Enhanced Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate-Ethyl Cellulose-Molybdenum Disulfide Nanocomposites.

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) is commonly used in propulsion technology. Recent studies have demonstrated that two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials such as graphene (Gr) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) dispersed with nitrocellulose (NC) can conformally coat the surface of AP particles and enhance the reactivity of AP. In this work, the effectiveness of ethyl cellulose (EC) as an alternative to NC was studied.

Manipulating the assembly of perovskites onto soft nanoimprinted titanium dioxide templates.

Soft nanoimprinted titanium dioxide (TiO) substrates decorated with methylammonium lead halide perovskite (MAPbI) crystals were fabricated by controlling the perovskite precursor concentration and volume during spin coat processing combined with the use of hydrophobic TiO templates. The patterned growth was demonstrated with different perovskite crystallization methods. We investigated and successfully demonstrated the controlled assembly of two MAPbI nanomaterials, one a nanocomposite formed between the perovskite and a hole conducting polymer poly(2,5-bis(N-methyl-N-hexylamino)phenylene vinylene) (BAMPPV), and a second formed from perovskite crystals using common solution based MAPbI growth methods (1-step and 2-step processing).

AgInS quantum dots for the detection of trinitrotoluene.

AgInS (AIS) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized via a thermal decomposition reaction with dodecylamine as the ligand to help stabilize the QDs. This reaction procedure is relatively easy to implement, scalable to large batches (up to hundreds of milligrams of QDs are produced), and a convenient method for the synthesis of chalcogenide QDs. Metal powders of AgNO and In(NO), were used as the metal precursors while diethyldithiocarbamate was used as the sulfur source.

Synthesis and Characterization of bis(Tetrahydrofurfuryl) Ether.

Despite the availability of a large number of alkyl tetrahydrofurfuryl ethers that have a wide range of applications, pure bis(tetrahydrofurfuryl) ether (BTHFE) has not been previously synthesized. Here, we report the synthesis of BTHFE (consisting of the RR, SS, and meso stereoisomers) at greater than 99 % purity from tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, using (tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl methanesulfonate as an intermediate. Additionally, we demonstrate that BTHFE can be used as a non-volatile solvent in poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene)-based supercapacitors.

Synthesis and Characterization of bis(Tetrahydrofurfuryl) Ether.

Invited for this month's cover are researchers from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (USA). The cover picture shows the elusive symmetric molecule bis (tetrahydrofurfuryl) ether (BTHFE) in the making. For more details, read the full text of the Communication at 10.

Synthesis, characterization, and cure chemistry of renewable bis(cyanate) esters derived from 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol.

A series of renewable bis(cyanate) esters have been prepared from bisphenols synthesized by condensation of 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (creosol) with formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde. The cyanate esters have been fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds melt from 88 to 143 °C, while cured resins have glass transition temperatures from 219 to 248 °C, water uptake (96 h, 85 °C immersion) in the range of 2.