Multi-walled carbon nanotubes-ferroelectric liquid crystal nanocomposites: effect of cell thickness and dopant concentration on electro-optic and dielectric behaviour

Nanocomposites comprise functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (0.00 wt%, 0.05 wt% and 0.07 wt%) and ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) have been studied in the 5-μm- and 12-μm-thickness cells. Effect of anchoring energy and dopant concentration on the mesomorphic, electro-optic and dielectric behaviour of FLC has been explored. Fast switching time and increase in permittivity of non-doped FLCs and resulting nanocomposites as a function of increased cell thickness (from 5 to 12 μm) can be attributed to the change in the anchoring energy and direct current (DC) conductivity of the non-doped and doped systems. π–π stacking between carbon nanotubes and FLC layers give rise to the spontaneous polarisation of nanocomposites. Effect of cell thickness and anchoring energy on bistability are also discussed.     

Effect of addition of hydrophilic ionic liquid 3-methyl-1-pentylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C5mim][BF4]) on an aqueous solution of triton X-100

The effect of addition of 3-methyl-1-pentylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₅mim][BF₄]) on the micellization of a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100 (TX-100), has been investigated. The techniques employed to study the aggregation behavior are fluoremetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the concentration range covered is 0–2?wt% [C₅mim][BF₄]. The probes, viz. pyrene and pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde (PyCHO), have been used for fluorescence analysis. According to the findings, the addition of pentyl-chained ionic liquid (IL) to aqueous TX-100 results in a dramatic increase in critical micelle concentration (cmc) decrease in micellar size, and aggregation number pointing toward an overall “unfavorable” aggregation process.     

Bioactivity of some divalent M(II) complexes of penicillin based Schiff base ligand: Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization,and thermal study

A series of four novel metal complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were synthesized from Schiff base derived from amoxicillin (AMX) and picolinaldehyde (PC2). The ligand and metal complexes were fully characterized by physical and spectral techniques such as elemental microanalysis, conductivity, FT-IR, ¹H & ¹³C NMR, UV–vis, mass spectra, EPR, magnetic moment measurement, TGA/DTA, PXRD and antibacterial activity study. The spectroscopic study revealed 1:2 metal ligand ratio and coordination sites in the ligand for metal ions were evaluated by analysis of the spectral results. The surface morphology of the complexes was evaluated by SEM analysis. Molar conductivity implies non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. UV–vis. spectral study nicely supports octahedral geometry for Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes and tetrahedral geometry for Cu(II) complex. The kinetic parameters were extracted from Coats-Redfern equation. The PXRD study revealed nano-crystalline nature of Co(II), Ni(II) & Cu(II) complexes and amorphous nature of Zn(II) complex. The proposed geometry of the complexes was optimized by MM2 calculation supported in Cs-ChemOffice Ultra-11 program. The ligand and metal complexes were screened for antibacterial potency against four human pathogenic clinical strains of bacteria and the data revealed their promising antibacterial activity.     

Sustainability of bioplastics: Opportunities and challenges

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A general and efficient CuI/BtH catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with thiols

We report an exceptionally mild, general and efficient copper catalyzed cross coupling reaction of aryl bromides and thiols using 0.5 mol % CuI and 1 mol % benzotriazole. Experimental simplicity, generality, functional group tolerance and low cost of the catalyst are advantages of the protocol.     

Adsorption of traces of hafnium on manganese dioxide from acid solutions

Adsorption of hafnium on manganese dioxide from nitric and perchloric acid solutions has been studied and optimized with respect to shaking time, concentration of acid, oxide and metal. Maximum adsorption has been noticed from 0.1 mol · dm^–3 acid solutions in 20 minutes around 10^–5 mol · dm^–3 hafnium concentration. The adsorption of hafnium follows a Freundlich adsorption isotherm. Oxalate, thiosulfate, Na(I) and Al(III) from nitric acid and K(I) and Zn(II) from perchloric acid increase the adsorption, whereas all other anions and cations tested reduce the adsorption from both media Fe(III) and Sn(IV) significantly. Zn(II) and Co(II) show low adsorption affinity.     

Banerjeeet al’s characterization theorem in thermohaline convection and its magnetorotatory extensions

The paper mathematically establishes that magnetorotatory thermohaline convection of the Veronis [7] type cannot manifest itself as oscillatory motions of growing amplitude in an initially bottom heavy configuration if the thermohaline Rayleigh numberR _s, the Lewis number τ, the thermal Prandtl number σ, the magnetic Prandtl number σ₁, the Chandrasekhar numberQ and the Taylor numberT satisfy the inequality \(R_s 4\pi ^4 \left[ {1 + \frac{\tau }{{\sigma \pi ^2 }}\left\{ {\pi ^2 - \left( {O\sigma _1 + \frac{T}{{\pi ^2 }}} \right)} \right\}} \right]\) when both the boundary surfaces are rigid thus achieving magnetorotatory extension of an important characterization theorem of Banerjeeet al (1992) on the corresponding hydrodynamic problem. A similar characterization theorem is mathematically established in the context of the magnetorotatory thermohaline convection of the Stern (1960) type.     

Ceric ammonium nitrate/acetic anhydride: A tunable system for the O-acetylation and mononitration of diversely protected carbohydrates

Esterification of a wide range of partially protected carbohydrate derivatives was achieved using acetic anhydride and a catalytic amount of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). Compatibility with the commonly used protecting groups was demonstrated, with the esterified products being furnished in good yields. Apart from affording the O-acetylated products, their mononitrated counterparts were also produced depending upon the reactivity of the starting material. Decreasing the molar equivalents of CAN afforded the O-acetylated products exclusively, while increasing it favored the mononitrated derivatives.     

Extraction and characterization of cellulose single fiber from native Ethiopian Serte (Dracaena steudneri Egler) plant leaf

Biomaterials are renewable sources which are widely distributed, locally accessible, high possibility of recycling and biodegradation behavior. This investigation deals with the extraction and characterizing of new fiber obtained from Serte plant leaf that is found in Ethiopia. The physical, chemical and mechanical characters of the fiber had been tested and comparison with other plant fibers was done for the first time. Optimization of fiber extraction process has been done by varying the extraction variables like NaOH concentration, temperature and extraction time. Fibers possessing 56% cellulose content along with significant amount of hemicellulose, lignin and ash with tensile strength of 330?MPa were obtained. FTIR as well as X-ray diffraction analysis were also done to further analyze the fiber. This new plant leaf fiber can be another alternative resource in place of synthetic fibers depending on their application such as reinforcing polymer matrices.     

Ecofriendly synthesis,antimicrobial and antispermatogenic activity of triorganotin(IV) complexes with 4′‐nitrobenzanilide semicarbazone and 4′‐nitrobezanilide thiosemicarbazone

New series of triorganotin(IV) complexes with 4′‐nitrobenzanilide semicarbazone (L¹H) and 4′‐nitrobenzanilide thiosemicarbazone (L²H) of the type [R₃Sn(L)] (R = ‐CH₃, ‐C₆H₅ and n‐C₄H₉) were synthesized under microwave irradiation. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, conductance measurements, molecular weight determinations and spectral data, viz., IR, UV–vis, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR. The central tin atoms of these complexes are all five‐coordinated with trigonal bipyramidal geometry. In order to assess their growth inhibitory potency semicarbazone, thiosemicarbazone and their triorganotin(IV) complexes were tested in vitro against some pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Also the ligands and their organotin(IV) complexes were studied to assess the effects of long‐term ingestion of these compounds on fertility, body and reproductive organ weights. The biochemical analyses were also performed on blood samples and reproductive organs of male rats. The findings have been presented in this paper. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.