Recording Peel Island. A digital and historical documentation

Between 2011 and 2017, the site of the former Peel Island lazaret, in Moreton Bay (Australia) was digitally documented by 3D laser technology thanks to a collaboration between CSIRO, the University of Queensland’s School of Architecture and the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service. The results of this collaboration are a series of virtual models and digital scan data, or pointclouds. Includes a booklet that aims to provide a historical context for the better interpretation of the produced material

Si-29 NMR and UV-raman investigation of initial oligomerization reaction pathways in acid-catalyzed silica sol-gel chemistry

The initial molecular steps of the acid-catalyzed silica sol-gel process departing from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) were investigated by in situ Si-29 NMR and UV-Raman spectroscopy. The use of a substoichiometric H2O:TEOS molar ratio (r-value 0.2-1.2) slowed the silicate oligomerization reaction and allowed unraveling the initial steps of silica condensation. Molecular modeling confirmed Raman signal and Si-29 NMR shift assignment. A comprehensive listing of all Raman and Si-29 NMR assignments is provided, including unique Raman assignments of cyclosilicates and the linear tetramer. The combination of experiment and modeling allowed an analysis of the reaction kinetics. The derived kinetic model and the experimental observation both revealed that the H2O:TEOS molar ratio had a strong influence on the reaction kinetics but not on the reaction pathways. The multianalytical approach led to development of an oligomerization scheme. As dominant oligomerizations, chain growth, cyclodimerization, and branching were identified. Under the investigated conditions, chains did not grow longer than pentamer, and ring sizes were limited to 6-rings. Chains of 4 Si atoms and 4-rings were abundant species. Branched rings and chains were formed by attachment of dimers and trimers. Gelation proceeded from branched 4-rings and branched chains with limited hydroxyl functionalities