Lithium ion conductivity of Li5+xBaxLa3?xTa2O12 (x?=?0–2) with garnet-related structure in dependence of the barium content

The stoichiometry range and lithium ion conductivity of Li_5+x Ba _x La_3−x Ta₂O₁₂ (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00) with garnet-like structure were studied. The powder X-ray diffraction data of Li_5+x Ba _x La_3−x Ta₂O₁₂ indicated that single phase oxides with garnet-like structure exist over the compositional range 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.25; while for x = 1.5, 1.75 and 2.00, the presence of second phase in addition to the major garnet like phase was observed. The cubic lattice parameter increases with increasing x and reaches a maximum at x = 1.25 then decreases slightly with further increase in x in Li_5+x Ba _x La_3−x Ta₂O₁₂. The impedance plots of Li_5+x Ba _x La_3−x Ta₂O₁₂ samples obtained at 33 °C indicated a minimum grain-boundary resistance (R _gb) contribution to the total resistance (R _b + R _gb) at x = 1.0. The total (bulk + grain boundary) ionic conductivity increases with increasing lithium and barium content and reaches a maximum at x = 1.25 and then decreases with further increase in x in Li_5+x Ba _x La_3−x Ta₂O₁₂. Scanning electron microscope investigations revealed that Li_6.25Ba_1.25La_1.75Ta₂O₁₂ is much more dense, and the grains are more regular in shape. Among the investigated compounds, Li_6.25Ba_1.25La_1.75Ta₂O₁₂ exhibits the highest total (bulk + grain boundary) and bulk ionic conductivity of 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ and 7.4 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 33 °C, respectively.     

Quinoxaline-imidazolium receptors for unique sensing of pyrophosphate and acetate by charge transfer

[structure: see text] Quinoxaline derivatives (1-4) bearing two imidazolium moieties are found to strongly bind anions and show unique charge-transfer fluorescent responses to pyrophosphate and acetate, whereas they show excimer formation with other anions. Anion-binding studies are investigated with fluorescence and 1H NMR analysis, single-crystal X-ray analysis, and theoretical calculations.     

Optimization of Fermentation Parameters to Enhance the Production of Ethanol from Palmyra Jaggery Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> in a Batch Fermentor

Application of statistical experimental designs for optimization of fermentation parameters to enhance ethanol production, which is an economical and renewable energy source using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3090 from palmyra jaggery, was studied in a batch fermentor. Using Plackett–Burman design, impeller speed, concentrations of CoCl₂ and KH₂PO₄ were identified as significant variables, which highly influenced ethanol production, and these variables were further optimized using a central composite design (CCD). The ethanol production was adequately approximated with a full quadratic equation obtained from three factors and five levels of CCD. Maximum ethanol concentration of 132.56 g/l (16.8% [v/v]) was obtained for an impeller speed of 247.179 (≈250) rev/min, CoCl₂ of 0.263 g/l and KH₂PO₄ of 2.39 g/l. A second-order polynomial regression model was fitted and was found adequate with R ² of 0.8952. This combined statistical approach enables rapid identification and investigation of significant parameters for improving the ethanol production and could be very useful in optimizing processes.     

Ba3MIIITiMVO9 (MIII = Fe,Ga, Y,Lu; MV = Nb,Ta, Sb) perovskite oxides: Synthesis,structure and dielectric properties

We describe the synthesis, structures and dielectric properties of new perovskite oxides of the formula, Ba₃M^IIITiM^VO₉, for M^III = Fe, Ga, Y, Lu and M^V = Nb, Ta, Sb. While M^V = Nb and Ta oxides adopt disordered/partially ordered 3C perovskite structures where M^III/Ti/M^V metal-oxygen octahedra are corner-connected, the M^V = Sb oxides show a distinct preference for the 6H structure, where Sb^V/Ti^IV metal-oxygen octahedra share a common face forming (Sb,Ti)O₉ dimers that are corner-connected to the M^IIIO₆ octahedra. The preference of antimony oxides (Sb^V:4d¹⁰) for the 6H structure – which arises from a special Sb^V–O chemical bonding that tends to avoid linear Sb–O–Sb linkages unlike Nb^V/Ta^V:d⁰ atoms which prefer ～180° Nb/Ta–O–Nb/Ta linkages – is consistent with the crystal chemistry of M^V–O oxides in general. The dielectric properties reveal a significant difference among M^III members. All the oxides with the 3C structure excepting those with M^III = Fe show a normal low loss dielectric behaviour with ε = 20–60 in the temperature range 50–400 °C; the M^III = Fe members with this structure (M^V = Nb, Ta) display a relaxor-like ferroelectric behaviour with large ε values at frequencies ≤1 MHz (50–500 °C).     

Investigations on the thermo-chemical stability and electrical conductivity of K-doped Ba3 − xKxCaNb2O9 − δ (x = 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25)

In this paper, we report the synthesis, crystal structure and electrical transport properties of new K-doped Ba₃CaNb₂O₉ (BCN) and investigate their chemical stability in H₂O and pure CO₂ at elevated temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of Ba_2.5K_0.5CaNb₂O_9 − δ, Ba_2.25K_0.75CaNb₂O_9 − δ, Ba₂KCaNb₂O_9 − δ, and Ba_1.75K_1.25CaNb₂O_9 − δ showed the formation of a single-phase double perovskite (A₃BB^/₂O₉)-like cell with a lattice constant of a ∼ 2a_p (where a_p is a simple perovskite cell of ∼ 4 Å). Perovskite-like structure was found to be retained after treating with CO₂ at 700 °C and also after boiling H₂O for 120 h. The lattice constant of CO₂ and H₂O treated samples was found to be comparable to that of the corresponding as-prepared compound. The total electrical conductivity of all the investigated K-doped BCN increases with increasing K content in BCN in various atmospheres, including air, dry H₂, wet N₂ and wet H₂. The electrical conductivity in dry and wet H₂ atmospheres was found to be higher than that of air in the temperature range of 300-700 °C, while in wet N₂ a slightly lower value was observed. Among the compounds investigated in the present study Ba_1.75K_1.25CaNb₂O_9 − δ showed the highest total electrical conductivity of 1 × 10^− 3 S/cm in dry H₂ at 700 °C with an activation energy of 1.28 eV in the temperature range of 300-700 °C.     

Aliphatic dipeptide tags for multi-2-plex protein quantification

Mass-balanced (1)H/(2)H-isotope dipeptide tag (MBIT) is diversified as aliphatic tags for multiplexed protein quantification. Aliphatic MBITs are based on the N-acetyl-Xxx-Ala dipeptide, where Xxx is an artificial amino acid with a linear alkyl side chain from C(2)H(5) to C(8)H(17) (C(2)-C(8) tags). (1)H/(2)H isotopes are encoded in the methyl groups of N-acetyl and Ala to yield a pair of isobaric tags with 2-plex quantitation signals separated by 3 Da. C(2)-C(5) tags are prepared by solid-phase synthesis, while C(6)-C(8) tags are synthesized by olefin metathesis in solution. These aliphatic tags are made reactive toward the primary amines of peptides, and the relative abundances of quantitation signals are characterized using both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. MBIT-linked peptides co-migrate in reverse-phase liquid chromatography (LC), and their tandem mass spectra exhibit 2-plex quantitation signals as well as sequence ions in similar abundances. As the length of alkyl side chain increases, C(2)-C(8) tags show a stepwise increase in both the LC retention time and the relative abundance of quantitation signals. In addition, the quantitation linearity is well-maintained in a 15-250 fmol range. The multiplexing capability of aliphatic MBITs is demonstrated by applying three different tags (C(6)-C(8) tags) to the quantification of yeast heat shock proteins expressed under four different physiological conditions.     

Investigation of thin film all-solid-state lithium ion battery materials

All-solid-state thin film batteries are feasible by employing Al as anode and LiPON as electrolyte which are subsequently deposited by sputtering. The lithium ion conductivity of ∼ 10⁻⁶ S/cm for the thin film LiPON is in agreement with data reported for bulk material. The high voltage cathode Li₂CoMn₃O₈ could be prepared by forming the compound by the combustion method andsubsequent e-beam evaporation of this material with the addition of 20 wt.-% LiNO₃ at an oxygen partial pressure of 10⁻⁵ mbar. The thin film cells could be operated between 3 and 5 V vs. Al, LiAl. The chemical diffusion coefficient was found to be in the range from 10⁻¹³ to 10⁻¹² cm²/s at room temperature by employing the GIT-technique for the composition x of Li_2-xCoMn₃O₈ in the range from 0.1 to 1.6. Impedance studies of the complete battery system revealed a charge transfer resistance of 290 Θ, a double layer capacity of ∼ 45–70 μF for an electrode area of 6.7 cm² and a rate determining chemical diffusion coefficient in the range from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻¹¹ cm²/s. Paper presented at the 9th EuroConference on Ionics, Ixia, Rhodes, Greece, Sept. 15–21, 2002.     

X-ray powder diffraction patterns for certain beta-lactam, tetracycline and macrolide antibiotic drugs.

X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data for eight beta-lactam viz., ampicillin sodium, ampicillin trihydrate, penicillin G procaine, benzathine penicillin, benzyl penicillin sodium, cefalexin, cefotaxime sodium and ceftriaxone sodium; three tetracyclines viz., doxycycline hydrochloride, oxytetracycline dihydrate and tetracycline hydrochloride; and two macrolide viz., azithromycin and erythromycin estolate antibiotic drugs were obtained using a powder diffractometer. The drugs were scanned from Bragg angles (2theta) of 10 degrees to 70 degrees. The obtained data were tabulated in terms of the lattice spacing (A) and relative line intensities (I/I(I)). This new information may be useful for identifying these drugs from confiscated materials, which has been frequently encountered in forensic laboratories.