In situ synthesis of DNA micro-arrays using typography technique

A novel typography technique was developed to in situ synthesize oligonucleotide arrays on glass slide, which has the celerity, high spatial resolution, lower cost, reliable operation, and high synthetic efficiency. The principle and process of the typography technique for fabricating gene-chips have been described in detail. A suit of poly(terafluoroethylene) devices for synthesizing oligonucleotide arrays were designed and prepared, and the fiber tubes with a number of nano-or micron-channels were employed. The oligonucleotide arrays of 16 and 160 features with four different probes were synthesized using the typography technique. The four specific oligonucleotide probes including the matched and the mismatched by the fluorescent target sequence gave obviously different hybridization fluorescent signals. It was indicated that the gene-chip fabricated by the typography method could be used to rapidly screen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and to detect mutations. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 60571032, 60571001, 90606027 and 60121101), the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2006AA03Z357), the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grant Nos. 04jj40023 and 06JJ4012) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 04008782)     

In situ electrochemical and AFM study of thalidomide–DNA interaction

The interaction of thalidomide (TD) with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) at highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at glassy carbon electrodes (GCE), UV–Vis and electrophoresis. After incubation of dsDNA with different concentrations of TD, the AFM images show the formation of thin and incomplete TD–DNA network films with a number of embedded molecular aggregates and regions of uncovered HOPG. Both the TD–dsDNA aggregates and network thickness directly depended on the TD concentration and incubation time. The voltammetric data also showed that the modifications caused by TD to the DNA double helical structure are time-dependent. In agreement with AFM, DPV, UV–Vis and electrophoresis results, a model is proposed for the TD–DNA interaction, considering that TD intercalates into the dsDNA, causing defects in the dsDNA secondary structure and DNA double helix unwinding. Moreover, both AFM and DPV show that condensation is caused to DNA by TD and occurs until 24 h of incubation, as well as DNA oxidative damage, detected electrochemically by the appearance of the 8-oxoGua and/or 2,8 oxoAde oxidation peak.     

微波原位合成Ag NPs/MoS2复合材料及其电化学性能

二硫化钼纳米片(MoS₂)受到带电杂质、结构缺陷和易聚集等因素的影响,导致其电子转移性能下降,使其应用受限。将银纳米颗粒(Ag NPs)与少层MoS₂纳米片复合,可提升MoS₂纳米片的电化学性能。本研究创新性地采用微波还原法,使Ag NPs原位沉积于MoS₂,得到Ag NPs/MoS₂复合材料。结果表明,将Ag NPs/MoS₂复合材料修饰于丝网印刷电极(screen printed electrodes,SPE)后,测得的循环伏安(cyclic voltammetry,CV)曲线峰电流值为同浓度单一MoS₂修饰电极的1.8倍,方波伏安(square wave voltammetry,SWV)曲线峰电流值为单一MoS₂修饰电极的3.4倍,电化学阻抗谱(electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,EIS)的电子转移阻抗值(Ret)仅为167Ω,相比MoS₂/S...     

微波原位合成Ag NPs/MoS2复合材料及其电化学性能

二硫化钼纳米片（MoS₂）受到带电杂质、结构缺陷和易聚集等因素的影响,导致其电子转移性能下降,使其应用受限。将银纳米颗粒（Ag NPs）与少层MoS₂纳米片复合,可提升MoS₂纳米片的电化学性能。本研究创新性地采用微波还原法,使Ag NPs原位沉积于MoS₂,得到Ag NPs/MoS₂复合材料。结果表明,将Ag NPs/MoS₂复合材料修饰于丝网印刷电极（screen printed elec-trodes,SPE）后,测得的循环伏安（cyclic voltammetry,CV）曲线峰电流值为同浓度单一MoS₂修饰电极的1.8倍,方波伏安（square wave voltammetry,SWV）曲线峰电流值为单一MoS₂修饰电极的3.4倍,电化学阻抗谱（electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,EIS）的电子转移阻抗值（R_et）仅为167 Ω,相比MoS₂/SPE的R_et （320 Ω）显著减小,说明Ag NPs与MoS₂复合可显著增强单一MoS₂的电化学性能。此外,还推测了高导电性Ag NPs/MoS₂复合材料的导电机理。最后,基于Ag NPs/MoS₂复合材料构建了电化学传感器并对前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）进行检测。结果表明,该传感器针对PSA的检测限为0.009 ng·mL^-1,线性检测范围为0.1~1 000 ng·mL^-1,灵敏度为0.011 μA·mL·ng^-1。     

Synthesis, in situ spectroelectrochemical, in situ electrocolorimetric and electrocatalytic investigation of brown-manganese phthalocyanines

α- and β-substituted tetrakis(6-hydroxyhexylthiol) phthalocyaninato manganese (III) chloride complexes have been prepared via cyclotetramerization. Both complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, MS and UV–Vis spectral data. The voltammetric and in situ spectroelectrochemical studies reveal that both complexes exhibit an oxidation and three reduction processes having reversible, one-electron, and diffusion controlled mass transfer characteristics, which are assigned to Mn^IIIPc²⁻/Mn^IVPc²⁻, Mn^IIIPc²⁻/Mn^IIPc²⁻, Mn^IIPc²⁻/Mn^IPc²⁻, and Mn^IPc²⁻/Mn^IPc³⁻ couples respectively. The existence of oxygen in solution significantly affects the in situ spectroelectrochemical behavior of the complexes due to the formation of μ-oxo MnPc species. An in situ electrocolorimetric method has been applied to investigate the colors of the electro-generated anionic and cationic forms of the complexes for the first time in this study. The complexes, coated on a glassy carbon electrode potentiostatically, show considerable high electrocatalytic activity to hydrogen evolution reactions in aqueous solution.     

In situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites using cationic stearyl methacrylate copolymers as dispersants

Novel water-soluble amphiphilic copolymers (poly[(stearyl methacrylate)-stat-([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethyl ammonium iodide)]) for dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used to carry out in situ methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization. The morphology of the poly(methyl methacrylate)/MWCNT composites and the dispersion of the MWCNTs were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. The dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the composites was excellent for cationic SMA (stearyl methacrylate) copolymers, even at high MWCNT loading (6.0 wt.%). The mechanical properties and electrical and thermal conductivities of the composites were also analyzed. Mechanical properties were improved by MWCNTs; the strain at break values remained stable up to 6.0 wt.% MWCNT loading. Both electrical and thermal conductivities were improved by the addition of MWCNTs.     

Flexible NH3 sensors fabricated by in situ self-assembly of polypyrrole

Novel flexible NH₃ gas sensors were formed by the in situ self-assembly of polypyrrole (PPy) on plastic substrates. A negatively charged substrate was prepared by the formation of an organic monolayer (3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt—MPS) on a polyester (PET) substrate using a pair of comb-like Au electrodes. Two-cycle poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) sodium salt/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PSS/PAH) bilayers (precursor layer) were then layer-by-layer (LBL) deposited on an MPS-modified substrate. Finally, a monolayer of PPy self-assembled in situ and PPy multilayer thin films self-assembled LBL in situ on a (PSS/PAH)₂/MPS/Au/Cr/PET substrate. The thin films were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effects of the precursor layer (PSS), the deposition time of the monolayer of PPy and the number of PPy multilayers on the gas sensing properties (response) and the flexibility of the sensors were investigated to optimize the fabrication of the film. Additionally, other sensing properties such as sensing linearity, reproducibility, response and recovery times, as well as cross-sensitivity effects were studied. The flexible NH₃ gas sensor exhibited a strong response that was comparable to or even greater than that of sensors that were fabricated on rigid substrate at room temperature.     

In situ X-ray diffraction study of reduction processes of Fe3O4- and Fe1−xO-based ammonia-synthesis catalysts

The temperature-programmed reduction process of two types of industrial ammonia-synthesis catalysts, A110 and ZA-5, which are, respectively, based on Fe₃O₄ and Fe_1−xO precursors, were studied by in situ X-ray power diffraction (XRD). It has been found that the ZA-5 has lower reduction temperature and faster reduction rate, and its active phase α-Fe possesses a higher value of lattice microstrain than A110. The simulation based on Rietveld refinement has also shown that the shape of α-Fe grain of ZA-5 has a mixed shape of cube and sphere with more exposing (111) and (211) planes, while that of A110 looks like a concave cube with more exposing (110) planes. Based on the results obtained, a growth model of α-Fe during the reduction of Fe₃O₄- and Fe_1−xO-based ammonia-synthesis catalysts is proposed, and the origins for the activity difference has been also discussed.     

In situ implantation of PolyPOSS blocks in Nafion matrix to promote its performance in direct methanol fuel cell

Fabrication of recast Nafion^®-117 membrane using the dipolar aprotonic solvent will normally lead to a random matrix. On the contrary, when a designed amount of vinyl-pendant octasiloxane (Q₈M₈^V) cubic molecules was included into the Nafion^® matrix during the recasting process and then subjected to polymerization, a nonrandom matrix was obtained. This paper provides an insight into the matrix-formatting role of rigid poly(Q₈M₈^V) blocks, generated in situ in Nafion^® matrix, according to thermal analyses (thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)) and electron microscopic images of the resulting composite matrix. The P(Q₈M₈^V) played a role in restricting random extensions of proton-conducting channels (PCCs) and promoted ordered assembling of Nafion^® molecules. As a result, compared with the recast pristine Nafion^® membrane, the composite membranes containing P(Q₈M₈^V) of 5–15 wt.% manifested obvious improvement on both repression of methanol permeability and promotion of power density output of the single direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).     

In situ chemical synthesis of SnO2–graphene nanocomposite as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

An in situ chemical synthesis approach has been developed to prepare SnO₂–graphene nanocomposite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observation revealed the homogeneous distribution of SnO₂ nanoparticles (4–6 nm in size) on graphene matrix. The electrochemical reactivities of the SnO₂–graphene nanocomposite as anode material were measured by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling. The as-synthesized SnO₂–graphene nanocomposite exhibited a reversible lithium storage capacity of 765 mAh/g in the first cycle and an enhanced cyclability, which can be ascribed to 3D architecture of the SnO₂–graphene nanocomposite.     

高负载量丝光沸石/堇青石整体式催化剂的原位合成和表征

采用原位合成法制备了高负载量的丝光沸石/堇青石整体式催化剂，考察了晶种添加、晶化方式(静/动态)和投料硅铝比等因素的影响，通过称重计算了丝光沸石负载量，并结合XRD，SEM等表征手段对其结晶状况和形貌进行了分析。结果表明，原位合成可有效制备高负载量(最高可达47.4%)的丝光沸石/堇青石整体式催化剂。晶种添加有利于提高丝光沸石负载量。静态晶化负载量一般高于动态晶化，但动态晶化方式则有利于更高水硅比条件下丝光沸石的生成。投料硅铝比和晶化方式的协同作用，共同影响分子筛负载量和形貌。     

Hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnSe: An in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction study

The hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnSe has been studied by in situ X-ray powder diffraction using synchrotron radiation. The formation of ZnSe was studied using the following starting mixtures: Zn+Se+H₂O (route A) and ZnCl₂+Se+H₂O+Na₂SO₃ (route B). The route A experiment showed that Zn powder starts reacting with water at 134 °C giving ZnO and H₂ followed by the formation of ZnSe which takes place in temperature range from 167 to 195 °C. The route B experiment shows a considerably more complex reaction path with several intermediate phases and in this case the formation of ZnSe starts at 141 °C and ZnSe and Se were the only crystalline phases observed at the end of the experiment where the temperature was 195 °C. The sizes of the nanocrystalline particles were determined to 18 and 9 nm in the route A and B experiments, respectively. Nanocrystalline ZnSe was also synthesized ex situ using the route A and B methods and characterized by conventional X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. An average crystalline domain size of ca. 8 nm was determined by X-ray powder diffraction in fair agreement with TEM images, which showed larger aggregates of nanoparticles having approximate diameters of 10 nm. Furthermore, a method for purification of the ZnSe nanoparticles was developed and the prepared particles showed signs of anisotropic size broadening of the diffraction peaks.     

铁铈氧化物程序升温还原过程的研究

运用原位穆斯堡尔谱、XRD测定等方法剖析了铁铈氧化物的程序升温还原过程。结果表明，金属离子间的相互作用使得氧化铁的还原温度升高，还原反应活化能提高，抗还原能力增强。     

Thermo-Raman spectroscopy in situ monitoring study of solid-state synthesis of NiO-Al2O3 nanoparticles and its characterization

Hyphenation of thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and thermo-Raman spectrophotometer for in situ monitoring of solid-state reaction in oxygen atmosphere forming NiO-Al₂O₃ catalyst nanoparticles is investigated. In situ thermo-Raman spectra in the range from 200 to 1400 cm⁻¹ were recorded at every degree interval from 25 to 800 °C. Thermo-Raman spectroscopic studies reveal that, although the onset of formation is around 600 °C, the bulk NiAl₂O₄ forms at temperatures above 800 °C. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the reaction mixtures were recorded at regular temperature intervals of 100 °C, in the temperature range from 400 to 1000 °C, which could provide information on structural and morphological evolution of NiO-Al₂O₃. Slow controlled heating of the sample enabled better control over morphology and particle size distribution (∼20-30 nm diameter). The observed results were supported by complementary characterizations using TGA, XRD, SEM, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis.     

Formation of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and vacancy ordering: An in situ X-ray powder diffraction study

The formation of maghemite, γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles has been studied by in situ X-ray powder diffraction. The maghemite was formed by thermal decomposition of an amorphous precursor compound made by reacting lauric acid, CH₃(CH₂)₁₀COOH with Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O. It has been shown that cubic γ-Fe₂O₃ was formed directly from the amorphous precursor and that vacancy ordering starts about 45 min later at 305 °C resulting in a tripled unit cell along the c-axis. The kinetics of grain growth was found to obey a power law with growth exponents n equal to 0.136(6) and 0.103(5) at 305 and 340 °C, respectively. Particles with average sizes of 12 and 13 nm were obtained in 86 and 76 min at 305 and 340 °C, respectively. The structure of cubic and vacancy ordered phases of γ-Fe₂O₃ was studied at 305 °C by Rietveld refinements.     

原位合成石墨烯负载的Co-P催化剂及光解水制氢

在石墨烯(GP)基底上利用光电子原位还原合成了具有非晶态结构的Co-P/GP光催化剂。通过X射线衍射仪(XRD)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)表征,证明所制备的催化剂在石墨烯载体上分散性好、粒径小,具有非晶态结构。由XPS表征了催化剂的表面电子状态,发现催化剂表面的Co和P主要是以还原态存在,有利于表面富集电子。经过曙红敏化,催化剂在可见光辐照下具有很好的光催化制氢性能。考察了不同物质的量之比nCo∶nP的制氢速率,当nCo∶nP=5∶1时,3 h的平均制氢量为24.5 mmol·h~(-1)·gCo~(-1)。考察了不同波长条件下催化剂制氢的量子效率,当波长为430 nm时,Co-P/GP催化剂的制氢量子效率AQE达到8.4%,比没有添加P的Co/GP催化剂提高了1.5倍。     

Thermal and mechanical properties of in situ polymerized PS/EPDM blends

In situ polymerized PS/EPDM blends were prepared by dissolving poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-2-ethylidene-5-norbornene) (EPDM) in styrene monomer, followed by bulk polymerization at 60 °C and 80 °C . EPDM has excellent resistance to such factors as weather, ozone and oxidation, attributed to its non-conjugated diene component, and it could be a good alternative for substituting polybutadiene-based rubbers in PS toughening. The in situ polymerized blends were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography, and tensile and Izod impact resistance tests. The PS/EPDM blends are immiscible and present two phases, a dispersed elastomeric phase (EPDM) in a rigid PS matrix whose phase behavior is strongly affected by the polymerization temperature. Mechanical properties of the blends are influenced by the increase in the average size of EPDM domains with the increase in the polymerization temperature and EPDM content. The blends polymerized at 60 °C containing 5 wt% of EPDM presents an increase in the impact resistance of 80% and containing 17 wt% of EPDM presents an increase in the strain at break of 170% in comparison with the value of PS. The blend polymerized at 80 °C containing 17 wt% of EPDM presents an increase in the strain at break of 480% and in impact resistance of 140% in comparison with the value of PS.     

现场电聚合法制备锂二次聚合物电池的研究

基于1,3-二氧戊环(DOL)的可聚合特征, 提出了一种新的聚合物锂二次电池的现场制备方法, 并对其进行研究. 电化学实验表明: 在特定的电流密度下, 仅通过常规的恒电流充放电处理就能实现聚合物锂二次电池的现场组装, 得到的聚合物锂二次电池在电化学性能上与普通液态锂二次电池相当. 紫外-可见光谱表明, 通过一定的电化学处理, DOL能够发生电聚合, 扫描电镜以及交流阻抗测试也证明DOL的聚合不仅实现了液态电解液向聚合态的转变, 而且有助于在电极表面生成较为稳定的聚合物层.     

In situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Diagnostic for Characterization and Performance Test of Catalysts

The present work establishes a systematic approach based on the application of in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the investigation of the crystal structure, thermal stability, redox behavior (temperature-programmed reduction/temperatureprogrammed re-oxidation) as well as the catalytic properties of Co₃O₄ thin films. The syntheses of Co₃O₄ were achieved by chemical vapor deposition in the temperature range of 400-500℃. The structure analysis of the as-prepared material revealed the presence of two prominent IR bands peaking at 544 cm^-1 (υ₁) and 650 cm^-1 (υ₂) respectively, which originate from the stretching vibrations of the Co-O bond, characteristic of the Co₃O₄ spinel. The lattice stability limit of Co₃O₄ was estimated to be above 650℃. The redox properties of the spinel structure were determined by integrating the area under the emission bands υ₁ and υ₂ as a function of the temperature. Moreover, Co₃O₄ has been successfully tested as a catalyst towards complete oxidation of dimethyl ether below 340 ℃. The exhaust gas analysis during the catalytic process by in situ absorption FTIR revealed that only CO₂ and H₂O were detected as the final products in the catalytic reaction. The redox behavior suggests that the oxidation of dimethyl ether over Co₃O₄ follows a Mars-van Krevelen type mechanism. The comprehensive application of in situ FTIR provides a novel diagnostic tool in characterization and performance test of catalysts.     

Initial stages of SBA-15 synthesis: an overview

This work presents an overview of the data obtained for SBA-15 synthesis under the reaction conditions using synchrotron based small angle X-ray scattering and small angle neutron scattering. Three major stages in the synthesis of SBA-15 materials proceeding according to the cooperative self-assembly mechanism have been identified, and the structures of the intermediates species have been established. Our in situ time-resolved neutron scattering experiments demonstrate that only spherical micelles of the templating agent are present in the synthesis mixture during the first stage of the reaction. According to the neutron scattering and X-ray scattering data, in the second stage of the reaction the formation of hybrid organic-inorganic micelles is accompanied with the transformation from spherical to cylindrical micelles, which takes place before the precipitation of the ordered SBA-15 phase. During the third stage, these micelles aggregate into a two-dimensional hexagonal structure, confirming that the precipitation takes place as the result of self-assembly of the hybrid cylindrical micelles. As the synthesis proceeds, the voids between the cylinders are filled with the silicate species which undergo condensation reactions resulting in cross-linking and covalent bonding, leading to the formation of highly ordered SBA-15 mesostructure. This work demonstrates that valuable structural information can be obtained from X-ray and neutron scattering characterisation of complex systems containing periodic phases with d-spacing values up to 30 nm, and that both techniques are powerful means for in situ monitoring of the formation of nanostructured materials.