Vortex pinning: A probe for nanoscale disorder in iron-based superconductors

The pinning of quantized flux lines, or vortices, in the mixed state is used to quantify the effect of impurities in iron-based superconductors (IBS). Disorder at two length scales is relevant in these materials. Strong flux pinning resulting from nm-scale heterogeneity of the superconducting properties leads to the very disordered vortex ensembles observed in the IBS, and to the pronounced maximum in the critical current density j_c at low magnetic fields. Disorder at the atomic scale, most likely induced by the dopant atoms, leads to “weak collective pinning” and a magnetic field-independent contribution j_c^coll. The latter allows one to estimate quasiparticle scattering rates.     

Supramolecular assembly of 2,7-dimethyldiazapyrenium and cucurbit[8]uril: a new fluorescent host for detection of catechol and dopamine

The formation of a highly stable inclusion complex between 2,7-dimethyldiazapyrenium (Me(2)DAP(2+)) and the cucurbit[8]uril host (CB8) was demonstrated by X-ray crystallography; MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry; and (1)H NMR, electronic absorption, and emission spectroscopy. The equilibrium association constant was determined to be 8.9(+/-0.2)x10(5) L mol(-1) from UV-visible data and 8.4(+/-1.5) x 10(5) L mol(-1) from fluorescence data. The Me(2)DAP(2+).CB8 inclusion complex acted as a host to bind compounds containing aromatic pi-donor moieties (D), such as catechol and dopamine. This point was demonstrated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and electrochemical and emission measurements. Fluorescence detection of the Me(2)DAP(2+).D.CB8 ternary complexes was evident in aqueous solution and on the surface of silica particles, to which fluorescent diazapyrenium units had been covalently immobilized.     

Molecular Dissociation on the SiC(0001) 3×3 Surface

In the framework of density functional theory, the adsorption of the halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 2,11‐diiodohexabenzocoronene (HBC‐I₂) on the SiC(0001) 3×3 surface has been investigated. Nondissociative and dissociative molecular adsorption is considered, and simulated scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images are compared with the corresponding experimental observations. Calculations show that dissociative adsorption is favorable and reveal the crucial importance of the extended flat carbon core on molecule–surface interactions in dissociative adsorption; the iodine atom–surface interaction is of minor importance. Indeed, removing iodine atoms does not significantly affect the STM images of the central part of the molecule. This study shows that the dissociation of large halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules can occur on the SiC surface. This opens up interesting perspectives in the chemical reactivity and functionalization of wide band gap semiconductors.     

Fluorescent diazapyrenium films and their response to dopamine

Experimental protocols for the preparation of 2,7-diazapyrenium films on glass, quartz, and silica in one or two steps have been developed. The one-step procedures involve the adsorption of preformed 2,7-diazapyrenium dications with trimethoxysilane appendages to the hydroxylated substrates. The two-step procedures consist in the formation of interfacial polysiloxanes with pendent chloromethyl groups and their subsequent coupling to monoalkylated 2,7-diazapyrene derivatives. For the modification of the glass slides, the silane building blocks have been copolymerized with Si(OEt)4. The transmission absorption spectra of the coated glass and quartz slides all reveal the characteristic bands of the 2,7-diazapyrenium chromophores. Combustion analyses confirm the adsorption of the 2,7-diazapyrenium dications on the silica particles. A comparison of the surface coverages of all films indicates that the one-step procedures are significantly more efficient than their two-step counterparts. Furthermore, the copolymerization of the silane building blocks with Si(OEt)4 translates into an increase in 2,7-diazapyrenium surface coverage of approximately 1 order of magnitude. The emission and excitation spectra of all modified substrates reveal the characteristic bands of the 2,7-diazapyrenium fluorophores. The fluorescence quantum yield, however, decreases as the surface coverage increases. Presumably, interactions between adjacent fluorophores encourage nonradiative deactivation pathways. With the exception of the glass slides modified in two steps, all films respond to the presence of dopamine, in aqueous environments at neutral pH, with pronounced decreases in emission intensity. The association of the 2,7-diazapyrenium acceptors and dopamine donors at the solid/liquid interface is responsible for fluorescence quenching. The glass slides and silica particles modified in one step are the most sensitive substrates and respond to sub-millimolar concentrations of dopamine with large changes in emission intensity. Furthermore, their fluorescence is not affected by relatively large concentrations of ascorbic acid, which is the main interferent in conventional dopamine detection protocols. Thus, these results demonstrate that the supramolecular association of 2,7-diazapyrenium dications and pi-electron rich substrates can be reproduced successfully at solid/liquid interfaces and suggest that the unique properties of 2,7-diazapyrenium films might lead to dopamine-sensing schemes based on fluorescence measurements.     

Fluorimetric determination of magnesium by ternary complex formation with pyridoxal nicotinylhydrazone and amines

The synthesis, characteristics and analytical applications of pyridoxal nicotinylhydrazone are described. This compound reacts with magnesium(II) in the presence of ammonia, ethylenediamine or pyridine, to produce a 1:1:1 Mg(II)—pyridoxal nicotinylhydrazone—amine fluorescent complex (λ_ex 395 nm, λ_em 480 nm). A fluorimetric method is proposed for the determination of magnesium(II) (20–100 ng ml^-1 in the solution measured); isobutanol is used to extract the complex, reducing the number of interferences.     

Kinetic fluorimetric determination of silver by its catalytic effect on the oxidation of pyridoxal nicotinylhydrazone by potassium peroxidisulphate

Summary The oxidation of pyridoxal nicotinylhydrazone by potassium peroxidisulphate, catalysed by traces of silver(I), has been studied and used for the kinetic determination of this ion. The reaction is followed spectrofluorimetrically by measuring the rate of change in the fluorescence intensity (_ex 365, _em 450 nm). The calibration graph is linear in the silver range 60–720 ng/ml. The variables affecting the method have been optimized and the tolerance levels of foreign ions determined. The solvent extraction method with dithizone is used to eliminate interferences in the determination of silver in synthetic samples.

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Kinetisch-fluorimetrische Bestimmung von Silber auf der Grundlage seiner katalytischen Wirkung bei der Oxydation von Pyridoxal-nikotinylhydrazon durch Kaliumperoxydisulfat

Zusammenfassung Die durch Silberspuren katalysierte Oxydation wurde untersucht und für deren kinetische Bestimmung verwendet. Die Reaktion wird spektrofluorimetrisch ausgewertet, indem man das Ausmaß der Veränderung der Fluoreszenzintensität (_ex=365, _em=450 nm) bestimmt. Die Eichkurve verläuft für 60–720 ng Ag/ml linear. Die das Verfahren beeinflussenden Reaktionsbedingungen wurden optimiert und die Toleranzgrenzen fremder Ionen bestimmt. Störfaktoren bei der Silberbestimmung in synthetischen Proben wurden durch Extraktion mit Dithizon beseitigt.

     

Memory effects based on intermolecular photoinduced proton transfer

We have identified a strategy to communicate a chemical signal between two independent molecular components. One of them is a photoactive merocyanine that switches to a spiropyran, releasing a proton, when stimulated with visible light. The other is a 4,4'-pyridylpyridinium monocation that captures the released proton, producing an electroactive 4,4'-bipyridinium dication. Under the irradiation conditions employed, the photoinduced transformation requires ca. 15 min to reach a photostationary state. In the dark, the ensemble of communicating molecules reequilibrates to the original state in ca. 5 days. These processes can be monitored following the photoinduced enhancement and thermal decay, respectively, of the current for the monolectronic reduction of the 4,4'-bipyridinium dication. The pronounced difference in time scale for the current enhancement and decay steps can be exploited to implement a memory element with a bit retention time of 11 h. A bit of information can be written optically in the chemical system and it can be read electrically and nondestructively. The memory can be reset, extending its permanence in the dark beyond the bit retention time. A binary logic analysis of the signal transduction operated by the communicating molecules reveals the characteristic behavior of sequential logic operators, which are the basic components of digital memories.     

Water as a Link between Membrane and Colloidal Theories for Cells

This review is an attempt to incorporate water as a structural and thermodynamic component of biomembranes. With this purpose, the consideration of the membrane interphase as a bidimensional hydrated polar head group solution, coupled to the hydrocarbon region allows for the reconciliation of two theories on cells in dispute today: one considering the membrane as an essential part in terms of compartmentalization, and another in which lipid membranes are not necessary and cells can be treated as a colloidal system. The criterium followed is to describe the membrane state as an open, non-autonomous and responsive system using the approach of Thermodynamic of Irreversible Processes. The concept of an open/non-autonomous membrane system allows for the visualization of the interrelationship between metabolic events and membrane polymorphic changes. Therefore, the Association Induction Hypothesis (AIH) and lipid properties interplay should consider hydration in terms of free energy modulated by water activity and surface (lateral) pressure. Water in restricted regions at the lipid interphase has thermodynamic properties that explain the role of H-bonding networks in the propagation of events between membrane and cytoplasm that appears to be relevant in the context of crowded systems.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of titanium,zirconium and hafnium and their binary mixtures with biacetylmonoxime nicotinylhydrazone

The synthesis, characteristics and analytical applications of biacetylmonoxime nicotinylhydrazone are described. This compound forms fluorescent complexes with titanium(IV) (λ_ex = 430, λ_em = 540 nm), zirconium (λ_ex = 415 nm, λ_em = 505 nm) and hafnium (λ_ex = 400, λ_em = 500 nm) in an acidic medium. Titanium forms a 1:2 metal:ligand complex, whereas zirconium and hafnium form 1:2:1 metal:ligand:sulphate ternary complexes. Highly selective spectrofluorimetric methods for titanium (20–100 ng ml^?1), zirconium and hafnium (5–100 ng ml^?1) are proposed, and procedures for the analysis of binary mixtures of these ions are described.