Facile and green methodology for surface‐grafted Al2O3 nanoparticles with biocompatible molecules: preparation of the poly(vinyl alcohol)@poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanocomposites

The present work describes preparation of modified alumina with biocompatible, water soluble, and treating agents such as citric acid and ascorbic acid. Also, the influence of the modified nanoparticles (NPs) into the blend of poly(vinyl alcohol)@poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (50/50) matrix was studied. At first, citric acid and ascorbic acid as environmental friendly agents were grafted on the surface of Al₂O₃ NPs. Then, nanocomposites (NCs) with different amounts of modified Al₂O₃ NPs were prepared via a simple ultrasonic method. The characterizations of the molecular structure of the NCs specified that chemical and physical interactions happened between inorganic and organic counterparts. The mutual effect of modified NPs into the polymer matrix was investigated on the structural, interfacial interaction, thermal stability, and optical properties. The results from morphological characterization confirmed changes in morphology of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) after loading NPs. Uniform dispersion of modified spherical Al₂O₃ NPs powders into the matrix of 50/50 polymers was detected by field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray. Adding M‐NPs into the polymer matrix expressively improved the thermal stability of NCs. Peaks in ultraviolet–visible spectra were shifted to the higher absorption. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

天然染料敏化太阳能电池的制备——一个大学化学综合性实验

介绍一个研究探索型的大学化学综合性实验——天然染料敏化太阳能电池的制备。内容包括天然染料的提取,天然染料及其敏化的光阳极的紫外-可见吸收光谱的测试,染料敏化太阳能电池的制备以及光电性能测试等。通过本实验的实践,可以让学生更好地掌握相关专业知识,提高实验操作技能和专业素质,激发学生对科学研究的兴趣,培养科研探究能力。     

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.     

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.

     

Precisely installing gold nanoparticles at the core/shell interface of micellar assemblies of triblock copolymers

Two reduction-cleavable ABA triblock copolymers possessing two disulfide linkages, PMMA-ss-PMEO₃MA-ss-PMMA and PDEA-ss-PEO-ss-PDEA were synthesized via facile substitution reactions from homopolymer precursors, where PMMA, PMEO₃MA, PDEA, and PEO represent poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(tri(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate, poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate), and poly(ethylene oxide), respectively. Spherical micelles were obtained through supramolecular self-assembly of these two triblock copolymers in aqueous solutions. The resultant micelles with abundant disulfide bonds could serve as soft templates and precisely accommodate gold nanoparticles in the core/shell interface as a result of the formation of Au-S bonds.     

Precise Synthesis and Thin Film Self-Assembly of PLLA-b-PS Bottlebrush Block Copolymers

The ability of bottlebrush block copolymers (BBCPs) to self-assemble into ordered large periodic structures could greatly expand the scope of photonic and membrane technologies. In this paper, we describe a two-step synthesis of poly(l-lactide)-b-polystyrene (PLLA-b-PS) BBCPs and their rapid thin-film self-assembly. PLLA chains were grown from exo-5-norbornene-2-methanol via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide to produce norbornene-terminated PLLA. Norbonene-terminated PS was prepared using anionic polymerization followed by a termination reaction with exo-5-norbornene-2-carbonyl chloride. PLLA-b-PS BBCPs were prepared from these two norbornenyl macromonomers by a one-pot sequential ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). PLLA-b-PS BBCPs thin-films exhibited cylindrical and lamellar morphologies depending on the relative block volume fractions, with domain sizes of 46–58 nm and periodicities of 70–102 nm. Additionally, nanoporous templates were produced by the selective etching of PLLA blocks from ordered structures. The findings described in this work provide further insight into the controlled synthesis of BBCPs leading to various possible morphologies for applications requiring large periodicities. Moreover, the rapid thin film patterning strategy demonstrated (>5 min) highlights the advantages of using PLLA-b-PS BBCP materials beyond their linear BCP analogues in terms of both dimensions achievable and reduced processing time.     

Ultrafast synthesis of near-infrared-emitting aqueous CdTe/CdS quantum dots with high fluorescence

The traditional aqueous route to synthesis CdTe/CdS Core/shell (c/s) quantum dots (QDs) via decomposition of Cd-thiol complexes is usually time consuming. Herein, an ultrafast and facile aqueous synthetic approach under atmospheric pressure for CdTe/CdS c/s QDs with emission from the green to the near-infrared window (535–820 nm) is reported. With purified CdTe core QDs diluted in solution of Cd-3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) complexes, CdTe/CdS c/s QDs with emission wavelengths at 700 and 800 nm can be obtained within 20- and 45-min refluxing under the optimized experimental conditions, respectively. This is the most rapid way to prepare CdTe/CdS c/s QDs in aqueous phase, and the obtained QDs were highly luminescent without postsynthesis treatment. The influences of various experimental factors, including Cd²⁺ concentration, MPA-to-Cd ratio, pH value, and dilution ratio on the growth rate and luminescent properties of the obtained CdTe/CdS c/s QDs, have been taken into consideration. The three processes “purification-dilution-addition” ensure the synthesis environment with high pH value and low core concentration and have a marked impact on the rapid synthesis rate and the resulting high fluorescence of CdTe/CdS c/s QDs.     

油茶果壳活性炭的制备及其对Cr(Ⅵ)的去除

利用磷酸活化法制备油茶果壳活性炭,并将其作为吸附剂用于去除水溶液中的Cr(Ⅵ),同时探讨了不同参数(Cr(Ⅵ)的初始浓度、吸附剂的用量、pH、温度等)对油茶果壳活性炭吸附Cr(Ⅵ)的影响。结果表明:当温度为293 K,Cr(Ⅵ)初始浓度为250 mg/L,pH为2.0时,Cr(Ⅵ)的最大吸附量可达165.0 mg/L。根据吸附动力学原理,发现其吸附过程遵循拟二级动力学模型。Cr(Ⅵ)的去除程度随Cr(Ⅵ)初始浓度的升高而增加,且其平衡数据与Freundlich模型拟合良好。