Research Progress and Application of Ion Funnel Technique

Ion funnel is a new-style ion guider which can reduce spatial divergence and energy dispersity of the transmission ions by using radio frequency (RF) electric field to confine the ions radially and the direct current (DC) axial electric field to move the ions toward the exit, and thus it can greatly increase the ion transmission efficiency and improve the sensitivity of the mass spectrometry. Since ion funnel was invented in 1997, it has attracted a close attention of mass spectrometry scientists all over the world. Ion funnel has been used in various kinds of mass spectrometry, and built a bridge with high efficiency ion transmission between low vacuum ionization source and high vacuum mass analyzer. In this paper, the principle, technology development, and application progress of ion funnel are reviewed, and the future prospects are prospected.     

Designing a Perylene Diimide/Fullerene Hybrid as Effective Electron Transporting Material in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency and Stability

Electron transport materials (ETM) play an important role in the improvement of efficiency and stability for inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This work reports an efficient ETM, named PDI‐C₆₀, by the combination of perylene diimide (PDI) and fullerene. Compared to the traditional PCBM, this strategy endows PDI‐C₆₀ with slightly shallower energy level and higher electron mobility. As a result, the device based on PDI‐C₆₀ as electron transport layer (ETL) achieves high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.6 %, which is significantly higher than those of the control devices of PCBM (16.6 %) and PDI (13.8 %). The high PCE of the PDI‐C₆₀‐based device can be attributed to the more matching energy level with the perovskite, more efficient charge extraction, transport, and reduced recombination rate. To the best of our knowledge, the PCE of 18.6 % is the highest value in the PSCs using PDI derivatives as ETLs. Moreover, the device with PDI‐C₆₀ as ETL exhibits better device stability due to the stronger hydrophobic properties of PDI‐C₆₀. The strategy using the PDI/fullerene hybrid provides insights for future molecular design of the efficient ETM for the inverted PSCs.     

One‐step Electrodeposition of Tris(hydroxymethyl) Aminomethane – Prussian Blue on Screen‐printed Electrode for Highly Efficient Detection of Glycosylated Hemoglobin

In this work, the modified Prussian blue (PB) film showed more stable performance in alkaline solution by one‐step electrodepositon of PB with tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) on screen‐printed electrode (SPE). The morphology and structure of the modified Tris‐PB/SPE was characterized by scanning electronic microscopy, infra spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. It was inferred that the Tris particles embedded in the PB deposit layer resulted in the change of PB structure and improve its stability in alkaline solution. And then, the modified Tris‐PB/SPE was applied in the detection of Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). The optimum experimental conditions are pH 7.5, 100 mV/s, 4 μL FAOD and 5 min reaction time. The linearship of HbA1c is i=22.90 C+101.9 in the range of 0.1–2 mmol/L. Comparing with PB/SPE, Tris‐PB/SPE shows better sensitivity and recovery.     

Determination of salbutamol in human plasma and urine using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination of salbutamol in human plasma and urine, and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of salbutamol in Chinese healthy volunteers after inhalation of salbutamol sulfate aerosol. Salbutamol and the internal standard (IS) acetaminophen in plasma and urine were extracted with ethyl acetate, separated on a C₁₈ reversed‐phase column, eluted with mobile phase of acetonitrile–ammonium acetate (5 m m ; 30:70, v/v), ionized by positive ion pneumatically assisted electrospray and detected in the multi‐reaction monitoring mode using precursor → product ions of m/z 240.2 → 148.1 for salbutamol and 152 → 110 for the IS. The lower limits of quantitation of salbutamol in human plasma and urine by this method were 0.02 and 1 ng/mL, respectively. The specificity, matrix effect, recovery, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision and several stabilities were validated for salbutamol in human plasma and urine. In conclusion, the validation results showed that this method is robust, specific and sensitive, and can successfully fulfill the requirement of clinical pharmacokinetic study of salbutamol in healthy Chinese volunteers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Push-through direct injection NMR: an optimized automation method applied to metabolomics

There is a pressing need to increase the throughput of NMR analysis in fields such as metabolomics and drug discovery. Direct injection (DI) NMR automation is recognized to have the potential to meet this need due to its suitability for integration with the 96-well plate format. However, DI NMR has not been widely used as a result of some insurmountable technical problems; namely: carryover contamination, sample diffusion (causing reduction of spectral sensitivity), and line broadening caused by entrapped air bubbles. Several variants of DI NMR, such as flow injection analysis (FIA) and microflow NMR, have been proposed to address one or more of these issues, but not all of them. The push-through direct injection technique reported here overcomes all of these problems. The method recovers samples after NMR analysis, uses a "brush-wash" routine to eliminate carryover, includes a procedure to push wash solvent out of the flow cell via the outlet to prevent sample diffusion, and employs an injection valve to avoid air bubbles. Herein, we demonstrate the robustness, efficiency, and lack of carryover characteristics of this new method, which is ideally suited for relatively high throughput analysis of the complex biological tissue extracts used in metabolomics, as well as many other sample types. While simple in concept and setup, this new method provides a substantial improvement over current approaches.     

Vitrifolin A: A Norlabdane Diterpenoid from the Fruits of Vitex trifolia Linn. var. simplicifolia Cham

A new norlabdane diterpenoid, named vitrifolin A, was isolated from the fruits of Vitex trifolia Linn. var. simplicifolia Cham. Its structure was elucidated by mean of spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR. The inhibitory effect of vitrifolin A on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccarideactivated mouse macrophages was also evaluated.     

Optimization of microwave‐assisted extraction for anthocyanins,polyphenols, and antioxidants from raspberry (Rubus Coreanus Miq.) using response surface methodology

Anthocyanins (Acys), polyphenols, and antioxidants were extracted from raspberry (Rubus Coreanus Miq.) using a highly efficient microwave‐assisted extraction technique. Different solvents, including methanol, ethanol, and acetone, were tested. The colors of the extracts varied from light yellow to purple red or dark red. SEM and other nutrient analyses verified that ethanol was the most favorable medium for the microwave‐assisted extraction of raspberry due to its high output and low toxicity. Effects of process parameters, including microwave power, irradiation time, and solvent concentration, were investigated through response surface methodology. Canonical analysis estimated that the highest total Acys content, total polyphenols content, and antioxidant activity of raspberry were 17.93 mg cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside equivalents per gram dry weight, 38.57 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight, and 81.24%, respectively. The polyphenol compositions of raspberry extract were identified by HPLC with diode array detection, and nine kinds of polyphenols were identified and quantified, revealing that chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, and rutin are the major polyphenols contained in raspberry fruits. Compared with other fruits and vegetables, raspberry contains higher Acy and polyphenol contents with stronger antioxidant activity, suggesting that raspberry fruits are a good source of natural food colorants and antioxidants.     

Thermal and optical properties of highly fluorinated copolymers of methacrylates

Copolymers of pentafluorophenylhexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (FPPMA) with trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) were prepared in THF solution and in bulk using azobisisobutyronitrile as a free radical initiator. The monomer reactivity ratios of TFEMA (M₁) and FPPMA (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.55 and r₂ = 0.07. The refractive indices of poly(TFEMA) and poly(FPPMA) are very similar as 1.435 and 1.430, respectively, at 532 nm, and the copolymer films were transparent. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the copolymers were in the range of 80–90°C and showed a negative deviation from the Gordon–Taylor equation. The thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) was increased with the content of FPPMA in copolymers. Low water absorption for 1:1 FPPMA/TFEMA copolymer was detected. Copolymers of FPPMA with hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFPMA) were also prepared. The monomer reactivity ratios of HFPMA (M₁) and FPPMA (M₂) were calculated as r₁ = 0.43 and r₂ = 0.10. The T_gs of the copolymers were in the range of 88–95°C and showed also a negative deviation from the Gordon–Taylor equation. T_g and T_d of the copolymers were increased with the content of FPPMA. The refractive index of poly(HFPMA) (1.384 at 532 nm) is much lower than that of FPPMA homopolymer, but copolymer films obtained were clear and transparent. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidant Effect of H2O2 for the Syntheses of Quinoline Derivatives via One-Pot Reaction of Aniline and Aldehyde

A convenient one-pot method for the synthesis of substituted quinolines via the reaction of aniline and aldehyde in the presence of a Lewis acid (AlCl₃) and an oxidant (H₂O₂) has been developed. Hydrogen peroxide was found to promote the reaction by its function as a hydrogen hunter, hindering the formation of by-product N-alkylaniline. The effect of the oxidant on the yield and selectivity was studied. When the molar ratio of aniline, n-butyraldehyde, and H₂O₂ was 1:3:0.5 at 25 °C, the yield of 3-ethyl-2-propylquinoline was improved from 64% (reaction without H₂O₂) to 84% (with H₂O₂), and the quinoline selectivity was improved to almost 100%. Moreover, the reaction time was obviously reduced. The substituent effect was also investigated in this work.     

氢在钯单晶表面的解离与在体相的扩散

氢分子在金属表面的解离吸附与氢原子在金属体相的扩散是个典型的表面过程.前者在甲烷化及合成氨等基础化工反应中起着关键作用;后者常常导致金属材料的脆化与断裂,但过渡金属及其合金是安全和优良的储氢材料.因此,研究氢分子在金属表面的解离吸附与氢原子在金属体相的扩散,是多相催化与金属物理广泛感兴趣的课题,具有重要的理论和应用价值.本文采用分子动力学方法初步探讨了二者之间的关联.分子催化动力学为从微观层次上研究上述课题提供了一种理论方法.本文采用经过我们改进的半经验LEPS方法,计算了氢分子在Pd(100)和(110)晶面的解离和氢原子在钯表面与体相扩散的相互作用位能面,并根据计算结果探讨了其微观机理.