Self‐Organized Nanocomposite of Gold Nanoparticles and π‐Electron Organic Molecules

Aggregates of gold nanoparticles were formed by simple addition of a dithiafulvene derivative (DF) to an acetonitrile solution containing gold ions. The discrete gold nanoparticles in the aggregates were separated by monolayers of oxidized DF. No aggregation was observed with the addition of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), which acted as a strong stabilizer and inhibited self‐assembly of the gold nanoparticles. DF acted as a reducing agent for gold ions, a stabilizer, and a tether for the resulting gold nanoparticles. Intermolecular S···S interaction and Au–S bonds might be the driving force for the self‐assembly of the gold nanoparticles.     

Preparation and Characterization of Heparin‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles

A simple method for preparing gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution has been developed by using glycosaminoglycan‐heparin as reducing and stabilizing agent and HAuCl₄ as precursor. The obtained gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV‐vis spectroscopy, resonance light scattering spectroscopy (RLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrophoresis technology. The influence of reactant concentration for the preparation of gold nanoparticles was investigated. The results indicated that the gold nanoparticles carried negative charges in the aqueous solution and the size and shape of the gold nanoparticles could be controlled by changing the concentration of the heparin. Moreover, the gold nanoparticles obtained with relatively high concentration of heparin were very stable and had relative narrow size distribution.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Gold Nanoparticle‐Functionalized Ordered Mesoporous Materials

We report the synthesis and characterization of three different ordered mesoporous materials, labeled MCM‐48, SBA‐155, and SBA‐16 type materials, which were functionalized with gold nanoparticles using three different strategies. The functionalization strategies can be categorized as (i) in situ growth of gold nanoparticles, (ii) template loading, and (iii) diffusion loading of prefabricated gold nanoparticles. Two different particle sizes were employed in the latter two strategies, 5 nm and 10 nm. For all mesoporous structures, functionalization strategies, and particle sizes attempted, the materials retained their long‐range order upon incorporation of nanoparticles. From the adsorption isotherms, incorporation of gold nanoparticles altered the pore structure of the mesoporous support of some of the SBA‐15 and SBA‐16 type materials, with the effect on incorporation on the pore structure being particle size dependent in most cases. The majority of gold nanoparticles were found to reside on the external surface of the materials regardless of substrate and functionalization strategy; however, for the in situ synthesis and the template loading strategies, a significant fraction of the particles was determined to reside within the pore system of the material. In situ growth resulted in the highest content of gold nanoparticles in the solid phase. The relative effectiveness in retaining gold nanoparticles in the solid phase for each functionalization strategy was determined to be, in descending order, in situ synthesis, template loading, and diffusion loading.     

Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles Protected with Polyelectrolyte

Gold nanoparticles were synthesized through the reduction of tetrachlorauric acid (HAuCh) by NaBH4, with polyethyleneimine(PEI) as stabilizer. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy(AFM).     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Gold in Water and Ore with 2‐Carboxyl‐1‐Naphthalthiorhodanine

Abstract

This paper reports on the synthesis of a new chromogenic reagent, 2‐carboxyl‐1‐naphthalthiorhodanine (CNTR). A high sensitive, selective, and rapid method for the determination of gold based on the rapid reaction of gold with CNTR and the solid phase extraction of the colored chelate with a reversed phase polymer‐based C₁₈ cartridge was developed. In the presence of 0.05–0.5 mol L^?1 of phosphoric acid solution and emulsifier‐OP medium, CNTR reacts with gold to form a red chelate of a molar ratio 1∶3 (gold to CNTR). This chelate was enriched by the solid phase extraction with a polymer‐based C₁₈ cartridge and the retained chelate was eluted from the cartridge with dimethyl formamide (DMF). The enrichment factor of 100 was achieved. In the DMF medium, the molar absorptivity of the chelate is 1.35×10⁵ L · mol^?1 · cm^?1 at 540 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 0.01～2 µg mL^?1 in the measured solution. The relative standard deviation for 11 replicates sample of 0.5 µg L^?1 level is 2.05%. The detection limit, based on three times the standard deviation is 0.02 µg L^?1 in the original sample. This method was applied to the determination of gold in water and ore with good results.     

Electrochemical and Electrocatalytic Properties of Ferrocene Incorporated in L‐Cysteine Self‐Assembled Monolayers on a Gold Electrode

Abstract

The preparation of a gold electrode modified by aminylferrocene (FcAI) covalently bound to L‐cysteine self‐assembled monolayer (L‐Cys/Au SAM) was described, and characterized by cyclic voltammogram (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In pH 7.4 buffers, FcAI incorporated in L‐Cys/Au SAM gave a pair of well‐defined and quasi‐reversible cyclic voltammetric peaks at 0.109 vs. saturated calomel eletrode (SCE), characteristic of Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox couples of the Fc. The apparent surface electron transfer rate constant is 6.86 s^?1 at the modified electrode. The immobilized Fc gave an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of epinephrine (EP). The catalytic current of EP vs. its concentration has a good linear relation in the range of 1.7×10^?7–1.0×10^?4 mol/L, with the correlation coefficient of 0.9975 and detection limit of 1.8×10^?8 mol/L. The modified electrode can be used for the determination of EP in practical injection. The method is simple, quick, sensitive, and accurate.     

Size‐Controlled Synthesis of Highly Monodisperse Gold Nanoparticles without a Size‐Selection and Long Range Ordered 2‐D Arrangement

A simple method is used to control the size of cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide‐protected Au nanoparticles by a reversal micelle in safe organic solvent. These Au nanoparticles can be evolved to highly monodisperse Au nanoparticles capped 1‐dodecanthiol in the 2, 3, and 5 nm diameter by refluxing at～160°C for 7 hours. Their ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV‐vis), x‐ray diffraction (XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that all the three different size gold nanoparticles(NPs) displayed high size homogenous properties and easy formed large areas of long ordered two‐dimensional arrangement at the air/solid interface.     

Synthesis and Properties of Self‐doped Polyaniline with Polycationic Templates via Biocatalysis

The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to polymerize acid‐functionalized anilines to make self‐doped polymer in the presence of a polycationic template. Anionic templates such as sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) could not function as a suitable template for the polymerization of acid‐functionalized aniline derivatives. Several types of polyelectrolytes were used as templates to observe the structural effects and doping behavior of polyaniline/template complexes. The synthesis is straightforward and the conditions are mild in that the polymerization of conducting polyanilines may be carried out in buffered solutions as high as pH 6, with a stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide and catalytic amount of enzyme. The conductivity of these enzymatically synthesized self‐doped polymers was relatively high without additional doping due to the self‐doping of the acid moieties. The conductivity did not decrease dramatically at pH 3 as is the usual case of unsubstituted HCl‐doped polyaniline and maintained good conductivity even at pH 6. The measured conductivity at pH 4～pH 6 is around 10^?4 S/cm to 10^?6 S/cm.     

Fabrication of Gold Nano‐Structures with Azopolymer Templates

Fabrication of gold nano‐patterns has been demonstrated employing surface relief structures created on films of an azobenzene‐functionalized polymer as templates. The surface relief templates were photoinscribed on the azopolymer films in one‐step with two laser beams. Thin layers of gold were over‐coated on the polymer templates by thermal evaporation. Gold lines of a few hundred nanometer width were successfully fabricated by pyrolyzing the azobenzene polymer. Sub‐micron gold dots were also created. The resulting gold structures exhibited the same periodicity as the polymer templates.     

A Novel DNA‐Enrichment Technology Based on Amino‐Modified Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this paper we report a novel DNA‐enrichment technology based on amino‐modified functionalized silica nanoparticles. The approach takes advantage of the amino‐modified silica nanoparticles that have been prepared in one step by the controlled synchronous hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and N‐(β‐amimoethyl)‐γ‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane in water nanodroplets of water‐in‐oil microemulsions. The functionalized silica nanoparticles display a positive surface charge at neutral pH due to the presence of amino groups on the surface of these nanoparticles. DNA‐enrichment has been realized in the form of nanoparticle–DNA complexes that is accomplished through electrostatic binding between the positive charge of the amino group and the negative charge of the phosphate groups of the nucleic acid. These nanoparticles have high affinity to bind DNA. The results show that 1 mg of nanoparticles can bind 97.2 µg of plasmid DNA with 4.3 kb. This novel DNA‐enrichment technology has been used successfully in gene delivery.     

Attachment of Gold Nanoparticles to Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes were initially chemically modified with an H2SO4-HNO3 treatment, and subsequently activated with Pd-Sn catalytic nuclei via a one-step activation approach. These activated nanotubes were used as precursors for obtaining gold nanoparticles-attached nanotubes via simple electroless plating. This approach provides an efficient method for attachment of metal nanostructures to carbon nanotubes. Such novel hybrid nanostructures are attractive for many applications.     

Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Carbon‐Coated Nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, microstructure and superparamagnetic properties of two types of carbon‐coated magnetic Ni and Fe nanoparticles [Ni(C) and Fe(C)] are reviewed. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (SAED), and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses have been used to reveal the distinct structural morphologies of Ni and Fe nanoparticles. Moreover, novel carbon‐coated Ni nanoparticle assemblies offer us great opportunities for studying the mechanism of superparamagnetism in particle assemblies. Magnetization measurements [M(T) and M(H) curves] for assemblies of Ni nanoparticles indicate that modified superparamagnetic properties at T > T _B, have been found in the assemblies of Ni(C) particles. The blocking temperature, T _B, is determined to be near 115K under a certain applied field. Above T _B, the magnetization M(H, T) can be described by the classical Langevin function L using the relation, M/M _s (T = 0) = coth (μH/kT) ? kT/μH. It is suggested that these assemblies of carbon‐coated Ni nanoparticles have typical single‐domain, field‐dependent superparamagnetic relaxation properties. Finally, Mössbauer spectra and hyperfine magnetic fields at room temperature for the assemblies of Fe(C) nanoparticles confirm their distinct nanophases that were detected by structural analysis. Modified superparamagnetic relaxation is observed in the assemblies of Fe(C) nanoparticles, which is attributed to the nanocrystalline nature of the carbon‐coated nanoparticles.     

Influence of Capping Ligands on the Self—organization of Gold Nanoparticles into Superlattices from CTAB Reverse Micelles

Gold nanoparticles with size 3-10nm (diameter) were prepared by the reduction of HAuCl4 in a CTAB/octane 1-butanol/H2O reverse micelle system using NaBH4 as the reducing agent.The as-formed gold nanoparticle colloid was characterized by UV/vis absorption spectrum and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Various capping ligands,such as alkylthiols with different chain length and shape,trioctylphosphine(TOP),and pyridine are used to passivate the gold nanoparticles for the purpose of self-organization into superstructures.It is shown that the ligands have a great influence on the selforganization of gold nanoparticles into superlattices,and dodecanethiol C12H25SH is confirmed to be the best ligand for the self-organization.Self-organization of C12H25SH-capped gold nanoparticles into 1D,2D and 3D supperlattices has been observed on the carbon-coated copper grid by TEM without using any selective precipitation process.     

Facile Synthesis of 4‐Functionalized Cyclopentenones

1-8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene(DBU)‐catalyzed Michael addition of nitroalkanes to dicyclopentadienone (1) followed by flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) provided a high‐yielding synthesis of extremely pure 4‐nitroalkyl cyclopentenones (3). The optimized Nef reaction of the nitro adducts (2) provided 4‐ketoalkyl cyclopentenones (5) in the similar way.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrroles by Reaction of 3,4‐Diacetylhexane‐2,5‐dione with Primary Amines in Water

3,4‐Diacetylhexane‐2,5‐dione (tetra‐acetylethane) undergoes a complex reaction with primary amines in boiling water to produce N‐alkyl‐3‐acetyl‐2,5‐dimethylpyrroles, together with small quantities of N‐alkyl‐3,4‐diacetyl‐2,5‐dimethylpyrroles and 2,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl‐vinyl‐acetamides. When the reaction was carried out in methanol at room temperature, the yields of the latter products increased.     

Investigation of Copolymers of Thiophene‐Functionalized Polystyrene with Pyrrole by Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry

The thermal and structural characterization of electrochemically synthesized thiophene‐functionalized polystyrene and pyrrole (PS/PPy) and their copolymers were investigated by direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The pyrolysis data confirmed the growth of polypyrrole onto the pendant thiophene moiety of polystyrene. It is determined that the electrolytic film has different properties from the mechanical mixture and the related homopolymers.     

Separation of β-Blocker Enantiomers on Silica Modified with Gold Nanoparticles with Immobilized Macrocyclic Antibiotic Vancomicin

A new chiral sorbent based on mercaptosilica modified by gold nanoparticles, then treated by 3-mercaptopropionic acid and macrocyclic antibiotic vancomycin, was obtained. The enantioseparation of isomeric β-blockers (nadolol, atenolol, metoprolol, alprenolol, oxprenolol, and pindolol) by HPLC was studied on the synthesized sorbent. The effect of the composition of the mobile phase (nature and concentration of the organic solvent, concentration and pH of the buffer solution) on retention times of β-blocker enantiomers, selectivity of separation, and resolution of chromatographic peaks were studied. The best separation was achieved for pindolol and metoprolol. The procedure was used to determine the pindolol enantiomers in the preparation “Visken,” and metoprolol in the “Vazocardin” preparation.     

Photoluminescence Properties of Silica Xerogels Co‐doped with Eu3+ Ions and CdS Nanoparticles

Silica xerogels doped with Eu³⁺ ions and co‐doped with Eu³⁺ ions and CdS nanoparticles were prepared using a two‐step hydrolysis process. The effect of temperature on photoluminescence properties of Eu³⁺‐doped silica xerogel was investigated. The results showed that the photoluminescence of Eu³⁺‐doped silica xerogel was significantly dependent on the temperature of heat treatment. The study of the photoluminescence of co‐doped xerogels showed that the defect emission of silica was weakened due to competition among defects, CdS nanoparticles, and Eu³⁺ ions.     

The Interaction between Propranolol and Gold Nanoparticles and its Analytical Application

The addition of propranolol induced the aggregation of gold nanoparticles, and increased Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) intensity greatly. The interaction between them was studied by RLS spectrum, UV-Vis spectrum and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on these results, a novel method was proposed for propranolol assay. With the combination of solid phase microextraction (SPME), the proposed method was successfully applied to determine propranolol in urine.     

Preparation and Characterization of Polymer‐Protected Pt@Pt/Au Core‐Shell Nanoparticles

Poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrolidone) protected Pt‐core bimetallic Pt/Au‐shell (Pt@Pt/Au) nanoparticles were prepared by multi‐step reduction of HAuCl₄ and H₂PtCl₆ alternately by hydrogen adsorbed on platinum atom. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize Pt@Pt/Au nanoparticles. The structure of the shell of the nanoparticles seems to be the Au‐Pt solid solution.