Bis(1,2-dithiosquarato)nickelates(II) - Synthesis, Structure, EPR and Thermal Behavior.

1,2-Dithiosquaratonickelates are available by direct synthesis from metal salts with dipotassium-1,2-dithiosquarate and the appropriate counter cations. The synthesis and characterization, including mass spectrometry, of a series 1,2-dithiosquaratonickelates(II), [Ni(dtsq)2]2-, with several "onium" cations is reported and the X-ray structures of two diamagnetic complexes, (HexPh3N)2[Ni(dtsq)2] and (BuPh3N2[Ni(dtsq)2] with sterically demanding counter ions are presented. The diamagnetic nickel complexes have been doped as host lattices with traces of Cu(II) to measure EPR for additional structural information. The thermal behavior of this series is studied by thermogravimetry and differential thermo analysis (TG/DTA). The thermolysis in air as well as under nitrogen atmosphere of these complexes results in nickel oxide nano-particles in all cases, which are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction.

Ionic liquid-assisted formation of cellulose/calcium phosphate hybrid materials.

Cellulose/calcium phosphate hybrid materials were synthesized via an ionic liquid-assisted route. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis show that, depending on the reaction conditions, cellulose/hydroxyapatite, cellulose/chlorapatite, or cellulose/monetite composites form. Preliminary studies with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts show that the cells proliferate on the hybrid materials suggesting that the ionic liquid-based process yields materials that are potentially useful as scaffolds for regenerative therapies.

CuO Nanoparticles from the strongly hydrated ionic liquid precursor (ILP) tetrabutylammonium hydroxide: evaluation of the ethanol sensing activity.

The sensing potential of CuO nanoparticles synthesized via precipitation from a water/ionic liquid precursor (ILP) mixture was investigated. The particles have a moderate surface area of 66 m(2)/g after synthesis, which decreases upon thermal treatment to below 5 m(2)/g. Transmission electron microscopy confirms crystal growth upon annealing, likely due to sintering effects. The as-synthesized particles can be used for ethanol sensing. The respective sensors show fast response and recovery times of below 10 s and responses greater than 2.3 at 100 ppm of ethanol at 200 °C, which is higher than any CuO-based ethanol sensor described so far.