Photoluminescence enhancement of PEG-modified YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal phosphor prepared by glycothermal method

Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce3+) nanocrystals were synthesized in 1,4-butylene glycol (BG) with and without poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by the glycothermal method. The internal quantum efficiency of the photoluminescence (PL) corresponding to the 5d --> 4f transition of Ce3+ in the YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal increased from 21.3 to 37.9% by addition of PEG, while no appreciable change in the primary particle size, the crystallite size, and the lattice distortion was recognized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy and 1H --> 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP-MAS NMR) confirmed the preferential coordination of PEG to the YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal. 27Al single-pulse excitation MAS NMR reveals that the ratio of the 4-fold coordination site to the 6-fold coordination site increased from 0.53 to 0.72 by addition of PEG. We conclude that the surface modification of the YAG:Ce3+ nanocrystal by PEG induces the surface passivation, the prevention of the oxidation of Ce3+ to Ce4+, the promotion of the incorporation of Ce3+ into YAG and the local structural rearrangement, resulting in the PL enhancement.     

Proton-ionizable crown compounds. 11. Synthesis of macrocyclic ligands containing two sulfonamide groups and chloro substituents or pyridine subcyclic units and a preliminary study of cation transport by three of these ligands

Five new macrocyclic ligands each containing two sulfonamide groups have been prepared. Three of these compounds contain one or two chloro substituents and the other two have one or two pyridine subcyclic units. A seventeen-membered ring ligand (4) was found to be an excellent transport agent for all alkali metal cations in a water-methylene chloride-water bulk liquid membrane system when the pH of the source phase was 13 or higher. The chlorine-substituted analog (5) was a poor transport agent for the alkali metal cations possibly because the chlorine atom blocked entry to the macrocycle cavity. An open-chain analog containing two sulfonamide groups was particularly effective in transporting cesium ions.     

Observation and analysis of single DNA nano-kinetics by pin-fiber video scope

The nano-kinetic movement of a single DNA molecule was observed and analyzed by a newly developed video-microscope system with an optical fiber, called a pin-fiber video scope. A single lambda-DNA molecule was put in focus using fiber-illumination, and the stretching and shrinking motion was measured. The molecule's kinetics were analyzed by numerical calculations and are discussed. A photocleavage phenomenon of DNA molecules was also visualized by the pin-fiber video scope. The new video-microscope system has the potential to observe and analyze the nano-kinetics of a single molecule.     

Effects of solvent in photo-induced graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers on cellulose

The effects of swelling of the sample and polymerization solvents were studied for photo-induced graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers on cellulose. The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was activated by swelling of the sample or organic solvent-water solutions within a certain range of their concentrations. Though each organic solvent gave a maximum in per cent grafting and the number of grafts at about 25 vol-% concentration, the initiation reaction scarcely took place at 100% concentration; thus, the solvent itself is considered to have a negative effect. The solvents used in the experiments were all hydrophilic, such as methanol, acetone, and dioxane. The average molecular weight of the grafted PMMA differed in each solvent, indicating a different characteristic effect of solvent on the growing grafted polymer radicals. The presence of ferric ion as a sensitizer stimulated further the contributions of the sample swelling and the organic solvents to the copolymerization reaction. A similar effect was observed for styrene as for MMA, but not for acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.     

Three new quassinoids,ailantinol E,F, and G,from Ailanthus altissima

Three new quassinoids, ailantinol E (1), ailantinol F (2), and ailantinol G (3), and related compounds were isolated from Ailanthus altissima grown in Taiwan. Their structures were elucidated from spectral evidence. Each new quassinoid was evaluated for its antitumor promoting effects against Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation introduced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in Raji cells. The new quassinoids were found to show potent activity without showing any cytotoxicity. The screening for inhibitors against nitric oxide donor action was also conducted using the new quassinoids and some standard samples.     

Thermally-induced radical rearrangement of 2-(2-thienylmethoxy)-and 2-(2-benzo[b]thienylmethoxy)tropones

Upon heating at ca. 160°, 2-(2-thienylmethoxy)tropone afforded 3- and 5(2-thienylmethyl)tropolones. Formation of 3,5-bis(2-thienylmethyl)tropolone and unsubstituted tropolone indicated a radical chain mechanism for the thermolysis.     

Determination of methylarsenic compounds in airborne particulate matter by gas chromatography with atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive method is described for the determination of mono-, di- and tri-methylarsenic compounds in airborne particulate matter by hydride-generation and gas-liquid chromatography with atomic absorption spectrometric detection. Interferences of various species are discussed. Absolute detection limits are 70, 80 and 100 pg As, respectively for the mono-, di- and tri-methylarsenic species. Recoveries of methylarsenic compounds added to airborne particulate matter are almost 100%. An iron/nitrate mixture interfered strongly but this was overcome by adding EDTA.     

Photo-induced graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate on cellulose

Graft copolymerization initiated by ultraviolet light irradiation at 40°C in a hard glass vessel under nitrogen was examined. The graft copolymerization was observed to occur easily after some induction period without any use of photosensitizer, though it was found the per cent grafting and the grafting efficiency were markedly affected by the quantities of cellulose and monomer. In the system without cellulose, homopolymerization of methyl methacrylate hardly took place, but the use of cellulose caused the formation of homopolymer too, and a grafting efficiency in the range of 60–80% generally resulted. Ferric chloride or sodium anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonate (AQ) acted on the polymerization reaction as photosensitizers to reduce its induction period. Though ferric chloride acted to develop both the per cent grafting and the number of grafts, not the same effects were observed with AQ. Oxalic acid, which was employed with the object of eliminating very small amount of metals contained in cellulose, was found to act favorably in the formation of grafts, much like ferric chloride.     

Heterometallic hexanuclear cluster with an S = 8 spin ground state: MnII[MnII(hfac)2]3[NiII(pao)3]2 (hfac- = hexafluoroacetylacetonate,pao- = pyridine-2-aldoximate)

The heterometallic Mn(II)(4)Ni(II)(2) title compound has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The compound consists of a Ni-Mn-Ni linear moiety, [[Ni-(mu-NO)(3)](2)-Mn], linked by oximate bridges and three Mn(II) hfac terminal units attached by oximate oxygens in a di-mu-oxo fashion, forming a novel heterometallic cluster: Mn[Mn(hfac)(2)](3)[Ni(pao)(3)](2) (1). Magnetic measurements reveal the antiferromagnetic nature of the oximate pathway between Mn(II) and Ni(II) metal ions, which imposes an unusual high-spin ground state (S = 8) for 1.