Reactivity of 3d transition metal cations in diethylene glycol solutions. Synthesis of transition metal ferrites with the structure of discrete nanoparticles complexed with long-chain carboxylate anions

Study of the reactivity of 3d transition metal cations in diethylene glycol solutions revealed several key features that made it possible to develop a new method for synthesis of the nanocrystalline transition metal ferrites. The 3-7 nm particles of [MFe2O4]n[O2CR]m, where M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn, ligated on their surface with long-chain carboxylate anions, have been obtained in an isolated yield of 75-90%. The key features are the following. Complexation of the first-row transition metal cations with diethylene glycol at a presence of alkaline hydroxide is sufficient to enable control over the rate of their hydrolysis. The reaction of hydrolysis leads to the formation of metal oxide nanocrystals in colloidal solution. The nanoparticles growth is terminated by an added long-chain carboxylic acid, which binds to their surface and acts as a capping ligand. The isolated nanocrystalline powders are stable against agglomeration and highly soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.     

Simulation of the densification of semicrystalline polymer powders during the selective laser sintering process: Application to Nylon 12

The processes of heating and densification of semicrystalline polymer powders during the selective laser sintering process are simulated using the finite element method. Based on a previously developed three-dimensional approach for the sintering of amorphous polymer powders, the modeling methodology is extended to semicrystalline polymers by taking into account the effects of latent heat during melting. In these simulations, the temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, the specific heat, the density, and the effect of latent heat are computed and then used as material constants for the integration of the heat equation. Results for the temperature and density distribution using Nylon-12 powder are presented and discussed. The effects of processing parameters on the density distribution are also presented. Published in Russian in Vysokomolekulyarnye Soedineniya, Ser. A, 2008, Vol. 50, No. 6, pp. 1067–1073. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Applications of cathodoluminescence in mineralogy

Cathodoluminescence microscopy and cathodoluminescence spectrometry with the electron microprobe and the scanning electron microscope are applied to the study of some natural cassiterite, quartz and sphalerite crystals. Some examples of localization and distribution of crystalline defects revealed by cathodoluminescence microscopy are given. X-ray spectrometry and secondary ion mass analysis allow to illustrate the coincidence between the spatial variations of cathodoluminescence emission and the distribution of impurities within minerals. In order to establish a relationship between the spectral distribution of the luminescence and the nature of trace elements, comparisons are made between cathodoluminescence properties of natural and artificial zinc sulphide crystals. Particular attention is given to specimen containing copper-gallium impurities. It has been possible to distinguish between the impurities which can be responsible for the luminescence and those which are not associated with cathodoluminescence emission characteristic of the crystals. The study of cathodoluminescence intensity according to the excitation conditions led to consider the contribution of the X-ray photons generated in the specimen for the production of luminescence photons. An in-depth distribution law of generated photons similar to that used to take account of X-ray emission led to introduce an absorption function in the relation giving the measured intensity of cathodoluminescence according to the incident energy and the electron beam density.     

Condensation du méthane disulfochlorure avec quelques diamines 1,2 et 1, 3 études des hétérocycles obtenus

Bis ehlorosulfonylmethane was condensed with several ortho-phenylendiamines in benzene at low concentration, yielding the corresponding bcnzo[e]-1,3,4,7-dithiadiazepine 2,2,4,4-lrtroxides. A similar heterocycle was obtained from bischlosulfonylmethane and 2-amino-5-chlorobenzhydrylamine. Mass spectrometry results were discussed with reference to one of the series.     

Bifurcation of a Newtonian-fluid flow in a planar channel with sudden contraction and expansion

The features of a Newtonian-fluid flow in a two-dimensional channel with sudden contraction and expansion are investigated by numerical modeling. The kinetics of the bifurcation transition from the symmetric mode to steady-state asymmetric flow on the outlet from the zone of contraction of the channel is analyzed. The linear dependence of the degree of asymmetry of flow on the Reynolds number is established.     

A one-pot three-component reaction to access 1-alkyl-2-aryl-5-nitrobenzimidazoles under solvent-free conditions

A novel and expeditious method to access 1-alkyl-2-aryl-5-nitrobenzimidazoles has been developed. Enlisting solvent-free conditions, 2-fluoro-5-nitroaniline, a primary amine, and substituted aldehyde were melted together in one-pot to generate a variety of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-5-nitrobenzimidazoles.     

Photoionization of highly charged ions using an ECR ion source and undulator radiation

Photoionization of Xe4+ to Xe7+ ions was studied by combining an electron cyclotron resonance ion source with synchrotron radiation. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculations were performed to interpret the data. Many autoionization lines were measured and identified, resulting from excitation of a 4d electron into nf and np orbitals followed by Auger decay of the excited states. Continuum photoionization is negligible for the higher members of the isonuclear series.     

Longitudinal coherence measurements of a transient collisional x-ray laser

We present what is to our knowledge the first longitudinal coherence measurement of a transient inversion collisional x-ray laser. We investigated the picosecond output of a Ni-like Pd x-ray laser at 14.68 nm generated by the COMET laser facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Interference fringes were generated with a Michelson interferometer setup in which a thin multilayer membrane was used as a beam splitter. We determined the longitudinal coherence for the 4d1S0 --> 4p1P1 lasing transition to be approximately 400 microm (1/e half-width) by changing the length of one interferometer arm and measuring the resultant variation in fringe visibility. The inferred gain-narrowed linewidth of approximately 0.29 pm is a factor of 4 less than previously measured in quasi-steady-state x-ray laser schemes.