Solution-based assembly of conductive gold film on flexible polymer substrates

Conductive films of gold were assembled on flexible polymer substrates such as Kapton and polyethylene using a solution-based process. The polymer substrates were modified by using argon plasma and subsequent coupling of silanes with amino- or mercapto- terminal groups. These modified surfaces were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Colloidal gold was assembled onto the silane-modified surface from solution. The gold particles are attached to the surface by covalent interactions with the thiol or amine group. Formation of a conductive film is achieved by increasing the coverage of gold by using a "seeding" method to increase the size of the attached gold particles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to follow the growth of the film. The surface resistance of the films, measured using a four-point probe, was about 1 Omega/sq.     

Solvent and thiourea adsorption/intercalation effects on the solid-state electrochemistry of α-phase nickel hydroxide nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of α-phase nickel hydroxide were synthesized by a single-step hydrothermal method using urea as the hydrolytic agent. Precipitated powders were of pure turbostratic α-phase as confirmed by x-ray diffraction profile. The ageing of α-Ni(OH)₂ in 1.0 M alkali solutions is investigated for pure non-intercalated α-Ni(OH)₂ and thiourea intercalated/absorbed α-phase nanomaterials. The α-Ni(OH)₂ powder immobilized on the surface of graphite electrodes shows a gradual α→β phase transformation with continuous voltammetric cycling, and the concentration gradient of water that exists in the layered-double-hydroxide-like interlayers of α-phase and the solution was shown to play a crucial role on the high electrochemical activity of this phase nickel hydroxide. To understand the role of water in the ageing process, concomitant entries of non-aqueous solvents like ethanol and acetonitrile along with thiourea were effected. Cyclic voltammetric measurements of thiourea-treated α-Ni(OH)₂ samples revealed that hydroxyl ion influx during the anodic oxidation depends on the counter flux of solvent molecules, and if the intercalated the solvent is acetonitrile, then the electrochemical activity of α-Ni(OH)₂ reduced drastically; Q _a/Q _c>1 for water as solvent in the interlayers α-Ni(OH)₂ and Q _a/Q _c<1 for ethanol and acetonitrile as solvents. The α-phase gets stabilized in the presence of thiourea with water and ethanol as co-intercalates. Transmission electron microscope images of α-Ni(OH)₂ and thiourea-treated samples show a change in particle size and morphology. Elemental CHNS analysis confirms the presence of sulphur in the thiourea intercalated samples.     

Identification de stérols à chaîne latérale oxygénée dans une éponge de l'espèce Hyrtios

Thirty-two sterols are identified in the sponge Hyrtios sp. In addition to fourteen monohydroxylated compounds, the sterol fraction contains eight functionalized sidechain sterols, three of them new: 3 β-hydroxy-24-norchol-5-en-23-al (19) , (22-trans)-3 β-hydroxycholest-5, 22-dien-24-one (20) and (22R, 23R, 24S) or (22S, 23S, 24S)- 22,23-epoxy-24-methylchoest-5-en-3 β-ol (24). The probable biological origin, rather than artifact production, of these undescribed components is discussed.     

Microencapsulated Cu(acac)2: a recoverable and reusable polymer-supported copper catalyst for aziridination of olefins

Microencapsulated copper(II) acetylacetonate was prepared and used in the aziridination of alkenes employing [N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (PhINTs) as the nitrogen source. Microencapsulated copper(II) acetylacetonate [MC-Cu(acac)₂] catalyst was reused for several cycles with consistent activity.     

Mechanism of oxidation of iron(II) chelates by hexavalent chromium and heptavalent manganese in aqueous sulfuric acid and micellar media - a kinetic approach

Summary Oxidation of the Fe^II chelates [FeL] (L = phen or bipy) by Cr^VI and Mn^VII in H₂SO₄ medium was found to proceed through the formation of a bimetallic insertion complex which decomposes in the slow step, followed by electron transfer from [FeL] to the oxidant. The reactions are catalysed by both anionic and non-ionic micelles [SDS and triton-x (Tx), respectively]. A mechanism is suggested involving electrostatic stabilization of the cationic forms of the Fe^II chelates by anionic SDS and the partial anionic character of polyoxyethylene moiety of Tx, respectively. The marginal catalysis of cationic micelles (CTAB) is attributed to co-anion-micellar interactions.     

Buffers for the Physiological pH Range: Thermodynamics of the Second Dissociation of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic Acid From 5 to 55°C

The second acidic dissociation constants pK ₂ of the ampholyte N-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (HEPPSO) have been determined at seven temperatures from 5 to 55°C from emf measurements utilizing hydrogen and silver–silver chloride cells without liquid junction. The thermodynamic quantities, G°, H°,S°, and C _p ^o have been calculated from the temperature coefficient of pK ₂. At 25°C, the pK ₂ = 8.042 and at 37°C, pK ₂ = 7.876; hence, buffer solutions of HEPPSO and NaHEPPSOate are important for pH control in the region close to that of clinical fluids (blood serum). Conventional pH values from 5 to 55°C as well as those obtained from liquid junction correction at 25 and 37°C have been reported for three buffer solutions with the compositions (molality scale): (1) equimolal mixture of HEPPSO (0.04 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.04 m) + NaCl (0.12 m); (2) HEPPSO (0.08 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.08 m); and (3) HEPPSO (0.08 m) + NaHEPPSOate (0.08 m) + NaCl (0.08 m).     

Solid-state diphotocyclization of iso- and terephthalaldehydes via dihalogen substitution

The supramolecular nonbonded C-H...X interactions between formyl hydrogens and ortho-halogen atoms (Br/Cl) have been exploited to achieve conformational control in the solid state of dimethyl-substituted iso- and terephthaladehydes (1-3) for unprecedented diphotocyclization. It is shown that the dihalogen substitution also contributes to the stability of the benzocyclobutenols relative to their precursor photoenols, so that the solid-state photolysis of dialdehydes 2b, 2c, and 3b leads to diphotocyclization to afford respectable yields of bis-benzocyclobutenols.     

Photosensitivity,substituent and solvent-induced shifts in UV-visible absorption bands of naphthyl-ester liquid crystals: a comparative theoretical approach

The substituent- and solvent-induced shifts in UV-visible absorption bands of naphthyl-ester nematic liquid crystals, viz., 4-octylphenyl-6-octyloxy-2-naphthoate (NAPHE1) and 6-octyloxy-2-naphthylyl-4-octyloxybenzoate (NAPHE2), have been investigated using the DFT, CNDO/S and INDO/S methods. A correlation has been made between molecular charge distribution and phase stability based on Mulliken, Loewdin, AM1, PM3, MNDO, CNDO/S and INDO/S methods. The observed π→π* and n→π* electronic transitions have been reported. The substituent- and solvent-induced shifts in absorption bands, transition energies and energy gaps have been discussed. The photosensitivity of the molecules has been analysed based on these shifts. It has been observed that the substituent has a dominant role on both absorption maxima and energy band gap, whereas the solvent has a dominant role only on absorption maxima, and no effect has been observed on the energy gap. These shifts may provide beneficial consequences in determining the end use of compounds.