Effect of photoanode active area on photovoltaic parameters of dye sensitized solar cells through its effect on series resistance investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

In the present work, the dependence of photovoltaic parameters of laboratory-scale dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) on photoanode active area (A) and also the effect of using current collector on this dependency were investigated. Current collectors were applied, in the form of silver strips, on the edges of electrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and current-voltage (I-V) curve measurement were employed as characterizing methods. The role of current collector was to decrease the resistance against current collection from the surface of electrodes and thus to decrease series resistance of DSSCs. It was observed that all photovoltaic parameters, i.e., short circuit current density (J _sc), open circuit voltage (V _oc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (η), decrease with increasing A. Applying current collector had no influence on photovoltaic parameters of smallest DSSC, but it improved the performance of larger DSSCs. Also, applying current collector caused the photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs to be less dependent on A. It was shown that A dependence of photovoltaic parameters was due to the effect of A on area-specific series resistance (r _s) of DSSC. Also, the effect of current collector on A dependency of photovoltaic parameters was due to its effect on A dependency of r _s.     

A New LC Method for Determination of Some Aminoglycoside Antibiotics in Dosage Forms and Human Plasma Using 7-Fluoro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole as a Fluorogenic Pre-Column Label

A validated, selective and sensitive pre-column derivatization chromatographic method for determination of some aminoglycoside antibiotics, namely, amikacin (AMK), gentamicin and neomycin sulphates, has been developed. Determination was obtained by pre-column reaction of the samples with 7-fluoro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and separating the corresponding derivatives on a reversed phase LC column (ultrasphere C₁₈, 250 × 4.6 mm) and fluorescence detection (λ _ex 465 nm, λ _em 531 nm). Linear quantitative response curve was generated over a concentration range of 0.05–10 μg mL^?1 with a correlation coefficient of more than 0.999 with all studied compounds. The accuracy and precisions were satisfactory for determination of all drugs in dosage forms within- and between-run assay. Furthermore, the method was extended to the determination of AMK in spiked human plasma. The method is specific for the intact drugs, and can be adopted in the presence of co-formulated drugs.     

Practical synthesis of four different pseudoenantiomeric organocatalysts with both cis- and trans-substituted 1,2-cis-cyclohexanediamine structures from a common intermediate

A new and convenient approach has been deviced for the practical synthesis of structurally robust, four different pseudoenantiomeric amino Tf-amido organocatalysts with the unique cis- and trans-substituted 1,2-cis-cyclohexanediamine structures. These pseudoenantiomeric organocatalysts are easily prepared by the Diels-Alder strategy of 2-phenyl-1,3-butadiene and maleic anhydride, and their chemical behavior was investigated by their application to asymmetric aldol synthesis for the practical synthesis of both enantiomeric aldols.     

非负载纳米多孔钯催化喹啉及其衍生物的化学选择性氢化反应:H_2分子异裂（英文）

纳米多孔金属是近十年发展起来的一类具有三维通孔结构的新型功能材料,其由纳米尺度的细孔和韧带构成,具有极大的比表面积;它还是一种无毒无载体的宏观材料,并且易制备、易回收和重复利用,因此作为高效的非均相催化剂已逐渐引起人们的重视.1,2,3,4-四氢喹啉是许多医药、农药、染料和天然产物的重要骨架.通过喹啉及其衍生物的选择性加氢反应制备1,2,3,4-四氢喹啉,具有原子利用率高和原料易得等优点.在过去,已经开发了许多类型的均相和非均相催化体系,并成功地用于催化喹啉及其衍生物的选择性加氢反应.尽管非均相催化体系具有诸多优点,但仍存在H_2压力(10–50 atm)和反应温度(60–150℃)相对较高的缺点.因此,开发更加温和条件下的喹啉及其衍生物的选择性加氢反应具有重要意义.此外,在喹啉及其衍生物的加氢反应过程中,H_2分子在非均相催化剂表面的裂解模式,即均裂还是异裂尚不清楚.因此,本文采用新型非均相催化剂纳米多孔钯,研究了喹啉及其衍生物的选择性加氢反应,在相对较低的H_2压力(2–5 atm)和温度(室温–50℃)下实现了目标反应,高收率、高选择性地得到1,2,3,4-四氢喹啉化合物.在最佳反应条件下,对底物的适用范围进行了考察.结果表明,各种含喹啉结构单元的化合物均能顺利发生反应,产物收率在62%–95%.而且该反应对甲基、甲氧基、羟基、酯基、醛基、酰胺基、卤素(F,Cl和Br)等官能团具有较好的兼容性.苯环上取代基的电子效应对反应有一定的影响,吸电子基有利于目标反应的进行.反应完成后,纳米多孔钯催化剂很容易回收,且循环使用多次后,仍未见催化活性降低.扫描电镜和透射电镜结果发现,循环使用后的纳米多孔钯催化剂结构没有发生明显改变,表明其结构稳定.浸出实验结果证明,没有钯原子浸出到反应液中,表明该纳米多孔钯催化反应属于多相催化过程.喹啉的选择性氢化反应被放大到克级的规模时,目标产物的收率仅略有降低,说明该方法具有很好的实用性.通过动力学实验发现,随着反应的进行,反应速率不断加快,表明反应过程中生成的乙胺和1,2,3,4-四氢喹啉同样扮演着路易斯碱性添加剂的角色,促进了反应的进行.通过反应机理研究,揭示了H–H键在纳米多孔钯表面发生了异裂,原位形成的Pd–H物种作为弱亲核试剂,对目标反应的选择性控制起到了至关重要的作用.     

Facile synthesis of PtSnZn nanosheet thin film at oil–water interface by use of organometallic complexes: An efficient catalyst for methanol oxidation and p‐nitrophenol reduction reactions

PtSnZn nanosheet thin film with stable and high activity towards methanol electro‐oxidation was synthesized via a simple reduction of organometallic precursors including [PtCl₂(cod)] (cod = cis,cis‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene) and [Sn(CH₃)₄] complexes, in the presence of [Zn(acac)₂] (acac = acetylacetonate) complex at toluene–water interface. Catalytic activities of PtSnZn nanosheets were investigated in the p‐nitrophenol (p‐Nip) reduction and methanol oxidation reactions. The obtained results demonstrate that PtSnZn nanosheets exhibit a good electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation reaction, the catalytic activity of the PtSnZn nanosheets being at least 3.5 times higher than that of Pt nanoparticle thin film. Also, the apparent rate constant obtained for p‐Nip reduction with the PtSnZn nanosheets is at least 2.3 times higher than that for Pt nanoparticle thin film due to the appropriate interaction between platinum, tin and zinc metals and geometric properties of PtSnZn nanosheet thin film. Nanosheets are highly favourable for superior catalytic performances due to their geometric properties. A facile and efficient route was used to synthesize trimetallic alloy thin film at oil–water interface.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel and green rod-like magnetic ZnS/CuFe2O4/agar organometallic hybrid catalyst for the synthesis of biologically-active 2-amino-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives

The magnetic biocompatible rod-like ZnS/CuFe₂O₄/agar organometallic hybrid catalyst was designed and prepared based on a natural macromolecule (agar) through a green and convenient method using inexpensive, nontoxic, and easily available substances. Then, the as-prepared catalyst was characterized by several techniques such as Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy image, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry curve, X-ray diffraction pattern, and thermogravimetric analysis. Eventually, the catalytic application of the ZnS/CuFe₂O₄/agar nanobiocomposite was assessed in sequential Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition reaction of dimedone, malononitrile, and different substituted aromatic aldehydes for the synthesis of 2-amino-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives. Some notable strengths of this environmentally benign catalyst include simplicity of catalyst preparation and separation, affording desired products with satisfactory yields (81%–97%) in very short reaction times (3–18 min), and with no need for complicated work-up processes. Experimental tests showed that the catalyst can be successfully reused after five sequential runs without significant reduction in its catalytic efficiency.     

Synthesis of polysubstituted pyridines via reactions of chalcones and malononitrile in alcohols using Amberlite IRA-400 (OH)

Polysubstituted pyridine derivatives were synthesized through economical one-pot multicomponent reactions of different α,β-unsaturated ketones, malononitrile, and ethanol or methanol in the presence of Amberlite IRA-400 (OH⁻) at room temperature. The catalyst is recyclable several times without substantial loss of activity. Other valuable features include the wide range of functional group tolerance, easy and clean synthesis with a simple work-up procedure, and excellent yields under mild conditions.     

SELECTIVE AND CONVENIENT OXIDATION OF THIOLS TO DISULFIDES USING n-BUTYLTRIPHENYLPHOSPHONIUM DICHROMATE (Bu n PPh3)2Cr2O7 IN SOLUTION,UNDER SOLVENT-FREE CONDITIONS AND MICROWAVE IRRADIATION

A variety of aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic thiols were rapidly and cleanly converted to their corresponding disulfides in excellent yields using n-butyltriphenylphosphonium dichromate (BTPPDC) in acetonitrile solution under solvent-free conditions and microwave irradiation. Selective oxidation of thiols in the presence of other oxidizable functional groups, such as alcohol and sulfide, is a noteworthy advantage of this method.