UV-light mediated decomposition of a polyester for enrichment and release of semiconducting carbon nanotubes

Purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes using conjugated polymers to selectively disperse either semiconducting or metallic nanotubes is effective and has received significant attention. However, the interaction between the conjugated polymer and the nanotube surface is very strong, making it difficult to remove the adsorbed polymer. Here, we report a poly(carbazole-co-terephthalate) polymer that is not only selective for semiconducting carbon nanotubes but can also be largely removed from the nanotube surface via irradiation with UV light. Irradiation of the polymer-nanotube dispersion causes degradation of ester linkages in the polymer backbone, effectively cutting the polymer into fragments that no longer bind strongly to the nanotube surface. Characterization of the electronic nature of the samples was carried out via the combination of absorption, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis allowed determination of the amount of polymer left on the nanotube surface after irradiation and indicated that a large proportion of the polymer is removed. The reported methodology opens new possibilities for purification of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes and their isolation from the polymeric dispersant.     

Damage detection through nonparametric models using Kautz filters

Meccanica - The goal of this paper is to present an approach to detect structural changes by using nonparametric models. The impulse response functions (IRFs) of mechanical systems in healthy...     

Nanoscale Imaging and Stabilization of Silica Nanospheres in Liquid Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy

Liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LP‐TEM) is a novel and highly promising technique for the in situ study of important nanoscale processes, in particular the synthesis and modification of various nanostructures in a liquid. Destabilization of the samples, including reduction, oxidation, or dissolution by interactions between electron beam, liquid, and sample, is still one of the main challenges of this technique. This work focuses on amorphous silica nanospheres and the phenomena behind their reshaping and dissolution in LP‐TEM. It is proposed that silica degradation is primarily the result of reducing radical formation in the liquid phase and the subsequent accelerated hydroxylation of the silica, while alterations in silica solid structure, pH, and oxidizing species formation had limited influence. Furthermore, the presence of water vapor instead of liquid water also results in degradation of silica. Most importantly however, it is shown that the addition of scavengers for reducing radicals significantly improved amorphous silica stability during LP‐TEM imaging. Devising such methods to overcome adverse effects in LP‐TEM is of the utmost importance for further development and implementation of this technique in studies of nanoscale processes in liquid.     

Determination of CO2 capture during accelerated carbonation of engineered cementitious composite pastes by thermogravimetry

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The present study has evaluated the rheological behavior of an oil-based (5W50) hybrid nanofluid [magnesium oxide (65%)–multi-walled carbon...     

Psoralen Derivatives with Enhanced Potency

Psoralen is a furocoumarin natural product that intercalates within DNA and forms covalent adducts when activated by ultraviolet radiation. It is well known that this property contributes to psoralen’s clinical efficacy in several disease contexts, which include vitiligo, psoriasis, graft-versus-host disease and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Given the therapeutic relevance of psoralen and its derivatives, we attempted to synthesize psoralens with even greater potency. In this study, we report a library of 73 novel psoralens, the largest collection of its kind. When screened for the ability to reduce cell proliferation, we identified two derivatives even more cytotoxic than 4′-aminomethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (AMT), one of the most potent psoralens identified to date. Using MALDI-TOF MS, we studied the DNA adduct formation for a subset of novel psoralens and found that in most cases enhanced DNA binding correlated well with cytotoxicity. Generally, our most potent derivatives contain positively charged substituents, which we believe increase DNA affinity and enhance psoralen intercalation. Thus, we provide a rational approach to guide efforts toward further optimizing psoralens to fully capitalize on this drug class’ therapeutic potential. Finally, the structure–activity insights we have gained shed light on several opportunities to study currently underappreciated aspects of psoralen’s mechanism.     

A Survey of Strain-Promoted Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition in Polymer Chemistry

Highly efficient reactions that enable the assembly of molecules into complex structures have driven extensive progress in synthetic chemistry. In particular, reactions that occur under mild conditions and in benign solvents, while producing no by-products and rapidly reach completion are attracting significant attention. Amongst these, the strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition, involving various cyclooctyne derivatives reacting with azide-bearing molecules, has gained extensive popularity in organic synthesis and bioorthogonal chemistry. This reaction has also recently gained momentum in polymer chemistry, where it has been used to decorate, link, crosslink, and even prepare polymer chains. This survey highlights key achievements in the use of this reaction to produce a variety of polymeric constructs for disparate applications.     

Impedance measurements on QLED devices: analysis of high-frequency loop in terms of material properties

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to study red and green quantum-dot light-emitting diodes devices. The high-frequency loop is interpreted in terms of the thickness, dielectric constant, and resistivity distribution of the hole-injection layer. The analysis employed the device capacitance obtained from a measurement model analysis, the film thickness measured by scanning electron microscopy, and an interpretation of the impedance based on a power-law model. Impedance measurements performed on hole-transport–only devices yielded results that were consistent with the interpretation of the high-frequency capacitive loop in terms of the properties of the hole-injection layer.

     

New Freeze-Dried Andean Blueberry Juice Powders for Potential Application as Functional Food Ingredients: Effect of Maltodextrin on Bioactive and Morphological Features

Andean blueberry (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) fruits are an underutilized source of anthocyanins and other valuable bioactive phytochemicals. The purpose of this work was to obtain Andean blueberry juice powders via freeze-drying processing and evaluate the effect of maltodextrin as a drying aid on their physicochemical, technological, microstructural, and bioactive characteristics. Andean blueberry juices were mixed with variable proportions of maltodextrin (20–50%); freeze-dried; and characterized in terms of their tristimulus color, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), moisture content, water activity, morphology, water solubility, flow properties, total polyphenols and anthocyanins content, and DPPH^•-scavenging capacity. The powders obtained presented suitable characteristics in terms of their water activity (<0.5), solubility (>90%), and bioactive compound recovery (>70% for total phenolics, and >60% for total monomeric anthocyanins), with antioxidant activities up to 4 mg equivalent of gallic acid/g of dry matter. Although an increased content of maltodextrin resulted in lower concentrations of phytochemicals, as expected, it also favored an increased % recovery (over 90% of total phenolics at the highest maltodextrin proportion) and improved their flow properties. Freeze-dried juice powders are a potential alternative for the stabilization and value addition of this fruit as a new source of functionality for processed foods.     

Formation of linear triquinanes by serial homolytic cyclisation

Treatment of the trienyl bromide (2) with tributylgermane affords the two stereo-isomers of 4-methyl-$\text{cis,anti,cis}$-tricyclo[6,3,0,0²,⁶] undecane 9 (27%) and related tricyclic compounds by processes involving three consecutive radical ring closures