Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering characteristics of CuO : Mn/Ag heterojunction probed by methyl orange: effect of Mn2+ doping

Interest in the synthesis of hybrid substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has surged recently. Hereof, in the present work, a hybrid SERS substrate CuO : Mn/Ag heterojunction has been synthesised. To accomplish this, the nanostructred Ag island film and CuO : Mn nanoparticles are synthesised by vacuum thermal evaporation method and sol–gel method respectively, and thereafter, a heterojunction between the CuO : Mn and Ag is fabricated by adsorption of CuO : Mn (10^‐3 m in ethanol) on Ag island film. Further, the SERS sensitivity of CuO : Mn/Ag heterojunctions has been studied by probing methyl orange. We observed that with Mn‐doping in the lattice of CuO, the SERS signal is enhanced considerably because of ferromagnetic ordering in CuO : Mn. DFT/B3LYP/6‐311 G(d, p) method is used to calculate the energy of HOMO and LUMO level of methyl orange. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One‐pot Regioselective Synthesis of Novel 1‐N‐Methyl‐spiro[2,3′]oxindole‐spiro[3,3″]‐1″‐N‐arylpyrrolidine‐2″,5″‐dione‐4‐arylpyrrolidines through Multicomponent 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction of Azomethine Ylide

An atom economic and facile synthesis of novel dispiro–oxindole–pyrrolidines has been achieved via a three‐component tandem cycloaddition of azomethine ylide generated in situ from isatin and sarcosine by decarboxylative condensation with N‐aryl‐3‐benzylidene‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐dione derivatives as dipolarophiles. The salient features of synthetic procedure are characterized by the mild reaction conditions, high yields, high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity, one‐pot procedure, and operational simplicity. This regioselectivity was assumed to be under the influence of π–π stacking interactions between the aromatic rings of azomethine ylide and N‐aryl‐3‐benzylidene‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐diones that further control the exo–endo selectivity of the reaction 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. The regiochemistry and structures of the cycloadducts were determined with spectroscopic data.     

Effect of microhydration on the atmospherically important metastable carbonyl sulfide anion: Structure,energetic, and infrared study

Structure, energetics, and vibrational frequency of the microhydrated carbonyl sulfide anion [OCS^?? (H₂O)_n (n = 1–6)] have been explored by the systematic ab initio study to have a comprehensive understanding about the hydration‐induced stabilization phenomenon of OCS^?. Water binds with the OCS^? in single hydrogen‐bonded (SHB) or double hydrogen‐bonded (DHB) fashion with O? H S and O? H O contacts. Maximum five water molecules can stay in a cyclic water network of these hydrated clusters forming interwater hydrogen bonding (IHB) with each other and out of this, maximum of two water molecules can bind directly to the OCS^? in (DHB) arrangement. The stabilization energy values of OCS^?? (H₂O)_n depict that ion–water interaction is significant up to four water molecules and beyond that OCS^? is stabilized by IHB between the water molecules. The CO stretching frequency of OCS^? gets red shifted, whereas CS stretching frequency gets blue shifted on hydration. Charge analysis of hydrated clusters of OCS^? indicates that negative charge moves toward oxygen from sulfur on hydration. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hydroxylation of the silica in microfabricated thin layer chromatography plates as probed by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy

Microfabricated silica thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates have previously been prepared on patterned carbon nanotube forests. The high temperatures used in their fabrication reduce the number of hydroxyl groups on their surfaces. Fortunately, silica can be rehydroxylated. In diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), a silanol peak below 3740 cm^?1 indicates a well‐hydroxylated silica surface that is fit for chromatography. Hydroxylations of our materials with HF are so effective that it is not possible to discern the position of this peak. In contrast, this signal is discernable when the plates are treated with NH₄OH. To find a more convenient method for studying the surfaces of TLC plates, time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF‐SIMS) was considered. ToF‐SIMS is advantageous because multiple microfabricated TLC plates must be scraped to obtain enough silica for one DRIFT analysis, while static SIMS can be performed on very small regions (500 × 500 µm² or less) of individual plates. Ratios of the SiOH⁺ and Si⁺ ToF‐SIMS signals for microfabricated TLC plates correlated well with ~3740 cm^?1 silanol peaks from DRIFT. Thus, SIMS allows direct analysis of all of our treated and untreated plates, including those hydroxylated with HF. The best hydroxylation condition for HF, which was better than any studied for NH₄OH, was around 150 ppm at room temperature. The best hydroxylation condition for NH₄OH was 50 °C for 72 h. ToF‐SIMS versus DRIFT results of commercial TLC plates were also obtained and evaluated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction potential models for bulk Zns,Zns nanoparticle,and Zns nanoparticle‐PMMA from first‐principles

An ab initio derived transferable polarizable force‐field has been developed for Zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanoparticle (NP) and ZnS NP‐PMMA nanocomposite. The structure and elastic constants of bulk ZnS using the new force‐field are within a few percent of experimental observables. The new force‐field show remarkable ability to reproduce structures and nucleation energies of nanoclusters (Zn₁S₁‐Zn₁₂S₁₂) as validated with that of the density functional theory calculations. A qualitative agreement of the radial distribution functions of Zn? O, in a ZnS nanocluster‐PMMA system, obtained using molecular mechanics molecular dynamics (MD) and ab initio MD (AIMD) simulations indicates that the ZnS–PMMA interaction through Zn? O bonding is explained satisfactorily by our force‐field. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Use of HPHT Autoclave to Determine Corrosion Inhibition Effect of Poly（methyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone） on Carbon Steels in 3.5% NaCl Solution Saturated with CO2

The influence of poly(methylmethacrylate-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), P(MMA-co-VP), on corrosion of carbon steels(J55, N80, P110 SS and C110 steels) in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution saturated with CO2 was evaluated using static high pressure and high temperature(HPHT) autoclave. The surface was further evaluated by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and contact angle measurements. Quantum chemical calculations have been used to evaluate the structural, electronic and reactivity parameters of the inhibitor on the steels surface. SEM, XRD and contact angle measurement studies reveal that the surface of metals are quite unaffected after use of inhibitor in 3.5% NaCl solution saturated with CO2.     

Review of the preparation,characterization, and luminescence properties of Pr3+-doped CaTiO3 phosphors

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In this paper we review the luminescence properties of Pr3+-doped CaTiO3 phosphors, the different methods of sample preparation, and characterization of the...     

Combined Experimental and Computational Investigations of Rhodium‐Catalysed CH Functionalisation of Pyrazoles with Alkenes

Detailed experimental and computational studies have been carried out on the oxidative coupling of the alkenes C₂H₃Y (Y=CO₂Me ( a ), Ph ( b ), C(O)Me ( c )) with 3‐aryl‐5‐R‐pyrazoles (R=Me ( 1 a ), Ph ( 1 b ), CF₃ ( 1 c )) using a [Rh(MeCN)₃Cp*][PF₆]₂/Cu(OAc)₂ ? H₂O catalyst system. In the reaction of methyl acrylate with 1 a , up to five products ( 2 aa – 6 aa ) were formed, including the trans monovinyl product, either complexed within a novel Cu^I dimer ( 2 aa ) or as the free species ( 3 aa ), and a divinyl species ( 6 aa ); both 3 aa and 6 aa underwent cyclisation by an aza‐Michael reaction to give fused heterocycles 4 aa and 5 aa , respectively. With styrene, only trans mono‐ and divinylation products were observed, whereas with methyl vinyl ketone, a stronger Michael acceptor, only cyclised oxidative coupling products were formed. Density functional theory calculations were performed to characterise the different migratory insertion and β‐H transfer steps implicated in the reactions of 1 a with methyl acrylate and styrene. The calculations showed a clear kinetic preference for 2,1‐insertion and the formation of trans vinyl products, consistent with the experimental results.