Flexible Structures Based on a Short Pitch Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

We report on the realization and characterization of electro-responsive and pressure sensitive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) conductive photonic structures combined with the reconfigurable properties of short pitch cholesteric liquid crystals (aligned in Grandjean configuration). By combining ion-implantation process and surface chemistry functionalization, we have overcome the insulating properties of PDMS and induced long range organization of cholesteric liquid crystals, thus controlling both diffraction and selective Bragg reflection of light by means of external perturbations (electric field, pressure). We have characterized our devices in terms of morphological, optical and electro-optical properties.     

Propagation of the Hermite–Gaussian beams through misaligned optical system with a circular aperture

By means of expanding a hard-edged aperture into a finite sum of complex Gaussian functions, the approximate analytical formula of one kind of higher-order Gaussian beams called the Hermite–Gaussian beams (HGBs) passing through circular apertured and misaligned optical system is obtained in this paper. The result provides more convenience for studying its propagation than the usual way by using diffraction integral directly. Some numerical simulations are also given for illustrating the propagation properties of the HGBs through the circular apertured optical systems.     

Diffraction of normal shock wave by yawed wedges

The diffraction of normal shock with yawed wedges of small angles have been considered in this paper. Vorticity distribution of the fluid particle over the diffracted shock has been determined for several Mach numbers of the shock wave. The Mach reflection effects have also been investigated when the bend is concave to the flow.     

Digital volume gratings

An optical element constructed by stacking a set of binary-phase grating sheets can simulate the functions of optically recorded volume gratings. Our electromagnetic numerical study also shows that if one of the grating sheets is replaced by another one with different grating period, power spectrum of the diffracted wave changes completely with extra diffraction orders. This property will claim strong advantage in security document applications. Analysis of alignment error reveals interesting phenomena concerning to how misalignment affects diffraction efficiency.     

Millimeter wave beams diffracted from reflecting gratings

According to the angular-spectrum method, a radiation beam of an antenna horn in the Fresnal region is decomposed into the plane waves with the fast Fourier transform algorithm and the waves diffracted from a reflection grating are superposed as a diffracted beam. Compared with the reflected beam from the same size mirror, the radiation half width of the diffracted beam from a grating is narrower and its lateral shape is shift. These performances have been experimentally verified at Ka-band by: (1). The relative diffraction efficiencies in the first order with two triangular gratings which is put along propagating direction of a beam produced by a conical lens-horn. (2). H-plane lateral width with power—3dB lapsed of the focus beam from a grating and a mirror in a grating spectrometer for millimeter waves (25–100 GHz).     

Characterization of the supermolecular structure of cellulose in wood pulp fibres

The hierarchic organization of cellulose fibrils (microfibrils) was investigated in holocellulose, sulphite pulp and kraft pulp using TEM, XRD, ED and FTIR. There were remarkable differences in both the fibril structure and fibril aggregation between the samples. TEM observations revealed more intimately associated fibrils in the kraft pulp compared to the sulphite pulp and the holocellulose, results in agreement with previous CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR data [Hult E.-L. et al. (2002) Holzforschung 56: 231–234]. Furthermore, the cellulose crystallinity was higher in the kraft pulp sample. With respect to the cellulose I and I allomorphs, these samples were controversial when different analytical techniques were applied. Due to the small fibril size and the low degree of order of cellulose in these samples, the concept of crystalline triclinic and monoclinic components as determined by diffraction analysis may not be adequate. Instead the fibril can be regarded to have different degrees of lateral order (including paracrystalline ordering) that can be reoriented to I type conformation and packing upon pulping.     

Alkali Metal Compounds of Hydroquinone: Synthesis and Crystal Structure

A number of novel routes to the alkali metal compounds of hydroquinone M₂[p‐C₆H₄O₂] (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) and M[p‐C₆H₄O(OH)] (M = K, Rb, Cs) have been synthetically explored. The selective synthesis of the alkali 4‐hydroxyphenolates and 1, 4‐phenylenediolates is based on optimized reaction conditions (solvents, temperatures). All compounds were structurally characterized by means of powder X‐ray diffraction using Rietveld profile refinement including C—C and C—O bond distance restraints. The atomic arrangement of M₂[p‐C₆H₄O₂](M = Na, K) (tetragonal, space group: P4₂/ncm) is characterized by infinite pillars of [M₂^[3]O₂^[3]]‐units along the c axis connected by [p‐C₆H₄O₂]^2—‐anions with stacking direction along c. The coordinatively unsaturated alkali metals, surrounded by three oxygen atoms, exhibit symmetrical (K) as well as asymmetrical (Na) interactions with the phenylene rings. M[p‐C₆H₄O(OH] (M = K, Rb) (tetragonal, space group: P4/n) forms hydrogen‐bridged linear chains of [p‐C₆H₄O(OH)]^—‐anions along the c direction. The phenylene planes of neighboring chains have an almost orthogonal arrangement while the interchain planes are parallel. K and Rb are fourfold coordinated by two different oxygen coordination spheres.     

Efficient synthesis of magnetic nanoparticle-Musa acuminata peel composite for the adsorption of anionic dye

The impregnation of magnetite (Mt) nanoparticle (NPs) onto Musa acuminata peel (MApe), to form a novel magnetic combo (MApe-Mt) for the adsorption of anionic bromophenol blue (BPB) was studied. The SEM, EDX, BET, XRD, FTIR and TGA were used to characterize the adsorbents. The FTIR showed that the OH and CO groups were the major sites for BPB uptake onto the adsorbent materials. The average Mt crystalline size on MApe-Mt was 21.13 nm. SEM analysis revealed that Mt NPs were agglomerated on the surface of the MApe biosorbent, with an average Mt diameter of 25.97 nm. After Mt impregnation, a decrease in BET surface area (14.89 to 3.80 m²/g) and an increase in pore diameter (2.25–3.11 nm), pore volume (0.0052–0.01418 cm³/g) and pH point of zero charge (6.4–7.2) was obtained. The presence of Pb(II) ions in solution significantly decreased the uptake of BPB onto both MApe (66.1–43.8%) and MApe-Mt (80.3–59.1%), compared to other competing ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), Ni(II)) in the solution. Isotherm modeling showed that the Freundlich model best fitted the adsorption data (R² > 0.994 and SSE < 0.0013). In addition, maximum monolayer uptake was enhanced from 6.04 to 8.12 mg/g after Mt impregnation. Kinetics were well described by the pseudo-first order and liquid film diffusion models. Thermodynamics revealed a physical, endothermic adsorption of BPB onto the adsorbents, with ΔH^o values of 15.87–16.49 kJ/mol, corroborated by high desorption (over 90%) of BPB from the loaded materials. The viability of the prepared adsorbents was also revealed in its reusability for BPB uptake.     

Trifluoroethylene Sultone: Structure and Chemistry

The gas phase structure of trifluoroethylene sultone, ( 1 ) (3,4,4-trifluoro-1,2-oxathietane-2,2-dioxide) was determined by gas electron diffraction, and the four-membered ring was found to be planar. The following ring parameters (r_a distances and ∠_α angles with 3σ uncertainties) were derived in the electron diffraction analysis: C? O = 1.41 Å (ass.), C? C = 1.541(18) Å, S? O = 1.652(5) Å, S? C = 1.822(8) Å, S? C? C = 86.2(15)°, C? C? O = 97.1(28)°, C? O? S = 97.5(21)°, and O? S? C = 79.1(8)°. New spectral data (IR, NMR) of 1 , its acyclic isomer FSO₂CFHC(O)F ( 2 ), and the related anhydride, FSO₂OSO₂CFHC(O)F ( 3 ), are reported. New esters containing the fluorosulfonyl function, FSO₂CFHC(O)OCH₂CF₃ ( 4 ), FSO₂CFHC(O)OCH₂CH = CH₂ ( 5 ), and (FSO₂CFHC(O)OCH₂CH? CH₂? )_n ( 6 ) have been prepared and characterized.     

高频介质系统介电性能与相组成的定量关系分析

采用普通电子陶瓷工艺制备两种高频介质系统ZnO-B2O3-SiO2三元系和BaO-PbO-Nd2O3-Bi2O3-TiO2五元系,通过XRD分析确定各系统的主晶相, 运用衍射峰强度计算法准确测定出各组分的体积百分含量,并代入Lichnetecker对数混合定则,计算出系统的介电性能,获得了分析介质系统介电性能与物相含量之间定量关系的新方法.