Kinetic model for Ostwald's rule of stages with applications to Boc-diphenylalanine self-assembly

A kinetic model which describes Ostwald's rule of stages, during the process of crystal growth from solution, is reported here. Reaction equations for stages are given where the stages convert from one to another. The final stage reacts to release a portion of solute back into solution, while the remainder converts to the final equilibrium form. Additionally, a remnant of the solute that was not consumed by any of the transitional stages, ultimately is converted into the final product. This particular model was motivated by a recent report for Boc-diphenylalanine self-assembly where the dissolved peptide was observed to go through two polymorphic stages before reaching the equilibrium supramolecular assembly [A. Levin et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 5219, (2014)]. Kinetic data for the concentration of solute present during the process are listed in the above-mentioned report. We show here how the model, for , describes the time-dependent behavior of the solute decay during the growth process. After comparing the model to the experimental data, we are able to report values for all of the rate constants and propose a rule whereby the relative magnitudes of these constants can be used to predict whether a supersaturated substance will noticeably pass through transitional stages or simply convert from solute to the equilibrium solid form.     

Metal-ion Interactions with Sugars: Crystal Structure of Bis(4-dehydro-L-arabinose) Calcium Methanol Bishydrate

The crystal structure of the metal-organic frame Ca(C5H9O5)2·CH3OH·2H2O(1) has been synthesized and characterized.Complex 1 belongs to a tetragonal P43212 space group.In complex 1,the sugar moiety shows a beta-L configuration of pyranose form.The calcium(Ⅱ) is eight-coordinated,binding to four such sugar moieties,via O(1),O(2) of two molecules and O(3),O(4) of the other two,with the 4-hydroxy group being deprotonated.The water and methanol molecules are not coordinated to the calcium ion.     

Hydrothermal Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Complexes of Cobalt and Manganese Assembled by 4,4'-Oxydibenzoic Acid

Two new coordination polymers [Co(oba)(mbix)]2n·n H2O(1) and [Mn(Hoba)2(H2O)2]n(2)(H2oba = 4,4'-oxydibenzoic acid, mbix = 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) have been successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Their structures have been determined by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, UV and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions extend the complexes into a 3D supramolecular structure.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Catalytic Properties of a 2D Cobalt(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymer Based on Mixed Ligands

A new Co(II) metal-organic coordination polymer based on flexible bis(imidazole) and aromatic dicarboxylate co-ligands, namely [Co(bix)(nph)]n(H2nph = 3-nitrophthalic acid, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene), has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, TG, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 9.3767(14), b = 10.1451(15), c = 12.1488(17), α = 102.6450(10), β = 108.856(2), γ = 98.807(2)°, V = 1035.3(3)3, Z = 2, C22H17 Co N5O6, Mr = 506.34, Dc = 1.624 g/cm3, μ = 0.882 mm-1 and F(000) = 518. In the complex, the nph2- ligands connect neighbouring cobalt atoms to form binuclear [Co(nph)]2 subunits, which are linked by pairs of bix ligands to form a 2D honeycomb-like(6,3) network. In addition, the compound is further extended into a 3D supramolecular architecture by π···π stacking interactions. Moreover, the luminescence and catalytic properties of the complex are investigated.     

The Unexpected Influence of Precursor Conversion Rate in the Synthesis of III–V Quantum Dots

Control of quantum dot (QD) precursor chemistry has been expected to help improve the size control and uniformity of III–V QDs such as indium phosphide and indium arsenide. Indeed, experimental results for other QD systems are consistent with the theoretical prediction that the rate of precursor conversion is an important factor controlling QD size and size distribution. We synthesized and characterized the reactivity of a variety of group‐V precursors in order to determine if precursor chemistry could be used to improve the quality of III–V QDs. Despite slowing down precursor conversion rate by multiple orders of magnitude, the less reactive precursors do not yield the expected increase in size and improvement in size distribution. This result disproves the widely accepted explanation for the shortcoming of current III–V QD syntheses and points to the need for a new generalizable theoretical picture for the mechanism of QD formation and growth.     

New approach for natural products screening by real-time monitoring of hemoglobin hydrolysis using quartz crystal microbalance

The hemoglobin (Hb) released from erythrocytes is a primary nutritive component for many blood-feeding parasites. The aspartic protease cathepsin D is a hemoglobinase that is involved in the Hb degradation process and is considered an interesting target for chemotherapy intervention. However, traditional enzymatic assays for studying Hb degradation utilize spectrophotometric techniques, which do not allow real-time monitoring and can present serious interference problems. Herein, we describe a biosensor using simple approach for the real-time monitoring of Hb hydrolysis as well as an efficient screening method for natural products as enzymatic inhibitors using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. Hemoglobin was anchored on the quartz crystal surface using mixed self-assembled monolayers. The addition of the enzyme caused a mass change (frequency shift) due to Hb hydrolysis, which was monitored in real time. From the frequency change patterns of the Hb-functionalized QCM, we evaluated the enzymatic reaction by determining the kinetic parameters of product formation (k_cat). The QCM enzymatic assay using immobilized human Hb was shown to be an excellent approach for screening possible inhibitors in complex mixtures, opening up a new avenue for the discovery of novel inhibitors.     

A three‐dimensional anionic metal–dicyanamide network in poly[ethyltriphenylphosphonium [tri‐μ2‐dicyanamidato‐cadmium(II)]]

The title compound, (C₂₀H₂₀P)[Cd(C₂N₃)₃], consists of ethyltriphenylphosphonium (EtPh₃P⁺) cations filling voids in a three‐dimensional anionic cadmium dicyanamide network. In the structure, each Cd^II atom is connected to six neighbouring Cd^II atoms through six separate dicyanamide ligands, forming cube‐shaped cages. The three‐dimensional anionic network encloses a solvent‐accessible void space of 1851 ų, amounting to 69.3% of the unit‐cell volume. Each cage accommodates only one EtPh₃P⁺ cation.     

New developments in the dye-doped polymer dispersed liquid crystals gratings: A review

In this study, the dye-doped polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) gratings techniques performed by the various research groups or being developed are briefly reviewed. Especially, the electrically switched diffraction and holographic gratings, have attained much attention by various research groups working in the PDLC-related display studies. The fabrication methodologies used for such grating texture, include like the conventional dye-doped PDLC grating, Azo-dye doped PDLC gratings, and lasing techniques etc., adopted for dye-doped PDLC gratings. The useful features and characteristics of their fabrication process of such gratings are discussed. Finally, some of the future perspectives on this particular research field are presented.     

Atomically flat single terminated oxide substrate surfaces

Scientific interest in atomically controlled layer-by-layer fabrication of transition metal oxide thin films and heterostructures has increased intensely in recent decades for basic physics reasons as well as for technological applications. This trend has to do, in part, with the coming post-Moore era, and functional oxide electronics could be regarded as a viable alternative for the current semiconductor electronics. Furthermore, the interface of transition metal oxides is exposing many new emergent phenomena and is increasingly becoming a playground for testing new ideas in condensed matter physics. To achieve high quality epitaxial thin films and heterostructures of transition metal oxides with atomically controlled interfaces, one critical requirement is the use of atomically flat single terminated oxide substrates since the atomic arrangements and the reaction chemistry of the topmost surface layer of substrates determine the growth and consequent properties of the overlying films. Achieving the atomically flat and chemically single terminated surface state of commercially available substrates, however, requires judicious efforts because the surface of as-received substrates is of chemically mixed nature and also often polar. In this review, we summarize the surface treatment procedures to accomplish atomically flat surfaces with single terminating layer for various metal oxide substrates. We particularly focus on the substrates with lattice constant ranging from 4.00 Å to 3.70 Å, as the lattice constant of most perovskite materials falls into this range. For materials outside the range, one can utilize the substrates to induce compressive or tensile strain on the films and explore new states not available in bulk. The substrates covered in this review, which have been chosen with commercial availability and, most importantly, experimental practicality as a criterion, are KTaO₃, REScO₃ (RE = Rare-earth elements), SrTiO₃, La_0.18Sr_0.82Al_0.59Ta_0.41O₃ (LSAT), NdGaO₃, LaAlO₃, SrLaAlO₄, and YAlO₃. Analyzing all the established procedures, we conclude that atomically flat surfaces with selective A- or B-site single termination would be obtained for most commercially available oxide substrates. We further note that this topmost surface layer selectivity would provide an additional degree of freedom in searching for unforeseen emergent phenomena and functional applications in epitaxial oxide thin films and heterostructures with atomically controlled interfaces.