Vesicle aggregation in aqueous mixtures of negatively charged polyelectrolyte and conventional cationic surfactant

Vesicle aggregation induced by different environmental factors, including the addition of divalent metal ions, decrease of pH, and increase of temperature--was investigated through turbidity measurement, fluorescence measurement, and transmission electron microscope observation in aqueous solutions of hydrolyzed styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (HSMA) mixed with dodecyltriethylammonium bromide (C(12)Et(3)). The vesicle aggregation can be explained by the dehydration of the vesicle surface through cations addition or temperature increase based on an analysis of the interaction between vesicles. Moreover, the steric repulsion was introduced to the system and the control of vesicle aggregation was achieved.     

Interface Engineering of a CoOx/Ta3N5 Photocatalyst for Unprecedented Water Oxidation Performance under Visible‐Light‐Irradiation

Cocatalysts have been extensively used to promote water oxidation efficiency in solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion, but the influence of interface compatibility between semiconductor and cocatalyst has been rarely addressed. Here we demonstrate a feasible strategy of interface wettability modification to enhance water oxidation efficiency of the state‐of‐the‐art CoO_x/Ta₃N₅ system. When the hydrophobic feature of a Ta₃N₅ semiconductor was modulated to a hydrophilic one by in situ or ex situ surface coating with a magnesia nanolayer (2–5 nm), the interfacial contact between the hydrophilic CoO_x cocatalyst and the modified hydrophilic Ta₃N₅ semiconductor was greatly improved. Consequently, the visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic oxygen evolution rate of the resulting CoO_x/MgO(in)–Ta₃N₅ photocatalyst is ca. 23 times that of the pristine Ta₃N₅ sample, with a new record (11.3 %) of apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) under 500–600 nm illumination.     

Terpenoids from the Stems of Drypetes congestiflora

Two new eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenoids, 1α‐hydroxyeremophila‐6,9,11‐trien‐8‐one ( 1 ), 4α‐hydroxyeremophila‐1,9‐diene‐3,8‐dione ( 2 ), and a new friedelane‐type triterpenoid, friedelane‐3α,16β‐diol ( 4 ), along with six known terpenoids, 3 and 5 – 9 , have been isolated from the stems of Drypetes congestiflora. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of their NMR data with those reported in the literature. All of the compounds, 1 – 9 , were isolated for the first time from this species. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against the A549 and B16F10 cell lines.     

Stochastic/Controlled Symmetry Breaking of the T8‐POSS Cages toward Multifunctional Regioisomeric Nanobuilding Blocks

Precise synthesis of nanobuilding blocks with accurately positioned functional groups presents a daunting challenge. Herein, a practical synthesis and thorough characterization of a series of T₈‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) di‐ and triadducts is reported. Upon addition of triflic acid across the double bonds in octavinylPOSS (V₈T₈) followed by hydrolysis, the cubic symmetry of the T₈‐POSS cage (O_h) is broken into C_2v (ortho‐), C_2v (meta‐), and D_3d (para‐) for diadducts and further to C_s (oom‐), C_s (omp‐), and C_3v (mmm‐) for triadducts in a stochastic fashion. Their structures and regioconfigurations have been unambiguously demonstrated by ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, as well as MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. The assignment of the diadducts was further corroborated by converting each individual diadduct into triadduct(s), the structure of which is controlled by the symmetry of the precursor. Except for the C_3v triadduct, they can all be prepared in synthetically useful quantities. The presence of two types of highly reactive and mutually orthogonal functional groups facilitates further modification into complex nanostructures and composite materials. These unique regioisomers provide a versatile platform for constructing giant molecules and Janus silsesquioxanes.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of aluminum nitride/cyanate ester composites for high performance electronic packaging

Viscoelastic ature is one of the key features of polymeric composites. A series of cyanate ester (CE)‐based composites with different aluminum nitride (AlN) contents for high performance electronic packaging, coded as AlN/CE, were developed; the viscoelastic nature of AlN/CE composites was intensively investigated by employing dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Results show that the AlN content has a great effect on dynamic mechanical properties of AlN/CE composites. The storage modulus in the glassy region increases linearly with the addition of AlN as well as the increase of AlN content. Meanwhile, all composites also exhibit notably higher loss modulus than cured CE resin due to the appearance of new energy dissipation forms. In addition, the incorporation of AlN has a significant effect on damping factor peak. All reasons leading to these phenomena are analyzed from the view of structure–property relationship. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and electrochemical properties of high-capacity Ml-Mg-Ni-based hydrogen storage alloys

The Ml-Mg-Ni-based (Ml = La-rich mixed lanthanide) hydrogen storage alloy Ml_0.88Mg_0.12Ni_3.0-Mn_0.10Co_0.55Al_0.10 was prepared by inductive melting. The micro-structure was analyzed by XRD and SEM. The alloy consists mainly of CaCu₅-type phase, Ce₂Ni₇-type phase and Pr₅Co₁₉-type phase. The electrochemical measurements show that the maximum discharge capacity is 386 mAh/g, 16.3% higher than that of the commercial AB₅-type alloy (332 mAh/g). At discharge current density of 1 100 mA/g, high rate dischargeability is 62%, while that of the AB5-type alloy is only 45%. The discharge capacity decreases to 315 mAh/g after 300 charge/ discharge cycles, 81.5% of the maximum discharge capacity. __________ Translated from Journal of Xi’an Jiao Tong University, 2008, 42(3) (in Chinese)     

基于蛋白质骨架的人工水解酶的理性设计

蛋白质是生命体的重要组成部分,其中生物酶在生命体系中发挥至关重要的作用。蛋白质分子设计是研究生物酶结构与功能关系的重要手段。本文综述了基于蛋白质骨架的人工水解酶的理性设计与功能研究进展,包括对天然蛋白的重新利用和重新改造,基于3-股螺旋、4-股螺旋或锌指蛋白的分子设计,以及血红蛋白(如细胞色素b₅和肌红蛋白突变体)水解酶催化活性的调控等,阐明了人工水解酶分子设计的基本思路与研究方法,为合理构建人工水解酶或其他生物酶提供了重要的信息。人工水解酶的理性设计进展,不但深化我们对天然酶结构-性质-反应-功能关系的认识,而且还提升我们创造具有优越功能的人工生物酶的能力。     

A novel tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)/tripropylamine cathodic electrochemiluminescence in acetonitrile for the indirect determination of hydrogen peroxide

A novel tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was generated at −0.78 V at the Pt electrode in acetonitrile (ACN), which suggested that the cathodic ECL differed from conventional cathodic ECL. It was found that tripropylamine (TPrA) could enhance this cathodic ECL and the linear range (log-log plot) was 0.2 μM-0.2 mM. In addition, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) could inhibit the cathodic ECL and was indirectly detected with the linear range of 27-540 μM. The RSD (n = 12) of the ECL intensity in the presence of 135 μM H₂O₂ was 0.87%. This method was also demonstrated for the fast determination of H₂O₂ in disinfectant sample and satisfactory results were obtained.