Highly Durable Spin Filter Switching Based on Self-Assembled Chiral Molecular Motor

Chiral molecules have recently received renewed interest as highly efficient sources of spin-selective charge emission known as chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS), which potentially offers a fascinating utilization of organic chiral materials in novel solid-state spintronic devices. However, a practical use of CISS remains far from completion, and rather fundamental obstacles such as (i) external controllability of spin, (ii) function durability, and (iii) improvement of spin-polarization efficiency have not been surmounted to date. In this study, these issues are addressed by developing a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of overcrowded alkene (OCA)-based molecular motor. With this system, it is successfully demonstrated that the direction of spin polarization can be externally and repeatedly manipulated in an extremely stable manner by switching the molecular chirality, which is achieved by a formation of the covalent bonds between the molecules and electrode. In addition, it is found that a higher stereo-ordering architecture of the SAM of OCAs tailored by mixing them with simple alkanethiols considerably enhances the efficiency of spin polarization per a single OCA molecule. All these findings provide the creditable feasibility study for strongly boosting development of CISS-based spintronic devices that can simultaneously fulfill the controllability, durability, and high spin-polarization efficiency.     

Identifying and assessing the critical risk factors in an underground rail project in Thailand: a factor analysis approach

Large and complex infrastructure projects involve various risk factors and the successful implementation of such projects depends on effective management of the key risk factors. This paper reviews the literature to identify essential risk variables associated with infrastructure projects. Based on these risk variables, a survey is conducted to isolate and assess the critical risk factors for a mass rapid-transit underground rail project (Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line), Thailand. Responses obtained within the project organisation are evaluated using principal component analysis to understand the latent structure of the critical risk factors. The variables within the factors are tested to confirm the reliability and validity of the constructs. Finally, nine critical factors with 35 items are extracted after four iterations. Critical risk factors obtained through the factor analysis are assessed to gain better understanding of their importance and impact on project management. The research findings are supported by the perceptions of the senior management within the project organisation, which are also discussed in the paper.     

Thermodynamics of the encapsulation by cyclodextrins

Molecular encapsulation on a molecular basis can be performed by cyclodextrins. The inclusion of organic molecules into the interior changes the properties of these molecules, which may be used for a broad variety of applications. The affinity of guest molecules for the cavities of various cyclodextrins depends on the stereochemistry and on the interaction forces of the molecules involved. Calculations of the thermodynamic parameters show that the reaction entropy is highly important for the inclusion reaction. Completely different reaction mechanisms are observed for various types of cyclodextrins as some of these reactions show enthalpy–entropy compensation. Others are supported by the reaction entropy or are even entropically controlled. Protonation and deprotonation reactions contribute significantly to the inclusion reaction, as first of all the solubility of the compounds in water is strongly influenced by the acidity of the solution, and, moreover, all tautomeric forms of the compounds show different affinities to various cyclodextrins. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry