Facile preparation of MgAl2O4/CeO2/Mn3O4 heterojunction photocatalyst and enhanced photocatalytic activity

Novel Mn₃O₄-promoted double p?n junction MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed by one-step synthesis method and two-step synthesis method. The X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, optical and photoluminescence demonstrated that the MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized by the two-step synthesis method comprehends a high crystallinity, charge carrier migration and separation efficiency, and relatively low optical absorption coefficient. The MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunction photocatalysts were efficiently used as simulated sunlight-driven n-n and p-n double junction photocatalyst for the simultaneous degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The continuous double p?n junction MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunctions strengthened the function of single n-n or p-n junction and guided the charge carrier migration and separation direction; thus, the oxidation and reduction reactions occur at the active site of spatial separation and prevent the recombination of electrons and holes. The results suggest that the continuous double p?n junction MgAl₂O₄/CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ heterojunctions are very promising candidate material for enhancing the photocatalytic activity in the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye.     

An electrochemical DNA-sensor developed with the use of methylene blue as a redox indicator for the detection of DNA damage induced by endocrine-disrupting compounds

An electrochemical biosensor capable of indirect detection of DNA damage induced by any one of the three endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) – bisphenol A (BPA), 4-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-t-octylphenol (OP), has been researched and developed. The methylene blue (MB) dye was used as the redox indicator. The glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified by the assembled dsDNA/graphene oxide-chitosan/gold nano-particles to produce a dsDNA/GO-CS/AuNPs/GCE sensor. It was characterized with the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The loading/release of the MB dye by the dsDNA/GO-CS/AuNPs film was investigated, and the results showed that the process was reversible. Based on this, the sensor was used to measure the difference between the loading capabilities of intact and damaged dsDNA in the films. The sensor was then successfully applied to detect DNA damage electrochemically. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) peak current ratio for MB, observed before and after DNA damage, increased linearly in the presence the BPA, NP or OP compounds; the treatment range was 10–60 min, and the respective damage rates were 0.0069, 0.0044 and 0.0031 min⁻¹, respectively. These results were confirmed by the binding constants: 2.09 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ (BPA-DNA), 1.28 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ (NP-DNA) and 9.33 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ (OP-DNA), all of which were obtained with the use of differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV).     

Determination of Acetylcysteine in Pharmaceutical Samples by Silicomolybdenum Blue Spectrophotometry

An accurate and fast spectrophotometric method for the determination of acetylcysteine by silicomolybdenum blue has been established. The various effect factors on the determination of acetylcysteine by silicomolybdenum blue spectrophotometry are investigated in detail. The results show that under the optimum reaction conditions, SiO₃^2‐ reacts with Mo₇O₂₄^6‐ to form silicon molybdenum heteropoly acid (H₄Si(Mo₃O₁₀)₄). Then H₄Si(Mo₃O₁₀)₄ is reduced by hydrosulfuryl (‐SH) in acetylcysteine to form silicomolybdenum blue (H₄Si(Mo₃O₁₀)₂(Mo₃O₉)₂). The absorbance of silicomolybdenum blue is measured at the maximal absorption wavelength of 735 nm, and the content of acetylcysteine can be calculated based on this absorbance. A good linear relationship is obtained between the absorbance of silicomolybdenum blue and the concentration of acetylcysteine in the range of 5.040∼25.20 μg⋅mL^‐1. The linear regression equation is A = 0.0272 + 21.484C (mg⋅mL^‐1), with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9995. This proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of acetylcysteine in pharmaceutical samples, and the results agree well with those obtained by pharmacopoeial method.     

Fluorine plasma treatment of bare and nitrilotris(methylene)triphosphonic acid (NP) protected aluminum: an XPS and ToF‐SIMS study

Nitrilotris(methylene)triphosphonic acid (NP) is a technologically important molecule that has been used for years as a corrosion inhibitor and/or adhesion promoter on aluminum and other metal surfaces. However, to the best of our knowledge, the detailed surface characterization of NP adsorbed on aluminum, or on any other surface, has not been reported. Herein, we report an X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) analysis of a series of untreated and NP‐coated aluminum substrates that were exposed to the downstream products of a fluoroalkane + oxygen plasma for different amounts of time (from 0 to 20 s). As indicated by P 2p, N 1s, Al 2p, O 1s, and F 1s narrow scans, even a 4‐s plasma treatment significantly damages the NP protective layer and converts the native aluminum oxide into aluminum oxyfluoride. Heat treatment of the fluorine plasma‐treated samples in the air substantially converts the aluminum oxyfluoride back to aluminum oxide, while similar heating under vacuum results in little change to the materials. A slow loss of fluorine from the samples occurs over the course of weeks when they are stored in the air. A ToF‐SIMS analysis reveals sets of signals that are consistent with no surface treatment, NP treatment, or fluorine plasma treatment. A principal component analysis of the negative ion ToF‐SIMS spectra from the samples shows the expected differentiation of the samples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

功能化的石墨烯和磁铁掺杂的还原氧化石墨烯对亚甲基蓝的吸附作用

用简单可行的方法合成了功能化的石墨烯(GNSPF6)和磁铁掺杂的还原氧化石墨烯(RGO-Fe3O4),并进一步研究了pH值、接触的时间和温度对它们吸附亚甲基蓝(MB)的影响.结果表明,随着pH值和温度的增加其吸附量也随之变大,从而说明该吸附过程是自发吸热的.因为GNSPF6的吸附过程只用了不到20min的时间,所以它的吸附是高效的.用经典的准一级反应、准二级反应和粒内扩散模型对其吸附过程进行动态分析,从结果可以发现,准二级动力学模型比准一级动力学模型更适用于描述吸附过程.采用传统的Langmuir,Freundlich和L-F吸附等温线模型来模拟分析数据,在20℃时,由Langmuir吸附等温线模型模拟分析得知GNSPF6和RGO-Fe3O4对MB的最大吸附量分别为374.4和118.4mg/g.     

Large-scale plasmonic-SERS templates by successive growth steps

This work presents the fabrication of large-scale tunable-plasmonic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) templates and investigates their Raman enhancement. Substrates for SERS were prepared by deposition of gold nanoparticles on a glass slide followed by their growth. A plasmon shift was observed upon growing due to the formation of elongated nanoparticles and their mutual coupling. The changes in particle size, shape and interparticle distances were indicated by SEM measurements. Surface-enhanced Raman spectra of Nile blue A at a very low concentration on top of a blocking layer were measured. The overall Raman enhancement is correlated with the number of growth steps. For excitation at 532 nm four growth steps lead to maximum enhancement. Better overlap of excitation laser and the plasmon resonances upon growing increased the enhancement until four steps while further growing decreased the enhancement. At longer wavelengths excitation (633 and 785 nm) the enhancement further increased beyond the fourth growth step. This enhancement is caused by the plasmon excitation of narrower gap sizes. The proposed procedure for the SERS substrates is simple, allows covering large surface areas and plasmon band tuning from 530 nm to the near infrared in order to increase overall Raman enhancement.     

基于含芴菲并咪唑衍生物的可湿法加工的蓝光有机电致发光器件

设计合成了一种新型A-D-A含芴菲并咪唑和炔基基团的蓝光分子( FI),采用紫外吸收、光致发光光谱和循环伏安对材料进行了表征,发现该物质具有稳定的蓝光发射。采用旋涂的方法制备了非掺杂蓝光有机发光二极管,器件的最大电流效率为1.52 cd·A-1,最大功率效率为0.63 lm·W-1.     

Imaging the Magnetic Reversal of Isolated and Organized Molecular‐Based Nanoparticles using Magnetic Force Microscopy

In the race towards miniaturization in nanoelectronics, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as potential candidates for their integration in ultrahigh‐density recording media. Molecular‐based materials open the possibility to design new tailor‐made MNPs with variable composition and sizes, which benefit from the intrinsic properties of these materials. Before their implementation in real devices is reached, a precise organization on surfaces and a reliable characterization and manipulation of their individual magnetic behavior are required. In this paper, it is demonstrated how molecular‐based MNPs are accurately organized on surfaces and how the magnetic properties of the individual MNPs are detected and tuned by means of low‐temperature magnetic force microscopy (LT‐MFM) with variable magnetic field. The magnetization reversal on isolated and organized MNPs is investigated; in addition, the temperature dependence of their magnetic response is evaluated.