A low-temperature electron diffraction study of structural disorder and its relationship to the Kondo effect in ThAsSe

A low-temperature electron diffraction study has been carried out on ThAsSe to search for evidence of structural disorder associated with the low-temperature non-magnetic Kondo effect. A highly structured and extremely complex characteristic diffuse intensity distribution has been observed at low temperature and interpreted in terms of a gradual charge density wave type phase transition upon lowering of temperature involving disordered As-As dimerization within (001) planes. Plausible models of the proposed As-As dimerization have been obtained using a group theoretical approach.     

A theoretical study of the lowest electronic states of azobenzene: the role of torsion coordinate in the cis–trans photoisomerization

In the present paper we report the results of a multiconfigurational computational study on potential-energy curves of azobenzene along the NN twisting to clarify the role of this coordinate in the decay of the S₂(*) and S₁(n*) states. We have found that there is a singlet state, S₃ at the trans geometry, on the basis of the doubly excited configuration n²*², that has a deep minimum at about 90° of twisting, where it is the lowest excited singlet state. The existence of this state provides an explanation for the short lifetime of S₂(*) and for the wavelength-dependence of azobenzene photochemistry. We have characterized the S₁(n*) state by calculating its vibrational frequencies, which are found to correspond to the recently observed transient Raman spectrum. We have also computed the potential-energy curve for the triplet T₁(n*) at the density functional theory B3LYP level, which indicates that in this state the isomerization occurs along the twisting coordinate.Acknowledgement The financial support from MIUR (project Modellistica delle proprietà spettroscopiche di sistemi molecolari complessi funds ex 60% and project Dinamiche molecolari in sistemi di interesse chimico funds ex 40%), from the University of Bologna (Funds for Selected Research Topics) is gratefully acknowledged.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Semi‐classical formulation of time‐dependent discrete variable representation method

In this article, we apply a novel time‐dependent discrete variable representation (TDDVR) method proposed by Barkakaty and Adhikari to investigate tunneling through an Eckart barrier. This semi‐classical method is theoretically rigorous and straightforward to implement. Among the TDDVR formulations, this report presents the first derivation of a rigorous form of quantum force (QF) for the present perspective. The validity of this semi‐classical approach is demanded based on the excellent agreement of the tunneling probability with the corresponding quantum results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Voltammetry of Benzo[a]pyrene in Aqueous and Nonaqueous Media: Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination at Pencil Graphite Electrode

A detailed study of the electrochemical oxidation of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) at the glassy carbon and pencil graphite electrodes was carried out in aqueous and nonaqueous media. Using square‐wave stripping mode, the compound yielded a well‐defined voltammetric response at pencil graphite electrode in acetate buffer, pH 4.8 at +1.13 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) (a preconcentration step being carried out at a fixed potential of +0.70 V for 180 s). The process could be used to determine BaP concentrations in the range 0.25–1.25 μM, with a detection limit of 0.027 μM (6.82 μg L^?1). The applicability to assay of spiked human urine samples was also illustrated.     

A Uniquely Configured Acetylcholinesterase‐Lecithin Biomimetic Sensing Structure at Cyclohexane/Water Interface for Electrochemical Determination of Fenthion in Organic Solvent

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE)‐lecithin biomimetic structure was constructed at the oil/water interface for the direct determination of fenthion in cyclohexane. Indophenol acetate in oil phase was hydrolyzed by AChE at the two‐phase interface to produce indophenol. Square wave voltammetry was used to monitor the current decrease of substrate to assess AChE activity. The AChE incorporated in the lecithin‐based biomimetic layer possessed higher enzymatic activity and was more sensitive to fenthion inhibition than freestanding AChE. A linear relationship between the inhibition percentage and logarithm of fenthion concentration was obtained in a concentration range from 1 ng/mL to 1 mg/mL.     

A simple and sensitive detection of diquat herbicide using a dental amalgam electrode: A comparison using the chromatographic technique

This paper describes the use of a dental amalgam electrode (DAE) to evaluate the electrochemical behaviour and to develop an electroanalytical procedure for determination of diquat herbicide in natural water and potato samples. The work was based on the square wave voltammetry responses of diquat, which presented two well-defined and reversible reduction peaks, at −0.56 V (peak 1) and −1.00 V (peak 2). The experimental and voltammetric parameters were optimised, and the analytical curves were constructed and compared to similar curves performed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric detector (HPLC/UV-vis). The responses were directly proportional to diquat concentration in a large interval of concentration, and the calculated detection limits were very similar, around 10 μg L⁻¹ (10 ppb) for voltammetric and chromatographic experiments. These values were lower than the maximum residue limit established for natural water by the Brazilian Environmental Agency. The recovery percentages in pure electrolyte, natural water and potato samples showed values from 70% to 130%, demonstrating that the voltammetric methodology proposed is suitable for determining any contamination by diquat in different samples, minimising the toxic residues due to the use of liquid mercury or the adsorptive process relative to use of other solid surfaces.     

纳米复合物修饰电极的电化学传感器检测芦丁

研制了纳米复合物修饰电极,碳纳米管与表面含有大量氨基的壳聚糖在玻碳电极表面首先形成碳纳米管/壳聚糖膜,通过膜表面丰富的氨基与纳米Au的强静电吸附,在玻碳电极表面获得均匀致密的纳米金修饰层.这种基于纳米复合材料制备的新型电化学传感器对芦丁具有很好的响应,可以快速地实现电极与芦丁之间的直接电子转移,有良好的稳定性.芦丁的测定线性范围为4.00×10-7～1.77×10-5 mol/L,最低检测限为1.29×10-7 mol/L.由于抗坏血酸在该修饰电极上的氧化电位出现显著负移,因此可避免抗坏血酸对芦丁测定的干扰.该方法可以不经预分离直接检测药物中的芦丁含量.     

对羟基苯甲酸酯分子印迹电化学传感器的研制

利用分子印迹技术,以对羟基苯甲酸乙酯为模板分子,甲基丙烯酸为单体,在玻碳电极表面原位聚合分子印迹聚合物敏感膜.采用方波伏安法对对羟基苯甲酸乙酯在该印迹电极上的电化学行为进行了研究,当响应时间为15 min时,0.95 V(vs SCE)处的峰电流与对羟基苯甲酸乙酯的浓度在2.0×10-6 ～2.0×10-4 mol/L范围内呈线性关系,检出限(S/N=3)为1.0 μmol/L,而相同条件下,对羟基苯甲酸乙酯在控制电极上的响应非常小并对浓度变化不灵敏;同时在印迹电极上氧化峰电位较在裸电极上发生了微弱正移.同一支印迹电极对对羟基苯甲酸乙酯响应值的RSD为4.3%(n=10).该印迹电极对尼泊金酯类具有良好的选择性,对对羟基苯甲酸甲酯、丙酯以及丁酯的选择性系数分别为1.89、1.70和2.01;对结构相似的苯酚、对羟基苯甲酸、对氨基苯甲酸等响应不灵敏,对结构差异较大的如维生素C等几乎无响应.用该分子印迹电极对实际样品进行分析,加标回收率大于90%.     

钡铁氧体包覆碳纤维的制备及毫米波衰减性能

通过溶胶凝胶法,在碳纤维表面均匀包覆了一层厚度约为1 μm的钡铁氧体(BaFe₁₂O₁₉)。采用SEM、FTIR、XRD、XPS等技术对碳纤维/钡铁氧体复合材料的组成、结构、性能进行了表征和分析。利用8 mm波雷达装置测试了碳纤维、碳纤维/钡铁氧体复合材料的毫米波衰减性能。实验结果表明：由于碳纤维/钡铁氧体复合材料兼具电损耗和磁损耗吸收,其8 mm波衰减性能明显优于单纯的碳纤维。