Biosynthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoparticles Prepared Using Aqueous Extract of Cauliflower

This work reports the biosynthesis of Sn(OH)₂ using aqueous extract of fresh cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis), and the subsequent preparation of SnO₂ nanoparticles at two different annealing temperatures of 300 and 450 °C for 2 h. The obtained SnO₂ nanoparticles were denoted as S1 and S2 for the samples prepared at 300 and 450 °C, respectively. XRD analysis identified rutile tetragonal phase of SnO₂ nanoparticles and TEM results gave a quasispherical and spherical morphologies for S1 and S2 respectively of the size range 3.62–6.34 nm. The optical properties were studied with UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, and the nanoparticles showed blue shift in their absorption edges. The observed emission peak in the PL spectra found around 419 nm is attributable to oxygen vacancies and defects. Photocatalytic activities of the nanoparticles (S1 and S2) were studied using methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet light irradiation and the results reveal 91.89 and 88.23% degradation efficiency of MB by S1 and S2 respectively over a period of 180 min.     

Mechanochemical synthesis of colloidal silver bromide particles in the NaBr–AgNO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–NaNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

X-ray diffraction and thermal analyses, electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering have been employed to study silver bromide nanoparticles obtained by the mechanochemical exchange reaction NaBr + AgNO₃ + zNaNO₃ = (z + 1)NaNO₃ + AgBr in sodium nitrate matrix (diluent and side reaction product) at z = z₁ = 8.06 and z = z₂ = 4.31. AgBr nanoparticles have been obtained in the free form by dissolving the matrix in water, and their activity in the photodegradation of methylene blue dye has been studied.     

Enzymeless determination of cholesterol using gold and silver nanoparticles as electrocatalysts

We present the results of synthesis and study of the electrocatalytic activity of gold and silver nanoparticles of different composition (individual metals, core–shell particles, nanoalloys, and particles synthesized electrochemically), immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode, with respect to cholesterol. A surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) is selected to create an aqueous–organic emulsion of cholesterol. It is demonstrated that nanoparticles with a gold core and a silver shell with the regression equation of I = 1.4 × 10^–5 c _chol + 5.8 × 10^–5 (R ² = 0.97) and silver nanoparticles synthesized electrochemically with the regression equation of I = 1.0 × 10^–5 c _chol + 3.0 × 10^–4 (R ² = 0.95) possess optimal electrocatalytic characteristics.     

Synthesis of (Ni<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Co<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>P (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 0.65) substitution solid solution

The phosphides (Ni_{1 ? x} Co _x )₂P (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.65) crystallizing in the hexagonal system, space group P \(\bar 6\)2m, were synthesized in two steps starting from the continuous solid solution (Ni_{1 ? x} Co _x )₃(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O. The initial phosphates were first completely dehydrated at 800°C and then reduced with hydrogen at 900–1000°C for 1–2 h.     

Analysis of the local atomic structure of quantum dots of the CdS family

The microwave synthesis of quantum dots based on CdS has been performed, the temperature (T 180°C and 150°C) and synthesis duration (10 min and 5 min) have been varied. The analysis of the peak broadening in X-ray diffraction has shown that the average particle size in the synthesized samples is 10.02 nm for the CdS _{T = 180°C} sample and 5.22 nm for the CdS _{T = 150°C} sample. For both synthesis temperatures particles of sphalerite phase are formed but the sample CdS _{T = 180°C} contained some impurity of wurtzite phase too. CdK-XANES spectra in the standard samples and quantum dots have been recorded using a Rigaku R-XAS X-ray absorption laboratory spectrometer. The theoretical analysis of the CdK-XANES spectra of bulk samples of CdS and CdS nanoparticles has been performed. It has been shown that the theoretical difference spectra between bulk CdS and CdS with decreased lattice parameters demonstrate the same tendency as the experimental difference spectra between bulk CdS and the quantum dot samples under study. It has been shown that the theoretical CdK-edge HERFD-XANES spectrum in CdS demonstrates considerably more detailed structure pointed to the need of the analysis of experimental CdK-edge HERFDXANES spectra to pick out more precise information on local atomic structure parameters of small semiconducting quantum dots.     

Methylene blue removal from aqueous solution by magnetic clinoptilolite/chitosan/EDTA nanocomposite

In this study, clinoptilolite as a natural zeolite which was magnetized using precipitation of maghemite nanoparticles was coated by chitosan and then modified by thylenediamine tetra-acetic acid to add functional groups and its performance in the removal of toxic methylene blue from aqueous solution was investigated. Synthesized magnetic nanocomposite was characterized by VSM, XRD, SEM, and FTIR analyses. The saturation magnetization of the final nanocomposite was obtained as 22.2 emu/g. In addition, the factors affecting adsorption process and its optimization were investigated using response surface methodology and central composite design. Data obtained by different isotherm, adsorption kinetic and thermodynamic models were also studied. The results showed good agreement of these data with the Freundlich isotherm model (R ² = 0.99), and it was found that adsorption follows the second-order kinetics model (R ² = 1). Negative values of ΔG and positive values of ΔH obtained from this adsorption thermodynamic study revealed that the methylene blue adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous. The optimum conditions to ensure maximum adsorption efficiency were determined, and included pH = 5.54, adsorbent amount of 0.03 g, temperature of 31.18 °C, and initial solution concentration of 16.21 mg/l which resulted in a removal efficiency of 99.44%. The results indicated that this nanocomposite can be used as a proper adsorbent for adsorbing methylene blue and other dye contaminants.     

Synthesis and structure of novel Mn(II) complex with in situ synthesized ligand

Based on in situ synthesized Schiff base ligand Dppd (Dppd = N-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-p-phenylenediamine), a novel dinuclear Mn(II) complex, [Mn₂(Dppd)₄(OAc)₂](ClO₄)₂(CH₂Cl₂)₂ · 2(H₂O) (I), was synthesized and characterized by IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystals belong to monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 26.3868(2), b = 20.0379(4), c = 19.16260(10)Å, β = 126.6900(10)°, V = 8124.61(18) ų, Z = 4. The complex exhibits a dinuclear structure in which two symmetric Mn(II) atoms adopt somewhat distorted octahedral geometry. The 2D structure is further constructed through intermolecular benzene-benzene offset π···π interactions.     

Flavonoid dihydromyricetin-mediated silver nanoparticles as potential nanomedicine for biomedical treatment of infections caused by opportunistic fungal pathogens

Dihydromyricetin-mediated silver nanoparticles (DMY-AgNPs) were synthesized and their efficacy against fungal pathogens tested in vitro. The shape of DMY-AgNPs appeared to be spherical with size of ~34 nm. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis indicated that –OH and C=O groups were involved in nanoparticle formation. The XRD pattern of DMY-AgNPs showed strong peaks at 38°, 44°, and 64°, corresponding to reflection from (111), (200), and (220) planes. Five opportunistic fungal pathogens, namely Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Paecilomyces formosus, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis, were isolated from patients suffering from respiratory tract infections. Growth of each fungal strain was inhibited by DMY-AgNPs. The zone of inhibition of DMY-AgNPs against A. fumigatus, A. niger, P. formosus, C. albicans, and C. parapsilosis was 17.6, 19.2, 22.2, 15.8, and 18.5 mm. The minimal inhibitory concentration was found to be 0.83, 0.73, 0.67, 0.95, and 0.89 µg mL^?1, respectively. This is the first report on DMY-AgNPs as an effective antifungal agent. DMY-AgNPs are a potential alternative to commercially available antifungal fungicidals.     

Rietveld refinement of sol–gel Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>6</Subscript>O<Subscript>13</Subscript> and its photocatalytic performance on the degradation of methylene blue

We have refined single crystals of Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ through the X-ray Rietveld method. The synthesis of the Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ was carried out by sol–gel method at 70 °C, and the obtained gel was heat treated at different temperatures. Through different analytical techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermal Analysis (DTA/TGA), it was determined that Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ can be prepared at low temperature (750 °C) by sol–gel method. The product crystallizes in rectangular shape micro-fibers, free of impurities. Rietveld refinement was performed using X-ray diffraction technique taking as basis a monoclinic cell with space group C2/m. The following refined parameters were obtained: a = 15.095(7) Å, b = 3.745(3) Å, c = 9.174(1) Å, β = 99.01. Additionally, Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ was tested as photocatalysts on the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light. The degradation reaction follows a first order reaction model with kinetic parameters k = 0.0089 min^?1, and t _1/2 = 78 min.     

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Commiphora caudata</Emphasis> Leaves Extract and the Study of Bactericidal Efficiency

The present study reports the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) from silver nitrate solution using leaf extracts of Commiphora caudata. The formation of Ag NPs in the colloidal solution is confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis. The identification of biomolecules is analyzed through fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction pattern shows that an average particle size of the synthesized nanoparticles are in the range of 40–24 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirm the formation Ag NPs in spherical shape. The photoluminescence study of the synthesized Ag NPs interprets the influence of C caudata leaf concentrations on emission behavior. Zeta potential measurement is carried out to determine the stability of synthesized Ag NPs. GC–MS analysis revealed that the C. caudata contained 11 compounds, such as Stigmasterol (24.14 %), Hexacosanoic acid, methyl ester (15.13 %) and 2-bromophenyl morpholine-4-carboxylate (11.71 %). The antibacterial activity of Ag NPs shows that these bio capped Ag NPs have higher inhibitory action for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pheumoniea, Micrococcus flavus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus aureus.     

Thermal Rearrangements of 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>- and 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-Pyrazoles Prepared by Reactions of 9-Diazofluoren with Methyl Tetrolate and Methyl 3-Phenylpropiolate

9-Diazofluoren adds in Et₂O at 20°C to methyltetrolate in keeping with Auwers rule and nonregioselectively adds to methyl-3-phenylpropiolate with the formation of spirocyclic 3H-pyrazoles. The methyltetrolate adduct at boiling in toluene converts into methyl 3a-methyl-3aH-dibenzo[e,g]indazole-3-carboxylate, at 190°C in benzene, into methyl 3-methyl-2H-dibenzo[e,g]indazole-2-carboxylate, and at 160°C in methanol, into 3-methyl-2H-dibenzo[e,g]indazole. Auwers adduct of methyl 3-phenylpropiolate at boiling in benzene gives cyclopropene derivative and at boiling in methanol isomerizes into methyl 3a-phenyl-3aHdibenzo[e,g]indazole-3-carboxylate. Anti-Auwers adduct at boiling in benzene isomerizes into methyl 2-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-f]phenanthridine-3-carboxylate.     

Thermal deformation thermodynamics of a smectite mineral

A method has been purposed to calculate some of the thermodynamic quantities for the thermal deformation of a smectite without using any basic thermodynamic data. The Hanç?l? (Keskin, Ankara, Turkey) bentonite containing a smectite of 88% by volume was taken as material. Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) curves of the sample were obtained. Bentonite samples were heated at various temperatures between 25–900°C for the sufficient time (2 h) until to establish the thermal deformation equilibrium.Cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of heated samples was determined by using the methylene blue standard method. The CEC was used as a variable of the equilibrium. An arbitrary equilibrium constant (K _a) was defined similar to chemical equilibrium constant and calculated for each temperature by using the corresponding CEC-value. The arbitrary changes in Gibbs energy (ΔG _a ⁰ ) were calculated from K _a-values. The real change in enthalpy (ΔH ⁰) and entropy (ΔS ⁰) was calculated from the slopes of the lnK vs. 1/T and ΔG vs. T plots, respectively. The real changes in Gibbs energy (ΔG ⁰) and real equilibrium constant (K) were calculated by using the ΔH ⁰ and ΔS ⁰ values. The results at the two different temperature intervals are summarized as below: ΔG ₁ ⁰ =ΔH ₁ ⁰ ?ΔS ₁ ⁰ T=?RTlnK ₁=47000?53t, (200–450°C), and ΔG ₂ ⁰ =ΔH ₂ ⁰ -ΔS ₂ ⁰ T=?RTlnK ₂=132000?164T, (500–800°C).     

Synthesis and crystal structures of tetraacetylethylenediamine and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-ammoniumethyl)carbamate

Two ethylenediamine derivatives—N-(2-ammoniumethyl)carbamate HN(COO^?)CH₂CH₂N⁺H₃ (I) and tetraacetylethylenediamine (H₃CC(O))₂NCH₂CH₂N(C(O)CH₃)₂ (II) (synthesized for the first time)—have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compounds I and II are isolated as minor admixtures upon an attempt to synthesize ethylenediamine complexes of lanthanum and neodymium nitrates, respectively. The crystals of I and II are monoclinic: a = 7.778 Å, b = 8.060 Å, c = 7.568 Å, β = 95.73°, Z = 4, space group P2₁/c (I); a = 5.946, b = 10.255, c = 9.343 Å, β = 95.72°, Z = 2, space group P2₁/c (II). The bond lengths and bond angles lie within the corresponding standard values. Compounds I and II have different conformations of the N-C-C-N ethylenediamine moiety: gauche in I and trans in II, and the corresponding torsion angles are equal to 66.6° and 180°, respectively.     

Structure and thermal decomposition of Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>HPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · 2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The thermal transformations of disubstituted cesium orthophosphate crystal hydrate under heating in air up to 400°C have been studied. The dehydration process occurs in two stages with the loss of 0.6 water molecules at 60?100°C and 1.4 water molecules at 100?160°C. Anhydrous Cs₂HPO₄ is stable up to 300°C and is completely converted into cesium pyrophosphate Cs₄P₂O₇ at 330°C. The structure of Cs₂HPO₄ · 2H₂O has been determined. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/c and has the unit cell parameters a = 7.4761(5) Å, b = 14.2125(8) Å, c = 7.9603(6) Å, β = 116.914(5)°, V = 754.20(9) ų, and Z = 4 at?123°C. An earlier unknown polymorph of Cs₄P₂O₇ has been found. According to X-ray powder diffraction data, hexagonal space group Р6₃ has been proposed for the formed pyrophosphate.     

The thermochemical characteristics of solution of DL-α-alanylglycine and DL-α-alanylalanine in water-alcohol mixtures at 298.15 K

The integral enthalpies of solution of DL-α-alanylglycine and DL-α-alanylalanine in water-ethanol, water-n-propanol, and water-isopropanol mixtures were measured calorimetrically at alcohol concentrations x ₂ = 0?0.4 mole fractions. The standard enthalpies of solution (Δ_sol H°) of the peptides and their transfer (Δ_tr H°) from water into the mixed solvents were calculated. The influence of the structure and properties of the solutes and mixture composition on the enthalpy characteristics were considered. The Δ_sol H° = f(x ₂) and Δ_tr H° = f(x ₂) dependences were found to have extrema. The enthalpy coefficients of pair interactions (h _xy ) between the peptide and alcohol molecules were calculated. The coefficients were positive and increased in the series ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol.     

A simple economic and heat transfer analysis of the nanoparticles use

In this paper, a review of the impact of most common nanoparticles on the Leidenfrost temperature T _Leid in heat transfer applications is delivered. Moreover, a simple economic analysis of the nanoparticles use is proposed. When coolant is distilled water, T _Leid can range 150–220 °C; occasionally, it can even amount to over 400 °C. When the base liquid is modified by additives, considerable changes in the character of heat transfer are observed. Out of five nanofluids under consideration in this study, the best thermal effect (up to 50%) is obtained when Al₂O₃ nanofluid having particle sizes ~39 nm and volume concentration of 0.1% is used. Conversely, the fluid containing TiO₂ particles, 20–70 nm in size, seems to be the worst of the analysed fluid, giving only 7% heat transfer enhancement in comparison with water. However, when TiO₂ nanoparticles are far smaller, very good thermal effects are obtained (23–25%). In a majority of the cases analysed, the temperature that marks the onset of film boiling is inversely proportional to concentrations of nanoparticles, which is relevant from the economic standpoint.     

EPR of new phosphorus-containing centers in synthetic diamonds

The effect is studied of electron and X-ray irradiation on phosphorous centers in synthetic diamonds grown in the P-C medium by the Bars technology. After exposure to X-ray irradiation, a new paramagnetic phosphorus-containing center NP6, in addition to the phosphorous centers NP4 and NP5, is observed in diamonds annealed at a temperature of 2300°C and pressure of 7.5 GPa. The spectrum of NP6 is simulated to give the following parameters: A ₁ = 29.42 G, A ₂ = 23.28 G, A ₃ = 75.85 G, g ₁ = 2.00085, g ₂ = 2.00083, and g ₃ = 2.00083. The NP4-NP6 centers are assumed to be genetically related to the three nitrogenphosphorous centers NP1-NP3 and be formed as a result of the transformation of the tetrahedral environment around the phosphorous atom into an octahedral environment at an annealing temperature of 2300°C. The synthetic diamonds annealed at 2300°C were successively exposed to irradiation with electrons with energies of 3.5 MeV (5×10¹⁷ e/cm²) and annealing at temperatures of 500°C and 700°C. The EPR method is used to find that annealing of the electron-irradiated crystals at 700°C leads to the formation of a new paramagnetic center with spin S = 1 and hyperfine structure (HFS) from one phosphorus atom with the parameters: g = 2.0012, D = 19.7 G, and A(P) = 3.6 G. The center is likely to have an eightvacancy chain structure with a phosphorus atom located at the center.     

π-Complexes of Cu(I) with Alkynes. Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Cs[CuCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>(HOCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>C≡CCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>OH)] ⋅ H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Crystals of anionic π-complex Cs[CuCl₂(HOCH₂C≡CCH₂OH)] ? H₂O were synthesized by reaction of 2-butyne-1,4-diol with CuCl in a saturated aqueous solution of CsCl at 90°C and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are triclinic (space group \(P\bar 1\) ; a = 10.155(4) Å, b = 7.828(4) Å, c = 7.115(3) Å, α = 102.62(4)°, β = 100.77(3)°, γ = 106.71(4)°, V = 509(1) ų, Z = 2) and consist of stacks of individual anions [CuCl₂(HOCH₂C≡CCH₂OH)]^? and hydrated [Cs ? H₂O]⁺ cations between the stacks. The Cu(I) atom has trigonal surrounding of two Cl atoms and the C≡C bond of 2-butyne-1,4-diol molecule. The Cu-(C≡C) distance in the π-core is 1.905(8) Å; the C≡C bond is elongated to 1.223(11) Å. In addition to hydrogen bonds O-H?Cl, crystals of the complex also contain O(w)?H-O and O(w)?Cl bonds stabilizing their structure.     

Three alkaline earth metal-organic frameworks based on fluorene-containing carboxylates: syntheses,structures and properties

Three metal-organic frameworks,{[Mg_2(MFDA)_2(DMF)_3]·0.5H_2O}_n(1),{[Ca(MFDA)(DMF)(H_2O)]·0.5DMF}_n(2)and[Ca(MFDA)(DMF)_2]_n(3)(DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide)have been synthesized by the solvothermal reactions between the ligand 9,9-dimethylfluorene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid(H_2MFDA)and the corresponding metal salts,respectively.The single crystal X-ray structural analyses reveal that compounds 1-3 display three-dimensional structures based on the M(Ⅱ)-O-C chains.It is interesting that the MFDA ligands in 1-3 have different dihedral angles between the two carboxylate groups ranging from 9.9(1)°to 41.8(2)°.All of compounds exhibit strong ligand-centered blue emissions under UV lights.Their thermal properties have also been studied.     

Synthesis and heat capacity of NdVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> in the temperature range of 384–859 K

Heat capacity of NdVO₄ was determined in the temperature range of 384–859 K using differential scanning calorimetry. The thermodynamic functions (H°(T)–H°(384 K), S°(T)–S°(384 K), and Φ°) of neodymium orthovanadate were calculated using the experimental C_p = f(T) values. The structure of NdVO₄ was studied at 298 and 973 K.