Simple and Sensitive Electrochemical DNA Detection of Primer Generation‐Rolling Circle Amplification

A new electrochemical sequence‐specific DNA detection platform based on primer generation‐rolling circle amplification (PG‐RCA), methylene blue (MB) redox indicator, and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode is reported. In the presence of a specific target sequence, PG‐RCA, an isothermal DNA amplification technique, produced large amounts of amplicons in an exponential manner. In addition to the standard components, the reaction mixture contained MB, which bound with the PG‐RCA amplicons. End‐point electrochemical measurement by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was performed using ITO electrode. The amplicon‐bound MB resulted in a lower DPV signal than free MB due to a smaller diffusion coefficient as well as electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged amplicon‐bound MB and ITO electrode. With simple assay design (recognition probe) and instrumentation (operating temperature at 37 °C and ITO electrode without the need for probe immobilization), this detection platform is well suited for point‐of‐care and on‐site testing. Real‐time measurement was also achieved by pretreating the ITO electrode with bovine serum albumin.     

Simultaneous identification of historical pigments Prussian blue and indigo in paintings by electrospray mass spectrometry

A new analytical protocol for identification of Prussian blue (PB) and indigo was proposed. Pigments useful for dating of artworks were detected by flow injection analysis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry after alkalization of their suspensions in water, decomposition of PB to iron (III) hydroxide and hexacyanoferrate (II) and reduction of indigo to soluble leucoindigo using sodium dithionite. Limits of detection (PB 47 pg, indigo 59 pg) complied with requirements for analysis of microsamples of historical paintings. Potential of the developed method was proven in analysis of blue samples of two oil paintings from the 20^th century. Further, PB was confirmed in a microsample from a painting of ‘Crucifixion’, St. Sebestian church on St. Hill in Mikulov, Czech Republic. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

表面Cu2O纳米颗粒修饰高效促进γ-Bi2MoO6的可见光催化活性

采用水热法在γ-Bi₂MoO₆光催化剂表面修饰了纳米级Cu₂O, 得到了具有高效可见光响应的复合光催化材料, 并利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、选区电子衍射(SAED)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis-DRS)等技术对其相结构、微观形貌和光吸收性能进行了表征. 在可见光条件下(λ>400 nm)考察了Cu₂O表面修饰对γ-Bi₂MoO₆光催化降解亚甲基蓝(MB)性能的促进作用. 结果表明, 纳米级Cu₂O(~10 nm)颗粒均匀地修饰于γ-Bi₂MoO₆的表面, 使γ-Bi₂MoO₆的可见光吸收带发生明显红移, 且吸收强度大幅提高, 增强了复合材料光生电子-空穴对的分离效率, 从而使复合材料表现出较高的光催化活性. 当Cu₂O的表面修饰量为1.5%(w)时, 复合光催化剂降解MB的活性与纯γ-Bi₂MoO₆相比提高了6.4倍.     

Prussian Blue Nanoparticles Self Assembling on Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified GC Electrode for Sensitive Hydrogen Peroxide Detection

A facile, fast, and convenient route was suggested for the fabrication of Prussian blue nano particles (PBNPs) assembled on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (PBNPs|RGO|GCE). RGO was electrodeposited on the surface of GCE and the prepared RGO|GCE was immersed into a ferric‐hexacyanoferrate(III) solution and PBNPs were assembled on the RGO|GCE for a certain period of time. The PBNPs film thickness can be easily controlled by adjusting the assembling duration. The developed PBNPs|RGO|GCE was successfully used for determining hydrogen peroxide, with a linear response over the concentration range 0.5‐400 μM, a good accuracy and precision, detection limit 0.44 μM, and sensitivity 1168 mA M^?1 cm^?2.     

Knoevenagel Condensation of Aldehydes with Meldrum's Acid in Ionic Liquids

The Knoevenagel condensation of Meldrum's acid with aromatic aldehydes proceeded efficiently in the recyclable ionic liquid [bmim]BF₄ at room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of piperidine.     

Condensation Reactions of Aromatic Aldehydes with Active Methylene Compounds Catalyzed by Alkaline Ionic Liquid

The Knoevenagel condensation reactions of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds catalyzed by the functionalized ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimmidazolium hydroxide ([bmim]OH), were carried out under grinding, heating, and microwave irradiation conditions, respectively. It is shown that the proposed method is fast, efficient, and environmentally benign.      

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 300) and Water–Ethanol as Benign Solvent Systems for the Synthesis of a Novel Series of 2-Hydroxynaphthalen-1(4H)-Ones

An improved, clean, simple, and efficient method for the synthesis of new series of 2-hydroxy-4-methylenenaphthalen-1(4H)-one is described. This new process involves a domino Michael addition of various methylene acid compounds with the sodium salt of 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate either in basic (tBuOK) polyethylene glycol (PEG300) at room temperature or in a basic (NaOH) water–ethanol medium at 40 °C by a crushing in a mortar or a traditional heating.     

Synthesis,Bifunctionalization, and Remarkable Adsorption Performance of Benzene‐Bridged Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas Functionalized with High Loadings of Carboxylic Acids

Highly ordered benzene‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) that were functionalized with exceptionally high loadings of carboxylic acid groups (COOH), up to 80 mol % based on silica, have been synthesized and their use as adsorbents for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB), a basic dye pollutant, and for the loading and release of doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug, is demonstrated. These COOH‐functionalized benzene? silicas were synthesized by the co‐condensation of 1,4‐bis(triethoxysilyl) benzene (BTEB) and carboxyethylsilanetriol sodium salt (CES), an organosilane that contained a carboxylic acid group, in the presence of non‐ionic oligomeric surfactant Brij 76 in acidic medium. The materials thus obtained were characterized by a variety of techniques, including powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen‐adsorption/desorption isotherms, TEM, and ¹³C and ²⁹Si solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. Owing to the exceptionally high loadings of COOH groups, their high surface areas, and possible π? π‐stacking interactions, these adsorbents have very high adsorption capacities and extremely rapid adsorption rates for MB removal and for the controlled loading/release of DOX, thus manifesting their great potential for environmental and biomedical applications.     

SERS and Raman imaging as a new tool to monitor dyeing on textile fibres

Textile fibres containing Ag nanoparticles have been widely explored for a number of antimicrobial fabrics. Moreover, it is well‐known that textile dyeing is a critical stage in the manufacture thereof. This research shows that surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and Raman imaging can be used with advantage in the monitoring of this process. Using Ag containing linen fibres stained with methylene blue (MB), it was possible to map the local distribution of the MB dye in the fibres by Raman imaging. MB was selected as the SERS molecular probe and as a model dye. Composites of linen fibres and Ag nanoparticles were prepared by distinct methods and used as SERS substrates in order to evaluate the effect of the preparative method on the Raman images. Our results demonstrate that by using Raman imaging associated to the presence of Ag nanoparticles, it is possible to distinguish the local distribution of the dye on the textile surface. This investigation allows to foreseeing the use of this technique in terms of quality control of Ag containing fabrics, which is a market in great expansion. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

溶剂热法制备Ag/TiO2纳米材料及其光催化性能

以乙醇为溶剂, 钛酸四丁酯为前驱体, 用溶剂热法制备了Ag表面修饰的负载型纳米二氧化钛光催化剂. 利用X射线衍射(XRD)、N₂吸附-脱附(BET)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、紫外-可见(UV-Vis)光谱等技术对其进行了系统的表征, 以亚甲基蓝(MB)溶液的脱色降解为模型反应, 考察了不同Ag含量样品的光催化性能. 结果表明: 用溶剂热法制备的样品中TiO₂皆为锐钛矿相, 金属Ag颗粒沉积在TiO₂表面, 粒径为2 nm左右, 比表面积较溶胶凝胶法制备的样品大大增加, 最高可达151.44 m²·g^-1; UV-Vis光谱和光催化实验表明: Ag修饰使TiO₂对光的吸收能力大大增强, 吸收带边红移至可见光区, 亚甲基蓝在该复合材料上的光催化降解反应遵循一级反应动力学模型; 溶剂热法制备样品的光催化性能明显好于溶胶凝胶法制备的样品, 在紫外光和可见光下, Ag摩尔分数为5%的样品表现出最佳的光催化活性.