Nanoporous oxide formation by anodic oxidation of Nb in sulphate–fluoride electrolytes

The influence of hydrofluoric acid (HF) concentration and applied potential on the processes of anodic oxidation of Nb in sulphuric acid solution was studied by chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. During the first stage of the process, a compact barrier film is formed. On top of this film, a porous overlayer starts to form, then the nanopores grow into an ordered nanostructure. Subsequently, secondary 3D flower-shaped structures begin to form. These structures gradually spread all over the surface as an irregular multilayer film. The rates of the process of porous overlayer formation and subsequent growth of nanopore arrays increase with applied potential as well as with the HF concentration. The films have been characterised ex situ by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at open circuit potential and capacitance vs. potential measurements to follow the different stages of nanoporous film formation with electrochemical methods. The impedance spectra and capacitance vs. potential curves have been interpreted using previously proposed models for the amorphous semiconductor/electrolyte interface. An attempt to rationalise the mechanism of nanoporous layer growth is presented by using the conceptual views of the mixed-conduction model and recent ideas for porous film formation on valve metals.     

Differential inhibition of postnatal brain,spinal cord and body growth by a growth hormone antagonist

Background  

Growth hormone (GH) plays an incompletely understood role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we use transgenic mice expressing a growth hormone antagonist (GHA) to explore the role of GH in regulating postnatal brain, spinal cord and body growth into adulthood. The GHA transgene encodes a protein that inhibits the binding of GH to its receptor, specifically antagonizing the trophic effects of endogenous GH.     

New green fluorescent polyvinylcarbazole copolymer with 1,8‐naphthalimide side chains as chemosensor for iron cations

The synthesis and basic photophysical characteristics of a novel green fluorescent polyvinylcarbazole polymer containing 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminoethyleneamino‐1,8‐naphthalimide side chains has been described. The ability to sense metal cations has been monitored by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. It is shown that the fluorescent intensity is very sensitive to the Fe²⁺ cations and the copolymer can be used as an homogeneous and heterogeneous fluorescent sensor for Fe²⁺ cations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design, Synthesis and pH Sensing Properties of Novel PAMAM Light-Harvesting Dendrons Based on Rhodamine 6G and 1,8-naphthalimide

Herein we report on the design, divergent synthesis and photophysical behavior of novel PAMAM light-harvesting dendrons from first and second generation. The surface of novel compounds is labeled with 4-alkylamino-1,8-naphthalimide yellow-green emitting “donor” fluorophores capable of absorbing light and efficiently transferring the energy to a single rhodamine “acceptor” dye. Due to the pH dependent rhodamine absorption the novel systems show “off-on” switching energy transfer mechanism from alkaline to acid media. The results obtained illustrate the high potential of the synthesized wavelength-shifting fluorophores as efficient pH chemosensing materials.     

Design and synthesis of fluorescent shell functionalized polymer micelles for biomedical application

pH‐sensitive polymers can be defined as polyelectrolytes that include in their structure weak acidic or basic groups that either accept or release protons in response to a change in the environmental pH. This work summarizes the design, synthesis, and potential applications of pH‐responsive fluorescent copolymers in the biomedical field. This was achieved using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of tert‐butyl acrylate using a CuBr/N,N,N′,N″N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine catalyst system in conjunction with an alkyl bromide as the initiator. Well‐defined macroinitiators based on poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) with narrow molecular weight distributions were obtained by the addition of an appropriate solvent system in order to create a homogeneous catalytic system. The addition of n‐butyl acrylate as a second building block in order to create well‐defined poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate) block copolymers (PtBA‐b‐PnBA) followed by chemical modification of the block copolymers and functionalization with an appropriate fluorescent compound are the basis for the preparation of well‐defined fluorescent pH‐sensitive micelles. Thus, prepared water soluble nanosized pH‐sensitive micelles consisting of hydrophobic poly(n‐butyl acrylate) core and hydrophilic polyacrylic acid shell decorated with an appropriate fluorescent compound determined their potential applications of these systems in the field of biomedicine as biosensors, controlled drug delivery systems, and so on. In this respect, the cell viability and internalization of the polymer micelles were studied.     

Synthesis of highly photostable blue-emitting 1,8-naphthalimides and their acrylonitrile copolymers

Two novel highly photostable blue-emitting 1,8-naphthalimides, containing active fragments of a hindered amine radical scavenger and an s-triazine UV absorber were designed as multifunctional additives capable of simultaneous fluorescent brightening and photostabilization of polymers. Their light absorption and fluorescence properties have been determined and discussed. The ability of the combined fluorescent brighteners to copolymerize with acrylonitrile was demonstrated by obtaining acrylonitrile copolymers with an intense blue fluorescence. Photodegradation of the new fluorophores and their influence on the photostability of the fluorescent copolymers have been studied and compared to other similar 1,8-naphthalimides, not containing either UV absorber or hindered amine fragment in their molecules as well as not containing both of them. Novel fluorophores showed the best photostability in both solution and polymer. A significant photostabilizing effect towards photodegradation of polyacrylonitrile was found.     

Synthesis of ethyl 3-aryl-1-methyl-8-oxo- 8H-anthra[9,1-gh]quinoline-2-carboxylates as dyes for potential application in liquid crystal displays

[reaction: see text] Two new fluorescent ethyl 3-aryl-1-methyl-8-oxo-8H-anthra[9,1-gh]quinoline-2-carboxylates have been synthesized for the first time by cyclization of 3-(arylidene-amino)-benzo[de]anthracen-7-ones with 3-oxo-butyric acid ethyl ester. The cyclization reaction was investigated with and without concentrated hydrochloric acid as a catalyst. New dyes have shown a very good orientation parameter (S(A)) in nematic liquid crystal, indicating a high potential for application in liquid crystal displays.     

Transpassive dissolution mechanism of ferrous alloys in phosphoric acid/acetic acid mixtures

The transpassive dissolution of Fe-12%Cr and Fe-25%Cr alloys in near-anhydrous phosphoric acid/acetic acid mixtures has been studied by conventional voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Both steady-state and transient techniques point to two parallel pathways for the process involving oxidative dissolution of Cr as Cr(VI) and isovalent dissolution of Fe most probably mediated by an electrolyte-originating species. A simplified kinetic model of the process including only surface kinetic steps has been found to reproduce successfully both the steady-state and the small-amplitude AC response of the studied materials. The kinetic parameters of the model are determined and their relevance regarding the influence of the alloy and electrolyte composition on the relative importance of the two parallel pathways is discussed. The experimental data and model calculations indicate that the effect of acetic acid on the reaction steps related to dissolution of Fe is more significant.     

Design and synthesis of core and peripherally functionalized with 1,8-naphthalimide units fluorescent PAMAM dendron as light harvesting antenna

This paper reports on the design, synthesis and spectral characteristics of a novel PAMAM dendron (7), core and peripherally functionalized with 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophores. The novel compound 7 was configured as light harvesting antenna where the system surface is functionalized with “donor” dyes (blue emitting 1,8-naphthalimides) that are capable of absorbing light and efficiently transferring the energy to a single “acceptor” dye (yellow-green emitting 1,8-naphthalimide) in the focal point of the dendron. The overlap between the emission of the donor and the absorbance of the acceptor was more than 95%. As a result of the energy transfer, the blue emission intensity of the periphery in the donor–acceptor system was decreased with 93%, while the yellow-green core fluorescence enhancement (λ_ex = 360 nm) of the system was more than 26 times with respect to the fluorescence intensity of the comparative yellow-green emitting 1,8-naphthalimide. This indicates efficient energy transfer between the donor and acceptor dye fragments and that the novel compound 7 would be able to act as a highly efficient light harvesting antenna.     

Modelling the formation and growth of anodic passive films on metals in concentrated acid solutions

Two model approaches to the formation of passive films as adsorbed layers during the active anodic dissolution of a metal in acid and their subsequent growth are presented. The first depicts passivation as proceeding in parallel to active dissolution. Adsorption of water on active surface sites leads to passivation, whereas adsorption of acid leads to active dissolution of the metal. The model is consistent with the impedance response during passivation of Fe and an Fe-20%Mo alloy in concentrated H₃PO₄. The second model is an updated version of the so-called surface charge approach to the mechanism of conduction of anodic passive films. It is based on the assumptions that oxygen vacancies are the main ionic charge carriers and the field strength in the barrier layer is constant. A negative surface charge built up at the film/solution interface via accumulation of metal vacancies accelerates oxygen vacancy transport, thus explaining the pseudoinductive behaviour of the metal/film/electrolyte system under small amplitude a.c. perturbation. The model describes the growth of thin anodic films on Fe, Mo and an Fe-20%Mo alloy in concentrated H₃PO₄. Received: 24 January 1997 / Accepted: 18 April 1997