多孔硅上银纳米粒薄膜的制备及其表面增强红外光谱

通过简便的化学沉积法在多孔硅上制备银纳米粒薄膜用于表面增强红外光谱检测。通过Ag⁺与多孔硅表面的SiHx发生氧化还原反应将银纳米粒子沉积在多孔硅表面。红外探针分子溶解于无水乙醇中进而被均匀分散在多孔硅表面,实验结果显示：对氨基苯硫酚、对氨基苯甲酸和对氟苯硫酚3个探针分子的红外峰分别最大增强了10、85和21倍。银纳米粒的大小和形状等物理特性、探针分子是否有与银表面进行强结合的基团和芳烃结构、以及表面选律等因素影响表面增强红外的吸收效应。     

双极纳米电极阵列实现单个铂纳米颗粒上氢气析出反应的电致化学发光成像（英文）

本文制备了嵌于多孔阳极氧化铝(AAO)膜中直径为200 nm,间距为450 nm的高密度(5.7×10~8 cm~(-2))的金纳米电极阵列,纳米电极分布规则,尺寸高度均一。我们将该金纳米电极阵列作为双极电极阵列,可将电极一侧的电化学法拉第信号在另一侧电极上转化成电致化学发光(ECL)信号,从而实现对单个铂纳米颗粒上氢气析出反应(HER)进行亚微米空间分辨率的电化学成像。本文介绍的方法为高空间分辨率成像电催化材料、能源材料以及细胞过程的局部电化学活性提供了一个良好的平台。     

双极纳米电极阵列实现单个铂纳米颗粒上氢气析出反应的电致化学发光成像

本文制备了嵌于多孔阳极氧化铝（AAO）膜中直径为200 nm,间距为450 nm的高密度（5.7 × 10⁸ cm^-2）的金纳米电极阵列,纳米电极分布规则,尺寸高度均一。我们将该金纳米电极阵列作为双极电极阵列,可将电极一侧的电化学法拉第信号在另一侧电极上转化成电致化学发光（ECL）信号,从而实现对单个铂纳米颗粒上氢气析出反应（HER）进行亚微米空间分辨率的电化学成像。本文介绍的方法为高空间分辨率成像电催化材料、能源材料以及细胞过程的局部电化学活性提供了一个良好的平台。     

金纳米粒子在氨基表面上的组装-pH值的影响

用原子力显微镜（AFM）和表面增强喇曼光谱（SERS）研究了pH值对金纳米粒子在Au／巯基苯胺自组装膜表面上组装效果的影响．AFM结果表明，金纳米粒子在表面上的覆盖度随pH值表现出规律性的变化，巯基苯胺自组装膜的SERS强度随pH值的变化也有类似的趋势．在磁性环境下，氨基未质子化，金粒子难以组装上，而在酸性条件下，氨基质子化带正电，金粒子与基底容易结合．我们认为金纳米粒子和氨基之间的作用属于静电力，pH值同时影响膜表面氨基的质子化程度和金纳米粒子表面的带电量．     

银电极表面异亮氨酸单分子膜结构和表面性质的表面增强拉曼光谱研究

利用表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)技术研究了在粗糙化银电极表面吸附的异亮氨酸自组装单层膜结构及其表面性质随溶液酸碱性和电极电位改变的特征.研究结果表明溶液pH值的变化并没有显著改变异亮氨酸分子在银电极表面以去质子化羧基吸附为主的特征.借助于高氯酸根离子这一SERS光谱探针,对异亮氨酸单分子膜的表面酸碱性质进行了表征和分析.而就电位改变对该单分子膜结构的影响而言,在所研究的电位范围内,单分子膜中的异亮氨酸分子是通过去质子化羧基与氨基两个位点而吸附的,且吸附作用随电位负移而呈现有规律的变化.     

电沉积二氧化钛纳米微粒膜的光电化学性能和表面形貌研究

采用光电流谱、透射光谱和扫描微探针显微镜技术对电沉积法制备的二氧化钛纳米微粒膜的光电化学性能和表面形貌进行了研究.结果表明,不同制备条件下的二氧化钛纳米微粒膜具有与紧密的半导体电极不同的光电化学性质,并探讨了其光电化学性能与表面形貌的关系.     

微米/纳米结构对氟硅烷修饰氧化铝表面疏水性能的影响

以多孔氧化铝膜为基板,用NaOH溶液进行化学腐蚀,控制适当的条件,得到氧化铝微米/纳米表面结构.用氟硅烷分别修饰光滑氧化铝膜、多孔氧化铝膜及其微米/纳米结构表面,进行接触角测试、XPS成分分析和SEM结构表征.结果表明,氟硅烷修饰的微米/纳米结构表面对水的接触角(149°±2°)比光滑表面(101°±1°)和纳米孔洞结构表面(141°±2°)都高.     

Aerolysin蛋白纳米孔道直接检测单个DNA碱基修饰

基于Aerolysin生物膜通道蛋白的纳米孔道电化学分析技术,因其高的电化学空间限域能力可实现超灵敏DNA单分子检测。本文利用单个Aerolysin纳米孔道在无需标记、无需扩增的条件下直接分辨3种具有单个碱基差异的单链DNA。实验结果显示,具有单个炔基侧链基团修饰的单个ss DNA在限域空间内与Aerol-ysin纳米孔道的相互作用时间较未修饰的ss DNA增长近7倍,电流阻断程度增大7%,且高斯峰半峰宽减小了44%,增强了Aerolysin纳米孔道对单个DNA分子的分辨能力。研究成果有望推动Aerolysin纳米孔在DNA直接测序及表观遗传修饰检测中的应用。     

基于纳米氧化铜修饰的异戊巴比妥的新型电化学传感器的制备与应用

在纳米氧化铜修饰的玻碳电极表面电聚合一种能够快速检测尿液中异戊巴比妥(AMB)的分子印迹敏感膜,研究了该敏感膜的最佳成膜条件及最佳工作条件.通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、循环伏安(CV)和电化学交流阻抗法(EIS)研究了印迹膜的表面形貌及性能.电化学实验结果表明,纳米氧化铜能提高传感器对AMB的灵敏度.在最佳实验条件下,铁氰化钾分子探针的差分脉冲伏安(DPV)峰电流响应值与AMB的浓度在1.0×10-7~1.4×10-4mol/L范围内呈现良好的线性关系(线性相关系数R=0.9966);检出限为2.1×10-9mol/L(S/N=3).此印迹传感器可用于尿液中AMB的检测,加标回收率为94.00%~104.67%.     

基于氧化铝纳米通道的电化学生物传感器研究

将制备好的氧化铝纳米通道经与3-氨丙基三乙氧基硅烷反应使其表面修饰了氨基后,再在含生物素的缓冲溶液(pH 5.5)中反应12h,制成表面固定了生物素的氧化铝纳米通道,通道孔径约50nm。另取PVC管一段,在其顶端用PVC/THF混合液粘附制备好的聚合物膜,再将上述修饰好的氧化铝纳米通道用有机硅橡胶粘在敏感膜的底部,作为工作电极待用。以生物素-亲和素体系为模型,用经修饰的氧化铝纳米通道为识别载体进行电位法检测,实现了亲和素的检测。亲和素的质量浓度在0.10~0.60mg·L-1范围内与相应的电位变化值之间呈线性关系,检出限(3σ)为0.05mg·L-1。试验结果验证了氧化铝纳米通道电位生物传感器测定生物大分子的可行性。     

A nanochannel array based device for determination of the isoelectric point of confined proteins

A nanochannel array based nanodevice can mimic the biological environments and thus unveil the natural properties, conformation and recognition information of biomolecules such as proteins and DNA in confined spaces. Here we report that porous anodic alumina (PAA) of a highly parallel nanochannel array covalently modified with proteins significantly modulates the transport of a negatively charged probe of ferricyanide due to the electrostatic interactions between the probes and modified nanochannel inner surface. Results show that such electrostatic interaction exists in a wide range of ionic strength from 1 mM to 100 mM in 20 nm nanochannels modified with proteins (hemoglobin, bovine serum albumin, and goat anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibody). In addition, the maximal steady-state flux of the charged probe through the modified nanochannel array is directly related to the ionic strength which determines the electric double layer thickness and solution pH which modulates the nanochannel surface charge. Thus, the modulated mass transport of the probe by solution pH can be used to study the charge properties of the immobilized proteins in nanochannel confined conditions, leading us to obtain the isoelectric point (pI) of the proteins confined in nanochannels. The determined pI values of two known proteins of hemoglobin and bovine serum albumin are close to the ones of the same proteins covalently modified on a 3-mercaptopropionic acid self-assembled monolayer/gold electrode. In addition, the pI of an unknown protein of goat anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibody confined in nanochannels was determined to be 6.3. Finally, the confinement effect of nanochannels on the charge properties of immobilized proteins has been discussed.     

Label-free monitoring of the thrombin–aptamer recognition reaction using an array of nanochannels coupled with electrochemical detection

A sensitive and label-free method of monitoring the thrombin–aptamer recognition reaction has been developed using an array of nanochannels coupled with an electrochemical detection technique. Due to the highly amplified ion current produced by an array of nanochannels compared to a single nanochannel/pore, a significant increase in detection sensitivity has been achieved.     

Nanoconfinement Effects: Glucose Oxidase Reaction Kinetics in Nanofluidics

Size‐tunable nanofluidic devices coupled to an electrochemical detector have been designed and then used to study glucose oxidase (GOx) reaction kinetics confined in nanospaces. The devices are fabricated via a photochemical decomposition reaction, which forms nanochannels covered with carboxyl groups. The generated carboxyl groups enable us to chemically pattern biological molecules on the polymer surfaces via covalent bonding. With this approach, the activity of the immobilized biological molecules confined in nanospaces with different sizes has been investigated. GOx species are chemically immobilized on the surface of the nanochannels, catalyzing the oxidation of substrate glucose as it flows through the channels. The enzyme reaction product, hydrogen peroxide, passing through the nanochannels, reaches an electrochemical detector, giving rise to an increase in anodic current. This steady‐state electrochemical current, which responds to various glucose concentrations, can be used to evaluate the GOx activity under confinement conditions. The results show significant nanoconfinement effects that are dependent on the channel size where the reaction occurs, demonstrating the importance of spatial confinement on the GOx reaction kinetics. The present approach provides an effective method for the study of enzyme activity and other bioassay systems, such as cell assays, drug discovery, and clinical diagnosis.     

A simple polysilsesquioxane sealing of nanofluidic channels below 10 nm at room temperature

We present a simple sealing method to fabricate nanofluidic channels, where plasma treated polysilsesquioxane (PSQ) thin film on a rigid support is used to bond to a hydrophilic glass surface permanently at room temperature. This method shows precise dimension control below 10 nm with easy experimental setup. Using this method, one dimensional confined shallow nanochannels with a depth as small as 8 nm and an aspect ratio of <4 x 10(-5), two dimensional confined nanochannel arrays, and integrated nano/microchannel devices with a micro-to-nano interface have been demonstrated. Smooth transfer of DNA fragments from microchannel to nanochannel through the interface area was observed.     

Large scale lithography-free nano channel array on polystyrene

This paper reports a new fabrication method of lithography-free nanochannel array. It is based on the cracking process on the surface of a polystyrene (PS) Petri-dish, one type of thermoplastic that is composed of uni-axial macromolecular chains. Under proper conditions, parallel nanochannels with equal interspaces are obtained. Control over the channel depth from 20 nm to 200 nm is achieved, with the channel length reaching tens of millimetres. The PDMS replication based on PS nanochannel array has been successfully carried out. In combination with the microstructure, both an ion enrichment device and a current rectification device are fabricated, and their quantified characters manifested the applicability of the channel array structure in nanofluidics.     

Creating anodic alumina nanochannel arrays with custom-made geometry

Porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) is one of the most commonly used nanotemplates for growing arrays of nanoparticles, nanowires, nanocomposites, and nanoarchitectures because its pores, which are of a very uniform size, can grow longitudinally into arrays of self-aligned nanochannels with an extremely high aspect ratio. Furthermore, under specific combinations of anodization voltage and electrolyte, the lateral positions of nanochannels can self-organize into arrays of two-dimensional hexagonally close-packed lattices with domain sizes on the order of few tens of lattice units. The domain size can be greatly increased by prepatterning the Al surface with custom-designed nanoconcaves prior to the anodization process. The concaves guide the growth fronts of nanochannels and lead to the formation of an ideally long-range ordered lattice of nanochannel array. Such concaves have been fabricated by many methods, such as stamp imprinting, grating imprinting, and focused ion beam direct writing. In this review, we summarize the development of various methods to create AAO nanochannel arrays with custom-made geometry and discuss the mechanism responsible for the guiding process.     

Electrokinetic transport through nanochannels

This article presents a numerical study of the electrokinetic transport phenomena (electroosmosis and electrophoresis) in a three-dimensional nanochannel with a circular cross-section. Due to the nanometer dimensions, the Boltzmann distribution of the ions is not valid in the nanochannels. Therefore, the conventional theories of electrokinetic flow through the microchannels such as Poisson-Boltzmann equation and Helmholtz-Smoluchowski slip velocity approach are no longer applicable. In the current study, a set of coupled partial differential equations including Poisson-Nernst-Plank equation, Navier-Stokes, and continuity equations is solved to find the electric potential field, ionic concentration field, and the velocity field in the three-dimensional nanochannel. The effects of surface electric charge and the radius of nanochannel on the electric potential, liquid flow, and ionic transport are investigated. Unlike the microchannels, the electric potential field, ionic concentration field, and velocity field are strongly size-dependent in nanochannels. The electric potential gradient along the nanochannel also depends on the surface electric charge of the nanochannel. More counter ions than the coions are transported through the nanochannel. The ionic concentration enrichment at the entrance and the exit of the nanochannel is completely evident from the simulation results. The study also shows that the flow velocity in the nanochannel is higher when the surface electric charge is stronger or the radius of the nanochannel is larger.     

Design and Fabrication of a Biomimetic Nanochannel for Highly Sensitive Arginine Response in Serum Samples

Inspired from their biological counterparts, chemical modification of the interior surface of nanochannels with functional molecules may provide a highly efficient means to control ionic or molecular transport through nanochannels. Herein, we have designed and prepared a aldehyde calix[4]arene (C4AH), which was attached to the interior surface of a single nanochannel by using a click reaction, and that showed a high response for arginine (Arg). Furthermore, the nanofluidic sensing system has been challenged with complex matrices containing a high concentration of interfering sequences and serum. Based on this finding, we believe that the artificial nanochannel can be used for practical Arg‐sensing devices, and be applied in a biological environment.     

Electrolysis in nanochannels for in situ reagent generation in confined geometries

In situ generation of reactive species within confined geometries, such as nanopores or nanochannels is of significant interest in overcoming mass transport limitations in chemical reactivity. Solvent electrolysis is a simple process that can readily be coupled to nanochannels for the electrochemical generation of reactive species, such as H(2). Here the production of hydrogen-rich liquid volumes within nanofluidic structures, without bubble nucleation or nanochannel occlusion, is explored both experimentally and by modeling. Devices comprised of multiple horizontal nanochannels intersecting planar working and quasi-reference electrodes were constructed and used to study the effects of confinement and reduced working volume on the electrochemical reduction of H(2)O to H(2) and OH(-). H(2) production in the nanochannel-embedded electrode reactor output was monitored by fluorescence emission of fluorescein, which exhibits a pH-dependent emission intensity. Initially, the fluorescein solution was buffered to pH 6.0 prior to stepping the potential cathodic of E(0)' for the generation of OH(-) and H(2). Because the electrochemical products are obtained in a 2:1 stoichiometry, local measurements of pH during and after the cathodic potential steps can be converted into H(2) production rates. Independent experimental estimates of the local H(2) concentration were then obtained from the spatiotemporal fluorescence behavior and current measurements, and these were compared with finite element simulations accounting for electrolysis and subsequent convection and diffusion within the confined geometry. Local dissolved H(2) concentrations were correlated to partial pressures through Henry's Law and values as large as 8.3 atm were obtained at the most negative potential steps. The downstream availability of electrolytically produced H(2) in nanochannels is evaluated in terms of its possible use as a downstream reducing reagent. The results obtained here indicate that H(2) can easily reach saturation concentrations at modest overpotentials.     

Gold Nanoparticles Confined in Vertically Aligned Silica Nanochannels and Their Electrocatalytic Activity Toward Ascorbic Acid

A facile method of confining gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in silica nanochannels aligned perpendicularly to an underlying electrode surface is reported. The nanochannel surface carrying a layer of (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxy silane (APTS) displays a strong electrostatic interaction with AuCl₄^?, eventually resulting in the confinement of AuNPs inside the nanochannels after chemical reduction. As‐prepared AuNPs in APTS‐modified mesoporous silica film (APTS‐MSF) are highly dispersed with a narrow size distribution. Furthermore, these AuNPs are free of protecting ligands and exhibit a good electrochemical catalytic activity toward the oxidation of ascorbic acid.