Novel supramolecular assembly of symmetrical mixed-metal-ligand complexes of dioxouranium(VI)

Some binary and ternary novel complexes of dioxouranium(VI) with 8-hydroxy-7-quinolinecarboxaldehyde (OXH) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility measurements and spectral studies. Coordination effects on the vibrational spectra of the ligands have been investigated. The amine exchange reactions of coordinated Schiff bases in these complexes have been also studied, which reveal symmetrical tetradentate Schiff base complexes. Metal exchange reaction of dioxouranium(VI) complexes was obtained when reacted with tetradentate Schiff base complexes of Cu(II) with ZrCl(4)/UO(2)(CH(3)COO)(2) giving heterobinuclear complexes. Magnetic, electronic and IR spectral data suggest the configurations of distorted square planar ligand field copper(II) complexes. The ligands behave as bi-(O,O) and tetradentate (N(2),O(2)) donors. El-Sonbati equation has been used to evaluate the symmetric stretching frequency from which the F(U-O) and F(UO,UO)(-) were calculated. The bond distances of these complexes were also investigated.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Vibrational Spectra of Novel Azidopalladates of the Alkali Metals Cs2[Pd(N3)4] and Rb2[Pd(N3)4]·2/3H2O

The transparent dark orange compounds Cs₂[Pd(N₃)₄] and Rb₂[Pd(N₃)₄]·²/₃H₂O are synthesized by reaction of the respective binary alkali metal azides with K₂PdCl₄ in aqueous solutions. According to single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction investigations, the novel ternary azidopalladates(II) crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c (no. 14) with a = 705.7(2) pm, b = 717.3(2) pm, c = 1125.2(5) pm, β = 104.58(2)°, mP30 for Cs₂[Pd(N₃)₄] and a = 1041.4(1) pm, b = 1292.9(2) pm, c = 1198.7(1) pm, β = 91.93(1)°, mP102 for Rb₂[Pd(N₃)₄]·²/₃H₂O, respectively. Predominant structural features of both compounds are discrete [Pd^II(N₃)₄]^2– anions with palladium in a planar coordination by nitrogen, but differing in point group symmetries., The vibrational spectra of the compounds are analyzed based on the idealized point group C_4h of the spectroscopically relevant unit, [Pd(N₃)₄]^2– taking into account the site symmetry splitting due to the symmetry reduction in the solid phase.     

Folding–Unfolding Equilibrium of a Methylidene‐Substituted β‐Peptide

β‐Peptides possess the ability to fold into secondary structure elements, and this property, together with resistance to biodegradation, makes these compounds interesting for pharmaceutical applications. Recently, a novel class of β‐peptides containing methylidene moieties was described. The GROMOS 53A6 force field was used to simulate the folding equilibrium of a β³‐hexapeptide with methylidene (CH₂?) groups at all six CA‐atoms. Due to the rotational barriers induced by these methylidene groups, the helical secondary‐structure elements, normally found in β³‐peptides, are disfavored in this molecule. Simulations, started from fully extended and 3₁₄‐helical conformations, showed that the molecule adopts a complete 2₈‐helix for ca. 5% of the time and partial 2₈‐helical conformations for ca. 20% of the time. Yet, as suggested by experiments, the folding equilibrium is dominated by unfolded conformations.     

The conformational dynamics of humic polyanions in model organic and organo-mineral aggregates

Molecular mechanics calculations and simulated annealing were applied to model humic polyanions originating from lignin. The dynamic behavior of such oxidized lignins in model soil organic complexes, such as an oxidized lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) and humic (oxidized LCC)-clay aggregates, was analyzed. Neither ionization nor hydrogen bonding bring significant changes in the conformational properties of oxidized lignin and LCC. Oxidized lignin and LCC oligomers (humic substances in soil) bind to the mineral surfaces, a process that was exemplified in computational experiments on complexes with muscovite. Upon ionization, a lignin-derived oligomer develops strong attractive organo-mineral interactions through cation bridges. Without metal cations, electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged anions and the oxygen-mineral surface prevails, and the two parts of the organo-mineral complex drift apart. This tendency is typical of an oxidized lignin oligomer but not of a topological oxidized LCC.     

聚合物纳米粒子的制备及其新型物理水凝胶结构的AFM和SEM研究

凝胶材料是生物系统的重要组成物质,在生物模拟、仿生等方面具有重大意义.最近凝胶方面的研究日益受到关注^[1,2],高分子凝胶体系的研究也得到深入开展^[3,4].在智能水凝胶、凝胶特性基础研究和医用凝胶材料等领域已取得了较大进展.     

Chemical interactions in noncontact AFM on semiconductor surfaces: Si(111), Si(100) and GaAs(110)

Total-energy pseudopotential calculations are used to study the imaging process in noncontact atomic force microscopy (AFM) on Si(111), Si(100) and GaAs(110) surfaces. The chemical bonding interaction between a localised dangling bond on the atom at the apex of the tip and the dangling bonds on the adatoms in the surface is shown to dominate the forces and the force gradients and, hence, to provide atomic resolution. The lateral resolution capabilities are tested in both the Si(100) and the GaAs(110) surfaces. In the first case, the two atoms in a dimer can be resolved due to the dimer flip induced by the interaction with the tip during the scan, while in the GaAs(110), we identify the anion sublattice as the one observed in the experimental images.     

Track sensitivity and the surface roughness measurements of CR-39 with atomic force microscope

Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been applied to evaluate the surface roughness and the track sensitivity of CR-39 track detector. We experimentally confirmed the inverse correlation between the track sensitivity and the roughness of the detector surface after etching. The surface of CR-39 (CR-39 doped with antioxidant (HARZLAS (TD-1)) and copolymer of CR-39/NIPAAm (TNF-1)) with high sensitivity becomes rough by the etching, while the pure CR-39 (BARYOTRAK) with low sensitivity keeps its original surface clarity even for the long etching.     

Vibrational Spectra of the Cluster Anions [E4]4– in the metallic Sodium and Barium Compounds Na4E4 and Ba2E4 (E = Si,Ge)

The vibrational spectra of the cluster anions [E₄]^4– (E = Si, Ge) in the metallic compounds Ba₂E₄ and Na₄E₄ have been measured and assigned based on the T_d symmetry of the discrete tetrahedranide anion. Due to the lower site‐symmetries in the respective crystals all degenerate modes are split, but to different extends. The characteristic breathing frequency ν(E–E) of the [E₄]^4– cluster appears exclusively in the Raman spectrum and is almost unaffected by the nature of counterions: ν(E–E) = 486 cm^–1 (E = Si) and 276 and 278 (Ge), respectively. The calculated valence force constants f_d (Si–Si) = 1.17 Ncm^–1 ( Na ); 1.15 Ncm^–1 ( Ba ) and f_d (Ge–Ge) = 0.98 Ncm^–1 ( Na ); 0.94 Ncm^–1 ( Ba ) are in good agreement with those previously reported.     

Phase dynamics of effective drag and lift components in vortex-induced vibration at low mass–damping

In this work, we investigate the dynamics of vortex-induced vibration of an elastically mounted cylinder with very low values of mass and damping. We use two methods to investigate this canonical problem: first we calculate the instantaneous phase between the cylinder motion and the fluid forcing; second we decompose the total hydrodynamic force into drag and lift components that act along and normal to, respectively, the instantaneous effective angle of attack. We focus on the phase dynamics in the large-amplitude–response range, consisting of the initial, upper and lower “branches” of response. The instantaneous phase between the transverse force and displacement shows repeated phase slips separating periods of constant, or continuous-drifting, phase in the second half of the upper branch. The phase between the lift component and displacement shows strong phase locking throughout the large-amplitude range – the average phase varies linearly with the primary frequency – however the modulation of this phase is largest in the second half of the upper branch. These observations suggest that the large-amplitude–response dynamics is driven by two distinct limit cycles – one that is stable over a very small range of reduced velocity at the beginning of the upper branch, and another that consists of the lower branch. The chaotic oscillation between them – the majority of the upper branch – occurs when neither limit cycle is stable. The transition between the upper and lower branches is marked by intermittent switching with epochs of time where different states exist at a constant reduced velocity. These different states are clearly apparent in the phase between the lift and displacement, illustrating the utility of the force decomposition employed. The decomposed force measurements also show that the drag component acts as a damping factor whereas the lift component provides the necessary fluid excitation for free vibration to be sustained.     

Colloidal chemistry as a guide to design intended dispersions of carbon nanomaterials

In this review, some established concepts from Colloidal Science and their application to graphene and carbon nanotubes dispersions in organic or aqueous media are highlighted to rationalize alternatives for some issues in terms of colloidal properties. Recent applications for carbon-based dispersions are presented, as well as van der Waals interactions in carbon materials and strategies to overcome these interactions, such as increasing electrostatic repulsion between dispersed particles, surface functionalization, or adsorption of passivation agents such as macromolecules, which are the basis of many dispersion and exfoliation procedures. The demonstration of how knowledge and fine control of colloidal interactions have been used to overcome several limitations, such as the preparation of stable and concentrated dispersions of carbon materials and keeping appreciable electrical conductivity, is presented. It is also showed that the same knowledge can help the development of more environmentally friendly carbon-based colloids as well as the improvement of similar systems as dispersions of two-dimensional materials.