Slow-light enhanced optical detection in liquid-infiltrated photonic crystals

Slow-light enhanced optical detection in liquid-infiltrated photonic crystals is theoretically studied. Using a scattering-matrix approach and the Wigner–Smith delay time concept, we show that optical absorbance benefits both from slow-light phenomena as well as a high filling factor of the energy residing in the liquid. Utilizing strongly dispersive photonic crystal structures, we numerically demonstrate how liquid-infiltrated photonic crystals facilitate enhanced light–matter interactions, by potentially up to an order of magnitude. The proposed concept provides strong opportunities for improving existing miniaturized absorbance cells for optical detection in lab-on-a-chip systems.     

Dirichlet forms,quasiregular functions and Brownian motion

Summary Given a quasiregular function on an open setU in ⁿ it is shown that there exists a diffusionX _t inU such that mapsX _t inton-dimensional Brownian motion. The process is constructed from a Dirichlet form which can be described explicitly. This enables us to apply stochastic methods in the investigation of quasiregular mappings. Some examples of applications are given, including boundary behaviour and value distribution.     

General characteristics of the copper-based mercury film electrode

The optimum conditions for the preparation, storage, conditioning and renewal of copper-based mercury film electrodes (CBMFEs) are given. The voltammetric results obtained at these electrodes are compared with the predictions of the theory of cyclic and stripping voltammetry at the mercury film electrode, as well as with the results obtained at the silver-based and the platinum-based mercury film electrodes. The advantage of a CBMFE is prolonged life-time, whereas the disadvantages ar the decreased range of usable positive potentials and the possibility of interfering reactions of the electrodeposited metals with the copper substrate or copper dissolved in the mercury phase. The presence of copper has no essential influence on the behaviour of lead and thallium; it affects the behaviour of zinc markedly and that of cadmium and indium slightly. The conditions allowing the minimization of the harmful action of copper on the behaviour of cadmium and indium have been found.     

Sequential cycloaddition approach to the tricyclic core of vibsanin E. Total synthesis of (+/-)-5-epi-10-epi-vibsanin E

[chemical reaction: see text]. A direct access to (+/-)-5-epi-10-epi-vibsanin E is described, based on three key cycloaddition steps, a rhodium-catalyzed [4 + 3] cycloaddition, a heteronuclear [4 + 2] cycloaddition, and a photochemically induced [4 + 2] cycloaddition.     

Evaluations of solid electrodes for use in voltammetric monitoring of heavy metals in samples from metallurgical nickel industry

Evaluation of different solid electrode systems for detection of zinc, lead, cobalt, and nickel in process water from metallurgical nickel industry with use of differential pulse stripping voltammetry has been performed. Zinc was detected by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) on a dental amalgam electrode as intermetallic Ni–Zn compound after dilution in ammonium buffer solution. The intermetallic compound was observed at –375 mV, and a linear response was found in the range 0.2–1.2 mg L^–1 (r²=0.98) for 60 s deposition time. Simultaneous detection of nickel and cobalt in the low g L^–1 range was successfully performed by use of adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (AdCSV) of dimethylglyoxime complexes on a silver–bismuth alloy electrode, and a good correlation was found with corresponding AAS results (r²=0.999 for nickel and 0.965 for cobalt). Analyses of lead in the g L^–1 range in nickel-plating solution were performed with good sensitivity and stability by DPASV, using a working electrode of silver together with a glassy carbon counter electrode in samples diluted 1:3 with distilled water and acidified with H₂SO₄ to pH 2. A new commercial automatic at-line system was tested, and the results were found to be in agreement with an older mercury drop system. The stability of the solid electrode systems was found to be from one to several days without any maintenance needed.     

Determination of hydrochloric acid in organic solutions by gas chromatography

Summary A method is described for the determination of small quantities of hydrochloric acid in two chlorinated organic solvents (CHCl₃ and CCl₄). An excess of gaseous ethylene oxide is added to a liquid sample; the 2-chloroethanol formed is then analyzed by gas chromatography. The procedure is simpler and more sensitive in comparison with other conventional methods. It can be modified for other organic solvents.D.G.R.C.S.T. grant.     

Stereospecific total synthesis of (±)-strempeliopine

The 18-methylene-1,2-dehydroaspidospermidine (III) was stereospecifically transformed into the schizozygane alkaloid strempeliopine (II) in 16,6 % overall yield.     

Photostabilizing activity of sterically hindered piperidines—II: Radical trapping ability

The abilities of both 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (I) and its nitroxyl (II) to trap radicals involved in hydrocarbon photo-oxidations have been studied in cumene and 1,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane at 27° using AIBN, hydroperoxide and dialkylperoxide as initiators: the light was either the band 300–400 nm or 366 nm. Under conditions of photolysis of ROOH (degenerate branching), I is oxidized to II. II is capable of trapping R' radicals, the rate constant being ～50 times lower than that for RO^.₂ formation. RO^.₂ radicals react with neither I nor II. Under the condition of degenerate branching, II is capable of intercepting the radical fragments from decomposing hydroperoxide. The rate constant of this process is ～500 times higher than that for hydrogen abstraction by these fragments. A reaction mechanism is suggested: hydrogen bonded associates formed between an N-containing stabilizer and ROOH play a dominant role. The principal intermediates in this mechanism are represented by >NO^., >NOH and >NOR species.     

Autonomous intelligent agents for accelerated materials discovery

We present an end-to-end computational system for autonomous materials discovery. The system aims for cost-effective optimization in large, high-dimensional search spaces of materials by adopting a sequential, agent-based approach to deciding which experiments to carry out. In choosing next experiments, agents can make use of past knowledge, surrogate models, logic, thermodynamic or other physical constructs, heuristic rules, and different exploration–exploitation strategies. We show a series of examples for (i) how the discovery campaigns for finding materials satisfying a relative stability objective can be simulated to design new agents, and (ii) how those agents can be deployed in real discovery campaigns to control experiments run externally, such as the cloud-based density functional theory simulations in this work. In a sample set of 16 campaigns covering a range of binary and ternary chemistries including metal oxides, phosphides, sulfides and alloys, this autonomous platform found 383 new stable or nearly stable materials with no intervention by the researchers.

We present an end-to-end computational system for autonomous materials discovery.