Chemical vapor detection using single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes possess unique properties that make them a potentially ideal material for chemical sensing. However, their extremely small size also presents technical challenges for realizing a practical sensor technology. In this tutorial review we explore the transduction physics by which the presence of molecular adsorbates is converted into a measurable electronic signal, and we identify solutions to the problems such as nanotube device fabrication and large, low-frequency noise that have inhibited commercial sensor development. Finally, we examine strategies to provide the necessary chemical specificity to realize a nanotube-based detection system for trace-level chemical vapor detection.     

Stir-bar sorptive extraction and thermal desorption-ion mobility spectrometry for the determination of trinitrotoluene and l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine in water samples

Stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) is interfaced to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for the rapid detection of trace analytes, with the explosives, trinitrotoluene (TNT) and l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazine (RDX) shown as examples. SBSE retains its inherent advantages as a sensitive, straightforward, solventless, and inexpensive method. Additionally, the new SBSE-IMS technique exhibits excellent sensitivity, has onsite field analysis capabilities and provides the potential to detect and quantitate analytes that are difficult to accomplish using gas chromatography (GC) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The SBSE-IMS technique is shown to be an effective method for the low-level detection of TNT and RDX from water with method standard deviation of 8.6% for TNT and 6.6% for RDX. The short desorption time of 60 s and analysis time of less than 20 ms along with limits of detection of 0.1 ng/mL for TNT and 1.5 ng/mL for RDX and render the method potentially useful for trace analysis. Desorption profiles showing the kinetics of analyte transfer from the stir-bar into the IMS are shown and discussed; the SBSE-IMS configuration shows very rapid desorption from the stir-bar, with the analytes completely transferred in most cases, in under 1 min.     

Effects of ion-pairing on rate of electron transfer between immobilized gold nanoclusters and soluble redox probes

Hydrophilic gold nanoclusters were tethered onto gold electrodes modified with mixed 1-octane thiol/1,9-nonane dithiol monolayers. The heterogeneous electron transfer (ET) kinetics of soluble redox species in the supporting electrolyte were investigated at these electrodes by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in the presence and absence of the ion-pairing anions and . The redox species investigated, [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− and [Co(C₁₂H₈N₂)₃]^3+/2+ where oppositely charged. The results presented here reveal that the rate of ET for the negatively charged redox species decreases with decreasing ionic charging time constant of the electrolyte. The opposite trend is observed for the positively charged redox species.     

Reactions of tetracyanoethylene with transition-metal acetylides: synthesis and structure of Rh(CCPh) [η2-C2(CN)4] (NCMe)(PPh3)2

The title complex was obtained from the adduct of C₂(CN)₄ and Rh(CCPh)-(CO)(PPh₃)₂ by simple substitution of CO in refluxing acetonitrile. Crystals of the complex are orthorhombic, with a 10.058(2), b 20.008(4), c 21.594(5) Å, space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z  4. The rhodium has approximate trigonal bipyramidal coordination, with apical NCMe and C₂Ph ligands: RhC₂Ph, 1.939(18); RhC(olefinic), 2.151, 2.157(19); RhN, 2.051(16); RhP, 2.377, 2.397(6) Å.     

TDDFT studies of electronic structure and first hyperpolarizability of terta-nuclear cubane-like transition metal clusters

The TDDFT method is first applied in a series of tetra-nuclear transition metal clusters studies for nonlinear optical properties. The results indicate that the charge transfer inside the metal core [MCu3X4] (M=W, Mo; X=S, O, Cl, Se, Br) makes contribution to the optical nonlinearity. It is possible to enhance the hyperpolarizability by substituting the ligands of the clusters.     

Facile one-pot synthesis of S-alkyl thiocarbamates

We report a novel one-pot two-step synthesis of a variety of S-alkyl thiocarbamates. This method offers a two-directional approach making use of trichloroacetyl chloride, requires no complex starting material, incorporates a variety of substituents, and proceeds in high yields.     

Synthesis of 3-nitrophthalonitrile and tetra-α-substituted phthalocyanines

An efficient synthesis of phthalocyanines prepared from ortho-substituted phthalonitriles is described. The precursor to these phthalocyanines, 3-nitrophthalonitrile, is a key reagent for syntheses of phthalonitriles substituted at the 3-position by means of nucleophilic aromatic substitutions. An example of this type of phthalocyanine, prepared from 3-(4-cumylphenoxy)phthalonitrile, is compared with the phthalocyanine derived from 4-(4-cumylphenoxy)phthalonitrile. Substitution of the phthalocyanine at this more sterically crowded site causes a 20 nm bathochromic shift of the Q-band (π-π* transition).     

Analysis of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and chlortetracycline in water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for determination of trace levels of tetracycline antibiotics in ground water and confined animal feeding operation waste water. Oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), and chlortetracycline (CTC) were extracted from water samples using both polymeric and C18 extraction cartridges. The addition of a buffer containing potassium phosphate and citric acid improved tetracycline recoveries in lagoon water. Method detection limits determined in reagent water fortified with 1 microg l(-1) OTC, TC, and CTC were 0.21, 0.20, and 0.28 microg l(-1). Method detection limits in lagoon water samples fortified at 20 microg l(-1) for OTC, TC, and CTC were 3.6, 3.1, and 3.8 microg l(-1). Variability in recovery from laboratory fortified blanks ranged from 86 to 110% during routine analysis.