Magnetic Anisotropic Particles: Toward Remotely Actuated Applications

The latest breakthroughs in the synthetic preparation of nanomaterials have led to an expanding library of novel, complex and shape controlled structures with unique characteristics. Anisotropic Janus particles (JPs) are asymmetrical and are able to endow diverse chemical and physical characteristics with directionality within a single particle. They are typically distributed into three classes, viz polymeric, inorganic and polymeric‐inorganic and is made in a variation of morphologies including spherical, mushroom, snowman shaped, rod or cylindrical. Herein, we focus on JPs with a magnetic component, with emphasis on their fabrication, unique characteristics and recent applications.     

Realization of Tip Tilting By 8-Step Line Tilting

By direct calculation of rotation matrices of SO(3), we show how certainspecific sequence of eight consecutive rotations of digital angles can yielda tilting of a facet mirror. We also design a detailed program specificallyto tilt an array of mirrors from planar orientation to the required focusingorientation. We describe how to use the 8-step to realize the focusing ofthe mirror array. We have found, in our designed program, an importantfeature of row-sharing during the rotations for the columns and similarlythe column-sharing during the rotations for the row. This feature can save alot of operating time during the actual realization of the mechanicalmovements.     

Biodeposited Pd/Au bimetallic nanoparticles as novel Suzuki catalysts

The use of two nanoparticulate palladium based catalysts in the Suzuki reaction is described. One monometallic (Pd) and one bimetallic (Pd/Au) catalyst were prepared by the environmentally benign method of bioreductive precipitation by Shewanella oneidensis. Both catalysts successfully mediated the Suzuki coupling, however, the Au doped catalyst was shown to deliver more reproducible results with a broader reaction scope.     

若干1，1，2，2-四乙酰基乙烷阴离子(TAE2-)桥联的联吡啶双核铜配合物的合成，结构和磁性

合成了2个以1, 1, 2, 2-四乙酰基乙烷阴离子(TAE^2-)为桥联的双核铜配合物［(bipyCu)(bipyCuH₂O)TAE］(ClO₄)₂·2H₂O(Ⅰ)和(bipyCu)₂TAE(PF₆)₂·3H₂O(Ⅱ)及1个多核铜配合物［CuTAE·2H₂O］_n(Ⅲ)     

Gelation of "catanionic" vesicles by hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes

The gelation of mixed cationic/anionic surfactant vesicles of sodium dodecyl sulfate/didodecyldimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate/cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate by hydrophobically modified sodium polyacrylate is studied rheologically. When the vesicles are cationically charged, mixtures with this anionic polyelectrolyte form precipitates. When the vesicles are anionically charged, however, these mixtures display a progression from a Maxwell fluid to a critical gel to a solidlike gel with increasing vesicle and/or polyelectrolyte concentration. Consideration of the viscous behavior with increasing vesicle and polymer volume fraction indicates that the gel network is formed by the bridging of the hydrophobically modified polymer between vesicles. The similarity between the gelation results for the two anionic systems suggests the results can be generalized to other similarly charged mixtures.     

From Symmetry Breaking to Unraveling the Origin of the Chirality of Ligated Au13Cu2 Nanoclusters

A general method, using mixed ligands (here diphosphines and thiolates) is devised to turn an achiral metal cluster, Au₁₃Cu₂, into an enantiomeric pair by breaking (lowering) the overall molecular symmetry with the ligands. Using an achiral diphosphine, a racemic [Au₁₃Cu₂(DPPP)₃(SPy)₆]⁺ was prepared which crystallizes in centrosymmetric space groups. Using chiral diphosphines, enantioselective synthesis of an optically pure, enantiomeric pair of [Au₁₃Cu₂((2r,4r)/(2s,4s)‐BDPP)₃(SPy)₆]⁺ was achieved in one pot. Their circular dichroism (CD) spectra give perfect mirror images in the range of 250–500 nm with maximum anisotropy factors of 1.2×10^?3. DFT calculations provided good correlations with the observed CD spectra of the enantiomers and, more importantly, revealed the origin of the chirality. Racemization studies show high stability (no racemization at 70 °C) of these chiral nanoclusters, which hold great promise in applications such as asymmetry catalysis.     

The Kirkwood-Buff theory and the effect of cosolvents on biochemical reactions

Cosolvents added to aqueous solutions of biomolecules profoundly affect protein stability, as well as biochemical equilibria. Some cosolvents, such as urea and guanidine hydrochloride, denature proteins, whereas others, such as osmolytes and crowders, stabilize the native structures of proteins. The way cosolvents interact with biomolecules is crucial information required to understand the cosolvent effect at a molecular level. We present a statistical mechanical framework based upon Kirkwood-Buff theory, which enables one to extract this picture from experimental data. The combination of two experimental results, namely, the cosolvent-induced equilibrium shift and the partial molar volume change upon the reaction, supplimented by the structural change, is shown to yield the number of water and cosolvent molecules bound or released during a reaction. Previously, denaturation experiments (e.g., m-value analysis) were analyzed by empirical and stoichiometric solvent-binding models, while the effects of osmolytes and crowders were analyzed by the approximate molecular crowding approach for low cosolvent concentration. Here we synthesize these previous approaches in a rigorous statistical mechanical treatment, which is applicable at any cosolvent concentration. The usefulness and accuracy of previous approaches was also evaluated.     

Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to 1-Butanol on Oxide-Derived Copper

The electroreduction of carbon dioxide using renewable electricity is an appealing strategy for the sustainable synthesis of chemicals and fuels. Extensive research has focused on the production of ethylene, ethanol and n-propanol, but more complex C₄ molecules have been scarcely reported. Herein, we report the first direct electroreduction of CO₂ to 1-butanol in alkaline electrolyte on Cu gas diffusion electrodes (Faradaic efficiency=0.056 %, j_1-Butanol=−0.080 mA cm⁻² at −0.48 V vs. RHE) and elucidate its formation mechanism. Electrolysis of possible molecular intermediates, coupled with density functional theory, led us to propose that CO₂ first electroreduces to acetaldehyde-a key C₂ intermediate to 1-butanol. Acetaldehyde then undergoes a base-catalyzed aldol condensation to give crotonaldehyde via electrochemical promotion by the catalyst surface. Crotonaldehyde is subsequently electroreduced to butanal, and then to 1-butanol. In a broad context, our results point to the relevance of coupling chemical and electrochemical processes for the synthesis of higher molecular weight products from CO₂.