Determination of the solubility of crystalline low molar mass compounds in polymers by differential scanning calorimetry.

A mathematical equation has been derived to calculate the liquidus for a binary system consisting of an amorphous polymer and a crystalline low molar mass compound. The experimental input to this equation is an interaction enthalpy, which is derived from the variation of the melting enthalpy with composition in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. The predictive power of the equation has been tested with mixtures of acetylsalicylic acid, carbamazepine, or intraconazole with poly(ethylene glycol) as well as mixtures of carbamazepine with poly(acrylic acid), poly(hydroxystyrene), or poly(vinylpyrrolidone).

Re-evaluation of the efficiency of a ceria-based thermochemical cycle for solar fuel generation.

A re-analysis of the ceria-based solar-thermochemical process recently presented by Haile, Steinfeld and coworkers (Science, 2010, 330, 1797-1801) demonstrates that the experimental efficiency is at least a factor of three lower than previously claimed. An evaluation of the theoretical efficiency points out fundamental limitations of the process that are based on small changes in stoichiometry and the requirement for large amounts of purge gas.

The crystalline state of methylene blue: a zoo of hydrates.

A re-investigation of the crystalline state of methylene blue has led to the identification of five different hydrates with clearly distinct structures. These include the already known pentahydrate, a hydrate with 2.2-2.