Graphene/carbon nanotubes composites as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

As an alternative platinum counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), carbon materials based counter electrode were prepared using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/graphene nano-sheets (GNS) composite by simple doctor blade method. We found that the photovoltaic performance was strongly influenced by the concentration of GNS in composite electrode. The composite electrode with 60% MWNTs and 40% GNS based DSSCs showed the maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.0% while sputter deposited platinum counter electrode based DSSCs showed a power conversion efficiency of 5.0%.     

Unusual line shape of B 1s core level spectra in rare earth hexaborides

We investigate the B 1s core level spectra of hexaborides, (, Ce, Pr, Nd), using high resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. While all the B sites are identical, the experimental spectra exhibit a signature of multiple features manifested as an unusual asymmetry in the lower binding energy side. The analysis of the spectra reveals that the surface and bulk photoemission signals are different. In addition, the peak position shifts towards lower binding energies with the increase in 4f binding energy of the rare earth elements that can be attributed to the chemical potential shift due to lower degree of 4f-conduction electron hybridization. Decrease in temperature leads to a narrowing of the linewidth in every case. The Kondo systems exhibit more prominent narrowing of the B 1s linewidth.     

Mercury(II) Chloride‐Mediated Desulphurization of Amidinothioureas: Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of 3‐Amino‐1,2,4‐triazole Derivatives

The synthesis of 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole via mercury(II) chloride‐mediated cyclization of amidinothiourea is described. This procedure offers a general and efficient route to synthesize the title compound by 3 + 2 annulation reaction. On the basis of the literature precedence, the mechanism for the formation of 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole is proposed. When the synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity showed promising inhibition against tested microbes.     

Fries rearrangement: scalable synthesis of key fluoro building blocks 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl chloride and 1,2-diethoxy-3-fluorobenzene

Lewis acid catalyzed Fries rearrangement of 2-fluorophenyl acetate (3) was performed on kg scale. The ortho5 and para4 isomers obtained were separated in an industrially feasible way. Compound 4 was then converted into fluorinated building block 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl chloride (1) while compound 5 was converted into 1,2-diethoxy-3-fluorobenzene (2) in high yields.     

Bacterial cell leakage potential of newly synthesized quinazoline derivatives of 1,5-benzodiazepines analogue

Novel quinazoline embellished analogues of 1,5-benzodiazepine ( 6, 9, 13, 17, 21 and 24 ) were synthesized using one-pot domino approach. Structure of the compounds synthesized, were established with the help of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectral data. Further, antibacterial activity, FE-SEM imaging and cell leakage study was also performed.     

Microwave assisted convenient synthesis of quino[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepines

A convenient synthesis of quino[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepines from substituted 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-aniline by using stable,non-toxic and inexpensive catalyst 1,8-diazabicyclo-undecan-7-ene (DBU)/silica gel is described.This method affords the quino[2,3-b][1,5]benzoxazepines under the influence of microwave irradiation (360 W) in solvent-free conditions within short reaction times (2-3 min),giving high yields of products (93-96%).     

Molecular dynamics directed CoMFA studies on carbocyclic neuraminidase inhibitors

Zanamivir is the known potent anti-influenza agent targeting the key enzyme neuraminidase that cleaves sialic acid from cell receptors allowing release of newly formed virions. Molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to determine the dynamic behavior of Zanamivir upon its binding to flexible loops of neuraminidase and to analyse its interactions in the bioactive state. Neuraminidase exhibits wide range of affinity with structurally similar compounds. CoMFA study was used to determine quantitative structure-activity relationship for 36 carbocyclic Neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs). The CoMFA model was also successfully built using cross-validated r²_cv = 0.580{{r}^{2}_{\rm cv} =0.580} and r²_pred=0.638{{r}^{2}_{\rm pred}=0.638} .     

Status of bubble detectors for high-energy heavy ions

Five types of bubble detectors (T-15, T-34, T-12, T-24 and T-14) of large volume and different sensitivities were developed in the China Institute of Atomic Energy for the purpose of heavy ion research. Calibrations were carried out with beams of high-energy protons, He, C, Si, Ar, Fe, Kr and Xe, at accelerators in the energy region 150–650 MeV/u. The bubble detectors were demonstrated to be a family of detectors for recording tracks of high-energy heavy ions with atomic numbers from Z=1 (proton) to all the numbers in the whole periodic table of elements. The threshold levels of the detectors differ from each other with values 0.05±0.01 (T-15), 1.62±0.05 (T-34), 1.68±0.03 (T-12), 2.24±0.06 (T-24) and 6.04±0.80 (T-14) MeVmg⁻¹ cm², respectively, which are about the same or even lower than the levels of plastic track detectors for recording heavy ions. The distinguishing features of bubble detectors are high sensitivity, active recording, real-time display, volume registration and background discriminating capacities. Bubble detectors are a new type of high sensitivity detectors and are very promising for detection of heavy ions, neutrons and exotic particles.