Progress and challenges in the detection of residual pesticides using nanotechnology based colorimetric techniques

Pesticides are generally used to control and prevent agricultural pests. Excessive and sporadic use of pesticides poses a serious threat to human and livestock life. Therefore, to safeguard the people’s health simple and sensible approaches for the determination of residual pesticides in food items are desperately required. The nanotechnology-based colorimetric approaches provide the options for detection of residual pesticides with high precision and speed. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is one of the most prominent features of metal nanoparticles which provides unique optoelectronic characteristics in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Metal nanoparticles especially gold and silver have very high extinction coefficients, therefore a well-suited electrochemical interaction between target analytes and nanoparticles surfaces cause aggregation, which leads to a colorimetric response. Modification and functionalization of nanoparticles with other ligands enhances the sensitivity and selectivity of colorimetric assays. But still, there are major challenges which affect the efficacy of these techniques for onsite pesticides monitoring which need to be addressed. Therefore, a comprehensive review of progress and challenges in the application of nanotechnology-based colorimetric techniques for detection of residual pesticides is presented here. The mechanism behind the development of these analytical techniques is also discussed, briefly. In conclusion, potential future trends and prospects of colorimetric techniques are addressed.     

The Role of High Excitations in Constructing Sub-spectroscopic Accuracy Intermolecular Potential of He-HCN: Critically Examined by the High-Resolution Spectra with Resonance States

Interpreting high-resolution rovibrational spectra of weakly bound complexes commonly requires spectroscopic accuracy (<1 cm^-1) potential energy surfaces (PES). Constructing high-accuracy ab initio PES relies on the high-level electronic structure approaches and the accurate physical models to represent the potentials. The coupled cluster approaches including single and double excitations with a perturbational estimate of triple excitations (CCSD(T)) have been termed the "gold standard" of electronic structure theory, and widely used in generating intermolecular interaction energies for most van der Waals complexes. However, for HCN-He complex, the observed millimeter-wave spectroscopy with high-excited resonance states has not been assigned and interpreted even on the ab initio PES computed at CCSD(T) level of theory with the complete basis set (CBS) limit. In this work, an effective three-dimensional ab initio PES for HCN-He, which explicitly incorporates dependence on the Q₁ (C-H) normal-mode coordinate of the HCN monomer has been calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level. The post-CCSD(T) interaction energy has been examined and included in our PES. Analytic two-dimensional PESs are obtained by least-squares fitting vibrationally averaged interaction energies for v₁(C-H)=0, and 1 to the Morse/Long-Range potential function form with root-mean-square deviations (RMSD) smaller than 0.011 cm^-1. The role and significance of the post-CCSD(T) interaction energy contribution are clearly illustrated by comparison with the predicted rovibrational energy levels. With or without post-CCSD(T) corrections, the value of dissociation limit (D₀) is 8.919 or 9.403 cm^-1, respectively. The predicted millimeter-wave transitions and intensities from the PES with post-CCSD(T) excitation corrections are in good agreement with the available experimental data with RMS discrepancy of 0.072 cm^-1. Moreover, the infrared spectrum for HCN-He complex is predicted for the first time. These results will serve as a good starting point and provide reliable guidance for future infrared studies of HCN doped in (He)_n clusters.     

Syntheses,weak interactions, 3D network structures and magnetic properties of two salts based on bis(maleonitriledithiolate)copper(II) anion and substituted triphenylphosphonium cation

Two new salts, [BzTPP]₂[Cu(mnt)₂] (1) and [4NO₂BzTPP]₂[Cu(mnt)₂] (2) (BzTPP⁺ = benzyltriphenylphosphonium and mnt²⁻ = maleonitriledithiolate) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, UV, IR, molar conductivity and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal structure analysis shows that 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, while 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P−1. The effects of weak intramolecular interactions such as C–H···O, C–H···S, C–H···N, C–H···Cu hydrogen bonds and p···π, π···π stacking interactions in the solids generate a 3D network structure. It is noted that the change in the molecular topology of the counteraction when the 4-substituted group in the benzyl ring is changed from H to NO₂ results in differences in the crystal system, space group, weak interactions and the stacking mode of the cations and anions of 1 and 2. The magnetic susceptibilities of these salts measured in the temperature range 2.0 to 300 K show weak ferromagnetic coupling features with θ = 2.05 × 10⁻² K for 1 and 5.13 × 10⁻³ K for 2.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New Ion-Pair Complex Based on [Ni(tdas)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> Anion and Triphenylphosphinium Cation

Abstract  A new ion-pair complex, bis(1-benzyltriphenylphosphinium) bis(1,2,5-thiadiazole-3,4-dithiolato)nickelate(II), [BzTPP]₂[Ni(tdas)₂](1), has been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, UV, IR, MS spectrum, molar conductivity and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The title complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, a = 9.098(1) Å, b = 9.666(1) Å, c = 29.573(3) Å, α = 83.81(1)°, β = 81.97(1)°, γ = 78.83(1)°, V = 2,517.5(4) ų, Z = 2. The unit cell contains two [BzTPP]⁺ and two halves of [Ni(tdas)₂]²⁻ anions in which the anion exhibits a quasi-planar structure. The [BzTPP]⁺ cation adopts a conformation where four phenyl rings are twisted to the C–C–P reference plane. The weak cation–cation C–H···π, π···π interactions and anion–cation C–H···N hydrogen bonds between the anion and cation play an important role in the stacking and stabilizing of the title complex. Graphical Abstract  The title new ion-pair complex, bis(1-benzyltriphenylphosphinium) bis(1,2,5-thiadiazole-3,4-dithiolato)nickelate(II), [BzTPP]₂[Ni(tdas)₂](1), contains two [BzTPP]⁺ and two halves of [Ni(tdas)₂]²⁻ anions in which the weak cation–cation C–H···π, π···π interactions and anion−cation C–H···N hydrogen bonds between the anion and cation play an important role in the stacking and stabilizing of the title complex.      

Evolution of 2, 3′-bipyridine class of cyclometalating ligands as efficient phosphorescent iridium(III) emitters for applications in organic light emitting diodes

Nowadays, the design and development of novel phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes for various optoelectronic applications is a well-recognized area of research. The fascinating photophysical properties of iridium(III) compounds are strongly influenced by the spin-orbit coupling exerted by the iridium(III) core, usually resulting in intense emissions with short excited-state lifetimes, which can be precisely controlled with the aid of molecular engineering of the chelating ligand. This review focuses on the recent developments and state of the art knowledge on phosphorescent iridium(III) compounds, especially on heteroleptic complexes derived from 2,3′-bipyridine class of cyclometalating and ancillary ligands, highlighting the excited state phenomenon behind their emission behavior.     

Synthesis of chiral monoaza-15-crown-5 ethers from a chiral amino alcohol and enantiomeric recognition of potassium and sodium salts of amino acids

The enantiomeric recognition of chiral monoaza-crown ethers for amino acids as their sodium and potassium salts has been investigated by UV–vis. The highest discrimination was observed for TrpK (d/l = 6.47). The reversed enantioselectivity of chiral monoaza-crown ether II was observed for TrpK.     

Fe3O4/hydroxyapatite/graphene quantum dots as a novel nano-sorbent for preconcentration of copper residue in Thai food ingredients: Optimization of ultrasound-assisted magnetic solid phase extraction

Fe₃O₄/hydroxyapatite/graphene quantum dots (Fe₃O₄/HAP/GQDs) nanocomposite was synthesized and used as a novel magnetic adsorbent. This nanocomposite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and magnetization property. The Fe₃O₄/HAP/GQDs was applied to pre-concentrate copper residues in Thai food ingredients (so-called “Tom Yum Kung”) prior to determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Based on ultrasound-assisted extraction optimization, various parameters affecting the magnetic solid-phase extraction, such as solution pH, amount of magnetic nanoparticles, adsorption and desorption time, and type of elution solvent and its concentration were evaluated. Under optimal conditions, the linear range was 0.05–1500 ng mL⁻¹ (R² > 0.999), limit of detection was 0.58 ng mL⁻¹, and limit of quantification was 1.94 ng mL⁻¹. The precision, expressed as the relative standard deviation of the calibration curve slope (n = 5), for intra-day and inter-day analyses was 0.87% and 4.47%, respectively. The recovery study of Cu for real samples was ranged between 83.5% and 104.8%. This approach gave the enrichment factor of 39.2, which guarantees trace analysis of Cu residues. Therefore, Fe₃O₄/HAP/GQDs can be a potential and suitable candidate for the pre-concentration and separation of Cu from food samples. It can easily be reused after treatment with deionized water.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of the cyano-bridged heteropolynuclear complex [{(Cu(dien))2Co(CN)6}n][Cu(dien)(H2O)Co(CN)6]n·5nH2O

The reaction of [Cu(dien)(H₂O)](NO₃)₂ with K₃[Co(CN)₆] leads to the cyano-bridged heteropolynuclear complex, [{(Cu(dien))₂Co(CN)₆}_n][Cu(dien)(H₂O)Co(CN)₆]_n·5nH₂O, {Cu₃Co₂}, whose crystal structure has been solved. The structure consists of two distinct ionic units, namely one-dimensional cationic chains [{(Cu(dien))₂Co(CN)₆}_n]ⁿ⁺, and discrete binuclear anionic entities [(H₂O)(dien)Cu–NC–Co(CN)₅]⁻. The cryomagnetic investigation of the title compound reveals a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) ions within the cationic chain (J=−1.02 cm⁻¹, g=2.14). The complete elimination of the water molecules from the isomorphous {Cu₃Co₂}, {Cu₃Fe₂} and {Cu₃Cr₂} complexes causes the modification of the magnetic properties. The most dramatic one is observed with the Cu(II)–Fe(III) system, where the magnetic behavior changes from ferro- to antiferromagnetic. The dehydrated chromium derivative preserves the ferromagnetic coupling, which is observed at lower temperatures (below 30 K) in comparison with the parent compound (below 150 K).     

A long-reach WDM passive optical network enabling broadcasting service with centralized light source

We propose a long-reach wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) passive optical network (PON) to provide conventional point-to-point (P2P) data and downstream broadcasting service simultaneously by superimposing, for each WDM channel, the differential-phase-shift-keying (DPSK) broadcasting signal with the subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) modulated downstream P2P signal, at the optical line terminal (OLT). In the optical network units (ONUs), by re-modulating part of the downstream signal with a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA), we realize color-less ONUs for upstream data transmission. The proposed scheme is numerically verified with a 5 Gb/s downstream P2P signal and broadcasting services, as well as 2.5 Gb/s upstream data through a 60 km bidirectional fiber link. In particular, the influence of the downstream lightwave's optical carrier–subcarrier ratio (OCSR) on the system performance is also investigated.