A Tunneling Model for Afterglow Suppression in CsI:Tl,Sm Scintillation Materials

Combined radioluminescence, afterglow and thermoluminescence experiments on single-crystal samples of co-doped CsI:Tl,Sm suggest that samarium electron traps scavenge electrons from thallium traps and that electrons subsequently released by samarium recombine non-radiatively with trapped holes, thus suppressing afterglow. Experiments on single crystals support the inference that electrons tunnel freely between samarium ions and are trapped preferentially as substitutional Sm⁺ near V_KA(Tl⁺) centers where non-radiative recombination is the rate-limiting step. Afterglow in microcolumnar films of CsI:Tl,Sm is enhanced by inhomogeneities which impede tunneling between samarium ions, but is partly suppressed by annealing.     

An efficient and sustainable protocol for oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds

A simple and extremely efficient protocol is developed for oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds at room temperature by using green solvent lactic acid and green oxidant H₂O₂. This protocol provides high conversion under catalyst free conditions. The easy work up procedure allows high selectivity and good to excellent yields of carbonyl compounds with purity. We have performed wide range of substrates in present study with primary focus on reusability of lactic acid.     

A novel method for the synthesis of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole from oxime and sodium azide

A simple and efficient protocol is developed for the synthesis of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles from various oximes and sodium azide (NaN₃) by using copper acetate as a catalyst.     

Determination of isoniazid and hydrazine by capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection at a Pt-particle modified carbon fiber microelectrode

Capillary electrpphoresis (CE)/electrochemical detection (EC) for the simultane-ous determination of hydrazine and isoniazid has been developed.The electrochemical method uses a novel modified electrode dispersed with ultrafine platinum particles on the surface of a 30μm carbon fiber microelectrode.The unique characteristic of the Pt-particles modified carbon fiber microelectrode is its excellent stability.The current measurement for hydrazine is more sensitive than that of isoniazid.Selective determination of trace amount of free hydrazine in isoniazid and its formulation can be achieved at applied potential of 0.5V.     

Facile approach to the electrochemical synthesis of palladium-reduced graphene oxide and its application for Suzuki coupling reaction

Electrochemically codeposited palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) and reduced graphene oxide (ERGO-Pd) were used as catalyst for Suzuki cross coupling reactions. The catalyst was characterized by various analytical techniques. The mean particle size of Pd was found to be 5.7 ± 1.8 nm. The ERGO-Pd catalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic activity and recyclability for Suzuki cross coupling reactions. The remarkable reactivity of the ERGO-Pd catalyst toward cross-coupling reactions is attributed to the high degree of the dispersion of Pd NPs on reduced graphene oxide with narrow size distribution from 3 to 9 nm.     

Two‐in‐One: Inherent Anhydrous and Water‐Assisted High Proton Conduction in a 3D Metal–Organic Framework

The development of solid‐state proton‐conducting materials with high conductivity that operate under both anhydrous and humidified conditions is currently of great interest in fuel‐cell technology. A 3D metal–organic framework (MOF) with acid–base pairs in its coordination space that efficiently conducts protons under both anhydrous and humid conditions has now been developed. The anhydrous proton conductivity for this MOF is among the highest values that have been reported for MOF materials, whereas its water‐assisted proton conductivity is comparable to that of the organic polymer Nafion, which is currently used for practical applications. Unlike other MOFs, which conduct protons either under anhydrous or humid conditions, this compound should represent a considerable advance in the development of efficient solid‐state proton‐conducting materials that work under both anhydrous and humid conditions.     

Investigating the vortex melting phenomenon in BSCCO crystals using magneto-optical imaging technique

Using a novel differential magneto-optical imaging technique we investigate the phenomenon of vortex lattice melting in crystals of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO). The images of melting reveal complex patterns in the formation and evolution of the vortex solid-liquid interface with varying field (H)/temperature (T). We believe that the complex melting patterns are due to a random distribution of material disorder/inhomogeneities across the sample, which create fluctuations in the local melting temperature or field value. To study the fluctuations in the local melting temperature/field, we have constructed maps of the melting landscape T _m(H, r), viz., the melting temperature (T _m) at a given location (r) in the sample at a given field (H). A study of these melting landscapes reveals an unexpected feature: the melting landscape is not fixed, but changes rather dramatically with varying field and temperature along the melting line. It is concluded that the changes in both the scale and shape of the landscape result from the competing contributions of different types of quenched disorder which have opposite effects on the local melting transition.     

Tandem Ring‐Opening–Ring‐Closing Metathesis for Functional Metathesis Catalysts

Use of a tandem ring‐opening–ring‐closing metathesis (RORCM) strategy for the synthesis of functional metathesis catalysts is reported. Ring opening of 7‐substituted norbornenes and subsequent ring‐closing metathesis forming a thermodynamically stable 6‐membered ring lead to a very efficient synthesis of new catalysts from commercially available Grubbs’ catalysts. Hydroxy functionalized Grubbs’ first‐ as well as third‐generation catalysts have been synthesized. Mechanistic studies have been performed to elucidate the order of attack of the olefinic bonds. This strategy was also used to synthesize the ruthenium methylidene complex.