Stretching effects on the permeability of water molecules across a lipid bilayer

Using a coarse grained molecular dynamics model of a solvent-surfactant system, we study the effects of stretching on the permeability of water across a lipid bilayer. The density profile, free energy profile, diffusion profile, and tail ordering parameter were computed for a set of stretched membranes maintained at constant area. We computed the water permeability across each membrane using the inhomogeneous solubility-diffusion model first proposed by Marrink and Berendsen [J. Phys. Chem. 98, 4155 (1994)]. We find that even though the resistance to permeation profile shows a great deal of qualitative change as the membranes are stretched, the overall permeability remains nearly constant within the relevant range of stretching. This is explained by the fact that the main barrier to permeation, located in the densest section of the tails, is insensitive to increased area per lipid, as a result of competing effects. Expansion leads to thinning and a higher density in the tail region, the latter leading to an increase in the free energy barrier. However, this is compensated by the reduction in the transverse distance to cross and a larger diffusion coefficient due to increased disordering in the chains.     

Nickel nanoparticles obtained by a modified polyol process: synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties

The synthesis of nickel nanoparticles using poly(N-vinilpyrrolidone) (PVP) as protective agent was studied. The nanoparticles were prepared in air according to a modified polyol route, using nickel chloride as precursor and sodium borohydride as reducing agent. Samples with different nickel/PVP ratio were obtained. The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements indicate the occurrence of face-centered cubic metallic nickel nanoparticles with a medium diameter of 3.8 nm and good size dispersion. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data show an effective interaction between the nickel nanoparticles surface and the carboxyl oxygen atoms of PVP. Magnetic measurements show single-domain nonideal superparamagnetism behavior due to dipolar magnetic coupling between particles.     

Synthesis of 2(1H)-pyrazinone phosphonates via an Arbuzov-type reaction

A simple and catalyst-free method for the synthesis of phosphonated 2(1H)-pyrazinones is described starting from 3,5-dichloropyrazinones. The method also works for 3-bromo- and 3-iodopyrazinones. Classical heating conditions as well as microwave-enhanced reaction conditions were tested.     

Difluoromethyltrialkylammonium salts--their expeditious synthesis from chlorodifluoromethane and tertiary amines in the presence of concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide. The catalytic process

We found that difluorocarbene generated from chlorodifluoromethane with 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide reacts with lipophilic tertiary amines 1a-g giving difluoromethyltrialkylammonium chlorides 2a-g in high yields. Similarly, difluoromethyltrialkylammonium iodides 3h-l, nitrates 4h-k, or isothiocyanates 5i,j were synthesized from hydrophilic tertiary amines 1h-l and the corresponding sodium or potassium salts. The process is catalytic with respect to the base used.     

Reduction of cationic free-base <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-tris-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpyridinium-4-yl porphyrins in positive mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Reductions involving more than one electron with formation of the M⁺ and [M+2H]⁺ ions were observed for electrosprayed meso-tris(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin iodides, MI₃. These reductions were studied by using different solvents and flow rates. Formation of the [M+2H]⁺ ions occurred only for protic solvents and to a larger extent at lower flow rates. The type of the fourth substituent does not seem to affect the reduction processes. Formation of the two reduced species, M⁺ and [M+2H]⁺ ions, may occur through the participation of counter ion/solvent clusters. Reduction of multiply charged, non-metallated species with formation of [M+nH]⁺ ions (n>1) was not observed before in positive mode electrospray mass spectrometry.     

Gas-phase structure of a pi-allyl-palladium complex: efficient infrared spectroscopy in a 7 T Fourier transform mass spectrometer

The performance of infrared (IR) spectroscopy of gas-phase ions in a commercially available 7 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer has been characterized. A pi-allyl-palladium reactive intermediate, [(pi-allyl)Pd(P(C6H5)3)2]+, involved in the catalytic allylation of amine is studied. A solution of this transition metal complex is electrosprayed, and the IR multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectrum of the mass-selected ions is recorded in two spectral ranges. The fingerprint spectrum (650-1550 cm(-1)) is recorded using the Orsay free-electron laser, and the dependence of the IRMPD efficiency on laser power and irradiation time is characterized. The DFT-calculated IR absorption spectrum of the [(pi-allyl)Pd(P(C6H5)3)2]+ complex shows good agreement with the experimental spectrum. The pi-interaction between the palladium and the allyl moiety is reflected by the assignment of the IRMPD bands, and the observed allylic CH2 wagging modes appear to form a sensitive probe for the pi-interaction strength in metal-pi-allyl complexes. This spectral assignment is further supported by the analysis of the different IRMPD photofragmentation patterns observed at different photon energies, which are found to result from wavelength-specific photofragmentations. Nine peaks are well-resolved in the experimental spectrum, for which the bandwidth (fwhm) is on the order of 15 cm(-1). Resonances with a calculated IR intensity of 5 km/mol or larger are shown to be amenable for IRMPD, indicating an excellent sensitivity of our new experimental setup. Finally, the IR spectrum has also been recorded in the CH stretching region (2950-3150 cm(-1)) using a tabletop IR optical parametric oscillator/amplifier (OPO/OPA) laser source.     

Experimental and computational studies of nuclear substituted 1,1'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridinium tetrafluoroborates

The synthesis and spectral properties of a new 2,2'-bipyridinium ion, 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-(dimethylamino)-2,2'-bipyridinium bis(tetrafluoroborate) are reported. Rotation of the dimethylamino group is slow at room temperature on the 400 MHz 1H and 100 MHz 13C NMR time scales. Complete line shape fit of the dynamically broadened NMR spectra was used to determine the activation barriers for this process. The first complete set of UV-vis spectra for a 2,2'-bipyridinium dication and its one- and two-electron reduced products was reported. TD-DFT calculations were used to help assign the origin of the long wavelength absorptions in these species. The effect of substituents on the energies and conformational potential energy surfaces of all three species were also examined using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) computational method.     

Importance of catalyst–photoabsorber interface design configuration on the performance of Mo-doped BiVO4 water splitting photoanodes

Photoelectrochemical water splitting is mostly impeded by the slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction. The construction of photoanodes that appreciably enhance the efficiency of this process is of vital technological importance towards solar fuel synthesis. In this work, Mo-modified BiVO₄ (Mo:BiVO₄), a promising water splitting photoanode, was modified with various oxygen evolution catalysts in two distinct configurations, with the catalysts either deposited on the surface of Mo:BiVO₄ or embedded inside a Mo:BiVO₄ film. The investigated catalysts included monometallic, bimetallic, and trimetallic oxides with spinel and layered structures, and nickel boride (Ni_xB). In order to follow the influence of the incorporated catalysts and their respective properties, as well as the photoanode architecture on photoelectrochemical water oxidation, the fabricated photoanodes were characterised for their optical, morphological, and structural properties, photoelectrocatalytic activity with respect to evolved oxygen, and recombination rates of the photogenerated charge carriers. The architecture of the catalyst-modified Mo:BiVO₄ photoanode was found to play a more decisive role than the nature of the catalyst on the performance of the photoanode in photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation. Differences in the photoelectrocatalytic activity of the various catalyst-modified Mo:BiVO₄ photoanodes are attributed to the electronic structure of the materials revealed through differences in the Fermi energy levels. This work thus expands on the current knowledge towards the design of future practical photoanodes for photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation.

     

Facile one-step synthesis of Ru doped NiCoP nanoparticles as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) as ever-evolving electrocatalytic materials have attracted increasing attention in water splitting reactions owing to their cost-effective, highly active and stable catalytic properties. This work presents a facile synthetic route to NiCoP nanoparticles with Ru dopants which function as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. The Ru dopants induced a high content of Ni and Co vacancies in NiCoP nanoparticles, and the more defective Ru doped NiCoP phase than undoped NiCoP ones led to a greater number of catalytically active sites and improved electrical conductivity after undergoing electrochemical activation. The Ru doped NiCoP catalyst exhibited high OER catalytic performance in alkaline media with a low overpotential of 281 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 42.7 mV dec⁻¹.     

Study of pyrolysis kinetic of green corn husk

In this paper, it was suggested the use of green corn husk, which is a biomass from agro-industry, as an alternative source of energy through its pyrolysis. Green corn husk characterization was done through immediate and elemental analysis of its components: cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. It was also measured its higher calorific value. The pyrolysis study of green corn husk was done by the isoconversion and the Master plots method. Thermogravimetric plots were obtained at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1. The pyrolysis kinetics parameters were studied through the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger, and Friedman models. The Master plots method was used to determine the pyrolysis reaction order. The results of the reaction energy activation were found to be in the range 105.21–157.46 kJ mol^?1 by the FWO method, 150.50 kJ mol^?1 by the Kissinger method, and ranged 120.66–163.81 kJ mol^?1 by the Friedman method. The Master plots method showed a three-way-transport diffusional kinetics for the biomass de-volatilization process. The higher calorific value found for green corn husk was 16.14 MJ kg^?1. The simulation showed correlation between the experimental data and the proposed model for conversion values up to 0.8.