The photodegradation of cadmium yellow paints in Henri Matisse’s Le Bonheur de vivre (1905–1906)

Evidence for the alteration of the yellow paints in Henri Matisse’s Le Bonheur de vivre (1905–1906, The Barnes Foundation) has been observed since the 1990s. The changes in this iconic work of Matisse’s Fauvist period include lightening, darkening, and flaking of the yellow paints. Handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and multispectral imaging surveys reveal that the degradation is confined to cadmium yellow (CdS) paints. The discoloration of cadmium yellow paints in Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early modernist work from the 1880s through the 1920s has been ascribed to the photo-oxidative degradation of CdS. Preliminary investigations of the degraded yellow paints in this work involved Cd L_III-edge X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source (SSRL Menlo Park, California) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS) at the Winterthur Museum Scientific Research and Analysis Laboratory. To determine if the visual changes in the paints did in fact indicate photo-oxidative degradation and if different chemistries could be observed for the lightened versus darkened regions, synchrotron radiation-micro Fourier Transform InfraRed (SR-μFTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Fluorescence (SR-μXRF) mapping and micro X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (μXANES) mapping at the Cd L_III-edge of the altered paint cross-sections were carried out at the European synchrotron radiation facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France) beamline ID-21. The goal is to elucidate the discoloration mechanisms observed in the paint using elemental and speciation mapping. The μXANES mapping and SR-FTIR imaging showed a substantial enrichment of CdCO₃ in the off-white surface crust of the faded/discolored CdS paint. This suggests that the CdCO₃ is present as an insoluble photodegradation product rather than solely a paint filler or starting reagent. Additionally, oxalates and sulfates were found to be concentrated at the alteration surface.     

Dominant ion transport processes of ionic liquid electrolyte in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

Electrochemical quartz crystal microgravimetry was used to study movement of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIBTI) into and out of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). In 0.1M EMIBTI/acetonitrile, anionic transport predominates, as is typical of solution-based electrolytes. In pure EMIBTI, on the other hand, the minimal mass change observed during polymer oxidation/reduction was observed to be cation-dominant. PEDOT deposition from dilute EMIBTI solution followed by cycling in neat EMIBTI resulted in rapid decrease of electroactivity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Nanostructured thermoresponsive quantum dot/PNIPAM assemblies

Synthesis, characterization, and applications of novel thermoresponsive polymeric coatings for quantum dots (QDs) are presented. Comb-copolymers featuring hydrophobic alkyl groups, carboxylic groups and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) side chains with molar masses ranging from 1000 g/mol to 25,400 g/mol were obtained. The amphiphilic comb-copolymers were shown to efficiently transfer the QDs to aqueous media. The PNIPAM-coated QD materials display a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The absorbance, luminescence emission, size of the assemblies, and electrophoretic mobility were followed as a function of temperature and the reversibility of the temperature induced changes is demonstrated by cyclic heating and cooling.     

A masked-alkene metathesis-based synthesis of isopulo’upone

A metathesis-based formal synthesis of (±)-isopulo’upone has been completed featuring a masked olefin metathesis/elimination sequence followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to construct the 5,6-fused bicyclic core.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and extended structure of poly[aqua(μ5‐ethylenediaminetetraacetato)dizinc(II)]

In the extended structure of the title compound, [Zn₂(C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₈)(H₂O)], prepared under hydrothermal conditions, there are two distinct Zn^II sites. The first, with octahedral geometry, bonds to two N and three O atoms from one ethylenediaminetetraacetate tetraanion (EDTA) and one water molecule. The second, with tetrahedral geometry, coordinates to O atoms from four different EDTA ligands. The EDTA ligand almost encapsulates the octahedral Zn^II ion and binds to four symmetry‐related tetrahedral Zn^II ions, hence generating the extended structure. One noncoordinated O‐atom site on the EDTA ligand connects to the water molecule by hydrogen bonding. Structural comparisons are made with other compounds containing zinc, EDTA and water.     

Is adaptation or transformation needed? Active nanomaterials and risk analysis

Nanotechnology has been a key area of funding and policy for the United States and globally for the past two decades. Since nanotechnology research and development became a focus and nanoproducts began to permeate the market, scholars and scientists have been concerned about how to assess the risks that they may pose to human health and the environment. The newest generation of nanomaterials includes biomolecules that can respond to and influence their environments, and there is a need to explore whether and how existing risk-analysis frameworks are challenged by such novelty. To fill this niche, we used a modified approach of upstream oversight assessment (UOA), a subset of anticipatory governance. We first selected case studies of “active nanomaterials,” that are early in research and development and designed for use in multiple sectors, and then considered them under several, key risk-analysis frameworks. We found two ways in which the cases challenge the frameworks. The first category relates to how to assess risk under a narrow framing of the term (direct health and environmental harm), and the second involves the definition of what constitutes a “risk” worthy of assessment and consideration in decision making. In light of these challenges, we propose some changes for risk analysis in the face of active nanostructures in order to improve risk governance.