Spectroscopic route to monitoring individual surfactant ions and micelles in aqueous solution: A case study

Using a very popular and commonly used surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS, C₁₈H₂₉SO₃Na) for a case study, we report a new method of monitoring different forms of surfactant molecules in aqueous solution and measuring their critical micelle concentration (CMC) by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The forms of SDBS micelles are also investigated by synthesizing and characterizing NiB nanoparticles using the micelles as molecular templates. In addition, the observed shifts of UV-Vis bands are analysed from the viewpoint of the electrons locations and distributions within the molecules and the possible overlap of their electronic orbitals between neighbouring molecules in each micelle.      

Synthesis and characterization of nanosized NiO2 and NiO using Triton® X-100

Nanosized NiO₂ particles with an average diameter of 15 nm are prepared by treating of Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O with an aqueous solution of KClO in the presence of Triton® X-100. This black fine powder of nickel peroxide was characterized by XRD diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The as-prepared NiO₂ can be easily transformed to nanosized NiO merely by washing it with acetone. The obtained NiO has an average diameter of 40 nm and was characterized by the same means used for NiO₂. The nanoparticles of NiO₂ and NiO were obtained in high yields and purities.      

The synthesis, structure and physical properties of lanthanide(III) complexes with nicotinic acid

This article reports the synthesis of novel, rare-earth coordination complexes with nicotinic acid. Three compounds with the general formula Ln₂[(C₅H₄NCOO)₆(H₂O)₄] (Ln = Yb, 1; Ln = Gd, 2; Ln = Nd, 3) were prepared from relatively cheap and readily available reactants. Their compositions and structure were characterized by IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The magnetic and thermogravimetric properties were also studied. The complexes consist of centrosymetric, dimeric molecules having all six nicotinato ligands coordinated with the central atom in the bidentate mode. The coordination environment of the Ln³⁺ for all three compounds is 8. Here we describe the crystal structure of Yb and Gd complexes with nicotinic acid.      

L-alaninium perrhenate: crystal structure and non-linear optical properties

The crystal structure and non-linear optical properties of L-alaninium perrhenate, C₃H₈NO²⁺ ReO₄ ^?, are reported. The protonated amino acid and the perrhenate anion have their usual geometries. The three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network can be seen as a stacking of layers parallel to the (100) planes. Each layer is formed by chains of alternating positive and negative ions along the b and c axes. Hydrogen bonding of adjacent layers forms alternating chains along the a axis. A high damage threshold and a second-harmonic generation efficiency three times that of KDP make this new material potentially useful in non-linear optics.      

Characterization of the citrate precursor, used for synthesis of nanosized Mg-Zn ferrites

The citrate precursor has been used to synthesize nanocrystalline Mg-Zn-ferrites. The nature of the prepared precursor is characterized and compared with those of the precursors studied earlier, prepared by the same process. The study has been performed by inorganic and organic elemental analyses, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Electronic absorption spectrometry in the UV-VIS region, Differential Thermal analysis/ Thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) analyses, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The collected results determined the precursor as a coordination polymer with monomer unit (NH₄)₄{M [Fe(C₆H₅O₇)₂]₂}, where M=Zn or Mg.      

Phenylcopper(I) clusters in the gas phase obtained by laser desorption/ionization from bis(dibenzoylmethane)copper(II)

It has been demonstrated that phenylcopper(I)-containing clusters are generated in the gas phase from bis(dibenzoylmethane) copper(II) (Cu(dbm)₂) by laser desorption/ ionization (LDI) method. For example, the [Cu₅dbm₂(C₆H₅)₂]⁺ ion can be considered as consisting of two Cudbm molecules, two CuC₆H₅ molecules and a Cu⁺ cation. The [Cu₅(C₆H₅)₄]⁺ ion can be considered as phenylcopper(I) cluster (consisting of four phenylcopper molecules) ionized by additional Cu⁺ cation. Results from MS/MS (tandem mass spectrometry) experiments have confirmed the presence of phenylcopper molecules in the analyzed clusters. Ease of preparation of dibenzoylmethane-metal complexes and straightforward method to obtain LDI mass spectra offer a wide range of possibilities to study similar organometallic clusters in the gas phase.      

Preparation and conductivities of polyacrylic acid/polyvinylimidazole grafted and ungrafted iron oxide nanocomposite polymer electrolytes

Nanocomposites of Polyacrylic acid/polyvinylimidazole (PAA/PVI) with grafted and ungrafted iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by a Reflux method. The Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with 10 nm average diameter were synthesized by controlled co-precipitation and silanization of Si-PVI on Fe₃O₄ was used to obtain the grafted ones. Grafting becomes important at composites of less PVI that cause drastic decreases in AC conductivity. The content of PVI has important effects on the conductivity mechanism of these composites. The effect of grafting and Polyacrylic acid/polyvinylimidazole molar ratio on the conduction mechanism were studied. The conduction mechanism of iron oxide nanocomposites can be adjusted by changing molar ratio of Polyacrylic acid/polyvinylimidazole and grafting of Fe₃O₄ NPs.      

Synthesis and characterization of glycol-modified vanadium(V) oxoisopropoxide and their oximato derivatives: sol–gel transformations of [VO(OPr i )3], [VO{OCH2CH2OCH2CH2O}{OPr i }] and [VO{OCH2CH2OCH2CH2O}{ON=C(CH3)(C4H3S-2)}] to vanadia

Reaction of [VO(OPr ⁱ )₃] (1) with [O(CH₂CH₂OH)₂] in 1:1 molar ratio in anhydrous benzene yield glycol-modified precursor, [VO{OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂O}{OPr ⁱ }] (2). Further reactions of (2) with internally functionalized oximes in anhydrous benzene yield heteroleptic complexes of the type [VO{OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂O}{ON=C(R)(Ar)}] (3–8) {where R=CH₃, Ar=C₄H₃O-2 (3), C₄H₃S-2 (4), C₅H₄N-2 (5); and when R=H, Ar=C₄H₃O-2 (6), C₄H₃S-2 (7), C₅H₄N-2 (8)}. All these derivatives have been characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements and spectroscopic techniques. The crysoscopic molecular weight measurement as well as FAB mass study suggests dimeric nature of (2). However, FAB mass spectrum of (4), and the crysoscopic molecular weight measurements of (3), (4), (5) and (6) indicate the monomeric behavior of the oximato derivatives (3–8). Hexa-coordination around vanadium(V) has been proposed for both monomeric and dimeric derivatives. Sol–gel transformations of (1), (2) or (4) to vanadia [(a), (b) or (c), respectively] have been carried out at low sintering temperature (600 °C). The XRD patterns of (a), (b) or (c) indicate formation of a single orthorhombic phase in all the three cases. The SEM images suggest grain like [for (a) and (b)] and rod like [for (c)] morphology of the crystallites. IR, Raman spectra as well as EDX analyses indicate formation of pure vanadia. Absorption spectra of the vanadia (b) and (c) suggest energy band gaps of 2.53 and 2.65 eV, respectively.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on the photodegradation of 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate in the presence of reactive oxygen and chlorine species

2-Ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is one of the most commonly used sunscreen ingredient. In this study we investigated photodegradation of EHMC in the presence of such common oxidizing and chlorinating systems as H₂O₂, H₂O₂/HCl, H₂O₂/UV, and H₂O₂/HCl/UV. Reaction products were detected by gas chromatography with a mass spectrometric detector (GC-MS). As a result of experimental studies chloro-substituted 4-methoxycinnamic acid (4-MCA), 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (4-MBA) and 4-methoxyphenol (4-MP) were identified. Experimental studies were enriched with DFT and MP2 calculations. We found that reactions of 4-MCA, 4-MBA and 4-MP with Cl₂ and HOCl were in all cases thermodynamically favorable. However, reactivity indices provide a better explanation of the formation of particular chloroorganic compounds. Generally, those isomeric forms of mono- and dichlorinated compounds which exhibits the highest hardness were identified. Nucleophilicity of the chloroorganic compounds precursors were examined by means of the Fukui function.      

Hydrogen bonding-based 3D supramolecular architecture of [Cu(CHA)2][TCM]·11H2O

Reaction of Na₄TCM (1) (H₄TCM = tetra[4-(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]methane) with [Cu(CHA)](ClO₄)₂ (2)(CHA = 1,3,6,8,11,14-hexaaz atricyclo[12.2.1.1.^8,11] octadecane) in a DMF-water mixture yields [Cu(CHA)]₂[TCM] (3). Structural analysis of [Cu(CHA)]₂[TCM]·11H₂O (3·11H₂O) by single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals strong copper-oxygen bonds between two complex cations and the tetraanion leading to a 3D coordination network (zwitterionic structure), consolidated through additional NH...O=C hydrogen bonding within the cation/anion association. The resulting coordination geometry around a copper atom is a distorted square pyramidal with an oxygen atom of the anionic ligand in the apical position. A 3D supramolecular network is developed in the crystal based only on NH...OC hydrogen bonds between the macrocyclic metallic tecton and the carboxylate groups of neighboring 3D coordinated (zwitterionic) moieties. The pseudotetrahedral TCM^4? tetraanionic ligand induces a diamondoid architecture formed of large distorted adamantanoid cages.      

A novel triply bridged dinuclear four-coordinate copper(I) complex with sterically bulky bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane ligand

A novel triply bridged dinuclear copper(I) complex: Cu₂(μ-paa)(μ-dcpm)₂(BF₄)₂·2CH₂Cl₂ [ paa = pyridine-2-carbaldehyde azine (C₁₂H₁₀N₄) and dcpm = bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane(C₂₅H₄₆P₂) ] has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Crystallographic studies of the complex showed that two copper(I) ions were bridged by one paa ligand and two dcpm ligands. The paa ligand adopted the Z configuration at the partially double N-N bond and the two copper ions have distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. Because of the steric effect of dcpm, the pyridine rings of the paa ligand are obviously not on the same plane (the dihedral angle is 43.61⁰). The interaction between neighboring ligands results in a N-N bond length (1.374(7) Å) contraction. The UV-vis spectra of the complex exhibited intense high-energy absorptions at λ_max < 340 nm and broad visible bands in a range of 380?550 nm, ascribed to intraligand (IL π-π*) transitions and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions, respectively. Interestingly, the absorbtion peaks varied regularly with the solvent polarity. Although the complex has a rigid structure with the copper ions held firmly by triply bridged ligands, the emission and excitation spectra revealed that the complex exhibits weak fluorescence.

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Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of Co3O4/LiNbO3 composite

The Co₃O₄/LiNbO₃ composites were synthesized by impregnation of LiNbO₃ in an aqueous solution of cobalt nitrate and next by calcination at 400°C. The activity of produced samples has been investigated in the reaction of photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The crystallographic phases, optical and vibronic properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance (DR) UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopic techniques, respectively. The influence of cobalt content (range from 0.5 wt.% to 4 wt.%) on the photocatalytic activity of Co₃O₄/LiNbO₃ composites for photocatalytic hydrogen generation has been investigated. Co₃O₄/LiNbO₃ composites exhibited higher than LiNbO₃ photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation. The highest H₂ evolution efficiency was observed for Co₃O₄/LiNbO₃ composite with 3 wt.% cobalt content. The amount of H₂ obtained in the presence of LiNbO₃ and Co₃O₄/LiNbO₃ (3 wt.% of cobalt content) was 1.38 µmol/min and 2.59 µmol min^?1, respectively.      

Crystal structures and spectral properties of new Cd(II) and Hg(II) complexes of monensic acid with different coordination modes of the ligand

The single crystal X-ray structures and the spectroscopic properties of complexes of monensic acid (C₃₆H₆₂O₁₁·H₂O) with toxic metal ions of Cd(II) and Hg(II) are discussed. The cadmium(II) complex (1) is of composition [Cd(C₃₆H₆₁O₁₁)₂(H₂O)₂] and crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group P2(1), Z = 2) with a = 12.4090(8), b = 24.7688(16), c = 14.4358(11) Å, β = 91.979(7)°. Two ligand monoanions are bound in a bidentate coordination mode to Cd(II) via the carboxylate and the primary hydroxyl oxygens occupying the equatorial plane of the complex. The axial positions of the inner coordination sphere of Cd(II) are filled by two water molecules additionally engaged in intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The Hg(II) complex (2), [Hg(C₃₆H₆₀O₁₁)(H₂O)], crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), Z = 4) with a = 12.7316(2), b = 16.4379(3), c = 18.7184(4) Å. The monensic acid reacts with Hg(II) in a tetradentate coordination manner via both oxygen atoms of the carboxylate function and oxygens of two hydroxyl groups. The twofold negative charge of the ligand is achieved by deprotonation of carboxylic and secondary hydroxyl groups located at the opposite ends of the molecule. Hg(II) is surrounded by five oxygen atoms in a distorted square pyramidal molecular geometry.

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Temperature effect over structure and photochemical properties of nanostructured SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> powders

We successfully synthesized tin dioxide nanoparticles with polyhedral morphology via an ethylene glycol assisted sol-gel approach. The structural characteristics of three tin dioxide samples were investigated after being thermally treated at 400°C, 600°C and 800°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns clearly show the formation of single phase tin dioxide nanoparticles, with crystallite size of 6–20 nm, in good correlation with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirms the formation of 6nm polyhedral nanoparticles for the 400°C sample. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra suggest a high concentration of oxygen vacancies. The oxygen vacancy concentration increases with temperature, due to the combined action of the formation of V_O and the energetic O compensation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis also confirms the formation of single phase tin dioxide and the presence of oxygen vacancies in good agreement with UV-VIS and PL data.

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Synthesis and characterization of new copper(II) complex compounds with chlorhexidine. Part I

Three new copper(II) complex compounds with chlorhexidine diacetate as a ligand have been prepared and characterized by elemental and thermogravimetrical analyses, molar conductances, magnetic susceptibility measurements, infrared, electronic and EPR spectra. The complexes correspond to the formulas: [Cu₂(CHX)Cl₄]·2C₂H₅OH, [Cu₂(CHX)Br₄]·2C₂H₅OH and [Cu₂(CHX)(CH₃COO)₂] (CH₃COO)₂·2C₂H₅OH, where CHX = chlorhexidine, their composition and stereochemistry depending on the reaction conditions and the metal salt used. Chlorhexidine acts as neutral tetradentate NNNN donor, coordinating through the four imine nitrogen atoms. Investigations on antimicrobial activity in vitro show that all the complexes are active against the tested microorganisms, the complex with chloride being more active against Gram negative bacteria than chlorhexidine diacetate..      

Surfactant-assisted polyol preparation of nickel powders with different morphologies

Sub-micrometer nickel powders of controlled size and morphology were produced by a surfactant-assisted polyol method, using ethylene glycol (EG) as solvent and reductant in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant and NaOH. The resultant Ni powders were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, and FTIR. Spherical, hexagonal, and triangular fcc Ni powders from 0.30 to 0.60 μm were obtained in the presence of SDS; irregular spherical fcc Ni powders were obtained in its absence. The concentrations of SDS, NaOH and Ni(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O greatly influence the product morphology and size.      

Temperature-induced phase transition; Polymorphism in BP2 SAMs on Au(111)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ω-(4′-methylbiphenyl-4-yl)ethanethiol (CH₃(C₆H₄)₂(CH₂)₂SH, BP2) prepared at different temperatures on Au(111) substrates were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Also, the effect of the incubation time of the gold substrate in the thiol solution was examined. The STM results showed that samples prepared at room temperature were significantly different from those prepared at elevated temperatures in their surface morphology, space group and size of unit cell. The micrographs of samples prepared at higher temperatures revealed a pronounced and progressive increase in the size of the well-known etch-pits at the expense of their density with increasing preparation temperature (but the increase did not continue for SAMs prepared at 348 K). The average domain size was found to increase significantly with increasing preparation temperature. In addition, polymorphism was observed in BP2 SAMs at all investigated temperatures. This study has demonstrated that solution temperature and incubation time are key factors controlling the two-dimensional SAM structure of BP2 molecules.      

Synthesis and spectral characterization of stannocanes of the type [O(CH2CH2S)2SnR2](R=Me1,Bun2,Ph3)

The stannocanes of the type [O(CH₂CH₂S)₂SnR₂](R=Me1,Buⁿ 2,Ph3) have been synthesized in an improved method by the reaction of R₂SnCl₂ with 2, 2′-oxydiethanethiol O(CH₂CH₂SH)₂ in molar ratio of 1:1 at the presence of sodium ethoxide in anhydrous ethanol. The reactions are carried out under inert atmosphere. These compounds have been extensively characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, multi-nuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. The obtained data clearly indicates that, there is a strong interaction between oxygen atom of the ligand as a donor and Sn atom of the organotin species as a Lewis acid acceptor. Therefore, the resulted dithiostannocanes possess a transannular secondary bonding and hypervalency at the central Sn atom which leads to an increase in the coordination number of tin from four to five-coordinated tin.      

Numerical study of the laminar flame propagation in ethane-air mixtures

The structure of premixed free one-dimensional laminar ethane-air flames was investigated by means of numerical simulations performed with a detailed mechanism (GRI-Mech version 3.0) by means of COSILAB package. The work provides data on ethane-air mixtures with a wide range of concentrations ([C₂H₆] = 3.0–9.5 vol.%) at initial temperatures between 300 and 550 K and initial pressures between 1 and 10 bar. The simulations deliver the laminar burning velocities and the profiles of temperature, chemical species concentrations and heat release rate across the flame front. The predicted burning velocities match well the burning velocities measured in various conditions, reported in literature. The influence of initial concentration, pressure and temperature of ethane-air mixtures on maximum flame temperature, heat release rate, flame thickness and peak concentrations of main reaction intermediates is examined and discussed.      

Effect of size of tetraalkylammonium counterions on the temperature dependent micellization of AOT in aqueous medium

Different tetraalkylammonium, viz. N⁺(CH₃)₄, N⁺(C₂H₅)₄, N⁺(C₃H₇)₄, N⁺(C₄H₉)₄ along with simple ammonium salts of bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinic acid have been prepared by ion-exchange technique. The critical micelle concentration of surfactants with varied counterions have been determined by measuring surface tension and conductivity within the temperature range 283–313 K. Counterion ionization constant, α, and thermodynamic parameters for micellization process viz., $\Delta G_m^{\text{0}} $ , $\Delta H_m^{\text{0}} $ , and $\Delta S_m^{\text{0}} $ and also the surface parameters, Γ_max and A_min, in aqueous solution have been determined. Large negative $\Delta G_m^{\text{0}} $ of micellization for all the above counterions supports the spontaneity of micellization. The value of standard free energy, $\Delta G_m^{\text{0}} $ , for different counterions followed the order $${\text{N}}^{\text{ + }} \left( {{\text{CH}}_{\text{3}} } \right)_4 >{\text{NH}}_{\text{4}}^{\text{ + }} >{\text{Na}}^{\text{ + }} >{\text{N}}^{\text{ + }} \left( {{\text{C}}_{\text{2}} {\text{H}}_5 } \right)_{\text{4}} {\text{ $>$ N}}^{\text{ + }} \left( {{\text{C}}_{\text{3}} {\text{H}}_{\text{7}} } \right)_4 >{\text{N}}^{\text{ + }} \left( {{\text{C}}_{\text{4}} {\text{H}}_{\text{9}} } \right)_4 $$ , at a given temperature. This result can be well explained in terms of bulkiness and nature of hydration of the counterion together with hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.