Substitution of a hydroxamic acid anchor into the MK-2 dye for enhanced photovoltaic performance and water stability in a DSSC.

An efficient synthetic protocol to functionalize the cyanoacrylic acid anchoring group of commercially available MK-2 dye with a highly water-stable hydroxamate anchoring group is described. Extensive characterization of this hydroxamate-modified dye (MK-2HA) reveals that the modification does not affect its favorable optoelectronic properties. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) prepared with the MK-2HA dye attain improved efficiency (6.9%), relative to analogously prepared devices with commercial MK-2 and N719 dyes. The hydroxamate anchoring group also contributes to significantly increased water stability, with a decrease in the rate constant for dye desorption of MK-2HA relative to MK-2 in the presence of water by as much as 37.5%. In addition, the hydroxamate-anchored dye undergoes essentially no loss in DSSC efficiency and the external quantum efficiency improves when up to 20% water is purposefully added to the electrolyte. In contrast, devices prepared with the commercial dye suffer a 50% decline in efficiency under identical conditions, with a concomitant decrease in external quantum efficiency. Collectively, our results indicate that covalent functionalization of organic dyes with hydroxamate anchoring groups is a simple and efficient approach to improving the water stability of the dye-semiconductor interface and overall device durability.

Computed ligand electronic parameters from quantum chemistry and their relation to Tolman parameters, Lever parameters, and Hammett constants.

The calculated (DFT, B3PW91) A(1) nu(CO) frequency in LNi(CO)(3) defines an electronic parameter that reliably predicts the relative donor powers of a wide variety of cationic, neutral, and negatively charged ligands. These calculated parameters correlate very well with the available Tolman and Lever parameters, and also with Hammett's sigma(m), where available. The method avoids any experimental limitations and, in particular, can be used for proposed ligands not yet experimentally available.

Characterization of the O(2)-evolving reaction catalyzed by [(terpy)(H2O)Mn(III)(O)2Mn(IV)(OH2)(terpy)](NO3)3 (terpy = 2,2':6,2"-terpyridine).

The complex [(terpy)(H(2)O)Mn(III)(O)(2)Mn(IV)(OH(2))(terpy)](NO(3))(3) (terpy = 2,2':6,2' '-terpyridine) (1)catalyzes O(2) evolution from either KHSO(5) (potassium oxone) or NaOCl. The reactions follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics where V(max) = 2420 +/- 490 mol O(2) (mol 1)(-1) hr(-1) and K(M) = 53 +/- 5 mM for oxone ([1] = 7.5 microM), and V(max) = 6.5 +/- 0.3 mol O(2) (mol 1)(-1) hr(-1) and K(M) = 39 +/- 4 mM for hypochlorite ([1] = 70 microM), with first-order kinetics observed in 1 for both oxidants. A mechanism is proposed having a preequilibrium between 1 and HSO(5-) or OCl(-), supported by the isolation and structural characterization of [(terpy)(SO(4))Mn(IV)(O)(2)Mn(IV)(O(4)S)(terpy)] (2). Isotope-labeling studies using H(2)(18)O and KHS(16)O(5) show that O(2) evolution proceeds via an intermediate that can exchange with water, where Raman spectroscopy has been used to confirm that the active oxygen of HSO(5-) is nonexchanging (t(1/2) >> 1 h). The amount of label incorporated into O(2) is dependent on the relative concentrations of oxone and 1. (32)O(2):(34)O(2):(36)O(2) is 91.9 +/- 0.3:7.6 +/- 0.3:0.51 +/- 0.48, when [HSO(5-)] = 50 mM (0.5 mM 1), and 49 +/- 21:39 +/- 15:12 +/- 6 when [HSO(5-)] = 15 mM (0.75 mM 1). The rate-limiting step of O(2) evolution is proposed to be formation of a formally Mn(V)=O moiety which could then competitively react with either oxone or water/hydroxide to produce O(2). These results show that 1 serves as a functional model for photosynthetic water oxidation.

The mechanism of the Ni-Fe hydrogenases: a quantum chemical perspective.

The catalytic cycle for the heterolytic splitting of H2 by Ni-Fe hydrogenase has been investigated in four recent quantum chemical studies. The mechanisms proposed are described and compared. Although there are clear differences in these mechanisms and in the assignments of the different states observed experimentally, there are also important points of concensus.

High-frequency EPR study of a new mononuclear manganese(III) complex:. [(terpy)Mn(N3)3] (terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine).

The isolation and structural characterization of [(terpy)Mn(III)(N3)3], complex 1, is reported (terpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine). Complex 1, a product of the reaction between the mixed-valence dimer [(terpy)(H2O)Mn(III)(O)2Mn(IV)(OH2)(terpy)](NO3)3 and NaN3, crystallizes in a triclinic system, space group P1, a = 8.480(1) A, b = 8.9007(2) A, c = 12.109(2) A, alpha = 93.79(1) degrees, beta = 103.17(1) degrees, gamma = 103.11(1) degrees, and Z = 2. Complex 1 exhibits a Jahn-Teller distortion of the octahedron characteristic of a six-coordinated high-spin Mn(III). A vibrational spectroscopic study was performed. The nu(asym)(N3) mode of complex 1 appears in the IR as a strong band at 2035 cm(-1) with a less intense feature at 2072 cm(-1), and in the FT-Raman as a strong band at 2071 cm(-1) with a weaker broad band at 2046 cm(-1). The electronic properties of complex 1 were investigated using a high-field and high-frequency EPR study (190-475 GHz). The different spin Hamiltonian parameters have been determined (D = -3.29 (+/-0.01) cm(-1), E = 0.48 (+/-0.01) cm(-1), E '= 0.53 (+/-0.01) cm(-1), g(x) = 2.00 (+/-0.005), g(y) = 1.98 (+/-0.005), g(z) = 2.01 (+/-0.005)). These parameters are in agreement with the geometry of complex 1 observed in the crystal structure, a D < 0 related to the elongated distortion, and a value of E/D close to 0.2 as expected from the highly distorted octahedron. The two values of the E-parameter are explained by the presence of two slightly different structural forms of complex 1 in the crystal lattice. A second hypothesis was explored to explain the experimental data. The calculation for the simulation was done taking into account that the g and D tensors are not collinear due to the low symmetry of complex 1. In that case, the spin Hamiltonian parameters found are D = -3.29 (+/-0.01) cm(-1), E = 0.51 (+/-0.01) cm(-1), g(x) = 2.00 (+/-0.005), g(y) = 1.98 (+/-0.005), and g(z) = 2.01 (+/-0.005).

Abnormal binding in a carbene complex formed from an imidazolium salt and a metal hydride complex.

2-Pyridylmethylimidazolium salts and IrH5(PPh3)2 give an [(N-C)IrH2(PPh3)2]+ species with the imidazole ring bound in the 'wrong way': at C-5, not at the expected C-2.

A functional model for O-O bond formation by the O2-evolving complex in photosystem II.

The formation of molecular oxygen from water in photosynthesis is catalyzed by photosystem II at an active site containing four manganese ions that are arranged in di-mu-oxo dimanganese units (where mu is a bridging mode). The complex [H2O(terpy)Mn(O)2Mn(terpy)OH2](NO3)3 (terpy is 2,2':6', 2"-terpyridine), which was synthesized and structurally characterized, contains a di-mu-oxo manganese dimer and catalyzes the conversion of sodium hypochlorite to molecular oxygen. Oxygen-18 isotope labeling showed that water is the source of the oxygen atoms in the molecular oxygen evolved, and so this system is a functional model for photosynthetic water oxidation.

Mechanism for photosynthetic O2 evolution.

We present a mechanism for photosynthetic O2 evolution based on a structural conversion of a Mn4O6 "adamantane"-like complex to a Mn4O4 "cubane"-like complex. EPR spectral data obtained from the S2 state of the O2-evolving complex are characteristic of a Mn4O4 cubane-like structure. Based on this structure for the manganese complex in the S2 state as well as a consideration of the other evidence available on the natural system and the coordination chemistry of manganese, structures are proposed for the five intermediate oxidation states of the manganese complex. A molecular mechanism for the formation of an O--O bond and the displacement of O2 from the S4 state is easily accommodated by the proposed model. The model is discussed in terms of recent EPR, x-ray, and UV spectral data obtained from the manganese site in the photosynthetic O2-evolving complex.

E rosetting by leukemic monoblasts. A possible mechanism.

Occasional cases of acute monoblastic leukemia have been reported to have unusual immunologic properties such as the capacity to form heat stable E-rosettes, a marker usually associated with T-cell acute leukemia. This case report describes such a patient and postulates a possible mechanism for the anomalous E rosetting.

Expression of monocytic--histiocytic cytochemical markers in epithelial neoplasia.

The diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis is usually based upon typical light microscopic features of the neoplasm. Supplementary cytochemical and immunologic features have been suggested as typical of malignant histiocytosis. The present study was prompted by an unusual erythropagocytic hepatocellular carcinoma having immunologic and cytochemical markers suggesting mononuclear phagocytic origin. Twenty-four neoplasms of unquestionable epithelial origin were prospectively evaluated for activity of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, a cytochemical marker useful in distinguishing between the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and malignant histiocytosis. The epithelial tumors represented a broad spectrum of tissue origins and consistently demonstrated alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase activity. Thus, erythrophagocytosis and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase positivity may be misleading in the unusual instance in which the histopathologic differential diagnosis includes malignant histiocytosis and epithelial neoplasia. Ultrastructural assessment is useful in the exclusion of poorly differentiated carcinoma.