Relating structure and flow of soft colloids

To relate the complex macroscopic flow of soft colloids to details of its microscopic equilibrium and non-equilibrium structure is still one big challenge in soft matter science. We investigated several well-defined colloidal model systems like star polymers or diblock copolymer micelles by linear/non-linear rheology, static/dynamic light scattering (SLS/DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). In addition, in-situ SANS experiments during shear (Rheo-SANS) revealed directly shear induced structural changes on a microscopic level. Varying the molecular architecture of the individual colloidal particle as well as particle-particle interactions and covering at the same time a broad concentration range from the very dilute to highly concentrated, glassy regime, we could separate contributions from intra- and inter-particle softness. Both can be precisely “tuned” by varying systematically the functionality, 6 ≤ f≤ 64, for star polymers or aggregation number, 30 ≤ N _agg ≤ 1000 for diblock copolymer micelles, as well as the degree of polymerization of the individual polymer arm 100 ≤ D _p ≤ 3000. In dilute solutions, the characteristic shear rate at which deformation of the soft colloid is observed can be related to the Zimm time of the polymeric corona. In concentrated solutions, we validated a generalized Stokes-Einstein approach to describe the increase in macroscopic viscosity and mesoscopic self diffusion coefficient on approaching the glassy regime. Both can be explained in terms of an ultra-soft interaction potential. Moreover, non-equilibrium structure factors are obtained by Rheo-SANS. All experimental results are in excellent quantitative agreement with recent theoretical predictions.     

Spectroscopic Studies of a New Multi-Element Sensitive Fluorescent Probe Derived from 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole: Selective Discrimination of Zn2+ from Its Congeners

ABSTRACT

A new multielement sensitive fluorescent probe, 1-(2-(phenylthio)ethyl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (L), has been synthesized by the reaction between 2-(pyridyl) benzimidazole and 2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide. Excitation and emission wavelength of L are at 330 and 371 nm, respectively. Among various transition and nontransition metal ions, it can selectively read Zn²⁺ ion as the emission wavelength of L undergoes a red shift by 31 nm upon binding with Zn²⁺ in methanol. In the presence of Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, and other common cations, the emission wavelength of L remains unchanged, and thus allows us to discriminate Zn²⁺ from its congeners. Both L and its Zn²⁺ complex are well characterized by different spectroscopic techniques like ¹H-NMR, ESI-TOF (+) mass, FT-IR, and elemental analysis data. The binding constant value of the complexation reaction between L and Zn²⁺ is found as 724.6 M^?1 in methanol. Density functional theoretical (DFT) studies nicely demonstrate the red shift in the emission wavelength of L upon binding with Zn^2+.     

Unprecedented SnCl2-mediated cyclization of nitro arenes via N-N bond formation

[reaction: see text] A mild, efficient, one-pot protocol for the cyclization of nitro-aryl substrates using SnCl(2) has been described. The mechanistic course of the reaction suggests the involvement of a hydroxylamine intermediate leading to an intramolecular cyclization via N-N bond formation. The versatility of the methodology has been demonstrated by using two nitro-aryl substrates derived from dihydroisoquinolines and dihydro-beta-carbolines. The intramolecular cyclization led to the formation of indazoles in high yields and purities.     

Atomistic simulation studies of magnetite surface structures and adsorption behavior in the presence of molecular and dissociated water and formic acid

Static energy minimization techniques have been used to elucidate the surface structures of magnetite crystals in pure and hydroxylated forms. Adsorption energy values in the presence of molecular water, dissociate water and simple carboxylic group molecule (formic acid) are calculated and we found that the carboxylic group do not adsorb strongly in most of the pure and hydroxylated surfaces in comparison to water. Since the associated calcium minerals are floated from magnetite using fatty acid collector, our calculations corroborate the flotation practice of removing these impurity minerals from magnetite.     

Elastic wave propagation in sinusoidally corrugated waveguides

The ultrasonic wave propagation in sinusoidally corrugated waveguides is studied in this paper. Periodically corrugated waveguides are gaining popularity in the field of vibration control and for designing structures with desired acoustic band gaps. Currently only numerical method (Boundary Element Method or Finite Element Method) based packages (e.g., PZFlex) are in principle capable of modeling ultrasonic fields in complex structures with rapid change of curvatures at the interfaces and boundaries but no analyses have been reported. However, the packages are very CPU intensive; it requires a huge amount of computation memory and time for its execution. In this paper a new semi-analytical technique called Distributed Point Source Method (DPSM) is used to model the ultrasonic field in sinusoidally corrugated waveguides immersed in water where the interface curvature changes rapidly. DPSM results are compared with analytical solutions. It is found that when a narrow ultrasonic beam hits the corrugation peaks at an angle, the wave propagates in the backward direction in waveguides with high corrugation depth. However, in waveguides with small corrugation the wave propagates in the forward direction. The forward and backward propagation phenomenon is found to be independent of the signal frequency and depends on the degree of corrugation.     

Triple-stranded helicates of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) involving a new redox-active multiring nitrogenous heterocyclic ligand: synthesis, structure, and electrochemical and photophysical properties

The protonated form [H(2)(L)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (1) of a new redox-active bis-bidentate nitrogenous heterocyclic ligand, viz., 3,3'-dipyridin-2-yl[1,1']bi[imidazo[1,5-a]pyridinyl] (L), and its zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes (2 and 3) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the solid state, both 2 and 3 have triple-stranded helical structures involving ligands that experience twisting and bending to the extent needed by the stereoelectronic demand of the central metal ion. The metal centers in the zinc(II) complex [Zn(2)(L)(3)](ClO(4))(4) (2) are equivalent, each having a distorted octahedral geometry, flattened along the C(3) axis with a Zn1···Zn1# separation of 4.8655(13) ?. The cadmium complex [Cd(2)(L)(3)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(4) (3), on the other hand, has a rare type of helical structure, showing coordination asymmetry around the metal centers with a drastically reduced Cd1···Cd2 separation of 4.070 ?. The coordination environment around Cd1 is a distorted pentagonal bipyramid involving a N(6)O donor set with the oxygen atom coming from a coordinated water, leaving the remaining metal center Cd2 with a distorted octahedral geometry. The structures of 2 and 3 also involve anion-π- and CH-π-type noncovalent interactions that play dominant roles in shaping the extended structures of these molecules in the solid state. In solution, these compounds exhibit strong fluxional behavior, making the individual ligand strands indistinguishable from one another, as revealed from their (1)H NMR spectra, which also provide indications about these molecules retaining their helical structures in solution. Electrochemically, these compounds are quite interesting, undergoing ligand-based oxidations in two successive one-electron steps at E(1/2) of ca. 0.65 and 0.90 V versus a Ag/AgCl (3 M NaCl) reference. These molecules are all efficient emitters in the red and blue regions because of ligand-based π*-π fluorescent emissions, tuned appropriately by the attached Lewis acid centers.     

One-dimensional coordination polymer of copper(I) thiocyanate with the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)butane-1,4-diamine: synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and thermal properties

Abstract  

A new one-dimensional polymeric copper(I)–thiocyanate complex with the Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)butane-1,4-diamine, {Cu₂((μ _N,N′ -3,4-MeO-ba)₂bn)(μ_1,3-NCS)₂} _n , was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FT–IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The thermal behavior of the complex was studied using thermogravimetry in order to evaluate thermal stability and thermal decomposition pathways. The molecular structure of the complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction which revealed that the coordination geometry around the copper(I) ion is distorted trigonal. The Schiff base ligand (3,4-MeO-ba)₂bn acts as a bis-monodentate and bridging ligand (μ _N,N′ ) and coordinates via two N atoms to the metal centers and adopts an E,E conformation. The coordination spheres of the metal atoms are completed by the N and S atoms from two thiocyanate anion bridges (μ_1,3-NCS), forming a zigzag chain propagating along [001].     

Multiple topologies from glycopolypeptide-dendron conjugate self-assembly: nanorods, micelles, and organogels

Glycopolypeptides (GPs) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of glycosylated N-carboxyanhydride monomer and attached to hydrophobic dendrons at one chain end by "click" reaction to obtain amphiphilic anisotropic macromolecules. We show that by varying polypeptide chain length and dendron generation, an organogel was obtained in dimethylsulfoxide, while nanorods and micellar aggregates were observed in aqueous solutions. Assemblies in water were characterized by electron microscopy and dye encapsulation. Secondary structure of the GP chain was shown to affect the morphology, whereas the chain length of the poly(ethylene glycol) linker between the GP and dendron did not alter rod-like assemblies. Bioactive surface chemistry of these assemblies displaying carbohydrate groups was demonstrated by interaction of mannose-functionalized nanorods with ConA.     

Morphology dependent luminescence properties of rare-earth doped lanthanum fluoride hierarchical microstructures

Here, we demonstrate an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal method for preparing Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ doped LaF₃ hierarchical microstructures and the morphology is modified by hydrothermal reaction time, temperature of heating and ionic liquid concentration. The mechanism related to morphology control is proposed and discussed. It is also found that PL intensity, decay time and quantum efficiency are sensitive to the morphology. The average decay times are 2.9 ms and 4.8 ms for Eu³⁺ doped LaF₃ microstructures prepared at 10 min and 3 h reaction time, respectively. The average decay time is increased from 4.8 ms to 5.8 ms after heating the sample at 500 °C. The quantum efficiency varies from 34% to 67% with changing morphology. Analysis suggests that morphology plays an important role on efficiency of rare-earth doped materials.     

Acoustic source localization in anisotropic plates

The conventional triangulation technique cannot locate the acoustic source in an anisotropic plate because this technique requires the wave speed to be independent of the propagation direction which is not the case for an anisotropic plate. All methods proposed so far for source localization in anisotropic plates require either the knowledge of the direction dependent velocity profile or a dense array of sensors. In this paper for the first time a technique is proposed to locate the acoustic source in large anisotropic plates with the help of only six sensors without knowing the direction dependent velocity profile in the plate. Experimental results show that the proposed technique works for both isotropic and anisotropic structures. For isotropic plates the required number of sensors can be reduced from 6 to 4.