First principle calculations study of AlN surface terminal structure evolution under different conditions

The surface structure and properties of aluminum nitride (AlN) play an important role in many applications. Using the first principle calculations method, we analyzed the surface terminal structure of AlN and its evolution under different conditions by determining the surface energy, adsorption energy, and evaporation energy of the Al and N terminals on the AlN(0001) surface. Our results show that the reason why the N terminal is less stable than the Al terminal is not only because of its high surface energy but also because its adsorption performance is extremely sensitive to the adsorption position. The surface N atoms combine to form N₂ molecules that escape during the evaporation process at high temperature. After surface N atoms escape, the AlN surface structure reconstitutes to form a hexagonal closest packing (HCP)–like structure, and the energy barrier for the reconstructing process is 3.2 eV. This shows that the structure and form of the AlN(0001) terminals depend on the environmental conditions.     

Partially concurrent eluent evaporation with an early vapor exit; detection of food irradiation through coupled LC-GC analysis of the fat

This paper reports two subjects. It describes LC-GC transfer by partially concurrent eluent evaporation at a greatly accelerated rate, as required for optimal compatibility with 2–3 mm i.d. LC columns and LC flow rates up to some 500 μl/min. Evaporation rates around 200 μl/min were obtained using a 0.53 mm. i.d. uncoated pre-column and an early vapor exit. A stationary-phasecoated “retaining” pre-column was used for preventing escape of volatile solutes through the vapor exit. The technique was used for the detection of food irradiation by analyzing selected radiolysis products of triglycerides, namely alkanes/alkanes and aldehydes. Extracted fat of chicken, hazel-nuts, and soup mixes was injected in LO and the relevant fractions were transferred on-line to GC. For chicken and nuts, detection of irradiation was possible down to doses below 0.5 kGy. Detection limits were higher for soup mixes due to interfering peaks.     

Aggregation effects on evaporation and the air/water interface of dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide solutions

 The system dodecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (DTAOH)–water was studied by surface tension, ion-selective electrodes and evaporation in an electrobalance. Results confirmed earlier conclusions about a stepwise aggregation mechanism in DTAOH solutions. The aggregation process started at a total concentration C _T=(2.51±0.10)×10^-4 mol dm^-3) which probably corresponds to the formation of dimers. At C _T= (1.300±0.041)×10^-3 mol dm^-3 there was a change in the surface and evaporation behavior, corresponding to the formation of small, fully ionized aggregates which grew with increasing concentration. At C _T= (1.108±0.010)×10^-2 mol dm^-3 the formation of true micelles with hydroxide counterions in the Stern layer did not change significantly the evaporation and adsorption behavior. This means that between this concentration and C _T=(3.02±0.28)× M28.8n10^-2 mol dm^-3, the changes in structure were gradual. At the latter concentration there was a sudden change in the monolayer state at the air/water interface, with a strong surfactant desorption, and a major change in evaporation behavior. The changes are compatible with the formation of few, large aggregates reducing the total concentration of kinetically independent solute units, which in turn increased the activity of the solvent. This phenomenon is in agreement with literature information. The reduction in the evaporation rate of water was mainly due to the reduction of the water activity, caused by colligative effects. The reduction of the effective area available for evaporation had only a slight effect in water evaporation. Received: 9 January 1997 Accepted: 19 October 1997     

Advanced statistical evaluation of the complex formation constants from electrophoretic data II: Diastereomeric ion-pairs of (R,S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine and tert-butylcarbamoylquinine

Intermolecular association and ion-pair formation, respectively, between a cationic chiral selector, viz. o-9-(tert-butylcarbamoyl) quinine (CQN), and the both enantiomers of anionic N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine, (R)-DNB-Leu and (S)-DNB-Leu, were investigated by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE). Thus, binding constants of the both diastereomeric ion-pairs, (R) and (S)-DNB-Leu/CQN associates, were determined by different experimental setups and correction of nonlinear effects. A reciprocal setup was employed for the high-affinity (S)-enantiomer, and the experimental mobility data obtained for CQN at variable (S)-DNB-Leu concentrations in the background electrolyte were linearized and evaluated by advanced statistical model. A binding constant of K_S=125.1 l mol⁻¹ was afforded. The constant for the (R)-enantiomer, which is outside the range suitable for direct affinity CE, was obtained from indirect affinity CE utilizing the separation of the DNB-Leu racemate at a single appropriate CQN concentration in the BGE (resolution method) taking advantage of the known constant for the (S)-enantiomer yielding a binding constant of K_R=2.51 l mol⁻¹. Thereby, the so-called “constant time method” was adopted for the required precise measurement of the effective mobilities of the both enantiomers. A combined approach of reciprocal affinity CE with racemic DNB-Leu as additive and the resolution method confirmed the results. The resulting constants evidence excellent enantioselectivity of the tert-butylcarbamoyl derivative of the cinchona alkaloid quinine as chiral selector for N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) derivatives of amino acids.     

Extraction of kinetic information from single-molecule experiments.

We discuss two possible approaches for extracting kinetic information from single-molecule experiments. The first approach is based on computing correlation functions from measured fluorescence signals, and the second on studying the statistics of on and off times of the same fluorescence signal. We show that in both cases it is possible to extract kinetic information about the nature of intramolecular fluctuations of the single molecule. We show that for single-molecule kinetics the intramolecular fluctuations produce stochastic memory effects which lead to new dynamic features that do not exist in traditional chemical kinetics. In particular, we investigate a new type of chemical oscillations in correlation functions observed experimentally by Edman and Rigler (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2000, 97, 8266).     

A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

Analysis of petroleum fractions by on-line micro HPLC-HRGC coupling,involving increased efficiency in using retention gaps by partially concurrent solvent evaporation

Two-dimensional chromatography of gasoline by on-line coupled HPLC-HRGC, as described in this paper, allows separate GC analysis of paraffins and aromatics. The GC system contains a retention gap of only 10 m length for introducing HPLC fractions of 100 μl volume. This becomes possible through evaporation of part of the solvent during introduction of the HPLC eluent. This “partially concurrent solvent evaporation” technique allows transfer of large volumes of HPLC eluent into relatively short retention gaps, maintaining the full efficiency of the solvent effects in reconcentrating the bands of the early eluted solutes.     

19F-NMR-spektroskopischer Nachweis und Berechnung der statistischen Bildung der gemischten Clusteranionen [(Mo6BrCl)F]2−, n = 0 – 8

¹⁹F NMR Spectroscopic Evidence and Calculation of the Statistical Formation of Mixed Cluster Anions [(Mo₆Br Cl )F ]^2?, n = 0 – 8 The complete system of the innersphere mixed clusters (Mo₆BrCl)⁴⁺ is formed by exchange of innersphere bound Clⁱ against outersphere bound Br^a on tempering the solid [(Mo₆Cl)Br] at 500°C for 16 h. After conversion with conc. HCl into (H₃O)₂[(Mo₆BrCl)Cl] and precipitation of the outer Cl^a with AgBF₄ in ethanol, treatment with tetrabutylammonium(TBA)fluoride yields (TBA)₂ [(Mo₆BrCl)F], a mixture of 22 different species. According to the sets of chemical equivalent fluorine atoms in total 55 ¹⁹F nmr signals are expected, which are really observed in the high resolution 1D-¹⁹F-nmr spectrum. Using increments of chemical shifts, peak intensities and multiplet structures as well as the 2D-¹⁹F/¹⁹F-COSY spectrum the complete and unambiguous assignment of all resonances is achieved. From the measured integral intensities the distribution of the different compounds is determined, revealing statistical formation of the geometrical isomers.     

Nonequilibrium fluctuations in μ space

The properties of fluctuations in space in or outside thermal equilibrium are obtained by solving hierarchies of equations derived either from the Liouville or the Master equation. In particular we study the one-, two-, etc., time correlation functions that describe the spatial and temporal behavior of the fluctuations in space. Explicit solutions are obtained for a dilute gas. The Langevin approach is briefly discussed. Our results are compared with those obtained in the extensive literature, which is reviewed in some detail.     

The third law of thermodynamics and the degeneracy of the ground state for lattice systems

The third law of thermodynamics, in the sense that the entropy per unit volume goes to zero as the temperature goes to zero, is investigated within the framework of statistical mechanics for quantum and classical lattice models. We present two main results: (i) For all models the question of whether the third law is satisfied can be decided completely in terms of ground-state degeneracies alone, provided these are computed for all possible boundary conditions. In principle, there is no need to investigate possible entropy contributions from low-lying excited states, (ii) The third law is shown to hold for ferromagnetic models by an analysis of the ground states.Dedicated to Pierre Résibois. Work supported in part by NSF grant PHY-7825390 A01.