Mechanisms of methane activation and transformation on molybdenum oxide based catalysts

We present a comprehensive survey of different C-H activation pathways over various kinds of active sites of terminal oxygens [=O] and bridge oxygens [-O-] by using Mo3O9 model systems. This allows us to provide some insights into fundamental issues concerning C-H activation by metal oxo species involved in many heterogeneous, homogeneous, and enzymatic processes. We show that H abstraction is the most feasible reaction pathway for the activation of a C-H bond on molybdenum oxides; and that [=O] is more active than [-O-]. Our calculations also suggest that (2+2) can be an alternative if M=O bond possesses a high polarity, while (5+2) can provide another effective pathway if two M=O bonds are in close proximity. Implications for the related heterogeneous, homogeneous, and enzymatic processes are discussed.     

Direct STM investigation of cinchona alkaloid adsorption on Cu(III)

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with cyclic voltammetry has been employed to investigate the adsorption of cinchonine on Cu(111). Similar to cinchonidine, cinchonine forms a long-range ordered adlayer with (4 x 4) symmetry on the substrate. The structural details on molecular adsorption were obtained by high-resolution STM images. On the basis of the previous results and obtained STM images, the quinoline ring is proposed to lie parallel to Cu(111) and serve as an anchoring group. The chiral quinuclidine moiety extends out of the surface to facilitate the interaction with the prochiral reactants.     

Colloidal adhesion of phospholipid vesicles: high-resolution reflection interference contrast microscopy and theory

High-resolution reflection interference contrast microscopy (HR-RICM) was developed for probing the deformation and adhesion of phospholipid vesicles induced by colloidal forces on solid surfaces. The new technique raised the upper limit of the measured membrane–substrate separation from 1 to 4.5 μm and improved the spatial resolution of the heterogeneous contact zones. It was applied to elucidate the effects of wall thickness, pH and osmotic stress on the non-specific adhesion of giant unilamellar vesicles (ULV) and multilamellar vesicles (MLV) on fused silica substrates. By simultaneous cross-polarization light microscopy and HR-RICM measurements, it was observed that ULV with the wall thickness of a single bilayer would be significantly deformed in its equilibrium state on the substrate as the dimension of its adhesive–cohesive zone was 29% higher than the theoretical value of a rigid sphere with the same diameter. Besides, electrostatic interaction was shown as a significant driving force for vesicle adhesions since the reduction in pH significantly increased the degree of deformation of adhering ULV and heterogeneity of the adhesion discs. The degree of MLV deformation on the solid surfaces was significantly less than that of ULV. When the wall thickness of vesicle increased, the dimension of contact zone was reduced dramatically due to the increase of membrane bending modulus. Most important, the adhesion strength of colloidal adhesion approached that of specific adhesion. Finally, the increase of osmotic stress led to the collapse of adhering vesicles on the non-deformable substrate and raised the area of adhesive contact zone. To interpret these results better, the equilibrium deformation of adhering vesicle was modeled as a truncated sphere and the adhesion energy was calculated with a new theory.     

Impulsive generalized function synchronization of complex dynamical networks

This Letter investigates generalized function synchronization of continuous and discrete complex networks by impulsive control. By constructing the reasonable corresponding impulsively controlled response networks, some criteria and corollaries are derived for the generalized function synchronization between the impulsively controlled complex networks, continuous and discrete networks are both included. Furthermore, the generalized linear synchronization and nonlinear synchronization are respectively illustrated by several examples. All the numerical simulations demonstrate the correctness of the theoretical results.     

Synthesis of SiO2@SiO2 core-shell microspheres using urea-formaldehyde polymers as the templates for fast separation of small solutes and proteins

The monodisperse superficially porous core-shell silica microspheres (CSSMs) with controllable shell thickness and pore size were synthesized by an improved polymerization-induced colloid aggregation (PICA) approach for fast separation of small solutes and proteins.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Cross‐Coupling of Carboranyllithium with (Hetero)Aryl Halides

A palladium‐catalyzed direct C‐arylation reaction of readily available cage carboranyllithium reagents with aryl halides has been developed for the first time. This method is applicable to a wide range of aryl halide substrates including aryl iodides, aryl bromides, and heteroaromatic halides.     

Electron Spin Resonance Study of UV-Irradiated Tetraphenyldiphosphine

Although divalent organophosphinyl radicals have been frequently postulated as intermediates in many organochosphorous reactions, very few of them have been identified by e.s.r. By low temperature trapping of products from the photolysis of gaseous tetraphenyl-diphospine in a flow system, Schmidt and coworkers² have observed an e.s.r. signal of a single broad and asymmetric line centered at about g = 2.009 and have assigned this to the diphenylphosphinyl radical. We have reinvestigated the photolysis of this compound by flash photolysis and by e.s.r. at low temperatures, the preliminary e.s.r. results will be reported here.     

Preparation of safe water–lipid mixed electrolytes for application in ion capacitor

Aqueous electrolytes are safe, economic, and environmentally friendly. However, they have a narrow potential window. On the other hand, organic electrolytes exhibit good thermodynamic stability but are inflammable and moisture sensitive. In this study, we prepared water–PEG–lipid ternary electrolytes(TEs). To combine the advantages of water, polyethylene glycol(PEG) and propylene carbonate(PC). The nonflammable mixed electrolytes exhibited a wide potential window of about 2.8 V due to the beneficial effects of PEG and PC. Using these TEs, a lithium manganate–active carbon ion capacitor could be operated at 2.4 V with an energy density of 32 Wh/kg, based on the total active electrode material(current density of 3.3 m A/cm~2). This value was significantly higher than that achieved using an aqueous electrolyte, thereby rationalizing the higher energy density.     

Dimesogenic liquid crystal consisting of cholesterol and Schiff base moieties: dependence of LC properties on the spacer length and fluorination of the alkoxy tails

The liquid crystalline properties of two series of non‐symmetric liquid crystal dimers consisting of cholesterol and Schiff base moieties interconnected by ω‐oxyalkanoyl spacers of varying length are compared: one series (SBOC‐ n ) carry the octyloxy tail on the Schiff base mesogen, and the other (SBOF‐ n ) a perfluoroheptylmethyloxy tail. In general, compounds with the fluorinated alkoxy tail exhibited mesophases over a much wider temperature range than those with the alkoxy tail. The latter series favoured the formation of more diverse mesophases than the former. SBOC‐4, ‐5 and ‐7, and SBOF‐4, ‐5 and ‐10 formed the chiral smectic C phase.