Explosive decomposition of pentaerythritol tetranitrate pellets containing nickel nanoparticles with various radii

The kinetics of the explosive decomposition of pressed pentaerythritol tetranitrate pellets containing nickel nanoparticles with various radii has been investigated experimentally, with the explosion initiated by a neodymium laser pulse (wavelength, 1064 nm; pulse duration at half-height, 14 ns), and probability curves for this process have been recorded. The experimental values of critical initiation energy density corresponding to 50% explosion probability are 0.9, 0.7, and 1.4 J/cm² at a nickel particle radius of 67, 78, and 138 nm, respectively. The initial time interval in which the intensity of light emission accompanying the explosive decomposition increases begins during the action of the pulse and is described by a Gaussian function with an effective constant of k = (1.4 ± 0.1) × 10⁸ s^–1, which is independent of the nanoparticle radius. Experimental data of this study can be interpreted within the micro-hotspot model of thermal explosion.     

Characterization of the structure and dynamics of an aqueous Hg solution by an ab initio molecular dynamics study

Quantum mechanical charge field (QMCF) MD simulation has been performed to investigate the structure and dynamics of Hg²⁺ hydrate. The first-shell hexacoordinated [Hg(H₂O)₆]²⁺ complex with an average Hg²⁺-O distance of 2.40 Å is dominantly found, which corresponds to the neutron diffraction and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments. Other species, in particular the 7-fold coordinated complexes, can be formed transiently, according to the water exchange processes with an associative interchange (I_a) mechanism. The second hydration shell exhibits a Hg²⁺-O distance of 4.6 Å with a coordination number of ~ 14. The mean residence times (MRTs) of first- and second-shell waters clearly indicate a strong “structure-forming” ability of Hg²⁺ in aqueous solution.     

Quantum-chemical study of interaction of hydrogen atoms with graphene

The dependence of the binding energy and the activation energy of adsorption of hydrogen atoms on the number of previously adsorbed particles and their position—on one or both sides of a cluster, on nearest or distant neighbors (carbon atoms)—is investigated by quantum-chemical modeling. A hypothesis of the formation of adsorption sites (islands) on graphene at the initial stage of its saturation by hydrogen is discussed.     

Photolysis of alkaline-earth nitrates

Peroxynitrite and nitrite ions are the diamagnetic products of photolysis (with light at a wavelength of 253.7 nm) of alkaline-earth nitrates; the paramagnetic products and hydrogen peroxide were not found. The structural water in alkaline-earth nitrate crystals did not affect the qualitative composition of the photodecomposition products. The quantum yield of nitrite ions was 0.0012, 0.0038, 0.0078, and 0.0091 quanta^?1 and that of peroxynitrite ions was 0.0070, 0.0107, 0.0286, and 0.0407 quanta^?1 for Sr(NO₃)₂, Ba(NO₃)₂, Ca(NO₃)₂ · 4H₂O, and Mg(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, respectively.     

Interpolymer complexes of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) with copolyimide-grafted side chains of poly(methacrylic acid)

The process of formation and structural organization of interpolymer complexes formed by macromolecules of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(methacrylic acid) chains grafted onto polyimide in solution is investigated via the method of polarized luminescence. A luminescent label of anthracene structure is covalently bound to both polymers. Relaxation times characterizing intramolecular mobility of each of the components in their interpolymer complex are measured in relation to the composition of the system.     

Relaxation properties and complex formation of copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose and unsaturated acids

With the use of polarized luminescence, relaxation times characterizing the intramolecular mobility of luminescent labeled copolymers of 2-deoxy-2-methacrylamido-D-glucose and unsaturated acids in solutions are determined in both nonionized and ionized states. Elements of the secondary structure typical for poly(methacrylic acid) are formed in copolymers with a high content of methacrylic acid (≥50 mol %) in their nonionized state. This structure is destroyed during ionization. Equilibrium stability constants for complexes of the copolymers with cationic surfactants are determined. Quantitative characteristics of the effects of the surfactant and copolymer structures and the ionic strength of solution on complex formation are estimated.     

Measurement of natural radioactivity in soil from Peshawar basin of Pakistan

Natural radioactivity in the environment may change with time due to human activities, chemical and biological changes. From the view of radiation risk to population, the knowledge of natural radioactivity levels and the measurement of collective radiation dose received by the population is very vital. Radiological constraints on soil of thickly populated Peshawar basin in northern Pakistan were assessed through radiometric assay. Soil samples collected from different locations of four districts of this basin were analysed using an HPGe gamma spectrometer. Activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th in these samples was 648 ± 121 (421–996), 45 ± 7 (32–60) and 59 ± 7 (46–72) Bq kg^?1, respectively that followed lognormal distribution. The average concentrations of primordial radionuclides were found to be higher than that reported for the worldwide soil. Radium equivalent activity and gamma index derived from these activity concentrations were lesser than their respective limits. The average absorbed dose rate and the annual effective dose for both indoor and outdoor cases were found to be higher than the values given in the UNSCEAR 2000 report. The results of the present study were compared with those for other locations of Pakistan along with that for the world. The radiological impact of the measured data was evaluated using hazard assessment models. A thoughtful discussion of the above mentioned evaluation is also given.     

Five-component food-grade microemulsions: structural characterization by SANS

In this paper we present the structural characterization of a five-component food-grade microemulsion containing Tween 80, R(+)-limonene, ethanol, glycerol, and water. Our main approach to investigating the microstructure of dense microemulsions, and how it can be influenced by the various components, was to employ small-angle neutron scattering and the new evaluation technique for dense, interacting systems, the Generalized Indirect Fourier Transformation. We started our investigation with the impact of glycerol and ethanol on Tween 80 micelles in water. We found that glycerol increases the aggregation number and withdraws the hydrating agents from the headgroup region of the surfactant, resulting in a higher packing density of molecules in a micelle at slightly increasing size. The same trend holds when the micelles are oil swollen and/or ethanol is present. Ethanol, on the other hand, redistributes mainly between water and the interface-headgroup region of the surfactant. Part of it replaces surfactant molecules in the micelles, which increases the available interface and results in a higher number of micelles with shrinking size. The same trend holds when the micelles are oil swollen and/or glycerol is present in the aqueous phase. We also investigated samples along the dilution of a mixture of surfactant and oil phase (R(+)-limonene and ethanol), which can be diluted with aqueous phase (mixture of water and glycerol) without the occurrence of phase separation. In some samples of this dilution most probably bicontinuous structures are present. To elucidate this point, we also employed dynamic light scattering, viscosity, and conductivity measurements.     

Structure and dynamics of hydrated NH(4) (+): an ab initio QM/MM molecular dynamics simulation

A combined ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics simulation has been performed to investigate solvation structure and dynamics of NH(4) (+) in water. The most interesting region, the sphere includes an ammonium ion and its first hydration shell, was treated at the Hartree-Fock level using DZV basis set, while the rest of the system was described by classical pair potentials. On the basis of detailed QM/MM simulation results, the solvation structure of NH(4) (+) is rather flexible, in which many water molecules are cooperatively involved in the solvation shell of the ion. Of particular interest, the QM/MM results show fast translation and rotation of NH(4) (+) in water. This phenomenon has resulted from multiple coordination, which drives the NH(4) (+) to translate and rotate quite freely within its surrounding water molecules. In addition, a "structure-breaking" behavior of the NH(4) (+) is well reflected by the detailed analysis on the water exchange process and the mean residence times of water molecules surrounding the ion.