Nanocomposite blend gel polymer electrolyte for proton battery application

A proton-conducting nanocomposite gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) system, [35{(25 poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) + 75 poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP))?+?xSiO₂}?+?65{1 M NH₄SCN in ethylene carbonate (EC) + propylene carbonate (PC)}], where x?=?0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, has been reported. The free standing films of the gel electrolyte are obtained by solution cast technique. Films exhibit an amorphous and porous structure as observed from X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) studies indicate ion–filler–polymer interactions in the nanocomposite blend GPE. The room temperature ionic conductivity of the gel electrolyte has been measured with different silica concentrations. The maximum ionic conductivity at room temperature has been observed as 4.3?×?10^?3?S?cm^?1 with 2 wt.% of SiO₂ dispersion. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity shows a typical Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) behavior. The electrochemical potential window of the nanocomposite GPE film has been observed between ?1.6 V and 1.6 V. The optimized composition of the gel electrolyte has been used to fabricate a proton battery with Zn/ZnSO₄·7H₂O anode and PbO₂/V₂O₅ cathode. The open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery has been obtained as 1.55 V. The highest energy density of the cell has been obtained as 6.11 Wh?kg^?1 for low current drain. The battery shows rechargeability up to 3 cycles and thereafter, its discharge capacity fades away substantially.     

Radical Photopolymerization of Vinyl Monomers

Abstract

Photopolymerization is the initiation by light of a chain polymerization process. In the more general sense, photopolymerization implies the increase of molecular weight caused by light. Photopolymerization is not only useful for the detection and identification of photochemically produced free radicals; since photopolymerization reactions can be started or stopped at will by the simple expedient of turning on or off light, a means is provided for studying the nonsteady-state kinetics of polymerization [1]. Photopolymerization also allows for the subtle control of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution by varying the intensity of light. Photopolymerization can be confined to local regions since the light can be spatially controlled. Photopolymerization can be carried out at very low temperatures. Hence, chain-transfer processes leading to branched macromolecules will be absent. Photopolymerization at low temperature yields the low-energy stereospecific polymeric species, namely the syndiotactic configuration of the polymer [2]. Certain monomers can only be polymerized at low temperature, i.e., they have low ceiling temperatures; the photopolymerization offers this possibility [3]. Because photopolymerization need not be carried out at elevated temperatures, it has applications to biochemistry. One important application of the method is in disk electrophoresis [4]. Photopolymerization played an important role in the early development of polymer chemistry. One of the first procedures for polymerizing vinyl monomers was to expose the monomer to sunlight. Blyth and Hoffman [5] reported the polymerization of styrene by this method in 1845.     

Novel Iodine Reagent System for Regioselective Cleavage of Epoxides to Alcohols

Epoxides are converted regioselectively to corresponding higher substituted alcohols with greater yields using diphosphorus tetraiodide (P₂I₄) as a reducing agent and a catalytic amount of tetraethylammonium bromide at room temperature.     

Triton-B-Catalyzed,Efficient, One-Pot Synthesis of Dithiocarbazates Through Alcoholic Tosylates

A quick, efficient, one-pot synthesis of dithiocarbazates was accomplished in high yields by the reaction of various tosylates of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols with a variety of substituted hydrazines using the benzyl–trimethylammonium hydroxide (Triton-B)/CS₂ system. The reaction conditions are mild with simpler workup procedures than the reported methods.     

tert‐Butyl Hypoiodite for Deoximation

tert‐Butyl hypochlorite and tert‐butyl hypobromide react with aldoximes and convert them into hydroximinoyl chloride and bromide, respectively; however, under the same reaction conditions, tert‐butyl hypoiodite deoximates aldoximes and ketoximes to give corresponding aldehydes and ketones in high yield (>94%) in a short reaction time (～20 min).     

Alkylation of Ethanolamines: An Approach to a Novel Class of Functional Surfactants

Some monomeric and dimeric surfactants with functional head groups have been synthesized from di- and triethanolamine synthons. The treatment of alkyl bromide with triethanolamine resulted in simultaneous N-alkylation and O-alkylation products. However, with diethanolamine, N-alkylated products were obtained, which were further used to synthesize various double-tailed surfactants and gemini surfactants.     

An Efficient Method for Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation and Plant Regeneration in Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

Cumin is an annual herbaceous medicinally important plant having diverse applications. An efficient and reproducible method of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation was herein established for the first time. A direct regeneration method without callus induction was optimised using embryos as explant material in Gamborg’s B5 medium supplemented with 0.5-μM 6-benzyladenine and 2.0-μM α-naphthalene acetic acid. About 1,020 embryos (a mean of 255 embryos per batch) were used for the optimisation of transformation conditions. These conditions were an Agrobacterium cell suspension of 0.6 OD₆₀₀, a co-cultivation time of 72 h, 300-μM acetosyringone and wounding of explants using a razor blade. Pre-cultured elongated embryos were treated using optimised conditions. About 720 embryos (a mean of 180 embryos per batch) were used for transformation and 95 % embryos showed transient β-glucuronidase expression after co-cultivation. Putative transformed embryos were cultured on B5 medium for shoot proliferation and 21 regenerated plants were obtained after selection and allowed to root. T₀ plantlets showed β-glucuronidase expression and gene integration was confirmed via PCR amplification of 0.96 and 1.28 kb fragments of the hygromycin-phosphotransferase II and β-glucuronidase genes, respectively. In this study, a transformation efficiency of 1.5 % was demonstrated and a total of 11 transgenic plants were obtained at the hardening stage, however, only four plants acclimatised during hardening. Gene copy number was analysed by Southern blot analysis of hardened plants and single-copy gene integration was observed. This is the first successful attempt of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of cumin.     

Thermoluminescence studies of UV-irradiated Y2O3:Eu3+ doped phosphor

The present paper reports thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of Eu³⁺-doped Y₂O₃ phosphor with different ultraviolet (UV) exposure times. The glow peak shows second-order kinetics of Eu³⁺-doped Y₂O₃, and corresponding kinetic parameters were evaluated using the peak shape method. Calculations of trap depth were carried out using different methods. The kinetics order, activation energy, and frequency factor were calculated. The recorded glow curve shifts towards higher intensity with longer UV exposure. The heating rate used for recording TL was 3.0 °C s^?1. Particle size and structure were verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging.     

Synthesis of Thermally Stable Energetic 1,2,3‐Triazole Derivatives

Various thermally stable energetic polynitro‐aryl‐1,2,3‐triazoles have been synthesized through Cu‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions between their corresponding azides and alkynes, followed by nitration. These compounds were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods and the solid‐state structures of most of these compounds have been determined by using X‐ray diffraction techniques. Most of the polynitro‐bearing triazole derivatives decomposed within the range 142–319 °C and their heats of formation and crystal densities were determined from computational studies. By using the Kamlet–Jacobs empirical relation, their detonation velocities and pressures were calculated from their heats of formation and crystal densities. Most of these newly synthesized compounds exhibited high positive heats of formation, good thermal stabilities, reasonable densities, and acceptable detonation properties that were comparable to those of TNT.