Electrochemical genosensing properties of gold nanoparticle–carbon nanotube hybrid

We have investigated the electrochemical genosensing properties of gold nanoparticle–carbon nanotube hybrid. Thiolated oligonucleotide probes and mercaptohexanol were self-assembled onto the Au–CNT hybrid. The hybridization events of target oligonucleotides are monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and a.c. voltammetry techniques. A redox-active mediator is used to detect the oxidation of guanine residues. The as-fabricated genosensor is able to differentiate between complementary and mismatched hybridizations, relying on the oxidation current of the guanine residues mediated via .     

Rare gas–iodine complexes in the ion-pair states

Luminescence and luminescence excitation spectra in the vicinity of the optical–optical double resonance transitions to the I₂(, v_f = 8 and 9, J_f ≈ 55) levels have been measured at the bulb conditions for the I₂ + Rg mixtures (Rg = He, Ar, Xe) at the rare gas pressures 2–20 Torr and room temperature. Luminescence attributed to the RgI₂ complexes in the ion-pair states has been observed for the first time. It is argued that the complexes can be formed by direct optical excitation from the complexes or colliding pairs. Besides, the RgI₂ complexes in the ion-pair states can be formed in nonadiabatic internal conversion processes from the one. The complexes have rather long lifetime, especially in the case of Xe, and decay radiatively and nonradiatively forming I₂ molecules in different ion-pair states.     

Long-term prediction of compressive creep development in expanded polystyrene

The results obtained in investigating the creep of expanded polystyrene (EPS) boards under compressive stress are presented. Power and exponential equations were used for describing creep compliance. It was found that the curves of creep compliance approximated by both equations adequately represent the research results, taking into account the scatter of the experimental data. Based on the calculation and empirical estimate of long-term creep of EPS under compressive stress σ_c=(0.25–0.45)σ_10%, its creep compliance was determined for a period of 10 years in the future. The dependence of on the density of polystyrene boards and the value of long-term compressive stress σ_c was established. The expected values of creep strain development in expanded polystyrene boards EPS 80–EPS 250 under constant compressive stress σ_c=(0.25–0.45)σ_10% are presented for the prediction period of 10 years. To obtain the expected creep values for any other period of time in the interval of 5T50 years, the values of should be multiplied by the empirical coefficient .     

The limiting partial molar volume and apparent molar volume of glycylglycine in aqueous KCl solution at 298.15 and 308.15 K

Apparent molar volumes V_Φ of glycylglycine in aqueous KCl solutions have been obtained from densities at 298.15 and 308.15 K measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter. These data have been used to deduce partial molar volumes of transfer from water to different KCl–water mixtures. values are positive. This result arises from the interaction of KCl with the charged centers of glycylglycine. The results show that depends less on temperature. Hydration numbers are calculated from data and are interpreted in terms of various interactions.     

Excess molar enthalpies for binary mixtures of trimethyl phosphate with alkanols {CH3(CH2)nOH, n = 0–3} at 298.15 K

The excess molar enthalpies () for the binary mixtures of trimethyl phosphate (TMP) with alkanols {CH₃(CH₂)_nOH, n = 0–3} have been measured with an isothermal calorimeter at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The values are positive for all the mixtures over the whole composition range. The values increase in the order methanol < ethanol < 1-propanol < 1-butanol. The experimental results have been correlated with the Redlich–Kister equation.     

Pulse radiolysis of 9-anthrylmethylammonium cation in aqueous solution

The reaction of hydrated electron with 9-anthrylmethylammonium cation to form the respective anthracene radical anion in aqueous solution has been studied by the method of pulse radiolysis. The rate constant of the reaction of with is reported. It is demonstrated that the anthracene radical anion is unstable and undergoes further reactions. The spectra of transient intermediates, leading to the final reduction products, are presented.     

Iron complexes of terdentate nitrogen ligands: formation and X-ray structure of three new dicationic complexes

Dicationic iron complexes were obtained upon complexation of the ligands 6,6″-di(p-tolyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (L¹) or 2,6-bis-(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (L²) with iron dichloride or iron trichloride. They were characterized by X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy. Single crystal structure determinations of , and all show six-coordinate metal center. These complexes were obtained from L¹FeCl₂ and L²FeCl₂ during recrystallization attempts. (L¹)₂Fe²⁺ was shown to be a high-spin complex, whereas (L²)₂Fe²⁺ was shown to be low-spin. For , two independent dications of very similar geometry but with distinctive distortion were observed by X-ray analysis.     

Gas-phase reactivities of charged platinum dimers with ammonia: A combined experimental/theoretical study

Computational and experimental studies of with ammonia are reported. While ammonia is dehydrogenated with either cluster type, the reaction efficiencies are quite different with  = 0.27 for [K. Koszinowski, D. Schröder, H. Schwarz, J. Phys. Chem. A 107 (2003) 4999.] and  = 0.0033 for . DFT-based relativistic calculations are consistent with this distinct behavior, with maximum energies along the reaction path of −13.3 kcal/mol for the cationic and +1.4 kcal/mol for the anionic clusters relative to the reactants. The recently proposed mechanism for the system [D. Xu. X.-Y. Chen, S.-G. Wang, Int, J. Quant. Chem. 107 (2007) 1985.] needs to be modified to account for the experimental findings.     

Partial molar enthalpy properties and correlation of excess molar enthalpy data of acetonitrile + diethylamine or S-butylamine mixtures at various temperatures and atmospheric pressure

Experimental data of excess molar enthalpy of binary mixtures of acetonitrile + diethylamine or S-butylamine mixtures as a function of composition at 288.15, 293.15, 298.15 and 303.15 K at atmospheric pressure have been used to calculate excess partial molar enthalpy and partial molar enthalpy of each component as a function of composition as well as partial molar enthalpy properties at infinite dilution. The Flory and Prigogine–Flory–Patterson (PFP) theories were applied to correlate the data. The results of the calculations as well as the influence of temperature and isomers chain on the partial molar enthalpy properties are discussed.     

Theoretical studies on the aromaticity of η-cyclopentadienyl cobalt dithiolene complexes

Some η⁵-cyclopentadienyl cobalt dithiolene complexes CpCoS₂C₂R₂ have been optimized at B3LYP/6-311++G(d) level. The optimized geometries agree well with experiment. The analyses of nature bond orbital and nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) at B3LYP/6-311++G(d) and GIAO-B3LYP/6-311++G(d) levels reveal the aromatic character of the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl cobalt dithiolene complexes. However, their aromaticity is weaker than that of the isolated . There are two reasons for the change of heterocyclic aromaticity of the metal dithiolene in the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl cobalt dithiolene complexes with respect to that of the isolated . The better equalization of bond lengths in the isolated cation is the first reason. The other reason is that the contribution to the NICS from the metallic cobalt atom is much larger in the isolated cation . The planar character of cyclopentadienyl is destroyed slightly in the complexes. At the same time, the size of cyclopentadienyl (Cp) becomes bigger than the isolated Cp⁻¹ and this is caused by the cobalt atom in the pentagon. The π-electron delocalization causes stronger aromaticity of the Cp in the complexes than that of the isolated Cp⁻¹.     

Infrared intensities of liquids XXV: Dielectric constants, molar polarizabilities and integrated intensities of liquid toluene at 25 °C between 4800 and 400 cm

The main purpose of this paper is to present accurate infrared integrated intensities of liquid toluene, C₆H₅CH₃, at 25 °C. Also presented are the decadic molar absorption coefficients, E_m, the real and imaginary dielectric constants, ε′ and ε″, and the real and imaginary molar polarizabilities, ^′_m and ^″_m. Integrated intensities were determined as C_j, the area under bands in the spectrum, for all bands between 4800 and 440 cm⁻¹. The contributions from the different bands were separated by fitting the spectrum with classical damped harmonic oscillator bands. The uncertainties in the integrated intensities of most bands are estimated to be 5–10%, with the uncertainties in very weak bands and in shoulders possibly up to 100%. The intensity that should be assigned to the fundamentals is more difficult to estimate due to Fermi resonance with overtone and combination bands, and a best estimate is given. The integrated intensities of the fundamental vibrations and the corresponding transition dipole moments are summarized and are compared with literature values for the gas.     

Preparation of MoVTe(Sb)Nb mixed oxide catalysts using a slurry method for selective oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

The preparation of bulk MoVTe(Sb)Nb mixed oxide catalysts using a traditional slurry method, results in highly active catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene. Several major phases including orthorhombic M1, hexagonal M2 or Mo_xM_1−xO_2.8 (M = V or Nb) have been detected in the catalysts from characterization results such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM and EDX analyses. Ethane conversion and yield to ethene increase with increasing content of the M1 phase in the catalysts. The maximum yield of ethene (ca. 87% selectivity and ca. 90% conversion, STY_C2H4 of 176 g  h⁻¹) has been obtained with a MoV_0.31Te_0.2Nb_0.14 mixed oxide catalyst, calcined at 873 K under nitrogen, containing almost pure orthorhombic M1 phase and small amounts of unidentified impurity phases, operating at a relatively low reaction temperature of 673 K. The orthorhombic M1 phase has been shown to be the most active in ethane activation and the most selective for ethene formation. The hexagonal M2 phase is relatively inactive in ethane activation and less selective for ethene formation. The Te-free phases such as Sb₄Mo₁₀O₃₁ and Mo_xM_1−xO_2.8 (M = V or Nb) show the lowest selectivity to ethene.     

Computational study on the kinetics of the reaction between Ca and urea

A computational study, in the framework of statistical kinetic theories, of the reaction of Ca²⁺ with urea has been carried out. The kinetically preferred products are NH₃ + [CaOCNH]²⁺, which are the fifth products in order of stability. The second kinetically preferred products are , followed by [CaNH₃]²⁺+HNCO, whereas the most stable ones, and , appear only in residual quantities. These estimates are in agreement with the experimental evidence and provide a suitable mechanism to understand the competition between Coulomb explosion and neutral loss processes.     

Enthalpies of combustion and formation of 3-formylchromones

The enthalpies of combustion of 3-formylchromone (3F), 3-formyl-6-methylchromone (3F6M) and 3-formyl-6-isopropylchromone (3F6I) were determined by combustion calorimetry. The molar combustion energies () of the 3F, 3F6M and 3F6I are: −(4452.4 ± 1.8), −(5115.6 ± 2.7) and −(6411.4 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The formation enthalpies in the crystalline state () are: −(340.2 ± 2.2), −(355.1 ± 3.1) and −(415.5 ± 3.0) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.s     

Rate constants of the O(D) reactions with N2, O2, N2O, and H2O at 295 K

Using a technique of laser flash photolysis coupled with vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, the rate coefficients of O(¹D) reactions with N₂, O₂, N₂O, and H₂O at 295 ± 2 K have been determined to be , k_O2=(4.06±0.24)×10^-11, k_N2O=(1.35±0.08)×10^-10 and . The quoted uncertainties include estimated errors and are the 95% confidence level. The k_N2 and k_N2O values obtained are larger than the current NASA/JPL recommendations by 26% and 16%, respectively, although they are still within the error limits associated with the recommendations.     

Effect of procaine hydrochloride on the micellization of double tailed surfactants in the aqueous solution

The effects of procaine hydrochloride (PC) on the micellization of two kinds of double tailed surfactants in aqueous solutions, sodium bis (2-ethyl-1-hexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), were studied by surface tension measurements. The results revealed that PC could decrease the equilibrium surface tension and critical micelle concentration (cmc) of AOT, but it is opposite for DDAB. Their standard thermodynamic parameters of micellization, , and , have been calculated in aqueous solutions. The locations of PC in the two kinds of micelles were investigated by UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. It is found that the mixed micelle of AOT and PC could be formed, but the effect of PC on the micellization of DDAB is quite small.     

Solvatochromism of 3-[2-(aryl)benzoxazol-5-yl]alanine derivatives

The photophysical properties of N-Boc-3-[2-(9-anthryl)benzoxazol-5-yl]-l-alanine methyl ester (BoxAnt) and N-Boc-3-[2-[4-(9′-(10′-butyl)anthryl)phenyl]benzoxazol-5-yl]-l-alanine methyl ester (BoxPhAnt) were studied in a series of solvents. Their absorption spectra are less sensitive to the solvent polarity than the corresponding fluorescence spectra which show a pronounced solvatochromic effect leading to large Stokes shifts. Using an efficient solvatochromic method, based on the empirical solvent polarity parameter , a large change of the dipole moment on excitation for BoxPhAnt has been found. From an analysis of the solvatochromic behaviour of the absorption and fluorescence spectra in terms of bulk solvent polarity functions, f(_r, n) and g(n), a larger excited-state dipole moment (about 8 D, ψ = 56) was obtained for BoxPhAnt than for BoxAnt (about 3 D, ψ = 0). Both applied methods gave similar values of the excited-state dipole moments for both compounds studied.     

A TD-DFT study of the absorption spectra of fast dye salts

The UV/visible spectra of a series of diazonium fast dyes have been evaluated by using a time-dependent density functional theory approach explicitly taking into account bulk solvation effects. Using the PBE0 functional with the 6-311G(2d,2p) atomic basis set, the agreement between theory and experiment is excellent for these cationic species. The effects on the spectra of chemical substitution are analysed.     

QSAR study on N-containing corrosion inhibitors: Quantum chemical approach assisted by topological index

In this paper, QSAR study on N-containing corrosion inhibitors has been made using quantum chemical approach assisted by a novel topological index (). Two models were obtained and their efficiency was examined using statistics. The results indicate that inhibition efficiencies relate to some parameters of corrosion inhibitors, such as E_homo, polarizability, Dipole, frontier orbital charge density, the interaction mode between inhibitors and metal surface (feedback donor–acceptor coordination bonds), (steric hindrance of molecules). Predicted values are consistent with the experimental ones on the whole. The residuals range within the experimental error. So the models can be used to predict inhibition efficiencies of the same type molecules.     

Theoretical studies on fluorescence of phenol and 1-naphthol in both acid and alkali solutions

The molecular structures of the ground state and the first singlet excited state for , C₆H₅OH, C₆H₅O⁻, , C₁₀H₇OH and C₁₀H₇O⁻, the forms of phenol and 1-naphthol in acid and alkali solutions, were optimized by ab initio HF and configuration interaction with singlet excitations (CIS) method, respectively. Their fluorescent spectra were obtained by the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) using the B3LYP method with the 6-31+G (d) basis set. The frontier molecular orbital characteristics, fluorescent spectrum and proton affinities had been analyzed systematically in order to study different fluorescence of phenol and 1-naphthol in acid and alkali solutions. It was found that C₆H₅OH and are the main forms of phenol in acid solution, but C₆H₅O⁻ in alkali solution; C₁₀H₇OH and C₁₀H₇O⁻ are the main forms of 1-naphthol in alkali solution, but in acid solution. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data.