Nanocomposites of Tantalum‐Based Pyrochlore and Indium Hydroxide Showing High and Stable Photocatalytic Activities for Overall Water Splitting and Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Nanocomposites of tantalum‐based pyrochlore nanoparticles and indium hydroxide were prepared by a hydrothermal process for UV‐driven photocatalytic reactions including overall water splitting, hydrogen production from photoreforming of methanol, and CO₂ reduction with water to produce CO. The best catalyst was more than 20 times more active than sodium tantalate in overall water splitting and 3 times more active than Degussa P25 TiO₂ in CO₂ reduction. Moreover, the catalyst was very stable while generating stoichiometric products of H₂ (or CO) and O₂ throughout long‐term photocatalytic reactions. After the removal of In(OH)₃, the pyrochlore nanoparticles remained highly active for H₂ production from pure water and aqueous methanol solution. Both experimental studies and density functional theory calculations suggest that the pyrochlore nanoparticles catalyzed the water reduction to produce H₂, whereas In(OH)₃ was the major active component for water oxidation to produce O₂.     

Two‐Component Supramolecular Gels Derived from Amphiphilic Shape‐Persistent Cyclo[6]aramides for Specific Recognition of Native Arginine

A unique supramolecular two‐component gelation system was constructed from amphiphilic shape‐persistent cyclo[6]aramides and diethylammonium chloride (or triethylammonium chloride). This system has the ability to discriminate native arginine from 19 other amino acids in a specific fashion. Cyclo[6]aramides show preferential binding for the guanidinium residue over ammonium groups. This specificity was confirmed by both experimental results and theoretical simulations. These results demonstrated a new modular displacement strategy, exploring the use of species‐binding hydrogen‐bonded macrocyclic foldamers for the construction of two‐component gelation systems for selective recognition of native amino acids by competitive host–guest interactions. This strategy may be amenable to developing a variety of functional two‐component gelators for specific recognition of various targeted organic molecular species.     

Simultaneous Detection of Single Attoliter Droplet Collisions by Electrochemical and Electrogenerated Chemiluminescent Responses

We provide evidence of single attoliter oil droplet collisions at the surface of an ultra‐microelectrode (UME) by the observation of simultaneous electrochemical current transients (i–t curves) and electrogenerated chemiluminescent (ECL) transients in an oil/water emulsion. An emulsion system based on droplets of toluene and tri‐n‐propylamine (2:1 v/v) emulsified with an ionic liquid and suspended in an aqueous continuous phase was formed by ultrasonification. When an ECL luminophore, such as rubrene, is added to the emulsion droplet, stochastic events can be tracked by observing both the current blips from oxidation at the electrode surface and the ECL blips from the follow‐up ECL reaction, which produces light. This report provides a means of studying fundamental aspects of electrochemistry using the attoliter oil droplet and offers complementary analytical techniques for analyzing discrete collision events, size distribution of emulsion systems, and individual droplet electroactivity.     

PdII Complexes of [44]‐ and [46]Decaphyrins: The Largest Hückel Aromatic and Antiaromatic,and Möbius Aromatic Macrocycles

Reductive metalation of [44]decaphyrin with [Pd₂(dba)₃] provided a Hückel aromatic [46]decaphyrin Pd^II complex, which was readily oxidized upon treatment with DDQ to produce a Hückel antiaromatic [44]decaphyrin Pd^II complex. In CH₂Cl₂ solution the latter complex underwent slow tautomerization to a Möbius aromatic [44]decaphyrin Pd^II complex which exists as a mixture of conformers in dynamic equilibrium. To the best of our knowledge, these three Pd^II complexes represent the largest Hückel aromatic, Hückel antiaromatic, and Möbius aromatic complexes to date.     

Improving the Alkaline Stability of Imidazolium Cations by Substitution

Imidazolium cations are promising candidates for preparing anion‐exchange membranes because of their good alkaline stability. Substitution of imidazolium cations is an efficient way to improve their alkaline stability. By combining density functional theory calculations with experimental results, it is found that the LUMO energy correlates with the alkaline stability of imidazolium cations. The results indicate that alkyl groups are the most suitable substituents for the N3 position of imidazolium cations, and the LUMO energies of alkyl‐substituted imidazolium cations depend on the electron‐donating effect and the hyperconjugation effect. Comparing 1,2‐dimethylimidazolium cations (1,2‐DMIm⁺) and 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium cations (1,3‐DMIm⁺) with the same substituents reveals that the hyperconjugation effect is more significant in influencing the LUMO energy of 1,3‐DMIms. This investigation reveals that LUMO energy is a helpful aid in predicting the alkaline stability of imidazolium cations.     

Blue Luminescence of Dendrimer‐Encapsulated Gold Nanoclusters

Direct evidence for the blue luminescence of gold nanoclusters encapsulated inside hydroxyl‐terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers was provided by spectroscopic studies as well as by theoretical calculations. Steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopic studies showed that the luminescence of the gold nanoclusters consisted largely of two electronic transitions. Theoretical calculations indicate that the two transitions are attributed to the different sizes of the gold nanoclusters (Au₈ and Au₁₃). The luminescence of the gold nanoclusters was clearly distinguished from that of the dendrimers.     

Combined use of hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin and ionic liquids for the simultaneous enantioseparation of four azole antifungals by CE and a study of the synergistic effect

A CE method employing a dual system of hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) and ionic liquids (ILs) has been developed for the simultaneous enantioseparation of four azole antifungals for the first time. In this study, three different types of ILs were employed as modifiers and among them dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride was found to be the most effective. The effects of the concentration, cations, and anions of ILs on the enantioseparation were investigated. With the developed dual system, all the enantiomers were well separated in resolutions of 3.8, 3.5, 2.8, and 2.5 for miconazole, econazole, ketoconazole, and itraconazole, respectively. The interactions between dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and HP‐β‐CD were also studied using a neutral polyacrylamide coated capillary and ¹H NMR spectroscopy to further explore the synergistic effect involved. It was found that ILs improved the enantioseparation not only by changing the EOF, but also by interactions with HP‐β‐CD that could change its ability of forming inclusion complex with the enantiomers.     

毛细管气相色谱法测定工作场所空气中3种多环芳烃

采用毛细管气相色谱法测定工作场所空气中3种多环芳烃(萘、萘烷和四氢化萘)的含量。样品采用活性炭管采集,二硫化碳解吸20min,用DB-FFAP毛细管气相色谱柱分离,火焰离子检测器检测。3种多环芳烃在一定的质量浓度范围内与其峰面积呈线性关系,方法的检出限(3S/N)在0.05~0.5 mg·L-1之间。以空白样品为基体进行加标回收试验,所得回收率在89.3%~97.5%之间,测定值的相对标准偏差(n=6)在2.2%~5.4%之间。     

污染物甲胺为电子给体可见光下Pt/ZnIn2S4光催化制氢

用水热法制备了ZnIn2S4固溶体,并通过XRD和UV-vis漫反射光谱进行了表征.研究了一甲胺、二甲胺和三甲胺为给电子体,在Pt/ZnIn2S4上的可见光光催化制氢及自身的降解反应.3种甲胺都能显著提高光催化分解水制氢活性,同时自身得到很好的降解.电子给体的放氢活性顺序为:TMADMAMMA.通过红外衰减全反射(ATR-IR)法检测电子给体在ZnIn2S4表面的吸附行为,吸附强度大小依次为MMADMATMA.光催化活性与分子结构和在催化剂表面的吸附行为有关.3种污染物浓度对放氢活性的影响都符合Langmuir-Hinshelwood动力学模型.讨论了可能的化学反应机理.