Synthesis, structure and solution properties of the novel polyampholytes based on cellulose

A novel cellulose-based polyampholyte derivative, carboxylethyl quaternized cellulose (CEQC), was homogeneously synthesized by introducing positively charged quaternary ammonium groups and negatively charged carboxyl groups to the backbone of cellulose. The structure and dilute solution properties of CEQCs were characterized with elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, viscometer, light scattering and zeta-potential measurement. The nitrogen content and total degree of substituent of acylamino and carboxyl groups increased with an increase of the molar ratio of acrylamide to the anhydroglucose unit of quaternized cellulose (QC). The salt-resistance of CEQC was improved remarkably by introducing opposite charged carboxyl to the QC chains. The intrinsic viscosity of the prepared polyampholytes was found to be very sensitive to the pH of the solutions. CEQC-1, the sample with relative low content of carboxyl groups, behaved as a classical cationic polyelectrolyte. However, CEQC-2 and CEQC-3, the samples with higher content of carboxyl groups, displayed typical polyampholyte behavior, and the isoelectric points (IEP) were determined to be 5.0 and 3.8 respectively. This work provided a facile method for the synthesis of novel cellulose-based polyampholytes with different IEP.     

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of optically active α-hydroxyl-β,γ-unsaturated acid esters as novel side chains of cerebrosides

Six optically active α-hydroxyl-β,γ-unsaturated acid esters 1a to 1f were synthesised, and they are significant moieties of the cerebrosides. The chiral intermediate alkynol 4 prepared by catalytic asymmetric addition had 99% ee, and which was converted into the target compounds 1a to 1f with high enantiomeric purity.     

Determination of pseudo‐ginsenoside GQ in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A specific, sensitive and rapid method based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) was developed for the determination of pseudo‐ginsenoside GQ in human plasma. Liquid–liquid extraction was used to isolate the analyte from biological matrix followed by injection of the extracts onto a C₈ column with isocratic elution. Detection was carried out on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (API‐4000 system) in multiple reaction monitoring mode using negative electrospray ionization. The mobile phase consisted of methanol–10 mm ammonium acetate (90:10, v/v) and the flow rate was 0.3 mL/min. The method was validated over the concentration range of 5.0–5000.0 ng/mL for plasma. Inter‐ and intra‐day precisions (relative standard deviation) were all within 15% and the accuracy (relative error) was ≤9.4%. The lower limit of quantitation was 5.0 ng/mL. The pseudo‐ginsenoside GQ was stable after 8 h at room temperature, 24 h at autosampler and three freeze–thaw cycles (from ?30 to 25 °C). The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of pseudo‐ginsenoside GQ in healthy Chinese volunteers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Error evaluation for Zernike polynomials fitting based phase compensation of digital holographic microscopy

Combining the experimental research with the simulation calculation, the error evaluation for Zernike polynomials fitting (ZPF) based phase compensation of digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is performed. The obtained results show that the reconstructed phase with high precision can be obtained by ZPF phase compensation algorithm. Moreover, the phase error for ZPF based phase compensation algorithm increases with both the variation of object height and object transverse area, the larger variation of object height, the larger of phase error, and the larger of object transverse area, the faster increase of RMS phase error. To decrease the error of ZPF phase compensation algorithm, it is required to ensure one of the variations of object height and object transverse area to be a small value. Importantly, the proposed method supplies a useful tool for the error evaluation of phase compensation algorithm.     

Advances in wide bandgap SiC for optoelectronics

Silicon carbide (SiC) has played a key role in power electronics thanks to its unique physical properties like wide bandgap, high breakdown field, etc. During the past decade, SiC is also becoming more and more active in optoelectronics thanks to the progress in materials growth and nanofabrication. This paper will review the advances in fluorescent SiC for white light-emitting diodes, covering the poly-crystalline doped SiC source material growth, single crystalline epitaxy growth of fluorescent SiC, and nanofabrication of SiC to enhance the extraction efficiency for fluorescent SiC based white LEDs.     

The kinetics of the reduction reaction of plutonium(IV) with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylhydroxylamine

Development of the petroleum industry has resulted in increasing production of oil sludge, the disposal of which risks introducing hazardous elements into the environment. In the frames of these studies the presence of the toxic metals arsenic, chromium and zinc in oil sludge and the leachability of those toxins. Samples were obtained from a refinery plant in Sg Udang, Melaka and from the Miri Crude Oil Terminal, Sarawak, both in Malaysia. k ₀-Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis was used to measure mass fractions of elements. The samples were packed and irradiated in a TRIGA Mark II reactor. Mass fraction of arsenic in the oil sludge samples were found to be higher than the EPA pollutant mass fraction limit; mass fractions of chromium and zinc were below of this limit. Samples were also tested for leachability, which was found to be contributed to by controlled diffusion. Slow leachability of arsenic was found to be higher than the EPA limit in these oil sludge samples, influenced by such factors as redox condition. It was found however, that the most leachable of these elements in all samples from both sites was zinc, followed by arsenic and chromium, indicating that zinc may present a more serious threat of environmental contamination than the other two.     

Cellulose scaffolds modulated synthesis of Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocrystals: preparation,characterization and properties

Magnetic Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by using microporous regenerated cellulose films as sacrificial scaffolds. The cellulose macromolecules and the porous structure of the films made them used as spatially confined reacting sites where Co(OH)₂ nanoparticles could be synthesized in situ. When the cellulose matrix was removed by sintering at 500 °C, Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were obtained. XRD and XPS indicated that the prepared nanoparticles were pure Co₃O₄ without any impurity. TEM and SEM images revealed that the particle size of the nanoparticles was smaller than 100 nm. The nanoparticles had weak ferromagnetic properties at 25 °C. Furthermore, the pronounced quantum confinement effects of the synthesized nanoparticles have been observed, the optical bandgap energies determined were about 1.92 ~ 2.12 and 2.74 ~ 2.76 eV for O²⁻ → Co³⁺ and O²⁻ → Co²⁺ charge-transfer processes, respectively. Furthermore, the resulted Co₃O₄ nanoparticles behaved stable electrochemical performance with promising applications in the electrode for lithium ion battery.     

In situ synthesis of plate-like Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles in porous cellulose films with obvious magnetic anisotropy

Nanocomposite cellulose films with obvious magnetic anisotropy have been prepared by in situ synthesis of plate-like Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in the cellulose matrix. The influence of the concentrations of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃ solutions on the morphology and particle size of the synthesized Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as well as on the properties of the composite films has been investigated. The Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles synthesized in the cellulose matrix was γ-Fe₂O₃, and its morphology was plate-like with size about 48 nm and thickness about 9 nm, which was totally different from those reported works. The concentration of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃ solution has little influence on the particle size and morphology of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, while the content of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles increased with the increase of the concentration of the precursor solution, indicating that porous structured cellulose matrix could modulate the growth of inorganic nanoparticles. The unique morphology of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles endowed the composite films with obvious magnetic anisotropy, which would expand the applications of the cellulose based nanomaterials.     

Thermal and Nonthermal Effects in Plasmon-Mediated Electrochemistry at Nanostructured Ag Electrodes

Hot carriers (HCs) and thermal effects, stemming from plasmon decays, are crucial for most plasmonic applications. However, quantifying these two effects remains extremely challenging due to the experimental difficulty in accurately measuring the temperature at reaction sites. Herein, we provide a novel strategy to disentangle HCs from photothermal effects based on the different traits of heat dissipation (long range) and HCs transport (short range), and quantitatively uncover the dominant and potential-dependent role of photothermal effect by investigating the rapid- and slow-response currents in plasmon-mediated electrochemistry at nanostructured Ag electrode. Furthermore, the plasmoelectric surface potential is found to contribute to the rapid-response currents, which is absent in the previous studies.     

Host Differential Sensitization toward Color/Lifetime-Tuned Lanthanide Coordination Polymers for Optical Multiplexing

Optical multiplexing based on luminescent materials with tunable color/lifetime has potential applications in information storage and security. However, the available tunable luminescent materials reported so far still suffer from several drawbacks of low efficiency or poor stability, thus restraining their further applications. Herein, we demonstrate a strategy to develop efficient and stable lanthanide coordination polymers (LCPs) with tunable luminescence as a new option for optical multiplexing. Their multicolor emission from green to red and naked-eye-sensitive green emission with tunable lifetime (from ca. 300 to ca. 600 μs) can be controlled by host differential sensitization and energy transfer between lanthanide ions. The quantum efficiencies of developed samples range from around 20 % to 46 % and the luminescence intensity/lifetime appear quite stable in polar solvents up to ten weeks. Furthermore, with the aid of inkjet printing and concepts of luminescence lifetime imaging and time-gated imaging, we illustrate their promising applications of information storage and security in spatial and temporal domains.