Novel method to determine the actual surface area of a laser-nanotextured sensor

The actual surface area of a gold-coated conductive layer over the laser nano-textured surface of sapphire is determined using an electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. The method is down scaled to measure the sensing surface area of 200 × 200 μm² on a laser-ablated ripple sensor used for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy/scattering (SERS). Ripple SERS sensors made on different substrates of high refractive index materials such as GaP, diamond, SiC, and Al₂O₃ make a versatile sensing platform with the detection of analyte (here a thiophenol) down to 10 nM concentrations. Direct measurement of the surface area provides a powerful tool to investigate roughness, porosity, and morphology of coatings used for SERS or other light harvesting surfaces such as solar cells. Novelty of the proposed method is in the use of cathodic peak of surface passivation–activation cycle for calculation of surface charge. The method enables high-accuracy surface area measurements from as small as 0.01 mm² pads up to functional solar cells.     

Some properties of fractal interpolation functions on Sierpinski gasket

In this paper, we discuss some basic properties of uniform fractal interpolation functions (FIFs), which is a special class of FIFs, on Sierpinski gasket. We firstly study the min-max property of uniform FIFs. Then we present a necessary and sufficient condition such that uniform FIFs have finite energy. Normal derivative and Laplacian of uniform FIFs are also discussed.     

Effects of ferulic acid on diabetic nephropathy in a rat model of type 2 diabetes

Diabetic nephropathy is the most serious complication in diabetes mellitus. It is known that oxidative stress and inflammation play a central role in the development of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated that ferulic acid (FA) known as anti-oxidative agent could effect on diabetic nephropathy by anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanism. We examined the effects of FA in obese diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and non-diabetic control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. We treated FA to experimental rats from 26 to 45 weeks of age. We evaluated ACR, MDA and MCP-1 in 24 h urine and examined renal histopathology and morphologic change in extracted kidneys from rats. Also, we evaluated the ROS production and MCP-1 levels in cultured podocyte after FA treatment. In the FA-treated OLETF rats, blood glucose was significantly decreased and serum adiponectin levels were increased. Urinary ACR was significantly reduced in FA-treated OLETF rats compared with diabetic OLETF rats. In renal histopathology, FA-treated OLETF rats showed decreased glomerular basement membrane thickness, glomerular volume, and mesangial matrix expansion. FA treatment decreased oxidative stress markers and MCP-1 levels in 24 h urine of rats and supernatants of cultured podocyte. In conclusion, it was suggested that FA have protective and therapeutic effects on diabetic nephropathy by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.     

Graphene‐Assisted Room‐Temperature Synthesis of 2D Nanostructured Hybrid Electrode Materials: Dramatic Acceleration of the Formation Rate of 2D Metal Oxide Nanoplates Induced by Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

A new prompt room temperature synthetic route to 2D nanostructured metal oxide–graphene‐hybrid electrode materials can be developed by the application of colloidal reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets as an efficient reaction accelerator for the synthesis of δ‐MnO₂ 2D nanoplates. Whereas the synthesis of the 2D nanostructured δ‐MnO₂ at room temperature requires treating divalent manganese compounds with persulfate ions for at least 24 h, the addition of RGO nanosheet causes a dramatic shortening of synthesis time to 1 h, underscoring its effectiveness for the promotion of the formation of 2D nanostructured metal oxide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of the accelerated synthesis of 2D nanostructured hybrid material induced by the RGO nanosheets. The observed acceleration of nanoplate formation upon the addition of RGO nanosheets is attributable to the enhancement of the oxidizing power of persulfate ions, the increase of the solubility of precursor MnCO₃, and the promoted crystal growth of δ‐MnO₂ 2D nanoplates. The resulting hybridization between RGO nanosheets and δ‐MnO₂ nanoplates is quite powerful not only in increasing the surface area of manganese oxide nanoplate but also in enhancing its electrochemical activity. Of prime importance is that the present δ‐MnO₂–RGO nanocomposites show much superior electrode performance over most of 2D nanostructured manganate systems including a similar porous assembly of RGO and layered MnO₂ nanosheets. This result underscores that the present RGO‐assisted solution‐based synthesis can provide a prompt and scalable method to produce nanostructured hybrid electrode materials.     

Liquid‐Phase Synthesis of Methyl (E)‐2‐Nitromethyl‐2‐alkenoates Based on PEG‐Supported α‐Phenylselenopropionate

The reaction of the lithio derivative of novel polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐supported α‐phenylselenopropionate with aldehydes, followed by oxidation–elimination with 30% hydrogen peroxide and then treatment with sodium nitrite, formed PEG‐bound 2‐nitromethyl‐2‐alkenoates. Subsequent cleavage from the PEG efficiently afforded methyl (E)‐2‐nitromethyl‐2‐alkenoates in good yields and high purities.     

Small asymmetric anthracene–thiophene compounds as organic thin-film transistors

Anthracene and thiophene compounds are promising materials for OTFTs. We report here, the synthesis, as well as the physical, thermal, and optoelectronic properties of alkyl-substituted asymmetric anthracene–thiophene compounds connected by a bridged triple bond. The target molecules were synthesized using 2-bromoanthracene as the starting material, and the proceeding reactions included alkylation, bromination, and the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The synthesized compounds were both thermally and electrochemically stable. Among the synthesized compounds, HTEA (7a) and DTEA (7b) showed mobility and on/off ratio values of 1.3×10⁻¹ cm²/V s, 2.6×10⁶ and 2.0×10⁻² cm²/V s, 1.0×10⁶, respectively.     

Influence of cationic composition and pH on the formation of metal stearates at oil-water interfaces

We study the formation of layers of metal stearates at the interface between a decane solution of stearic acid and aqueous salt solutions of variable composition and pH by monitoring the evolution of their mechanical, optical, and chemical properties as a function of time after formation of the interface. For values of the pH below the pK(a) of stearic acid hardly any interfacial activity is observed. For pH > pK(a), stearic acid deprotonates at the interface and forms metal stearates, eventually leading to the formation of macroscopic solid layers. Dynamic interfacial tension measurements reveal that the process takes place in several stages, which we attribute to the successive formation of dilute and dense monolayers followed by three-dimensional growth. In the presence of divalent ions, the solid layers display a significant increase in the dilatational storage modulus. Experiments performed with an aqueous phase containing multiple cation species (artificial seawater) give rise to particularly pronounced growth of solid layers, which preferentially incorporate Ca(2+) as revealed by X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy. Our results highlight in particular the importance of the complex synergistic effects of simultaneously present monovalent and divalent cation species on the interfacial adsorption.     

聚γ-(β-氰乙硫基)丙基硅氧烷钯(0)配合物的合成与催化性能

γ-(β-氰乙硫基)丙基三乙氧基硅烷依次用气相法二氧化硅固载,与氯化钯反应,然后用水合肼还原,合成了二氧化硅负载的聚γ-(β-氰乙硫基)丙基硅氧烷钯(0)配合物。研究了其催化共轭烯烃Heck芳基化反应的性能。     

Radiation‐Grafted Fluoropolymers Soaked with Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids for High‐Performance Ionic Polymer–Metal Composite Actuators

On purpose to develop a polymer actuator with high stability in air‐operation as well as large bending displacement, a series of ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMC) was constructed with poly(styrene sulfonate)‐grafted fluoropolymers as ionomeric matrix and immidazolium‐based ionic liquids (IL) as inner solvent. The prepared IPMC actuators exhibited greatly enhanced bending displacement compared to Nafion‐based actuators. The actuators were stable in air‐operation, maintaining initial displacement for up to 10⁴ cycles or 24 h. Investigating the material parameters and morphology of the IPMCs, high ion exchange capacity of the ionomers resulted in high ion conductivity and robust electrode of IPMC, which synergistically contributed to the high bending performance.