Metal(II) Ion Complexes with 5‐(Pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione; Synthesis,Structural Characterization,Acid‐base,and Complexing Properties in Solution

The study reports the synthesis of complexes Co(HL)Cl₂ ( 1 ), Ni(HL)Cl₂ ( 2 ), Cu(HL)Cl₂ ( 3 ), and Zn(HL)₃Cl₂ ( 4 ) with the title ligand, 5‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5‐thione (HL), and their characterization by elemental analyses, ESI‐MS (m/z), FT‐IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, as well as EPR in the case of the Cu^II complex. The comparative analysis of IR spectra of the metal ion complexes with HL and HL alone indicated that the metal ions in 1 , 2 , and 3 are chelated by two nitrogen atoms, N(4) of pyrazine and N(5) of triazole in the thiol tautomeric form, whereas the Zn^II ion in 4 is coordinated by the non‐protonated N(2) nitrogen atom of triazole in the thione form. pH potentiometry and UV/Vis spectroscopy were used to examine Co^II, Ni^II, and Zn^II complexes in 10/90 (v/v) DMSO/water solution, whereas the Cu^II complex was examined in 40/60 (v/v) DMSO/water solution. Monodeprotonation of the thione triazole in solution enables the formation of the L:M = 1:1 species with Co^II, Ni^II and Zn^II, the 2:1 species with Co^II and Zn^II, and the 3:1 species with Zn^II. A distorted tetrahedral arrangement of the Cu^II complex was suggested on the basis of EPR and Vis/NIR spectra.     

Effect of composition and drying method on glass transition temperature,water sorption characteristics and surface morphology of newly designed β-lactoglobulin/retinyl palmitate/disaccharides systems

Epoxy-based nanocomposites containing different concentrations (0–3%) of surface-modified graphene nanosheets (GNS) with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane were prepared and their thermal and mechanical properties including dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile strength, hardness, and abrasion tests were evaluated in order to have a database for thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites. The main aim of this study was to understand the optimum percentage of GNS which would perform the best reinforcing influence on mechanical and physical performance of an epoxy nanocomposite. The results explain how applying the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method as a useful tool in optimization of GNS concentration in preparation of high-performance epoxy-based nanocomposites.     

Hydrotalcite-derived Co-containing mixed metal oxide catalysts for methanol incineration

The Co–Mg–Al mixed metal oxides were prepared by calcination of co-precipitated hydrotalcite-like precursors at various temperatures (600–800 °C), characterised with respect to chemical (AAS) and phase (XRD) composition, textural parameters (BET), form and aggregation of cobalt species (UV–vis-DRS) and their redox properties (H₂-TPR, cyclic voltammetry). Moreover, the process of thermal decomposition of hydrotalcite-like materials to mixed metal oxide systems was studied by thermogravimetric method combined with the analysis of gaseous decomposition products by mass spectrometry. Calcined hydrotalcite-like materials were tested as catalysts for methanol incineration. Catalytic performance of the oxides depended on cobalt content, Mg/Al ratio and calcination temperature. The catalysts with lower cobalt content, higher Mg/Al ratio and calcined at lower temperatures (600 or 700 °C) were less effective in the process of methanol incineration. In a series of the studied catalysts, the best results, with respect to high catalytic activity and selectivity to CO₂, were obtained for the mixed oxide with Co:Mg:Al molar ratio of 10:57:33 calcined at 800 °C. High activity of this catalyst was likely connected with the presence of a Co–Mg–Al spinel-type phases, containing easy reducible Co³⁺ cations, formed during high-temperature treatment of the hydrotalcite-like precursor.     

Formation of Intermediate Layers for Immobilization of Biomacromolecules by Self‐Assembling and Reduction of Phenyldiazonium Salts. A Comparative Study

Two types of biomolecules were tested in the comparison of usefulness of two ways of formation of the intermediate layers at electrodes: a 20‐nucleotide DNA sequence and glucose oxidase. Chronocoulometric, amperometric, electrochemical impedance and PM‐IRRAS experiments proved that the layers obtained by electroreduction of diazonium salts are much more stable and more efficient in the accumulation of biomolecules compared to layers obtained by self‐assembling of appropriate thiols.     

Superhydrophobic properties of cotton woven fabrics with conducting 3D networks of multiwall carbon nanotubes,MWCNTs

This article presents the findings concerning the preparation and properties of cotton woven fabrics with a conductive network made of multiwall carbon nanotubes deposited on the fiber surface by the padding method. The next stage of treatment consisted of imparting superhydrophobic properties to the fabrics in solution with methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) in a waterless medium. The tests performed show that the state of surface and water content in cotton fibers exerts a significant influence on the hydrophobic properties of the analyzed samples. In order to explain the differences in hydrophobic properties, the morphology of the cotton fabric surface was examined using samples with various water contents. The formation mechanism of MTCS coatings on cotton fabric has been proposed.     

Quantized Conductance in Heteronanocontacts Between Iron Tip and Perovskite Electrode Under High-Bias Voltages

We studied the conductance of a point contact between a mechanically sharpened iron tip and a surface of the La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ perovskite electrode. The tip is fixed to a piezoelectric element and the conductance is measured as a function of the piezo voltage, which controls the tip pressing on the electrode. The height of steps between conductance plateaus is a multiple of the integer quantum e ²/h, characteristic for ferromagnetic materials in which the spin degeneracy is lifted.     

Magnetic and Transport Properties of Tm2Co7B3 Compound

Magnetic and transport properties of Tm₂Co₇B₃ compound have been studied. This compound crystallizes in the hexagonal Ce₂Co₇B₃ type structure. The coercivity (H _c) of the compound was determined from hysteresis measurements in fields up to 4 T. The temperature dependence of coercivity has been explained by a thermally activated process of domain wall motion. The resistivity at low temperatures shows a T ² dependence. At higher temperatures the resistivity is not a linear function of temperature, which indicates an electron-phonon interaction in the presence of a small s-d scattering.     

Characteristic energy loss structure of solids from x-ray photoemission spectra

Energy loss peaks in x-ray photoemission spectra of nine metals are presented. No strong evidence for intrinsic plasmon structure was observed. Spectra from the free electron-like metals, Al, Li, and Na under ultra-high vacuum (10^?11 torr) conditions show intense bulk plasmons and surface plasmons. Systematic variations in the characteristic energy losses are reported for the series Ag to Te. In addition to losses that may be attributed to plasma oscillations of the 5s5p bands, with N = 1 and 2 electrons, respectively, both Ag and Cd show additional high-energy losses that may arise through 4d-shell participation, with N = 11 and 12.