Controlling the framework formation of silver(I) coordination polymers with 1,4-bis(phenylthio)butane by varying the solvents,metal-to-ligand ratio,and counteranions

The reactions of 1,4-bis(phenylthio)butane (L) with Ag(I) salts in varied conditions (varying the solvents, metal-to-ligand ratios, and counteranions) lead to the formation of four new two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers with different network structures: [Ag(2)L(3)(ClO(4))(2)](infinity) 1, [Ag(2)L(3)(ClO(4))(2) x CH(3)OH](infinity) 2, [[AgL(2)](ClO(4))](infinity) 3, and [AgLNO(3)](infinity) 4. All the structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for 1: triclinic, P-1, a = 11.0253(9) A, b = 11.3455(9) A, c = 11.5231(9) A, alpha = 93.931(2) degrees, beta = 92.689(2) degrees, gamma = 112.9810(10) degrees, Z = 2. 2: triclinic, P-1, a = 11.9147(13) A, b = 16.1534(17) A, c = 16.2259(17) A, alpha = 74.977(2) degrees, beta = 69.030(2) degrees, gamma = 69.986(2) degrees, Z = 2. 3: triclinic, P-1, a = 12.1617(9) A, b = 12.5054(10) A, c = 13.1547(10) A, alpha = 64.3370(10) degrees, beta =85.938 (2) degrees, gamma = 69.3010(10) degrees, Z = 2. 4: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 5.4032(17) A, b = 16.974(6) A, c = 19.489(6) A, beta = 94.234(6) degrees, Z = 4. In all four complexes, each Ag(I) center has a tetracoordination geometry, and the 2D networks consist of fused large macrometallacyclic ring systems. The "hexagonal" 42-membered rings, Ag(6)L(6), observed in 1 and 2 are nearly identical, which could be considered as unique examples of self-sustaining noninterpenetrated frameworks formed with flexible ligands. The repeating rectangular 28-membered macrometallacycle, Ag(4)L(4), is the basis for the network of 3, in which the perchlorate anions occupy the voids to prevent the ring from collapsing. In 4, columns of the fused rectangular 22-membered rings, Ag(4)L(2)(NO(3))(2), are cross-linked through the L ligands to form a unique 2D network consisting of two types of 22-membered repeating units.     

The photoluminescence of Co-Al-layered double hydroxide

We report a new optical behaviour of pure Co-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH).It was found that the Co-Al-LDH sample could emit fluorescence without any fluorescent substances intercalated.Its excitation spectrum shows a maximum peak near the wavelength 370nm,the maximum emission peak appears at 430 nm and the photoluminescence colour of the Co-Al-LDH sample is blue.This new optical property will be expected to extend the potential applications of LDHs in optical materials field.     

Automated hollow fiber-protected dynamic liquid-phase microextraction of pesticides for gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis

Dynamic liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) controlled by a programmable syringe pump was evaluated for extracting pesticides in water prior to GC-MS analysis. A conventional microsyringe with a 1.3-cm length of hollow fiber attached to its needle was connected to a syringe pump to perform the extraction. The microsyringe was used as both the microextraction device as well as the sample introduction device for GC-MS analysis. The attached hollow fiber served as the "holder" and protector" of 3 microl of organic solvent. The solvent was repeatedly withdrawn into and discharged from the hollow fiber by the syringe pump. Pesticides were extracted from 4-ml water samples into the organic solvent impregnated in the hollow fiber. The effects of organic solvents, plunger movement pattern, agitation and extraction time were investigated. Good repeatabilities of extraction performance were obtained, with the RSD values ranging from 3.0% (alachlor) to 9.8% (4-chlorophenol) for the 14 pesticides; most RSD values were under 5.0%. The method provided a 490-fold preconcentration of the target pesticides. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.01-5.1 microg/l (S/N = 3) in the GC-MS selected ion monitoring mode. In addition, sample clean-up was achieved during LPME because of the selectivity of the hollow fiber, which prevented undesirable large molecules from being extracted. A slurry sample (mixture of 40 mg soil/ml of water) containing seven pesticides was extracted using this method which also gave good linearity and precision (most RSDs <7.0%, n = 3).     

An efficient synthesis of novel spiro[[8H]indeno[2,1-b]-thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] building block for blue light-emitting materials

We have developed efficient synthetic routes to obtain a novel building block spiro[[8H]indeno[2,1-b]thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] (SITF), a monothiophene-containing spirobifluorene analogue, and constructed blue light-emitting materials, including 2′,7′-bis([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-spiro[indeno[2,1-b]thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] (BBP-SITF) and 2′,7′-bis(9,9′-spirobifluoren-2-yl)spiro[[8H]indeno[2,1-b]-thiophene-8,9′-fluorene] (BSBF-SITF). BSBF-SITF has shown to be a stable blue light-emitting material with high PL quantum efficiency (89%) and unique regioselective feature at the C2 of thiophene, which indicate that BSBF-SITF will be useful for constructing complicated optoelectronic systems.     

A novel chain-like molybdenum phosphate: hydrothermal synthesis,crystal structure and characterization of [NH3(CH2CH2)2NH3]3[NH3(CH2CH2)2NH2]-Na5[Mo6O12(OH)3(PO4)(HPO4)3]2·4H2O

A novel organic/inorganic hybrid molybdenum phosphate, [NH₃(CH₂CH₂)₂NH₃]₃[NH₃(CH₂CH₂)₂NH₂]Na₅-[Mo₆O₁₂(OH)₃(PO₄)(HPO₄)₃]₂·4H₂O (1), involving molybdenum presented in V oxidation, has been hydrothermally prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, i.r., u.v.–vis., x.p.s., t.g. and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of the title compound (1) may be considered to consist of two [Mo₆O₁₂(OH)₃(PO₄)(HPO₄)₃] units bonded together with NaO₆ octahedra, forming dimers. Further, these dimers connect with each other through four Na⁺ cations as bridges, giving rise to novel one-dimensional chain-like skeleton. Piperazines exist among inorganic chains acting as charge balancing cations.     

Decoupling the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties at the neuron–nanofibre interface

Peptide-based nanofibres are a versatile class of tunable materials with applications in optoelectronics, sensing and tissue engineering. However, the understanding of the nanofibre surface at the molecular level is limited. Here, a series of homologous dilysine–diphenylalnine tetrapeptides were synthesised and shown to self-assemble into water-soluble nanofibres. Despite the peptide nanofibres displaying similar morphologies, as evaluated through atomic force microscopy and neutron scattering, significant differences were observed in their ability to support sensitive primary neurons. Contact angle and labelling experiments revealed that differential presentation of lysine moieties at the fibre surface did not affect neuronal viability; however the mobility of phenylalanine residues at the nanofibre surface, elucidated through solid- and gel-state NMR studies and confirmed through tethered bilayer lipid membrane experiments, was found to be the determining factor in governing the suitability of a given peptide as a scaffold for primary neurons. This work offers new insights into characterising and controlling the nanofibre surface at the molecular level.

The mobility of hydrophobic moieties at a peptide nanofibre surface determines its suitability as a scaffold for sensitive primary cells.     

Determination of pesticides in soil by liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Trace amounts of pesticides in soil were determined by liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The technique involved the use of a small amount (3 microl) of organic solvent impregnated in a hollow fiber membrane, which was attached to the needle of a conventional GC syringe. The organic solvent was repeatedly discharged into and withdrawn from the porous polypropylene hollow fiber by a syringe pump, with the pesticides being extracted from a 4 ml aqueous soil sample into the organic solvent within the hollow fiber. Aspects of the developed procedure such as organic solvent selection, extraction time, movement pattern of plunger, concentrations of humic acid and salt, and the proportion of organic solvent in the soil sample, were optimized. Limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.05 and 0.1 microg/g with GC-MS analysis under selected-ion monitoring (SIM). Also, this method provided good precision ranging from 6 to 13%; the relative standard deviations were lower than 10% for most target pesticides (at spiked levels of 0.5 microg/g in aqueous soil sample). Finally, the results were compared to those achieved using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The results demonstrated that LPME was a fast (within 4 min) and accurate method to determine trace amounts of pesticides in soil.     

Theoretical study of nitric oxide adsorption on Au clusters

The adsorption properties of NO molecule on anionic, cationic, and neutral Au(n) clusters (n=1-6) are studied using the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation, and with the hybrid functional. For anionic and cationic clusters, the charge transfer between the Au clusters and NO molecule and the corresponding weakening and elongation of the N-O bond are essential factors of the adsorption. The neutral Au clusters have also remarkable adsorption ability to NO molecule. The adsorption energies of NO on the cationic clusters are generally greater than those on the neutral and anionic clusters.     

Assembly of well-aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes in confined polyacrylonitrile environments: electrospun composite nanofiber sheets

Highly oriented, large area continuous composite nanofiber sheets made from surface-oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were successfully developed using electrospinning. The preferred orientation of surface-oxidized MWNTs along the fiber axis was determined with transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The surface morphology and height profile of the composite nanofibers were also investigated using an atomic force microscope in tapping mode. For the first time, it was observed that the orientation of the carbon nanotubes within the nanofibers was much higher than that of the PAN polymer crystal matrix as detected by two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction experiments. This suggests that not only surface tension and jet elongation but also the slow relaxation of the carbon nanotubes in the nanofibers are determining factors in the orientation of carbon nanotubes. The extensive fine absorption structure detected via UV/vis spectroscopy indicated that charge-transfer complexes formed between the surface-oxidized nanotubes and negatively charged (-CN[triple bond]N:) functional groups in PAN during electrospinning, leading to a strong interfacial bonding between the nanotubes and surrounding polymer chains. As a result of the highly anisotropic orientation and the formation of complexes, the composite nanofiber sheets possessed enhanced electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, thermal deformation temperature, thermal stability, and dimensional stability. The electrical conductivity of the PAN/MWNT composite nanofibers containing 20 wt % nanotubes was enhanced to approximately 1 S/cm. The tensile modulus values of the compressed composite nanofiber sheets were improved significantly to 10.9 and 14.5 GPa along the fiber winding direction at the MWNT loading of 10 and 20 wt %, respectively. The thermal deformation temperature increased with increased MWNT loading. The thermal expansion coefficient of the composite nanofiber sheets was also reduced by more than an order of magnitude to 13 x 10(-6)/ degrees C along the axis of aligned nanofibers containing 20 wt % MWNTs.     

CeO2担载Cu纳米粒子电催化CO2还原产乙烯：CeO2不同暴露晶面对催化性能的影响

Fossil fuels are expected to be the major source of energy for the next few decades. However, combustion of nonrenewable resources leads to the release of large quantities of CO₂, the primary greenhouse gas. Notably, the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is increasing annually at an astounding rate. Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) to value-added fuels and chemicals using electricity from intermittent renewable energy sources is a carbon-neutral method to alleviate anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Despite the steady progress in the selective generation of C₁ products (CO and formic acid), the production of multi-carbon species still suffers from low selectivity and efficiency. As an ECR product, ethylene (C₂H₄) has a higher energy density than do C₁ species and is an important industrial feedstock in high demand. However, the conversion of CO₂ to C₂H₄ is plagued by low productivity and large overpotential, in addition to the severe competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) during the ECR. To address these issues, the design and development of advanced electrocatalysts are critical. Here, we demonstrate fine-tuning of ECR to C₂H₄ by taking advantage of the prominent interaction of Cu with shape-controlled CeO₂ nanocrystals, that is, cubes, rods, and octahedra predominantly covered with (100), (110), and (111) surfaces, respectively. We found that the selectivity and activity of the ECR depended strongly on the exposed crystal facets of CeO₂. The overall ECR Faradaic efficiency (FE) over Cu/CeO₂(110) (FE ≈ 56.7%) surpassed that of both Cu/CeO₂(100) (FE ≈ 51.5%) and Cu/CeO₂(111) (FE ≈ 48.4%) in 0.1 mol·L^-1 KHCO₃ solutions with an H-type cell. This was in stark contrast to the exclusive occurrence of the HER over pure carbon paper, CeO₂(100), CeO₂(110), and CeO₂(111). In particular, the FE toward C₂H₄ formation and the partial current density increased in the sequence Cu/CeO₂(111) < Cu/CeO₂(100) < Cu/CeO₂(110) within applied bias potentials from -1.00 to -1.15 V (vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode), reaching 39.1% over Cu/CeO₂(110) at a mild overpotential (1.13 V). The corresponding values for Cu/CeO₂(100) and Cu/CeO₂(111) were FE_C2H4 ≈ 31.8% and FE_C2H4 ≈ 29.6%, respectively. The C₂H₄ selectivity was comparable to that of many reported Cu-based electrocatalysts at similar overpotentials. Furthermore, the FE for C₂H₄ remained stable even after 6 h of continuous electrolysis. The superior ECR activity of Cu/CeO₂(110) to yield C₂H₄ was attributed to the metastable (110) surface, which not only promoted the effective adsorption of CO₂ but also remarkably stabilized Cu⁺, thereby boosting the ECR to produce C₂H₄. This work offers an alternative strategy to enhance the ECR efficiency by crystal facet engineering.