Optically active Babinet planar metamaterial film for terahertz polarization manipulation

A planar Babinet‐inverted dimer metamaterial possessing strong optical activity is proposed and characterized. An original fabrication method to produce large area (up to several cm²) freely suspended flexible metallic membranes is implemented to fabricate the metamaterial. Its optical properties are characterized by terahertz time‐domain spectroscopy, revealing anisotropic transmission with high optical activity. A simple coupled resonator model is applied to explain the principal optical features of the dimers, with predictive power of positions and number of resonances through a parametrical model. The model is validated for correct polarization‐dependent quantitative results on the optical activity in transmission spectra. The fabrication method presented in this work as well as the slit dimer design has great potential for exploitation in terahertz optics.     

Quantum Control in Foundational Experiments

We describe a new class of experiments designed to probe the foundations of quantum mechanics. Using quantum controlling devices, we show how to attain a freedom in temporal ordering of the control and detection of various phenomena. We consider wave–particle duality in the context of quantum-controlled and the entanglement-assisted delayed-choice experiments. Then we discuss a quantum-controlled CHSH experiment and measurement of photon’s transversal position and momentum in a single set-up.     

Development of a nanocomposite system and its application in biosensors construction

The present work describes the development of a nanocomposite system and its application in construction of a new amperometric biosensor applied in the determination of total polyphenolic content from propolis extracts. The nanocomposite system was based on covalent immobilization of laccase on functionalized indium tin oxide nanoparticles and it was morphologically and structural characterized. The casting of the developed nanocomposite system on the surface of a screen-printed electrode was used for biosensor fabrication. The analytical performance characteristics of the settled biosensor were determined for rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and catechol (as laccase specific substrate). The linearity was obtained in the range of 1.06×10^?6 ? 1.50×10^?5 mol L^?1 for rosmarinic acid, 1.90×10^?7 ? 2.80×10^?6 mol L^?1 for caffeic acid and 1.66×10^?6 ? 7.00×10^?6 mol L^?1 for catechol. A good sensitivity of amperometric biosensor 141.15 nA µmol^?1 L^?1 and fair detection limit 7.08×10^?8 mol L^?1 were obtained for caffeic acid. The results obtained for polyphenolic content of propolis extracts were compared with the chromatographic data obtained by liquid-chromatography with diode array detection.      

Influences of changes in multitopic tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand topology on silver(I) supramolecular structures

The reactions between silver tetrafluoroborate and the ligands 1,2,4,5-C(6)H(2)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](4) (L1, pz = pyrazolyl ring), o-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2) (L2), and m-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2) (L3) yield coordination polymers of the formula (C(6)H(6)(-)(n)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](n)(AgBF4)(m))( infinity ) (n = 4, m = 2, 1; n = 2, ortho substitution, m = 1, 2; meta substitution, m = 2, 3). In the solid state, L2 molecules dimerize by a pair of C-H.pi interactions, forming an arrangement that resembles the tetratopic ligand L1. In the solid-state structure of 1, each silver atom is kappa(2)-bonded to two tris(pyrazolyl)methane units from different ligands with the overall structure a polymer made up from 32-atom macrocyclic rings formed by bonding tris(pyrazolyl)methane groups from nonadjacent positions on the central arene rings to the same two silver atoms. In 2, each silver is bonded to two tris(pyrazolyl)methane units in the same kappa(2)-kappa(2) fashion as with 1, forming a polymer chain. The chains are organized into dimeric units by strong face-to-face pi-pi stacking between the central arene rings making bitopic L2 act as half of tetratopic L1. The chains in both structures are organized by weak C-H.F hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions into very similar 3D supramolecular architectures. The structure of 3 contains three types of silvers with the overall 3D supramolecular sinusoidal structure comprised of 32-atom macrocycles. Infrared studies confirm the importance of the noncovalent interactions. Calculations at the DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) level of theory have been carried out on L2 and also support C-H.pi interactions. Electrospray mass spectral data collected from acetone or acetonitrile show the presence of aggregated species such as [(L)Ag(2)(BF(4))](+) and [(L)Ag(2)](2+), despite the fact that (1)H NMR spectra of all compounds show that acetonitrile completely displaces the ligand whereas acetone does not.     

Optimization of acetylcholinesterase immobilization on microelectrodes based on nitrophenyl diazonium for sensitive organophosphate insecticides detection

The immobilization of acetylcholinesterase on platinum microelectrodes modified with p-nitrobenzenediazonium is optimized. In the first step, a layer of p-nitrophenyl groups was deposited on the surface and then reduced to p-aminophenyl groups. Finally, the enzyme was linked to the amino groups on the surface using glutaraldehyde. Each step of the electrode modification was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at acidic and neutral pH to modify the electric charges of different bound moieties. The deposition of diazonium groups was attempted by potentiometry, amperometry or CV, but only potentiometry proceeded without passivation of the surface. The use of microelectrodes improved the limit of detection of ethylparaoxon measurements to 20 nM (compared to 100 nM in case of screen-printed electrodes based on the same method of immobilization). The method allowed the production of stable and reproducible amperometric microbiosensors and may be adapted to other enzymes and electrode materials.     

Supramolecular structural variations with changes in anion and solvent in silver(I) complexes of a semirigid, bitopic tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand

The bitopic ligand p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2) (pz = pyrazolyl ring) that contains two tris(pyrazolyl)methane units connected by a semirigid organic spacer reacts with silver(I) salts to yield [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgX)(2)]( infinity ), where X = CF(3)SO(3)(-) (1), SbF(6)(-) (2), PF(6)(-) (3), BF(4)(-) (4), and NO(3)(-) (5). Crystallization of the first three compounds from acetone yields [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgCF(3)SO(3))(2)]( infinity ) (1a), [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgSbF(6))(2)[(CH(3))(2)CO](2)]( infinity ) (2b), and [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)AgPF(6)]( infinity ) (3a), where the stoichiometry for the latter compound has changed from a metal:ligand ratio of 2:1 to 1:1. The structure of 1a is based on helical argentachains constructed by a kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination to silver of the tris(pyrazolyl)methane units. These chains are organized into a tubular 3D structure by cylindrical [(CF(3)SO(3))(6)](6)(-) clusters that form weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds with the bitopic ligand. The same kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination is present in the structure of 2a, but the structure is organized by six different tris(pyrazolyl)methane units from six ligands bonding with six silvers to form a 36-member argentamacrocycle core. The cores are organized in a tubular array by the organic spacers where each pair of macrocycles sandwich six acetone molecules and one SbF(6)(-) counterion. The structure of 3a is based on a kappa(2)-kappa(0) coordination mode of each tris(pyrazolyl)methane unit forming a helical coordination polymer, with two strands organized in a double stranded helical structure by a series of C-H...pi interactions between the central arene rings. Crystallization of 2-4 from acetonitrile yields complexes of the formula [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)[(AgX)(2)(CH(3)CN)(n)]]( infinity ) where n = 2 for X = SbF(6)(-) (2b), X = PF(6)(-) (3b) and n = 1 for X = BF(4)(-) (4b). All three structures contain argentachains formed by a kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination mode of the tris(pyrazolyl)methane units linked by the organic spacer and arranged in a 2D sheet structure with the anions sandwiched between the sheets. Crystallization of 5 from acetonitrile yields crystals of the formula [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgNO(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)]( infinity ), where the nitrate is bonded to the silver. The argentachains, again formed by kappa(2)-kappa(1) coordination, are arranged in W-shaped sheets that have an overall configuration very different from 2b-4b. Treating [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgSbF(6))(2)]( infinity ) with a saturated aqueous solution of KPF(6) or KO(3)SCF(3) slowly leads to complete exchange of the anion. Crystallization of a sample that contains an approximately equal mixture of SbF(6)(-)/PF(6)(-) from acetonitrile yields [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)[Ag(2)(PF(6))(0.78(1))(SbF(6))(1.22(1))(CH(3)CN)(2)][(CH(3)CN)(0.25) (C(4)H(10)O)(0.25)]]( infinity ), a compound with a sheet structure analogous to 2b-4b. Crystallization of the same mixture from acetone yields [p-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2)(AgSbF(6))[(CH(3))(2)CO](1.5)]( infinity ), where the metal-to-ligand ratio is 1:1 and the [C(pz)(3)] units are kappa(2)-kappa(0) bonded forming a coordination polymer. The supramolecular structures of all species are organized by a combination of C-H...pi, pi-pi, or weak C-H-F(O) hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Isomerization of a peptidic fragment studied theoretically in vacuum and in explicit water solvent at finite temperature

The cis-trans isomerization of N-methylacetamide, a molecular model of the polypeptide chain, is examined via umbrella sampling Car-Parrinello MD and classical MD, in both gas and solution phases at 300 K. A new analysis of the C(O)-N bond interconversion and a full examination of the solvent shell structure are presented.     

Explanation of Anomalous Gas-Chromatographic (Gc) Behaviour in a Homologous Series of 2-Chloroethyl Phosphonic Acid Dialkyl Esters

Abstract

The study of GC separation of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid di-n-alkyl (1–5 C atoms) esters (synthesised by us) on silicone stationary phases (OV-1, OV-17, OV-225) revealed a deviation from the expected linear dependence of retention indexes (RI) versus the number of C atoms of the alkyl chain: the first member of the series presents stronger retention than one can expect. This anomalous behaviour was observed especially on polar stationary phase (OV-225, see Figure l), and was emphasised with the increase of the column temperature. In an attempt to rationalise the above mentioned facts, we tried to relate the RI values to a global polarity parameter: the dipole moment, μ. The μ values for ClC₂H₄P(O)(OR)₂ were calculated by a method described in [1] (tested by comparing the calculated μ values with experimental ones for alkyl phosphonic acid dialkylesters), using molecular mechanics (COSMIC package) in the search of the conformational space, AM1 method (MOPAC 6.0) for the μ values of the conformers, and Boltzmann distribution for the global value (see Table I). At low temperature, the μ values are not related to the Kovats indexes. Those calculated at 200°C (column temperature range) demonstrate that, indeed, only in the case of the methyl derivative, the temperature rising led to a higher μ (enhanced population of the more polar conformers: ac position for the C-Ethyl group - ac for the Cl, μ ≈ 27 D, or ±ap for one R, μ ≈ 3.8 ÷ 4.3 D). It can be concluded that dipole-dipole forces contribute to the separation process of the first members of the series.     

Structural reinvestigation of ammonium hypophosphite: was dihydrogen bonding observed long ago?

The past decade has seen the explosive emergence of "dihydrogen bonds", interactions between the electrons of M-H sigma-bonds, where M is less electronegative than H (M = Al, B, Ga, Ir, Mo, Mn, Os, Re, Ru, W) and traditional proton donors. But 70 years ago, such an interaction was proposed by Zachariasen and Mooney [J. Chem. Phys. 1934, 2, 34-37] on the basis of their single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure (heavy atoms positions only) of ammonium hypophosphite (NH(4)H(2)PO(2)). We redetermined this structure at high resolution with a focus on the hydrogen atoms, using a modern diffractometer equipped with a CCD detector. Molecular orbital calculations were performed to investigate the charge density and the bond polarity of the P-H bonds and to assess their potential for participation in dihydrogen bonds. Neither the theory nor the X-ray structure supports the original claim of H...H interactions in this salt.