Synthesis,structure and electrochemical properties of a polyoxometalate-templated compound with 2D twofold interpenetrating network

A new Keggin-type polyoxometalate-based compound {[Cu₂(L)₄(H₂O)₄](PW₁₁^VIW^VO₄₀)}·16H₂O (1) constructed from PW₁₁^VIW^VO₄₀ ⁴⁻, N,N′-bis(4-pyridylformyl) piperazine (L) and Cu(II) has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the semi-rigid piperazine-based ligands L coordinate to the Cu(II) atoms to constitute a two dimensional coordination network. The 2D (4, 4) cationic layers are stacked together in a perpendicular mode, resulting in the formation of twofold interpenetrating frameworks with large cavities. The PW₁₂ anions reside in the large cubic-like cavities, serving as non-coordinating templates. The compound 1 displays good electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of nitrite in 1 M H₂SO₄ aqueous solution.     

Nanomaterial-based surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins

We have investigated six nanomaterials for their applicability as surfaces for the analyses of peptides and proteins using surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS). Gold nanoparticles (NPs) were useful nanomateriais for small analytes (e.g., glutathione); Pt nanosponges and Fe₃O₄ NPs were efficient nanomaterials for proteins, with an upper detectable mass limit of ca. 25 kDa. Nanomateriais have several advantages over organic matrices, including lower limits of detection for small analytes and lower batch-to-batch variations (fewer problems associated with “sweet spois”), when used in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.     

Comparisons of <Emphasis Type=Italic>n</Emphasis>th-order kinetic algorithms and kinetic model simulation on HMX by DSC tests

Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) is a typical highly energetic material that has been widely used in national defense industries since the 1940s. The aim of this study was to establish a reaction kinetic model on thermal decomposition properties via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) by well-known kinetic equations and kinetic model simulation. Furthermore, the aim also was to compare kinetic algorithms for thermal decomposition energy parameters under various conditions. Experimental results highly depended on the reliability of the kinetic concept applied, which is essentially defined by the proper choice of a mathematical model of a reaction. In addition, the correctness of the methods is used for kinetics evaluation.     

Voltammetric detection of riboflavin based on ordered mesoporous carbon modified electrode

The potential application of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC)-modified glassy carbon electrode (OMC/GCE) in electrochemistry as a novel electrode material was investigated. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron micrographs, and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the structure and electrochemical behaviors of this material. Compared to GC electrode, the peak currents of potassium ferricyanide (K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) increase and the peak potential separation (ΔE _p) decreases at the OMC/GC electrode. These phenomena suggest that OMC-modified GC electrode possesses larger electrode area and faster electron transfer rate, as compared with bare GC electrode. Furthermore, riboflavin was detected using OMC/GC electrode in aqueous solutions. The results showed that, under an optimum condition (pH 7.0), the OMC/GC electrode exhibited excellent response performance to riboflavin in the concentration range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M with a high sensitivity of 769 μA mM⁻¹. The detection limit was down to around 2 × 10⁻⁸ M. With good stability and reproducibility, the present OMC/GC electrode was applied in the determination of vitamin B₂ content in vitamin tablets, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Ultrasonication-assisted spray ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of biomolecules in solution

In this paper, we describe a novel technique—ultrasonication-assisted spray ionization (UASI)—for the generation of singly charged and multiply charged gas-phase ions of biomolecules (e.g., amino acids, peptides, and proteins) from solution; this method employs a low-frequency ultrasonicator (ca. 40 kHz) in place of the high electric field required for electrospray ionization. When a capillary inlet is immersed into a sample solution within a vial subjected to ultrasonication, the solution is continually directed to the capillary outlet as a result of ultrasonication-assisted capillary action; an ultrasonic spray of the sample solution is emitted at the outlet of the tapered capillary, leading to the ready generation of gas-phase ions. Using an ion trap mass spectrometer, we found that singly charged amino acid and multiply charged peptides/proteins ions were generated through this single-step operation, which is both straightforward and extremely simple to perform. The setup is uncomplicated: only a low-frequency ultrasonicator and a tapered capillary are required to perform UASI. The mass spectra of the multiply charged peptides and proteins obtained from sample solutions subjected to UASI resemble those observed in ESI mass spectra.     

High performance bio-based polyurethane elastomers: Effect of different soft and hard segments

In this work, a series of high performance bio-based polyurethanes(bio-PUs) were synthesized from polylactide(PLA)-based diols, different diisocyanates(TDI, MDI, HDI, IPDI) and chain extender 1,4-butanediol, in which different soft and hard segments are used to adjust their transition temperatures and mechanical properties. Poly(lactide-co-caprolactone)copolymer diols(co-PLAols) instead of PLA diols as the soft segment improved the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the synthesized bio-PUs. Among them, MDI-based bio-PUs have the highest T_g(43.8 °C), tensile strength(23.5 MPa) and modulus(380.8 MPa), while HDI-based bio-PUs have the lowest T_g(21.4 °C) and highest elongation at break(580%). Especially, the bio-PUs synthesized from co-PLAols and MDI demonstrate better mechanical properties,closed to petroleum-based commodities. Furthermore, the obtained bio-PUs display good shape memory properties at body temperature and cytocompatibility. Therefore, these bio-PUs are promising for applications in biomedical fields.     

聚对苯二胺和炭黑复合物作为高效的氧还原催化剂及其稳定性研究

近年来,氮掺杂的碳材料作为碱性氧还原催化剂得到了研究者的广泛关注.掺杂的 N原子会影响 C原子的自旋密度和电荷分布,导致碳材料表面产生“活性位点”,因此掺氮碳材料具有优秀的氧还原活性,这已经在理论计算和实验中得到了验证.我们通过调节聚对苯二胺和碳黑的比例,之后进行热解制备了一系列掺氮碳材料.其中0.88PpPD/CB样品具有最好的氧还原活性,其在 KOH溶液(0.1 mol/L)中的氧还原性能超过了商业碳载铂.通过扫描电子显微镜表征,发现碳球聚集在聚对苯二胺的表面,这主要是因为聚对苯二胺没有进行酸掺杂,因此其水溶性比较差.通过氮气的吸脱附表征,发现聚对苯二胺的比表面积很小,而碳黑样品(BP2000)的比表面积很大.因此,随着聚对苯二胺量的增加,聚对苯二胺/碳黑复合物的比表面积逐渐降低.另外,聚对苯二胺表面几乎都是微孔,而介孔和大孔主要来自于碳黑.研究者认为,“活性位点”主要位于微孔内(聚对苯二胺表面),而介孔和大孔有利于物质的传输.因此,当聚对苯二胺和碳黑的比例合适时,既有大量的“活性位点”暴露,又有足够的介孔和大孔进行物质传输,所以0.88PpPD/CB样品的氧还原活性最高.
　　但是,对于掺氮碳材料来说,一个主要的问题就是稳定性不足.不管是电化学稳定性,还是放置在空气中的稳定性,掺氮碳材料都比不上铂基催化剂,这也阻碍了它们的大规模应用.对于电化学稳定性,很多文章都进行了报道,但是很少有文章报道掺氮碳材料在空气中的稳定性.我们知道,铂基材料之所以具有优异的氧还原活性,是因为铂和氧气的结合能比较合适,既利于氧气吸附,也利于之后氧气分子键的断裂.但是,当铂基材料放置在空气中,氧气的吸附也会发生,而且之后会导致表面氧化层的形成.所以铂基材料需要活化才能达到最好的催化性能.对于掺氮碳材料,放置在空气中会不会发生氧化反应？这对氧还原活性是否有影响？为了研究掺氮碳材料在空气中的稳定性,我们将0.88PpPD/CB样品在空气中放置了一个月,之后再进行电化学测试.旋转圆盘电极测试表明,在空气中放置了一个月后,0.88PpPD/CB样品的氧还原活性降低了,不管是半波电位还是极限电流密度都下降了.之后我们对其进行了 X射线光电子能谱检测,发现在空气中放置了一个月后其氧含量提高了1%(原子分数),而氮含量几乎没有变化.氧含量的提高证实了氧化反应的发生,但不能直接归结于空气中的氧气.为了排除其他因素,如水蒸气、二氧化碳等,当热处理完成,管式炉温度低于100°C时,我们将高纯氮气切换为高纯氧气,一个小时后再取出样品.电化学测试表明,在氧气中暴露了一个小时后,0.88PpPD/CB样品的氧还原活性极大地降低了,而且 X射线光电子能谱表明其氧含量提高了一倍,接近12%.因此,我们证实了氧气会和0.88PpPD/CB样品反应,导致样品的氧还原活性降低.所以,对于未来掺氮碳材料的大规模应用,要考虑其在空气中的稳定性,以及如何避免和氧气接触.     

铂族金属催化剂低温 CO氧化研究近期进展

CO氧化可能是多相催化领域最常见的反应,它不仅能作为探针反应研究催化剂结构、反应活性位等,而且在诸多实际过程如空气净化、汽车尾气污染物控制、燃料电池所用氢源净化等扮演重要角色.最早的 CO氧化催化剂为霍加拉特剂,其组分主要为 CuO与 MnO2混合氧化物,然而在实际应用过程中存在低温活性低、吸湿易失活等缺点.1987年, Haruta等发现湿化学法制备的氧化物负载 Au催化剂表现出非常高的低温 CO氧化活性及耐水稳定性,其 Au粒子以纳米尺度分散,进而引发了催化研究领域的“淘金热”及纳米催化研究热潮.而 CO氧化通常作为考察 Au催化剂结构性质的探针反应,也成为考核其它金属催化剂是否具有高活性的判据之一. Pt族金属上 CO氧化反应从 Langmuir等研究开始至今已有100多年,然而低温下该金属催化剂活性与 Au催化剂相比要低一个数量级.本质原因为 Pt族金属上 CO吸附较强, O2吸附与活化受到抑制,而该步骤被认为是 CO氧化的速控步,因而表现出较低的催化活性.通常 Pt族金属催化剂需要100oC以上 CO才能脱附, O2进而得以吸附.目前研究人员采取多种策略,其基本原则为削弱 Pt族金属上 CO吸附强度或者提供其它活性位供 O2吸附与活化.本综述将概括近十年来Pt族金属催化剂 CO氧化研究进展,主要总结室温甚至超低温条件下的研究成果.高活性 CO氧化催化剂主要是通过采用可还原氧化物为载体或助剂,或者改变催化剂表面性质如使表面富 OH基物种来形成. Au催化剂的研究发现,改变金属粒子尺寸极有可能获得不同寻常的催化性能,而常规的 Pt族金属催化剂研究主要是在纳米尺度.近期人们发现逐渐减小 Pt族金属粒子尺寸,从纳米到亚纳米甚至单原子时,其电荷状态逐渐呈正价形式,这有利于削弱其 CO吸附强度.此外,可通过增强金属载体间的相互作用,改变金属载体接触方式,如从核壳到交叉结联结构,构筑出更多的金属载体界面,使得 O2更容易吸附与活化或稳定更多的 OH基物种进而在此界面与吸附的 CO反应.伴随着表征技术的发展, CO氧化机理的认识也更加深入,这给催化剂的设计带来更多新的思路.(1)改变 CO吸附活化位,将 CO吸附活化位从金属转移到载体上,从而大大降低 CO吸附强度,活化的 CO物种在反应过程中容易溢流到金属载体界面处,这甚至有利于超低温度下(–100oC左右) CO氧化.(2)改变 O2活化形式. O2通常在 Pt族金属上容易以解离氧原子形式存在,通过改变载体、金属载体界面性质使得 O2以分子氧形式活化,如形成超氧或过氧物种,这有利于降低 CO氧化的活化能垒,进而提高其低温甚至超低温下 CO氧化活性.今后,设计并合成出在超低温度下能够氧化 CO的 Pt族金属催化剂将成为 CO氧化催化剂研究的重要方向之一.     

LC–APCI–MS Quantitative Analysis of Curcumin in Rabbit Plasma

A simple and specific liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–mass spectrometry (LC–APCI–MS) method was developed and validated for quantitative analysis of curcumin in rabbit plasma. Chromatographic separation was carried out on Zorbax SB-C18 column, acetonitrile-methanol–water used as mobile phase with gradient elution. APCI source was applied and operated in negative ion mode, and selective ion monitoring mode used to quantify curcumin. The method showed excellent intra-assay and inter-assay precision (relative standard deviations and bias <15%) for quality control (QC) samples. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of curcumin after intravenous administration to rabbits.