Liquid-crystal display as a spectral selector for visible spectrometers

The polarization properties of a twisted nematic liquid crystal display (TNLCD) are studied experimentally with the aim of using it as a wavelength selector. The output of a white LED is split into its constituent wavelengths with a resolution of 2-5 nm in proportion to a voltage applied to the TNLCD. The feasibility of employing the display as a wavelength selector in visible spectrometers is demonstrated. A simple inexpensive design of a spectrometer built around an LED and a TNLCD is suggested.

Nucleophilic attacks of 1,2-diaminoethane on MeCN ligands: synthesis, x-ray structure, and spectral and electrochemical properties of [Ru(.mu.-O)(.mu.-O2CAr)2[NH2CH2CH2NHC(Me)NH]2(PPh3)2](ClO4)2(Ar = C6H4-p-X; X = H, Me, OMe, Cl)

The diruthenium(III) complex [Ru2O(O2CAr)2(MeCN)4(PPh3)2](ClO4)2 (1), on reaction with 1,2-diaminoethane (en) in MeOH at 25-degrees-C, undergoes nucleophilic attacks at the carbon of two facial MeCN ligands to form [(Ru2O)-O-III(O2CAr)2-{NH2CH2CH2NHC(Me)NH}2(PPh3)2](ClO4)2 (2) (Ar = C6H4-p-X, X = H, Me, OMe, Cl) containing two seven-membered amino-amidine chelating ligands. The molecular structure of 2 with Ar = C6H4-p-OMe was determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data are as follows: triclinic, P1BAR, a = 13.942 (5) angstrom, b = 14.528 (2) angstrom, c = 21.758 (6) angstrom, alpha = 109.50 (2)-degrees, beta = 92.52 (3)-degrees, gamma = 112.61 (2)-degrees, V = 3759 (2) angstrom 3, and Z = 2. The complex has an {Ru2(mu-O)(mu-O2CAr2)2(2+)} core. The Ru-Ru and average Ru-O(oxo) distances and the Ru-O-Ru angle are 3.280 (2) angstrom, 1.887 [8] angstrom, and 120.7 (4)-degrees, respectively. The amino group of the chelating ligand is trans to the mu-oxo ligand. The nucleophilic attacks take place on the MeCN ligands cis to the mu-oxo ligand. The visible spectra of 2 in CHCl3 display an absorption band at 565 nm. The H-1 NMR spectra of 2 in CDCl3 are indicative of the formation of an amino-amidine ligand. Complex 2 exhibits metal-centered quasireversible one-electron oxidation and reduction processes in the potential ranges +0.9 to +1.0 V and -0.3 to -0.5 V (vs SCE), respectively, involving the Ru(III)2/Ru(III)Ru(IV) and Ru(III)2/Ru(II)Ru(III) redox couples in CH2Cl2 containing 0.1 M TBAP. The mechanistic aspects of the nucleophilic reaction are discussed.

Preparation, characterization, spectral and thermal analyses of (N2H5)2MCl4·2H2O (M = Fe, Co, Ni and Cu); crystal structure of the iron complex

Hydrazinium metal chlorides, (N2H5)2MCl4·2H2O (where M = Fe, Co, Ni and Cu), have been prepared from the aqueous solutions of the respective metal chlorides and hydrazine hydrochloride (N2H4·HCl or N2H4·2HCl) and investigated by spectral and thermal analyses. The crystal structure of the iron complex has been determined by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to an R of 0.023 and Rw of 0.031 for 1495 independent reflections. The structure shows ferrous ion in an octahedral environment bonded by two hydrazinium cations, two chloride anions and two water molecules. In the complex cation [Fe(N2H5)2(H2O)2Cl2]2+, the coordinated groups are in trans positions.

Synthesis and spectral studies of polyamide-phosphate esters from phosphine-oxide-containing diols with aryl phosphorodichloridates and their thermal and flammability behaviour

Polyamide-phosphate esters were synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of aryl phosphorodichloridates with the diols of phenoxaphosphine and phosphine oxide in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst. The polymers were characterized by infra-red and 1H, 13C and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy. The molecular weights were determined by end-group analysis using 31P n.m.r. spectral data. The phenoxaphosphine-containing polymers showed superior thermostability and flame retardancy over the phosphine-oxide-containing polymers.

Synthesis, spectral and structural studies on metal complexes of Schiff bases involving vitamin B6 and histamine

Six metal complexes of Schiff bases involving Vitamin B6 and the decarboxylated amino acid histamine have been synthesised and characterized. Crystal structures have been determined for [CuL1(H2O)Br]-NO31(L1= pyridoxylidenehistamine) and [Cu2L22(NO3)2]·6H2O 2(L2= 5′-phosphopyridoxylidenehistaminate). The crystal structure of complex 1[space group P[1 with combining macron], a= 8.161(2), b= 10.368(2), c= 11.110(2)Å, α= 105.18(1), β= 102.12(1), γ= 72.10(1)° and Z= 2; R= 0.072, R′= 0.083] consists of square-pyramidally co-ordinated copper with the tridentate Schiff base in the zwitterionic form, whereas in 2[space group P[1 with combining macron], a= 8.727(1), b= 10.308(1), c= 12.845(2)Å, α= 110.00(1), β= 78.94(1), γ= 114.35(1)° and Z= 1; R= 0.035, R′= 0.034] the copper has the same co-ordination geometry but the tetradentate Schiff-base ligand exists as a monoanion. The conformational parameters deduced from such structures are important for understanding the stereochemical aspects of Vitamin B6-catalysed model reactions involving histidine.

Spectral element approach to wave propagation in uncertain beam structures

This paper presents a study on the uncertainty in material parameters of wave propagation responses in metallic beam structures. Special effort is made to quantify the effect of uncertainty in the wave propagation responses at high frequencies. Both the modulus of elasticity and the density are considered uncertain. The analysis is performed using a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) under the spectral finite element method (SEM). The randomness in the material properties is characterized by three different distributions, the normal, Weibull and extreme value distributions. Their effect on wave propagation in beams is investigated. The numerical study shows that the CPU time taken for MCS under SEM is about 48 times less than for MCS under a conventional one-dimensional finite element environment for 50 kHz loading. The numerical results presented investigate effects of material uncertainties on high frequency modes. A study is performed on the usage of different beam theories and their uncertain responses due to dynamic impulse load. These studies show that even for a small coefficient of variation, significant changes in the above parameters are noticed. A number of interesting results are presented, showing the true effects of uncertainty response due to dynamic impulse load.

Use of wetland buffer areas to reduce nitrogen transport from forested catchments: Retention capacity, emissions of N2O and CH4 and vegetation composition dynamics

The use of buffer areas in forested catchments has been actively researched during the last 15 years; but until now, the research has mainly concentrated on the reduction of sediment and phosphorus loads, instead of nitrogen (N). The aim of this thesis was to examine the use of wetland buffer areas to reduce the nitrogen transport in forested catchments and to investigate the environmental impacts involved in their use. Besides the retention capacity, particular attention was paid to the main factors contributing to the N retention, the potential for increased N2O emissions after large N loading, the effects of peatland restoration for use as buffer areas on CH4 emissions, as well as the vegetation composition dynamics induced by the use of peatlands as buffer areas. To study the capacity of buffer areas to reduce N transport in forested catchments, we first used large artificial loadings of N, and then studied the capacity of buffer areas to reduce ammonium (NH4-N) export originating from ditch network maintenance areas in forested catchments. The potential for increased N2O emissions were studied using the closed chamber technique and a large artificial N loading at five buffer areas. Sampling for CH4 emissions and methane-cycling microbial populations were done on three restored buffer areas and on three buffers constructed on natural peatlands. Vegetation composition dynamics was studied at three buffer areas between 1996 and 2009. Wetland buffer areas were efficient in retaining inorganic N from inflow. The key factors contributing to the retention were the size and the length of the buffer, the hydrological loading and the rate of nutrient loading. Our results show that although the N2O emissions may increase temporarily to very high levels after a large N loading into the buffer area, the buffer areas in forested catchments should be viewed as insignificant sources of N2O. CH4 fluxes were substantially higher from buffers constructed on natural peatlands than from the restored buffer areas, probably because of the slow recovery of methanogens after restoration. The use of peatlands as buffer areas was followed by clear changes in plant species composition and the largest changes occurred in the upstream parts of the buffer areas and the wet lawn-level surfaces, where the contact between the vegetation and the through-flow waters was closer than for the downstream parts and dry hummock sites. The changes in the plant species composition may be an undesired phenomenon especially in the case of the mires representing endangered mire site types, and therefore the construction of new buffer areas should be primarily directed into drained peatland areas.

Direct Growth of Gold Nanorods on Gold and Indium Tin Oxide Surfaces: Spectral, Electrochemical, and Electrocatalytic Studies

The surfactant-assisted seed-mediated growth method was used for the formation of gold nanorods (GNRs) directly on gold (Au) and indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces. Citrate-stabilized similar to 2.6 nm spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were first self-assembled on ITO or Au surfaces modified with (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane (MPTS) sol-gel film and then immersed in a cationic surfactant growth solution to form GNRs. The growth of GNRs on the MPTS sol gel film modified ITO surface was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy. The ITO surface with the attached spherical AuNPs shows a surface plasmon resonance band at 550 nm. The intensity of this absorption band increases while increasing the immersion time of the AuNP-modified ITO surface into the growth solution, and after 5 h, an additional shoulder band around 680 nm was observed. The intensity of this shoulder band increases, and it was shifted to longer wavelength as the immersion time of the AuNP-modified ITO surface into the growth solution increases. After 20 h, a predominant wave at 720 nm was observed along with a band at 550 nm. Further immersion of the modified ITO surface into the growth solution did not change the absorption characteristics. The bands observed at 550 and 720 nm were characteristics of GNRs, corresponding to transverse and longitudinal waves, respectively. The AFM images showed the presence of GNRs on the surface of the MPTS sol gel modified ITO surface with a typical length of similar to 100-120 nm and a width of similar to 20-22 nm in addition to a few spherical AuNPs, indicating that seeded spherical AuNPs were not completely involved in the GNRs' formation. Finally, the electrocatalytic activity of the surface-grown GNRs on the MPTS sol gel film modified Au electrode toward the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) was studied. Unlike a polycrystalline Au electrode, the surface-grown GNR-modified electrode shows two well-defined voltammetric peaks for AA at 0.01 and 0.35 V in alkaline, neutral, and acidic pHs. The cause for the observed two oxidation peaks for AA was due to the presence of both nanorods and spherical nanoparticles on the electrode surface. The presence of spherical AuNPs on the MPTS sol gel film oxidized AA at more positive potential, whereas the GNRs oxidized AA at less positive potential. The observed 340 mV less positive potential shift in the oxidation of AA suggested that GNRs are better electrocatalysts for the oxidation of AA than the spherical AuNPs.

An infrared spectroscopic study of the low-spin-high-spin transition in FexMn1-x(Phen)2(NCS)2: A composition-induced change in the order of the spin-state transition

Infrared spectroscopy provides a valuable tool to investigate the spin-state transition in Fe(II) complexes of the type Fe(Phen)2(NCS)2. With progressive substitution of Fe by Mn, the first-order transition changes over to a second-order transition, with a high residual population of the high-spin state even at very low temperatures

Channel Volatiles Of South Indian Cordierites As Indicators Of Metamorphic Fluid Composition

The channel volatiles in cordierites of the Precambrian high-grade metapelites from southern and eastern Karnataka northern Tamil Nadu and southern Kerala were analyzed in an attempt to use them as metamorphic fluid fugacity indicators. Infrared powder absorption spectra, used to characterize the channel volatiles, showed that all the 21 analyzed cordierites have H2O and CO2 as the channel volatiles, indicating the predominantly H2O-CO2 composition of the metamorphic fluids. The H2O fraction in the metamorphic fluid was computed using a published thermodynamic method in conjunction with gravimetrically determined cordierite channel H2O content, available P - T estimates and an appropriate equation of state for the H2O - CO2 fluids. The IR data and these calculated X(H2O) values indicate an overall correlation between the variation in the relative proportion of H2O and CO2 in the fluids and the metamorphic grade. The average computed X(H2O) values are: 0.78 for the amphibolite facies eastern Karnataka pelites, 0.36 for the amphibolite facies southern Karnataka pelites, 0.19 for the southern Karnataka transitional zone rocks and 0.13 for the northern Tamil Nadu granulites. Consistently low X(H2O) values, at about 0.2, were obtained for the orthopyroxene-bearing assemblages.

Anomalous behaviour in the composition dependence of the photoacoustic properties of Si---As---Te glasses

The optical bandgap and thermal diffusivity of Si10AsxTe90−x (10 ≤ x ≤ 50) and Si15AsxTe85−x (5 ≤ x ≤ 40) glasses have been measured using the photoacoustic technique. The anomalous behaviour observed in these properties at the mean coordination number left angle bracketrright-pointing angle bracket = 2.60 is interpreted by reference to the formation and development of a layered structure in these glasses.

Crystal structures, spectral and magnetic properties of (µ-hydroxo)(µ-acetato)dicopper(II) complexes containing chelating amines

The reaction of [Cu2(O2CMe)4(H2O)2] with N, N, N′, N′-tetramethylethane- 1,2-diamine (tmen) in ethanol yielded the dicopper(II) complex [Cu2(OH)(O2CMe)(tmen)2][ClO4]21. A similar reaction with N, N- dimethylethane- 1,2-diamine (dmen) afforded a crystalline product 2 in which two dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu2(OH)(O2CMe)(dmen)2][ClO4]22a and [Cu2(OH)(O2CMe)(H2O)2(dmen)2][ClO4]22b, are cocrystallized in a 1 : 1 molar ratio along with 2NaClO4. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined. The complexes have an asymmetrically dibridged [Cu2(µ-OH)(µ-O2CMe)]2+ core. The co-ordination geometry of the metal is square planar (CuO2N2). The copper atoms in 2b have a square-pyramidal CuO3N2 co-ordination sphere. The Cu Cu distances and Cu–O–Cu angles in 1, 2a and 2b are 3.339(2), 3.368(3), 3.395(7)Å, 120.1(2), 116.4(1) and 123.6(2)°, respectively. Complex 1 exhibits an axial ESR spectrum in a methanol glass giving g∥= 2.26 (A∥= 164 × 10–4 cm–1) and g⊥= 2.04. The ESR spectra obtained from the bulk material of the dmen product are indicative of the presence of two dimers, viz. complex 2a(g∥= 2.25, A∥= 165 × 10–4 cm–1; g⊥= 2.03) and 2b(g∥= 2.19, A∥= 184 × 10–4 cm–1; g⊥= 2.0). Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on these complexes show an intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling in the dimeric core. The fitting parameters are J=–27.8 cm–1, g= 2.1 for complex 1 and J=–10.1 cm–1, g= 2.0 for 2. The magnetostructural properties of the complexes are discussed. There is a linear correlation of the –2J values with the Cu Cu distances among dibridged complexes having square-planar copper(II) centres.

Spectral approach for the soliton and periodic solutions of the nonlinear wave equation

A spectral method that obtains the soliton and periodic solutions to the nonlinear wave equation is presented. The results show that the nonlinear group velocity is a function of the frequency shift as well as of the soliton power. When the frequency shift is a function of time, a solution in terms of the Jacobian elliptic function is obtained. This solution is periodic in nature, and, to generate such an optical pulse train, one must simultaneously amplitude- and frequency-modulate the optical carrier. Finally, we extend the method to include the effect of self-steepening.