NMR shielding constants of CuX,AgX, and AuX (X = F,Cl, Br,and I) investigated by density functional theory based on the Douglas–Kroll–Hess Hamiltonian

Two‐component relativistic density functional theory (DFT) with the second‐order Douglas–Kroll–Hess (DKH2) one‐electron Hamiltonian was applied to the calculation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shielding constant. Large basis set dependence was observed in the shielding constant of Xe atom. The DKH2‐DFT‐calculated shielding constants of I and Xe in HI, I₂, CuI, AgI, and XeF₂ agree well with those obtained by the four‐component relativistic theory and experiments. The Au NMR shielding constant in AuF is extremely more positive than in AuCl, AuBr, and AuI, as reported recently. This extremely positive shielding constant arises from the much larger Fermi contact (FC) term of AuF than in others. Interestingly, the absolute values of the paramagnetic and the FC terms are considerably larger in CuF and AuF than in others. The large paramagnetic term of AuF arises from the large d‐components in the Au d_π –F p_π and Au sd_σ–F p_σ molecular orbitals (MOs). The large FC term in AuF arises from the small energy difference between the Au sd_σ + F p_σ and Au sd_σ–F p_σ MOs. The second‐order magnetically relativistic effect, which is the effect of DKH2 magnetic operator, is important even in CuF. This effect considerably improves the overestimation of the spin‐orbit effect calculated by the Breit–Pauli magnetic operator. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Microwave-Assisted Chemical Demulsification of Water-in-Crude-Oil Emulsions

Two case studies are presented that shows the effects of chemical demulsifiers used under conventional heating and in combination with microwave radiation on efficiency of demulsification and light transmittance of the water separated from the emulsions. The data shows that the chemical demulsifiers coupling with microwave radiation does a better job at demulsifying the water-in-crude-oil emulsions than when the chemical demulsifiers are used under conventional heating. The demulsification efficiency of AE-121 could reach 100% under microwave irradiation (300 W) for 50 seconds.     

Adsorption Mechanism of Comb Polymer Dispersants at the Cement/Water Interface

Comb polymers are commonly used as dispersants to stabilize highly concentrated cement suspensions. The effectiveness of such polymeric additives to stabilize these suspensions is determined to a large extent by the amount adsorbed. In this study we investigated the adsorption characteristics of various comb dispersant containing different graft densities on surfaces of cement particle. The effect of inorganic salts on their adsorption was also examined in order to elucidate their adsorption mechanism. The results show that the adsorption of comb polymer dispersants on cement surface conforms approximately to Langmuir's adsorption isotherm and the characteristic plateau A _s and adsorption free energy ΔG_ads are largely dependent on the anionic group content of the comb polymers. The A _s and ΔG_ads increase with increasing anionic group content. This information suggests that the adsorption of comb polymers on cement surfaces is dominated by electrostatic interaction between COO-groups on the comb polymers and the positive surface of the cement. This conclusion is supported by effects of inorganics such as calcium and sulfate ions, and diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. The implication of results for tuning polymers for the required performance in cement manufacture should be noted.     

准经典轨线方法对Ca+CD3Ⅰ→CaⅠ+CD3同位素效应的动力学研究

在扩展Lond-Eyring-Polanyi-Sato(LEPS)势能面上,采用准经典轨线方法对反应Ca+CD3I→CaI+CD3进行了动力学计算,并讨论了该反应的同位素效应.在同位素效应作用下,产物CaI的振动态分布向低振动态转移,反应体系的散射截面在低碰撞能和高碰撞能处有较小的变化.同时,受到反应物的质量因子变化的影响,产物转动取向值减少,产物转动取向增强.仅有产物的角分布受同位素效应的影响不明显.     

Laterally dibenzyloxy-branched nematogens with large nematic range and rich solid polymorphism

Mesogenic compounds containing four rings in the core usually have very high melting points. However, when two identical lateral benzyloxy groups are introduced on the same side of one of the central rings, the melting point is lowered dramatically and a large nematic range is retained. This range is affected by the bulkiness of the para-substituents in the lateral rings. Methyl groups can be introduced in the ortho- or meta-positions with a consequent decrease in the melting temperature without much affecting the nematic range. These compounds exhibit a rich solid polymorphism which is certainly related to the effect of the conformations of the lateral substituent on the molecular arrangment in the solid phase. Some preliminary NMR experiments on the nematic phase indicate that the molecular long axis coincides with the core axis, whereas the para-axis of the lateral fragment makes an angle close to the magic angle with respect to the molecular long axis.     

Determination of the permittivity of nematic liquid crystals in the microwave region

Two 3 mm thick microscope glass plates, having one face plus their two long edges coated by a thick metallic film, are spaced 75 μm apart by mylar spacers. Because of the metallic coatings on the inner faces the structure acts as a single metallic slit. The space between the two coated plates is filled with aligned nematic liquid crystal (E7, Merck/BDH) and the cell is inserted in an absorber aperture. This single metallic slit geometry supports resonant modes when microwaves are incident with their polarization (E-field) perpendicular to the slit. The structure gives a set of Fabry-Perot-like resonant transmission frequencies. These frequencies move when a voltage is applied between the two plates, the liquid crystal being first aligned homogeneously, then realigning homeotropically with the applied field. By minotoring these changes a fast and easy to use procedure for determining the permittivity and its anisotropy for nematic liquid crystals in the microwave region has been developed. The parameters determined for E7 are ε_e = 3.17 (n_e = 1.78 ± 0.01) and ε_o = 2.72 (n_o = 1.65 ± 0.01), (Δn ≈ 0.13) in the 40.0–60.0 GHz region.     

Plasmonic resonance instigated enhanced photoluminescence in quantum dot dispersed nematic liquid crystal

In the present investigation, the optical property of the nematic sample p-methoxybenzylidene p-decylaniline, dispersed with SiO₂ quantum dot (QD), has been reported. Enhanced luminescence has been observed from nematic-QD composites. Surface plasmonic effect along with QD exciton has been highlighted to discuss the observed intensification in photoluminescence. The intensified photoemission from the nematic composites can also be inferred from improved orientational behaviour of the liquid crystal molecules due to dispersion of QDs. Variation in the intensity of photoabsorption can be harnessed for development of luminescent display devices and optical parameter-driven scientific applications.     

Anomalous behaviour in the SmA*–SmCA* pre‐transitional regime of a chiral swallow‐tailed antiferroelectric liquid crystal

The temperature‐ and electric field‐dependent dielectric relaxation and polarisation of a new chiral swallow tailed antiferroelectric liquid crystal, i.e. 1‐ethylpropyl (S)‐2‐{6‐[4‐(4′‐decyloxyphenyl)benzoyloxy]‐2‐naphthyl}propionate (abbreviated as EP10PBNP), were investigated. The electric field‐induced dielectric loss spectra of EP10PBNP revealed electroclinic and anomalous dielectric behaviour in the chiral smectic A (SmA*)–chiral antiferroelectric smectic C (SmC_A*) pre‐transitional regime. From an analysis of thermal hysteresis of the dielectric constant, electric field‐induced polarisation and dielectric loss spectra, the appearance of a ferrielectric‐like mesophase is observed followed by an unstable SmC_A* phase in the SmA*–SmC_A* pre‐transitional regime.     

Optical studies of dynamic director configurations in ferroelectric liquid crystal devices

An investigation into the transmission spectrum of a ferroelectric liquid crystal device is undertaken. This is done both for an initial static state and during a switching process. Comparisons are made between experimental data and theoretical predictions. The dynamic internal director configurations in the device is shown to be consistent with a simple model during both monopolar and bipolar addressing pulses.