Manuel Mora

Near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy of layered double hydroxides containing various di- and tri-valent metals

Four layered double hydroxides containing various combinations of divalent and trivalent cations (viz. Mg/Al, Mg/Ga, Mg/In and Ca/Al), and carbonate as interlayer anion were synthesized. Based on their X-ray diffraction patterns, the four solids consist of crystal phases of the layered double hydroxide type. The different types of hydroxyl groups present in the solids were characterized, and the influence of their divalent and trivalent ions was elucidated by near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns for the solids were quite similar, but the near- and mid-infrared spectra differed between the four.

Preparation of Palladium-Supported Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas and their Use as Catalysts in the Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction

Three periodic mesoporous materials, i.e., two organosilicas with either ethylene or phenylene bridges and one silica, have been used as supports for Pd nanoparticles. All Pd-supported samples (1.0 wt%) were prepared by the incipient wetness method and subsequently reduced in an H2 stream at 200 °C. Both hydrogen chemisorption and temperature programmed reduction experiments revealed significant differences depending on the support. Pd2+ species were more reducible on the mesoporous organosilicas than on their silica counterpart. Also, remarkable differences on the particle morphology were observed by transmission electron microscopy. All Pd-supported samples were active in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid.

Raman microspectroscopic analysis of decorative pigments from the Roman villa of El Ruedo (Almedinilla, Spain).

In this work, we analysed the preparatory layer and paintings in the hypocaustum of the Roman villa of El Ruedo (Almedinilla, southern Spain). The specimens studied were from the III and IV centuries. Raman microscopy was for the first time used here to examine Roman pictures in the south of the Iberian peninsula. The results obtained allowed us to establish the chemical nature of the different pigments used by the Roman artists. All were applied over a preparatory layer consisting of limewash. The different colours used (black, white, red, yellow, green and blue) were obtained by using carbon, calcite, gypsum, hematite, goethite, green earth and Egyptian blue. Some exhibited various hues that were obtained by mixing the previous compounds. Worth special note is the incipient presence of blue pigments, which were rarely used in Roman Hispania owing to their scarcity and high price.

Study of organo-hybrid layered double hydroxides by medium and near infrared spectroscopy.

An Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) containing carbonate ion in its interlayer region was examined by medium infrared (MIR) and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). The MIR and NIR spectroscopy techniques was also used to study two organo-hybrid LDHs containing interlayer dodecylbenzenesulphonate (DBS) and dodecylsulphate (DS) ions, respectively. The NIR spectra for the latter solids were found to exhibit the overtone and combination bands for the hydroxyl groups in addition to those typical bands of the organic host functions.

Trabajando el acercamiento a la naturaleza de los niños y niñas en el Grado de Educación Infantil

Los ninos y ninas de la sociedad actual se encuentran alejados de entornos naturales y estan necesitados de contacto con la naturaleza, lo que puede ser el motivo de distintos sintomas como estres o ansiedad. Existen investigaciones que muestran que el contacto con la naturaleza es beneficioso para el desarrollo de los infantes ademas de fomentar una actitud mas pro-ambiental. En este trabajo se pretende concienciar al alumnado del Grado de Educacion Infantil de dichos beneficios mediante la ejecucion de una serie de actividades centradas en el uso de los parques urbanos como recurso para el acercamiento a la naturaleza de los ninos y las ninas de la etapa de infantil. Es necesario que tanto universidad, escuela y familia fomenten el uso y disfrute de estos espacios. Palabras clave: Educacion infantil; naturaleza; salidas; medio natural; parques. Working the approach to nature of children in Early Childhood Education Degree Crucial in todays society Children in todays society are far from natural environments and in need of contact with nature, which may be why various symptoms such as stress or anxiety. There is research showing that contact with nature is beneficial to the development of infants in addition to encouraging a more pro-environmental attitude. This paper aims to educate the students of the Degree in Early Childhood Education of those benefits by implementing a series of activities focused on the use of urban parks as a resource for the approach to the nature of children. It is necessary that university, school and family encourage the use and enjoyment of these spaces. Keywords: childhood education; nature; field trip; natural environment; parks.