Steady-state fluorescence investigations of aqueous binary mixtures of myristyl alcohol based bis-sulfosuccinate anionic gemini surfactant and effect of different conventional surfactants therein

The present research work is associated with the fluorescence investigations of binary aqueous mixed surfactants solutions of anionic bis-sulfosuccinate gemini surfactant (BSGSMA_1,8) and three different conventional surfactants—anionic viz. sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cationic viz. cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and nonionic surfactant viz. Triton X 100. Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy technique has been utilized to examine the micellization behavior of aqueous solution of pure myristyl alcohol-based BSGSMA_1,8 having flexible methylene chain [(CH₂)₈] as spacer group. Critical micelle concentration (CMC), aggregation number (N), and micropolarity of pure and mixed surfactants systems were explored during the investigations. The results revealed the best synergism behavior of prepared gemini BSGSMA_1,8 with SDS as compared to CTAB and Triton X 100. The maximum reduction in the value of pyrene intensity ratio (I₁/I₃) was observed for gemini and SDS mixed surfactant solution. On the other hand, the increased I₁/I₃ value of mixed gemini with Triton X 100 exhibited that mixed surfactant system of anionic gemini BSGSMA_1,8 with non-ionic Triton X 100 is not as compact as other mixed surfactant systems. Aggregation number increased and micropolarity decreased with increased concentration of gemini surfactants.     

Synthesis, spectra, and theoretical investigations of the triarylamines based on 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline

Triarylamines containing a 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline core and aromatic units such as phenyl, naphthyl, pyrene, anthracene, or fluorene have been synthesized by employing palladium-catalyzed C-N and C-C coupling reactions and characterized by optical absorption and emission spectra, electrochemical behavior, and thermal studies. Even though the electronic absorption spectra of the compounds were influenced by the nature of the peripheral amines, the emission spectra indicated close similarity for the excited states in these compounds. For the derivatives in which the amines were directly anchored on the 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline nucleus, the emission appeared to be dominated by the state localized on the 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline chromophore, while in the compounds containing the extended conjugation the fluorescence originated from the polyaromatic linker. The compounds displayed green or yellow emission depending on the nature of the amine segment. All of the dyes displayed one-electron quasi-reversible oxidation couple in the cyclic voltammograms, which is attributable to the oxidation of the peripheral amines at the 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline core. An additional one-electron oxidation process observable at the high positive potentials for the compounds 7 and 8 probably arises from the oxidation of the arylthiophene segment. The enhanced thermal stability and relatively higher glass transition temperatures observed for these compounds were attributed to the presence of dipolar 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline segment. The origin of the optical spectra and the trends observed therein were rationalized using TDDFT simulations.     

Stability of the bulk phase of layered ZnO

Recently a novel phase of ZnO has been synthesized which is analogous to α-boron nitride, although more three dimensional, and consists of planar hexagonal sheets of ZnO. Examining the dynamic stability of the structure, we find unstable phonon modes over a considerable part of the Brillouin zone. Local-density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation level calculations have usually been able to predict the structural stability of s-p bonded systems. The failure in the present case is a surprise and is traced to the self-interaction error which incorrectly locates the localized Zn d states in the valence band of ZnO. Correcting for this with a Hubbard-like U on the Zn d states, the optimized structure is predicted to be stable. This highlights the fact that the large bond length contraction that one finds in going from sp(3)- to sp(2)-type bonding results in an increased necessity to correct for self-interaction errors.     

Template-based fabrication of Ag–ZnO core–shell nanorod arrays

We report a simple, versatile, two-step fabrication technique for synthesizing a core–shell nanorod array whose architecture is specifically suited for use as an electrode in a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The particular structure fabricated by us consists of a parallel array of 5 μm long and 150–200 nm wide Ag nanorod cores, each coated with a 15–20 nm thick ZnO shell. Importantly, the shell thickness is roughly uniform throughout the length of the rods, which are free standing but distinctly separated from each other. This would allow the dye to penetrate freely and cover the ZnO surface completely in a DSSC.     

A Surrogate for Debye-Waller Factors from Dynamic Stokes Shifts

We show that the short-time behavior of time-resolved fluorescence Stokes shifts (TRSS) are similar to that of the intermediate scattering function obtained from neutron scattering at q near the peak in the static structure factor for glycerol. This allows us to extract a Debye-Waller (DW) factor analog from TRSS data at times as short as 1 ps in a relatively simple way. Using the time-domain relaxation data obtained by this method we show that DW factors evaluated at times ≥ 40 ps can be directly influenced by α relaxation and thus should be used with caution when evaluating relationships between fast and slow dynamics in glassforming systems.     

Synthesis,spectral and structural studies of a Mn(II) complex of [N′-(pyridine-4-carbonyl)-hydrazine]-carbodithioic acid ethyl ester and Mn(II) and Ni(II) complexes of [N′-(pyridine-4-carbonyl)-hydrazine]-carbodithioic acid methyl ester

The new complexes [Mn(Hpchce)₂(o-phen)], {2[Mn(pchcm)(o-phen)₂]}·7H₂O and [Ni(Hpchcm)(o-phen)₂]Cl·CH₃OH with [N′-(pyridine-4-carbonyl)-hydrazine]-carbodithioic acid ethyl ester (H₂pchce) and [N′-(pyridine-4-carbonyl)-hydrazine]-carbodithioic acid methyl ester (H₂pchcm) have been synthesized, containing o-phenanthroline (o-phen) as a coligand. These ligands and their complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, magnetic susceptibility and single crystal X-ray data. H₂pchce (2), [Mn(Hpchce)₂(o-phen)] (3) {2[Mn(pchcm)(o-phen)₂]}·7H₂O (4) and [Ni(Hpchcm)(o-phen)₂]Cl·CH₃OH (5) crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group Pc, C2/c, P21/n and P21/n, respectively. The (N, O) donor sites of the bidentate ligands chelate the Mn(II) and Ni(II) centers forming a five-membered CN₂OM ring. The resulting complexes are paramagnetic and have a distorted octahedral geometry.     

Approximation of Solutions of Fractional-Order Delayed Cellular Neural Network on $$\varvec{[0,\infty )}$$

In this paper, we study a class of fractional-order cellular neural network containing delay. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium solution followed by boundedness. Based on the theory of fractional calculus, we approximate the solution of the corresponding neural network model over the interval \([0,\infty )\) using discretization method with piecewise constant arguments and variation of constants formula for fractional differential equations. Furthermore, we conclude that the solution of the fractional-delayed system can be approximated for large t by the solution of the equation with piecewise constant arguments, if the corresponding linear system is exponentially stable. At the end, we give two numerical examples to validate our theoretical findings.     

Expedient Protocols for the Installation of 1,5‐Benzoazepino‐Based Privileged Templates on the 2‐Position of 1,4‐Benzodiazepine Through a Phenoxyl Spacer

An efficient novel strategy for the hetero‐annulation of 2‐chloro‐1,4‐benzodiazepine ring, substituted on its 5‐position with a carboxamido group ( 5 ), has been developed to allow the incorporation of 1,5‐benzodiazepine, 1,5‐benzothiazepine, and 1,5‐benzoxazepine ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ) rings through their dimethylaminomethylene ketone intermediate ( 7 ).     

DABCO: an efficient promoter for the acetylation of carbohydrates and other substances under solvent-free conditions

A simple, mild and efficient solvent-free method for the acetylation of carbohydrates, and their partially protected derivatives, as well as non-carbohydrate substances in excellent yields in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) is described with the advantage of tolerance to various functional groups, short reaction time and ease of product isolation.