Studies on the properties of ionic liquid EMIInCl4

This paper reports that an ionic liquid (IL) has been prepared by directly mixing InCl₃ and 1-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride (EMIC) with molar ratio 1/1 under dry argon atmosphere. The densities, and surface tension of the pure IL were determined at temperature range of 293.15 to 343.15 ± 0.1 K. The volumetric properties and the properties of surface for ionic liquid based on group III were discussed by Glasser's theory and Yang's interstice model.     

Recent advances in single atom catalysts for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels. Single atom catalysts (SACs) are encouraging to catalyze the electrochemical CO₂RR due to the tunable electronic structure of the central metal atoms, which can regulate the adsorption energy of reactants and reaction intermediates. Moreover, SACs form a bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, providing an ideal platform to explore the reaction mechanism of electrochemical reactions. In this review, we first discuss the strategies for promoting the CO₂RR performance, including suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), generation of C₁ products and formation of C₂₊ products. Then, we summarize the recent developments in regulating the structure of SACs toward the CO₂RR based on the above aspects. Finally, several issues regarding the development of SACs for the CO₂RR are raised and possible solutions are provided.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels.     

Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles by Suspension Polymerization in Silicon Oil

Molecular imprinting is a method to prepare polymers with recognition site of desired and predetermined selectivity1. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) are prepared by copolymerizing functional and cross-linking monomers in the presence of a molecular …     

Aortic elastin fluorescence afterin vivo labeling with Congo red

Congo red (CR) is an azo dye which not only preferentially binds to elastin, an extracellular matrix protein found in the media of arterial vessel walls, but also fluoresces when it binds to this protein. Protein solubilization data following laser irradiation of elastin:CR suspensions determined that the amount of elastin solubilized by laser irradiation increased with the increase in CR. The saturation point of CR to elastin was attained when 400 g CR was added to 20 mg elastin suspension. When 20 ml of a 5% CR solution in 5% dextrose was administered intravenously, the CR was absorbed in levels sufficient to produce fluorescence of the main arteries in rabbits. Layers of tissue both in the media of the vessels and at the endothelial/intimal interface were clearly differentiated. Therefore, the elastin:CR complex appears to be an ideal system in which the elastin fluorescence could aid in distinguishing between normal and diseased tissue in certain pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis and some types of breast tumors.     

Controlled synthesis and magnetic properties of 2D and 3D iron azide networks infinity2[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] and infinity3[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)

Controlled synthesis of transition metal complexes with mixed ligands has led to two new compounds with the same empirical formula [Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] (4,4'-bpy=4,4'- bipyridine). The compound 2D-[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] (I) contains end-on (EO) bridging azido ligands. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system, space group Cmmm (No. 65): a=11.444(2) A, b=15.181(3) A, c=3.458(1) A, V=600.8(2) A(3), and Z=2. The compound 3D-[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] (II) contains end-to-end (EE) azido bridges. It belongs to the tetragonal crystal system, space group P4(1)2(1)2 (No. 92): a=8.132(1) A, b=8.132(1) A, c=16.708(3) A, V=1104.9(5) A(3), and Z=4. Crystals of I and II have been grown by the diffusion method. Phase-pure samples of both compounds have been obtained by means of an optimal solution synthesis. Spontaneous long-range magnetic ordering was found in both I and II, with I being a metamagnet, and II being a ferromagnet. For I, in the low-field region, multiple transitions at TN1=20 K and TN2=5 K were observed, and these indicated the existence of Fe moment reorientation. Heat capacity measurements on II confirmed ferromagnetic transition at TC=20 K.     

Determination of Phenolic Glucosides in Gentiana piasezkii by Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

A capillary zone electrophoretic method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of five phenolic glucosides, 6′-O-vanilloylarbutin (VA), 7-O-feruloylorientin (FE), lutonarin (LN), isoorient (IO) and luteolin (LL), in Gentiana piasezkii with UV detection at 270 nm. 7-O-β-D-glucosyl-coumarin was selected as the internal standard. The applied voltage was 15 kV and the capillary temperature was kept constant at 25 °C. The effect of pH, the concentration of methanol and boric acid on migration were studied systematically. Optimum separation was achieved with 200 mM boric acid buffer at pH 9.50 containing 10% (v/v) methanol. Regression equations revealed good linear relationship between the peak area ratio of each compound and internal standard and its concentration. The correlation coefficients were 0.9975, 0.9997, 0.9998, 0.9998 and 0.9988 for VA, FE, LN, IO and LL, respectively. The relative standard deviations of migration time and the peak area ratio of each analyte and internal standard were <1.78% and 4.93%, respectively. The contents of the five compounds in Gentiana piasezkii were successfully determined with satisfactory repeatability and recovery.     

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.     

Detection of DNA adducts of benzo[a]pyrene using immunoelectrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence. Analysis of A549 cells

Detection of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-damaged DNA in a human lung carcinoma cell line (A549) has been performed using free zone affinity capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Using BPDE as a model carcinogenic compound, the speed, sensitivity and specificity of this technique was demonstrated. Under free zone conditions, an antibody bound adduct was baseline-resolved from an unbound adduct in less than 2 min. The efficiencies of separation were in excess of 6 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(6) plates per meter for the antibody-bound and unbound adducts, respectively. Separation using a low ionic strength buffer permitted the use of a high electric field (830 V/cm) without the loss of resolving power. Using LIF detection, a concentration detection limit of roughly 3 x 10(-10) M was achieved for a 90-mer oligonuleotide containing a single BDPE. The use of formamide in the incubation buffer to enhance denaturing of DNA did not affect the stability of the complex between the antibody and the adducts. Using a fluorescently labeled BPDE-modified DNA adduct probe, a competitive assay was established to determine the levels of BPDE-DNA adducts in A549 cells.