Sonochemical synthesis of mass single-crystal PbS nanobelts

Based on sonochemical technique, large-scale PbS nanobelts are successfully synthesized in the mixed solution of PbCl₂ and Na₂S₂O₃. These nanobelts are characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electronic diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and high-resolution TEM. The as-synthesized PbS nanobelts have width of about 80 nm, length up to several millimeters, and width-to-thickness ratio of about 5. In addition, the growth mechanism of PbS nanobelts is suggested.     

Direct electrochemical detection of glucose in human plasma on capillary electrophoresis microchips

We developed an electrochemical detector on a hybrid chip for the determination of glucose in human plasma. The microchip system described in this paper consists of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) layer containing separation and injection channels and an electrode plate. The copper microelectrode is fabricated by selective electroless deposition. The fabrication of the decoupler is performed by platinum electrochemical deposition on the metal film formed by electroless deposition. Factors influencing the performance, including detection potential, separation field strength, and buffer concentration, were studied. The electrodes exhibited good stability and durability in the analytical procedures. Under optimized detection conditions, glucose responded linearly from 10 microM to 1 mM. Finally, glucose in human plasma from three healthy individuals and two diabetics was successfully determined, giving a good prospect for a new clinical diagnostic instrument.     

Black fungus derived aerogel with double faced properties

Black fungus aerogel (BFA) exhibited interesting double-faced properties. Weexplored the diverse properties of each side of the black fungus in three aspects:water contact angle measurements, liquid selective absorption capacity and air pollutant adsorption abilities.     

Solid-state synthesis of a conducting polythiophene via an unprecedented heterocyclic coupling reaction

Prolonged storage ( approximately 2 years) or gentle heating (50-80 degrees C) of crystalline 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DBEDOT) affords a highly conducting, bromine-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), as confirmed by solid-state NMR, FTIR, CV, and vis-NIR spectroscopies. The novel solid-state polymerization (SSP) does not occur for 2,5-dichloro-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DCEDOT), and requires a much higher temperature (>130 degrees C) for 2,5-diiodo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DIEDOT). X-ray structural analysis of the above dihalothiophenes reveals short Hal.Hal distances between adjacent molecules in DBEDOT and DIEDOT, but not in DCEDOT. The polymerization may also occur in the melt but is significantly slower and leads to poorly conductive material. Detailed studies of the reaction were performed using ESR, DSC, microscopy, and gravimetric analyses. SSP starts on crystal defect sites; it is exothermic by 14 kcal/mol and requires activation energy of approximately 26 kcal/mol (for DBEDOT). The temperature dependence of the conductivity of SSP-PEDOT (sigma(rt) = 20-80 S/cm) reveals a slight thermal activation. It can be further increased by a factor of 2 by doping with iodine. Using this approach, thin films of PEDOT with conductivity as high as 20 S/cm were fabricated on insulating flexible plastic surfaces.     

The importance of temperature and viscosity effects for surfactant adsorption measurements made using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

The measurement of adsorbed surfactant is important to fields such as corrosion inhibition, metal cleaning, and separation technologies. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) is an important tool that can be used to measure adsorbed surfactant. However, such measurements are subject to significant temperature and viscosity effects that must be appropriately considered. This paper discusses the effect of temperature and viscosity on EQCM measurements in solution environments and the ability of the EQCM to measure surfactant adsorption.     

Antioxidative effects of flavonols and their glycosides against the free-radical-induced peroxidation of linoleic acid in solution and in micelles

The antioxidative effect of flavonols and their glycosides against the peroxidation of linoleic acid has been studied in homogeneous solution (tBuOH/H(2)O, 3:2) and in sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide micelles. The peroxidation was initiated thermally by the water-soluble initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride, and the reaction kinetics were studied by monitoring the formation of linoleic acid hydroperoxides. The synergistic antioxidant effect of the flavonols with alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) was also studied by following the decay kinetics of alpha-tocopherol and the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical. Kinetic analysis of the antioxidative process demonstrates that the flavonols are effective antioxidants in solution and in micelles, either alone or in combination with alpha-tocopherol. The antioxidative action involves trapping the initiating radicals in solution or in the bulk-water phase of the micelles, trapping the propagating lipid peroxyl radicals on the surface of the micelles, and regenerating alpha-tocopherol by reducing the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical. It was found that the antioxidant activity of the flavonols and their glycosides depends significantly on the position and number of the hydroxy groups, the oxidation potential of the molecule, and the reaction medium. The flavonols bearing ortho-dihydroxy groups possess significantly higher antioxidative activity than those without such functionalities, and the glycosides are less active than their parent aglycones. The activity of the flavonols is higher in micelles than in solution, while the activity of alpha-tocopherol is lower in micelles than in solution. This is because the predominant factor for controlling the activity is the hydrogen-bonding interaction of the antioxidant with the micellar surface in the case of hydrophilic flavonols, while it is the inter- and intramicellar diffusion in the case of lipophilic alpha-tocopherol.     

草酸在α-Fe_2O_3上吸附的磁性研究

α—Fe_2O_3是多种工业催化剂的主要成分,有反铁磁结构的特殊性.张和Matijevie的实验曾经发现,草酸在均匀α-Fe_2O_3胶体粒子上的吸附随温度的升高而增加,这可能暗示着草酸从物理吸附向化学吸附的过渡.考虑到磁学测量需要更为明显的表面效应,我们制备了较小的α-Fe_2O_3粒子,并测定其吸附草酸前后的磁化率变化。     

Lithium isotope separation by chemical exchange with polymer-bound azacrown compounds

The chromatographic separation of lithium isotopes was investigated by chemical exchange with the recently synthesized polymer-bound dibenzo pyridino diamide azacrown (DBPDA) and reduced dibenzo pyridino diamide azacrown (RDBPDA). Column chromatography was employed for the determination of the effect of solvents and ligand conformation on the separation coefficients. The maximum separation coefficients, , for the DBPDA and RDBPDA at 20.0±0.02°C with acetonitrile as eluent, were found to be 0.034±0.002 and 0.035±0.002, respectively. The isotope separation coefficient and adsorption capability of the lithium ion on the DBPDA and RDBPDA were only slightly dependent on ligand structure, but strongly dependent on the solvent. DBPDA and RDBPDA appeared to have almost the same value for the isotope separation coefficient of lithium.     

Application of Et3NHCl-AlCl3 Ionic Liquid as an Initiator in Cationic Copolymerization of 1, 3-Pentadiene with Styrene

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as advanced, technological solvents can be designed to fit a particular application. They used as green “media and/or catalysts” for chemical synthesis have been extensively reviewed recently. RTILs1 not only show …     

Facile synthesis of substituted dihydro-1,4-dithiins and -1,4-dithiepins from α-oxo ketene cyclic dithioacetals

A novel and facile synthesis of substituted 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dithiins and 6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4-dithiepins based on the reactions of α-bromo/hydroxy ketones with α-oxo ketene cyclic dithioacetals has been developed. A general mechanism for the reactions is proposed.