Synthesis, characterization and optical property of flower-like indium tin sulfide nanostructures

We report a simple method for novel flower-like In4SnS8 nanostructure synthesis. A flower-like In4SnS8 nanostructure was synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal route using the biomolecule L-cysteine as a sulfur source. The structure was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption analysis and photoluminescence spectra. This flower-like structure consists of crosslinked nanoflakes and possesses good thermostability and a high BET surface area.

Perovskite-Like Mixed Oxides (LaSrMn1-x Ni (x) O4+delta, 0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 1) as Catalyst for Catalytic NO Decomposition: TPD and TPR Studies

Catalytic NO decomposition on LaSrMn1-x Ni (x) O4+delta (0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 1) is investigated. The activity of NO decomposition increases dramatically after the substitution of Ni for Mn, but decreases when Mn is completely replaced by Ni (x = 1.0). The optimum value is at x = 0.8. These indicate that the catalytic performance of the samples is contributed by the synergistic effect of Mn and Ni. O-2-TPD and H-2-TPR experiments are carried out to explain the change of activity. The former indicates that only when oxygen vacancy is created, could the catalyst show enhanced activity for NO decomposition; the latter suggests that the best activity is obtained from catalyst with the most matched redox potentials (in this work, the biggest Delta T and Delta E values).

Investigation of the dewetting inhibition mechanism of thin polymer films

The mechanism of inhibition of polymer film dewetting is investigated by adding a star comb-like polymer, four-arm P(S-ran-VB-g-PMMA), to PS film and PMMA film on different substrates. It is found that the mechanism of inhibition of polymer film dewetting is kinetic in nature, and is related to the miscibility between the additional compound and the polymer film. On addition to the miscible system [four-arm P(S-ran-VB-g-PMMA) and PMMA], the star comb-like polymers can increase the resistant force of dewetting with hole growth and inhibit the dewetting process of the thin polymer film by enrichment in the rim.

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.

A ternary supramolecular compound of p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene with 1D channels

A ternary supramolecular complex of [Ni(bipy)(2)(H2O)](4)(C8AS)center dot 17.6(H2O) (bipy=4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and C8AS = p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene) has been synthesized by a hydrothermal method and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, TG-DTA analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the structure. the water-soluble p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene molecule adopts a double partial cone conformation and is coordinated by four nickel atoms each of which is bonded by two 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine molecules and one water molecule at the same time. The tetranuclear Subunits are stacked into an extended 3D structure with 1D water-filled channels via hydrogen bonds and C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interactions.

Assembly of 'discrete' (H2O)(16) water clusters within a supramolecular compound of calixarene

A 'discrete' (H2O)(16) cluster, featuring four basic cyclic nine-membered rings and a twelve-membered ring, illustrates a new mode of supramolecular association of water molecules.

Insight into growth details and characteristics of windmill-like polyethylene crystals

The crystallization detail of polyethylene (PE) has been scarcely studied via in-situ approach since it is an extremely fast process. In this work, optical microscopy is used to investigate crystallization details and characteristics of windmill-like polyethylene crystals. It has been shown that the straight edges of the petals appear firstly and grow in pairs from their central junctions, which subsequently induce the surrounding domains in between each pairs of petals to nucleate and crystallize into twisted lamellar overgrowths. The remaining terrace-stacked lamellae which form curved edges of the petals start to develop only after the straight edges of the petals together with the twisted lamellar overgrowths have completed their growth. It is confirmed that the preferential growth direction of these petals are along crystallographic [113] axis, which has an angle of 65, with the typical direction along b-axis adopted also by the twisted lamellar overgrowths.

Spindle-like Lanthanide Orthovanadate Nanoparticles: Facile Synthesis by Ultrasonic Irradiation, Characterization, and Luminescent Properties

A general and facile ultrasonic irradiation method has been established for the synthesis of the lanthanide orthovanadate LnVO(4) (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) nanoparticles from an aqueous solution of Ln(NO3)(3) and NH4VO3 without any surfactant or template. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were employed to characterize the as-prepared products. Ultrasonic irradiation has a strong effect on the morphology of the LnVO(4) nanoparticles. The SEM and TEEM images illustrate that the as-formed LnVO(4) particles have a spindle-like shape with an equatorial diameter of 30-70 nm and a length of 100-200 am, which are the aggregates of even.

Preparation of a blocked isocyanate compound and its grafting onto styrene-b-(ethylene-co-1-butene)-b-styrene triblock copolymer

The epsilon-caprolactam was used to block the isocyanate group to enhance the storage stability of allyl (3-isocyanate-4-tolyl) carbamate. The spectra of FTIR and NMR showed that blocked allyl (3-isocyanate-4-tolyl) carbamate (BTAI) possesses two chemical functions, an 1-olefin double bond and a blocked isocyanate group. The FTIR spectrum showed BTAI could regenerate isocyanate group at elevated temperature. DSC and TG/DTA indicated the minimal dissociation temperature was about 135 degrees C and the maximal dissociation rate appeared at 226 degrees C. Then the styrene-b-(ethylene-co-1-butene)-b-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) was functionalized by BTAI via melt free radical grafting. The effect of temperature, monomer and initiator concentrations on the grafting degree and grafting efficiency was evaluated. The highest grafting degree was obtained at 200 degrees C. The grafting degree and grafting efficiency increased with the enhanced concentration of BTAI or initiator.

Two-Step Spin-Transition Iron(III) Compound with a Wide [High Spin-Low Spin] Plateau

A new iron(III) coordination compound exhibiting a two-step spin-transition behavior with a remarkably wide [HS-LS] plateau of about 45 K has been synthesized from a hydrazino Schiff-base ligand with an N,N,O donor set, namely 2-methoxy-6-(pyridine-2-ylhydrazonomethyl) phenol (Hmph). The single-crystal X-ray structure of the coordination compound {[Fe(mph)(2)](ClO4)(MeOH)(0.5)(H2O)(0.5)}(2) (1) determined at 150 K reveals the presence of two slightly different iron(III) centers in pseudo-octahedral environments generated by two deprotonated tridentate mph ligands. The presence of hydrogen bonding interactions, instigated by the well-designed ligand, may justify the occurrence of the abrupt transitions. 1 has been characterized by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements, EPR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fe-51 Mossbauer spectroscopy, which all confirm the occurrence of a two-step transition. In addition, the iron(III) species in the high-spin state has been trapped and characterized by rapid cooling EPR studies.

G-Quadruplex Aptamers with Peroxidase-Like DNAzyme Functions: Which Is the Best and How Does it Work?

Some G-quadruplex DNA aptamers have been found to strongly bind hemin to form DNAzymes with peroxidase-like activity. To help determine the most suitable DNAzymes and to understand how they work, five previously reported G-quadruplex aptamers were compared for their binding affinity and then the potential catalytic mechanism of their corresponding hemin-G-quadruplex DNAzymes was explored. Among these aptamers, a G-quadruplex named AGRO100 was shown to possess the highest hemin-binding affinity and the best DNAzyme function. This means that AGRO100 is the most ideal candidate for DNAzyme-based analysis. Furthermore, we found the peroxidase-like activity of DNAzyme to be primarily dependent on the concentration of H2O2 and independent of that of the peroxidase substrate (that is, 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethytbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt). Accordingly, a reaction mechanism for DNAzyme-catalyzed peroxidation is proposed. This study provides new insights into the G-quadruplex-based DNAzymes and will help us to further extend their applications in the analytical field.

Raspberry-like Hierarchical Au/Pt Nanoparticle Assembling Hollow Spheres with Nanochannels: An Advanced Nanoelectrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

In this contribution, we for the first time report the synthesis of raspberry-like hierarchical Au/Pt nanoparticle (NP) assembling hollow spheres (RHAHS) with pore structure and complex morphology through one in situ sacrificial template approach without any post-treatment procedure. This method has some clear advantages including simplicity, quickness, high quality, good reproducibility, and no need of a complex post-treatment process (removing templating). Furthermore, the present method could be extended to other metal-based NP assembling hollow spheres. Most importantly, the as-prepared RHAHS exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). For instance, the present RHAHS-modified electrode exhibited more positive potential (the half-wave potential at about 0.6 V), higher specific activity, and higher mass activity for ORR than that of commercial platinum black (CPB). Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) voltarnmetry demonstrated that the RHAHS-modified electrode could almost catalyze a four-electron reduction of O-2 to H2O in a 0.5 M air-saturated H2SO4 solution.

Relaxation time and conductivity of comb-like gel polymer electrolytes

Using the copolymer of acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate as a backbone and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME) with 1100 molecular weight as side chains, comb-like gel polymers and their Li salt complexes were synthesized. The dynamic mechanical properties and conductivities were investigated. Results showed that the gel copolymer electrolytes possess two glass transitions: alpha-transition and beta-transition. Based on the time-temperature equivalence principle, a master curve was constructed by selecting T. as reference temperature. By reference to T-0 = 50 degrees C, the relation between log c, and c was found to be linear. The master curves are displaced progressively to higher frequencies as the content of plasticizer is increased. The relation between log tau(p) and the content of plasticizer is also linear.