Low-dimensional quantum magnetic systems: Synthesis,structure and magnetic behavior of (2,5-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride and synthesis and magnetic behavior of bis(2,6-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride

The synthesis, X-ray structure and magnetic susceptibility of (2,5-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride (1), and the synthesis and magnetic susceptibility of (2,6-dimethylpyrazine)₂copper(II) chloride (2), are reported. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c as a coordination polymer of Cu(II) ions bridged by 2,5-methylpyrazine. The resulting chains are magnetically linked via short chloride–chloride contacts. The magnetic susceptibility responds as a uniform Heisenberg chain (2J/k = −20(5) K) with a phase transition to three dimensional order near 5 K. Susceptibility data for compound 2 show that the compound is a linear chain coordination polymer with the copper ions linked by bihalide bridges. A fit to the model for a uniform Heisenberg chain yields 2J = −22.7(2) K.     

Suppression of dendritic lithium formation by using concentrated electrolyte solutions

This study examined the electrochemical deposition and dissolution of lithium on nickel electrodes in a propylene carbonate (PC) electrolyte containing different LiN(SO₂C₂F₅)₂ concentrations. The electrolyte concentration was found to have a significant effect on the reactions occurring at the electrode. The poor cycleability of the electrodes in the low-concentration solutions was improved considerably by increasing the electrolyte concentration. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that a high-concentration solution produces a thinner solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the electrodeposited lithium than a low-concentration solution, e.g., ∼35 nm in 1.28 mol kg⁻¹ vs. ∼20 nm in 3.27 mol kg⁻¹ solutions. Raman spectroscopy showed that the solvation number of lithium ions differed according to the electrolyte concentration. This suggests that the structure of solvated lithium ions is an important factor in suppressing dendritic lithium formation.     

Simulation study of semi-crystalline polymer interphases

The study of structure and properties of semi-crystalline polymer inter-phases is important to explain and extend polymer applications. In this region, polymer chains exist in three distinct populations: tie chains that bridge the two crystals, chain folds and chain ends. The distribution of these populations influences the properties of the interphase. We have developed off-lattice Monte Carlo simulations of constrained interphases of semi-crystalline polymers which utilize robust off-lattice moves. A united atom model with polyethylene-like interactions and with freely rotating bonds is used to mimic the prototypical flexible chain structure. These simulations capture the limiting distributions of tight and loose chain folds and of tie chains within the metastable phase. The dissipation in order and density between the crystal and amorphous regions has been studied, and results for freely rotating chains indicate that the characteristic decay of anisotropy occurs in a length scale of ca. 10 Å. Simulation results for the effect of system size and molecular weight for freely rotating chains have also been investigated.     

Vector length distributions and polarizabilities of effective polymer chains: a statistical segment approach

The freely orienting model of a polymer chain is generalized by considering the distribution of vector lengths and polarizabilities of the statistical segments in the chain with a constant number of skeletal bonds in each of the segments The bonds in the segments are assumed to exist in their RIS (Rotational Isomeric States) conformations. The segment is characterized, i.e., its end-to-end length and polarizability distributions are computed. Bond polarizabilities, as determined by Denbigh, have been used for polyethylene and poly(cis-isoprene), and are assumed to be independent of the environment. Two methods are used to compute the chain length distribution from the length distribution of statistical segments: (i) an exact method, using a modified version of Chandrasekhar’s approach, originally formulated for chains of segments having constant length; and (ii) an alternative approach, which considers the series expansion of the Helmholtz Free Energy of an isolated chain, making the analysis computationally more viable without significant loss in accuracy. The averages of the chain end-to-end length distributions have been computed at 373 K for poly(cis-isoprene) and at 403 and 413 K for polyethylene. Also, chain polarizability is determined from the distribution of statistical segment lengths and polarizabilities. The results are in a form that can be used to obtain stress-deformation and optical anisotropy-deformation relationships of assemblies of chains, such as crosslinked networks.     

Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotube layers loaded with Ag and Au nanoparticles

Ag and Au nanoparticles were found to significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of self-organized TiO₂ nanotubular structures. The catalyst systems are demonstrated to be highly efficient for the UV-light induced photocatalytic decomposition of a model organic pollutant – Acid Orange 7. The metallic nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼10 ± 2 nm (Ag) and ∼28 ± 3 nm (Au) were attached to a nanotubular TiO₂ layer that consists of individual tubes of ∼100 nm of diameter, ∼2 μm in length and approx. 15 nm of wall thickness. Both metal particle catalyst systems enhance the photocatalytic decomposition significantly more on the nanotubes support than placed on a compact TiO₂ surface.     

Coordination polymers incorporating copper(II) and manganese(II) centers bridged by pyridinedicarboxylate ligands: Structure and magnetism

Two heterobimetallic coordination polymers, [Cu(2,4-pydc)₂Mn(H₂O)₄]_x (1) and [Cu(2,5-pydc)₂Mn(H₂O)₂]_x · 4xH₂O (2), have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds have extended 2-D sheet structures. In 1 the copper centers are linked in chains by double ligand bridges and these chains are cross-linked through the manganese coordination spheres and O–C–O bridges to form polymeric sheets. In 2 separate O–C–O bridged Cu and Mn chains are connected in an alternating array by additional ligand bridging to generate the overall 2-D structure. Analysis of magnetic data of 1 reveals that ferromagnetic exchange between the O–C–O bridged copper and manganese centers dominates the magnetic properties of this system. The magnetic data for 2 fit well to a model incorporating antiferromagnetic exchange in independent S = 1/2 and S = 5/2 linear chains with J(Cu) = −0.073 cm⁻¹ and J(Mn) = −0.32 cm⁻¹. Unlike the situation in 1, there is no evidence for heterometallic exchange. In both 1 and 2 the significant exchange occurs via O–C–O bridges. To study the effect of thermal dehydration on the magnetic properties of these systems, the compounds Cu(2,4-pydc)₂Mn · H₂O (1d) and Cu(2,5-pydc)₂Mn · H₂O (2d) were synthesized and studied.     

Fabrication of the catalytic electrodes for methanol oxidation on electrospinning-derived carbon fibrous mats

The carbon fibrous mats with high conductivity (50 S cm⁻¹) formed by carbon nanofibers with an average diameter of ∼150 nm have been fabricated by thermally treating the electrospun polyacrylonitrile fibers. The platinum clusters are electrodeposited on the carbon nanofibrous mats (CFMs) by multi-cycle CV method. In contrast to the catalytic peak current of methanol oxidation on commercial catalyst (185 mA mg⁻¹ Pt), the catalytic peak current on optimum Pt/CFM electrode reaches to ∼420 mA mg⁻¹ Pt despite of the large size (50–200 nm) of the Pt clusters, revealing that the special structure of carbon fibrous mats is favorable to improve the performance of catalyst.     

Solubility of semi-fluorinated and nonfluorinated alkyl dichlorobenzoates in supercritical CO2

Isopleths and solution densities, from ∼25 to 100 °C, are reported for mixtures of CO₂ with semi-fluorinated and nonfluorinated propyl, butyl, octyl, and decyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoates. The maxima in the pressure–composition (P–x) isotherms for the alkyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoates range from 70 to 600 bar and the maxima increase with increasing alkyl chain length at each temperature. When the alkyl side chains are semi-fluorinated, the P–x maxima range from 60 to 175 bar over the same temperature range as with the nonfluorinated analogs. The P–x maxima of the semi-fluorinated 2,5-dichlorobenzoates in CO₂, first decrease as the benzoate alkyl chain is increased from propyl to butyl, but then increase as the alkyl chain length is further increased from butyl to octyl to decyl, although the differences in the maxima at a given temperature between these four semi-fluorinated benzoates are not as great as that observed with the nonfluorinated analogs. Also, the alkyl 2,5-dichlorobenzoate–CO₂ mixtures exhibit three-phase, liquid–liquid–vapor (LLV), equilibria near the vapor pressure curve and critical point of CO₂ whereas three phases are not observed for the semi-fluorinated analogs.     

A new photoanode architecture of dye sensitized solar cell based on ZnO nanotetrapods with no need for calcination

We introduce a photoanode architecture in dye sensitized solar cell comprising building blocks of ZnO nanotetrapods with a mean arm diameter of 40 nm and arm lengths of 500–800 nm. This photoanode features a decent roughness factor up to 400, good network forming ability and limited electron-hopping interjunctions. Even without calcination, a power conversion efficiency up to 3.27% (under 100 mW cm^?2) has been achieved at a film thickness of 31.2 μm. The avoidance of the calcination step is an outstanding feat for flexible solar cells. We have also employed impedance spectroscopy to interpret the solar cell performance features.     

Structures and magnetic properties of imidazolate-bridged tetranuclear and polymeric copper(II) complexes

Eight kinds of imidazolate-bridged copper(II) complexes were found to be classified into two categories from the magnetic properties. The crystal structures of [Cu(L)(μ-im)]_n (Him = imidazole; L = nonane-4,6-dionate, 2,6-dimethylheptane-3,5-dionate) and [Cu(L)(μ-im)]₄ (L = nonane-4,6-dionate, 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dionate) were determined, to reveal that they consist of polymeric chains and tetranuclear cycles, respectively. Note that the nonane-4,6-dionate derivative gave the two phases. The Bonner–Fisher model (a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chain model) was plausibly applied to [Cu(L)(μ-im)]_n for the best fit, while a square model was to [Cu(L)(μ-im)]₄. The complexes with unknown crystal structures were also subjected to magnetic measurements, and the tetra- and polymeric structures could be clearly distinguished from each other by fitting the magnetic data to appropriate models. The exchange parameters were comparable for both series (2J/k_B = ?78 to ?97 K) because the structurally common bridges Cu–N(eq)–N(eq)–Cu afford comparable magnitudes of couplings.     

Effect of acetone accumulation on structure and dynamics of lipid membranes studied by molecular dynamics simulations

The modulation of the properties and function of cell membranes by small volatile substances is important for many biomedical applications. Despite available experimental results, molecular mechanisms of action of inhalants and organic solvents, such as acetone, on lipid membranes remain not well understood. To gain a better understanding of how acetone interacts with membranes, we have performed a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a POPC bilayer in aqueous solution in the presence of acetone, whose concentration was varied from 2.8 to 11.2 mol%. The MD simulations of passive distribution of acetone between a bulk water phase and a lipid bilayer show that acetone favors partitioning into the water-free region of the bilayer, located near the carbonyl groups of the phospholipids and at the beginning of the hydrocarbon core of the lipid membrane. Using MD umbrella sampling, we found that the permeability barrier of ∼0.5 kcal/mol exists for acetone partitioning into the membrane. In addition, a Gibbs free energy profile of the acetone penetration across a bilayer demonstrates a favorable potential energy well of −3.6 kcal/mol, located at 15–16 Å from the bilayer center. The analysis of the structural and dynamics properties of the model membrane revealed that the POPC bilayer can tolerate the presence of acetone in the concentration range of 2.8–5.6 mol%. The accumulation of the higher acetone concentration of 11.2 mol% results, however, in drastic disordering of phospholipid packing and the increase in the membrane fluidity. The acetone molecules push the lipid heads apart and, hence, act as spacers in the headgroup region. This effect leads to the increase in the average headgroup area per molecule. In addition, the acyl tail region of the membrane also becomes less dense. We suggest, therefore, that the molecular mechanism of acetone action on the phospholipid bilayer has many common features with the effects of short chain alcohols, DMSO, and chloroform.     

Pressure response of the bimetallic chain compound MnNi(NO2)4(en)2; en = ethylenediamine

The compound MnNi(NO₂)₄(en)₂, en = ethylendiamine, is a rare example of a ferromagnetically coupled bimetallic chain (J_∥ chain ∼ 2–3 K). Further, for this material, a finite inter-chain coupling triggers an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition below T_N = 2.3 K. Here, we present a susceptibility study of MnNi(NO₂)₄(en)₂ under pressure. From our data, we derive the pressure response of the antiferromagnetic transition temperature T_N. Even up to highest pressure of 8.2 kbar we find a very modest increase of T_N by only ∼0.1 K. Independently, from a pressure study of the lattice parameters of MnNi(NO₂)₄(en)₂, we calculate the bulk module of the material to ∼8.8 GPa. Combining the data T_N(p) with the bulk module yields an anomalously low Grüneisen parameter Γ_mag of only 0.5(5). We discuss possible scenarios accounting for such a low Grüneisen parameter.     

Vibrational and electronic properties of single-walled and double-walled boron nitride nanotubes

We calculated IR, nonresonance Raman spectra and vertical electronic transitions of the zigzag single-walled and double-walled boron nitride nanotubes ((0,n)-SWBNNTs and (0,n)@(0,2n)-DWBNNTs). In the low frequency range below 600 cm⁻¹, the calculated Raman spectra of the nanotubes showed that RBMs (radial breathing modes) are strongly diameter-dependent, and in addition the RBMs of the DWBNNTs are blue-shifted reference to their corresponding one in the Raman spectra of the isolated (0,n)-SWBNNTs. In the high frequency range above ∼1200 cm⁻¹, two proximate Raman features with symmetries of the A_1g (∼1355 ± 10 cm⁻¹) and E_2g (∼1330 ± 25 cm⁻¹) first increase in frequency then approach a constant value of ∼1365 and ∼1356 cm⁻¹, respectively, with increasing tubes’ diameter, which is in excellent agreement with experimental observations. The calculated IR spectra exhibited IR features in the range of 1200–1550 cm⁻¹ and in mid-frequency region are consistent with experiments. The calculated dipole allowed singlet–singlet and triplet–triplet electronic transitions suggesting a charge transfer process between the outer- and inner-shells of the DWBNNTs as well as, upon irradiation, the possibility of a system that can undergo internal conversion (IC) and intersystem crossing (ISC) processes, besides the photochemical and other photophysical processes.     

High-resolution triple-resonance autoionization of uranium isotopes

The near-threshold autoionization (AI) spectrum of uranium has been investigated by triple-resonance excitation with single-mode continuous lasers. Spectra were recorded over the first ∼30 cm^− 1 above the first ionization limit at a resolution of 3 × 10^− 4 cm^− 1 using intermediate states with different J values (6, 7, 8) to assign AI level total angular momentum J_AI = 5 to 9. Resonances with widths ranging from 8 MHz to 30 GHz were observed; the strongest ones have J_AI = 9 and widths of ∼60 MHz. Hyperfine structures for ²³⁵U and isotope shifts for ^234,235U have been measured in the two intermediate levels and in the final AI level for the most favorable excitation path. These measurements were performed using aqueous samples containing sub-milligram quantities of uranium at natural isotopic abundances, indicating the potential of this approach for trace isotope ratio determinations.     

Studies of dielectric characteristics of BaBi2Nb2O9 ferroelectrics prepared by chemical precursor decomposition method

BaBiNb₂O₉ (BBN) powders in the nanometer range were prepared by chemical precursor decomposition method (CPD). TG–DTA showed that precursor sample got freed from organic contaminants at 575 °C. XRD showed that a single phase with the layered perovskite structure of BBN was formed after calcining at 600 °C. No intermediate phase was found during heat treatment at and above 600 °C. The crystallite size (D) and the effective strain (η) were found to be 26 nm and 0.000867, respectively, while the particle size obtained from TEM was 28 ± 2 nm. SEM revealed that the average grain size after sintering at 900 °C for 4 h was ∼1.67 μm. A relative density of ∼93% was obtained using a two-step sintering process at moderate pressure. Dielectric and ferroelectric properties were investigated in the temperature range 50–500 °C and frequencies from 1 kHz to 5 MHz. Strong dispersion of the complex relative dielectric constant was observed including typical relaxor features such as shift of permittivity maximum with frequency and broadening of the peak maximum. The high dielectric constant of 545 measured at 100 kHz and other properties of BBN ceramics were compared to that of BBN prepared by other conventional methods and found to be superior.     

Separation of Americium from Lanthanides by Purified Cyanex 301 Countercurrent Extraction in Miniature Centrifugal Contactors

In order to further test the actinides/lanthanides separation performance by Cyanex 301 extraction, a countercurrent extraction experiment was carried out in the present work. The separation process consisted of 7-stage extraction, 3-stage scrubbing and 4-stage stripping. 14 miniature centrifugal contactors were installed in glove box for the experiment. The feed solution from TRPO process, mainly consisting of 4.4 M HNO3, ∼3.7×10⁸Bq Am-241, 0.02 M lanthanides, ∼120 ppm Mo and 100 ppm Fe, was pretreated by the following procedures: denitrating to 0.2 M HNO3 by formic acid, adjusting pH to 2 by 8 M NaOH, removing most Fe³⁺ by 0.2 M Cyanex 301-kerosene cross-flow extraction, and then adjusting pH to 3.5 by 1 M NaOH. About 5.6×10⁸Bq Pm-147 was added into the feed solution to trace lanthanides during the experiment. The experiment lasted for 9 hours with a feed flow rate of 30 ml/h. The results show that 99.95% Am was separated from lanthanides and only 0.1% lanthanides were extracted together with Am. 99.3% Am and 96.6% Pm were stripped from load Cyanex 301 by 1.0 M HNO3, respectively.     

Differentiating the pre-hydrolysis states of wild-type and A59G mutant HRas: An insight through MD simulations

The most representative member of the Ras subfamily is its HRas isoform. Ras proteins being GTPases, possess an intrinsic activity to hydrolyze the GTP molecule to GDP. During the transition phases, between active and inactive states, P-loop and switch regions show maximum variations. Various hot-spot Ras mutants (G12 V, A59G, Q61L etc) have been reported, that limit the protein's conformation in the permanent active state. In the present study, we aim to explore the structural dynamics of one such crucial mutant of Ras namely A59G which belongs to the conserved Switch II region of the protein. Approximately ∼15 μs of Classical Molecular Dynamics (CMD) simulations have been carried out on the mutant and wild-type complexes. Further, a metadynamics simulation of 500 ns was also carried out, which suggests an energy barrier of ∼9.56 kcal/mol between wild-type and mutant conformation. We demonstrate the role of water molecule in maintaining the required interaction networks in the pre-hydrolysis state, its impact on A59G mutation, distinct orientation of the Gln61 residue in two conformations, disruption of crucial Gly60 and γ phosphate and the change in the Switch II region. The outcome of our study captures the pre-hydrolysis state of the HRas protein. It also establishes the fact that this mutation makes the movement of Switch II region and the conserved DXXGQ motif highly constrained, which is known to be an important requirement for hydrolysis. This suggests that the A59G mutation may decrease the rate of intrinsic hydrolysis as well as GAP-mediated hydrolysis.     

Rheo-optical FT-IR spectroscopy of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(lactic acid) blend films

The orientation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) segments in PHB/PLA blend films cast from chloroform solutions with compositions PHB < PLA was studied during uniaxial elongation up to 250% strain at 50 °C by in-situ rheo-optical FT-IR spectroscopy. From the orientation functions of the ν(CO) bands of the blend components, it was derived that the PLA chains orient in the direction of elongation while the PHB chains orient perpendicular to the drawing direction. PHB homopolymer and PHB/PLA blend films with PHB > PLA compositions could only be oriented by cold drawing in ice water after quenching from the melt. The IR-dichroic effects of films drawn under these conditions indicate for both blend components a chain alignment parallel to the drawing direction.     

Lamellar crystalline self-assembly behaviour and solid lipid nanoparticles of a palmityl prodrug analogue of Capecitabine--a chemotherapy agent

An amphiphile prodrug, 5′-deoxy-5-fluoro-N⁴-(palmityloxycarbonyl) cytidine or 5′-deoxy-5-fluoro-N⁴-(hexadecanaloxycarbonyl) cytidine (5-FCPal), consisting of the same head group as the commercially available chemotherapeutic agent Capecitabine, linked to a palmityl hydrocarbon chain via a carbamate bond is reported. Thermal analysis of this prodrug indicates that it melts at ∼115 °C followed quickly by degradation beginning at ∼120 °C. The neat solid 5-FCPal amphiphile acquires a lamellar crystalline arrangement with a d-spacing of 28.6 ± 0.3 Å, indicating interdigitation of the hydrocarbon chains. Under aqueous conditions, solid 5-FCPal is non-swelling and no lyotropic liquid crystalline phase formation is observed. In order to assess the in vitro toxicity and in vivo efficacy in colloidal form, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with an average size of ∼700 nm were produced via high pressure homogenization. The in vitro toxicity of the 5-FCPal SLNs against several different cancer and normal cell types was assessed over a 48 h period, and IC₅₀ values were comparable to those observed for Capecitabine. The in vivo efficacy of the 5-FCPal SLNs was then assessed against the highly aggressive mouse 4T1 breast cancer model. To do so, the prodrug SLNs were administered orally at 3 different dosages (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 mmol/mouse/day) and compared to Capecitabine delivered at the same dosages. After 21 days of receiving the treatments, the 0.5 mmol dose of 5-FCPal exhibited the smallest average tumour volume. Since 5-FCPal is activated in a similar manner to Capecitabine via a 3 step enzymatic pathway with the final step occurring preferentially at the tumour site, formulation of the prodrug into SLNs combines the advantage of selective, localized activation with the sustained release properties of nanostructured amphiphile self-assembly and multiple payload materials thereby potentially creating a more effective anticancer agent.     

Description of intra-diffusion in liquid mixtures

Employing a previously derived model to describe intra-diffusion coefficients in liquid mixtures based on molecular simulations of spherical Lennard–Jones particles [T. Merzliak, A. Pfennig, Mol. Simul. 30 (7) (2004) 459–468], an improved set of coefficients was obtained from optimized molecular dynamics simulations. In these simulations, the thermodynamic states were planned with the help of optimal experimental design, which allows to reduce the number of simulations necessary for significant determination of the coefficients by roughly a decade. The model was then applied to the real liquid mixtures toluene + cyclohexane, toluene + 1,4-dioxane, n-hexane + toluene, 1,4-dioxane + cyclohexane and cyclohexane + n-hexane, which have molecular properties that correspond to the model assumptions. Experimental intra-diffusion coefficients for the mixtures toluene + cyclohexane, toluene + 1,4-dioxane, n-hexane + toluene and 1,4-dioxane + cyclohexane were determined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques in this work. Even without additional parameters for the mixture the proposed model can describe the diffusion coefficients with an average accuracy of 5%. Allowing a deviation from Lorentz–Berthelot mixing rules leads generally only to slight improvement.