Effect of Polydispersity on the Phase Behavior of Polymer Blends

Summary: The effect of polydispersity on polymer blend phase behavior is studied by in situ small‐angle X‐ray scattering. In a polydisperse polyethylene (PE)/isotactic poly(propylene) (iPP) blend, the enthalpic portion of the interaction parameter is greater than that of a corresponding blend with lower polydispersity. This is attributed to the presence of long chains, which provide a higher interaction energy and packing constraint, reducing the system miscibility. As expected, the radius of gyration is higher in the system with higher polydispersity.

Comparison of phase diagrams of the iPP/PE system used in this study (thin lines) with that obtained from the literature (thick lines). The solid lines represent binodals and the dashed lines are spinodals.     

Bismuth-Oxide-Decorated Graphene Oxide Hybrids for Catalytic and Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2

Global warming challenges are fueling the demand to develop an efficient catalytic system for the reduction of CO₂, which would contribute significantly to the control of climate change. Herein, as-synthesized bismuthoxide-decorated graphene oxide (Bi₂O₃@GO) was used as an electro/thermal catalyst for CO₂ reduction. Bi₂O₃@GO is found to be distributed uniformly, as confirmed by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopic analysis. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that the Bi₂O₃ has a β-phase with 23.4 m² g⁻¹ BET surface area. Significantly, the D and G bands from Raman spectroscopic analysis and their intensity ratio (I_D/I_G) reveal the increment in defective sites on GO after surface decoration. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows clear signals for Bi, C, and O, along with their oxidation states. An ultra-low onset potential (−0.534 V vs. RHE) for the reduction of CO₂ on Bi₂O₃@GO is achieved. Furthermore, potential-dependent (−0.534, −0.734, and −0.934 vs. RHE) bulk electrolysis of CO₂ to formate provides Faradaic efficiencies (FE) of approximately 39.72, 61.48, and 83.00 %, respectively. Additionally, in time-dependent electrolysis at a potential of −0.934 versus RHE for 3 and 5 h, the observed FEs are around 84.20 % and 87.17 % respectively. This catalyst is also used for the thermal reduction of CO₂ to formate. It is shown that the thermal reduction provides a path for industrial applications, as this catalyst converts a large amount of CO₂ to formate (10 mm ).     

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Addition of α-Fluoronitriles to Aldehydes

A fluorine-containing tetrasubstituted stereogenic center is a highly valued structural feature in medicinal chemistry. Herein, we describe the direct coupling of racemic α-fluoronitriles and aldehydes promoted by a chiral Cu^I/Barton's base catalytic system, delivering α-tetrasubstituted α-fluoro-β-hydroxynitriles with satisfactory stereoselection. The stereochemical course was positively biased by the combined use of asymmetrical achiral thiourea as a supplementary ligand for Cu^I, which significantly enhanced the stereoselectivity. Both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes were implemented to provide densely and stereoselectively functionalized chiral building blocks with aliphatic and aromatic tails.     

Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles and Their Impact on the Antioxidant Response and Histology of Indian Major Carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo rohita</Emphasis>, with Combined Response Surface Methodology Analysis

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles has received considerable attention due to their cost-effective, eco-friendly and medicinal values. In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesised using the aqueous leaf extracts of Piper nigrum. TEM images revealed that the particle is spherical with 20–50 nm in size. Furthermore, to evaluate the toxicity of synthesized Ag NPs, fish Labeo rohita were exposed to two different concentrations (2.5 µg/L as the treatment I and 5 µg/L as treatment II) for 35 days, and antioxidant parameters and histology of gill, liver and kidney were examined. A biphasic response in the activity of glutathione S-transferases (GST) was observed in gill and liver of fish. GST activity in the kidney of fish was significantly increased when compared to control group. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity in organs/tissue of fish were found to be increased while peroxidase (POD) activity was significantly decreased. Histopathological changes such as hyperplasia, proliferation of epithelial cells and fusion of lamellae were observed in both the concentrations. In liver, necrosis, nuclear degeneration and dilation of sinusoids were observed. Subsequently, the representative effects of POD activity were assessed based on the Box–Behnken Equation, 3-D contour plot and ANOVA analysis through response surface methodology analysis.     

Symmetric electrochemical supercapacitor performance evaluation of N-doped graphene prepared via supercritical fluid processing

Here, the fast and shorter duration synthesis route was proposed for the production of N-doped graphene by supercritical fluid method involving ammonium oxalate as a source of nitrogen. Within the different proportions of graphene oxide and nitrogen source, the nitrogen-doped graphene formed from ammonium oxalate having nitrogen content of 3.3 wt% showed an enriched specific capacitance of 274 Fg^?1 at 1 A/g in 20% KOH electrolyte. The long-term stability results obtained from galvanostatic charge-discharge in ammonium oxalate-based N-doped graphene revealed that 90% specific capacitance retention was achieved up to 10,000 cycles at 10 A/g. To examine the device proficiency, a full cell was fabricated and the performance was evaluated in two different approaches. Among the different media in aqueous electrolytes, the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor has achieved a maximum specific capacitance value of 160 F/g at 1 A/g in alkaline medium (20% KOH solution). Between 20% KOH solution and 1 M NaClO₄ solution in acetonitrile, the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor exhibits an energy density of 26.5 Wh/kg as well as 5.5 Wh/kg in 1 M sodium perchlorate in acetonitrile solution and 20% KOH solution, respectively.     

Highly electrophilic, 16-electron [Ru(P(OMe)(OH)(2))(dppe)(2)](2+) complex turns H(2)(g) into a strong acid and splits a Si-H bond heterolytically. Synthesis and structure of the novel phosphorous acid complex [Ru(P(OH)(3))(dppe)(2)](2+)

The highly electrophilic, 16-electron, coordinatively unsaturated [Ru(P(OMe)(OH)(2))(dppe)(2)][OTf](2) complex brings about the heterolytic activation of H(2)(g) and spontaneously generates HOTf. In addition, trans-[Ru(H)(P(OMe)(OH)(2))(dppe)(2)](+) and an unprecedented example of a phosphorous acid complex, [Ru(P(OH)(3))(dppe)(2)](2+), are formed. The [Ru(P(OMe)(OH)(2))(dppe)(2)][OTf](2) complex also cleaves the Si-H bond in EtMe(2)SiH in a heterolytic fashion, resulting in the trans-[Ru(H)(P(OMe)(OH)(2))(dppe)(2)](+) derivative.     

The phane properties of anti-[2.2](1,4)biphenylenophane

[structure: see text] Anti-[2.2](1,4)biphenylenophane (4) was synthesized from de Meijere's tetrabromo[2.2]paracyclophane (5) through a four-step reaction sequence. Although an average separation of 3.09 A between the inner ring of the biphenylene units is normal for [2.2]paracyclophanes, a bond distance of 1.54 Afor the ethano C-C bridge at room temperature is shorter than usual. In addition, trimethylsilyl-substituted anti-[2.2](1,4)biphenylenophane 8 sublimes at 220 degrees C under a pressure lower than 1 x10(-5) Torr without decomposition or thermal isomerization. The high thermal stability of 8 suggested that the ethano bridges of the biphenylenophanes are less strained than those of [2.2]paracyclophane. Bathochromic shifts are observed in their UV-vis absorption spectra. The phane state interactions of 4 and 8 were evidenced by the weak structureless fluorescent emission maximized at 537 and 550 nm in CH(2)Cl(2) along with longer relaxation lifetimes of 229 and 292 ps, respectively.     

Highly effective fluorescent sensor for H2PO4(-)

A new anthracene dimer connected by two imidazolium moieties has been systematically designed and synthesized as a fluorescent chemosensor for selective binding of H(2)PO(4)(-) over other anions, which have been examined using fluorescence and (1)H NMR and rationalized with ab initio study.     

Bonding characteristics of certain lamp phosphors

A list of powder phosphors used in the production of white colour lamps, UV lamps, high pressure mercury vapour lamps, tricolour lamps and special UV lamps is presented. The electronegativities and ionicity properties of these phosphors are evaluated based on their chemical formulae in each of the different categories of lamp phosphors discussed here.