基于多孔金结构的三相界面酶电极的制备及高效电化学酶传感性能

界面微环境是影响酶催化反应及酶传感性能的关键因素. 本研究基于三维微纳米结构多孔金基底, 通过调控电极表面的亲水和疏水浸润性, 制备了具有固-液-气三相界面微环境的氧化酶电极, 并研究了界面微环境对酶催化反应动力学的影响规律. 基于所制备的三相界面多孔金结构酶电极, 反应物氧气能够从气相直接快速地传输到酶催化反应界面, 极大地提升了界面氧气浓度及其稳定性, 从而大幅度提高了氧化酶活性及酶电极响应的稳定性. 以葡萄糖为模型待测物, 基于该三相界面酶电极的电化学酶生物传感器拥有宽的线性范围、 高的灵敏度、 低的检出限以及良好的稳定性. 这类独特的三相反应界面设计为高效酶生物传感器的建构以及生物分子的精准检测提供了新思路.     

Electrospray ionization stability and concentration sensitivity in capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry using a flow-through microvial interface

Concentration sensitivity is a key performance indicator for analytical techniques including for capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE–MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI). In this study, a flow-through microvial interface was used to couple CE with MS and improve the ESI stability and detection sensitivity. By infusing a peptide mixture through the interface into an MS detector at a typical flow rate for CE-MS analysis, the spatial region near the interface was mapped for MS signal intensity. When the sprayer tip was within a 6 × 6.5 × 5 mm region in front of the MS inlet, the ESI was stable with no significant loss of signal intensity for ions with m/z 239. Finite element simulations showed that the average electric field strength at the emitter tip did not change significantly with minor changes in emitter tip location. Experiments were conducted with four different mass spectrometer platforms coupled to CE via the flow-through microvial interface. Key performance indicators, that is, limit of detection (LOD) and linearity of calibration curves were measured for nine amino acids and five peptides. Inter- and intraday reproducibility were also tested. The results were shown to be suitable for quantification when internal standards were used.     

Interfacial behavior of plant proteins — novel sources and extraction methods

Understanding the air-water and oil-water interfacial behavior of plant proteins is crucial for developing stable emulsions and foams in food systems. Plant crops are often processed into protein extracts with high purity, which primarily consist of globulins. These globulins are often unable to form stiff interfacial layers owing to their compact and highly aggregated state and have inferior functionality compared with animal-derived proteins from milk or eggs. Much of the current focus is on modifying these proteins, whereas better interface stabilizing functionality can also be obtained by choosing more targeted protein extraction methods. This review will highlight the benefits and drawbacks of current and novel protein sources and protein extraction methods with respect to interfacial properties.     

Composite Polybenzimidazole Membrane with High Capacity Retention for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

Currently, energy storage technologies are becoming essential in the transition of replacing fossil fuels with more renewable electricity production means. Among storage technologies, redox flow batteries (RFBs) can represent a valid option due to their unique characteristic of decoupling energy storage from power output. To push RFBs further into the market, it is essential to include low-cost materials such as new generation membranes with low ohmic resistance, high transport selectivity, and long durability. This work proposes a composite membrane for vanadium RFBs and a method of preparation. The membrane was prepared starting from two polymers, meta-polybenzimidazole (6 μm) and porous polypropylene (30 μm), through a gluing approach by hot-pressing. In a vanadium RFB, the composite membrane exhibited a high energy efficiency (~84%) and discharge capacity (~90%) with a 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at 120 mA·cm⁻², exceeding commercial Nafion^® NR212 (~82% efficiency, capacity drop from 90% to 40%) and Fumasep^® FAP-450 (~76% efficiency, capacity drop from 80 to 65%).     

单分子层受限冰-水共存界线毛细波与固-液相变动力学

冰-水界面动力学性质在冰形核、生长、表界面熔化中扮演核心角色, 长期以来一直被广泛关注. 然而, 受限水体系中冰-水界面的动力学性质却鲜有报道. 本工作利用平衡态分子动力学模拟方法和受限固-液两相平衡模拟技术, 对两种水模型(恒定偶极矩、可极化)描述的单分子层受限冰-水两相平衡体系中的一维固-液界线开展研究. 通过对一维受限冰-水界线的追踪, 计算了其热涨落波动的振幅与时间自关联函数色散谱, 进而计算一系列固-液界线动力学性质. 冰-水界线波动在短波长区域复合了快、慢两种不同时间尺度的弛豫过程, 在长波长区域则由慢弛豫过程主导. 相比块体冰-水界面体系, 以Rayleigh波为主的高频微观物理过程更多地参与了一维冰-水界线的动力学弛豫. 我们发现冰-水界线波动弛豫特征衰减时间的波矢依赖关系符合现有固-液界面动力学理论, 但一维界线弛豫的特征衰减时间比二维界面体系低了一个数量级左右. 计算了两种水模型体系冰-水界线的动力学系数, 并与块体冰-水界面比较, 发现受限冰-水(固-液)界线动力学系数远高于块体冰-水界面体系. 我们推测水分子转动自由度在受限腔中被强烈压制可能是导致受限体系超快冰-水(固-液)相变速率的主要原因. 本工作将在受限水体系超快相变(储能、传感)器件的设计工作中提供一定的理论指导意义.     

Al2O3/PDMS复合材料热传导的分子动力学模拟

采用分子动力学模拟方法研究了Al₂O₃/聚甲基二硅氧烷(PDMS)复合材料在300 K时的传热行为, 通过分析热传导、温度梯度以及导热增强等理论数据, 讨论了不同半径以及不同浓度的Al₂O₃填料粒子对PDMS传热的影响. 结果表明随着体积分数的增大, Al₂O₃/PDMS复合材料的热传导先减小后增加. 并且当Al₂O₃填充粒子的半径为5 nm时, Al₂O₃/PDMS复合材料的热传导达到最大值. 通过考察传热过程中的Al₂O₃填料和Al₂O₃/PDMS复合材料的温度和结构变化, 添加有小半径Al₂O₃填料的Al₂O₃/PDMS复合材料在传热的过程中主要以声子的形式进行传热, 此时决定热导率的主要因素有热容c、声子的平均速度v和声子的平均自由程l. 同时, 当体积分数为15%时, 传导链形成, 热量可以顺利通过Al₂O₃填料形成的传导链传播, 有助于热传导的增加.     

微纳电化学传感界面的构建及其用于单细胞实时监测

细胞是生物体形态结构和生命活动的基本单位.常规检测群体细胞的方法往往会掩盖细胞间的个体差异,因此亟需发展高效的单细胞分析策略,深入研究细胞生命活动过程,揭示疾病发生发展机制,推动个体化诊疗.超微电化学传感器具有尺寸小、灵敏度高、时空分辨率高等特点,在单细胞实时动态监测方面发挥了非常重要的作用.目前,微纳电化学传感器在电极制备、高性能传感界面构建、理论分析等方面已取得重要进展,且在单细胞实时监测及相关细胞机制研究方面取得突破.然而,单细胞内环境复杂、活性分子浓度低且随时空高度动态变化,这对微纳电化学传感器的灵敏度和选择性等综合性能提出了更高要求.我们课题组长期从事基于微纳电化学传感的单细胞与亚细胞实时动态监测研究,本文主要介绍了我们近10年来在该领域的研究进展,并对未来的挑战与机遇进行了探讨.     

Fast Li-Ion Conduction in Spinel-Structured Solids

Spinel-structured solids were studied to understand if fast Li⁺ ion conduction can be achieved with Li occupying multiple crystallographic sites of the structure to form a “Li-stuffed” spinel, and if the concept is applicable to prepare a high mixed electronic-ionic conductive, electrochemically active solid solution of the Li⁺ stuffed spinel with spinel-structured Li-ion battery electrodes. This could enable a single-phase fully solid electrode eliminating multi-phase interface incompatibility and impedance commonly observed in multi-phase solid electrolyte–cathode composites. Materials of composition Li_1.25M(III)_0.25TiO₄, M(III) = Cr or Al were prepared through solid-state methods. The room-temperature bulk Li⁺-ion conductivity is 1.63 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ for the composition Li_1.25Cr_0.25Ti_1.5O₄. Addition of Li₃BO₃ (LBO) increases ionic and electronic conductivity reaching a bulk Li⁺ ion conductivity averaging 6.8 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹, a total Li-ion conductivity averaging 4.2 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹, and electronic conductivity averaging 3.8 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ for the composition Li_1.25Cr_0.25Ti_1.5O₄ with 1 wt. % LBO. An electrochemically active solid solution of Li_1.25Cr_0.25Mn_1.5O₄ and LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ was prepared. This work proves that Li-stuffed spinels can achieve fast Li-ion conduction and that the concept is potentially useful to enable a single-phase fully solid electrode without interphase impedance.     

Selection of hydrogel electrolytes for flexible zinc–air batteries

Flexible zinc–air batteries attract more attention due to their high energy density, safety, environmental protection, and low cost. However, the traditional aqueous electrolyte has the disadvantages of leakage and water evaporation, which cannot meet application demand of flexible zinc–air batteries. Hydrogels possessing good conductivity and mechanical properties become a candidate as the electrolytes of flexible zinc–air batteries. In this work, advances in aspects of conductivity, mechanical toughness, environmental adaptability, and interfacial compatibility of hydrogel electrolytes for flexible zinc–air batteries are investigated. First, the additives to improve conductivity of hydrogel electrolytes are summarized. Second, the measures to enhance the mechanical properties of hydrogels are taken by way of structure optimization and composition modification. Third, the environmental adaptability of hydrogel electrolytes is listed in terms of temperature, humidity, and air composition. Fourth, the compatibility of electrolyte–electrode interface is discussed from physical properties of hydrogels. Finally, the prospect for development and application of hydrogels is put forward.     

Environmental effects on fibre reinforced polymeric composites: Evolving reasons and remarks on interfacial strength and stability

The interface between fibre and matrix of fibrous polymeric composites is most critical and decisive in maintaining sustainability, durability and also reliability of this potential material, but unfortunately a comprehensive conclusion is yet to meet the label of confidence for the engineering viability. Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are being accepted and also utilized as better and reliable alternative materials for repairing and/or replacing conventional materials, starting from tiny objects to mega structure in various engineering applications. The promise and potential of these materials are sometimes threatened in speedy replacement of conventional materials because of their inhomogeneities and inherent susceptibility to degradation due to moist and thermal environments. Environmental conditioning is traditionally believed to be a physical phenomenon but present literature has revealed that the interdiffusion between fiber and polymer matrix resin comprises of physical, chemical, mechanical, physico-chemical and mechano-chemical phenomena. The failure and fracture behavior at ambient conditions itself is a complex phenomenon till at present. The service conditions which are mostly hygrothermal in nature, along with a variation of applied loads make the mechanical behavior nearly unpredictable, far off from conclusions in evaluating the short term as well as long term durability and reliability of FRPs. It is essential to accurately simulate the initial and subsequent evolution process of this kind of damage phenomena, in order to explore the full potential of the mechanical properties of composite laminates. The present review has emphasized the need of complying scattered as well as limited literature on this front, and has focused on creating the urgency to highlight the importance of judicious uses of these materials with minimum safety factors with an aim to achieving lighter weight in enhancing specific properties.