Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of layer-by-layer films from WO(3) and chitosan

The design of improved materials for electrochromic applications now involves extensive use of novel composites, thus requiring an investigation of the mechanisms responsible for electrochromism in these structures. Using films of WO(3) and chitosan produced with the layer-by-layer (LBL) technique, we demonstrate that characteristics such as the number of electrochemical active sites (K), the molar absorption coefficient (epsilon), and the electrochromic efficiency (eta) can be obtained using the quadratic logistic equation (QLE). The complexation ability between chitosan and WO(3) allowed the growth of visually uniform multilayers of the composite, with the same amount of material adsorbed in each deposition cycle. By fitting the absorbance changes (DeltaA) resulting from the electronic intervalence transfer from W(V) to W(VI) sites in four-bilayer LBL films of WO(3)/chitosan and WO(3)/chitosan with ethanol in the precursor dispersion, K was estimated to be ca. 5.5 x 10(-8) mol cm(-2) and 3.6 x 10(-8) mol cm(-2), respectively. The molar absorption coefficient and electrochromic efficiency vary with the charge injected because of the saturation of W(V) sites and the dissipation and feedback effects implicit in the QLE associated with ion-network interactions, such as the proton trapping effect. The LBL film of WO(3)/chitosan showed a smaller molar absorption coefficient and electrochromic efficiency than that containing ethanol because of a greater proton trapping effect for the LBL film with no ethanol. This enhanced trapping effect was seen as a decrease in the electronic flux involved in intervalence transfer in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments.     

DECONVOLUTION OF THE RED P700 DIFFERENCE SPECTRUM BASED ON A SET OF THREE GAUSSIAN COMPONENTS: FURTHER EVIDENCE FROM LITERATURE SPECTRA

Abstract Literature data on the light induced difference spectrum of the photosynthetic reaction centre complex P700 were analysed in the spectral region from 670-700 nm. In accordance to our previous Gaussian deconvolution of the flash induced difference spectrum and the linear dichroism spectrum of photosystem I particles from green plants, we present here fits of three representative difference spectra that were recorded at room temperature and at low temperature conditions, respectively. These fits are generated by using the same set of only three Gaussian components that we specified previously: (1) a disappearing wide band around 695 nm representing the absorption of the reduced special-pair of chlorophyll- a ; (2) an appearing narrower band at slightly shorter wavelength (In agreement with our previous results, this band shows half the oscillatory strength of the former band. It is therefore attributed to the non-oxidized chlorophyll- a in the special pair); and (3) a bathochromic bandshift centered around 688 nm, which indicates the local electrochromic response of chlorophyll-a antennae molecule(s) close to the site of the primary donor. Among the reports by several authors we attribute the variation of the difference spectra of P700 in the region from 670-720 nm mainly to a variation in the magnitude of the third component, the local electrochromic one. We can also account for the peculiar shape of the low temperature spectra, mainly by alteration of the extent of the electrochromic component. It seems reasonable that the electrochromic component reacts most sensitively against structural changes of the reaction centre protein complex (brought forth by different degrees of depletion from antennae or by variation of the temperature).     

基于吡咯并吡咯二酮和苯并噻二唑聚合物的合成及其近红外电致变色性能

给-受体型窄带隙聚合物是一类新型可见-近红外电致变色材料,虽然可调性强、颜色丰富,但是其电致变色性能如对比度、稳定性等需要进一步提高。 通过调节聚合物中构筑单元吡咯并吡咯二酮(DPP)、苯并噻二唑(BTZ)和噻吩(T)的比例(n(DPP):n(BTZ):n(T)分别为1:0:1、1.5:0.5:1、2:1:1和3:2:1),合成了4种新型窄带隙电致变色聚合物,研究聚合物结构和电致变色性能的关系。 研究发现,这类聚合物在近红外光谱区具有较高的对比度(ΔT:50%60%)和变色效率(CE:300600 cm²/C),尤其是在1550 nm处,聚合物P3的ΔT高达63%、P4的CE高达471 cm²/C。 相比之下,含有BTZ基团的聚合物的吸收更长、对比度更高且更稳定。 这为设计给-受体型高性能电致变色聚合物提供了新的思路。     

Enhanced electrochromic absorption in Ag nanoparticle embedded conjugated polymer composite films

Ag/MEH-PPV {poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]} composite films were prepared by the pulse current electrodeposition of Ag nanoparticles followed by spin coating of MEH-PPV and their enhanced electrochromic coloration was investigated. A relatively uniform Ag nanoparticle array was obtained by the electrodeposition and distinct plasmon absorption bands of Ag nanoparticles were observed. The absorption maximum of Ag/MEH-PPV was much higher than that of MEH-PPV, indicating that the Ag nanoparticles induced an enhanced absorption. In addition, the electrochromic absorption was 1.6 times higher at 500 nm wavelength, with a clearly different coloration compared to MEH-PPV.     

Electrochromic modulation of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer: the new principle in design of fluorescence sensors

Internal Stark effect (or internal electrochromy) consists of the shift of light absorption and emission bands under the influence of electric field produced by proximal charges. In the studies of 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) derivatives exhibiting the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), we describe a new phenomenon - a very strong internal electrochromic modulation of this reaction. Fluorescence spectra of 3HF derivatives with charged groups attached to the chromophore from the opposite sides without pi-electronic conjugation, N-[(4'-diethylamino)-3-hydroxy-6-flavonyl]methyl-N,N-dimethyloctylammonium bromide and 4-[4-[4'-(3-hydroxyflavonyl)]piperazino]-1-(3-sulfopropyl)pyridinium, were compared with those of their neutral analogues in a series of representative solvents. The introduction of the proximal charge results in shifts of absorption spectrum and of both normal (N) and tautomer (T) emission bands, which correspond to initial and phototautomer states of the ESIPT reaction. The observed shifts are in accordance with the Stark effect theory. The direction of the shift depends on the position of the proximal charge with respect to the chromophore. The magnitude of the shift depends strongly on the solvent dielectric constant and on screening or unscreening produced by addition of the hydrophobic salts. In all of these cases, the spectral shifts are accompanied by extremely strong variations of relative intensities of N and T emission bands. This signifies a strong influence of internal electric field on the ESIPT reaction, which produces a dramatic change of emission color. Thus, the coupling of the initial electrochromic sensory signal with the ESIPT reaction allows for the breaking of the limit in magnitude of response inherent to common electrochromic dyes. This suggests a new principle of designing the ultrasensitive electrochromic two-wavelength fluorescence sensors and probes for analytical chemistry, macromolecular science, and cellular biology.     

Removal of aromatic compounds in the aqueous solution via micellar enhanced ultrafiltration: Part 1. Behavior of nonionic surfactants

The effects of nonionic surfactants having different hydrophilicity and membranes having different hydrophobicity and molecular weight cut-off on the performance of micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) process were examined. A homologous series of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) alkylether having different numbers of methylene groups and ethylene oxide groups was used for nonionic surfactants. Polysulfone membranes and cellulose acetate membranes having different molecular cut-off were used for hydrophobic membranes and hydrophilic membranes, respectively. The concentration of surfactant added to pure water was fixed at the value of 100 times of critical micelle concentration (CMC). The flux through polysulfone membranes decreased remarkably due to adsorption mainly caused by hydrophobic interactions between surfactant and membrane material. The decline of solution flux for cellulose acetate membranes was not as serious as that for polysulfone membranes because of hydrophilic properties of cellulose acetate membranes. The surfactant rejections for the cellulose acetate membranes increased with decreasing membrane pore size and with increasing the hydrophobicity of surfactant. On the other hand the surfactant rejections for polysulfone membranes showed totally different rejection trends with those for cellulose acetate membranes. The surfactant rejections for the polysulfone membranes depend on the strength of hydrophobic interactions between surfactant and membrane material and molecular weight of surfactants.     

Synthesis and electrochromic properties of polyimides with pendent benzimidazole and triphenylamine units

Five novel near-infrared electrochromic aromatic polyimides(PIs) with pendent benzimidazole group were synthesized from 4,4'-diamino-4'-(1-benzylbenzimidazol-2-yl)triphenylamine(named as DBBT) with five different dianhydrides via two-step polymerization process, respectively. The maximum UV-Vis absorption bands of these PIs locate at about 335 nm for solid films due to the π-π* transitions. A reversible pair of distinct redox peaks, that were associated with a noticeable color change from original yellow to blue, was observed in the cyclic voltammetry(CV) test. A new absorption peak emerged at 847 nm in near-infrared(NIR) region with increasing voltage in UV-Vis-NIR spectrum, which indicates that PI can be used as NIR electrochromic material. These novel PIs have good electrochemical stability, appropriate energy levels for the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO), in the range of-5.17 e V to-5.20 e V and-2.14 e V to-2.26 e V(versus the vacuum level) determined by cyclic voltammetry method. These values basically consisted with the results of quantum chemical calculation. These polyimides can be used as novel electrochromic and hole transportation materials.     

季铵盐型阳离子表面活性剂与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

本文合成并表征了三种不同烷基链长度的季铵盐型阳离子表面活性剂：N-十二烷基-N-（2-羟乙基）-N,N-二甲基溴化铵（DHDAB）、N-十四烷基-N-（2-羟乙基）-N,N-二甲基溴化铵（THDAB）、N-十六烷基-N-（2-羟乙基）-N,N-二甲基溴化铵（CHDAB）。采用荧光光谱法、紫外-可见光谱法、动态光散射法和等温滴定量热法对三种表面活性剂与牛血清白蛋白（BSA）的相互作用进行研究。荧光光谱研究表明,三种表面活性剂主要与BSA分子内的色氨酸残基发生相互作用,导致蛋白质的构象发生变化,且表面活性剂烷基链越长,与BSA的相互作用就越强。BSA荧光猝灭的主要原因是静态猝灭,紫外光谱实验同样验证了静态猝灭的存在。等温滴定量热法结果表明低浓度的表面活性剂与BSA主要发生静电作用和疏水作用而放热。动态光散射结果表明高浓度的表面活性剂会使BSA结构被破坏。本文揭示了表面活性剂与BSA相互作用的机理,为表面活性剂的广泛应用提供了理论基础。     

Aqueous dispersion, surface thiolation, and direct self-assembly of carbon nanotubes on gold

We report the efficient aqueous dispersion of pristine HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with ionic liquid (IL)-based surfactants 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (1) and 1-(12-mercaptododecyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide (2), the thiolation of nanotube sidewalls with 2, and the controlled self-assembly of positively charged SWNT-1,2 composites on gold. Optical absorption spectra and resonance Raman (RR) data of obtained aqueous SWNT-1,2 dispersions are consistent with debundled and noncovalently functionalized nanotubes whose electronic properties have not been disturbed. Additionally, the dispersion of pristine nanotube material with surfactants 1 and 2 leads to a high degree of purification from carbonaceous particles. The chiralities of the 14 smallest semiconducting HiPco SWNTs in resonance with Raman excitation at 1064 nm (1.165 eV) were determined in SWNT-2 aqueous dispersion using UV-vis-NIR and RR spectra. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy of SWNT-2 submonolayers on gold verified the encapsulation of individualized SWNTs with IL surfactants, the cleavage of S-S disulfide bonds formed in aqueous SWNT-2 suspensions, and the direct chemisorption of the SWNT-2 composite on bare gold via the Au-S bond. Aqueous dispersions of SWNTs with IL-based surfactants add biofunctionality to carbon nanotubes by imparting the positive surface charge necessary for interactions with cell membranes. Our technique, which purifies pristine nanotube material and produces water-soluble, positively charged nanotubes with pendent surface-active thiol groups, may also be translated to other carbon nanotubes and carbon nanostructures. Self-assembled, positively charged submonolayers of SWNTs can be further used for applications in cell biology and sensor technology.     

脉冲激光沉积制备氧化铋薄膜的电致变色性质

通过电位阶跃和循环伏安结合现场电感偶合分光光度计(CCD)测量了脉冲激光沉积的四方结构Bi2O3薄膜的电致变色性质. 结果表明, 在波长为630 nm处出现一个明显的吸收峰, Bi2O3薄膜电极的着色时间为30 s. 吸光度-电位谱图表明, 当电位在3.5 - 0.7 V之间变化时, Bi2O3薄膜的颜色可明显地呈现由透明到暗棕色的可逆变化, 重复次数可达50 次, 在630 nm测得的着色效率约为15 cm2·C-1.     

Interaction behaviour in ultrafiltration of nonionic surfactants Part II. Static adsorption below CMC

Two homologous series of nonionic surfactants, namely Rhom and Haas' tritons (alkylphenol ethoxylates) and Shell dobanols (dobanol ethoxylates) were used to characterize surface properties of ultrafiltration membranes. Static adsorption experiments were carried out to reveal the interactions developed between the membrane and the nonionic surfactant. The surfactant adsorption on the membranes depends on the chemical composition and structure of both the membranes and the surfactants used, as both chemical composition and structure determine the type of interactions controlling this adsorption illustrated on the adsorption isotherms. Distinct different behaviour was exhibited by four types of membranes of the same nominal molecular weight cut-off. The influence of pH and ionic strength was studied also.     

Interaction behavior in ultrafiltration of nonionic surfactant micelles by adsorption

Adsorption of nonionic surfactant micelles onto ultrafiltration (UF), membranes was studied. Two homologous series of nonionic surfactants, namely, Tritons (alkylphenol ethoxylates) and Neodols (alcohol ethoxylates), were used to characterize surface properties of two polymeric ultrafiltration membranes with 20,000 nominal cutoff. Particularly, a cellulose acetate and a polysulfone membrane were investigated. Static adsorption experiments were carried out using surfactant solutions at concentrations above their critical micelle concentration. The characterization of surface properties of UF membranes was based on the adsorption behavior of surfactant species. The adsorption extent on UF membranes was affected by the hydrophobicity-to-hydrophilicity ratio mainly determining the interactions developed at the membrane-surfactant species interface. Adsorption experimental data seem generally to fit the Langmuir isotherm model. Atomic force microscopy was used to examine the alteration of the top membrane surface morphology.     

New electrochromic polymeric pyridinium salts

A series of new anode-cathode conjugated electrochromic polymeric pyridinium salts containing mainchain triphenylamine units and demonstrating multicolor electrochromism has been synthesized. All of the polymers exhibit intense UV absorption with maxima of absorption and fluorescence at 340–343 and 336–338 nm in DMF solutions and 460–461 and 410–438 nm in films. The electrochromic properties of the films are investigated by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Reversible redox signals with stable electrochromic characteristics are found in cyclic voltamperograms. The electrochromic properties of the polymers remain highly stable after 50 cycles in the range 0–1.2 V.     

Monitoring Local pH of Membranous Aggregates via Ratiometric Color Changing Response

A series of oxidized di(indolyl)arylmethanes (DIAM) with polyaromatic signaling moieties have been designed for monitoring local pH at the interfacial region of surfactant aggregates, such as micelles and vesicles. The oxidized DIAMs show changes in solution color from red to yellow when incorporated in cationic surfactants (at pH 7.4) and yellow to reddish pink when exposed to negatively-charged surfactants (at pH 5.0). The changes in surface charge can influence the interfacial pH (distinct from bulk pH of the medium) of the surfactant aggregates. The mechanistic studies indicate that the red-shifted absorption maxima observed in the presence of anionic amphiphiles (acidic local pH) originated from the protonated species. On the contrary, maxima in the blue region, triggered by positively charged amphiphiles (basic local pH), is attributed to the zwitterionic species. Such prototropic equilibrium affects charge transfer states of the molecules along with their self-assembly properties. Thus, it is evident that probes can predict as well as quantify the local pH change using the pseudophase ion exchange formalism. Also, the probes can detect the presence of anionic amphiphiles even when bound to phospholipid membranes.     

Electroanalytical, dynamic, and transport properties of nonionic surfactant-selective membranes

It was found that electroanalytical properties of nonionic surfactant-selective membranes are determined by the stability, composition, solubility, and degree of dissociation of a metal-polyethoxylate-tetraphenylborate ionophore. The main trends in the potential formation in nonionic surfactant-selective electrodes were revealed based on the data on the dynamic, transport, and electrode properties of membranes. The main charge carriers at the membrane-solution interface and in the membrane phase were found. New, original, rapid, and selective methods were developed for determining nonionic surfactants in environmental samples and industrial compositions, for the separate determination of nonionic surfactants and polyethylene glycols, and for the determination of the average number of ethoxy groups in industrial samples of nonionic surfactants. Presented at the V All-Russian Conference with the Participation of CIS Countries on Electrochemical Methods of Analysis (EMA-99), Moscow, December 6–8, 1999.     

磷腈-紫精聚合物的合成与电致变色性能

以六氯环三磷腈作为核心、紫精为电致变色活性基,合成了一种新型有机-无机杂化电致变色材料六(1-乙基-4,4’-联吡啶-甲基苯氧基)环三磷腈(PHV²⁺).通过傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、X射线衍射(XRD)及核磁共振氢谱(1H NMR)表征了PHV²⁺的结构.优良的水溶性使得该化合物可以通过简单的方法构造一个以聚乙烯醇(PVA)为凝胶基质的电致变色水凝胶,具有成本低廉及无毒害的优点.以氟掺杂氧化锡(FTO)涂层玻璃作为电极材料,PHV²⁺作为电致变色材料制备了PHV²⁺/PVA/KCl电致变色器件(PHV²⁺/PVA/KCl ECD).该电致变色器件在2. 1 V电压下由淡黄色变为紫色,颜色变化明显,并且该颜色变化可以循环500次;器件在526 nm处的光学对比度达到62. 19%.良好的电致变色性质使该化合物在电致变色器件方面具有潜在应用价值.     

Interactions of novel, nonhemolytic surfactants with phospholipid vesicles

PEG-12-acyloxystearates constitute a novel class of pharmaceutical solubilizers and are synthesized from polyethylene glycol and 12-hydroxystearic acid, which has been esterified with a second acyl chain. The hemolytic activity of these surfactants decreases drastically with increasing pendant acyloxy chain length, and surfactants with an acyloxy chain of 14 carbon atoms or more are essentially nonhemolytic. In this paper, the interactions of PEG-12-acyloxystearates (acyloxy chain lengths ranging from 8 to 16 carbon atoms) with phosphatidylcholine vesicles, used as a model system for erythrocyte membranes, were studied in search of an explanation for the large variations in hemolytic activity. Surfactant-induced alterations of membrane permeability were investigated by studying the leakage of vesicle-entrapped calcein. It was found that all of the surfactants within the series interact with the vesicle membranes and cause slow leakage at elevated surfactant concentrations, but with large variations in leakage kinetics. The initial leakage rate decreases rapidly with increasing pendant acyloxy chain length. After prolonged incubation, on the other hand, the leakage is not a simple function of acyloxy chain length. The effect of the surfactants on membrane integrity was also investigated by turbidity measurements and cryo-transmission electron microscopy. At a surfactant/lipid molar ratio of 0.4, the vesicle membranes are saturated with surfactant. When the surfactant/lipid molar ratio is further increased, the vesicle membranes are progressively solubilized into mixed micelles. The rate of this process decreases strongly with increasing acyloxy chain length. When comparing the results of the different experiments, it can be concluded that there is no membrane permeabilization below saturation of the vesicle membranes. The large variations in the kinetics suggest that several steps are involved in the mechanism of leakage induced by PEG-12-acyloxystearates and that their relative rates vary with acyloxy chain length. The slow kinetics may in part be explained by the low critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) exhibited by the surfactants. The CMCs were found to be in the range of 0.003-0.025 microM.     

Detecting the micellization of anionic surfactants by a colorimetric and fluorescent probe based on electrostatic attraction

A novel fluorescent probe labeled with cation, N-n-alkyl-4-(1-methylpiperazine)-1,8-naphthalimide iodide ([C₈ndi]I), has been applied as a colorimetric and fluorometric probe for detecting the micellization of anionic surfactants. The critical micellization concentration (cmc) of anionic surfactants can be conveniently determined by the change on absorption and fluorescence spectra of [C₈ndi]I. The probe displays highly sensitive and selective spectroscopic responses accompanied with distinctive color change (from colorless to light green). These methods are proved to be reliable as the results are in accordance with those of the standard methods. Besides the advantage of visual detection, the multiple spectroscopic methods (absorption and fluorescence) by using [C₈ndi]I as probe are also simple and convenient. One can choose any spectroscopic parameter, such as position or intensity of the absorption and emission peaks, to monitor the micelle formation process of anionic surfactants.     

Some Characteristics of Ion-Selective Electrode Membrane Surfaces

Abstract

Some studies of the features of surfaces of PVC based liquid ion-exchanger and neutral carrier membranes, and of solid-state membranes of ion-selective electrodes are reviewed with respect to the application of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Auger spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Among the membranes discussed are those responding to (i) calcium for organophosphate type membranes, (ii) barium and polyalkoxylate non-ionic surfactants for PVC membranes based on complexes of barium with polyalkoxylate s, (iii) copper(II) for solid-state membranes of mixed copper(II) sulphide and silver sulphide, and (iv) sulphide and thiols for membranes of silver sulphide.     

Toward High-Performance Electrochromic Conjugated Polymers: Influence of Local Chemical Environment and Side-Chain Engineering

Three homologous electrochromic conjugated polymers, each containing an asymmetric building block but decorated with distinct alkyl chains, were designed and synthesized using electrochemical polymerization in this study. The corresponding monomers, namely T610FBTT810, DT6FBT, and DT48FBT, comprise the same backbone structure, i.e., an asymmetric 5-fluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole unit substituted by two thiophene terminals, but were decorated with different types of alkyl chain (hexyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-hexyldecyl, or 2-octyldecyl). The effects of the side-chain structure and asymmetric repeating unit on the optical absorption, electrochemistry, morphology, and electrochromic properties were investigated comparatively. It was found that the electrochromism conjugated polymer, originating from DT6FBT with the shortest and linear alkyl chain, exhibits the best electrochromic performance with a 25% optical contrast ratio and a 0.3 s response time. The flexible electrochromic device of PDT6FBT achieved reversible colors of navy and cyan between the neutral and oxidized states, consistent with the non-device phenomenon. These results demonstrate that subtle modification of the side chain is able to change the electrochromic properties of conjugated polymers.