Formation of porous polymer morphology by microsyneresis during divinylbenzene polymerization

This article describes the investigation of the importance of various reaction conditions on microsyneretic pore formation during polymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) under so‐called “solvothermal” conditions. To induce microsyneretic pore formation, the most important parameter is an unusually high dilution of monomers with a “good” porogen solvating the polymer chains. High dilution and solvation of the growing poly(DVB) chains promote the prolongation of the polymer chains rather than their interconnection by crosslinking. Consequently, when the polymer gel density reaches the point where syneresis starts, the polymer network is geometrically too extensive to be broken up into precipitating entities and, instead, porogen droplets are formed within the continuous polymer gel. The pore geometry created by microsyneresis offers high surface area in wide mesopores and hence, high capacity for supporting functional groups or reactions with much better accessibility than narrow pores between polymer microspheres produced by macrosyneresis in conventional styrenic polymer supports. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 774–781     

Asymptotic properties of computationally efficient alternative estimators for a class of multivariate normal models

Parameters of Gaussian multivariate models are often estimated using the maximum likelihood approach. In spite of its merits, this methodology is not practical when the sample size is very large, as, for example, in the case of massive georeferenced data sets. In this paper, we study the asymptotic properties of the estimators that minimize three alternatives to the likelihood function, designed to increase the computational efficiency. This is achieved by applying the information sandwich technique to expansions of the pseudo-likelihood functions as quadratic forms of independent normal random variables. Theoretical calculations are given for a first-order autoregressive time series and then extended to a two-dimensional autoregressive process on a lattice. We compare the efficiency of the three estimators to that of the maximum likelihood estimator as well as among themselves, using numerical calculations of the theoretical results and simulations.     

Mechanical properties of metallic ribbons investigated by depth sensing indentation technique

The paper presents mechanical properties of two kinds of Co-based and one Fe-based metallic ribbons by the depth sensing indentation (DSI) technique. Investigations were carried out on two kinds ternary alloy Co₇₇Si_11,5B_11,5 and Fe₇₈Si₁₃B₉ and multicomponent Co₆₈Fe₄Mo₁Si_13,5B_13,5, which are so-called “zero-magnetostriction” materials. Metallic ribbons were investigated in amorphous state and partially crystallized state after annealing in 400°C in argon atmosphere. Heating of ribbons obtained by melt spinning technique was performed to check its effect on changes of mechanical properties.     

A Safe Way of Performing Some Dangerous Experiments. II. Construction of a Safety Dropper

Due to the high safety risks, chemistry instructors avoid demonstrating many remarkable experiments based on the addition of a liquid to a solid. Well-known examples of such demonstrations are various pyrotechnic mixtures of potassium chlorate and sugar (sucrose), which are usually activated with a drop of concentrated sulfuric acid. Other attractive demonstrations are the addition of water to freshly prepared magnesium phosphide and addition of water to burning magnesium. In all of these demonstrations the reaction that takes place immediately is very vigorous and can be hazardous for the instructor. Because chemistry teachers and instructors usually try to avoid performing experiments that include a hazard, a number of highly attractive experiments may remain unknown to the public. Using a simple homemade device called a safety dropper, one can perform all of these experiments with complete safety, both for the audience and the demonstrator. Details for performing some of these experiments as well as for the construction of the safety dropper are given in this paper. Video clips of demonstrations are included as an aid for inexperienced instructors.     

Mesoporous electrode material from alumina-stabilized anatase TiO2 for lithium ion batteries

A mesoporous electrode material whose structure is composed of anatase nanocrystals stabilized by alumina is reported. Powder X-ray diffraction shows the anatase phase only, but micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that the materials have a core-shell morphology with grains of bulk anatase covered by a thin rutile layer on the surface. This structure is unique when compared to analogous materials stabilized by zirconia (PNNL-1). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms demonstrate a monotonous increase in surface area and mesopore volume with increasing Al content. Thin film electrodes from these materials were characterized by lithium insertion electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammograms exhibit significant differences in Li accommodation in Al-free and Al-stabilized materials.     

Electrochemical doping of chirality-resolved carbon nanotubes

Raman spectra of electrochemically charged single-wall carbon nanotubes (HiPco) were studied by five different laser photon energies between 1.56 and 1.92 eV. The bands of radial breathing modes (RBM) were assigned to defined chiralities by using the experimental Kataura plot. The particular (n,m) tubes exhibit different sensitivity to electrochemical doping, monitored as the attenuation of the RBM intensities. Tubes which are in good resonance with the exciting laser exhibit strong doping-induced drop of the RBM intensity. On the other hand, tubes whose optical transition energy is larger than the energy of an exciting photon show only small changes of their RBM intensities upon doping. This rule presents a tool for analysis of mixtures of single-walled carbon tubes of unknown chiralities. It also asks for a re-interpretation of some earlier results which were reported on the diameter-selectivity of doping. The radial breathing mode in strongly n- or p-doped nanotubes exhibited a blue-shift. A suggested interpretation follows from the charging-induced structural changes of SWCNTs bundles, which also includes a partial de-bundling of tube ropes.     

Cyanato-copper(II) complexes with organic ligands,Part XXIII. Properties and structure characterization of cyanato-copper(II) complexes with aminopyridines

Summary New cyanato-copper(II) complexes with aminopyridines (ampy) were prepared and studied;viz. Cu(NCO)₂(3-ampy)₂ (- and -form), Cu(NCO)₂(3-ampy)₂(H₂O), Cu(NCO)₂(4ampy)₂, and Cu(NCO)₂(2-ampy). According to physical results, the Cu(NCO)₂L₂ complexes exhibitpseudo-octahedral structures with amine nitrogens or cyanate oxygens occupying axial sites. For - and -Cu(NCO)₂(3-ampy)₂ the crystal structure reorganization is connected with a change in axial distortion. The compound Cu(NCO)₂(2-ampy) is square pyramidal or — more probably — rhombic octahedral and its strong antiferromagnetism reveals the N-bridging function of the NCO groups.Part XXII, Ref. 9.     

Sturmian functions for nonlocal interactions

The problem of calculation of Sturmian functions (positive energy Weinberg states) for nonlocal (exchange) interactions is considered. It is shown that the method of continued fractions proposed by Horáek and Sasakawa makes the calculation of Sturmian eigenfunctions and eigenvalues feasible even for complicated nonlocal interactions. As an example Sturmian functions and Sturmian eigenvalues for the low energy electron-hydrogen scattering in the static exchange approximation are calculated. In addition a very general proof of convergence of the method of continued fractions is presented.Dedicated to the memory of Professor Jozef Kvasnica.