Photoluminescence of sol–gel-derived Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>:Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> thin-film phosphors with Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Al<Superscript>3+</Superscript> co-doping

Red-light-emitting Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ thin-film phosphors were synthesized using a sol–gel process. The effect of Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ co-dopants on the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ thin-film phosphor photoluminescence (PL) property was investigated. At a certain concentration, both Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ co-dopants were found to further enhance the PL emission intensity of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ thin-film phosphors. The optimum PL emission intensity was observed in Y₂O₃:12%Eu³⁺, 7%Mg²⁺ and Y₂O₃:12%Eu³⁺, 2%Al³⁺ phosphor films. From our results, the enhancement of the emission intensity by the Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ co-dopants is explained in terms of the creation of defect states near the Y(4d+5s) conduction band, which overlap with the Eu³⁺ charge-transfer state (CTS). The overlapping leads to CTS broadening and consequently induces higher absorption and hence an increase of the emission intensity. From X-ray diffraction results, we have found that there is no additional phase formed in the co-doped phosphor films. PACS 68.55.Ln; 78.55.-m; 81.20.Fw     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structures of New Dications Bearing the -Se-Se- Bridge

Starting from 1,3-dimethyl-4-imidazoline-2-selone (1), 1,2-bis(2-selenoxo-3-methyl-4-imidazolinyl-2-)ethane (3) and 1,3-dimethylimidazolidine-2-selone (4), the following six compounds, [(C(5)H(8)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+).2Br(-) (I), [(C(5)H(8)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+).2I(-) (II), [(C(5)H(8)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+).Cl(-).I(3)(-) (III) [(C(5)H(10)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+).Br(-).IBr(2)(-) (IV), [(C(5)H(7)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+).I(3)(-).(1)/(2)I(4)(-) (V) and [(C(5)H(7)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+).2I(-).CH(3)CN (VI), in which the selenium compounds are oxidized to dications bearing the uncommon -Se-Se- bridge, have been prepared, and I-V crystallographically characterized. I and III were obtained by reacting 1 with IBr and ICl respectively, while II was obtained by reduction of previously described hypervalent selenium compound of 1 (5) bearing the I-Se-I group with elemental tellurium. These three compounds contain the same [(C(5)H(8)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+) dication balanced by two bromides in I, two iodides in II, and Cl(-) and I(3)(-) in III. However, on the basis of the Se-Cl bond length of 2.778(5) ?, III can also be considered as formed by the [(C(5)H(8)N(2)Se-)(2)Cl](+) cation, with I(3)(-) as counterion. Similarly to III, compound IV, which was obtained by reacting 4 with IBr, can be considered as formed by [(C(5)H(10)N(2)Se-)(2)Br](+) cations and IBr(2)(-) anions. As in II, compound V has been prepared by reduction of the hypervalent selenium compound of 3 (6) bearing two I-Se-I groups with elemental tellurium. In V, the [(C(5)H(7)N(2)Se-)(2)](2+) cation is balanced by I(3)(-) and half I(4)(2-) anions. The structural data show that all the cations are very similar, with Se-Se bond lengths ranging from 2.409(2) to 2.440(2) ?. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of I-VI allow one to identify two bands around 230 +/- 10 and 193 +/- 5 cm(-1) that are common to all compounds. These bands are generally strong in the FT-Raman and weak in the FT-IR spectra and should contain a contribution of the nu(Se-Se) stretching vibration. The spectra are also in good agreement with the structural features of the polyhalide anions present in the crystals. Crystallographic data are as follows: I is monoclinic, space group P2(1), with a = 9.849(6) ?, b = 11.298(5) ?, c = 7.862(6) ?, beta = 106.44(2) degrees, Z = 2, and R = 0.0362; II is monoclinic, space group P2(1), with a = 8.063(6) ?, b = 11.535(5) ?, c = 10.280(5) ?, beta = 107.13(2) degrees, Z = 2, and R = 0.0429, III is monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 10.431(7) ?, b = 18.073(5) ?, c = 11.223(6) ?, beta = 100.76(2) degrees, Z = 4, and R = 0.0490; IV is monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 10.298(5) ?, b = 18.428(7) ?, c = 11.475(6) ?, beta = 104.10(4) degrees, Z = 4, and R = 0.0300; V is triclinic, space group P&onemacr;, with a = 7.456(6) ?, b = 11.988(5) ?, c = 12.508(5) ?, alpha = 79.32(2) degrees, beta = 85.49(2) degrees, gamma = 80.62(2) degrees, Z = 2, and R = 0.0340.     

Some partition and analytical identities arising from the Alladi,Andrews, Gordon bijection

The Ramanujan Journal - In the work of Alladi et al. (J Algebra 174:636–658, 1995) the authors provided a generalization of the two Capparelli identities involving certain classes of integer...     

Functionalization of thioctic acid-capped gold nanoparticles for specific immobilization of histidine-tagged proteins

This paper presents an efficient strategy for the specific immobilization of fully functional proteins onto the surface of nanoparticles. Thioctic acid-derivatized gold clusters are used as a scaffold for further stepwise modification, leading to a cobalt(II)-terminated ligand shell. A histidine tag introduced by genetic engineering into a protein is coordinated to this transition metal ion. The specific immobilization has been demonstrated for the cases of a genetically engineered horseradish peroxidase and ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase, confirming the attachment of the fully functional proteins to the Co(II)-terminated nanointerface. The absence of nonspecific protein adsorption and the specificity of the binding site have been verified using several analogues of the enzymes without the histidine tag.     

HPLC and LC-MS studies of the transesterification reaction of methylparaben with twelve 3- to 6-carbon sugar alcohols and propylene glycol and the isomerization of the reaction products by acyl migration

Sugar alcohols and parabens are commonly used ingredients in oral suspension formulations. However, their possible incompatibility because of transesterification reaction is a concern during formulation development. In order to gain more knowledge about the reaction, a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is developed to separate the transesterification reaction products of methylparaben preservative with twelve 3- to 6-carbon sugar alcohols and propylene glycol. It is found that the number of peaks separated or partially separated correlate well with the number of distinct hydroxyl groups present in the sugar alcohol molecules. This means that all the hydroxyl groups in a sugar alcohol molecule can react with methylparaben to form transesterification reaction products. These products are positional isomers that have identical UV spectra with a maximum at 255 nm and the same m/z ratio for molecular ions by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. When isolated individually, they can isomerize (interconvert) under suitable conditions to form other positional isomers by intramolecular acyl migration. The acyl migration pathway for each of the isolated positional isomers from the transesterification reaction of methylparaben with sorbitol, ribitol, and xylitol is followed by HPLC. Based on the information, a tentative assignment of the six isomer peaks generated from the transesterification reaction between methylparaben and sorbitol is proposed.     

(BETS)2[Fe(tdas)2]2: a new metal in the molecular conductor family

The structure of bis­[4,5‐ethyl­enedi­thio‐2‐(4,5‐ethyl­enedi­thio‐1,3‐diselena­cyclo­pent‐4‐en‐2‐yl­idene)‐1,3‐diselena­cyclo­pent‐4‐enium] bis(μ‐1,2,5‐thia­diazo­le‐3,4‐di­thiol­ato‐κ³S⁴,S⁵:S⁴)bis[(1,2,5‐thia­diazo­le‐3,4‐di­thiol­ato‐κ²S⁴,S⁵)­iron(III)], (BETS)₂[Fe(tdas)₂]₂ [BETS is alternatively called bis­(ethyl­enedi­thio)­tetraselenafulvalenium] or (C₁₀H₈S₄Se₄)₂[{Fe(C₂N₂S₃)₂}₂], consists of segregated columns of dimers of BETS and columns of dimers of [Fe(tdas)₂]. Each dimer displays inversion symmetry. Numerous chalcogen–chalcogen contacts are observed within and between the columns, producing a network of interactions responsible for the metal‐like behaviour of the compound.     

Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity Anisotropy in a Liquid Crystal

Thermal conductivity (k) and thermal diffusivity (D) of the 9CB liquid crystal have been simultaneously determined by a photopyroelectric (PPE) technique in the temperature range from 308 K to 332 K where two different phase transitions occur. The measurements have been performed on oriented samples and the k and D anisotropy has been studied. The behaviour of the macroscopic order parameter vs. temperature has been determined and the order of the phase transitions checked. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Electronic factors affecting second-order NLO properties: case study of four different push-pull bis-dithiolene nickel complexes

The paper presents a detailed experimental and theoretical study of the four mixed nickel-bisdithiolene complexes [Ni(Pr(i)(2)pipdt)(dmit)] (1b, Pr(i)(2)pipdt = 1,4-diisopropyl-piperazine-3,2-dithione; dmit = 1,3-dithiolo-2-tione-4,5-dithiolato), [Ni(R(2)pipdt)(mnt)] (2b", R = 2-ethylhexyl; mnt = maleonitriledithiolato), [Ni(Pr(i)(2)timdt)(dmit)] (3b, Pr(i)(2)timdt = 1,3-diisopropyl-imidazoline-2,4,5-trithione), and [Ni(Pr(i)(2)timdt)(mnt)] (4b), and their models. All the complexes, with common (C(2)S(2))Ni(C(2)S(2)) core and two different terminal groups, are uncharged and square-planar coordinated. Previous measurements of the first molecular hyperpolarizability indicated that some of the species are potential NLO chromophores due to the pi-delocalized character of two frontier levels (HOMO and LUMO) which is asymmetrically perturbed by the combination of one push (R(2)pipdt, R(2)timdt) with one pull ligand (dmit and mnt). The X-ray structure of complex 1b is presented and its geometry is compared with those available in the literature for the four types of complexes under study. The results of electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements (oxidation and reduction potentials, IR, dipole moment, molecular absorptivities, etc.) indicate rather different responses between the pairs of complexes 1-2 and 3-4. Hence, DFT calculations on the model compounds 1a-4a, where hydrogen atoms replace the alkyl groups of R(2)pipdt and R(2)timdt, have been carried out to correlate geometries and electronic structures. Moreover, the first molecular hyperpolarizabilities have been calculated and their components have been analyzed with the simplest two-level approximation. The derived picture highlights the different roles of the two push and pull ligands, but also the peculiar perturbation of the pi-electron density induced by the terminal CS(3) grouping of the ligand dmit.     

Charge transfer complexes of dithioxamides with dihalogens as powerful reagents in the dissolution of noble metals

Commonly involved in the recovery/refining processes of noble metals (NMs), coordination chemistry is now required by new legislation to face requirements in the selection of ligands that must combine effectiveness with low environmental impact, in order to balance sustainability with economic development for conventional applications and for the recovery of NMs from secondary sources thus helping to convert Trash in Resource. In this paper, we review the properties of dihalogen/cyclic-dithioxamide adducts as a case-study to show how suitable complexes can provide innovation in the recovery processes of NMs from secondary sources and in the gold etching process in improving the reliability of microelectronic devices. These adducts, which do not show cytotoxicity, are capable of dissolving metal palladium and even gold in a one-step reaction and under mild conditions. In particular, Me₂dazdt·2I₂ (Me₂dazdt = N,N’-dimethyl-perhydrodiazepine-2,3-dithione) has proved to be the most effective in practical applications. It has been used in the palladium recovery from model spent three way catalysts (TWC). It selectively dissolved palladium, almost quantitatively, under mild conditions, even in a complex system such as an exhaust catalytic converter, a ceramic material that has undergone severe thermal and chemical stresses. Quite satisfactory results have also been obtained in gold recovery from selected WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipments) scrap and from deprocessing procedures for the failure analysis of microelectronic devices.