Size dependent optical characterization of semiconductor particle: CdS embedded in polymer matrix

We report the optical investigation and analysis of both nano-sized and micrometer size Cadmium Sulphide particles which is embedded in a transparent polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) dielectric host material. A designed and fabricated laser based light scattering system using a He-Ne laser of wavelength 632.8nm was used for the measurement and study of the scattering properties of the particles as a function of the scattering angle at this wavelength. An attempt was made to experimentally determine the most significant elements of the Mueller scattering matrix using combinations of randomly and linearly polarized incident laser beam and subsequent analyzers in corresponding orientations. The analysis of the experimental data was done by the method of comparison with theoretically generated data. Novel computational technique, involving single scattering for spherical particles using Mie-theory, was developed and applied. The theoretical data was found to be in good agreement with the experimental data within an acceptable margin of error. The results have proved that the combination of the experimental setup and associated computational method is a highly efficient and reliable in-situ system for monitoring size growth of semiconductor particles in the laboratory.     

First total synthesis of verbalactone, a macrocyclic dilactone isolated from Verbascum undulatum

Verbalactone, a new macrocyclic dilactone was synthesized efficiently in a steroselective manner involving a Barbier-Grignard reaction, a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, monotosylation, epoxidation, ring opening of the epoxide, hydrolysis and lactonization. A δ-lactone, (+)-(3R,5R)-3-hydroxy-5-decanolide was also formed along with the dimeric lactone.     

Enantioconvergent Biohydrolysis of Racemic Styrene Oxide to R-phenyl-1, 2-ethanediol by a Newly Isolated Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus tubingensis TF1

An effort was made to isolate biocatalysts hydrolyzing epoxides from various ecological niches of northeast India, a biodiversity hot spot zone of the world and screened for epoxide hydrolase activity to convert different racemic epoxides to the corresponding 1, 2-vicinal diols. Screening of a total of 450 microorganisms isolated was carried out using NBP colorimetric assay. One of the strains TF1, after internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, identified as Aspergillus tubingensis, showed promising enantioconvergent epoxide hydrolase activity. The hydrolysis of unsubstituted styrene oxide (1) occurred to give 97 % ee of R-(?)-1-phenylethane-1, 2-diol (6) with more than 99 % conversion within 45 min incubation. It is shown to be a cheap and practical biocatalyst for one step asymmetric synthesis of chiral R-diol. The other representative substrates (2–5), although underwent hydrolysis with more than 99 % conversion beyond 15 h, exhibited poor enantioselectivity.     

Origin of the Magnetic Anisotropy in Heptacoordinate NiII and CoII Complexes

The nature and magnitude of the magnetic anisotropy of heptacoordinate mononuclear Ni^II and Co^II complexes were investigated by a combination of experiment and ab initio calculations. The zero‐field splitting (ZFS) parameters D of [Ni(H₂DAPBH)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ ? 2 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Co(H₂DAPBH)(H₂O)(NO₃)](NO₃) [ 2 ; H₂DAPBH=2,6‐diacetylpyridine bis‐ (benzoyl hydrazone)] were determined by means of magnetization measurements and high‐field high‐frequency EPR spectroscopy. The negative D value, and hence an easy axis of magnetization, found for the Ni^II complex indicates stabilization of the highest M_S value of the S=1 ground spin state, while a large and positive D value, and hence an easy plane of magnetization, found for Co^II indicates stabilization of the M_S=±1/2 sublevels of the S=3/2 spin state. Ab initio calculations were performed to rationalize the magnitude and the sign of D, by elucidating the chemical parameters that govern the magnitude of the anisotropy in these complexes. The negative D value for the Ni^II complex is due largely to a first excited triplet state that is close in energy to the ground state. This relatively small energy gap between the ground and the first excited state is the result of a small energy difference between the d_xy and ${{\rm{d}}_{x^2 - y^2 } }$ orbitals owing to the pseudo‐pentagonal‐bipyramidal symmetry of the complex. For Co^II, all of the excited states contribute to a positive D value, which accounts for the large magnitude of the anisotropy for this complex.     

Adsorption–Desorption of Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Surfactant loss due to adsorption on the porous medium of an oil reservoir is a major concern in enhanced oil recovery. Surfactant loss due to adsorption on the reservoir rock weakens the effectiveness of the injected surfactant in reducing oil–water interfacial tension (IFT) and making the process uneconomical. In this study, surfactant concentrations in the effluent of the corefloods and oil–water IFT were determined under different injection strategies. It was found that in an extended waterflood following a surfactant slug injection, surfactant desorbed in the water phase. This desorbed surfactant lasted for a long period of the waterflood. The concentration of the desorbed surfactant in the extended waterflood was very low but still an ultralow IFT was obtained by using a suitable alkali. Coreflood results show an additional recovery of 13.3% of the initial oil in place was obtained by the desorbed surfactant and alkali. Results indicate that by utilizing the desorbed surfactant during the extended waterflood operation the efficiency and economics of the surfactant flood can be improved significantly.     

Effect of Radiofrequency Plasma Assisted Grafting of Polypropylene on the Properties of Muga Silk Yarn

Radiofrequency (RF) Ar/propylene glow discharge is utilized for grafting polypropylene onto muga silk yarn at working pressure of 1.2?×?10^?1 mbar and in the of RF power range of 20?C80?W. The plasma discharge is diagnosed using self-compensated emissive probe to study the variation of ion energy impinging on the substrates with RF power. From chemical compositional analysis, a possible grafting mechanism between propylene and muga yarn is proposed by considering the charge-transfer initiation through the formation of electron-donor?Cacceptor (EDA) complex. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals that at RF power values of 60?C80?W, the ion sputtering effect becomes dominant over plasma grafting thereby leading to severe destruction in chemical structure of the polypropylene grafted (PP-grafted) muga yarns. The experimental results show that PP-grafted muga yarns exhibit improved mechanical strength and hydrophobic behavior as compared to the virgin yarn. The properties of the PP-grafted muga yarns are observed to be dependent on atomic concentration, surface morphology as well as the results obtained from plasma discharge characteristics.     

Application of a novel 1,3-diol with a benzyl backbone as chiral ligand for asymmetric oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

A chiral 1,3-diol with a benzyl backbone has been used for the asymmetric oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides. Moderate to good yields and enantioselectivity (upto 87% ee) have been observed.     

Unique copper–salen complex: an efficient catalyst for N-arylations of anilines and imidazoles at room temperature

We have reported here the catalytic activity of a unique Cu–salen type complex in N-arylation of anilines with arylboronic acids in water. The protocol is found to be applicable for a wide range of electronically diversified arylboronic acids and anilines with excellent yields of the isolated product. Further the scope of this protocol has been extended to the synthesis of various N-aryl imidazoles in iso-propanol.     

A Z‐Scheme Strategy that Utilizes ZnIn2S4 and Hierarchical VS2 Microflowers with Improved Charge‐Carrier Dynamics for Superior Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

One of the major limiting factors for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation is the fast recombination kinetics of photogenerated charge carriers. Herein, we propose a model system that utilizes ZnIn₂S₄ and hierarchical VS₂ microflowers for efficient charge separation through a Z‐scheme pathway, without the need for an electron mediator. An impressive 18‐fold increase in photocurrent was observed for ZnIn₂S₄–VS₂ compared to ZnIn₂S₄ alone. The charge‐transfer dynamics in the composite were found to follow a Z‐scheme pathway, which resulted in decreased charge recombination and greater accumulation of the surface charge. Furthermore, slow kinetics of the surface reaction in the ZnIn₂S₄–VS₂ composite correlated to an increased surface‐charge capacitance. This feature of the composite material facilitated partial storage of the photogenerated charge carriers (e^?/h⁺) under illumination and dark‐current conditions, thus storing and utilizing solar energy more efficiently.     

Development and Validation of a High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Method for the Quantification of Rutin in the Fruit Pulp of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogniaux

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The fruits of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogniaux, a ‘rasayana’ in ‘Ayurveda’, are enriched with several...