Metallic osmium and ruthenium nanoparticles for CO oxidation

Supported metallic catalysts were prepared from pyrolysis of the organometallic clusters RuOs₃(CO)₁₃(μ-H)₂, Os₃(CO)₁₀(μ-AuPPh₃)₂, Os₃(CO)₁₂, Ru₃(CO)₁₂ and [Ru(CO)₄]_n, on either silica or titania, and their catalytic performance for CO oxidation has been assessed against a supported catalyst prepared from RuCl₃. Ruthenium catalysts prepared from organometallic precursors were found to exhibit better activity, and that supported on TiO₂ exhibited activity at the lowest operating temperature.     

单个等离子体纳米颗粒在生化分析和生物成像中的应用

等离子体纳米颗粒（PNPs）因其独特的物理、化学、光学和生物学特性而被广泛地应用于材料科学、生物学和医药学等研究领域。PNPs的光学性质是可以通过改变其组成、形状和大小来进行调控的,所以利用可控合成的方式能够筛选出适合的光散射探针。在单分子水平上实时研究PNPs的动态行为对于理解细胞及活体组织的生命活动机制、制备功能型纳米材料和开发新型化学生物传感器等有着重要的意义。基于传统的暗场显微镜（DFM）,通过对光源、检测器及其它光学元件的择优组装和调试,我们开发出了一系列具有高灵敏度、高时空分辨率和高通量的等离子体光散射成像技术,并将其应用于单分子检测、多颗粒传感、单细胞成像以及生物过程示踪等领域。基于具有光学各向异性的PNPs,我们还研制出了活细胞三维扫描成像系统和超连续激光光片成像与高速毛细管电泳联用系统,推进了单分子光谱方面的研究。本文将总结近十年来本课题组在PNP单颗粒分析及成像中的工作,并为该领域未来的发展提出一些新的思路。     

Fluoro-tagged osmium and iridium nanoparticles in oxidation reactions

Osmium and iridium metal nanoparticles were supported on a fluorous organic-inorganic hybrid material prepared by the sol-gel process. Moreover, we also found that the thermolysis of the Ir₄(CO)₁₂ cluster in simply diphenylether also gave Ir(0) nanoparticles. All the materials were studied as catalysts in oxidation processes. Fluoro-tagged iridium nanoparticles were particularly active in aerobic oxidation processes, whereby the catalytic activity could be greatly enhanced through a simple pre-activation procedure. With this material, benzylic alcohols could be oxidized under O₂ balloon in the absence of a basic additive; the oxidative stopped selectively to the corresponding benzaldehyde. Promisingly, the same reaction conditions were used in a benzylic CH oxidation of xanthene.     

Synthesis,characterization, electrochemical and photophysical properties of bimetallic complexes of rhenium(I) and osmium(II)

Monometallic and bimetallic diimine complexes of rhenium(I) and osmium(II), [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(4,4′-bpy)](PF₆) I, [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(4,4′-bpy)Re(bpy)(CO)₃](PF₆)₂II, [Cl(bpy)₂Os(4,4′-bpy)](PF₆) III and [Cl(bpy)₂Os(4,4′-bpy)Os(bpy)₂Cl](PF₆)₂IV, and a new heterobimetallic complex of rhenium(I) and osmium(II) [(CO)₃(bpy)Re(4,4′-bpy)Os(bpy)Cl](PF₆)₂V (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by various spectral techniques. The photophysical properties of all the complexes have been studied and a comparison is made between the heterobimetallic and corresponding monometallic and homobimetallic complexes. Emission and transient absorption spectral studies reveal that excited state energy transfer from the rhenium(I) chromophore (∗Re) to osmium(II) takes place. The energy transfer rate constant is found to be 8.7 × 10⁷ s⁻¹.     

Preparation,characterization, and properties of fluorinated polyurethanes

Novel fluorinated polyurethanes (FPUs) were prepared by living radical polymerization of polyurethanes and hexafluorobutyl acrylate. The structures of the FPUs were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, GPC, DSC, and XPS. The fluorinated polyurethane polymerization was investigated and showed monomer conversion, and molecular weight increased with increasing reaction time. In this way, the fluorine content in polyurethane could be easily adjusted by controlling the content of the fluorinated acrylate monomer. The mechanical evaluation shows that FPUs exhibit good mechanical properties. Morphology of FPU films was observed by scanning electron spectroscopy. The effects of the fluorine content on the surface properties and oxidative stability of FPUs were investigated. FPUs films were devoid of significant surface degradation after immersion in 20% H₂O₂ and 0.1 M CoCl₂ at 37 °C for 5 weeks. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3248–3256, 2009     

Superlattice-based Plasmonic Catalysis: Concentrating Light at the Nanoscale to Drive Efficient Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Fixation at Ambient Conditions

Plasmonic catalysis promises green ammonia synthesis but is limited by the need for co-catalysts and poor performances due to weak electromagnetic field enhancement. Here, we use two-dimensional plasmonic superlattices with dense electromagnetic hotspots to boost ambient nitrogen-to-ammonia photoconversion without needing co-catalyst. By organizing Ag octahedra into a square superlattice to concentrate light, the ammonia formation is enhanced by ≈15-fold and 4-fold over hexagonal superlattice and disorganized array, respectively. Our unique catalyst achieves superior ammonia formation rate and apparent quantum yield up to ≈15-fold and ≈10³-fold, respectively, better than traditional designs. Mechanistic investigations reveal the abundance of intense plasmonic hotspots is crucial to promote hot electron generation and transfer for nitrogen reduction. Our work offers valuable insights to design electromagnetically hot plasmonic catalysts for diverse chemical and energy applications.     

Electrochemical and DNA-binding properties of dipyridophenazine complexes of osmium(II)

A transition metal complex as an electrochemical probe of a DNA sensor must have an applicable redox potential, high binding affinity and chemical stability. Some complexes with the dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (DPPZ) ligand have been reported to have high binding affinity for DNA. However, it was difficult to detect the targeted DNA electrochemically using these complexes because of the relatively high redox potential. In this work, a combination of bipyridine ligands with functional groups (---NH₂, ---CH₃ and ---COOH) and the DPPZ ligand were studied. The introduction of electron-donating groups was effective for controlling the redox potential of the DPPZ-type osmium complex. The [Os(DA-bpy)₂DPPZ]²⁺ complex (DA-bpy; 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-bipyridine) had a lower half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 147 mV (vs. Ag AgCl) and higher binding affinity with DNA {binding constant, K=3.1×10⁷ M⁻¹ in 10 mmol dm⁻³ Tris–HCl buffer with 50 mmol dm⁻³ NaCl (pH 7.76)} than those of other complexes. With the single stranded DNA (ssDNA) modified gold electrode, the hybridization signal (ΔI) of the [Os(DA-bpy)₂DPPZ]²⁺ complex was linear in the concentration range of 1.0 pg ml⁻¹–0.12 μg ml⁻¹ for the targeted DNA with a regression coefficient of 0.999. The detection limit was 0.1 pg ml⁻¹.     

Preparation and reactivity of osmium(II) hydride complexes with phosphites and polypyridyls

Chloro-complexes [OsCl(N-N)P₃]BPh₄ (1, 2) [N-N=2,2^′-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen); P=P(OEt)₃ and PPh(OEt)₂] were prepared by allowing OsCl₄(N-N) to react with zinc dust in the presence of phosphites. Treatment of the chloro-complexes 1, 2 with NaBH₄ yielded, in the case of bpy, the hydride [OsH(bpy)P₃]BPh₄ (4) derivatives. Mono-phosphite [OsCl(bpy)₂P]BPh₄ (3) complexes were also prepared by reacting the [OsCl₂(bpy)₂]Cl compound with zinc dust in the presence of phosphite. Protonation reaction of the hydride [OsH(bpy)P₃]⁺ (4) cations with Brønsted acid was studied and led to thermally unstable (above 0 °C) dihydrogen [Os(η²-H₂)(bpy)P₃]²⁺ (4*) derivatives. The presence of the H₂ ligand is supported by variable-temperature NMR spectra and T_1min measurements. Carbonyl [Os(CO)(bpy){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (5), nitrile [Os(CH₃CN)(bpy){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (6), and hydrazine [Os(bpy)(NH₂NH₂){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (7) complexes were prepared by substituting the H₂ ligand in the η²-H₂ (4*) derivatives. Aryldiazene complex [Os(C₆H₅NNH)(bpy){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (8) was also obtained by allowing the hydride [OsH(bpy)P₃]BPh₄ to react with phenyldiazonium cation.     

Ground-state properties of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) tin trihydride complexes: A DFT study

DFT methods have been applied for the calculation of several ground-state properties of neutral and charged ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) tin trihydride complexes bearing N-donor, P-donor and C-donor ancillary ligands in their coordination sphere. Complexes of the type M(SnH₃)(Tp)(PPh₃)P(OMe)₃, M(SnH₃)(Cp)(PPh₃)P(OMe)₃ and [M(SnH₃)(Bpy)₂P(OMe)₃]⁺ (M = Ru, Os; Tp = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate; Cp = cyclopentadienyl ion; Bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied using the EDF2 and B3PW91 functionals. The same calculations have been carried out also on the corresponding [M]-CH₃ and [M]-H compounds, to compare the electronic features of the different reactive ligands coordinated to the same metal fragments. Charge distribution analyses were used to give insight into the roles of the transition metal centres and the ancillary ligands on the properties of the coordinated SnH₃ group. The molecular orbitals of the methyl- and trihydrostannyl-complexes were compared to understand the nature of the [M]-SnH₃ bond and the electronic transitions of these species.     

Preparation and characterization of 3D collagen materials with magnetic properties

In this study 3D collagen materials with magnetic properties were prepared by lyophilization technique. Magnetic particles were synthesized by precipitation of iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate in an aqueous solution of chitosan and then added to a collagen solution. Starch dialdehyde (DAS) was used as a cross-linking agent for the materials. The properties of the obtained materials were studied using infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, mechanical properties, porosity, density, swelling and moisture content were measured.It was found that 3D composites made from collagen with magnetic particles are hydrophilic with a high swelling ability. Cross-linking of such collagen materials with dialdehyde starch (DAS) alters the swelling degree, porosity and density of materials. The addition of magnetic particles to collagen materials decreases its porosity, and increases the density of the studied materials. Collagen 3D materials with magnetic particles are rigid and inflexible. Magnetic properties of the 3D collagen materials containing magnetic particles were confirmed by the interaction of this material with a magnet.     

Degradation of 4-nitrophenol by electrocatalysis and advanced oxidation processes using Co3O4@C anode coupled with simultaneous CO2 reduction via SnO2/CC cathode

Herein, we prepared novel three-dimensional (3D) gear-shaped Co₃O₄@C (Co₃O₄ modified by amorphous carbon) and sheet-like SnO₂/CC (SnO₂ grow on the carbon cloth) as anode and cathode to achieve efficient removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and simultaneous electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂, respectively. In this process, 4-NP was mineralized into CO₂ by the Co₃O₄@C, and the generated CO₂ was reduced into HCOOH by the sheet-like SnO₂/CC cathode. Compared with the pure Co0.5 (Co₃O₄ was prepared using 0.5 g urea) with PMS (30 mg, 0.5 g/L), the degradation efficiency of 4-NP (60 mL, 10 mg/L) increased from 74.5%–85.1% in 60 min using the Co0.5 modified by amorphous carbon (Co0.5@C). Furthermore, when the voltage of 1.0 V was added in the anodic system of Co0.5@C with PMS (30 mg, 0.5 g/L), the degradation efficiency of 4-NP increased from 85.1%–99.1% when Pt was used as cathode. In the experiments of 4-NP degradation coupled with simultaneous electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction, the degradation efficiency of 4-NP was 99.0% in the anodic system of Co0.5@C with addition of PMS (30 mg, 0.5 g/L), while the Faraday efficiency (FE) of HCOOH was 24.1 % at voltage of −1.3 V using the SnO₂/CC as cathode. The results showed that the anode of Co₃O₄ modified by amorphous carbon can markedly improve the degradation efficiency of 4-NP, while the cathode of SnO₂/CC can greatly improve the FE and selectivity of CO₂ reduction to HCOOH and the stability of cathode. Finally, the promotion mechanism was proposed to explain the degradation of organic pollutants and reduction of CO₂ into HCOOH in the process of electrocatalysis coupled with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and simultaneous CO₂ reduction.     

壳聚糖纳米粒子荧光探针的制备和表征

通过低分子量的壳聚糖(LCS)聚阳离子与三聚磷酸钠(TPP)的静电作用制备纳米级壳聚糖微球,并利用壳聚糖链上丰富的氨基与荧光素异硫氰酸酯(FITC)反应从而制备纳米壳聚糖微球荧光探针(NFCS)。结果表明,当壳聚糖分子量为60000,LCS与TPP的质量比为6∶1时,可得到粒度均一的球形纳米粒子,平均粒径为40±3 nm。荧光倒置显微镜观察证实FITC结合到壳聚糖微球上。荧光光谱分析显示NFCS的最大激发波长、最大发射波长与游离态FITC无显著差异。光漂白实验证实NFCS的稳定性比游离态FITC有显著提高。     

Preparation and reactivity of p-cymene complexes of ruthenium and osmium incorporating 1,3-triazenide ligands

p-Cymene complexes MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L [M = Ru, Os; L = P(OEt)₃, PPh(OEt)₂, (CH₃)₃CNC] were prepared by allowing [MCl(μ-Cl)(η⁶-p-cymene)]₂ to react with phosphites or tert-butyl isocyanide. Treatment of MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L complexes with 1,3-ArNNN(H)Ar triazene and an excess of NEt₃ gave the cationic triazenide derivatives [M(η²-1,3-ArNNNAr)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄ (Ar = Ph, p-tolyl). Neutral triazenide complexes MCl(η²-1,3-ArNNNAr)(η⁶-p-cymene) (M = Ru, Os) were also prepared by allowing [MCl(μ-Cl)(η⁶-p-cymene)]₂ to react with 1,3-diaryltriazene in the presence of triethylamine. p-Cymene complexes MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L reacted with equimolar amounts of 1,3-ArNNN(H)Ar triazene to give both triazenide complexes [M(η²-1,3-ArNNNAr)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄ and amine derivatives [MCl(ArNH₂)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄. A reaction path for the formation of the amine complex is also reported. The complexes were characterised by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography of RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)[PPh(OEt)₂] and [Ru(η²-1,3-p-tolyl-NNN-p-tolyl)(η⁶-p-cymene){CNC(CH₃)₃}]BPh₄. Selected triazenide complexes were studied as catalysts in the hydrogenation of 2-cyclohexen-1-one and cinnamaldehyde.     

Organometallic complexes for nonlinear optics: Part 32: Synthesis, optical spectroscopy and theoretical studies of some osmium alkynyl complexes

The complexes trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (1), trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (2), and 1,3,5-{trans-[OsCl(dppe)₂(4-CCC₆H₄CC)]}₃C₆H₃ (3) have been prepared. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal a quasi-reversible oxidation process for each complex at 0.36–0.39 V (with respect to the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple at 0.56 V), assigned to the Os^II/III couple. In situ oxidation of 1–3 using an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell affords the UV–Vis–NIR spectra of the corresponding cationic complexes 1⁺–3⁺; a low-energy band is observed in the near-IR region (11 000–14 000 cm⁻¹) in each case, in contrast to the neutral complexes 1–3 which are optically transparent below 20 000 cm⁻¹. Density functional theory calculations on the model compounds trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] and trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] have been used to rationalize the observed optical spectra and suggest that the low-energy bands in the spectra of the cationic complexes can be assigned to transitions involving orbitals delocalized over the metal, chloro and alkynyl ligands. These intense bands have potential utility in switching nonlinear optical response, of interest in optical technology.     

金＠壳聚糖复合材料的合成、表征及其葡萄糖选择氧化性能

采用硼氢化钠化学还原氯金酸的碱性溶液制备了纳米金溶胶, 利用紫外-可见吸收光谱研究了金与壳聚糖的相互作用. 结果表明, 壳聚糖能够捕获金纳米粒子并易于形成金@壳聚糖复合材料. 利用X-光粉末衍射(XRD)、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-vis DRS)、透射电镜(TEM)、红外光谱(IR)、微分热重及差热分析(DTG-DTA)等对这种复合材料进行了表征, 发现该材料具有较小的金纳米粒子, 壳聚糖的存在改变了金纳米粒子的等离子共振吸收, 二者之间存在一定的键合作用. 以分子氧为氧化剂, 在温和条件下, 该材料对葡萄糖选择氧化制葡萄糖酸反应具有良好的催化性能.     

Fluorous osmium tetraoxide (OsO4): a recoverable and reusable catalyst for dihydroxylation of olefins

A fluorous osmium catalyst was firstly developed. It had been effectively used as recoverable and reusable catalyst in the dihydroxylation of olefins.     

Chitosan macroporous asymmetric membranes—Preparation,characterization and transport of drugs

Chitosan macroporous membranes with asymmetric morphology were obtained by using an inorganic porogen agent (SiO₂). Chitosan/silica ratios used were 1:1, 1:3, and 1:5 w/w. A methodology to obtain asymmetric membranes with control of porosity and average pore size was proposed. The porous membranes were obtained taking advantage of the opposite solubility characteristics of chitosan and silica (4–20 μm). The membranes were characterized by SEM and water sorption capacity. The porosity was calculated by the relationship between dense and macroporous membranes. The SEM images of both surfaces and cross-section of the membranes confirmed their asymmetric morphology. Using a double-cell method, the permeability coefficients of two model drugs (sodium sulfamerazine and sulfametoxipyridazine) were determined. The effects of porous layer, drug type, concentration and temperature were evaluated. The results revealed that the increase in porosity results in significant differences in permeability and that the effects of drug concentration and bath temperature become less pronounced as porosity increases. The mass transport was analyzed in terms of pore-flow mechanism and the solution-diffusion mechanism. The results showed that the methodology was very efficient to yield asymmetric membranes with good mechanical resistance, control of porous size and dense layer thickness and that these membranes can potentially be used to the transport of drugs.     

Green preparation of copper nanoparticle-loaded chitosan/alginate bio-composite: Investigation of its cytotoxicity,antioxidant and anti-human breast cancer properties

In this study, an eco-friendly and low-cost procedure for the in situ fabrication of Cu nanoparticles by using chitosan/alginate hydrogel. The prepared Cu NPs@CS/Alg nanocomposite were characterized by advanced physicochemical techniques like Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) study. It has been established that chitosan/alginate-capped gold nanoparticles have a spherical shape with a mean diameter from 10 to 20 nm. In the cellular and molecular part of the recent study, the treated cells with Cu NPs@CS/Alg nanocomposite were assessed by MTT assay for 48 h about the cytotoxicity and anti-human breast cancer properties on normal (HUVEC) and breast cancer cell lines i.e. infiltrating lobular carcinoma of breast (UACC-3133), inflammatory carcinoma of the breast (UACC-732), and metastatic carcinoma (MDA-MB-453). In the antioxidant test, the IC50 of Cu NPs@CS/Alg nanocomposite and BHT against DPPH free radicals were 344 and 193 µg/mL, respectively. The IC50 of Cu NPs@CS/Alg nanocomposite were 297, 386, and 359 µg/mL against KYSE-270, OE33, and ESO26 cell lines, respectively. The viability of malignant breast cell line reduced dose-dependently in the presence of Cu NPs@CS/Alg nanocomposite.     

Preparation,characterization and magnetic properties of the BaFe12O19 @ chitosan composites

The BaFe₁₂O₁₉ @ chitosan composites are synthesized by the crosslinking reaction through chitosan and glutaraldehyde onto the surface of BaFe₁₂O₁₉. The structures of the samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The shape and size were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These results showed that chitosan has been decorated onto the surface of BaFe₁₂O₁₉, and the chitosan-glutaraldehyde Schiff-base composites have also been formed within the chitosan layers. Then, the magnetic properties of the samples were tested with the vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic saturation (M_S), residual magnetization (M_r) and coercive force (H_c) values of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ @ chitosan Schiff-base composite have achieved 44.94 emu/g, 27.82 emu/g and 3580.7 Oe, respectively. Compared with single BaFe₁₂O₁₉, the M_S, and M_r of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ @ chitosan composites decreases 12.31 emu/g and 8.58 emu/g, respectively. Finally, based on the experimental results, the probable formation mechanism of this composite has been investigated.