Tunable terahertz metamaterial based on resonant dielectric inclusions with disturbed Mie resonance

Tunable metamaterial operating in terahertz (THz) frequency range based on dielectric cubic particles with deposited conducting resonant strip was investigated. The frequency of the first magnetic type Mie resonance depends on the electric length of the strip. It can be changed under photoexcitation or applied voltage. This method of control was used for a design of tunable double negative metamaterial based on dielectric resonant inclusions and wire medium.     

Azaphthalocyanines with fused triazolo rings: formation of sterically stressed constitutional isomers

The presented work deals with synthesis and isolation of constitutional isomers of triazolo-fused azaphthalocyanines. Distribution of the isomers did not follow the statistical calculations due to steric effects of the substituents preferring the least sterically stressed C(4h) isomer.     

Investigation of crystal/electronic structure effects on the photoluminescence properties in the BaO–SiO2:Eu2+ systems

BaO–SiO₂:Eu²⁺ phosphors with different Ba/Si mole ratio were prepared using a solid-state reaction method, and their crystal structure dependent-photoluminescence properties were investigated. The prepared phosphor powders were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The emission band of the Eu²⁺ activator varied from orange to blue with varying crystal structure of the host materials, which was related to the crystal field splitting of the Eu 5d orbitals. These emission color changes were examined by calculating the electronic band structure properties such as the density of the state. Moreover, the host material with Ba/Si=1 (BaSiO₃) for Eu²⁺, which exhibited a yellow emission when excited with near UV light, was further characterized for enhancing its emission intensity.     

Isolation of an Organic Solvent-Tolerant Lipolytic Enzyme from Uncultivated Microorganism

Although the use of lipases as biocatalysts has frequently been proposed, it is yet scarcely being implemented in industrial processes. This is mainly due to the difficulties associated with the discovery and engineering of new enzymes and the lack of versatile screening methods. In this study, we screened the available strategy from a metagenomic pool for the organic solvent-tolerant lipase with enhanced performance for industrial processes. A novel lipase was identified through functional screening from a metagenomic library of activated sludge in an Escherichia coli system. The gene encoding the lipase from the metagenomic pool, metalip1, was sequenced and cloned by PCR. Metalip1 encoding a polypeptide of 316 amino acids had typical residues essential for lipase such as pentapeptide (GXSXGG) and catalytic triad sequences (Ser160, Asp260, and His291). The deduced amino acid sequence of metalip1 showed high similarity to a putative lipase from Pseudomonas sp. CL-61 (80 %, ABC25547). Metalip1 was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) with a his-tag and purified using a Ni-NTA chelating column and characterized. This enzyme showed high expression level and solubility in the heterologous E. coli host. This enzyme was active over broad organic solvents. Among organic solvents examined, dimethyl formamide was the best organic solvent for metalip1. We showed that function-based strategy is an effective method for fishing out an organic solvent-tolerant lipase from the metagenomic library. Also, it revealed high catalytic turnover rates, which make them a very interesting candidate for industrial application.     

Nanosilver‐Decorated TiO2 Nanofibers Coated with a SiO2 Layer for Enhanced Light Scattering and Localized Surface Plasmons in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Enhanced harvesting of visible light is vital to the development of highly efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Nanosilver‐decorated TiO₂ nanofibers (Ag@TiO₂ NFs) were synthesized by depositing chemically reduced Ag ions onto the surface of electrospun TiO₂ nanofibers (TiO₂ NFs). The prepared Ag@TiO₂ NFs were coated with SiO₂ (SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs) by using PVP as coupling agent for protecting corrosion of Ag nanoparticle by I^?/${{\rm I}{{- \hfill \atop 3\hfill}}}$ solution. The fabricated SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs demonstrated a synergistic effect of light scattering and surface plasmons, leading to an enhanced light absorption. Moreover, an anode consisting of SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs incorporating TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) increased light harvesting without substantially sacrificing dye attachment. The power conversion efficiency increased from 6.8 to 8.7 % for a thick film (10 μm), that is, 28 %. These results suggest that SiO₂@Ag@TiO₂ NFs are promising materials for enhanced light absorption in dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

Restoration of catalytic activity by the preservation of ligand structure: Cu-catalysed asymmetric conjugate addition with 1,1-diborylmethane

Reported herein is a novel reaction engineering protocol to enhance the efficiency of a transition metal-catalysed process by strategically preventing ligand degradation. Based on spectroscopic investigations, a decomposition pathway of a chiral phosphoramidite ligand during a Cu-catalysed reaction was identified. The involvement of the destructive process could be minimized under the modified reaction conditions that control the amount of nucleophilic alkoxide base, which is the origin of ligand decomposition. Overall, the strategy has been successfully applied to a new class of asymmetric conjugate addition reactions with bis[(pinacolato)boryl]methane, in which α,β-unsaturated enones are utilised as substrates.

A novel Cu-catalysed asymmetric conjugate addition reaction with bis[(pinacolato)boryl]methane using α,β-unsaturated enones as substrates has been developed on the basis of strategic preservation of the supporting ligand.     

High-resolutions cars measurement of Raman linewidths of H2

High-resolution coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) has been perfomed in hydrogen gas using a cw system. Accurate measurements of the Raman linewidths of the Q(0) through Q(3) transitions of molecular hydrogen have been made at pressures ranging from 0.75 to 40 atm at room temperature. The pressure-broadening coefficients determined for these lines are important in analytic and diagnostic applications of CARS in high-pressure media.     

Heat capacities of some phthalate esters

Isobaric heat capacities C _p in the liquid phase of dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and benzyl butyl phthalate were measured by commercial SETARAM heat conduction calorimeters. Results obtained cover the following temperature range: dimethyl phthalate 283 to 323 K, diethyl phthalate 306 to 370 K, dibutyl phthalate 313 to 447 K, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from 313 to 462 K, benzyl butyl phthalate from 313 to 383 K. The heat capacity data obtained in this work were merged with available experimental data from literature, critically assessed and sets of recommended data were developed by correlating selected data as a function of temperature. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of spirooxindoles bearing 2,3-(or 2,5-)dihydrothiophene-2-thione moiety via [3+2] annulation of carbon disulfide with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates of isatins

Various spirooxindoles bearing 2,3-(or 2,5-)dihydrothiophene-2-thione moiety have been synthesized via [3+2] annulation reaction of carbon disulfide and the nitrogen ylides derived from Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates of isatins. 2,3-Dihydro- and 2,5-dihydrothiophene-2-thione moieties were formed selectively depending on steric hindrance around the nitrogen ylides.     

Effect of ethylene carbonate concentration on the conductivity of carbonate-based electrolytes with LiPF6 for Li-ion batteries

A four-probe pouch-type cell was used to study the influence of carbonate-based electrolyte composition on the total conductivity of polyolefin separator impregnated with electrolyte through the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A frequency dispersion of separator with electrolyte is found to be dependent on the volume ratio of ethylene carbonate and ethyl methyl carbonate in an electrolyte solution. The origin of high- and low-frequency relaxation processes obtained from the impedance spectra is discussed. A correlation between the direct current resistance of separator with electrolyte and dissociation degree of electrolyte salt is found.