Ion-Channel – Mimetic Sensors Based on Self-Assembled Monolayers of Phosphate Esters: High Selectivity for Trivalent Cations

 Gold electrodes were chemically modified with a phosphate ester monolayer designed to mimic biological ion-channel membranes. Cyclic voltammograms of Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻ as electroactive marker were measured in the presence of various types of analyte cations. Whereas in the absence of analyte cations the marker reduction was hindered by electrostatic repulsion between the marker anions and phosphate groups of the receptor monolayer, binding of di-and trications to the monolayer resulted in large increases of the reduction current. Trivalent cations could be detected down to the submicromolar concentration range with excellent selectivities over alkali metal ions. Also divalent cations were well discriminated and similar responses as to trivalent cations were only observed if their concentration exceeded that of the trivalent cations by about two orders of magnitudes. Received August 24, 1998. Revision March 10, 1999.     

Maleic acid-styrene encapsulated silica cation exchanger in high performance liquid chromatography

The use of poly(maleic acid–styrene)-encapsulated silica for the determination of monovalent and divalent cations is well accepted in ion chromatography. The separation of Mn²⁺, alkali and alkaline earth metal cations is obtained under the same chromatographic conditions. The influences of pH and the concentration of eluent on the retention of cations have been studied. The preparation conditions of packings were studied. The metal ions in the boiler water samples from a thermal power plant were quantitatively determined using this column. The results are in agreement with those determined by ICP and Volumetric analysis methods.     

Effects of alkaline earth metal ion complexation on amino acid zwitterion stability: results from infrared action spectroscopy

The structures of isolated alkaline earth metal cationized amino acids are investigated using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and theory. These results indicate that arginine, glutamine, proline, serine, and valine all adopt zwitterionic structures when complexed with divalent barium. The IRMPD spectra for these ions exhibit bands assigned to carboxylate stretching modes, spectral signatures for zwitterionic amino acids, and lack bands attributable to the carbonyl stretch of a carboxylic acid functional group. Structural and spectral assignments are strengthened through comparisons with absorbance spectra calculated for low-energy structures and the IRMPD spectra of analogous ions containing monovalent alkali metals. Many bands are significantly red-shifted from the corresponding bands for amino acids complexed with monovalent metal ions, owing to increased charge transfer to divalent metal ions. The IRMPD spectra of arginine complexed with divalent strontium and barium are very similar and indicate that arginine adopts a zwitterionic form in both ions. Calculations indicate that nonzwitterionic forms of arginine are lowest in free energy in complexes with smaller alkaline earth metal cations and that zwitterionic forms are preferentially stabilized with increasing metal ion size. B3LYP and MP2 calculations indicate that zwitterionic forms of arginine are lowest in free energy for M = Ca, Sr, and Ba.     

一种罗丹明衍生物的合成及其对三价金属离子(Fe~(3+)、Cr~(3+)和Al~(3+))的识别

三价金属离子(Cr~(3+)、Fe~(3+)和Al~(3+))与人体健康密切相关。目前,检测Cr~(3+)、Fe~(3+)和Al~(3+)需要采用不同的荧光探针,增加了检测成本和检测时间。发展能够同时检测Cr~(3+)、Fe~(3+)和Al~(3+)的高灵敏度和强抗干扰能力的荧光探针具有非常重要的意义。本文以罗丹明B为原料,合成和表征了一种罗丹明类荧光增强型探针(P),并研究了其光谱性质。研究表明,在V(甲醇)∶V(水)=9∶1体系中对三价金属离子Fe~(3+)、Cr~(3+)和Al~(3+)具有较高的选择性,不受其它二价金属离子及一价金属离子的影响,抗干扰能力强。同时,探针P对三价金属离子具有较高的灵敏度,对Cr~(3+)、Al~(3+)和Fe~(3+)的检测限分别为3.0×10~(-4)、2.7×10~(-4)和1.0×10~(-4)mol/L,表明其可用于Cr~(3+)、Al~(3+)和Fe~(3+)的检测。     

Neutron diffraction studies of ions in aqueous solution

The effect of ions on the structure of water is discussed in terms of results for ionic hydration as derived from neutron diffraction isotopic substitution experiments. Results are presented for alkali ions (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺), alkaline earth ions (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺) and for the anions Cl⁻, ClO⁻₄) and NO⁻₃, from which it is inferred that the water structure is disrupted more by cations with higher charge density.     

Synthesis and fluorescence behaviour of crown and azacrown ethers carrying the dansyl fluorophore as a pendant in acetonitrile solution

The influence of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Al³⁺ ions on the spectroscopic properties of the dansyl group covalently linked to crown ether or diazacrown ethers was investigated by means of absorption and emission spectrophotometry. Interaction of the alkali metal ions with all fluoroionophores studied is weak, while alkaline earth metal ions interact strongly causing about 50% quenching of dansyl fluorescence of A21C5-Dns and A₂18C6-Dns. The Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Al³⁺ cations interact very strongly with dansyl chromophore regardless the crown ether type, causing a major change in absorption spectrum of the chromophore and forming non-fluorescent complexes. The Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn², Mg²⁺ and Ag⁺ cations interact moderately with all fluoroionophores studied causing about 20% of fluorescence quenching of dansyl, except for a strong dansyl fluorescence quenching of 15C5-Dns by Co²⁺ ion. The quenching efficiency of didansylated fluoroionophores by the alkali metal ions and alkaline earth metal ions is weaker than monodansylated ones.     

La~(3+)掺杂NiCo层状双金属氢氧化物纳米片的合成及其电化学性能

稀土离子La~(3+)掺杂的NiCo层状双金属氢氧化物纳米片具有高的超级电容器性能,比容量达到1115 F/g(1A/g)、倍率性能为517 F/g(30 A/g)。研究表明,La~(3+)离子掺杂不改变NiCo层状双金属氢氧化物晶体结构,但会显著影响其电子和离子传导特性,从而改变其电化学性能。根据离子电负性标度,La~(3+)(1.327)和Co~(2+)(1.377)离子的电负性值最接近,掺杂La~(3+)会优先取代Co~(2+)离子位置。由于La~(3+)离子的尺寸作用(106 pm),使得最优掺杂比例较小仅为0.26%,电化学结果表明较少的La~(3+)掺杂比例依然会显著调节NiCo层状双金属氢氧化物的电子/离子输运性质。     

Gas phase hydrogen deuterium exchange reactions of a model peptide: FT-ICR and computational analyses of metal induced conformational mutations

We utilized gas phase hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange reactions and ab initio calculations to investigate the complexation between a model peptide (Arg-Gly-AspRGD) with various alkali metal ions. The peptide conformation is drastically altered upon alkali metal ion complexation. The associated conformational changes depend on both the number and type of complexing alkali metal ions. Sodium has a smaller ionic diameter and prefers a multidentate interaction that involves all three amino acids of the peptide. Conversely, potassium and cesium form different types of complexes with the RGD. The [RGD + 2Cs − H]⁺ species exhibit the slowest H/D exchange reactivity (reaction rate constant of 6 × 10⁻¹³ cm³molecule⁻¹s⁻¹ for the fastest exchanging labile hydrogen with ND₃). The reaction rate constant of the protonated RGD is two orders of magnitude faster than that of the [RGD + 2Cs − H]⁺. Addition of the first cesium to the RGD reduces the H/D exchange reaction rate constant (i.e., D₀) by a factor of seven whereas sodium reduces this value by a factor of thirty. Conversely, addition of the second alkali metal ions has the opposite effect; the rate of D₀ disappearance for all [RGD + 2Met − H]⁺ species (MetNa, K, and Cs) decreases with the alkali metal ion size.     

Density functional studies of the reactivity in the C–F bond activation of fluoromethane by bare lanthanum monocation

The potential energy surface and reaction mechanism corresponding to the reaction of lanthanum monocation with fluoromethane, which represents a prototype of the activation of C–F bond in fluorohydrocarbons by bare lanthanide cations, have been investigated for the first time by using density functional theory. A direct fluorine abstraction mechanism was revealed, namely after coordination of CH₃F to La⁺, electron transfer from La⁺ to the fluorine takes place, which favours the homolytic cleavage of the C–F bond to form LaF⁺ species and methyl radical. The related thermochemistry data involved in reaction of La⁺+CH₃F were determined, which can act as a guide for further experimental researches. The electron-transfer reactivity of the reaction was analyzed by using a state correlation diagram, in which a strongly avoided crossing behaviour on the transition state region was shown. The calculated state split energy between the ground and excited state on the transition state is 18.01 kcal mol⁻¹. The reaction of La⁺ with CH₃F was concluded to process in the adiabatic potential surface. The present results support the reaction mechanism inferred early from experimental data.     

Magnetism tuned by intercalation of various metal ions in coordination polymer

Insertion of various metal ions have changed the ferromagnetic coordination frameworks into paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, or ferromagnetic. The net charge and radius of the ions determined the magnetism of the host frameworks.     

Cation selectivity of ionophores based on tripodal thiazole derivatives on benzene scaffold

The synthesis and potentiometric evaluation of new 1,3,5-tris(thiazolylcarbethoxy)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (3), 1,3,5-tris(thiazolylhydroxy)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (4), 1,3,5-tris(thiazolylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (5), and 1,3,5-tris(thiazolylphenyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (6), toward mono and divalent cations under various pH conditions are outlined. The ion-selective properties of the newly synthesized compounds were studied by measuring the potentiometric responses of the 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-based membrane electrodes to alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, and transition metal ions, under various pH conditions. The 3-based electrode exhibited a Nernstian response to ammonium and potassium under alkaline pH conditions, while the other three electrodes showed a poor potentiometric performance. All electrodes showed substantial responses to silver ion under acidic condition, but there was almost nil response to other transition metal ions (Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺). The 3- and 5-based electrodes resulted in near Nernstian responses (51.3 mV and 59.5 mV/pAg⁺, respectively) with low detection limits (100 ppt), while the 4- and 6-based ones showed sub-Nernstian below 40 mV/pAg⁺. The results were interpreted with semi-empirically modeled structures.     

Separation of metal ions by capillary electrophoresis

A number of experimental parameters have been optimized for the separation of 26 metal ions, including alkali, alkaline earth, transition and lanthanide metal ions. Experimental parameters that were evaluated included nature of indirect-detection reagent, pH of electrolyte, concentration of complexing agent and nature of the surface of the capillary; unbonded and C₁ and C₁₈ bonded phases were studied. In addition the effect of internal diameter on linearity and signal-to-noise ratio was examined, and separation efficiency was determined for a variety of experimental conditions. Detection limits (signal-to-noise RATIO = 3) were ca. 1 μg/ml for the lanthanides, ca. 0.6 μg/ml for transition and alkaline earth ions and ca. 0.1–0.8 μg/ml for alkali metal ions. The average relative standard deviations of were 3.7, 5.1 and 2.5% on unbonded, C₁ and C₁₈ capillaries, respectively. Whereas conventional regression analysis suggested that the calibration curves were linear over the range of 1·10⁻⁵ to 4·10⁻⁴ mol/l, sensitivity plots showed that the results were actually linear to within 6% only over the range of 2.5·10⁻⁵ to 4·10⁻⁴ mol/l.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of irinotecan in the presence of oxidant agents and metal ions

In this work four spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of irinotecan (CPT-11) in human urine and pharmaceuticals have been developed. Initially, the fluorescent characteristics of irinotecan (CPT-11) have been studied in both acidic and basic media. Later, the fluorescence emission generated by the oxidation of CPT-11 with several agents was studied. A quenching of fluorescence could be observed in the presence of Ce(IV) and I₂/I⁻. Also, the reaction between several divalent and trivalent metal ions with CPT-11 was studied, and one method in presence of Fe³⁺ was developed since it was the only metal ion that changes the fluorescence of the analyte. The proposed methods present limit of detection comprises between 0.46 and 2.57 ng mL⁻¹. The spectrofluorimetric methods were applied to human urine. No pre-treatment of the sample was necessary, only a dilution 1:20 with water was made. No interference of the matrix was observed in the conditions used. Recoveries were comprises between 100.0 and 104.3%. Also, pharmaceuticals preparations were analyzed with recoveries between 106.7 and 119.7%. The proposed spectrofluorimetric methods were validated by RP-HPLC, obtaining that the oxidation with iodine is the best method to analyze urine samples, while than, the fluorimetric method developed at acidic pH value is the best for the analysis of pharmaceuticals.     

胶体离子超级电容器的比容量评价

胶体离子超级电容器作为一种新型的超级电容器,其同时具有能量密度和功率密度高的独特优势。 目前已经发展了包括多种过渡金属阳离子和稀土阳离子,例如Mn²⁺、Fe²⁺、Co²⁺、Ni²⁺、Cu²⁺、Sn²⁺、Sn⁴⁺、La³⁺、Ce³⁺、Er³⁺和Yb³⁺的胶体离子超级电容器体系。 在电化学反应中,识别出电活性物质的存在形式对研究电极反应机理和提高比容量具有重要价值。 本文主要通过对电活性物质比容量的探讨,理解这种新型胶体离子超级电容器的电化学储能机理。 评述了胶体离子超级电容器的比容量核算方式,提出了以阳离子为标准核算比容量的原因,并与传统超级电容器的核算方式进行了比较,表明胶体离子超级电容器在提高能量密度方面具有潜在优势,有望突破现有电化学储能设备的技术瓶颈,实现下一代高能量储能器件的开发。     

基于有机物电极的电化学能量存储与转化

由于高安全的特性,水系二次电池被认为是未来大型储能的有效解决方案之一. 然而,现有水系电池主要以含金属元素的无机化合物为电极活性材料,其在大型储能中的实际应用仍受到循环寿命、环境问题、原料成本或金属元素丰度的限制. 相较于无机电极材料,部分有机电极材料具有原料丰富、结构丰富、可持续及环境友好等优点. 此外,有机物材料分子内空间大,能够存储不同价态电荷,因此近年来被广泛关注. 本文综述了课题组近期在有机物电极方面的研究进展,内容聚焦含羰基有机物通过C=O/C-O-的可逆转化存储单价金属阳离子(Li⁺, Na⁺)、双价金属阳离子(Zn²⁺)、质子(H⁺)所涉及的电化学过程,及其在水系锂、钠离子电池、水系锌离子电池、质子电池以及分步电解水中的应用.     

Copper(II)-selective membrane electrodes based on some recently synthesized mixed aza-thioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit

Three different mixed aza-thioether crowns containing a 1,10-phenanthroline sub-unit were investigated to characterize their abilities as copper(II) ion carriers in PVC-membrane electrodes. The electrode based on L1 exhibited a Nernstian response for Cu²⁺ ions over a wide concentration range (2×10⁻¹ to 1×10⁻⁵ M) with a limit of detection of 8.0×10⁻⁶ M (0.5 p.p.m.). The response time of sensor is 15 s, and the membrane can be used for more than 3 months without observing any deviation. The electrode revealed comparatively good selectivities with respect to many alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions, and could be used in a pH range of 2.5–5.5. It was applied to the direct determination and potentiometric titration of the copper(II) ion.     

Detection of inorganic ions from water by electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry

The results from this study illustrate the first time electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry (ESI-IMS) has been used to separate inorganic cations in aqueous solutions. Using ESI-IMS nine inorganic cation solutions were analyzed. Counter ions affected both the sensitivity and the identity of the response ions. Aluminum sulfate, lanthanum chloride, strontium chloride, uranyl acetate, uranyl nitrate, and zinc sulfate produced spectra containing a single response ion. Aluminum nitrate and zinc acetate solutions produced multiple ion peaks, which increased the detection limits and the difficulty of identification. Cation detection limits ranged from 0.16 to 13 ng μl⁻¹ depending on the solution studied. The identities of the ion species detected were unconfirmed, but mass spectrometry literature suggested the detection of positively charged cation-solvent or cation-solvent-anion complexes. Finally, cations from strontium and lanthanum chloride solutions were separated with a resolution of 2.2. The results from this study suggest that ESI-IMS has potential as a field technique for the detection of metal cations and their complexes in the environment.     

Spectral characterization of a novel near-infrared cyanine dye: a study of its complexation with metal ions

The spectral features of the near-infrared (NIR) dye TG-170 in different solutions and its complexation with several metal ions were investigated. The absorbance maxima of the dye are at λ=819, 805, and 791 nm in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, and a buffer of pH 5.9, respectively. These values match the output of a commercially available laser diode (780 nm), thus making use of such a source practical for excitation. The emission wavelengths of the dye are at λ_em =822, 812, and 803 nm in DMSO, methanol, and the buffer, respectively. The molar absorptivity and fluorescence quantum yield increase accordingly. The addition of either an Al(III) ion or Be(II) ion resulted in fluorescence quenching of the dye. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant, K_SV, was calculated from the Stern–Volmer plot to be K_SV=3.11×10⁵ M⁻¹ for the Al(III) ion and K_SV=1.17×10⁶ M⁻¹ for the Be(II) ion. The molar ratio of the metal to the dye was established to be 1:1 for both metal ions. The stability constant, K_S, of the metal–dye complex was calculated to be 4.37×10⁴ M⁻¹ for the Al–dye complex and 1.94×10⁶ M⁻¹ for the Be–dye complex.     

Effect of concentration of ion exchanger, plasticizer and molecular weight of cyanocopolymers on selectivity and sensitivity of Cd(II) ion selective electrode

Potential response of cadmium(II) ion selective electrode based on cyanocopolymer matrices and 8-hydroxyquinoline as ionophore has been evaluated by varying the amount of ionophore, plasticizer and the molecular weight of the cyanocopolymer. The sensitivity, working range, response time, and metal ions interference have shown a significant dependence on the concentration of ionophore, plasticizer and molecular weight of cyanocopolymers. The electrodes prepared with 2.38×10⁻² mol kg⁻¹ of ionophore, 1.23×10⁻² mol dm⁻³ of plasticizer and 2.0 g of cyanocopolymer (molecular wt., 59 365) have shown a Nernstian slope of 29.00±0.001 mV per decade activities of Cd²⁺ ions with a response time of 12±0.007 s. Electrodes have shown an appreciable selectivity for Cd²⁺ ions in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions and could be used in a pH range of 2.5–6.5. The cyano groups of the copolymers contributed significantly to enhance the selectivity of the electrode. The electrode has shown an appreciable average life of 6 months without any significant drift in the electrode potential and found to be free from leaching of membrane ingredients. Electrode response is explained considering phase boundary model based on thermodynamic considerations.     

Preparation and characterisation of dual-layer latex-coated columns for open-tubular capillary electrochromatographic preconcentration of cations combined in-line with their separation by capillary electrophoresis

A dual-layer ion-exchange latex-coated column was prepared and characterised for on-capillary preconcentration of cations using an open-tubular ion-exchange CEC format. After preconcentration, the analyte cations were eluted with a transient isotachophoretic gradient and separated by CE. The latex double layer was established by first coating the negatively charged wall of the capillary with a layer of cationic quaternary ammonium anion-exchange Dionex AS5A latex particles (60 nm diameter), and then coating a layer of anionic sulphonated cation-exchange Dionex CS3 latex particles (300 nm diameter) onto the underlying AS5A layer. The adhesion of layers is based on electrostatic attractions. Several dual-layer capillaries were characterised for their EOF and ion-exchange capacity and this showed that coatings could be prepared reproducibly by a simple flushing procedure. The dual-layer columns exhibited a moderate, pH-independent EOF (ca. 26 x 10(-9 )m2V(-1)s(-1)) and an ion-exchange capacity of 57 microequiv./g (or 2.69 nequiv./column). Using an 8 cm length of coated capillary combined with a 72 cm length of untreated capillary, a method for on-line preconcentration and separation of monovalent organic bases, alkali metal ions and alkaline earth metal ions by CE was developed. Recoveries for the preconcentration step were 48% for 4-methylbenzylammonium, 43% for benzylammonium, 30-32% for alkali metal ions and 71-75% for alkaline earth cations. In all cases, recoveries were reproducible with RSDs being less than 6.2%. The influences of the ion-exchange selectivity coefficient of the analyte and the sample-loading rate on analyte recovery were also examined. The proposed method was utilised for the determination of alkaline earth cations and low microM detection limits were obtained.