Spatially Resolved Covalent Functionalization Patterns on Graphene

Spatially resolved functionalization of 2D materials is highly demanded but very challenging to achieve. The chemical patterning is typically tackled by preventing contact between the reagent and material, which brings various accompanying challenges. Photochemical transformation on the other hand inherently provides remote high spatiotemporal resolution using the cleanest reagent—a photon. Herein, we combine two competing reactions on a graphene substrate to create functionalization patterns on a micrometer scale via the Mitsunobu reaction. The mild reaction conditions allow introduction of covalently dynamic linkages, which can serve as reversible labels for surface‐ or graphene‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy characterization of the patterns prepared. The proposed methodology thus provides a pathway for local introduction of arbitrary functional groups on graphene.     

An air‐assisted flow‐gating interface for capillary electrophoresis

A new kind of flow gating interface (FGI) has been designed for online connection of CE with flow‐through analytical techniques. The sample is injected into the separation capillary from a space from which the BGE was forced out by compressed air. A drop of sample solution with a volume of 75 nL is formed between the outlet of the delivery capillary supplying the solution from the flow‐through apparatus and the entrance to the CE capillary; the sample is hydrodynamically injected into the CE capillary from this drop. The sample is not mixed with the surrounding BGE solution during injection. The functioning of the proposed FGI is fully automated and the individual steps of the injection process are controlled by a computer. The injection sequence lasts several seconds and thus permits performance of rapid sequential analyses of the collected sample. FGI was tested for the separation of equimolar 50 μM mixture of the inorganic cations K⁺, Ba²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Li⁺ in 50 mM acetic acid/20 mM Tris (pH 4.5) as BGE. The obtained RSD values for the migration times varied in the range 0.7–1.0% and the values for the peak area were 0.7–1.4%; RSD were determined for ten repeated measurements.     

Rapid speciation of Se(IV) and Se(VI) by flow injection–capillary electrophoresis system with contactless conductivity detection

A flow injection–capillary electrophoresis system with contactless conductivity detection and hydrostatic-pressure-generated flow was used for the fast and sensitive speciation of Se(IV) and Se(VI). The sample throughput was 25 samples per hour using a background electrolyte solution containing 8.75 mM l-histidine (His) adjusted to pH 4.00 with acetic acid. The repeatability of peak areas (n=8) was better than 1.41% and the limits of detection were 190 g L^–1 and 7.5 g L^–1 for Se(IV) and Se(VI), respectively. The interference from carbonate, typically present in water samples, was eliminated by using a low-pH electrolyte in which carbonate is uncharged and migrates at the EOF front. The method was applied to the analysis of Se(IV) and Se(VI) in soil samples that were spiked with both selenium species and the results for recovery of both selenium species were in good agreement with their introduced concentrations.     

Atomic Force Microscopy Analysis of Statistical Roughness of GaAs Surfaces Originated by Thermal Oxidation

We have determined the important statistical quantities of the rough boundary between a GaAs single crystal and its oxide film formed by thermal oxidation. Thermal oxidation of the GaAs surfaces was performed at the temperature of 500°C. Using mathematical procedures developed for treating AFM data consisting of a family of the values of the heights of the irregularities of this roughness the values of the important statistical quantities of roughness were determined for 11 samples of the GaAs surfaces created by dissolution of the thermal oxide films originated during thermal oxidation of the smooth GaAs samples (the times of oxidation of these 11 samples were within interval of 20min–8 hours). From the AFM analysis of the roughness of GaAs surfaces it was found that the roughnening of these surfaces was the most pronounced for shorter oxidation times, i.e. for times smaller than about 2 hours.     

Solvent-mediated folding of a doubly charged anion

The microsolvation of the suberate dianion, -O2C(CH2)6CO2-, with two separate charge centers was studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation one solvent molecule at a time for up to 20 waters. It is shown that the two negative charges are solvated in the linear suberate alternately. As the solvent number increases, the negative charges are screened and a conformation change occurs at 16 waters, where the cooperative hydrogen bonding of water is large enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion and pull the two negative charges closer through a water bridge. This conformation change, revealed both from the experiment and from the simulation, is a manifestation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic forces at the molecular level.     

Capillary ion chromatography

This review summarizes progress in capillary ion chromatography. Theoretical aspects and practical limitations of packed and open tubular capillary columns are considered. Applications of packed and open tubular capillary IC are described. Emerging technologies such chip-scale IC and the use of monolithic columns are discussed.     

A simple geometrical model for emulsifier free polymer colloid formation

In this paper we propose a simple model for the formation of monodisperse polymer colloids, which provides a convenient set of synthetic parameters for given bead diameters. We provide experimental data in support of this model.     

Artificial neural network modification of simulation-based fitting: application to a protein-lipid system

Simulation-based fitting has been applied to data analysis and parameter determination of complex experimental systems in many areas of chemistry and biophysics. However, this method is limited because of the time costs of the calculations. In this paper it is proposed to approximate and substitute a simulation model by an artificial neural network during the fitting procedure. Such a substitution significantly speeds up the parameter determination. This approach is tested on a model of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) within a system of site-directed fluorescence labeled M13 major coat protein mutants incorporated into a lipid bilayer. It is demonstrated that in our case the application of a trained artificial neural network for the substitution of the simulation model results in a significant gain in computing time by a factor of 5 x 10(4). Moreover, an artificial neural network produces a smooth approximation of the noisy results of a stochastic simulation.     

The immunosensors for measurement of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was evaluated for the direct determination of herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Specific antibody against 2,4-D was immobilised onto different gold electrodes. Several methods of antibody immobilisation by covalent linkage to modified surface were studied. Self-assembled monolayers formed using thiocompounds as cystamine, 4-aminothiophenol (ATPh), 3,3'-dithiopropionic acid di-(N-succinimidyl ester) (DTSP) and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) were chosen for the sensing surface activation. Three different sensor types were tested: screen-printed disc and finger-like structures and interdigitated array (IDA) electrodes produced by lithography. The measurements were carried out in a stationary arrangement, and the reaction between hapten and the immobilised antibody was observed online. Changes of impedance parameters were evaluated, and the best immobilisation technique (using 4-aminothiophenol) was chosen for further measurements. Impedance changes due to immunocomplex formation were evaluated, and the possibility of direct monitoring of 2,4-D binding to the antibody was demonstrated at a fixed frequency. For the strip sensor, the calibration curves were constructed in concentration range from 45 nmol l(-1) to 0.45 mmol l(-1) of 2,4-D.