Construction of a Graphene/Au‐Nanoparticles/Cucurbit[7]uril‐Based Sensor for Pb2+ Sensing

The development of highly sensitive and selective methods for the detection of lead ion (Pb²⁺) is of great scientific importance. In this work, we develop a new surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)‐based sensor for the selective trace measurement of Pb²⁺. The SERS‐based sensor is assembled from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and graphene using cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as a precise molecular glue and a local SERS reporter. Upon the addition of Pb²⁺, CB[7] forms stronger complexes with Pb²⁺ and desorbs from AuNPs, resulting in a sensitive “turn‐off” of SERS signals. This SERS‐based assay shows a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 nm and a linear detection range from 1 nm to 0.3 μm for Pb²⁺. The feasibility of the assay is further demonstrated by probing Pb²⁺ in real water samples. This SERS‐based analytical method is highly sensitive and selective, and therefore holds promising applications in environmental analysis.     

Universal power law behavior of the AC conductivity versus frequency of agglomerate morphologies in conductive carbon nanotube‐reinforced epoxy networks

The Jonscher universal power law for ac conductivity versus frequency (f = ω/2π) in the dispersion region was tested for a multiwall carbon nanotube/epoxy nanocomposite. The effect of changes in agglomerate morphology on the fitting parameters A and n in the equation σ_{ac =} Aωⁿ was investigated. Changing nanotube agglomerate morphology was tracked by optical microscopy through curing. Evolving morphology was compared alongside ac conductivity obtained via a broadband dielectric spectrometer to elucidate possible physical meaning of the universal power law in the context of this system. The ?logA/n was unaffected by changes in agglomerate morphology affected during cure, yet connected with each other in their dependence on temperature. For this system, the relationship between the fitting parameters in the universal dynamic response equation remains empirical at this stage with regard to biphasic “texture” or morphology within such a network. Electrical conductivity σ versus frequency ω for a composite consisting of agglomerated multiwalled carbon nanotubes dispersed throughout a cured epoxy matrix was discovered to follow the empirical universal dynamic response equation of Jonscher. The frequency behavior of the exponent n is discussed in terms of underlying morphology throughout which charge carriers migrate. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1918–1923     

Unraveling σ and π Effects on Magnetic Anisotropy in cis‐NiA4B2 Complexes: Magnetization,HF‐HFEPR Studies,First‐Principles Calculations,and Orbital Modeling

By using complementary experimental techniques and first‐principles theoretical calculations, magnetic anisotropy in a series of five hexacoordinated nickel(II) complexes possessing a symmetry close to C_2v, has been investigated. Four complexes have the general formula [Ni(bpy)X₂]ⁿ⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine; X₂=bpy ( 1 ), (NCS^?)₂ ( 2 ), C₂O₄^2? ( 3 ), NO₃^? ( 4 )). In the fifth complex, [Ni(HIM₂‐py)₂(NO₃)]⁺ ( 5 ; HIM₂‐py=2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazolyl‐1‐hydroxy), which was reported previously, the two bpy bidentate ligands were replaced by HIM₂‐py. Analysis of the high‐field, high‐frequency electronic paramagnetic resonance (HF‐HFEPR) spectra and magnetization data leads to the determination of the spin Hamiltonian parameters. The D parameter, corresponding to the axial magnetic anisotropy, was negative (Ising type) for the five compounds and ranged from ?1 to ?10 cm^?1. First‐principles SO‐CASPT2 calculations have been performed to estimate these parameters and rationalize the experimental values. From calculations, the easy axis of magnetization is in two different directions for complexes 2 and 3 , on one hand, and 4 and 5 , on the other hand. A new method is proposed to calculate the g tensor for systems with S=1. The spin Hamiltonian parameters (D (axial), E (rhombic), and g_i) are rationalized in terms of ordering of the 3 d orbitals. According to this orbital model, it can be shown that 1) the large magnetic anisotropy of 4 and 5 arises from splitting of the e_g‐like orbitals and is due to the difference in the σ‐donor strength of NO₃^? and bpy or HIM₂‐py, whereas the difference in anisotropy between the two compounds is due to splitting of the t_2g‐like orbitals; and 2) the anisotropy of complexes 1 – 3 arises from the small splitting of the t_2g‐like orbitals. The direction of the anisotropy axis can be rationalized by the proposed orbital model.     

Monosaccharides as Versatile Units for Water‐Soluble Supramolecular Polymers

We introduce monosaccharides as versatile water‐soluble units to compatibilise supramolecular polymers based on the benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxamide (BTA) moiety with water. A library of monosaccharide‐based BTAs is evaluated, varying the length of the alkyl chain (hexyl, octyl, decyl and dodecyl) separating the BTA and saccharide units, as well as the saccharide units (α‐glucose, β‐glucose, α‐mannose and α‐galactose). In all cases, the monosaccharides impart excellent water compatibility. The length of the alkyl chain is the determining factor to obtain either long, one‐dimensional supramolecular polymers (dodecyl spacer), small aggregates (decyl spacer) or molecularly dissolved (octyl and hexyl) BTAs in water. For the BTAs comprising a dodecyl spacer, our results suggest that a cooperative self‐assembly process is operative and that the introduction of different monosaccharides does not significantly change the self‐ assembly behaviour. Finally, we investigate the potential of post‐assembly functionalisation of the formed supramolecular polymers by taking advantage of dynamic covalent bond formation between the monosaccharides and benzoxaboroles. We observe that the supramolecular polymers readily react with a fluorescent benzoxaborole derivative permitting imaging of these dynamic complexes by confocal fluorescence microscopy.     

Single‐Atom Gold Catalysis in the Context of Developments in Parahydrogen‐Induced Polarization

A highly isolated monoatomic gold catalyst, with single gold atoms dispersed on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), has been synthesized, characterized, and tested in heterogeneous hydrogenation of 1,3‐butadiene and 1‐butyne with parahydrogen to maximize the polarization level and the contribution of the pairwise hydrogen addition route. The Au/MWCNTs catalyst was found to be active and efficient in pairwise hydrogen addition and the estimated contributions from the pairwise hydrogen addition route are at least an order of magnitude higher than those for supported metal nanoparticle catalysts. Therefore, the use of the highly isolated monoatomic catalysts is very promising for production of hyperpolarized fluids that can be used for the significant enhancement of NMR signals. A mechanism of 1,3‐butadiene hydrogenation with parahydrogen over the highly isolated monoatomic Au/MWCNTs catalyst is also proposed.     

XPS and resistive studies on thin films of a copper(II)‐based coordination polymer deposited on functionalized interdigital electrodes

A symmetrical 2‐thiopyrimidine based molecule with an expanded π‐electron system is synthesized and used to form a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold surfaces. Utilizing chemical vapor deposition a monolayer of (3‐mercaptopropyl)triethoxysilane is formed on silicon dioxide substrates. Both of these SAM coated substrates are characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the growth of a coordination polymer built up from 5,5′‐(ethyne‐1,2‐diyl)bis(2‐hydroxyacetophenone) and copper(II) on dual SAM coated transducers is studied. After the deposition procedure on interdigital electrodes the electrical properties of the polymer are investigated performing resistive measurements. A significant change of the resistance, which depends on the surrounding atmosphere, proves the sensing behavior of the synthesized coordination polymer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 335–344     

Charge transport properties of MDMO PPV thin films cast in different solvents

Charge transport properties in thin films of Poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′,7′‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (MDMO PPV) cast using either chloroform (CF), toluene (TOL), or chlorobenzene (CB) as solvent were investigated. Hole mobility (μ) in these thin films measured using time‐of‐flight transient photoconductivity showed an increasing trend with respect to the solvent used in the same order, that is, μ_CF (2.4 × 10^?7 cm²/Vs) < μ_TOL (6.9 × 10^?7 cm²/Vs) < μ_CB (2.3 × 10^?6 cm²/Vs). Observed variations in mobilities were attributed to different morphologies of MDMO PPV chains in thin films cast using the aforesaid solvents. Nature of the interchain interactions and aggregate formation were obtained using photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy, and AFM studies. Ratio of PL peak intensities of 0–0 and 0–1 transitions, which is a direct measure of interchain interaction, was the highest in CB and lowest in CF. Variation in the relative intensities of out‐of‐plane wagging of vinylene group (～963 cm^?1 mode) in Raman spectra suggested different extent of coiling of polymer chains in these thin films. From these observations, it was elicited that aggregate size and interchain interactions are highest in CB and least in CF. AFM‐based topographic images of thin films further supported these variations in the size of aggregates. Variation in the aggregate sizes and interchain interactions explained the corresponding variation in the mobility. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1431–1439     

X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra of merrillite at high pressures

ABSTRACT

The compressibility and effect of pressure on the vibrations of merrillite, Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇, were studied by using diamond anvil cell at room temperature combined with in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy up to about 18 and 15?GPa, respectively. The pressure-volume data was fitted by a third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state to determine the isothermal bulk modulus as K₀ ?=?87.2(32) GPa with pressure derivative K₀′?=?3.2(4). If K₀′?=?4, the isothermal bulk modulus was obtained as 81.6(10) GPa. The axial compressibility was estimated and an axial elastic anisotropy exists since a-axis is less compressible than the c-axis. The Raman frequencies of all observed modes for merrillite continuously increase with pressure, and the pressure dependences of stretching modes (v ₃ and v ₁) are larger than those of the bending modes (v ₄ and v ₂) and external modes. The isothermal mode Grüneisen parameters and intrinsic anharmonicity of merrillite were also calculated.     

氨基酸官能团的太赫兹振动模式研究

对比于氨基酸的红外分析法,太赫兹波的电子能量更低,可实现无损检测。氨基酸分子内原子振动、分子间氢键的作用、以及晶体中晶格的低频振动均处于太赫兹波段,使其在太赫兹波段具有吸收峰,且不同的氨基酸分子太赫兹吸收峰不同,故可用氨基酸在太赫兹波段的这种“指纹特性”实现氨基酸类物质的定性分析。量子化学分析方法可以应用量子力学的基本原理和方法,研究稳定和不稳定分子的结构、性能及其之间的关系,还可以针对分子与分子间的相互作用、相互碰撞及相互反应等问题进行研究。通过量子化学计算方法计算氨基酸分子的太赫兹吸收谱,可以为氨基酸分子的太赫兹吸收峰匹配分子振动模式,对氨基酸定性分析有一定参考性与指向性,并为实验获取的样品太赫兹时域光谱提供理论支撑,在实验获得太赫兹吸收谱的基础上进行量子化学计算,还能为实验结果进行验证。首先利用太赫兹时域光谱技术获取了谷氨酰胺、苏氨酸、组氨酸的太赫兹吸收谱,分别构建这三种氨基酸样品在实物中以两性离子形式存在的单分子构型,利用量子化学计算方法在完成结构优化后进行太赫兹吸收谱模拟计算。计算结果表明三种氨基酸单分子的太赫兹吸收谱计算结果与实验获取的太赫兹吸收谱差异较大,但在高频段吸收峰峰位基本吻合。通过GaussView分别查看了这三种氨基酸分子在太赫兹段内的吸收峰对应频率处的振转情况,发现在高频段内三种氨基酸分子官能团均只发生转动而未见振动,并且转动模式基本一致。通过对氨基酸官能团的太赫兹吸收谱进行量子化学计算,将官能团在高频段内吸收峰对应频率处的振转模式与三种氨基酸分子在该段内吸收峰对应频率处的振转模式做了对比。研究表明,在氨基酸单分子构型下由量子化学方法计算所得的太赫兹吸收谱中,高频段内计算得出的模拟吸收峰与实验获取的太赫兹吸收峰基本吻合;振转模式分析发现,谷氨酰胺、苏氨酸、组氨酸在太赫兹高频段内的氨基酸官能团振转模式相同,三种氨基酸分子在高频段内的吸收峰主要来源于氨基酸官能团。因此,结合量子化学计算与太赫兹吸收谱可以实现氨基酸类物质的定性分析。     

Selective Benzylic CH-Borylations by Tandem Cobalt Catalysis

Metal-catalyzed C?H activations are environmentally and economically attractive synthetic strategies for the construction of functional molecules as they obviate the need for pre-functionalized substrates and minimize waste generation. Great challenges reside in the control of selectivities, the utilization of unbiased hydrocarbons, and the operation of atom-economical dehydrocoupling mechanisms. An especially mild borylation of benzylic CH bonds was developed with the ligand-free pre-catalyst Co[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ and the bench-stable and inexpensive borylation reagent B₂pin₂ that produces H₂ as the only by-product. A full set of kinetic, spectroscopic, and preparative mechanistic studies are indicative of a tandem catalysis mechanism of CH-borylation and dehydrocoupling via molecular Co^I catalysts.