Integrated production of ethanol fuel and protein from Coastal Bermudagrass

The herbaceous crops that may provide fermentable carbohydrates for production of fuels and chemicals also contain 10–20% protein. Protein coproduction with biomass-derived fuels and chemicals has important advantages: (1) food and fuel production can be integrated, and (2) protein is a high-value product that may significantly improve overall process economics. We report the results of an integrated approach to producing protein and fermentable sugars from one herbaceous species, Coastal Bermudagrass (CBG). The ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) process makes possible over 90% conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to simple sugars (about 650 mg reducing sugars/g dry CBG) at 5 IU cellulase/g vs < 20% conversion for untreated CBG. The AFEX treatment also improves protein extraction from CBG; over 80% protein recovery is possible from AFEX-treated CBG vs about 30% recovery from untreated CBG.     

Design, synthesis, characterization, luminescence and non-linear optical (NLO) properties of multinuclear platinum(II) alkynyl complexes

A series of luminescent multinuclear platinum(II) alkynyl complexes containing triethynylbenzene or 1,4-bis(3,5-diethynylphenyl)buta-1,3-diyne as cores has been successfully synthesized and characterized. The electronic absorption, emission, nanosecond transient absorption and electrochemical properties of these complexes have been reported. These complexes show long-lived emissions in degassed benzene solution and in alcoholic glass at 77 K. Moreover, they are found to exhibit two-photon absorption (2PA) and two-photon induced luminescence (TPIL) properties, and their two-photon absorption cross-sections have been determined to be 6-191 GM upon excitation at 720 nm. Through a systematic comparison, it has been found that tetra- and hexanuclear platinum(II) complexes show better 2PA and TPIL properties than their di- and trinuclear counterparts.     

Synthesis of Unsymmetric Bipyridine–PtII–Alkynyl Complexes through Post‐Click Reaction with Emission Enhancement Characteristics and Their Applications as Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

Two unsymmetric bipyridine–platinum(II)–alkynyl complexes have been synthesised by a post‐click reaction. These metal complexes are found to exhibit emission enhancement properties. The photoluminescence quantum yield can be significantly increased from 0.03 in solution to 0.72 in solid‐state thin films. Efficient solution‐processable organic light‐emitting diodes have been fabricated by utilizing these complexes as phosphorescent dopants. A high external quantum efficiency of up to 5.8 % has been achieved.     

Highly Efficient Orange and Warm White Phosphorescent OLEDs Based on a Host Material with a Carbazole–Fluorenyl Hybrid

A new carbazole–fluorenyl hybrid compound, 3,3′(2,7‐di(naphthaline‐2‐yl)‐9H‐fluorene‐9,9‐diyl)bis(9‐phenyl‐9H‐carbazole) (NFBC) was synthesized and characterized. The compound exhibits blue‐violet emission both in solution and in film, with peaks centered at 404 and 420 nm. In addition to the application as a blue emitter, NFBC is demonstrated to be a good host for phosphorescent dopants. By doping Ir(2‐phq)₃ in NFBC, a highly efficient orange organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) with a maximum efficiency of 32 cd A^?1 (26.5 Lm W^?1) was obtained. Unlike most phosphorescent OLEDs, the device prepared in our study shows little efficiency roll‐off at high brightness and maintains current efficiencies of 31.9 and 26.8 cd A^?1 at a luminance of 1000 and 10 000 cd m^?2, respectively. By using NFBC simultaneously as a blue fluorescence emitter and as a host for a phosphorescent dopant, a warm white OLED with a maximum efficiency of 22.9 Lm W^?1 (21.9 cd A^?1) was also obtained.     

Hexanuclear Gold(I) Phosphide Complexes as Platforms for Multiple Redox‐Active Ferrocenyl Units

The synthesis, X‐ray crystal structures, electrochemical, and spectroscopic studies of a series of hexanuclear gold(I) μ₃‐ferrocenylmethylphosphido complexes stabilized by bridging phosphine ligands, [Au₆(P?P)_n(Fc‐CH₂‐P)₂][PF₆]₂ (n=3, P?P=dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) ( 1 ), dppe (1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) ( 2 ), dppp (1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) ( 3 ), Ph₂PN(C₃H₇)‐PPh₂ ( 4 ), Ph₂PN(Ph‐CH₃‐p)PPh₂ ( 5 ), dppf (1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) ( 6 ); n=2, P?P=dpepp (bis(2‐diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine) ( 7 )), as platforms for multiple redox‐active ferrocenyl units, are reported. The investigation of the structural changes of the clusters has been probed by introducing different bridging phosphine ligands. This class of gold(I) μ₃‐ferrocenylmethylphosphido complexes has been found to exhibit one reversible oxidation couple, suggestive of the absence of electronic communication between the ferrocene units through the Au₆P₂ cluster core, providing an understanding of the electronic properties of the hexanuclear Au^I cluster linkage. The present complexes also serve as an ideal system for the design of multi‐electron reservoir and molecular battery systems.     

Dual Esterase‐ and Steroid‐Responsive Energy Transfer Modulation of Ruthenium(II) and Rhenium(I) Complex Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

A number of adamantane‐containing ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes have been synthesized, characterized, and noncovalently functionalized with β‐cyclodextrin‐capped gold nanoparticles (β‐CD–GNPs) through the host–guest interaction between cyclodextrin and adamantane. The resultant nanoconjugates have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), and 2D ROESY ¹H NMR experiments. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties of the nanoconjugates can be modulated by both esterase‐accelerated hydrolysis and competitive displacement of steroid, by monitoring the emission intensity and luminescence lifetime. The FRET efficiencies are found to vary with the nature of the chromophores and the length of the spacer between the transition metal complexes and the GNPs. This work constitutes a “proof‐of‐principle” assay method for the dual‐functional detection of important classes of biomolecules, such as enzymes and steroids.