Biotransformation of butyltin compounds using pure strains of microorganisms

The debutylation of tributyltin chloride by several strains of fungi, yeasts and bacteria is described. Under standard conditions and with low initial concentration of substrate, significant biotic degradation of tributyltin (6–32%) was detected after five days at 28°C. Dibutyltin and monobutyltin were formed in all cases, with higher yields of the latter. Two microorganisms catalysed the transformation of monobutyltin to dimethyltin and trimethytin whereas all microorganisms were able to methylate inorganic tin(IV) to trimethyltin. Our results suggest that tributyltin biodegradation by microorganisms is generally possible, provided sufficiently low concentrations of substrate are used.     

Synthesis of a highly thermally stable octupolar polyimide for nonlinear optics

A new polyimide with covalently incorporated 4,4'-bis-(dialkylaminostyryl)-2,2'-bipyridine chromophores is described which allows the synthesis of the corresponding NLO octupolar metallo-polymer.     

Thermal cycles, interface chemistry and optical performance of Mg/SiC multilayers

The interplay between optical performance and the thermally activated interface chemistry of periodic Mg/SiC multilayers designed for application at 30.4 nm are investigated by optical (hard X-ray, soft X-ray and ultraviolet ranges, i.e. from 0.154 to 30.4 nm) reflectivity and X-ray emission spectroscopy. The multilayers are prepared by magnetron sputtering and then annealed up to a temperature of 500 °C. Two clear changes take place in the multilayer upon annealing. At first, between 200 and 300 °C a strong decrease of the reflectivity is observed, due to the development of interfacial roughness following the crystallization of the Mg layers. No interfacial compound is detected. Then, between 350 and 400 °C there is formation of the Mg₂Si magnesium silicide at the interfaces following the reaction between the Mg and SiC layers. This also leads to the almost total loss of reflectivity of the multilayer. Thus, this kind of multilayer is thermally stable only for application requiring no heating above 200 °C.     

X-ray interface analysis of aperiodic Mo/Si multilayers

We present the non-destructive analysis of aperiodic Mo/Si multilayers by X-ray emission spectroscopy induced by electrons. The Si 3p occupied valence states of the silicon atoms present within these structures are analysed. Because of the great sensitivity of these states to the physico-chemical environment of the Si atoms, it is possible to distinguish the emission from the center of the Si layer (amorphous silicon) to that of the interfacial zones between the Mo and Si layers. Thus, the presence of molybdenum silicides is evidenced in the interfacial zones. It is also shown that the relative proportion of interfacial silicides depends on the deposition conditions.     

Unexpected Efficiency of a Luminescent Samarium(III) Complex for Combined Visible and Near‐Infrared Biphotonic Microscopy

An original samarium(III) complex based on a triazacyclononane platform functionalized with a charge‐transfer antenna chromophore exhibited optimized brightness and was successfully used as an emissive species for two‐photon microscopy experiments in both the visible and near‐infrared spectral ranges.     

Biotransformation of tributyltin chloride in the presence of resting-cell suspensions of pure strains of microorganisms

We describe the degradation of tributyltin chloride by several strains of fungi, yeasts and bacteria under resting-cell conditions in phosphate buffer, with low initial concentrations of substrate. Yields of biotic conversion of tributyltin ranging from 10 to 77% were observed after a five-day incubation at 28°C. In most cases, dibutyltin and monobutyltin compounds and a fraction of volatile products were formed. Volatile tin compounds essentially included derivatives of monobutyltin and traces of other organomethyltins (mono-, di-, and trimethyltins; di- and tri-butyltins), probably as the corresponding organostannanes. Compared with conditions in which the substrate was incubated with growing microorganisms, higher yields of degradation and substantial amounts of volatile products were obtained.     

Benzothiadiazole-Substituted Aza-BODIPY Dyes: Two-Photon Absorption Enhancement for Improved Optical Limiting Performances in the Short-Wave IR Range

Aza-boron dipyrromethenes (aza-BODIPYs) presenting a benzothiadiazole substitution on upper positions are described. The strong electron-withdrawing effect of the benzothiadiazole moiety permits enhancement of the accepting strength and improves the delocalization of the aza-BODIPY core to attain a significant degree of electronic communication between the lower donating groups and the upper accepting groups. The nature of the intramolecular charge transfer is studied both experimentally and theoretically. Linear spectroscopy highlighted the strongly redshifted absorption and emission of the synthesized molecules with recorded fluorescence spectra over 1000 nm. Nonlinear optical properties were also investigated. Strong enhancement of the two-photon absorption of the substituted dyes compared with the unsubstituted one (up to 4520 GM at 1300 nm) results in an approximately 15–20 % improvement of the optical power limiting performances. These dyes are therefore a good starting point for further improvement of optical power limiting in the short-wave IR range.     

An improved singlet oxygen sensitizer with two-photon absorption and emission in the biological transparency window as a result of ground state symmetry-breaking

A chromophore featuring a diyne bridge that connects two dibromobenzene moieties shows a much improved two-photon singlet oxygen generation ability in the biological transparency window compared to a related and relevant literature benchmark, as a result of a distorted ground state.