New chiral liquid crystal monomers and cholesteric polyacrylates: synthesis and characterisation

The synthesis of new chiral monomers (M₁ ?M₃ ) based on menthol and the corresponding polyacrylates (P₁ ?P₃ ) is described. The chemical structures, formula and phase behaviour of the obtained monomers and polymers were characterised with FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, elemental analyses, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarising optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of the mesogenic core rigidity, spacer length and menthyl steric effect on the phase behaviour of M₁ ?M₃ and P₁ ?P₃ is discussed. The expected mesophase of the compounds based on menthol can be obtained by inserting a flexible spacer between the mesogenic core and the terminal groups. For the chiral monomers and polyacrylates, their corresponding melting temperature (T _m), glass transition temperature (T _g) and clearing temperature (T _i) increased with an increase of the mesogenic core rigidity; while the T _m, T _g and T _i decreased with increasing the spacer length. M₁ and P₁ showed no mesophase, while M₂ and M₃ all revealed a SmC* and cholesteric phases. P₂ and P₃ only showed a cholesteric phase.     

The effect of mesogenic and non-mesogenic crosslinking units on the phase behaviour of side-chain smectic and cholesteric elastomers

Chiral monomer (M₁ ), mesogenic and non-mesogenic crosslinking agents (C₁ and C₂ ), and the corresponding liquid crystalline elastomers (P₁ and P₂ series), have been synthesised. Their chemical structures have been characterised by Fourier transform infrared or ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and their phase behaviour investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical miscoscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction. The effect of the crosslinking unit on the phase behaviour of the elastomers has been studied. M₁ showed a cholesteric oily streak and focal conic texture. C₂ exhibited a nematic enantiotropic thread-like and schlieren texture, and a monotropic fan-shaped texture in the S_A phase. Due to the introduction of the mesogenic crosslinking unit, elastomers, P_2-1 ?P_2-5 , exhibited a cholesteric phase, while elastomers, P_1-1 ?P_1-4 , derived from a non-mesogenic crosslinking unit, exhibit a S_A phase. As the content of the crosslinking unit increased, the T _g of the P₁ series initially decreased and then increased, and the T _i of the series decreased. In the P₂ series the T _g increased, but the T _i initially increased and then decreased. TGA confirmed that all the elastomers had improved thermal stability.     

Comparative Study of Methane Activation Process by Different Plasma Sources

In this paper, we compare the characteristics of methane activation by diverse plasma sources. The test conditions of reactant flow rate and composition are fixed for each plasma source to eliminate any possible misleading effects from varying test conditions. Among the diverse characteristics of each plasma source, we focus on the electron energy and degree of thermal activation in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of methane decomposition. The reaction is evaluated based on the selectivity of specific products, including H₂, C₂H₆, and C₂H₂. Among the tested plasma sources, those that provide a somewhat thermal environment have a rather high degree of warmness, resulting in higher methane conversion and lower operational costs. As the non-thermal characteristics of the plasma sources become stronger, the selectivity of C₂H₆ increases. This reflects C₂H₆ formation from the direct collision of CH₄ with high-energy electrons. On the other hand, as the degree of warmness increases, the selectivity of H₂ and C₂H₂ increase. The results give an insight into possible tools for process control or selectivity control by varying the degree of warmness in the plasma source. The process optimization and cost reduction of methane activation should be based on this concept of selectivity control.     

PMAA microgel surface-supported phase transfer catalyst as reusable microreactors for ultra-deep desulfurization

The reusable microreactors, poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) microgels surfacely covered with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride (AEM) and K₂{W(=O)(O₂)₂(H₂O)}₂ (W2) complexes, have been synthesized by using an ion exchange reaction between AEM located on PMAA microgels and W2 in aqueous solution. The final composite microspheres and intermediate products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometer, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The results indicated the PMAA/AEM/W2 composite microspheres with surface-wrinkling morphology and core-shell structure. The feasibility of the composite microspheres used as reusable microreactors in catalytic oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was investigated. Additionally, the effects of some factors, including the amount of the microreactors, temperature, H₂O₂/DBT molar ratio, the loaded amount of AEM, DBT concentration, and recycling times, on the catalytic oxidation were examined. The results demonstrated that the prepared composite microspheres possess high catalytic performance and reusability in the catalytic oxidation of DBT.     

Production from ilmenite of TiO2-supported catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

Economic production of titanium dioxide (yield >98 %) from ilmenite has been achieved by use of a modified sulfate reduction process. A series of samples were prepared by varying the concentration of titanium dioxide nuclei (0.2, 0.3, and 0.6 %) and further impregnation with antimony and vanadia. The structural and acidic properties of the samples were comprehensively studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, BJH pore size distribution, and temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃. The XRD results revealed the presence of intense peaks from anatase titanium dioxide. Enhancement of surface area was observed for second-time filtered samples, possibly because of loss of iron from the bulk. As a result, formation of additional micropores was apparent from N₂ adsorption and desorption isotherms. Among all the antimony and vanadia-doped samples, the first-time filtered sample with the low concentration of nuclei (0.2 %) had the highest catalytic activity at low temperatures, owing to its larger pore size and abundant acidic species.     

Preparation and photoelectrochemical performance of PbSe/BaTiO3/TiO2 composite film

By dipping-lifting in sol–gel solution and reducing process, the TiO₂ composite film on the glass plate was first prepared. Then, the PbSe/BaTiO₃/TiO₂ composite film was fabricated by interface reaction with BaTiO₃ and PbSe on the surface of TiO₂ composite film. The characterization results show that the uniform porous TiO₂ film is made up of the anatase crystal, and the PbSe/BaTiO₃/TiO₂ composite film is constructed by doping or depositing BaTiO₃ and PbSe nanoparticles on the surface of TiO₂ film. The photoelectrochemical measurement results indicate that the PbSe/BaTiO₃/TiO₂ composite film has an interesting photoelectrochemical conversion property.     

Excellent degradation performance of azo dye by metallic glass/titanium dioxide composite powders

The metallic glass/titanium dioxide powders (MG/TiO₂) with enhanced photocatalytic oxidation activity were synthesized, which exhibit a higher efficiency in decolorizing methylene blue solutions (MB). Compared with the pure TiO₂ and crystalline alloy/TiO₂ (CA/TiO₂) under the same circumstances, its degradation rate was 60 % and 30 % higher, respectively. Furthermore, compared with the CA/TiO₂, the MG/TiO₂ photocatalytic rate was three times faster when decolorizing MB. Considering the excellent intrinsic high-performance photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation, these novel powders were proven to have potential applications in water purification industry.     

Graphene Oxide Protected Nucleic Acid Probes for Bioanalysis and Biomedicine

Recently, the binding ability of DNA on GO and resulting nuclease resistance have attracted increasing attention, leading to new applications both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, nucleic acids absorbed on GO can be effectively protected from enzymatic degradation and biological interference in complicated samples, making it useful for targeted delivery, gene regulation, intracellular detection and imaging with high uptake efficiencies, high intracellular stability, and very low toxicity. In vitro, the adsorption of ssDNA on GO surface and desorption of dsDNA or well‐folded ssDNA from GO surface result in the protection and deprotection of DNA from nucleic digestion, respectively, which has led to target‐triggered cyclic enzymatic amplification methods (CEAM) for amplified detection of analytes with sensitivity 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than that of 1:1 binding strategies. This Concept article explores some of the latest developments in this field.     

Investigation and Comparison of the Mechanistic Steps in the [(Cp*MCl2)2] (Cp*=C5Me5; M=Rh,Ir)‐Catalyzed Oxidative Annulation of Isoquinolones with Alkynes

The mechanism of the [(Cp*MCl₂)₂] (M=Rh, Ir)‐catalyzed oxidative annulation reaction of isoquinolones with alkynes was investigated in detail. In the first acetate‐assisted C? H‐activation process (cyclometalated step) and the subsequent mono‐alkyne insertion into the M? C bonds of the cyclometalated compounds, both Rh and Ir complexes participated well. However, the desired final products, dibenzo[a,g]quinolizin‐8‐one derivatives, were only formed in high yield when the Rh species participated in the final oxidative coupling of the C? N bond. Moreover, a Rh^I sandwich intermediate was isolated during this transformation. The iridium complexes were found to be inactive in the oxidative coupling processes. All of the relevant intermediates were fully characterized and determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Based on this mechanistic study, a Rh^III→Rh^I→Rh^III catalytic cycle was proposed for this reaction.     

Breathing Effect in a Cobalt Phosphonate upon Dehydration/Rehydration: A Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Study

Two cobalt phosphonates, [Co₂(2,2′‐bpy)₂(H₂O)(pbtcH)] ( 1 ) and [Co₂(H₂O)(pbtcH)(phen)₂] ( 2 ; pbtcH₅=5‐phosphonatophenyl‐1,2,4‐tricarboxylic acid, 2,2′‐bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline), with layer structures are reported. Compound 1 contains O‐C‐O and O‐P‐O bridged tetramers of Co₄, which are further connected by pbtcH^4? units to form a layer. In compound 2 , the cobalt tetramers made up of water‐bridged Co₂ dimers and O‐P‐O linkages are connected into a layer by pbtcH^4? units. Upon dehydration, compounds 1 and 2 experience single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SC–SC) structural transformations to form [Co₂(2,2′‐bpy)₂(pbtcH)] ( 1 a ) and [Co₂(pbtcH)(phen)₂] ( 2 a ), respectively. The process is reversible in each case. Notably, a breathing effect is observed for 1 , accompanied by pore opening and closing due to the reorientation of the coordinated 2,2′‐bpy molecules. The transformation was also monitored by in situ IR measurements. Magnetic studies reveal that antiferromagnetic interactions are mediated between the magnetic centers in compounds 1 and 1 a , whereas ferromagnetic interactions are dominant in compound 2 .