Ion-exchange synthesis of a micro/mesoporous Zn2GeO4 photocatalyst at room temperature for photoreduction of CO2

Micro/mesoporous Zn(2)GeO(4) with crystalline pore-walls was successfully synthesized via a simple ion exchange method at room temperature. This structure showed enhanced activity in photoreduction of CO(2) in comparison with Zn(2)GeO(4) prepared by a solid state reaction.     

Large-scale synthesis of ultrathin hexagonal tin disulfide nanosheets with highly reversible lithium storage

Ultrathin hexagonal SnS(2) nanosheets are synthesized via a simple hydrothermal reaction. The nanosheets have been applied as an anode for lithium-ion battery, which shows highly reversible capacity and good cycling stability with excellent capacity retention of 96% after 50 cycles.     

Determination of DNA based on localized surface plasmon resonance light scattering using unmodified gold bipyramids

The DNA was determined based on resonance light scattering (RLS) spectrometry and the localized surface plasmon resonance. The gold bipyramids were used as the probes and synthesized by a seed-mediated method. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was used as stabilizing agent. DNA can be bound to the gold bipyramids due to electrostatic interaction and aggregates, which results in a strong enhancement of the RLS intensity. Under the optimal conditions, the intensity of RLS is directly proportional to the concentration of DNA in the range from 0.1 to 2.0 μg mL(-1).     

Determination of the sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Based on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (mesna) was determined using unmodified gold colloid as the probe. The Raman scattering intensity was obviously enhanced in the presence of sodium chloride. The influence of experimental parameters, such as incubation time, sodium chloride concentration and pH value on SERS performance was examined. Under the optimum conditions, the SERS intensity is proportional to the concentration of mesna in the range of 9.0×10(-8) to 9.0×10(-7) mol/L and detection limit (S/N=3) is 1.16×10(-8) mol/L. The corresponding correlation coefficient of the linear equation is 0.996, which indicates that there is a good linear relationship between SERS intensity and mesna concentration. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method is a viable method for determination of mesna. The real samples were analyzed and the results obtained were satisfactory.     

Ternary phase diagrams of DNTF and TNAZ and their eutectics

The eutectic ternary phase diagrams of some typical volatilizable energetic materials have been investigated by high pressure differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC). The ternary H–X phase diagrams for TNT/TNAZ/DNTF (TTD) and TNAZ/DNTF/RDX (TDR) systems were constructed by the correlation of the apparent fusion heat with the composition (H–X method). And, the ternary T–X phase diagrams (the temperature dependence on composition) for the two ternary systems were constructed by calculating from the data of the five T–X binary phase diagrams. The eutectic compositions (mol%) of TTD and TDR ternary systems were obtained to be 52.3/27.3/20.4 (H–X method), 53.2/25.8/21.0 (T–X method) and 54.9/39.6/5.5 (H–X method), 55.1/42.2/2.7 (T–X method), respectively. The eutectic temperatures of the ternary systems were obtained by PDSC determination and T–X method calculation to be 76.5 and 76.7 °C, 47.5 and 50.2 °C, respectively. It is shown that the results obtained by two methods are in agreement and the error in measuring or calculating eutectic compositions and temperatures for the two ternary systems are within allowable ranges of ±3 mol% and ±3 °C, respectively. Moreover, by means of constructing two ternary H–X phase diagrams with different fixed composition of a component and comparing the apparent fusion heat of eutectics with calculated one, the results obtained from H–X method for TTD system were proved. The results showed that the gasification or volatilization of easy volatile materials could be efficiently restrained by high pressure atmosphere, and the perfectly and ideally H–X ternary phase diagrams can be constructed. In comparison with T–X method, H–X method has as a virtue of being quick and simple, especially on constructing ternary phase diagram.     

RuCl₃·3H₂O catalyzed reactions: facile synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes under mild conditions

RuCl?·3H?O was found to be an effective catalyst for reactions of indoles, 2-methylthiophene, and 2-methylfuran with aldehydes to afford the corresponding bis(indolyl)methanes, bis(thienyl)methanes, and bis(fur-2-yl)methanes in moderate to excellent yields. Experimental results indicated that mono(indolyl)methanol is not the reaction intermediate under these reaction conditions.     

A tunable single-component warm white-light Sr3Y(PO4)3:Eu2+,Mn2+ phosphor for white-light emitting diodes

The photoluminescence properties and energy transfer of the Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) co-doped Sr(3)Y(PO(4))(3) phosphors are investigated in detail. Two main emission bands attributed to the Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) ions are observed under UV light excitation via an efficient energy transfer process. When the Eu(2+) doping content is fixed, the emission chromaticity can be varied by simply adjusting the content of Mn(2+). The study of the behavior as a function of doping concentration indicates that the warm white-light can be obtained in a single host lattice. Furthermore, the analysis of the fluorescence decay curves based on the Inokuti-Hirayama theoretical model reveals that the dipole-quadrupole interaction is mainly responsible for the energy transfer mechanism from the Eu(2+) to Mn(2+) ions in the Sr(3)Y(PO(4))(3) phosphor. The developed phosphor exhibits a strong absorption in UV spectral region and white-light emission which may find utility as a single-component white-light-emitting UV-convertible phosphor in white LED devices.     

Role of surface ligands in optical properties of colloidal CdSe/CdS quantum dots

In order to study the role of surface ligands in determining optical properties of colloidal quantum dots (QDs), we have selectively fabricated and studied CdSe/CdS core-shell QDs with strongly confined electron and hole states attached with commonly used surface ligands. Optical properties, viz. absorption and fluorescence of these QDs, are characterized from which salient changes have been observed for different ligand substitutions which, through theoretical analysis, can be associated with electronic structure properties of the QD-ligand composite systems, in particular localization of wave functions of electrons and holes in the QDs and the band matching of the HOMO-LUMO gap of the ligands. The findings can be utilized to facilitate the understanding and optimization of properties of QD biomarkers with functionalizing surface ligands for targeting cellular objects.     

Ring-shaped neuronal networks: a platform to study persistent activity

Persistent activity in the brain is involved in working memory and motor planning. The ability of the brain to hold information 'online' long after an initiating stimulus is a hallmark of brain areas such as the prefrontal cortex. Recurrent network loops such as the thalamocortical loop and reciprocal loops in the cortex are potential substrates that can support such activity. However, native brain circuitry makes it difficult to study mechanisms underlying such persistent activity. Here we propose a platform to study synaptic mechanisms of such persistent activity by constraining neuronal networks to a recurrent loop like geometry. Using a polymer stamping technique, adhesive proteins are transferred onto glass substrates in a precise ring shape. Primary rat hippocampal cultures were capable of forming ring-shaped networks containing 40-60 neurons. Calcium imaging of these networks show evoked persistent activity in an all-or-none manner. Blocking inhibition with bicuculline methaiodide (BMI) leads to an increase in the duration of persistent activity. These persistent phases were abolished by blockade of asynchronous neurotransmitter release by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA-AM).