Stepwise formation and characterization of covalently linked multiporphyrin-imide architectures on Si(100)

A major challenge in molecular electronics and related fields entails the fabrication of elaborate molecular architectures on electroactive surfaces to yield hybrid molecular/semiconductor systems. A method has been developed for the stepwise synthesis of oligomers of porphyrins linked covalently via imide units. A triallyl-porphyrin bearing an amino group serves as the base unit on Si(100), and the alternating use of a dianhydride (3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride) and a porphyrin-diamine for reaction enables the rapid and simple buildup of oligomers composed of 2-5 porphyrins. The properties of these porphyrin "multad" films on Si(100) were interrogated using a variety of techniques. The charge densities of the redox-active porphyrin oligomers were determined via electrochemical methods. The stepwise growth was evaluated in detail via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and by selected X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) studies. The morphology was probed via AFM methods. Finally, the thickness was evaluated by using a combination of ellipsometry and AFM height profiling, accompanied by selected XPS studies. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that high charge density, ultrathin, multiporphyrin films of relatively well-controlled thickness can be grown in a stepwise fashion using the imide-forming reaction. The increased charge densities afforded by the porphyrin multads may prove important for the fabrication of molecular-based information-storage devices. This bottom-up process for construction of surface-tethered molecular architectures complements the top-down lithographic approach for construction of functional devices with nanoscale dimensions.     

The automorphism group of a split metacyclic 2-group and some groups of crossed homomorphisms

In this paper we find the structure for the automorphism group of a split metacyclic 2-group G. It can be seen as a continuation of the paper (Curran in Arch. Math. 89 (2007), 10–23) and it makes it complete. We propose a different approach to the problem than in the paper (Curran in Arch. Math. 89 (2007), 10–23). Our intention is to show that apart from some cases of 2-groups AutG has a structure similar to that of a direct product of two groups with no common direct factor [which was considered in Bidwell, Curran, and McCaughan (Arch. Math. 86 (2006), 481–489)].      

Thermal transport of oil and polymer composites filled with carbon nanotubes

We studied the thermal transport properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in polymer and oil matrices. The thermal conductivity of the oils and polymers increased linearly when adding tubes. We observe a particularly high increase in the thermal diffusivity of carbon-nanotube-loaded liquid crystal polymers (6×10⁻⁵ cm²/s wt%), which is due to a spontaneous alignment of the MWNTs. Carbon nanotubes increased the thermal conductivity of oil by a factor of three for 20 wt% loading. We found little or no dependence of the thermal enhancement on the specific flavor of multiwall nanotubes used in the composites. Carbon nanotubes are excellent nanoscale fillers for composites in thermal management application.     

Hydro­gen‐bonding patterns in two structural isomers of 3,6‐bis(2‐chloro­phenyl)‐1,4‐di­hydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine

Two structural isomers, 3,6‐bis(2‐chloro­phenyl)‐1,4‐di­hydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine, (I), and 3,5‐bis(2‐chloro­phenyl)‐4‐amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole, (II), both C₁₄H₁₀Cl₂N₄, form chain‐like structures in the solid state, stabilized by N—H⋯N and N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. A contribution from weak interactions to the strong hydrogen‐bond network is observed in both structures. The secondary graph sets for intermolecular hydrogen bonds [(11) for (I) and (12) for (II)] indicate the similarity between the networks.     

DFT calculations, DRIFT spectroscopy and kinetic studies on the hydrolysis of isocyanic acid on the TiO2-anatase (1 0 1) surface

The co-adsorption of isocyanic acid (HNCO) and water (H₂O) and their reaction to ammonia and carbon dioxide on the anatase phase of TiO₂ were studied with ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations using a cluster model as well as with in situ DRIFTS investigations and kinetic experiments. We found that isocyanic acid can in principle adsorb both molecularly and dissociatively on the TiO₂(1 0 1) surface, but the moment at which water gets involved in the process, is vital for determining the further course of the surface reaction. In the absence of water, it was found that HNCO can adsorb in molecular form on the TiO₂ surface. Assuming this case to be the first step of the HNCO hydrolysis, the surface HNCO rearranges into an intermediate complex with a modified NCO skeleton. After decarboxylation water attacks the complex from the gas phase and ammonia is finally formed.

However, when water is present at the beginning of the hydrolysis reaction, it immediately attacks the NCO group present at the surface, yielding a carbamic acid complex, which is further transformed into a carbamate complex. After decarboxylation an NH₂ group remains at the surface. Finally, NH₃ is formed by hydrogen transfer from molecularly adsorbed water at a neighboring titanium center and the hydrolysis reaction is completed.

Since water is always present in diesel exhaust gas, only the second mechanism is relevant under practical conditions. Moreover, the calculated energy barrier is lower for the second mechanism compared to the first reaction pathway. The comparison between the sum of the theoretical vibrational spectra of the reaction intermediates with the in situ DRIFT spectra also strongly supports the accuracy of the second reaction pathway. The experimental investigation of the kinetics of the HNCO hydrolysis on TiO₂-anatase revealed a second order reaction—first order with respect to HNCO and first order with respect to water, which can only be reconciled with the second mechanism.     

Thiol–Yne Click Reactions on Alkynyl–Dopamine‐Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide

The large‐scale preparation of graphene is of great importance due to its potential applications in various fields. We report herein a simple method for the simultaneous exfoliation and reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to reduced GO (rGO) by using alkynyl‐terminated dopamine as the reducing agent. The reaction was performed under mild conditions to yield rGO functionalized with the dopamine derivative. The chemical reactivity of the alkynyl function was demonstrated by post‐functionalization with two thiolated precursors, namely 6‐(ferrocenyl)hexanethiol and 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecanethiol. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy, conductivity measurements, and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the resulting surfaces.     

Influence of hybrid system of nanofillers on the functional properties of postconsumer PET‐G–based nanocomposites

In this article, postconsumer poly (ethylene glycol‐co‐1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) (PET‐G) foils have been modified with three types of carbon nanofillers that differ in size and shape, ie, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), and nanosized carbon black (nCB), thus enabling the reusage of recyclate in receiving new functional materials. The series of polymer hybrid nanocomposites have been prepared via a two‐stage polycondensation process, be means of glycolysis of postconsumer PET‐G foil, followed by polycondensation in the presence of carbon nanofillers. The scanning electron microscopy revealed that nanoadditives were uniformly dispersed into the whole volume of polymer matrix. The results present the synergistic effect of hybrid system of nanofillers in improving tensile properties of PET‐G. It has been found that the incorporation of three types of carbon nanofillers has not affected the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix. Moreover, the incorporation of carbon nanofillers, and the mixture of two, or even three of those, caused an improvement in thermal conductivity and thermal stability.     

Parameters characterizing acid-base equilibria between cell membrane and solution and their application to monitoring the effect of various factors on the membrane

The cell membrane is an extremely complicated object. It participates in a large number of equilibria. For this reason, it is impossible to determine the parameters of all of them. It is the purpose of this work to define a limited number of averaged parameters in order to describe the equilibria between cell membrane components and environmental components. These parameters are the total acidic functional group concentration as well as the basic group concentration and their association constants with hydrogen or hydroxyl ions. The parameters were determined using the pH dependence of the electric surface charge density. The usefulness of these parameters was checked by studying the effect of green tea on liver cells in ethanol poisoning. Ethanol provokes an increase in concentration of functional groups, positively and negatively charged, as well as an increase in the basic groups association constant and a decrease in acidic groups association constant. Administering green tea partly compensates the changes provoked by ethanol poisoning. The parameters proposed in this work, C(TA), C(TB), K(AH) and K(BOH), are suited for monitoring the changes caused by various factors.