Structure and effects of annealing in colloidal matrix‐free Ge quantum dots

The structure of small (2–5 nm) Ge quantum dots prepared by the colloidal synthesis route is examined. Samples were synthesized using either GeO₂ or GeCl₄ as precursor. As‐prepared samples were further annealed under Ar or H₂/Ar atmosphere at different temperatures in order to understand the effect of annealing on their structure. It was found that as‐prepared samples possess distinctly different structures depending on their synthesis route as indicated by their long‐range ordering. An appreciable amount of oxygen was found to be bound to Ge in samples prepared with GeO₂ as a precursor; however, not for GeCl₄. Based on combined transmission electron microscope, Raman, X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray absorption measurements, it is suggested that as‐prepared samples are best described by the core‐shell model with a small nano‐crystalline core and an amorphous outer layer terminated either with oxygen or hydrogen depending on the synthesis route. Annealing in an H₂Ar atmosphere leads to sample crystallization and further nanoparticle growth, while at the same time reducing the Ge—O bonding. X‐ray diffraction measurements for as‐prepared and annealed samples indicate that diamond‐type and metastable phases are present.     

A general bilinear form to generate different wave structures of solitons for a (3+1)‐dimensional Boiti‐Leon‐Manna‐Pempinelli equation

In this paper, we investigate a (3+1)‐dimensional Boiti‐Leon‐Manna‐Pempinelli equation (3D‐BMLP). By using bilinear forms under certain conditions, we obtain different wave structures for the 3D‐BMLP. Among these waves, lump waves, breather waves, mixed waves, and multi‐soliton wave solutions are constructed. The propagation and the dynamical behavior of the obtained solutions are discussed for different values of the free parameters.     

Modeling of Swelling Behaviors of Acrylamide-Based Polymeric Hydrogels by Intelligent System

Hydrogels based on acrylamide (AAm) were synthesized by free radical polymerization in an aqueous solution using N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm) as crosslinker. To obtain anionic hydrogels, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPS) and acrylic acid (AAc) were used as comonomers. The swelling behaviors of all hydrogel systems were modeled using an artificial neural network (ANN) and compared with a multivariable least squares regression (MLSR) model and phenomenal model. The predictions from the ANN model, which associated input parameters, including the amounts of crosslinker (MBA) and comonomer, and swelling values with time, produce results that show excellent correlation with experimental data. The parameters of swelling kinetics and water diffusion mechanisms of the hydrogels were calculated using the obtained experimental data. Model analysis indicated that the ANN models could accurately describe complex swelling behaviors of highly swellable hydrogels.     

Sugar recovery of enzymatic hydrolysed oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber by chemical pretreatment

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of solvent composition and temperature on the efficiency of pretreatment prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. The aim was to improve the sugar recovery of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (EFBF) through enzymatic hydrolysis. Two types of pretreatments, namely, acidified-glycerol (AC-g) pretreatment and alkaline-glycerol (AL-g) pretreatment were conducted. The study proved that AL-g pretreatment promoted higher delignification and enzymatic hydrolyzed sugar yield compared to AC-g pretreatment. Total sugar recovery of 81.44 and 96.55 % was achieved from AL-g pretreatment at 80 and 120 °C respectively, following the enzymatic hydrolysis. However, downstream industrial processes, involving enzyme treatment along the processing line have the preference of acidic condition. Thus, AC-g pretreatment was favorable. Approximately 51.74 % total sugar had been recovered successfully from enzymatic hydrolysis of EFBF after 3 h of pretreatment by using solvent comprising of 50 % acetic acid and 80 % aqueous glycerol at a ratio of 97:3 at 120 °C.     

The Synthesis of Some New Sulfur Heterocyclic Compounds as Potential Radioprotective and Anticancer Agents

Some novel 5-subistituted amino-3-methylthiophene-2,4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (3–6), 3,5-dimethyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydro-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimi-dine (7), imidazothienopyrimidene (8), and 1,2,4-triazolo-thienopyrimidine (11) were synthesized via a reaction of the isothiocyanate 2 with different reagents. The identification of the new compounds was established by elemental analysis, and IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectral data. Some prepared compounds were tested for their radioprotective and anticancer activities. Compounds 7 and 16 showed significant activities against EAC cells, while compound 5 exhibited radioprotective activity.     

The Utility of Isothiocyanato Thiophenes in the Synthesis of Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as Possible Radioprotective and Anticancer Agents

The synthesis of novel thioureido derivatives 3, 8, and 10; biscompounds 7, 9, and 11; and tetracyclic compounds 5, 6, and 16 utilizing 5-isothiocyanato-3-methyl-thiophene-2,4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester 2 are reported. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by microanalyses and IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectroscopy. Preliminary biological studies of some of the synthesized compounds showed promising radioprotective and anticancer activities.     

Catalytic Synthesis of 2-Methyl-1,4-Naphthoquinone (Vitamin K3) Over Silica-Supported Aminomethyl Phosphine-Ru(II), Pd(II), and Co(II) Complexes

Ru(II), Pd(II), and Co(II) complexes of the free ditertiary aminomethylphosphine ligand, N,N-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)aminopropyltriethoxysilane [(EtO)₃Si(CH₂)₃ N(CH₂PPh₂)₂] (DIPAPTES), and its SiO₂-DIPAPES have been synthesized under a nitrogen atmosphere using Schlenk techniques. All the complexes were used as catalysts for the oxidation of 2-methyl naphthalene (2MN) to give 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (vitamin K₃, menadione, 2MNQ) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as a clean and cheap oxidant. The catalytic synthesis of vitamin K₃ was investigated using both homogeneous catalysis with free complexes and heterogeneous catalysis with silica-supported complexes. [(DIPAPTES)PdCl₂] and its silica-supported form showed the best catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of 2-methyl naphthalene to 2-methyl-1,4-naphtoquinone compared to the other metal complexes. 2MNQ yield reached 52.26% with the 2MN conversion of 90.52% using complex [(DIPAPTES)PdCl₂] and 58.59% with the 2MN conversion of 99.56% using the silica supported [SiO₂(DIPAPES)PdCl₂] complex for 1 h. Recycling was investigated for the silica-supported Pd(II) complex and compared with the classical production of vitamin K₃.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

Spectrophotometric studies on the interactions of C.I. Basic Red 9 and C.I. Acid Blue 25 with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in cationic surfactant micelles

Interactions between cationic dye-cationic surfactant and anionic dye-cationic surfactant systems were investigated in aqueous solutions using spectrophotometric method at 288.15, 298.15, 308.15 and 318.15 K. C.I. Basic Red 9 (BR9) and C.I. Acid Blue 25 (AB25) were used as cationic and anionic dyes, respectively, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMABr) was selected as cationic surfactant in this study. Although there was an interaction between the AB25 and the HDTMABr molecules, an interaction between the BR9 and HDTMABr did not occur due to the electrostatic repulsion forces. Binding constants and partition coefficients between the micellar and the bulk water phases for the AB25-HDTMABr system were calculated from the changes in absorbance values and the critical micelle concentrations at different temperatures. It was found that the values of binding constant and partition coefficient decreased with increasing temperature. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG⁰, ΔH⁰ and ΔS⁰) were determined for the binding and partition processes of AB25-HDTMABr system. It was concluded from ΔG⁰ values that the binding of AB25 to HDTMABr occurred spontaneously. In addition, the binding and partition processes were exothermic.     

Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry

A new method of performing optical isotopic analysis of condensed samples in ambient air and at ambient pressure has been developed: Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry (LAMIS). The technique uses radiative transitions from molecular species either directly vaporized from a sample or formed by associative mechanisms of atoms or ions in a laser ablation plume. This method is an advanced modification of a known atomic emission technique called laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The new method — LAMIS — can determine not only chemical composition but also isotopic ratios of elements in the sample. Isotopic measurements are enabled by significantly larger isotopic shifts found in molecular spectra relative to atomic spectra. Analysis can be performed from a distance and in real time. No sample preparation or pre-treatment is required. Detection of the isotopes of hydrogen, boron, carbon, and oxygen are discussed to illustrate the technique.     

Understanding run-in behavior of diamond-like carbon friction and preventing diamond-like carbon wear in humid air

The friction behavior of diamond-like carbon (DLC) is very sensitive to the test environment. For hydrogen-rich DLC tested in dry argon and hydrogen, there was always an induction period, so-called "run-in" period, during which the friction coefficient was high and gradually decreased before DLC showed an ultralow friction coefficient (less than 0.01) behavior. Regardless of friction coefficients and hydrogen contents, small amounts of wear were observed in dry argon, hydrogen, oxygen, and humid argon environments. Surprisingly, there were no wear or rubbing scar on DLC surfaces tested in n-pentanol vapor conditions, although the friction coefficient was relatively high among the five test environments. Ex situ X-ray photoelectron and near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy analyses failed to reveal any differences in chemical composition attributable to the environment dependence of DLC friction and wear. The failure of getting chemical information of oxygenated surface species from the ex situ analysis was found to be due to facile oxidation of the DLC surface upon exposure to air. The removal or wear of this surface oxide layer is responsible for the run-in behavior of DLC. It was discovered that the alcohol vapor can also prevent the oxidized DLC surface from wear in humid air conditions.