Effect of Tris on catalytic activity of MP-11

The effect of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) on the catalytic activity and microstructure of heme undecapeptide, microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) in the aqueous solution was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found for the first time that Tris would inhibit the catalytic activity and electrochemical reaction of MP-11 at the glassy carbon (GC) electrode. This is mainly due to the fact that Tris would induce more alpha-helix and beta-turn conformations from the random coil conformation of MP-11, cause the asymmetric split-up in the Soret band region of MP-11, increase the non-planarity of the heme of MP-11, and change the electron densities of N, O and S atoms of MP-11. Meanwhile, It was found that the electrochemical reaction of MP-11 with Tris at GC electrode is diffusion-controlled, and the diffusion coefficient of MP-11 and the rate constant for the heterogeneous electron transfer of MP-11 in the presence of Tris are decreased by 19% and 16%, respectively. Further experiments showed that the electrocatalytic current of MP-11 on the reduction of H2O2 is decreased by about 25% after the addition of Tris to the MP-11 solution.     

微过氧化物酶-11在壳聚糖修饰玻碳电极上的电化学

采用物理吸附法, 将微过氧化物酶-11(MP-11)固定在载体壳聚糖修饰的玻碳电极表面. 运用循环伏安法对MP-11在该修饰电极上的直接电化学行为及对氧(O2)和过氧化氢(H2O2)的电催化行为进行了表征. 研究结果表明, 在pH=7.12的磷酸盐缓冲溶液中, 壳聚糖修饰电极上的MP-11发生了准可逆的氧化还原反应, 而且在反应过程中包含质子的传递过程, 完全实现了MP-11在该修饰电极上的直接电化学. 该修饰电极也可以对O2和H2O2进行电催化还原, 并且两个反应的电催化还原过程都是受表面控制的电化学过程, 对H2O2催化还原产生的响应电流与H2O2的浓度呈线性关系.     

Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Templating of Groups 11 and 12 Metal Films

Liquid crystal templating has been used to produce metal films with nanometer‐sized pores. While successful templating procedures have been reported for metals from some groups of elements (e.g., groups 9 and 10), no such reports are available for other groups. This work investigates liquid crystal templating procedures for metals from groups 11 and 12. TEM indicates that permanent mesoporous structures are obtained for templated cadmium while copper forms mesoporous structures only temporarily. Silver, gold and zinc could not be templated at all. Reasons for these observations are briefly discussed, underlining the importance of various factors influencing the templating process.     

Displacement Plating of a Mesoporous Pt Skin onto Co Nanochains in a Low‐Concentration Surfactant Solution

Mesoporous Pt skins on Co nanochains are successfully synthesized by a displacement reaction between Pt species and a Co support with the assistance of surfactant micelles. The assembly of surfactant micelles on Co nanochains plays a key role in the formation of mesoporous Pt layers. The evolution of the mesoporous Pt layers is carefully studied at different time intervals. As the reaction time increases, the mesoporous Pt layers become thicker, and well‐defined mesoporous structures gradually develop. The obtained mesoporous Pt skin exhibits high activity and superior CO tolerance in the electro‐oxidation reaction of methanol. The mesoporous Pt skin also shows very high durability, and only a 20.2 % loss of the Pt electrochemical surface area is found even after a harsh durability test.     

复合模板剂下有序介孔TiO2的制备研究

在复合模板剂聚氧乙烯十二烷基醚(Brij35）和聚乙二醇（PEG)下，制备出有序介孔TiO2.用XRD、HRTEM、SEM、FT-IR和N2吸附脱附等方法进行表征；并通过对反应过程中电导率和粘度的连续监测，分析有序介孔TiO2形成过程.研究表明,介孔TiO2为规整的六方排列结构，在低于400 ℃焙烧，有序结构稳定性高，比表面积达252 m2•g－1，孔径3.4 nm，晶型为锐钛矿；经500 ℃焙烧，有序介孔结构破坏，并开始出现金红石型晶相.有序介孔TiO2形成过程是基于在高极性介质中非极性的碳氢链聚集成为胶束，同时钛酸丁酯（TBOT）在已形成的胶束上聚集，在酸作用下不断水解缩聚而形成有序介孔结构，有效控制水解和聚合过程是控制介孔材料结构形成的关键.     

Synthesis of a multinanoparticle-embedded core/mesoporous silica shell structure as a durable heterogeneous catalyst

A multi-nanoparticle-embedded amorphous aluminum/magnesium oxides (AAMO) core/mesoporous silica (mSiO(2)) shell structure has been successfully synthesized by calcining the presynthesized catalyst precursor-containing layered double hydroxide (LDH) core/mesoporous silica shell composite. The well-dispersed catalytic nanoparticles were fixed at the interface between AAMO core and mesoporous SiO(2) shell, i.e., at the inner pore mouths of the mesoporous SiO(2) shell, which could effectively prevent nanoparticles from growth and/or aggregation with each other and in the meantime allow efficient access of reactants to the catalytic NPs. The final core/shell composite was found to be an efficient and highly recyclable heterogeneous catalyst.     

Single crystal particles of a mesoporous mixed transition metal oxide with a wormhole structure

A new type of mesoporous mixed transition metal oxide of Nb and Ta (NbTa-TIT-1) has been prepared through a two-step calcination, which consists of single crystal particles with wormhole mesoporous structure.     

共价键联的PW11/TiO2介孔杂化材料的合成及其光催化性能

采用二次嫁接的方法,将Keggin结构的缺位钨磷酸盐PW11嫁接到介孔TiO2的表面,得到PW11/TiO2杂化样品。采用IR、低温N2吸附、XRD、TEM和ICP-AES等对样品的结构、PW11负载量以及键联机理进行了表征和研究,对样品光催化降解甲基橙的性能进行了考察。 结果显示,用蒸发诱导自组装法合成的TiO2,焙烧前结构松散,可部分水解并与PW11反应,生成PW11Ti物种,后者与TiO2骨架缩合,从而实现PW11的键联嫁接。 与纯TiO2相比,杂化样品中锐钛矿相的结晶度稍有降低,孔径、孔容减小,但是对甲基橙的光催化降解活性却明显增加,显然这是PW11和TiO2间发生了“协同效应”所致。     

Writing on the wall with a new synthetic quill

A new class of periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) with organic groups incorporated inside the channel walls of the material is discussed. In particular, the unique properties and chemistry exhibited by periodic mesoporous methylenesilica, an isoelectronic analogue of periodic mesoporous silica, are highlighted. Finally, some of the advances made in our group and others, as well as future directions that we envision in the field are described.     

Sulfuric acid-functionalized mesoporous benzene-silica with a molecular-scale periodicity in the walls

Novel sulfuric acid-functionalized mesoporous benzene-silicas with a molecular-scale periodicity in the walls were derived from the mesoporous benzene-silica possessing mercaptopropyl groups by the oxidative transformation of -SH into -SO3H.     

Photocatalytic activity of a hierarchically macro/mesoporous titania

Light-harvesting macroporous channels have been successfully incorporated into a mesoporous TiO(2) framework to increase its photocatalytic activity. This bimodal porous material was characterized by X-ray diffractometry in both low-angle and wide-angle ranges, N(2) adsorption-desorption analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Ethylene photodegradation in gas-phase medium was employed as a probe reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic reactivity of the catalysts. The results reveal that sintering temperature significantly affects the structural stability and photocatalytic activity of titania. The catalyst which calcined at 350 degrees C possessed an intact macro/mesoporous structure and showed photocatalytic reactivity about 60% higher than that of commercial P25 titania. When the sample was calcined at 500 degrees C, the macroporous structure was retained but the mesoporous structure was partly destroyed. Further heating at temperatures above 600 degrees C destroyed both macro- and mesoporous structures, accompanied by a loss in photocatalytic activity. The high photocatalytic performance of the intact macro/mesoporous TiO(2) may be explained by the existence of macrochannels that increase photoabsorption efficiency and allow efficient diffusion of gaseous molecules.     

Synthesis of thermally stable zirconia-based mesoporous materials via a facile post-treatment

A novel method of preparing thermally stable zirconia-based mesoporous materials was developed. The zirconia-based mesoporous materials of 2D-hexagonal structure were prepared using zirconium sulfate as the zirconium precursor and cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) as the pore-directing agent with the aid of salt in the synthesis solution to reduce the sulfate content in the final product and significantly improve the crystallographic ordering. Post-treatment of the mesoporous material with NaCl solution and lowering the ramping rate to less than 0.2 degrees C/min during the calcination process, however, were the key steps to hinder the growth of the dense zirconia phase and to retain the ordered mesostructure up to 600 degrees C. It was found that a portion of the surfactant (8.9-17.4 wt %) and sulfate ions (0.5-1.2 wt %) were removed during the post-treatment, which prevented the remaining sulfate groups from being reduced by the hydrogen-rich surfactant during the calcination process as confirmed by sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and infrared spectroscopy. The maintenance of sulfur in the sulfate state seemed to be important in stabilizing the mesoporous structure of zirconia materials. The mesoporous zirconia materials after extraction with NaCl solution three times and calcination at 550-600 degrees C had the composition ZrO(2-x)(SO4)x with x = 0.10-0.27. The material possesses high surface area (approximately 200 m2/g), large pore volume (approximately 0.10 cm3/g), and wormlike mesopores. In comparison with the mesoporous zirconia materials stabilized by chemical treatment, the present route was simpler and more environmentally friendly and resulted in mesoporous zirconia materials of better thermal stability.     

Multifluorescently traceable nanoparticle by a single-wavelength excitation with color-related drug release performance

Monodisperse and nanometer-sized periodic mesoporous organosilicas co-doped with fluorescence resonance energy transfer cascades composed of triple fluorophores at various ratios were prepared. These nanoparticles exhibit multifluorescent emissions by a single-wavelength excitation and were designed for the application as multichannelly traceable drug carriers. Different from the hydrophilic framework of inorganic mesoporous silica and hydrophobic framework of mesoporous carbon, these multifluorescent nanoparticles have intrinsically different and finely tunable pore surface polarities governed by the type and amount of fluorophore inside the framework. When applied as drug carriers, they can achieve synchronous or asynchronous release of different drugs by simply choosing different colored nanoparticles. These colorful mesoporous composites with finely tunable color-related drug release performance provide a strong barcoding system for the potential applications of fluorescent nanoparticles in effective screening of drugs and therapeutic protocols for diseases.     

Alignment control of a cyanine dye using a mesoporous silica film with uniaxially aligned mesochannels

The feasibility of alignment control of low-molecular-weight guest species by controlling the orientation of mesochannels in a mesoporous silica host has been shown for the first time; spectroscopically anisotropic absorption behaviour of a cyanine dye was observed upon its incorporation into the mesochannels of a mesoporous silica film with uniaxially aligned porous structure, proving that the preferred alignment of the dye molecules was achieved on a macroscopic scale.     

The formation of mesoporous TiO2 spheres via a facile chemical process

The mesoporous TiO(2) solid and hollow spheres have been synthesized via a controllable and simple chemical route. Structural characterization indicates that these TiO(2) mesoporous spheres after calcined at 500 degrees C have an obvious mesoporous structure with the diameters of 200-300 nm for solid spheres and 200-500 nm for hollow spheres. The average pore sizes and BET surface areas of the mesoporous TiO(2) solid and hollow spheres are 6.8, 7.0 nm and 162, 90 m(2)/g, respectively. Optical adsorption investigation shows that TiO(2) solid and hollow spheres possess a direct band gap structure with the optical band gap of 3.68 and 3.75 eV, respectively. A possible formation mechanism for TiO(2) solid and hollow spheres is discussed.     

PW_(11)/SBA-15介孔杂化材料的直接合成与表征

采用三嵌段共聚物EO20PO70EO20(P123)为模板剂,正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)和缺位Keggin型多金属氧酸盐Na7PW11O39(PW11)为无机前驱体,由共缩合法一步合成了PW11/SBA-15介孔杂化材料.通过红外(IR)光谱、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis/DRS)、X射线衍射(XRD)、低温N2吸附、透射电子显微镜(TEM)等手段对杂化材料和合成过程进行了表征.结果表明:杂化材料中不仅多金属氧酸盐的Keggin单元保留完整,且共价键联于介孔孔道内部,而且样品基本具有规整有序的六方介孔结构.TEOS预水解时间的长短对有序结构的构筑有明显影响,随预水解时间延长,样品的介观有序性增加.这是因为多金属氧酸盐对模板剂P123有盐析作用,其作用大小与多金属氧酸盐前驱物的溶解度有关.     

Ordered SBA-15 nanorod arrays inside a porous alumina membrane

The growth of ordered nanorods of mesoporous SBA-15 inside a porous alumina membrane has been achieved for the first time by a simple sol-gel method. The obtained SBA-15 nanorods themselves have ordered hexagonal mesochannels with a size of about 6 nm and have been arranged to form hexagonal arrays by the limitation of pores of the alumina membrane. The synthesized alumina membrane with mesoporous SBA-15 inside combines the advantages of porous alumina membranes and mesoporous SBA-15 and provides fine and vertical mesochannels, which may serve as a new and efficient mold and lead to extensive applications in nanodevice fabrication, biomacromolecule separations, etc.     

Fabrication of uniform magnetic nanocomposite spheres with a magnetic core/mesoporous silica shell structure

A novel kind of magnetic core/mesoporous silica shell nanospheres with a uniform particle diameter of ca. 270 nm was synthesized. The inner magnetic core endues the whole nanoparticle with magnetic properties, while the outer mesoporous silica shell shows high enough surface area and pore volume. The synthesized material is expected to be applied to targeted drug delivery and multiphase separation. The storage and release of ibuprofen into and from the pore channels of the mesoporous silica shell, as a typical example, are demonstrated.