Zn(ferulate)-LSH Systems as Multifunctional Filters

Excessive UV solar radiation exposure causes human health risks; therefore, the study of multifunctional filters is important to skin UV protective ability and also to other beneficial activities to the human organism, such as reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for cellular damages. Potential multifunctional filters were obtained by intercalating of ferulate anions into layered simple metal hydroxides (LSH) through anion exchange and precipitation at constant pH methods. Ultrasound treatment was used in order to investigate the structural changes in LSH-ferulate materials. Structural and spectroscopic analyses show the formation of layered materials composed by a mixture of LSH intercalated with ferulate anions, where carboxylate groups of ferulate species interact with LSH layers. UV-VIS absorption spectra and in vitro SPF measurements indicate that LSH-ferulate systems have UV shielding capacity, mainly UVB protection. The results of reactive species assays show the ability of layered compounds in capture DPPH^•, ABTS^•+, ROO^•, and HOCl/OCl⁻ reactive species. LSH-ferulate materials exhibit antioxidant activity and singular optical properties that enable their use as multifunctional filters.     

Dielectric spectroscopy on Bi3Zn2Sb3O14 ceramic: an approach based on the complex impedance

The dielectric properties and loss of Bi_1.5ZnSb_1.5O₇ a poor-semiconducting ceramic were investigated by impedance spectroscopy, in the frequency range from 5 Hz to 13 MHz. Electric measurements were performed from 100 to 700 °C. Pyrochlore type phase was synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. Dense ceramic with 97% of the theoretical density was prepared by sintering via constant heating rate. The dielectric permittivity dependence as a function of frequency and temperature showed a strong dispersion at frequency lower than 10 kHz. The losses exhibit slight dependence with the frequency at low temperatures presenting a strong increase at temperatures higher than 400 °C. A decrease of the loss magnitude occurs with increasing frequency. Relaxation times were extracted using the dielectric functions Z″(ω) and M″(ω). The plots of the relaxation times τ_Z′ and τ_M″ as a function of temperature follow the Arrhenius law, where a single slope is observed with activation energy values equal to 1.38 and 1.37 eV, respectively.     

Temperature dependence of electron properties of Sn doped nanobelts

This paper reports on the measurements of transport properties of high crystalline quality Sn doped In₂O₃ nanobelts. The samples presented metallic conduction in a large range of temperatures; however, at low temperatures, the resistivity showed a slight increase and the current–voltage curves showed a tendency to saturate even in the low-voltage range. From these observations, we discuss some arguments on the possibility of low dimensional conducting channels as the main responsible for the conduction at low temperatures. Additionally, we present an alternative technique for production of low resistance ohmic contacts, which can be further used in devices’ construction.     

Possible manifestation of spin fluctuations in the temperature behavior of the resistivity of Sm<Subscript>1.85</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript> thin films

A pronounced step-like (kink) behavior in the temperature dependence of resistivity ρ(T) is observed in the optimally doped Sm_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ thin films around T _sf = 87 K and attributed to the manifestation of strong-spin fluctuations induced by Sm³⁺ moments with the energy ħω_sf = k _B T _sf ≃ 7 meV. The experimental data are found to be well fitted by the residual (zero-temperature) ρ_res, electron-phonon ρ_e-ph(T) = AT, and electron-electron ρ_e-e(T) = BT ² contributions in addition to the fluctuation-induced contribution ρ_sf(T) due to thermal broadening effects (of the width ω_sf). According to the best fit, the plasmon frequency, impurity scattering rate, electron-phonon coupling constant, and Fermi energy are estimated as ω_p = 2.1 meV, τ ₀ ⁻¹ = 9.5 × 10⁻¹⁴ s⁻¹, λ = 1.2, and E _F = 0.2 eV, respectively. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Structural characterization and Curie temperature determination of a sodium strontium niobate ferroelectric nanostructured powder

The Curie temperature and its correlation with the magnitude of the displacement of the niobium atom from the center of [NbO₆] octahedra in NaSr₂Nb₅O₁₅ nanostructured powder were investigated. A single powder was prepared by high-energy ball milling. A powder with an average crystallite size of 37 nm was prepared by calcining the precursor at 1423 K. The refinement of the structural parameters was carried out by the Rietveld method. NaSr₂Nb₅O₁₅ exhibits tetragonal symmetry with the tungsten bronze structure (a=b=12.3495 (6) Å, c=3.8911 (2) Å, V=593.432 (5) Å³, and Z=2). The site occupancy of the Na⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations and the interatomic distances between the niobium and oxygen atoms were derived. The [NbO₆] octahedron undergoes both rotation and tilting depending on the crystallographic site. The Curie temperature of the powder was derived using both the impedance and infrared spectroscopy methods.     

The crystal and molecular structure of diaquadichlorotheophyllinecopper(II)

Summary The crystal structure of CuCl₂(C₇H₈N₄O₂)(H₂O)₂ has been determined from diffractometer data by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to R=0.067 for 2123 observed reflections. Unit cell constants are:a=9.930(8),b=9.987(8),c=7.483(6) Å,=123.2(1),=94.5(1),= 83.9(1)°. The space group is P¯1 withZ=2. The structure consists of diaquadichlorotheophyllinecopper(II) complexes linked by hydrogen bonds. The coordination polyhedron of copper is a square pyramid whose base, severely tetrahedrally distorted, is formed by a water molecule [Cu-Ow=2.025(7) Å], two chlorines [Cu-Cl=2.273(4), 2.296(4) Å] and an imidazole nitrogen [Cu-N=1.983(9) Å] from the theophylline ligand. A second water molecule is at the apex of the pyramid [Cu-Ow=2.292(7) Å]. Coordination is completed to a distorted octahedral one by a long Cu ... O=3.164(7) Å contact involving the exocyclic oxygen at C₆ of the theophylline ligand.     

X-ray crystal structure of the copper(II)bis(2,2′-dipyridyl)dithiocarbamate,produced by an unusual reaction of CS2 with Cu−N bonds

The title compound was obtained from a CS₂ solution of bis(2,2-dipyridylamido)copper(II), by insertion of solvent into this complex. In the structure of the dithiocarbamate the metal atom is approximately square-planar coordinated by four S atoms from two chelating ligands. Considering the long interactions between the metal center and the S(2) atom from a centrosymmetrically related complex [Cu(1)...S(2)=3.230 Å], double bridged dimers are formed with the copper atoms in an elongated square-pyramidal coordination. The crystals are monoclinic, space groupP2 ₁/n witha=14.549(3),b=11.662(3)c=15.329(4) Å and =114.79(2)°.