Achieving structural control with thin polystyrene-b-polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer films: The complex relationship of interface chemistry,annealing methodology and process conditions

The structure of thin microphase-separated polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane (PS–PDMS) films has been studied using state-of-the-art top-down and cross-sectional electron microscopy. This is the first time that the profile of PS–PDMS films has been measured in situ and these measurements allowed us to image the shape of the PDMS domains within the film as well as examine the wetting behavior of the block copolymer film on a variety of substrates. It was found that for each polymer, substrate chemistry and annealing method combination examined, there was a small range of film thicknesses whereby the films exhibited the optimal characteristics of high levels of ordering without dewetting or multilayering. Specifically, the optimum thickness for films treated by thermal annealing was greater than that for the equivalent solvent annealed film; a change that was correlated with morphology variations related to solvent swelling of the solvent annealed films. The surface chemistry also induced changes in the optimum film thickness. Selective surfaces were shown to control whether a PDMS wetting layer was formed or not, leading to either thicker or thinner wetting optimum film thicknesses; while undulating morphologies were observed for less selective surfaces. Concomitant changes in the periodicity were then hypothesized to occur as a result of confinement effects and the selectivity of the surface.     

P2O5/SiO2 as an Efficient Reagent for Selective Deprotection of 1,1‐Diacetates under Solvent‐Free Conditions

A mild and efficient method has been developed for the selective deprotection of 1,1‐diacetates of aldehydes in excellent yields by means of the P₂O₅/SiO₂ reagent. Advantages of this method are the use of inexpensive and selective reagent, with high yields in simple operation, and short reaction time under solvent‐free conditions.     

Some fixed point theorems for weakly T-Chatterjea and weakly T-Kannan-contractive mappings in complete metric spaces

In this work we introduce the notions of generalized weakly T-Chatterjea-contractive and generalized weakly T-Kannan-contractive maps. For these classes of maps we obtain sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique fixed point in a complete metric space.     

Superoxide radical biosensor based on a nano-composite containing cytochrome c

A biosensor for the quantification of superoxide radical (O(2)˙(-)) was developed based on a nano-composite containing cytochrome c (Cyt c), carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). The immobilized Cyt c was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Using this biosensor a formal potential of -280 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) and electron transfer rate constant of 1.24 was recorded for the immobilized Cyt c in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0). The biosensor showed a relatively high sensitivity (7.455 A M(-1) cm(-2)) and a long term stability (180 days) towards O(2)˙(-) in the concentration range from 0.05 to 8.1 μM with a detection limit of 0.03 μM. The selectivity of the biosensor to O(2)˙(-) was verified when its response was compared with those obtained by four potential interfering substances (ascorbic acid, uric acid, acetaminophen and hydrogen peroxide).     

Effect of hydrophilicity of room temperature ionic liquids on the electrochemical and electrocatalytic behaviour of choline oxidase

In the present report, six different nano-composites contaning the same amine functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NH(2)-MWCNTs) but different room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) were prepared. Then, the efficiency of these nano-composites as supporting materials for studying the electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of choline oxidase (ChOx) as a model enzyme were compared. The corresponding cyclic voltammetric and amperometric data showed that the electrocatalytic activity and the electroanalytical performance of immobilized ChOx depends on the degree of hydrophilicity of RTILs used in the applied nano-composite. The higher stability (180 days), higher enzyme loading (6.56 mol cm(-2)), lower detection limit (3.85 μM) and wider linear range (0.005-0.8 mM) was obtained for the most hydrophilic RTIL (1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide).     

Hollow nanoshell-sphere Fe@Fe/Pd reactors: a magnetically recoverable catalyst for the C<Subscript>sp</Subscript>–S cross-coupling reactions in water

The hollow Pd–PVP–Fe nanosphere and Fe–PVP nanoparticle catalysts were synthesized by thermal method. Mixing of two metallic nanocatalysts was applied in the C_sp–S cross-coupling reactions between diphenyl disulfide and phenylacetylene under mild conditions in water. Results show that bi-catalytic system has higher catalytic efficiencies than their monocatalytic systems due to synergy between two catalysts. Order of adding two metallic catalysts were adjusted into the coupling reaction medium. Therefore, various bi-catalytic systems were obtained and characterized by XRD, SEM, EBSD, EDX, UV–Vis spectra, and particle size analyzer. Under special order of adding, the obtained hollow nanoshell-sphere Fe@Fe/Pd reactor showed higher catalytic activity in the coupling reaction compared to other bi-catalytic systems. The C_sp–S coupling products obtained of various diaryl disulfides and phenylacetylene at presence Fe@Fe/Pd (only 7.3?×?10^?5 mmol Pd) catalyst with moderate to high yields in water solvent and mild reaction conditions. After the reaction, the catalyst/product(s) separation could be easily achieved with an external magnet and more than 95% of catalyst could be recovered. The recovered catalyst was characterized by XRD, SEM, EBSD, EDX, and UV–Vis spectra. The Fe@Fe/Pd was reused at least six repeating cycles without any loss of its high catalytic activity. Tuning morphology and chemical composition of bi-catalytic system are key mainstays of high activity of Fe@Fe/Pd in repeating cycles of cross-coupling reactions.     

Single-shot distributed optical-fiber temperature sensing by the frequency-derived technique

We present, for the first time to our knowledge, a distributed optical-fiber temperature sensor, based on a pulsed laser, that provides distributed temperature measurement by use of a single pulse propagating in an optical fiber. The system uses the frequency-derived technique based on the optical Kerr effect. The performance of the system is investigated for the temperature range 33-150 degrees C. A linear relationship between the temperature and the derived frequency is obtained. The best temperature resolution was determined to be +/-1.2 degrees C. The best measured spatial resolution was 0.56 m.     

Sonochemical synthesis of a new nano-scale 1D copper organic coordination polymer; thermal and spectroscopic characterizations

Single crystal of a new one-dimensional copper organic coordination polymer, 1D-CuOCP, [Cu(HL)NO₃]_n (1) Miyasaka, H., Saitoh, A., Abe, S. (2007) Coord. Chem. Rev., 251(21): 2622–2664.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] (H₂L = [2-[1-(2-hydroxy-propylimino)-ethyl]-phenol]) and its nanostructure, have been synthesized by slow evaporation of methanol solution of compound (1) Miyasaka, H., Saitoh, A., Abe, S. (2007) Coord. Chem. Rev., 251(21): 2622–2664.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and sonochemical process respectively. Nanostructure of the complex was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the structure of compound 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Thermal stability of compound 1 in its nanosize form has also been studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of concentration of initial reagents on size and morphology of nanostructured compound 1 has been examined. The brightness of this study is to use the nanostructure of 1D-CuOCP as precursor to prepare single phase CuO nanoparticles via a solid-state decomposition procedure. Characterization methods confirmed that CuO nanoparticles with an average diameter of 40 nm were obtained from direct calcination of the precursor at 500°C under air.