Assembly kinetics of nanocrystals via peptide hybridization

The assembly kinetics of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) on solid inorganic surfaces is of fundamental importance for implementation of their solid-state devices. Herein an inorganic binding peptide, silica binding QBP1, was utilized for the self-assembly of nanocrystal quantum dots on silica surface as a smart molecular linker. The QD binding kinetics was studied comparatively in three different cases: first, QD adsorption with no functionalization of substrate or QD surface; second, QD adsorption on QBP1-modified surface; and, finally, adsorption of QBP1-functionalized QD on silica surface. The surface modification of QDs with QBP1 enabled 79.3-fold enhancement in QD binding affinity, while modification of a silica surface with QBP1 led to only 3.3-fold enhancement. The fluorescence microscopy images also supported a coherent assembly with correspondingly increased binding affinity. Decoration of QDs with inorganic peptides was shown to increase the amount of surface-bound QDs dramatically compared to the conventional methods. These results offer new opportunities for the assembly of QDs on solid surfaces for future device applications.     

Saturated flow boiling characteristics in single rectangular minichannels: effect of aspect ratio

In this study, saturated flow boiling characteristics of deionized water in single rectangular minichannels are investigated experimentally. A special attention is paid to the effect of aspect ratio (channel width to depth, W_ch/H_ch) on the heat transfer and total pressure drop. Experiments are conducted for various values of the mass flux and the wall heat flux. Flow visualization is used as a complementary technique for a deeper physical understanding of flow phenomena. The results show that the channel aspect ratio has a significant effect on both the local two-phase heat transfer coefficient and the total pressure drop. In general manner, the aspect ratio of 1 presents the highest heat transfer coefficients, while the aspect ratio of 0.25 demonstrates the lowest ones. On the other hand, the lowest values of the pressure drop are obtained at the extreme values of the aspect ratio (0.25 and 4).     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,IR Spectra and Thermal Analysis of Na[Ag(sac)2] (sac = saccharinate)

The reaction of silver nitrate with sodium saccharinate (Na[sac]) in the presence of 2-pyridinepropanol in aqueous solution yields the title complex, Na[Ag(sac)₂]. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group [a = 8.0481(6), b = 9.0587(6), c = 11.1642(8) Å; α = 100.064(3), β = 99.917(3) and γ = 92.367(3)°, Z = 2]. The structure consists of Na⁺ and [Ag(sac)₂]^- ions, in which each silver(I) ion is doubly bridged by the sac ligands, exhibiting a distorted 'T' shaped AgN₂O coordination arrangement with one long [Ag-O_sulfonyl = 2.6390(10) Å] and two shorter bonds [Ag-N = 2.1405(11) and 2.1570(11) Å]. The coordination around silver(I) is trigonal planar and the N-Ag-N bond angle is 158.99(5)°. The Na⁺ ion is five-coordinate with two carbonyl and three sulfonyl O atoms of the adjacent sac ligands and acts as a bridge between [Ag(sac)₂]^- units, resulting in a three-dimensional network. The i.r. spectra and thermal decomposition behaviour of Na[Ag(sac)₂] are discussed in detail.     

Space bandwidth-efficient realizations of linear systems

One can obtain either exact realizations or useful approximations of linear systems or matrix-vector products that arise in many different applications by implementing them in the form of multistage or multichannel fractional Fourier-domain filters, resulting in space-bandwidth-efficient systems with acceptable decreases in accuracy. Varying the number and the configuration of filters enables one to trade off between accuracy and efficiency in a flexible manner. The proposed scheme constitutes a systematic way of exploiting the regularity or structure of a given linear system or matrix, even when that structure is not readily apparent.     

A Three—Dimensional Lead(II) Polymer with Bridging Saccharinate and Unusually Coordinated Acetate Ligands — Synthesis,IR Spectra,and Crystal Structure of [Pb(H2O)(μ‐OAc)(μ‐sac)]n

The complex [Pb(H₂O)(μ‐OAc)(μ‐sac)]n with acetate (OAc) and saccharinate (sac) ligands was characterized by IR, elemental analysis and X‐ray crystallography. The mixed‐anion lead(II) complex crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system with the space group of P1¯. The single crystal X‐ray analysis shows that the complex is a coordination polymer in which the lead(II) ions have a highly distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry. Lead(II) ions are bridged by carboxylate groups in a zigzag arrangement forming one‐dimensional infinite chains, which are also linked by sac bridges and aromatic π‐π contacts between the adjacent phenyl rings of sac ligands, resulting in a three‐dimensional network. One water molecule coordinates the lead(II) ion and also forms weak hydrogen bonds with the sulfonyl oxygen atoms of the neighboring sac ligands. The sac ligand acts as a bridging ligand through the nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms, while the carboxylate moiety of the acetate ligand shows an unusual (bidentate, and bridging) coordination behaviour, which was observed for the first time in the structure.     

Adsorption of genetically engineered proteins studied by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS). Part A: data acquisition and principal component analysis (PCA)

Recent progress in the adaptation of combinatorial biology selection protocols to materials science has created a new class of polypeptides with specific affinity to inorganics. Here, we use one of the genetically engineered proteins, a gold binding protein (GBP‐1), to assess quantitatively its binding specificity to Au, Ag and Pd surfaces by using time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF‐SIMS). The GBP‐1, originally selected using cell‐surface display techniques, consisting of 14 amino acids with a sequence of MHGKTQATSGTIQS, was used in this study. Three‐repeat and single‐repeat forms of GBP‐1 were prepared. In earlier studies, GBP‐1 was shown to bind to Au particles and self‐assemble on flat Au surfaces. Through the fingerprint analysis of these specific peptides, their role in binding can be investigated in terms of their contribution to surface interaction possibly forming the right molecular architecture for binding. To achieve this purpose, a large‐sized data matrix produced by TOF‐SIMS must be properly treated for analysis. In Part A, we use principal component analysis (PCA) to visualize the spectral variations for a variety of adsorption conditions and suggest possible contribution of the specific types of amino acids (binding site) to the interactions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trans‐bis(saccharinato)cadmium(II) Complexes with 2‐Pyridylethanol: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,Spectral and Thermal Characterization of [Cd(sac)2(pyet)2] and [Cd(sac)2(H2O)(dmso)(pyet)]

Two trans saccharinate (sac) complexes of cadmium(II) with 2‐pyridylethanol (pyet) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, FT—IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X‐ray diffractometry. The [Cd(sac)₂(pyet)₂] ( 1 ) and [Cd(sac)₂(H₂O)(dmso)(pyet)] ( 2 ) complexes crystallize in the monoclinic (P2₁/c) and orthorhombic [P2₁2₁2₁] crystal systems, respectively. The sac ligands in both complexes are N‐coordinated and located in trans positions, while the pyet molecules act as a bidentate N‐ and O‐donor ligand forming two six‐membered chelate rings. Thermal decomposition of the complexes in air results in elimination of aqua, dmso and pyet ligands, respectively, forming cadmium saccharinate as a stable intermediate, which also decomposes at higher temperatures to give cadmium oxide.     

Comparison of microwave digestion procedures for the determination of some elements in asphaltite ash using ICP-AES

A microwave digestion procedure for asphaltite ash was developed in an attempt to facilitate routine analysis and obtain reproducible conditions or comparable results. The conditions of the most effective procedure for 0.1 g asphaltite ash samples are 1 ml of HNO3 + 3 ml of HCl + 1 ml of HF + 1 ml of deionized water as acid mixture and 15 min for digestion time. The digestion was accomplished in five stages applying continuously 90% to 20% of the microwave power and 20 to 100 psi of the pressure for 10 min of total time. Concentrations of selected elements, Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn were measured using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The proposed method of digestion provided precise results with relative standard deviations generally less than 3% for investigated elements. Results for fly ash as standard reference material was in good agreement with certified values.     

Effect of structural modifications of diaza-18-crown-6 on the extractability and selectivity of univalent metal picrates

The solvent extraction of univalent metal cations with N,N'-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16 diaza-2,3,11,12-dibenzocycloocta deca-2,11-diene (L(1)), N,N' didodecyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diaza-2,3-benzocylooctadeca-2 ene (L(2)) and N,N'-dibenzyl-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16 diaza-2,3,11,12-dibenzocyclo octadeca-2,11-diene (L(3)) with picrate anion into dichloromethane has been studied at 25 degrees C by UV-visible spectroscopy. The extractability and selectivity of univalent metal picrates (Li(+), Na(+), Ag(+), PhCH(2)NH(3)(+), NH(4)(+)) was evaluated as a function of [ligand]/[metal cation]. L(2) showed the highest extractability and selectivity for Li(+) over the larger studied cations, and also exhibited the highest [Li(+)]/[NH(4)(+)] selectivity as L/M=1.