Electric field properties at cationic sites in normal, incommensurate and commensurate K2ZnCl4 crystals

The local electric properties at K and Zn sites in the normal, incommensurate and commensurate phases of K₂ZnCl₄, as derived from a numerical computation of the lattice contributions to the electric potential V(r), electric field intensityE(r) and electric field gradient tensorV _αβ(r) are reported. The numerical data obtained at each cationic position were correlated with the experimental³⁹K NMR, Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ EPR and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer results in pure and doped K₂ZnCl₄. A proportionality between crystal field and zero-field splitting was taken into account for Mn²⁺, whereas for K⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions the electric field gradient is directly related to the crystal field parameter. By this comparison, on computations done in the ionic fractional charge and relaxed lattice approximations, the insertion of probe-species of iron, copper and manganese ions on off-center Zn sites is proposed. The³⁹K electric field gradient tensor calculations in the incommensurate phase fit well with the NMR data reported recently.     

EPR-Determined Anisotropy of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-Factor and Magnetostriction of a Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>MnBO<Subscript>5</Subscript> Single Crystal with a Ludwigite Structure

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetostriction of the Cu₂MnBO₅ single crystal have been studied. The EPR spectrum consists of a single Lorentzian line due to the exchange-coupled system of spins of Cu²⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions. It has been established experimentally that the g-factor in the paramagnetic region is strongly anisotropic and anomalously small, which is not typical of the exchange-coupled system of spins of Cu²⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions. At a temperature of 150 K, the g-factors along the crystallographic a, b, and c axes are 2.04, 1.96, and 1.87, respectively. Such small effective g-factor values can be due to the effect of the anisotropic Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya exchange interaction between the spins of Cu²⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions directed along the a axis. The presence of two Cu²⁺ and Mn³⁺ Jahn–Teller ions occupying four nonequivalent positions in the crystal is responsible for the absence of the inversion center. It is found that the behavior of the magnetostriction of Cu₂MnBO₅ is not typical of transition-metal crystals but is closer to the behavior of crystals containing rare-earth ions.     

The effect of off-center Cu2+ ions on the phase transition in lead germanate crystals

The properties of Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁: Cu²⁺ crystals near the temperature of the ferroelectric phase transition are discussed in terms of a phenomenological approach. Assuming a quadratic interaction with the order parameter, the effect of Cu²⁺ is considered a result of static distortions, which result from the off-center position of the copper impurity ions in the lead germanate structure. In this approximation, Cu²⁺ jumps between off-center positions do not affect the dynamic properties of the crystal matrix near T _C.     

Bis-Benzimidazolyl Diamide Based Fluorescent Probe for Copper(II): Synthesis, Structural and Fluorescence Studies

A new fluorescent probe based on a bis-benzimidazole diamide N ²,N ^2′-bis[(1-ethyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl]biphenyl-2,2′-dicarboxamide ligand L ₁ with a biphenyl spacer group and a Copper(II) trinuclear metallacycle has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystallography, elemental and spectral (FT-IR, ¹H & ¹³C NMR, UV-Visible) analysis. The fluorescence spectra of L ₁ in MeOH show an emission band centered at 300 nm. This band arises due to benzimidazolyl moiety in the ligating system. The diamide L ₁ in the presence of Cu²⁺ show the simultaneous ‘quenching’ of (300 nm) and ‘enhancement’ of (375 nm) emission band. Similar fluorescence behavior was found in water–methanol mixture (9:1). The new emission band at 375 nm is attributed to intra ligand π–π* transition of the biphenyl moiety. L ₁ exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity towards Cu²⁺ in both the medium over other common metal ions like Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺. The binding constant with Cu²⁺ was calculated by the Benesi-Hildebrand equation. Selective “off-on-off” behavior of L ₁ in methanol has also been studied. The fluorescent intensity of 375 nm bands in L ₁ enhances (turns-on) upon addition of Cu²⁺ and quenches (turn-off) upon addition of Na₂-EDTA.     

Salicylaldehyde Phenylhydrazone: A New Highly Selective Fluorescent Lead (II) Probe

The fluorescence intensity of salicylaldehyde phenylhydrazone (L), in 1:1 (v/v) CH₃OH:H₂O was enhanced by ca. 100 times with a blue shift in emission maximum, on interaction with Pb²⁺ ion. No enhancement in fluorescent intensity of L was observed on interaction with metal ions - Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺. This signal transduction was found to occur via photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. A 1:1 complexation between Pb²⁺ and L with log β?=?7.86 has been proved from fluorescent and UV/Visible spectroscopic data. The detection limit of Pb²⁺ was calculated to be 6.3?×?10^?7?M.     

New Application of a Known Molecule: Rhodamine B 8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde Schiff Base as a Colorimetric and Fluorescent “Off-On” Probe for Copper (II)

Rhodamine B 8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde Schiff base (1) has been investigated as a colorimetric and fluorescent “off-on” probe for the recognition of Cu²⁺ in aqueous solution. Probe 1 was synthesized by condensation of rhodamine B hydrazide and 8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde, which exhibited good selectivity for Cu²⁺ among a range of biologically and environmentally important metal ions. The Cu²⁺ recognition event undergoes a Cu²⁺ promoted hydrolysis of probe 1 to release rhodamine B and the recognition process is barely interfered by other coexisting metal ions.

Urea Based Dipodal Fluorescence Receptor for Sensing of Fe3+ Ion in Semi-Aqueous Medium

Urea based fluorescent chemosensor 1 was synthesized. Receptor 1 shows unique selectivity for the Fe³⁺ion and no such significant response was noticed with other metal ions (Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Bi³⁺) in DMSO/H₂O (50:50,v/v) semi-aqueous solution. The binding features have been established by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The binding constant (K) values obtained from Benesi-Hildebrand, Scatchard and Connor plot for receptor 1 is (8.3?±?0.3) × 10³ M^?1 and has good detection limit 0.7?μM. The stoichiometry of 1.Fe³⁺ complex was confirmed by mass spectroscopy and Job’s plot.

9, 10-Bis(8-Quinolinoxymethyl)Anthracene—A Fluorescent Sensor for Nanomolar Detection of Cu2+ with Unusual Acid Stability of Cu2+-Complex

In this work, the dipod 9,10-bis(8-quinolinoxymethyl)anthracene (1) and for comparison, monopod 9-(8-quinolinoxymethyl)anthracene (2) have been synthesized. The fluoroionophore 1 in pH 7.1 HEPES buffered CH₃CN:H₂O (4:1 v/v) solution shows quenching only with Cu²⁺ with lowest limit of detection 150 nM, amongst various metal ions. Fluoroionophore 1 could also be applied to sense Co²⁺ with lowest limit of detection 600 nM. By modulating the pH of the solution and concentration of Cu²⁺, 1 shows respective “On-Off-On” and “On-Off” fluorescent switching. The self-assembly of two Cu²⁺ ions and two molecules of fluoroionophore 1 to form closed structure [Cu₂(L)₂]⁴⁺ seems to be responsible for nanomolar sensitivity towards Cu²⁺. The combination of delayed second protonation of 1 (pK_a2?=?2.6) and stepwise protonation of [Cu₂ L ₂]⁴⁺ causes unusual stability of [Cu(LH)₂]⁴⁺ even at pH?<?2.

N-benzoate-N′ salicylaldehyde ethynelediamine: A new fluorescent sensor for Zn2+ ion by “off-on” mode

Imbalance of zinc ion (Zn²⁺) in human body causes diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and therefore Zn²⁺ estimation in biological fluids has diagnostic values. Fluorescence “off-on” sensors have advantages of high sensitivity and in situ application over other sensors. A new fluorescent “off-on” Zn²⁺ sensor, N-benzoate-N′ salicylaldehyde ethynelediamine (L), has been synthesisied. In 1:1(v/v) CH₃OH:PBS (PBS?=?phosphate buffer solution), L shows ca. 20 times enhancement in fluorescence intensity on interaction with Zn²⁺, due to snapping of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process, which is selective over metal ions - Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺. These metal ions either individually or all together does not interfere the sensing ability of L towards Zn²⁺. A 1:1 interaction between L and Zn²⁺ ion with binding constant 10^4.25 has been established from spectroscopic data.     

Optically induced structural transformation in disordered kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4

The kesterite-structured semiconductor Cu₂ZnSnS₄ is one of the most promising compound for earth-abundant low-cost solar cells. One of the complex problem on this way deals with its stoichiometry. In this work Raman spectra of Cu-rich Cu₂ZnSnS₄ crystals are discussed in connection with the non-stoichiometric composition and disordering within the cation sublattice of the kesterite. The shift of the main A-peak from 338 to 331 cm^?1 and its broadening are attributed here to transition from the kesterite (I $\bar 4$ symmetry) to the disordered kesterite structure (I $\bar 4$ 2m symmetry). It is shown that this transition may also be driven by an intense light, which could stimulate transformation of Cu⁺-ion to Cu²⁺-ions and facilitates generation of Cu_Zn-defects on 2d-crystalographic positions.     

Photochromism in Cu-and Ag-doped Bi<Subscript>12</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>20</Subscript> crystals

The equilibrium and photoinduced absorption spectra of copper-and silver-doped Bi₁₂SiO₂₀ crystals are studied. It is demonstrated that the impurity absorption is due to Ag²⁺, Ag⁺, Cu³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cu⁺ ions occupying almost octahedral Bi³ positions. A mechanism of photochromism is suggested, involving changes in the charge states of copper and silver impurity ions according to schemes Cu²⁺-e → Cu³⁺ and Ag⁺-e → Ag²⁺.     

EPR study of copper ions in Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>7</Subscript>O<Subscript>15</Subscript> crystals

The EPR spectra of Cu²⁺ ions (² D _5/2) located at two structurally nonequivalent positions Cu1 and Cu2 in crystals of lithium heptagermanate Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ are recorded. The angular dependences of the EPR spectrum are measured in the paraelectric phase of the Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ compound (T = 300 K). The components of the g factor and the hyperfine interaction tensor A are determined, and the orientation of the magnetic axes with respect to the crystallographic basis is established. The EPR spectra are recorded in the temperature range in the vicinity of the temperature T _C = 283 K of the transition from the paraelectric phase to the ferroelectric phase. The position symmetry of the Cu1 and Cu2 centers is determined at temperatures above and below the phase transition temperature T _C . The localization of paramagnetic centers in the structure is discussed, An analysis of the results obtained demonstrates that the Cu1 and Cu2 centers in the Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ crystal lattice replace lithium ions located at two structurally nonequivalent positions with the symmetries described at temperatures above T _C by the triclinic C _i and monoclinic C ₂ point groups, respectively.     

Sensing of Zn2+ion by N-Furfurylsalicylaldimine Based on CHEF Process†

The recognition ability of N-Furfurylsalicylaldimine (HL) toward various cations (Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, K⁺, Sr²⁺, and Na⁺) has been studied by UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The compound showed highly selective fluorescence signaling behaviour for Zn²⁺ ions in methanol-water medium based on CHEF process and is capable of distinguishing Zn²⁺ from Cd²⁺ ion. From single crystal X-ray analysis it is revealed that a Zn²⁺ ion binds two ligand molecules through imine nitrogen and phenolate oxygen atom.

Studies of the defect structure from the calculations of optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra for Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> centre in <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-LiIO<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal

By calculating the optical spectrum band positions and EPR parameters (g factors, g‖, g⊥ and zero-field splitting D) by diagonalizing the complete energy matrix of 3d⁸ ions in trigonal symmetry, the defect structure of Ni²⁺ centre in α-LiIO₃ crystal is studied. It is found that to reach the good fits of optical and EPR data between calculation and experiment, the Ni²⁺ ion should shift by Δz ≈ 0.298 Å along C₃-axis and the O^2? ions between the Ni²⁺ ion and Li⁺ vacancy (V _Li) should be displaced away from the V _Li by Δx ≈ 0.097 Å because of the electrostatic interaction. The results are discussed.     

Investigations of EPR g Factors and Rhombic Distortion for the Rhombic Cu2+ Centers in K2Zn1?x Cu x F4 Crystals at Low Temperature

The electron paramagnetic resonance g factors g _i (i?=?x, y, z) of two rhombic Cu²⁺ centers, Cu²⁺(II) and Cu²⁺(III), in K₂Zn_1?x Cu _x F₄ crystals found at low temperature are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method based on the cluster approach. The calculations show that the ground state wave function of the two rhombically compressed Cu²⁺ centers is $ | {d_{{z^{2} }} }\!\!> $ with a small admixture of $ | {d_{{x^{2} - y^{2} }} } \!\!> $ . The rhombic distortions for both Cu²⁺ centers are obtained from the calculations. The results are discussed.     

Photoemission on the highT c superconductors Y−Ba−Cu−O

XPS and UPS photoemission experiments on the highT _c superconductors (T _c ≈90 K) with nominal composition YBa₂Cu₃O_9-y (y≈2) show the following:

1. The density of electronic states at the Fermi energy is very small, much smaller than in pure Cu.
2. The Cu 2p spectra show only a Cu²⁺ contribution.
3. The Ba core levels show a structure with two components of nearly equal magnitude, which leads to the suggestion that these compounds have large O^2? vacancies coordinated to Ba²⁺ sites.
4. Annealing at 400°C under UHV conditions leads possibly to a partial reduction of Cu²⁺ to lower Cu valence states and to a small increase of the O^2? vacancy component of the Ba²⁺ line.

     

Luminescent Fluorene-Based Bis-Pyrazolyl Aniline Ligand for Aluminum Detection

The design, synthesis, and photophysical properties of a new fluorene-based fluorescent chemosensor, 4-((E)-2-(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluoren-7-yl)vinyl)-N,N-bis((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)benzenamine (AXF-Al), is described for the detection of Al³⁺. AXF-Al exhibited absorption at 382 nm and strong fluorescence emission at 542 nm (fluorescence quantum yield, Φ _F, of 0.80). The capture of Al³⁺ by the pyrazolyl aniline receptor resulted in nominal change in the linear absorption (372 nm) but a large hypsochromic shift of 161 nm in the fluorescence spectrum (542 to 433 nm, Φ _F?=?0.88), from which Al³⁺ was detected both ratiometrically and colorimetrically. The addition of other metal ions, namely Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg ²⁺ and Pb²⁺, produced only minimal changes in the optical properties of this probe. The emission band of this probe was also accessed by two-photon excitation in the near-IR, as two-photon absorption (2PA) is important for potential applications in two-photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) imaging. The 2PA cross section of the free fluorenyl ligand AXF-Al was 220 GM at 810 nm and 235 GM at 810 nm for the Al-ligand complex, practically useful properties for 2PFM.     

About the nature of Ni3+ magnetic centres in the LaSrAl1−xNixO4 ceramics

LaSrAl_1?x Ni _x 0₄ (x≤0.11) ceramics werer studied by EPR. It was established that Ni³⁺ ions in this compound may be in two states: a low spin one with t _2g ⁶ e _g ¹ electron configuration and high spin state with t _2g ⁵ e _g ² electron configuration. It was shown that the random distribution of La³⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions in the heavy metal sublattice leads to two kinds for each type of these centres with different degree of tetragonal distortions. The total concentration of NiO₆ isolated centres in these ceramics does not exceed 5–10 % of a total number of nickel ions at a givenx. A model, explaining these peculiarities observed in an experiment by the enhanced tendency of Ni³⁺ ions to clusterization, was proposed. It appears that even at small concentrations Ni³⁺ ions form clusters and conglomerates, whose structural characteristics of the oxygen octahedra are comparable with those in LaSrNiO₄.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy of K3Na(CrO4)2 ferroelastics activated by MnO 4 2− molecular impurity ions

Crystals of a proper ferroelastic K₃Na(CrO₄)₂ containing molecular impurity ions MnO ₄ ^2? are studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical spectroscopy. The EPR spectrum of the Mn⁶⁺ ion contained in the molecular impurity ion MnO ₄ ^2? is identified at low temperatures (T ≤ 20 K). The intensity of this spectrum decreases unusually fast as the temperature increases. A broad IR luminescence band with a vibronic structure well resolved at a temperature of 8 K is revealed. Theoretical treatment of the Mn⁶⁺ ion involved in the molecular impurity ions MnO ₄ ^2? of the K₃Na(CrO₄)₂ ferroelastic crystal suggests that an important role in this case is played by the pseudo-Jahn-Teller. The pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect offers an explanation for the appearance of a fine structure in the vibronic replicas in the luminescence spectrum, on the one hand, and accounts for the fast decrease in the intensity of the EPR spectrum of K₃Na(CrO₄)₂: MnO ₄ ^2? with increasing temperature, on the other.     

Off-on Fluorescent Sensor from On-off Sensor: Exploiting Silver Nanoparticles Influence on the Organic Fluorophore Fluorescence

Turn-off fluorescence of organic fluorophore, 2-{[4-(2H-Naphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-phenyl]carboxylic acid (NTPC), with metal ions (Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺) was converted into turn-on fluorescent sensor for biologically important Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ metal ions in aqueous solution at ppb level by exploiting strong fluorescence quenching phenomena of metal nanoparticles when organic fluorophores assembled in the vicinity of metallic surface. Amino acid attached phenolic ligands (L) were used as reducing as well as functional capping agents in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The hydrogen bonding functionality of L facilitated the assembling of NTPC in the vicinity of metallic surfaces that leads to complete quenching of NTPC fluorescence. The strong and selective coordination of L with metal ions (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺) separates the NTPC from the AgNPs surface that turn-on the NTPC fluorescence. HR-TEM and absorption studies confirm the metal coordination with L and separation of NTPC from the AgNPs surface. Mn²⁺ showed selective red shifting of NTPC fluorescence after 12 h with all sample. Effects of different amino acid attached phenolic ligands were explored in the metal ion sensitivity and selectivity. This approach demonstrates the multifunctional utility of metal NPs in the development of turn-on fluorescence sensor for paramagnetic heavy metal ions in aqueous solution.