Spin-triplet superconductivity in UNi(2)Al(3) revealed by the (27)Al Knight shift measurement

We report (27)Al Knight shift ( (27)K) measurement on a single-crystal UNi(2)Al(3) that reveals a coexistence of superconductivity and a spin-density-wave (SDW) type of magnetic ordering ( T(SDW) = 4.5 K). The spin part of (27)K, (27)K(s), does not change down to 50 mK across the superconducting (SC) transition temperature T(c) approximately 0.9 K. In contrast with the isostructural compound UPd(2)Al(3) ( T(c) approximately 2 K), which was identified to be a spin-singlet d-wave superconductor, the behavior of (27)K strongly supports that UNi(2)Al(3) , like UPt(3) and Sr(2)RuO(4), belongs to a class of spin-triplet SC pairing state superconductors.     

Linear polystyrene-stabilized PdO nanoparticle-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck reactions in water

Linear polystyrene-stabilized PdO nanoparticles (PS-PdONPs) were prepared by thermal decomposition of Pd(OAc)(2) in the presence of polystyrene. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated the production of PdO nanoparticles. The loading of palladium was determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). PS-PdONPs exhibited high catalytic activity for Mizoroki-Heck reactions under air in water and could be recycled without loss of activity.     

Conducting polymer based hybrid structure as transparent and flexible field electron emitter

An efficient cathode material with high transparency (93%) based on conducting polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been developed for the fabrication of highly transparent and flexible field electron emitters (FEE). This kind of material showed superior field emission (FE) performance with very high current density (10^–3A/cm²) at very low electric field. The FE performance of the hybrid materials was dramatically improved compared to either SWCNTs and PEDOT:PSS. Thus the hybrid structures of conducting polymer and SWCNTs might be a good choice for use as a cathode material to enhance the FE performance and for potential application in future portable displays. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Development of non-destructive isotopic analysis methods using muon beams and their application to the analysis of lead

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Elemental isotopic ratios are measured in various research fields and provide useful information regarding age, origin, geological and biological...     

Alternative preparation and characterization of platinum(II) organometallic dinuclear complexes and oligomers with 3,8-diethynylphenanthroline derivatives

Novel platinum(II) organometallic dinuclear complexes and oligomers with two types of phenanthroline ligands, namely 3,8-diethynylphenanthroline (L1) and 3,8-bis-(4-ethynyl-phenylethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L2), were synthesized from trans-Pt(PBu₃)₂(1-ethynyl-4-methyl-benzene)Cl and trans-Pt(PBu₃)₂Cl₂ by transmetalation of copper ion. The alternative procedure targeted platinum oligomer termination selection of either chloride or respective phenanthrolines and was successfully performed with different purifications by extraction and column chromatography. The structural formulae of these platinum complexes and oligomers were revealed with by analysis of both ³¹P{¹H}-NMR and ¹H-NMR spectral data. Alternative preparations of platinum oligomers with two types between chloride and respective phenanthroline termination are very useful for the selective synthesis for hybrid polymers with the coupling reaction with two different platinum oligomers with different diethynylaryl ligands. The platinum organometallic compounds showed similar absorption bands in the UV–Vis region. Those prepared with L1 had a strong absorption band at around 400 nm, assignable to the lowest energy metal-perturbed ¹[π–π*] transitions, while in compounds prepared with L2, the strong band appeared around 410 nm, because L2 has an extended π conjugation relative to L1. No distinct differences were observed in the absorption spectra of these platinum oligomers between the different terminal structures, chloride or various phenanthrolines. The luminescence spectra of the platinum compounds prepared with either L1 or L2, however, showed a distinct difference. Those with L1 showed only a phosphorescence assignable to a typical metal-perturbed ³[π–π*] transition with vibronic progressions centered at around 530 nm in deoxygenated CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature, while those with L2 showed weak dual emissions assignable to a mixture of typical metal-perturbed ¹[π–π*] and ³[π–π*] transitions in the visible region.     

Blind Speech Watermarking Method with Frame Self-Synchronization Based on Spread-Spectrum Using Linear Prediction Residue

State-of-the-art speech watermarking techniques enable speech signals to be authenticated and protected against any malicious attack to ensure secure speech communication. In general, reliable speech watermarking methods must satisfy four requirements: inaudibility, robustness, blind-detectability, and confidentiality. We previously proposed a method of non-blind speech watermarking based on direct spread spectrum (DSS) using a linear prediction (LP) scheme to solve the first two issues (inaudibility and robustness) due to distortion by spread spectrum. This method not only effectively embeds watermarks with small distortion but also has the same robustness as the DSS method. There are, however, two remaining issues with blind-detectability and confidentiality. In this work, we attempt to resolve these issues by developing an approach called the LP-DSS scheme, which takes two forms of data embedding for blind detection and frame synchronization. We incorporate blind detection with frame synchronization into the scheme to satisfy blind-detectability and incorporate two forms of data embedding process, front-side and back-side embedding for blind detection and frame synchronization, to satisfy confidentiality. We evaluated these improved processes by carrying out four objective tests (PESQ, LSD, Bit-error-rate, and accuracy of frame synchronization) to determine whether inaudibility and blind-detectability could be satisfied. We also evaluated all combinations with the two forms of data embedding for blind detection with frame synchronization by carrying out BER tests to determine whether confidentiality could be satisfied. Finally, we comparatively evaluated the proposed method by carrying out ten robustness tests against various processing and attacks. Our findings showed that an inaudible, robust, blindly detectable, and confidential speech watermarking method based on the proposed LP-DSS scheme could be achieved.     

Anthranoxides as Highly Reactive Arynophiles for the Synthesis of Triptycenes

We report herein an efficient method to synthesize triptycenes by the reaction of benzynes and anthranoxides, which are electron-rich and readily prepared from the corresponding anthrones. Using this method, 1,9-syn-substituted triptycenes were regioselectively obtained employing 3-methoxybenzynes. This method was also applied to synthesize pentiptycenes. A DFT study revealed that the cycloaddition of lithium anthranoxide and benzyne proceeds stepwise.     

Soluble and Planar 2,9-Diazaperopyrenes through Reductive Aromatization of Perylene Diimides: Tunable Emission and Aggregation Behaviors

Reductive aromatization of perylene diimides with acid anhydrides in the presence of Mn or Zn metals provides soluble and planar 2,9-diazaperopyrenes with ester groups at 1,3,8,10-positions. The pivaloxy groups at the peripheral positions can be transformed into a variety of aryl groups through nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of ester groups. Emission colors of diazaperopyrenes are tunable by the peripheral substituents. The peripheral substituents also affect the aggregation behaviors of 2,9-diazaperopyrenes in the solution and solid states.     

Facile iodination of the vinyl groups in protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester and subsequent transformation of the iodinated moieties

Iodination of protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester using phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) and I₂ was studied. Iodine added to both the C3- and C8-vinyl groups equally to afford the iodohydrin or iodoether in the presence of water or alcohol, respectively. Any meso-hydrogen atom was not substituted by an iodine atom under these conditions, although both the vinyl group and one of the meso positions of methyl pyropheophorbide-a bearing a chlorin π-system, a chlorophyll-a derivative, was modified with PIFA and I₂. The reaction intermediates derived from the porphyrin were more reactive than those from the chlorin and liable to form intermolecular linkages. The obtained 2-iodo-1-hydroxyethyl group was transformed into a formyl group by a mild treatment. The corresponding iodoether moiety was readily converted into the acetyl group under basic conditions. These transformations were also applicable to smaller olefins such as styrene.