Thermal Stability and Molecular Ordering of Organic Semiconductor Monolayers: Effect of an Anchor Group

The thermal stability and molecular order in monolayers of two organic semiconductors, PBI‐PA and PBI‐alkyl, based on perylene derivatives with an identical molecular structure except for an anchor group for attachment to the substrate in PBI‐PA, are reported. In situ X‐ray reflectivity measurements are used to follow the stability of these monolayers in terms of order and thickness as temperature is increased. Films have thicknesses corresponding approximately to the length of one molecule; molecules stand upright on the substrate with a defined structure. PBI‐PA monolayers have a high degree of order at room temperature and a stable film exists up to 250 °C, but decomposes rapidly above 300 °C. In contrast, stable physisorbed PBI‐alkyl monolayers only exist up to 100 °C. Above the bulk melting point at 200 °C no more order exists. The results encourage using anchor groups in monolayers for various applications as it allows enhanced stability at the interface with the substrate.     

Coating properties of a novel water stationary phase in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

The coating properties of a novel water stationary phase used in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography were investigated. The findings confirm that increasing the length or internal diameter of the type 316 stainless‐steel column used provides a linear increase in the volume of stationary phase present. Under normal operating conditions, results indicate that about 4.9 ± 0.5 μL/m of water phase is deposited uniformly inside of a typical 250 μm internal diameter 316 stainless‐steel column, which translates to an area coverage of about 6.3 ± 0.5 nL/mm² regardless of dimension. Efforts to increase the stationary phase volume present showed that etching the stainless‐steel capillary wall using hydrofluoric acid was very effective for this. For instance, after five etching cycles, this volume doubled inside of both the type 304 and the type 316 stainless‐steel columns examined. This in turn doubled analyte retention, while maintaining good peak shape and column efficiency. Overall, 316 stainless‐steel columns were more resistant to etching than 304 stainless‐steel columns. Results indicate that this approach could be useful to employ as a means of controlling the volume of water stationary phase that can be established inside of the stainless‐steel columns used with this supercritical fluid chromatography technique.     

Rapid preparative isolation of erythrocentaurin from Enicostemma littorale by medium‐pressure liquid chromatography,its estimation by high‐pressure thin‐layer chromatography,and its α‐amylase inhibitory activity

Erythrocentaurin is a relatively simple natural product present among the members of Gentianaceae. A preparative method for the isolation of erythrocentaurin from the ethyl acetate fraction of Enicostemma littorale using medium‐pressure liquid chromatography has been reported. The method consisted of a simple step gradient from 10 to 20% ethyl acetate in n‐hexane. Using a 70 × 460 mm Si60 column, this method is capable of processing 20 g of material in <3 h (purity ≈ 97%). The recovery of erythrocentaurin was 87.77%. Estimation of erythrocentaurin in extracts and fractions based on high‐pressure thin‐layer chromatography was carried out on silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ plates with toluene/ethyl acetate/formic acid (80:18:2 v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The densitometric analysis was performed at 230 nm. A well‐separated compact band of erythrocentaurin appeared at R_f 0.54 ± 0.04. The analytical method showed good linearity in the concentration range of 200–1500 ng/band with a correlation coefficient of 0.99417. The limits of detection and quantification were found to be ≈60 and ≈180 ng/band, respectively. Erythrocentaurin exhibited a concentration‐dependent α‐amylase inhibition (IC₅₀ 1.67 ± 0.28 mg/mL). The outcome of the study should be considered for pharmacokinetic and biotransformation studies involving E. littorale.     

Combining Charge‐Transfer Pathways to Achieve Unique Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters for High‐Performance Solution‐Processed,Non‐doped Blue OLEDs

Two efficient blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence compounds, B‐oCz and B‐oTC , composed of ortho‐donor (D)–acceptor (A) arrangement were designed and synthesized. The significant intramolecular D–A interactions induce a combined charge transfer pathway and thus achieve small ΔE _ST and high efficiencies. The concentration quenching can be effectively inhibited in films of these compounds. The blue non‐doped organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on B‐oTC prepared from solution processes shows record‐high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 19.1 %.     

Super‐Anticoagulant Heparin‐Mimicking Hydrogel Thin Film Attached Substrate Surfaces to Improve Hemocompatibility

In this study, heparin‐mimicking hydrogel thin films are covalently attached onto poly(ether sulfone) membrane surfaces to improve anticoagulant property. The hydrogel films display honeycomb‐like porous structure with well controlled thickness and show long‐term stability. After immobilizing the hydrogel films, the membranes show excellent anticoagulant property confirmed by the activated partial thromboplastin time values exceeding 600 s. Meanwhile, the thrombin time values increase from 20 to 61 s as the sodium allysulfonate proportions increase from 0 to 80 mol%. In vitro investigations of protein adsorption and blood‐related complement activation also confirm that the membranes exhibit super‐anticoagulant property. Furthermore, gentamycin sulfate is loaded into the hydrogel films, and the released drug shows significant inhibition toward E. coli bacteria. It is believed that the surface attached heparin‐mimicking hydrogel thin films may show high potential for the applications in various biological fields, such as blood contacting materials and drug loading materials.

     

A Bistable Microelectromechanical System Actuated by Spin-Crossover Molecules

We report on a bistable MEMS device actuated by spin-crossover molecules. The device consists of a freestanding silicon microcantilever with an integrated piezoresistive detection system, which was coated with a 140 nm thick film of the [Fe(HB(tz)₃)₂] (tz=1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) molecular spin-crossover complex. Switching from the low-spin to the high-spin state of the ferrous ions at 338 K led to a reversible upward bending of the cantilever in agreement with the change in the lattice parameters of the complex. The strong mechanical coupling was also evidenced by the decrease of approximately 66 Hz in the resonance frequency in the high-spin state as well as by the drop in the quality factor around the spin transition.     

自由来流湍流与三维壁面局部粗糙诱导平板边界层不稳定T-S波的数值研究

采用直接数值模拟（DNS）方法,研究了在自由来流湍流与三维壁面局部粗糙作用下平板边界层内诱导产生不稳定T-S波的物理问题.数值结果可知,在平板边界层内发现了二维和三维T-S波组成的波包空间序列以及求得了波包向前传播的群速度大小,从而证明了自由来流湍流与三维壁面局部粗糙作用是激励平板边界层内诱导产生不稳定T-S波的一种机制.随后,建立了平板边界层内被激发的二维和三维T S波的初始幅值与自由来流湍流度,三维壁面局部粗糙的流向长度、展向宽度及法向高度之间的关系.这一问题的深入研究,进一步完善了流动稳定性与湍流理论.     

混凝土轴拉加卸载随机损伤模型的建立与试验验证

为了分析及深入探讨混凝土在受拉加载及卸载情况下的力学特性,基于随机损伤本构关系提出了一种混凝土轴拉加卸载模型,推导出了混凝土加卸载的应力 应变关系表达式.为了印证理论表达式,进行了混凝土轴向拉伸及加卸载的试验研究,测得了混凝土的材料参数及其相应的轴拉加卸载应力-应变曲线.结合模型的计算结果,对混凝土的轴拉加卸载试验结果进行了对比分析,结果表明:混凝土轴拉加卸载模型能够预测混凝土的极限强度,同时能描述混凝土的强度软化、加载过程中的弹模折减及卸载后的塑性变形.     

Determination of Mercury with a Miniature Sensor for Point-of-care Testing

In developing countries, subsistence gold mining entails mixing metallic mercury with crushed sediments to extract gold. In this approach, the gold−mercury amalgam is heated to evaporate mercury and obtain gold. Thus, the highly volatile mercury can be absorbed through inhalation, resulting in adverse health effects. Urinalysis can be used to detect mercury, which is excreted in urine and feces, and correlate exposure with toxic effects. The current gold standard analytical methods are based on fluorescence or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry methods, but are expensive, time consuming, and are not easily accessible in countries where testing is needed. In this work, we report on a miniature electrochemical sensor that can rapidly detect mercury in urine at levels well below the US Biological Exposure Index (BEI) limit of 50 ppb (μg/L). The sensor is based on a thin-film gold electrode and anodic stripping voltammetry electroanalytical approach. The sensor successfully detected mercury at trace levels in urine, with a limit of detection of ∼15 ppb Hg in the linear range of 20–80 ppb. With the low-cost disposable sensors and portable instrumentation, it is well suited for point-of-care applications.