TiC-MgO composite: an X-ray transparent and machinable heating element in a multi-anvil high pressure apparatus

ABSTRACT

TiC-MgO composite was developed as a heating element for X-ray study in the multi-anvil high pressure apparatus. We synthesized TiC-MgO blocks (50–70 wt.% of TiC) by compression in a cold isostatic press followed by baking in a gas flow furnace. Heaters of tubular shape were manufactured from the synthesized blocks either by lathe or numerically controlled milling machine. The so-produced heating elements have been proved to generate temperatures up to 2250?K at 10?GPa, condition where classical graphite heaters are not suitable anymore due to graphite-diamond transition. These new heaters have been successfully used for in situ X-ray radiography and diffraction measurements on liquid Fe alloys, exploiting excellent X-ray transparency.     

On the Extreme Oxidation States of Iridium

It has recently been suggested that the oxidation states of Ir run from the putative ?III in the synthesized solid Na₃[Ir(CO)₃] to the well‐documented +IX in the species IrO₄⁺. Furthermore, [Ir(CO)₃]^3? was identified as an 18‐electron species. A closer DFT study now finds support for this picture: The orbitals spanned by the 6s,6p,5d orbitals of the iridium are all occupied. Although some have considerable ligand character, the deviations from 18 e leave the orbital symmetries unchanged. The isoelectronic systems from Os^?IV to Au^?I behave similarly, suggesting further possible species. To paraphrase Richard P. Feynmann “there is plenty of room at the bottom”.     

SAXS and WAXD study of periodical structure for polyacrylonitrile fiber during coagulation

Small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) were adopted to investigate the formation and development of high order structure within polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor during coagulation. The scattering signal came from the microvoids and long period structure was separated reasonably by the analog computation method of decomposition of the one‐dimensional profile. Based on the established methodology, the statistic parameters of long period structure, such as length of the long period structure, crystalline region and amorphous region, were obtained by the analysis of correlation function. The results indicated that during the coagulation, the length of long period of the nascent coagulated fiber was 56.1 nm (meridional direction) and 35.6 nm (equatorial direction), respectively. The evolution of the long period during the coagulation was also discussed by combining WAXD data. With the processing of coagulation, the long period was decreased since the crystallinity increased. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of intermolecular N–H…F and N–H…Cl hydrogen bonding in stabilising hetero- and homodimers in solution

This paper describes the first assessment of intermolecular weak N–H…F and N–H…Cl hydrogen bonding in stabilising hetero- and homodimers in solution. Aromatic amide and urea monomers have been designed and synthesised. The association constants of the heterodimers formed by two complementary monomers and the homodimers formed by self-complementary monomers have been determined by using ¹H titration and dilution experiments. The results show that both N–H…F and N–H…Cl hydrogen bonds are able to stabilise the corresponding dimers to a measurable extent, even though the stability of the dimers is generally low.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Catalytic Properties of a 2D Cobalt(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymer Based on Mixed Ligands

A new Co(II) metal-organic coordination polymer based on flexible bis(imidazole) and aromatic dicarboxylate co-ligands, namely [Co(bix)(nph)]n(H2nph = 3-nitrophthalic acid, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene), has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, TG, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 9.3767(14), b = 10.1451(15), c = 12.1488(17), α = 102.6450(10), β = 108.856(2), γ = 98.807(2)°, V = 1035.3(3)3, Z = 2, C22H17 Co N5O6, Mr = 506.34, Dc = 1.624 g/cm3, μ = 0.882 mm-1 and F(000) = 518. In the complex, the nph2- ligands connect neighbouring cobalt atoms to form binuclear [Co(nph)]2 subunits, which are linked by pairs of bix ligands to form a 2D honeycomb-like(6,3) network. In addition, the compound is further extended into a 3D supramolecular architecture by π···π stacking interactions. Moreover, the luminescence and catalytic properties of the complex are investigated.     

Metal‐Free Dehydrogenative Diels–Alder Reactions of 2‐Methyl‐3‐Alkylindoles with Dienophiles: Rapid Access to Tetrahydrocarbazoles,Carbazoles, and Heteroacenes

An unprecedented strategy for in situ generation of indole‐based ortho‐quinodimethanes (oQDMs) from 2‐methyl‐3‐alkylmethylindoles by either a metal‐free DDQ‐ or BQ‐mediated dehydrogenative process was developed. These oQDMs were trapped by electron‐deficient dienophiles to provide a facile approach to synthetically valuable tetrahydrocarbazoles, carbazoles, and hetereoacenes. The salient features of this transformation include direct C(sp³) H bond functionalizations, readily available starting materials, metal‐free conditions, high efficiency, operational simplicity, and ease of scale‐up.     

Clean and Efficient Synthesis of Pyrazole Derivatives in Aqueous Media

A series of 5‐aryl‐1H‐pyrazole derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of 3‐(dimethylamino)‐1‐arylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one with hydrazine in aqueous media without using any catalyst. This method has the advantages of easier work‐up, mild reaction condition, high yields, and an environmentally benign procedure.     

Colorimetric method for determination of bisphenol A based on aptamer-mediated aggregation of positively charged gold nanoparticles

A sensitive, specific and rapid colorimetric aptasensor for the determination of the plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. It is based on the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that are positively charged due to the modification with cysteamine which is cationic at near-neutral pH values. If aptamers are added to such AuNPs, aggregation occurs due to electrostatic interactions between the negatively-charged aptamers and the positively-charged AuNPs. This results in a color change of the AuNPs from red to blue. If a sample containing BPA is added to the anti-BPA aptamers, the anti-BPA aptamers undergo folding via an induced-fit binding mechanism. This is accompanied by a conformational change, which prevents the aptamer-induced aggregation and color change of AuNPs. The effect was exploited to design a colorimetric assay for BPA. Under optimum conditions, the absorbance ratio of A ₅₂₇/A ₆₈₀ is linearly proportional to the BPA concentration in the range from 35 to 140 ng∙mL⁻¹, with a detection limit of 0.11 ng∙mL⁻¹. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of BPA in spiked tap water and gave recoveries between 91 and 106 %. Data were in full accordance with results obtained from HPLC. This assay is selective, easily performed, and in our perception represents a promising alternative to existing methods for rapid quantification of BPA.

The negatively-charged anti-BPA aptamers can absorb onto the positively-charged cysteamine-capped AuNPs (cysteamine-AuNPs) via electrostatic interactions, which can cause the aggregation of AuNPs accompanied by a red-to-blue color change. In the presence of BPA, the specific binding of BPA to the aptamers induces the conformation changes of anti-BPA aptamers, which can release the aptamers from cysteamine-AuNPs and thus prevent the aggregation and color change of cysteamine-AuNPs.

     

Poly(o-phenylenediamine) nanosphere-conjugated capture antibody immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode for electrochemical immunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen

We report on a new electrochemical immunosensor for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; a model analyte). First, poly(o-phenylenediamine) nanospheres (PPDNSs) were synthesized by using a wet-chemistry method. The nanospheres were utilized as the support for immobilizing horseradish peroxidase-labeled polyclonal rabbit anti-human CEA antibody (HRP-anti-CEA) on a pretreated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. In the presence of target CEA, an antigen-antibody immunocomplex formed on the electrode. This results in a partial inhibition of the active center of HRP and decreases the activity of HRP in terms of H₂O₂ reduction. The performance and factors influencing the performance of the immunoelectrode were studied. Under optimal conditions, the reduction current obtained from the anti-CEA-conjugated HRP (best at a working voltage of −265 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) is proportional to the CEA concentration in the 0.01 to 60 ng mL⁻¹ range, with a detection limit of 3.2 pg mL⁻¹. Non-specific adsorption was not observed. Relative standard deviations for intra-assay and inter-assay are <8.3 % and <9.7 %, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of nine human serum samples, and a good relationship was found between the electrochemical immunoassay and the commercialized ELISA kit for human CEA.

A new electrochemical immunosensor based on poly(o-phenylenediamine) nanospheres was developed for the rapid detection of carcinoembryonic antigen via the inhibition of enzymatic activity.