degree in water ranges from 2 to 20. With a proper selection of the crosslinker, Young's modulus can be varied from 10 kPa to almost 100 kPa. To evaluate the potential for medical applications, the cytotoxicity of extracts and the contact toxicity toward murine fibroblasts are measured. The hydrogels with the crosslinker containing a shorter aliphatic exhibit low toxicity toward fibroblast cells. Moreover, the viability and the proliferation of pancreatic β‐cells incubated inside hydrogels for 12 days are analyzed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1548–1559     

How a Transition‐Metal(II) Chloride Interacts with a Eutectic AlCl3‐Based Ionic Liquid: Insights into the Speciation of the Electrolyte and Electrodeposition of Magnetic Materials

Electrostatic interactions are characteristic of ionic liquids (ILs) and play a pivotal role in determining the formation of species when solutes are dissolved in them. The formation of new species/complexes has been investigated for certain ILs. However, such investigations have not yet focused on eutectic liquids, which are a promising class of ILs. These liquids (or liquid coordination complexes, LCCs) are rather new and are composed of cationic and anionic chloro complexes of metals. To date, these liquids have been employed as electrolytes to deposit metals and as solvents for catalysis. The present study deals with a liquid that is prepared by mixing a 1.2:1 mol ratio of AlCl₃ and 1‐butylpyrrolidine. An attempt has been made to understand the interactions of FeCl₂ with the organic molecule using spectroscopy. It was found that dissolved Fe(II) species interact mainly with the IL anion and such interactions can lead to changes in the cation of the electrolyte. Furthermore, the viability of depositing thick magnetic films of Fe and Fe–Al has been explored.     

以聚乙二醇-b-聚四乙烯基吡啶为模板制备聚联苯胺微/纳米颗粒及其电容特性

以两亲性嵌段共聚物聚乙二醇-b-聚四乙烯基吡啶(PEO-b-P4VP)为模板制备聚联苯胺微/纳米颗粒,调节模板剂胶束溶液pH,得到了一系列形貌和尺寸可控的聚联苯胺微/纳米颗粒。利用红外光谱、核磁共振、透射电镜、循环伏安、恒电流放电、交流阻抗等测试对材料的结构和性能进行了表征。模板法合成的聚联苯胺为平均直径小于200nm的亚微米至纳米级棒状颗粒,其直径随着模板剂胶束溶液pH的降低而增加。所得聚联苯胺颗粒均显示了一定的电化学活性,当电流密度为1A/g时,聚联苯胺的比电容量达到306.3F/g,经过长时间的充放电测试,不同条件下合成的聚联苯胺的容量衰减率均很小,表现出良好的循环稳定性且各样品电化学性能呈现出随着直径的减小而增强的趋势。     

The reinforcing effect of polydopamine functionalized graphene nanoplatelets on the mechanical properties of epoxy resins at cryogenic temperature

In order to obtain epoxy nanocomposites with excellent mechanical properties at cryogenic temperature, an efficient method to functionalize graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) is proposed. Through a simple dip-coating procedure, the GNPs were first functionalized with deposition of polydopamine coating (PDA@GNPs). Then, using polydopamine as a bridge, the PDA@GNPs were modified with amine groups after polyetheramine T403 grafting (T403-PDA@GNPs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses proved the successful functionalization of PDA and polyetheramine T403 on the surface of GNPs. Adding 0.1 wt% T403-PDA@GNPs significantly improved the cryogenic tensile strength and impact strength of the epoxy nanocomposites by 34.5% and 64.5%, which showed greater reinforcing effect than the pristine GNPs (12.6% and 19.1%) and PDA@GNPs (26.3% and 50.1%). The results of dynamic mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations indicated that the PDA and further polyetheramine T403 functionalization improved the interfacial interactions between GNPs and matrix, which ensured the much improved mechanical properties.     

First-principles study on the electronic structure and optical properties of La0.75Sr0.25MnO3-σ materials with oxygen vacancies defects

The electronic structure and optical properties of La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO_3-σ (LSMO_3-σ) materials with 1 × 1 × 4 orthorhombic perovskite structure were performed by first-principles calculation. The structural changing of LSMO₃ (ideal structure, σ = 0) was not obvious under generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA + U arithmetic. On the contrary, the structural changing of LSMO_3-σ (σ = 0.25, with oxygen vacancies defects in the z = 0, c/8, c/6, c/4, and c/2) with GGA + U were more obvious than the result of ideal. This structural distortion induced distinct changing in density of states (DOS) for LSMO_3-σ materials. Oxygen vacancy defects caused a shift of the total density of states (TDOS) features toward low binding energies and LSMO_3-σ keep half-metal properties as well as LSMO₃ ideal structure. In addition, the hybridization between the Mn-e_g and O-2p orbital was weakened and the partial density of states (PDOS) of Mn indicated a strong d-d orbital interaction. By the result of oxygen vacancy formation energy, oxygen vacancy defects can be more easily formed in La-O layers (z = 0 and c/6) to compare with other layers (z = c/8, c/4 and c/2). The calculation result of optical properties suggested that the ideal LSMO could be produced strong absorption in the range of ultraviolet and visible light, while the LSMO_3-σ with oxygen vacancies defects were presented weak absorption in the range of visible light.     

Metal-free phthalocyanine single crystal: Solvothermal synthesis and near-infrared electroluminescence

A metal-free purple H₂Pc single crystal was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method, and its solubility and near-infrared (NIR) optical properties were also investigated due to its potential applications as a light-emitting layer for OLEDs. The H₂Pc single crystal is insoluble in 1-chlorine naphthalene and other organic solvents. It gives a wide absorption in the range from 620 nm to 679 nm and a wide emission in near 922 nm. As an active light-emitting layer, H₂Pc was employed to fabricate electroluminescent (EL) devices with a structure of ITO/NPB (30 nm)/Alq₃:H₂Pc (30 nm)/BCP (20 nm)/Alq₃ (20 nm)/Al. The emission center is at 936 nm when the H₂Pc doping concentration is 20 wt%. The doping concentration strongly governs the emission intensity. When doping concentration decreases from 10 wt% to 1 wt%, the emission intensity remarkably fades, and simultaneously the emission center undergoes a blue shift.