Current Rectification in Temperature‐Responsive Single Nanopores

Herein we demonstrate a fully abiotic smart single‐nanopore device that rectifies ionic current in response to the temperature. The temperature‐responsive nanopore ionic rectifier can be switched between a rectifying state below 34 °C and a non‐rectifying state above 38 °C actuated by the phase transition of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAM] brushes. On the rectifying state, the rectifying efficiency can be enhanced by the dehydration of the attached PNIPAM brushes below the LCST. When the PNIPAM brushes have sufficiently collapsed, the nanopore switches to the non‐rectifying state. The concept of the temperature‐responsive current rectification in chemically‐modified nanopores paves a new way for controlling the preferential direction of the ion transport in nanofluidics by modulating the temperature, which has the potential to build novel nanomachines with smart fluidic communication functions for future lab‐on‐chip devices.     

Efficient Two‐Photon Excited Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Organic Single Crystals

E, E‐1, 4‐bis[4′‐(N,N‐dibutylamino)styryl]‐2,5‐dimethoxy‐benzene (DBASDMB) organic crystals with high crystalline quality, large size and excellent optical properties are prepared. The linear and nonlinear properties in the crystal are comparatively studied. The relaxation dynamics pumped by two‐photon are very similar with that pumped by one‐photon. The crystal exhibits very strong two‐photon excited fluorescence and amplified spontaneous emission. Efficient two‐photon absorption, reasonably high fluorescent quantum efficiency, and high crystal quality together with stimulated emission make organic crystals ideal for the application in frequency upconversion and other optoelectronic fields.     

Synthesis,characterization and property study of new coordination polymers constructed from flexible dicarboxylates and bidentate nitrogen mixed ligands

Five new coordination polymers, [Cd(1,2′-cy)_0.5(bix)H₂O]_n (1), [Cd₂(1,2′-cy)₂(1,10′-phen)₂(H₂O)₂] (2), {[Co(1,2-cy)(2,2′-bipy)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n (3) {[Cd(succ)(1,10′-phen)H₂O]·H₂O}_n (4), and {[Cd(succ)(2,2′-bipy)H₂O]·2H₂O}_n (5) (1,2-cy = 4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylate, succ = succinic acid, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, 1,10′-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystallographic X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 shows a two-dimensional covalent layer structure. Complex 2 exhibits a two-dimensional supramolecular layer network composed from discrete fundamental units. Complex 3 exhibits a one-dimensional covalent chain-like structure, which further extends to a two-dimensional supramolecular structure with hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions respectively. Complexes 4 and 5 show three-dimensional supramolecular networks composed from one-dimensional chain-like covalent structures. Furthermore, the magnetic property of complex 3 and fluorescent properties of complexes 1, 2, 4 and 5 have also been studied.     

Multianalyte Electrochemical Biosensor Based on Aptamer‐ and Nanoparticle‐Integrated Bio‐Barcode Amplification

In the present work, a signal‐on electrochemical sensing strategy for the simultaneous detection of adenosine and thrombin is developed based on switching structures of aptamers. An Au electrode as the sensing surface is modified with two kinds of thiolated capture probes complementary to the linker DNA that contains either an adenosine aptamer or thrombin aptamer. The capture probes hybridize with their corresponding linker DNA, which has prehybridized with the reporter DNA loaded onto the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNP contained two kinds of bio‐barcode DNA: one is complementary to the linker DNA (reporter), whereas the other is not (signal) and is tagged with different metal sulfide nanoparticles. Thus a “sandwich‐type” sensing interface is fabricated for adenosine and thrombin. With the introduction of adenosine and thrombin, the aptamer parts bind with their targets and fold to form the complex structures. As a result, the bio‐barcoded AuNPs are released into solution. The metal sulfide nanoparticles are measured by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), and the concentrations of adenosine and thrombin are proportional to the signal of either metal ion. With the dual amplification of the bio‐barcoded AuNP and the preconcentration of metal ions through ASV technology, detection limits as low as 6.6×10^?12 M for adenosine and 1.0×10^?12 M for thrombin are achieved. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity and detectability in biological samples.     

Graphene Field‐Effect Transistors: Electrochemical Gating,Interfacial Capacitance,and Biosensing Applications

Single‐layer graphene has received much attention because of its unique two‐dimensional crystal structure and properties. In this review, we focus on the graphene devices in solution, and their properties that are relevant to chemical and biological applications. We will discuss their charge transport, controlled by electrochemical gates, interfacial and quantum capacitance, charged impurities, and surface potential distribution. The sensitive dependence of graphene charge transport on the surrounding environment points to their potential applications as ultrasensitive chemical sensors and biosensors. The interfacial and quantum capacitance studies are directly relevant to the on‐going effort of creating graphene‐based ultracapacitors for energy storage.     

Photoinduced charge transfer in porphyrin-C60 oligomer

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) between C₆₀ and porphyrin (P) in a new polymer containing porphyrin, poly(p-phenylenevinylene), and pendant fullerene units has been investigated by nanosecond transient absorption and phosphorescence spectroscopy. Compared to the physically doping material systems, binding porphyrin/C₆₀ through chemical bonds in a polymer detains the formation of the triplet states of porphyrins and C₆₀. The formation of intermediate charge transfer state (CSS) of P⁺-C₆₀ ^? was observed, which led to the delayed formation of triplet states of porphyrins and C₆₀. The reduced opto-electronic properties, such as optical limiting performance, were also observed, which resulted from the delayed formation of triplet states. The results presented in this article are significant in understanding the complicated spectral characteristics of the triplet state and charge transfer of the porphyrin and C₆₀ complexes, and are therefore related to the controllable performance of the new materials in applications.     

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects neurons from GdCl3-induced impairment in neuron-astrocyte co-cultures

Gadolinium (Gd³⁺) complexes are important contrast agents in medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and of great potential value in brain research. In order to better understand the mechanisms of the action of Gd³⁺ on neurons in the complex central nervous system (CNS), the neurotoxic actions of GdCl₃ have been investigated in both neuron monoculture and astrocyte-neuron co-culture systems. Measurements of lactate dehydrogenase release showed that GdCl₃ causes significant cell death of monocultured neurons as a result of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and down-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, GdCl₃ does not affect the viability and BDNF expression of astrocytes. Both co-culturing of neurons with astrocytes and addition of BDNF ameliorated GdCl₃-induced neurotoxicity by decreasing ROS generation and facilitating recovery of BDNF levels. The results obtained suggest that astrocytes in the CNS may protect neurons from GdCl₃-induced impairment through secreting BDNF and thus up-regulating BDNF expression and interfering with Gd³⁺-induced cell signaling in neurons. A possible molecular mechanism is suggested which should be helpful in understanding the neurotoxic actions of gadolinium probes.     

MgO/Al_2O_3吸附剂对CO_2动态吸附性能的研究

以γ-Al2O3为载体,采用等体积浸渍法制取MgO/Al2O3吸附剂,利用BET、XRD等表征手段对吸附剂进行表征;并通过固定床测量穿透曲线的方法研究其对CO2动态吸附性能的影响,考察了MgO负载量、吸附温度、气体流量等因素对吸附剂吸附CO2性能的影响,同时还通过多次吸脱附实验考察MgO/Al2O3吸附剂的稳定性和再生能力。结果表明,MgO负载量为10%的吸附剂,吸附温度在50℃左右,流量为45 mL/min动态吸附量最大;经数次循环后材料的结构性质和吸附性能未见明显变化,可再生性能比较优异,是一种潜在的可工业化应用的CO2吸附剂。     

无溶剂一锅法Al(ClO_4)_3催化合成α-氨基膦酸酯

以无水高氯酸铝为催化剂,将芳香醛、芳香胺及亚磷酸酯在无溶剂条件下一锅法反应,高效地合成了α-氨基膦酸酯,该催化剂优于其它已发现的催化剂[如Mg(ClO4)2,BiCl3,AlCl3等],建立了一种适用于含有钝化基团的芳香胺的α-氨基膦酸酯的新合成方法.     

7-O-取代-8-甲基香豆素和4H-色烯-4-酮化合物与NBS/CCl_4试剂的溴化反应

7-O-取代-8-甲基香豆素和4-H-色烯-4-酮化合物是合成Seco-DCK和Seco-DCP类似物的重要中间体.报道了在NBS/CCl4条件下,这两类化合物8-位甲基溴代反应的情况.通过实验发现,这两类化合物8-位甲基溴代反应较一般芳环苄位的溴代更为复杂,存在多个反应位点.影响8-位甲基溴代选择性和收率的主要因素有三:邻位基团空间位阻大小、自由基引发催化剂的使用与否以及邻位基团的电性因素.通过控制反应条件,可以中等收率得到8-位甲基溴代化合物.