Synthesis of high-quality core–shell quantum dots of CdSe–CdS by means of gradual heating in liquid paraffin

Here, we report a novel strategy to prepare fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) of core–shell type with CdSe–CdS QDs as a model system. Our synthesis was carried out in liquid paraffin, which is a natural, nontoxic, and cheap solvent. We applied a single injection of precursor for the shell growth at low temperature and gradual heating of the reaction mixture after that. By this manner, the Ostwald ripening of the cores was reduced, homogenous nucleation of the shell material was avoided, and highly monodisperse in size core–shell QDs were prepared. Our synthesis method allows working on open air; it is relatively fast and allows fine control over the shell growth process. It leads to the formation of core–shell CdSe–CdS QDs with fluorescence quantum yield as high as 65%. We described the optical properties of core–shell QDs by the model of attenuated quantum confinement.     

Preconcentration technique for manganese by adsorption onto a tantalum wire for tungsten tube atomizer electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry

A multi-pumping flow system for the spectrophotometric determination of nitrite and nitrate is described. The determination of nitrite is based on the Griess-Ilosvay reaction. Nitrate can be determined after its on-line reduction to nitrite using hydrazine sulphate in alkaline medium. Calibration was linear up to 3 mg NO₂ ⁻ L⁻¹ with a limit of detection (3s_b/S) of 0.013 mg NO₂ ⁻ L⁻¹ an injection throughput of 55 injections h⁻¹ and a repeatability (RSD) of 0.5% for the direct determination of nitrite. Two calibration graphs within the ranges 0.039–7 mg NO₃ ⁻ L⁻¹ and 0.026–5 mg NO₂ ⁻ L⁻¹ were run for the determination of nitrate and nitrite under reducing conditions, respectively. A limit of detection of 0.039 mg NO₃ ⁻ L⁻¹ was obtained. An injection throughput of 27 injections h⁻¹ and an RSD lower than 1.5% were achieved. The method was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite and nitrate in water samples. Correspondence: Víctor Cerdà, Department of Chemistry, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa Km7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain     

Engineering stacks of aromatic rings by the interpenetration of self-assembled coordination cages

One-step quantitative self-assembly of aromatic towers consisting of seven to nine discretely stacked aromatic rings is achieved from 25-27 multicomponents via the interpenetration of two identical coordination cages.     

Subsurface sensing of biomedical tissues using a miniaturized Raman probe: study of thin-layered model samples

A ball lens hollow-fiber Raman probe (BHRP) is a powerful tool for in vivo nondestructive subsurface analysis of biomedical tissues in a living body. It has confocal-like optical properties, but its collection volume is rather large in comparison with that of a conventional confocal Raman system. Therefore, the obtained Raman spectra have contributions from the upper and lower layers at different rates depending on the thickness of the upper layer when the measurement point is close to the boundary surface of the two layers. In the present study, we describe a methodology to extract quantitative information about the thickness of the subsurface layer structure by using a BHRP combined with the partial least-square regression (PLSR) analysis. The simulation study indicates that distribution of the collection efficiency in the collection volume of the BHRP is similar to a Gaussian distribution. The empirical study suggests that the PLSR model built with only a principal component (PC) 1 based on the linearized depth data gives good prediction.     

Indium(i) iodide-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective formal alpha-addition of an alpha-methylallylboronate to N-acylhydrazones

Indium(i) iodide was found to catalyze the formal alpha-addition of an alpha-methylallylboronate to various N-acylhydrazones, in the presence of an alcohol additive, to afford the corresponding anti-alpha-adducts with high regio- and diastereoselectivity in high yields.     

Cu-catalyzed regioselective carbomagnesiation of dienes and enynes with sec- and tert-alkyl Grignard reagents

The carbomagnesiation of dienes and enynes with sec- and tert-alkyl Grignard reagents has been achieved by using copper salts as catalysts.     

Sonication-assisted supramolecular nanorods of meso-diaryl-substituted porphyrins

Supramolecular nanorods of 5,15-diaryl-substituted porphyrins prepared by sonication method exhibit a broad absorption property, which is confirmed by photocurrent generation measurement in a photoelectrochemical cell.     

Lamellar carbon nanosheets function as templates for two-dimensional deposition of tubular titanate

A novel composite composed of tubular titanate-two dimensionally deposited carbon nanosheets was prepared with carbon nanosheets as templates through intercalation and hydrothermal treatment; this nanotube-based composite and its calcined products exhibit both excellent adsorptivity and high photocatalytic activity toward organic molecules.