Tuning protonation states of tripelennamine antihistamines by cucurbit[7]uril

The formation of host–guest complexes of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) with the antihistamine drug tripelennamine (TRP) was studied by optical and NMR spectroscopy. The experimental and computational results are consistent with inclusion of a single TRP molecule in CB7. Addition of CB7 has tuned drug protonation states associated with (de)protonation of the ethyldimethylammonium and exocyclic nitrogens with an increase in the associated pK_a values by 1.5 and 2.5 units, respectively. The incorporation of antihistamines drugs such as TRP in cucurbiturils could be utilized for switching their capability for selective binding to histamine H₁‐receptors, in the future. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Blue‐, Green‐, Yellow‐, and Red‐Emitting Graphene‐Quantum‐Dot‐Based Nanomaterials with Excitation‐Independent Emission

A one‐pot method is described for the preparation of graphene quantum dots/graphene oxide (GQDs/GO) hybrid composites with emission in the visible region, through heteroatom doping and hydroxyl‐radical‐induced decomposition of GO. The NH₄OH‐ and thiourea‐mediated dissociation of H₂O₂ produces hydroxyl radicals. Treatment of GO with hydroxyl radicals results in the production of small‐sized GO sheets and GQDs, which self‐assemble to form GQDs/GO through strong π–π interactions. For example, the reaction of GO with a mixture of NH₄OH and H₂O₂ for 40, 120, and 270 min generates yellow‐emitting GQDs/GO (Y‐GQDs/GO), green‐emitting GQDs/GO, and blue‐emitting GQDs, while red‐emitting GQDs/GO (R‐GQDs/GO) are prepared by incubating GO with a mixture of thiourea and H₂O₂. From the analysis of these four GQD‐based nanomaterials by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy, it is found that this tunable fluorescence wavelength results from the differences in particle size. All four GQD‐based nanomaterials exhibit moderate quantum yields (1–10%), nanosecond fluorescence lifetimes, and excitation‐independent emissions. Except for R‐GQDs/GO, the other three GQD‐based nanomaterials are stable in a high‐concentration salt solution (e.g., 1.6 m NaCl) and under high‐power irradiation, enabling the sensitive (high‐temperature resolution and large activation energy) and reversible detection of temperature change. It is further demonstrated that Y‐GQD/GO can be used to image HeLa cells.     

Improved growth of solution‐deposited thin films on polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2

CdS and Zn(O,S) grown by chemical bath deposition (CBD) are well established buffer materials for Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells. As recently reported, a non‐contiguous coverage of CBD buffers on CIGS grains with {112} surfaces can be detected, which was explained in terms of low surface energies of the {112} facets, leading to deteriorated wetting of the chemical solution on the CIGS surface. In the present contribution, we report on the effect of air annealing of CIGS thin films prior to the CBD of CdS and Zn(O,S) layers. In contrast to the growth on the as‐grown CIGS layers, these buffer lay‐ ers grow densely on the annealed CIGS layer, even on grains with {112} surfaces. We explain the different growth behavior by increased surface energies of CIGS grains due to the annealing step, i.e., due to oxidation of the CIGS surface. Reference solar cells were processed and completed by i‐ZnO/ZnO:Al layers for CdS and by (Zn,Mg)O/ZnO:Al for Zn(O,S) buffers. For solar cells with both, CdS and Zn(O,S) buffers, air‐annealed CIGS films with improved buffer coverage resulted in higher power‐conversion efficiencies, as compared with the devices containing as‐grown CIGS layers. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

P‐type tin‐oxide thin film transistors for blue‐light detection application

We reported the characteristics of p‐type tin‐oxide (SnO) thin film transistors (TFTs) upon illumination with visible light. Our p‐type TFT device using the SnO film as the active channel layer exhibits high sensitivity toward the blue‐light with a high light/dark read current ratio (I_light/I_dark) of 8.2 × 10³ at a very low driven voltage of <3 V. Since sensing of blue‐light radiation is very critical to our eyes, the proposed p‐type SnO TFTs with high sensitivity toward the blue‐light show great potential for future blue‐light detection applications.

     

Model based prediction of the trap limited diffusion of hydrogen in post‐hydrogenated amorphous silicon

The diffusion of hydrogen within an hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) layer is based on a trap limited process. Therefore, the diffusion becomes a self‐limiting process with a decreasing diffusion velocity for increasing hydrogen content. In consequence, there is a strong demand for accurate experimental determination of the hydrogen distribution. Nuclear resonant reaction analysis (NRRA) offers the possibility of a non‐destructive measurement of the hydrogen distribution in condensed matter like a‐Si:H thin films. However, the availability of a particle accelerator for NRR‐analysis is limited and the related costs are high. In comparison, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is also a common method to determine the total hydrogen content of an a‐Si:H layer. FTIR spectrometers are practical table‐top units but lack spatial resolution. In this study, an approach is discussed that greatly reduces the need for complex and expensive NRR‐analysis. A model based prediction of hydrogen depth profiles based on a single NRRA measurement and further FTIR measurements enables to investigate the trap limited hydrogen diffusion within a‐Si:H. The model is validated by hydrogen diffusion experiments during the post‐hydrogenation of hydrogen‐free sputtered a‐Si. The model based prediction of hydrogen depth profiles in a‐Si:H allows more precise design of experiments, prevents misinterpretations, avoids unnecessary NRRA measurements and thus saves time and expense. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Recent progress on the mechanics of sharply bent DNA

Despite extensive studies on the mechanics of DNA under external constrains, such as tension, torsion, and bending, several important aspects have remained poorly understood. One biologically important example is the mechanics of DNA under sharp bending conditions, which has been debated for a decade without thorough comprehension. The debate is about the interesting phenomenon raised from a series of different experiments: sharply bent DNA has a surprisingly high apparent bending flexibility that deviates from the canonical bending elasticity of DNA. This finding has motivated various theoretical models, which mainly incorporate the excitation of mechanical defects inside severely bent DNA molecules. Here, we review the recent progress on the understanding of the mechanics of sharply bent DNA and provide our view on this important question by interrogating the theoretical foundation of these experimental measurements.     

Progress of Jinping Underground laboratory for Nuclear Astrophysics (JUNA)

Jinping Underground laboratory for Nuclear Astrophysics(JUNA) will take the advantage of the ultra-low background of CJPL lab and high current accelerator based on an ECR source and a highly sensitive detector to directly study for the first time a number of crucial reactions occurring at their relevant stellar energies during the evolution of hydrostatic stars. In its first phase, JUNA aims at the direct measurements of~(25)Mg(p,γ)~(26)Al,~(19)F(p,α)~(16)O,~(13)C(α,n)~(16)O and ~(12)C(α,γ)~(16)O reactions. The experimental setup,which includes an accelerator system with high stability and high intensity, a detector system, and a shielding material with low background, will be established during the above research. The current progress of JUNA will be given.     

湖泊沉积物溶解性有机氮组分特征及其与水体营养水平的关系

通过紫外-可见光吸收光谱,三维荧光光谱和气相色谱质谱联用(GC-MS)方法,比较研究了不同湖区与不同营养水平五个典型湖泊(洱海、滇池、鄱阳湖、武汉东湖、太湖)沉积物DON组分特征及其与水体营养水平间关系。结果表明：①与东部平原湖区相比,云贵高原湖泊沉积物DON结构较为稳定,生物可利用率较低;②同属云贵高原湖区,污染较严重的滇池,其沉积物DON来源和结构组分较复杂,生物可利用率较高;而污染程度相对较轻的洱海,其沉积物DON来源较简单,结构组分稳定性相对较高,有利于维持较好的水质;③东部平原湖区中,太湖和武汉东湖营养水平接近,其沉积物DON结构组分相近且相对复杂,但芳香度较低,芳香环取代基较少,对营养盐的固持能力较弱,对水污染的贡献较大,而鄱阳湖,其沉积物DON结构组分相对简单,但对营养盐的固持能力较强,对维持良好水质起积极作用;④P_{(Ⅲ+Ⅴ, n)}/P_{(Ⅰ+Ⅱ, n)}指数(类腐殖质与类蛋白质含量的比值)依次为滇池(33.14)>洱海(21.49)>太湖(15.65)>东湖(8.49)>鄱阳湖(5.21),E₄/E₆指数(465与665 nm处的吸光度比值)依次为滇池(27.00)>东湖(6.65)>鄱阳湖(5.47)>太湖(3.50)>洱海(2.31), 即P_(Ⅲ+Ⅴ,n)/P_{(Ⅰ+Ⅱ, n)}与E₄/E₆指数对不同营养水平湖泊的区分度较好,此外,两种指数与沉积物中多种氮具有较好的相关性,两者可在一定程度上指示湖泊营养水平。