Influencing parameters in time resolved picosecond spectroscopy and a new light gate method

We show that the open period of a CS₂ light gate, triggered by a picosecond optical pulse, depends on the optical pathlength through the CS₂. An alternative to the light gate is suggested for time resolved spectroscopy. The working principle is based on scattering induced in CS₂. We have found that the broadband emission from H₂O or D₂O excited by a 5300 Å picosecond pulse is also of picosecond duration, but the blue part is delayed with respect to the red. From this delay time the lifetime of the ground state vibrational levels may be measured directly.     

Electronic Response of Nano-sized Cages of ZnO and MgO to Presence of Nitric Oxide

We have performed a comparative theoretical study on the adsorption of nitric oxide (NO) on Zn₁₂O₁₂ and Mg₁₂O₁₂ nanocages in terms of their energetic, geometric, and electronic properties. It has been found that NO adsorption on the MgO nanocage is energetically more favorable than that on the ZnO one. In contrast to the ZnO nanocage, HOMO-LUMO energy gap (Eg) of MgO one is dramatically decreased in the presence of NO molecule so that it is transformed from an intrinsic semiconductor (Eg≈5.00 eV) to a p-type one (Eg≈1.93 eV). We have predicted that electronic and conductance properties of the Mg₁₂O₁₂ nanocage are sensitive toward NO molecule, thus it may be potential candidate in detection of NO molecules.     

Spectroscopic studies on quantum dots of PbI2

We report the preparation of PbI₂ clusters of sizes less than 30 Å by colloidal routes and characterization by optical absorption spectra. We show that the blue-shifted absorption spectra are not due to the presence of I⁻₃ ions, as suggested previously, but are characteristic of the clusters present. We also show that similar sized clusters form, though sparingly, on dissolving bulk PbI₂ in the solvents. We establish that the stability of a large concentration of these clusters in the colloidal process is due to the presence of excess iodine ions attached to the microcrystallites.     

Effect of CH4/Air Ratio on Selectivity of Partial Oxidation of Methane on V2O5/SiO2 Catalyst

We have studied partial oxidation of methane on V₂O₅/SiO₂ (0.8 mass % V) in a flow-through catalytic fixed-bed reactor. We found that the methane/air ratio in the starting reaction mixture has practically no effect on the selectivity of the process. The dependence of the selectivity on the methane conversion can be described by a model with such reaction parameters as the initial selectivity and the relative reactivity (with respect to methane) of the reaction products.     

There and Back Again—The Journey of LiNiO2 as a Cathode Active Material

This Review provides a comprehensive overview of LiNiO₂ (LNO), almost 30 years after its introduction as a cathode active material. We aim to highlight the physicochemical peculiarities that make LNO a complex material in every aspect. We specifically stress the effect of the Li off‐stoichiometry (Li_1?zNi_1+zO₂) on every property of LNO, especially the electrochemical ones. The key instability issues that plague the compound and the strategies that have been implemented so far to overcome them are discussed in detail. Finally, the open questions that remain to be addressed by the scientific community are summarized, and the research directions that seem the most promising to enable LNO to be fully exploited are elucidated.     

EPR on the high-nuclearity palladium cluster Pd561Phen36O200

We present EPR measurements on the polynuclear metal-cluster compound Pd₅₆₁Phen₃₆O₂₀₀ for temperatures ranging from 300 K to 8 K. No temperature dependence was found in either the resonance field or the line-width. The signal intensity shows a Curie-like behavior. The effect of the ligand on this behavior is discussed. We also discuss the possibility that quantum size effects govern the observed temperature dependence of the line-width and resonance field.     

A Dicyanomethyl Radical Conjugated with a Pyridylamino Group: Combining Radical-based Dynamic Covalent Chemistry and Coordination Chemistry

In this work, we aimed to develop a dicyanomethyl radical that undergoes both reversible C−C bond formation/dissociation and metal-ligand coordination reactions to combine dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) based on organic radicals with coordination chemistry. We have previously reported a dicyanomethyl radical conjugated with a triphenylamine ( 1 ⋅) that exhibits a monomer/dimer equilibrium between the σ-bonded dimer ( 1₂ ). We designed and synthesized a novel dicyanomethyl radical with a pyridyl group as a coordination point ( 2 ⋅) by replacing the phenyl group of 1 ⋅ with a 3-pyridyl group. We showed that 2 ⋅ is also in an equilibrium with the σ-bonded dimer ( 2₂ ) in solution and has suitable thermodynamic parameters for application in DCC. 2₂ coordinates to PdCl₂ in a 2 : 2 ratio to selectively form a metallamacrocycle ( 2₂ )₂(PdCl₂)₂, and its structure was clarified by single crystal X-ray analysis. Variable-temperature NMR, ESR, and electronic absorption measurements revealed that ( 2₂ )₂(PdCl₂)₂ also undergoes the reversible C−C bond formation/dissociation reaction. Ligand-exchange experiment showed that 2₂ was liberated from ( 2₂ )₂(PdCl₂)₂ by the addition of another ligand with a higher affinity for Pd^II. This work demonstrated that DCC based on dicyanomethyl radicals works orthogonally to metal-ligand coordination reactions.     

Thermal stabilities of delithiated olivine MPO4 (M = Fe,Mn) cathodes investigated using first principles calculations

We present an analysis of the thermal reduction of delithiated LiMnPO₄ and LiFePO₄ based on the quarternary phase diagrams as calculated from first principles. Our results confirm the recent experimental findings that MnPO₄ decomposes at a much lower temperature than FePO₄, thereby potentially posing larger safety issues for LiMnPO₄ cathodes. We find that while substantial oxygen is released as MnPO₄ reduces to Mn₂P₂O₇, the mixed valence phases that form in the decomposition process of FePO₄ limit the amount of oxygen evolved.     

Evidence for three typical behaviours of the helicity in the SmCalpha* phase from recent benzoate ester series

We have studied by optical means recently synthesized benzoate ester series exhibiting SmC_A*, SmC_FI*, SmC* and SmC_alpha* phases. We have made pitch measurements on SmC_A* and SmC* phases, using the Grandjean-Cano method, and optical period measurements on the SmC_alpha* phase, on free surface drops. The results are in good agreement with the pitch and optical period evolutions we previously described for other compounds - especially those of a thiobenzoate series. We have also shown that one of the structural models proposed in the literature is in agreement with our experimental results, and have established a qualitative relation between optical period measurements, the azimuthal difference between two successive layers, and the helical pitch. We present results for several benzoate compounds, using a new classification of the observed behaviours.     

An experimental comparison between the aqueous pH scale and the electron donicity scale

We have made an experimental comparison of the aqueous pH scale with the Lewis base donicity scale. This requires an indicator that can function in both kinds of system. We find that the zeta-potential zero charge point for certain oxide materials provides a suitable indicator. The materials are: SiO₂, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, and MgO. For each material, we measure the zeta potential in aqueous media as a function of pH. In each case, the zeta potential varies systematically with pH, and changes sign at some value of pH, that we refer to as the zero charge point. We then do similar measurements in a series of organic liquids having different donicities. In this case, the zeta potential varies systematically with the donicity and may change sign. In such cases, we determine the donicity that corresponds to the zero charge point. For a given oxide material, we can then relate a zero charge point on the pH scale to one on the donicity scale. This gives us a consistent experimental alignment of the pH and donicity scales, relative to one another. We compare our results with thermodynamic data, relating to the pH scale, and the hydrogen electrode, and find good agreement.     

A Single‐Molecule Perspective on the Role of Solvent Hydrogen Bonds in Protein Folding and Chemical Reactions

We present an array of force spectroscopy experiments that aim to identify the role of solvent hydrogen bonds in protein folding and chemical reactions at the single‐molecule level. In our experiments we control the strength of hydrogen bonds in the solvent environment by substituting water (H₂O) with deuterium oxide (D₂O). Using a combination of force protocols, we demonstrate that protein unfolding, protein collapse, protein folding and a chemical reaction are affected in different ways by substituting H₂O with D₂O. We find that D₂O molecules form an integral part of the unfolding transition structure of the immunoglobulin module of human cardiac titin, I27. Strikingly, we find that D₂O is a worse solvent than H₂O for the protein I27, in direct contrast with the behaviour of simple hydrocarbons. We measure the effect of substituting H₂O with D₂O on the force dependent rate of reduction of a disulphide bond engineered within a single protein. Altogether, these experiments provide new information on the nature of the underlying interactions in protein folding and chemical reactions and demonstrate the power of single‐molecule techniques to identify the changes induced by a small change in hydrogen bond strength.     

Kinetics of hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the presence of binuclear complexes of cobalt(II) with 1,4-piperazine-bis(carbothiosulfene diethylamide)

We have obtained complexes of Co(II) with 1,4-piperazine-bis(carbothiosulfene diethylamide) (L) of composition [Co₂LX₄] (X = Cl, Br, I, NCS). We discuss the characteristic features of the decomposition kinetics for H₂O₂ in the presence of these complexes and the effect of the acido ligands X on their catalytic activity. We have observed isokinetic relationships between the activation parameters and the reaction rate constants. We show that the values of the parameters α and β in the Edwards equation to a considerable extent are due to the composition of the complexes and the ratio [H₂O₂]₀/[Cat]₀.     

Direct Correlation Between the H/D Exchange Reaction and Conformational Changes of the Cation in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid–D2O Mixtures

We present a study on the effects of deuterated water on the conformational equilibria of the imidazolium cation in aqueous mixtures of imidazolium-based ionic liquids at room temperature. We provide spectroscopic evidence that the conformational dynamics of the imidazolium cation in D₂O are directly related to the H/D exchange reaction of the C–H group at position 2 on the imidazolium ring. The relation is supported by comparing Raman spectra obtained from solutions prepared with H₂O and D₂O.     

Optical Activity of Metal Nanoclusters Deposited on Regular and Doped Oxide Supports from First-Principles Simulations

We report a computational study and analysis of the optical absorption processes of Ag₂₀ and Au₂₀ clusters deposited on the magnesium oxide (100) facet, both regular and including point defects. Ag₂₀ and Au₂₀ are taken as models of metal nanoparticles and their plasmonic response, MgO as a model of a simple oxide support. We consider oxide defects both on the oxygen anion framework (i.e., a neutral oxygen vacancy) and in the magnesium cation framework (i.e., replacing Mg⁺⁺ with a transition metal: Cu⁺⁺ or Co⁺⁺). We relax the clusters’ geometries via Density-Functional Theory (DFT) and calculate the photo-absorption spectra via Time-Dependent DFT (TDDFT) simulations on the relaxed geometries. We find that the substrate/cluster interaction induces a broadening and a red-shift of the excited states of the clusters, phenomena that are enhanced by the presence of an oxygen vacancy and its localized excitations. The presence of a transition-metal dopant does not qualitatively affect the spectral profile. However, when it lies next to an oxygen vacancy for Ag₂₀, it can strongly enhance the component of the cluster excitations perpendicular to the surface, thus favoring charge injection.     

Conformational landscapes of bimesogenic compounds and their implications for the formation of modulated nematic phases

ABSTRACT

The twist-bend phase (N_TB) is most commonly observed in materials with a gross-bent shape: dimers; bent-cores; bent-oligomers. We had suggested previously that the bend-angle of such systems effectively dictates the relative thermal stability of the N_TB phase. However, our earlier paper relied on the use of a single energy-minimum conformer and so failed to capture any information about flexibility and conformational distribution. In the present work, we revisit our hypothesis and examine a second set of dimers with varying linking groups and spacer composition. We have improved on our earlier work by studying the conformational landscape of each material, allowing average bend-angles to be determined as well as the conformer distribution. We observe that the stability of the N_TB phase exhibits a strong dependence not only on the Boltzmann-weighted average bend-angle (rather than just a static conformer), but also on the distribution of conformers. To a lesser extent, the flexibility of the spacer appears important. Ultimately, this work satisfies both theoretical treatments and our initial experimental study and demonstrates the importance of molecular bend to the N_TB phase.     

Optical Diagnostics of Supercritical CO2 and CO2-Ethanol Mixture in the Widom Delta

The supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) is widely used as solvent and transport media in different technologies. The technological aspects of scCO₂ fluid applications strongly depend on spatial–temporal fluctuations of its thermodynamic parameters. The region of these parameters’ maximal fluctuations on the p-T (pressure-temperature) diagram is called Widom delta. It has significant practical and fundamental interest. We offer an approach that combines optical measurements and molecular dynamics simulation in a wide range of pressures and temperatures. We studied the microstructure of supercritical CO₂ fluid and its binary mixture with ethanol in a wide range of temperatures and pressures using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. MD is used to retrieve a set of optical characteristics such as Raman spectra, refractive indexes and molecular refraction and was verified by appropriate experimental measurements. We demonstrated that in the Widom delta the monotonic dependence of the optical properties on the CO₂ density is violated. It is caused by the rapid increase of density fluctuations and medium-sized (20–30 molecules) cluster formation. We identified the correlation between cluster parameters and optical properties of the media; in particular, it is established that the clusters in the Widom delta acts as a seed for clustering in molecular jets. MD demonstrates that the cluster formation is stronger in the supercritical CO₂-ethanol mixture, where the extended binary clusters are formed; that is, the nonlinear refractive index significantly increased. The influence of the supercritical state in the cell on the formation of supersonic cluster jets is studied using the Mie scattering technique.     

Accelerated Regeneration of ATP Level after Irradiation in Human Skin Fibroblasts by Coenzyme Q10

Human skin is exposed to a number of harmful agents of which the ultraviolet (UV) component of solar radiation is most important. UV‐induced damages include direct DNA lesions as well as oxidative damage in DNA, proteins and lipids caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Being the main site of ROS generation in the cell, mitochondria are particularly affected by photostress. The resulting mitochondrial dysfunction may have negative effects on many essential cellular processes. To counteract these effects, coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is used as a potent therapeutic in a number of diseases. We analyzed the mitochondrial respiration profile, the mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP level in skin fibroblasts after irradiation. We observed an accelerated regeneration of cellular ATP level, a decrease in mitochondrial dysfunction as well as a preservation of the mitochondrial membrane potential after irradiation in human skin fibroblasts by treatment with CoQ₁₀. We conclude that the faster regeneration of the ATP level was achieved by a preservation of mitochondrial function by the addition of CoQ₁₀ and that the protective effect of CoQ₁₀ is primarily mediated via its antioxidative function. We suggest also that it might be further dependent on a stimulation of DNA repair enzymes by CoQ₁₀.     

渗透剂的分子体积和极性表面积分率对胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂2热稳定性的影响

渗透剂对蛋白质的稳定能力不仅与其极性表面积分率(fpSA)有关,而且也与其分子体积(V)密切相关.因此对于渗透剂稳定蛋白质能力的分析,需要同时考虑渗透剂的fpSA和V.为了考察渗透剂的fpSA和V对稳定蛋白质能力的影响,本文以胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂2(CI2)为模型蛋白,首先利用分子动力学模拟,考察了数种典型渗透剂对CI2热稳定性的影响;并根据模拟数据计算得到了渗透剂影响蛋白质热稳定性的一维结构参数;然后利用统计学双参数拟合,同时引入渗透剂的fpSA和V,建立了用于分析渗透剂稳定蛋白质能力的模型;最后利用模型分析了渗透剂的fpSA和V与其稳定蛋白质能力的关系.研究发现:利用分子动力学模拟结果定义并计算得到的一维结构参数能够较好地描述在热变性条件下渗透剂对CI2的稳定能力;所建立的模型能够很好地分析渗透剂对蛋白质的稳定能力;并且由于V和fpSA二次项的引入,可大大提高仅以fpSA为参数的模型的精度;另外,渗透剂对蛋白质的热稳定能力与其V成正比;由于拟合公式中引入了fpSA二次项,在fpSA小于0.7时,fpSA与渗透剂的稳定能力呈现负相关,但当fpSA大于0.7时,其与渗透剂的稳定能力反而呈现正相关.     

Synthesis of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles

We report on the synthesis of ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles by solution-phase methods, with a particular focus on the influence of experimental parameters on the kinetics of nucleation and coarsening. The nucleation rate of ZnO from the reaction between ZnCl₂ and NaOH in ethanol was found to increase with increasing precursor concentration, while the coarsening rate is independent of precursor concentration up to a threshold concentration. The nucleation rate of ZnO from Zn(OOC-CH₃)₂ and NaOH in n-alkanols was found to decrease with decreasing chain length, which is explained by the increase of the dielectric constant of the solvent. Due to the larger solubility of ZnO, nucleation is significantly slower than that observed in the case of TiO₂. TiO₂ nanoparticles coarsen according to the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner model for Ostwald ripening. We also show that using amorphous titania as a base material, pure anatase and brookite nanoparticles can be synthesized.     

Layered rhenium sulfide on free-standing three-dimensional electrodes is highly catalytic for the hydrogen evolution reaction: Experimental and theoretical study

Hydrogen evolution reaction is the key for clean energy utilization. Recently, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) was suggested as a replacement for the most efficient catalyst to date for such reaction, which is platinum. We show here that electrodes based on layered rhenium sulfide (ReS₂) catalyst show dramatic improvement when compared to MoS₂. We have shown by DFT calculations that ReS₂ possesses metallic character of surface states which together with a higher position of Fermi level facilitates electron transfer and pronounced electrochemical activity of this surface. ReS₂ has great potential for hydrogen evolution reaction applications.