Molecular self-assembly and passivation of GaAs (0 0 1) with alkanethiol monolayers: A view towards bio-functionalization

Properties of as prepared or nanoengineered III-V semiconductor surfaces provide attractive means for photonic detection of different adsorbants from surrounding gaseous or liquid environments. To be practical, this approach requires that the surface is made selectively sensitive (functionalized) to targeted species. In addition, such surface has also to stay stable over extended period of time to make it available for rapid testing. Numerous reports demonstrate attractive properties of GaAs for sensing applications. One of the most fundamental issues relevant to these applications concerns the ability to functionalize chemically, or biologically, the surface of GaAs. The most studied method of GaAs surface functionalization is based on formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of various n-alkanethiols, HS-(CH₂)_n-T (T = CH₃, COOH, NH₂, etc.). In spite of multi-year research concerning this issue, it has only been recently that a comprehensive picture of SAMs formation on GaAs and an understanding of the natural limitation of the SAM-GaAs interface in some bio-chemical sensing architectures has begun to emerge.     

Copper-containing polyvinyl alcohol composite systems: Preparation,characterization and biological activity

The present investigation reports, the complex formation of Cu(II) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the synthesis of PVA-stabilized Cu₂O particles. This PVA–Cu₂O composite has been prepared via chemical reduction method using PVA–Cu(II) complex as precursor. At first, Cu(II) ions were stabilized in PVA matrix via complex formation with OH groups; subsequently, this PVA–Cu(II) macromolecular complex as precursor reacted with ascorbic acid as reducing agent at pH=12 to prepare PVA–Cu₂O composite. The products were characterized by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, HRTEM, Visible Spectroscopy and atomic absorption. In the following, the antibacterial properties of as-prepared composites were examined against Gram-positive (Bacillus thuringiensis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), and the results showed excellent antibacterial activity of these materials.     

Impacts of ultrasonication time and surfactants on stability and optical properties of CuO,Fe3O4, and CNTs/water nanofluids for spectrum selective applications

The prime objective of the present experimental work is to evaluate the impact of ultrasonication time and surfactants on the optical characteristics (transmittance and absorbance) and stability of CuO/water, CNTs/water, and Fe₃O₄/water nanofluids to be used in spectrum selective applications. Two-step method with various ultrasonication times (30 min, 60 min, and 90 min) was employed to prepare nanofluids (having volume fractions of 0.004 % and 0.0004 %). Furthermore, various surfactants (anionic, cationic, and polymer) were added to the base fluid. The study results revealed that surfactants have a significant effect on the stability of nanofluids over ultrasonication time. The nanofluids prepared using sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) have the highest zeta potential values than other surfactants used in the experimentation. The increase in transmittance of nanofluid was more prominent for lower concentration (0.0004 %) after one week of preparation. The concentration of nanoparticles, ultrasonication time, temperature, and surfactants influenced the optical characteristics of nanofluids. The most stabled CNTs nanofluid with 0.004 % concentration and 90 min of ultrasonication obtained an average of 67.6 % and 74.6 % higher absorbance than stabled CuO and Fe₃O₄ nanofluids, respectively. The irradiance transmitted through nanofluid was strongly dependent on the concentration and type of nanoparticles.     

Chemiluminescence of phthalhydrazide derivatives in organized media: Interactions with surfactants and cyclodextrins

The chemiluminescent oxidation of some phthalhydrazide derivatives, luminol (LUM), isoluminol (ISOL), N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) and N-(6-aminohexyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (AHEI), has been carried out in micellar media and in the presence of natural cyclodextrins (CDs), using Co(II) as catalyst and H₂O₂ as oxidant. The cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and, in a lesser extent, the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) produce quenching in the chemiluminescence (CL) of all the luminophores at concentrations above the cmc, whereas slight enhancements are attained with the non-ionic pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C₁₂E₅). On the contrary, the incorporation of the CDs to the reaction produces a remarkable intensification of the CL. Binding of the luminophores to the macrocycles and the micelles has been studied by Pulsed-Gradient-Spin-Echo-NMR (PGSE-NMR) and fluorescence anisotropy. The cationic CTAB decreases the emission mainly due to charge compensation as a result of the association of the luminophores and the luminescent intermediates to the micelles. The presence of the alkyl substituents of ABEI and AHEI provides an additional hydrophobic contribution to the binding process. SDS quenches this reaction as the micelles retain Co(II) on their anionic layer. The protection and stabilization of these luminophores or their luminescent intermediates provided by the cavities of the CDs make this family of cyclic oligosaccharides much more suitable agents than the surfactants for enhancing the CL in aqueous media for this specific reaction.     

Zinc impregnated cellulose nanocomposites: Synthesis,characterization and applications

Nanocomposite materials have broad applicability due to synergistic effect of combined components. In present investigation, cellulose isolated from citrus peel waste is used as a supporting material; impregnation of zinc oxide nanoparticles via co-precipitation method. The characterization of nano composite is carried out through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) resulting less than 10 µm cellulose fiber and approx. 50 nm ZnO NPs. Zinc oxide impregnated cellulose (ZnO–Cel) exhibited significant bacterial devastation property when compared to ZnO NPs or Cellulose via disc diffusion and colony forming unit methods. In addition, the ZnO–Cel exhibited significant total antioxidant, and minor DPPH free radical scavenging and total reducing power activities. The nano composite also showed time dependent increase in photocatalytic by effectively degrading methylene blue dye up to 69.5% under sunlight irradiation within 90 min. The results suggest effective utilization of cellulose obtained from citrus waste and synthesis of pharmacologically important nano-composites that can be exploited in wound dressing; defence against microbial attack and healing due to antioxidative property, furthermore can also be used for waste water treatment.     

Nanomagnetism:Principles,nanostructures,and biomedical applications

Nanomagnetism is the origin of many unique properties in magnetic nanomaterials that can be used as building blocks in information technology, spintronics, and biomedicine. Progresses in nanomagnetic principles, distinct magnetic nanostructures, and the biomedical applications of nanomagnetism are summarized.     

稀土铕-芳香羧酸-邻菲罗啉三元有机配合物的合成、表征及发光性能

分别以4种芳香羧酸—对甲基苯甲酸(PMBA)、对氯苯甲酸(PCBA)、对溴苯甲酸(PBr BA)、对氨基苯甲酸(PABA)—作为第一配体,邻菲罗啉(phen)为第二配体,采用溶剂热法合成了4种稀土铕离子(Eu3+)的三元有机配合物。通过元素分析、红外光谱、热重分析等手段确定配合物的化学结构,结果表明,4种配合物的组成可表示为Eu L3phen·H2O(L=PMBA、PCBA、PBr BA、PABA),芳香羧酸配体和邻菲罗啉均与稀土Eu3+配位;铕配合物在318℃以上才开始出现明显失重,表明其具有良好的热稳定性。研究了4种芳香羧酸配体对紫外光的吸收性能。通过荧光光谱研究了配合物的发光性能,4种配合物均发出Eu3+的特征荧光,5D0→7F2电偶极跃迁发射峰强度顺序为:Eu(PBr BA)3phen·H2OEu(PMBA)3phen·H2OEu(PCBA)3phen·H2OEu(PABA)3phen·H2O;其国际照明委员会(CIE)色坐标均落在红光区域,能发出纯正的红光。     

Recent advances in MXene: Preparation,properties, and applications

Owing to the exceptional properties of graphene, intensive studies have been carried out on novel two-dimensional (2D) materials. In the past several years, an elegant exfoliation approach has been used to successfully create a new family of 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, termed MXene, from layered MAX phases. More recently, some unique properties of MXene have been discovered leading to proposals of potential applications. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in development of MXene from both a theoretical and experimental view, with emphasis on the possible applications.     

Al-doped ZnO: Electronic, electrical and structural properties

Changes in structural, electrical and electronic properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) due to Al doping are studied using a quantum-chemical approach based on the Hartree-Fock theory. A periodic supercell of 128 atoms has been exploited throughout the study. The atomic parameters for Zn atom were obtained by reproducing the main properties of ZnO crystal as well as the first three ionization potentials of Zn atom. The perturbation imposed by Al atom incorporation leads to the atomic relaxation, which is computed and discussed in detail. A novel effect of electron density redistribution between different atomic orbitals within the same atom has been found. This phenomenon influences atomic rearrangement near Al impurity. The Al doping generates a free electron in the conduction band, which can be considered as a large radius electron polaron increasing the n-type electrical conductivity in the crystal in agreement with the known experimental data. The obtained small increase in the band-gap width due to the impurity incorporation resolves existing experimental debates on this point.     

Confinement of columnar diblock copolymers: Simulations, theory and applications

The inherent nanoscale morphologies of self-organizing diblock copolymer melts are now being investigated for a variety of technological applications. To obtain global, well-oriented, regular patterns requires suitably confining and aligning the melt between two flat plates. Here we consider such confinement for an asymmetrical diblock melt, which forms columns of the minority phase in a matrix of the majority phase. We investigate this system with a combination of numerical simulations and strong segregation theory and make suggestions as to when perpendicular orientation should prevail over parallel orientation of the columns. Received 22 May 2001 and Received in final form 14 February 2002     

干灰化结合偏硼酸锂碱熔灰分ICP-AES测定生物样品中的硅铝等元素

探讨不同种类生物样品中Si和Al等10种元素的测定方法,采用干灰化结合偏硼酸锂碱熔灰分的前处理方法,用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)同时测定试样中Si和Al以及Ca,Mg,Fe,Na,P,Mn,Sr,Ti。方法检出限Si为0.15μg·mL-1,Al为0.03μg·mL-1。用国家一级标准物质GBW07604(杨树叶),验证了方法的准确度及精密度,Si和Al的测定的准确度(RE)分别为-0.03%和-3%,Si和Al测定的方法精密度均小于3%,该方法已用于新研制的系列生物标准物质的定值,并取得满意结果。     

Structural investigations of the xTeO2-(1−x)GeO2 (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) tellurite glasses: A composition dependent Raman spectroscopic study

Raman spectra of xTeO₂-(1−x)GeO₂ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) germanium tellurite glasses were measured and analyzed in an effort to follow the structural changes caused by mixing two typical glass formers. Systematic Raman intensity measurements have been performed in an effort to elucidate the composition induced structural changes and a possible mechanism accounting for these changes was proposed. The network structure of the glass is characterized by TeO₄ trigonal bipyramid mixed with TeO₃ trigonal pyramid units, while GeO₄ tetrahedral units are also present. Changing the GeO₂ content results in the conversion of the TeO₄ units to TeO₃ units with a neutral doubly bridged oxygen atom, while the existence of charged terminal oxygen atoms is questionable. The measured relative Raman intensities are semi-quantitatively correlated to the transformation of the TeO₄ trigonal bipyramid to TeO₃ trigonal pyramids.     

Molecular Self‐Assembly of Multifunctional Nanoparticle Composites with Arbitrary Shapes and Functions: Challenges and Strategies

The assembly of nanoparticles into complicated, anisotropic shapes has much promise for advanced materials and devices. Developing effective and efficient anisotropic mono‐functionalization strategies is an imperative step in realizing this potential. By functionalizing DNA one at a time to the nanoparticle, a DNA‐nanoparticle building block could have distinct DNA sequences at different locations on the surface of the particle. Since this technology could incorporate nanoparticles of different composition, generating toolboxes of various nanoparticle building blocks (“nano‐toolboxes”) with DNA at defined locations and in defined 3D orientations on a nanoparticle, it promises not only complicated shapes, but also the ability to tune the function of the assembly. The challenges of programmable and scalable multifunctional nanostructure self‐assembly with DNA conjugated to nanoparticles are reviewed. The first difficulty is to control the assembly process so that designed products are formed, and unwanted products are minimized. The design problem for nanostructure construction is both physically and computationally complex. Thus, the other major challenge is to devise design methodologies that move nanostructure construction from trial and error to principled approaches. Strategies to overcome these challenges are also presented by realizing greater control over the final shapes and functions of the self‐assembled nanostructures. Finally, the future perspectives of nano‐toolboxes and their promise in applications such as multifunctional, multicolor, and multimodal contrast nanoagents for medical therapy and diagnostics (theranostics) are described.     

Enhanced adsorptive removal of Safranine T from aqueous solutions by waste sea buckthorn branch powder modified with dopamine: Kinetics,equilibrium, and thermodynamics

Polydopamine coated sea buckthorn branch powder (PDA@SBP) was facilely synthesized via a one-pot bio-inspired dip-coating approach. The as-synthesized PDA@SBP was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption progresses of Safranine T on the surface of PDA@SBP adsorbent were systematically investigated. More specifically, the effects of solution pH, contact time, initial concentration and temperature were evaluated, respectively. The experimental results showed the adsorption capacity of PDA@SBP at 293.15 K could reach up to 54.0 mg/g; the adsorption increased by 201.7% compared to that of native SBP (17.9 mg/g). Besides, kinetics studies showed that pseudo-second-order kinetic model adequately described the adsorption behavior. The adsorption experimental data could be fitted well a Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic analyses showed that the ST adsorption was a physisorption endothermic process. Regeneration of the spent PDA@SBP adsorbent was conducted with 0.1 M HCl without significant reduction in adsorption capacity. On the basis of these investigations, it is believed that the PDA@SBP adsorbent could have potential applications in sewage disposal areas because of their considerable adsorption capacities, brilliant regeneration capability, and cost-effective and eco-friendly preparation and use.     

Magnetic van der Waals materials: Synthesis,structure, magnetism,and their potential applications

As the family of magnetic materials is rapidly growing, two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnets have attracted increasing attention as a platform to explore fundamental physical problems of magnetism and their potential applications. This paper reviews the recent progress on emergent vdW magnetic compounds and their potential applications in devices. First, we summarize the current vdW magnetic materials and their synthetic methods. Then, we focus on their structure and the modulation of magnetic properties by analyzing the representative vdW magnetic materials with different magnetic structures. In addition, we pay attention to the heterostructures of vdW magnetic materials, which are expected to produce revolutionary applications of magnetism-related devices. To motivate the researchers in this area, we finally provide the challenges and outlook on 2D vdW magnetism.     

Properties, applications and fabrication of photonic crystals with ring-shaped holes in silicon-on-insulator

We show that photonic crystals with ring-shaped holes (RPhCs) exhibit superior properties compared to conventional photonic crystals (PhCs). At low air-fill factors RPhCs can have a larger bandgap than conventional PhCs. Moreover, RPhC waveguides with both high group index and small group velocity dispersion can be designed. RPhC waveguides are also more sensitive to external refractive index changes, which is attractive for sensor applications. Finally we set up a procedure to pattern RPhCs in silicon-on-insulator.     

LDH of NiZnFe and its composites with carbon nanotubes and data-palm biochar with efficient adsorption capacity for RB5 dye from aqueous solutions: Isotherm,kinetic, and thermodynamics studies

In the study, the layered double hydroxide (LDH) of NiZnFe and its composites with date-palm biochar (LDH-DPb) and carbon nanotubes (LDH-cnt) were synthesized for adsorbing reactive black 5 (RB5) dye from aqueous solutions. In the first 5 min, rapid adsorption was followed by a gradual increase in both dye uptake and removal efficiency of up to 60 min of starting time. In the investigated pH range (3.0–8.0), the removal efficiency linearly decreased while the sorption capacity linearly increased for all three adsorbents as their doses increased to 0.3 or 0.4 g following a decreasing trend up to 0.6 g. By increasing the initial RB5 concentration from 10 to 100 mg L⁻¹, the removal efficiency linearly decreased. A nearly perfect fitting of the pseudo-second-order kinetic model to the adsorption data was observed; however, the Elovich kinetic model showed the heterogeneous surface of adsorbents with chemisorption. At the solid–liquid interface, from a thermodynamics point of view, we obtained the nonspontaneous nature of the adsorption of RB5 dye of the studied adsorbents with an increased disorder, which supported the endothermic nature onto the studied adsorption process. Furthermore, a nearly perfect fitting of the Langmuir model was obtained to the adsorption data, thereby suggesting the monolayer adsorption of RB5 dye onto the studied adsorbents. In the Dubinin–Radushkevich model, a good agreement of the calculated adsorption capacities to the experimental values were observed and the chemical adsorption of RB5 dye on to the studied adsorbents was proposed based on E (8 – 16 kJ mol⁻¹).