Tunable ordered droplets induced by convection in phase-separating P2VP/PS blend film

Ordered hexagonal droplets patterns in phase-separating polymeric blend films of polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS/PVP) formed due to the convection effect by solvent evaporation. The influences of PS molecular weight, solvent evaporation rate, and the weight ratio of PS to PVP on the PVP-rich domains pattern formation and distributions were investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM). Only in an appropriate range of molecular weight of PS, can the ordered pattern form. Too low or too high molecular weight of PS led no ordered pattern due to the viscosity effects. The increase of solvent evaporation rate decreased the mean radius of the PVP-rich domains and the intervals between the centers of the domains due to the enhancement of the viscosity on the top layer of the fluid film. The increase of the weight ratio of PS to PVP decreased mean radius of the PVP-rich domains whereas the intervals between the centers of droplets remained constant. Therefore, the size and the distributions of ordered patterns can be tuned by the polymer molecular weight, the weight ratio of the two components and the solvent evaporation rate.

Preparation and layer-by-layer self-assembly of positively charged multiwall carbon nanotubes

The report described a method of more stably dispersing oxidized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by forming complex with polycation and the layer-by-layer self-assembly behavior of the complex with polyanion was studied. The properties of the self-assembled multilayer film containing carbon nanotubes were studied. Cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used for characterization of film assembly. UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry study indicated the uniform growth of the film. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results showed that incorporating of carbon nanotubes in the polyelectrolyte multilayers; decreased in the electron-transfer resistance R, indicating more favorable electrochemical reaction interface. The electrocatalytic property of the multilayer modified electrode to NADH was investigated mainly with different numbers of the bilayers; and the results showed that along with the increase of the assembled bilayers the overpotential of NADH oxidation decreased. The detection lit-nit Could reach 6 mu M at a detection potential of 0.4 V.

Conformational and orientational analyses of 2,2 '-bithiophene under interaction of external electric field constructed by point charges

The fully relaxed single-bond torsional potentials and orientation-related rotational potentials of 2,2'-bithiophene (BT) under the interaction of an external electric field (EF) constructed by point charges have been evaluated with semi-empirical AMI and PM3 calculations. The torsional potentials are sensitive to both EF strength and direction. While the EF is parallel to the molecular long axis, the torsional barrier around C-x-C-x' bond obviously rises with increasing the EF strength, whereas the relative energies of syn and anti minima show a slight change. The interaction between the EF and the induced dipole moment has been proposed to elucidate this observation. On the other hand, the relative energy difference between the syn and anti minima shows an obvious change, while the EF is perpendicular to the molecular long axis. This feature has been ascribed to the interaction between the EF and the permanent dipole moment of BT. Furthermore, conformational and orientational analyses in two dimensions have been carried out by changing the torsional and rotational angles in the different EF. The conformation and orientation of a gas-phase BT in the EF are governed by both the above factors.

Study on single crystals of butyl branched polyethylene in the presence of electric field

Single crystal of butyl branched polyethylene with various molecular weight formed from the melt in the presence of electric field was studied. It was found that electric field influenced morphology and structure of the butyl branched polyethylene single crystals formed. The lateral habits of the single crystals were circular shape, which was different from truncated lozenge or lenticular shape single crystals formed from the melt in the absence of electric field. The stems in the single crystals formed in the presence Of electric field were perpendicular to the basal plane of the single crystals, which was different from chain tilting in single crystals formed from the melt in the absence of electric field. The electron diffraction patterns showed that the structure of the circular single crystals was a quasi-hexagonal with looser chain packing. This looser chain packing was favorable to thickening growth of single crystals through chain sliding diffusion. The thickness of the single crystals was much larger and depended on molecular weight. It indicated that the single crystal in the presence of electric field should be an extended chain type Single crystal.

Conformational analysis of 2,2 '-bithiophene under interaction of external electric field defined by point charges

Conformational analysis of 2,2'-bithiophene (BT) under the influence of an electric field (EF) constructed by point charges has been performed by using semi-empirical Austin Model 1 (AM1) and Parametric model number 3 (PM3) calculations. When the EF perpendicular to the molecular conjugation chain is applied, both AM1 and PM3 calculations show an energy increase of the anti-conformation. AM1 predicts that the global minimum shifts to syn-conformation when the EF strength is larger than a critical value. and PM predicts that the local minimum in anti-conformation vanishes. This kind of EF effect has been ascribed to the EF and dipole moment interaction.

Melt crystallization of poly(ether ether ketone ketone) under strong electric field

In this paper, melt crystallization of poly(ether ether ketone ketone) (PEEKK) under strong electric field was investigated. In the crystal structure of PEEKK, the length of c axis was found to he 1.075 nm, increasing by 7% compared to that of PEEKK crystallized without strong electric field. The molecule chains might take a more extended conformation through the opening of the bridge bond angles by increasing from 124 degrees to 144 degrees under strong electric field in the crystal structure.

Electric field-induced conformational transition of bovine serum albumin from alpha-helix to beta-sheet

The irreversible conformational transition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from alpha-helix to beta-sheet, induced by electric field near the electrode surface, was monitored by circular dichroism (CD) with a long optical path thin layer cell (LOPTLC).

Structure, electric and magnetic properties of new compounds CdYMWO7 (M = Cr and Mn)

Two new compounds with the formula of CdYMWO7 (M = Cr, Mn) were prepared by solid state reaction. They crystallized with orthorhombic structure with the cell parameters of a = 11.7200 Angstrom, b = 7.1779 Angstrom, c = 6.9805 Angstrom (CdYCrWO7), and a = 11.7960 Angstrom, b = 6.1737 Angstrom, c = 7.6530 Angstrom (CdYMnWO7). These compounds are insulators with high resistivities at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of CdYMWO7 (M = Cr and Mn) show Curie-Weiss Law's behaviors from 80 to 300 K. The magnetic moments at room temperature fit very well with those corresponding to Cr3+ and Mn3+ ions. This suggests that both Cr and Mn ions exist in + 3 oxidation state in CdYMWO7 compounds. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A study of ion kinetic energy spectrometry of o(-), m(-), and p(-) diol benzene doubly charged ions and singly charged ions in gas phase

With Mass Analyzed Ion Kinetic Energy Spectrometry (MIKES), Collisional Induced Dissociation(CID), and Electron Capture Induced Decomposition(ECID) technigues, the doubly charged ions and singly charged ions from o(-), m(-), and p(-) diol benzene in the EI source have been studied. In terms of the values of the kinetic energy releases(T) of the charge separation reactions of the doubly charged ions and the estimated intercharge distances(R) of the exploding doubly charged ions the transition structures were proposed. Some structural information about the transition states was also obtained. It is of interest that the MIKES/CID spectra of singly charged ions [C6H6O2](+) from the three isomers are of significant differences.

Magnetic and electric properties of Bi(La)Sr(Ca)Mn2O6

Bi1-xLaxSrMn2O6 and BiSr1-xCaxMn2O6 are prepared by solid state reaction. They are n-type semiconductors with ferromagnetism at room temperture. When Bi is substituted partly by rare earth, a negative magnetoresistance effect is observed in the pellet of Bi1-xLaxSrMn2O6. There are semiconductor-metal transitions at 820 K in BiSrMn2O6. The transitions are attributed to the magnetic transition at high temperature. The substitution of Ca for Sr makes the transition temperature increase. However, when Bi is partly substituted by La, the solid solution does not change into metal. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.

The effect of some factors on the electric properties of rare earth complex oxide

The rare earth complex oxides with different types have been synthesized. Their structures and electric properties have been investigated. According to our experimental results, the effects of the outest shell electronic configuration, electron spin state, electron transport path and formation of cluster on the electric properties of rare earth complex oxides have been summarized. When the electrons in the outest shell of the central metallic ion are unpair, and the outest shell is not half-filled, the electric conductibilities of these compounds are better, If there is a -M-X-M-X- or -M-M-M- (the distances between two atoms <0.31 nm) continuous electron transport path, and the electron configurations of the central metallic ion conform to the above condition, then the electric conductibilities are good, The isolate cluster can not become the continuous electron transport path, therefore, the formation of the isolate cluster will reduce the conductibility.

UNIMOLECULAR DISSOCIATION REACTIONS OF DOUBLY-CHARGED IONS [C12H12N2O](2+) AND [C12H12N2S](2+) IN GAS-PHASE

The unimolecular dissociation reactions of doubly charged ions were reported, which resulted from a tandem mass spectrometer and a reversed geometry double focusing mass spectrometer by electron impact, Mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry (MIKES) was used to obtain the kinetic energy releases in charge separation reactions of doubly charged ions, The intercharge distances between the two charges at transition states can be calculated from the kinetic energy releases, Transition structures of unimolecular dissociation reactions were infered from MIKES and MS/MS.

A Study on the Unimolecular Decomposition of the Doubly Charged Ions Produced from 4 Chloro-toluene Isomers

The unimolecular charge separations and neutral loss decompositions of the doubly charged ions [C7H7Cl](2+), [C7H6Cl](2+) and [C7H5Cl](2+) produced in the ion source by 70 eV electron impact from 3 chloro-toluenes and benzyl chloride isomers were studied

A STUDY OF ION KINETIC-ENERGY SPECTROMETRY OF ORTHO-DICHLORO, META-DICHLORO AND PARA-DICHLORO BENZENE DOUBLY CHARGED IONS [C6H4CL2]2+ AND [C6H3CL]2+ IN GAS-PHASE

The unimolecular Charge separation reactions of the doubly charged ions [C6H4Cl2]2+, [C6H3Cl]2+ produced in the ion source by electron impact from o-, m-, and p-dichloro benzene have been studied using mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. The values of kinetic energy releases (T) can be calculated from the energy dispersion of product ions. As T essentially reflects the release of coulombic energy, which can be used to calculate the approximate distances R between the two charges immediately before decomposition of the ions. From these data, some structural information about transiton states could be provided. The ECID and CID processes of above doubly charged ions, have also been studied. We found that the CID reactions of (C6H4Cl2)2+ could be used to distinguish three dichloro benzene isomers.