Surface-enhanced Raman scattering at the silver electrode/ionic liquid (BMIPF6) interface

This is the first report of in situ SER spectra of chemical species adsorbed on a Ag/room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) interface. We have investigated the dependence of the SERS intensity of the RTIL derived from 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosfate (BMIPF6) adsorbed on a silver electrode. It has been shown that the BMI+ adsorbs on the silver electrode for potentials more negative than -0.4 V vs a Pt quasireference electrode (PQRE). In the -0.4 to -1.0 V potential range the SER spectra are similar to the Raman spectrum of the RTIL BMIPF6. At potentials more negative than -1.0 V some imidazolium ring vibrational modes and N-CH3 vibrations are enhanced, suggesting that the imidazolium ring is parallel to the surface and for potentials <-2.8 V the BMI+ is reduced to the BMI carbene. The potential dependence of the SERS intensities of Py adsorbed on a silver electrode in BMIPF6 has also been investigated. The results have shown that at potentials less negative than -0.8 V (vs PQRE) Py adsorbs at an end-on configuration forming an Ag-N bond. In the -0.9 to -1.4 V potential range Py molecules lie flat on the electrode surface and at potentials <-1.4 V Py is replaced by the BMI+. The electrochemical and SERS results have shown that Py has the effect of changing the oxidation of silver in that medium as well as the reduction of BMI+ to the BMI carbene. In the presence of Py the BMI+ reduction is observed at potentials near -2.4 V. The Ag electrode has presented SERS activity from 0.0 to -3.0 V.     

Pattern formation using optical vortices in a photorefractive single feedback system

We analyze numerically the dynamics of optical patterns in a photorefractive single feedback system where a vortex beam is used as the input beam. Depending on the topological charge of the vortex and on the nonlinear photorefractive coupling strength, we observe different pattern geometries with a rotating dynamics.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and density functional theory study of a zinc(II) complex containing terpyridine and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid ligands: Analysis of the interactions with amoxicillin

An octahedral zinc(II) complex of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (Tpy) and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (Pydc), [Zn(II)(Tpy)(Pydc)·4H₂O] was synthesized and its structure was determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The ligand pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate coordinated to the zinc(II) ion via two pairs of carboxylate oxygens and one nitrogen atom, whereas 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine also contributed three coordination bonds through its nitrogen atoms. [Zn(II)(Tpy)(Pydc)·4H₂O] showed luminescence properties between 412 and 435 nm in DMSO. The solid-state octahedral geometry of [Zn(II)(Tpy)(Pydc)·4H₂O] was also preserved in solution as confirmed by the observed UV λ_ex = 346. Experimental and theoretical studies indicated that [Zn(II)(Tpy)(Pydc)·4H₂O] interacted with amoxicillin. Density functional theory calculations at B3LYP/LanL2dz level of theory suggested that [Zn(II)(Tpy)(pydc)·4H₂O] dimer interacts with (2S,5R,6R)-6-{[(2R)-2-amino-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-acetyl]amino}-3,3-dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-24-carboxylic acid (amoxicillin) via highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, π–π interaction, hydrogen bond interaction, and van der Waals forces, thus influencing [Zn(II)(Tpy)(Pydc)·4H₂O] properties.     

Classification of minimal mass blow-up solutions for an $${L^{2}}$$ critical inhomogeneous NLS

We establish the classification of minimal mass blow-up solutions of the \({L^{2}}\) critical inhomogeneous nonlinear Schrödinger equation

$$i\partial_t u + \Delta u + |x|^{-b}|u|^{\frac{4-2b}{N}}u = 0,$$

thereby extending the celebrated result of Merle (Duke Math J 69(2):427–454, 1993) from the classic case \({b=0}\) to the case \({0< b< {\rm min} \{2,N\} }\), in any dimension \({N \geqslant 1}\).

     

Air-Stable Oxyallyl Patterns and a Switchable N-Heterocyclic Carbene

Oxyallyl derivatives are typically elusive compounds. Even recently reported “stabilized” 1,3-diaminooxyallyl species are still highly reactive and have short lifetimes at room temperature. Herein, we report the synthesis and preliminary study of mesoionic pyrimidine derivatives that feature 1,3-bis(dimethylamino)oxyallyl patterns with an unprecedented level of stabilization. The latter are not only insensitive towards air and moisture, but they are also compatible with the formation of an ancillary stable N-heterocyclic carbene moiety. As the oxyallyl pattern is proton-responsive, it allows the reversible switching of the electronic properties of the carbene, as a ligand.     

Engineering of the metamaterial-based cut-band filter

Metamaterial-based cut-band filters are realized by combining either split-ring resonators (SRRs) close to a microstrip line or complementary split-ring resonators under this line. Indeed, their use reduces the size of conventional microwave filters. The study of this paper focuses on the influence of the association of different arrays of SRR especially on the bandwidth of the cut-band filter.     

A comparative study of diesel analysis by FTIR, FTNIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy using PLS and artificial neural network analysis

Diesel properties determined by ASTM reference methods as cetane index, density, viscosity, distillation temperatures at 50% (T50) and 85% (T85) recovery, and the total sulfur content (%, w/w) were modeled by FTIR-ATR, FTNIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy using partial last square regression (PLS) and artificial neural network (ANN) spectral analysis. In the PLS models, 45 diesel samples were used in the training group and the other 45 samples were used in the validation. In the ANN analysis a modular feedforward network was used. Sixty diesel samples were used in the neural network training and other 30 samples were used in the validation. Two different ATR configurations were compared in the FTIR, a conventional (ATR1) and an immersion (ATR2) cell. The ATR1 cell presented the best results, with smaller prediction errors (root mean square error of prediction, RMSEP). The comparison of the three PLS models (FTIR-ATR1, FTNIR, and FT-Raman) shows that reasonable values of R² and RMSEP were obtained by the FTIR-ATR1 and FTNIR models in the evaluation of density, viscosity, and T50. The PLS/FT-Raman models presented reasonable results only for the T50 property. None of the techniques was able to generate suitable PLS calibration models for the determination of sulfur content. The ANN/FT-Raman models presented the best performances, with all models presenting R²-values above 85% some of them with RMSEP values significantly smaller than those obtained with FTIR-ATR and FTNIR. The ANN/FT-Raman and ANN/FTIR-ATR1 models were able to estimate the total sulfur content of diesel with 0.01% (w/w) accuracy.     

Raman spectroscopy of ionic liquids derived from 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride and niobium chloride or zinc chloride mixtures

Anionic species formed in mixtures of 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (BMICl) with different amounts of niobium pentachloride (NbCl₅) or zinc dichloride (ZnCl₂) were investigated by Raman spectroscopy. In the BMICl and NbCl₅ ionic mixtures the presence of the anion NbCl₆⁻ was detected for all compositions (molar fraction, X) and a mixture of this anion and the neutral Nb₂Cl₁₀ in acid ones. Two different anions were observed for basic mixtures of BMICl and ZnCl₂: ZnCl₄²⁻(0 < X < 0.35) and Zn₂Cl₆²⁻(X > 0.3), whereas for acidic ones three species were detected: Zn₂Cl₆²⁻(X < 0.7), Zn₃Cl₈²⁻(X > 0.7) and Zn₄Cl₁₀²⁻(X > 0.7). It has also been observed that in both cases, the formation of larger anions causes a shift of the C H stretching modes to higher wavenumbers as the result of a decrease in the hydrogen bond between Cl and the hydrogens from the cation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.