The effect of anodising time on the electrochemical behaviour of the Ti/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> NTs/IrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-RuO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> anode

Nowadays, mixed metal oxide (MMO) anodes are a superior alternative to lead alloys in electrowinning processes. Passivation of titanium substrate is the most common mechanism of deactivation in these anodes. In this research, titanium oxide nanotubes have been utilised as an interlayer between the substrate and a mixed metal oxide coating in order to improve the anode electrochemical behaviour and life via retardation of titanium passivation. Anodising of the substrate was done in 0.5 wt% hydrofluoric acid for 30, 60 and 240 min. The samples were subsequently coated with a coating composed of IrO₂-RuO₂-Ta₂O₅. The microstructure of different samples was observed by scanning with an electron microscope, and the electrochemical behaviour of the samples was studied by accelerated life test, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The studies showed that formation of titanium oxide nanotubes with anodising times of 60 and 240 min increases the life of the anode through the provision of a compact coating. The life of the anode which was anodised for 240 min lasted about 20% longer than the sample which had a substrate without any anodised layer.     

A highly efficient method for solvent‐free synthesis of bisarylmethylidenes of pyranones and thiopyranones

A remarkable efficient double crossed aldol condensation of heterocyclic ketones with a variety of aromatic aldehydes is described at room temperature in the presence of magnesium bromide ethyl etherate, triethylamine, and methanol under solvent‐free conditions. Excellent yields of 3,5‐bisarylmethylidenes of pyranones and thiopyranones are achieved in a facile one‐pot general procedure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:44–49, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20252     

Isosorbide dinitrate template-based molecularly imprinted poly(methacrylic acid) nanoparticles: effect of initiator concentration on morphology and physicochemical properties

In this work, poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)-based molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP NPs) using isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) as a template were prepared via a precipitation polymerization. The morphology and performance of the samples were investigated by varying different concentrations of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The MIP NP sample characterization as a function of the initiator concentration was evaluated utilizing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analyses. Regarding the washed MIP NP samples, the FTIR spectra results showed two main characteristic peaks located at 3339 and 1734 cm^?1 wavenumbers corresponding to hydroxyl (–OH) and carbonyl (–C=O) groups, respectively. The intensity of these main peaks for the washed MIP NPs was higher than that of those for unwashed MIP NPs in which the active sites were appropriately formed between the polymer and template. These observations were occurred at the maximum amount of AIBN concentration (3 mmol). Moreover, the FE-SEM micrograph images exhibited an average diameter of approximately 40 nm for the MIP NP sample prepared with a low concentration of the initiator (0.5% of polymerizable double bonds). Furthermore, another two key factors for the MIP NPs such as binding capacity, and surface area using Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) method were studied to apply them for drug delivery systems potentially. On the other hand, the release of ISDN from MIP NP was considered through phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH 7.4) at 37 °C for 5 days. The results showed higher ability of the sample compared with the non-imprinted polymer (NIP) ones to control the drug release, and kinetic trend of the drug absorption within the MIP NPs followed the pseudo-first model. Finally, the obtained outcomes showed that the low amounts of the initiator concentration have an indispensable role on the physicochemical properties of the synthesized MIP NPs.     

Thiozonation and thiozonolysis of triatomic sulfur (S<Subscript>3</Subscript>) on the C<Subscript>70</Subscript> fullerene: a DFT study

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the [2?+?x] x?=?1, 2, and 3 cycloaddition reactions (paths A, B, and C) of triatomic sulfur (S₃) with the C₇₀ fullerene in terms of geometry, energies, and electronic structures. The thiozonation (S₃) on the hexagon–hexagon and hexagon–pentagon bonds of the C₇₀ fullerene through 1,3-dipolar reaction, i.e., [2?+?3] cycloaddition, is generally exothermic, while through the chelotrope additions, i.e., [2?+?1] cycloaddition, are endothermic. The results indicate that the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is the most preferable path. Having more negative values of reaction energies E_r together with the lower barrier heights, thiozonation of the hexagon–hexagon bonds is thermodynamically and kinetically more favorable than hexagon–pentagon ones. Moreover, the addition of thiozone to the hexagon–hexagon bonds near the pole area of the C₇₀ leads to more negative reaction energies. Therefore, it is established that the arrangement and position of C=C bonds play an important role in the thiozonation of C₇₀ fullerene. Thiozonolysis of triatomic sulfur (S₃) indicates that S–S bond cleavage has not occurred, instead a sulfur bridge over a C–C bond or a four-membered ring of 1,2-dithietane-1-sulfide is preferred to be formed.     

Effective Assignment of α2,3/α2,6‐Sialic Acid Isomers by LC‐MS/MS‐Based Glycoproteomics

Distinct structural changes of the α2,3/α2,6‐sialic acid glycosidic linkages on glycoproteins are of importance in cancer biology, inflammatory diseases, and virus tropism. Current glycoproteomic methodologies are, however, not amenable toward high‐throughput characterization of sialic acid isomers. To enable such assignments, a mass spectrometry method utilizing synthetic model glycopeptides for the analysis of oxonium ion intensity ratios was developed. This method was successfully applied in large‐scale glycoproteomics, thus allowing the site‐specific structural characterization of sialic acid isomers.     

Adsorption of nitrogen dioxide on C30B15N15 heterofullerene: AIM and NBO study via DFT

Adsorption of nitrogen dioxide on the exterior surface of C₃₀B₁₅N₁₅ through B atom of adsorbent is studied using the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G^* level. Independent to the orientation, the NO₂ molecule presents strong chemisorption with large charge transfer from C₃₀B₁₅N₁₅ to adsorbed gas. NBO (natural electron configuration of adsorbing B atom), AIM analysis and spin density distributions indicate that the chemisorption of NO₂ on the C₃₀B₁₅N₁₅ in all studied complexes are covalent in nature.     

Temperature effects on spreading of water nano‐droplet on poly(methyl methacrylate): A molecular dynamics simulation study

In this article, the effect of temperature on the spreading behavior of a water nano‐droplet on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate is investigated. The contact angle analysis illustrates that the spreading process occurs in a stage‐like manner and the increase in temperature causes a regime change from partial to total wetting. The interaction energy distributions show that there exist sites on the surface which could trap water molecules and provide a better path for other molecules to overcome the asperities. Estimations of the coefficients of self‐diffusivity suggest that temperature has a major effect in the reorientation stage, which results in the formation of the interfacial layer. In the second stage of spreading, temperature affects the process by providing sufficient energy for water molecules to overcome the interactions with the substrate. Therefore, this stage is controlled by the movement of water molecules on the surface and is highly influenced by their interaction with the surface asperities, strong interaction sites, and the carbonyl groups. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1532–1541