Solvent and thiourea adsorption/intercalation effects on the solid-state electrochemistry of α-phase nickel hydroxide nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of α-phase nickel hydroxide were synthesized by a single-step hydrothermal method using urea as the hydrolytic agent. Precipitated powders were of pure turbostratic α-phase as confirmed by x-ray diffraction profile. The ageing of α-Ni(OH)₂ in 1.0 M alkali solutions is investigated for pure non-intercalated α-Ni(OH)₂ and thiourea intercalated/absorbed α-phase nanomaterials. The α-Ni(OH)₂ powder immobilized on the surface of graphite electrodes shows a gradual α→β phase transformation with continuous voltammetric cycling, and the concentration gradient of water that exists in the layered-double-hydroxide-like interlayers of α-phase and the solution was shown to play a crucial role on the high electrochemical activity of this phase nickel hydroxide. To understand the role of water in the ageing process, concomitant entries of non-aqueous solvents like ethanol and acetonitrile along with thiourea were effected. Cyclic voltammetric measurements of thiourea-treated α-Ni(OH)₂ samples revealed that hydroxyl ion influx during the anodic oxidation depends on the counter flux of solvent molecules, and if the intercalated the solvent is acetonitrile, then the electrochemical activity of α-Ni(OH)₂ reduced drastically; Q _a/Q _c>1 for water as solvent in the interlayers α-Ni(OH)₂ and Q _a/Q _c<1 for ethanol and acetonitrile as solvents. The α-phase gets stabilized in the presence of thiourea with water and ethanol as co-intercalates. Transmission electron microscope images of α-Ni(OH)₂ and thiourea-treated samples show a change in particle size and morphology. Elemental CHNS analysis confirms the presence of sulphur in the thiourea intercalated samples.     

二氧化硅纳米与微米颗粒作为固定化酶载体的生物效应

分别将二氧化硅纳米颗粒(SiNPs)与微米颗粒(SiMPs)作为固定化载体, 选择多聚酶牛肝过氧化氢酶(CAT)和单体酶辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)作为酶模型, 通过考察酶固定化后在酶活回收率、热稳定性、 酶促反应最适温度以及酶在水-有机溶剂混合体系中催化能力的变化, 对载体与酶所产生的生物效应差异进行了系统研究. 酶活回收率结果表明, SiNPs显示出比SiMPs优越的对酶无选择性的高生物亲和性, 而SiMPs则能使固定于其上的酶热稳定性大幅度提高, 且二者都能使固定化酶在有机相中的稳定性得到明显增强. 但酶促反应最适温度的变化结果表明, 对不同类型的酶所产生的生物效应则表现出无规律性.     

Dual‐Amplification of Antigen–Antibody Interactions via Backfilling Gold Nanoparticles on (3‐Mercaptopropyl) Trimethoxysilane Sol‐Gel Functionalized Interface

A new dual‐amplification strategy of electrochemical signaling from antigen–antibody interactions was proposed via backfilling gold nanoparticles on (3‐mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane sol‐gel (MPTS) functionalized interface. The MPTS was employed not only as a building block for the electrode surface modification but also as a matrix for ligand functionalization with first amplification. The second signal amplification strategy introduced in this study was based on the backfilling immobilization of nanogold particles to the immunosensor surface. Several coupling techniques, such as with nanogold but not MPTS or with MPTS but not nanogold, were investigated for the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a model, and a very good result was obtained with nanogold and MPTS coupling immunosensor. With the noncompetitive format, the formation of the antigen–antibody complex by a simple one‐step immunoreaction between the immobilized anti‐CEA and CEA in sample solution introduced membrane potential change before and after the antigen–antibody interaction. Under optimal conditions, the proposed immunosensor exhibited a good electrochemical behavior to CEA in a dynamic concentration range of 4.4 to 85.7 ng/mL with a detection limit of 1.2 ng/mL (at 3 δ). Moreover, the precision, reproducibility and stability of the as‐prepared immunosensor were acceptable. Importantly, the proposed methodology would be valuable for diagnosis and monitoring of carcinoma and its metastasis.     

Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticle/kaolinite composites

Ag nanoparticles were synthetized in the interlamellar space of a layered kaolinite clay mineral. Disaggregation of the lamellae of non-swelling kaolinite was achieved by intercalation of dimethyl sulfoxide. The kaolinite was suspended in aqueous AgNO₃ solution and, after adsorption of Ag⁺, the ions were reduced with NaBH₄. The interlamellar space limits particle growth (d_ave=3.8–4.2 nm); however, larger silver particles may be formed on the exterior surface of kaolinite with d_ave=5.6–10.5 nm diameter. The diameter of the particles prepared in this way is depending on the initial AgNO₃ concentration. The silver nanoparticles prepared were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

金纳米粒子在氨基表面上的组装-pH值的影响

用原子力显微镜（AFM）和表面增强喇曼光谱（SERS）研究了pH值对金纳米粒子在Au／巯基苯胺自组装膜表面上组装效果的影响．AFM结果表明，金纳米粒子在表面上的覆盖度随pH值表现出规律性的变化，巯基苯胺自组装膜的SERS强度随pH值的变化也有类似的趋势．在磁性环境下，氨基未质子化，金粒子难以组装上，而在酸性条件下，氨基质子化带正电，金粒子与基底容易结合．我们认为金纳米粒子和氨基之间的作用属于静电力，pH值同时影响膜表面氨基的质子化程度和金纳米粒子表面的带电量．     

Formation of supported size-controlled nanoparticles of sulfated zirconia

Methods of the preparation of catalysts for alkane skeletal isomerization based on uniform nanoparticles of sulfated zirconia anchored to different supports were investigated. These catalysts were characterized by using the ICP, HRTEM and BET techniques. The activities of the catalysts in the reaction of n-butane isomerization were measured and compared with those of bulk catalysts.     

The partial hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene by nanoscale ruthenium catalysts in imidazolium ionic liquids

The controlled decomposition of an Ru(0) organometallic precursor dispersed in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMI.PF(6)), tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF(4)) or trifluoromethane sulfonate (BMI.CF(3)SO(3)) ionic liquids with H(2) represents a simple and efficient method for the generation of Ru(0) nanoparticles. TEM analysis of these nanoparticles shows the formation of superstructures with diameters of approximately 57 nm that contain dispersed Ru(0) nanoparticles with diameters of 2.6+/-0.4 nm. These nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquids are efficient multiphase catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkenes and benzene under mild reaction conditions (4 atm, 75 degrees C). The ternary diagram (benzene/cyclohexene/BMI.PF(6)) indicated a maximum of 1 % cyclohexene concentration in BMI.PF(6), which is attained with 4 % benzene in the ionic phase. This solubility difference in the ionic liquid can be used for the extraction of cyclohexene during benzene hydrogenation by Ru catalysts suspended in BMI.PF(6). Selectivities of up to 39 % in cyclohexene can be attained at very low benzene conversion. Although the maximum yield of 2 % in cyclohexene is too low for technical applications, it represents a rare example of partial hydrogenation of benzene by soluble transition-metal nanoparticles.     

Determination of Human Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) by Solid Substrate Room Temperature Phosphorescence Enzyme-Linked Immune Response Using Luminescent Nanoparticles

Luminescent nanoparticles of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) containing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) with a particle size of 20 nm were synthesized using the Sol–Gel method (abbreviated FITC–SiO₂). FITC–SiO₂ nanoparticles whose surfaces are modified (FITC–SiO₂–S–CH₂COOH) can emit strong and stable solid substrate room temperature phosphorescence (SS-RTP) on acetyl cellulose membranes. When the original color-producing agent (R) in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for determination of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was substituted with (FITC–SiO₂–S–CH₂COOH), the system maintained good FITC–SiO₂ phosphorescence properties. Furthermore, the phosphorescence intensity enhanced markedly after the ELISA reaction. The relationship between the phosphorescence intensity and the content of AFP obeyed Beer’s law. Based on the facts stated above, a new method for the determination of human AFP by SS-RTP-ELISA (using the luminescent nanoparticle as marker) was established. The linear range of this method is 0.040–16.0 pg of human AFP per spot (sample volume: 0.40 μL spot⁻¹, corresponding concentration: 0.10–40.0 ng mL⁻¹). The regression equation of the working curve is ΔIp = −6.289+18.075 m_AFP (pg spot⁻¹) (r = 0.9960, n = 6). The detection limit (LD) of this method calculated by 3 S_b/k is 6.7 fg spot⁻¹ (corresponding concentration: 17 ng L⁻¹). Compared to the ELISA method using a traditional color-producing agent, the new method exhibited a 34.8 times higher sensitivity and a wider linear range. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of human AFP in serum.     

纳米银修饰电极差分脉冲伏安法测定盐酸金霉素

建立了快速测定盐酸金霉素(CTC)的方法。通过NaBH4还原法制备纳米银(AgNPs)溶胶,并利用X射线衍射和紫外-可见光谱进行表征。将制备好的AgNPs滴涂到玻碳电极表面制备修饰电极(AgNPs/GCE),研究了CTC在AgNPs/GCE上的电化学行为及伏安法测定,优化了缓冲溶液和pH等检测条件。结果表明,CTC在pH 3.3的柠檬酸-NaOH-HCl缓冲溶液中检测效果最佳。CTC在AgNPs/GCE上发生2个电子和2个质子的不可逆电化学氧化反应,且反应受吸附控制。最佳条件下,CTC的氧化峰电流与其浓度呈现良好的线性关系,线性范围为0.5~100μmol/L,检出限为0.14μmol/L。该修饰电极可用于河水样品检测。     

In Situ Fabrication of ZnS Semiconductor Nanoparticles in Layered Organic-inorganic Solid Template

Ordered ZnS semiconductor nanoparticles were in situ synthesized in metal halide perovskite organic/inorganic layered hybrids (CnH2n 1NH3)2ZnCl4 (n=10 and 12) by reaction of their spin-casting films with H2S gas. Transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the morphology and the structure of formed nanoparticles. Obtained results indicate an effective way to incorporate functional inorganic nanoparticles into structured organic matrices.