Magnetic Phase Transitions in a Ni O -Cubane-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

An unprecedented spin cluster-based network architecture {[Ni (pdaa)(OH) (H O)] (H pdaa=1,4-phenylene diacetic acid)}, comprising 1D linear chains of Ni ions crosslinked via Ni O cubanes, forms under hydrothermal conditions; this 3D coordination network exhibits magnetic ordering at 23.9 K as well as a second magnetic ordering process at 2.8 K likely associated with a structural phase transition.

Nanoparticles for Bioapplications: Study of the Cytotoxicity of Water Dispersible CdSe(S) and CdSe(S)/ZnO Quantum Dots.

Semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) have unique optical and physical properties that make them potential imaging tools in biological and medical applications. However, concerns over the aqueous dispersivity, toxicity to cells, and stability in biological environments may limit the use of QDs in such applications. Here, we report an investigation into the cytotoxicity of aqueously dispersed CdSe(S) and CdSe(S)/ZnO core/shell QDs in the presence of human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) and a human skin fibroblast cell line (WS1).

LaO Promoted Pd/rGO Electro-catalysts for Formic Acid Oxidation.

High activity, a low rate of CO poisoning, and long-term stability of Pd electro-catalysts are necessary for practical use as an anode material in direct formic acid fuel cells. Achieving a high degree of Pd nanoparticle dispersion on a carbon support, without agglomeration, while maintaining a facile electron transfer through the catalyst surface are two challenging tasks to be overcome in fulfilling this aim. Herein, we report the effect of addition of La/La-oxides on the efficiency of Pd nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for formic acid electro-oxidation reaction.

Hydrothermal synthesis of highly luminescent blue-emitting ZnSe(S) quantum dots exhibiting low toxicity.

Highly luminescent quantum dots (QDs) that emit in the visible spectrum are of interest to a number of imaging technologies, not least that of biological samples. One issue that hinders the application of luminescent markers in biology is the potential toxicity of the fluorophore. Here we show that hydrothermally synthesized ZnSe(S) QDs have low cytotoxicity to both human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116) and human skin fibroblast cells (WS1).

A flexible copper based microporous metal-organic framework displaying selective adsorption of hydrogen over nitrogen.

A microporous metal-organic framework [Cu(3)(ipO)(2)(pyz)(2)](n), (ipO = 2-hydroxyisophthalic acid, pyz = pyrazine) was synthesized via an in situ. ligand transformation reaction. The microporous framework displays helical arrays of ipo ligands holding the Cu atoms in 2D sheets, whilst the coordination of pyz molecules acts to arrange these sheets into a microporous 3D structure.

Four new coordination polymers constructed from benzene tricarboxylic acid: synthesis, crystal structure, thermal and magnetic properties.

The use of 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylic acid (H(3)btc) as an organic linker has allowed us to achieve the rational design of two pairs of isostructural coordination polymers having molecular formulae [M(2)(btc)(F)](n) (M(ii) = Mn (1), Co (2)) and [M(3)(btc)(Hbtc)(OH)(H(2)O)(11)](n) (M(ii) = Fe (3), Co (4)) where btc and Hbtc represent the fully and doubly de-protonated tricarboxylates respectively. These compounds were synthesized using hydrothermal methods and characterized by thermal analysis and variable temperature magnetic measurements. The X-ray analysis reveals that compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c while compounds 3 and 4 crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2.

A 2D cobalt based coordination polymer constructed from benzimidazole and acetate ion exhibiting spin-canted antiferromagnetism.

A coordination polymer, [Co(II)(bIM)(acetate)] (bIM = benzimidazole) was synthesized using a solvothermal method; the complex has a two dimensional non-interpenetrated network structure and exhibits a spin-canted antiferromagnetic behaviour at low temperature and a high coercive field.