Matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of polyimide thin films and the XPS study

Compared with the traditional thin film techniques, the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique has many advantages in the deposition of polymer and organic thin films. It has a wide range of applications in many fields, such as non-linear optics, luminescent devices, electronics, various sensors. We have successfully deposited polyimide thin films by using the MAPLE technique. These films were characterized with XPS. The XPS spectra showed that the single-photon effect is ob-vious at low laser fluence and the chemical bonds will be broken, resulting in decomposition of the films. Contrarily, the single-photon effect will decrease and the multi-photon effect and the photothermal effect will increase at high laser fluence, resulting in the protection of the structure of the polyimide thin films and the obvious decrease in decomposition. High laser fluence is more suitable for the deposition of polymer and organic thin films than low laser fluence.     

The effect of substrate concentration on biohydrogen production by using kinetic models

The effect of substrate concentration ranging from 0 to 300 g/L on fermentative hydrogen production by mixed cultures was investigated in batch tests using glucose as substrate. The experimental results showed that, at 35℃ and initial pH 7.0, during the fermentative hydrogen production, the hydrogen production potential and hydrogen production rate increased with increasing substrate concentration from 0 to 25 g/L. The maximal hydrogen production potential of 426.8 mL and maximal hydrogen pro-duction rate of 15.1 mL/h were obtained at the substrate concentration of 25 g/L. The maximal hydrogen yield and the maximal substrate degradation efficiency were respectively 384.3 mL/g glucose and 97.6%, at the substrate concentration of 2 g/L. The modified Logistic model could be used to describe the progress of cumulative hydrogen production in this study successfully. The Han-Levenspiel model could be used to describe the effect of substrate concentration on fermentative hydrogen production rate.     

Hydrogenation of nitrobenzenes catalyzed by platinum nanoparticle core-polyaryl ether trisacetic acid ammonium chloride dendrimer shell nanocomposite

Platinum nanoparticle core-polyaryl ether trisacetic acid ammonium chloride dendrimer shell nanocomposites (Pt@G_n-NACl) were prepared and used as catalysts for hydrogenation of nitrobenzenes to anilines with molecular hydrogen under mild conditions. The as-prepared nanoparticles have mean particle size from 2.0 to 5.5 nm, depending on the molar ratio of the metal and the dendrimer. The Pt nanoparticles demonstrate near-monodisperse when the molar ratio of Pt and G₃-NACl is below 30. The interaction among three carboxyl groups terminated at the dendron and the metallic core keeps the Pt nanoparticles from agglomerating. The colloidal solution of Pt nanoparticles stabilized by the dendrimer, in which the molar ratio of Pt/G₃-NACl was less than 60, is stable without precipitation for several weeks. The dendrons attach to the metal core radially, and a substantial fraction of the surface of the metal nanoparticle is unpassivated and available for catalytic reactions. Turnover frequencies for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzenes to anilines change from 353 to 49 h⁻¹ depending on the dendrimer generation and substrates. The dendrimer catalysts are stable during the catalytic hydrogenation process and can be recovered by centrifugation and reused. The results suggest the effectiveness of polyaryl ether trisacetic acid ammonium chloride dendrimer as a stabilizer for the preparation of Pt nanoparticle catalysts.     

Transgenic Tobacco Expressing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zephyranthes grandiflora</Emphasis> Agglutinin Confers Enhanced Resistance to Aphids

Plant lectins have been reported as transgenic resistance factors against a variety of insect pests. Herein, homologous analysis demonstrated that Zephyranthes grandiflora agglutinin (ZGA) exhibited high similarity with other monocot mannose-binding lectins (MBLs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it had taxonomical relationships with insecticidal MBLs. Subsequently, a plasmid expression vector pBI121 containing zga gene (pBIZGA) was constructed using the zga sequence, under the control of CaMV35S promoter and nos terminator. pBIZGA was then integrated into the genome of Nicotiana tabacum L. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis demonstrated that this zga gene was integrated into the plant genome. Western blotting and agglutinating activity analysis also showed that transgenic tobacco plants expressed different levels of ZGA. Carbohydrate inhibition analysis indicated that recombinant ZGA and the native shared the same carbohydrate-binding specificity. Moreover, genetic analysis confirmed Mendelian segregation (3:1) of the transgenic in T1 progenies. In planta bioassays on T0 plants and their progenies indicated that expressed ZGA had an effect on reducing the survivability and fecundity of tobacco aphids (Myzus nicotianae). These findings demonstrate that the novel zga gene of ZGA can be expressed in crop plants susceptible to various sap-sucking insects.     

Molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective determination of 17β-estradiol in fishery samples with high performance liquid chromatography

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been synthesized by a thermo-polymerization method using methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as cross-linker, acetonitrile as porogenic solvent, and 17β-estradiol as template. The MIP showed obvious affinity for 17β-estradiol in acetonitrile solution, which was confirmed by absorption experiments. After optimization of molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) conditions, three structurally related estrogenic compounds (17β-estradiol, estriol, and diethylstilbestrol) were used to evaluate the selectivity of the MIP cartridges. The MIP cartridges exhibited highly selectivity for E₂, the recoveries were 84.8 ± 6.53% for MIPs and 19.1 ± 1.93% for non-imprinted polymer (NIP) cartridges. The detection and quantification limits correspond to 0.023 and 0.076 mg L⁻¹. Furthermore, the MISPE methods were used to selectively extract E₂ from fish and prawn tissue prior to HPLC analysis. This MISPE-HPLC procedure could eliminate all matrix interference simultaneously and had good recoveries (78.3-84.5%).     

Highly sensitive and reproducible cyclodextrin-modified gold electrodes for probing trace lead in blood

A highly sensitive and reproducible lead sensor based on a cyclodextrin-modified gold electrode was created. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of thiolated β-cyclodextrin (6-(2-mercapto-ethylamino)-6-deoxy-β-cyclodextrin (MEA-β-CD)) was prepared and modified on a gold electrode (MCGE) for specific Pb²⁺-sensing. Thus the mercury-free sensors for Pb²⁺ assay based on MCGE were established. A linear calibration response for Pb²⁺ was found in the range of 1.7 × 10⁻⁸ M to 9.3 × 10⁻⁷ M. The detection limit was 7.1 × 10⁻⁹ M (with S/N > 3), which was 10 times lower than other reported methods of detection Pb²⁺ with CD. The measurement results via this method for real blood samples were well agree with those obtained by ICP-AES, and thus presented a novel strategy in design of specific lead sensors with high sensitivity and stability for analysis of trace Pb²⁺ in real blood samples.     

A new molecular rectifier device and some research in its processing

Organic materials of D-π-A type MR-X (MR-1: p-dimethylaminophenylethenetrica-rbonitrile and MR-2: p-diphenylaminophenylethene tricarbonitrile) were designed and synthesized. The device with a sandwich structure shows good rectificative phenomena. The highest rectification ratio 10000 was achieved in device Cu/MR-1/Ag, and about 100 in other device M/MR-X/M (M: Cu, Ag). It has been found that rectificative phenomena exist only in the atmosphere-liquid interface region by means of liquid adsorption, and electric field could help form the oriented molecular film. __________ Translated from Journal of Fudan University (Natural Science), 2005, 44(4) (in Chinese)     

[Cu(PTA)(Phen)2](p-MBA)(H6O)配合物的合成、晶体结构及电化学分析

The crystal structure of the title complex with the stoichiometric formula [Cu(PTA)(Phen)₂](p-MBA)(H₆O) (Phen=1,10-phenanthroline, PTA=terephthalic acid, p-MBA=p-toluic acid) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal (C₄₈H₄₀CuN₄O₁₀, M_r=896.38) belongs to the monoclinic space group C2/c, with the following crystallographic parameters: a=1.778 6(3) nm, b=1.912 5(3) nm, c=1.389 9(2) nm, β=114.686(2)°, V=4.295 7(12) nm³, D_c=1.386 g·cm^-3, Z=4, μ(Mo Kα)=0.574 mm^-1, F(000)=1 860, final GooF=1.019, R=0.054 0, wR=0.148 3 for 2 644 observed reflections (I>2σ(I)). The crystal structure shows that the copper(Ⅱ) ion is coordinated with two oxygen atoms from one terephthalic acid molecule and four nitrogen atoms from two 1,10-phenanthroline molecules, forming a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The cyclic voltametric behavior of the complex is also reported. CCDC: 298809.     

量子点PbS修饰纳米结构TiO2复合膜的光电化学研究

用光电流作用谱、光电流-电势图等光电化学方法研究了ITO(铟锡氧化物导电玻璃)/TiO₂ /Q-PbS(量子点PbS)膜电极的光电转换性质。结果表明，由于量子尺寸的效应，在膜电极制备中，随着ITO/TiO₂电极在饱和Pb(CH₃COO)₂溶液中浸泡时间的不同，所制备的Q-PbS颗粒大小不同，禁带宽度随着浸泡时间的增大而减小，浸泡时间为40 s、在80 ℃烘干下制备的Q-PbS的禁带宽度为1.68 eV，其价带位置为-5.072 eV。Q-PbS修饰ITO/TiO₂电极可使光电流发生明显的红移，从而提高宽禁带半导体的光电转换效率。     

碳纳米管表面修饰程度对碳纳米管载Pt电催化性能的影响

比较了用不同温度的浓HNO₃处理的碳纳米管(CNTs)作载体的Pt(Pt/CNTs)对甲醇氧化的电催化活性. 结果表明浓HNO₃处理使CNTs表面修饰上的含氧基团对CNTs上沉积Pt粒子的平均粒径有较大影响. 表面修饰程度适当时, 制得的Pt/CNTs中Pt粒子较小, 因此, 对甲醇氧化的电催化活性较高. 而表面修饰程度过大, 易使Pt粒子团聚, 从而降低Pt/CNTs催化剂对甲醇氧化的电化学活性.