High Energy Density in Azobenzene-based Materials for Photo-Thermal Batteries via Controlled Polymer Architecture and Polymer-Solvent Interactions

Energy densities of ~510 J/g (max: 698 J/g) have been achieved in azobenzene-based syndiotactic-rich poly(methacrylate) polymers. The processing solvent and polymer-solvent interactions are important to achieve morphologically optimal structures for high-energy density materials. This work shows that morphological changes of solid-state syndiotactic polymers, driven by different solvent processings play an important role in controlling the activation energy of Z-E isomerization as well as the shape of the DSC exotherm. Thus, this study shows the crucial role of processing solvents and thin film structure in achieving higher energy densities

Source-Frequency Phase-Referencing Observation of AGNs with KaVA Using Simultaneous Dual-Frequency Receiving

The KVN(Korean VLBI Network)-style simultaneous multi-frequency receiving mode is demonstrated to be promising for mm-VLBI observations. Recently, other Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) facilities all over the globe start to implement compatible optics systems. Simultaneous dual/multi-frequency VLBI observations at mm wavelengths with international baselines are thus possible. In this paper, we present the results from the first successful simultaneous 22/43 GHz dual-frequency observation with KaVA(KVN and VERA array), including images and astrometric results. Our analysis shows that the newly implemented simultaneous receiving system has brought a significant extension of the coherence time of the 43 GHz visibility phases along the international baselines. The astrometric results obtained with KaVA are consistent with those obtained with the independent analysis of the KVN data. Our results thus confirm the good performance of the simultaneous receiving systems for the non-KVN stations. Future simultaneous observations with more global stations bring even higher sensitivity and micro-arcsecond level astrometric measurements of the targets.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Published in JKA

Precessing jet nozzle connecting to a spinning black hole in M87

The nearby radio galaxy M87 offers a unique opportunity to explore the connections between the central supermassive black hole and relativistic jets. Previous studies of the inner region of M87 revealed a wide opening angle for the jet originating near the black hole. The Event Horizon Telescope resolved the central radio source and found an asymmetric ring structure consistent with expectations from General Relativity. With a baseline of 17 years of observations, there was a shift in the jet's transverse position, possibly arising from an eight to ten-year quasi-periodicity. However, the origin of this sideways shift remains unclear. Here we report an analysis of radio observations over 22 years that suggests a period of about 11 years in the position angle variation of the jet. We infer that we are seeing a spinning black hole that induces the Lense-Thirring precession of a misaligned accretion disk. Similar jet precession may commonly occur in other active galactic nuclei but has been challenging to detect owing to the small magnitude and long period of the variation.Comment: 41 pages, 7 figures, 7 table

Experimental and density functional theory studies on Cu/Ba-coimpregnated γ-Al2O3 for low-temperature NO storage and adsorbent regeneration

Although the lean-NOx trap (LNT) has been used to reduce NOx emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, LNT application is limited because its performance degrades at low temperatures (e.g., during cold starting). Therefore, to enhance low-temperature NOx storage and adsorbent regeneration, γ-Al2O3 was coimpregnated with both Cu and Ba (Cu–Ba/γ-Al2O3). The experimentally measured NOx storage capacities (NSCs) and NOx storage efficiencies (NSEs) were compared. Density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations were performed to reveal the NOx storage mechanism. The Cu/Ba-coimpregnated γ-Al2O3 improved both NSC and NSE of NO storage and enhanced NSE of NO2 storage at initial stage. In addition, it desorbed NOx at lower temperatures than the conventional Ba-impregnated γ-Al2O3 (Ba/γ-Al2O3). The in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy analysis and DFT calculations for NO storage showed that NO adsorption was superior on the Cu-compound surfaces and that stable hyponitrite was stored on the Ba-compound surfaces. In NO2 storage, Cu/Ba coimpregnation offered high preferential NO2 coverage on the CuO surface and produced the most stable ionic nitrate on the Ba-compound surfaces. The experimental and theoretical results confirmed that the Cu/Ba-coimpregnated adsorbent exhibited both superior NOx storage and adsorbent regeneration compared to the conventional Ba-containing LNT adsorbent.11Nsciescopu

Multimodal drop bouncing behaviors of bioinspired magnetically reponsive hair

A robust anti-icing material that can efficiently limit the formation of ice, based on tunable multimodal bouncing dynamics of impinging droplets by utilizing a magnetically responsive hierarchical hair array (MRA) is introduced