The research on the high quality TiO2, MoO3-doped WO3 electrochromic film

The high quality TiO2, MoO3-doped WO3 electrochromic film was prepared by the sol–gel method for the first time. The sol, which has hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and oxalic acid (H2C2O4), was very stable at room temperature and quite suitable for the deposition of films. The WO3 electrochromic film prepared from this doped sol had excellent performance, such as short response time, no cracks, good adhesion to the substrate, high coloring efficiency and longevity of service.     

Growth of ramification-like ZnO rods in the presence of polyaniline

To obtain new materials with synergetic or complementary behaviors, polyaniline composite filled with ZnO rods in ramification-like structure was prepared by a hydrothermal approach. Comparative experiments of ZnO preparation in the presence of some metal ions were also carried out. The results indicated that the morphology of ZnO was strongly affected by the preparation condition. The method to grow ZnO rods in the presence of polyaniline offers a simple approach to obtain polyaniline composite filled with linear ZnO structure. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that the strong interaction between ZnO and polyaniline possibly exists to cause the charge transfer.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/poly(amide imide) polymer blends for proton conducting membrane

Poly(amide imide) (PAI) was synthesized using 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride (BTBA) and 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MBPI). SPEEK/PAI blend membranes were prepared and investigated by NMR, GPC, FT-IR and AFM. The chemical structures of PAI and SPEEK were characterized by using NMR and FT-IR. The adsorption of the SPEEK/PAI blend membrane of water or methanol solution was also characterized. The significant swelling of the blend membrane in concentrated methanol solution was explained by the solubility parameter. The water diffusion coefficient (D_H2O) was related to the lambda value of the membrane. The SPEEK/PAI blend membrane had a lower proton conductivity and methanol permeability than Nafion. However, the relative selectivity (proton conductivity divided by methanol permeability) of the SPEEK/PAI 70/30 (w/w) blend membrane was 3.46 × 10⁴ S s cm⁻³, which is closed to that of Nafion (3.30 S s cm⁻³).     

Measurement of labile Cu in soil using stable isotope dilution and isotope ratio analysis by ICP-MS

Isotope dilution is a useful technique to measure the labile metal pool, which is the amount of metal in soil in rapid equilibrium (<7 days) with the soil solution. This is normally performed by equilibrating soil with a metal isotope, and sampling the labile metal pool by using an extraction (E value), or by growing plants (L value). For Cu, this procedure is problematic for E values, and impossible for L values, due to the short half-life of the ⁶⁴Cu radioisotope (12.4 h), which makes access and handling very difficult. We therefore developed a technique using enriched ⁶⁵Cu stable isotope and measurement of ⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu ratios by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure labile pools of Cu in soils using E value techniques. Mass spectral interferences in detection of ⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu ratios in soil extracts were found to be minimal. Isotope ratios determined by quadrupole ICP-MS compared well to those determined by high-resolution (magnetic sector) ICP-MS. E values determined using the stable isotope technique compared well to those determined using the radioisotope for both uncontaminated and Cu-contaminated soils.     

C-H...N and C-H...S hydrogen bonds--influence of hybridization on their strength

Simple complexes connected through C-H...S and C-H...N interactions are investigated: CH4...NH3, C2H4...NH3, C2H2...NH3, CH4...SH2, C2H4...SH2, and C2H2...SH2. Ab initio and DFT calculations are performed (SCF, MP2, B3LYP) using different basis sets up to the MP2/aug-cc-pVQZ//MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of approximation. The Bader theory is applied since MP2/6-311++G(d,p) wave functions are used to find and to characterize bond critical points in terms of electron densities and their Laplacians. The influence of hybridization on the properties of C-H...S and C-H...N systems is also studied showing that the strength of such interactions increases in the following order: C(sp3)-H...Y, C(sp2)-H...Y, C(sp)-H...Y, where Y = S, N--it is in line with the previous findings on C-H...O hydrogen bonds. The results also show that CH4...SH2 and C2H4...SH2 complexes should be rather classified as van der Waals interactions and not as hydrogen bonds. The frequency associated with the C-H stretch of C(sp3)-H...S is blue-shifted.     

Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol-capped CdSe nanoparticles at room temperature

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-capped CdSe nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a one-step solution growth technique at room temperature and ambient pressure. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectra were used to characterize the final product. The as-prepared CdSe nanocrystals were well dispersed and uniform in shape and the diameter of the particles was confined within 8 nm. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra were used to study the confined growth process of PVA-capped CdSe nanoparticles. Photoluminescence measurement showed the near band-edge luminescence of the final product.     

Conduction in charged PbSe nanocrystal films

Conduction in thin films of PbSe nanocrystals doped by electrochemical gating has been studied. Charging the film, with either electrons or holes, increases the conductance by orders of magnitude. The electrons in the 1S(e) state of nanocrystals in these films have a mobility as high as 5.0 x 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Electrons in the 1P(e) state were found to have a differential mobility up to 3-5 times greater than the electrons in the 1S(e) state, and a mobility minima was found corresponding to the complete filling of the 1S(e) state. The temperature and electric field dependence of conductance in the film, measured between 4.3 and 135 K, were both well described by a variable range hopping model.     

The cyclic fixation and reduction of molecular nitrogen with [WH4(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)2] in γ-irradiated solutions

Yields of NH₃ and N₂H₄ in radiation-catalytic reduction of N₂ by means of a hydride complex of W^IV with dppe in thf solution and in mixtures of thf with other solvents have been estimated. A mechanism proposed earlier of reduction of coordinated N₂ has been confirmed and the role of solvent in reduction of N₂ to NH₃ and amines has been explained.     

Voltammetric studies of the effect of Cisplatin-liposome on Hela cells

In this paper, the voltammetric method was used for the first time to study the effect of Cisplatin-liposome on Hela cells. The results showed the voltammetric behavior of Hela cells was irreversible and the peak current had linear relationship with the cell number. With both Cisplatin-liposome concentration and treating time increasing, the peak current decreased. The peak current decreasing was in accordance with the nuclear damage and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential revealed by two-photon laser scanning microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. This voltammetric method may provide a simple way to study the electron-transfer mechanism in drug-treating cells.