Electrochemistry of perfluorinated fullerenes: the case of three isomers of C60F36

1-Naphthol has been used as an in situ fluorescent probe to characterize the surface physicochemical properties of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The fluorescence of 1-naphthol adsorbed on untreated CNFs originates from the ¹L_b state and its peaks are shifted by the polarity of the surrounding media, indicating that there is a relatively non-polar area on the CNF surface. 1-Naphthol interacting with oxidized sites on the surface of nitric acid-treated CNFs exhibited an ion-pair fluorescence. This shows that there are some functional groups, interacting with 1-naphthol, on the treated CNF surface. The surface physicochemical properties of the CNFs can be characterized by this fluorescent probe.     

Topochemistry of cellulose nanofibers resulting from molecular and polymer grafting

The aim of this study was to synthesize hydrophobic cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) using different chemical treatments including polymer and molecular grafting. For polymer grafting, immobilizing poly (butyl acrylate) (PBA) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on CNFs were implemented by the free radical method. Also, acetyl groups were introduced directly onto the CNFs surface by acetic anhydride for molecular grafting. The gravimetric and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed the high grafting density of PMMA on the surface of CNFs. AFM results revealed that molecular grafting created non-uniformity on the CNFs surface, as compared to polymer brushes. In addition, thermodynamic work of adhesion and work of cohesion for the modified CNFs were reduced in water and diiodomethane solvents. Dispersion factor was studied to indicate the dispersibility of CNFs in polar and non-polar media. Dispersion energy was reduced after modification as a result of decreasing interfacial tension and the dispersibility of modified CNFs was improved in diiodomethane.     

Zeolite nanoparticle modified microchip reactor for efficient protein digestion

An enzymatic microreactor has been fabricated based on the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchchip surface-modified with zeolite nanoparticles. By introducing the silanol functional groups, the surface of PMMA microchannel has been successfully modified with silicalite-1 nanoparticle for the first time due to its large external surface area and high dispersibility in solutions. Trypsin can be stably immobilized in the microchannel to form a bioreactor using silica sol-gel matrix. The immobilization of enzyme can be realized with a stable gel network through a silicon-oxygen-silicon bridge via tethering to those silanol groups, which has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy and microchip capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection. The maximum proteolytic rate constant of the immobilized trypsin is measured to be about 6.6 mM s(-1). Using matrix assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the proposed microreactor provides an efficient digestion of cytochrome c and bovine serum albumin at a fast flow rate of 4.0 microL min(-1), which affords a very short reaction time of less than 5 s.     

Improved GFP gene transfection mediated by polyamidoamine dendrimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes with high biocompatibility

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-polyamidoamine (PAMAM) hybrid was prepared by covalent linkage approach, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. The PAMAM dendrimers were present on the surface of MWCNTs in high density, and the MWCNT-PAMAM hybrid exhibited good dispersibility and stability in aqueous solution. The interaction between MWCNT-PAMAM with plasmid DNA of enhanced green fluorescence protein (pEGFP-N1), intracellular trafficking of the hybrid, transfection performance and cytotoxicity to HeLa cells were evaluated in detail. We found that the MWCNT-PAMAM hybrid possessed good pEGFP-N1 immobilization ability and could efficiently delivery GFP gene into cultured HeLa cells. The surface modification of MWCNTs with PAMAM improved the transfection efficiency 2.4 and 0.9 times, and simultaneously decreased cytotoxicity by about 38%, as compared with mixed acid-treated MWCNTs and pure PAMAM dendrimers. The MWCNT-PAMAM hybrid can be considered as a new carrier for the delivery of biomolecules into mammalian cells. Therefore, this novel system may have good potential applications in biology and therapy, including gene delivery systems.     

Determination of trace amounts of carbaryl in water by solid-phase laser-induced fluorescence

A quick and very sensitive method is proposed for the determination of the insecticide carbaryl, following transformation in 1-naphthol, using solid-phase fluorescence excited by a pulsed nitrogen laser and detected with a charge-coupled device. Carbaryl is hydrolized in an alkaline medium resulting in 1-naphthol. This hydrolysis product is fixed on QAE Sephadex A-25 gel at pH 11.20. The fluorescence of the gel, packed in a 1 mm silica cell, was measured directly using a solid-surface attachment. The detection limit obtained was 1.8 ng. A recovery study was carried out on several types of water samples to check the efficiency of the method. The results obtained are compared with data published in a previous paper where the LS-50 spectrofluorimeter was used. The detection and quantification limits are improved here by an order of magnitude.     

Carbonyl groups anchoring for the water dispersibility of magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetite nanoparticles, which were synthesized by using diethylene glycol (DEG) as both solvent and reductant, displayed excellent hydrophilicity and water dispersibility. The influences of the amount of carboxymethyl-dextran sodium salt and NaOH on nanoparticles dispersibility were evaluated in terms of zeta potentials, concentration variation under centrifugal field, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectra, respectively. The results showed that the water dispersibility is not related to the amount of carboxymethyl-dextran, but depends on that of NaOH. Further evaluation revealed that DEG was partially oxidized with the assistance of NaOH, and thanks to the resultant carbonyl groups, the flexible oxidized DEG chains were anchored on the nanoparticles surface, which provides sufficient protection and high water-dispersibility of the as-prepared magnetite nanoparticles. Furthermore, we suggest that the binding between carbonyl groups and nanoparticles is related to the electron-withdrawing effect. The current study may provide more selectiveness of modifying molecules for magnetite nanoparticles.     

Dissolution-aggregation behavior of water-soluble nanographites and their adsorptive characteristics for 2-naphthol in aqueous solutions

Carbon black was severely oxidized by concentrated nitric acid at 373 K, and the oxidation product was fractionated by ultrafiltration into five groups of a few nanometer-sized water-soluble aromatic compounds, which we called water-soluble nanographites (WSNG1-5). Most WSNGs dissolve in neutral and alkaline 0.1 moldm(-3) NaCl solutions, but precipitate in acidic solutions. The pH values at which the WSNGs begin to precipitate decreased as the molecular size of the WSNGs was lowered. WSNG3, which possesses a moderate molecular size among the WSNGs, adsorbed more 2-naphthol from acidic solutions than from neutral solutions. The maximum uptake of 2-naphthol on WSNG3 at the saturated concentration was, however, independent of the pH, both resulting in 1.28 mmolg(-1). This quantity indicates that each WSNG3 molecule adsorbs one and one-half 2-naphthol molecules. The maximum uptake was much greater than that of the graphitized carbon black (BET surface area, 77 m(2)g(-1)) and was equal to that of Amberlite XAD-2 (334 m(2)g(-1)). An increase in the molecular size of the WSNGs enhanced the adsorbate-adsorbent interaction, but decreased the maximum uptake of 2-naphthol at the saturated concentration.     

Characteristic changes in the fluorescence spectra of 1-naphthol at the gelation point during the sol-gel-xerogel transitions

The fluorescence spectra of 1-naphthol were observed during the sol-gel-xerogel transitions of two different systems as a function of time; one is in the silicon and titanium (Si:Ti = 4500:1) binary systems involving no catalysts and the silicon and lithium (Si:Li = 99:1) binary systems involving HC1 as the catalyst. During the first stage of the sol-gel reaction of the 1-naphthol system, the fluorescence spectra mainly originated from the broad ’L₂ state. The fluorescence spectrum originating from the anionic species at around 470 nm increased as the reaction proceeded. It was found that the fluorescence spectra originating from the anionic species of 1-naphthol drastically decreased in both systems just after gelation. These findings indicate that it becomes difficult for the dissociation of the excited state of 1-naphthol to give a dissociative proton to the surrounding matrix. The fluorescence-excitation spectra for the Si/Ti system indicated that the main route for the excited state of 1-naphthol to form a dissociative proton is through the excited state of the contact ion pair, while the main route in the Si/Li system is via the direct excitation of the neutral 1-naphthol and its dissociation. The observed changes in the fluorescence spectra of 1-naphthol in these sol-gel systems provide a sensitive means to monitor changes during the sol-gel transition process.     

Surface chemical modifications induced on high surface area graphite and carbon nanofibers using different oxidation and functionalization treatments

Two graphitic carbon materials with different edge to basal plane ratio, high surface area graphite (HSAG) and graphitized carbon nanofibers (CNFs), were oxidized by two methods, aqueous-HNO(3) wet oxidation and oxygen plasma oxidation. Characterization of the materials by temperature-programmed desorption, thermogravimetry and X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopies indicated that the amount and nature of oxygen surface groups introduced depended on the oxidation method and on the structure of the original material. While surface sites within the layers were only oxidized by oxygen plasma, surface sites at the edges of graphene layers were oxidized by both treatments being the wet oxidation more effective. Modification of the oxidized materials with a diamine or a triamine molecule resulted in the formation of ammonium carboxylate salt species on the carbon surface.     

Surface modification of carbonyl iron powders with silicone polymers in supercritical fluid to get higher dispersibility and higher thermal stability

The surface of carbonyl iron powder (CIP) was modified in supercritical fluid with silicone polymers containing reactive Si‐OCH₃ groups. Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermo gravimetric analysis were adopted to characterize CIP. The dispersibility of CIP in epoxy resin matrix was evaluated by castor oil absorption factor, dynamic viscosity, Mooney viscosity, and scanning electric micrograph. The electromagnetic reflectivity of the CIP‐filled epoxy resin coatings was also checked. It was confirmed that comparing with those treated at atmosphere, the supercritical treated CIP presented higher surface carbon content, higher dispersibility, higher thermal stability, and its original crystalline structure did not change greatly. Even though it experienced a high temperature and a high pressure (250 °C, 7.8 Mpa) during supercritical treatment, it was not oxidized, and its electromagnetic reflectivity did not decrease. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dispersion of nitric acid-treated SWNTs in organic solvents and solvent mixtures

The dispersion of pristine and nitric acid-treated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been studied in organic solvents and solvent mixtures using optical absorption, as a function of settling time. The extinction coefficients of both the pristine and acid-treated tubes at 500-nm wavelength was measured to be 25.5 (mg/L)(-1) cm(-1) in various solvents. The dispersibility of nitric acid-treated tubes increased with the solvent's hydrogen-bonding ability and reached 27 mg/L in ethanol and 35 mg/L in water. Nitric acid-treated tubes could also be dispersed in butanol/toluene and xylene/ethanol mixtures, which are known to be poor solvents for the pristine SWNTs.     

Effects of Si−Al composition on the fluorescence spectra of 1-naphthol during the sol-gel-xerogel transitions

A systematic study has been carried out on the characteristic changes in the fluorescence spectra of 1-naphthol doped in the sol-gel-xerogel transition systems comprised of tetraethyl orthosilicate and diisobutoxyaluminium triethylsilicate catalyzed by a small amount of HCl, NH₄OH, as well as under uncatalyzed conditions. In the systems containing large amounts of silicon, the fluorescence of 1-naphthol shifts to the red (a predominant emission from the ¹L_a state) during the first stage of the reaction. This red shift indicates an increase in the polarity of the matrix surrounding 1-naphthol. In the second stage of the reaction, the spectrum shifts to the blue (a predominant emission from the ¹L_b state), reflecting an increase in the micro-viscosity around 1-naphthol. In the systems containing relatively large amounts of aluminum, however, the spectrum just after mixing shows a larger red shift than that originating from the ¹L₂ emission. This large red-shifted fluorescence reflects the formation of a complex between 1-naphthol and the −O−Al−O−Si−O-network. The spectrum then shifted to the blue. The spectral behaviours observed indicate that there is a large and dynamic molecular-level change in the physicochemical properties of the matrix surrounding the 1-naphthol molecules during the sol-gel-xerogel transitions of the systems while the gelation phenomenon reflects macroscopic inflexibility although it is completely different from the restriction of movement at the molecular level.     

Fluorescence properties of 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthol in aqueous alcohol solvents with and without beta-cyclodextrin

The fluorescence properties of 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthol were obtained in binary aqueous-alcohol solvents with and without beta-cyclodextrin. The fluorescence of both the molecular and anionic forms of 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol were observed in the binary solvents without beta-cyclodextrin. Only the fluorescence of the molecular form of 2-naphthol appeared in the binary solvents with beta-cyclodextrin present, and its fluorescence was quenched with increasing amounts of beta-cyclodextrin. However, the fluorescence intensity of the molecular form of 1-naphthol increased with an increasing amount of beta-cyclodextrin in the binary solvents. The fluorescence intensity of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthol decreased with an increase in the amount of beta-cyclodextrin. The fluorescence results were interpreted with the Stern-Volmer equation and a modified Stern-Volmer equation.     

Influence of pH and surface oxygen-containing groups on multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the transformation and adsorption of 1-naphthol

The pH-dependent behavior, including the transformation of 1-naphthol by oxidative polymerization to form precipitates in solution and the adsorption of 1-naphthol onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs), was examined. Neglecting the precipitate loss of 1-naphthol and possibly of similar chemicals may result in the overestimation of their adsorption and inadequate interpretation of the underlying adsorption mechanisms. Surface oxygen-containing groups on CNTs and the dissociated species of these groups can interact with the dissociated and neutral species of 1-naphthol in a way similar to polymerization, thus promoting the adsorption of 1-naphthol onto CNTs. Adsorption onto CNTs may reduce the polymeric precipitates of 1-naphthol in solution by possibly decreasing aqueous 1-naphthol concentrations. These observations and the underlying mechanisms are important for predicting the fate and risks of naphthalene and carbaryl in the environment because 1-naphthol is a primary metabolite of naphthalene and carbaryl. In addition, it is possible to enhance the removal of 1-naphthol and similar chemicals by controlling the pH and designing specific surface functional groups for CNTs.     

Evaluation of 1-naphthol as a convenient fluorescent probe for monitoring ethanol-induced interdigitation in lipid bilayer membrane.

In this work we have tried to evaluate the usefulness of 1-naphthol as an excited state proton transfer fluorescent probe for studying the ethanol-induced interdigitation in lipid bilayer membranes. When ethanol concentration in lipisome is progressively increased, the neutral form fluorescence of 1-naphthol is found to decrease with corresponding increase in the anionic form intensity. This behavior is in contrast to that observed in the absence of lipid where a reverse effect is noticed. Modification of lipid bilayer is known to occur in the presence of ethanol, which increases the packing density of the membrane. Due to this induction of interdigitated gel phase, redistribution of naphthol between the inner core and interfacial region of the lipid bilayer takes places, accounting for the reduction in neutral form fluorescence intensity. The partition coefficient values and the quenching studies also support the redistribution of 1-naphthol in the liposome membrane. The neutral form fluorescence of 1-naphthol successfully monitors the shift in phase transition temperature due to ethanol-induced interdigitation. It also explains the prevention of interdigitation in lipid bilayer at high cholesterol concentration.     

导数-可变角同步荧光法用于1-萘酚和2-萘酚的同时测定

同步扫描和导数光谱法是两类很有用的荧光分析新技术。固定波长或恒能量同步荧光法和导数技术的结合可进一步提高光谱分辨率和排除基体干扰。本文将导数技术和可变角同步荧光法结合起来,用于1-萘酚和2-萘酚的同时分析,效果良好。研究表明,导数-可变角同步荧光法可望发展为荧光分析复杂样品的新技术。     

A Long-term and Stable Surface Modification Method for Lanthanide Doped Upconversion Nanoparticles by Oxidized Alginate

Lanthanide doped upconversion luminescent nanoparticles (UCNPs) have drawn widely attention in biomedical research. The generally synthesized oleate capped UCNPs have no aqueous dispersibility so that surface modification is required to be water dispersible. Herein, we developed an easy-going but effective approach to prepare hydrophilic UCNPs based on oxidized alginate molecule (OAlg). After surface modification treatment, the OAlg modified UCNPs (UCNPs-OAlg) shows excellent dispersibility and longer stability in aqueous solution even after 180 days. After incubation with UCNPs-OAlg, the upconversion luminescent images of living Hela cells were clearly obtained. It indicated that oxidized alginate modified UCNPs can be candidate for excellent imaging probes in future.     

Disordered carbon nanofibers/LiCoPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> composites as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

LiCoPO₄-coated disordered carbon nanofibers (CNFs/LiCoPO₄) were obtained by a sol–gel method, using triethyl phosphite or triethyl phosphate as the phosphorous source. The crystal structure of the products was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction, while morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Optimal synthesis conditions for the CNFs/LiCoPO₄ in light of the best electrochemical performance are discussed. The best discharge capacity 105 mAh/g (or ca. 63% of the theoretical capacity) shows the material with 40% CNFs/LiCoPO₄ and addition coating by carbon black. This composition has a best purity of active materials and point coverage of CNFs. The X-ray photoelectron C1s spectra of the CNFs surface without and with sputter erosion show enhancement of C–O bonds at the fiber surface, which does not influence significantly electrochemical behavior of the composite materials.     

Effect of submicellar concentrations of conjugated and unconjugated bile salts on the lipid bilayer membrane

The interaction of submicellar concentrations of various physiologically important unconjugated [sodium deoxycholate (NaDC), sodium cholate (NaC)] and conjugated [sodium glycodeoxycholate (NaGDC), sodium glycocholate (NaGC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), sodium taurocholate (NaTC)] bile salts with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) small unilamellar vesicles in solid gel (SG) and liquid crystalline (LC) phases was investigated using the excited-state prototropism of 1-naphthol. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence of the two excited-state prototropic forms of 1-naphthol indicate that submicellar bile salt concentration induces hydration of the lipid bilayer membrane into the core region. This hydration effect is a general phenomenon of the bile salts studied. The bilayer hydration efficiency of the bile salt follows the order NaDC > NaC > NaGDC > NaTDC > NaGC > NaTC for both DPPC and DMPC vesicles in their SG and LC phases.     

Effects of Plasma and Acid Treatment on the Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different diameters were treated by plasma and acid. The CNTs were dispersed in water and the light transmittance of the CNTs dispersoid (the mixture of CNTs and water) was measured to characterize the dispersibility of CNTs. With the light transmittance of water as the baseline, relative transmittance (RT) of CNTs dispersoid was calculated and the curves of RT varying with time were fitted with a function. The effects of CNTs diameter, acid treatment and plasma treatment on the dispersion of CNTs in water were studied according to the fitting results. It could be concluded that the dispersibility of the CNTs with bigger diameters was better. Plasma treatment could improve the dispersibility of CNTs and if the CNTs were acid-treated, plasma treatment could improve their dispersibility further.