Al(Cap)3 as initiator in the anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam at high temperature

Mechanism for polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of both sodium and aluminum caprolactamate was investigated at 171°C. The role of Al(Cap)₃ as an initiator was revealed. The apparent rate constant of propagation reaction decreased with the increase in the concentration of Al(Cap)₃, as the two different metal salts interact even at 171°C. The activation energy of the overall polymerization reaction with this catalyst system was estimated to be 41.18 kcal/mole.     

The first ammonium aromatic diselenoates: stable heavy congeners of aromatic carboxylic acid salts

Ammonium aromatic diselenoates were synthesized by reacting aromatic diselenoic acid 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl esters derived from aluminum 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl selenolate with aromatic selenoic acid O-methyl esters with ammonium fluorides. The results of molecular structure analysis and NMR studies of ammonium salts supported the double-bond character between the carbon atom and selenium atoms.     

Nitrogen-containing organozinc and organoaluminum as catalyst for stereospecific polymerization of propylene oxide

Catalytic activities of the reaction products of diethylzinc or triethylaluminum with primary amines in the polymerization of propylene oxide were studied. Generally, organozinc compounds give higher ratio of the crystalline to the amorphous polymer than the organoaluminums. In the reactions of organometallic compounds with primary amines, Et₂AlNPhAlEt₂, Et₂AlN-t-BuAlEt₂, EtZnNH-t-Bu, and EtZn-t-BuZnEt were isolated in crystalline state. EtZnN-t-BuZnEt proved to be an excellent catalyst for the stereospecific polymerization of propylene oxide and forms coordination complexes with some electron donors such as dioxane, pyridine, epichlorohydrin and propylene oxide. The propylene oxide complex is unstable in solution and decomposes at temperatures above room temperature to give poly(propylene oxide), while the pyridine complex has no catalytic activity. Therefore, it is concluded that the polymerization of propylene oxide with this catalyst proceeds through the coordination of propylene oxide to the zinc atom of the catalyst.     

Electroluminescence properties of In-doped Zn2SiO4 thin films prepared by sol–gel process

The effect of In doping on the electroluminescence (EL) properties of Zn₂SiO₄:In thin films was investigated. In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ thin films were deposited on BaTiO₃ substrates and their EL properties were characterized in this study. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ powders revealed a single phase of Zn₂SiO₄ for In concentrations up to approximately 1.5 mol%, whereas a secondary phase of In₂O₃ was observed for In concentrations in the range of 2–10 mol%. The maximum luminance of thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices varied significantly with the amount of In doping. The highest luminance with blue emission was obtained when 2 mol% In was doped. The blue emission of In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ thin film may be related to the In substitution for Zn. The 2 mol% In-doped Zn₂SiO₄ thin film exhibited blue emission with CIE color coordinates of x=0.208 and y=0.086.     

Development of an engineering model for ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

This paper presents a relationship among stress, temperature and magnetic properties of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy. In order to derive an engineering model of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, we have developed a measuring system of the relationship among stress, temperature and magnetic properties. The samples used in this measurement are Fe68–Ni10–Cr9–Mn7–Si6 wt% ferromagnetic shape memory alloy. They are thin ribbons made by rapid cooling in air. In the measurement, the ribbon sample is inserted into a sample holder winding consisting of the B-coil and compensation coils, and magnetized in an open solenoid coil. The ribbon is stressed with attachment weights and heated with a heating wire. The specific susceptibility was increased by applying tension, and slightly increased by heating below the Curie temperature.     

Surface magnetism of β-FeO(OH) by Mössbauer spectroscopy

Fine particles of -FeO(OH) were prepared using the⁵⁶Fe isotope and the surfaces of the particles were coated with extremely thin⁵⁷Fe(III) layers. Mössbauer results show that the Fe(III) ions in the top surface layer are involved in the magnetic order and occupy two kinds of surface sites. Both of the two exchange field at surface sites, estimated from the temperature dependences of the hyperfine fields, are smaller than the bulk value. The decrease of exchange fields at the surface sites corresponds to the reduced number of neighboring magnetic ions at each site.     

Angle-resolved photoemission study of CoSi2 nanofilms grown on Si(111) substrates

We have carried out an angle-resolved photoemission study for CoSi₂ nanofilms grown on the Si(111)-7×7 substrates. The surface of CoSi₂(111) nanofilm changes from the bulk-truncated surface to the surface with additional Si-bilayer by annealing at higher temperature above 825 K. The angle-resolved photoemission spectra of the CoSi₂ nanofilm annealed at 853 K show the spectral features originated from the surface resonance state on the CoSi₂ surface terminated by Si-bilayer. From the detailed photoemission study, we discuss the surface electronic structure in CoSi₂(111) nanofilms grown on Si(111) substrates.     

Spatial distribution and formation of nitrate radical NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> in Antarctic calcitic evaporates

Nitrate radical NO₃²⁻ in calcitic evaporate was discovered in Antarctica. The distribution and formation of nitrate radical NO₃²⁻ in the calcite have been studied by pulse and continuous-wave electron spin resonance. In samples that had been annealed to destroy the NO₃²⁻, regeneration of the radical by γ-rays or UV light indicated that the radical was formed by UV light (with wavelengths less than 340 nm) from solar rays, not by environmental radiation. The nonuniform spatial distribution of the nitrate radical, which was deduced from high ratios of local spin density to total spin density, suggests that the nitrate impurity was introduced into the calcium carbonate after carbonate grain formation. Formation of the carbonate-containing nitrate requires the presence of high amounts of nitrate and a dry climate. Formation of the nitrate radical requires sample exposure to UV light. These conditions are satisfied in the environment of Antarctica.