Synthesis, characterization, biological and electrical conductivity studies of some Schiff base metal complexes

Metal complexes of VO(IV), Zr(IV), Th(IV) and UO2(VI) with Schiff base ligands derived from 4-nitrobenzoylhydrazide with 2-hydroxy-5-methylacetophenone (H2L1) or 2-hydroxy-5-chloroacetophenone (H2L2) have been prepared. All the complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility measurement, electronic and IR spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. The IR spectral data suggested that the ligands behave as dibasic tridentate moiety towards the central metal ion coordinating through phenolic oxygen, enolic oxygen and azomethine nitrogen atoms. The elemental analyses show a 1:1 metal:ligand stoichiometry for all the complexes except Th(IV) which has 1:2 stoichiometry. The thermal analysis evidenced that thermal transformations of complexes are processes according to TG curves including dehydration, thermolysis and oxidative degradation of Schiff base. The final product of decomposition is the most stable metallic oxide. The kinetic analysis of the thermogravimetric data was performed by using the Coats-Redfern method. Solid state electrical conductivity of the complexes has been measured in their compressed pellet form over a 310-413 K temperature range. All the complexes show semiconducting behavior as their conductivity increases with increasing temperature and a function of ionic size. All the complexes along with ligands were also screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. KEY WORDS: Aroylhydrazones, Metal complexes, Biological activity, TGA, Electrical conductivity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2014, 28(2), 255-264.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v28i2.

Energy scavenging from insect flight

This paper reports the design, fabrication and testing of an energy scavenger that generates power from the wing motion of a Green June Beetle (C otinis nitida ) during its tethered flight. The generator utilizes non-resonant piezoelectric bimorphs operated in the d 31 bending mode to convert mechanical vibrations of a beetle into electrical output. The available deflection, force, and power output from oscillatory movements at different locations on a beetle are measured with a meso-scale piezoelectric beam. This way, the optimum location to scavenge energy is determined, and up to ~115 µW total power is generated from body movements. Two initial generator prototypes were fabricated, mounted on a beetle, and harvested 11.5 and 7.5 µW in device volumes of 11.0 and 5.6 mm 3 , respectively, from 85 to 100 Hz wing strokes during the beetle's tethered flight. A spiral generator was designed to maximize the power output by employing a compliant structure in a limited area. The necessary technology needed to fabricate this prototype was developed, including a process to machine high-aspect ratio devices from bulk piezoelectric substrates with minimum damage to the material using a femto-second laser. The fabricated lightweight spiral generators produced 18.5–22.5 µW on a bench-top test setup mimicking beetles' wing strokes. Placing two generators (one on each wing) can result in more than 45 µW of power per insect. A direct connection between the generator and the flight muscles of the insect is expected to increase the final power output by one order of magnitude.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90804/1/0960-1317_21_9_095016.pd

Synthesis, characterization, electrical and catalytic studies of some coordination compounds derived from unsymmetrical Schiff base ligand

New unsymmetrical tetradentate Schiff base ligand derived from 5-chloro-2-hydroxyacetophenone, 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-nitro acetophenone and carbohydrazide and its complexes with VO(IV), Cr(III), Mn(III), Fe(III), MoO2(VI), WO2(VI), Zr(IV) and UO2(VI) have been prepared. They were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility measurements and thermal analyses. The Schiff base ligand has also been characterised by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour of metal complexes shows that the hydrated complexes lose water molecules of hydration in the first and then is immediately followed by decomposition of ligand molecule in the subsequent steps. The IR spectra suggest that ligand acts as dibasic tetradentate nature and coordination takes place through azomethine nitrogen and phenolate oxygen. The crystalline nature of the VO(IV) complex was conformed through the powder XRD analysis. The catalytic activity of the VO(IV) and Mn(III) complexes have been tested in the epoxidation reaction of styrene and conversion of styrene were 11.14-24.35% and 9.64-23.42%, respectively. The solid state electrical conductivity of ligand and its complexes were measured, which could obeyed the relation s = s0 exp (Ea/KT) over the temperature range 313-413 K. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v29i3.