Ba3Y2B6O15, a novel cubic borate

Single crystals of tribarium diyttrium hexaborate, which crystallized in the cubic system, have been obtained by spontaneous crystallization from a high‐temperature melt using Li₂O–BaO–B₂O₃ as flux. Its structure is composed of isolated [B₂O₅]⁴⁻ groups, irregular BaO₉ polyhedra and regular YO₆ polyhedra which occupy alternate sites running along the [111] direction. Irregular BaO₉ polyhedra and regular YO₆ polyhedra construct a three‐dimensional framework, which is reinforced by [B₂O₅]⁴⁻ groups.     

A Novel Magneto-fluorescent Nano-bioprobe for Cancer Cell Targeting,Imaging and Collection

Silica-coated magnetic polystyrene nanospheres (MPN) containing CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were prepared, and novel anti-EGFR antibodies were conjugated onto these magneto-fluorescent nanocomposites (MPN–QDs–SiO₂) for cancer cell targeting, imaging and collection. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) data showed that the MPN had been successfully coated with QDs and a silica shell, and the nanocomposites obtained with negative charged surfaces were well dispersed. The bioconjugates could be used for specifically labeling and separating cancer cells (MDA-MB-435S, SMMC-7721), but did not recognize and separate the K562 cells because the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was not expressed on the surface. Because the anti-EGFR antibody, which we have developed, could specifically recognize certain cancer cells that highly expressed EGFR on their surface, these nanoscale bioconjugates, synchronously exhibiting fluorescence and magnetism, may be used in novel bioprobes for labeling and collecting rare cancer cells, which may be beneficial for early cancer diagnosis.     

BaAl4Se7: a new infrared nonlinear optical material with a large band gap

The new compound BaAl(4)Se(7) has been synthesized by solid-state reaction. It crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group Pc and adopts a three-dimensional framework built from AlSe(4) tetrahedra and with Ba(2+) cations in the cavities. The material has a large band gap of 3.40(2) eV. It melts congruently at 901 °C and exhibits a second harmonic generation (SHG) response at 1 μm that is about half that of AgGaS(2). From a band structure calculation, BaAl(4)Se(7) is a direct-gap semiconductor with strong hybridization of the Al 3s, Al 3p, and Se 4p orbitals near the Fermi level. The calculated birefractive index is about 0.05 for wavelength longer than 1 μm and major SHG tensor elements are: d(15) = 5.2 pm V(-1) and d(13) = 4.2 pm V(-1).     

A highly efficient TBAF-promoted intramolecular cyclization of gem-dibromoolefins for the synthesis of 2-bromobenzofurans(thiophenes)

A highly efficient tetra-(n-butyl)ammonium fluoride (TBAF)-promoted intramolecular cyclization of gem-dibromoolefins has been developed for the synthesis of 2-bromobenzofused heterocycles. The reaction provides a convenient approach to 2-bromobenzofurans(thiophenes) from the corresponding readily available gem-dibromovinyl substrates without a metal.     

BaGa2MQ6 (M = Si, Ge; Q = S, Se): a new series of promising IR nonlinear optical materials

The four compounds BaGa(2)MQ(6) (M = Si, Ge; Q = S, Se) have been identified as a new series of IR nonlinear optical (NLO) materials and are promising for practical applications. They are isostructural and crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric polar space group R3 of the trigonal system. Their three-dimensional framework is composed of corner-sharing (Ga/M)Q(4) (M = Si, Ge; Q = S, Se) tetrahedra with Ba(2+) cations in the cavities. The polar alignment of one (Ga/M)-Q2 bond for each (Ga/M)Q(4) tetrahedra along the c direction is conducive to generating a large NLO response, which was confirmed by powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) using a 2090 nm laser as fundamental wavelength. The SHG signal intensities of the two sulfides were close to that of AgGaS(2) and those for the two selenides were similar as that of AgGaSe(2). The large band gaps of 3.75(2) eV, 3.23(2) eV, 2.88(2) eV, and 2.22 (2) eV for BaGa(2)SiS(6), BaGa(2)GeS(6), BaGa(2)SiSe(6), and BaGa(2)GeSe(6), respectively, will be very helpful to increase the laser damage threshold. Moreover, all the four BaGa(2)MQ(6) (M = Si, Ge; Q = S, Se) compounds exhibit congruent-melting behavior, which indicates that bulk crystals needed for practical applications can be obtained by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method. The calculated birefringence indicates that these materials may be phase-matchable in the IR region and the calculated SHG coefficients agree with the experimental observations. According to our preliminary study, the BaGa(2)MQ(6) compounds represent a new series of promising IR nonlinear optical (NLO) materials which do not belong to the traditional chalcopyrite-type materials such as AgGaQ2 (Q = S, Se) and ZnGeP(2).     

Ba2AgInS4 and Ba4MGa5Se12 (M = Ag, Li): syntheses, structures, and optical properties

The first two members in alkaline-earth/group XI/group XIII/chalcogen system, namely Ba(2)AgInS(4) and Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12), were synthesized along with a Li analogue Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12). Ba(2)AgInS(4) crystallizes in space group P2(1)/c. It contains [AgInS(4)](4-) layers built from AgS(3) triangles and InS(4) tetrahedra with Ba(2+) cations inserted between the layers. Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12) and Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12) adopt two closely-related structure types in space group P4[combining macron]2(1)c with structural difference originating from the different positions of Ag and Li in them. The three-dimensional framework in Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12) is composed of GaSe(4) tetrahedra with the Ba and Ag atoms occupying the large and small channels respectively, whereas that in Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12) is built from LiSe(4) and GaSe(4) tetrahedra with channels to accommodate the Ba atoms. As deduced from the diffuse reflectance spectra measurement, the optical band gaps were 2.32 (2) eV, 2.52 (2) eV, and 2.65 (2) eV for Ba(2)AgInS(4), Ba(4)AgGa(5)Se(12), and Ba(4)LiGa(5)Se(12), respectively.     

ChemInform Abstract: Syntheses,Structures, Physical Properties,and Electronic Structures of Ba2MLnTe5 (M: Ga and Ln: Sm,Gd, Dy,Er, Y; M: In and Ln: Ce,Nd, Sm,Gd, Dy,Er, Y).

The title compounds are synthesized by solid state reactions of BaTe, Ga₂Te₃ or In₂Te₃, Ln, and Te (1273—1323 K, 20—48 h) and characterized by single crystal XRD, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, second harmonic generation measurements, and DFT electronic structure calculations.     

A New Mixed Halide, Cs(2)HgI(2)Cl(2): Molecular Engineering for a New Nonlinear Optical Material in the Infrared Region

A new mixed halide, Cs(2)HgI(2)Cl(2), which contains the highly polar tetrahedron of anion (HgI(2)Cl(2))(2-), has been designed and synthesized by reaction in solution. In its single crystal, the isolated (HgCl(2)I(2))(2-) groups are arranged to form chains. The chains are then further connected into a three-dimensional framework through the Cs atoms that occupy the empty spaces surrounded by halide atoms. All the polar (HgCl(2)I(2))(2-) groups align in such a way that gives a net polarization, leading it to show a phase matchable second harmonic generation (SHG) effect as strong as that of KH(2)PO(4) (KDP) based on the powder SHG measurement. It also displays excellent transparency in the range of 0.4-41 μm with relatively high thermal stability. A preliminary measurement indicates that its laser-induced damage threshold is about 83 MW/cm(2), about twice that of AgGaS(2). This study demonstrates that Cs(2)HgI(2)Cl(2) is a promising nonlinear optical material in the infrared region.     

Modeling of progressive delamination in a thin film driven by diffusion-induced stresses

A semi-analytical method based on the cohesive model has been developed to investigate the progressive growth of interface delamination in an axisymmetric thin film electrode driven by diffusion-induced stresses under the assumption that the electrode remains elastic during the Li-ion diffusion process. The evolutions of the cohesive zone and debonding zone with respect to charging time have been predicted. The cohesive zone propagates in an accelerating manner and the debonding zone advances in a slowing down manner. The key parameters that control the interfacial stresses and delamination have been identified from the obtained governing equations. And according to the discussions on the key parameters, design insights into the geometry, charging velocity and material properties of the electrode have been provided.     

Structural and Binding Effects of Chemical Modifications on Thrombin Binding Aptamer (TBA)

The thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) is a promising nucleic acid-based anticoagulant. We studied the effects of chemical modifications, such as dendrimer Trebler and NHS carboxy group, on TBA with respect to its structures and thrombin binding affinity. The two dendrimer modifications were incorporated into the TBA at the 5′ end and the NHS carboxy group was added into the thymine residues in the thrombin binding site of the TBA G-quadruplex (at T4, T13 and both T4/T13) using solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy confirmed that all of these modified TBA variants fold into a stable G-quadruplex. The binding affinity of TBA variants with thrombin was measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The binding patterns and equilibrium dissociation constants (K_D) of the modified TBAs are very similar to that of the native TBA. Molecular dynamics simulations studies indicate that the additional interactions or stability enhancement introduced by the modifications are minimized either by the disruption of TBA–thrombin interactions or destabilization elsewhere in the aptamer, providing a rational explanation for our experimental data. Overall, this study identifies potential positions on the TBA that can be modified without adversely affecting its structure and thrombin binding preference, which could be useful in the design and development of more functional TBA analogues.