Electrochemical and STM studies of 1-thio-β-D-glucose self-assembled on a Au(111) electrode surface

In this study, a Au(111) electrode is functionalized with a monolayer of 1-thio-β-D-glucose (β-Tg), producing a hydrophilic surface. A monolayer of β-Tg was formed on a Au(111) surface by either (1) potential-assisted deposition with the thiol in a supporting electrolyte or (2) passive incubation of a gold substrate in a thiol-containing solution. For each method, the properties of the β-Tg monolayer were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential capacitance (DC), and chronocoulometry. In addition, electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) was used to obtain images of the self-assembled monolayer with molecular resolution. Potential-assisted assembly of β-Tg onto a Au(111) electrode surface was found to be complicated by oxidation of β-Tg molecules. The EC-STM images revealed formation of a passive layer containing honeycomb-like domains characteristic of a formation of S(8) rings, indicating the S-C bond may have been cleaved. In contrast, passive self-assembly of thioglucose from a methanol solution was found to produce a stable, disordered monolayer of β-Tg. Since the passive assembly method was not complicated by the presence of a faradaic process, it is the method of choice for modifying the gold surface with a hydrophilic monolayer.     

Numerical investigation of mid-infrared emission from Pr^{3+} doped GeAsGaSe fibre

The experimentally obtained luminescence characteristics of a praseodymium (Pr $^{3+})$ doped chalcogenide glass fiber are studied numerically using a rate equation approach. The numerical model includes both the radiative and non-radiative transition paths whilst it neglects the up-conversion processes. Photoluminescence spectra at mid-infrared wavelengths ranging from 3.5 to 6   ${\upmu }$ m were obtained by using two pump wavelengths: 1.55 and 1.94   ${\upmu }$ m. A good agreement between the experiment and theory is obtained for the photoluminescence decay profiles.     

Mechanism of Water Dynamics in Hyaluronic Dermal Fillers Revealed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry

¹H spin−lattice nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation experiments were performed for five kinds of dermal fillers based on hyaluronic acid. The relaxation data were collected over a broad frequency range between 4 kHz and 40 MHz, at body temperature. Thanks to the frequency range encompassing four orders of magnitude, the dynamics of water confined in the polymeric matrix was revealed. It is demonstrated that translation diffusion of the confined water molecules exhibits a two-dimensional character and the diffusion process is slower than diffusion in bulk water by 3–4 orders of magnitude. As far as rotational dynamics of the confined water is concerned, it is shown that in all cases there is a water pool characterized by a rotational correlation time of about 4×10⁻⁹ s. In some of the dermal fillers a fraction of the confined water (about 10 %) forms a pool that exhibits considerably slower (by an order of magnitude) rotational dynamics. In addition, the water binding capacity of the dermal fillers was quantitatively compared.     

Growth and EPR properties of KSm(WO4)2 and KEr(WO4)2 single crystals

Growth conditions and electron paramagnetic resonance investigations of two well oriented KSm(WO₄)₂ and KEr(WO₄)₂ single crystals have been presented and discussed. Hyperfine structure of Sm³⁺ ion was detected and analyzed for angular and temperature dependences. EPR spectra of KEr(WO₄)₂ and its angular dependence showed the presence of 5 magnetically nonequivalent Er centers in the crystal. A change in the type of magnetic interactions was analyzed using mixed (Gaussian and Lorentzian) fits of the EPR spectra.     

EPR and optical properties of KYb(WO4)2 and KTb0.2Yb0.8(WO4)2 single crystals

Well oriented KYb(WO₄)₂ and KTb_0.2Yb_0.8(WO₄)₂ single crystals have been investigated for their magnetic and optical properties using the Raman and EPR techniques. The registered EPR signal is dominated by three lines ascribed to ytterbium ions: one main and two satellites. Tb ions, although non-paramagnetic, distinctly modify magnetic properties of the KYb(WO₄)₂ single crystal. Basic parameters of the spin Hamiltonian, including Zeeman and hyperfine terms (g and A matrices) as well the spatial orientation between principal and crystallographic axes systems were determined for both crystals.     

Reactions of titanium alkoxide with SiH containing polymers as a route to titanium/siloxane hybrid materials with enhanced refractive index

Reactions of titanium tetrabutoxide with polyhydromethylsiloxane (PHMS) and with some hydromethylsiloxane copolymers were used for synthesis of light transparent materials having enhanced refractive index. The FTIR, ¹H NMR and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopies were used to study the reaction between PHMS and titanium tetrabutoxide in toluene. Reaction of SiH functional siloxane polymers with titanium tetrabutoxide results in a titanium-containing heterosiloxane prepolymers that are stable under anhydrous anaerobic conditions. Exposure of the resulting materials to humid air transforms them into light transparent titanium/siloxane nanocomposites with enhanced refractive index. The films of these composites formed during the spin-coating process were characterized by UV–Vis, ellipsometry, IR and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Titanium/siloxane hybrid films obtained on the basis of poly(phenylmethylsiloxane-co-hydromethylsiloxane) copolymer are free of cracks and have a refractive index of up to 1.60.     

Topological analysis of the electron localisation function (ELF) applied to the electronic structure of oxaziridine: the nature of N-O bond

Structural Chemistry - Topological analysis of the electron localisation function (ELF), natural bond orbital and Wiberg bond index calculations have been applied to study the electronic structure...     

Temperature dependence of the EPR lines in weakly doped LiNbO3:Yb—possible evidence of Yb ion pairs formation

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of LiNbO₃ single crystal doped with 1 wt% of Yb³⁺ are reported. To put the EPR results in perspective, a brief discussion of optical absorption spectroscopy investigations of LiNbO₃:Yb³⁺ is provided. The temperature behavior of the EPR lines intensity and linewidth for LiNbO₃:Yb³⁺ reveals antiferromagnetic coupling between Yb³⁺ ions. The deconvolution of the EPR lines indicates that EPR signals arise from both the isolated Yb³⁺ ions as well as the Yb³⁺-Yb³⁺ ion pairs; the latter signals dominate. Based on this indication, EPR spectra are interpreted using a spin Hamiltonian for the Yb³⁺ dissimilar ion pairs. The negative sign of the isotropic parameter J confirms the existence of the antiferromagnetic interactions within Yb³⁺-Yb³⁺ pairs. The value of J obtained based on the proposed pair model, assuming the dipole-dipole interactions, is used to identify the positions of the Yb³⁺-Yb³⁺ pairs in the unit cell. Our results suggest the ^evenYb³⁺-^evenYb³⁺ pairs are located at the neighboring Li⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ positions, whereas the pair axis is not parallel to the optical c-axis. Some alternative explanations of the observed EPR spectra are also considered.     

Fundamental principles of quantum theory. II. From a convexity scheme to the DHB theory

Some classical and quantum theories are characterized within the convexity approach to probabilistic physical theories. In particular, the structure of the so-called DHB quantum theory will be analyzed. It turns out that the natural generalization of the standard Hubert space quantum mechanics, the operational one, is such a theory. The operational Hilbert space quantum theory will be reconstructed from the (weak) projection postulate and the complementarity principle. This is then used to argue that the DHB quantum theory is identical with the operational Hilbert space quantum theory.