Semiconductor Quantum Dots as Components of Photoactive Supramolecular Architectures

Luminescent quantum dots (QDs) are colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals consisting of an inorganic core covered by a molecular layer of organic surfactants. Although QDs have been known for more than thirty years, they are still attracting the interest of researchers because of their unique size-tunable optical and electrical properties arising from quantum confinement. Moreover, the controlled decoration of the QD surface with suitable molecular species enables the rational design of inorganic-organic multicomponent architectures that can show a vast array of functionalities. This minireview highlights the recent progress in the use of surface-modified QDs – in particular, those based on cadmium chalcogenides – as supramolecular platforms for light-related applications such as optical sensing, triplet photosensitization, photocatalysis and phototherapy.     

Involvement of Proton Transfer for Carbon Dioxide Reduction Coupled with Extracellular Electron Uptake in Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1

Microbial biosynthesis of hydrocarbon from CO₂ reduction driven by electron uptake process from the cathodic electrode has gained intensive attention in terms of potential industrial application. However, a lack of a model system for detailed studies on the mechanism of the CO₂ reduction hinders the improvement in efficiency for microbial electrosynthesis. Here, we examined the mechanism of microbial CO₂ reduction at the cathode by a well‐described microbe for extracellular electron uptake, Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, capable of reducing gaseous CO₂ to produce formic acid. Using whole‐cell electrochemical assay, we observed stable cathodic current production at ?0.65 V vs Ag/AgCl KCl sat. associated with the introduction of CO₂. The observed cathodic current was enhanced by the addition of 4 μM riboflavin, which specifically accelerates the electron uptake process of MR‐1 by the interaction to its outer‐membrane c‐type cytochromes. The significant impact of an uncoupler agent and a mutant strain of MR‐1 lacking sole F‐type ATPase suggested the importance of proton import to the cytoplasm for the cathodic CO₂ reduction. The present data suggest that MR‐1 potentially serves as a model system for microbial electrosynthesis from CO₂.     

The Elusive Ketene (H2CCO) Channel in the Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation of Solid 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazinane (RDX)

Understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved in the decomposition of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) still represents a major challenge for the energetic materials and physical (organic) chemistry communities mainly because multiple competing dissociation channels are likely involved and previous detection methods of the products are not isomer selective. In this study we exploited a microsecond pulsed infrared laser to decompose thin RDX films at 5 K under mild conditions to limit the fragmentation channels. The subliming decomposition products during the temperature programed desorption phase are detected using isomer selective single photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PI-ReTOF-MS). This technique enables us to assign a product signal at m/z=42 to ketene (H₂CCO), but not to diazomethane (H₂CNN; 42 amu) as speculated previously. Electronic structure calculations support our experimental observations and unravel the decomposition mechanisms of RDX leading eventually to the elusive ketene (H₂CCO) via an exotic, four-membered ring intermediate. This study highlights the necessity to exploit isomer-selective detection schemes to probe the true decomposition products of nitramine-based energetic materials.     

Aurones: A Golden Resource for Active Compounds

Deemed as poorly represented in nature, aurones have been often overlooked by researchers compared to other members of the flavonoid superfamily. However, over the past two decades, they have been reassessed by the scientific community, who are increasingly appreciating their ability to modulate several biological pathways. This review summarizes the recent literature on this class of compounds, which has been analyzed from both a chemical and a functional point of view. Original articles, reviews and editorials featured in Pubmed and Scifinder over the last twenty years have been taken into account to provide the readers with a view of the chemical strategies to obtain them, their functional properties, and their potential of technological use. The resulting comprehensive picture aims at raising the awareness of these natural derivatives as effective drug candidates, fostering the development of novel synthetic analogues.     

The blossoming of quantum mechanics in Italy: the roots,the context and the first spreading in Italian universities (1900–1947)

The European Physical Journal H - The widespread positivist approach of physics research in Italy at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries did not provide a fertile ground for the scientific debate...     

Single and double electron capture associated with target K-shell ionization for F7 + ,8 + ,9++Ar

Ratios for target Ar K-shell ionization associated with single and double electron capture, as well as the ratios corresponding to total capture and the projectile K x rays, were determined for 1.8- to 2.2-MeV/u F^{7 + ,8 + ,9+} projectiles. This work was performed at Western Michigan University with the tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. Coincidences between emitted K-shell X-rays (both target and projectile) and the corresponding charge-changed particles were observed. The F⁹⁺ Ar K X-ray coincidence ratios for double to single capture are found to well exceed unity over the limited energy range of the measurements. Possible explanations for this anomalous behavior are discussed.     

Theoretical study of the interaction between sodium ion and a cyclopeptidic tubular structure

DFT calculations have been carried out to describe the pathway of a sodium ion along the stacking direction of a tubular structure set up by five cyclopeptidic units, which can be considered a suitable model of a hollow tubular structure of indefinite length. A lattice of points inside the tubular structure is defined and the DFT interaction energy values with a sodium ion are obtained. The data allow predicting a zigzag path of the ion inside the hosting structure.     

正丁烷和异丁烷在改性纳米HZSM-5上的芳构化反应

用脉冲微反装置评价了正丁烷和异丁烷在氢型和锌改性的纳米ZSM-5催化剂上的反应活性和芳构化选择性.结果表明,在550℃下,异丁烷在氢型和不同锌负载量的纳米ZSM-5催化剂上的转化率都远高于正丁烷,但其芳构化选择性低于正丁烷.脱甲基活化是异丁烷和正丁烷的重要活化方式,也是影响其芳构化选择性的主要因素.锌改性在提高异丁烷和正丁烷转化率的同时,也促进了正丁烷和异丁烷的脱甲基活化.在混合丁烷进料反应的情况下,正丁烷和异丁烷的转化率与其单独进料时十分接近,这说明正丁烷和异丁烷共存时不会发生明显的竞争吸附和反应.纳米ZSM-5因晶粒度小,孔道短和微孔扩散阻力低而有利于异丁烷转化.     

有机噻吩类衍生物作为电致变色材料*

噻吩类衍生物包括聚噻吩衍生物和齐聚噻吩衍生物。本文从有目的地设计、合成噻吩类衍生物的角度出发,探索了其作为电致变色材料的应用,综述了噻吩类衍生物作为电致变色材料的最新研究进展。     

DNA加合物检测

DNA加合物是一类极其重要的、具有多种标志作用的生物标志物,可应用于环境致癌物的暴露监测、基因毒性测定、个体敏感性和环境致癌物与基因的相互作用研究、癌症风险评价、环境致癌因素筛查以及癌症预防研究等.可靠、灵敏、准确的分析检测技术是DNA加合物作为生物标志物得到广泛应用的关键.当前DNA加合物分析、检测的方法主要包括:32P后标记法、免疫分析法、免疫毛细管电泳激光诱导荧光法、液相色谱串联质谱法、微分离.质谱联用法等.本文对这些分析技术和方法及其在DNA加合物检测方面的应用做一简要综述.