Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of chromophores for photorefractive polymer materials

The synthesis and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a series of nitrostilbene-, dinitrostilbene-, and dicyanomethylenedihydrofuran-based chromophores potentially useful in photorefractive multifunctional polymers are reported. Electronic absorption spectra have been measured in different solvents. Electric field induced second harmonic (EFISH) generation results show that the 2-dicyanomethylen-3-cyano-5,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran moieties lead to the best NLO performances. Dinitrophenyl-based chromophores have shown a reduced nonlinear response as compared with the mononitro analogues. Nonlinear optical properties of a selected nitro-dinitro couple have been also determined theoretically.     

Bidimensionality of 8-atom clusters of Au: first principles study and comparison with Ag clusters

We have calculated the lowest energy structures of 8-atom neutral gold clusters using the density functional theory approach. In contrast with current literature that finds kinetic energy to be the determinant component, we have found that the 2D structure is energetically favored due to a higher electron delocalization that stems from the relativistic contraction of Au atom size which cause 3D clusters to deform. This higher delocalization lowers the total energy of the 2D structures against the 3D ones. Silver clusters do not suffer this size contraction, hence there is no higher delocalization in the 2D clusters, and their fundamental structure will be 3D.     

The Nature of Halogen⋅⋅⋅Halogen Interactions: A Model Derived from Experimental Charge‐Density Analysis

Slightly attractive : The attractive and anisotropic nature of the Cl???Cl interaction in C₆Cl₆ is experimentally demonstrated from an expansion of the electron density ρ( r ) around the chlorine nuclei. The interaction is explained in a model in which there is a bonding attraction involving electron‐deficient (see picture, blue) and electron‐rich (red) regions of adjacent Cl atoms.

     

Tailoring Disorder and Dimensionality: Strategies for Improved Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrolytes

Towards cooler solid oxide fuel cells: Disorder and dimensionality (see picture) play an important role in determining ion mobility of bulk and artificially nanolayered materials and should be considered in the design of new electrolytes with enhanced conductivity.

     

Non‐Covalent Interactions in Supramolecular Assemblies Investigated with Electron Spectroscopies

A new view: A picture of the different non‐covalent interactions relevant for the self‐assembly of organic layers and their spectroscopic fingerprints is provided (see figure). In particular, state‐of‐the‐art spectroscopic measurements are performed for supramolecular assemblies, comparing the electronic structure of single‐component layers with that of binary organic layers.

     

A note on semiextensions of stable circuits

A semiextension of a circuit C in a graph G provides a possible means of finding a cycle double cover of G with C as a prescribed circuit. Recently we conjectured [E.E. García Moreno, T.R. Jensen, On semiextensions and circuit double covers, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 97 (2007) 474-482] that if G is cubic and 2-edge-connected, then a semiextension of C in G exists. If true, this would imply several long-standing conjectures.If there is a circuit C^′ in G with C^′≠C and V(C)⊆V(C^′), then C^′ is called an extension of C, a special case of a semiextension. If there is no such circuit, then C is said to be stable in G. Hence the existence question for semiextensions is easy except for stable circuits. Not many examples of graphs with stable circuits have been published. In this note we show that the members of a particular class of stable circuits described by M. Kochol have semiextensions.     

Isolation and Screening of Microorganisms for R-(+)-Limonene and (−)-β-Pinene Biotransformation

This work is focused on the biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene and (?)-β-pinene to bioflavor production. To carry out the present study, 405 microorganisms were tested for their ability to bioconvert the substrates. From the isolated microorganisms, 193 were selected in the prescreening using mineral medium for limonene degradation. At the screening step, eight strains were able to convert R-(+)-limonene and 15 to transform (?)-β-pinene, both in α-terpineol. The highest concentration in α-terpineol from R-(+)-limonene was about 3,450 mg/L for Penicillium sp. isolated from eucalyptus steam. From (?)-β-pinene, the highest product concentration of 675.5 mg/L was achieved using an Aspergillus sp. strain isolated from orange tree stem.     

Porous phosphate heterostructures containing CdS quantum dots: assembly, characterization and photoluminescence

The synthesis and characterization of cadmium sulphide (CdS) quantum dots, conjugated in a porous phosphate heterostructure functionalized with aminopropyl groups is described. The resulting material has fluorescence properties with maximum emission intensity at 575 nm. The fluorescent materials are not soluble in water and exhibit high stability in aqueous solution in the pH ranges from 2 to 9. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the qualitative elemental composition of the synthesized materials and X-ray photoelectron spectra showed a surface S/Cd atomic ratio of 1.09. SEM images show that the materials are amorphous, possessing porous with sizes of several tens nanometres, homogeneous and exhibit a layered morphology. The adsorption–desorption analysis by N₂ at 77 K showed the accessibility of the CdS quantum dots onto the pores of the structure. The CdS quantum dots were stabilized by mercaptopropionic acid and bounded to the host materials by amine groups.     

Vanadium oxide-porous phosphate heterostructure catalysts for the selective oxidation of H2S to sulphur

Vanadium oxide–containing mesoporous materials, based on a surfactant expanded zirconium phosphate with silica galleries into the interlayer space, named porous phosphate heterostructure (PPH), were prepared by using TEOS and vanadium oxytripropoxide in n-propanol as sources of Si and V, respectively; with different Si/V molar ratios of 1, 2, 5 and 25; and calcining at 550 °C for 6 h. Using this method, vanadium can be partially incorporated to the structure of the gallery, but the surface area strongly decreases and the appearance of V₂O₅ crystallites increases when increasing the vanadium content. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, and Raman, and tested in the selective catalytic oxidation of H₂S using a fixed bed reactor, at atmospheric pressure, at 180–260 °C. The catalysts with high contents of vanadium are very active at 200 °C, showing H₂S conversions of 85–99%, with a high selectivity to elemental sulphur and with a low formation of SO₂. Accordingly V₂O₅ crystallites can be proposed as active and selective although the catalytic behavior is related to the number of accessible V-sites in the surface of the catalyst.