Dye-sensitized solar cells with solvent-free ionic liquid electrolytes

We systematically studied the temperature-dependent physicochemical properties, such as density, conductivity, and fluidity, of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium iodides. In combination with the amphiphilic Z907Na sensitizer, we have found that it is important to use low-viscosity iodide melts with small cations to achieve high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. By employing high-fluidity eutectic-based melts the device efficiencies considerably increased compared to those for cells with the corresponding state of the art ionic liquid electrolytes.

Self-assembly of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene and a Ag-hmt coordination polymer into a porous structure

A novel porous material constructed from p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene molecules and a Ag-I coordination polymer has been structurally characterized. The porous supramolecular complex features a bilayer arrangement of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene molecules linked by a Ag-I-hmt (hmt: hexamethylene- tetramine) coordination polymer through metal-ligand bonding, hydrogen bonding and host-guest interactions.

Separation of ternary systems of hydrophilic ionic liquid with miscible organic compounds by RPLC with refractive index detection

A rapid and simple analytical method was developed for the simultaneous and quantitative determination and separation of hydrophilic imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C(4)mim]Cl; 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C(6)mim]Cl; 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C(8)mim]Cl; 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [Amim]Cl; or 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, [Amim]Br) with miscible ethyl acetate and EtOH and their mixtures using reverse phase liquid chromatography coupled with refractive index detection (RPLC-RI). The influence of 60 to 100% (volume percentage) methanol in the mobile phase on the IL systems ([C(4)mim]Cl, [C(6)mim]Cl, [C(8)mim]Cl, [Amim]Br, or [Amim]Cl)-ethyl acetate-EtOH was investigated.

New organic-inorganic perovskite materials with different optical properties modulated by different inorganic sheets

New organic-inorganic perovskites with different PbBr perovskite sheets stabilized by 3- or 4-an-tidinopyridine were synthesized and structurally characterized. 4-Amidinopyridine constructs < 001 >-oriented perovskite with inorganic sheets made up of typical corner-sharing octahedra of PbBr2. Analogous chemistry in the presence of 3-amidinopyridine under the same conditions results in an unusual hybrid perovskite with the inorganic sheets showing a novel framework including both corner-sharing and edge-sharing PbBr2, which is different from any previously reported ones.

Synthesis, structure, and optical properties of a contorted (110)-oriented layered hybrid perovskite: C3H11SN3PbBr4

The < 110 >-oriented perovskite is very rare in the hybrid perovskites family. In this work, an unusual layered < 110 >-oriented hybrid perovskite, which is stabilized by a special organic ligand, 2-(aminoethyl)isothiourea, has been obtained. This ligand combines a primary amine and a formamidine on the two ends of one molecule. Introduction of the special ligand brings about contorted inorganic sheets in the hybrid perovskite structure. The optical properties of the new < 110 >-oriented perovskite were studied.

Metallic Cation Induced One-Dimensional Assembly of Poly(acrylic acid)-1-Dodecanethiol-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles

In this work, we report a simple approach for controllable synthesis of one-dimensional (ID) gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies in solution. In the presence of divalent metallic ions, poly(acrylic acid)-1-dodecanethiol-stabilized AuNPs (PAA-DDT@AuNPs) are found to form I D assemblies in aqueous solution by an ion-templated chelation process; this causes an easily measurable change in the absorption spectrum of the particles. The assemblies are very stable and remain suspended in solution for more than one month without significant aggregation.

Charge, orbital, and magnetic ordering in YBaFe2O5 from first-principles calculations

First principles calculations using the augmented plane wave plus local orbitals method, as implemented in the WIEN2k code, have been used to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of YBaFe2O5, especially as regards the charge-orbital ordering. Although the total 3d charge disproportion is rather small, an orbital order parameter defined as the difference between t(2g) orbital occupations of Fe2+ and Fe3+ cations is large (0,73) and gives unambiguous evidence for charge and orbital ordering: Strong hybridization between O 2p and Fe e(g) states results in the nearly complete loss of the separation between the total charges at the Fe2+ and Fe3+ atoms.

Synergistic extraction of rare earths using acid-base coupling extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative and primary amine N1923

Synergistic effect in the extraction of rare earth (RE) metals by the acid-base coupling (ABC) extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative Bu-t[4]CH2COOH (H(4)A) and primary amine N1923 (RNH2) has been investigated. The extraction of RE was enhanced by the addition of sodium cations into the aqueous phase not only in the extraction system of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH alone but also in the mixture of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH and N1923. The separation factors (SFs) indicating the extraction selectivity of adjacent RE elements became higher in the mixture system.

[Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) nanocomposites containing heteropolyacids: Simple preparation and stable solid-state electrochemiluminescence detection application

In order to solidify the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophor tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)) onto the electrode surfaces robustly, the negative charged heteropolyacids (HPAs) moieties were utilized to attract and bond cations [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) via an adsorption method. The compositions and microstructures of the hybrid complexes were characterized by elemental analysis (EDS), spectroscopic techniques (UV-vis, FTIR) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The electrochemical and ECL behaviors of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)/[PW12O40](3-) hybrid complex contained in the solid film of the nanocomposites formed on the electrode surfaces were also studied.

Stabilization of Imidosamarium(III) Cubane by Amidinates

An imidosamarium(III) cubane has been prepared from the reductive cleavage of azobenzene by a divalent samarium bis (amidinate) complex, indicating that the "spectratoe" bis(amidinate) and the resulting imido ligands help to stabilize the cubane framework. The cubane-type imido cluster is a novel unit in lanthanide chemistry.

Atomic force microscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of DNA based on DNA-nanoparticle complexes

We report a simple method for the label-free detection of double-stranded DNA using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We prepared cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped silver nanoparticles and a DNA-nanoparticle complex by adding silver nanoparticles to lambda-DNA solutions. In the present study, the utilization of CTAB-capped silver nanoparticles facilitates the electrostatic interaction between DNA molecules and silver nanoparticles; at the same time, the introduction of DNA avoids adding aggregating agent for the formation of nanoparticle aggregates to obtain large enhancement of DNA, because the DNA acts as both the probe molecules and aggregating agent of Ag nanoparticles.

Surface-Relevant Regulable DNA Toroids Induced by Dopamine

Dopamine (2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylamine) is known as a natural chemical neurotransmitter and is also a cytotoxic and genotoxic molecule for cell apoptosis. In this work, the interaction of DNA with dopamine was investigated. Though the electrostatic interaction of DNA and dopamine was weak in aqueous solution, dopamine condensed circular pBR322 DNA into toroids on the mica surface cooperatively with ethanol. The formed DNA toroids came from the shrinking of DNA that was driven by ethanol-enhanced DNA-dopamine electrostatic interaction. The size of the DNA toroids could be modulated by varying the concentration of dopamine. This study offers useful information about the DNA condensation induced by monovalent cations and the sample preparation for AFM measurement and application.

An Engineering-Purpose Preparation Strategy for Ammonium-Type Ionic Liquid with High Purity

A new strategy for preparing ammonium-type ionic liquid (IL) by acid/base neutralization reaction was proposed. The method contributed to preparing hydroxide-based ammonium IL and resulting task specific ionic liquid (TSIL) with high purity using a low-costly and environment-friendly synthetic. route. Halide contamination in the prepared ILs could be markedly decreased than those prepared by well-established anion metathesis method. Moreover, some novel TSILs composed of cations and anions with big steric hindrances could be prepared by this method. Physicochemical properties of the bifunctional TSILs, i.e., density, water content, decomposition temperature, and munal solubility, were also studied in this article.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New 3D Copper B-Paradodecatungstate Compound: [Na-2(H2O)(8)][Na-8(H2O)(20)][Cu(en)(2)][W12O42] center dot 3H(2)O

A new polyoxotungstate complex [Na-2(H2O)(8)][Na-8(H2O)(20)][Cu(en)(2)][W12O42] center dot 3 H2O (1) (en = ethylenediamine) has been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and TG analysis, together with a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. In compound 1, the Cu(en)(2)(2+) complex cation links the [W12O42](12-) anions to form a I D chain, and the ID chains are further interconnected with Na-8(H2O)(20)(8+) and Na-2(H2O)(8)(2+) cations to construct a new 3D framework.

3D metal-organic frameworks incorporating water-soluble tetra-p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene

Water-soluble tetra-p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene, acting as a four-connected node, bridges the rare earth cations into a 3D porous MOF in which 1D smaller circular hydrophilic channels and larger quadratic ones are lined up along the c axis and interconnected to each other by the calixarene cavities and other interstices.