Determination of Cr(VI) by portable tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer after surfactant-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

As a new developed instrument, a portable tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer (W-coil ET-AAS) was first coupled with surfactant assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (SA-DLLME) to improve its analytical performance and expand its applications in this work. SA-DLLME was very simple, rapid and the extraction efficiency was considerably improved by the effect of surfactant, which was suitable to be coupled with the portable instrument in field analysis. After SA-DLLME, concentrated chromium in organic phase was directly determined on W-coil atomiser. The influence factors relevant to SA-DLLME and instrumental conditions were studied systematically. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for Cr(VI) was 0.016 µg L^?1, with sensitivity enhancement factor (EF) of 107. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for seven replicate measurements of 0.5 µg L^?1 of Cr(VI) was 4.6%. The recoveries for the spiked samples were in the acceptable range of 96.8–104%. The rapid, simple and high effective method greatly improved the sensitivity of this portable spectrometer for the determination of Cr(VI) and was applied to the analysis of ultra-trace Cr(VI) in real and certified water samples with satisfactory results.     

Mixed-ligand oxovanadium complexes incorporating Schiff base ligands: synthesis, DNA interactions, and cytotoxicities

Three oxovanadium complexes, namely [VO(NOSAA)(bpy)] (1) (NOSAA = 2-hydroxy-5-nitrosalicylidene anthranilic acid, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl), [VO(NOSAA)(4,4′-dimebpy)] (2) (4,4′-dimebpy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′- bipyridyl), and [VO(NOSAA)(phen)] (3) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), have been prepared and characterized. The binding modes and strengths of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were studied using various techniques. The chemical nuclease activities and photocleavage reactions of the complexes were also tested. All three complexes interact with CT-DNA through intercalative modes, and complex 3 possesses the largest binding affinity. All three complexes can efficiently cleave pBR322 DNA upon irradiation or under physiological conditions in the presence of H₂O₂, and complex 3 has the best cleaving ability. In vitro experimental results showed that the three complexes are cytotoxic against myeloma (Ag8.653) and gliomas (U251) cell lines and complex 3 again showed the highest efficacy.     

Biomimetic synthesis of calcium carbonate with different morphologies under the direction of different amino acids

Using three different amino acids (AAs) as organic matrices, including the highly nonpolar hydrophobic l-valine, the positively charged l-arginine and the less polar uncharged l-serine, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) with different morphologies and polymorphs were synthesized by a facile gas diffusion reaction based on biomimetic strategy. Compared with the control cubic calcite obtained in the absence of AAs, the product from l-valine was cubic calcite aggregates assembled by nano-platelets. The product from l-arginine was spherical vaterite aggregates assembled by spherical nanoparticles. The product from l-serine was the mixture of cubic calcite and spherical vaterite. The structures and properties of the side chains of the AAs exerted the significant effects on the nucleation and growth of the CaCO₃. The formation mechanisms of the CaCO₃ in the presence of AAs are preliminarily discussed. The results suggest that the polymorphs and morphologies of the inorganic nanomaterials might be easily adjusted through the careful selection of the organic matrices.     

A pH-sensitive controlled dual-drug release from meso-macroporous silica/multilayer-polyelectrolytes coated SBA-15 composites

A novel dual-drug delivery system based on mesoporous-macroporous silica/polyelectrolytes-SBA-15 has been synthesized. The structure and composition of these materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements. In this system, water-soluble metformin hydrochloride and fat-soluble ibuprofen were used as model drugs to study the controlled release behavior. The pH-controlled release of individual drugs was obtained by the primary release of metformin hydrochloride from polyelectrolytes-SBA-15 in acid condition and the predominant release of ibuprofen from MMC in alkaline environment. The results show that the polyelectrolytes-SBA-15/mesoporous-macroporous silica can be used as dual-drug release system and the individual drug can be controlled release with the change of pH value of the environment.     

Sol–gel based synthesis of ultrafine tetragonal BaTiO3

Ultrafine tetragonal BaTiO₃ nanocrystals have been prepared by a sol–gel based method. By adjusting the volume ratio of H₂O/DEG (diethylene glycol) in the solutions, hydrolysis rate of tetra-n-butyl titanate was strongly inhibited and the particle size could be controlled as small as 4–8 nm. The powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy characterizations exhibit that the nanocrystals are spherical and well crystallized. The Raman spectrum shows the products are composed of the orthorhombic phase and tetragonal phase. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum revealed that a surface modification layer was formed around the BaTiO₃ nanocrystals, which can prevent them from aggregation and help to form a stable, high solid content sol.     

Gelation behavior and phase separation of macroporous methylsilsesquioxane monoliths prepared by in situ two-step processing

An in situ two-step processing using an initial acid catalysis step accompanied by an epoxide-mediated condensation step in the presence of ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) is reported, and macroporous cocontinuous methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ) monoliths have been successfully prepared by this processing. We explain the hydrolysis, gelation behavior and phase separation of MTMS(methyltrimethoxysilane)-MeOH(methanol)-HCl-PO(propylene oxide) system and the in situ effect of NH₄Cl, and examine the macroporous morphology and pore structures of MSQ monoliths obtained under different conditions. Macroporous MSQ monolith under optimized conditions possesses a narrow macropore size distribution between 3 to 10 μm, surface area as high as 366 m²·g^?1 and minimal shrinkage of only 1 %.     

Microenvironment Effects in Electrocatalysis: Ionic‐Liquid‐Like Coating on Carbon Nanotubes Enhances the Pd‐Electrocatalytic Alcohol Oxidation

A new catalyst consisting of ionic liquid (IL)‐functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained through 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition support‐enhanced electrocatalytic Pd nanoparticles (Pd@IL(Cl^?)‐CNTs) was successfully fabricated and applied in direct ethanol alkaline fuel cells. The morphology, structure, component and stability of Pd@IL(Cl^?)‐CNTs were systematic characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The new catalyst exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity, better tolerance and electrochemical stability than the Pd nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on CNTs (Pd@CNTs), which was ascribed to the effects of the IL, larger electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), and greater processing performance. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) at various scan rates illustrated that the oxidation behaviors of ethanol at all electrodes were controlled by diffusion processes. The investigation of the different counteranions demonstrated that the performance of the IL‐CNTs hybrid material was profoundly influenced by the subtly varied structures of the IL moiety. All the results indicated that the Pd@IL(Cl^?)‐CNTs catalyst is an efficient anode catalyst, which has potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells and the strategy of IL functionalization of CNTs could be available to prepare other carbonaceous carrier supports to enhance the dispersivity, stability, and catalytic performance of metal NPs as well.     

Gadolinium(III)‐Hydroxy Ladders Trapped in Succinate Frameworks with Optimized Magnetocaloric Effect

Two kinds of inorganic gadolinium(III)‐hydroxy “ladders”, [2×n] and [3×n], were successfully trapped in succinate (suc) coordination polymers, [Gd₂(OH)₂(suc)₂(H₂O)]_n ? 2n H₂O ( 1 ) and [Gd₆(OH)₈(suc)₅(H₂O)₂]_n ? 4n H₂O ( 2 ), respectively. Such coordination polymers could be regarded as alternating inorganic–organic hybrid materials with relatively high density. Magnetic and heat capacity studies reveal a large cryogenic magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in both compounds, namely (ΔH=70 kG) 42.8 J kg^?1 K^?1 for complex 1 and 48.0 J kg^?1 K^?1 for complex 2 . The effect of the high density is evident, which gives very large volumetric MCEs up to 120 and 144 mJ cm^?3 K^?1 for complexes 1 and 2 , respectively.     

Synthesis and Morphology Control of AM‐6 Nanofibers with Tailored ‐V‐O‐V‐ Intermediates

Microporous vanadosilicates with octahedral VO₆ and tetrahedral SiO₄ units, better known as AM‐6, have been hydrothermally synthesized with different morphologies by controlling the Na/K molar ratio of the initial gel mixtures. The morphology of the AM‐6 materials changed from bulky cube to nanofiber aggregates as the Na/K molar ratio decreased from 1.9 to 0.2. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the VO₃^? intermediate species plays an important role in the formation of the nanofiber morphology. The orientation of ‐V‐O‐V‐ chains in nanofiber aggregates was examined by confocal polarized micro‐Raman spectroscopy. It was found that these aggregates are assemblies of short ‐V‐O‐V‐ chains perpendicular to the axis of nanofibers. The obtained AM‐6 nanofibers greatly increase the exposed proportion of V? O terminals, and thus improve the catalytic performance.