Intercalation assembly of kojic acid into Zn-Ti layered double hydroxide with antibacterial and whitening performances

The inhibitor of melanin and the bacteriostatic agent kojic acid was inserted into Zn-Ti layered double hydroxide (LDH) by anion-exchange reaction. The structure, slow release, antibacterial and skin whitening activity were studied.     

High-pressure structure of Li2CO3

The high-pressure behavior of Li₂CO₃ is studied up to 25 GPa with synchrotron angle-dispersive powder X-ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells and synthesis using a multi-anvil apparatus. A new non-quenchable hexagonal polymorph (P6₃/mcm, Z=2) occurs above 10 GPa with carbonate groups in a staggered configuration along the c-axis—a=4.4568(2) Å and c=5.1254(6) Å at 10 GPa. Two columns of face-shared distorted octahedra around the Li atoms are linked through octahedral edges. The oxygen atoms are coordinated to one carbon atom and four lithium atoms to form a distorted square pyramid. Splittings of X-ray reflections for the new polymorph observed above about 22 GPa under non-hydrostatic conditions arise from orthorhombic or monoclinic distortions of the hexagonal lattice. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the structural features found in other Me₂CO₃ carbonates (Me: Na, K, Rb, Cs) at atmospheric conditions.     

The photoluminescence of Co-Al-layered double hydroxide

We report a new optical behaviour of pure Co-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH).It was found that the Co-Al-LDH sample could emit fluorescence without any fluorescent substances intercalated.Its excitation spectrum shows a maximum peak near the wavelength 370nm,the maximum emission peak appears at 430 nm and the photoluminescence colour of the Co-Al-LDH sample is blue.This new optical property will be expected to extend the potential applications of LDHs in optical materials field.     

Molecular mechanism of physical gelation of hydrocarbons by fatty acid amides of natural amino acids

A variety of fatty acid amides of different naturally occurring l-amino acids have been synthesized and they are found to form gels with various hydrocarbons. The gelation properties of these compounds were studied by a number of physical methods including FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, rheology, and it was found that gelation depended critically on the fatty acid chain length and the nature of the amino acid. Among them l-alanine based gelators were found to be the most efficient and versatile gelators as they self-assemble into a layered structure to form the gel network. Mechanisms for the assembly and formation of gels from these molecules are discussed.     

The disorderly exfoliated LDHs/PMMA nanocomposites synthesized by in situ bulk polymerization: The effects of LDH-U on thermal and mechanical properties

The disorderly exfoliated layered double hydroxides/poly(methyl methacrylate) (LDHs/PMMA) nanocomposites were obtained in a two-stage process by the in situ bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of 10-undecenoate intercalated LDH (LDH-U). The dispersed behavior of the LDH-U in the PMMA matrix was identified by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV/visible transmission spectroscopy. All these nanocomposites showed significantly enhancement of glass transition temperature (T_g) and the decomposition temperatures compared to pristine PMMA, as identified in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. The tensile modulus of these nanocomposites was also enhanced by incorporating the LDH-U into the PMMA matrix and increased as the amount of LDH-U increased. According to the analytical method of Ozawa-Flynn, the degradation activation energies of these nanocomposites are higher than that of pristine PMMA.     

Preparation and Properties of Nickel and Iron Oxides obtained by Calcination of Layered Double Hydroxides

A constant pH precipitation method has been applied to obtain solids with Ni/Fe molar ratios of 2/1, 3/2, 1/1, 2/3, and 1/2. In all cases, a phase with the hydrotalcite‐like structure is obtained, containing Ni^II and Fe^III in the brucite‐like layers and carbonate in the interlayer, and, for samples with a Ni/Fe molar ratio lower than 2/1, amorphous hydrated iron oxides, undetected by X‐ray diffraction, are also formed. The solids have been characterized by element chemical analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction and assessment of specific surface area by nitrogen adsorption at ?196 °C. In all cases reduction leads to zero‐valent state for the metals, reduced nickel particles probably favouring reduction of Fe^III species; the specific surface area increases with the iron content, probably due to the amorphous nature of the hydrated iron oxides formed. Calcination at 1200 °C in air leads to well crystallized solids, formed by NiFe₂O₄ spinel and, additionally, rocksalt‐type NiO for Ni/Fe ratios larger than 1/2. In this way, solids with tailored compositions of these two phases can be prepared.     

In Situ Fabrication of ZnS Semiconductor Nanoparticles in Layered Organic-inorganic Solid Template

Ordered ZnS semiconductor nanoparticles were in situ synthesized in metal halide perovskite organic/inorganic layered hybrids (CnH2n 1NH3)2ZnCl4 (n=10 and 12) by reaction of their spin-casting films with H2S gas. Transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the morphology and the structure of formed nanoparticles. Obtained results indicate an effective way to incorporate functional inorganic nanoparticles into structured organic matrices.     

The crystal structure of CuSb2O3Br: Slabs from cubic Sb2O3 interspersed between puckered hexagonal CuBr-type layers

The new compound CuSb₂O₃Br crystallize in the monoclinic space group Cc. The unit cell parameters are , , , β=90°, Z=16. The crystal structure is solved from single crystal data, R=0.0490. The compound show a layered structure with slabs from cubic Sb₂O₃ interspersed in between puckered layers of CuBr. The Sb(III) atoms have tetrahedral [SbO₃E] coordination where E is the 5s² lone pair, these units build up Sb₄O₄E₆ cages. The CuBr layers resemble those in hexagonal CuBr but the Cu(I) ions have actually tetrahedral [CuBr₃O] coordination. The Cu-O bonds link the Sb₄O₆ cages with the CuBr layers.     

Structural difference between a superconducting sodium cobalt oxide and its related phase

Monolayer hydrate (MLH) Na_xCoO₂·y′H₂O was obtained from superconducting bilayer hydrate (BLH) Na_xCoO₂·yH₂O by partial extraction of H₂O molecules between the CoO₂ layers. Magnetization measurements indicated that electron densities in the CoO₂ layer of the MLH phase remained unchanged after the water extraction. Nevertheless, superconductivity was completely suppressed in the MLH phase. This strongly suggests that the highly 2D nature in the BLH phase due to its thick insulating layers consisting of H₂O molecules and Na⁺ ions plays an important role for inducing superconductivity.     

Zn-Al-Ce三元类水滑石的制备及性质研究

采用共沉淀法，水热合成层状化合物一硝酸根柱撑锌铝铈三元类水滑石，分别测定了各种单一金属盐溶液及M^2 ／M^3 摩尔比为2，Ce^3 ／Al^3 摩尔比为0．25的混合金属盐的NaOH滴定曲线，并利用XRD对不同条件下合成产物进行物相分析。实验结果表明：在M^2 ／M^2 =2，Ce^3 ／Al^3 =0．07～0．50，pH=5．8～6．5条件下进行多种离子共沉淀，并经120℃、6h水热处理后，均能合成结构单一的ZnAlCe—HTLLcs，利用TG—DTlA、FT—IR、ICP对合成物进行了表征，筛选出适宜的合成条件，并对HTLcs层状结构的热行为进行初步研究，结果表明ZnAlCe—HTLcs热稳定性较差，层间结合水、层板羟基及层间客体物种(NO3^-)失去温度在240℃左右，易于转化为复合氧化物，将此复合氧化物应用于NO的催化?肖除反应，680℃下NO的转化率高达近100％。