Camouflaging Structural Diversity: Co‐crystallization of Two Different Nanoparticles Having Different Cores But the Same Shell

Two ligand‐protected nanoscale silver moieties, [Ag₄₆(SPhMe₂)₂₄(PPh₃)₈](NO₃)₂ and [Ag₄₀(SPhMe₂)₂₄(PPh₃)₈](NO₃)₂ (abbreviated as Ag₄₆ and Ag₄₀, respectively) with almost the same shell but different cores were synthesized simultaneously. As their external structures are identical, the clusters were not distinguishable and become co‐crystallized. The occupancy of each cluster was 50 %. The outer shell of both is composed of Ag₃₂S₂₄P₈, which is reminiscent of fullerenes, and it encapsulates a well‐studied core, Ag₁₄ and a completely new core, Ag₈, which correspond to a face‐centered cube and a simple cube, respectively, resulting in the Ag₄₆ and Ag₄₀ clusters. The presence of two entities (Ag₄₀ and Ag₄₆ clusters) in a single crystal and their molecular formulae were confirmed by detailed electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The optical spectrum of the mixture showed unique features which were in good agreement with the results from time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT).     

Identification of potential inhibitors of coronavirus hemagglutinin-esterase using molecular docking,molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation

Molecular Diversity - The pandemic outbreak of the Corona viral infection has become a critical global health issue. Biophysical and structural evidence shows that spike protein possesses a high...     

Optical,structural, enhanced local vibrational and fluorescence properties in K-doped ZnO nanostructures

We studied structural, optical and vibrational properties of K-doped ZnO nanostructures. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the prepared particles are hexagonal wurtzite in structure. Increase in lattice parameters and unit cell volume is observed after K doping. Dopant influences on stress, strain of the system are studied using W–H plots. Band gap variation by doping of K is identified from optical absorption studies. Photoluminescence studies have given insight into the enhancement in blue emission observed by K doping along with the near band emission of nano ZnO. From Fourier transform infrared spectral measurements, K-related local vibration mode is observed along with the information related to influence of doping on characteristic vibrational modes of ZnO.     

Impact of yttria stabilized zirconia coating on diesel engine performance and emission characteristics fuelled by lemon grass oil biofuel

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The aim of present work is to improve the efficiency and reduce the harmful exhaust emissions from diesel engines. Neat lemongrass oil was selected as...     

Voltammetric sensing of sulfamethoxazole using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a graphitic carbon nitride and zinc oxide nanocomposite

A voltammetric sensor is described for the determination the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). It is based on the use of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a nanocomposite prepared from graphitic carbon nitride and zinc oxide (g-C₃N₄/ZnO). The nanorod-like ZnO nanostructure were synthesized sonochemically. The g-C₃N₄/ZnO nanocomposite was then prepared by mixing g-C₃N₄ with ZnO, followed by ultrasonication. The morphology and structure of the nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Under the optimal conditions, the response of the electrode, typically measured between 0.8 and 0.9 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), increases linearly in the 20 nM to 1.1 mM SMZ concentration range, and the lower detection limit is 6.6 nM. This is better than that of many previously reported sensors for SMZ. The modified electrode is highly selective, well reproducible and maintains its activity for at least 4 weeks. It was applied to the determination of SMZ in spiked human blood serum samples in with satisfactory results.

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Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the voltammetric sensor for sulfamethoxazole. It consists of a glassy carbon electrode modified with a nanocomposite prepared from graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄/ZnO) that was supported with zinc oxide nanorods.

     

Atomically Precise Nanocluster Assemblies Encapsulating Plasmonic Gold Nanorods

The self‐assembled structures of atomically precise, ligand‐protected noble metal nanoclusters leading to encapsulation of plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs) is presented. Unlike highly sophisticated DNA nanotechnology, this strategically simple hydrogen bonding‐directed self‐assembly of nanoclusters leads to octahedral nanocrystals encapsulating GNRs. Specifically, the p‐mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA)‐protected atomically precise silver nanocluster, Na₄[Ag₄₄(pMBA)₃₀], and pMBA‐functionalized GNRs were used. High‐resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron tomographic reconstructions suggest that the geometry of the GNR surface is responsible for directing the assembly of silver nanoclusters via H‐bonding, leading to octahedral symmetry. The use of water‐dispersible gold nanoclusters, Au_≈250(pMBA)_n and Au₁₀₂(pMBA)₄₄, also formed layered shells encapsulating GNRs. Such cluster assemblies on colloidal particles are a new category of precision hybrids with diverse possibilities.     

Stability results for scattered‐data interpolation on Euclidean spheres

Let denote the unit sphere in and the geodesic distance in . A spherical‐basis function approximant is a function of the form , where are real constants, is a fixed function, and is a set of distinct points in . It is known that if is a strictly positive definite function in , then the interpolation matrix is positive definite, hence invertible, for every choice of distinct points and every positive integer M. The paper studies a salient subclass of such functions , and provides stability estimates for the associated interpolation matrices. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Crystal structure of 8-(3,4-dimethylphenoxy)-16H dinaphtho[2,1-d:1′,2′-g] dioxaphosphocin 8-oxide

The title compound, C₂₉H₂₃O₄P crystallizes in the triclinic space group witha=9.636(1),b=10.327(1),c=13.406(1) Å, =102.22(1), =100.59(1), =109.84(1)^o.V=1178.1(2) ų,Z=2,D _cal=1.32 M gm^–3, (CuK)=6.16 cm^–1, (CuK)=1.5418 Å andT=295K. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares method to a finalR=0.052 andwR=0.063 for 2708 reflections withl3(l). The napthalene ring A lies perpendicular to the best plane of the phenyl ring [91.6(1)^o] and the ring B orients at an angle of 55.7(1)^o with this plane and is inclined at an angle of 77.8(1)^o with ring A. The heterocyclic phosphorous eight-membered ring assumes a distorted boat conformation.DCB Contribution No. 822.     

Synthesis, growth and characterization of a new nonlinear optical material: 4-phenylpyridinium hydrogen squarate (4PHS)

A novel organic non-linear optical organic single crystal of 4-phenylpyridinium hydrogen squarate (4PHS) has been synthesized and successfully grown from aqueous solutions by slow evaporation solution growth method. In the present investigation the title compound has been synthesized by taking equimolar quantity of 4-phenylpyridine and squaric acid and mixed thoroughly using double distilled water as the solvent. The prepared concentrated solution was placed in an undisturbed condition, and then the solution was periodically inspected. The good quality single crystals have been harvested in a time span of 3 weeks. Then the grown crystal was characterized as single crystal XRD, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, UV-vis-NIR, SHG, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR analyses, respectively. The observed results from the characterization analyses show its suitability for NLO applications when compared with some of the existing organic crystals. The relative second harmonic generation of this grown crystal was found to be five times higher than that of KDP crystal. The UV cut-off wavelength and decomposition temperature of this grown crystal were also comparatively better. (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopic studies were employed to elucidate the structure of the grown specimen.