The Crystal-Chemical Features of Phases and the Nature of the Coordination Bond in the System [CuxNi(1 – x){N(CH2PO3)3}]Na4 · nH2O (x = 0–1)

Crystallography Reports - The structural features of the phases formed during crystallization of mixed copper and nickel complexes with nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid)...     

Dielectric properties of liquid crystalline composites doped with nano-dimensional fragments of shungite carbon

A cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) – cholesteryl tridecylate (X-20) was doped with nanoparticles of shungite carbon (Sh) to effectively improve some physicochemical properties of the CLC matrix for the further use in electronic devices. The influence of Sh (concentration of 0.005 and 0.02 wt. %) on phase transition temperatures of X-20 was studied. Addition of 0.005 wt. % of Sh shifts phase transition temperatures upward, while the concentration increase to 0.02 wt. % leads to the opposite effect. These data were taken into account during the study of dielectric properties in different phase states. The dielectric properties were studied in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 10 MHz. Only for the system X-20/Sh (0.02 wt. %), dispersion of the dielectric permittivity was observed. The dispersion was caused by the appearance of additional relaxation processes and it was substantially more extended than the classical Debye theory suggests. The results of the research show that the ‘CLC – Sh nanoparticles’ composites can be used as promising materials to increase the efficiency of radio electronics devices.     

The effects of lipid A on gamma-irradiated human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro

The modulatory effects of lipid A (diphosphoryl lipid A (DLA) and monophosphoryl lipid A (MLA)) on apoptosis induction and DNA structure damage (single and double-strand breaks (SSBs and DSBs, respectively)) in peripheral human blood lymphocytes are studied for ⁶⁰Co gamma-irradiation. It is shown that in the presence of these agents the amount of apoptotic cells increases compared with the irradiated control samples. The effect is most strongly pronounced for DLA. In its presence, a significant increase is observed in the number of radiation-induced DNA SSBs and DSBs. Possible mechanisms are discussed of the modifying influence of the used agents on radiation-induced cell reactions     

Structurally selective protection of steel against oxygen corrosion by 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonatozincate

A method for protecting steel against oxygen corrosion in water solutions using an inhibitor that selectively reacts with a metal surface in corrosion centers is proposed. 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonatozincate, which contains a localized π bond between its phosphorus and oxygen atoms, is used as the inhibitor in combination with magnesium ions at an oxygen concentration of 0.1 to 6.0 mg dm^?3 and pH in a water solution of 5.8 to 11.1. A 91–93% degree of protection is achieved at an inhibitor concentration of 6 mg dm^?3.     

Crystal Structure of Tetra- and Pentasodium Salts of Nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic Acid)

Tetra- and pentasodium salts of nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid) N(CH₂PO₃)₃H₆ (NTP) have been studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy. [Na₈(H₂O)₁₂{NH(CH₂PO₃)₃H}₂] · H₂O crystallizes in triclinic system, space group P1?, Z = 1, a = 7.1515(2) Å, b = 11.1590(3) Å, c = 12.0583(3) Å; α = 92.077(2)°, β = 106.145(2)°, γ = 5.628(2)°, CCDC No. 1432091. The crystal structure comprises two-dimensional layers lying along planes (011?), where dimeric molecules are linked by bridges each comprising four Na hydration octahedra. The [Na₅(H₂O)₁₁{NH(CH₂PO₃)₃}] · 2H₂O crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, a = 6.3024(2) Å, b = 21.5639(7) Å, c = 18.1608(6) Å; β = 91.261(3)°, CCDC No. 1497161. The crystal packing comprises alternating layers in planes [020] made of two-dimensional nets of Na hydration polyhedra, and columns of Na hydration octahedra lying in planes [040], with acid moieties in between.     

Determination of the critical parameters of polymer solutions

The contribution of short-range orientation order to the chemical potentials of components in a polymer-solvent system was determined. The temperature dependence of the degree of orientation of solvent molecules relative to polymer chains in a polyisobutylene-benzene system was obtained. It was shown that the short-range order in the polymer-solvent system fails with temperature to a much lesser extent than in the pure solvent. The expressions for the upper and lower critical solution temperatures with allowance for the contribution of short-range order to the entropy and the free energy of solution, as well as to the chemical potentials of components, were found. It was demonstrated that, in the polymer-solvent system, two upper and two lower critical solution temperatures can exist.     

Parameters of LC molecules’ movement measured by dielectric spectroscopy in wide temperature range

Dielectric properties of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) mixture ZhK-1282 were investigated in the frequency range of 10²–10⁶Hz and a temperature range of ?20 to 80?°С. On the basis of the Debye’s relaxation polarization model dielectric spectra of temperature dependence of the orientational relaxation time τ and the dielectric strength δe were numerically approximated at the parallel orientation of a molecular director relative to alternating electric field. Influence of ester components in the mixture plays crucial role in relaxation processes at low temperature and external field frequency. The activation energy of the relaxation process of a rotation of molecules around their short axis was measured in a temperature interval of ?20 to ?+15?°С in which the dispersion of a longitudinal component of the dielectric constant takes place. The energy of potential barrier for polar molecules rotation in the mesophase was calculated. The value of the transition entropy from the nematic to isotropic phase was obtained from this calculation. The values of the coefficient of molecular friction and rotational diffusion were obtained by different methods. The experimental data obtained are in a satisfactory agreement with the existing theoretical models.     

New versions of circular thin-layer chromatography on plates with a closed sorption layer

New versions of circular thin-layer chromatography (corner TLC and lateral TLC) with a closed sorption layer are proposed, studied, and compared with traditional methods of linear and circular TLC. The use of a closed sorption layer in the new versions of circular chromatography is demonstrated to reduce the duration of separation (by 15–20%) while lowering the efficiency of separation negligibly. The feasibility of TLC with a closed sorption layer is demonstrated for the determination of highly volatile compounds.