Polymer micelle-directed growth of BaCO(3) spiral nanobelts

We discovered that micelles of a thermo-responsive polypeptide-based copolymer are able to direct growth of barium carbonate (BaCO(3)) in the form of nanobelts. The BaCO(3) nanobelts tend to grow around a formed crystal, and curl into a spiral superstructure.     

Multicolor super-resolution fluorescence imaging via multi-parameter fluorophore detection

Understanding the complexity of the cellular environment will benefit from the ability to unambiguously resolve multiple cellular components, simultaneously and with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. Multicolor super-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques have been developed to achieve this goal, yet challenges remain in terms of the number of targets that can be simultaneously imaged and the crosstalk between color channels. Herein, we demonstrate multicolor stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) based on a multi-parameter detection strategy, which uses both the fluorescence activation wavelength and the emission color to discriminate between photo-activatable fluorescent probes. First, we obtained two-color super-resolution images using the near-infrared cyanine dye Alexa 750 in conjunction with a red cyanine dye Alexa 647, and quantified color crosstalk levels and image registration accuracy. Combinatorial pairing of these two switchable dyes with fluorophores which enhance photo-activation enabled multi-parameter detection of six different probes. Using this approach, we obtained six-color super-resolution fluorescence images of a model sample. The combination of multiple fluorescence detection parameters for improved fluorophore discrimination promises to substantially enhance our ability to visualize multiple cellular targets with sub-diffraction-limit resolution.     

Ionic conductivity of pure water in charged porous matrix

It is commonly recognized that the ionic conductivity of pure water is very poor because of very low ionic concentrations. However, this work indicates that pure water in charged porous matrixes can be moderately conductive because of the ions in the electric double layer established at the solid/water interfaces. The ionic conductivity of pure water in a charged matrix changes with the electrode potential of the matrix and is influenced by the structural parameters. Both experimental measurements and theoretical calculations reveal that ionic conductivity may reach the order of 10(-3) S cm(-1) in commonly accessible potential region in a porous matrix made of gold nanoparticles. These results would help to understand and optimize the electrode processes in electrochemical devices without deliberately added electrolytes, such as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.     

A Fractal-Like Kinetic Equation to Investigate Temperature Effect on Cellulose Hydrolysis by Free and Immobilized Cellulase

According to fractal-like theory in the heterogeneous system, a cellulase-catalyzed kinetic equation that contained two parameters (rate constant k and fractal dimension h) was deduced. The equation described directly the mathematical relationship between reducing sugar concentration and hydrolytic time, and accurately fitted the experimental data of free/immobilized cellulase at 37, 40, 44, 47, and 50?°C (R (2)?>?0.99). The fitted h value is estimated as a constant (0.6148) in these tested temperatures. The fitted k value increased with temperature increase, and the relationship agreed with Arrhenius equation (R (2)?>?0.98). The fractal-like equation could predict accurately the experimental data at low temperature 34?°C for free/immobilized cellulase and high temperature 53?°C for immobilized cellulase, but the prediction at 53?°C for free cellulase was not accurate enough due to its lower stability than immobilized cellulase. The application of fractal-like theory in cellulase kinetics is successful.     

Upconversion nanophosphors for small-animal imaging

Rare-earth upconversion nanophosphors (UCNPs), when excited by continuous-wave near-infrared light, exhibit a unique narrow photoluminescence with higher energy. Such special upconversion luminescence makes UCNPs promising as bioimaging probes with attractive features, such as no auto-fluorescence from biological samples and a large penetration depth. As a result, UCNPs have emerged as novel imaging agents for small animals. In this critical review, recent reports regarding the synthesis of water-soluble UCNPs and their surface modification and bioconjugation chemistry are summarized. The applications of UCNPs for small-animal imaging, including tumor-targeted imaging, lymphatic imaging, vascular imaging and cell tracking are reviewed in detail. The exploration of UCNPs as multifunctional nanoscale carriers for integrated imaging and therapy is also presented. The biodistribution and toxicology of UCNPs are further described. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in the development of UCNP-based nanoplatforms for small-animal imaging (276 references).     

(Ni,Mg)3Si2O5(OH)4 solid-solution nanotubes supported by sub-0.06 wt % palladium as a robust high-efficiency catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

(Ni(1-x),Mg(x))(3)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4) solid-solution nanotubes (NTs) with tunable compositions were hydrothermally synthesized by altering the molar ratio of Mg(2+) to Ni(2+). The as-synthesized NTs were loaded with sub-0.06 wt % palladium (Pd; ～0.045 wt %) for Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) coupling reactions between iodobenzene or 4-iodotoluene and phenylboronic acid. The (Ni,Mg)(3)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4) (Mg(2+):Ni(2+) = 1.0:1.0) NTs supported by 0.045 wt % Pd promoted the iodobenzene-participated coupling reaction with a high yield of >99%, an excellent recycling catalytic performance during 10 cycles of catalysis with yields of ～99%, and also an extremely low Pd releasing level of ～0.02 ppm. High-activity Pd and PdO clusters, multitudes of dislocations, and defects and terraces contained within the NTs should contribute to the (Ni,Mg)(3)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4) (Mg(2+):Ni(2+) = 1.0:1.0) NTs supported by 0.045 wt % Pd as a robust, reusable, and high-efficiency catalyst for SM coupling reactions with an extremely low Pd releasing level. The present hydrothermally stable (Ni,Mg)(3)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4) (Mg(2+):Ni(2+) = 1.0:1.0) solid-solution silicate NTs provided an ideal alternative tubular-structured support for noble- or transition-metal catalysts with low Pd loading, good recycling, and extremely low ppb levels of Pd release, which could also be extended to some other SM coupling reactions.     

Electrochemistry of nanocrystalline 3C silicon carbide films

Silicon carbide (SiC) films have been used frequently for high-frequency and powder devices but have seldom been applied as the electrode material. In this paper, we have investigated the electrochemical properties of the nanocrystalline 3C-SiC film in detail. A film with grain sizes of 5 to 20 nm shows a surface roughness of about 30 nm. The resistivity of the film is in the range of 3.5-6.2 kΩ cm. In 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) solution, the film has a double-layer capacitance of 30-35 μF cm(-2) and a potential window of 3.0 V if an absolute current density of 0.1 mA cm(-2) is defined as the threshold. Its electrochemical activity was examined by using redox probes of [Ru(NH(3))(6)](2+/3+) and [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) in aqueous solutions and by using redox probes of quinone and ferrocene in nonaqueous solutions. Diffusion-controlled, quasi-reversible electrode processes were achieved in four cases. The surface chemistry of the nanocrystalline 3C-SiC film was studied by electrochemical grafting with 4-nitrobenzenediazonium salts. The grafting was confirmed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy. All these results confirm that the nanocrystalline 3C-SiC film is promising for use as an electrode material.     

IR CHARACTERISTICS AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES OF CU-CO-AL HYDROTALCITES

Series of Co-Al and Co-Cu-Al hydrotalcites were synthesized, thermally activated and characterized. The correlation between the hydrotalcite composition and their IR spectra were discussed along with the results of X-ray diffraction analyses. The specific surface areas of hydrotalcites and their catalytic activities for nitrous oxide decomposition upon calcination were studied. As Co was partially replaced by Cu. the catalytic activity was improved by 10% under the same reaction conditions (Co/Cu/Al = 2.7/0.3/1). A spinel Cu_xCo_3-xO₄ was formed in calcined hydrotalcites.     

A novel MMI–MZ all-optical switch

This paper presents a novel all-optical switch based on multi-mode interference (MMI) and Mach–Zehnder (MZ) using self-imaging principle and optical Kerr effect of organic polymer material. A branch waveguide is inserted into one of Mach–Zehnder interferometer arms, where the controlling beam is introduced. The device with a core of azo polymer is simulated by the beam propagation method (BPM). The result shows that, the bent branch waveguide of 2 μm width is inserted in MZ interferometer arm at 100 μm has the minimal impact on the original waveguide. And a good light switching function is achieved via controlling light intensity of 4 mW.     

Experiment of Doppler shift of diffraction beam

Optical heterodyne interfering is used to measure the Doppler shift of diffraction beam of moving plane grating. By introducing Doppler shift in reference beam and contrasting the final beat frequency, the Doppler shift is measured to be normal when incident light and diffraction light are in the same side of the normal of periodic plane grating, which shows that abnormal Doppler shift can not occur on the material with “negative refraction phenomenon” caused by periodicity. Periodic two-dimensional photonic crystal with the property of abnormal Doppler shift has equivalent negative refractive index, and the abnormal properties of left-handed materials are not only caused by periodicity.