Bipolar Electrochemiluminescence Imaging: A Way to Investigate the Passivation of Silicon Surfaces

This work depicts the original combination of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and bipolar electrochemistry (BPE) to map in real-time the oxidation of silicon in microchannels. We fabricated model silicon-PDMS microfluidic chips, optionally containing a restriction, and monitored the evolution of the surface reactivity using ECL. BPE was used to remotely promote ECL at the silicon surface inside microfluidic channels. The effects of the fluidic design, the applied potential and the resistance of the channel (controlled by the fluidic configuration) on the silicon polarization and oxide formation were investigated. A potential difference down to 6 V was sufficient to induce ECL, which is two orders of magnitude less than in classical BPE configurations. Increasing the resistance of the channel led to an increase in the current passing through the silicon and boosted the intensity of ECL signals. Finally, the possibility of achieving electrochemical reactions at predetermined locations on the microfluidic chip was investigated using a patterning of the silicon oxide surface by etched micrometric squares. This ECL imaging approach opens exciting perspectives for the precise understanding and implementation of electrochemical functionalization on passivating materials. In addition, it may help the development and the design of fully integrated microfluidic biochips paving the way for development of original bioanalytical applications.     

Impact of Collection Volume and DNA Extraction Method on the Detection of Biomarkers and HPV DNA in First-Void Urine

The potential of first-void (FV) urine as a non-invasive liquid biopsy for detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA and other biomarkers has been increasingly recognized over the past decade. In this study, we investigated whether the volume of this initial urine stream has an impact on the analytical performance of biomarkers. In parallel, we evaluated different DNA extraction protocols and introduced an internal control in the urine preservative. Twenty-five women, diagnosed with high-risk HPV, provided three home-collected FV urine samples using three FV urine collection devices (Colli-Pee) with collector tubes that differ in volume (4, 10, 20 mL). Each collector tube was prefilled with Urine Conservation Medium spiked with phocine herpesvirus 1 (PhHV-1) DNA as internal control. Five different DNA extraction protocols were compared, followed by PCR for GAPDH and PhHV-1 (qPCR), HPV DNA, and HBB (HPV-Risk Assay), and ACTB (methylation-specific qPCR). Results showed limited effects of collection volume on human and HPV DNA endpoints. In contrast, significant variations in yield for human endpoints were observed for different DNA extraction methods (p < 0.05). Additionally, the potential of PhHV-1 as internal control to monitor FV urine collection, storage, and processing was demonstrated.     

Controlling Metallophilic Interactions in Chiral Gold(I) Double Salts towards Excitation Wavelength‐Tunable Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Materials exhibiting excitation wavelength‐dependent photoluminescence (Ex‐De PL) in the visible region have potential applications in bioimaging, optoelectronics and anti‐counterfeiting. Two multifunctional, chiral [Au(NHC)₂][Au(CN)₂] (NHC=(4R,5R)/(4S,5S)‐1,3‐dimethyl‐4,5‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) complex double salts display Ex‐De circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in doped polymer films and in ground powder. Emission maxima can be dynamically tuned from 440 to 530 nm by changing the excitation wavelength. The continuously tunable photoluminescence is proposed to originate from multiple emissive excited states as a result of the existence of varied Au^I???Au^I distances in ground state. The steric properties of the NHC ligand are crucial to the tuning of Au^I???Au^I distances. An anti‐counterfeiting application using these two salts is demonstrated.     

A Flexible Photoactive Titanium Metal–Organic Framework Based on a [TiIV3(μ3‐O)(O)2(COO)6] Cluster

The synthesis of titanium–carboxylate metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is hampered by the high reactivity of the commonly employed alkoxide precursors. Herein, we present an innovative approach to titanium‐based MOFs by the use of titanocene dichloride to synthesize COK‐69, the first breathing Ti MOF, which is built up from trans‐1,4‐cyclohexanedicarboxylate linkers and an unprecedented [Ti^IV₃(μ₃‐O)(O)₂(COO)₆] cluster. The photoactive properties of COK‐69 were investigated in depth by proton‐coupled electron‐transfer experiments, which revealed that up to one Ti^IV center per cluster can be photoreduced to Ti^III while preserving the structural integrity of the framework. The electronic structure of COK‐69 was determined by molecular modeling, and a band gap of 3.77 eV was found.     

Strong,Thermally Superinsulating Biopolymer–Silica Aerogel Hybrids by Cogelation of Silicic Acid with Pectin

Silica aerogels are excellent thermal insulators, but their brittle nature has prevented widespread application. To overcome these mechanical limitations, silica–biopolymer hybrids are a promising alternative. A one‐pot process to monolithic, superinsulating pectin–silica hybrid aerogels is presented. Their structural and physical properties can be tuned by adjusting the gelation pH and pectin concentration. Hybrid aerogels made at pH 1.5 exhibit minimal dust release and vastly improved mechanical properties while remaining excellent thermal insulators. The change in the mechanical properties is directly linked to the observed “neck‐free” nanoscale network structure with thicker struts. Such a design is superior to “neck‐limited”, classical inorganic aerogels. This new class of materials opens up new perspectives for novel silica–biopolymer nanocomposite aerogels.     

Mechanistic study of Ce-modified MnO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts with high NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SCR performance and SO<Subscript>2</Subscript> resistance at low temperatures

A series of Ce–MnO _x /TiO₂ catalysts were prepared using a novel sol–gel template method and investigated for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH₃ at temperatures ranging from 353 to 473 K. The 0.07Ce–MnO _x /TiO₂ catalyst showed the highest activity and best resistance to SO₂ poisoning. The structure and properties of the catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetry (TG)–differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)–mass spectroscopy (MS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements, H₂-temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and NH₃-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The superior catalytic activity of the 0.07Ce–MnO _x /TiO₂ catalyst was probably due to a change in the active components, an increase in surface active oxygen and surface acid sites, and lower crystallinity and larger surface area with Ce doping. Furthermore, the reduction ability also became stronger. The SO₂ poisoning resistance of the 0.07Ce–MnO _x /TiO₂ catalyst improved because doping with Ce can effectively decrease the formation of ammonium salt on the catalyst surface and the sulfation of MnO _x . In situ diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier-transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy experiments indicated that addition of Ce could promote adsorption of NH₃ and inhibit generation of some nitryl species. The SCR reactions over the catalysts mainly followed the Eley–Rideal mechanism accompanied with a partial Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism.     

Fe掺杂Mn/TiO2低温脱硝催化剂的催化性能研究

采用氧化沉淀-浸渍法制备了不同含量Fe掺杂的Fe-Mn/TiO2低温脱硝催化剂,考察了催化剂在80~180 ℃范围内的脱硝能力并通过XRD、BET、TG、H2-TPR、NH3-TPD等测试手段,对催化剂的物理化学性质进行了表征.实验结果表明,Fe的加入并没有改变Mn/TiO2的主要晶相,仍是锐钛矿型的TiO2,MnOx和FeOx均以非晶态结构高度分散于载体表面,而且Fe的加入可以有效地改善催化剂的微观形貌、比表面积及表面酸性位点,从而提高其低温脱硝性能.Fe掺量在Fe/Ti为0.10时催化剂具有最佳性能,在120 ℃时脱硝率可达90;以上.     

Characterization of beam-induced reactions occurring in liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry/fast-atom bombardment by tandem mass spectrometry

Department of General and Physical Chemistry, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium A specific beam-induced secondary reaction involving the condensation of hydroxylic matrices with some organic groups (aldehydes, ketones, etc.) accompanied by the loss of a water molecule was investigated by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry/fast-atom bombardment (LSIMS/FAB). A mechanistic scheme and a structure of the induced product are proposed. The features of this secondary reaction were studied and the influence of the types of solutes, acidic additives, and matrices analyzed. Rather than a drawback, LSIMS/FAB mass spectrometry can take advantage of this matrix effect to infer analytical information through tandem mass spectrometry experiments. Specific neutral loss scans can be conducted to highlight beam-induced reactive molecules, even when the detection of these species is prevented in normal scan spectra by other surface-active components.     

Laser pulse fluorometry as a tool in polymer research

A time-resolved fluorescence spectrometer with laser excitation and picosecond time-correlated single photon counting detection is described. The parameter recovery from experimental data is discussed in detail. Correction methods for errors in the time-correlated single photon counting technique are indicated. Applications of this photophysical tool to polymer research are given.