Voltage-Gated Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence

We demonstrate the influence of electrical current on the ability of surface plasmons to amplify fluorescence signatures. An applied direct current across Silver Island Films (SIFs) of low electrical resistance perturbs the fluorescence enhancement. For a given applied current, surface plasmons in just-continuous films are sparsely available for fluorophore dipole-coupling and hence the enhanced fluorescence is gated as a function of the applied current. For thicker, low resistance films, sufficient charge carriers are now present in the metal that metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) is perturbed to a lesser extent, induced surface plasmons readily formed on the surface by the close-proximity dipole.     

Two-step polymerization approach for synthesis of macroporous surface ion-imprinted cryogels

Today, the surface imprinted polymers emerge in various fields as synthetic adsorbents gaining attention in a variety of application areas. In this study, Cu(II) ion surface imprinted poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate), poly(HEMA-GMA), cryogels were synthesized via modified two-step polymerization which is different from given in literature and the adsorption of Cu(II) ion from aqueous solution was investigated batch wise. In this respect, the method applied in this study is new in the literature despite heavy metal removal studies reported. The polyethyleneimine (PEI) molecule was used in polymeric structure as a ligand. The poly(HEMA-GMA) cryogels prepared was characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the micro-computed tomography (μCT).     

Combination of HAADF‐STEM and ADF‐STEM Tomography for Core–Shell Hybrid Materials

Characterization of core–shell type nanoparticles in 3D by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be very challenging. Especially when both heavy and light elements coexist within the same nanostructure, artifacts in the 3D reconstruction are often present. A representative example would be a particle comprising an anisotropic metallic (Au) nanoparticle coated with a (mesoporous) silica shell. To obtain a reliable 3D characterization of such an object, a dose‐efficient strategy is proposed to simultaneously acquire high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning TEM and annular dark‐field tilt series for tomography. The 3D reconstruction is further improved by applying an advanced masking and interpolation approach to the acquired data. This new methodology enables us to obtain high‐quality reconstructions from which also quantitative information can be extracted. This approach is broadly applicable to investigate hybrid core–shell materials.     

Intercomparison of techniques for estimation of sedimentation rate in the Sabah and Sarawak coastal waters

A total of eight sediment cores with 50 cm length were taken in the Sabah and Sarawak coastal waters using a gravity corer in 2004 to estimate sedimentation rates using four mathematical models of CIC, Shukla-CIC, CRS and ADE. The average of sedimentation rate ranged from 0.24 to 0.48 cm year^?1, which is calculated based on the vertical profile of ²¹⁰Pb_ex in sediment core. The finding also showed that the sedimentation rates derived from four models were generally shown in good agreement with similar or comparable value at some stations. However, based on statistical analysis of paired sample t-test indicated that CIC model was the most accurate, reliable and suitable technique to determine the sedimentation rate in the coastal area.     

The Binomial-Discrete Poisson-Lindley Model:Modeling and Applications to Count Regression

On the basis of a well-established binomial structure and the so-called Poisson-Lindley distribution,a new two-parameter discrete distribution is introduced.Its...     

YCu3Al2, an example of an AB5 structure type

Yttrium tricopper dialuminium, YCu₃Al₂, is isostructural with hexagonal CaCu₅, in which each Cu atom at the 3g(½,0,½) position in space group P6/mmm (No. 191) is partially replaced by an Al atom. The hydrogen‐uptake properties are usually enhanced in other AB₅ structures by aluminium substitution. YCu₅ does not show any hydrogen absorption, and the goal of the present work is to investigate whether aluminium substitution could expand the metal‐atom lattice enough to provide better interstitial positions for hydrogen storage. However, no enthalpy change was observed up to 773 K under 3 MPa static H₂ pressure by differential thermal analysis (DTA) for the title compound. The compound does not show any significant hydrogen absorption/desorption in the pressure‐composition isotherms (P–C–T diagrams) in the temperature range 298–673 K under 3.3 MPa H₂ pressure.     

A Titanium(IV)‐Based Metal–Organic Framework Featuring Defect‐Rich Ti‐O Sheets as an Oxidative Desulfurization Catalyst

While titanium‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied for their (photo)catalytic potential, only a few Ti^IV MOFs have been reported owing to the high reactivity of the employed titanium precursors. The synthesis of COK‐47 is now presented, the first Ti carboxylate MOF based on sheets of Ti^IVO₆ octahedra, which can be synthesized with a range of different linkers. COK‐47 can be synthesized as an inherently defective nanoparticulate material, rendering it a highly efficient catalyst for the oxidation of thiophenes. Its structure was determined by continuous rotation electron diffraction and studied in depth by X‐ray total scattering, EXAFS, and solid‐state NMR. Furthermore, its photoactivity was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance and demonstrated by catalytic photodegradation of rhodamine 6G.     

An Enzyme‐free H2O2 Sensor Based on Poly(2‐Aminophenylbenzimidazole)/Gold Nanoparticles Coated Pencil Graphite Electrode

A poly(2‐aminophenylbenzimidazole)/gold nanoparticles (P2AB/AuNPs) coated disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was fabricated as an enzyme‐free sensor for the H₂O₂ determination. P2AB/AuNPs and P2AB were successfully synthesized electrochemically on PGE in acetonitrile for the first time. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and UV‐Vis spectroscopy. AuNPs interacted with P2AB as carrier enhances the electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of H₂O₂. The analytical performance was evaluated in a 100 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.5 by amperometry. The steady state current vs. H₂O₂ concentration is linear in the range of 0.06 to 100 mM (R²=0.992) with a limit of detection 3.67×10^?5 M at ?0.8 V vs. SCE and no interference is caused by ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, and glucose. The examination for the sensitive determination of H₂O₂ was conducted in commercially available hair oxidant solution. The results demonstrate that P2AB/AuNPs/PGE has potential applications as a sensing material for quantitative determination of H₂O₂.     

Structural and dielectric properties of POSS reinforced polyimide nanocomposites

In this study, a series of [3-(2-aminoethyl)amino]propyl-heptaisobutyl substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (AHIP) containing polyimide (PI) nanocomposites were successfully prepared. Structural, thermal and electrical properties of the polyimide nanocomposites were studied. The properties of AHIP containing polyimides were compared with those of the neat polyimide films. The surface morphology of the prepared AHIP containing polyimides were determined by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of AHIP/polyimide composites were analyzed by measuring their water contact angles. It was found that the addition of AHIP into the polyimide slightly increased the contact angle values. The incorporation of 5% AHIP to the PI matrix decreased the dielectric constant value of pure PI from 8.6 to 11.7, respectively. Furthermore he dielectric permittivity was changed from 8.6 (neat polyimide) to 5.5 (PI3).