Novel Thorium Membrane Sensors with Anionic Response Based on Trioctylphosphine Oxide and Toluate Ionophores

Two novel potentiometric polymeric membrane sensors for rapid and accurate determination of thorium are described. These are based on the use of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and thorium toluate (Th‐TA) as ionophores dispersed in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membranes plasticized with nitrophenyloctyl ether. In strong nitric acid medium, Th(IV) nitrate is converted into [Th(NO₃)₆]^2? complex and sensed as anionic divalent ion which exclude most cationic effect. Validation of the assay methods using the quality assurance standards (linearity range, accuracy, precision, within‐day variability, between‐day‐repeatability, lower detection limit and sensitivity) reveals excellent performance characteristics of both sensors. The sensors exhibit near‐Nernstian response for 1.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?1 M Th over the pH range 2.5–4.5. Calibration slopes of ?32.3±0.3 and ?27.2±0.2 mV/decade, precision of ±0.5 and ±0.8% and accuracy of 98.8±0.9 and 97.9±0.7% are obtained with TOPO and Th‐TA based sensors, respectively. Negligible interferences are caused by most interfering mono‐, di‐, tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐, and hexa‐valent elements commonly associated with thorium in naturally occurring minerals and ores. High concentrations of Cl^?, F^?, SO₄^2?, and NO₃^? ions have no diverse effect. Complete removal of the effect of the interferents in complex matrices is achieved by retention of [Th(NO₃)₆]^2? complex from 5 M nitric acid/methanol mixture (1 : 9 v/v) on a strong anion exchanger, washing out the cationic interferents followed by stripping off thorium anion complex and measurements. Both sensors are used for determining thorium in certified thorium ore samples (20–120 mg Th/kg) and some naturally occurring ores (200–600 mg Th/kg). The results obtained agree fairly well with the certified labeled values or the data obtained using X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry     

Synthesis and characterization of κ‐carrageenan/poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) semi‐interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels with rapid response to temperature

In this study, a novel classical thermo‐ and salt‐sensitive semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) hydrogel composed of poly(N,N‐diethylacrylamide) (PDEAm) and κ‐carrageenan (KC) was synthesized by free radical polymerization. The structure of the hydrogels was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR and SEM revealed that the semi‐IPN hydrogels possessed the structure of H‐bonds and larger number of pores in the network. Compared to the PDEAm hydrogel, the prepared semi‐IPN hydrogels exhibited a much faster response rate to temperature changes and had larger equilibrium swelling ratios at temperatures below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The salt‐sensitive behavior of the semi‐IPN hydrogels was dependent on the content of KC. In addition, during the reswelling process, semi‐IPN hydrogels showed a non‐sigmoidal swelling pattern. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based comb‐type grafted hydrogel with rapid response to blood glucose concentration change at physiological temperature

A new type of glucose‐responsive hydrogel with rapid response to blood glucose concentration change at physiological temperature has been successfully developed. The polymeric hydrogel contains phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups as glucose sensors and thermo‐responsive poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) groups as actuators. The response rate of the hydrogel to environmental glucose concentration change was significantly enhanced by introducing grafted poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid) [poly(NIPAM‐co‐AAPBA)] side chains onto crosslinked poly(NIPAM‐co‐AAPBA) networks for the first time. The synthesized comb‐type grafted poly(NIPAM‐co‐AAPBA) hydrogels showed satisfactory equilibrium glucose‐responsive properties, and exhibited much faster response rate to glucose concentration change than normal type crosslinked poly(NIPAM‐co‐AAPBA) hydrogels at physiological temperature. Such glucose‐responsive hydrogels with rapid response rate are highly attractive in the fields of developing glucose‐responsive sensors and self‐regulated drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of electrostriction coefficients of a nonlinear optical polymer electret

The effect of organic chromophores incorporated into a polymer electret and responsible for its nonlinear optical (NLO) response to an applied electric field on the electrostriction coefficients (ESC) of the material is studied. Analytical expressions for the ESC were derived in the framework of a model proposed earlier, which includes the effect of a locally anisotropic, polarizable and deformable environment on the electric characteristics of the chromophore. The dependence of the ESC on both macroscopic and microscopic parameters of the molecular system is established. Numerical estimates of the ESC for poly(methyl methacrylate) doped with the dye Disperse Red 1 and dimethylaminonitrostilbene-doped polycarbonate agree with experimental data in order of magnitude. The relations obtained can be used in the design of novel organic NLO materials. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1324–1329, July, 2008.     

广义Minkowski不等式的进一步改进

针对"亚正定阵理论(Ⅱ)"一文的广义Minkowski不等式不成立问题,在已有的修正结果基础上,给出一种完整的修正结果;并更正了"亚正定阵的几个开问题及一些不等式"一文中有关的错误结论;用反例说明"广义正定矩阵的进一步研究"一文中的有关结论是错误的,给出完整的修正结果.     

Boosting Charge Transport in a 2D/3D Perovskite Heterostructure by Selecting an Ordered 2D Perovskite as the Passivator

We demonstrate that an ordered 2D perovskite can significantly boost the photoelectric performance of 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures. Using selective fluorination of phenyl-ethyl ammonium (PEA) lead iodide to passivate 3D FA_0.8Cs_0.2PbI₃, we find that the 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures passivated by a higher ordered 2D perovskite have lower Urbach energy, yielding a remarkable increase in photoluminescence (PL) intensity, PL lifetime, charge-carrier mobilities (ϕμ), and carrier diffusion length (L_D) for a certain 2D perovskite content. High performance with an ultralong PL lifetime of ≈1.3 μs, high ϕμ of ≈18.56 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, and long L_D of ≈7.85 μm is achieved in the 2D/3D films when passivated by 16.67 % para-fluoro-PEA₂PbI₄. This carrier diffusion length is comparable to that of some perovskite single crystals (>5 μm). These findings provide key missing information on how the organic cations of 2D perovskites influence the performance of 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures.     

Interaction between excitons determines the non-linear response of nanocrystals

The non-linear response of semiconductor quantum dots is investigated using three-pulse photon echo peak shift (3PEPS) experiments and simulations. The third-order non-linear response is modeled by a three-level system, utilizing Brownian oscillators to model the line-broadening functions. Our results show that biexciton formation and exciton–exciton scattering significantly influence the non-linear response of quantum dots. The exciton to biexciton excited state absorption pathways are also investigated for quantum dots with different crystal structures. Our calculations suggest that the probability of excited state absorption to the biexcitonic state is higher for zinc-blende structured nanocrystals.     

环丙沙星分子印迹聚合物的制备及其吸附特性的研究

以环丙沙星(CIP)为模板分子,α-甲基丙烯酸(MAA)为功能单体,三甲基丙烯酸三羟甲基丙烷酯(TRIM)为交联剂,进行热聚合.通过对于功能单体和交联剂的用量对分子印迹聚合物吸附性能的影响的研究,得到最佳的聚合配比为n(CIP):n(MMA):n(TRJM)=1:6:16,并以此配比制得了对环丙沙星具有特异选择性吸附的分子印迹聚合物.通过静态平衡结合法研究了模板聚合物的结合动力学以及该聚合物的结合能力和选择特性,通过Scatchard分析法研究了印迹聚合物对模板分子的结合特性.结果表明,该印迹聚合物具有良好的吸附能力和吸附选择性,静态吸附分配系数KD为41.64,分离因子α为1.62;该印迹聚合物中形成了2类不同的结合位点,经计算它们的离解常数分别为Kd1=5.249×10-5mol·L-1,Kd2=2.237×10-3mol·L-1.     

The effect of imposed flux on biofouling in reverse osmosis: Role of concentration polarisation and biofilm enhanced osmotic pressure phenomena

This paper describes a systematic study of biofouling in reverse osmosis process using model bacteria of Pseudomonas fluorescens and employing a sodium chloride tracer response technique for fouling characterization. It was found that the growth of biofilm at constant flux following initial bacteria colonization of the membrane surface increased with imposed flux. The rationale was that biofilm growth was nutrient dependent, where the nutrient availability at the membrane wall was controlled by the magnitude of concentration polarization, which is driven by flux. The salt tracer response showed that the biofouling comprised a hydraulic resistance and induced an enhanced osmotic pressure phenomenon; known as the biofilm enhanced osmotic pressure (BEOP) effect [M. Herzberg, M. Elimelech, Biofouling of reverse osmosis membranes: role of biofilm-enhanced osmotic pressure, Journal of Membrane Science 295 (2007) 11–20], due to hindered back diffusion of solutes through the tortuous path of the heterogeneous structure of the biofilm. For the conditions studied, the contribution of BEOP to transmembrane pressure increase was greater than the hydraulic resistance.     

SRB和CO2共存环境中X60管线钢腐蚀电化学特征

对X60管线钢在硫酸盐还原菌(SRB)和CO2共存环境中进行浸泡实验, 对浸泡不同时间后的腐蚀形态及膜层的组成进行观察和分析, 并对膜层覆盖的X60钢的腐蚀电化学参数特征进行分析. 结果表明, SRB吸附形成的微生物膜覆盖程度加大导致X60钢电位正移, 腐蚀产物FeS和FeCO3含量增加导致X60钢电位负移. X60钢表面膜层中腐蚀产物含量较低时, 仅有一个与电极电位有关的时间常数, 当膜层中腐蚀产物的含量高时, 增加了与腐蚀产物膜有关的时间常数. 在浸泡初期, 随微生物膜覆盖程度增加, X60钢的电荷传递电阻增大; 随腐蚀产物含量增加, 电荷传递电阻先下降后增大. 随浸泡时间的延长, X60钢双电层电容和膜层电容均增大.