Hetergeneous-nucleation synthesis of monodisperse ε-cobalt nanoparticles using palladium seeds

Monodisperse bimetallic Pd–Co nanoparticles were prepared via a thermal decomposition of cobalt carbonyl using palladium seeds at the Pd/Co molar ratios 0.5%, 1%, and 5%. The heterogeneously nucleated nanoparticles without any size-selective precipitation are sufficiently uniform to self-assemble into ordered arrays. The as-synthesized nanoparticles are each a single crystal with a complex cubic structure called ε-Co. The presence of Pd seeds seems to improve the stability of Co nanoparticles against oxidation based on the results from time-dependent magnetization measurement.     

Synthesis and characterization of liquid‐crystalline polyphosphonates containing disubstituted ferrocene esters as mesogens

A series of ferrocene‐containing liquid‐crystalline polyphosphonates with an even number of methylene groups are reported. All the polymers gave birefringent melts. The mesophase was identified as transparent with an increase in the spacer. The effects of pendant substitution and the spacer were studied with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The effects of the phosphonate group in the spacer and the ferrocene ester group in the mesogen were examined. The presence of a steplike mesogenic structure and a pendant phenyl group in the spacer led to reductions in the glass‐transition and melting temperatures. The ferrocene moiety in the mesogen might be one of the reasons for the increased thermal stability and decreased liquid crystallinity. An energy‐minimized structure for the mesogenic and spacer segments was created with computer‐modeling programs, and it suggested the reason for the reductions in the glass‐transition and melting temperatures. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2256–2263, 2002     

Pyrolysis studies of aromatic polyesters

The products of pyrolysis, at 400°C in vacuo (1 Pa), of poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) and poly(butyleneterephthalate) (PBT) were studied. The products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. The highly volatile products of PET contained acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, styrene and ethylbenzene and in the case of PBT, butadiene, tetrahydrofuran, vinylcyclohexene and ethylbenzene were the major products. A qualitative analysis of the products of low volatility revealed that the main components were benzoic acid, terephthalic acid, monovinyl esters of terephthalic acid and higher oligomers in the case of PET, whereas benzoic acid, monobutenyl esters of terephthalic acid and higher oligomers were the main products from PBT. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained from pyrolysis experiments, carried out directly in the mass spectrometer. Mechanisms to explain the occurrence of the different products are proposed.     

Potential energy surface of thionylimide

The potential energy surface (PES) of thionylimide has been searched using ab initio MO and density functional calculations. The electronic structures of the isomers of HNSO have been studied using the HF/6‐31+G*, MP2(full)/6‐31+G*, and B3LYP/6‐31+G* levels. Final energies of these molecules have been calculated at the high‐accuracy G2 and CBS‐Q levels. The probable pathways of isomerization of thionylimide to its isomers (e.g., thiocyanic acid, HONS, nitrosothiols) have been explored by studying the three‐ or four‐membered transition states. This study identified total eight possible isomers ( 1–8 ) of HNSO, of which four ( 1–4 ) have already been realized experimentally. Of the remaining four ( 5–8 ), at least two ( 5, 7 ) can be generated experimentally. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Some aspects of tailoring flame retardancy in HET-acid-based flame retardants

HET acid was condensed with either ethylene glycol or 1,4-butanediol to yield the respective oligoesters. These oligoesters were characterized by molecular weight, measured by vapor-pressure osmometry. The degradation mechanism of oligoesters of HET acid with either ethylene glycol or 1,4-butanediol was elucidated. The thermal properties of these polyesters were studied using differential thermal analysis and thermal volatilization analysis. The mechanism of degradation was proposed on the basis of pyrolysis–gas chromatography studies, the degradation products being subsequently identified by mass spectrometry. It turned out that in the course of decomposition, hexachlorocyclopentadiene was formed, which is believed to be the active substance for flame retardance in these systems. The aspect of tailoring flame retardancy by changing the chemical environment, i.e., by using different diols, is discussed.     

Biosynthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Edible Mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) Extract: Mosquito Larvicidal,Histopathological, Antibacterial and Anticancer Effect

Journal of Cluster Science - The titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) were synthesized by the aqueous extract from P. djamor. The UV–Vis spectrum of TiO2NPs showed maximum absorption at...     

Quantitation of Oxidative Stress Gene Expression in MCF-7 Human Cell Lines Treated with Water-Dispersible CuO Nanoparticles

The objective of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of water-dispersible CuO nanoparticles by quantifying the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes (glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Monodisperse CuO nanoparticles of 14 nm in size were used. Cytotoxicity of CuO nanoparticles was evaluated under in vitro condition at different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 μg/ml) and incubation times (12, 24, and 48 h) with human cancer cell lines (breast cancer epithelial cells). The genetic level cytotoxic screening produced consistent results showing that GST and catalase ROS gene expression was maximized in 24 h incubation at 100 μg/ml concentration of CuO nanoparticles. However, the cytotoxicity of water-dispersible CuO nanoparticle was not significant compared with control experiments, demonstrating its high potential in the application of nanomedicines for a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.