Carbon Sphere@Nickel sulfide core-shell nanocomposite for high performance supercapacitor application

The Carbon sphere@Nickel sulfide core-shell nanocomposites for different mole ratios of Carbon sphere (0:1; 0.5:1 and 1:1) have been synthesized by a facile low temperature water-bath method without any further calcination. XRD studies on the core-shell nanocomposites show that characteristic peaks associated with rhombohedral phase structure of nickel sulfide have been retained. TEM morphology presents the interlinked core-shell of Carbon sphere@Nickel sulfide composite with grass-leaf dexterity for better ionic diffusion. BET study confirms the formation of mesoporous structure with high surface area. The existence of elements and its electronic configuration is noted through XPS. The electrochemical studies on pristine nickel sulfide and its Carbon sphere@Nickel sulfide core-shell composites reveal that Carbon sphere@Nickel sulfide (0.5:1) exhibits high specific capacitance of 1022?F?g^?1 at a current density of 1?A?g^?1. It shows good cyclic performance even beyond 4000 consecutive charge/discharge cycles at a relatively high current density of 20?A?g^?1 with the ～83% of retention.     

Synthesis of nano-polycrystalline diamond from glassy carbon at pressures up to 25 GPa

ABSTRACT

Nano-polycrystalline diamond (NPD) with various grain sizes has been synthesized from glassy carbon at pressures 15–25?GPa and temperatures 1700–2300°C using multianvil apparatus. The minimum temperature for the synthesis of pure NPD, below which a small amount of compressed graphite was formed, significantly increased with pressure from ～1700°C at 15?GPa to ～1900°C at 25?GPa. The NPD having grain sizes less than ～50?nm was synthesized at temperatures below ～2000°C at 15?GPa and ～2300°C at 25?GPa, above which significant grain growth was observed. The grain size of NPD decreases with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature, and the pure NPD with grain sizes less than 10?nm is obtained in a limited temperature range around 1800–2000°C, depending on pressure. The pure NPD from glassy carbon is highly transparent and exhibits a granular nano-texture, whose grain size is tunable by selecting adequate pressure and temperature conditions.     

Synthesis of nonplanar bipyridyls bridged by disilane and disiloxane and their phosphorescent copper complexes

Disilane- and disiloxane-bridged bipyridyls ( DSBPy and DSOBPy ) were prepared and their optical properties were investigated in comparison with those of previously reported monosilane- and monogermane-bridged counterparts. The UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence bands of DSBPy and DSOBPy were blue-shifted as a result of elongation of the bridging units from monosilane and monogermane to disilane and disiloxane, likely due to the enhanced twisting of the bipyridyl units. Phosphorescent complexes DSBPy–Cu and DSOBPy–Cu were prepared by the interaction of DSBPy and DSOBPy with Cu₂I₂(PPh₃)₂. X-ray diffraction studies of their single-crystal structures revealed polymeric structures composed of repeat units of DSBPy or DSOBPy and [Cu^II(PPh₃)]₂. Organic light-emitting diodes with the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ DSBPy–Cu or DSOBPy–Cu :PCTSQ/TAZ/Al structure were fabricated to examine the applications of the complexes as electroluminescent materials. The devices emitted yellow light with emission maxima at approximately 600 nm, and maximal luminance reached 120 and 190 cd m⁻² for devices based on DSBPy–Cu and DSOBPy–Cu , respectively. The performance of the DSOBPy–Cu -based device was improved by using TAZ as the dopant of the emissive layer, and luminance was increased to 390 cd m⁻².     

Orthogonal Cationic and Radical RAFT Polymerizations to Prepare Bottlebrush Polymers

An orthogonal combination of cationic and radical RAFT polymerizations is used to synthesize bottlebrush polymers using two distinct RAFT agents. Selective consumption of the first RAFT agent is used to control the cationic RAFT polymerization of a vinyl ether monomer bearing a secondary dormant RAFT agent, which subsequently allows side‐chain polymers to be grafted from the pendant RAFT agent by a radical‐mediated RAFT polymerization of a different monomer, thus completing the synthesis of bottlebrush polymers. The high efficiency and selectivity of the cationic and radical RAFT polymerizations allow both polymerizations to be conducted in one‐pot tandem without intermediate purification.     

Nanosized starlike molecules. Synthesis and optical properties of tris- and tetrakis[oligo(disilanylenebithienylene)dimethylsilyl]benzene

The syntheses of two types of starlike molecules with the arms that extend to three and four directions have been reported. The molecules with the arms consisting of a regular alternating arrangement of a silicon-silicon bond and bithienylene unit that extend to three directions were synthesized by the reactions of 1,3,5-tris(chlorodimethylsilyl)benzene, which was chosen as a core, with the lithio[oligo(disilanylenebithienylene)] derivatives. The starlike molecules with extended arms to four directions were prepared by the reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(fluorodimethylsilyl)benzene used as a core, with lithio[oligo(disilanylenebithienylene)]s. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence properties of these starlike molecules have been investigated in a dioxane solution. The present molecules showed absorption maxima in a range of 321-337 nm, and revealed higher fluorescence quantum yields than that of the corresponding linear polymer, poly[(tetraethyldisilanylene)bithiophene].     

Catenation of 1,3‐Diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl Units Having 2,4,6‐Tri‐tert‐butylphenyl Protecting Groups and a P‐sec‐Butyl Group in the Ring

Two and three stable 1‐sec‐butyl‐2,4‐bis(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl units were catenated to construct multi‐biradical derivatives by utilizing 1,3‐di‐, 1,4‐di‐, and 1,3,5‐trimethylenebenzenes as bridging groups, respectively. UV/Vis spectroscopic and cyclovoltammetric (CV) properties of the multi‐biradicals indicate a non‐conjugative interaction between the concatenated biradical units.