Nernstian adsorbate-like bulk layer of organic radical polymers for high-density charge storage purposes

Redox polymer layers with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-4-yl (TEMPO) groups showed nernstian adsorbate-like electrochemical behaviors up to submicrometer thicknesses, based on a fast charge propagation within the bulk layer and persistency in electrolyte solutions.     

Activation of Dihydrogen by Masked Doubly Bonded Aluminum Species

Activation of dihydrogen by masked dialumenes (Al=Al doubly bonded species) is reported. Reactions of barrelene‐type dialumanes, which have the reactivity as masked equivalents of 1,2‐diaryldialumenes ArAl=AlAr, with H₂ afforded dihydroalumanes ArAlH₂ at room temperature (Ar: bulky aryl groups). These dihydroalumanes form hydrogen‐bridged dimers [ArHAl(μ‐H)]₂ in the crystalline state, while a monomer–dimer equilibrium was suggested in solution. The 1,2‐diaryldialumenes generated from the barrelene‐type dialumanes are the putative active species in the cleavage of H₂.     

Spatially Heterogeneous Nature of Self‐Catalytic Reaction in Hetero‐Double Helix Formation of Helicene Oligomers

A 1:1 mixture of pseudoenantiomeric aminomethylenehelicene oligomers, (P)‐tetramer and (M)‐pentamer, in fluorobenzene show a self‐catalytic phenomenon in the formation of hetero‐double helices from random coils. This study visualizes the spatially heterogeneous nature of the self‐catalytic reaction in dilute solution. UV/Vis imaging analysis of the mixture at 70 °C, containing random coils, exhibits a homogeneous bright area. When the solution is cooled from 70 to 30 °C and held at that temperature, dark domains of approximately 1 mm in size appear, which move approximately at a rate of 1 mm min^?1. The dark domains indicate that weaker UV/Vis absorption results from the formation of hetero‐double helices, which is supported by circular dichroism (CD) imaging experiments. Then a homogeneous mixture is regenerated upon heating to 55 °C, as shown by CD imaging. Under self‐catalytic conditions, a homogeneous solution spontaneously changed to a heterogeneous solution in the process of hetero‐double‐helix formation.     

Comparison of the cytotoxic effect of polystyrene latex nanoparticles on planktonic cells and bacterial biofilms

The cytotoxic effect of positively charged polystyrene latex nanoparticles (PSL NPs) was compared between planktonic bacterial cells and bacterial biofilms using confocal laser scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and a colony counting method. Pseudomonas fluorescens, which is commonly used in biofilm studies, was employed as the model bacteria. We found that the negatively charged bacterial surface of the planktonic cells was almost completely covered with positively charged PSL NPs, leading to cell death, as indicated by the NP concentration being greater than that required to achieve single layer coverage. In addition, the relationship between surface coverage and cell viability of P. fluorescens cells correlated well with the findings in other bacterial cells (Escherichia coli and Lactococcus lactis). However, most of the bacterial cells that formed the biofilm were viable despite the positively charged PSL NPs being highly toxic to planktonic bacterial cells. This indicated that bacterial cells embedded in the biofilm were protected by self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that provide resistance to antibacterial agents. In conclusion, mature biofilms covered with EPS exhibit resistance to NP toxicity as well as antibacterial agents.     

Size-selective photocatalytic reactions by titanium(IV) oxide coated with a hollow silica shell in aqueous solutions

A novel core-shell composite photocatalyst, commercially available titanium(IV) oxide (TiO(2)) particles directly incorporated into a hollow amorphous silica shell, was fabricated by successive coating of TiO(2) with a carbon layer and a silica layer followed by heat treatment to remove the carbon layer. The composite induced efficient photocatalytic reactions when relatively small substrates were used, such as methanol dehydration and decomposition of acetic acid, without any reduction in the intrinsic activity of original TiO(2), but did not exhibit efficient photocatalytic activity for decomposition of large substrates, methylene blue and polyvinyl alcohol. The unique size-selective properties of the composites are due to their structural characteristics, i.e., the presence of a pore system and a void space in the silica shell and between the shell and medial TiO(2) particles, respectively. The loading of alkylsilyl groups on the surface of the composite led to highly photostable floatability: the floated sample also induced efficient photocatalytic reaction for decomposition of acetic acid while retaining floatation at the gas/water interface.