Visible light-driven acridone catalysis for atom transfer radical polymerization

Acridone as a new kind of visible light photocatalyst has been developed to catalyze metal free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The photocatalyst possess low excited state potential as can undergo an oxidative quenching pathway to initiate ATRP of vinyl monomers. Kinetic study and light on/off reaction demonstrate the “living”/controlled nature of the polymerization by light. Block copolymers can be achieved by using PMMA as macroinitiator to reinitiate polymerization of other vinyl monomers, which shows highly preserved Br chain-end functionality in the synthesized polymers. Moreover, the polymerization can be conducted under air atmosphere as most photocatalysts need anaerobic condition, which may give inspiration of further application of this kind of photocatalyst.     

Preparation of Highly Stable and Photoluminescent Cadmium-Free InP/GaP/ZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots and Application to Quantitative Immunoassay

Indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) are ideal substitutes for widely used cadmium-based QDs and have great application prospects in biological fields due to their environmentally benign properties and human safety. However, the synthesis of InP core/shell QDs with biocompatibility, high quantum yield (QY), uniform particle size, and high stability is still a challenging subject. Herein, high quality (QY up to 72%) thick shell InP/GaP/ZnS core/shell QDs (12.8 ± 1.4 nm) are synthesized using multiple injections of shell precursor and extension of shell growth time, with GaP serving as the intermediate layer and 1-octanethiol acting as the new S source. The thick shell InP/GaP/ZnS core/shell QDs still keep high QY and photostability after transfer into water. InP/GaP/ZnS core/shell QDs as fluorescence labels to establish QD-based fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (QD-FLISA) for quantitative detection of C-reactive protein (CRP), and a calibration curve is established between fluorescence intensity and CRP concentrations (range: 1–800 ng mL⁻¹, correlation coefficient: R² = 0.9992). The limit of detection is 2.9 ng mL⁻¹, which increases twofold compared to previously reported cadmium-free QD-based immunoassays. Thus, InP/GaP/ZnS core/shell QDs as a great promise fluorescence labeling material, provide a new route for cadmium-free sensitive and specific immunoassays in biomedical fields.     

Selective Excitation with Asymmetric Adiabatic Pulses for NMR Spectroscopy

Existing selective pulses are mainly constructed in the forms of classically shaped pulses, such as the Gaussian pulses, or generated by using numerical optimization methods. However, all of these pulses are highly sensitive to radiofrequency (RF) intensity variation, which means their performance is highly dependent on the accuracy and stability of the RF intensity. Even a slight RF intensity deviation can cause severe degradation in the excitation profile. To solve this problem, we propose a method for narrow selective excitation by sequential application of a pair of phase‐opposite asymmetric adiabatic pulses, all within two scans. By retaining the adiabatic character, the new method is highly robust to RF intensity variation. Moreover, it has flexible excitation bandwidth, ranging from line‐selective to narrow‐band‐selective pulses. The method is tested both in numerical simulations and solution‐state NMR experiments.     

Upgrading Solid Digestate from Anaerobic Digestion of Agricultural Waste as Performance Enhancer for Starch-Based Mulching Biofilm

Developing a green and sustainable method to upgrade biogas wastes into high value-added products is attracting more and more public attention. The application of solid residues as a performance enhancer in the manufacture of biofilms is a prospective way to replace conventional plastic based on fossil fuel. In this work, solid digestates from the anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes, such as straw, cattle and chicken manures, were pretreated by an ultrasonic thermo-alkaline treatment to remove the nonfunctional compositions and then incorporated in plasticized starch paste to prepare mulching biofilms by the solution casting method. The results indicated that solid digestate particles dispersed homogenously in the starch matrix and gradually aggregated under the action of a hydrogen bond, leading to a transformation of the composites to a high crystalline structure. Consequently, the composite biofilm showed a higher tensile strength, elastic modulus, glass transition temperature and degradation temperature compared to the pure starch-based film. The light, water and GHG (greenhouse gas) barrier properties of the biofilm were also reinforced by the addition of solid digestates, performing well in sustaining the soil quality and minimizing N₂O or CH₄ emissions. As such, recycling solid digestates into a biodegradable plastic substitute not only creates a new business opportunity by producing high-performance biofilms but also reduces the environmental risk caused by biogas waste and plastics pollution.     

Research on gamma-ray irradiation-assisted synthesis of cross-linked polystyrene via bulk polymerization

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Controlling heat accumulation is one of the major challenges for block materials synthesizing via bulk polymerization. In the paper, cross-linked...     

Chromatographic study of four sesquiterpenoids in volatile oil of Curcumae Rhizoma on reverse phase stationary phase with methyl-β-cyclodextrin as mobile additive

Abstract

The elution behavior of four sesquiterpenoids in volatile oil of Curcumae Rhizoma on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with methyl-β-cyclodextrin as mobile phase additive was studied, including germacrone, curzerene, furanodiene, and β-elemene. Stoichiometric ratio and apparent formation constants of inclusion complex formed by methyl-β-cyclodextrin and each analyte were calculated by varying the concentration of the additive in the mobile phase composed of methanol and water (90:10, v/v), in which the association constant for inclusion complex formed by the organic modifier methanol and methyl-β-cyclodextrin was also determined. Results showed that the stoichiometric ratio of all the inclusion complex was 1:1 when 0–9?mmol L^?1 of methyl-β-cyclodextrin was added in the mobile phase. Unusual retention behavior of the analyte germacrone was found, which was further investigated by the calculation of thermodynamic parameters. Meanwhile, enthalpy and entropy of the inclusion complexes and solute-stationary phase interactions were determined by linear van’t Hoff plots.     

Experimental research of effects of different rotation radii on the growth rate of potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals

Comparing with the traditional concentric rotation method (rotation radius is 0 cm), the effects of different rotation radii on the growth rate of KDP crystals were studied by experimental methods. It was found that with the increase of rotation radius from 0 cm, the growth rate of each direction of crystals first increased and then decreased in a size‐unchanged vessel. The smaller the distance between the crystal and vessel wall, the less the growth rate. This phenomenon was named the “wall collision effect”. Also, the value of growth rate reached a maximum when the rotation radius was about half of its allowable largest value in the size‐unchanged vessel. In addition, an increase of the rotation radius could improve the crystal growth rate under the same linear velocity of crystal movement. Finally, the uniformity of crystal growth has also been analyzed compared with the concentric rotation radius. It was found that the uniformity of crystal growth was best when the rotation radius was half of its allowable maximum value, and it was more conducive to the actual application of KDP crystals.     

Terahertz transmission properties of Cr ion implantation glass

<正>Cr ion implantations in glass with the different doses of D=1.493×10~(17) and 4.976×10~(17) ion/cm~2 are obtained by metal vapor vacuum arc(MEVVA).The effects of the different Cr ion implanted doses on terahertz(THz) transmission property are analyzed from THz time-domain spectroscopy.The results show that the more the Cr ion implanted dose in the micro-area implantation glasses,the larger the THz transmission except the larger absorption at 0.24 THz.This is an effect attributed to the coupling of plasmas on both the implantation and the implantation affected zones of the Cr ion implantation glass.