Diffusion Mechanism of As‐spun Polyacrylonitrile Fiber in a Dimethyl Sulfoxide‐Water Coagulation Bath

In this paper, the diffusion mechanism of as‐spun PAN fiber was investigated in dimethyl sulfoxide‐water by determining the dynamic compositions of the fibers and the diffusion coefficients of solvent and nonsolvent during coagulation. The diffusion process could be divided into two stages. Results showed that the first stage of the diffusion process was the most important during the whole process, which was fundamental to further study on the formation mechanism. Also, compared with wet spinning, the dry‐jet wet spinning method had the advantage of mild coagulating at a high jet‐stretch. At high concentrations, the diffusion coefficients increased and the ratio of solvent diffusion coefficient to nonsolvent diffusion coefficient decreased; an increasing temperature resulted in the increase of both diffusion coefficients with a decrease in their ratios. To some extent, for the PAN‐DMSO‐water system, the more the ratios D_s*/D_n* tended to 1, the more the cross‐section shapes of as‐spun PAN fiber tended to be circular.     

Effects of Ultra-sonification Assisting Polyethylene Glycol Pre-treatment on the Crystallinity and Accessibility of Cellulose Fiber

In order to prepare the advanced cellulosic super-absorbent polymer with high grafting level, we tried the novel ultrasound wave assisting polyethylene glycol (PEG) pre-treatment method to decrease the crystallinity and increase the accessibility of cellulose fiber. The effects of ultrasonification assisting PEG method on the crystallinity and swelling capacity of cellulose fiber were investigated. To optimize the experimental condition, the Taguchi method was employed in the treatment process. The influence factors such as ultrasonic wave power, ultrasonic wave time and PEG molecular weight relative to the crystallinity of cellulose fiber were studied systematically. The degree of crystallinity of cellulose fiber was measured by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The morphology of cellulose fiber was observed by environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The effects of pre-treatment variables on the water absorbency and water retention values of cellulose fiber were also investigated. The research results revealed that, under the optimal experimental condition (ultrasonic powder, 500 W; ultrasonic time, 150 s; PEG molecular weight, 600 g/mol), the crystallinity of cellulose fiber decreased from 72.16 to 42.95%. Accordingly, the absorbency of cellulose fiber increased from 1.436 to 2.063 g/g, and the water retention value increased from 47.21 to 113.4%. However, the morphology of cellulose fiber did not change thoroughly compared with the original cellulose fiber. It can be hypothesized that the original inter- and intra-macromolecular hydrogen bonds in cellulose network were weakened, resulting from the high level dispersion of PEG within cellulose network without breaking the surface morphology of fiber.     

Highly sensitive detection of mercury (II) in aqueous media by tetraphenylporphyrin with a metal ion receptor

We provide a highly sensitive and selective assay to detect Hg²⁺ in aqueous solutions using a novel β-functionalised porphyrin-based chemosensor 5 at room temperature. The binding properties of the chemosensor 5 for cations were examined by UV–vis spectroscopy and ¹H NMR. The results indicate that a 1:1 stoichiometric complex is formed between chemosensor 5 and mercury (II) ion. The recognition mechanism between chemosensor 5 and metal ion was discussed based on their absorbance changes and the chemical shift changes when they interact with each other. Control experiments revealed that chemosensor 5 has a selective response to mercury (II) ion compared with other metal ions.     

Effect of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes on the curing kinetics and reaction mechanism of bismaleimide–triazine

Functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) with varying functionalization degrees were prepared by chemical methods. The effect of f-MWCNTs on the cure kinetics of bismaleimide–triazine (BT) resin was studied through nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The reaction activation energy (E _α ) was determined by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method. The results show that f-MWCNTs have more acceleration ability than pristine MWCNTs, due to more groups on the surface of f-MWCNTs than that of pristine MWCNTs. The activation energy was decreased from a value of 91.3 kJ mol^?1 for the neat BT resin to 74.2 kJ mol^?1 at the small mass loading (1.0 %) of f7-MWCNTs. The effect of f-MWCNTs on the reaction mechanism has been investigated. It shows that the f-MWCNTs accelerate the cure reaction of BT resin by providing the Lewis acids (H⁺) to make the “Diels–Alder” reaction and “ENE” reaction of BT resins more efficient. These findings offer useful insights into the cure technology of thermosetting resin filled with f-MWCNTs, without negative effect on the cure reaction.     

Influence of the Li⋅⋅⋅π Interaction on the H/X⋅⋅⋅π Interactions in HOLi⋅⋅⋅C6H6⋅⋅⋅HOX/XOH (X=F,Cl, Br,I) Complexes

The influences of the Li???π interaction of C₆H₆???LiOH on the H???π interaction of C₆H₆???HOX (X=F, Cl, Br, I) and the X???π interaction of C₆H₆???XOH (X=Cl, Br, I) are investigated by means of full electronic second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory calculations and “quantum theory of atoms in molecules” (QTAIM) studies. The binding energies, binding distances, infrared vibrational frequencies, and electron densities at the bond critical points (BCPs) of the hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds prove that the addition of the Li???π interaction to benzene weakens the H???π and X???π interactions. The influences of the Li???π interaction on H???π interactions are greater than those on X???π interactions; the influences of the H???π interactions on the Li???π interaction are greater than X???π interactions on Li???π interaction. The greater the influence of Li???π interaction on H/X???π interactions, the greater the influences of H/X???π interactions on Li???π interaction. QTAIM studies show that the intermolecular interactions of C₆H₆???HOX and C₆H₆???XOH are mainly of the π type. The electron densities at the BCPs of hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds decrease on going from bimolecular complexes to termolecular complexes, and the π‐electron densities at the BCPs show the same pattern. Natural bond orbital analyses show that the Li???π interaction reduces electron transfer from C₆H₆ to HOX and XOH.     

CuI‐Catalyzed Multicomponent Synthesis of Aminoindolizines from Aldehydes,Amines, and Alkynes under Solvent‐Free Conditions

A direct and efficient approach to 1‐aminoindolizines through three‐component one‐pot reaction of heteroaryl aldehydes, secondary amines and terminal alkynes catalyzed by CuI under solvent‐free conditions has been developed. This methodology provides a rapid access to substituted aminoindolizines with good yields (up to 97%).     

Electrodeposition of PdAu Alloy Nanoparticles on Ionic Liquid Functionalized Graphene Film for the Voltammetric Determination of Oxalic Acid

An ionic liquid functionalized graphene film was prepared and PdAu nanoparticles (NPs) were electrodeposited on it. The PdAu NPs were characterized by various methods and they showed the features of alloys. In 0.2 M H₂SO₄ solution, oxalic acid (OA) exhibited a sensitive anodic peak at the resulting electrode at about 1.1 V (vs. SCE), and the peak current was linear to OA concentration in the range of 5–100 µM with a sensitivity of 45.5 µA/mM. The detection limit was 2.7 µM (S/N=3). The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of OA in real sample.     

Quantitative microfluidic biomolecular analysis for systems biology and medicine

In the postgenome era, biology and medicine are rapidly evolving towards quantitative and systems studies of complex biological systems. Emerging breakthroughs in microfluidic technologies and innovative applications are transforming systems biology by offering new capabilities to address the challenges in many areas, such as single-cell genomics, gene regulation networks, and pathology. In this review, we focus on recent progress in microfluidic technology from the perspective of its applications to promoting quantitative and systems biomolecular analysis in biology and medicine.     

Ligand Functionalization and Its Effect on CO2 Adsorption in Microporous Metal–Organic Frameworks

We report two new 3D structures, [Zn₃(bpdc)₃(2,2′‐dmbpy)] (DMF)_x(H₂O)_y ( 1 ) and [Zn₃(bpdc)₃(3,3′‐dmbpy)]?(DMF)₄(H₂O)_0.5 ( 2 ), by methyl functionalization of the pillar ligand in [Zn₃(bpdc)₃(bpy)] (DMF)₄?(H₂O) ( 3 ) (bpdc=biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid; z,z′‐dmbpy=z,z′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine; bpy=4,4′‐bipyridine). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis indicates that 2 is isostructural to 3 , and the power X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) study shows a very similar framework of 1 to 2 and 3 . Both 1 and 2 are 3D porous structures made of Zn₃(COO)₆ secondary building units (SBUs) and 2,2′‐ or 3,3′‐dmbpy as pillar ligand. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and PXRD studies reveal high thermal and water stability for both compounds. Gas‐adsorption studies show that the reduction of surface area and pore volume by introducing a methyl group to the bpy ligand leads to a decrease in H₂ uptake for both compounds. However, CO₂ adsorption experiments with 1′ (guest‐free 1 ) indicate significant enhancement in CO₂ uptake, whereas for 2′ (guest‐free 2 ) the adsorbed amount is decreased. These results suggest that there are two opposing and competitive effects brought on by methyl functionalization: the enhancement due to increased isosteric heats of CO₂ adsorption (Q_st), and the detraction due to the reduction of surface area and pore volume. For 1′ , the enhancement effect dominates, which leads to a significantly higher uptake of CO₂ than its parent compound 3′ (guest‐free 3 ). For 2′ , the detraction effect predominates, thereby resulting in reduced CO₂ uptake relative to its parent structure 3′ . IR and Raman spectroscopic studies also present evidence for strong interaction between CO₂ and methyl‐functionalized π moieties. Furthermore, all compounds exhibit high separation capability for CO₂ over other small gases including CH₄, CO, N₂, and O₂.