Density Functional Theory Study of the Interaction between Guanine and Catechin

The interacting patterns and mechanism of the catechin and guanine have been investigated with the density functional theory B3LYP method by 6‐31G* basis set. Fourteen stable structures for the catechin‐guanine complexes have been found which form two hydrogen bonds at least. The results indicate that the complexes are mainly stabilized by the hydrogen bonding interactions. At the same time, the number and strength of hydrogen bond play a co‐determinant parts in the stability of the complexes which can form two or more hydrogen bonds. Theories of atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) have been adopted to investigate the hydrogen bonds involved in all systems. The interaction energies of all complexes have been corrected for basis set superposition error (BSSE), ranging from ?38.86 to ?14.56 kJ/mol. The results showed that the hydrogen bonding contributes to the interaction energies dominantly. The corresponding bonds stretching motions in all complexes are red‐shifted relative to that of the monomer, which is in agreement with experimental results.     

PLA制备Tb-Si纳米颗粒及室温光致发光性能研究

采用脉冲激光烧蚀技术(PLA)在n型Si(100)单晶衬底上制备Tb-Si纳米颗粒。原子力显微镜(AFM)观察样品的表面形貌,发现样品表面是均匀分布的纳米颗粒,颗粒尺寸在10~20 nm之间,分布密度大约为6×1010/cm2。光电子能谱(XPS)及高分辨透射电镜(HRTEM)分析表明,纳米尺度的单晶硅化物颗粒的主要成分为Tb-Si及少量Tb-Si-O结构。室温下以荧光为激发光对样品的光致发光(photoluminescence)性能进行测试,结果表明样品在可见光区具有较强的发光现象,主要有4个发光峰,分别位于485,545,585和620 nm附近,这些发光峰主要由Tb3+中电子在不同能级之间的跃迁造成。     

N,B, Si-tridoped mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> with high surface area and excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity

N, B, Si-tridoped mesoporous TiO₂, together with N-doped, N, B-codoped and N, Si-codoped TiO₂, was prepared by a modified sol–gel method. The samples were characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), N₂ adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV–visible adsorbance spectra (UV–vis) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The N, B, Si-tridoped mesoporous TiO₂ showed small crystallite size, large specific surface area (350 m²/g), uniform pore distribution (3.2 nm) and strong absorption in the visible light region. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by the photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) aqueous solution. The N, B, Si-tridoping sample exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity compared with other synthesized photocatalysts. The high activity could be attributed to the strong absorption in the visible light region, large specific surface area, small crystallite size, large amount of surface hydroxyl groups, and mesoporosity.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of nitrite based on nano-alumina-modified electrode

Simple and sensitive electrochemical method for the determination of nitrite, based on a nano-alumina-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), is described. Nitrite yields a well-defined oxidation peak whose potential is 0.74 V at the nano-alumina-coated GCE in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer (pH 5.0). Compared with bare GCE, the nano-alumina-modified GCE has evident catalytic effect towards the oxidation of nitrite, and its peak current can be significantly enhanced. Some of the experimental parameters were optimized for the determination of nitrite. The oxidation peak current was proportional to nitrite concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸–1.1 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹, and a detection limit of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ was obtained. This method has been successfully used to the determination of nitrite in sausage sample. Furthermore, results obtained by the method have been compared with spectrophotometric method.     

Third-order nonlinear and planar waveguide properties of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/organically modified silane hybrid films doped with different disperse red 1 content

TiO₂/organically modified silane organic–inorganic hybrid films doped with different disperse red 1 contents are prepared by combining a low-temperature sol–gel method and a spin-coating process. Effects of the disperse red 1 content on the third-order nonlinear and the planar waveguide properties of the hybrid films are also studied by a z-scan technique and a prism coupling technique. Results indicate that the nonlinear refractive index of the hybrid films is negative, whose magnitude is of the order of 10⁻⁸ esu for the measured samples. It is suggested that both the thermal effect and the photoisomerization process contribute to the third-order nonlinear optical properties of the hybrid films jointly. It is also found that the refractive index and the thickness of the hybrid films decrease with an increase of the temperature as the independent variable. In addition to, optical absorption properties of the hybrid films are characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy. These results indicate that the as-prepared hybrid films are promising candidates for photonic applications.     

Tracking bacterial infection of macrophages using a novel red-emission pH sensor

The relationship between bacteria and host phagocytic cells is key to the induction of immunity. To visualize and monitor bacterial infection, we developed a novel bacterial membrane permeable pH sensor for the noninvasive monitoring of bacterial entry into murine macrophages. The pH sensor was constructed using 2-dicyanomethylene-3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran (TCF) as an electron-withdrawing group and aniline as an electron-donating group. A piperazine moiety was used as the pH-sensitive group. Because of the strong electron-donating and -withdrawing units conjugated in the sensing moiety M, the fluorophore emitted in the red spectral window, away from the autofluorescence regions of the bacteria. Following the engulfment of sensor-labeled bacteria by macrophages and their subsequent merger with host lysosomes, the resulting low-pH environment enhances the fluorescence intensity of the pH sensors inside the bacteria. Time-lapse analysis of the fluorescent intensity suggested significant heterogeneity of bacterial uptake among macrophages. In addition, qRT-PCR analysis of the bacterial 16 S rRNA gene expression within single macrophage cells suggested that the 16 S rRNA of the bacteria was still intact 120 min after they had been engulfed by macrophages. A toxicity assay showed that the pH sensor has no cytotoxicity towards either E. coli or murine macrophages. The sensor shows good repeatability, a long lifetime, and a fast response to pH changes, and can be used for a variety of bacteria.     

Ionic liquid-modified silica as a new stationary phase for chromatographic separation

A new stationary phase based on silica modified with 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium chloride was synthesized and characterized in this paper. A derivative of 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium chloride was used to chemically modify the surface of silica particles to act as the stationary phase for HPLC. The modified particles were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface modification procedure rendered particles with a surface coverage of 0.89 μmol/m² of alkylimidazolium chloride. Columns packed with the modified silica and blank silica particles were tested under HPLC conditions. Preliminary evaluation of the stationary phase for HPLC was performed using aromatic compounds as model compounds. The separation mechanism appears to involve multiple interactions including ion exchange, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.     

Mechanical properties of silica hydrogels prepared and aged at physiological conditions: testing in the compression mode

The mechanical properties for silica hydrogel prepared at physiological conditions are reported in this paper. The mechanical testing was performed in the compression mode determining the mechanical characteristics as a function of aging time in TRIS buffer up to 14 days. In addition to a typically used gradient method for Young’s modulus determination from the stress–strain curves, a new phenomenological model was proposed to describe the experimental data. The mechanical properties were stabilized after 2 days of aging, which was concluded from an increase in Young’s modulus between 90 and 400 kPa, an increase in stress at break between 50 and 100 kPa and by a decrease in relative deformation at break from 0.26 to 0.16. The height of samples was constant in the first three days of aging followed by a decrease by ~20%. Dissolving of silica hydrogel characterized through determination of silica content in TRIS buffer employing the molybdenum method was not found to be responsible for this phenomenon. The phenomenological model is proposed to be used for a reliable evaluation of mechanical properties of silica as well as other hydrogels exhibiting low Young’s modulus.     

[Cu(X-salicylato)2(N,N-diethylnicotinamide)2(H2O)2] complexes: conformational polymorphism and its consequence in supramolecular hydrogen-bonding networks formation

Novel copper(II) X-salicylate complexes with N,N-diethylnicotinamide (dena) of the formula [Cu(RCOO)₂(dena)₂(H₂O)₂] (RCOO = 3-methylsalicylate anion (3-Mesal, 1), 4-methylsalicylate anion (4-Mesal, 2), 5-methylsalicylate anion (5-Mesal, 3), 5-methoxysalicylate anion (5-MeOsal, 4) or 4-methoxysalicylate anion (4-MeOsal, 5)), and complex [Cu(3-MeOsal)₂(dena)₂(H₂O)₂]∙2H₂O (3-MeOsal = 3-methoxysalicylate anion (6)) have been prepared in the crystalline forms and characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, Vis–UV, EPR). All the compounds according to their composition (1–5) seem to possess octahedral copper(II) stereochemistry. The complex 1 has been prepared in two different forms. X-ray analyses of the complexes 1, 4, and 5 were carried out and they featured a tetragonal-bipyramidal geometry around the copper atoms. The tetragonal planes are created by X-salicylate anions bonded to the copper(II) atoms via unidentate carboxylate oxygen atoms and the pyridine ring nitrogen atoms of the neutral ligand N,N-diethylnicotinamide, while in axial positions are water molecules. The two forms of complex 1 present conformation polymorphs and supramolecular isomers.     

纳米TiO_2薄膜的制备及性能表征

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了以玻璃为基底具有高光催化活性,表面均匀、透明、无裂纹的纳米TiO2薄膜.研究了反应物配比对薄膜表面形貌、透光率和光催化活性的影响,确定了最佳反应物配比.采用扣除背景干扰的方法,利用甲基橙的降解率对TiO2薄膜的光催化性能进行了评价,对其透光率、光催化活性以及物相形貌进行了表征.结果表明,在最佳反应物配比条件下,所制备的TiO2薄膜表面光滑平整,粒径为纳米级且分布均匀,具有80%高透光率和99%高光催化活性.