Synthesis of New Lithium Ionic Conductor Thio-LISICON—Lithium Silicon Sulfides System

The new lithium ionic conductors, thio-LISICON (LIthium SuperIonic CONductor), were found in the ternary Li₂S-SiS₂-Al₂S₃ and Li₂S-SiS₂-P₂S₅ systems. Their structures of new materials, Li_4+xSi_1−xAl_xS₄ and Li_4−xSi_1−xP_xS₄ were determined by X-ray Rietveld analysis, and the electric and electrochemical properties were studied by electronic conductivity, ac conductivity and cyclic voltammogram measurements. The structure of the host material, Li₄SiS₄ is related to the γ-Li₃PO₄-type structure, and when the Li⁺ interstitials or Li⁺ vacancies were created by the partial substitutions of Al³⁺ or P⁵⁺ for Si⁴⁺, large increases in conductivity occur. The solid solution member x=0.6 in Li_4−xSi_1−xP_xS₄ showed high conductivity of 6.4×10^-4 S cm⁻¹ at 27°C with negligible electronic conductivity. The new solid solution, Li_4−xSi_1−xP_xS₄, also has high electrochemical stability up to ∼5 V vs Li at room temperature. All-solid-state lithium cells were investigated using the Li_3.4Si_0.4P_0.6S₄ electrolyte, LiCoO₂ cathode and In anode.     

OR Utilization in Nigeria: A Sample Survey

The study presents the results of a mail survey on the utilization of Operational Research (OR) techniques in tackling complex operational problems in the private sector in Nigeria. The survey was mailed to OR practitioners in nearly 1000 companies and was aimed at determining the familiarity with, and usage of, OR techniques, background of OR personnel, degree of computer usage, application areas, implementation and contributions of OR, problems attendant in using OR techniques, and future prospects for OR usage.     

Hybrid optical resonator type laser proposed for direct coupling into optical fiber

Combining one stable resonator with a concave mirror and a coupling-hole plane mirror, and another unstable resonator having a concave mirror and a convex mirror, a new hybrid optical resonator type laser has been proposed by overlapping the concave mirror as a common one and fitting the convex mirror exactly to the coupling-hole. Using theABCD law, the so-called g-parameters are first found for beam confinement. Then, based on the eigen-equation, the field distribution on the plano-convex mirror is obtained with the g-parameters above. Knowing this field distribution results in an effective transmittanceG _{e e}. Finally, the ratio of the inner convex to outer plane mirror radii can be determined for an optimum coupling in both the limiting cases of homogeneously and inhomogeneously broadened gain media. Some numerical examples will also be given for a CO₂ laser having the proposed hybrid resonator.     

Stereocontrolled intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition reaction using a gauche-gauche interaction

A gauche-gauche interaction is proposed as a powerful controlling factor for the stereochemistry in the intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition reaction derived from N-protected 3-(N-allylamino)propionaldehyde and 2-(N-homoallylamino)acetaldehyde oximes. High levels of stereoselectivity (76% de to perfect) were obtained from the reaction involving nitrile oxides with substituents at the adjacent carbon atom to the tether nitrogen.     

Dynamical properties of ethylene glycol and glucose studied by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry and Brillouin scattering

The fragility of ethylene glycol and glucose aqueous solution systems has been investigated by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). The frequency and temperature dependences of complex specific heat have been observed in the vicinity of a glass-transition temperature T _g . It is shown that the value of the fragility index m can be determined from the temperature dependence of the α-relaxation times observed by TMDSC. We have also studied the elastic properties of these aqueous solutions by micro-Brillouin scattering, and determined these relaxation times of elastic properties in the gigahertz range.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of indoles from 2-nitrostyrenes

In the presence of palladium salts, oxidation of 2-nitrostyrenes 1 with nitrous acid alkyl esters 2 resulted in the formation of 2-nitrophenylacetaldehyde dialkyl acetals 3. Reductive cyclization of the acetals 3 with iron powder in acetic acid afforded indoles 5 in good yield.     

Generation of NH-azomethine imine intermediates through the 1,2-hydrogen shift of hydrazones and their intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with olefinic dipolarophiles

The thermal 1,2-hydrogen shift of the hydrazone generates the NH-azomethine imine intermediate in the 4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-3-carbaldehyde system under mild conditions. Therein, the resulting NH-azomethine imine should be stabilized by forming an internal hydrogen bond with the carbonyl oxygen at the 4-position. Its smooth stereoselective intermolecular cycloaddition reaction with olefinic dipolarophiles giving pyrazolidine derivatives is discussed.     

Electrochemical Detection of Artemisinin Using Cobalt Sulphide/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite

Solvothermally synthesized cobalt sulphide/reduced graphene oxide (CoS/rGO) was used to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for detection of artemisinin. Microscopic techniques were used to characterize CoS/rGO nanocomposite. The electrochemical sensor was fabricated by modifying the surface of glassy carbon electrode with CoS/rGO nanocomposite. [Fe(CN)6]^3−/4− was used as a mediator to aid oxidation of artemisinin. Differential pulse voltammetric technique was used for the detection of artemisinin. A linear range of 30–100 μM was used. Experimentally, a detection limit of 0.5 μM was obtained. Therefore, the developed sensor can be used for quality control of artemisinin.     

Solid‐phase thermal polymerization of macrocyclic ethylene terephthalate dimer using various transesterification catalysts

Thermal ring‐opening polymerization of a uniform macrocyclic ethylene terephthalate dimer with and without catalyst was investigated for the first time. Although polymerization progressed without a catalyst, the reaction was extremely slow and all the products were colored. Various transesterification catalysts were tested for their activity toward this ring‐opening polymerization. Among the various catalysts, 1,3‐dichloro‐1,1,3,3‐tetrabutyldistannoxane exhibited the highest catalytic activity, and a colorless polymer with a weight‐average molecular weight of 36,100 was obtained in 100% yield by heating for 3 min at 200 °C. It is noteworthy that our method does not need a vacuum because no side products are formed during the process. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3360–3368, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of ordered polyurethanes from nonsymmetric diisocyanate and ethylene glycol

An ordered polyurethane with a head‐to‐head (H‐H) or tail‐to‐tail (T‐T) content over 95% was prepared by polyaddition reaction of a nonsymmetric monomer, p‐isocyanatobenzyl isocyanate (1) with a symmetric monomer, ethylene glycol (2). The model reactions were studied in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of polymer formation. The polymerization was conducted in THF in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) at 0 °C by slow addition of a half amount of 2 to 1, followed by removing THF and then adding the rest of 2 in DMF at once at 30 °C in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL). The microstructure of the polymer obtained was investigated by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and it was found that the polymer had the expected structural regularity. The constitutional regularity of polymers influenced their thermal properties. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2106–2114, 2000