A key factor that limits the practical implementation of polymer gels is low gel toughness. Here, we present coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of the effects of solvent molecular weight on the toughness of entangled and non-entangled polymer gels in the ballistic impact regime. Our results demonstrate that higher molecular weight solvents enhance gel toughness, and that mechanical p...

In time-resolved laser pump, X-ray probe wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments on systems in solution the structural response of the system is accompanied by a solvent response. The solvent response is caused by reorganization of the bulk solvent following the laser pump event, and in order to extract the structural information of the solute, the solvent response has to be treated. Methodolog...

Photofragmentation of size-selected I2(CO2)n cluster ions and the subsequent cage recombination of the photodissociated I2 chromophore are observed to occur with high efficiency and on a ps time scale, for even partially solvated ions. This result is observed for dissociation on either ground state (I– + I) or spin-orbit excited (I– + I*) state surfaces. With intimate interplay between theory a...

BACKGROUND A number of studies have demonstrated that solvents may induce auditory dysfunction. However, there is still little knowledge regarding the main signs and symptoms of solvent-induced hearing loss (SIHL). The aim of this research was to investigate the association between solvent exposure and adverse effects on peripheral and central auditory functioning with a comprehensive audiologi...

Electric field-resolved transient grating measurements are used to distinguish the four-wave mixing signal emission from a resonant solute and a non-resonant solvent. The two components of the solution (i.e., solute and solvent) emit signal fields at different times with respect to the arrival of the probe pulse to the sample. This gives rise to a recurrence in the temporal profile of the total...

Ultralight cellular sponges offer a unique set of properties. We show here that solvent uptake by these sponges results in new gel-like materials, which we term spongy gels. The appearance of the spongy gels is very similar to classic organogels. Usually, organogels are formed by a bottom-up process. In contrast, the spongy gels are formed by a top-down approach that offers numerous advantages ...

A new phenomenological model is developed to describe the sorption of surfactants on solids in non-aqueous media. This is based on the use of interaction parameters (delta) among solid, solute and solvent to assess the degree of the various interactions and computing an effective interaction parameter for the entire system represented by delta eff = abs{A|delta solid - delta solvent| + B|delta ...

Carotenoids are employed in light-harvesting complexes of dinoflagellates with the two-fold aim to extend the spectral range of the antenna and to protect it from radiation damage. We have studied the effect of the environment on the vibrational properties of the carotenoid peridinin in different solvents by means of vibrational spectroscopies and QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations. Three pro...

The average conformation of a flexible chain molecule in solution is coupled to the local solvent structure. In a dense solvent, local chain structure often mirrors the pure solvent structure, whereas, in a dilute solvent, the chain can strongly perturb the solvent structure which, in turn, can lead to either chain expansion or compression. Here we use Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to study such ...