Facile synthesis and step by step enhancement of blue photoluminescence from Ag-doped ZnS quantum dots

Our results pertaining to the step by step enhancement of photoluminescence (PL) intensity from ZnS:Ag,Al quantum dots (QDs) are presented. Initially, these QDs were synthesized using a simple co-precipitation technique involving a surfactant, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), in de-ionised water. It was observed that the blue PL originated from ZnS:Ag,Al QDs was considerably weak and not suitable for any practical display application. Upon UV (365 nm) photolysis, the PL intensity augmented to ~170% and attained a saturation value after ~100 min of exposure. This is attributed to the photo-corrosion mechanism exerted by high-flux UV light on ZnS:Ag,Al QDs. Auxiliary enhancement of PL intensity to 250% has been evidenced by subjecting the QDs to high temperatures (200 °C) and pressures (~120 bars) in a sulphur-rich atmosphere, which is due to the improvement in crystallanity of ZnS QDs. The origin of the bright-blue PL has been discussed. The results were supported by X-ray phase analysis, high-resolution electron microscopy and compositional evaluation.     

Optically active,mesogenic lanthanide complexes: design,synthesis and characterisation

The synthesis, molecular structural characterisation and mesomorphic behaviour of lanthanidomesogens with the formula [LnL(LH)₂ ][X]₂ are reported. These mesogens were derived from ligands (LH- n ) formed by covalently linking the pro-mesogenic cholesterol segment with the N-(n-decyl)salicylaldimine core through either an even-parity (4-oxybutanoyloxy/6-oxyhexanoyloxy/8-oxyoctanoyloxy) or an odd-parity (5-oxypentano-yloxy) spacer. These ligands were designed based on the recently conceived concept of decoupling the anisometric segment from the metal-coordinating site by a flexible spacer to account for the stabilisation of nematic and/or smectic phases at lower temperatures. The even parity spacer ligands are polymesomorphic whereas the odd parity analogue exhibits only the chiral nematic phase. In contrast, the complexes display solely the smectic A phase indicating that the variation in the nature of lanthanide has no influence on the general phase behaviour of the complexes. The clearing temperatures of both the ligands and the complexes display an odd-even effect; the even members show relatively higher transition temperatures.     

A Validated Chiral LC Method for the Enantiomeric Separation of Cinacalcet Hydrochloride

A rapid isocratic chiral LC method has been developed for the separation of (S)-cinacalcet from (R)-cinacalcet. Good resolution with R _S  > 3 was obtained using a Chiralpak-IA column (250 × 4.6 mm, particle size 5 μm) and n-hexane, ethanol and trifluoroacetic acid as the mobile phase (95:5:0.1, v/v) at ambient temperature. Flow rate was kept at 1.0 mL min^–1 and elution was monitored by UV detection at 223 nm. This method was further used to determine the presence of (S)-cinacalcet in enantiopure pharmaceutical formulations containing (R)-cinacalcet. This method allowed for the detection and quantitation of (S)-cinacalcet of levels at 0.04 and 0.16 μg mL^–1, respectively. The method was validated following ICH guidelines.     

Measurement of the bremsstrahlung spectra generated from thick targets with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>=2–78 under the impact of 10 keV electrons

We present new experimental data on thick target bremsstrahlung spectra generated from the interaction of energetic electrons with bulk matter. The ‘photon yields’ in terms of double differential cross-sections (DDCS) are measured for pure elements of thick targets: Ti (Z = 22), Ag (Z = 47), W (Z = 74) and Pt (Z = 78) under the impact of 10 keV electrons. Comparison of DDCS obtained from the experimental data is made with those predicted by Monte-Carlo (MC) calculations using PENELOPE code. A close agreement between the experimental data and the MC calculations is found for all the four targets within the experimental error of 16%. Furthermore, the ratios of DDCS of bremsstrahlung photons emitted from Ag, W and Pt with those from Ti as a function of photon energy are examined with a relatively lower uncertainty of about 10% and they are compared with MC calculations. A satisfactory agreement is found between the experiment and the calculations within some normalizing factors. The variations of DDCS as a function of Z and of photon energy are also studied which show that the DDCS vary closely with Z; however, some deviations are observed for ‘tip’ photons emitted from high Z targets.     

Synthesis and biological activity of 2-substituted-3-ethyl-N-alkyl/arylindoles

Some new 2 -substituted-N-(aminomethylaryl/aminoethylaryl)indole-3ylglyoxylamides 3a-h and their corresponding 2-substituted-3-ethyl-N-alkyl/aryl indoles 4a-d,f,g were synthesized. These compounds were evaluated for their cardiovascular as well as antiparkinsonian activities.     

Enzymatic Trends of Fructooligosaccharides Production by Microorganisms

Fructooligosaccharides are influential prebiotics that affect various physiological functions in such a way that they promote positive impact to health. They occur naturally in many fruits and vegetables in trace amounts. However, they are mainly produced commercially by the reaction of microbial enzymes with di- or polysaccharides, such as sucrose or inulin as a substrate. For maximum production of fructooligosaccharides on an industrial level, development of more enzymes with high activity and stability is required. This has attracted the attention of biotechnologists and microbiologists worldwide. This study aims to discuss the new trends in the production of fructooligosaccharide and its effect on numerous health qualities through which it creates great demand in the sugar market.     

The chemiluminescent flame spectrum of SiO

The band systems of the SiO molecule have been excited in a flame produced by the chemiluminescence of SiCl₄ vapor reacting with oxygen atoms in the presence of an argon atmosphere. A general survey has been made of the emission spectrum of this flame and the various band systems lying in the region 2300–4600 Å have been identified. Many new bands have been observed and have been assigned to the SiO molecule. The emission bands tentatively attributed to a new ¹Σ⁻-¹Σ⁻ transition of neutral SiO [H. Bredohl, R. Cornet, I. Dubois, and F. Remy, Can. J. Phys. 51, 2322 (1973)] and reassigned by R. F. Barrow and T. J. Stone [J. Phys. B. 8, L13 (1975)] to belong to the known E¹Σ⁺-X¹Σ⁺ system of SiO have been extended in the present source. They are shown to confirm the Barrow and Stone assignments. A few bandheads corresponding to the isotopic species ²⁹SiO and ³⁰SiO have been observed for A¹Π-X¹Σ⁺ system. In addition, several strong unidentified bands have been reported.     

Synthesis characterization and hydroformylation activity of new mononuclear rhodium(I) compounds incorporated with polar-group functionalized phosphines

A first effort employing a range of polar-group functionalized phosphines (L ₁ –L ₇ ) to design mononuclear Rh(I) compounds of [Rh(quin-8-O)(CO)(L)] (quin-8-O = 8-hydroxy quinolate) is described. The reaction of a Rh(I) precursor [Rh(μ-Cl)(CO)₂]₂ with 8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of a base followed by phosphines (L ₁ –L ₇ ) produced only a single isomer of [Rh(quin-8-O)(CO)(L)] compounds (1–7) with pendant, i.e. non-bonded, polar-groups (includes carboxyl, hydroxyl and formyl). A relationship between Δgd³¹P chemical shifts and the ν(C≡O) was derived to evaluate and explain the σ-donor properties of these phosphines with respect to the electronic properties of the polar groups and the extent of π-back-bonding to the CO group. These mononuclear Rh(I)-Phosphines were investigated as catalysts in the hydroformylation of 1-hexene and cyclohexene in aqueous two-phase and single-phase solvent systems. The Rh(I) catalysts with strong σ-donor and hydrophilic phosphines provided better yields and selectivities for the hydroformylation products, which is a reverse trend compared to literature reports. When the Rh(I) compounds contained strong σ-donor phosphines, the π-acceptor properties of the pyridine ring of 8-hydroxyquinolate were found to be beneficial for the facile cleavage of the CO group during hydroformylation, and additionally, to improve the kinetic stability of catalysts.     

Flexible hybrid eu3+ doped P(VDF‐HFP) nanocomposite film possess hypersensitive electronic transitions and piezoelectric throughput

A novel red light‐emitter made of Eu³⁺ doped self‐poled electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoropropylene) [P(VDF‐HFP)] hybrid nanocomposite film possesses piezoelectric throughput that is suitable for flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG) fabrication. We observed that PNG is enabled to generate an open‐circuit voltage of 5 V and 0.35 μA of short‐circuit current under an applied pressure amplitude of ～10.4 kPa. By simple mechanical energy scavenging, PNG demonstrates an ability to light more than ten blue commercial light emitting diodes instantly, without using an energy‐storage device. Additionally, it successfully charges up capacitors by simple repeating finger touch motion, which indicates its potency as an efficient energy harvesting power source. The high performance of PNG is due to well‐coated Eu³⁺ with P(VDF‐HFP) in a hybrid nanocomposite so it displays improved dielectric permittivity and energy storage capacity. This flexible composite film also possesses a hypersensitive electronic transition as it responds by an intense red light‐emission confirmed by the CIE 1931 chart. This enables applications in piezo‐photonics as a high‐performance, energy‐saving, flexible solid‐state red light emitter. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2335–2345.     

Structure factor of liquid metals in one-component plasma system

We present the analytical expression to determine the static structure factorS(q) of liquid alkali metals based on the semi-analytic theory of Baus and Hansen. The calculations were motivated to point out the anomalies exhibited by one-component plasma system (ocp) in describing the structure factor. The numerical example of Na illustrates our results.ocp structure factor is also compared with those obtained by the hard sphere system.