What is Expected from a Reviewer?

Most scientists are asked to review many papers every year. Many times, even experienced scientists are not totally aware of what is and what isn’t a good review. His own analysis follows what he has received from others. Is there a guide to produce good and valuable paper reviews? This summary points out what is, and what is not expected by journal editors from a peer review. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v13i5.165

What is Expected from a Reviewer?

Most scientists are asked to review many papers every year. Many times, even experienced scientists are not totally aware of what is and what isn’t a good review. His own analysis follows what he has received from others. Is there a guide to produce good and valuable paper reviews? This summary points out what is, and what is not expected by journal editors from a peer review. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v13i5.165

Electrical semiconduction modulated by light in a cobalt and naphthalene diimide metal-organic framework

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as an exciting class of porous materials that can be structurally designed by choosing particular components according to desired applications. Despite the wide interest in and many potential applications of MOFs, such as in gas storage, catalysis, sensing and drug delivery, electrical semiconductivity and its control is still rare. The use and fabrication of electronic devices with MOF-based components has not been widely explored, despite significant progress of these components made in recent years. Here we report the synthesis and properties of a new highly crystalline, electrochemically active, cobalt and naphthalene diimide-based MOF that is an efficient electrical semiconductor and has a broad absorption spectrum, from 300 to 2500 nm. Its semiconductivity was determined by direct voltage bias using a four-point device, and it features a wavelength dependant photoconductive–photoresistive dual behaviour, with a very high responsivity of 2.5 × 105 A W−1

Synthesis and properties of new paramagnetic hybrid bayerite from Al(0)/naphthalene dianhydride reaction

The reaction of Naphthalene 1,4,5,8-dianhydride (NTCDA) with elemental aluminum(0) powder is studied in an aqueous alcoholic KOH mixture to search for the NTCDA anion and dianion electron-adducts. After analyzing various reaction conditions it was found that the reaction yielded a greenish precipitate in 3:1 (v:v) ethanol:water mixture. This powder is composed mainly of aluminum trihydroxide crystallites of bayerite [α-Al(OH3)(s)] and the organic content is approximately 6%. This hybrid material proved to be paramagnetic even after exposure to air for one year and at temperatures up to 200 ºC. Typical carbonylic bound to metal IR bands and reflectance UV-VIS spectra demonstrate the entrapment of NTCDA radical anion into the aluminum trihydroxide, hence rendering its green color and a paramagnetic behavior. Thus, besides the understanding of an aluminum reaction in suspension, the entrapment of an organic material (NTCDA) that stays stable as the corresponding radical can provide an interesting option for the synthesis of aluminum trihydroxide composites.FAPESPCNPQCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Development of electrochemical interfaces based on poly(pyrrole) and lamellar vanadium pentoxide xerogel nanocomposites.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo detalhado das propriedades eletroquímicas dos nanocompósitos de V2O5.nH2O e poli(pirrol) sobre a superfície de eletrodos. Demonstramos aqui que pelo controle de parâmetros de síntese é possível alterar a composição das interfaces eletroquímicas dos eletrodos modificados, fazendo com que o poli(pirrol) esteja por cima, por baixo ou dentro do V2O5 que recobre os eletrodos. Esta diferenciação estrutural tem repercussão nas propriedades eletroquímicas e espectroscópicas dos eletrodos modificados. Desenvolvemos além disto um método para gerar matrizes de V2O5.nH2O, assim como nanocompósitos com poli(pirrol) que possuam anisotropia elétrica tridimensional, propriedade útil em eletrônica. Na última parte do trabalho, poli(pirrol) foi inserido em matrizes de intercalação do tipo BV (V2O5.nH2O estabilizado com esmectita) gerando materiais estáveis em meio aquoso e adequados modificadores de eletrodos, viabilizando a exploração das propriedades dos compósitos de V2O5/poli(pirrol) em água.This thesis focuses on the electrochemical properties of V2O5.nH2O and its poly(pyrrole) nanocomposites over electrodes. We demonstrate that it is possible, by controlling synthetic procedures, to change the composition of the modified electrodes interfaces, leaving poly(pyrrole) over, under or inside the V2O5 films covering the electrodes. This structural differenciation repercutes on the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of the modified electrodes. We have developed also a method to generate V2O5.nH2O matrices as well as their nanocomposites with poly(pyrrole) showing tridimensional electrical anisotropy, a useful property in electronics. Additionally, poly(pyrrole) has been inserted into BV (smectite stabilized V2O5.nH2O) matrices, generating stable materials in aqueous medium, conveying to this, the properties of V2O5/poly(pyrrole) nanocomposites modified electrodes

Cucurbiturilas Cucurbiturils

<abstract language="eng">This review article describes the properties and the main applications of the glicol[n]urils. These compounds are cavitands made of n glycolurilic units arranged in circles, giving rise to extremely symmetric toroidal molecules. The cucurbit[n]urils create this way variable-sized hydrophobic cavities and the glycolurilic carbonyles delimit two portals on these cavities, slightly narrower than their internal radii. Their structure, physical and chemical properties favor the formation of inclusion compounds, and turn them into important building blocks for supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology

Development of electrochemical interfaces based on poly(pyrrole) and lamellar vanadium pentoxide xerogel nanocomposites.

Esta tese apresenta um estudo detalhado das propriedades eletroquímicas dos nanocompósitos de V2O5.nH2O e poli(pirrol) sobre a superfície de eletrodos. Demonstramos aqui que pelo controle de parâmetros de síntese é possível alterar a composição das interfaces eletroquímicas dos eletrodos modificados, fazendo com que o poli(pirrol) esteja por cima, por baixo ou dentro do V2O5 que recobre os eletrodos. Esta diferenciação estrutural tem repercussão nas propriedades eletroquímicas e espectroscópicas dos eletrodos modificados. Desenvolvemos além disto um método para gerar matrizes de V2O5.nH2O, assim como nanocompósitos com poli(pirrol) que possuam anisotropia elétrica tridimensional, propriedade útil em eletrônica. Na última parte do trabalho, poli(pirrol) foi inserido em matrizes de intercalação do tipo BV (V2O5.nH2O estabilizado com esmectita) gerando materiais estáveis em meio aquoso e adequados modificadores de eletrodos, viabilizando a exploração das propriedades dos compósitos de V2O5/poli(pirrol) em água.This thesis focuses on the electrochemical properties of V2O5.nH2O and its poly(pyrrole) nanocomposites over electrodes. We demonstrate that it is possible, by controlling synthetic procedures, to change the composition of the modified electrodes interfaces, leaving poly(pyrrole) over, under or inside the V2O5 films covering the electrodes. This structural differenciation repercutes on the electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of the modified electrodes. We have developed also a method to generate V2O5.nH2O matrices as well as their nanocomposites with poly(pyrrole) showing tridimensional electrical anisotropy, a useful property in electronics. Additionally, poly(pyrrole) has been inserted into BV (smectite stabilized V2O5.nH2O) matrices, generating stable materials in aqueous medium, conveying to this, the properties of V2O5/poly(pyrrole) nanocomposites modified electrodes

Chemistry or Hua-Shue?

Presently, 10 to 18% of the world's population speaks traditional Chinese or Mandarin [1]. One of the consequences of Chinese economic growth during the last decades is a growing number of papers from that region in high impact chemistry journals. This obvious process drives us to a reflexion on the fate of the English language as lingua franca and as the scientific language in a near future. As it happened with other languages such as classical Greek, Latin, and French, English language may be bound to gradual substitution in a short period of time. During the early 90s, the presence of Chinese speaking authors in those journals was almost inexpressive, rarely exceeding 1% of the published papers [2]. Nowadays this number is close to 10% or more if one only considers the papers produced in the PRC, and everything indicates that this fraction will grow. In spite of being spoken by many people, the Mandarin language should find several obstacles to its eventual implementation as an international language. The first of them is referred to its complexity. It is extremely rich phonetically, and employs a very subtle and complicated tonal system. It uses a rich grammar, and very complicated ideograms, which can be counted in thousands. English, on the other hand, is phonetically simple and quite flexible. It is spoken by about 5% of the world's population as mother tongue and it is the official language of 54 nations [1]. It is the third in the number of speakers after Mandarin and Spanish. Such a number of anglophones may be explained by the extension of the British Empire during the nineteenth century, which was known as the Empire were the sun never sets down. Beyond its relative simplicity, since it does not use accents for example, English is also spoken by machines once everything involving communication between men and machines, especially programming languages, is based on English. It allows the utilization of short words to express what it is wanted in this context. It has to be mentioned that several protocols as for example the aviation communication system are also based on this language and, it is unlikely that they will be totally replaced at a time: this would be technically impracticable... Unless otherwise Mandarim becomes extremely simplified, I mean, much more than the actual “simplified Chinese”, and the calligraphy system be totally replaced, it is quite unlikely that Chinese will dethrone English as the lingua franca. At least for the next 50 years.</div

Universal cell assembly for laboratory-scale permeation assays through solid-state semipermeable membranes

<div>This technical note describes the assembly of a glass-made universal cell that was designed for solid-state membrane permeation or electrodiffusion experiments. It can be used to measure the permeation rates of practically any molecule or ion in solution and even in gas phase through solid membranes. The experiments, driven by concentration gradients or electric fields, may be followed and recorded in real time over long periods of time using serial data acquisition programs. The cell itself allows the utilization of a wide range of different chemical sensors and up to eight of them simultaneously.</div

Dynamic supramolecular polymers built from cucurbit[n]urils and viologens

International audienceThis review article focuses on supramolecular assemblies involving cucurbit[n]uril-based containers and viologen guests as key building elements. Cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n], n=5-10) are fascinating hosts forming a wide range of inclusion complexes (caviplexes) with 4,4'-bipyridinium salts, known as viologens, either as discrete 1:1 inclusion compounds with CB[7] or as ternary inclusion compounds involving two hosts or two guests (2:1) with CB[7], and (1:2 or 1:1:1) with CB[8]. This property is currently being actively exploited to design and prepare self-assembled dynamic stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymers including gels, vesicles, films and organized arrays of polymeric microspheres or nanoparticles. This reviews highlights the main benefits of such polymers and gives an overview of the achievements and progresses made in this field over the past decades