Highly sensitive determination of atropine using cobalt oxide nanostructures: Influence of functional groups on the signal sensitivity

This study describes sensitive determination of atropine using glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with Co₃O₄ nanostructures. The as-synthesised nanostructures were grown using cysteine (CYS), glutathione (GSH) and histidine (HYS) as effective templates under hydrothermal action. The obtained morphologies revealed interesting structural features, including both cavity-based and flower-shaped structures. The as-synthesised morphologies were noted to actively participate in electro-catalysis of atropine (AT) drug where GSH-assisted structures exhibited the best signal response in terms of current density and over-potential value. The study also discusses the influence of functional groups on the signal sensitivity of atropine electro-oxidation. The functionalisation was carried with the amino acids originally used as effective templates for the growth of Co₃O₄ nanostructures. The highest increment was obtained when GSH was used as the surface functionalising agent. The GSH-functionalised Co₃O₄-modified electrode was utilised for the electro-chemical sensing of AT in a concentration range of 0.01–0.46 μM. The developed sensor exhibited excellent working linearity (R² = 0.999) and signal sensitivity up to 0.001 μM of AT. The noted high sensitivity of the sensor is associated with the synergy of superb surface architectures and favourable interaction facilitating the electron transfer kinetics for the electro-catalytic oxidation of AT. Significantly, the developed sensor demonstrated excellent working capability when used for AT detection in human urine samples with strong anti-interference potential against common co-existing species, such as glucose, fructose, cysteine, uric acid, dopamine and ascorbic acid.     

Design of a lattice-matched III–V–N/Si photovoltaic tandem cell monolithically integrated on silicon substrate

In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of high efficiencies tandem solar cells monolithically grown on a silicon substrate using GaAsPN absorber layer. InGaAs(N) quantum dots and GaAsPN quantum wells have been grown recently on GaP/Si susbstrate for applications related to light emission. For photovoltaic applications, we consider the GaAsPN diluted nitride alloy as the top junction material due to both its perfect lattice matching with Si and ideal bandgap energy for current generation in association with the Si bottom cell. Numerical simulation of the top cell is performed. The effect of layer thicknesses and doping on the cell efficiency are evidenced. In these structures a tunnel junction (TJ) is needed to interconnect both the top and bottom sub-cells. We compare the simulated performances of different TJ structures and show that the GaP(n+)/Si(p+) TJ is promising to improve performances of the current–voltage characteristic.     

High yield syntheses of stable, singly bonded Pd2(6+) compounds

A general method for the syntheses of dipalladium compounds having a singly bonded Pd26+ core and the formula R,S-cis-Pd2(C6H4PPh2)2(O2CR)2Cl2 is described. When the alkyl group in the carboxylate ligands is an electron donating group, the compounds are stable and the yields high. The Pd-Pd distances for the diamagnetic compounds with R = CF3 and CMe3 are 2.5434(4) and 2.5241(9) A, respectively. Calculations at the DFT level suggest that the electronic configuration is sigma2pi4delta2delta*2pi*4. These represent rare examples of palladium(III) compounds.     

Imidazolium Based Probes for Recognition of Biologically and Medically Relevant Anions

The imidazolium derivatives due to their positive charge possess one of the most polarized and positively charged proton at C2‐H to form strong ionic hydrogen bond (also termed as double ionic hydrogen bond) with anions and also provide opportunities for anion – π interactions with electron‐deficient imidazolium ring. In the present review article, imidazolium based molecular probes for their ability to recognize inorganic anions like halides, cyanide, perchlorate, carboxylic acids, phosphate, sulfate etc. and their derived molecules viz. nucleotides, DNA, RNA, surfactants, proteins, etc have been discussed. The review covers the literature published after year 2009 and has > 130 references. The previous literature has already been discussed by Yoon et al. in two review articles published in Chem. Soc. Rev. 2006 and 2010.     

Highly stable Cp*-Ir(III) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands as C-H activation catalysts for the deuteration of organic molecules

The preparation of a series of complexes of the type CpIrX2(NHC) provides effective catalysts for the H/D exchange of a wide range of organic molecules in methanol-d4. The reaction proceeds with higher yields under milder reaction conditions than previous CpIr systems reported thus far. For comparative purposes, we also studied the catalytic activity of CpIrCl2(PMe3) under the same reaction conditions. The molecular structures of two of the new CpIr(NHC) complexes are described.     

Transient elastography in anisotropic medium: application to the measurement of slow and fast shear wave speeds in muscles

From the measurement of a low frequency (50-150 Hz) shear wave speed, transient elastography evaluates the Young's modulus in isotropic soft tissues. In this paper, it is shown that a rod source can generate a low frequency polarized shear strain waves. Consequently this technique allows to study anisotropic medium such as muscle. The evidence of the polarization of low frequency shear strain waves is supported by both numeric simulations and experiments. The numeric simulations are based on theoretical Green's functions in isotropic and anisotropic media (hexagonal system). The experiments in vitro led on beef muscle proves the pertinent of this simple anisotropic pattern. Results in vivo on man biceps shows the existence of slow and fast shear waves as predicted by theory.     

New Rh(I) and Rh(III) bisimidazol-2-ylidene complexes: synthesis,reactivity, and molecular structures

New chelate bis-heterocyclic-carbene complexes of Rh(I) and Rh(III) have been obtained and fully characterized. The molecular structures of the new species have been determined. The synthesis of the compounds starts from the bisimidazolium precursors, which are deprotonated with NEt(3) under mild reaction conditions, leading to coordination to the Rh complex. The Rh(III) compounds are generated from Rh(I) and [Rh(II)](2) species, although there is no apparent oxidizing agent in the reaction media.     

Evaluation of the bond energy terms for the various types of boron-nitrogen bonds

Summary We have determined a series of bond energy terms in compounds containing dative, single, double and/or triple boron-nitrogen bonds. We describe various interesting applications based on these bond energy terms namely the determination of enthalpies of atomization and stabilization energies. More particularly, the conventional ring strain energies of three- and four-membered small ring containing boron and nitrogen atoms could be determined and the aromaticity of borazine, reexamined.Dedicated to Professor Alberte Pullman