Properties of two amide‐based hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography columns

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography is a separation technique suitable for the separation of moderately and highly polar compounds. Various stationary phases (SPs) for hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography are commercially available. While the SPs based on the same type of ligand are available from different providers, they can display a distinct retention characteristics and separation selectivity. The current work is focused on characterization and comparison of the separation systems of two amide‐based HPLC columns from two producers, i.e. XBridge Amide column and TSK gel Amide‐80 column. Several characterization procedures (tests) were used to investigate the differences between these columns. The chromatographic behavior of selected analytes indicates that multimodal interactions are responsible for retention and separation on these columns. Multiple testing approaches were used in order to reveal subtle differences between the SPs. Both amide‐based columns showed certain differences in retention, selectivity, and plate counts. Based on the tests used in this study, we conclude that the investigated columns provide a different degree of H‐bonding interactions.     

Quasi-classical Trajectory Study of F-I-H20→HF-I-OH Reaction： Influence of Barrier Height,Reactant Rotational Excitation,and Isotopic Substitution

The reaction dynamics of the F＋H20/D20→HF/DF＋OH/OD are investigated on an accurate potential energy surface （PES） using a quasi-classical trajectory method. For both isotopomers, the hydrogen/deuterium abstraction reaction is dominated by a direct rebound mechanism over a very low ＂reactant-like＂ barrier, which leads to a vibrationally hot HF/DF product with an internally cold OH/OD companion. It is shown that the lowered reaction barrier on this PES, as suggested by high-level ab initio calculations, leads to a much better agreement with the experimental reaction cross section, but has little impact on the product state distributions and mode selectivity. Our results further indicate that rotational excitation of the H20 reactant leads to significant enhancement of the reactivity, suggesting a strong coupling with the reaction coordinate.     

自动化势能面搜索方法新进展

本文简要介绍了势能面搜索的两个主要问题,即过渡态搜索和全局势能面搜索,并针对这两个问题介绍了本研究组最近发展的3种方法,即限制最小化双子算法、偏置势函数辅助限制性最小化双子算法以及势能面随机行走方法．这3种方法均只需计算一阶梯度,能够用于快速自动化的搜索过渡态以及势能面．通过几个典型例子分别说明了3种方法的特点及优势．     

高表面能晶面裸露的金属氧化物微纳米晶体的可控合成

表面结构是影响固体材料物理和化学性质的重要因素,由于高表面能的晶面上存在更多的表面悬挂键等,高表面能晶面裸露的微纳米晶体一般表现出很好的物理和化学活性．近年来,科研工作者针对高能面微纳米晶体材料的制备及性能调控进行了大量的研究工作并取得了一定的进展．本文重点讨论了高能面裸露的金属氧化物半导体微纳米晶体的合成制备方法．主要以本课题组近年在该领域的研究为例,分别从晶体生长过程中的静电作用法、“帽”式试剂保护法、过饱和度调控法、动力学调控法及选择性化学刻蚀法等几个方面对高表面能晶面裸露的金属氧化物微纳米晶体的制备进行了系统的总结．     

聚合物光伏材料与器件研究进展

高效率的聚合物太阳电池依赖于光吸收活性层材料对太阳光能量的充分利用．电极界面材料将光吸收活性层产生的空穴和电子分别快速高效地抽取到阳极和阴极,并通过进一步改进光伏器件的结构提升能量转换效率和稳定性．本课题组在光吸收活性层中新型聚合物给体材料、新型电极界面材料、利用水／醇性电极界面材料制作新型倒装器件结构的太阳电池方面取得重要进展,推动了太阳电池在能量转换效率和稳定性方面的突破．     

Light Energy Collection in a Porphyrin–Imide–Corrole Ensemble

An assembly consisting of three units, that is, a meso‐substituted corrole ( C3 ), 1,8 naphthaleneimide ( NIE ), and a Zn porphyrin ( ZnP ), has been synthesized. NIE is connected to C3 through a 1,3‐phenylene bridge and to the ZnP unit through a direct C? C bond. The convergent synthetic strategy includes the preparation of a trans‐A₂B‐corrole possessing the imide unit, followed by Sonogashira coupling with a meso‐substituted A₃B‐porphyrin. The photophysical processes in the resulting triad ZnP-NIE-C3 are examined and compared with those of the corresponding C3-NIE dyad and the constituent reference models C3 , NIE , and ZnP . Excitation of the NIE unit in C3-NIE leads to a fast energy transfer of 98 % efficiency to C3 with a rate k_en=7.5×10¹⁰ s^?1, whereas excitation of the corrole unit leads to a reactivity of the excited state identical to that of the model C3 , with a deactivation rate to the ground state k=2.5×10⁸ s^?1. Energy transfer to C3 and to ZnP moieties follows excitation of NIE in the triad ZnP-NIE-C3 . The rates are k_en=7.5×10¹⁰ s^?1 and k_en=2.5×10¹⁰ s^?1 for the sensitization of the C3 and ZnP unit, respectively. The light energy transferred from NIE to Zn porphyrin unit is ultimately funneled to the corrole component, which is the final recipient of the excitation energy absorbed by the different components of the array. The latter process occurs with a rate k_en=3.4×10⁹ s^?1 and 89 % efficiency. Energy transfer processes take place in all cases by a Förster (dipole–dipole) mechanism. The theory predicts quite satisfactorily the rate for the ZnP/C3 couple, where components are separated by about 23 Å, but results in calculated rates that are one to two orders of magnitude higher for the couples NIE/ZnP (D/A) and NIE/C3, which are separated by distances of about 14 and 10 Å, respectively.     

New Dual Donor–Acceptor (2D‐π‐2A) Porphyrin Sensitizers for Stable and Cost‐Effective Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of porphyrin sensitizers that featured two electron‐donating groups and dual anchoring groups that were connected through a porphine π‐bridging unit have been synthesized and successfully applied in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The presence of electron‐donating groups had a significant influence on their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties. Overall, the dual anchoring groups gave tunable electronic properties and stronger attachment to TiO₂. These new dyes were readily synthesized in a minimum number of steps in gram‐scale quantities. Optical and electrochemical data confirmed the advantages of these dyes for use as sensitizers in DSSCs. Porphyrins with electron‐donating amino moieties provided improved charge separation and better charge‐injection efficiencies for the studied dual‐push–pull dyes. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the porphyrin dyes on TiO₂ suggest that both p‐carboxyphenyl groups are attached onto TiO₂, thereby resulting in strong attachment. Among these dyes, cis-Zn2BC2A , with two electron‐donating 3,6‐ditertbutyl‐phenyl‐carbazole groups and dual‐anchoring p‐carboxyphenyl groups, showed the highest efficiency of 4.07 %, with J_SC=9.81 mA cm^?2, V_OC=0.63 V, and FF=66 %. Our results also indicated a better photostability of the studied dual‐anchored sensitizers compared to their mono‐anchored analogues under identical conditions. These results provide insight into the developments of a new generation of high‐efficiency and thermally stable porphyrin sensitizers.     

Porous V2O5-SnO2/CNTs composites as high performance cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) exhibits high theoretical capacities when used as a cathode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), but its application is limited by its structural instability as well as its low lithium and electronic conductivities. A porous composite of V₂O₅-SnO₂/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared by a hydrothermal method and followed by thermal treatment. The small particles of V₂O₅, their porous structure and the coexistence of SnO₂ and CNTs can all facilitate the diffusion rates of the electrons and lithium ions. Electrochemical impedance spectra indicated higher ionic and electric conductivities, as compared to commercial V₂O₅. The V₂O₅-SnO₂/CNTs composite gave a reversible discharge capacity of 198 mAh·g^?1 at the voltage range of 2.05–4.0 V, measured at a current rate of 200 mA·g^?1, while that of the commercial V₂O₅ was only 88 mAh·g^?1, demonstrating that the porous V₂O₅-SnO₂/CNTs composite is a promising candidate for high-performance lithium secondary batteries.     

A competitive displacement assay with quantum dots as fluorescence resonance energy transfer donors

The unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) make them well-suited as fluorescent bioprobes for use in various biological applications. Modification of CdSe/ZnS QDs with biologically relevant molecules provides for multipotent probes that can be used for cellular labeling, bioassays, and localized optical interrogation by means of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Herein, we demonstrate the use of red-emitting streptavidin-coated QDs (QD₆₀₅) as donors in FRET to introduce a competitive displacement-based assay for the detection of oligonucleotides. Various QD–DNA bioconjugates featuring 25-mer probe sequences diagnostic of Hsp23 were prepared. The single-stranded oligonucleotide probes were hybridized to dye-labeled (Alexa Fluor 647) reporter sequences, which were provided for a FRET-sensitized emission signal due to proximity of the QD and dye. The dye-labeled sequence was designed to be partially complementary and include base-pair mismatches to facilitate displacement by a more energetically favorable, fully complementary recognition motif embedded within a 98-mer displacer sequence. Overall, this study demonstrates proof-of-concept at the nM level for competitive displacement hybridization assays in vitro by reduction of fluorescence intensity that directly correlates to the presence of oligonucleotides of interest. This work demonstrates an analytical method that could potentially be implemented for monitoring of intracellular gene expression in the future.     

A selective electromembrane extraction of uranium (VI) prior to its fluorometric determination in water

A novel method for the selective electromembrane extraction (EME) of U⁶⁺ prior to fluorometric determination has been proposed. The effect of extraction conditions including supported liquid membrane (SLM) composition, extraction time and extraction voltage were investigated. An SLM composition of 1% di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic acid in nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) showed good selectivity, recovery and enrichment factor. The best performance was achieved at an extraction potential of 80 volts and an extraction time of 14 minutes Under the optimized conditions, a linear range from 1 to 1000 ng mL⁻¹ and LOD of 0.1 ng mL⁻¹ were obtained for the determination of U⁶⁺. The EME method showed good performance in sample cleanup and the reduction of the interfering effects of Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cl⁻ and PO₄³⁻ ions during fluorometric determination of uranium in real water samples. The recoveries above 54% and enrichment factors above 64.7 were obtained by the proposed method for real sample analysis.