One-dimensional confinement of a nanosized metal organic framework in carbon nanofibers for improved gas adsorption

The loading of a Zn-terephthalate based MOF in the inner cavity as well as on the outer walls of a hollow carbon nanofiber (CNF) creates MOF@CNF hybrids. This hybrid 'MOF@CNF' displayed improved thermal stability as well as gas adsorption compared to the individual counterparts.     

Chemically-enabled synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ones

We have developed a number of efficient protocols for the facile synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ones. This synthetic methodology allowed concise and efficient exploration of the SAR in all areas of the molecule. A number of these methods proved to be versatile, efficient and amenable to parallel synthesis.     

Tuning the Functionality of a Carbon Nanofiber-Pt-RuO(2) System from Charge Storage to Electrocatalysis

Chemical-functionalization-induced switching in the property of a hybrid system composed of a hollow carbon nanofiber (CNF) and Pt and RuO(2) nanoparticles from charge storage to electrocatalysis is presented. The results of this study show how important it is to have a clear understanding of the nature of surface functionalities in the processes involving dispersion of more than one component on various substrates including carbon nanomorphologies. When pristine CNF is used to decorate Pt and RuO(2) nanoparticles, random dispersion occurs on the CNF surface (C-PtRuO(2)). This results in mainly phase-separated nanoparticles rich in RuO(2) characteristics. In contrast to this, upon moving from the pristine CNF to those activated by a simple H(2)O(2) treatment to create oxygen-containing surface functional groups, a material rich in Pt features on the surface is obtained (F-PtRuO(2)). This is achieved because of the preferential adsorption of RuO(2) by the functionalized surface of CNF. A better affinity of the oxygen-containing functional groups on CNF toward RuO(2) mobilizes relatively faster adsorption of this moiety, leading to a well-controlled segregation of Pt nanoparticles toward the surface. Further reorganization of Pt nanoparticles leads to the formation of a Pt nanosheet structure on the surface. The electrochemical properties of these materials are initially evaluated using cyclic voltammetric analysis. The cyclic voltammetric results indicate that C-PtRuO(2) shows a charge storage property, a typical characteristic of hydrous RuO(2), whereas F-PtRuO(2) shows an oxygen reduction property, which is the characteristic feature of Pt. This clear switch in the behavior from charge storage to electrocatalysis is further confirmed by galvanostatic charge-discharge and rotating-disk-electrode studies.     

On signal reconstruction without phase

We will construct new classes of Parseval frames for a Hilbert space which allow signal reconstruction from the absolute value of the frame coefficients. As a consequence, signal reconstruction can be done without using phase or its estimation. This verifies a longstanding conjecture of the speech processing community.     

Synthesis of nanoscale antimony particles

For the search of new negative electrodes of Li-ion batteries, a low-temperature method has been developed for the preparation of nanoscale antimony particles which uses an alkoxide-activated sodium hydride as reducing agent of antimony pentachloride. X-ray diffraction and TEM studies confirm the obtaining of amorphous Sb nanoparticles dispersed in an organic matrix. ¹²¹Sb Mössbauer spectroscopy gives evidence for the occurrence of interactions between antimony and the matrix. These interactions are modified by the washing treatments.     

A new diamine containing disiloxane moiety and some derived Schiff bases: synthesis,structural characterisation and antimicrobial activity

A new siloxane diamine, 1,3-bis(amino-phenylene-ester-methylene)tetramethyldisiloxane (1), was obtained by a two-step procedure and used to prepare a series of Schiff bases (2–5), by reaction with different carbonylic compounds: salicylaldehyde, 3,5-dibromosalicylaldehyde, 5-chlorosalicylaldehyde and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. All compounds, separated in crystalline form, were characterised by spectral (FTIR, UV–vis and NMR) analysis as well as by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In these structures, different packing motifs occur depending on the different association degree determined by intra- and intermolecular π–π stacking interactions. Antimicrobial activity of the compounds was evaluated against three fungi and two bacteria, where the Schiff bases derived from salicylaldehyde and in special 5-chlorosalicylaldehyde showed remarkable activity.     

Light-assisted synthesis and functionalization of silver nanoparticles with thiol derivative thioxanthones: new insights into the engineering of metal/chromophore nanoassemblies

Nanofluids are suspensions of nanometer-sized particles which significantly modify the properties of the base fluids. Nanofluids exhibit attractive properties, such as high thermal conductivity, tunable surface tension, viscosity, and rheology. Various attempts have been made to understand the mechanisms for these property modifications caused by adding nanoparticles; however, due to the lack of direct nanoscale evidence, these explanations are still controversial. This work calculated the surface tension, viscosity, and rheology of gold–water nanofluids using molecular dynamics simulations which provide a microscopic interpretation for the modified properties on the molecular level. The gold–water interaction potential parameters were changed to mimic various nanoparticle types. The results show that the nanoparticle wettability is responsible for the modified surface tension. Hydrophobic nanoparticles always tend to stay on the free surface so they behave like a surfactant to reduce the surface tension. Hydrophilic nanoparticles immersed into the bulk fluid impose strong attractive forces on the water molecules at the free surface which reduces the free surface thickness and increases the surface tension of the nanofluid. Solid-like absorbed water layers were observed around the nanoparticles which increase the equivalent nanoparticle radius and reduce the mobility of the nanoparticles within the base fluid which increases the nanofluid viscosity. The results show the water molecule solidification between two or many nanoparticles at high nanoparticle loadings, but the solidification effect is suppressed for shear rates greater than a critical shear rate; thus Newtonian nanofluids can present shear-thinning non-Newtonian behavior.