Nano‐MoO3 for highly selective enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction

Nano‐molybdenum trioxide was prepared from nano‐molybdenum disulfide by simple firing in muffle furnace. Nano‐molybdenum trioxide was used as the extraction coating on the stainless steel wire. Four wires were filled in a polyetheretherketone tube to get an extraction tube. The tube was connected to the six‐port valve of a high performance liquid chromatograph, and the online analysis system was constructed. Extraction selectivity of the tube for different types of compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasticizers, estrogens, anilines and neonicotinoids, was studied. Good enrichment ability for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but the extraction efficiency of others was not satisfactory. Using eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as the targets, an analytical method was established after optimizing main factors such as sampling volume, sampling rate, methanol content, and desorption time. The established method exhibited wide linear range to 0.016–20.00 μg/L and low limits of detection to 0.005 μg/L, and the enrichment factors can be up to 2443. The method was applied to the detection of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tap water and river water, and a good recovery was obtained. The tube showed good durability and chemical stability, and it still remained good extraction effect after more than 140 run.     

Screening potential antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor from Marsdenia tenacissima via cell membrane chromatography model assisted by HPLC–ESI–IT–TOF–MS

Marsdenia tenacissima, or Tongguanteng in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese herb and has a broad application in clinical practice for its pharmacological effects of treating asthma, pneumonia, tonsillitis, pharyngitis tumors, etc. However, few studies have reported the screening of the active components of this medicine for tumor therapy. In this work, a two‐dimensional analytical system was developed to screen antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from M. tenacissima. A fraction was retained on the EGFR cell membrane chromatography (CMC) column, separated and identified as tenacissoside G (TG), tenacissoside H (TH) and tenacissoside I (TI) by two‐dimensional HPLC–IT–TOF–MS. Molecular docking and 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were carried out to assess the activity of TS (including TG, TH and TI). Molecular docking results showed that the binding mode of TS on EGFR is similar to that of gefitinib. The MTT assay demonstrated that gefitinib and TS (especially TI) could inhibit the growth of EGFR highly expressed cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner in the range of 5–50 μmol/L. In conclusion, the two‐dimensional EGFR/CMC–HPLC–IT–TOF–MS system could be a useful approach in drug discovery from traditional Chinese medicines for searching for potential antitumor candidates.     

Crystal structure and pale‐yellow emitting properties of K3Gd1–xDyxB6O12 solid solutions

A new potassium dysprosium polyborate, K₃DyB₆O₁₂, has been prepared via the high‐temperature molten salt method and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The structure can be described as a three‐dimensional framework composed of isolated bicyclic [B₅O₁₀]^5? groups and Dy³⁺ and K⁺ ions. The Fourier transform IR (FT–IR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectra were investigated. A series of K₃Gd_1–xDy_xB₆O₁₂ phosphors was prepared and their photoluminescence properties were studied. The K₃Gd_1–xDy_xB₆O₁₂ phosphors exhibit a strong yellow emission band at 577 nm (the ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 transition of Dy³⁺) under UV excitation of 275 nm (the ⁸S_7/2→⁶I_J transition of Gd³⁺), suggesting the occurrence of the energy transfer Gd³⁺→Dy³⁺. The optimized doping concentration of the Dy³⁺ ion was 8 mol%. We may expect that K₃Gd_1–xDy_xB₆O₁₂ is a promising pale‐yellow emission phosphor for visual displays or solid‐state lighting.     

Colloidal Synthesis and Charge‐Carrier Dynamics of Cs2AgSb1−yBiyX6 (X: Br,Cl; 0 ≤y ≤1) Double Perovskite Nanocrystals

A series of lead‐free double perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) Cs₂AgSb_1?yBi_yX₆ (X: Br, Cl; 0≤y≤1) is synthesized. In particular, the Cs₂AgSbBr₆ NCs is a new double perovskite material that has not been reported for the bulk form. Mixed Ag–Sb/Bi NCs exhibit enhanced stability in colloidal solution compared to Ag–Bi or Ag–Sb NCs. Femtosecond transient absorption studies indicate the presence of two prominent fast trapping processes in the charge‐carrier relaxation. The two fast trapping processes are dominated by intrinsic self‐trapping (ca. 1–2 ps) arising from giant exciton–phonon coupling and surface‐defect trapping (ca. 50–100 ps). Slow hot‐carrier relaxation is observed at high pump fluence, and the possible mechanisms for the slow hot‐carrier relaxation are also discussed.     

Air‐Stable,Lead‐Free Zero‐Dimensional Mixed Bismuth‐Antimony Perovskite Single Crystals with Ultra‐broadband Emission

Lead‐free zero‐dimensional (0D) organic‐inorganic metal halide perovskites have recently attracted increasing attention for their excellent photoluminescence properties and chemical stability. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of an air‐stable 0D mixed metal halide perovskite (C₈NH₁₂)₄Bi_0.57Sb_0.43Br₇?H₂O, in which individual [BiBr₆]^3? and [SbBr₆]^3? octahedral units are completely isolated and surrounded by the large organic cation C₈H₁₂N⁺. Upon photoexcitation, the bulk crystals exhibit ultra‐broadband emission ranging from 400 to 850 nm, which originates from both free excitons and self‐trapped excitons. This is the first example of 0D perovskites with broadband emission spanning the entire visible spectrum. In addition, (C₈NH₁₂)₄Bi_0.57Sb_0.43Br₇?H₂O exhibits excellent humidity and light stability. These findings present a new direction towards the design of environmentally‐friendly, high‐performance 0D perovskite light emitters.     

新型咔唑基半胱氨酸双光子荧光探针的合成及光学性能

以咔唑为母体，设计并合成了一种可检测半胱氨酸的新型双光子荧光探针（3），其结构经¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HR-MS(ESI)和元素分析表征。采用UV-Vis和FL研究了3的光学性能。结果表明：半胱氨酸加量为0~50 eq.时，3的紫外最大吸收峰从365 nm蓝移至342 nm；在350 nm处出现一个等吸收点；在450 nm处的荧光强度增强约23倍。     

A Versatile Naphthalimide–Sulfonamide‐Coated Tetraphenylethene: Aggregation‐Induced Emission Behavior,Mechanochromism, and Tracking Glutathione in Living Cells

A tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivative substituted with a sulfonyl‐based naphthalimide unit ( TPE‐Np ) was designed and synthesized. Its optical properties in solution and in the solid state were investigated. Photophysical properties indicated that the target molecule, TPE‐Np , possessed aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behavior, although the linkage between TPE and the naphthalimide unit was nonconjugated. Additionally, it exhibited an unexpected, highly reversible mechanochromism in the solid state, which was attributed to the change in manner of aggregation between crystalline and amorphous states. On the other hand, a solution of TPE‐Np in a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide/phosphate‐buffered saline was capable of efficiently distinguishing glutathione (GSH) from cysteine and homocysteine in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Furthermore, the strategy of using poly(ethylene glycol)–polyethylenimine (PEG‐PEI) nanogel as a carrier to cross‐link TPE‐Np to obtain a water‐soluble PEG‐PEI/ TPE‐Np nanoprobe greatly improved the biocompatibility, and this nanoprobe could be successfully applied in the visualization of GSH levels in living cells.     

In Situ Observation of Dynamic Galvanic Replacement Reactions in Twinned Metallic Nanowires by Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy

Galvanic replacement is a versatile approach to prepare hollow nanostructures with controllable morphology and elemental composition. The primary issue is to identify its fundamental mechanism. In this study, in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy was employed to monitor the dynamic reaction process and to explore the mechanism of galvanic replacement. The detailed reaction process was revealed based on in situ experiments in which small Au particles first appeared around Ag nanowires; they coalesced, grew, and adhered to Ag nanowires. After that, small pits grew from the edge of Ag nanowires to form tubular structures, and then extended along the Ag nanowires to obtain hollowed structures. All of our experimental observations from the viewpoint of electron microscopy, combined with DFT calculations, contribute towards an in‐depth understanding of the galvanic replacement reaction process and the design of new materials with hollow structures.     

Triazine‐Cored Lanthanide‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks Featuring Unique Water Chains and Strong Characteristic Emissions

A new triazine‐cored tricarboxylic acid, N,N′,N“‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐triyltris(cis‐4‐aminocyclohexane‐carboxylic acid) (H₃L), has been prepared by replacing the chlorine atoms of cyanuric chloride with cis‐4‐aminocyclohexane‐carboxylic acid, which has been used for the construction of a series of triazine‐cored lanthanide‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). All these MOFs were structurally authenticated, revealing that they are isostructural and exist as two‐dimensional (2D) coordination networks with the general formula [Ln(L)(H₂O)₂]?5.5 H₂O (Ln= 1?Gd , 2?Tb , 3?Eu ). A unique one‐dimensional water chain, composed of primary tetrameric cyclic rings and dodecameric cyclic rings, has been found entrapped in the lattice. Moreover, all these compounds display bright characteristic photoluminescence. Particularly, for 1 , apart from the strong blue emission peak (Φ_f=20.6 %) corresponding to the intraligand transition under near‐UV excitation, the characteristic emissions of Gd³⁺ cation (Φ_f=5.0 %) were unexpectedly observed upon excitation at 273 nm.