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Hsiao-Ching Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Hsiao-Ching Yang.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

On the rigidity of polynorbornenes with dipolar pendant groups.

A range of polynorbornenes (PNBs) with fused dipolar pendant groups at C-5,6 positions was synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization catalyzed by a ruthenium carbene complex (Grubbs I). Photophysical studies, EFISH measurements, and atomic force microscopy images have been used to investigate the structures and morphology of these polymers. These results suggest that the polymers may adopt rigid rod-like structures. The presence of the double bonds in PNBs appeared to be indispensable for the rigidity of the polymers. Interaction between unsaturated pendant groups may result in coherent alignment leading to a rod-like structure.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Density functional theory calculations of dense TiO2 polymorphs: implication for visible-light-responsive photocatalysts.

Structural parameters and electronic band gaps of dense TiO(2) polymorphs, i.e., alpha-PbO(2), baddeleyite, fluorite, and cotunnite types of structures, were calculated using a first-principles density functional method with local-density approximation. The ambient phases, i.e., rutile and anatase, with known theoretical and experimental data were used to ensure the validity of the calculations. The fluorite-type TiO(2) turned out to have the narrowest band gap, 1.08 or 2.18 eV after applying a very approximate band gap correction, due to highly symmetrical TiO(8) polyhedra with Ti(3d) and O(2p) orbitals in the most mixed state. Ti with eight coordinated oxygens, as feasible under high pressure or residual stress, may have potential applications as a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

A computer simulation study of water drying at the interface of protein chains.

This study investigated the water drying (cavitation) in the interfacial region of two chains of a dimeric protein by nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations using explicit water representation. Separation-induced cavity of water was directly observed in the region. We evaluated the separation length scale of two chains on which the drying transition occurs, and the average number of water molecules that are expelled from the interfacial region during the transition. The obtained values can be rationalized by Kelvin equation for finite lateral size of confinement [K. Lum and A. Luzar, Phys. Rev. E 56, R6283 (1997)]. Also, we found that the drying transition is accompanied by an exponential reduction in the average hydrogen-bond number per interfacial water molecule. The results of this study may deepen the understanding of how hydrophobic interaction drives the assembly of protein chains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Computer simulation of long side-chain substituted poly(phenylene vinylene) polymers.

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to investigate structure features and segment orientation of four poly (phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives with long, flexible side chains at room temperature. In the simulations, the main chains of the polymers were found to be semirigid and exhibit a tendency to coil into ellipsoidal helices or form zigzag conformations of limited regularity. The simulations show that continuous quasi-coplanar segments along the backbone are in a range of approximately 2-4 repeat units. The ordered orientation and coupling distance of interchain aromatic rings can be correlated with optical properties of materials. A simplified quantum-mechanical method was developed to investigate optical properties based on MD trajectories. The method was tested to simulate the absorption spectra of four PPV derivatives. The absorption maxima of the calculated spectra are in reasonable agreement with experimental data. This work implies that long-range electron transfer along the backbones of these polymers may not occur, but may be mediated by interchain interactions.

Journal Article↗