Phase transfer of CdS nanocrystals mediated by heptamine β-cyclodextrin

A fundamental and systematic study on the fabrication of a supramolecularly assembled nanostructure of an organic ligand-capped CdS nanocrystal (NC) and multiple heptamine β-cyclodextrin ((NH(2))(7)βCD) molecules in aqueous solution has been here reported. The functionalization process of presynthesized hydrophobic CdS NCs by means of (NH(2))(7)βCD has been extensively investigated by using different spectroscopic and structural techniques, as a function of different experimental parameters, such as the composition and the concentration of CD, the concentration of CdS NCs, the nature of the NC surface capping ligand (oleic acid and octylamine), and the organic solvent. The formation of a complex based on the direct coordination of the (NH(2))(7)βCD amine groups at the NC surface has been demonstrated and found responsible for the CdS NC phase transfer process. The amine functional group in (NH(2))(7)βCD and the appropriate combination of pristine capping agent coordinating the NC surface and a suitable solvent have been found decisive for the success of the CdS NC phase transfer process. Furthermore, a layer-by-layer assembly experiment has indicated that the obtained (NH(2))(7)βCD functionalized CdS NCs are still able to perform the host-guest chemistry. Thus, they offer a model of a nanoparticle-based material with molecular receptors, useful for bio applications.     

CdS纳米晶@碳点复合物膜的电致化学发光

采用热解柠檬酸法制备碳点(CDs),并将之与表面无包裹剂的CdS纳米晶(CdS NCs)超声复合制备CdS纳米晶@碳点(CdS NCs@CDs)复合物。研究了复合物膜阴极电致化学发光(ECL),探讨了CDs对CdS纳米晶膜ECL增强的机理。CDs分散性良好、尺寸在1.5~4 nm之间;与粒径约为4 nm的CdS纳米晶按体积比2∶3复合后,在360 nm光激发下复合物具有最强的荧光发射且表现为CDs的荧光。同时,复合物膜产生归属于激发态CdS纳米晶的最强的ECL发射,且ECL发光峰起置电势正移至-1.05 V。复合物膜的ECL发射是pH依赖的,在pH值为6时,复合物膜具有最大的ECL强度,为CdS纳米晶膜ECL强度的19倍。这种ECL增强源于CDs能束缚大量电子产生局域电场从而促进近邻CdS纳米晶激发态的形成与弛豫。     

Synthesis of nanocrystalline CdS from cadmium(II) complex of S-benzyl dithiocarbazate as a precursor

The single X-ray crystal structure of the cadmium(II)–S-benzyl dithiocarbazate (SBDTC) complex, [Cd(SBDTC)Cl₂]₂, is reported. The compound has been found to be an effective single-source precursor for the preparation of CdS nanocrystals (NCs) via solvothermal method. CdS NCs including spheres and rods were prepared at a relatively low temperature by thermolysis of the precursor using chelating solvent like ethylene glycol (EG), ethylenediamine (EN), hydrazine hydrate (HH) or in a mixture of EG and EN. The influence of solvent, temperature and reaction time was investigated on the size and morphology of the NCs. Use of EG afforded spherical CdS NCs while EN uniquely yielded rod-shaped NCs, and mixture of spheres and rods are obtained from the mixture of EN and EG with a ratio 0.2 (v/v: EN/EG). UV–visible spectroscopy established pronounced quantum confinement with enhanced band gap and XRD analyses revealed hexagonal crystal phase for so obtained CdS NCs. The NCs were also characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and FTIR. The possible formation mechanism for the anisotropic growth of NCs was also discussed.     

Easy preparation and characterization of highly fluorescent polymer composite microspheres from aqueous CdTe nanocrystals

Fluorescent microspheres were easily fabricated from aqueous CdTe nanocrystals (NCs). The NCs, which had negative charges on the surface, were first extracted to chloroform by cationic surfactant octadecyl-p-vinyl-benzyldimethylammonium chloride (OVDAC) and then swollen into performed polystyrene (PS) microspheres. Through this method, strong photoluminescence (PL) of aqueous NCs was inherited in the resultant composite microspheres. Moreover, the NCs were firmly stabilized in the microspheres, withstanding not only polar solvents but also nonpolar solvents. UV-vis spectrum, PL spectrum, TEM, and confocal fluorescence microscopy were used to characterize the product.     

Chemical synthesis and optical properties of CdS–poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites and their transparent fluorescent films

This paper describes the first synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites and their transparent fluorescent films by covalently grafting PLA onto the surfaces of CdS nanocrystals (NCs). Synthesis of the nanocomposites involved two steps. Lactic acid (LA)-capped CdS NCs were first prepared by reacting cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) with sodium sulfide (Na₂S) using LA as the organic ligand in H₂O/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. CdS–PLA nanocomposites were then formed by in situ ring-opening polymerization of lactide on the surface of modified CdS NCs. We also demonstrated herein the fabrication of the transparent fluorescent films of CdS–PLA nanocomposites by blending as-prepared nanocomposites with high-molecular-weight PLA. The as-prepared CdS NCs and their nanocomposites were studied by transmission electron microscopic imaging, thermogravimetric analyses, and spectroscopic measurements (ultraviolet–visible absorption and photoluminescence). The results revealed that the CdS–polymer nanocomposites exhibited good optical properties in terms of their photoluminescence and transparency.     

Water-in-oil emulsion containing oxine for the collection of traces of copper(II) in water

An oil type emulsion containing tiny encapsulated droplets of hydrochloric acid has been used for the concentration of traces of copper(II) ions in water. Milligram quantities of oxine and a non-ionic surfactant (Span-80) were dissolved in 5-10 ml of chloroform and mixed vigorously with 3 ml of 1 mol/l hydrochloric acid by ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting water-in-oil type emulsion was gradually added to 50-500 ml of water sample and dispersed by stirring as numerous small globules (0.1 to 0.5 mm in diameter). The copper diffused through the chloroform layer into the small droplets of hydrochloric acid, which occurred quantitatively in the sample of pH 3-10. After separating the emulsion by sedimentation, it was demulsified by heating to segregate the aqueous and organic phases. The copper in the aqueous phase was successfully determined by GFAAS. The emulsion method allows to perform both extraction and back-extraction more easily and rapidly than the conventional liquid-liquid extraction method.     

Comparison between measurements of elasticity and free amino group content of ovalbumin microcapsule membranes: discrimination of the cross-linking degree

Gold nanoparticle-doped poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) microcapsules and foam films were synthesized and assembled at the P2VP chloroform solution/HAuCl(4) aqueous solution interface at 25 °C. It was found that Au nanoparticles with the average diameter of 2.1 nm were homogeneously embedded in and adsorbed on the walls of the capsules and foams, the nanoparticles were composed of Au(0) and Au(III) with the molar ratio of about 75/25, and the mass percent of Au elements was measured to be 19.65%. The formation of the nanostructures was attributed to the self-assembly of P2VP at the liquid/liquid interface, the simultaneous reduction of AuCl(4)(-) ions by a small amount of ethanol in the chloroform and adsorption of AuCl(4)(-) ions. After irradiated by UV-light for 1h, the average diameter of the nanoparticles was found to be 2.2 nm, and the AuCl(4)(-) ions were transformed to Au(0) completely. The catalytic performance of these composite nanostructures were evaluated by using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by potassium borohydride in aqueous solutions. The catalytic activity was very high in the first cycle, decreased rapidly and slightly in the second and third cycles, respectively, due to the aggregation of some nanoparticles, and stabilized after the third cycle.     

Cadmium Ion Adsorption Controls the Growth of CdS Nanoparticles on Layered Montmorillonite and Calumit Surfaces

Adsorption isotherms have been determined for the intercalation of cadmium ions (Cd2+) into layered hydrophobized montmorillonite (HDP-M) and calumit (DBS-C) sheets dispersed in ethanol (1)-cyclohexane (2) mixtures. The amount of Cd2+ adsorbed depended strongly on the composition of the binary liquid; at an ethanol mole fraction of 0.05 (x1 = 0.05), 95% of the added Cd2+ is located in the ethanolic nanoreactor at the HDP-M (or DBS-C) surface. CdS nanoparticles have been generated in situ in ethanolic nanoreactors at the HDP-M and DBS-C surfaces. Absorption spectrophotometric measurements provided information on the number of CdS nanoparticles formed and on their absorption edges, bandgaps, and mean diameters. Good correlations have been obtained between the adsorption isotherms and the size (and the amount) of the CdS formed. X-ray diffractometry established that CdS nanoparticles stretched the HDP-M and DBS-C lamellas unevenly upon intercalation. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Competitive bulk liquid membrane transport of Co(Ⅱ),Ni(Ⅱ),Zn(Ⅱ),Cd(Ⅱ),Ag(Ⅰ),Cu(Ⅱ)and Mn(Ⅱ),cations using 2,2'-dithio(bis)benzothiazole as carrier

A series of competitive metal-ion transport experiments has been performed.Each involved transport from an aqueous source phase across an organic membrane phase into an aqueous receiving phase.The source phase contained equimolar concentration of Co（Ⅱ）,Ni（Ⅱ）,Zn（Ⅱ）,Cd（Ⅱ）,Ag（Ⅰ）,Cu（Ⅱ） and Mn（Ⅱ） metal cations.The transport experiments of metal cations were carried out by 2,2’-dithio（bis）benzothiazole（DTB） in chloroform（CHCl₃）.The source phase being buffered at range pH of 4-6.5 and receiving phase being buffered at pH 3.The obtained results show that the selectivity and the efficiency of Ag（I） transport from aqueous solutions are observed in this investigation.The effect of concentration of palmitic acid in the transport efficiency of Ag（Ⅰ） ion was also conformed.     

Phenol solubilization in aqueous Pluronic® solutions: investigating the micellar growth and interaction as a function of Pluronic® composition

Regular one-dimensional (1D) parallel chains composed of CdS nanoparticles with cubic zinc blende crystal structure were prepared at the air/water interface via one-step synthesis and assembly process. These nanostructures were produced through an interfacial reaction between Cd(2+) ions in the aqueous solution of cadmium acetate and H(2)S in the gaseous phase under Langmuir monolayers of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PDA). It was demonstrated that PDA molecules self-assembled into parallelly aligned linear supermolecules at the air/water interface with the aid of π-π interactions and acted as templates for the formation of the superstructures. The experimental conditions including temperature and reaction time have great influences on the superstructure formation and the parameters of the parallel chains.     

Synthesis and properties of transparent luminescent nanocomposites with surface functionalized semiconductor nanocrystals

5-Amino-1,10-phenanthroline (Aphen) was used as an organic ligand to functionalize CdS nanocrystals (NCs) by a ligand-exchange process. The functional Aphen-CdS NCs have strong luminescent emission at 552 nm and good dispersibility in the polar organic monomers. The Aphen-CdS NCs were dispersed in polymeric monomers to prepare a series of transparent luminescent nanocomposites with excellent thermal stability via in-situ bulk polymerization. The fluorescent properties of the Aphen-CdS NCs were well retained in the polymer matrix. It was found that when the methacrylic acid (MAA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as the comonomers were introduced into the polymer matrix, the emission peaks of the resultant nanocomposites had a blue shift and the fluorescent intensities also increased due to the interaction between NCs and the polymer matrices. The transparent NCs/polymer nanocomposites with tunable fluorescent emission can be potentially used for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices.     

Cu(2+)-assisted synthesis of hexoctahedral Au-Pd alloy nanocrystals with high-index facets

Controlled syntheses of multicomponent metal nanocrystals (NCs) and high-index surfaces have attracted increasing attention due to the specific physical and chemical properties of such NCs. Taking advantage of copper underpotential deposition as a bridge, hexoctahedral Au-Pd alloy NCs with {hkl} facets exposed were successfully synthesized, while phase separation occurred in the absence of Cu(2+) ions. The as-prepared hexoctahedral Au-Pd alloy NCs exhibited very excellent performance in terms of both formic acid electro-oxidation and methanol tolerance due to synergism between the high-index facets and the alloy.     

Graphene enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdS nanocrystal for H2O2 sensing

Graphene-CdS (G-CdS) nanocomposites were successfully prepared by CdS nanocrystals (CdS NCs) formed in situ on the surface of graphene sheets, using graphene oxide (GO) sheets with rich negatively charged carboxylic acid groups as starting materials. Compared with pure CdS NCs, the presence of the graphene doped in G-CdS nanocomposites could facilitate the electrochemical redox process of CdS NCs; further, the as-prepared G-CdS nanocomposite can react with H₂O₂ to generate strong and stable electrochemiluminescent (ECL) emission, which not only enhances its ECL intensity by about 4.3-fold but also decreases its onset potential for about 320 mV. The as-prepared solid-state ECL H₂O₂ sensor shows acceptable linear response from 5 μM up to 1 mM with a detection limit of 1.7 μM (S/N = 3). The ECL H₂O₂ sensor exhibits excellent reproducibility and long-term stability. Such a property would promote the potential application of the graphene as enhanced materials in fabricating sensors for chemical and biochemical analysis.     

Deriving the colloidal synthesis of crystalline nanosheets to create self-assembly monolayers of nanoclusters

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with the thickness at atomic level are promising candidates for a wide range of applications, and now reach the point to create diversified 2D architectures. The colloidal synthesis route is powerful to produce crystalline nanosheets, nanoribbons and nanoplatelets, and the self-assembly strategy is robust to integrate the functionalities of different nano-objects. In this review, we bridge the colloidal synthesis of nanosheets and the 2D self-assembly of nanoclusters (NCs) with the aim to further optimize the physical and chemical properties of 2D nanomaterials. Ultrasmall NCs, the intermediate for synthesizing nanosheets, are highlighted to show the similarity of 2D crystallization and 2D self-assembly. The modification of conventional 2D colloidal synthesis route greatly permits the controlled self-assembly of NCs into free-standing monolayers in colloidal solutions.     

Preparation and Optical Properties of CdTe/CdO-nH2O Core/shell Nano-composites in Aqueous Solution

"The deposition of CdO?nH2O on CdTe nanoparticles was studied in an aqueous phase. The CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared in aqueous solution through the reaction between Cd2+ and NaHTe in the presence of thioglycolic acid as a stabilizer. The molar ratio of the Cd2+ to Te2- in the precursory solution played an important role in the photoluminescence of the ultimate CdTe NCs. The strongest photoluminescence was obtained under 4.0 of Cd2+/Te2- at pH?8.2. With the optimum dosage of Cd(II) hydrous oxide deposited on the CdTe NCs, the photoluminescence was enhanced greatly. The photoluminescence of these nanocomposites was kept constant in the pH range of 8.0-10.0, but dramatically decreased with an obvious blue-shifted peak while the pH was below 8.0. In addition, the photochemical oxidation of CdTe NCs with cadmium hydrous oxide deposition was markedly inhibited."     

Systematic study of the photoluminescence dependence of thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals on the reaction conditions

A modified method to prepare high-quality thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) was reported in this paper. The experimental results showed that the different molar ratios of the ligands (thioglycolic acid) to monomers (Cd2+ ions) in the precursor solution played an important role in the photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of the as-prepared CdTe NCs. When [ligand]/[monomer] = 1.2, the maximum fluorescent emission peak appeared in the orange-red window, and the PL QY increased up to 50% at room temperature without any postpreparative treatment. In the meantime, suitable reaction conditions were in favor of the optimization of the surface structure of NCs, resulting in the relatively high PL QY from green to red. In addition, some differences between hydrothermal synthesis and traditional aqueous synthesis of CdTe NCs were discussed.     

Antihyperglycemic activity of Rhizophora apiculata Bl. in rats

The article reveals the antihyperglycemic activity of the ethanolic extract of the roots of the Rhizophora apiculata in rats (GLM and STZ models). On further fractionation of the ethanolic extract into four fractions, the activity was localized in the chloroform and aqueous fractions. These on purification led to the isolation of 7 pure compounds--lupeol (1), oleanolic acid (2), beta-sitosterol (3), palmitic acid (4), beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside (5), inositol (6), and pinitol (7). The inositol and pinitol, two of the pure compounds, showed promising activity in STZ model at 100 mg kg(-1) dose level.     

Greatly enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdS nanocrystals upon heating in the presence of ammonia

CdS nanocrystals (NCs) usually exhibit very weak electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission. It is showed that when CdS NCs were treated by heating in the presence of ammonia (heated-CdS–NH₃), greatly enhanced ECL was observed. The ECL of the heated-CdS–NH₃ modified glassy carbon electrode (heated-CdS–NH₃/GCE) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) containing 0.1 M K₂S₂O₈ was ca. 310 times higher than that of CdS/GCE. The treatment caused the changes in the morphology and surface electronic structure of CdS NCs, which facilitated the reduction process of CdS, consequently improved the quantity of the excited states (CdS*), leading to enormous enhancement in ECL.     

Observation of interband two-photon absorption saturation in CdS nanocrystals

We report the observation of interband two-photon absorption (TPA) saturation in cadmium sulfide nanocrystals (CdS NCs) under intense femtosecond laser excitation with 1.6 eV photon energy. The observation has been compared to interband TPA saturation in bulk CdS under the same experimental conditions. By using both Z-scan techniques and transient absorption measurements, the saturation intensity has been determined to be 190 GW/cm2 for CdS NCs of 4-nm diameter, which is 2 orders of magnitude greater than that for CdS bulk crystal. The results are in agreement with an inhomogeneously broadened, saturated TPA model.     

Highly selective transport of a uranyl ion through a liquid membrane containing a lipophilic ion-associate of methyltrioctylammonium and hydroxycalix[n]arene-p-sulfonates (n = 6, 8) as metal carriers.

Uranyl ion, UO2(2+), in an aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution of pH 4-8 (source phase) was simultaneously and selectively transported into a dilute sulfuric acid solution (receiving phase) through a membrane (chloroform, bulk) containing a lipophilic ion-associate of methyltrioctylammonium ion and hydroxycalix[n]arene-p-sulfonate ion, 2n (n = 6, 8), MTA+-2n, as a metal carrier. The rate of transport increased in proportion to the concentrations of UO2(2+) in the source phase and carrier in the membrane and along with an increase in the temperature of the system. The rate was also increased along with an increase in the pH of the source phase. None of the other metal ions were transported, or obstructed the transport of UO2(2+), while the presence of large amounts of sodium hydrogencarbonate and sodium chloride in the source phase interfered with the transport by causing a delay in the start of transport.