Functional Groups Assisted Tunable Dielectric Permittivity of Guest-Free Zn-Based Coordination Polymers for Gate Dielectrics

The dielectric properties of coordination polymers has been a topic of recent interest, but the role of different functional groups on the dielectric properties of these polymers has not yet been fully addressed. Herein, the effects of electron-donating (R=NH₂) and electron-withdrawing (R=NO₂) groups on the dielectric behavior of such materials were investigated for two thermally stable and guest-free Zn-based coordination polymers, [Zn(L₁)(L₂)]_n ( 1 ) and [Zn(L₁)(L₃)]_n ( 2 ) [L₁=2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole (Pbim), L₂=5-aminoisophthalate (Aip), and L₃=5-nitroisophthalate (Nip)]. The results of dielectric studies of 1 revealed that it possesses a high dielectric constant (κ=65.5 at 1 kHz), while compound 2 displayed an even higher dielectric constant (κ=110.3 at 1 kHz). The electron donating and withdrawing effects of the NH₂ and NO₂ substituents induce changes in the polarity of the polymers, which is due to the inductive effect from the aryl ring for both NO₂ and NH₂. Theoretical results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which also support the experimental findings, show that both compounds have a distinct electronic behavior with diverse wide bandgaps. The significance of the current work is to provide information about the structure-dielectric property relationships. So, this study promises to pave the way for further research on the effects of different functional groups on coordination polymers on their dielectric properties.     

Tween 20-stabilized gold nanoparticles combined with adenosine triphosphate-BODIPY conjugates for the fluorescence detection of adenosine with more than 1000-fold selectivity

This study describes the development of a simple, enzyme-free, label-free, sensitive, and selective system for detecting adenosine based on the use of Tween 20-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Tween 20-AuNPs) as an efficient fluorescence quencher for boron dipyrromethene-conjugated adenosine 5′-triphosphate (BODIPY-ATP) and as a recognition element for adenosine. BODIPY-ATP can interact with Tween 20-AuNPs through the coordination between the adenine group of BODIPY-ATP and Au atoms on the NP surface, thereby causing the fluorescence quenching of BODIPY-ATP through the nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET) effect. When adenosine attaches to the NP surface, the attached adenosine exhibits additional electrostatic attraction to BODIPY-ATP. As a result, the presence of adenosine enhances the efficiency of AuNPs in fluorescence quenching of BODIPY-ATP. The AuNP-induced fluorescence quenching of BODIPY-ATP progressively increased with an increase in the concentration of adenosine; the detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 for adenosine was determined to be 60 nM. The selectivity of the proposed system was more than 1000-fold for adenosine over any adenosine analogs and other nucleotides. The proposed system combined with a phenylboronic acid-containing column was successfully applied to the determination of adenosine in urine.     

Double Michael Additions of Lithium Enolate of 1,4-Dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-8-One to Acrylates

Double Michael additions of lithium enolaie of 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-8-one to four acrylates afforded bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones with high regio- and stereoselectivities in moderate yields.     

Effects of diamines and their fluorinated groups on the color lightness and preparation of organosoluble aromatic polyimides from 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]‐hexafluoropropane

To investigate the position and amount of the CF₃ group affecting the coloration of polyimides (PIs), we prepared 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) with four CF₃ groups with 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride and 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenol)hexafluoropropane. A series of soluble and light‐colored fluorinated PIs ( 5 ) were synthesized from 2 and various aromatic dianhydrides ( 3a – 3f ). 5a – 5f had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.80 to 1.19 dL/g and were soluble in amide polar solvents and even in less polar solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures of 5 were 221–265 °C, and the 10% weight‐loss temperatures were above 493 °C. Their films had cutoff wavelengths between 343 and 390 nm, b* values (a yellowness index) ranging from 5 to 41, dielectric constants of 2.68–3.01 (1 MHz), and moisture absorptions of 0.03–0.29 wt %. In a comparison of the PI series 6 – 8 based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane, 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]propane, and 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, we found that the CF₃ group close to the imide group was more effective in lowering the color; this means that CF₃ of 5 , 7 , and 8f was more effective than that of 6c . The color intensity of the four PI series was lowered in the following order: 5 > 7 > 6 > 8 . The PI 5f , synthesized from diamine 2 and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride, had six CF₃ groups in a repeated segment, so it exhibited the lightest color among the four series. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 922–938, 2003     

A flexible and generic approach to dynamic modelling of supply chains

In this paper, we present a new modelling approach for realistic supply chain simulation. The model provides an experimental environment for informed comparison between different supply chain policies. A basic simulation model for a generic node, from which a supply chain network can be built, has been developed using an object-oriented approach. This generic model allows the incorporation of the information and physical systems and decision-making policies used by each node. The object-oriented approach gives the flexibility in specifying the supply chain configuration and operation decisions, and policies. Stochastic simulations are achieved by applying Latin Supercube Sampling to the uncertain variables in descending order of importance, which reduces the number of simulations required. We also present a case study to show that the model is applicable to a real-life situation for dynamic stochastic studies.     

Desorption of surfactant and sintering of surface-modified PdxNi1 − x nanoparticles

A series of Pd_xNi_1 − x nanoparticles in a diameter of 6-7 nm were prepared by wet chemical reduction. They were then modified with two surfactants, stearic acid (SA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Desorption of the surfactant was studied using a temperature programmed desorption technique, and the sintering behavior of surface-modified Pd_xNi_1 − x nanoparticles was examined. Since surface energy of the nanoparticles depends on the alloy composition, it can be correlated with the desorption temperature of surfactant from the nanoparticle surface. Because Ni has a higher surface energy, the surfactant desorption temperature increases as the Ni content increases. With the same stoichiometry, the desorption temperature of SA is always higher than that of PEG. The SA-modified nanoparticles have higher thermal stability and are less sintered than PEG-modified nanoparticles. The sintering and growth behavior of the nanoparticles can be correlated with variation of surface energy due to different surface modification.