The Search for Highly Colored Organic Compounds

Until now the study of organic compounds in which the π-electron system is excited by absorbed light has been mainly concentrated on the ultraviolet and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Various new applications, such as the use of conjugated organic compounds as dye lasers or as materitals for storing information with the help of diode lasers, led to the synthesis of new compounds which absorb light in the near in infrared (NIR). It is possible to use structure-color relationships to predict the properties of such new compounds when they belong to dyestuff classes which have already been studied in detail; in this case the approach involves decreasing the energy difference between the ground state and the first excited state. A less conventional starting point is provided by molecular structures in which from the outset there is only a very small energy difference between the lowest-energy electronic states; such diradicaloid molecules occupy a special position among the various types of organic compounds. It is possible by means of suitable structural modification to stabilize such molecules in a singlet from which absorbs light at very long wavelengths (i.e. at small wave numbers).     

Dynamics of gel isoelectric focusing with ampholytic dyes monitored by camera in real-time

The dynamics of gel isoelectric focusing were studied by using amphoteric low-molecular-mass colored substances (isoelectric point markers). The polyacrylamide gel in slab format was in direct contact with the electrodes. In addition to isoelectric focusing with a pH gradient composed of synthetic carrier ampholytes, pH gradients created by simple buffers of acetic acid, 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, histidine and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine were applied. The progress of the electrofocusing process was monitored by a charge-coupled device camera and video recording. The gradient profile and dynamics were approximated from the positions of isoelectric point markers, which were focused both on boundaries between individual zones of simple buffers and within the zones themselves. The obtained animated records enabled the observation of the entire real focusing run within fractions of a minute, which is useful both for the understanding and optimization of the focusing.     

Blood cell separation using crosslinkable copolymers containing N,N‐dimethylacrylamide

Amphiphilic copolymers using hydrophilic N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA), hydrophobic methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a crosslinkable monomer, 3‐methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MTSi), were synthesized and evaluated as coating materials for leukocyte removal filters for whole blood. When filters composed of non‐woven fabrics were coated with crosslinked synthesized copolymers, the elution ratios of the copolymers to water were adequately low because of the crosslinking with trimethoxysilane groups of MTSi units in the copolymers. Filters coated with crosslinked poly(DMA‐co‐MTSi) having a 0.96 mole fraction of DMA units showed a 0.35 ± 0.44% platelet permeation ratio and a logarithmic reduction of 4.0 ± 0.68 for leukocytes. On the other hand, an increase in the content of MMA units in the DMA‐containing copolymers improved the permeation ratio of the platelets dramatically. Filters coated with crosslinked poly(DMA‐co‐MMA‐co‐MTSi) containing a 0.39 mole fraction of MMA units and a 0.58 mole fraction of DMA units showed an 86 ± 3.0% platelet permeation ratio and a logarithmic reduction of 2.1 ± 1.2 for leukocytes. This indicates that an adequate content of hydrophobic monomer units, such as MMA units, is necessary for effective platelet permeation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dipolar and V-shaped structures incorporating methylenepyran and diazine fragments

Thirteen novel dipolar and V-shaped chromophores with pyranylidene electron-donating part, diazine electron-withdrawing part and various π-linkers were synthesized. The extent of intramolecular charge transfer, structure-property relationships and optical properties were further investigated by UV/Vis absorption, electrochemistry, and DFT calculations.     

A novel and simple pathway to synthesis of porous polyurea absorbent and its tests on dye adsorption and desorption

A novel one-step protocol for the preparation of porous polyurea material (PPU) through precipitation polymerization of toluene diisocynate (TDI) is presented. The process is based on step polymerization of one singlemonomer, TDI, with water in water-acetonemixed solvent. PPU is obtained without need for any porogen or additives, and no any chemical modification on the outcome polymer is necessary. The morphology, pore size and size distribution of PPU are characterized by scanning electron microscope and BET nitrogen adsorption. Taking acid fuchsine (AF) and Congo Red as dye examples in wastewaters, their adsorption on, desorption from PPU and the reusability of PPU were tested. Experimental conditions for AF adsorption were optimized with regard to pH, adsorption time, AF concentration and amount of PPU. Results demonstrate that the as-prepared PPU is of high performance in dyes adsorption and recycled use. This work presents therefore a novel and attractive candidate for removal of anionic dyes from wastewaters.     

Bilayer rGO-Based Photothermal Evaporator for Efficient Solar-Driven Water Purification[]**

Interfacial evaporation has emerged as a promising approach to produce freshwater. However, an urgent concern is that, due to the illegal discharge of industrial wastewater, most water bodies are polluted by trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are easily volatilized and enriched in the collected water during the interfacial evaporation process. Herein, a bilayer photothermal evaporator was reasonably designed for contaminated water purification. The bottom hydrophilic rGO-sodium alginate (SA) sheets purposefully disintegrate water transport channels, thus quickly removing VOCs through physical adsorption. The rGO-SA-TiO₂ upper layer sufficiently absorbs incident light and therefore persistently generates reactive oxidizing species to degrade upward VOCs. Notably, the oriented microchannels inside the evaporator allow sustained light reflections to improve the utilization of solar energy. The evaporation rate can reach 1.63 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with a considerably high VOC removal efficiency of up to 96 %. Such an integrated bilayer evaporator provides an effective strategy to obtain clean water via solar distillation.     

Examination of the Degreasing of Metal Surfaces by the Use of a Plasma Torch

Metal surfaces can be degreased via a combustion reaction upon the metal surface by the use of a plasma torch jet. The required energy and the reaction rate of the combustion reaction are examined here. It turns out that the reaction rate can limit the cleaning performance. In such case, the cleaning performance is not improved at higher powers. It is suggested to increase the temperature at which combustion takes place such that the cleaning performance can improve again at higher powers. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Atlas of Fluorescence Spectra and Lifetimes of Dyes Attached to Protein

Abstract

Fluorescence spectra and lifetimes of ovalbumin labeled with a variety of fluorescent reagents have been measured. The peak positions of the emission spectrum and the long wavelength band of the excitation spectrum as well as the fluorescence lifetimes, are tabulated. Heterogeneity of binding sites is shown by the broadness of some emisison spectra and the presence of multiexponential decay. The atlas may serve as a guide to the properties of these dyes attached to proteins in general.     

溶剂去除速度对于溶剂退火薄膜相形貌的影响

以聚苯乙烯-聚4-乙烯基吡啶(PS-b-P4VP)嵌段共聚物作为研究对象,采用DMF作为退火溶剂,以原子力显微镜(AFM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)为表征手段,研究了溶剂退火后期溶胀薄膜中溶剂的去除速度对于薄膜相形貌的影响,发现通过改变溶剂去除速度可以有效的调控薄膜中的形貌.当薄膜厚度为35 nm时,DMF的快速挥发会导致薄膜中形成以PS为分散相的反转柱状相结构,当降低溶剂的挥发速度时,薄膜中形成了以PS为分散相的环状形貌,当进一步减缓挥发速度时,薄膜中将形成台阶状的片层结构;然而当薄膜厚度为55 nm时,溶剂退火后期薄膜中形成的是以P4VP为分散相的正常柱状相结构,在相同溶剂去除速度条件下薄膜相形貌变化较小.