Bis(triethanolamine)cadmium(II) and -­mercury(II) saccharinates: seven-coordinate complexes containing both tri- and tetradentate triethanolamine ligands

The structures of the title triethanol­amine (tea) complexes of Cd^II and Hg^II saccharinates, bis­(triethanol­amine)-κ³O,N,O′;κ⁴O,N,O′,O′′-cadmium(II) 1,2-benziso­thia­zol-3(2H)-onate 1,1-dioxide, [Cd(C₆H₁₅NO₃)₂](C₇H₄NO₃S)₂, (I), and bis­(tri­ethanol­amine)-κ³O,N,O′;κ⁴O,N,O′,O′′-mercury(II) 1,2-benz­iso­thia­zol-3(2H)-onate 1,1-dioxide, [Hg(C₆H₁₅NO₃)₂](C₇H₄NO₃S)₂, (II), or [M(tea)₂](sac)₂, where M is Cd^II or Hg^II and sac is the saccharinate anion, reveal seven-coordinate metal ions in both complexes. Both complex cations, [M(tea)₂]²⁺, adopt a monocapped trigonal prism geometry in which the two tea ligands exhibit different coordination modes to achieve seven-coordination. One tea ligand acts as a tetradentate ligand using all its donor atoms, while the other behaves as a tridentate O,N,O′-donor ligand, with one of its ethanol groups remaining uncoordinated. The H atoms of the free and coordinated hydroxyl groups of the tea ligands are involved in hydrogen bonding with the amine N atom, and with the carbonyl and sulfonyl O atoms of neighbouring sac ions, forming an infinite three-dimensional network. A weak π–π interaction between the phenyl rings of the sac ions also occurs.     

Development and investigation of the flexible hydrogen sensor based on ZnO-decorated Sb2O3 nanobelts

Hydrogen is regarded as the next-gen fuel for vehicles to avoid the emission of toxic gases, which needs a continuous monitoring of the concentration level. In the design of the H₂ sensor, especially of flexible type, a sensing layer will be blended, which affects the sensing performance of the device. Based on this concern, the present investigation is carried out to understand the effect of the bending angle toward the sensing performance of bare and ZnO (n-type)-decorated Sb₂O₃ (p-type) nanobelt–based sensors for hydrogen gas. The sensing element was prepared by the thermal chemical vapor deposition followed by the drop-casting method. Furthermore, the role of the zinc precursor (molar concentration—1 M–3 M) on the preparation of ZnO-decorated Sb₂O₃ nanobelts was studied. Various techniques were used to confirm the formation of ZnO-decorated nanobelts such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). From these analyses, 1 M concentration of the zinc precursor shows uniform distribution of nanoparticles over the surface of Sb₂O₃ nanobelts. However, agglomeration was observed when the concentration of the zinc precursor increases from 1 M to 3 M. Later, the prepared nanobelts were deposited on the OverHead Projector (OHP) sheet by the doctor blade method for sensing hydrogen gas at 100 °C at a concentration of 1000–3000 ppm. In addition to it, the effect of the substrate bending angle (0°, 45°, 60°, and 90°) was analyzed at a fixed concentration of H₂ gas (1000 ppm). From this study, it is clear that the highest sensing response was achieved for 1 M decorated nanobelts compared with bare as well as other concentrations because of uniform distribution of nanoparticles on the surface of nanobelts. Moreover, the prepared sample demonstrates better sensing performance with the bending of substrates, which suggests that the prepared sensor could be used for flexible electronic devices. The prepared nanobelts show a good H₂ gas–sensing response even with bending of the substrates. The work suggests that the prepared sensor is applicable for flexible electronic devices.     

First CNGS events detected by LVD

The CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso (CNGS) project aims to produce a high energy, wide band ν_μ beam at CERN and send it toward the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), 732 km away. Its main goal is the observation of the ν_τ appearance, through neutrino flavour oscillation. The beam started its operation in August 2006 for about 12 days: a total amount of 7.6×10¹⁷ protons were delivered to the target. The LVD detector, installed in hall A of the LNGS and mainly dedicated to the study of supernova neutrinos, was fully operating during the whole CNGS running time. A total number of 569 events were detected in coincidence with the beam spill time. This is in good agreement with the expected number of events from Monte Carlo simulations. PACS 14.60.Pq; 29.27.Fh; 29.40.Mc; 95.55.Vj     

Water monolayer and multilayer adsorption on Ni(1 1 1)

Water adsorbed on Ni(1 1 1) forms an ordered, hydrogen bonded ice structure with a (2√7 × 2√7)R19° unit cell. The 2√7 wetting structure forms as islands and persists up to saturation of the first layer. Adsorption of a fraction of a monolayer more water into a second layer destroys the 2√7 registry and creates a disordered ice film. Gas adsorption measurements indicate that the wetting layer is completely covered by a second layer of water before thicker multilayer ice forms. As the second layer is completed the film orders to form an incommensurate crystalline ice film with a hexagonal LEED pattern, oriented to the Ni close packed rows. This ordered, incommensurate structure persists as the ice multilayer grows thicker.     

X-ray crystal structure of trans-bis(monoethanolamine) bis(saccharinato)nickel(II)

The crystal structure of trans-bis(monoethanolamine)bis(saccharinato)nickel(II), [Ni(C₇H₄NO₃S)₂(C₂H₇NO)₂], has been determined from X-ray diffraction data. The metal complex is monoclinic, with a = 11.0555(5), b = 8.9103(4), c = 11.3890(5) Å, = 105.0230(10)°, Z = 2, and space group P2_1/c . The structure consists of individual molecules. Two monoethanolamine molecules and two saccharinate anions coordinate the nickel atom forming a distorted octahedron. The monoethanolamine molecules act as a bidentate ligand and form five-membered trans chelate rings, which constitute the plane of the coordination octahedron, while two saccharinate ions behave as a monodentate ligand occupying the axial positions. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the molecules to form a three-dimensional infinite structure.     

Medical imaging using capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays

We are investigating the use of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (cMUT's) for use in medical imaging. We propose an ultrasound probe architecture designed to provide volumetric ultrasound imaging from within an endoscope channel. A complete automated experimental system has been implemented for testing the imaging performance of cMUT arrays. This PC-based system includes custom-designed circuit boards, a software interface, and resolution test phantoms. We have already fabricated 1D and 2D cMUT arrays, and tested the pulse-echo imaging characteristics of 1D arrays. Beamforming and image formation algorithms that aim to reduce the complexity of data acquisition hardware are tested via numerical simulations and using real data acquired from our system.     

A Pseudo-Pareto Distribution and Concomitants of Its Order Statistics

Pareto distributions are very flexible probability models with various forms and kinds. In this paper, a new bivariate Pseudo-Pareto distribution and its properties are presented and discussed. Main variables, order statistics and concomitants of this distribution are studied and their importance for risk and reliability analysis is explained. Joint and marginal distributions, complementing cumulative distributions and hazard functions of the variables are derived. Numerical illustrations, graphical displays and interpretations for the obtained distributions and derived functions are provided. An implementation example on defaultable bonds is performed.     

Synthesis of new aryl(hetaryl)-substituted tandospirone analogues with potential anxiolytic activity via reductive Heck type hydroarylations

Tandospirone (I), developed as an anxiolytic drug, is an aryl-piperazine compound that binds to both 5-HT_1A and dopamine D4 receptors. Palladium-catalysed hydroarylation reactions of tandospirone analogues containing an oxygen bridge and 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl or 2,3-dichlorophenyl groups were studied in order to find a new stereoselective access to a series of new exo-aryl(hetaryl)-substituted derivatives with potential biological activity.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermally stable and flame retardant poly (benzoxazine-co-urethane) matrices

Abstract

The flame-retardant behavior of organic polymers is considered as very important criteria to utilize them in the form of coatings, encapsulants, sealants, and matrices for high performance industrial applications. A new type of poly (benzoxazine-co-urethane) (PBZ-co-PU) matrices have been developed using dimethylol benzoxazine monomers (BZM and BZE) and tris(p-isocyanatophenyl)thiophosphate (Desmodur) through A₂?+?B₃ approach followed by thermal curing. The molecular structure of developed PBZ-co-PU was confirmed by FT-IR spectra and their thermal stability and flame retardant behavior were studied by standard methods. Data obtained from TGA and DSC, indicate that the PBZ-co-PU possesses higher Tg, better thermal stability and LOI than those of neat PBZ. Further, it was also observed that among the two matrix systems (PBZ-co-PU-1 and PBZ-co-PU-2) studied, the PBZ-co-PU-1 based system exhibited higher T_g, thermal stability and flame retardant behavior than those of PBZ-co-PU-2.     

Synthesis of hydrophobic gold nanoclusters: growth mechanism study,luminescence property and catalytic application

One-pot synthesis of well dispersed, size-controlled gold nanoparticles with the average size of 10–15 nm and luminescent gold nanoclusters with average size of 1.7–2.0 nm were successfully achieved by thermal decomposition of gold organometallic precursor CH₃AuPPh₃ in the presence of thiol surfactants in o-xylene. Only difference between the preparations of two types of Au nanoparticles is the amount of thiol surfactant employed. The mechanistic study of formation of gold nanoparticles was carried out by analyzing the samples at different reaction time intervals and revealed that two-staged growth process was involved. The nanoclusters showed strong red emission with the maximum intensity at about 600 nm. The maximum room temperature photoluminescence quantum yield was measured as 1.2%. The catalytic ability of the Au nanoclusters to promote Suzuki–Miyaura coupling involving the C–C bond formation was also investigated.