Structural parameters controlling the performance of organized mesoporous TiO2 films in dye sensitized solar cells

Titanium dioxide films with organized mesoporous structure were investigated as photoanodes in dye sensitized solar cells. High-quality films were grown on FTO supports by implementing the protocol of supramolecular templating with an amphiphilic triblock copolymer, Pluronic P123. Thicker films were obtained by repeated dip-coating and calcination cycles of up to 10 layers. The TiO₂ films were crack-free, optically transparent, and had thicknesses exceeding 2 μm, while still preserving the organized mesoporous morphology. Their roughness factors, determined from Kr-adsorption isotherms, exceeded 500. The sorption of N-3 and N-719 dyes was fitted to a surface coverage of 0.31 molecules/nm², which is about one third of the ideal dye loading assumed for the (1 0 1) anatase face. The solar performance of multilayer films sensitized with N-945 dye scaled linearly for 1-3 layer films, but approached a plateau for thicker films.     

Interfacial electron transfer on TiO2 sensitized with an axially anchored trans tetradentate Ru(II) compound

The ruthenium complexes, trans-[Ru(phen-NH-phen)(eina)₂](PF₆)₂ and trans-[Ru(phen-NH-phen)(ina)₂](PF₆)₂ where phen-NH-phen = N,N-bis(1,10-phenanthroline-2-yl)amine, ina = isonicotinic acid and eina = ethyl isonicotinate, have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, and IR spectroscopy. The compounds were non-emissive at room temperature, but displayed intense photoluminescence in 4:1 ethanol/methanol glasses at 77 K with corrected emission maximum at 570-580 nm. A quasi-reversible wave observed in cyclic voltammetry experiments was assigned to the Ru^III/II couple, E° (trans-[Ru(phen-NH-phen)(eina)₂)^3+/2+ = +1.22 V versus Ag/AgCl. The trans-[Ru(phen-NH-phen)(ina)₂](PF₆)₂ compound was found to bind to nanocrystalline TiO₂ thin films from acetonitrile solution. Pulsed 532 nm excitation of trans-[Ru(phen-NH-phen)(ina)₂](PF₆)₂ anchored to mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO₂ thin films resulted in an absorption difference spectra consistent with the formation of an interfacial charge separated state trans-[Ru^III (phen-NH-phen)(ina)₂]⁺/TiO₂ (e⁻). The formation of this state could not be time resolved, consistent with rapid excited state injection into the TiO₂, k_inj > 10⁸ s⁻¹. Comparative measurements with a thin film actinometer yielded an injection quantum yield (?_inj) of 0.8. Charge recombination required milliseconds for completion and followed a bi-second-order equal concentration kinetic model with k₁ = 1.0 × 10⁸ s⁻¹, and k₂ = 3.0 × 10⁵ s⁻¹. In regenerative solar cells with 0.5 M LiI and 0.005 M I₂ in acetonitrile, incident photon-to-current efficiencies were typically less than 10%.     

Deposition of iron titanate/titania ceramic composite thin films from a single molecular precursor

A heterobimetallic single molecular precursor, [Fe₂Ti₄(μ-O)₆(TFA)₈(THF)₆] (1) [TFA = trifluoroacetate, THF = tetrahydrofuran], was synthesized by the simple reaction of [Fe₃O(OAc)₆(H₂O)₃]NO₃·4H₂O [OAc = acetato] with tetrakis(2-ethoxyethanalato)titanium(IV) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in THF. The synthesized precursor was analyzed by melting point, CHN analysis, FTIR, single crystal X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Complex (1) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca2₁ with cell dimensions a = 19.2114(14), b = 20.4804(15) and c = 17.2504(12) Å, and the complex undergoes thermal decomposition at 490 °C to give a residual mass corresponding to an Fe₂TiO₅-TiO₂ composite mixture. The synthesized precursor was utilized for deposition of Fe₂TiO₅-TiO₂ composite thin films by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) on glass substrates at 500 °C using argon as the carrier gas. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses of the thin films suggest the formation of good quality crystalline thin films of an Fe₂TiO₅-TiO₂ composite with an average grain size of 0.105-0.120 μm.     

Self-assembled synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of zinc(II) salicylaldimine complexes

One-pot metal promoted reactions between salicylaldehyde and 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine in the presence of metal salts acting as template agents yield zinc(II) salicylaldimine complexes containing N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine (H₂L) as a result of the [2 + 1] Schiff base condensation. The complexes of formula [Zn(HL)Cl(H₂O)₂] · C₂H₅OH and [Zn(H₂L)₂Cl(NO₃)(H₂O)] · CH₃OH were characterized as powder solids and in solution by spectroscopic methods (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FAB-MS, ESI-MS, UV-Vis), thermogravimetric and elemental analysis, potentiometry, and tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcusaureus in a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) experiment. In these two powder solid species, the salicylaldimine, formed in a self-assembly process, acts in two different coordination modes: as monodeprotonated bidentate chelator with an N,O donor set or as a neutral monodentate using exclusively oxygen as the donor atom without involving the nitrogen atoms in the coordination. However, crystals of these two complexes are isomorphous, with 1:2 metal:ligand stoichiometry, and display the latter, relatively rare coordination pattern. In solution, the presence of a 1:1 complex of monodeprotonated state is only detected. The complexes exhibit antimicrobial activity against S.aureus.     

Substituted pyridylmethylamide ligands and their zinc complexes

Mononuclear zinc complexes of a family of pyridylmethylamide ligands abbreviated as HL, HL^Ph, HL^Me3, HL^Ph3, and MeL^SMe [HL = N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL^Ph = 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL^Me3 = 2,2-dimethyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide; HL^Ph3 = 2,2,2-triphenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; MeL^SMe = N-methyl-2-methylsulfanyl-N-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-acetamide] were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. The reaction of zinc(II) salts with the HL ligands yielded complexes [Zn(HL)₂(OTf)₂] (1), [Zn(HL)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (2), [Zn(HL^Ph3)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (3), [Zn(HL^Ph)Cl₂] (4), [Zn(HL^Me3)Cl₂] (5), and [Zn(MeL^SMe)Cl₂] (6). The complexes are either four-, five- or six-coordinate, encompassing a variety of geometries including tetrahedral, square-pyramidal, trigonal-bipyramidal, and octahedral.     

A new tris(2-furyl) substituted pyrazolylborate ligand and its zinc complex chemistry

The new ligand hydrotris(3-(2′-furyl)-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp^Fu,Me) was prepared by the usual procedure. With zinc salts, it forms the Tp^Fu,MeZn-X complexes (X = Cl, Br, I, NCS, CH₃COO, CF₃COO). With zinc perchlorate, the bis-ligand complex Zn(Tp^Fu,Me)₂ is formed preferrably, but by carefully controlling the reaction conditions, the “enzyme model” Tp^Fu,MeZn-OH could be obtained. The latter models carbonic anhydrase by inserting CO₂ and CS₂ in methanol producing Tp^Fu,MeZn-OCOOMe and Tp^Fu,MeZn-SCSOMe. It models hydrolases by the hydrolytic cleavage of tris(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate and γ-thiobutyrolactone. It does not hydrolyse trifluoroacetamide, but instead deprotonates it, yielding Tp^Fu,MeZn-NHCOCF₃.     

Novel regenerated cellulose films prepared by coagulating with water: Structure and properties

Regenerated films were successfully prepared from cellulose/NaOH/urea solution by coagulating with water at temperature from 25 to 45 °C. The results of solid ¹³C NMR, wide angle X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile testing revealed that the cellulose films possessed homogeneous structure and cellulose II crystalline, similar to that prepared previously by coagulating with 5 wt% H₂SO₄. By changing the coagulation temperature from 25 to 45 °C, tensile strength of the films was in the range of 85-139 MPa. Interestingly, the RC35 film coagulated at 35 °C exhibited the highest tensile strength (σ_b = 139 MPa). The inclusion complex associated with cellulose, NaOH and urea hydrates in the cellulose solution were broken by adding water (non-solvent), leading to the self-association of cellulose to regenerate through rearrangement of the hydrogen bonds. This work provided low-cost and “green” pathway to prepare cellulose films, which is important in industry.     

Towards new precursors for ZnO thin films by single source CVD: the X-ray structures and precursor properties of zinc ketoacidoximates

Zinc complexes of pyruvic and glyoxylic acid oximes have been investigated as potential precursors for single source chemical vapour deposition (SSCVD) of ZnO thin films. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes and of their -NOMe analogues reveal markedly different coordination and intermolecular bonding patterns. These structural differences, in conjunction with ligand substituent changes impart different responses to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and sublimation. The glyoxylic acid methyloxime Zn(O₂CCHN(OMe))₂ · 2H₂O has volatility and thermolysis properties suitable for SSCVD of ZnO.     

Bimetallic copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of acyclic Schiff base ligands derived from amino acids

The acyclic Schiff-base ligands (2-(OH)-5-(R³)C₆H₂-1,3-(HCNC(R¹)(R²)CO₂H), derived from the dialdehyde 2-hydroxy-5-R-1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde (R = Me or t-Bu) and two equivalents of the amino acids glycine, 2,2-diphenylglycine or phenylalanine, have been reacted with the metal acetates M(OAc)₂ (M = Cu, Zn) in the presence of triethylamine, affording the complexes [HNEt₃][M₂(CH₃CO₂)₂(2-(O)-5-(t-Bu)C₆H₂-1,3-(HCNC(R¹)(R²)CO₂)₂] (M = Cu, R¹ = R² = C₆H₅, R³ = Me (1); M = Zn, R¹ = R² = H, R³ = t-Bu (2); M = Zn, R¹ = R² = C₆H₅, R³ = t-Bu (3); M = Zn, R¹ = H, R² = CH₂C₆H₅, R³ = t-Bu (4)) in good yields. The crystal structures of 1·MeCN, 2·, 3·2MeOH, and 4·3MeOH have been determined.     

Molecular interactions of zinc(II) cyclams with polycarboxylato ligands

Four new zinc(II) cyclams of the composition {Zn(L)(tp²⁻) · H₂O}_n (1), {Zn(L)(H₂bta²⁻) · 2H₂O}_n (2), [Zn₂(L)₂(ox²⁻)] 2ClO₄ · 2DMF (3), and Zn(L)(H₂btc⁻)₂ · 2DMF (4), where L = cyclam, tp²⁻ = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate ion, H₂bta²⁻ = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate ion, ox²⁻ = oxalate ion, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide, and H₂btc⁻ = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate ion, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by a combination of analytical, spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The carboxylato ligands in the complexes 1-4 show strong coordination tendencies toward zinc(II) cyclams with hydrogen bonding interactions between the pre-organized N-H groups of the macrocycle and oxygen atoms of the carboxylato ligands. The macrocycles in 1, 2, and 4 adopt trans-III configurations with the appropriate R,R,S,S arrangement of the four chiral nitrogen centers, respectively. However, the complex 3 shows an unusual cis V conformation with the R,R,R,R nitrogen configuration. The finding of strong interactions between the carboxylato ligands and the zinc(II) ions may provide additional knowledge for the improved design of receptor-targeted zinc(II) cyclams in anti-HIV agents.     

Dipicolinato complexes of cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) with thiamine dications

Cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) dipicolinato complexes having thiamine dication with compositions [HT][CoL₂]·5H₂O (1), [HT][CuL₂]·5H₂O (2) and [HT][ZnL₂]·5H₂O (3) (L = dipicolinato anion, T = thiamine cation) are synthesized, characterized by X-ray diffraction and other spectroscopic techniques. The thiamine part in these complexes exists as divalent cations. The second protonation of thiamine takes place at the less crowded nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring. These complexes are stabilized by electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions of -N⁺-H and -COO⁻ groups along with crystallized water molecules. The complexes are stable in solution as determined by ¹H NMR and visible study. The complex 1 has two medicinal components which can be easily separated by controlling pH in aqueous medium. It gets decomposed on treatment with sodium hydroxide at pH > 8 to form neutral complex {[Na₂(μ-H₂O)₃(H₂O)₃][CoL₂]·H₂O}₂.     

Synthesis of γ-cyclodextrin/chitosan composites for the efficient removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solution

The synthesis of chitosan-graft-γ-cyclodextrin (Ch-g-γ-CD) using persulfate/ascorbic acid redox system was done and characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA and SEM/EDX. The optimum yield of the copolymer was obtained using 16 × 10⁻³ M γ-cyclodextrins (γ-CD), 2.8 × 10⁻² M ascorbic acid (AA), 1.8 × 10⁻² M K₂S₂O₈ and 0.1 g chitosan in 25 mL of 2% aqueous formic acid at 45 ± 0.2 °C. The highest percent grafting samples were evaluated for cadmium metal ion (Cd(II)) removal from the aqueous solutions where the sorption capacities were found proportional to the grafting extent. The sorption was pH and concentration dependent where, pH = 8.5 was found to be the optimum value. The adsorption data were modeled using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The equilibrium data followed the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum sorption capacity of 833.33 mg/g. The influence of electrolytes, sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) on Cd(II) uptake was also studied. Desorption of the cadmium loaded Ch-g-γ-CD was accomplished with 0.01 N H₂SO₄. The adsorbent exhibited high reusability and could be successfully recycled for nine cycles where in the ninth cycle 27% adsorption was feasible.     

Keggin polyoxometalates-supported assembly of 2D supramolecular isomers: Synthesis, crystal structures and characteristics of two novel hybrid host-guest complexes

Two novel hybrid host-guest architectures based on metal-organic fragments and Keggin polyoxometalates, namely [α-Cu₁₂(trz)₈][PMo₁₂O₄₀] · H₂O (1) and [β-Cu₁₂(trz)₈][PMo₁₂O₄₀] · 2H₂O (2) (trz = 1,2,4-triazole), have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, powder XRD, ESR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The [Cu₁₂(trz)₈]⁴⁺ hosts in compounds 1 and 2 are two-dimensional (2D) supramolecular isomers, which present 4⁴ topology based on Cu₄(trz)₄ cyclic units and 6³ topology based on Cu₃(trz)₃ cyclic units, respectively. The metalmacrocyclic Cu₈(trz)₈ and Cu₉(trz)₉ rings represent the largest examples in the coordination chemistry of 1,2,4-triazole. 2D metal-organic fragments and Keggin anions both are connected via hydrogen bonds and Cu?O short contacts to form interesting 3D host-guest architectures of 1 and 2.     

Non-linear optically active zinc and cadmium p-pyridinecarboxylate coordination networks

Non-centrosymmetric 1D and 3D coordination networks [Zn(L)₂(H₂O)]₂ · CH₃CN · 3H₂O (1), and [Cd_2.5(L)₅] · EtOH · 5H₂O (2), have been synthesized hydro(solvo)thermally between Zn(II) or Cd(II) ions and methyl 4-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl]cinnamate (L-Me), respectively. X-ray single-crystal diffractions studies show that 1 adopts a caterpillar-shaped 1D chain structure, while 2 has a complicated 3D structure formed by linking cadmium-carboxylate chains with the L ligands. Both face-to-face and edge-to-face π-π interactions between the L ligands are key to the polar arrangement of the L ligands in 1. The dipole moments of all the L ligands have on the other hand essentially cancelled out in 2, and the polar axis is defined by the cadmium-carboxylate chains. Consistent with their polar structures, powder second harmonic generation measurements indicate that 1 and 2 exhibit powder SHG intensities of 75 and 20 versus α-quartz, respectively.     

One-dimensional lanthanide coordination polymers as promising luminescent materials

Four one-dimensional coordination polymers, [Ln(H₂O)₄(HTDA)(H₂TDA)] · H₂O [Ln = Sm (1) and Eu (2)]; (H₃TDA = 1H-[1,2,3]-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid), [Ln(H₂O)₄(HTDA)] · (H₂TDA) · H₂O [Ln = Tb (3) and Dy (4)] were prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, PXRD and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The powder and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic studies of 1-4 reveal that all compounds are one-dimensional zigzag chain structures. Luminescent studies reveal that they are potential luminescent materials. Moreover, in solution, the emission intensity of 2 increases upon the addition of Ca²⁺ ions, while introduction of other metal ions leads to either unchanged or decreased intensity, which indicates that 2 may be applied as a promising Ca²⁺-ion-selective luminescent probe. The basic magnetic properties of 1-4 were also studied.     

Nanostructural zinc oxide hollow spheres: A facile synthesis and catalytic properties

The development of reproducible procedures for the synthesis and organization of nanostructured metal oxides is important in order to exploit the unique properties of these materials for practical applications. The present work describes the transformation of Zn(NH₃)₄]²⁺ into hollow structured ZnO materials through solvothermal decomposition. An increase in ammonia concentration in the reaction medium, significantly changes the morphology of ZnO from spheres made of nanoparticles (20-30 nm) to hollow spheres composed of nanorods (200-350 nm) or to free microrods as evidenced from scanning and transmission electron micrographs (SEM/TEM). The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of ZnO confirms formation of the wurtzite structure. Raman and Energy-dispersive spectroscopic (EDS) studies indicate the presence of oxygen deficiency in ZnO. The investigation on the catalytic behavior of ZnO in the synthesis of (4-methoxyphenyl)(phenyl) methanone (MPPM) by Friedel-Crafts acylation of anisole with benzoyl chloride has also been carried out. The results reveal that the prepared ZnO could produce ∼98% of yield compared to 41% produced by commercial ZnO.     

Phosphodiester hydrolysis and specific DNA binding and cleavage promoted by guanidinium-functionalized zinc complexes

Two new Zn(II) complexes containing guanidinium groups, [Zn(L¹)Cl₂](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O · CH₃OH (1) and [Zn(L²)Cl₂](ClO₄)₂ · 0.5H₂O (2), were synthesized and characterized (L¹ = 5,5′-di[1-(guanidyl)methyl]-2,2′-bipyridyl bication and L² = 6,6′-di[1-(guanidyl)methyl]-2,2′-bipyridyl bication). Both complexes are able to catalyze bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) hydrolysis efficiently. Obtained kinetic data reveal that both 1 and 2 show nearly 300- and 600-fold rate enhancement of BNPP hydrolysis, respectively, compared to their simple analogue without the guanidinium groups [Zn(bpy)Cl₂] (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridy) (3). Enhanced acceleration for cleavage of BNPP could be attributed to cooperative interaction between the Zn(II) ion and the guanidinium groups by electrostatic interaction and H-bonding. Studies on inhibition of sequence-specific endonucleases (DraI and SmaI) by complexes show that 1 and 2 are able to recognize nucleotide sequence, -TTT^AAA-, and highly effectively cleave the plasmid DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, while 3 has no specific binding to the DNA target sequences and only shows low DNA cleavage activity.     

An unprecedented (3,4)-connected self-penetrating network of zinc complex: In situ formation of a tetradentate N-heterocyclic ligand under POMs-mediated hydrothermal conditions

The reaction of lacunary polyanion [α-H₂P₂W₁₂O₄₈]¹²⁻, zinc acetate, bpp (1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane) and BTC (1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) in an acidic aqueous solution led to the isolation of a new complex [Zn₃(BTC)₂(chtpy)(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O (1), which crystallizes in the space group C2/c with a = 28.988(6) Å, b = 11.254(2) Å, c = 17.347(4) Å, V = 4682.5(2) Å³, Z = 4. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that there exists the generation of in situ ligand through simultaneous dehydrogenative coupling and hydroxylation of an N-heterocyclic ligand in complex 1. More interestingly, it exhibits an unprecedented (3,4)-connected (8².10)₂(8³)₂(8⁴.10.12)(8⁵.10) topology which has been reported for the first time and shows self-penetrating nature at the same time.     

Deposition and characterization of ZnO thin films from a novel hexanuclear zinc precursor

The high nuclearity zinc complex, Zn₆(OAc)₈(μ-OH)₂(dmae)₂(dmaeH)₂ (1) (OAc = acetate and dmaeH = N,N′-dimethylaminoethanol), having a low decomposition temperature and sufficiently high solubility in non-polar solvents, was synthesized by a simple chemical technique in high yield and analyzed by melting point, elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, single crystal X-ray crystallography and thermal analysis. Aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique was used to deposit a high-quality thin film with good adhesion to the glass substrate at relatively low temperature (320 °C). Scanning electron microscopy of the film shows clearly distinct crystallites of uniform shape with 2.4-2.9 μm size. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements have indicated the deposition of a crystalline phase of hexagonal ZnO with space group P63mc.     

Reaction of the zinc sensor FluoZin-3 with Zn7-metallothionein: Inquiry into the existence of a proposed weak binding site

It has been reported that Zn₇-metallothionein (MT), contains one weak binding site for Zn²⁺. To test this conclusion, rabbit liver MT isolated at pH 7 was reacted with chelating agents of modest affinity for Zn²⁺. Contrary to the previous study, no evidence was found for Zn²⁺ stoichiometrically bound to the protein with an apparent stability constant of about 10⁸. Indeed, stability constant measurements based upon competition between Zn₇-MT and ligands of known stability with Zn²⁺ showed that all of the protein bound Zn²⁺ displayed the same stability constant at pH 7.4 and 25 °C of (1.7 ± 0.6) × 10¹¹. Brief reaction of Zn₇-MT with strong acid converted it into MT^* and upon reneutralization into Zn₇-MT^*, which demonstrated reactivity of about 1 Zn²⁺/mol MT with competing ligands. Acid titration of Zn₇-MT to pH 2 or below rapidly resulted in the formation of Zn₇-MT^* that displayed biphasic titration with base, revealing the rebinding of lower affinity Zn²⁺ between pH 5 and 7. Since MT is commonly acidified during preparation, care must be taken to document which form of the protein is present in subsequent experiments at pH 7.