Monodisperse sub-10 nm gold nanoparticles by reversing the order of addition in Turkevich method--the role of chloroauric acid

The Turkevich method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles, using sodium citrate as the reducing agent, is renowned for its ability to produce biocompatible colloids with mean size >10 nm. Here we show that monodisperse gold nanoparticles in the 5-10 nm size range can be synthesized by simply reversing the order of addition of reactants, i.e. adding chloroauric acid to citrate solution. Kinetic studies and electron microscopic characterization revealed that the reactivity of chloroauric acid, initial molar ratio of citrate to chloroauric acid (MR), and reaction mixture pH play an important role in producing monodisperse gold nanoparticles. Reversing the order of addition also enhanced the stabilization of nanoparticles at high MR values. Remarkably, the system exhibits a 'memory' of the order of addition, even when the timescale of mixing is much shorter than the timescale of synthesis.     

Formation of single-walled aluminosilicate nanotubes from molecular precursors and curved nanoscale intermediates

We report the identification and elucidation of the mechanistic role of molecular precursors and nanoscale (1-3 nm) intermediates with intrinsic curvature in the formation of single-walled aluminosilicate nanotubes. We characterize the structural and compositional evolution of molecular and nanoscale species over a length scale of 0.1-100 nm by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((27)Al liquid-state, (27)Al and (29)Si solid-state MAS), and dynamic light scattering. Together with structural optimization of key experimentally identified species by solvated density functional theory calculations, this study reveals the existence of intermediates with bonding environments, as well as intrinsic curvature, similar to the structure of the final nanotube product. We show that "proto-nanotube-like" intermediates with inherent curvature form in aqueous synthesis solutions immediately after initial hydrolysis of reactants, disappear from the solution upon heating to 95 °C due to condensation accompanied by an abrupt pH decrease, and finally form ordered single-walled aluminosilicate nanotubes. Detailed quantitative analysis of NMR and ESI-MS spectra from the relevant aluminosilicate, aluminate, and silicate solutions reveals the presence of a variety of monomeric and polymeric aluminate and aluminosilicate species (Al(1)Si(x)-Al(13)Si(x)), such as Keggin ions [AlO(4)Al(12)(OH)(24)(H(2)O)(12)](7+) and polynuclear species with a six-membered Al oxide ring unit. Our study also directly reveals the complexation of aluminate and aluminosilicate species with perchlorate species that most likely inhibit the formation of larger condensates or nontubular structures. Integration of all of our results leads to the construction of the first molecular-level mechanism of single-walled metal oxide nanotube formation, incorporating the role of monomeric and polymeric aluminosilicate species as well as larger nanoparticles.     

Fluorescent Probing of Protein Bovine Serum Albumin Stability and Denaturation Using Polarity Sensitive Spectral Response of a Charge Transfer Probe

The polarity sensitive photo-induced intra-molecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence probe (E)-3-(4-methylamino-phenyl)-acrylic acid ethyl ester (MAPAEE) has been used to study the model protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in its native and thermal and urea induced denatured states. The interaction between BSA and the regular surfactant Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) as well as the biologically relevant steroid-based amphiphile Sodium Deoxycholate (NaDC) has also been very keenly followed using this ICT probe. The variation of micellar properties of both SDS and NaDC with increasing ionic strengths and in presence of the chaotrope urea has also been well documemted by the same probe. Steady-state spectroscopy, FRET, and fluorescence anisotropy measurements have been used to gain better insight into these processes and the molecule MAPAEE to be a full-bodied fluorescent probe for studying such intricate biological systems, their properties and interactions.     

A simple method for prediction of first-order modal field and cladding decay parameter in graded index fiber

Based on a series expansion method involving the Chebyshev technique, we present analytical expressions for first higher order modal field as well as cladding decay parameter in case of graded index fiber. This method utilizes the formulation of a linear relation of the ratio of first- and zero-order modified Bessel functions, with reciprocal of Cladding decay parameter. This leads to the evaluation of the Cladding decay parameter from a simple equation involving a third-order determinant and the first higher order modal field is thereafter found from two simple equations. Thus the paper presents the technique of avoiding complicated calculations of Chebyshev coefficients and therefore, the present formalism will be extremely important for practical engineering problems. Taking step and parabolic index fibers as examples, we show that our estimations of the said propagation characteristics agree excellently with the available exact results. The concerned calculations involve very little computations.     

Growth,spectral and thermal properties of KAP single crystals in the presence of DL‐Alanine and L‐Methionine amino acid dopants

Single crystals of potassium acid phthalate (KAP) and amino acid (DL‐Alanine, L‐Methionine) doped KAP were grown from aqueous solutions by slow cooling method. The grown crystals were characterized using powder X Ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. The thermal stability of KAP in the presence of dopants was analysed using Thermogravimetric and Differential Scanning caloriemetric (TGA/ DSC) studies and the maximum temperature for non linear optical application of this compound in the presence of dopants was found out. The transmittance of KAP was found to increase in the presence of dopants. Etch pits were observed for all the crystals using different etchants. Vickers microhardness tests were performed to study the mechanical stability of the crystals. The hardness of DL‐alanine doped KAP is more than that of L‐alanine doped KAP crystal. The dielectric constant and loss were determined as a function of temperature. Frequency response of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor have been studied over the frequency range of 50Hz – 5MHz. Second harmonic generation (SHG) was confirmed in all the crystals using the Kurtz and Perry powder technique. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and antimicrobialactivity of 2‐alkylcarbamato‐2,3‐dihydro‐5‐propylthio‐1H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaphosphole 2‐oxides

Novel 2‐alkylcarbamato/thiocarbama‐to‐2,3‐dihydro‐5‐propylthio‐1H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaphos‐phole 2‐oxides ( 4a–J ) were synthesized by cyclization of 4‐propylthio‐1,2‐phenylenediamine ( 3 ) with the corresponding dichlorophosphoryl carbamates/thiocarbamates ( 2a–J ) that were obtained by the addition of alcohols/thiols to isocyanatophosphoryl dichloride ( 1 ). The structures of the title compounds were confirmed by the ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, and mass spectral studies. Some of these products were found to possess significant antimicrobial activity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:336–340, 2000     

Glycolytic Wave Patterns in a Simple Reaction-diffusion System with Inhomogeneous Influx: Dynamic Transitions

An inhomogeneous profile of chemostatted species generates a rich variety of patterns in glycolytic waves depicted in a Selkov reaction-diffusion framework here. A key role played by diffusion amplitude and symmetry in the chemostatted species profile in dictating the fate of local spatial dynamics involving periodic, quasiperiodic, and chaotic patterns and transitions among them are investigated systematically. More importantly, various dynamic transitions, including wave propagation direction changes, are illustrated in interesting situations. Besides numerical results, our analytical formulation of the amplitude equation connecting complex Ginzburg-Landau and Lambda-omega representation shed light on the phase dynamics of the system. This systematic study of the glycolytic reaction-diffusion wave is in line with previous experimental results in open spatial reactor and will provide a knowledge about the dynamics that shape and control biological information processing and related phenomena.