Ferromagnetism at 300 K in spin-coated films of Co doped anatase and rutile-TiO2

Thin films of Ti_1−xCo_xO₂ (x=0 and 0.03) have been prepared on sapphire substrates by spin-on technique starting from metalorganic precursors. When heat treated in air at 550 and 700 °C, respectively, these films present pure anatase and rutile structures as shown both by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Optical absorption indicate a high degree of transparency in the visible region. Such films show a very small magnetic moment at 300 K. However, when the anatase and the rutile films are annealed in a vacuum of 1×10⁻⁵ Torr at 500 and 600 °C, respectively, the magnetic moment, at 300 K, is strongly enhanced reaching 0.36μ_B/Co for the anatase sample and 0.68μ_B/Co for the rutile one. The ferromagnetic Curie temperature of these samples is above 350 K.     

Ciprofloxacin-protected gold nanoparticles

The antibacterial drug ciprofloxacin (cfH) has been used to protect gold nanoparticles of two different mean diameters, 4 and 20 nm. The protection is complete with about 65 and 585 cfH molecules covering 4 and 15 nm particles, respectively. The nature of binding has been investigated by several analytical techniques. The nitrogen atom of the NH moiety of piperazine group binds on the gold surface, as revealed by voltammetric and spectroscopic studies. The cfH-adsorbed particles are stable in the dry state as well as at room temperature, and as a result, redispersion is possible. The rate of release of the drug molecule from the nanoparticles is more in the basic medium than in pure water, and the kinetics depend on the size of the particle; faster desorption is seen in smaller particles. The bound cfH is fluorescent, and this property could be used in biological investigations. This study shows that metal nanoparticles could be useful carriers for cfH and fluoroquinolone molecules. Most of the bound molecules could be released over an extended period of time.     

Triazine interlinked covalent organic polymer as an efficient anti-bacterial agent

Herein, we report the synthesis of new covalent organic polymer comprising triazine and o-tolidine by solvothermal method. The formation of polymer was confirmed by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FT-IR), cross polarization–magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Their antibacterial activity toward S. aureus (gram-positive) and P. aeruginosa (gram-negative) was assessed by the optical density measurements and direct contact method. These results have great significance toward the design of new porous polymers for antibacterial applications.     

Electrochemical exfoliation and in situ carboxylic functionalization of graphite in non-fluoro ionic liquid for supercapacitor application

Simultaneous electrochemical generation and functionalization of nano-sized graphite from graphite had been carried out in a non-fluoroanion-based ionic liquid, namely, triethylmethylammonium methylsulfate (TEMAMS) containing water and acetonitrile (AN) in different weight ratios. The oxygen-based functional groups attached with the exfoliated material had been identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and morphological changes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A symmetrical supercapacitor was fabricated using the exfoliated nano-sized graphite, and the influence of surface functionalities on its performance was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles (CC). The highest specific capacitance (C _sp) value of 140 F g^?1 at 0.25 A g^?1 was obtained in 1.0 M H₂SO₄, followed by aqueous TEMAMS (125 F g^?1), TEMAMS/acetonitrile (115 F g^?1), and TEMAMS (106 F g^?1) at 0.10 A g^?1.     

Pyrochlore “dynamic spin-ice” Pr2Sn2O7 and monoclinic Pr2Ti2O7: A comparative temperature-dependent Raman study

Here we report a temperature-dependent Raman study of the pyrochlore “dynamic spin-ice” compound Pr₂Sn₂O₇ and compare the results with its non-pyrochlore (monoclinic) counterpart Pr₂Ti₂O₇. In addition to phonon modes, we observe two bands associated with electronic Raman scattering involving crystal field transitions in Pr₂Sn₂O₇ at ∼135 and 460 cm⁻¹ which couple strongly to phonons. Anomalous temperature dependence of phonon frequencies that are observed in pyrochlore Pr₂Sn₂O₇ are absent in monoclinic Pr₂Ti₂O₇. This, therefore, confirms that the strong phonon-phonon anharmonic interactions, responsible for the temperature-dependent anomalous behavior of phonons, arise due to the inherent vacant sites in the pyrochlore structure.     

Hole delocalization by isovalent Sr substitution in Nd0.7Pr0.3Ba2−kSrkCu3O7

Thermopower measurements on the system Nd_0.7Pr_0.3Ba_2−kSr_kCu₃O₇ show that the insulator-superconductor transition for k≥0.2 is accompanied by hole delocalization. Arguments are presented to show that Sr substitution reduces the hybridization between Pr 4f and O_2pπ-orbitals and increases the hole density to sustain superconductivity.     

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity of Ni‐CNT Nanocomposites for Simultaneous Determination of Epinephrine and Dopamine

A promising electrochemical sensor based nickel‐carbon nanotube (Ni‐CNT) modified on glassy carbon (GC) electrode had been developed and the properties of the modified electrode were characterized by multispectroscopic analysis. The fabricated sensor (GC/Ni‐CNT) electrode was utilized to determine the catecholamines such as epinephrine and dopamine simultaneously. Differential pulse voltammetry and amperometry were used to verify the electrochemical behavior of the studied compounds. The GC/Ni‐CNT based amperometric sensor showed a wide linear range and low detection limit with high analytical sensitivity of 8.31 and 6.61 μA μM^?1 for EP and DA, respectively which demonstrates better characteristics compared to other electrodes reported in the literature. Further, no significant change in amperometric current response was observed in presence of biological interference species such as glucose, cysteine, citric acid, uric acid and ascorbic acid in the detection of EP and DA. The utility of this GC/Ni‐CNT electrode was well established for the determination of EP and DA in human urine samples.     

Anionic polymerization of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxa-2,5-disilacyclopentane

In the first of a two-part series, a study has been made of the anionic polymerization of a five-membered cyclocarbosiloxane, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxa-2,5-disilacyclopentane. The polymerization was initiated by lithium n-butyldiphenylsilanolate in the presence of tetrahydrofuran. The chemical shifts of the protons of the cyclic monomer and the polymer were found to be different, and therefore the rate of polymerization was obtained in an NMR spectrometer. The effects of varying the concentrations of THF, initiator, and water upon the rate of polymerization and upon the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution were investigated. At a constant concentration of monomer and initiator, the rate of polymerization increased when the THF concentration was increased. At a constant concentration of monomer and THF the rate of polymerization reached a constant value when the initiator concentration was varied. The molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution were dependent upon the initiator to water ratio, whereas water concentration had little effect on the rate of polymerization. Essentially monodispersed polymers were obtained when the concentration of initiator was in large excess to that of water or vice versa. A bimodal distribution in molecular weight was obtained when the concentration of initiator was approximately equal to that of water. The apparent activation energy of polymerization was 12.7 kcal/mole.     

Field-induced ferromagnetic metallic state of bilayer manganite (La0.4Pr0.6)1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7: a polarized neutron diffraction study

Unpolarized and polarized neutron diffraction measurements have been carried out on the bilayer manganite (La0.4Pr0.6)1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 which undergoes simultaneous semiconductor-metal paraferromagnetic transitions under magnetic field. Maximum entropy magnetization density reconstruction and multipole refinement on flipping ratios evidence the existence of two distinct field-induced states. The field-induced ferromagnetic state where the field is parallel to the c axis is characterized by the presence of magnetic moment on the Sr site of 0.48(2)mu(B), due to the Pr substitution. It also shows a high population of the d3(z(2)-r(2)) orbitals of Mn3+. For the field-induced state where the field is parallel to the a or b axes no magnetization density was found at the Sr site and the dx(2)(-y(2)) orbital is slightly more populated than the d3(z(2)-r(2)) one.     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. II. b-Nitronaphthalene

Nanosecond flash photolysis of b-nitronaphthalene (b-NO₂C₁₀H₇) in nonpolar and polar solvents shows a transient species with maximum absorption and lifetime dependent on solvent polarity. In deaerated n-hexane the absorption maximum and lifetime (1/k) are 425 nm and 530 nsec, while in deaerated ethanol the corresponding values are 470 nm and 1.7 ·sec. This transient absorption is attributed to the triplet excited state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇, and the observed red shift as well as its longer lifetime in polar solvents are indicative of the intramolecular charge transfer character of this state. The change of dipole moment accompanying the transition T₁ → T_n, as well as rate constants for electron and proton transfer reactions involving the T₁ state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇, were determined. The spectroscopic and kinetic data obtained in this work indicate that the triplet state of b-NO₂C₁₀H₇ behaves like a n-π* state in nonpolar media, while in polar solvents the n-π* character of the state is reduced with a simultaneous increase in the charge transfer character.