Enhanced thermal stability and magnetic properties in NaCl-type FePt-MnO binary nanocrystal superlattices

We report the growth of NaCl-type binary nanocrystal (NC) superlattice membranes by coassembly of FePt and MnO NCs at the liquid-air interface. The constituent FePt NCs were converted into the hard magnetic L1(0) phase by thermal annealing at 650 °C without degradation of the long-range NC ordering. In contrast, both FePt-only NC superlattices and FePt-MnO disordered NC mixtures showed substantial FePt sintering under the same annealing conditions. Our results demonstrate that the incorporation of FePt NCs into binary superlattices can solve the problems of FePt sintering during conversion to the L1(0) phase, opening a new route to the fabrication of ordered ferromagnetic NC arrays on a desired substrate for high-density data storage applications.     

Copper trafficking mechanism of CXXC-containing domains: insight from the pH-dependence of their Cu(I) affinities

Copper is trafficked to cellular destinations by homeostatic proteins that also prevent adverse reactivity of the metal. The copper metallochaperone HAH1 (human Atx1) binds Cu(I) via a CXXC motif on loop1/α1 of a βαββαβ ferredoxin-like structure. A similar fold constitutes each of the six metal-binding domains (MBDs) of the two P-type ATPases (Menkes and Wilson disease proteins), the destination for copper bound to HAH1. In this work we have investigated the influence of pH on copper trafficking between HAH1 and the first MBD of the Menkes protein (MNK1). Cu(I) affinities of 5.6 × 10(17) and 3.6 × 10(17) M(-1) have been determined at pH 7.0 for HAH1 and MNK1, respectively, from competition titrations with the chromophoric Cu(I) ligand bathocuproine disulfonate. The mutation of Lys60 on loop5 of HAH1 to Ala (the corresponding residue is Phe67 in MNK1) results in a 3-fold lowering of the affinity for Cu(I) at pH 7.0. The Cu(I) affinity of WT HAH1 exhibits a different pH-dependence compared to MNK1 and Lys60Ala HAH1. This arises because the pK(a) of the second Cys ligand in the CXXC motif of HAH1 is 1.5 pH units lower due to stabilization of the thiolate via a hydrogen-bonding interaction with the side chain of Lys60. The thermodynamic gradient for Cu(I) transfer between HAH1 and MNK1 depends on pH. The decrease in the pK(a) of the Cys ligand in HAH1 can also influence the kinetics of Cu(I) transfer.     

Calculation of chemical potentials of chain molecules by the incremental gauge cell method

The gauge cell Monte Carlo method is extended to calculations of the incremental chemical potentials and free energies of linear chain molecules. The method was applied to chains of Lennard-Jones beads with stiff harmonic bonds up to 500 monomers in length. We show that the suggested method quantitatively reproduces the modified Widom particle insertion method of Kumar et al. [S. K. Kumar, I. Szleifer, and A. Z. Panagiotopoulos, Phys. Rev. Lett. 66(22), 2935 (1991)], and is by an order of magnitude more efficient for long chains in terms of the computational time required for the same accuracy of chemical potential calculations. The chain increment ansatz, which suggests that the incremental chemical potential is independent of the chain length, was tested at different temperatures. We confirmed that the ansatz holds only for coils above the θ temperature. Special attention is paid to the effects of the magnitude of adsorption potential and temperature on the behavior of single chains in confinements that are comparable in size with the free chain radius of gyration. At sufficiently low temperatures, the dependence of the incremental chemical potential on the chain length in wetting pores is superficially similar to a capillary condensation isotherm, reflecting monolayer formation following by pore volume filling, as the chain length increases. We find that the incremental gauge cell method is an accurate and efficient technique for calculations of the free energies of chain molecules in bulk systems and nanoconfinements alike. The suggested method may find practical applications, such as modeling polymer partitioning on porous substrates and dynamics of chain translocation into nanopores.     

Microviscoelasticity of soft repulsive sphere dispersions: tracer particle microrheology of triblock copolymer micellar liquids and soft crystals

Tracer particle microrheology using diffusing wave spectroscopy-based microrheology is demonstrated to be a useful method to study the dynamics of aqueous Pluronic? F108 solutions, which are viewed as solutions of repulsive soft spheres. The measured zero-shear microviscosity of noncrystallizing micellar dispersions indicates micelle corona dehydration upon increasing temperature. Colloidal sphere thermal motion is shown to be exquisitely sensitive to the onset of crystallization in these micellar dispersions. High temperature dynamics are dominated by an apparent soft repulsive micelle-micelle interaction potential indicating the important role played by lubrication forces and ultimately micelle corona interpenetration and compression at sufficiently high concentrations. The measured microscopic viscoelastic storage and loss moduli are qualitatively similar to those experimentally observed in mechanical measurements on colloidal dispersions and crystals, and calculated from mode coupling theory of colloidal suspensions. The observation of subdiffusive colloidal sphere thermal motion at short time-scales is strong evidence that the observed microscopic viscoelastic properties reflect the dynamics of individual micelles rather than a dispersion of micellar crystallites.     

Chemical reactions modulated by mechanical stress: extended Bell theory

A number of recent studies have shown that mechanical stress can significantly lower or raise the activation barrier of a chemical reaction. Within a common approximation due to Bell [Science 200, 618 (1978)], this barrier is linearly dependent on the applied force. A simple extension of Bell's theory that includes higher order corrections in the force predicts that the force-induced change in the activation energy will be given by -FΔR - ΔχF(2)∕2. Here, ΔR is the change of the distance between the atoms, at which the force F is applied, from the reactant to the transition state, and Δχ is the corresponding change in the mechanical compliance of the molecule. Application of this formula to the electrocyclic ring-opening of cis and trans 1,2-dimethylbenzocyclobutene shows that this extension of Bell's theory essentially recovers the force dependence of the barrier, while the original Bell formula exhibits significant errors. Because the extended Bell theory avoids explicit inclusion of the mechanical stress or strain in electronic structure calculations, it allows a computationally efficient characterization of the effect of mechanical forces on chemical processes. That is, the mechanical susceptibility of any reaction pathway is described in terms of two parameters, ΔR and Δχ, both readily computable at zero force.     

Morphology,thermal stability,and flammability of polymer matrix composites coated with hybrid nanopapers

In this study, a hybrid nanopaper consisting of carbon nanofiber (CNF) and polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) or cloisite Na⁺ clay, has been fabricated through the papermaking process. The hybrid nanopaper was then coated on the surface of glass fiber (GF) reinforced polymer matrix composites through resin transfer molding (RTM) process. The morphologies of the hybrid nanopaper and resulting nanocomposites were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It can be seen that the nanopaper had a porous structure with highly entangled carbon nanofibers and the polyester resin completely penetrated the nanopaper throughout the thickness. The thermal decomposition behavior of the hybrid nanopapers and nanocomposites was studied with the real‐time thermogravimetric analysis/ flourier transform infrared spectrometry (TGA/FTIR). The test results indicate that the addition of pristine nanoclay increased the thermal stability of the nanopaper, whereas the POSS particles decreased the thermal stability of the nanopaper. The fire retardant performance of composite laminates coated with the hybrid nanopaper was evaluated with cone calorimeter tests using a radiated heat flux of 50 kW/m². The cone calorimeter test results indicate that the peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreased dramatically in composite laminates coated with the CNF‐clay nanopaper. However, the PHRRs of the CNF‐POSS nanopaper coated composite laminates increased. The formation of compact char materials was observed on the surface of the residues of the CNF‐clay nanopaper after cone calorimeter test. The flame retardant mechanisms of the hybrid nanopaper in the composite laminates are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Methylene Blue/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Modified Electrode for the Amperometric Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide

A novel amperometric sensor based on the incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into a poly(methylene blue) (PMB) film immobilized on carbon composite electrodes is described. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that at a surface covered by a MWCNT/PMB layer the cathodic reduction of hydrogen peroxide is facilitated and occurs already at 0.0 V versus SCE. The effect of the order of deposition of PMB and MWCNT, as well as its loading, on electrochemical behaviour was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The influence of the various immobilised platforms on the electrocatalytic performance towards hydrogen peroxide was also examined.     

Ion Mobility Measurements of Nondenatured 12–150 kDa Proteins and Protein Multimers by Tandem Differential Mobility Analysis–Mass Spectrometry (DMA-MS)

The mobilities of electrosprayed proteins and protein multimers with molecular weights ranging from 12.4 kDa (cytochrome C monomers) to 154 kDa (nonspecific concanavalin A hexamers) were measured in dry air by a planar differential mobility analyzer (DMA) coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). The DMA determines true mobility at atmospheric pressure, without perturbing ion structure from that delivered by the electrospray. A nondenaturing aqueous 20 mM triethylammonium formate buffer yields compact ions with low charge states, moderating polarization effects on ion mobility. Conversion of mobilities into cross-sections involves a reduction factor ξ for the actual mobility relative to that associated with elastic specular collisions with smooth surfaces. ξ is known to be 1.36 in air from Millikan’s oil drop experiments. A similar enhancement effect ascribed to atomic-scale surface roughness has been found in numerical simulations. Adopting Millikan’s value ξ = 1.36 and assuming a spherical geometry yields a gas-phase protein density ρ _p = 0.949 ± 0.053 g cm⁻³ for all our protein data. This is substantially higher than the 0.67 g cm⁻³ found in recent low-resolution DMA measurements of singly charged proteins. DMA-MS can distinguish nonspecific protein aggregates formed during the electrospray process from those formed preferentially in solution. The observed charge versus diameter relation is compatible with a protein charge reduction mechanism based on the evaporation of triethylammonium ions from electrosprayed drops.     

Dipole-Guided Electron Capture Causes Abnormal Dissociations of Phosphorylated Pentapeptides

Electron transfer and capture mass spectra of a series of doubly charged ions that were phosphorylated pentapeptides of a tryptic type (pS,A,A,A,R) showed conspicuous differences in dissociations of charge-reduced ions. Electron transfer from both gaseous cesium atoms at 100 keV kinetic energies and fluoranthene anion radicals in an ion trap resulted in the loss of a hydrogen atom, ammonia, and backbone cleavages forming complete series of sequence z ions. Elimination of phosphoric acid was negligible. In contrast, capture of low-energy electrons by doubly charged ions in a Penning ion trap induced loss of a hydrogen atom followed by elimination of phosphoric acid as the dominant dissociation channel. Backbone dissociations of charge-reduced ions also occurred but were accompanied by extensive fragmentation of the primary products. z-Ions that were terminated with a deaminated phosphoserine radical competitively eliminated phosphoric acid and H₂PO₄ radicals. A mechanism is proposed for this novel dissociation on the basis of a computational analysis of reaction pathways and transition states. Electronic structure theory calculations in combination with extensive molecular dynamics mapping of the potential energy surface provided structures for the precursor phosphopeptide dications. Electron attachment produces a multitude of low lying electronic states in charge-reduced ions that determine their reactivity in backbone dissociations and H- atom loss. The predominant loss of H atoms in ECD is explained by a distortion of the Rydberg orbital space by the strong dipolar field of the peptide dication framework. The dipolar field steers the incoming electron to preferentially attach to the positively charged arginine side chain to form guanidinium radicals and trigger their dissociations.     

Disruption of Wnt planar cell polarity signaling by aberrant accumulation of the MetAP-2 substrate Rab37

Identification of methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP-2) as the molecular target of the antiangiogenic compound TNP-470 has sparked interest in N-terminal Met excision's (NME) role in endothelial cell biology. In this regard, we recently demonstrated that MetAP-2 inhibition suppresses Wnt planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling and that endothelial cells depend on this pathway for normal function. Despite this advance, the substrate(s) whose activity is altered upon MetAP-2 inhibition, resulting in loss of Wnt PCP signaling, is not known. Here we identify the small G protein Rab37 as a MetAP-2-specific substrate that accumulates in the presence of TNP-470. A functional role for aberrant Rab37 accumulation in TNP-470's mode of action is demonstrated using a Rab37 point mutant that is resistant to NME, because expression of this mutant phenocopies the effects of MetAP-2 inhibition on Wnt PCP signaling-dependent processes.