Superconductivity in the intermetallic compound YRhAl

The intermetallic compound, YRhAl, has been prepared and is found to be isomorphic with RRhAl (R=Pr, Nd, Gd, Ho and Tm) compounds crystallizing in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure (space group Pnma). Heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements in the He-3 temperature range reveal that this compound is superconducting with a transition temperature, T_c, of 0.9 K. The electronic specific heat coefficient, γ, and the Debye temperature are found to be 6.1 mJ/mol K and 197 K, respectively. The specific heat jump at the superconducting transition is found to be consistent with the BCS weak-coupling limit. This combined with the earlier observation of superconductivity in LaRhAl (T_c=2.4 K) having a different structure than that of YRhAl, suggests that the underlying structure is not very crucial for the occurrence of superconductivity in RRhAl series of compounds.     

EFFECTS OF QUENCHING AGENTS ON THE PHOTODYNAMICALLY-INDUCED CHEMOTACTIC RESPONSE OF THE COLORLESS FLAGELLATE Polytomella magna

Abstract In the presence of the photosensitizer riboflavin at high fluence rates a photoproduct, most probably H₂O₂, is formed which causes negative phototaxis in the colorless flagellate Polytomella magna . The aim of this study was to find out whether H₂O₂ is produced in a type I or II reaction. As has been shown, ¹O₂ quenchers either do not influence the photodynamic action of riboflavin (furfuryl ethanol, DPBF, l -histidine, crocetin) or show slight quenching effects only at very high concentrations ≧ 10⁻² M (DABCO, DMF, imidazole). D₂O is toxic to P. magna even in 1:1 and 1:2 mixtures with H₂O. On the other hand, the quenching effect of 1,4-benzoquinone, highly indicative for the type I pathway, is more than two orders of magnitude stronger than the one of the above mentioned ¹O₂ quenchers. The results suggest that H₂O₂ is produced in a type I reaction. Superoxide does not seem to be involved since superoxide dismutase does not diminish the photodynamic effect of riboflavin.     

Inductive effect for the phase stability in hydrogen bonded liquid crystals,x-(p/m)BA:9OBAs

A new series of hydrogen bonded liquid crystal (HBLC) complexes, made up with substituted benzoic acids (BAs) and nonyloxy benzoic acid, viz., x-(p/m)BA:9OBAs are reported for x = F, Cl, Br and –CH₃ substituted at para (p) or meta (m) positions of BA moiety. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectrum confirms the HBLC complex. Infra red (IR) spectrum confirms linear, double and complementary type of hydrogen bonding (HB) between x-(p/m)BAs and 9OBA. The liquid crystal (LC) phases are characterised by polarisation optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. x-(p/m)BA:9OBA exhibit N, C and G LC phase variance. HB induces tilted phases and enhances LC phase stability. The influence of configuration, size, electronegativity, electron directing capacity and inductive nature of substituent (x) is investigated for the stability of LC phases. An overview of the LC phase data indicates predominant ‘negative inductive effect’ in HBLCs with electron withdrawing substituents. Inductive effect operates effectively for para substitutions. Results are discussed in the wake of reports in other HBLCs.     

Studies on the curing and thermal behaviour of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) in the presence of aromatic diimide–diacids

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of aromatic diimide–diacids (DIDAS) obtained by reacting pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 4,4′-oxo diphthalic anhydride (ODA), 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetra carboxylic dianhydride (NTDA) with excess of 4-aminobutyric acid (B) or 6-aminohexanoic acid (H) using N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) as solvent. The synthesized compounds were used as curing agents to investigate the effect of structure on the curing and thermal behaviour of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA). Structural characterization of DIDAS was done by using FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Curing behaviour of DGEBA in the presence of aromatic DIDAS was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The peak exotherm temperature (T _P) was low in the case of DIDAS synthesized from ODA and high in the case of DIDAS synthesized from NTDA. Thermal stability of the isothermally cured DGEBA with DIDAS was investigated using dynamic thermogravimetry in nitrogen atmosphere. The char yield was highest for resin cured with DIDAS containing NTDA.     

Differentiation of diasteromeric α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A set of diastereomeric α-sulfanyl-β-amino acid derivatives, which are important building blocks for pharmaceuticals with potent biological activity, are studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra of [M+H](+), [M+NH(4)](+), [M+Na](+) and [M+Li](+) of the diastereomers were studied, among them the CID of [M+Na](+) and [M+Li](+) showed consistent differences in the relative abundance of characteristic ions that enabled distinction of the anti isomers from syn isomers. The decomposition pathways for the diagnostic ions were arrived at based on high-resolution mass spectrometry data, multiple mass spectrometry data, deuterium labeling experiments and the mass shift in accordance with the substituents located at different places. Loss of (R(1)-C(6)H(4)-CH=NH) and (Cat-NH-SO(2)R(2)) from [M+Cat](+), where Cat=Na and Li, and the product ions as a results of McLafferty rearrangement involving either >S=O or >C=O group were found to be diagnostic. The McLafferty rearrangement product ions involving >S=O group were more abundant in syn isomers while those involving >C=O group were more abundant in anti isomer. The selectivity observed in the decomposition of [M+Li](+) ions was found to be similar to that of [M+Na](+) ions, but in few cases the differences are marginal in the decomposition [M+Li](+) ions.     

Synthesis on templates II : Directed synthesis of imidazoles from adenine

Adenine has been used as the template for the directed synthesis of 5-substituted imidazoles. A Novel intermediate involved in the cyclic operation has been characterised.     

Dopant-site occupancies and superconducting properties of the Fe-substituted La2.5Nd0.5CaBa3(Cu1−xFex)7Oz perovskite

The structural and superconducting properties of single-phase Fe-substituted La_2.5Nd_0.5CaBa₃(Cu_1−xFe_x)₇O_z (LNCBCuFe) with 0.0x0.06 compounds having triple-perovskite structure are investigated using X-ray diffraction, a.c. susceptibility, d.c. magnetization, oxygen content and Mössbauer effect measurements. Mössbauer spectral analysis of x=0.03 sample displays unusual Fe-dopant site occupancies and the Cu(2) plane to Cu(1) chain site ratio in the LNCBCuFe are quite different from those of the usual Fe-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ. Specifically, we observe substantial occupation of a new chain-associated quasi-octahedral site, E, at 300 K which transforms into the well-known distorted tetrahedron chain site, A, on lowering the temperature to 78 K. The observed reduction of T_c with increasing x in LNCBCuFe supports the view that the hole filling mechanism contributes predominantly to the suppression of superconductivity by Fe.     

Green and Cost Effective Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots for Dopamine Detection

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) due to its high fluorescent output is evolving as novel sensing material and is considered as future building blocks for nano sensing devices. Hence, in this investigation we report microwave assisted preparation and multi sensing application of CQDs. The microwave derived CQDs are characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) experiment and Fourier Infrared spectra (FTIR) to investigate the size distribution and chemical purity respectively. Fluorescent emission spectra recorded at varying pH shows varying fluorescence emission intensities. Further, emission spectra recorded at different temperatures shows that fluorescence emission of CQDs greatly depends on temperature. Therefore, we demonstrate the pH and temperature sensing characteristics of CQDs by fluorescence quenching behaviour. In addition, the interaction and sensing behaviour of CQDs for dopamine is also presented in this work with a detection limit of 0.2 mM. The steady state and time-resolved methods have been employed in fluorescence quenching methods for sensing dopamine through CQDs at room temperature. The bimolecular quenching rate constants for different concentration have been measured. The interaction between CQDs and dopamine indicates fluorescence quenching method is an elegant process for detecting dopamine through CQDs.     

Preferential Face‐on and Edge‐on Orientation of Thiophene Oligomers by Rational Molecular Design

Precise control over the supramolecular organization of organic semiconducting materials guiding to exclusive face‐on or edge‐on orientation is a challenging task. In the present work, we study the preferential packing of thiophene oligomers induced through rational molecular designing and self‐assembly. The acceptor–donor–acceptor‐type oligomers having 2‐(1,1‐dicyano‐methylene)rhodanine as acceptor ( OT1 ) favored a face‐on packing, whereas that of functionalized with N‐octyl rhodanine ( OT2 ) preferred an edge‐on packing as evident from 2D‐grazing incidence angle X‐ray diffraction, tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy analyses. The oligomers exhibited anisotropic conductivity in the self‐assembled state as an outcome of the preferred orientation, revealed by the conducting AFM experiment.