Helena Prima-Garcia

Magnetic In-Tube Solid Phase Microextraction

We report a new in-tube solid phase microextraction approach named magnetic in-tube solid phase microextraction, magnetic-IT-SPME. Magnetic-IT-SPME has been developed, taking advantage of magnetic microfluidic principles with the aim to improve extraction efficiency of IT-SPME systems. First, a magnetic hybrid material formed by Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles supported on SiO(2) was synthesized and immobilized in the surface of a bared fused silica capillary column to obtain a magnetic adsorbent extraction phase. The capillary column was placed inside a magnetic coil that allowed the application of a variable magnetic field. Acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, atenolol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen were tested as target analytes. The application of a controlled magnetic field resulted in quantitative extraction efficiencies of the target analytes between 70 and 100%. These results demonstrated that magnetic forces solve the low extraction efficiency (10-30%) of IT-SPME systems, which is one of their main drawbacks.

Silica supported Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic solid-phase extraction and magnetic in-tube solid-phase microextraction: application to organophosphorous compounds.

This work demonstrates the application of silica supported Fe3O4 nanoparticles as sorbent phase for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) and magnetic on-line in-tube solid-phase microextraction (Magnetic-IT-SPME) combined with capillary liquid chromatography–diode array detection (CapLC-DAD) to determine organophosphorous compounds (OPs) at trace level. In MSPE, magnetism is used as separation tool while in Magnetic-IT-SPME, the application of an external magnetic field gave rise to a significant improvement of the adsorption of OPs on the sorbent phase. Extraction efficiency, analysis time, reproducibility and sensitivity have been compared. This work showed that Magnetic-IT-SPME can be extended to OPs with successful results in terms of simplicity, speed, extraction efficiency and limit of detection. Finally, wastewater samples were analysed to determine OPs at nanograms per litre.

Influence of the covalent grafting of organic radicals to graphene on its magnetoresistance

Graphene was obtained by direct exfoliation of graphite in o-dichlorobenzene (oDCB) or benzylamine, and further functionalized with 4,4′-[(1,3-dioxo-1,3-propanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis[2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy] (1-TEMPO) organic radicals by using the Bingel–Hirsch cyclopropanation reaction. Here, the use of different solvents permits variation of the density of radicals anchored to the carbon layers. Covalent grafting is unambiguously demonstrated by TGA, μ-Raman, XPS and EPR measurements, which also rule out spurious physisorption. Our transport measurements indicate that the conduction mechanism varies as a function of the density of radicals grafted to the carbon layers. Moreover, the presence of paramagnetic moieties influences the magnetoresistive behaviour of the system by the appearance of a low field magnetoresistance (LFMR) effect. Finally, the derivatization of graphene with diamagnetic ethylmalonate molecules, by following an analogous route, permits us to discard the chemical derivatization, which is responsible for the observed differences in the MR response that must be rather ascribed to the grafting of organic spin carriers.

Coherent manipulation of spin qubits based on polyoxometalates: the case of the single ion magnet [GdW30P5O110]14−

Polyoxometalate single ion magnet [GdW30P5O110](14-) (1) has been studied by generalized Rabi oscillation experiments. It was possible to increase the number of coherent rotations tenfold through matching the Rabi frequency with the frequency of the proton. Achieving high coherence with polyoxometalate chemistry, we show its excellent potential not only for the storage of quantum information but even for the realization of quantum algorithms.

Magneto‐Optical Properties of Electrodeposited Thin Films of the Molecule‐Based Magnet Cr5.5(CN)12·11.5H2O

Prof. E. Coronado , M. Makarewicz , J. P. Prieto-Ruiz , Dr. H. Prima-Garcia , Dr. F. M. Romero Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol) Universitat de Valencia C/Catedratico Jose Beltran, 2, 46980-Paterna, Spain E-mail: eugenio.coronado@uv.es; helena.prima@uv.es; fmrm@uv.es

Evaluation of Superparamagnetic Silica Nanoparticles for Extraction of Triazines in Magnetic in-Tube Solid Phase Microextraction Coupled to Capillary Liquid Chromatography

The use of magnetic nanomaterials for analytical applications has increased in the recent years. In particular, magnetic nanomaterials have shown great potential as adsorbent phase in several extraction procedures due to the significant advantages over the conventional methods. In the present work, the influence of magnetic forces over the extraction efficiency of triazines using superparamagnetic silica nanoparticles (NPs) in magnetic in tube solid phase microextraction (Magnetic-IT-SPME) coupled to CapLC has been evaluated. Atrazine, terbutylazine and simazine has been selected as target analytes. The superparamagnetic silica nanomaterial (SiO2-Fe3O4) deposited onto the surface of a capillary column gave rise to a magnetic extraction phase for IT-SPME that provided a enhancemment of the extraction efficiency for triazines. This improvement is based on two phenomena, the superparamegnetic behavior of Fe3O4 NPs and the diamagnetic repulsions that take place in a microfluidic device such a capillary column. A systematic study of analytes adsorption and desorption was conducted as function of the magnetic field and the relationship with triazines magnetic susceptibility. The positive influence of magnetism on the extraction procedure was demonstrated. The analytical characteristics of the optimized procedure were established and the method was applied to the determination of the target analytes in water samples with satisfactory results. When coupling Magnetic-IT-SPME with CapLC, improved adsorption efficiencies (60%–63%) were achieved compared with conventional adsorption materials (0.8%–3%).

Zinc oxide nanocrystals as electron injecting building blocks for plastic light sources

Hybrid inorganic–organic light emitting devices (HyLEDs) employing ZnO nanocrystals as one of their metal oxide contacts lead to very bright devices on plastic substrates with performances superior to those obtained from the rigid counterparts employing planar films of bulk ZnO. The superior performance is related to the increase in the bandgap of the ZnO nanocrystals caused by quantum confinement effects. We demonstrate that this effect diminishes with increasing annealing temperature of the ZnO nanocrystal layer due to a gradual decrease of the bandgap towards the bulk ZnO value. Therefore, best performances were obtained with room temperature processing of the ZnO nanocrystals.

Coherence and organisation in lanthanoid complexes: from single ion magnets to spin qubits

Molecular magnetism is reaching a degree of development that will allow for the rational design of sophisticated systems. Among these, here we will focus on those that display single-molecule magnetic behaviour, i.e. classical memories, and on magnetic molecules that can be used as molecular spin qubits, the irreducible components of any quantum technology. Compared with candidates developed from physics, a major advantage of molecular spin qubits stems from the power of chemistry for the tailored and inexpensive synthesis of new systems for their experimental study; in particular, the so-called lanthanoid-based single-ion magnets, which have for a long time been one of the hottest topics in molecular magnetism. They have the potential to be chemically designed, tuning both their single-molecule properties and their crystalline environment. This allows the study of the different quantum processes that cause the loss of quantum information, collectively known as decoherence. The study of quantum decoherence processes in the solid state is necessary to answer some fundamental questions and lay the foundations for next-generation quantum technologies. This perspective article reviews the state of the art research in this field and its currently open problems.

CVD synthesis of carbon spheres using NiFe-LDHs as catalytic precursors: structural, electrochemical and magnetoresistive properties

The gram-scale synthesis of carbon spheres with a diameter of ca. 740 nm has been achieved by means of a chemical vapour deposition method using NiFe-layered double hydroxides as a solid catalytic precursor. The presence of the catalyst (FeNi3) allows controlling the final size distribution, resulting in a monodisperse sample. Their structural properties exhibited a high degree of graphitization according to their ID/IG ratio. In addition, their morphological features were unveiled by FIB-SEM and HRTEM, showing that they are formed by solid inner cores, and presenting labile chain-like structures due to accretion procedures. The solution and posterior sonication of the samples in toluene gave rise to the well-defined isolated spheres. The textural and electrochemical properties of the spheres have been tested showing non-mesoporous structures with a good behaviour as electrode materials for supercapacitors due to the presence of redox functionalities on their surface. Finally, magneto-transport measurements have been carried out, demonstrating semiconductor behaviour, as well as a positive magnetoresistance effect (ca. 72%) for the lowest studied temperature (2 K).

Exchange coupling in an electrodeposited magnetic bilayer of Prussian blue analogues

Bilayers of Prussian blue analogues (PBA) constituted of hard and soft magnets have been fabricated by means of electrochemical deposition. This method affords a good contact between two PBA thin films of nanometer thickness. Complete characterization of the resulting system has been performed, which has allowed the determination of the preservation of the chemical identity of both materials during the electrodeposition and the establishment of a clear interface between them. The magnetic behavior of the bilayer can be explained in terms of an exchange-spring magnet.