Fluorescence Quenching of Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)Ruthenium(II) Dichloride by Certain Organic Dyes

Fluorescence quenching of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ by a series of organic dyes has been investigated by using the steady state fluorescence technique in aqueous medium. The dyes used are anthraquinone dyes: uniblue, acid blue 129, alizarin, alizarin red S and the azo dyes: congo red, sunset yellow, methyl orange, tartrazine, acid orange 63, methyl red and erichrome black T. The quenching of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ was found to obey the Stern-Volmer equation and the corresponding Stern-Volmer plots were linear indicating dynamic quenching. The quenching rate constants (k _q) were calculated from the fluorescence data. The mechanism of quenching was discussed on the basis of the quenching rate constants as well as the reduction potential of dyes. The electron transfer mechanism has been proved by the calculation of Gibbs energy changes (ΔG _et) by applying the Rehm-Weller equation.     

Recognition of sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosamine chains on N- and O-linked glycans by human and avian influenza A virus hemagglutinins

Human influenza viruses are proposed to recognize sialic acids (pink diamonds) on glycans extended with poly-LacNAc chains (LacNAc=(yellow circle+blue square)). N- and O-linked glycans were extended with different poly-LacNAc chains with α2-3- and α2-6-linked sialic acids recognized by human and avian influenza viruses, respectively. The specificity of recombinant hemagglutinins (receptors in green) was investigated by using glycan microarray technology.     

Citrate-gel synthesis and characterization of yttrium-doped multiferroic BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Perovskite Bi_1−x Y _x FeO₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) oxides were prepared by a citrate-gel method. The crystal structure examined by X-ray powder diffraction indicates that the samples were single-phase and crystallize in a rhombohedral (space group, R-3c no. 161) structure. The structural phase transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase was observed at x = 0.10. Increase in magnetization was observed as a result of Y doping. The optical band-gap of (Bi, Y)FeO₃ materials were determined. The observed increase in magnetization and low band-gap of (Bi, Y)FeO₃ ceramics position them for potential magenotoelectric and photocatalytic applications, respectively.     

Photocatalytic inactivation of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by reactive plasma processed nanocrystalline TiO2 powder

Nanocrystalline TiO₂ powder is synthesized using a novel reactive plasma process in which the precursor TiH₂ powder is oxidized through thermal plasma in-flight route to generate nanocrystalline TiO₂ powder. The synthesized powder consists of nano-sized TiO₂ particles, both anatase and rutile phases, in which anatase is the predominant phase. An additional feature of the plasma synthesized TiO₂ powder is the higher surface concentration of Ti³⁺ state and hydroxyl group that enhance its photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic inactivation of Gram-positive Enterococcus and Gram-negative Klebsiella bacteria is studied using the plasma synthesized TiO₂ nanopowder with 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) light. The mechanism behind the photocatalytic disinfection of bacteria is discussed. The plasma synthesized TiO₂ nanopowder catalyst is found effective in killing Enterococcus and Klebsiella. The results corroborated that the plasma synthesized TiO₂ powder can be used for waste water treatment and water purification.     

Synthesis, structural, thermal and optical studies of 1-ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxy pyridinium halides

1-Ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxy pyridinium chloride dihydrate and bromide dihydrate salts have been synthesized and their single crystals were grown by the slow evaporation of aqueous solution at 30 degrees C. The grown crystals were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-NMR and FT-IR techniques to confirm the formation of the expected compound. Optical transmittance window in aqueous solution was found to be 275-1100 nm by UV-vis-NIR technique. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal thermal stability and the presence of two water molecules in the crystal lattices. The crystal structure of chloride salt was also determined by X-ray diffraction method.     

Phase matchable semiorganic NLO material for frequency doubling: L-Arginine tetrafluoroborate

L-Arginine tetrafluoroborate (C6H15N4(+)O2BF4(-)) is a semiorganic crystalline material exhibiting second harmonic generation (SHG) down to the UV region. The material was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-NMR and FT-IR spectra. The lower cutoff wavelength was found to be 270 nm, with a good optical transmittance window covering UV-vis-NIR region. The thermal stability of the compound was determined by TG-DTA curves. The powder SHG efficiency was measured using a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser assembly by a modified Kurtz and Perry powder technique and its phase matching property was established.     

Optical induced modifications in thin films of Fe:PVA

The ferric chloride doped polymers change their refractive index under UV irradiation. The Fe:PVA is sensitive to ferric chloride concentration, molecular weight of PVA, and recording beam power. By Mössbauer investigations we tried to correlate the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio, as well as the temperature dependence of the energetical parameters with the assumed mechanisms which involve both the valence state of iron and a cross-linking reaction of PVA matrix.     

Sol–Gel Synthesis and Magnetic Studies of Titanium Dioxide Doped with 10% M (M=Fe,Mn and Ni)

TiO₂ nanocrystals doped with 1%, 5% and 10% Co/TiO₂ and 10% M (M=Fe, Mn and Ni) were prepared by the sol–gel technique and characterized using X-ray diffraction and SQUID. The as-prepared samples are found to be paramagnetic at room temperature, with the magnetic susceptibility following the Curie–Weiss law in the investigated range of 2–370 K. However, transformation from paramagnetism to room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) for the 5% Co/TiO₂ was observed by hydrogenating the sample at 573 K while the 1% sample remained paramagnetic. As the percentage of Co was increased from 5% to 10% the Curie temperature increased from 390 K to 470 K determined via extrapolation. Transformation from paramagnetism to room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) was also observed by hydrogenation of 10% Fe/TiO₂ at 573 K for 6 h. X-ray diffraction of the hydrogenated sample shows only single phase TiO₂ structure suggesting that the observed RTFM may be intrinsic but magnetic studies may suggest the possibility of Fe nanoparticles.