Enhanced Magneto‐optical Properties of Semiconductor EuS Nanocrystals Assisted by Surface Plasmon Resonance of Gold Nanoparticles

Remarkable magneto‐optical properties of a new isolator material, that is, europium sulfide nanocrystals with gold (EuS–Au nanosystem), has been demonstrated for a future photo‐information technology. Attachment of gold particles that exhibit surface plasmon resonance leads to amplification of the magneto‐optical properties of the EuS nanocrystals. To construct the EuS–Au nanosystems, cubic EuS and spherical Au nanocrystals have been joined by a variety of organic linkers, that is, 1,2‐ethanedithiol (EDT), 1,6‐hexanedithiol (HDT), 1,10‐decanedithiol (DDT), 1,4‐bisethanethionaphthalene (NpEDT), or 1,4‐bisdecanethionaphthalene (NpDDT) . Formation of these systems was observed by XRD, TEM, and absorption spectra measurements. The magneto‐optical properties of the EuS–Au nanosystem have been characterized by using Faraday rotation spectroscopy. The Faraday rotation angle of the EuS–Au nanosystem is dependent on the Au particle size and interparticle distance between EuS and Au nanocrystals. Enhancement of the Faraday rotation of EuS–Au nanosystems was observed. The spin configuration in the excited state of the EuS–Au nanosystem was also investigated using photo‐assisted electron paramagnetic resonance.     

C13-Methylation of methyl pheophorbide a and stereoselective preparation of methyl (13R)-methylpyropheophorbide a

The (13²R)-methoxycarbonyl group of methyl pheophorbide a, one of the chlorophyll-a derivatives, was converted to a methyl group through methylation at the C13² position followed by removal of the methoxycarbonyl group. The methylation of the C13² carboanion gave a 4:1 mixture of methyl 13²-methyl-pheophorbide a and its 13²-epimer. The successive pyrolysis of the major methylated product afforded methyl (13²R)-methyl-pyropheophorbide a with a small amount of its (13²S)-epimer. The substitution effects at the C13² position including stereochemistry were discussed on the basis of 1D/2D NMR, UV–vis absorption, and circular dichroism spectroscopic analyses as well as molecular modeling simulation.     

Synthesis and properties of novel crown ether-annelated 4′,5′-diaza-9′-(1,3-dithiole-2-ylidene)-fluorenes and their ruthenium(II) complexes

Two novel redox-active 1,3-dithiole (DT) ring-fused 4,5-diazafluorene ligands with crown ether moieties (L1 and L2) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of L1 was studied. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these new ligands, as well as the corresponding bis(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes [4: Ru L1(bpy)₂ and 5: Ru L2(bpy)₂], were also been investigated.     

Synthesis of chlorophyll-a derivatives possessing (un)substituted 13-exo-methylene moiety and their optical properties

Chlorophyll-a derivatives possessing an un/mono/disubstituted methylene moiety at the 13¹-position were prepared by (un)substituted methylation of the 13-carbonyl group and successive dehydration. Substitution of the 13¹-oxo to the methylene group slightly blue-shifted electronic absorption and emission bands in a solution and decreased chemical stability to give an oxidation product cleaved at the E-ring. Further mono/disubstitution at the methylene terminal increased wavelengths of absorption and emission maxima as well as oxidative tolerance.     

Selective adsorption and stable solidification of radioactive cesium ions by porous silica gels loaded with insoluble ferrocyanides

Development of highly functional cesium selective adsorbents for the decontamination of high-activity-level water(HALW) from the Fukushima NPP-1 accident is very urgent. In order to selectively adsorb the radioactive cesium, three kinds of novel porous silica gels loaded with insoluble ferrocyanides(SLFC) were prepared using a successive impregnation/precipitation method. Based on the results of previous research, the SLFC composites have relatively large uptake ratio above 95%, distribution coefficients(Kd) above 103 cm3/g, and excellent adsorption kinetics even in seawater. The solidification results also indicate that zeolites have an excellent Cs immobilization characteristic, gas-trapping and self-sintering abilities, and low leachability. We chose three kinds of SLFC composites to achieve the optimization of solidification by mixing with nine kinds of additives at high temperatures(up to 1200 °C). The Cs contents in the three composites were estimated to be below 30% of the initial contents and decreased with the three stages at calcination temperatures ranging from 25 to 1200 °C. By contrast, the Cs immobilization ratio was markedly lowered by mixing with additives: of those, allophane had the best immobilization result. By increasing the additive ratio to 50 wt%, the Cs immobilization ratio became almost 100% and no volatilization of Cs was detected even after calcination at 1200 °C. This result indicates that calcination of the mixture of SLFC composites after adsorbing Cs+ ions and specific additives under appropriate ratio is effective for stable solidification.     

Bipolar Electrode-based Electrochromic Devices for Analytical Applications – A Review

Bipolar electrode-based (BPE-based) electrochromic devices have garnered increasing attention in the past decade. These BPE-based electrochromic devices have been used for analytical health monitoring, point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, and chemical sensing. In this review, we highlight recent progress made regarding BPE-based electrochromic devices constructed for these analytical applications. Various, available electrochromic materials are summarized in the first section, after which the different device types (e. g., paper-based and self-powered) are discussed. Biological- and chemical-based analytical demonstrations of these devices are then reviewed. Finally, we conclude this review with a perspective on the future developments of BPE-based electrochromic devices in analytical applications.     

Synergistic Spin Transition between Spin Crossover and Spin‐Peierls‐like Singlet Formation in the Halogen‐Bonded Molecular Hybrid System: [Fe(Iqsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]⋅CH3CN⋅H2O

To introduce halogen‐bond interactions between a cation and an anion, a novel Fe^III complex from iodine‐substituted ligands involving a paramagnetic nickel dithiolene anion was prepared and characterized. The compound exhibited the synergy between a spin‐crossover transition and a spin‐Peierls‐like singlet formation. The halogen‐bond interactions between the iodine and the sulfur atoms stabilized the paramagnetic state of π‐spins and played a crucial role in the synergistic magnetic transition between d‐ and π‐spins. In addition, the compound showed the light‐induced excited spin state trapping effect.     

Systematic Tuning and Switching of Neutral and Ionic Phases in a Donor–Acceptor Chain Compound by Doping with Less‐Active Donors and by Pressure Application

The temperature‐induced stepwise neutral–ionic (N–I) phase transition in the covalently bonded donor–acceptor chain compound [Ru₂(2,3,5,6‐F₄PhCO₂)₄DMDCNQI] ? 2(p‐xylene) (2,3,5,6‐F₄PhCO₂^?=2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzoate; DMDCNQI=2,5‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐dicyanoquinodiimine) was systematically tuned over a wide temperature range using two techniques: 1) A chemical technique based on doping with a less‐active donor unit [Ru₂^II,II(F₅PhCO₂)₄] (F₅PhCO₂^?=pentafluorobenzoate), thereby providing an isostructural doped series [{Ru₂^II,II(2,3,5,6‐F₄PhCO₂)₄}_1?x{Ru₂^II,II(F₅PhCO₂)₄}_xDMDCNQI] ? 2(p‐xylene), with x=0.06, 0.10, 0.21, and 0.24; and 2) a physical technique, which was the application of hydrostatic pressure to the doped compounds. The stepwise N–I transition observed in the original compound was systematically varied in terms of the viewpoints of both transition temperature and transition features (stepwise or monotonic) dependent on the amount of dopants x. Application of pressure efficiently tuned the N–I transitions, with the oxidation phases being dramatically modified by applying only weak pressure up to 4 kbar. Even in cases that led to N–I transitions in small domains of the chains at ambient pressure, the application of pressure caused an expansion of the domains that enabled N–I transitions, finally leading to a complete change in the oxidation state of the chains, from neutral to ionic, accompanied by a change from a paramagnetic state to a ferrimagnetically ordered state.     

Magnetism of spin polymers prepared by the oxidative polyrecombination of captodative compounds

Magnetism of hydroanilino ladder polymer and indigo polymer which were prepared by the oxidative polyrecombination of captodative substituted methane and indoxyl, respectively, was studied by ESR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurement. It was found that both spin polymers contained domains with high spin state in their structures and their spins were much more ordered with decreasing temperature.