Characterization of CaTi0.9Fe0.1O3/La0.98Mg0.02NbO4 composite

A composite of CaTi_0.9Fe_0.1O₃ and electrolyte material, i.e. magnesium doped La_0.98Mg_0.02NbO₄ was prepared and studied. The phase content and the sample microstructure was examined by an X-ray diffraction method and scanning electron microscopy. EDS measurements were done both for composite samples and the diffusion couple. The electrical properties were studied by four terminal DC method. The high-temperature interaction between the two components of the composite has been observed. It has been suggested that lanthanum diffused into the perovskite phase and substituted for calcium whereas calcium and niobium formed the Ca₂Nb₂O₇ pyrochlore phase. At 1500°C very large crystallites of the pyrochlore were observed. Regardless of strong interaction between the composite components, its total conductivity was weakly dependent on the sintering temperature.     

Influence of rhodium additive on hydrogen electrosorption in palladium-rich Pd–Rh alloys

Hydrogen electrosorption into Pd-rich (>80 at.% Pd in the bulk) Pd–Rh alloys has been studied in acidic solutions (0.5 M H₂SO₄) using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The influence of temperature (in the range between 283 and 328 K), electrode potential and alloy bulk composition on hydrogen electrosorption properties of Pd–Rh alloys is presented. It has been found that the additive of Rh to Pd–Rh alloys increases the maximum hydrogen solubility (for Rh bulk content below 10 at.%), decreases the potential of absorbed hydrogen oxidation peak and decreases the potential of the α → β phase transition. Increasing temperature decreases the potential of absorbed hydrogen oxidation peak, the maximum hydrogen solubility, and the potential of the α → β phase transition. The amounts of electrosorbed hydrogen for α- and β-phase boundaries, i.e., α_max and β_min, have been determined from the integration of the initial parts of current–time responses in hydrogen absorption and desorption processes. The H/M ratio corresponding to α_max increases with increasing Rh content, while for β_min a maximum of H/M ratio is observed for the alloys containing ca. 95% Rh.

     

Planarity of heteroaryldithiocarbazic acid derivatives showing tuberculostatic activity. II. Crystal structures of 3‐[amino(pyrazin‐2‐yl)methylidene]‐2‐methylcarbazic acid esters

Four compounds showing moderate antituberculostatic activity have been studied to test the hypothesis that the planarity of the 2‐[amino(pyrazin‐2‐yl)methylidene]dithiocarbazate fragment is crucial for activity. N′‐Anilinopyrazine‐2‐carboximidamide, C₁₁H₁₁N₅, D1, and diethyl 2,2′‐[({[amino(pyrazin‐2‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}methylidene)bis(sulfanediyl)]diacetate, C₁₄H₁₉N₅O₄S₂, B1, maintain planarity due to conjugation and attractive intramolecular hydrogen‐bond contacts, while methyl 3‐[amino(pyrazin‐2‐yl)methylidene]‐2‐methyldithiocarbazate, C₈H₁₁N₅S₂, C1, and benzyl 3‐[amino(pyrazin‐2‐yl)methylidene]‐2‐methyldithiocarbazate, C₁₄H₁₅N₅S₂, C2, are not planar, due to methylation at one of the N atoms of the central N—N bond. The resulting twists of the two molecular halves (parts) of C1 and C2 are indicated by torsion angles of 116.5 (2) and −135.9 (2)°, respectively, compared with values of about 180° in the crystal structures of nonsubstituted compounds. As the methylated derivatives show similar activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis to that of the nonsubstituted derivatives, maintaining planarity does not seem to be a prerequisite for activity.     

Ionic liquids with herbicidal anions

Ionic liquids with herbicidal anions (named herbicidal ionic liquids—HILs) were synthesized and characterized. The combination of two active chemicals as the [cation][anion] form in a single moiety reduced the number of additional chemicals required per application. HILs ([cation][MCPA]) exhibited higher biological activity than currently used salts of MCPA, and involved pesticides of a multidirectional activity ([plant growth regulator][MCPA]). Acute toxicity of HILs could be controlled by appropriate selection of cation type. These salts had chemical and thermal stability, and showed substantially lower water solubility than starting herbicides, thus reducing soil and groundwater mobility.     

Electrospun composite nanofibers for functional applications

In this article an outline of studies conducted to date utilizing the process of electrospinning is presented. This overview for the first time focuses on research of composite nanofiber synthesis and their applications. The phenomenon of bringing materials to the nanometer scale not only improves their properties, but also creates entirely new ones. The electrospinning technique is a simple and versatile method that offers a time and cost effective production of strategic combinations of polymer and composites nanofibers useful for numerous applications highlighted in this review. The future prospects of the field are also examined.     

Investigation of a Homologous Series of Fatty Acids by TLC. Part III. Application of Terms Describing the Separation of Homologous Series of Saturated Fatty Acids in TLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Fatty acids from pentanoic to tricosanoic have been separated on RP-18 HPTLC plates, with and without concentrating zone, with...     

How Does Substitutional Doping Affect Visible Light Absorption in a Series of Homodisperse Ti11 Polyoxotitanate Nanoparticles?

Homodisperse doped polyoxotitanate nanoclusters with formulae Ti₁₁(MX)O₁₄(OiPr)₁₇ (M=Mn, Fe or Co; X=Cl, Br or I, OiPr=isopropoxide) display strongly dopant‐dependent properties. Spectroscopic solution and reflectance measurements backed up by density of states and time‐dependent DFT calculations based on the determined structures, show the prominent effect of FeX substitution by decreasing the HOMO–LUMO gap of the particles. The effect is attributed to the presence of an occupied Fe β orbital halfway up the bandgap, leading to long‐wavelength absorption with electron transfer to the titanium atoms of the cluster. Whereas the light absorption varies significantly with variation of the transition metal dopant, its dependency on the nature of the halogen atom or the change in dipole moment across the series is minor.