Study of Ion Transport in Lithium Perchlorate-Succinonitrile Plastic Crystalline Electrolyte via Ionic Conductivity and in Situ Cryo-Crystallography

Ion transport mechanism in lithium perchlorate (LiClO4)-succinonitrile (SN), a prototype of plastic crystalline soft matter electrolyte is discussed in the context of solvent configurational isomerism and ion solvation. Contributions of both solvent configurational isomerism and ion solvation are reflected in the activation energy for ion conduction in 0-1 M LiClO4-SN samples. Activation energy due to solvent configurational changes, that is, trans-gauche isomerism is observed to be a function of salt content and decreases in presence of salt (except at high salt concentrations, e.g. 1 M LiClO4-SN). The remnant contribution to activation energy is attributed to ion-association. The X-ray diffraction of single crystals obtained using in situ cryo-crystallography confirms directly the observations of the ionic conductivity measurements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and NMR line width measurements provide additional support to our proposition of ion transport in the prototype plastic crystalline electrolyte.

Efficient Hg and Ag ion detection with luminescent PbS quantum dots grown in poly vinyl alcohol and capped with mercaptoethanol

PbS quantum dots capped with mercaptoethanol (C2H5OSH) have been synthesized in poly vinyl alcohol and used to investigate their photoluminescence (PL) response to various ions such as zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). The enhancement in the PL intensity was observed with specific ions namely Zn, Cd, Hg and Ag. Among these four ions, the PL response to Hg and Ag even at sub-micro-molar concentrations was quite high, compared to that of Zn and Cd. It was observed that the change in Pb and S molar ratio has profound effect on the sensitivity of these ions. These results indicate that the sensitivity of these QDs could be fine-tuned by controlling the S concentration at the surface. Contrary to the above, Cu quenched the photoluminescence. In Cd based QDs related ion probing, Hg and Cu was found to have quenching properties, however, our PbS QDs have quenching property only for Cu ions. This was attributed to the formation HgS at the surface that has bandgap higher than PbS. Another interesting property of PbS in PVA observed is photo-brightening mechanism due to the curing of the polymer with laser. However, the presence of excess ions at the surface changes its property to photo-darkening/brightening that depends on the direction of carrier transfer mechanism (from QDs to the surface adsorbed metal ions or vice-versa). which is an interesting feature for metal ion detectivity.

Ion extraction from a plasma through a conical orifice

A method of ion extraction from plasmas is reported in which the interference of field lines due to the extraction system in the plasma region is avoided by proper shaping of the extractor electrode and is supported by field plots.

Infrared spectroscopic study of the rotation of the NH 4+ ion in ammonium halides

Infrared correlation functions, have been obtained from the analysis of band shapes of the 1400 cm−1 bending mode of NH4Cl, NH4Br and NH4I in both the Pm3m and Fm3m phases. The NH 4 + ion seems to undergo relatively free rotation in the high temperature Fm3m phases of these halides.

Composite field approximations for ion traps with apertures on electrodes

This paper presents two approximate analytical expressions for nonlinear electric fields in the principal direction in axially symmetric (3D) and two dimensional (2D) ion trap mass analysers with apertures (holes in case of 3D traps and slits in case of 2D traps) on the electrodes. Considered together (3D and 2D), we present composite approximations for the principal unidirectional nonlinear electric fields in these ion traps. The composite electric field E has the form E = E-noaperture + E-aperture. where E-noaperture is the field within an imagined trap which is identical to the practical trap except that the apertures are missing and E-aperture is the field contribution due to apertures on the two trap electrodes. The field along the principal axis, of the trap can in this way be well approximated for any aperture that is not too large. To derive E-aperture. classical results of electrostatics have been extended to electrodes with finite thickness and different aperture shapes.E-noaperture is a modified truncated multipole expansion for the imagined trap with no aperture. The first several terms in the multipole expansion are in principle exact(though numerically determined using the BEM), while the last term is chosen to match the field at the electrode. This expansion, once Computed, works with any aperture in the practical trap. The composite field approximation for axially symmetric (3D) traps is checked for three geometries: the Paul trap, the cylindrical ion trap (CIT) and an arbitrary other trap. The approximation for 2D traps is verified using two geometries: the linear ion trap (LIT) and the rectilinear ion trap (RIT). In each case, for two aperture sizes (10% and 50% of the trap dimension), highly satisfactory fits are obtained. These composite approximations may be used in more detailed nonlinear ion dynamics Studies than have been hitherto attempted. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Paracrine action of sFLT-1 secreted by stably-transfected Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and therapy using sFLT-1 inhibits ascites tumor growth in vivo

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play a major role in angiogenesis. A soluble form of Flt-1, a VEGF receptor, is potentially useful as an antagonist of VEGF, and accumulating evidence suggests the applicability of sFlt-1 in tumor suppression. In the present study, we have developed and tested strategies targeted specifically to VEGF for the treatment of ascites formation.Methods As an initial strategy, we produced recombinant sFLT-1 in the baculovirus expression system and used it as a trap to sequester VEGF in the murine ascites carcinoma model. The effect of the treatment on the weight of the animal, cell number, ascites volume and proliferating endothelial cells was studied. The second strategy involved, producing Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells stably transfected with vectors carrying cDNA encoding truncated form of Flt-1 and using these cells to inhibit ascites tumors in a nude mouse model. Results The sFLT-1 produced by the baculovirus system showed potent antiangiogenic activity as assessed by rat cornea and tube formation assay. sFLT-1 treatment resulted in reduced peritoneal angiogenesis with a concomitant decrease in tumor cell number, volume of ascites, amount of free VEGF and the number of invasive tumor cells as assayed by CD31 staining. EAT cells stably transfected with truncated form of Flt-1 also effectively reduced the tumor burden in nude mice transplanted with these cells, and demonstrated a reduction in ascites formation and peritoneal angiogenesis. Conclusions The inhibition of peritoneal angiogenesis and tumor growth by sequestering VEGF with either sFlt-1 gene expression by recombinant EAT cells or by direct sFLT-1 protein therapy is shown to comprise a potential therapy. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dynamics of the ammonium ion in the ferroelectric transition in sodium ammonium selenate, NaNH4SeO4·2H2O-an E.S.R. study

E.S.R. investigations of γ-irradiated ferroelectric Sodium ammonium selenate, NaNH4SeO4•2H2O and its deuteriated analogue in powder and single crystal forms have led to a deeper understanding of the nature of the ferroelectric transition of 180 K. A number of paramagnetic species formed due to γ-irradiation have been identified on the basis of their g-factors and hyperfine features from 77Se. The radical SeO4 has been used as a microprobe in studying the phase transition.

Resistivity Maxima in Lithium Fast-Ion Conductors at High Pressure

The resistivity of two types of lithium fast-ion conductors, Li16-2xZnx(GeO4)4 (x=1,2) and Li3+xGexV1-xO4 (x=0.25,0.6,0.72), showed pronounced maxima as a function of pressure. For the first type, ln(ρ / ρ0) peaked at values of 0.12 (x=1) and 0.35 (x=2) near 20 kbar and decreased thereafter up to 80 kbar. Thermal activation energies and prefactors also showed corresponding maxima. For the second type, ln(ρ / ρ0) increased to 3-4 between 20 and 32 kbar. Near 80 kbar, ρ decreased (for x=0.25) by a factor of 250. The results are interpreted in terms of negative activation volumes.

Oxidative extraction and ion-exchange of lithium in Li2MoO3: synthesis of Li2âxMoO3 and H2MoO3

It is shown that lithium can be oxidatively extracted from Li2MoO3 at room temperature using Br2 in CHCl3. The delithiated oxides, Li2â��xMoO3 (0 < x â�¤ 1.5) retain the parent ordered rocksalt structure. Complete removal of lithium from Li2MoO3 using Br2 in CH3CN results in a poorly crystalline MoO3 that transforms to the stable structure at 280�°C. Li2MoO3 undergoes topotactic ion-exchange in aqueous H2SO4 to yield a new protonated oxide, H2MoO3.

HNbWO6 and HTaWO6: Novel oxides related to ReO3 formed by ion exchange of rutile-type LiNbWO6 and LiTaWO6

Both LiNbWO6 and LiTaWO6 undergo ion exchange in hot aqueous H2SO4 yielding the hydrates HMWO6 · H2O (M = Nb or Ta). The reaction is accompanied by a structural transformation from the rutile to the ReO3 structure. The cell constants are a = 3.783(3)Å for HNbWO6 · H2O and a = 3.785(5)Å for HTaWO6 · H2O. The ReO3 structure is retained by the dehydration products HMWO6 and MWO5.5 as well. HMWO6 phases yield H1+xMWO6 hydrogen bronzes on exposure to hydrogen in the presence of platinum catalyst.

AILaNb2O7:A new series of layered perovskites exhibiting ion exchange and intercalation behaviour

A new series of layered perovskite oxides, AILaNb2O7 (A = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4) constituting n = 2 members of the family A A′n−1BnO3n+1, has been prepared. Their structure consists of double perovskite slabs interleaved by A atoms. Hydrated HLaNb2O7 is formed by topotactic proton exchange of the A atoms in ALaNb2O7 (A = K, Rb, Cs). The hydrate readily loses water to give anhydrous HLaNb2O7 which is isostructural with RbLaNb2O7. HLaNb2O7 exhibits Bronsted acidity forming intercalation compounds with bases such as n-octylamine and pyridine.

Kinetics and mechanism of anodic oxidation of chlorate ion to perchlorate ion on lead dioxide electrodes

The kinetics and mechanism of anodic oxidation of chlorate ion to perchlorate ion on titanium-substrate lead dioxide electrodes have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. It has been demonstrated that the ionic strength of the solution has a marked effect on the rate of perchlorate formation, whereas the pH of the solution does not influence the reaction rate. Experimental data have also been obtained on the dependence of the reaction rate on the concentration of chlorate ion in the solution at constant ionic strength. With these data, diagnostic kinetic criteria have been deduced and compared with corresponding quantities predicted for various possible mechanisms including double layer effects on electrode kinetics. It has thus been shown that the most probable mechanisms for anodic chlorate oxidation on lead dioxide anodes involve the discharge of a water molecule in a one-electron transfer step to give an adsorbed hydroxyl radical as the rate-determining step for the overall reaction.

Sulphate ion dynamics in alpha-alums studied by esr at high pressures

The variation of zero-field splitting and linewidth of Cr3+ ion in KCr and KAI alums with hydrostatic pressure and with temperature is investigated. A model for the apparent phase transition is proposed on the basis of the reorientational motion of the SO2�4 groups.

A study on the nature of the compound layer formed during the ion nitriding of En40B steel

Commercial-grade En40B steel has been ion nitrided in the temperature range 475–550°C in a 25%N2–75%H2 gas mixture. The nature of the compound layer formed was studied by the X-ray diffraction technique and optical metallography. It was observed that the structure of the compound layer gradually transforms from a predominantly epsilon (Porson) nitride to a predominantly γ′ nitride structure with increasing treatment time. Optical metallography studies on sections orthogonal to the nitrided surface showed that, after about 5 h of treatment, the thickness of the compound layer decreases with further increase in treatment time.

Synthesis of Azo Coupled Crown Ethers Containing Transition Metal and other Chromophoric Environments and Their Ion Complexation Properties

The crown ethers, 2,3-benzo-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxa-cyclopentadeca-2-ene and 2,3, ll,12-dibenzo-l,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxscyclooctadeca-2,11-diene are incorporated into H,N'-ethylenebis(acetylacetoneimino) nickel(II) and copper(II), phenol, and β-naphthol by diazo coupling reactions. The selective nature of the coupling reaction has-been demonstrated by the isolation of both asymmetric mono- and symmetric bis(glyoxalarylcrownhydrazoneimino) metal(II) complexes. An interesting binuclear complex containing two intramolecularly rearranged (glyoxal-hydrazonearylimino) metal(II) groups joined by 18-crown-6 result8 when bis(arenediazonium)-18-crown-6 is coupled with the metal(I1) Schiff bases. The substituted ethers form cationic salts with NaClO4, KCNS, NH4CNS, 14g(CNS)2 and Ca(CNS)2. All the synthesised ethers exhibit ion selectivity sequence as K+ > Na+ and Ca2+ > Mg2+.