Three new supramolecular metal-coordination architectures [M(H2O)4(ampyz)2][M(H2O)6](SO4)2(H2O)2 (M = Co (1), Fe (2), and mixed Co/Fe (3); ampyz = 2-aminopyrazine) and a Cd(II) coordination polymer [Cd(ampyz)(H2O)2(SO4)]n(H2O)n (4) were synthesized by layered diffusion and structurally characterized. Compounds 1-3 are isomorphous. Monomeric complex units [M(H2O)4(ampyz)2]2+ are assembled by int...

Aerosol nucleation events have been observed at a variety of locations worldwide, and may have significant climatic and health implications. Binary homogeneous nucleation (BHN) of H2SO4 and H2O is the foundation of recently proposed nucleation mechanisms involving additional species such as ammonia, ions, and organic compounds, and it may dominate atmospheric nucleation under certain conditions...

Geopolymer paste is an innovative construction material which shall be produced by chemical action of inorganic molecules. It is a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional Portland cement which is abundantly available worldwide. In this study, the influence of different alkaline activators (Na and K) on the mechanical and thermal behaviors of metakaolin-based geopolymer was inv...

In recent years, Lanthanide (Ln3+)-doped nanocrystals have become promising alternatives to organic fluorophore because Ln3+ ions can exhibit unique luminescent properties, such as large anti-Stokes shifts, low auto fluorescence background, low toxicity and high penetration depth [1]. In terms of the mechanism of luminescence, luminescence of Ln3+ ions can be divided into down-conversion and up...

Valence stabilization of polyvalent ions in gamma irradiated aqueous solutions is sometimes necessary in some chemical operations. In previous publications, valence stabilization of some polyvalent ions in solution upon gamma irradiation was achieved by using inorganic additives capable of interacting with the oxidizing or reducing species formed during water radiolysis. The results showed that...

The generality of the Hofmeister effects has been questioned of late, and doubts have been cast over their importance in understanding the specific ion effects on the chemistry and physics of biopolymers in aqueous solutions. Recent experimental evidence from modern non-linear spectroscopies points mostly to the direct interaction between the ion and the biopolymer in question that is more impo...

From neutral solutions, dimeric 1,3-propanediaminetetraacetato lanthanides (NH4)2[Ln2(1,3-pdta)2(H2O)4]·8H2O [Ln = La, 1; Ce, 2] and K2[Ln2(1,3-pdta)2(H2O)4]·11H2O [Ln = La, 3; Ce, 4] (1,3-H4pdta = 1,3-propanediaminetetraacetic acid, C11H18N2O8) were isolated in high yields. The reaction of excess strontium nitrate with 1 resulted in the formation of a two dimensional coordination polymer [La2(...

Floral nectar contains mainly sugars but also amino acids, organic acids, inorganic ions and secondary compounds to attract pollinators. The genus Nicotiana exhibits great diversity among species in floral morphology, flowering time, nectar compositions, and predominant pollinators. We studied nectar samples of 20 Nicotiana species, composed equally of day- and night-flowering plants and attrac...