Tunable photoluminescence of NaYF4:Eu nanocrystals by Sr codoping

NaYF₄:Eu/Sr nanocrystals were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Tunable photoluminescence of the NaYF₄:Eu nanocrystals was successfully achieved by codoping with Sr²⁺ ions. With increasing Sr²⁺ concentration, not only the X-ray diffraction peaks of the nanocrystals become broader, but also the positions of them shift toward larger lattice parameters. Eu³⁺ and Eu²⁺ have been found to coexist in an NaYF₄:Eu/Sr. The Eu³⁺/Eu²⁺ emission intensity ratio changed with the Sr²⁺ concentration and excitation wavelength. More interestingly, the spectral configurations of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ also varied with the excitation wavelength, indicating that the nanocrystals have multiple luminescence centers or emitting states.     

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for oxalate based on alkyne-conjugated carboxamidoquinolines in aqueous solution and imaging in living cells

A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for oxalic acid was designed and synthesized, based on the zinc-containing [DAQZ@2Zn(2+)] complex. It shows highly selective "on-off" fluorescence changes with a more than 20 nm blue shift in wavelength for oxalic acids in aqueous solution. Moreover, it can fluorescently respond to oxalic acid in living cells.     

Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Cd and Pb at a bismuth glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion, poly(2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

A simple, cheap, and nonpolluting method was developed for the cloud point extraction of gold (Au) and palladium (Pd). It is based on the complexation reaction of Au and Pd with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolone (PMBP) and micelle mediated extraction of the complex using the non-ionic surfactant poly(ethylene glycol) mono-p-nonylphenyl ether (PONPE 7.5). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the enrichment factors are 16 and 17 for Au and Pd, respectively, for 15?mL of preconcentrated solution. The limits of detection are 3.8???g?L^?1 and 1.8???g?L^?1 for Au and Pd, respectively. The relative standard deviations are 1.4% for Au and 0.6% for Pd (n?=?11). The method was successfully applied to the determination of Au and Pd in certified reference materials and mine samples.

The structural modeling of EF-hand motifs in parvalbumin

Parvalbumin (Parv) is a typical protein with EF-hand motifs that play an important role in many physiological processes. We present a novel free energy to model the skeletal C\(_\alpha \) chain of the protein from the basic principle of mathematics and physics. Starting from the crystal structure of Parv (PDB code 2PVB), we first analyze the profile of the C\(_\alpha \) bond and torsion angles over the segment that contains the secondary structures. Then the parameters in the energy function are evaluated for the helix ABCD fragment that contains two EF-hand domains in Parv. Meanwhile an eight-soliton configuration at the energy minimum is constructed to model the conformation of ABCD fragment. The deviation of the conformation constructed from the model away from the crystal structure is as small as 1.28 Å. The structural modeling stems from the physical energy, which is a benefit relative to the statistics-based or knowledge-based technologies.     

Computational Screening of 3 d Transition Metal Atoms Anchored on Defective Graphene for Efficient Electrocatalytic N2 Fixation

The synthesis of ammonia (NH₃) through the electrochemical reduction of molecular nitrogen (N₂) is a promising strategy for significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional industrial processes. Herein, we report the design of a series of monovacancy and divacancy defective graphenes decorated with single 3d transition metal atoms (TM@MVG and TM@DVG; TM=Sc−Zn) as electrocatalysts for the nitrogen-reduction reaction (NRR) aided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing energies for N₂ adsorption as well as the free energies associated with *N₂ activation and *N₂H formation, we successfully identified V@MVG, with the lowest potential of −0.63 V, to be an effective catalytic substrate for the NRR in an enzymatic mechanism. Electronic properties, including Bader charges, charge density differences, partial densities of states, and crystal orbital Hamilton populations, are further analyzed in detail. We believe that these results help to explain recent observations in this field and provide guidance for the exploration of efficient electrocatalysts for the NRR.     

Synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanosize Particles by Differential Microemulsion Polymerization

Poly(methyl methacrylate) nanosize particles were synthesized by a differential microemulsion polymerization process. Sodium dodecylsulfate and ammonium persulfate were used as the surfactant and initiator, respectively. The effects of reaction conditions on the particle size have been investigated. A particle size of less than 20 nm in diameter has been achieved with surfactant/monomer and surfactant/water weight ratios of 1:18 and 1:120, i.e. much milder conditions than those previously reported in the literature.

TEM image of nanoparticles prepared via differential microemulsion polymerization.     

Cell detection based on protein array using modified glass slides

A protein array for cell detection was fabricated by spotting different antibodies on modified glass slides. Glass slides were modified to allow antibodies to be immobilized on it and to selectively bind antigens. Antibodies were specially selected with the cells to be detected as targets, which permitted target cells in samples to bind specifically to the array with little nonspecific binding. Results can be obtained by directly putting the samples onto the array for 1 h or a little longer to let the cells specifically interact with the antibodies. After washing the unbound samples away, images were observed with a microscope and captured with a CCD camera. The assessment of antibody-cell binding was evaluated by capturing red blood cells (RBCs) in human blood with blood group antibodies (anti-A and anti-B). Blood group antibodies were spotted on the modified glass slide and kept at 4<.deg> degrees C overnight for immobilization. Human blood samples diluted to different concentrations were used to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the method.     

Complexation Properties and Synthesis of 1,2-Bis(2,2'-bipyridinyl)ethylene and 1,2-Bis(2,2' -bipyridinyl)ethane Ligands with Cu(I)

l,2-Bis(2,2'-bipyridinyl)ethylene(1) ligand was synthesized by Wittig-Horner reaction and 1, 2-Bis(2, 2'-bipyridinyl)ethane(2) ligand(which can be obtained via another route ) was prepared by hydrogenation of (1). The formation of complexes of (1) and (2) with copper (I) has been studied. The influence of the different bridge chains (CH =CH, CH2CH2) on complexation is discussed on the basis of 1H NMR spectra. Keywords Dipyridine aldehyde, Dipyridine derivative, Copper complex     

Spectrophotometric determination of microamounts of scandium with o-chlorophenylfluorone and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

The reaction of scandium(III) with o-chlorophenylfluorone (o-CIPF) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) has been studied. In an acetate buffer at pH 4.4, a red-purple complex is obtained, with maximum absorption at 569 nm and a molar absorptivity of 1.31 x 10(5)1.mole(-1).cm(-1). The composition of the complex is found to be 1:2:2 Sc-o-CIPF-CTMAB. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0-12 mug/25 ml scandium. The proposed method has been used for determination of trace scandium in tungsten ores after its prior separation by solvent extraction.