All posts by Pau

Activation of the reactive hydride composite 2NaBH4 + MgH2

“Activation of the reactive hydride composite 2NaBH4 + MgH2” by C. Pistidda, G. Barkhordarian, A. Rzeszutek, S. Garroni, C. Bonatto Minella, M.D. Baró, P. Nolis, Rüdiger Bormann, T. Klassena and M. Dornhei. Scripta Materialia, Volume 64, Issue 11, June 2011, Pages 1035-1038. DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2011.02.017

A novel method to enhance the reaction kinetics of the reactive hydride composite 2NaBH4 + MgH2 is described. It has been discovered that short-term exposure to a moist atmosphere has a very beneficial effect on the desorption reaction of the 2NaBH4 + MgH2 mixture. By this procedure it is possible to achieve, after drying, both faster desorption kinetics and greater amounts of released hydrogen compared to ball-milled material without further treatment.

Trans-cyclobutane β-dipeptides form organogels

“Self-Assembly of trans-Cyclobutane-Containing β-Dipeptides into Ordered Aggregates”,by E. Gorrea, P. Nolis, E. Torres, E. Da Silva, D. Amabilino, V. Branchadell and R. Ortuño; Chemistry – A European Journal, Volume 17, Issue 16, pages 4588–4597, April 11, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/chem.201002193

Two chiral synthetic β-dipeptides have been constructed, one with two trans-cyclobutane residues and the other with one trans and one cis fragment, 1 and 2, respectively, and investigated to get insight into the non-covalent interactions responsible for their self-assembly to form ordered aggregates, as well into parameters such as their morphology and size. Continue reading Trans-cyclobutane β-dipeptides form organogels