Continuous tuning of cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide nanoparticle size in a water-in-supercritical carbon dioxide microemulsion

The size and size dispersion of cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide semiconductor nanoparticles can be continuously tuned over a wide range of values by adjusting the density of the fluid phase in water-in-supercritical CO2 microemulsions. The average size of the ZnS nanoparticles decreases linearly from approximately 9.1 to 1.9 nm with increasing fluid density from 0.86 to 0.99 g cm(-3) at a water-to-surfactant ratio (W value) of 10. At a W value of 6, the particle size can be tuned from 7.0 to 1.5 nm in the same density range. In the case of CdS nanocrystals, the size varied from 7.1 to 2.0 nm when the W value was 10 and from 4.0 to 1.3 nm when the W value employed was 6, in the same density range. Monodispersive CdS and ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reaction of cadmium or zinc nitrate with sodium sulfide, using two water-in-supercritical CO2 microemulsions as nanoreactors followed by protection with a fluorinated-thiol stabilizer. The stabilizer is introduced at 6 and 16 minutes after the mixing of the two microemulsions where the intensity of the characteristic absorption peak due to the quantum confinement properties of the CdS and ZnS nanoparticles (280 and 360 nm) reaches a maximum, respectively. The supercritical CO2 microemulsion method represents a simple approach to use a density-tunable solvent for synthesizing size-controlled semiconductor nanoparticles over a broad range of values.     

N‐Boc‐Indolylbenzothiadiazole Derivatives: Efficient Full‐Color Solid‐State Fluorescence and Self‐Recovering Mechanochromic Luminescence

Herein, the solid‐state emission with good fluorescence quantum yields of N‐Boc‐indolylbenzothiadiazoles as a new class of fluorophores is described. Their solid‐state emission covers the wide range of the visible spectrum and the emission color can be tuned easily by changing the substituents on the two heteroaromatic rings. Among these, 3‐methylindolyl derivatives exhibit moreover autonomously self‐recovering mechanochromic luminescence, whereby the original solid‐state emission could be recovered spontaneously at room temperature after exposure to a mechanical stimulus. The emission color, as well as the recovery time for the color change could be tuned via the introduction of different substituents on the benzothiadiazole ring. We propose that the mechanism of the autonomously self‐recovering mechanochromic luminescence of 3‐methylindolylbenzothiadiazoles is based on a partial amorphization of the crystals upon exposure to the mechanical stimulus, followed by autonomous recovering in the form of recrystallization.     

Facile Tuning of Luminescent Platinum(II) Schiff Base Complexes from Yellow to Near‐Infrared: Photophysics,Electrochemistry, Electrochemiluminescence and Theoretical Calculations

The photophysical and related properties of platinum(II) Schiff base complexes can be finely and predictably tuned over a wide range of wavelengths by small and easily implemented changes to ligand structure. A series of such complexes, differing only in the number and positioning of methoxy substituents on the phenoxy ring, were synthesised and their photophysical, electrochemical and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) properties investigated. Theoretical calculations were performed in order to gain further insight into the relationship between structure and properties in these materials. By positioning methoxy groups para and/or ortho to either the imine or the oxygen group on the ligand, electron density could be directed selectively toward the LUMO or HOMO as required. This allowed the emission colour (both photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent) to be tuned over a wide range between 587 and 739 nm. The variation in orbital energies was also manifested in the positions of the absorption bands and the redox properties of the complexes, as well as in the NMR shifts for the uncoordinated ligands. All reported complexes displayed intense electrochemiluminescence (ECL), which could be initiated either by annihilation or co‐reactant pathways. The relationship between the electrochemical and photophysical properties and the efficiency of the ECL is discussed. For two of the complexes solid‐state ECL could be generated from electrodeposited layers of the complex.     

HYDROXYSTILBAZOLES AND HYDROXYAZAPHENANTHRENES: PHOTOCYCLIZATION AND FLUORESCENCE STUDIES

Abstract— As models for novel fluorescent probes, we have synthesized three isomeric hydroxystilbazole systems (4′-hydroxy-substituted 2-, 3-, and 4-stiIbazoles), examined their photocyclization-oxi-dation to four hydroxyazaphenanthrene systems, and made a preliminary study of their absorption and fluorescence spectra. All three stilbazoles can be prepared easily by addition of the isomeric picoline anions to 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, followed by dehydration and deprotection. Photocyclization proceeds efficiently, furnishing a single product isomer from each of the 2- and 4-stilbazole systems, and two isomeric azaphenanthrenes from the 3-stilbazole. The stilbazoles all have intense UV absorbance bands whose maxima depend upon solvent and pH; all three isomers have relatively similar spectra under neutral conditions and all three show a large red shift in base; in acid, however, the 2-and 4-stilbazole isomers show a greater red shift than the 3-stilbazole. The fluorescence of the stilbazoles is also solvent dependent, shifting to the red in more polar medium; red shifts are also observed in acid and base, but in acid, the 3-stilbazole shows a larger shift. The azaphenanthrene photocyclization products show absorbance spectra typical for quinolines and isoquinolines; their absorptivities are less than the stilbazoles, but their fluorescence is more intense. In general, the benzoquinolines have longer wavelength but weaker fluorescence than the benzoisoquinolines. Also, those isomers in which the resonance effects of the hydroxy and nitrogen groups can reinforce one another show longer wavelength emissions of greater intensity. All seven systems show dual fluorescence in water under neutral conditions, suggesting the emission from both non-ionized and ionized species in the excited state. In one case, the benzoisoquinoline system derived from 4′-hydroxy-4-stilbazole, an emission at 640 nm, observed in water over a wide pH range, is ascribed to a zwitterionic phototautomer. These stilbazoles, benzoquinolines and benzoisoquinolines may prove to be useful spectroscopic probes.     

Molecular Composites Comprising Rodlike Polyamides and Vinyl Polymers

Abstract

At present we have strong evidence that several members of a series of wholly-aromatic, para-linked, rodlike polyamides, polyesters, and polyesteramides form molecular composites with certain flexible-chain, thermoplastic polymers over a wide range of compositions. This paper reports on the initial results of an investigation of intermolecular interactions using spectroscopy and various scattering techniques as well as characterization of some of the mechanical and optical properties of these materials. The composites are made by two techniques: 1) photo-polymerization of a homogeneous solution of a rodlike polymer in a monomer containing a photoinitiation; 2) solvent evaporation from homogeneous solutions of very limited combinations of solvent, rodlike polymers and flexible polymers. While both of these techniques produce optically clear, nonscattering films of various thicknesses over the entire compositional range, e.g., 1–99 wt% of rodlike polymer, the latter is generally more convenient and has been used extensively in this study. Optical and electron microscopy, wide angle light scattering, and spectroscopic and thermal analysis support the view that these polymer combinations are truly molecularly dispersed.     

Single-precursor,one-pot versatile synthesis under near ambient conditions of tunable,single and dual band fluorescing metal sulfide nanoparticles

We present a simple and versatile method for the synthesis of high-quality size-controlled metal sulfide nanoparticles. A single compound (metal xanthate) is the precursor. A Lewis-base solvent is used to achieve a low reaction temperature of 50-150 degrees C, usually in air. Demonstrated with CdS, the precise control over the particle size (by regulating the temperature or the concentration) enables tuning the absorption and emission spectra of the particles. We also can control the relative intensity of the narrow (30-35 nm wide) excitonic emission (tunable in the range 430-480 nm with approximately 2% fluorescence quantum efficiency) and the broad emission associated with deep surface traps (in the range 550-700 nm). Using the same precursor CdS/ZnS core/shell particles are produced with a high PL yield ( approximately 14%).     

Strategic emission color tuning of highly fluorescent imidazole-based excited-state intramolecular proton transfer molecules

Highly fluorescent molecules harnessing the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process are promising for a new generation of displays and light sources because they can offer very unique and novel optoelectronic properties which are different from those of conventional fluorescent dyes. To realize innovative ESIPT devices comprising full emission colors over the whole visible region, a molecular design strategy for predictable emission color tuning should be established. Here, we have developed a general strategy for a wide-range spectral tuning of imidazole-based ESIPT materials based on three different strategies--introduction of a nodal plane model, extension of effective conjugation length, and modification of heterocyclic rings. A series of nine ESIPT molecules were designed, synthesized and comprehensively investigated for their characteristic emission properties. All these molecules commonly showed no clear and transparent visible range absorption with no absorption color, but showed different colors of intense photoluminescence over broad visible regions from 450 nm (HPI) to 630 nm (HPNO) depending on their molecular structure. With the aid of density functional theory and time-dependent DFT calculations using M06, wB97XD, and B3LYP parameters with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set, these tuned emission bands of nine emitters were assigned from the stabilized excited state conformations that were derived from modified molecular structures.     

A High Contrast Tri‐state Fluorescent Switch: Properties and Applications

A high contrast tri‐state fluorescent switch (FSPTPE) with both emission color change and on/off switching is achieved in a single molecular system by fusing the aggregation‐induced emissive tetraphenylethene (TPE) with a molecular switch of spiropyran (SP). In contrast to most of the reported solid‐state fluorescent switches, FSPTPE only exists in the amorphous phase in the ring‐closed form owing to its highly asymmetric molecular geometry and weak intermolecular interactions, which leads to its grinding‐inert stable cyan emission in the solid state. Such an amorphous phase facilitates the fast response of FSPTPE to acidic gases and induces the structural transition from the ring‐closed form to ring‐open form, accompanied with the “Off” state of the fluorescence. The structural transition leads to a planar molecular conformation and high dipole moment, which further results in strong intermolecular interactions and good crystallinity, so when the acid is added together with a solvent, both the ring‐opening reaction and re‐crystallization can be triggered to result in an orange emissive state. The reversible control between any two of the three states (cyan/orange/dark) can be achieved with acid/base or mechanical force/solvent treatment. Because of the stable initial state and high color contrast (Δλ=120 nm for cyan/orange switch, dark state Φ_F<0.01 %), the fluorescent switch is very promising for applications such as displays, chemical or mechanical sensing, and anti‐counterfeiting.     

Establishment of a new molecular model for mercury determination verified by single crystal X-ray diffraction,spectroscopic analysis and biological potentials

A wide variety of molecular probes have been developed for real-time analysis,but most of organic fluorophores possess small Stokes shifts and self-absorption or inner filter effect that could not be avoided.In this study,a new dicyanoisophorone-based derivative(E)-0-(4-(2-(3-(dicyanomethylene)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)phenyl)diphenylphosphinothioate(λ_ex=405 nm,X_em=551 nm,denoted as ICM-S) with strong push-pull electron effect has been afforded and it exhibits red shift for absorption from 407 nm to 426 nm with distinct color change from pale yellow to deep yellow upon exposure to Hg~(2+).Moreover,an easily distinguishable fluorescence color change follows the route from green,yellow to red in the presence of Hg~(2+) over the range of 0-90 μmol/L(detection limit=137 nmol/L)can be observed by the naked eye under a UV lamp irradiation.Chlorodiphenylphosphine and sublimedsulfur are incorpo rated as re s ponsive sites and P-O bond has been cleaved upon the addition of mercu ry ions.During the recognition process,such dicyanoisophorone dye(ICM-S) has been evolved to 2-(3-(4-hydroxystyryl)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-enylidene) malononitrile(ICM-OH).Clear evidences in the chemical processes can be identified via single crystal X-ray diffraction,spectroscopic analysis,photophysical studies and titration experiments.With the aim of exploring its potential in biological systems,its in vitro responses to Hg~(2+) have been evaluated in 293 T cells and the effectiveness in zebrafish model has also been verified.     

EXCITED STATE PROPERTIES OF THE N-(DEOXYGUANOSIN-8-YL)-2-AMINOFLUORENE ADDUCTS

The spectroscopic characteristics of adducts derived from the covalent binding of the carcinogen 2-aminofluorene to the C8 position of deoxyguanosine [N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-amino-fluorene, dGuo-C8-AF], and from an adduct of similar structure formed with the synthetic polynucleotide poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), were investigated. At 77 K both adducts are characterized by well-defined and rather narrow fluorescence emission spectra with maxima at 370 and 390 nm characteristic of the aromatic, monomolecular 2-aminofluorene (AF) residue. In contrast, at room temperature, the fluorescence is characterized by a broad, structureless emission band with a maximum at 460 nm in aqueous mixtures, shifting to 415 nm in solvents of lower polarity (100% propanol); the maxima are located at intermediate wavelengths in solutions of different propanol/water compositions, and this emission is attributed to an excited state complex (exciplex). The fluorescence quantum yield decreases when either the solvent polarity or the temperature are increased, varying from 5.4% (100% propanol) to 0.04-0.05% (100% H2O). The fluorescence decay profiles of dGuo-C8-AF adducts (measured at the National Synchrotron Light Source facility at the Brookhaven National Laboratory) can be roughly, but not exactly, modeled in terms of two exponential decay components in the range of about 0.3-1.0 ns with the propanol concentration greater than 60%; at lower propanol concentrations, a single short lifetime is observed and in 100% water solutions its value is 0.08 ns. The shorter lifetime, favored in solvent mixtures of higher polarities, is attributed to an exciplex with significant charge-transfer character.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stability-indicating methods for determination of tiapride in pure form, pharmaceutical preparation, and human plasma

Four different stability-indicating procedures are described for determination of tiapride in pure form, dosage form, and human plasma. Second derivative (D2), first derivative of ratio spectra (1DD), spectrofluorimetric, and high-performance column liquid chromatographic (LC) methods are proposed for determination of tiapride in presence of its acid-induced degradation products, namely 2-methoxy-5-(methylsulfonyl) benzoic acid and 2-diethylaminoethylamine. These approaches were successfully applied to quantify tiapride using the information included in the absorption, excitation, and emission spectra of the appropriate solutions. In the D2 method, Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1.5-9 microg/mL with a mean recovery of 99.94 +/- 1.38% at 253.4 nm using absolute ethanol as a solvent. In 1DD, which is based on the simultaneous use of the first derivative of ratio spectra and measurement at 245 nm in absolute ethanolic solution, Beer's law was obeyed over a concentration range of 1.5-9 microg/mL with mean recovery 99.64 +/- 1.08%. The spectrofluorimetric method is based on the determination of tiapride native fluorescence at 339 nm emission wavelength and 230 nm excitation wavelength using water-methanol (8 + 2, v/v). The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.2-3 microg/mL with mean recovery of 99.66 +/- 1.46%. This method was also applied for determination of tiapride in human plasma. A reversed-phase LC method performed at ambient temperature was validated for determination of tiapride using methanol-deionized water-triethylamine (107 + 93 + 0.16, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Sulpiride was used as an internal standard at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with ultraviolet detection at 214 nm. A linear relation was obtained over a concentration range of 2-30 microg/mL with mean recovery of 99.66 +/- 0.9%. Results were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by applying the reference method. They proved both accuracy and precision.     

Solvent and pH dependent fluorescent properties of a dimethylaminostyryl borondipyrromethene dye in solution

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques have been used to study the photophysical properties of the fluorescent BODIPY-derived dye 3-{2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethenyl}-4,4-difluoro-8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,5,7-trimethyl-3a,4a-diaza-4-bora-s-indacene. This compound has been synthesized via a microwave-assisted condensation of p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde with the appropriate 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl substituted borondipyrromethene unit. The fluorescence properties of the dye are strongly solvent dependent: increasing the solvent polarity leads to lower fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes, and the wavelength of maximum fluorescence emission shifts to the red. The Catalán solvent scales are found to be the most suitable for describing the solvatochromic shifts of the fluorescence emission. These are dominated by polarity/polarizability effects, as confirmed by quantum-chemical calculations performed in the dielectric continuum approximation. Fluorescence decay profiles of the dye can be described by a single-exponential fit in most solvents investigated, while two decay times are found in alcohols. The dye undergoes a reversible protonation-deprotonation reaction in the acidic pH range with a pK(a) of 2.25 in acetonitrile solution. Fluorimetric titrations as a function of pH produce fluorescence emission enhancements at lower pH. The fluorescence excitation spectra show a hypsochromic shift from 600 nm for the neutral amine to 553 nm for the ammonium form, so that ratiometric measurements can be used to determine pK(a).     

High yield synthesis of intrinsic, doped and composites of nano-zinc oxide using novel combinatorial method

A novel synthesis of the production of luminescent zinc oxide (ZnO), either in its intrinsic, metal, non-metal-doped or composite forms with high yield has been developed by parallel iterative techniques, within a combinatorial library prepared by the reduction of nitroarenes. The reduction of nitroarenes by aluminium/zinc dusts in alkaline medium (pH 10±2) forms azoxy compounds, whereas in acidic medium (pH 4.9±0.2) forms phenyl hydroxylamine and zinc/aluminium dust gets oxidised into respective hydroxide. Here, we demonstrate the reduction of nitroarenes at neutral pH (7.0±0.2), which forms intrinsic as well as doped ZnO at 50±5°C using zinc dust alone or mixtures of salts of several transition and non-transition metals in presence of 1:10 ratio of solvent and water. Interestingly, it is observed that the photoluminescence emission could be tuned in a wide range from 390 to 615 nm useful for many display related devices.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 1D Cd-amine Coordination Polymer and Its Luminescent Properties

A novel one dimension（1D） cadmium coordination polymer {[Cd（mpda）3]·2（NO3）}n（1） was synthesized via refluxing a mixture of tetradentate Schiff base ligand N,N＇-bis（2-pyridinylethylidene）phenylene-1,3-diamine（L） and Cd（NO3）2 in acetonitrile, whose structure was characterized by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance（1H NMR）. Center metal Cd（II） ion is six-coordinated by six nitrogen atoms from six different m-phenylenediamine（mpda）, giving rise to a [CdN6] octahe- dral coordination environment. The two adjacent cadmium centers are linked by three mpda molecules leading to the construction of 1D chain structure. The crystal structure is stabilized by N-H…O hydrogen bonds to form three-dimension supramolecule. Compound 1 exhibits intense yellow luminescence in solid state at 298 K（λem=554 nm）, which shows a blue shift at 77 K（ca. 147 nm）. Additionally, fluorescence characteristics of compound 1 were investigated in different solvents（polarity： DMSO〉CH3CN〉CH3OH〉CHC13〉toluene） at 298 and 77 K. The results show that the emission peak of compound 1 in solvent exhibits a slight bathochromic shift. However, the emission peaks of compound 1 in CH3OH and CHC13 are red shift compared with that in CH3CN. It is revealed that the lumi- nescence behavior of compound 1 depends on not only the polarity of solvent but also the hydrogen bonding proper- ties between solvent and solute. In addition, the emission peak of compound 1 in solution shows a red shift obviously at 77 K than that at 298 K（ca. 144-159 nm）, with the fluorescence lifetime increased at 77 K. The lifetime in DMSO at 77 K（r=12.470μs） was the longest one. The quantum yield of compoud 1 increases with increasing the polarity of solvent within a range of 1.8%-8.3 %.     

Spiropyran-azobenzene-DBU system as solvent indicator

A dyad bearing azobenzene and spiropyran units was synthesized and its applications in indicating the polarity and protic or aprotic properties of a solvent were explored. The spiropyran-azobenzene derivative (SPAB) can be induced to different forms in different miscellaneous solvents accompanied with different color changes and spectral characteristics at the presence of organic base DBU. In a nonpolar or low-polar solvent, SPAB exists in thermostable spiropyran form with yellow color output. While in an aprotic polar solvent, the spiropyran part isomerized to merocyanine form giving a blue color. When SPAB is subjected to a protic solvent, the alkylation reaction occurs at the oxygen generating the alkylated-SPAB with red color. This solvent-dependent property can be used for discriminating solvent type.     

Solvent dependent fluorescent properties of a 1,2,3-triazole linked 8-hydroxyquinoline chemosensor: tunable detection from zinc(II) to iron(III) in the CH3CN/H2O system

A triazole-containing 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) ether 2 was efficiently synthesized in two steps from the "click" strategy. Compound 2 gave a strong fluorescence (Φ = 0.21) in nonprotic solvent like CH(3)CN, and a weak fluorescence (Φ = 0.06) in protic solvent like water. In water, a more than 100 nm red shift of the fluorescence maximum was observed for compound 2 in comparison with that in CH(3)CN. This fluorescence difference may be attributed to the intermolecular photoinduced proton transfer (PPT) process involving the protic solvent water molecules. Similarly, this intermolecular PPT process was also observed in the high-water-content CH(3)CN aqueous solution (e.g., CH(3)CN/H(2)O = 5/95, v/v). The water content in the CH(3)CN/H(2)O binary solvent mixture greatly affected the fluorescence intensity (e.g., Φ = 0.06 and 0.25 when CH(3)CN/H(2)O = 5/95 and 95/5, v/v, respectively) and emission wavelength. Using this interesting property, by simple variation of the water content in the CH(3)CN aqueous solution, compound 2 was tuned from a selective "turn-on" fluorescent sensor for Zn(2+) (CH(3)CN/H(2)O = 5/95, v/v) to a ratiometric one for Zn(2+) and a selective "turn-off" one for Fe(3+) (CH(3)CN/H(2)O = 95/5, v/v) over a wide range of pH value. In high-water-content (CH(3)CN/H(2)O = 5/95, v/v) aqueous solution compound 2 shows a selective "turn-on" response toward Zn(2+), with a 10-fold enhancement in the fluorescence intensity at 428 nm and a 62 nm blue shift of the emission maximum (490 to 428 nm) due to the inhibition of intermolecular PPT process upon chelating with Zn(2+). However, in a less polar solvent (CH(3)CN/H(2)O = 95/5, v/v) in which compound 2 has high fluorescence (quantum yield =0.25), it shows a ratiometric response toward Zn(2+), with a continuous decrease of the fluorescence intensity at 399 nm and an increase at 423 nm. More interestingly, in this case, it also exhibits a very sensitive, selective, and ratiometric fluorescence quenching in the presence of Fe(3+), with an 81 nm red shift of the emission maximum (399 to 480 nm) in a wide range of pH through a metal ligand charge transfer (MLCT) effect.     

Aqueous synthesis and characterization of glutathione-stabilized β-HgS nanocrystals with near-infrared photoluminescence

A simple, rapid and green aqueous approach to near-infrared (NIR)-emitting β-HgS nanocrystals (NCs) was demonstrated for the first time by using glutathione (GSH) as the stabilizer at room temperature. The resulting HgS NCs with zinc blend structure exhibited strong quantum size effect, and the emission peak could be tuned in a wide NIR region from ca. 775 to 1041 nm. As compared with early achievements, the emission intensity of GSH-stabilized HgS NCs enhanced, with the maximum quantum yield reaching ~2.8%. It was also found that the stability of the GSH-HgS NCs was improved noticeably, the PL peak red-shifting only 9 nm and 23 nm after stored at 4°C for 4 months and 25°C for 7 days, respectively. The better stability of the HgS NCs was elucidated by FT-IR due to the multiple coordination of GSH molecule to surface Hg of the NCs. The emission range of GSH-stabilized HgS NCs was located between the visible region (500-800 nm) and IR region (1000-1600 nm) of HgS NCs as reported previously, extending the emission region of HgS nanomaterial. Therefore, the continuous emission from visible to IR spectral ranges provided HgS material more potential applications.     

Tuning of electronic transport characteristics of ZnO micro/nanowire piezotronic Schottky diodes by bending: threshold voltage shift

We report the longitudinal and transverse PtIr-ZnO wire piezotronic Schottky diodes in a conductive atomic force microscope (C-AFM). The tuning of electronic transport characteristics by bending ZnO wire was investigated. For longitudinal transport, the threshold voltage can be tuned over a wide range (from 1 V to 8 V) during the bending process. For transverse transport, the threshold voltage can be positively tuned at the stretched side, and negatively tuned at the compressed side. The possible mechanisms are discussed.     

Spectroscopy in separated flames-IV: application of the nitrogen-separated air-acetylene flame in flame-emission and atomic-fluorescence spectroscopy

The primary and secondary combination zones of an air-acetylene flame have been separated by a stream of nitrogen flowing parallel to the flame to prevent access of atmospheric oxygen to its base. The flame is very stable over a wide range of fuel-air mixture strengths, and organic solvents may be aspirated without difficulty. The low flame background enables thermal-emission and atomic-fluorescence measurements to be made with high sensitivity. Bismuth, for example, has been determined in the range 5-200 ppm by its thermal emission at 306.8 nm, with a detection limit of 2 ppm in aqueous solution, and in the range 1-10 ppm with a detection limit of 0.3 ppm in 50% ethanolic solution. Zinc and cadmium have been determined at 213.9 nm and 228.8 nm by atomic-fluorescence spectroscopy in this flame with detection limits of 2 x 10(-4) ppm and 5 x 10(-4) ppm respectively, vapour-discharge lamps being used as sources of excitation. The results obtained represent a considerable improvement over those available by the same methods in a conventional air-acetylene flame.     

Edge excitation red shift and energy migration in quinine bisulphate dication

Photoinduced excited state dynamical processes in quinine sulphate dication (QSD) have been studied over a wide range of solute concentrations using steady state and nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The edge excitation red shift (EERS) of emission maximum, emission wavelength dependence of fluorescence lifetimes and the time dependence of emission maximum are known to occur due to the solvent relaxation process. With increase in solute concentration, the emission spectrum shifts towards the lower frequencies accompanied with decrease in fluorescence intensity, however, absorption spectrum remains unchanged. A decrease in EERS, fluorescence lifetimes, time dependent fluorescence Stokes shift (TDFSS), fluorescence polarization and the solvent relaxation time (τ_r) is observed with the increase in solute concentration. The process of energy migration among the QSD ions along with solvent relaxation has been found responsible for the above experimental findings.