Surface-enhanced Raman scattering in the ultraviolet spectral region: UV-SERS on rhodium and ruthenium electrodes

We report the first observation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) excited with ultraviolet (UV) light from transition metal electrodes. Adsorbed pyridine and SCN- on rough rhodium (Rh) and ruthenium (Ru) electrodes, respectively, have been studied using 325 nm laser excitation. In contrast, the best enhancers in the visible and near infrared, silver and gold, do not produce UV-SERS. The experimental data of UV-SERS are in agreement with our preliminary theoretical calculation based on the electromagnetic enhancement mechanism. The enhancement factor is about 2 orders of magnitude for the Rh and Ru electrodes when they are excited at 325 nm.     

Hybridized local and charge-transfer excited state fluorophores enabling organic light-emitting diodes with record high efficiencies close to 20%

Pure organic emitters with full utilization of triplet excitons are in high demand for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Herein, through modulation of electron donors and introduction of phenyl rings as π spacers, we present three pure organic fluorophores (BCz, BTCz and BPTCz) with the hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) excited state feature for OLED fabrication. Importantly, the introduction of π spacers in BPTCz not only enhances locally excited character with a fast radiative decay but also promotes intermolecular interactions to suppress non-radiative decays, contributing to a high solid-state fluorescence efficiency over 90%. Significantly, BPTCz not only endows its doped OLEDs with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 19.5%, but also its non-doped OLED with a high EQE of 17.8%, and these outstanding efficiencies are the state-of-the-art performances of HLCT-based OLEDs.

Three purely organic fluorophores with a hybridized local and charge-transfer excited state feature are presented and enabled organic light-emitting diodes with record high external quantum efficiencies close to 20%.     

The growth of perylene on Ru(0001)

The structure of perylene adsorbed on Ru(0001) surface has been studied by ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and low-energy electron diffraction. An ordered p(4x4) structure is observed from a monolayer (about 4 A thickness) of the perylene on Ru(0001) surface. UPS measurements show the molecular features, from the perylene multiplayer, between 2 and 10 eV below the Fermi level. Angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy measurements suggest that the perylene molecular plane is parallel to the substrate. Temperature dependent UPS measurements show that the perylene multilayer is stable on Ru(0001) surface up to 125 degrees C. The desorption of the multilayer and the decomposition of the monolayer are observed above 125 degrees C.     

Electrostatic layer-by-layer assembled carbon nanotube multilayer film and its electrocatalytic activity for O2 reduction

Multilayer films of shortened multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are homogeneously and stably assembled on glassy carbon electrodes with the layer-by-layer (LBL) method, based on electrostatic interaction of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and negatively charged and shortened MWNTs. The film assembly and electrochemical property as well as the electrocatalytic activity toward O2 reduction of the MWNT multilayer film are studied. Scanning electron microscopy, the quartz crystal microbalance technique, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry are used for characterization of film assembly. Experimental results revealed that film growth is uniform, almost with the same coverage of the MWNTs in each layer, and that the assembled MWNTs are mainly in the form of small bundles or single tubes on the electrodes. Electrochemical studies indicate that the LBL assembled MWNT films possess a remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward O2 reduction in alkaline media. This property, combined with the well-dispersed, porous and conductive features of the MWNT film illustrated with the LBL method, suggests the potential application of the MWNT film for constructing an efficient alkaline air electrode for energy conversions.     

High pressure-temperature Raman measurements of H2O melting to 22 GPa and 900 K

The melting curve of H(2)O has been measured by in situ Raman spectroscopy in an externally heated diamond anvil cell up to 22 GPa and 900 K. The Raman-active OH-stretching bands and the translational modes of H(2)O as well as optical observations are used to directly and reliably detect melting in ice VII. The observed melting temperatures are higher than previously reported x-ray measurements and significantly lower than recent laser-heating determinations. However, our results are in accord with earlier optical determinations. The frequencies and intensities of the OH-stretching peaks change significantly across the melting line while the translational mode disappears altogether in the liquid phase. The observed OH-stretching bands of liquid water at high pressure are very similar to those obtained in shock-wave Raman measurements.     

Colloidal adhesion of phospholipid vesicles: high-resolution reflection interference contrast microscopy and theory

High-resolution reflection interference contrast microscopy (HR-RICM) was developed for probing the deformation and adhesion of phospholipid vesicles induced by colloidal forces on solid surfaces. The new technique raised the upper limit of the measured membrane–substrate separation from 1 to 4.5 μm and improved the spatial resolution of the heterogeneous contact zones. It was applied to elucidate the effects of wall thickness, pH and osmotic stress on the non-specific adhesion of giant unilamellar vesicles (ULV) and multilamellar vesicles (MLV) on fused silica substrates. By simultaneous cross-polarization light microscopy and HR-RICM measurements, it was observed that ULV with the wall thickness of a single bilayer would be significantly deformed in its equilibrium state on the substrate as the dimension of its adhesive–cohesive zone was 29% higher than the theoretical value of a rigid sphere with the same diameter. Besides, electrostatic interaction was shown as a significant driving force for vesicle adhesions since the reduction in pH significantly increased the degree of deformation of adhering ULV and heterogeneity of the adhesion discs. The degree of MLV deformation on the solid surfaces was significantly less than that of ULV. When the wall thickness of vesicle increased, the dimension of contact zone was reduced dramatically due to the increase of membrane bending modulus. Most important, the adhesion strength of colloidal adhesion approached that of specific adhesion. Finally, the increase of osmotic stress led to the collapse of adhering vesicles on the non-deformable substrate and raised the area of adhesive contact zone. To interpret these results better, the equilibrium deformation of adhering vesicle was modeled as a truncated sphere and the adhesion energy was calculated with a new theory.     

Dinickel Complexes Bridged by Unusual (N,O,O′)-Coordinated α-Amino Acids: Syntheses,Structural Characterization and Magnetic Properties

Four novel dinickel complexes, coordinated by mixed ligands of tren and racemic amino acids, namely [Ni₂(tren)₂(dl-alaninato)(H₂O)]I₃·2H₂O (1), [Ni₂(tren)₂(dl-leucinato)(H₂O)]I₃·2.5H₂O (2), [Ni₂(tren)₂(dl-phenylalaninato)(H₂O)]I₃·H₂O (3), and {[Ni₂(tren)₂(dl-histinato)](ClO₄)₃·1.5H₂O} _n (4), have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, FTIR, u.v. and e.s. spectra. They represent the first series of dinickel(II) complexes bridged by the unusual (N,O,O)-coordinated -amino acids. In complexes (1–3), one of the nickel(II) centers is coordinated by four N-atoms of the tren ligand, one O-atom of the carboxylate group of the amino acidato ligand and one H₂O molecule. The other nickel(II) center is also coordinated by the four N-atoms of the tren ligand, one carboxylic O-atom and the amino N-atom of the amino acidato ligand, resulting in an asymmetric dinuclear core with chromophores of NiN₄O₂ and NiN₅O. In the polymeric {[Ni₂(tren)₂(dl-histinato)](ClO₄)₃·1.5H₂O} _n (4), the imidazole N-atom is also involved in ligation with nickel(II) and both nickel(II) centers have the same chromophore described as NiN₅O. The Ni...Ni distances are in the 5.5199(10)–5.5807(15)Å range. Analyses of the magnetic properties of complexes (1), (3) and (4) show that a weak ferromagnetic interaction exists between the two nickel(II) centers.     

Challenges and Recent Developments of Photoflow-Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization (RDRP)

Photo-controlled reversible-deactivation radical polymerization(photo-RDRP) has been investigated as a "green" and spatiotemporally controlling pathway for polymer synthesis. While the combination of photo-RDRP and flow chemistry has offered opportunities to increase light intensity and enable uniform light irradiation, problems associated with flow approaches still remain for photoflow-RDRP, which has hindered merging flow polymerization with other cutting-edge techniques. Herein, we summarize ...     

白藜芦醇的合成新方法

本文探索了合成白藜芦醇的新方法。以3,5-二甲氧基苯胺为原料,经重氮化、还原及乙酰化得到中间体N′-乙酰基-3,5-二甲氧基苯肼(4),中间体4与4-甲氧基苯乙烯经Mizoroki-Heck偶联反应得中间体5,脱去甲基即得到目标产物白藜芦醇,总收率约31.9%。中间体及目标产物的结构均经质谱及核磁氢谱确证。该路线操作简便、条件温和,可用于白藜芦醇的放大制备。