A plasmonic photocatalyst consisting of silver nanoparticles embedded in titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) displays photocatalytic behavior under near-ultraviolet (UV) illumination. In another scientific field, it is well understood that the excitation of localized plasmon polaritons on the surface of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) causes a tremendous increase of the near-field amplitude at well-defined wavelengths in the near UV. The exact resonance wavelength depends on the shape and the dielectric environment of the NPs. We expected that the photocatalytic behavior of TiO2 would be greatly boosted if it gets assisted by the enhanced near-field amplitudes of localized surface plasmon (LSP). Here we show that this is true indeed. We named this new phenomenon "plasmonic photocatalysis". The key to enable plasmonic photocatalysis is to deposit TiO2 on a NP comprising an Ag core covered with a silica (SiO2) shell to prevent oxidation of Ag by direct contact with TiO2. The most appropriate diameter for Ag NPs and thickness for the SiO2 shell giving rise to LSP in the near UV were estimated from Mie scattering theory. Upon implementing a device that took these design considerations into account, the measured photocatalytic activity under near UV illumination of such a plasmonic photocatalyst, monitored by decomposition of methylene blue, was enhanced by a factor of 7. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity increases with a decreased thickness of the SiO2 shell. The plasmonic photocatalysis will be of use as a high performance photocatalyst in nearly all current applications but will be of particular importance for applications in locations of minimal light exposure.     

New design of a radio-frequency plasma torch

A numerical model has been developed for predicting the two-dimensional flow and temperature fields in a radio-frequency (rf) plasma torch. The method employed here is based on Boulos' model with the exception of the boundary conditions for the electric and magnetic field equations. Calculations have been made for the confirmation of a new sample injection method, which is capable of completely evaporating refractory materials at high feeding rates without interfering with the stability of the plasma. In the newly designed torch, the reagent is radially injected into the hottest part of the plasma through quartz capillary tubes set symmetrically between an inductor coil. Experimental investigations have also been performed for verifying the proper function of the design. These results provide evidence that our radial injection method developed here is more effective in practical processing than the conventional axial injection methods.     

Planarity recognition of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by various octadecylsilica stationary phases in non-aqueous reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary Planarity recognition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been investigated using bonded octadecyl stationary phases synthesized in different ways. Retention results indicate apparent differences among the functionalities of the stationary phases, a fact found useful for identifying the functionality of commercially available octadecylsilica (ODS) phases. Retention behevior can be explained by the slit-like structures of polymeric oDS phases, as evidenced by suspension¹³C NMR measurements.     

X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility of sodium fullerides NaxC60

The X-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic susceptibility and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements have been carried out for Na_xC₆₀. The XRD profiles with x<4 can be assigned to a face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice, while those with 4≦x to a hexagonal one. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility χ for Na_xC₆₀ using SQUID was fitted to the Curie law, and estimated temperature-independent component χ₀. The composition x dependence of the χ₀ for Na_xC₆₀ shows two maxima at around x=3 and x=10, and minimum at x=6. The absence of Pauli contribution at x=6 was confirmed using ESR. A trace of superconducting transition at 14 K has been found for some Na_xC₆₀ specimens with 8<x<9.     

Destabilization of cytochrome c by modified β-cyclodextrin

To clarify the effect of cyclodextrin (CD) on the stability of cytochrome c, the thermal denaturation of cytochrome c was measured by differential scanning calorimetry in aqueous solutions of β-CD modified with three substituents: methyl, acetyl, and 2-hydroxylpropyl groups. The midpoint temperature of thermal denaturation decreased with the addition of modified β-CDs, indicating that cytochrome c was destabilized. The destabilization effect of CD depended on the substituent and increased in the order of acetyl>methyl>2-hydroxypropyl. The estimated binding number and binding constant of the modified β-CDs for cytochrome c are 5.0 ± 1.0 and 10.3 ± 2.9 M^?1 for methyl-β-CD, 13.8 ± 3.6 and 4.7 ± 1.6 M^?1 for acetyl-β-CD, and 2.8 ± 0.9 and 7.0 ± 3.0 M^?1 for 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD. The destabilization effect of acetyl-β-CD is the highest because many CD molecules interact with proteins by the inclusion effect of CD and the inhibition effect of the acetyl group on the hydrogen bond in the secondary structure. In contrast, the stabilization effect of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD is the smallest because the steric exclusion of the 2-hydroxypropyl group inhibits the binding of CD to cytochrome c as compared with the smaller structure of the methyl group. Dependency of the destabilization effect on the molar ratio of CD to cytochrome c suggests that the destabilization effect of CD is caused not only by the “direct” interaction of CD with proteins but also by the “indirect” interaction of CD which promotes the solvation of hydrophobic groups by altering the water structure as observed in urea.     

Mesogenicity of Organophosphazenes: The Effect of Phosphazene Rings and Side Groups on the Phase Transition

Cyclotriphosphazene and cyclotetraphosphazene derivatives with mesogenic 4-N-(4-alkoxyphenyl)iminomethyl)phenoxy and 4-(4'-alkoxy)biphenoxy moieties were synthesized. Schiff base moiety has higher mesomorphic stability than that in biphenyl moiety both in cyclotriphosphazene and cyclotetraphosphazene. Cyclotriphosphazenes possess higher thermal stability in the mesomorphic phase than the cyclotetraphosphazenes, suggesting the difference in the molecular structure.     

Photoinduced magnetization with a high curie temperature and a large coercive field in a cyano-bridged cobalt-tungstate bimetallic assembly

A three-dimensional magnetic material [{CoII(pyrimidine)(H2O)}2{CoII(H2O)2}{WV(CN)8}2](pyrimidine)2. 2H2O is prepared. This compound exhibits a charge-transfer-induced spin transition with a large thermal hysteresis loop of 90 K. Irradiating with light causes the low-temperature phase to exhibit a spontaneous magnetization with a Curie temperature of 40 K and a magnetic hysteresis loop with a coercive field of 12 000 G, which is the highest value reported for a photomagnet. The observed photoinduced magnetization is due to the charge-transfer phase transition from the {CoIIhs(S = 3/2)}{CoIIIls(S = 0)}2-NC-{WIV(S = 0)}2 phase to the {CoIIhs(S = 3/2)}3-NC-{WV(S = 1/2)}2 phase by the irradiation.     

Determination of antihyperglycemic biguanides in serum and urine using an ion-pair solid-phase extraction technique followed by HPLC-UV on a pentafluorophenylpropyl column and on an octadecyl column

An HPLC-UV method was established for the determination of metformin and buformin in biological fluids. Metformin was not retained on particles packed in conventional solid-phase extraction cartridges; in contrast, buformin was retained too firmly and not eluted with a solvent for recovery. However, both drugs were retained on particles that had been treated with an ion-pair reagent of heptanesulfonate or dodecylsulfate and recovered almost completely. The recovered fraction was subjected to HPLC on a pentafluorophenylpropyl column which was suitable for the determination of both biguanides in serum and in urine. Limits of quantitation were low enough for clinical use, and reproducibility was high with an RSD of 0.9-2.3%. HPLC on a conventional octadecyl column was suitable only for the determination of buformin in serum since interfering peaks appeared on the chromatograms of urine samples. The method was applied to analysis of some clinical specimens.     

Thermal properties and mixing state of ethylene glycol-water binary solutions by calorimetry, large-angle X-ray scattering, and small-angle neutron scattering

Thermal properties and mixing states of ethylene glycol (EG)-water binary solutions in the entire mole fraction range of EG, 0 < or = x(EG) < or = 1, have been clarified by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), large-angle X-ray scattering (LAXS), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) techniques. The DSC curves obtained have shown that the EG-water solutions over the range of EG mole fraction 0.3 < or = x(EG) < or = 0.5 are kept in the supercooling state until approximately 100 K, and those in the range of 0.6 < or = x(EG) < or = 0.8 are vitrified, and those in the ranges of 0 < x(EG) < or = 0.2 and 0.9 < or = x(EG) < 1 are crystallized. The radial distribution function (RDF) for pure EG obtained from the LAXS measurements has suggested that a gauche conformation of an EG molecule is favorable in the liquid. The RDFs for the EG-water solutions have shown that the structure of the binary solutions moderately changes from the inherent structure of EG to the tetrahedral-like structure of water when the water content increases. The SANS intensities for deuterated ethylene glycol (HOCD2CD2OH) (EGd4)-water solutions at x(EG) = 0.4 and 0.6 have not been significantly observed in the temperature range from 298 to 173 K, showing that EG and water molecules are homogeneously mixed. On the other hand, the SANS intensities at x(EG) = 0.2 and 0.9 have been strengthened when the temperature decreases due to crystallization of the solutions. On the basis of all the present results, a relation between thermal properties of EG-water binary solutions and their mixing states clarified by the LAXS and SANS measurements has been discussed at the molecular level.     

Dispersion and separation of small-diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes

The dispersion of small-diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) produced by the CoMoCAT method in tetrahydrofuran (THF) with the use of amine was studied. The absorption, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopies showed that the dispersion and centrifugation process leads to an effective separation of metallic SWNTs from semiconducting SWNTs. Since this method is simple and convenient, it is highly applicable to an industrial utilization for widespread applications of SWNTs.