Phosphonated mesoporous silica based composite membranes for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Mesoporous Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA-15) was synthesized, and it was grafted with phosphonate functionality using a simple two-step process involving...     

Optical modelling of P3HT:PC<Subscript>71</Subscript>BM semi-transparent organic solar cell

The optical properties of a novel semi-transparent organic solar cell were investigated both experimentally and by transfer matrix modelling to maximize photocurrent generation. The effect of multilayer anode thickness and illumination direction was studied. Bottom illumination was shown to provide enhanced exciton generation and increased photocurrent. Changing the multilayer anode thickness also influenced the device reflectance and photocurrent generation.     

Influence of atomic mass on the coriolis coupling constants in some XY6-type molecules. I-XCl6

The symmetric force constants F₃₃, F₃₄ and F₄₄ are determined using the Thirugnanasambandam method of kinetic constant constraint for some octahedral XCl₆ molecules and ions. The Coriolis coupling constants ₃₃ and ₄₄ evaluated using these force constants are observed to vary with the mass of the X-atom. Empirical relationships between the atomic mass of the X-atom and ₄₄ values have been proposed. These relations are compared with those for the tetrahedral XCl₄ molecules and ions which were suggested earlier.One of the authors (K. E.) thanks the University Grants Commission for the award of a fellowship under the Faculty Improvement Programme which enabled him to pursue this investigation.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of benzo[c]thiophene,p-phenylene-, triphenylamine-, and pyrene-based vinylenes

An efficient synthesis of benzo[c]thiophenyl/p-phenylenyl/pyrenyl phosphonate esters has been achieved using ZnBr₂-catalyzed Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction of corresponding benzyl alcohol/bromides at room temperature. Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction of the phosphonate esters with aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes in the presence of t-BuOK furnished the vinylenes in good yields. The absorption and emission characteristics of the synthesized vinylenes were also reported.     

Oxidative cleavage of 1,3-diaryl/(heteroaryl)benzo[c]furans into 1,2-diaroyl/(heteroaroyl)benzenes using selenium dioxide

Reaction of 1,3-disubstituted isobenzofurans (IBFs) with selenium dioxide in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature led to the formation of 1,2-diaroyl/(heteroaroyl)benzenes in good to excellent yields.     

Chemoselective N-Alkylation of Indoles in Aqueous Microdroplets

Many reactions show much faster kinetics in microdroplets than in the bulk phase. Most reported reactions in microdroplets mirror the products found in bulk reactions. However, the unique environment of microdroplets allows different chemistry to occur. In this work, we present the first chemoselective N-alkylation of indoles in aqueous microdroplets via a three-component Mannich-type reaction without using any catalyst. In sharp contrast, bulk reactions using the same reagents with a catalyst yield exclusively C-alkylation products. The N-alkylation yield is moderate in microdroplets, up to 53 %. We extended the scope of the microdroplet reaction and obtained a series of new functionalized indole aminals, which are likely to have biological activities. This work clearly indicates that microdroplet reactions can show reactivity quite different from that of bulk-phase reactions, which holds great potential for developing novel reactivities in microdroplets.     

Dependence of NO2 sensitivity on thickness of oxide-sensing electrodes for mixed-potential-type sensor using stabilized zirconia

The effect of thickness of oxide-sensing electrode (SE) on NO₂ sensitivity of the planar sensor based on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was examined at high temperatures. The sensitivity of the sensor increased with decreasing thickness of SE, and the highest sensitivity was obtained by using the thinnest layer of Cr₂O₃–SE (2.7 μm) at 700 °C. In the case of NiO–SE, the highest sensitivity was observed for the sensor using the 4-μm-thick SE even at a high temperature of 850 °C. Based on the results of the measurements for the complex impedances, the polarization curves, and the gas-phase NO₂ decomposition catalysis, it was confirmed that the catalytic activity to the gas-phase NO₂ decomposition on the oxide–SE matrix played an important role in determining the NO₂ sensitivity of the present sensors.     

Preparation of ZnO Nanowires and Study of Surface‐adsorbate Interaction by Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

To study the surface‐adsorbate properties of ZnO nanowires, a hydrothermal method was modified to grow ZnO nanowires directly on ZnSe, which were then characterized by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy. To prepare ZnO nanowires directly on ATR sensing element of ZnSe, ZnO seed layers were first formed by annealing of ZnO seeds on ZnSe surfaces. The ZnO seed layers then were exposed to growth solution, forming ZnO nanowires directly on the ATR crystals. The interaction properties of the resulting surfaces were studied by an ATR‐IR method. The diameter, length and distribution of the ZnO nanowires can be tuned by adjusting the growth conditions, particularly the growing time and the concentrations of reagents. Two surfaces, namely Zn‐rich and Zn‐O ion‐pair surfaces were studied in detail for their adsorption properties toward compounds bearing different functional groups. By examination of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it was found that the Zn‐rich surface is less selective and interacts with compounds bearing the functional groups of amino and hydroxyl. The Zn‐O ion‐pair surface is more selective and a much stronger interaction was observed with non‐aromatic amino compounds. These results indicate that the improving of the selectivity of a ZnO‐based sensing device can be achieved by tuning the surface structure of the ZnO nanomaterials.     

Binding interaction of bioactive imidazole with bovine serum albumin--a mechanistic investigation

A novel Y-shaped imidazole derivative 4-((E)-2-(4,5-diphenyl-1-p-tolyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)vinyl)phenol has been synthesized and characterised by IR, UV-vis, mass and NMR spectral techniques. The mutual interaction of this imidazole derivative (DPTIV) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using photoluminescent studies. The fluorescence quenching mechanism of BSA by DPTIV was analyzed and the binding constant has been calculated. The binding distance between DPTIV and BSA was obtained based on the theory of Forester's non-radiation energy transfer. The effect of some common ions on the binding constant between DPTIV and BSA was also examined.