Synthesis and electrochemical properties of nonstoichiometric LiAlxMn2−xO4−δ as cathode materials for rechargeable lithium ion battery

Nonstoichiometric spinel oxides, LiAl_xMn_2−xO_4−δ (x=0.1,0.2), were synthesized under controlled partial pressure of oxygen, and their elecrochemical performances were investigated. As an Al content increases, solubility limit of the oxygen nonstoichiometry, δ, increased, while partial molar enthalpy of the formation of oxygen nonstoichiometry decreased.Cycle performance of LiAl_xMn_2−xO₄ showed significant improvement comparing with that of LiMn₂O₄ cathode. However, the decrease of theoretical capacity was accompanied with Al doping. Nonstoichiometric LiAl_xMn_2−xO_4−δ showed the increase in capacity with keeping good cycle performances as well as stoichiometric LiAl_xMn_2−xO₄. Although the introduction of oxygen nonstoichiometry leads to the increase of Mn³⁺ which is known as Jahn-Teller ion, DSC curves for LiAl_xMn_2−xO_4−δ showed no exothermic peak due to phase transition arising from Jahn-Teller distortion around room temperature.     

Intramolecular and intermolecular energy transfers in donor-acceptor linear porphyrin arrays

We present highly time-resolved spontaneous fluorescence spectra of a porphyrin array system that consists of an energy donor and an acceptor linked by a phenyl group. The donors are meso-meso directly linked zinc(II) porphyrin arrays and the acceptor is a zinc(II) 5,15-di(phenylethynyl)porphyrin. The spectra over the entire Q (S1) emission band following the excitation of the donor B (S2) state have been measured directly without the conventional spectral reconstruction method. The time-resolved fluorescence spectra revealed detailed energy relaxation processes within the donor and subsequent energy transfer to the acceptor. The observed energy transfer rates to the acceptor are consistent with the Forster energy transfer rates calculated on the assumption that the energy is localized in the Q state of each porphyrin unit of the donor prior to the energy transfer. The passage of the energy deposited initially on one porphyrin unit of the donor to the acceptor illustrates a sequence of energy delocalization and localization processes before it finally reaches the acceptor.     

Cross sections for electron trapping by DNA and its component subunits I: Condensed tetrahydrofuran deposited on Kr

We report cross sections for electron capture processes occurring in condensed tetrahydrofuran (THF) for incident electron energies in the range of 0-9 eV. The charge trapping cross section for 6-9 eV electrons is very small, and an upper limit of 4 x 10(-19) cm2 is estimated from our results. This latter is thus also an upper bound for the cross section for dissociative electron attachment process that is known to occur at these energies for condensed THF. At energies close to zero eV electron trapping proceeds via intermolecular stabilization. The cross section for this process is strongly dependent on the quantity of deposited THF. Since THF may model the furyl ring found in deoxyribose, these measurements indicate that this ring likely plays little role in either initiating or enhancing strand break damage via the attachment of the low energy secondary electrons produced when DNA is exposed to ionizing radiation.     

Metal ion sensing novel calix[4]crown fluoroionophore with a two-photon absorption property

1,3-Alternate calix[4]arene-based fluorescent chemosensors bearing two-photon absorbing chromophores have been synthesized, and their sensing behaviors toward metal ions were investigated via absorption band shifts as well as one- and two-photon fluorescence changes. Free ligands absorb the light at 461 nm and weakly emit their fluorescence at 600 nm when excited by UV-vis radiation at 461 nm, but no two-photon excited fluorescence is emitted by excitation at 780 nm. Addition of an Al(3+) or Pb(2+) ion to a solution of the ligand causes a blue-shifted absorption and enhanced fluorescence due to a declined resonance energy transfer (RET) upon excitation by one- and two-photon processes. Addition of a Pb(2+) ion to a solution of 1.K(+) results in a higher fluorescence intensity than the original 1.Pb(2+) complex regardless of one- or two-photon excitation, due to the allosteric effect induced by the complexation of K(+) with a crown loop.     

Formation of insoluble perylenetetracarboxylic diimide films by electro- or photo-crosslinking of pyrrole units

Perylenetetracarboxylic diimide derivatives bearing 2- or 4-peripheral pyrrole pendants could be efficiently crosslinked to form an insoluble film either by electropolymerization or visible light induced oxidative photopolymerization of the pyrrole units.     

Inverted sapphyrin: a new family of doubly N-confused expanded porphyrins

The synthesis of an inverted, methoxylated sapphyrin derivative is described. This system, wherein inversion of pyrrolic nitrogen atoms is configurationally enforced via the use of a 3,3'-bipyrrolic precursor, displays what is best described as "weak aromaticity" as judged from its spectroscopic features and supporting theoretical calculations.     

Solution state structure determination of silicate oligomers by 29SI NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling

Evidence for nine new solution state silicate oligomers has been discovered by (29)Si NMR homonuclear correlation experiments of (29)Si-enriched samples. In addition to enhancing signal sensitivity, the isotopic enrichment increases the probability of the (29)Si-(29)Si two-bond scalar couplings that are necessary for the observation of internuclear correlations in 2-D experiments. The proposed assignments are validated by comparisons of experimental and simulated cross-peaks obtained with high digital resolution. The internuclear connectivity indicated by the NMR data suggests that several of these oligomers can have multiple stereoisomers, including conformers and/or diastereomers. The stabilities of these oligomers and their possible stereoisomers have been investigated by electronic structure calculations.     

Nanoporous block copolymer micelle/micelle multilayer films with dual optical properties

We introduce a novel and versatile approach for preparing self-assembled nanoporous multilayered films with tunable optical properties. Protonated polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) and anionic polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) block copolymer micelles (BCM) were used as building blocks for the layer-by-layer assembly of BCM multilayer films. BCM film growth is governed by electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the opposite BCMs. Both film porosity and film thickness are dependent upon the charge density of the micelles, with the porosity of the film controlled by the solution pH and the molecular weight (M(w)) of the constituents. PS(7K)-b-P4VP(28K)/PS(2K)-b-PAA(8K) films prepared at pH 4 (for PS(7K)-b-P4VP(28K)) and pH 6 (for PS(2K)-b-PAA(8K)) are highly nanoporous and antireflective. In contrast, PS(7K)-b-P4VP(28K)/PS(2K)-b-PAA(8K) films assembled at pH 4/4 show a relatively dense surface morphology due to the decreased charge density of PS(2K)-b-PAA(8K). Films formed from BCMs with increased PS block and decreased hydrophilic block (P4VP or PAA) size (e.g., PS(36K)-b-P4VP(12K)/PS(16K)-b-PAA(4K) at pH 4/4) were also nanoporous. This is attributed to a decrease in interdigitation between the adjacent corona shells of the low M(w) BCMs, thus creating more void space between the micelles. Multilayer films with antireflective and photochromic properties were obtained by incorporating a water-insoluble photochromic dye (spiropyran) into the hydrophobic PS core of the BCMs assembled in the films. The optical properties of these films can be modulated by UV irradiation to selectively and reversibly control the transmission of light. Light transmission of higher than 99% was observed with accompanying photochromism in the (PS(7K)-b-P4VP(28K)/PS(2K)-b-PAA(8K)) multilayer films assembled at pH 4/6. Our approach highlights the potential to incorporate a range of materials, ranging from conventional hydrophilic materials with specific interactions to hydrophobic compounds, into the assembled BCMs to yield multifunctional nanoporous films.     

Diindolylquinoxalines: effective indole-based receptors for phosphate anion

The synthesis of a new series of 2,3-diindol-3'yl quinoxalines (DIQ), as well as a comparison of their anion recognition properties to those of our previously reported pyrrole based sensors, 2,3-dipyrrol-2'yl quinoxalines, is reported. To the best of our knowledge, this new DIQ system represents the first example of a free-standing indole-based small molecule receptor for which evidence of anion binding is available both in solution and in the solid-state. It also provides one of the few structurally characterized neutral receptor-dihydrogen phosphate complexes. This work thus serves to demonstrate the utility of indoles as an anion recognition motif.