Field-theoretic approach to second-order phase transitions in two- and three-dimensional systems

We review the physical principles which are at the basis of recent field-theoretic computations of the critical exponents in two- and three-dimensional systems. We concentrate on those points that do not show up explicitly in the more standard-expansion: they must be discussed with care if one uses a perturbative approach at fixed space dimensions (the loop expansion). We present in detail simple computations of the critical exponents, while we summarize the results of longer and more accurate computations.     

碳纳米管在接枝二元胺过程中微结构的变化

通过对酸化的多壁碳纳米管(MWNTs)进行酰氯化, 在碳纳米管表面接枝己二胺. 用红外光谱、热重分析、拉曼光谱和场发射扫描电镜对处理前后的碳纳米管进行分析表征. 结果表明, 经过酰氯活化, 己二胺比较容易被接枝到碳纳米管上. 而且还发现碳纳米管在酸化后形成紧密块状结构, 在接枝胺后重新变得蓬松, 其表观比容甚至大于原始碳纳米管. 从理论上分析了碳纳米管的反应过程, 对碳纳米管在接枝胺过程中微结构的变化机理进行推测, 认为通过接枝, 己二胺插入碳纳米管之间, 改变了碳纳米管之间的相互作用, 使得酸化后因形成氢键而导致的紧密堆砌结构被破坏.     

Organic acid solutions in the chromatography of inorganic ions VIII. Cation-exchange of Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Sc(III), Y(III), Eu(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Ti(IV) and Nb(V) in malate media

Summary The cation-exchange behaviour of Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Sc(III), Y(III), Eu(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Ti(IV) and Nb(V) in malate media at various concentrations and pH, was studied with Dowex 50 WX8 resin (200–400 mesh) in the ammonium form. Separation of Fe(III)/Cu(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Zn(II), Fe(III)/Co(II)/Mn(II), Cu(II)/Ni(II)/Mn(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Co(II)/Mn(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Ni(II)/Cd(II), Yb(III)/Eu(III), Sc(III)/Y(III),Sc(III)/Yb(III)/Dy(III) and Nb(V)/Yb(III)/Ho(III) has been achieved, among others.This work was supported by C.N.R. of Italy.     

Ionic liquid–modified cellulosic hydrogels for loading and sustained release of selenourea: an ensuing inhibition of tyrosinase activity

Cellulose-based hydrogel materials were prepared and modified with tannic acid and l-methionine using ionic liquid as the solvent. The gels were prepared to develop a sustained release medium for selenourea (SeU). The drug delivery characteristics of selenourea-loaded cellulose (CSeU), selenourea-loaded tannic acid-modified cellulose (CTSeU), and selenourea-loaded L-methionine-modified cellulose (CMSeU) were investigated in aqueous media and simulated gastric fluid (SGF) media. This modified gel beads have been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis and swelling properties and compared with those of the unmodified ones. We also investigated the inhibitory effects of SeU released from these gels on the activity of mushroom tyrosinase. Out of all the gel materials, CTSeU showed maximum SeU release both in water and SGF media. However, tyrosinase inhibitory action in PBS medium was comparable for all the three gel materials.     

A comparative study on textural characterization: cation-exchange and sorption properties of crystalline alpha-zirconium(IV), tin(IV), and titanium(IV) phosphates

Tetravalent metal phosphates (M=Zr, Ti, and Sn) were prepared and characterized by XRD, surface properties, and TG-DTA. The cation exchange and sorption behavior of these metal phosphates toward transition metal ions such as Cu(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+) have been studied comparatively as a function of temperature and concentration. The adsorption process was found to increases with increase in temperature and concentration. The selectivity order for alpha-titanium and alpha-tin phosphates is Cu(2+)>Co(2+)>Ni(2+), whereas for alpha-zirconium phosphate it is Cu(2+)>Ni(2+)>Co(2+). The ion exchange capacity of alpha-titanium phosphate is greater than those of other phosphates, which is explained on the basis of the surface behavior, disorderness of the system, degree of hydrolysis of incoming guest adsorbate metal ions, and structural steric hindrance of the exchangers during adsorption and sorption. The distribution coefficient, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy values indicate that the ion-exchange processes are spontaneous.     

Control of separation selectivity in micellar electrokinetic chromatography by modification of the micellar phase with solubilized organic compounds

On the basis of the data on the distribution of various neutral solutes between sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and water, the control of separation selectivity in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) by modification of the micellar phase with organic additives has been proposed and applied to the separation of simple model compounds. It was found that the distribution constants between the micelles and water (K_d,mc), which were determined by means of MEKC, of the solutes possessing hydrophilic functional groups are much larger than those between heptane and water (K_d,hep), whereas the K_d,mc values of the solutes possessing no hydropholic groups are comparable to their K_d,hep values. This indicates that the former solutes are preferentially solubilized in the Stern layer of the micelles and that the latter are located in the hydrocarbon core. In MEKC separations of aromatic compounds and metal acetylacetonates, considerable changes in separation selectivity were caused by the addition of compounds possessing both hydrophilic functional groups such as alcohols, phenol and ketones to the SDS micellar solution. The variations of the retention factors of the analytes could be explained in terms of saturation of the solubilization sites in the Stern layer with the modifiers, specific interaction of the modifiers with the analytes via hydrogen bonding in the micelles, and expansion of the core volume with the hydrocarbon parts of the modifiers. Such effects of the micellar modification could improve the resolution as well as the selectivity of MEKC separations.     

Closed tube sample introduction for gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry analysis of water contaminated with a chemical warfare agent surrogate compound

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a proven technology for detection of vapor phase chemical warfare agents. The technology is suitable for field portable instrumentation due to its small size, high sensitivity, speed of analysis, and low power consumption. However, it suffers from a limited dynamic range and potential difficulties in identifying compounds in complex matrices. The use of gas chromatography (GC) coupled to IMS can overcome the difficulty of chemical identification in mixtures by separating the sample into individual components before detection. Using this approach, IMS technology has previously been adapted to detect biological aerosols using an open tube pyrolyzer and a short GC column (Py-GC-IMS). The open sample introduction tube of a Py-GC-IMS instrument would be a convenient configuration to accept aerosol particulates, and while viewed as needed for aerosol trapping, is not optimal for liquid chemical analyses. To examine the usefulness of an existing Py-GC-IMS system for analysis of chemicals in water, an existing open-port sample interface was replaced with a septum-equipped closed tube injector to contain analyte vapors resulting from liquid injection. Tributylphosphate (TBP) was used as a surrogate chemical warfare agent, and aqueous injections into both closed and open tube assemblies were performed. Sample introduction into the closed tube inlet was also accomplished using solid phase microextraction (SPME) preconcentration. The limit of detection for TBP using an open tube, closed tube, and closed tube configuration with SPME sample introduction was 0.980, 0.196, and 0.0098 mg/L, respectively.     

Use of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate in countercurrent chromatography

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) are molten salts that are liquids at room temperature. Their liquid state makes them possible candidates as solvents in countercurrent chromatography (CCC), which uses solvents as both the mobile and stationary phases. The study focuses on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM PF₆), an easy to synthesize and purify RTIL whose melting point is –8°C. It is shown that BMIM PF₆ behaves like a solvent of significant polarity (comparable with that of ethanol). The ternary phase diagram water–acetonitrile–BMIM PF₆ is given, because it was necessary to add acetonitrile to reduce the ionic liquid viscosity. The 40:20:40% w/w water–acetonitrile–BMIM PF₆ biphasic liquid system was found to be appropriate as a biphasic liquid system for CCC. Different aromatic solutes, including bases, acids, and neutral compounds, were injected into the CCC column to estimate their distribution constants between the ionic liquid-rich phase and the aqueous phase. The resulting K_il/w constants were compared with the corresponding literature octanol–water partition coefficients, K_o/w. The important drawbacks in the use of RTIL in CCC are clearly pointed out: high viscosity producing pressure build-up, UV absorbance limiting the use of the convenient UV detector, and non-volatility precluding the use of the evaporative light-scattering detector for continuous detection.     

A characterization of probability distributions by mean values

Let (X) be a measurable complex function onR;X, Y, Z be i.i.d. random variables; and (t, u, v)=E(tX+uY+nZ), wheret, u, vR. In this paper we describe a class of function (x) such that the distribution ofX, Y, Z is determined by the funetion (t, u, v). The main result is a generalization of the author's characterization of normal and stable distributions.     

Field and photo-field electron emission from self-assembled Ge–Si nanostructures with quantum dots

Monolayer and multilayer Ge nanocluster structures were prepared on Si(1 0 0) using molecular beam epitaxy. The cluster size was 10 nm and cluster density was 10¹⁰ cm⁻². A stable field electron emission was obtained from these structures, showing current peaks in the current–voltage characteristics, which may be attributed to the resonant electron tunneling via the energy levels of the nanocluster potential well. For cluster multilayers, the current–voltage curves also showed current peaks with a complex shape. The cluster multilayer structures had a considerable temperature sensitivity, as well as photosensitivity, in the wavelength range from 0.4 to 10 μm.