Preparation of WO-Mica Hybrid Coatings with Electrochromic Properties and Pearl Luster.

Tungsten oxide-mica composites were prepared by adding different amounts of commercial mica (alumina silicate) in order to provide high luster to electrochromic coatings. The mechanical stability was sustained for up to 50 weight % mica for application in aqueous medium. The electrochemical properties, coloration, and luster were investigated.

Rare-Earth-Modified Titania Nanoparticles: Molecular Insight into Synthesis and Photochemical Properties.

A molecular precursor approach to titania (anatase) nanopowders modified with different amounts of rare-earth elements (REEs: Eu, Sm, and Y) was developed using the interaction of REE nitrates with titanium alkoxides by a two-step solvothermal-combustion method. The nature of an emerging intermetallic intermediate was revealed unexpectedly for the applied conditions via a single-crystal study of the isolated bimetallic isopropoxide nitrate complex [TiY(PrO)(NO)], a nonoxo-substituted compound. Powders of the final reaction products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL).

Hemocompatibility of Nanotitania-Nanocellulose Hybrid Materials.

In order to develop a new type of improved wound dressing, we combined the wound healing properties of nanotitania with the advantageous dressing properties of nanocellulose to create three different hybrid materials. The hemocompatibility of the synthesized hybrid materials was evaluated in an in vitro human whole blood model. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the molecular interaction between hybrid nanotitania and blood proteins.

Synthesis and crystal structures of [Al(HO)](SO)NO·2HO and [Al(HO)](SO)Cl·HO.

Two novel aluminium double salts, [Al(HO)](SO)NO·2HO, hexa-qua-alumin-ium sulfate nitrate dihydrate, (), and [Al(HO)](SO)Cl·HO, hexaqua-aluminium sulfate chloride hydrate, (), were obtained in the form of single crystals. Their crystal structures are each based on an octa-hedral [Al(HO)] unit and both structures have in common one charge-balancing SO anion. The final positive charge from the aluminium(III) cation is balanced by an NO or a Cl anion for () and (), respectively.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Oxygenated Monoterpenoids of Importance for Bark Beetle Ecology.

Herein we report the asymmetric syntheses of a number of oxygenated terpenoids that are of importance in the chemical ecology of bark beetles. These are pinocamphones, isopinocamphones, pinocarvones, and 4-thujanols (= sabinene hydrates). The camphones were synthesized from isopinocampheol, the pinocarvones from β-pinene, and the thujanols from sabinene.

Self-Assembly of Asymmetrically Functionalized Titania Nanoparticles into Nanoshells.

Titania (anatase) nanoparticles were anisotropically functionalized in water-toluene Pickering emulsions to self-assemble into nanoshells with diameters from 500 nm to 3 μm as candidates for encapsulation of drugs and other compounds. The water-phase contained a hydrophilic ligand, glucose-6-phosphate, while the toluene-phase contained a hydrophobic ligand, n-dodecylphosphonic acid. The addition of a dilute sodium alginate suspension that provided electrostatic charge was essential for the self-limited assembly of the nanoshells.

Titanium phosphonate oxo-alkoxide "clusters": solution stability and facile hydrolytic transformation into nano titania.

Titanium (oxo-) alkoxide phosphonate complexes were synthesized using different titanium precursors and -butylphosphonic acid (BPA) as molecular models for interaction between phosphonates and titania surfaces and to investigate the solution stability of these species. Reflux of titanium(iv) ethoxide or titanium(iv)(diisopropoxide)bis(2,4-pentadionate) with -butylphosphonic acid in toluene-ethanol mixture or acetone yielded seven titanium alkoxide phosphonate complexes; [Ti(μ-O)(μ-O)(μ-HOEt)(μ-OEt)(μ-OEt)(μ-BPA)(μ-HBPA)(μ-BPA)(μ-HBPA)]·3EtOH, 1, [TiO(μ-OEt)(μ-OEt)(μ-BPA)], 2, [Ti(μ-O)(μ-OEt)(μ-HOEt)(μ-PBA)(μ-HPBA)]·4EtOH, 3, [Ti(μ-O)(μ-OEt)(μ-HOEt)(μ-PBA)(μ-HPBA)]·2EtOH, 4, [Ti(μ-O)(μ-O)(μ-OEt)(μ-OEt)(μ-BPA)(μ-HBPA)], 5, [Ti(μ-OPr)(acac)(μ-BPA)], 6 and [Ti(μ-O)(μ-O)(μ-OEt)(μ-OEt)(μ-HOEt)(μ-BPA)], 7. The binding mode of BPA to the titanium oxo-core were either double or triple bridging or a combination of the two.

Hybrid Drug Delivery Patches Based on Spherical Cellulose Nanocrystals and Colloid Titania-Synthesis and Antibacterial Properties.

Spherical cellulose nanocrystal-based hybrids grafted with titania nanoparticles were successfully produced for topical drug delivery. The conventional analytical filter paper was used as a precursor material for cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) production. Cellulose nanocrystals were extracted via a simple and quick two-step process based on first the complexation with Cu(II) solution in aqueous ammonia followed by acid hydrolysis with diluted H₂SO₄.