Self-assembly, characterization, and chemical stability of isocyanide-bound molecular wire monolayers on gold and palladium surfaces

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the isocyano derivative of 4,4'-di(phenylene-ethynylene)benzene (1), a member of the "OPE" family of "molecular wires" of current interest in molecular electronics, have been prepared on smooth, {111} textured films of Au and Pd. For assembly in oxygen-free environments with freshly deposited metal surfaces, infrared reflection spectroscopy (IRS) indicates the molecules assume a tilted structure with average tilt angles of 18-24 degrees from the surface normal. The combination of IRS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations all support a single sigma-type bond of the -NC group to the Au surface and a sigma/pi-type of bond to the Pd surface. Both SAMs show significant chemical instability when exposed to typical ambient conditions. In the case of the Au SAM, even a few hours storage in air results in significant oxidation of the -NC moieties to -NCO (isocyanate) with an accompanying decrease in surface chemical bonding, as evidenced by a significant increase in instability toward dissolution in solvent. In the case of the Pd SAM, similar air exposure does not result in incorporation of oxygen or loss of solvent resistance but rather results in a chemically altered interface which is attributed to polymerization of the -NC moieties to quasi-2D poly(imine) structures. Conductance probe atomic force microscope measurements show the conductance of the degraded Pd SAMs can diminish by approximately 2 orders of magnitude, an indication that the SAM-Pd electrical contact has severely degraded. These results underscore the importance of careful control of the assembly procedures for aromatic isocyanide SAMs, particularly for applications in molecular electronics where the molecule-electrode junction is critical to the operational characteristics of the device.     

An authentication protocol based on chaos and zero knowledge proof

Nonlinear Dynamics - Port Knocking is a method for authenticating clients through a closed stance firewall, and authorising their requested actions, enabling severs to offer services to...     

Tuning the physical properties of a nematic liquid crystal elastomer actuator

In this report we demonstrate the ability to tune the physical properties of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) by varying the amount and type of crosslinking within the elastomer network. LCE films composed of a single mesogenic compound were capable of uniaxial contraction when thermally actuated through the nematic to isotropic phase of the material. We probed the physical properties of the LCE films while varying the amount and concentration of two crosslinking agents and measured actuation strains of 10-35%, elastic moduli of 3-14 MPa, and transition temperatures ranging between 75 and 60°C. The viscous losses of the elastomers and the estimated work capable of being produced by the films were also evaluated. The ability to tune the physical properties of the LCE films allows for a wide range of applications including robotics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), shape-changing membranes, and/or microfluidics.     

Laser irradiance of a homogeneous metal slab

Numerical calculations of the effect of laser irradiance was performed for three homogeneous slabs. The temperature profile and the temperature of the front surface for three metals, silver, steel, and aluminium was calculated. The formulation of the temperature distribution of the slab was carried out using Fourier series expansions for the case of time dependent laser irradiance. The exact expressions for the thermal penetration depth and the critical time required to initiate melting (i.e. damage) were found.     

Antifungal activity of compounds isolated from Aspergillus niger and their molecular docking studies with tomatinase

Abstract

Using a dual culture antagonism assay, Aspergillus niger exhibited 51.5?±?1.1% growth inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, the wilt pathogen of tomato. For enhanced production of antifungal metabolites, nutrient optimization was performed and in vitro well-diffusion antifungal assays demonstrated that crude extract obtained from GPYB culture showed a maximum zone of inhibition (8.8?±?0.4?mm) against the wilt pathogen, which is corroborated by the comparative LCMS profiles of the extracts from all three media i.e. GPYB, YEB and PDB. Two known compounds, Asperazine (m/z 665 [M?+?H]⁺) and Nigerone (m/z 571 [M?+?H]⁺), were isolated from A. niger and their antifungal activity is reported here for the first time. In MIC experiments, Asperazine and Nigerone inhibited the pathogen at 60 and 80?µg·mL^?1 respectively. Molecular docking studies of Nigerone and Asperazine with F. oxysporum tomatinase showed five and six binding interactions respectively.     

The Nash modification and hyperplane sections on surfaces

We prove that the planar components of the tangent cone of a complex analytic surface at a point correspond to the base points of hyperplane sections by the Nash modification. This correspondence is then used to characterize domination relations between the normalized Nash modification and the normalized blow-up of a point.     

负载型铜钴氧化物协同催化 H2O2/HCO3-降解苯酚

近年来,环境污染特别是水的严重污染使其治理成为一个极具挑战性的课题.各种污染物复杂的化学成分和催化剂在处理过程中的浸出、寿命及成本等问题是导致众多氧化催化剂难以实际应用的主要原因.相对而言, H2O2是一种活性氧含量高、清洁并可在温和条件下使用的氧化剂,在各种高级氧化技术中受到广泛关注.而碳酸氢盐是一种弱碱性物质,在自然界及水体系中广泛存在,且无明显毒害.它可活化 H2O2,加快其氧化各种有机物,并在废水处理领域开始受到关注.该体系的明显优势在于处理体系始终处于微碱性环境,可以有效避免金属氧化物催化剂在处理过程中由于体系酸化而带来的催化剂流失,从而延长催化剂寿命,降低催化剂成本.
　　本文采用浸渍法制备了一种双金属铜、钴氧化物催化剂及相关的对照催化剂体系,利用碳酸氢盐活化 H2O2用于降解苯酚模拟废水.通过各种空白实验发现,负载于γ-Al2O3表面的钴、铜氧化物催化剂 CuO?Co3O4@γ-Al2O3具有最好的催化降解活性,而 CuO@γ-Al2O3, Co3O4@γ-Al2O3, CuO?Co3O4及 CuO和 Co3O4的物理混合物均表现出较差的催化性能.由此可见,在 CuO?Co3O4@γ-Al2O3催化剂中,铜、钴离子在苯酚降解过程中存在协同效应,这可能与催化剂中钴、铜金属离子的相互作用相关. X射线衍射和 X射线光电子能谱结果表明,反应前后 CuO?Co3O4@γ-Al2O3催化剂中金属的氧化状态并未发生改变,在使用过程中钴离子的浸出率可以忽略,铜离子的浸岀率也仅有0.6 ppm.荧光分析实验和自由基捕获实验表明,只有添加?O2-和?OH的捕获剂能明显抑制降解反应,因而推测该反应体系对有机物的降解是一个自由基氧化过程,起关键作用的可能是?O2-和?OH.