Influence of Temperature on the Formation of Silver Nanoparticles by using a Seed‐Free Photochemical Method under Sodium‐Lamp Irradiation

Silver nanoparticles can be prepared by using a seed‐free photo‐assisted citrate reduction method under the irradiation of a sodium lamp. Under the same irradiation intensity, bath temperatures are crucial in influencing the reaction rate, morphologies of final products, and shape evolution of the silver nanostructures. For example, when the bath temperature is 80 °C, the product yields of silver nanoplates, nanorods, and nanodecahedra are 38±6 %, 35±10 %, and 12±8 %, respectively. However, when the bath temperature is 30 °C, the product yields of silver nanoplates, nanorods, and nanodecahedra are 6±3 %, 0 %, and 83±16 %, respectively. Time‐dependent UV/Vis spectra and TEM images show that silver nanoplates were formed at the earlier reaction stage and greatly decreased in amount at the later stage when the bath temperatures are less than or equal to 40 °C. This indicates that the silver nanoplates, which can be regarded as intermediates, are kinetically favored products. They are not thermodynamically favored products at these relatively low bath temperatures. The SERS spectra of crystal violet (CV) show that all the silver colloids synthesized at various temperatures exhibit good enhancement factors and that the colloids prepared at lower bath temperatures have a higher enhancement factor.     

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O films fabricated by using pulsed-laser deposition

Room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) was observed in pulsed-laser deposited amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O (a-IGZO) films undoped with impurities containing unpaired d or f electrons. The presence of oxygen vacancies in the prepared a-IGZO films was verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and suggested to be responsible for the observed RTFM. The electrical and optical properties of the a-IGZO films were also investigated.     

Synthesis of a phosphinated acetoxybenzoic acid and its application in enhancing Tg and flame retardancy of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

A new phosphinated acetoxybenzoic acid, 1‐(4‐acetoxyphenyl)‐1‐(4‐carboxylphenyl)‐1‐(6‐oxido‐6H‐dibenz<c,e><1,2> oxaphosphorin‐6‐yl)ethane (3), was prepared by a three‐step procedure. Phosphinated copolyesters based on the acidolysis and polycondensation of (3) with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were prepared. The crystallinity of copolyesters decreased gradually with the content of (3), as shown in wide‐angle X‐ray diffractograms and differential scanning calorimetry thermograms. Dynamic mechanical analysis and thermal mechanical analysis show T_g increased with the content of (3). UL‐94 flame retardant test shows that the flame resistance of PET was enhanced with the content of (3), and a copolyester with UL‐94 V‐0 grade can be achieved with a phosphorus content as low as 1.43 wt %. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 424–434     

Triterpene Acids from the Leaves of Planchonella Duclitan (Blanco) Bakhuizan

From the methanolic extract of the leaves of Planchonella duclitan, 2α,3α,19α,23‐tetrahydroxy‐13,27‐cyclours‐11‐en‐28‐oic acid (1), myrianthic acid (2), 2‐hydroxyursolic acid (3), ursolic acid (4), pomolic acid (5), rotundic acid (6), and jacoumaric acid (7) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compound 1 was a new cyclopropyl ursane‐type triterpene acid. Additionally, compounds 4 and 7 showed significant cytotoxicity toward human colorectal carcinoma cell line HT29 and human breast carcinoma cell line MCF‐7 with IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.8 ± 1.4 to 6.5 ± 1.9 μM.     

Characterization of Anilinepentacyanoferrate (II) and (III)

The anilinepentacyanoferrate (II) complex has been characterized in aqueous solution. The complex exhibits a predominant ligand field transition at λ_max = 415 nm with ?_max = 494 M^?1 cm^?1. The corresponding Fe(III) complex displays a strong absorption at λ_max = 700nm(?_max = 1.61×10⁴ M^?1 sec^?1) which can be assigned as a ligand to metal charge transfer transition. The rate constants of formation and dissociation for the Fc(II) complex are (3.14±0.18)×10² M^?1W^?1 and 0.985±0.005 sec^?1, respectively, at μ = 0.10 M LiClO₄, pH = 8 and T = 25°C. The cyclic voltammetry of the complex shows that a reversible redox process is observed with E_1/2 value of 0.51±0.01 V vs. NHE at μ = 0.10 M LiClO₄, pH = 8 and T = 25°C. The kinetic study of the oxidation of the Fe(II) complex by ferricyanide ion yielded the rate constant of the reaction k_et = (1.43±0.04)x10 M sec^?1 at μ = 0.10 M LiClO₄, pH = 8 and T = 25°C.     

Structural studies of Na-montmorillonite exchanged with Fe2+, Cr3+, and Ti4+ by N2 adsorption and EXAFS

The structures of Fe(2+)-, Cr(3+)-, and Ti(4+)-modified montmorillonite prepared from ion exchange of the Na-clay with Fe(2+), Cr(3+), and Ti(4+) were investigated. Conventional BET surface area and spectroscopic analysis by extended adsorption fine structure (EXAFS) were applied. It was shown that the BET surface area of Na-clay was similar to that of Fe-clay, but somewhat different from those of Cr- and Ti-clay; it decreased in the order Na- > Fe- > Ti- > Cr-montmorillonite. This sequence appeared to be consistent with the ion size Na(+) (0.95 nm)>Fe(2+) (0.65 nm)>Cr(3+) (0.62 nm), except for Ti(4+) (0.69 nm). EXAFS data showed that some Si atoms within montmorillonite were replaced by Ti atoms and that a neostructure of titanium oxide was formed.     

Power Generation Capabilities of Microbial Fuel Cells with Different Oxygen Supplies in the Cathodic Chamber

Two microbial fuel cells (MFCs) inoculated with activated sludge of a wastewater treatment plant were constructed. Oxygen was provided by mechanical aeration in the cathodic chamber of one MFC, whereas it was obtained by the photosynthesis of algae in the other. Electrogenic capabilities of both MFCs were compared under the same operational conditions. Results showed that the MFC with mechanical aeration in the cathodic chamber displayed higher power output than the one with photosynthesis of algae. Good linear relationship between power density and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate was obtained only on the MFC with mechanical aeration. Furthermore, the relationships between power density and effluent COD and between Coulombic efficiency and COD loading rate can only be expressed as binary quadratic equations for the MFC with mechanical aeration and not for the one with photosynthesis of algae.     

Proteomic analysis of chondrocytes exposed to pressure

Chondrocytes are the only cell type present in mature articular cartilage (2-5% of total tissue). The biological activities of the chondrocyte population are regulated by genetic, biologic and biochemical factors, as well as environmental factors (stress, flow and electric field). Although compressive forces within joint articular cartilage are required for maintenance of the normal composition of articular cartilage, there is a lack of knowledge about the number of pressure-related proteins expressed in articular cartilage. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) were used to identify the levels of pressure-related proteins expressed by chondrocytes grown in the presence or absence of hydrostatic pressure. A total of 266 spots were excised from the gels and analyzed by HPLC/ESI-MS/MS. Functional classification of up-regulated proteins indicated that energy and protein fate were the main biological processes occurring in pressurized chondrocytes. Furthermore, membrane-bound transferrin-like protein p97, a marker of chondrocyte differentiation, was only expressed in chondrocytes under hydrostatic pressure. These data suggest that hydrostatic pressure can induce cell differentiation by increasing the expression level of energy metabolism- and protein fate-related proteins, indicating that hydrostatic pressure may be needed for normal biosynthesis and differentiation of articular chondrocytes.