Spherical Particles of Zirconia-Titania of Hexagonal Structure from a Neutral Amine Route

Through the sol–gel process, using the so-called neutral amine route, spherical particles of 1:1 zirconia–titania were synthesized from zirconium(IV) and titanium(IV) butoxides as well as 1,12-diaminododecane as precursor species. The obtained product exhibited a hexagonal structure, as determinated by X-ray diffraction data. The obtained material was also characterized by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and surface area measurements. Despite the release of template molecules on heating, the spherical morphology was retained up to about 1200°C, at which the disruption of the spheres took place.     

Effects of Adsorbed Polyaniline on Redox Process on MoO3 Surface

The effects exhibited by adsorbed conducting polyaniline on the redox process on a molybdenum oxide surface were studied. Thermogravimetric results indicate a 4% polyaniline deposition. Cyclic voltammograms of the adsorbed polymer on MoO3 show that polyaniline exerts remarkable effects on the molybdenum blue oxidation-reduction process, with oxidation and reduction potentials of 0.33 and 0.18 V, respectively. This effect strongly enhances the electrode response, and can be used as an important tool in qualitative and/or quantitative determinations of molybdenum in solution as well as in any substrate. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Naphthalene analogues of lignans

The methodology for the synthesis of podophyllotoxin and thuriferic acid-type lignans has been applied to derivatives carrying a naphthalene moiety. Starting from the 1,3-dithiane of 2-naphthaldehyde afforded the expected analogues in the 2,1-naphthalene series. The preferred conformations of these compounds are influenced by the bulky naphthalene system. By contrast, 1,8-bridged products were obtained from the 1,3-dithiane of 1-naphthaldehyde. In this series, polycyclic naphthalene lignan analogues were isolated after deprotection and/or desulfurization reactions. The cyclizations produced in this process are due to the proximity between the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl moiety and the reacting C-2 of the 1,3-dithiane ring.     

Tin oxalate as a precursor of tin dioxide and electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Tin(II) oxalate was studied as a novel precursor for active electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries. The discharge of lithium cells using tin oxalate electrodes takes place by three irreversible steps: tin reduction, forming a lithium oxalate matrix; solvent decomposition to form a passivating layer; and oxalate reduction in a two-electron process. These are followed by reversible alloying of tin with lithium, leading to a maximum discharge of 11 F/mol. Cycling of the cells showed reversible capacities higher than 600 mAh/g during the first five cycles and ca. 200 mAh/g after 50 cycles. Tin oxalate was converted to tin dioxide by thermal decomposition at 450 °C and also by a chemical method by dissolving tin oxalate powder in 33% v/v hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The ultrafine nature of the tin dioxide powders obtained by this procedure allow their use as electrodes in lithium cells. The best capacity retention during the first five cycles was achieved for a sample heat treated to 250 °C to eliminate surface water. Electronic Publication     

Holographic study of chain length in photopolymerizable compositions

We describe a study of the free-radical homopolymerization kinetics for a system based on acrylamide, triethanolamine and methylene blue by analyzing temporal variations of the diffraction efficiency. The modulation index is related to the component’s parameters, giving as a result a method that can be used to determine the chain length of the polymer and the kinetic rate constants. By using this method we have studied the effect of intensity on the kinetic parameters of the photopolymerization process. Received: 20 August 2001 / Published online: 7 February 2002     

Exo conformers of N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐ and N‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)norbornene‐5,6‐dicarboximide crystals

Two isomeric pyridine‐substituted norbornenedicarboximide derivatives, namely N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐exo‐norbornene‐5,6‐dicarboximide, (I), and N‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐exo‐norbornene‐5,6‐dicarboximide, (II), both C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄, have been crystallized and their structures unequivocally determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecules consist of norbornene moieties fused to a dicarboximide ring substituted at the N atom by either pyridin‐2‐yl or pyridin‐3‐yl in an anti configuration with respect to the double bond, thus affording exo isomers. In both compounds, the asymmetric unit consists of two independent molecules (Z′ = 2). In compound (I), the pyridine rings of the two independent molecules adopt different conformations, i.e. syn and anti, with respect to the methylene bridge. The intermolecular contacts of (I) are dominated by C—H...O interactions. In contrast, in compound (II), the pyridine rings of both molecules have an anti conformation and the two independent molecules are linked by carbonyl–carbonyl interactions, as well as by C—H...O and C—H...N contacts.     

Peptide Brush Polymers for Efficient Delivery of a Gene Editing Protein to Stem Cells

The scarcity of effective means to deliver functional proteins to living cells is a central problem in biotechnology and medicine. Herein, we report the efficient delivery of an active DNA‐modifying enzyme to human stem cells through high‐density cell penetrating peptide brush polymers. Cre recombinase is mixed with a fluorophore‐tagged polymer carrier and then applied directly to induced pluripotent stem cells or HEK293T cells. This results in efficient delivery of Cre protein as measured by activation of a genomically integrated Cre‐mediated recombination reporter. We observed that brush polymer formulations utilizing cell penetrating peptides promoted Cre delivery but oligopeptides alone or oligopeptides displayed on nanoparticles did not. Overall, we report the efficient delivery of a genome‐modifying enzyme to stem cells that may be generalizable to other, difficult‐to‐transduce cell types.     

Experimental study of multiplexed holographic gratings recorded in a photopolymerizable silica glass

Recently the capability of photopolymerizable sol–gel materials to angular multiplex holographic gratings has been demonstrated [1, 2]. In this study, holographic transmission gratings were recorded using angular multiplexing in a silica glass doped photopolymer holographic recording material. The time interval between exposures and the angular selectivity were analyzed, in particular their effects on the dynamic range. By using the optimal parameters gratings of similar response were achieved with values of M/#=4.8, as well as good values of diffraction efficiency with high photosensitivity. PACS 42.40.Pa; 42.70.Ln     

Holographic reflection gratings in photopolymerizable solgel materials

The recording of holographic reflection gratings with a spatial frequency higher than 5400 lines/mm in photopolymerizable solgel materials is experimentally demonstrated. Diffraction efficiencies near 60% and a FWHM of 2.5 nm centered at 531.5 nm are achieved. Moreover, the effect of the energetic exposure is characterized at different recording intensities.