Muonium states in semiconductor crystals: Quantum-chemical calculations

The electronic structure of muonium (Mu) located at the bond-centered sites of the silicon and diamond crystals is calculated by the intermediate neglect of differential overlap method. Calculations of the electronicg- and hyperfine interaction tensors of the impurity atom are performed. The results obtained are compared to the experimental properties of “anomalous” muonium Mu^*. It is shown that the properties of Mu located at the bond-centered sites of the Si and C lattices are in qualitative agreement with the observed properties of Mu^*.     

Pressure-induced protein unfolding in the ternary system AOT-octane-water is different from that in bulk water

In a cellular environment, the presence of macromolecular cosolutes and membrane interfaces can influence the folding-unfolding behavior of proteins. Here we report on the pressure stability of alpha-chymotrypsin in the ternary system bis(2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate-octane-water using FTIR spectroscopy. The ternary system forms anionic reverse micelles which mimic cellular conditions. We find that inclusion of a single protein molecule in a reverse micelle does not alter its conformation. When pressurized in bulk water, alpha-chymotrypsin unfolds at 750 MPa into a partially unfolded structure. In contrast, in the ternary system, the same pressure increase induces a random coil-like unfolded state, which collapses into an amorphous aggregate during the decompression phase. It is suggested that the unfolding pathway is different in a cell-mimicking environment due to the combined effect of multiple factors, including confinement. A phase transition of the reverse micellar to the lamellar phase is thought to be essential to provide the conditions required for unfolding and aggregation, though the unfolding is not a direct result of the phase transition. Our observations therefore suggest that membranes may cause the formation of alternative conformations that are more susceptible to aggregation.     

4‐(Trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile

4‐(Tri­fluoro­methyl)­benzo­nitrile, C₈H₄F₃N, at 123 K contains mol­ecules linked together through one C—H?F bond and two C—H?N hydrogen bonds into sheets that are further crosslinked to form a dense two‐dimensional network without π?π ring interactions. The aromatic ring is slightly deformed due to the two para‐related electronegative groups.     

Hierarchy of hydrogen bonding in bis­(1,4,7‐trioxa‐10‐azoniacyclo­dodecane) bis­(4‐amino­benzoate) trihydrate

In the title compound, 2C₈H₁₈NO₃⁺·2C₇H₆NO₂⁻·3H₂O, proton transfer occurs from the carboxylic acid group of the 4‐amino­benzoic acid (PABA) mol­ecule to the amine group of the macrocycle, resulting in the formation of a salt‐like adduct. The anions are combined into helical chains which are further bound by the water mol­ecules into sheets. The macrocyclic cations are situated between these layers and are bound to the anions both directly and via bridging water mol­ecules. The structure exhibits a diverse system of hydrogen bonding.     

Ultrathin functional films of titanium(IV) oxide

Chemistry and physics of thin semiconducting layers of various types are subjects of intense research. Especially when nanotechnology methods such as self-assembly are involved, amazing structural and/or functional properties may appear. Also modern physical methods using variously organized plasma arrangements are able to produce uniform structures with distinctive functionality. In this review, based virtually on our own work, discussions on the preparation, structure, morphology, and function of titanium(IV) oxide nanoscopic thin films are presented. It was shown that structurally and functionally similar titanium(IV) oxide films can be prepared via completely different preparation techniques. Function tests were arranged as “primary”, covering the assessment of the light induced charge separation efficiency, and “secondary”, based on photocatalytic surface oxidations.