A columnar liquid crystal based on triphenylphosphine oxide--its structural changes upon interaction with alkaline metal cations

A triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) compound bearing 3,4,5-tridodecyloxybenzyloxy moieties exhibits a columnar liquid crystalline phase, and by changing its self-assembled structure, is responsive to alkaline metal cations due to cation-phosphine oxide interactions.     

La@C72 having a non-IPR carbon cage

We show here that La@C72 has a non-IPR cage, unique electronic properties, and high reactivity by the spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis and the theoretical study. The isolation of La@C72 as a stable derivative might constitute an important stepping-stone on the way to isolation of these unknown metallofullerenes and open new material science of metallofullerenes.     

From carbon dioxide to methane: homogeneous reduction of carbon dioxide with hydrosilanes catalyzed by zirconium-borane complexes

A mixture of a zirconium benzyl phenoxide complex and tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane is reported that catalyzes the hydrosilation reaction of carbon dioxide to generate methane via a bis(silyl)acetal intermediate.     

New porphyrin-based metal-organic framework with high porosity: 2-D infinite 22.2-A square-grid coordination network

A new 2-D coordination network with 22.2-A square-grid coordination networks was prepared from a dicopper(II) tetraacetate [Cu2(AcO)4] as a linear linker motif and 5,10,15,20-tetra-4-pyridyl-21H,23H-porphine (H2TPyP) as a four-connected vertex, forming a regular high-porous structure. The characterization by N2 adsorption indicated that this coordination network has uniform micropores and gas adsorption cavities.     

Thermal decomposition behavior of the rare-earth ammonium sulfate R2(SO4)3·(NH4)2SO4

Rare-earth ammonium sulfate octahydrates of R₂(SO₄)₃·(NH₄)₂SO₄·8H₂O (R=Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu) were synthesized by a wet process, and the stable temperature region for the anhydrous R₂(SO₄)₃·(NH₄)₂SO₄ form was clarified by thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, infrared, Raman, and electrical conductivity measurements. Detailed characterization of these double salts demonstrated that the thermal stability of anhydrous R₂(SO₄)₃·(NH₄)₂SO₄ is different between the Pr, Nd salts and the Sm, Eu salts, and the thermal decomposition behavior of these salts was quite different from the previous reports.     

Photochemical electron transfer through [corrected] the interface of hybrid films of titania nano-sheets and mono-dispersed spherical mesoporous silica particles

Photochemical Electron Transfer (ET) between an organic dye, the porphyrin derivative TMPyP, and an electron acceptor, methyl viologen MV2+, have been investigated at the interface of two different inorganic films, i.e., layered titania nano-sheets (TNS) and a monolayer film of spherical and mono-dispersed mesoporous silica (sMPS) particles (ca. 0.5 microm). TMPyP ions were intercalated within the sMPS nano-cavities to form (TMPyP-sMPS) while MV2+ ions were intercalated into the TNS interlayers to form (MV2+-TNS). The (TMPyP-sMPS) and (MV2+-TNS) films were then stacked on a silica substrate in this order to form a (MV2+-TNS)/(TMPyP-sMPS) film and, upon UV light irradiation, ET could be induced. However, when this film was stacked inversely, i.e., for the (TMPyP-sMPS)/(MV2+-TNS) films on a silica substrate, no photoinduced ET were observed. Interestingly, however, even for this photo-inactive inversely stacked film, ET could be generated by inserting a gold vapor-deposited layer between the (MV2+-TNS) and (TMPyP-sMPS) films. The conjugation conditions at the interface of the inversely stacked (TMPyP-sMPS)/(MV2+-TNS) hybrid film were, thus, confirmed to strongly affect the photoinduced electron transfers and their efficiencies.     

Electric-field-induced changes in absorption and emission spectra of CdS nanoparticles doped in a polymer film

Electric-field-induced changes in absorption and emission spectra of colloidal CdS nanoparticles ranging in size from 1.0 to 5.0 nm in diameter have been measured by using electric field modulation spectroscopy. The analysis of the electroabsorption spectra indicates that the dipole moment in the first exciton state becomes larger with increasing particle size. The presence of the large dipole moment following photoexcitation into the first exciton band suggests that the CdS nanoparticles have large CT character in the first exciton state. The quantum yields both of the exciton emission and of the trap emission are markedly reduced by application of an electric field. On the basis of the direct measurements of the field-induced change in emission decay profile, it is suggested that the field-induced de-enhancement of these emission yields results from the field-induced decreases both in lifetime and in initial population of each emitting state. It is also found that the emission intensity of CdS nanoparticles increases under the UV light irradiation in air and decreases in a vacuum condition and that fluorescence lifetime in the former case is longer than that in the latter. This enhancement and de-enhancement process in emission intensity is almost reversible at least in several cycles.