Organic–Inorganic Hybrids Based on Ultrathin Oxide Layers: Designed Nanostructures for Molecular Recognition

The application of layered solids for molecular recognition is summarized. By using layered solids (silicates, aluminosilicates, titanates, hydroxides, and so on), ions and molecules can be concentrated from aqueous and vapor phases. The large surface area and tunable surface properties derived from the layered structures contribute to molecular recognition. The choice of materials and modification of the nanostructure were carefully investigated to optimize the performance based on molecular recognition (selective adsorption, substrate selective reaction, detection, etc.). The progress made in materials syntheses (variation of layered materials, sophisticated modification, controlled morphology, and processing) has made the design of materials more attractive and realistic.     

One-pot isomerization of aldo-disaccharides to keto-disaccharides in deep sea water under sub-critical conditions

A novel and facile one-pot isomerization of aldo-disaccharides to keto-disaccharides is achieved by making use of deep sea water in sub-critical conditions. The resulting keto-disaccharides having pharmaceutical and food applications were obtained in modest yields of about 30–32% at the optimum reaction conditions (temperature: 180 °C, reaction time: 5 min). Detailed investigation of all major ions in deep sea water revealed that bicarbonate ions play a key role as a catalyst in this isomerization reaction.     

Synthesis,crystal structures,spectral, electrochemical and magnetic properties of di-µ-phenoxido-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes with N-salicylidene-2-hydroxybenzylamine derivatives: axial coordination effect of dimethyl sulphoxide molecule

The template reaction of salicylaldehyde and its substituted derivatives and 2-hydroxy-5-bromobenzylamine or 2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzylamine with copper(II) acetate in dimethyl sulphoxide (dmso) afforded eight dinuclear Cu(II) complexes, [Cu₂(L)₂(dmso)₂] (H₂ L = N-salicylidene-2-hydroxy-5-bromobenzylamine, N-salicylidene-2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzylamine and their 5-bromo, 5-nitro and 5-methyl-substituted salicylidene derivatives). These Cu(II) complexes were characterised by IR and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, electric conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, and temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibilities (4.5–300 K). In the THF solution, the complexes are nonelectrolytes and exhibit a characteristic CT band due to phenoxido-bridging at 360–384 nm. In the cyclic voltammograms, an irreversible reduction process was observed at ?1.18–1.54 V vs Fc/Fc⁺. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography revealed that two Cu(II) ions were bridged by the two phenoxido-oxygen atoms of the two Schiff-base ligands with axial coordination of dmso molecules forming a square pyramid with a Cu-Cu distance of 3.0628(8)–3.0931(6) °A. In accordance with the crystal structures, the magnetic interaction between the two Cu(II) ions is relatively anti-ferromagnetic with ?2J value of 386–575 cm^?1. The axial coordination effect of the dmso molecule was discussed in relation to the correlation between the Cu-O-Cu angle and the ?2J value.     

Underwater acoustics and cavitating flow of water entry

The fluid mechanics of water entry is studied through investigating the underwater acoustics and the supercavitation. Underwater acoustic signals in water entry are extensively measured at about 30 different positions by using a PVDF needle hydrophone. From the measurements we obtain (1) the primary shock wave caused by the impact of the blunt body on free surface; (2) the vapor pressure inside the cavity; (3) the secondary shock wave caused by pulling away of the cavity from free surface; and so on. The supercavitation induced by the blunt body is observed by using a digital high-speed video camera as well as the single shot photography. The periodic and 3 dimensional motion of the supercavitation is revealed. The experiment is carried out at room temperature. The project supported by the “BaiRen Plan” of Chinese Academy of Sciences     

CCAP for Universal Discrete Quantum Groups

We show that the discrete duals of the free orthogonal quantum groups have the Haagerup property and the completely contractive approximation property. Analogous results hold for the free unitary quantum groups and the quantum automorphism groups of finite-dimensional C^*-algebras. The proof relies on the monoidal equivalence between free orthogonal quantum groups and SU _q (2) quantum groups, on the construction of a sufficient supply of bounded central functionals for SU _q (2) quantum groups, and on the free product techniques of Ricard and Xu. Our results generalize previous work in the Kac setting due to Brannan on the Haagerup property, and due to the second author on the CCAP.