Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline doped with organic acids

Spectroscopic [UV–visible and Fourier transform IR (FTIR)] and thermal properties of chemically synthesized polyanilines are found to be affected by varying the protonation media (acetic, citric, oxalic, and tartaric acid). The optical spectra show the presence of a greater fraction of fully oxidized insulating pernigraniline phase in polyaniline doped with acetic acid. In contrast, the selectivity in the formation of the conducting phase is higher in oxalic acid as a protonic acid media. The FTIR spectra of these polymers reveal a higher ratio of the relative intensities of the quinoid to benzenoid ring modes in acetic acid doped polyaniline. Scanning electron micrographs revealed a sponge‐like structure derived from the aggregation of the small granules in acetic acid and oxalic acid doped polyaniline. A three‐step decomposition pattern is observed in all the polymers, regardless of the protonic acid used for the doping. The second step loss related to the loss of dopant is found to be higher in the oxalic acid doped polymer. In accordance with these results the conductivity is also found to be higher in oxalic acid doped material. The temperature dependent conductivity measurements show the thermal activated behavior in all the polymers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2043–2049, 2004     

Effects of neutron skin on the excitation of isovector modes of neutron-rich nuclei

The existence of a neutron skin in neutron-rich nuclei is discussed in connection with the excitation of isovector dipole and quadrupole giant modes via isoscalar nuclear probes. In the case of large neutron excess, important contributions are obtained from the nuclear excitation, which may even become predominant according to proper kinematical conditions. At variance with the usual situation encountered in inelastic processes, constructive interference can be found between nuclear and Coulomb contributions.     

Fractional diffusion and reflective boundary condition

Scaling analysis of the magnitude series (volatile series) has been proposed recently to identify possible non-linear/multifractal signatures in the given data [Y. Ashkenazy, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 86 (2001) 1900; Y. Ashkenazy, et al. Physica A 323 (2003) 19; T. Kalisky, Y. Ashkenazy, S. Havlin. Phys. Rev. E 72 (2005) 011913]. In this article, correlations of volatile series generated from stationary first-order linear feedback process with Gaussian and non-Gaussian innovations are investigated. While volatile correlations corresponding to Gaussian innovations exhibited uncorrelated behavior across all time scales, those of non-Gaussian innovations showed significant deviation from uncorrelated behavior even at large time scales. The results presented raise the intriguing question whether non-Gaussian innovations can be sufficient to realize long-range volatile correlations.     

Modification of magnetic anisotropy in metallic glasses using high-energy ion beam irradiation

Heavy ion irradiation in the electronic stopping power region induces macroscopic dimensional change in metallic glasses and introduces magnetic anisotropy in some magnetic materials. The present work is on the irradiation study of ferromagnetic metallic glasses, where both dimensional change and modification of magnetic anisotropy are expected. Magnetic anisotropy was measured using Mössbauer spectroscopy of virgin and irradiated Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₂₀ and Fe₄₀Ni₃₈Mo₄B₁₈ metallic glass ribbons. 90 MeV ¹²⁷I beam was used for the irradiations. Irradiation doses were 5×10¹³ and 7.5×10¹³ ions/cm². The relative intensity ratios D ₂₃ of the second and third lines of the Mössbauer spectra were measured to determine the magnetic anisotropy. The virgin samples of both the materials display in-plane magnetic anisotropy, i.e., the spins are oriented parallel to the ribbon plane. Irradiation is found to cause reduction in magnetic anisotropy. Near-complete randomization of magnetic moments is observed at high irradiation doses. Correlation is found between the residual stresses introduced by ion irradiation and the change in magnetic anisotropy.     

Strategic commitment to price to stimulate downstream innovation in a supply chain

It is generally in a firm’s interest for its supply chain partners to invest in innovations. To the extent that these innovations either reduce the partners’ variable costs or stimulate demand for the end product, they will tend to lead to higher levels of output for all of the firms in the chain. However, in response to the innovations of its partners, a firm may have an incentive to opportunistically increase its own prices. The possibility of such opportunistic behavior creates a hold-up problem that leads supply chain partners to underinvest in innovation. Clearly, this hold-up problem could be eliminated by a pre-commitment to price. However, by making an advance commitment to price, a firm sacrifices an important means of responding to demand uncertainty. In this paper we examine the trade-off that is faced when a firm’s channel partner has opportunities to invest in either cost reduction or quality improvement, i.e. demand enhancement. Should it commit to a price in order to encourage innovation, or should it remain flexible in order to respond to demand uncertainty. We discuss several simple wholesale pricing mechanisms with respect to this trade-off.     

Oxyanion derivatives of cuprate superconductors superconducting 123 phosphates

While YSr₂Cu₃O₇ cannot be prepared under ambient conditions, partial substitution of the phosphate group for copper, as in YSr₂Cu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y, stabilizes this phase in the orthorhombic structure, but the material is not superconducting. Superconductivity in YSr₂Cu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y is obtained by increasing the hole concentration through partial substitution of Y by Ca, as in Y_0.7Ca_0.3Sr₂Cu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y (T_c≈40 K). By incorporating the phosphate group in orthorhombic YBaSrCu₃O ₇, a stable tetragonal derivative of the formula YBaSrCu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y (T_c≈ 47 K) has been prepared; the T_c increases to 70 K by partial substitution of Y by Ca as in Y_0.7Ca_0.3BaSrCu_2.8(PO₄)_0.2O_y.     

EPR studies of a molybdenyl complex in single crystals of NH4Cl

Electron paramagnetic resonance of [MoOCl₅]^2? has been studied in single crystals of NH₄Cl. At room temperature the interaction of the unpaired electron with both the even and odd isotopes of molybdenum has been observed. The existence of metal-halogen π bonding is established by the observation of the ligand superhyperfine interaction at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Various possible models corresponding to the different spatial configurations of the molybdenyl complex in the lattice are considered to explain the experimentally observed features. The spectra are analysed using the usual spin-hamiltonian corresponding to tetragonal symmetry. The spin-hamiltonian parameters obtained are: g_∥ = 1.964, g_? = 1.945, A_∥ = 75.53 × 10^?4 cm^?1, A_⊥ = 38.42 × 10^?4 cm^?1.     

Synthetic analogues of wedelolactone

The syntheses of 7′-methoxy- and 5′,7′,6-trimethoxy-coumarino(3′,4′:3,2)coumarones (IIa and IIb) are described.     

Coordination of solvent molecules to VO(acac)<Subscript>2</Subscript> complexes in solution studied by hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy and pulsed electron nuclear double resonance

Interactions and binding sites of the solvent molecules chloroform and ethanol to bis(acetylacetonate)oxovanadium(IV) (VO(acac)₂) complexes in (frozen) solutions have been investigated by pulsed electron nuclear double resonance, sum peak electron spin echo envelope modulation and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy. The experimental proton hyperfine coupling data of coordinating solvent molecules have been interpreted using quantum chemical calculations (density functional theory). Experimental and computed hyperfine couplings indicate that ethanol coordinates to vanadium in the equatorial plane of VO(acac)₂ and chloroform interacts via hydrogen bonding to oxygens of the acac ligands.