Making the Nanoworld Comprehensible: Instructional Materials for Schools and Outreach

Journal of Nanoparticle Research -     

Complex amphiphilic networks derived from diamine‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) and benzylic chloride‐functionalized hyperbranched fluoropolymers

Amphiphilic copolymer networks were prepared from hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP*, M_n = 38 kDa, by atom transfer radical‐self condensing vinyl copolymerization) and linear diamine‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (DA‐PEG, M_n = 1,630 Da). Model studies found that the crosslinking mechanism occurred at ambient temperature as a result of reaction between DA‐PEG and the benzylic chlorides of HBFP*. These networks underwent covalent attachment to glass microscope slides derivatized with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, whereupon gel percent studies at various weight percentages of DA‐PEG to HBFP* found that curing could be achieved at lower temperatures and shortened time periods relative to the previously reported parent HBFP–PEG system. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the crosslinked materials gave no evident mass loss up to 250 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry of the complex amphiphilic networks showed a suppressed glass transition temperature, relative to that observed for neat HBFP*, and multiple melting DA‐PEG endotherm(s) near 30 °C. The films possessed a topographically‐complex surface with features that increased in tandem with an increase in the ratio of DA‐PEG to HBFP*, as detected by atomic force microscopy and quantified by increased rms roughness values. Internal reflection infrared imaging revealed a heterogeneous surface composition and confirmed that the domain sizes increased as the weight percent of DA‐PEG increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4782–4794, 2006     

Dynamics and stability of a new class of periodic solutions of the optical parametric oscillator

The stability and dynamics of a new class of periodic solutions is investigated when a degenerate optical parametric oscillator system is forced by an external pumping field with a periodic spatial profile modeled by Jacobi elliptic functions. Both sinusoidal behavior as well as localized hyperbolic (front and pulse) behavior can be considered in this model. The stability and bifurcation behaviors of these transverse electromagnetic structures are studied numerically. The periodic solutions are shown to be stabilized by the nonlinear parametric interaction between the pump and signal fields interacting with the cavity diffraction, attenuation, and periodic external pumping. Specifically, sinusoidal solutions result in robust and stable configurations while well-separated and more localized field structures often undergo bifurcation to new steady-state solutions having the same period as the external forcing. Extensive numerical simulations and studies of the solutions are provided.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Sodium Ruthenates: Na2RuO4 and Na2RuO3

Na₂RuO₄, prepared from Na₂O₂ and RuO₂ via high oxygen pressure synthesis, crystallises monoclinic in space group P2₁/c (a = 10.721(6), b = 7.033(4), c = 10.871(6) Å, β = 119.10(4)°, Z = 8, 2503 unique reflections, R₁ = 0.049). Structure determination from single crystal data shows that the compound consists of infinite chains of RuO₅ trigonal bipyramids connected through their axial vertices. The Na cations connect the pseudohexagonally packed equation/tex2gif-stack-1.gif[RuO₃O_2/2] chains and are coordinated by six or seven oxygen atoms, respectively. The compound exhibits an one‐dimensional spin system with μ = 2.80 μ_B and Θ = —222 K and a three‐dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering below 50 K. Na₂RuO₃ was obtained from Na₂RuO₄ at 850 °C under a flow of argon. The structure was determined from X‐ray powder diffraction. It is closely related to the α‐NaFeO₂ and the Li₂SnO₃ structure types, layered variants of the NaCl type. In Na₂RuO₃ the Na and Ru atoms are partially disordered. This partially disordered state was approximated by a Rietveld refinement of two superimposed structural models (model I: R 3¯ m, a = 3.12360(5), c = 16.0370(4) Å, Z = 2; model II: C2/c, a = 5.4141(4), b = 9.3663(6), c = 10.8481(4) Å, β = 99.636(9)°, Z = 8).     

Spectra of composition operators on the bloch and bergman spaces

Whenϕ is an analytic map of the unit diskU into itself, andX is a Banach space of analytic functions onU, define the composition operatorC _ϕ byC _ϕ (f)=f o ϕ, forf∈X. In this paper we show how to use the Calderón theory of complex interpolation to obtain information on the spectrum ofC _ϕ (under suitable hypotheses onϕ) acting on the Bloch spaceB and BMOA, the space of analytic functions in BMO. To do this we first obtain some results on the essential spectral radius and spectrum ofC _ϕ on the Bergman spacesA ^pand Hardy spacesH ^p,spaces which are connected toB and BMOA by the interpolation relationships [A ¹,B] _t =A ^pand [H ¹,BMOA] _t =H ^pfor 1=p(1−t).     

Self-assembly of different single-chain bolaphospholipids and their miscibility with phospholipids or classical amphiphiles

A variety of bolalipids with a single long alkyl chain and two identical headgroups self-assemble in aqueous solutions into helical entangled nanofibers leading to the formation of a hydrogel. An increase in temperature usually leads to the break-up of the fiber structure into micellar aggregates. In this paper the question is addressed whether bolalipids of different lengths or different headgroup structures can form mixed fibers. Also, the stability of the fiber aggregation of bolalipids in mixtures with phospholipids forming lamellar bilayers is discussed. Here, the question whether single-chain bolalipids can be incorporated into phospholipid bilayers to stabilize bilayer membranes is important, as possibly lipid vesicles used for drug delivery can be improved. Finally, the stability of the fiber aggregate against solubilisation by common surfactants was studied. The paper addresses the question which type of aggregate structure dominates the self-assembly of bipolar and monopolar amphiphiles in aqueous suspension.     

Sulfate‐Selective Recognition by Using Neutral Dipeptide Anion Receptors in Aqueous Solution

The synthesis of six small peptide anion receptors based on thiourea and squaramide recognition moieties is described. These new receptors bind to tetrahedral sulfate anions with remarkable affinity and selectivity in aqueous solution as shown by NMR spectroscopy. Molecular modelling suggests that selectivity is mediated by a hydrogen bond network incorporating the amide backbone protons in a manner similar to that found in the sulfate‐binding protein.     

Enzyme‐Mediated Site‐Specific Bioconjugation of Metal Complexes to Proteins: Sortase‐Mediated Coupling of Copper‐64 to a Single‐Chain Antibody

The enzyme‐mediated site‐specific bioconjugation of a radioactive metal complex to a single‐chain antibody using the transpeptidase sortase A is reported. Cage amine sarcophagine ligands that were designed to function as substrates for the sortase A mediated bioconjugation to antibodies were synthesized and enzymatically conjugated to a single‐chain variable fragment. The antibody fragment scFv_anti‐LIBS targets ligand‐induced binding sites (LIBS) on the glycoprotein receptor GPIIb/IIIa, which is present on activated platelets. The immunoconjugates were radiolabeled with the positron‐emitting isotope ⁶⁴Cu. The new radiolabeled conjugates were shown to bind selectively to activated platelets. The diagnostic potential of the most promising conjugate was demonstrated in an in vivo model of carotid artery thrombosis using positron emission tomography. This approach gives homogeneous products through site‐specific enzyme‐mediated conjugation and should be broadly applicable to other metal complexes and proteins.     

Sample Preparation of Energy Materials for X‐ray Nanotomography with Micromanipulation

X‐ray nanotomography presents an unprecedented opportunity to study energy storage/conversion materials at nanometer scales in three dimensions, with both elemental and chemical sensitivity. A critical step in obtaining high‐quality X‐ray nanotomography data is reliable sample preparation to ensure that the entire sample fits within the field of view of the X‐ray microscope. Although focused‐ion‐beam lift‐out has previously been used for large sample (few to tens of microns) preparation, a difficult undercut and lift‐out procedure results in a time‐consuming sample preparation process. Herein, we propose a much simpler and direct sample preparation method to resolve the issues that block the view of the sample base after milling and during the lift‐out process. This method is applied on a solid‐oxide fuel cell and a lithium‐ion battery electrode, before numerous critical 3D morphological parameters are extracted, which are highly relevant to their electrochemical performance. A broad application of this method for microstructure study with X‐ray nanotomography is discussed and presented.