Lead-free Perovskite Materials (NH4)3Sb2IxBr9−x

A family of perovskite light absorbers (NH₄)₃Sb₂I_xBr_9−x (0≤x≤9) was prepared. These materials show good solubility in ethanol, a low-cost, hypotoxic, and environmentally friendly solvent. The light absorption of (NH₄)₃Sb₂I_xBr_9−x films can be tuned by adjusting I and Br content. The absorption onset for (NH₄)₃Sb₂I_xBr_9−x films changes from 558 nm to 453 nm as x changes from 9 to 0. (NH₄)₃Sb₂I₉ single crystals were prepared, exhibiting a hole mobility of 4.8 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and an electron mobility of 12.3 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. (NH₄)₃Sb₂I₉ solar cells gave an open-circuit voltage of 1.03 V and a power conversion efficiency of 0.51 %.     

Electrochemical Determination of Uric Acid Using a Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Platinum–Nickel Alloy Glassy Carbon Electrode

Platinum–nickel nanoparticles were synthesized by a reduction procedure. The Pt–Ni/C composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical analysis. The measurements show that the Pt–Ni/multiwalled carbon nanotubes provided higher electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of uric acid than Pt–Ni/carbon black. The sensor prepared from the characterized material provided a long linear dynamic range from 0.1 to 240.4?µM with a detection limit of 0.03?µM and a sensitivity of 41.21?µA?mM^?1?cm^?2. The reported modified electrode also provided excellent selectivity, good stability, and satisfactory reproducibility for the determination of uric acid.     

Review: Separation and Pharmacology of Chiral Compounds in Traditional Chinese Medicine

More than 60% commonly used pharmaceutical active ingredients are chiral compounds. Developing more effective and safe chiral compounds has become a focus in the pharmaceutical industry. Chiral compounds widely exist in traditional Chinese medicine and include alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, and amino acids. The characterization of chiral compounds used in traditional Chinese medicine remains limited. Here, the characterization of chiral compounds commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine is reviewed focusing upon their separation and pharmacology.     

An isothermal strand displacement amplification strategy for nucleic acids using junction forming probes and colorimetric detection

The authors describe a method for DNA target recognition and signal amplification that is based on the target-induced formation of a three way junction. The subsequent assembly of two DNA probes releases the inhibitory strand and triggers a downstream strand displacement amplification. This causes the formation of a G-rich single sequence that binds to a hemin monomer with its peroxidase-mimicking properties. The resulting peroxidase (POx) activity is quantified by using H₂O₂ and TMB as the substrate. In the presence of an inhibitor, in contrast, the POx-like activity is strongly reduced. This forms the basis for a highly sensitive DNA assay. It has a 0.8 pM detection limit when operated at a wavelength of 450 nm and was applied to the isothermal determination of target DNA with high selectivity.

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Graphical abstract Schematic of the assay: Introduction of target results in the formation of a three way junction. The subsequent assembly of two probes releases the inhibitory strand and triggers a downstream strand displacement amplification, generating amount of G-rich single sequence which causes peroxidase-mimicking activity on binding to a hemin monomer.

     

Acid–base and coordination properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meso</Emphasis>-substituted porphyrins in nonaqueous solutions

Acid–base and coordination properties of alkyl and aryl meso-substituted porphyrins are studied spectrophotometrically in nonaqueous solutions. It is found that the nature of the substituent greatly affects the basicity of ligands for porphyrins characterized by a flat structure of macrocycle. The electronic effects of substituents have a much weaker influence on the kinetics of complexing. These effects could be due to the opposite orientation of some factors: an increase in the basicity and stability of the N–H bonds of porphyrin reaction centers. Dissociation constants pK _b of the cationic forms of meso-substituted derivatives of porphyrin are measured. The values of pK _b are in good agreement with classic concepts of the nature of substituents, particularly those indirectly included in the macrocycle through phenyl buffer rings.     

亚微米级Cu0/Fe3O4复合物多相催化过一硫酸盐降解有机污染物

过一硫酸盐催化活化技术因其可产生强氧化性活性氧化物种,可快速氧化降解并矿化有机污染物的优异性能而备受关注.本文成功制备了亚微米级Cu0/Fe3O4复合物,发现其能多相催化过一硫酸盐产生单线态氧降解有机污染物.首先,以CuCl2·2H2O,FeCl2·4H2O和FeCl3·6H2O为铜源和铁源,水合肼为还原剂,采用水热法在180oC反应24 h制备了亚微米级磁性Cu0/Fe3O4复合物.表征结果显示,所制材料为Cu0和Fe3O4的复合物,颗粒大小约为220 nm;单一相Cu0和Fe3O4晶体粒径分别为33.8和106.2 nm,而Cu0/Fe3O4复合物中Cu0和Fe3O4晶体粒径分别减为20.8和31.9 nm.这表明Cu0和Fe3O4复合降低了Cu0和Fe3O4晶体粒径,有利于Cu0和Fe3O4的分散.BET测试结果表明,Cu0/Fe3O4复合物比表面积为4.6 m2/g,与Cu0颗粒的(4.2 m2/g)相当,但远小于Fe3O4的(15.6 m2/g).制备的Cu0/Fe3O4复合物可有效催化过一硫酸盐产生单线态氧降解罗丹明B、亚甲基蓝、金橙II、苯酚和对氯酚.当Cu0/Fe3O4复合物的用量为0.1 g/L,过一硫酸盐浓度为0.5 mmol/L和初始pH为7时,Cu0/Fe3O4复合物可在30 min内完全降解20μmol/L的罗丹明B、亚甲基蓝、金橙II以及0.1 mmol/L的苯酚和对氯酚.对比试验显示,在相同条件下,Cu0和Fe3O4颗粒分别可以降解28%和20%的罗丹明B.这表明Cu0/Fe3O4复合物中的Cu0和Fe3O4晶体在催化过一硫酸盐降解污染物的反应中具有协同作用,这主要来源于Cu0/Fe3O4复合物中Cu0和Fe3O4的晶体粒径变小和更好的分散.采用分光光度法测定了降解反应液中铜和铁离子的溶出量.当Cu0/Fe3O4复合物的用量为0.1 g/L,过一硫酸盐浓度为0.5 mmol/L和初始pH为7时,反应60 min后,降解液中铜和铁离子的浓度分别为0.22和0.1 mg/L,仅占复合物中总铜和总铁量的1.1%和0.2%,表明Cu0/Fe3O4复合物具有较强的化学稳定性.所制Cu0/Fe3O4复合物具有超顺磁性,借助磁场实现快速分离回收,可循环利用五次,表明其优越的催化稳定性.通过加入乙醇和叠氮化钠,考察了Cu0/Fe3O4复合物催化活化过一硫酸盐体系中的活性氧化物种.发现100 mmol/L乙醇的加入对污染物的降解无明显影响,而加入同等量的叠氮化钠可完全抑制污染物的降解,表明Cu0/Fe3O4复合物催化活化过一硫酸盐产生的主要活性氧物种为单线态氧.采用电子顺磁共振谱进一步证实了单线态氧的生成.基于以上研究,Cu0/Fe3O4复合物催化活化过一硫酸盐的机理为Cu0/Fe3O4作为一个电子媒介加速过一硫酸盐和污染物之间的电子转移,从而导致污染物被快速降解.该反应机理不同于常见的金属催化过一硫酸盐产生硫酸根和羟自由基的反应机理.我们推测,电导性优良的Cu0在此催化反应中起着关键性作用.本催化方法可作为一种绿色的氧化技术用于环境污染物的氧化降解处理.     

Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-cyclodextrin)-mediated polylactide-cholesterol stereocomplex micelles for controlled drug delivery

A series of host-guest interaction-adjusted polylactide stereocomplex micelles was prepared via the self-assembly of 4-armed poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-lactide/D-lactide)-cholesterol (4-armed PEG-b-PLLA/PDLA-CHOL) and poly(β-cyclodextrin) (PCD) with the molar ratios of CHOL/β-CD at 1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2 in an aqueous environment. The hydrodynamic diameters of the micelles ranged from 84.1 nm to 107 nm depending on the molar ratio of CHOL/β-CD. It was shown that the micelle with the largest proportion of PCD possessed excellent abilities in drug release, cell internalization as well as proliferation inhibitory effect toward human A549 lung cancer cells. The results demonstrated that the stereocomplex and host-guest interactions-mediated PLA micelles exhibited great potential in sustained drug delivery.     

Metal-Chelate Affinity Precipitation with Thermo-Responsive Polymer for Purification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ε</Emphasis>-Poly-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Lysine

ε-Poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) is a natural preservative for food processing industry. A thermo-responsive polymer, attached with Cu²⁺ or Ni²⁺, was prepared for metal-chelate affinity precipitation for purification of ε-PL. The low critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of these polymers were close to the room temperature (31.0–35.0 °C). The optimal adsorption conditions were as follows: pH 4.0, 0 mol/L NaCl, ligand density 75.00 μmol/g, and 120 min. The ligand Cu²⁺ showed a stronger affinity interaction with ε-PL and the highest adsorption amount reached 251.93 mg/g polymer. The elution recovery of ε-PL could be 98.42% with 0.50 mol/L imidazole (pH = 8.0) as the eluent. The method could purify ε-PL from fermentation broth and the final product was proved as electrophoretic pure by SDS-PAGE. Moreover, these affinity polymers could be recycled after the purification of ε-PL and the recoveries were above 95.00%.

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Graphical Abstract Scheme for affinity precipitation of ε-PL

     

Broadband reflective liquid crystal films induced by facile temperature-dependent coexistence of chiral nematic and TGB phase

A wide pitch gradient covering the near infrared region (750.0–2500.0 nm) were facilely obtained by simple controlling temperature difference to LC mixtures with a twist grain boundary (TGB)–N* phase transition. After the pitch gradient formed, the structure of broad reflective bandwidth was fixed through polymerisation of monomers in mixtures by UV irradiation. It was found that the temperature difference between the up and down side of the samples was critical to form wide-pitch gradient distribution. Additionally, the reflection wavelength and bandwidth of films could be adjusted by the applied temperature difference with the widest bandwidth up to 1750 nm. This simple method for the preparation of broad reflective films was expected to be used in the fields like architectural energy conservation or infrared shield.     

汽轮机转子在气流力和油膜力作用下的非线性动力学特性

为了分析转子在油膜力和气流激振力共同作用下的非线性振动特性，本文以短轴承支撑的不平衡刚性对称Jeffcott转子系统为研究对象，首先分析转子在非稳态油膜力作用下的振动特性，然后分析转子在油膜力和气流激振力共同作用下的非线性振动特性。采用数值模拟的方法研究了系统的分岔和混沌特性，计算结果表明，考虑气流激振力和油膜力共同作用下的转子系统与仅考虑油膜力的转子系统相比，在相对进气速度v=30m／s时，随着无量纲转速ω的增加。二者都出现了周期运动和混沌运动多次交替出现的复杂运动特性，但是前者首次出现倍周期分岔和混沌运动时的转运提前，在定转速情况下，随着v的增大，系统最终在经历周期运动之后进入混沌运动，而且圆盘中心的最大振幅随着v的增大而增大。