Electrochemical preparation of luminescent graphene quantum dots from multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Green luminescent, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with a uniform size of 3, 5, and 8.2(±0.3)?nm in diameter were prepared electrochemically from MWCNTs in propylene carbonate by using LiClO(4) at 90?°C, whereas similar particles of 23(±2)?nm were obtained at 30?°C under identical conditions. Both these sets of GQDs displayed a remarkable quantum efficiency of 6.3 and 5.1?%, respectively. This method offers a novel strategy to synthesise size-tunable GQDs as evidenced by multiple characterisation techniques like transmission and scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Photoluminescence of these GQDs can be tailored by size variation through a systematic change in key process parameters, like diameter of carbon nanotube, electric field, concentration of supporting electrolyte and temperature. GQDs are promising candidates for a variety of applications, such as biomarkers, nanoelectronic devices and chemosensors due to their unique features, like high photostability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity and tunable solubility in water.     

Nanocrystalline gadolinium iron garnet for circulator applications

Due to high resistivity and low microwave losses, gadolinium iron garnets (GdIG) are useful materials for non-reciprocal devices such as circulators or isolators. Keeping the miniaturization and cost reduction in mind, the trend is to modify the conventional methods of preparation of samples. In this connection we have synthesized nanocystalline GdIG by using the Microwave Hydrothermal method at 160 °C/45 min. As synthesized powders were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. XRD patterns show the formation of a garnet phase with crystallite size varying between 19 nm and 40 nm. Differential Thermal Analysis studies were also carried out on the nanopowders. The powders were densified at a lower sintering temperature of 1100 °C/45 min using a microwave sintering method. The sintered samples were characterized by XRD and atomic force microscopy. The frequency dependence of complex permittivity and ferromagnetic resonance were measured in the K_a band frequency (27–40 GHz). Magnetic properties were also measured at room temperature.     

A one-pot catalysis: the strategic classification with some recent examples

In this "Emerging Area", the strategic classification of one-pot catalysis, i.e. cooperative, relay and sequential catalysis, is described. In order to illustrate this classification, we take the readers through a series of recent examples which utilize either metal-metal, metal-organo and organo-organo catalysts. The compilation clearly demonstrates the explosive growth and power of this field, which has become, in the last few years, an important technique particularly in the case of enantioselective catalysis.     

Novel synthesis of 1,2,4‐triazolophanes and 1,3,4‐oxadiazolophanes: A dieckmann condensation approach

The Dieckmann condensation has been used for the first time for the syntheses of novel 1,2,4‐triazolophanes and 1,3,4‐oxadiazolophanes. The bis‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐thiols 1a and 1b were reacted with ethyl bromoacetate to give the diesters 2a and 2b . Diesters 2a and 2b were treated under dry conditions with sodium methoxide in methanol to afford desired symmetrical 1,3,4‐oxadiazolophanes 3a and 3b . Similarly, diesters of macrocycle precursors containing 1,2,4‐triazole moiety, that is, 6a , 6b , 10 , 13a , 13b , and 13c were synthesized from 5a , 5b , 9 , 12a , 12b , and 12c , respectively. Dieckmann condensation of these diesters afforded symmetrical ketones 7a , 7b , 11 , 14a , 14b , and 14c . Extrusion of CO₂ was observed after in situ hydrolysis of the conventional Dieckmann product during neutralization by dilute mineral acids to afford highly symmetrical ketone in good yields. Further, the ketones 14a , 14b , and 14c were converted into their respective thiones by the reaction with Lawesson's reagent. All the products were synthesized with good yields, and structures were confirmed by various spectroscopic tools and elemental analyses. J. Heterocyclic Chem.,, (2012).     

Prediction of amount of entrained droplets in vertical annular two-phase flow

Prediction of amount of entrained droplets or entrainment fraction in annular two-phase flow is essential for the estimation of dryout condition and analysis of post dryout heat transfer in light water nuclear reactors and steam boilers. In this study, air–water and organic fluid (Freon-113) annular flow entrainment experiments have been carried out in 9.4 and 10.2 mm diameter test sections, respectively. Both the experiments covered three distinct pressure conditions and wide range of liquid and gas flow conditions. The organic fluid experiments simulated high pressure steam–water annular flow conditions. In each experiment, measurements of entrainment fraction, droplet entrainment rate and droplet deposition rate have been performed by using the liquid film extraction method. A simple, explicit and non-dimensional correlation developed by Sawant [Sawant, P.H., Ishii, M., Mori, M., 2008. Droplet entrainment correlation in vertical upward co-current annular two-phase flow. Nucl. Eng. Des. 238 (6), 1342–1352] for the prediction of entrainment fraction is further improved in this study in order to account for the existence of critical gas and liquid flow rates below which no entrainment is possible.Additionally, a new correlation is proposed for the estimation of minimum liquid film flow rate at the maximum entrainment fraction condition. The improved correlation successfully predicted the newly collected air–water and Freon-113 entrainment fraction data. Furthermore, the correlations satisfactorily compared with the air–water, helium–water and air–genklene experimental data measured by Willetts [Willetts, I.P., 1987. Non-aqueous annular two-phase flow. D.Phil. Thesis, University of Oxford]. However, comparison of the correlations with the steam–water data available in literature showed significant discrepancies. It is proposed that these discrepancies might have been caused due to the inadequacy of the liquid film extraction method used to measure the entrainment fraction or due to the change in mechanism of entrainment under high liquid flow conditions.     

Enantiospecific total synthesis of 6-epi-(−)-hamigeran B. Intramolecular Heck reaction in a sterically constrained environment

An enantiospecific approach, emanating from the abundantly available chiron R-(+)-limonene, to the biologically potent, novel marine natural products, the hamigerans has been developed in which an intramolecular Heck coupling between aryl triflates and an alkene serves as the pivotal step. Following this strategy, a synthesis of (−)-6-epi-hamigeran B has been accomplished.     

Can mobile shapes of fractals cause rate enhancement?

The notion of mobile shapes of a fractal object has been introduced to explain rate enhancements beyond the limits set by three-dimensional diffusion control. Allowing for mobilities of fractal shapes in the practical range, theoretical simulations for a model system show several hundred-fold variation in rates. The results of the analysis can have wide implications in understanding several biochemical as well as physical and chemical systems.     

Apparent and Transfer Molar Volumes for Aqueous Solution Containing Polyethylene Glycols and Amino Acid Ionic Liquids at 298.15 K

The densities of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([Bmim]) based amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) prepared from glycine [Gly], alanine [Ala], and valine [Val], namely [Bmim][Gly], [Bmim][Ala] and [Bmim][Val], in aqueous?~?0.2 mol·kg^?1 polyethylene glycol (PEG400, PEG600 or PEG1000) and PEG400 solutions containing?~?(0.0946, 0.1891 and 0.3820) mol·kg^?1 of [Bmim][Gly], have been determined at 298.15 K. The experimental densities were used to evaluate the apparent molar volumes in the mixed solvent system and further used to obtain transfer molar volumes of AAILs for their transfer from water to aqueous PEG solutions and of PEG400 for its transfer from water to aqueous solutions containing (0.0946, 0.1891 and 0.3820) mol·kg^?1 of [Bmim][Gly]. The transfer molar volumes of AAILs and of PEG400 are found to be negative. The effects of alkyl chain-length variation on the anion of AAILs as well as the chain-length of PEG on transfer molar volumes are investigated and discussed in terms of hydrophobic–hydrophilic, hydrophobic–hydrophobic, and ion–hydrophobic interactions.     

2-Nitrobenzaldehyde Thiocarbohydrazone Assisted Precise Extraction Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Ruthenium(III) in Alloy and Catalysts

A simple, rapid, selective, sensitive and reliable extractive spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of ruthenium(III) using 2-nitrobenzaldehyde thiocarbohydrazone (2-NBATCH) as a chromogenic chelating ligand. The ruthenium(III)?2-NBATCH complex is formed in aqueous acetic acid media (0.7 M) containing an organic solvent after 5 min heating on a water bath. The red colored complex is extracted into 1,2-dichloroethane and absorbance is measured at 445 nm against reagent blank. The Beer’s law is obeyed within 1?6 g/mL of ruthenium(III), the optimum concentration range was 2?5 g/mL of ruthenium(III) evaluated by Ringbom’s plot. Molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity of complex were 1.41 × 10⁴ L/mol/cm and 0.0075 μg/cm², respectively. The stoichiometry of complex was 1: 3 established from Job’s method of continuous variation, molar ratio method and logarithmic slope method. The proposed method was applied for determination of ruthenium(III) in binary and ternary, synthetic mixtures corresponding to fission product elements alloy and ruthenium(III) catalysts.