Effect of the phase states of self-assembled monolayers on pentacene growth and thin-film transistor characteristics

To investigate the effects of the phase state (ordered or disordered) of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the growth mode of pentacene films and the performance of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), we deposited pentacene molecules on SAMs of octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS) with different alkyl-chain orientations at various substrate temperatures (30, 60, and 90 degrees C). We found that the SAM phase state played an important role in both cases. Pentacene films grown on relatively highly ordered SAMs were found to have a higher crystallinity and a better interconnectivity between the pentacene domains, which directly serves to enhance the field-effect mobility, than those grown on disordered SAMs. Furthermore, the differences in crystallinity and field-effect mobility between pentacene films grown on ordered and disordered substrates increased with increasing substrate temperature. These results can be possibly explained by (1) a quasi-epitaxy growth of the pentacene film on the ordered ODTS monolayer and (2) the temperature-dependent alkyl chain mobility of the ODTS monolayers.     

A Color Appearance Model Applicable in Mesopic Vision

We propose a color vision model that can be used to predict color appearance in mesopic vision as well as photopic and scotopic vision. It is based on a two-stage model which consists of the cone and opponent stages and it assumes rod intrusion at the opponent stage. The model has the following features to describe the color appearance in mesopic vision. First, it includes a gradual and nonlinear shift in spectral luminous efficiency from V (LD) to V (LD) to cope with the spectral sensitivity difference between photopic and scotopic vision and the nonlinearity of rod influence on the luminance channel. Second, the model assumes decrease of the chromatic component with decreasing illuminance to explain the reduction of saturation at low illuminance levels. Third, it assumes that red/green and yellow/blue components change with illuminance levels independently, thus explaining hue shifts with decreasing illuminance. We applied the model for color appearance simulation of natural scenes in a mesopic visual environment.     

Chemical Oxidative Degradation of Acridine Orange Dye in Aqueous Solution by Fenton's Reagent

Degradation of acridine orange (AO) in aqueous solution by Fenton's reagent (Fe²⁺ and H₂O₂) was investigated. The effects of different reaction parameters such as initial AO concentration, pH value of solution, ferrous concentration, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and the presence of chloride ion on the oxidative degradation of AO were investigated. Under optimum conditions, 2 mM H₂O₂, 0.4 mM Fe²⁺ and pH 3.0, the initial 0.2 mM AO solution was reduced by 95.8% within 10 min. The primary intermediates of the degradation reaction of AO were identified. The analytical results indicated that the N‐de‐methylation degradation of AO dye took place in a stepwise manner to yield mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and tetra‐N‐de‐methylated AO species generated during the Fenton process. The probable degradation pathways were proposed and discussed.     

Direct determination of nucleosides in the urine of patients with breast cancer using column-switching liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

We developed an analytical method for a simple, sensitive and simultaneous determination of oxidized nucleosides in urine using column-switching liquid chromatography-electrospray/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS). We connected two columns through a six-way switching valve and effectively separated nucleosides in the urine from the interference by column-switching liquid chromatography. We monitored separated nucleosides using positive ionization tandem mass spectrometry in selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The calibration ranges of nucleosides were 0.2-100 nmol/mL. The linearity of the method was 0.994-0.999, and the limits-of-detection (LOD) at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 were 0.1-0.2 nmol/mL. The coefficients of variation were in the range 2.28-11.74% for within-day variation and 4.36-11.15% for day-to-day variation, respectively. To explore the relationship between breast cancer and the nucleosides level in human urine, we measured the concentrations of nucleosides in female patients with breast cancer (n = 30) and in normal female subjects (n = 30). The concentration of nucleosides was significantly increased in patients with breast cancer when compared with the normal controls (1-methyladenosine; p < 0.005, N(2),N(2)-dimethylguanosine; p < 0.01, 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine; p < 0.001, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine; p < 0.001). Therefore, the elevated levels of nucleosides could be used as an important biomarker for breast-cancer research.     

A new fluorescent probe for zinc(II): an 8-hydroxy-5-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinoline-pendant 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane

A new fluorescent probe for Zn2+, namely, 8-hydroxy-5-N,N-dimethylaminosulfonylquinolin-2-ylmethyl-pendant cyclen (L8), was designed and synthesized (cyclen=1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). By potentiometric pH, 1H NMR, and UV spectroscopic titrations, the deprotonation constants pKa1-pKa6 of L(8)4 HCl were determined to be <2, <2, <2 (for amino groups of the cyclen and quinoline moieties), 7.19+/-0.05 (for 8-OH of the quinoline moiety), 10.10+/-0.05, and 11.49+/-0.05, respectively, at 25 degrees C with I=0.1 (NaNO3). The results of 1H NMR, potentiometric pH, and UV titrations, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, showed that L8 and Zn2+ form a 1:1 complex [Zn(H-1L8)], in which the 8-OH group of the quinoline ring of L8 is deprotonated and coordinates to Zn2+, in aqueous solution at neutral pH. On addition of one equivalent of Zn2+ and Cd2+, the fluorescence emission of L8 (5 microM) at 512 nm in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 [10 mM HEPES with I=0.1 (NaNO3)] and 25 degrees C increased by factors of 17 and 43, respectively. We found that the cyclen moiety has the unique property of quenching the fluorescence emission of the quinolinol moiety when not complexed with metal cations, but enhancing emission when complexed with Zn2+ or Cd2+. In addition, the Zn2+-L8 complex [Zn(H-1L8)] is much more thermodynamically and kinetically stable (Kd{Zn(H-1L8)}=[Zn2+]free[L8]free/[Zn(H-1L8)]=8 fM at pH 7.4) than the Zn2+ complexes of our previous Zn2+ fluorophores ([Zn(H-1L2)] and [Zn(L3)]). Furthermore, formation of [Zn(H-1L8)] is much faster than those of [Zn(H-1L2)] and [Zn(L3)]. The staining of early-stage apoptotic cells with L8 is also described.     

Skin‐worn Soft Microfluidic Potentiometric Detection System

A flexible skin‐mounted microfluidic potentiometric device for simultaneous electrochemical monitoring of sodium and potassium in sweat is presented. The wearable device allows efficient natural sweat pumping to the potentiometric detection chamber, containing solid‐contact ion‐selective Na⁺ and K⁺ electrodes, during exercise activity. The fabricated microchip electrolyte‐sensing device displays good analytical performance and addresses sweat mixing and carry‐over issues of early epidermal potentiometric sensors. Such soft skin‐worn microchip platform integrates potentiometric measurement, microfluidic technologies with flexible electronics for real‐time wireless data transmission to mobile devices. The new fully integrated microfluidic electrolyte‐detection device paves the way for practical fitness and health monitoring applications.     

Cost‐Effective,High‐Performance Porous‐Organic‐Polymer Conductors Functionalized with Sulfonic Acid Groups by Direct Postsynthetic Substitution

We demonstrate the facile microwave‐assisted synthesis of a porous organic framework 1 and the sulfonated solid ( 1S ) through postsubstitution. Remarkably, the conductivity of 1S showed an approximately 300‐fold enhancement at 30 °C as compared to that of 1 , and reached 7.72×10^?2 S cm^?1 at 80 °C and 90 % relative humidity. The superprotonic conductivity exceeds that observed for any conductive porous organic polymer reported to date. This material, which is cost‐effective and scalable for mass production, also revealed long‐term performance over more than 3 months without conductivity decay.     

Size‐Dependence of the Activity of Gold Nanoparticle‐Loaded Titanium(IV) Oxide Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Water Oxidation

Mesoporous TiO₂ nanocrystalline film was formed on fluorine‐doped tin oxide electrode (TiO₂/FTO) and gold nanoparticles (NPs) of different sizes were loaded onto the surface with the loading amount kept constant (Au/TiO₂/FTO). Visible‐light irradiation (λ>430 nm) of the Au/TiO₂/FTO photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell with the structure of photoanode|0.1 m NaClO4 aqueous solution|Ag/AgCl (reference electrode)|glassy carbon (cathode) leads to the oxidation of water to oxygen (O₂). We show that the visible‐light activity of the Au/TiO₂/FTO anode increases with a decrease in Au particle size (d) at 2.9≤d≤11.9 nm due to the enhancement of the charge separation and increasing photoelectrocatalytic activity.