Effects of viscosity on droplet formation and mixing in microfluidic channels

This paper characterizes the conditions required to form nanoliter-sized droplets (plugs) of viscous aqueous reagents in flows of immiscible carrier fluid within microfluidic channels. For both non-viscous (viscosity of 2.0 mPa s) and viscous (viscosity of 18 mPa s) aqueous solutions, plugs formed reliably in a flow of water-immiscible carrier fluid for Capillary number less than 0.01, although plugs were able to form at higher Capillary numbers at lower ratios of the aqueous phase flow rate to the flow rate of the carrier fluid (in all the experiments performed, the Reynolds number was less than 1). The paper also shows that combining viscous and non-viscous reagents can enhance mixing in droplets moving through straight microchannels by providing a nearly ideal initial distribution of reagents within each droplet. The study should facilitate the use of this droplet-based microfluidic platform for investigation of protein crystallization, kinetics, and assays.     

Intermediate level structure in the s2 state of the isolated ultracold ovalene molecule

Spectroscopic information pertaining to interstate coupling between the S₂ and S₁ electronic states of ovalene, whose electronic origins are separated by ≈ 1800 cm^?1, has been obtained by the interrogation of the fluorescence action spectrum and of the energy-resolved fluorescence in seeded supersonic beams.     

Molybdenum-phosphorus triple bond stabilization by ancillary alkoxide ligation: synthesis and structure of a terminal phosphide tris-1-methylcyclohexanoxide complex

Using alcoholysis, we converted terminal phosphide PMo(N[i-Pr]Ar)3 into a new, monomeric terminal phosphide PMo(OR)3, where R = 1-methylcyclohexyl or 1-adamantyl. Dimerization of the PMo unit was observed upon alcoholysis with 2,6-dimethylphenol, and the dimer [PMo(N[i-Pr]Ar)(O-2,6-C6H3Me2)2]2 was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Formation of Bi-Sb, Bi-Sn, and Bi-Sb-Sn Nanoclusters in Silica Xerogel Matrices from Mixed-Metal Oxide Precursors

Homogeneous mixed-metal oxides of the general formula (Bi/E/Si)O _x , where E represents a dopant element (E=Sb, Sn, or Sb/Sn), can be prepared using typical sol-gel processing techniques. Reduction of the in-situ Bi(III) and E ions by hydrogen affords nanocomposites of Bi-Sb, Bi-Sn, or Bi-Sb-Sn widely dispersed throughout the silica xerogel matrix. The materials prepared have high Bi-E metal loading of 52–60 wt. % containing Bi-E alloy nanoclusters of 12–15 nm average diameter. These results demonstrate a convenient method for the production of practical quantities of nanostructured bismuth alloy ceramic composites at high metal content.     

Functionalized nanoparticles for liquid atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization peptide analysis

Nanoparticles for the extraction of peptides and subsequent analysis using atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (APMALDI) have been evaluated. The atmospheric pressure source allows for particles to be directly introduced in the liquid matrix, minimizing sample loss and analysis time. Described in this work are two sample preparation procedures for liquid APMALDI analysis: a C18 functionalized silica nanoparticle for hydrophobic extractions, and an aptamer functionalized magnetite core nanoparticle for rapid, affinity extractions. The C18 particles provide a non-selective support for rapid profiling applications, while the aptamer particles are directed towards reducing the complexity in biological samples. The aptamer functionalized particles provide a more selective analyte-nanoparticle interaction whereby the tertiary structure of the analyte becomes more critical to the extraction. In both cases, the liquid APMALDI matrix provides a support for ionization, and acts as the releasing agent for the analyte-particle interaction. Additionally, analyte enrichment was possible due to the large surface-to-volume ratio of the particles. The experiments conducted with functionalized nanoparticles, in an atmospheric pressure liquid matrix, present a basis for further methodologies and utilities of silica nanoparticles to be developed.     

Enantioselective separation on a naturally chiral surface

Kinked-stepped, high Miller index surfaces of metal crystals are chiral and, therefore, exhibit enantiospecific properties. Previous temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) spectra have shown that the desorption energies of R-3-methylcyclohexanone (R-3-MCHO) on the chiral Cu(643)(R) and Cu(643)(S) surfaces are enantiospecific (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2384). Here, a comparison of the TPD spectra from Cu(111), Cu(221), Cu(533), Cu(653)(R&S), and Cu(643)(R&S) surfaces reveals that the enantiospecific desorption occurs from the chiral kink sites on the Cu(643) surfaces. Titration of the chiral kink sites with I atoms confirms this assignment of desorption features in the TPD spectra. Finally, the enantiospecific difference in the desorption energies of R- and S-3-MCHO has been used as the basis for demonstration of an enantioselective, kinetic separation of racemic 3-MCHO into its purified components during adsorption and desorption on the Cu(643)(R&S) surfaces.     

Photorefractive properties of ruthenium-doped potassium niobate

Photoconductivities and photovoltaic currents of ruthenium-doped KNbO₃ are orders of magnitude larger than that of undoped and ion-doped crystals. KNbO₃:Ru is very sensitive for holographic recording with red light and the photovoltaic current increases sublinearly with light intensity.     

Spectral lineshape simulations of tetracene-argon heteroclusters

Spectral lineshapes of the electronic origin of tetracene·Ar_n (n=1–3,19) clusters have been simulated by the semiclassical spectral density method [L. E. Fried, S. Mukamel, J. Chem. Phys.96, 116 (1992)]. Information is obtained concerning the spectral shifts, the homogeneous linewidths and their temperature dependence.     

Cyclodextrin chemistry. Selective modification of all primary hydroxyl groups of α- and β-cyclodextrins

Two efficient methods are described for the selective modification of all six primary hydroxyl groups of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD, 1 1 ). One, using an indirect strategy, involves protection of all 18 hydroxyl functions as benzoate esters, followed by selective deprotection of the six primary alcohol groups. The other, using a direct strategy, involves selective activation of the primary hydroxyl groups via a bulky triphenylphosphonium salt, which is then substituted by azide anion as the reaction proceeds. A number of modified α-cyclodextrin derivatives have been prepared and fully characterized, among which are: the useful intermediate α-cyclodextrin-dodeca (2, 3) benzoate ( 3 ); hexakis (6-amino-6-deoxy)-α-cyclodextrin hexahydrochloride ( 7 ); hexakis (6-amino-6-deoxy)-dodeca (2, 3)-O-methyl-α-cyclodextrin hexahydrochloride ( 9 ), hexa (6)-O-methyl-α-cyclodextrin ( 13 ). The direct substitution is shown to be even more efficient for β-cyclodextrin ( 16 ), giving the heptakis (6-azido-6-deoxy)-β-CD-tetradeca (2, 3)acetate ( 17 ), while the indirect strategy fails. The compounds are characterized by extensive use of ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR. spectroscopy. The steric and statistical problems of selective polysubstitution reactions for the cyclodextrins are discussed, and possible reasons for the observed differences in reactivity between α- and β-cyclodextrins are examined. The dodecabenzoate 3 presents a very marked solvent effect on physical properties (IR. and NMR. spectra, optical rotation); the effects observed may be ascribed to an unusually strong intramolecular network of hydrogen bonds which severely distorts the α-cyclodextrin ring and lowers the symmetry from six-fold to three-fold.     

Synthesis of crystalline skutterudite superlattices using the modulated elemental reactant method

A series of samples ((AB)(x)(CD)(y))(z) were prepared containing both short repeat units (AB and CD) and long repeat units ((AB)(x)(CD)(y)), where the short repeat units were designed to have the composition appropriate to form square M(4)Sb(12) skutterudites (M = Fe, Co, or Ir; square = vacancy, La, or Y). X-ray diffraction and reflectivity were used to follow the evolution of the films from amorphous, layered materials to crystalline skutterudite superlattices as a function of annealing temperature and time. In all cases, the short repeat units interdiffused and crystallized the expected skutterudite, while the long repeat period persisted after annealing. The skutterudites crystallize with random crystallographic orientation with respect to the substrate. The observed splitting of the peaks in the high-angle diffraction data from the IrSb(3)/CoSb(3) sample indicates the formation of a novel superlattice structure with each grain having a random crystallographic orientation of the skutterudite lattice with respect to the superlattice direction.