Titanium dioxide doped with transition metals (MxTi1?xO2, M: Ni, Co): synthesis and characterization for its potential application as photoanode

This study presents the synthesis of TiO₂ doped with different amounts of Co and Ni, starting from a simple metallic titanium powder. A successful electrophoretic deposition of these materials on ITO electrodes was achieved for its potential application as photoanodes. EDX, diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy, and XRD measurements gave information on the chemical composition of the material and the location of the Ni or Co within the crystal structure of TiO₂. Raman spectroscopy suggests that for a higher content of doping metal above a defined percentage, the formation of metal oxide is promoted. A preliminary study of photoelectrocatalytic orange dye degradation shows higher color removal efficiency as compared to the commercial TiO₂ material.     

A novel cacalolide from Psacalium decompositum

A new cacalolide sesquiterpenoid, named as Romo-A, was isolated from the roots of Psacalium decompositum, Asteraceae, a Mexican medicinal shrub with antidiabetic properties. Its structure was elucidated by NMR, MS, IR, UV, and confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Electroactive, Internal Anthraquinonoid Dendritic Cores(1)

The modification of the extended 1 --> 3 anthraquinonoid monomer 1 by substitution of the central aliphatic moiety with a more rigid, aromatic moiety has allowed the syntheses of the new branched building block 6 possessing multiple, internal redox sites. This monomer was used to generate the first tier, dendritic macromolecules 8 and 9, which incorporate different internal redox centers within the infrastructure as well as the traditional peripheral multifunctionality. Using cyclic voltammetry experiments, the electrochemical response and electronic interactions between the two electroactive sites (the anthraquinonoid and nitroaromatic moieties) of these dendritic constructs were explored.     

Classification of sets satisfying the geometric characterization

The geometric characterization identifies the sets of nodes such that the Lagrange polynomials are products of factors of first degree. We offer a detailed classification of all known sets satisfying the geometric characterization in the plane. The defect, which takes into account the number of lines containing more nodes than the degree, plays a fundamental role in this classification. Partially supported by the Spanish Research Grant MTM2006-03388, by Gobierno de Aragón and Fondo Social Europeo.     

Letter: Rotation of the Universe and the Angular Momenta of Celestial Bodies

We discuss the equation of motion of the rotating homogenous and isotropic model of the Universe. We show that the model predicts the presence of a minimum in the relation between the mass of an astronomical object and its angular momentum. We show that this relation appears to be universal, and we predict the masses of structures with minimal angular momenta in agreement with observations. In such a manner we suggest the possibility at acquirement of angular momenta of celestial bodies during their formation from the global rotation of the Universe.     

Design, self-assembly, and photophysical properties of pentameric metallomacrocycles: [M5(N-hexyl[1,2-bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4-yl)]carbazole)5][M = Fe(II), Ru(II), and Zn(II)

A novel family of metallopentacycles was constructed by the facile self-assembly of a bis(terpyridine)-carbazole monomer utilizing terpyridine-metal(II)-terpyridine connectivity; its photophysical properties were investigated.     

Electrochemical Analysis of Acrylamide Using Screen‐Printed Carboxylated Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Electrodes

Acrylamide (AA) was electrochemically detected and quantified by means of its voltammetric response on carboxylic modified Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Screen Printed Electrodes (COOH‐SWCNT‐SPEs). The electroreduction signal of AA was proportional to AA concentration at low values (below 300 µM) and the observed sensitivity was explained in terms of AA adsorption on the COOH‐SWCNT‐SPEs that was demonstrated using the electrochemical response of [Fe(CN)₆]^3? and [Fe(CN)₆]^4? and Raman spectroscopy experiments. In order to test the suggested analytic approach (LOD of 0.03 µM, LOQ of 0.04 µM), detection and quantification of AA in fried potatoes was carried out using the proposed electrochemical method and HPLC. Both techniques showed similar contents of AA.