Facile "one pot" route to the novel benzazulene-type dye class: asymmetric, derivatizable, 5-7-6 fused ring puckered half BODIPY design

A novel fluorescent difluoroboroazaoxobenzazulene dye has been synthesized from commercially available substrates in "one pot"; it was characterized structurally and spectroscopically, derivatized and finally compared to a related BODIPY system that demonstrates "turn-on" H(+) (42-fold) and F(-) (~5-fold) responses.     

Surface-reconstructed graphite nanofibers as a support for cathode catalysts of fuel cells

Graphite nanofibers (GNFs), on which surface graphite edges were reconstructed into nano-loops, were explored as a cathode catalyst support for fuel cells. The high degree of graphitization, as well as the surface-reconstructed nano-loops that possess topological defects for uniform metal deposition, resulted in an improved performance of the GNF-supported Pt catalyst.     

Controlling side-chain density of electron donating polymers for improving their packing structure and photovoltaic performance

A simple and efficient approach of controlling the side-chain density in the electron donating polymers has been demonstrated to tune their 3-D packing structure and HOMO level, which increases the hole mobility and V(oc) values, thus improving the solar cell performance.     

A new approach towards tetrahedral imidazolate frameworks for high and selective CO2 uptake

Successful development of a new synthetic approach towards tetrahedral imidazolate frameworks (TIFs) via combining an auxiliary uninegative linker into the zinc-imidazolate tetrahedral assembly leads to new TIF materials (TIF-A1 to TIF-A3) with distinct structural topologies and high CO(2) uptake capacity.     

Determination Co2+ in vitamin B12 based on enhancement of 2-(4-substituted-phenyl)-4,5-di(2-furyl) imidazole and H2O2 chemiluminescence reaction

In this paper, three kinds of imidazole derivatives, 2-(4-methylphenyl)-4,5-di(2-furyl) imidazole (MDFI), 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-4,5-di(2-furyl) imidazole (NDFI), and 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-4,5-di(2-furyl) imidazole (t-BDFI) were synthesized. In an alkaline medium, the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of imidazole derivatives with H₂O₂ has been investigated. It was also found that MDFI/H₂O₂ and t-BDFI/H₂O₂ systems gave strong CL. When Co²⁺ was added into the two CL systems, the CL intensity was remarkably enhanced. In the optimum conditions, the CL intensity is linearly related to the logarithm of concentration of Co²⁺. The linear ranges are 5 × 10⁻⁹–2.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L for MDFI/H₂O₂ system and 5 × 10⁻⁹–2.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L for t-BDFI/H₂O₂ system, and the corresponding detection limits are 1.2 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L and 1.1 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of Co²⁺ in vitamin B₁₂ injection. Furthermore, the CL mechanism was also discussed.     

Li2MnO3-based composite cathodes for lithium batteries: A novel synthesis approach and new structures

A new, simple technique has been demonstrated for fabricating high-capacity composite electrode structures. In this technique, Li₂MnO₃ is leached in acid in the presence of soluble transition metal ions and subsequently annealed between 450 and 850 °C. The technique can be used to prepare a wide variety of composite compounds, in particular, a new family of ‘layered–rocksalt’ xLi₂MnO₃·(1−x)MO (e.g., M = Ni and Co) structures and modifications thereof, as well as ‘layered–layered’ xLi₂MnO₃·(1−x)LiMO₂ (e.g., M = Mn, Ni, and Co) and ‘layered–spinel’ xLi₂MnO₃·(1−x)LiM₂O₄ (e.g., M = Mn and Ni). This novel approach also holds promise for 1) synthesizing materials that reduce the extent of internal phase transitions of composite cathode structures with a high manganese content, and 2) minimizing the extent to which cells need to be electrochemically activated to remove Li₂O, thereby reducing the extent of the irreversible capacity loss on the first charge/discharge cycle.     

Porous cobalt hydroxide film electrodeposited on nickel foam with excellent electrochemical capacitive behavior

A new porous cobalt hydroxide film has been successfully electrodeposited on nickel foam from 0.1?M cobalt nitrate electrolyte at ?1.0?V vs. SCE without adding any surfactant. The microstructure and surface morphology of prepared cobalt hydroxide films were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that an interlaced network structure was obtained. The effects of electrodeposition time, deposition potential, and different substrates on the specific capacitance and microstructure of prepared porous ??-Co(OH)₂ thin film were systematically studied. The results indicate that the film deposited on nickel foam at ?1.0?V has excellent electrochemical properties. A maximum specific capacitance of 1473?F?g^?1 could be achieved at a current density of 2?A?g^?1.