Publications

Abstract The thermal behavior, solid and liquid heat capacities of the 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium, [Bzmim](+), based ionic liquid series with Cl, PF6, BF4, CHF2CF2SO3 and NTf2 as anions were used to evaluate the effect of the insertion of an aromatic character (benzyl group) and the expected increase of the pi-pi interactions as well as the impact in the cation-anion hindrance and charge delocalization in the ionic liquid properties. It was found that the molar liquid heat capacities of [Bzmim][X] are in the same order as the 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C(5)C(1)im][X] analogs. A good correlation between the molar (solid and liquid) heat capacity and the number of atoms of the anion was found. Two different crystalline forms for [Bzmim][BF4] differing by 10 K in the melting temperature and about 10% in the heat capacity were found. The crystallization behavior, melting temperatures, and enthalpies and entropies of fusion show that the insertion of an aromatic character (benzyl group) in the imidazolium cation leads to a significant and systematic change of the thermophysical properties of the ionic liquids associated with an increase of the glass transition and melting temperatures arising from the additional pi-pi interactions. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract Aryl derivatives of ferrocene are used for the modification of graphitic surfaces. Stronger adsorption is utilized as a route to enable the electrochemically tagging of new carbon materials. Model experiments are reported on an EPPG electrode where the adsorption of 1-(biphen-4-yl)ferrocene is found to be a factor of ca. 5 times more thermodynamically favorable than the underivatised form. Two further derivatives were also studied and the voltammetric responses of this class of ferrocenes are found to be significantly influenced by ion-pairing. Finally, the successful use of these new materials for the modification and redox tagging of graphene nanoplatelets is demonstrated.

Abstract This work explores the n vs. iso isomerization effects on the physicochemical properties of different families of ionic liquids (ILs) with variable aromaticity and ring size. This study comprises the experimental measurements, in a wide temperature range, of the ILs' thermal behaviour, heat capacities, densities, refractive indices, surface tensions, and viscosities. The results here reported show that the presence of the iso-alkyl group leads to an increase of the temperature of the glass transition, T-g. The isopyrrolidinium (5 atoms ring cation core) and iso-piperidinium (6 atoms ring cation core) ILs present a strong differentiation in the enthalpy and entropy of melting. Non-aromatic ILs have higher molar heat capacities due to the increase of the atomic contribution, whereas it was not found any significant differentiation between then and iso-alkyl isomers. A small increase of the surface tension was observed for the non-aromatic Its, which could be related to their higher cohesive energy of the bulk, while the lower surface entropy observed for the iso isomers indicates a structural resemblance between the IL bulk and surface. The significant differentiation between ILs with a 5 and 6 atoms ring cation in the n-alkyl series (where 5 atoms ring cations have higher surface entropy) is an indication of a more efficient arrangement of the non-polar region at the surface in ILs with smaller cation cores. The ILs constituted by non aromatic piperidinium cation, and iso-alkyl isomers were found to be the most viscous among the studied Its due to their higher energy barriers for shear stress. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract The thermodynamics of molecular self-assembling of an anionic biosurfactant, sodium cholate (NaCA) and its mixtures with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution have been investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), along with fluorescence and conductivity measurements. Different critical concentrations were obtained by these three techniques - critical pre-micelle concentration (cmc(pre)) and critical micelle concentration (cmc) for pure NaCA, and critical micelle concentrations (cmc(mix)) for the mixed systems with differently initial SDS concentrations. Importantly, ITC allowed us to directly measure the enthalpy changes of pre-micelle formation (DHpremic = (-0.28 +/- 0.02) kJ.mol(-1)) and of micelle formation (Delta H-mic = (-1.76 +/- 0.05) kJ.mol(-1)) for pure NaCA as well as the enthalpies for micellization for the mixed systems NaCA/SDS. The non-ideality of the mixed surfactant solution was evaluated in terms of interaction parameters and excess enthalpies that were calculated in the light of Clint's and Rubingh's models. It was found that there is an obvious synergistic effect in the NaCA/SDS mixed system. From all these results we can ascribe the strong interaction between the same charge surfactants NaCA and SDS to the structural difference in their hydrophobic moieties. In fact, the flexible alkyl chains of SDS and the non-planar hydrophobic beta-faces of NaCA tend to have a more compact packing than pure NaCA.

Abstract UV-Vis can be used as an easy and forthright technique to accurately estimate the band gap energy of organic pi-conjugated materials, widely used as thin films/composites in organic and hybrid electronic devices such as OLEDs, OPVs and OFETs. The electronic and optical properties, including HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of pi-conjugated systems were evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy in CHCl3 solution for a large number of relevant pi-conjugated systems: tris-8-hydroxyquinolinatos (Alq(3), Gaq(3), Inq(3), Al(qNO(2))(3), Al(qCl)(3), Al(qBr)(3), In(qNO(2))(3), In(qCl)(3) and In(qBr)(3)); triphenylamine derivatives (DDP, p-TTP, TPB, TPD, TDAB, m-MTDAB, NPB, alpha-NPD); oligoacenes (naphthalene, anthracene, tetracene and rubrene); oligothiophenes (alpha-2T, beta-2T, alpha-3T, beta-3T, alpha-4T and alpha-5T). Additionally, some electronic properties were also explored by quantum chemical calculations. The experimental UV-Vis data are in accordance with the DFT predictions and indicate that the band gap energies of the OSCs dissolved in CHCl3 solution are consistent with the values presented for thin films.

Abstract A comprehensive study of the solution and solvation of linear alcohols (propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol and pentan-1-ol) in ionic liquids (ILs) is presented. The effect of the alkyl chain size of both alcohols and ILs (1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(n)C(1)im][NTf2], ionic liquid series) on the thermodynamic properties of solution and solvation was used to obtain insight into the interactions between alcohols and ILs. Alcohols were used as molecular probes to ascertain whether their solvation in ILs would reflect IL nanostructuration. A trend shift was found in the values of enthalpy of solution and solvation for the [C(n)C(1)im][NTf2] series at a critical alkyl size (CAS) of C-6. Further, the effect of the hydrogen bond basicity of the anion in the solvation of alcohols was explored based on the comparative study of the solvation of propan-1-ol in two different IL series, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C(n)C(1)im][NTf2] and hexafluorophosphate [C(n)C(1)im][PF6]. The results obtained provide experimental support for the strength of hydrogen bonds between the alcohols and the NTf2 and PF6 anions, providing insights into the IL intermolecular interactions, namely by indicating the ability of the alcohols to discriminate the IL anion hydrogen bond basicity.

Abstract Plants have been long scrutinized in the quest for new antibiotics, but no strong antibiotic molecule was ever found. Evidence exists that most phytochemicals have a regulatory or adjuvant effect on other antibacterial compounds, thus promoting a greater therapeutic effect. The current study assessed twenty-eight plants from different families for their antibacterial activity and as adjuvants in antibiotic therapy against Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Eucalyptus globulus, Castanea sativa, Agrimonia eupatoria and Fraxinus excelsior methanolic extracts showed antibacterial activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.125-0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.0, and 2.0-4.0 g L (1), respectively. Non-antibacterial plants were assessed in combination with ampicillin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and tetracycline by a modified disc diffusion test. Methanolic extracts of Acacia dealbata, Prunus spp. plants, Centaurea nigra, Eupatorium cannabium and Buxus sempervirens showed a potentiating effect mostly of ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and tetracycline. B. sempervirens was selected for its potentiating activity and applied against S. aureus biofilms. B. sempervirens (1 g L-1) was able to cause an 88% reduction of S. aureus within 1 h exposure. Further phytochemical investigation of B. sempervirens allowed to identify betulinic acid as a major component, together with other triterpenoids. Betulinic acid and other common terpernoids - lupeol, betulin, hederagenin, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, were tested for antibacterial and antibiotic-potentiating activities. Among the tested compounds, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid - were highlighted, showing MIC of 62.5 and 15.6 mg L-1, respectively, against S. aureus. Additionally, oleanolic acid showed synergism when combined with tetracycline and erythromycin and caused biofilm reductions of 70, 81 and 85% when applied at 1/2 MIC, MIC and 2 x MIC, respectively.

Abstract Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are 'tagged' with 1-(biphen-4-yl)ferrocene. Chronoamperometry is then utilised to observe single particle impacts when GNPs suspended in solution collide with a carbon fibre micro wire electrode held at an oxidising potential, resulting in current/time transient "spikes". The impacts are associated with two types of charge transfer: Faradaic due to oxidation of the 'tag' and capacitative due to disruption of the double layer. Analysis of the spikes suggests approximate monolayer coverage of 1-(biphen-4-yl)ferrocene on the GNP surfaces, with a surface coverage of (2.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(-10) mol cm(-2). In contrast non-derivatised ferrocene does not exhibit any significant adsorption on the GNP material.

Abstract The morphology of micro-and nanodroplets and thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) prepared through physical vapor deposition is presented. The morphology of droplets deposited on indium-tin-oxide-coated glass is presented for the extended 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C(n)C(1)im][Ntf(2)]; n = 1-8) series, and the results show the nanostructuration of ILs. The use of in-vacuum energetic particles enhances/increases the nanodroplets mobility/coalescence mechanisms and can be a pathway to the fabrication of thin IL films.

Abstract Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinate) metallic complexes, Mq(3), are one of the most important classes of organic semiconductor materials. Herein, the nature of the chemical bond in Mq(3) complexes and its implications on their molecular properties were investigated by a combined experimental and computational approach. Various Mq(3) complexes, resulting from the alteration of the metal and substitution of the 8-hydroxyquinoline ligand in different positions, were prepared. The mer-/fac-isomerism in Mq(3) was explored by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, evidencing that, irrespective of the substituent, mer- and fac-are the most stable molecular configurations of Al(III) and In(III) complexes, respectively. The relative M-ligand bond dissociation energies were evaluated experimentally by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS-MS), showing a non-monotonous variation along the group (Al > In > Ga). The results reveal a strong covalent character in M-ligand bonding, which allows for through-ligand electron delocalization, and explain the preferred molecular structures of Mq3 complexes as resulting from the interplay between bonding and steric factors. The mer-isomer reduces intraligand repulsions, being preferred for smaller metals, while the fac-isomer is favoured for larger metals where stronger covalent M-ligand bonds can be formed due to more extensive through-ligand conjugation mediated by metal "d" orbitals.