Influence of annealing temperature on the electrochemical and surface properties of the 5-V spinel cathode material LiCr0.2Ni0.4Mn1.4O4 synthesized by a sol–gel technique

LiCr_0.2Ni_0.4Mn_1.4O₄ was synthesized by a sol–gel technique in which tartaric acid was used as oxide precursor. The synthesized powder was annealed at five different temperatures from 600 to 1,000 °C and tested as a 5-V cathode material in Li-ion batteries. The study shows that annealing at higher temperatures resulted in improved electrochemical performance, increased particle size, and a differentiated surface composition. Spinel powders synthesized at 900 °C had initial discharge capacities close to 130 mAh g^?1 at C and C/2 discharge rates. Powders synthesized at 1,000 °C showed capacity retention values higher than 85 % at C/2, C, and 2C rates at 25 °C after 50 cycles. Annealing at 600–800 °C resulted in formation of spinel particles smaller than 200 nm, while almost micron-sized particles were obtained at 900–1,000 °C. Chromium deficiency was detected at the surface of the active materials annealed at low temperatures. The XPS results indicate presence of Cr⁶⁺ impurity when the annealing temperature was not high enough. The study revealed that increased annealing temperature is beneficial for both improved electrochemical performance of LiCr_0.2Ni_0.4Mn_1.4O₄ and for avoiding formation of Cr⁶⁺ impurity on its surface.     

Investigation of structure–spectroscopy–function relationship of two-dimensional J-aggregates of tetrachlorobenzimidazolocarbocyanine preferentially oriented in poly-vinyl-alcohol thin films

The structure–spectroscopy–function relationship of 1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-5,5′,6,6′-tetrachlorobenzimidazolocarbocyanine (TTBC) aggregates is studied using a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques. The aggregates are macroscopically aligned in poly-vinyl-alcohol thin films by vertical spin coating. Angular dependence of the UV–Vis spectra is measured at eleven different orientations between the electric field polarization and the macroscopic alignment axis. The aggregates are characterized by a pair of Davydov split bands with opposite polarization behaviors: an H-band (505 nm) and a J-band (594 nm) polarized respectively, close to being parallel and perpendicular to the alignment axis. Spectral response is interpreted via simulations within the Frenkel exciton formalism. TTBC aggregates are shown to assume very similar internal molecular packing (herringbone) and dynamics of excited states (phonon-assisted intraband and interband relaxations) in ionic aqueous solution and in thin films. The general conclusions on the structure–spectroscopy–function relationship are expected to hold for other cyanine aggregates with the same generic spectral features.     

Double-walled carbon nanotube based carbon paste electrode as xanthine biosensor

We describe the first usage of a double walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT) modified carbon paste electrode as biosensor transducer. Xanthine was chosen as a substrate for evaluation of the electrode performance. Proper amount of DWCNT and xanthine oxidase enzyme were mixed with proper amount of graphite and mineral oil for attaining the xanthine biosensor. Results were compared with previous work that includes multi-walled carbon nanotube and single-wall carbon nanotube based carbon paste electrode xanthine biosensors. A linearity was obtained in the concentration range between 2–50 μM xanthine under the response time of 150 s with the equation of y?=?0.0441x + 0.2013 and RSD value of 4.20%. This system was applied to the determination of xanthine in canned tuna fish samples and recovery was calculated as 99.20%?±?0.07.     

Deformation effects on isospin mixing and isobar analogue resonance for 74−80Kr isotopes

Pyatov’s method has been applied to investigate Fermi beta transitions in deformed ^74–80Kr isotopes. This self-consistent method, which was used to study the isobar analogue states in the spherical odd-odd nuclei, has to date not been applied for the isobar analogue states in deformed nuclei. The nucleon-nucleon residual interaction has been included so that the broken isospin symmetry in the mean field approximation has been restored and the strength parameter of the effective interaction has been taken out to be a free parameter. The energies and wave functions of the isobaric analogue excitations in ^74–80Rb isotopes have been obtained within the framework of the pnQRPA method. The probability of the isospin mixing in the ground states and the centroid energies of the isobar analogue resonance have been presented and the deformation effects on these quantities have been quantified.     

The Inhomogeneous Quantum Invariance Group of The Two Parameter Deformed Boson Algebra

We consider two parameter deformed boson algebra and investigate the inhomogeneous invariance quantum group of this system. We find the R-matrix which collects all information about the non-commuting structure of the quantum group. We extend our study to the d-dimensional case.     

Water soluble distyryl-boradiazaindacenes as efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

We introduce a novel class of water soluble, extended conjugation boradiazaindacene dyes which are efficient singlet oxygen generators and have spectacular photoinduced cytotoxicity when excited in the "therapeutic window" of the electromagnetic spectrum.     

Incorporation of fused tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs) into polythiophene architectures: varying the electroactive dominance of the TTF species in hybrid systems

A novel polythienylenevinylene (PTV) and two new polythiophenes (PTs), featuring fused tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units, have been prepared and characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroelectrochemistry. All polymers undergo two sequential, reversible oxidation processes in solution. Structures in which the TTF species is directly linked to the polymer backbone (2 and 4) display redox behavior which is dictated by the fulvalene system. Once the TTF is spatially removed from the polymer chain by a nonconjugated link (polymer 3), the electroactivity of both TTF and polythiophene moieties can be detected. Computational studies confirm the delocalization of charge over both electroactive centers (TTF and PT) and the existence of a triplet dication intermediate. PTV 4 has a low band gap (1.44 eV), is soluble in common organic solvents, and is stable under ambient conditions. Organic solar cells of polymer 4:[6,6]-phenyl-C(61) butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) have been fabricated. Under illumination, a photovoltaic effect is observed with a power conversion efficiency of 0.13% under AM1.5 solar simulated light. The onset of photocurrent at 850 nm is consistent with the onset of the pi-pi absorption band of the polymer. Remarkably, UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry of polymer 4 reveals that the conjugated polymer chain remains unchanged during the oxidation of the polymer.     

Absorption spectrum of monomeric pseudoisocyanine: A new perspective and its implications for formation and spectral response of J-aggregates in solution and in thin films

We argued against the current spectral assignment for absorption spectrum of monomeric PIC which is widely accepted since the pioneering works of Scheibe and Jelley [G. Scheibe, Angew. Chem. 49 (1936) 563; E.E. Jelly, Nature 138 (1936) 1009]. A new spectrum is presented along with its conceptual basis. The hypothesized spectrum attributes the previous 0–0 (≈525 nm) and 0–1 (≈490 nm) assignments, respectively, to intermediates acting as the precursor of J-aggregates and to the 0–0 transition of monomeric PIC and brings the spectrum in accord with the seemingly universal spectral fingerprint of cyanines. The hypothesis is used to analyze and interpret the temperature dependence of the UV–vis absorption of PIC aggregates in saline aqueous solution by incorporating the J-band simulations within frenkel exciton formalism. Its implications for aggregate formation kinetics are given on the basis of current spectroscopic evidence. The hypothesis readily answers several long-standing questions: Why compared to many other cyanines at least an order of magnitude higher dye concentration is needed to form J-aggregates of PIC? Why are there no precursors, since aggregation is expected to be a consecutive process? A large number of observations on steady-state and time-resolved spectral properties, and aggregation kinetics in solution/thin films are likely to find reasonable explanations within this hypothesis.     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis of some 1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one derivatives

A series of 3‐alkyl(aryl)‐4‐(p‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ones 2 were obtained from the reaction of alkyl (aryl) ester ethoxycarbonyl hydrazones 1 with p‐hydroxy aniline. The reaction of 1 with 1,4‐diamino benzene (1:1) to afford 3‐alkyl(aryl)‐4‐(p‐aminophenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ones 3 . The reaction of 3 with benzaldehyde gave 3‐alkyl(aryl)‐4‐(4′‐benzilidenamino)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ones 4 . All of the above reactions occurred under microwave heating and conventional methods. Their structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:38–42, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20381