Enhanced Photoelectrochemistry in CdS/Au Nanoparticle Bilayers

Three different configurations of Au‐nanoparticle/CdS‐nanoparticle arrays are organized on Au/quartz electrodes for enhanced photocurrent generation. In one configuration, Au‐nanoparticles are covalently linked to the electrode and the CdS‐nanoparticles are covalently linked to the bare Au‐nanoparticle assembly. The resulting photocurrent, φ = 7.5 %, is ca. 9‐fold higher than the photocurrent originating from a CdS‐nanoparticle layer that lacks the Au‐nanoparticles, φ = 0.8 %. The enhanced photocurrent in the Au/CdS nanoparticle array is attributed to effective charge separation of the electron–hole pair by the injection of conduction‐band electrons from the CdS‐ to the Au‐nanoparticles. Two other configurations involving electrostatically stabilized bipyridinium‐crosslinked Au/CdS or CdS/Au nanoparticle arrays were assembled on the Au/quartz crystal. The photocurrent quantum yields in the two systems are φ = 10 % and φ = 5 %, respectively. The photocurrents in control systems that include electrostatically bridged Au/CdS or CdS/Au nanoparticles by oligocationic units that lack electron‐acceptor units are substantially lower than the values observed in the analogous bipyridinium‐bridged systems. The enhanced photocurrents in the bipyridinium‐crosslinked systems is attributed to the stepwise electron transfer of conduction‐band electrons to the Au‐nanoparticles by the bipyridinium relay bridge, a process that stabilizes the electron–hole pair against recombination and leads to effective charge separation.     

50 years of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society

The early history of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (IEEE MTT-S) is summarized since its founding in 1952, and all administrative committee members and presidents are listed. Some of the more recent changes resulting from growth and multinational participation are described. Publications are discussed with editors listed for this Transactions, the IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, the IEEE Microwave Newsletter, and IEEE Microwave Magazine. The chronological evolution of the IEEE MTT-S's awards is presented, including a listing of all award winners. Distinguished lecturers and microwave symposia sites and chairpersons are also discussed. Early technology trends are described     

Kinetics of chlorine isotope exchange reaction between sodium chloride-36 and triphenyltin chloride in mixed solvents

Isotope exchange reaction between NaCl-36 and triphenyltin chloride in dioxane-water (8020% w/w) and ethanol-water (9010% w/w) mixed solvents has been studied at 25, 35 and 50 °C. The exchange reaction was found to proceed via a bimolecular S_N2, limiting mechanism with reaction rates depending on the solvent used. Inhibition of the exchange in ethanol-water is probably due to solvation of chloride ion through hydrogen bond formation. The rate laws for the exchange reactions are: R_e=3.24×10⁹ e^–65550/RT [Rh₃SnCl] [NaCl] in dioxanewater and R_e=6.61×10⁸ e^–69600/RT [Ph₃SnCl] [NaCl] in ethanol-water, where is the degree of dissociation of NaCl and R_e is the rate of exchange in mol l^–1 s^–1. The activation parameters H^*, S^* and G^* are reported.     

Spectrophotometric determination of hydrazines withperi-naphthindan-2,3,4-trione hydrate

Summary A new micromethod for spectrophotometric determination of hydrazine compounds is described. It is based on a reaction withperi-naphthindan-2,3,4-trione hydrate at pH 2.5 to give a red precipitate of dihydroxy-peri-naphthindenone which is dissolved in methanol and measured at 460 nm. The results obtained show an average recovery of 99.8 %, the precision being ± 1 %.

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Zusammenfassung Eine neue Mikromethode zur spektrophotometrischen Bestimmung von Hydrazinverbindungen wurde beschrieben. Sie beruht auf der Reaktion mit peri-Naphthindan-2,3,4-trion-hydrat bei pH 2,5, wobei ein roter Niederschlag von Dihydroxy-peri-naphthindenon entsteht, der in Methanol gelöst und bei 460 nm gemessen wird. 99,8% Substanz werden wiedergefunden, die Genauigkeit beträgt ±1%.

     

Atomic absorption spectrometric and potentiometric microdetermination of the nitro and nitroso groups in organic compounds

New simple, rapid, accurate, and selective methods are described for microdetermination of the nitro and nitroso groups in organic compounds. These are based on reduction with cadmium metal and 0.05 M HCl whereby 6 and 4 equivalents of the cadmium ions are released per nitro and nitroso groups, respectively. The cadmium ions are measured by atomic absorption spectrometry at 228.8 nm, potentiometrically by titration with EDTA using the cadmium ion selective electrode, and visually by EDTA titration using Eriochrome Black T indicator. Results with an average recovery of 98% and a mean standard deviation of 1.3% are obtainable and no interferences are caused by many nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur functional groups.     

Selective kinetic determination of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate with an ammonia gas-sensing electrode

The coenzyme pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) is deiermined by in situ measurement of the rate of ammonia production using a potentiometric gas-sensing membrane electrode. It is shown that the initial rate of ammonia liberation from L-tryptophan by action of tryptophanase apoenzyme and the coenzyme can be linearly related to PLP levels in the nanogram range with minimal interference from related compounds. Calibration data for the 1 × 10^-7–2.5 × 10^-6 M range for PLP yielded a least-squares equation of rate (mV min^-1) = (0.64 ± 0.01) C — 0.01 ± 0.02 with a standard error of 0.02 mV min^-1, where concentration, C, is expressed in units of 10^-7 mol l^-1.     

Probing the intrinsic electronic structure of the cubane [4Fe-4S] cluster: nature's favorite cluster for electron transfer and storage

The cubane [4Fe-4S] is the most common multinuclear metal center in nature for electron transfer and storage. Using electrospray, we produced a series of gaseous doubly charged cubane-type complexes, [Fe4S4L4]2- (L = -SC2H5, -SH, -Cl, -Br, -I) and the Se-analogues [Fe4Se4L4]2- (L = -SC2H5, -Cl), and probed their electronic structures with photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The photoelectron spectral features are similar among all the seven species investigated, revealing a weak threshold feature due to the minority spins on the Fe centers and confirming the low-spin two-layer model for the [4Fe-4S](2+) core and its "inverted level scheme". The measured adiabatic detachment energies, which are sensitive to the terminal ligand substitution, provide the intrinsic oxidation potentials of the [Fe4S4L4]2- complexes. The calculations revealed a simple correlation between the electron donor property of the terminal thiolate as well as the bridging sulfide with the variation of the intrinsic redox potentials. Our data provide intrinsic electronic structure information of the [4Fe-4S] cluster and the molecular basis for understanding the protein and solvent effects on the redox properties of the [4Fe-4S] active sites.     

Microdetermination of chlorine and bromine in some organic compounds by ion-selective electrodes

Summary The solid state ion-selective chloride and bromide electrodes are used for the microdetermination of chlorine and bromine in organic compounds. After combustion in an oxygen-filled flask, potentiometric titration with silver nitrate at pH 5–7 in presence of 50% dioxan is carried out. Results accurate to ±0.3% absolute are obtained with some partially and highly halogenated compounds.

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Mikrobestimmung von Chlor und Brom in einigen organischen Verbindungen mit Hilfe von ionenselektiven Elektroden

Zusammenfassung Chlorid- und bromidselektive Festkörperelektroden wurden zur Chlor- und Brombestimmung in teilweise bzw. hochhalogenierten organischen Verbindungen benutzt. Nach Verbrennung im Sauerstoffkolben erfolgt eine potentiometrische Titration mit Silbernitrat bei pH 5–7 in Gegenwart von 50% Dioxan. Die erhaltenen Ergebnisse sind auf ±0,3 % genau.