Ordered nanostructured ceramic–metal composites through multifunctional block copolymer-metal nanoparticle self-assembly

A novel strategy for fabrication of ordered ceramic–metal nanocomposites was demonstrated by multifunctional block copolymer/metal nanoparticle self-assembly. Hybrid organic–inorganic block copolymer poly(3-methacryloxypropyl-T8-heptaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-block-N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) was synthesized and used as a bi-functional structure directing agent for ligand-stabilized platinum nanoparticles to form ordered organic–inorganic nanocomposites with dense loading of inorganic species in both microphase separated domains. Subsequently, thin films of the hybrid material were converted to ordered silica (ceramic)–platinum (metal) nanocomposites via UV-assisted ozonolysis. This is the first time ordered ceramic–metal nanocomposites were achieved through a bottom-up approach, opening up opportunities for the design and synthesis of a broad range of ordered inorganic–inorganic nanocomposites.     

An Aptamer-Nanotrain Assembled from Six-Letter DNA Delivers Doxorubicin Selectively to Liver Cancer Cells

Expanding the number of nucleotides in DNA increases the information density of functional DNA molecules, creating nanoassemblies that cannot be invaded by natural DNA/RNA in complex biological systems. Here, we show how six-letter GACTZP DNA contributes this property in two parts of a nanoassembly: 1) in an aptamer evolved from a six-letter DNA library to selectively bind liver cancer cells; and 2) in a six-letter self-assembling GACTZP nanotrain that carries the drug doxorubicin. The aptamer-nanotrain assembly, charged with doxorubicin, selectively kills liver cancer cells in culture, as the selectivity of the aptamer binding directs doxorubicin into the aptamer-targeted cells. The assembly does not kill untransformed cells that the aptamer does not bind. This architecture, built with an expanded genetic alphabet, is reminiscent of antibodies conjugated to drugs, which presumably act by this mechanism as well, but with the antibody replaced by an aptamer.     

基于FeWOx/SiO2载氧体的甲烷化学链部分氧化反应

甲烷具有价格低廉且储量丰富的优点,因此将甲烷转化为合成气(一种H2:CO为2的混合物),从而进一步合成有价值的化学品和液体燃料引起了人们的极大关注.化学链甲烷部分氧化(CLPOM)技术能避免甲烷与空气直接接触而引起爆炸的危险,可以降低后续对合成气与氮气分离操作所带来的费用,因此日益受到关注.CLOPM过程主要分为两步:第一步,CH4被载氧体所携带的氧部分氧化,载氧体被还原;第二步,利用氧化剂(例如空气)将被还原的载氧体再氧化恢复.因此,载氧体在CLOPM过程中起到至关重要的作用.载氧体的选择主要存在两个问题:(1)甲烷被活化所产生含碳产物的能力与晶格氧的给氧能力不匹配所带来的严重碳沉积;(2)金属离子间扩散速率不匹配而造成载氧体在氧化还原过程中结构的不可逆变化.基于上述两个问题,本文设计了FeWOx/SiO2载氧体用于CLPOM.与未改性的WO3/SiO2载氧体相比,甲烷的转化率和合成气的收率都有显著提高.FeWOx/SiO2在900℃、1 atm反应条件下表现出62%的甲烷转化率、93%的CO气相选择性、94%的H2选择性和2.4的H2/CO比值,同时在50个循环中表现出优异的催化活性和稳定性.本工作利用CH4脉冲反应研究了FeWOx/SiO2的甲烷表面反应过程;采用CH4-TPR和H2-TPR相结合探究了甲烷活化速率与晶格氧扩散速率之间的关系;通过XPS和XRD对FeWOx/SiO2在氧化还原过程中的结构稳定性进行了探讨.综合上述实验结果,对FeWOx/SiO2应用于CLPOM的反应机理进行了阐述.H2-TPR结果表明,在FeWOx/SiO2中,相较于Fe2O3/SiO2,Fe-O的活性受到抑制,使其更倾向于与甲烷发生部分氧化反应;相较于WO3/SiO2,W-O的活性得到明显提升,因此更多的晶格氧可以参与到部分氧化反应中来氧化积碳,从而使合成气收率大幅度提升.从CH4-TPR结果可以看出,对于FeWOx/SiO2,CO与H2的生成温度最接近,意味着晶格氧的传输速率较快并且能够与甲烷活化产生含碳中间物种的速率相匹配,将其及时氧化生成CO,避免由于积碳造成的催化剂失活.结合XPS和XRD结果可以得出,在甲烷还原过程中,FeWOx经历一步还原形成Fe-W合金,由于其间存在强相互作用,因而抑制了还原过程中催化剂相分离现象的发生.同时,根据铁钨离子在空气条件下扩散速率的公式计算可以得出,其相近的离子氧化速率也保证了在氧化过程中催化剂结构的稳定性.本工作为进一步构建用于甲烷化学链部分氧化制合成气的复合金属氧化物载氧体提供了研究思路.     

Aromatic Foldamer Helices as α-Helix Extended Surface Mimetics

Helically folded aromatic oligoamide foldamers have a size and geometrical parameters very distinct from those of α-helices and are not obvious candidates for α-helix mimicry. Nevertheless, they offer multiple sites for attaching side chains. It was found that some arrays of side chains at the surface of an aromatic helix make it possible to mimic extended α-helical surfaces. Synthetic methods were developed to produce quinoline monomers suitably functionalized for solid phase synthesis. A dodecamer was prepared. Its crystal structure validated the initial design and showed helix bundling involving the α-helix-like interface. These results open up new uses of aromatic helices to recognize protein surfaces and to program helix bundling in water.     

Alloyed Crystalline CdSe1-xSx Semiconductive Nanomaterials – A Solid State 113Cd NMR Study

Solid-state NMR analysis on wurtzite alloyed CdSe_1−xS_x crystalline nanoparticles and nanobelts provides evidence that the ¹¹³Cd NMR chemical shift is not affected by the varying sizes of nanoparticles, but is sensitive to the S/Se anion molar ratios. A linear correlation is observed between ¹¹³Cd NMR chemical shifts and the sulfur component for the alloyed CdSe_1−xS_x (0<x<1) system both in nanoparticles and nanobelts (δ_Cd=169.71⋅X_S+529.21). Based on this correlation, a rapid and applied approach has been developed to determine the composition of the alloyed nanoscalar materials utilizing ¹¹³Cd NMR spectroscopy. The observed results from this system confirm that one can use ¹¹³Cd NMR spectroscopy not only to determine the composition but also the phase separation of nanomaterial semiconductors without destruction of the sample structures. In addition, some observed correlations are discussed in detail.     

Electronic energy gaps and optical properties of LaMnO3

We investigate electronic structure and optical properties of LaMnO₃ through density-functional-theory calculations with a recent improved exchange potential. Calculated gaps are consistent with recent experimental values, and calculated optical conductivities and dielectric constants as functions of photon energy are in excellent agreement with low-temperature experimental results. These lead to a satisfactory theoretical understanding of the electronic gaps and optical properties of LaMnO₃ without tuning atomic parameters and can help elucidate electronic structures and magnetic properties of other manganite materials.     

Kinetic studies on saponification of ethyl acetate using an innovative conductivity‐monitoring instrument with a pulsating sensor

An innovative conductometric measurement technique using a nonconventional but high‐performance (high‐precision, high‐resolution, rapid response features for online graphic display) in house–built pulsating conductivity monitoring instrument has been deployed to study the kinetic behavior during the reaction of ethyl acetate and NaOH. A laboratory‐made constant temperature reaction bath with the facility of continuous stirring of solution for homogeneous mixing was used to carry out experiments at desired solution temperatures. Rate constants of the saponification reaction in the temperature range at various temperatures (30–55°C) were determined, and the results were compared with the reported values. Although the reported data exhibit wide scatter, our data are in agreement with some of the literature data. From these data, thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy, activation enthalpy, activation entropy, and activation free energy have been evaluated. With the introduction of this novel conductometric measurement technique, the determination of rate constants at various solution temperatures becomes much simpler and faster. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 648–656, 2011     

透射式GaAs光电阴极的X射线衍射研究

本文介绍了高精度多晶多反射X射线衍射仪的一种新的应用.首次将其应用于研究高灵敏度第三代微光象增强器中由掺Zn的p型GaAs/GaAlAs、玻璃组成的光电阴极的材料特性；发展了用倒格子空间衍射图方法评价光电阴级组件晶体质量的方法.通过分析得知,衍射强度在倒格子空间沿。方向展宽主要起因于晶体中的嵌镶效应的增强.文中采用衍射动力学理论的计算方法并忽略初始条件,模拟后得到的曲线与衍射强度沿ω/θ方向的投影强度曲线符合的比较好.粘接良好的阴极样品表明,GaAs/GaAlAs晶格常数的变化基本上可以消除,但粘接引起的嵌镶效应的增强却不能完全消除.     

Continuum theory for nanotube piezoelectricity

We develop and solve a continuum theory for the piezoelectric response of one-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires, and apply the theory to study electromechanical effects in boron-nitride nanotubes. We find that the polarization of a nanotube depends on its aspect ratio, and a dimensionless constant specifying the ratio of the strengths of the elastic and electrostatic interactions. The solutions of the model as these two parameters are varied are discussed. The theory is applied to estimate the electric potential induced along the length of a boron-nitride nanotube in response to a uniaxial stress.