Simultaneous measurement of radon, radon progeny and thoron concentrations using Makrofol-DE detectors

In this study we describe the set-up of a new passive integrating system to measure simultaneously ²²²Rn, ²²²Rn progeny (²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po) and ²²⁰Rn concentration indoors. It consists of four Makrofol-DE (polycarbonate) circular foils. Two are enclosed within two diffusion chambers—each one with a different filter membrane—to measure ²²²Rn and ²²²Rn+²²⁰Rn. The other two foils are kept in direct contact with air and are electrochemically etched at different conditions to obtain the ²²²Rn daughters. Theoretical sensitivities of each Makrofol-DE foil are calculated using Monte-Carlo technique. The calculations are performed taking into account: (1) the Bethe–Bloch's expression for the stopping power of heavy charged particles in a medium, (2) the properties and behaviour of ²²²Rn, ²²⁰Rn and their progeny in the open air and within the diffusion chamber and (3) the etching conditions used to visualise -particles tracks.     

Ring Contraction of 3‐Hydroxy‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)piperidines: Synthesis of 2‐Substituted 2‐(Trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines

A ring contraction of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)piperidines was achieved via an aziridinium intermediate. This contraction facilitates the synthesis of a series of 2‐substituted 2‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines incorporating a quaternary center at the C2 position.     

Impedimetric evaluation of hybrid cationic porphyrin/quantum dot multilayer assemblies: a biocompatible interface for calf thymus DNA immobilization

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this work, a cationic porphyrin, ascribed as [Ttolyl(P-(C6H5)3)4]4+, where Ttolyl = 5,10,15,20 tetrakistolylporphyrin, was...     

Bishop–Phelps–Bollobás property for certain spaces of operators

We characterize the Banach spaces Y   for which certain subspaces of operators from _L1(μ)$L_1(\mu )$ into Y have the Bishop–Phelps–Bollobás property in terms of a geometric property of Y, namely AHSP. This characterization applies to the spaces of compact and weakly compact operators. New examples of Banach spaces Y with AHSP are provided. We also obtain that certain ideals of Asplund operators satisfy the Bishop–Phelps–Bollobás property.     

Synthesis of New Azole Phosphonate Precursors for Fuel Cells Proton Exchange Membranes

Herein we present the synthesis and characterization of new phosphonate‐, bisphosphonate‐ and hydroxybisphosphonatebenzimidazole derivatives substituted at the N‐1 position and new regioisomers phosphonate‐, bisphosphonate‐, and hydroxybisphosphonatebenzotriazole derivatives substituted at N‐1 or N‐2 positions. The compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry (low and high resolution) allowing the assignment of their structure, including the identification of regioisomers. These new azole monomers will be precursors for a mesoporous silica host to produce novel membrane materials with high proton conductivity for intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells.     

A DFT analysis of the participation of zwitterionic TACs in polar [3+2] cycloaddition reactions

A set of seven non-substituted tri-atom-components (TACs) participating in [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions has been studied using the reactivity indices defined within the conceptual DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. This series of TACs shows a zwitterionic structure and low reactivity towards ethylene. The general characteristic of these TACs is their high nucleophilic and a low electrophilic behaviour. Activation energies computed at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d) level in dichloromethane point to that non-substituted TACs react quickly toward dicyanoethylene showing their ability to react towards electron-deficient ethylenes. However, when the TACs are electrophilically activated by an appropriate substitution there seems to be insufficient activation to react toward electron-rich ethylenes. The electrophilic activation of the TAC moiety for nucleophilic attacks was only determined by the coordination with a Lewis acid. All 32CA reactions studied in this work presented high regioselectivity. The polar character of these 32CA reactions is associated with the global charge transfer found at the TS, which is in agreement with a zwitterionic-type (zw-type) mechanism. According to our results, the present theoretical study suggests that the substitution is required in both, TACs and the ethylene species, in order to experimentally perform these zw-type 32CA reactions under mild conditions.     

Preparation and Characterization of Electrodes Modified with Pyrrole Surfactant,Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Metallophthalocyanines for the Electrochemical Detection of Thiols

Our aim was to prepare hybrid electrodes active towards the electrooxidation of thiols by the co‐immobilization of native carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) from aqueous solutions. This strategy was adopted to avoid the oxidation of CNTs that can induce a modification of their exceptional properties. To do so, a hydrosoluble pyrrole surfactant was used to get homogeneous aqueous dispersions of CNTs and CoPc and to trap both materials on the electrode via the electropolymerization of the pyrrole surfactant. The hybrid electrodes exhibit a good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of L ‐cysteine and glutathione. Their performances in terms of limit of detection (0.01 mM) are compatible with the detection of these thiols in biological samples.     

A Theoretical Study of the Interaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen with Palladium or Gold Adsorbed on Pyridine‐Like Nitrogen‐Doped Graphene

The interaction of H₂ and O₂ molecules in the presence of nitrogen‐doped graphene decorated with either a palladium or gold atom was investigated by using density functional theory. It was found that two hydrogen molecules were adsorbed on the palladium atom. The interaction of these adsorbed hydrogen molecules with two oxygen molecules generates two hydrogen peroxide molecules first through a Eley–Rideal mechanism and then through a Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. The barrier energies for this reaction were small; therefore, we expect that this process may occur spontaneously at room temperature. In the case of gold, a single hydrogen molecule is adsorbed and dissociated on the metal atom. The interaction of the dissociated hydrogen molecule on the surface with one oxygen molecule generates a water molecule. The competitive adsorption between oxygen and hydrogen molecules slightly favors oxygen adsorption.