Electrically conducting,transparent, graphene based nanocomposite coatings on flexible film substrate

Transparent, electrically conducting nanocomposite coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films are prepared using two types of bulk synthesized few layered graphene; namely reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and liquid exfoliated graphite (EG) dispersed in ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This study focuses on application of high concentration of such nanofillers (1: 1 to 2.5: 1 ratios with polymer) in order to develop a highly conducting but ultrathin coating for better transparency. The coated PET films are characterized for their surface morphology, electrical and optical properties. High resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) images and corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm that the graphite has been exfoliated to few layer graphene using both the synthesis routes. Transmittance values of these coated films are measured in UV visible spectrum. The rGO based samples have high transmittance (~90–95%) compared to EG based samples (~40–50%). From current-voltage (I?V) graph and surface resistivity studies, it has been observed that rGO based samples are dielectric in nature similar to UHMWPE while EG based samples are electrically conducting and its conductivity increases with its concentration. EG based nanocomposite coated samples show much better electrical conductivities (resistance 338 to 66 kΩ at different concentrations of EG) than rGO based samples.     

Structures, energetics, vibrational spectra of NH4+ (H2O)(n=4,6) clusters: Ab initio calculations and first principles molecular dynamics simulations

Important structural isomers of NH(4) (+)(H(2)O)(n=4,6) have been studied by using density functional theory, Moller-Plesset second order perturbation theory, and coupled-cluster theory with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)]. The zero-point energy (ZPE) correction to the complete basis set limit of the CCSD(T) binding energies and free energies is necessary to identify the low energy structures for NH(4) (+)(H(2)O)(n=4,6) because otherwise wrong structures could be assigned for the most probable structures. For NH(4) (+)(H(2)O)(6), the cage-type structure, which is more stable than the previously reported open structure before the ZPE correction, turns out to be less stable after the ZPE correction. In first principles Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations around 100 K, the combined power spectrum of three lowest energy isomers of NH(4) (+)(H(2)O)(4) and two lowest energy isomers of NH(4) (+)(H(2)O)(6) explains each experimental IR spectrum.     

FT-IR, FT-Raman spectra and quantum chemical calculations of some chloro substituted phenoxy acetic acids

In this work, we will report a combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular and vibrational structure of o-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (OCPAA) and p-chlorophenoxy acetic acids (PCPAA). The FT-IR and Fourier transform-Raman spectra of both the compounds was recorded in the solid phase. The optimized geometry was calculated by HF and B3LYP methods with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set and harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman scattering activities were calculated by density functional B3LYP method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The scaled theoretical wavenumbers showed very good agreement with the experimental values. The thermodynamic functions of the title compounds were also performed at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of o-chloro and p-chlorophenoxy acetic acid is reported. The theoretical FT-IR spectrograms for the title molecules have been constructed.     

Value of zeolites in asymmetric induction during photocyclization of pyridones, cyclohexadienones and naphthalenones

Two strategies, namely chiral inductor and chiral auxiliary approaches, have been examined within zeolites with the aim of achieving asymmetric induction during the photocyclization of cyclohexadienone, naphthalenone and pyridone derivatives. Within zeolites, enantioselectivity as high as 55% and diastereoselectivity as high as 88% have been obtained. The observed stereoselectivities are significant given the fact that these reactions gave very little stereoselectivities in isotropic solution media. The results obtained on the photocyclization of dienones, naphthalenones and N-alkyl pyridones within zeolites compliment our earlier investigations on the photocyclization of tropolone derivatives, the geometric isomerization of 1,2-diphenylcyclopropanes and 2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoyl cyclopropanes, and the Norrish type II reaction of alpha-oxoamides, phenyl adamantyl ketones, phenyl norbornyl ketones and phenyl cyclohexyl ketones. With the help of these examples, we have established the importance of zeolite and its charge compensating cations in effecting asymmetric induction in photochemical reactions.     

Ferrocene Decorated N-doped Carbon Modified Electrode with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity towards Non-enzymatic Glucose Detection

The nitrogen doped carbon (NDCN) have been synthesized by flame synthetic method to prepare ferrocene decorated NDCN. The hydrolysis product (FC-SH) of ferrocene benzyne derivative (FC-SAc) was immobilized onto NDCN modified GCE and used for glucose detection with high sensitivity. Cyclic voltammetric analysis reveal that FC-S-NDCN/GCE exhibit excellent activity for glucose oxidation when compared to FC/GCE. The FC-S-NDCN/GCE with wide linear responses range from 0.001 to 0.01 mM with the regression co-efficient of 0.998. The FC-S-NDCN/GCE show low detection limit (LOD) of 0.08 μM and exhibit sensitivity of 1580 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻². The FC-S-NDCN glucose sensor exhibit wide linear range, high sensitivity and lower detection limit on determination of glucose.     

Simple room temperature synthesis and optical studies on Mg doped ZnO nanostructures

We report simple room temperature synthesis of Mg doped ZnO nanostructures through the sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction shows the prepared ZnO particles are in wurtzite structure and replacement of Zn²⁺ by Mg²⁺ alters the position of the X-ray diffraction peak slightly towards higher angle. Measured optical absorption spectra show the exciton peaks of ZnO present around 366, 296 and 235 nm. Room temperature photoluminescence measurements show strong peaks around 385, 394 nm are attributed to band edge exciton emission; other peaks found at 469 and 558 are attributed to oxygen ion vacancy and formation of Vo⁺ and Vo⁺⁺ centers in nanostructures.     

Optimization and validation of a low temperature microwave-assisted extraction method for analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in airborne particulate matter

A low temperature microwave-assisted extraction method (MAE) is reported for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in airborne particulate matter (PM). The main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency (choice of extractants, microwave power, and extraction time) were investigated and optimized. The optimized procedure requires a 20 ml mixture of acetone:n-hexane (1:1) for extraction of PAHs in PM at 150 W of microwave energy (20 min extraction time). Clean-up of MAE extracts was not found to be necessary. The optimized method was validated using two different SRM (1648-urban particulate matter and 1649a, urban dust). The results obtained are in good agreement with certified values. PAHs recoveries for both reference materials were between 79 and 122% with relative standard deviation ranging from 3 to 21%. Detection limits were determined based on blank determination using two kinds of quartz filter substrates (n = 10), which ranged from 0.001 (0.03) ng m⁻³ (pg/μg) for B(k)Ft to 1.119 (37.3) for Naph in ng m⁻³ (pg/μg), respectively. The repeatability and day-to-day reproducibility obtained in this study were in the range of 4-16 and 3-25% for spiked standards and SRM 1649, respectively. The optimized and validated MAE technique was applied to the extraction of PAHs from a set of real world PM samples collected in Singapore. The sum of particulate-bound PAHs in outdoor PM ranged from 1.05 to 3.45 ng m⁻³ while that in indoor PM (cooking emissions) ranged from 27.6 to 75.7 ng m⁻³, respectively.     

Existence and uniqueness results for fractional integrodifferential equations with boundary value conditions

In this paper, we study existence and uniqueness of fractional integrodifferential equations with boundary value conditions. A new generalized singular type Gronwall inequality is given to obtain an important a priori bounds. Existence and uniqueness results of solutions are established by virtue of fractional calculus and fixed point method under some weak conditions. An example is given to illustrate the results.     

Antiproliferative Efficacy of N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-amine,DW-8, in Colon Cancer Cells Is Mediated by Intrinsic Apoptosis

A novel series of 4-anilinoquinazoline analogues, DW (1–10), were evaluated for anticancer efficacy in human breast cancer (BT-20) and human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT116, HT29, and SW620). The compound, DW-8, had the highest anticancer efficacy and selectivity in the colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116, HT29, and SW620, with IC₅₀ values of 8.50 ± 2.53 µM, 5.80 ± 0.92 µM, and 6.15 ± 0.37 µM, respectively, compared to the non-cancerous colon cell line, CRL1459, with an IC₅₀ of 14.05 ± 0.37 µM. The selectivity index of DW-8 was >2-fold in colon cancer cells incubated with vehicle. We further determined the mechanisms of cell death induced by DW-8 in SW620 CRC cancer cells. DW-8 (10 and 30 µM) induced apoptosis by (1) producing cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase; (2) activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as indicated by the activation of caspase-9 and the executioner caspases-3 and 7; (3) nuclear fragmentation and (4) increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, our results suggest that DW-8 may represent a suitable lead for developing novel compounds to treat CRC.