Development and Investigation of a Mesh-Electrode Linear Ion Trap (ME-LIT) Mass Analyzer

A mesh-electrode linear ion trap (ME-LIT) mass analyzer was developed and its performance was primarily characterized. In conventional linear ion trap mass analyzers, the trapped ions are mass-selected and then ejected in a radial direction by a slot on a trap electrode. The presence of slots can strongly affect the electric field distribution in the ion trapping region and distort the mass analysis performance. To compensate for detrimental electric field effects, the slot is usually designed and fabricated to be as small as possible, and also has very high mechanical accuracy and symmetry. A ME-LIT with several mesh electrodes was built to compensate for the effects caused by slots. Each mesh electrode was fabricated from a plate electrode with a relatively large slot and the slot was covered with a conductive mesh. Our preliminary experimental results show that the ME-LIT could considerably diminish the detrimental electric field effects caused by slots, and increase the mass resolving power and ion detection efficiency. Even with 4-mm-wide slots, a mass resolution in excess of 600 was obtained using the ME-LIT. Mass resolution could be remarkably improved using mesh electrodes in ion traps with asymmetric electrodes. The stability diagram of the ME-LIT was mapped, and highly efficient tandem mass spectrometry was demonstrated. The ME-LIT was qualified as a LIT mass analyzer. The ME-LIT can improve the mass resolution and decrease the requirements of mechanical accuracy and symmetry of slots, so it shows potential for a wide range of practical uses.

Morphological transformations of nonequilibrium assemblies of amphiphilic diblock copolymer

Amphiphilic diblock copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) assembled into nonequilibrium bicontinuous structures or mixture of vesicles, bilayers and nanorods upon rapid micellization induced by rapid addition of selective solvent (water) into the PS-PEO solutions in a common solvent (dimethyl formamide) with different concentrations. These kinetically trapped assemblies were unstable and slowly evolved into thermodynamically favorable spheres and vesicles. The addition of non-ionic surfactant Pluronic P123 upon rapid micellization generated novel nanocages and flower-like vesicles. The nanocages spontaneously transformed into tubules capped with vesicles. These novel assemblies are beyond the classic phase diagram of block copolymer self-assemblies, especially for those primarily based on thermodynamics.     

Experimental and kinetic investigation of the pyrolysis,combustion, and gasification of deoiled asphalt

The pyrolysis, combustion, and gasification behaviors of deoiled asphalt were studied by a thermogravimetric analyzer and the kinetics were also analyzed using a multi-stage first-order integral model. All the experiments were conducted at non-isothermal conditions with heating rates range of 10–40 K min^?1 under N₂ (pyrolysis), air (combustion), or CO₂ (gasification) atmosphere, respectively. The results showed that, for pyrolysis, the reaction mainly occurred between 498 and 798 K and could be divided into two stages: the first was caused by the volatilization of small molecules and the second probably due to the cracking reactions. For combustion, the mass loss process could be divided into three stages: the devolatilization and oxidation first, the ignition and combustion of the volatiles second, and finally the combustion of the formed char. Under CO₂ atmosphere, the mass loss behavior was similar with that of the N₂ atmosphere at lower temperatures, but when the temperature was higher than 1,233 K, the gasification reaction obviously happened. The results of kinetic investigation showed that the multi-stage first-order integral method agreed well with the above experiments.     

The electrochemical Peltier heats of Fe(CN) 6 3− /Fe(CN) 6 4− system at 295.15 K

A specially designed thermo-electrochemical calorimeter was applied to measure the electrochemical Peltier heats (EPH) of Fe(CN) ₆ ^3?/4? system at 295.15 K. The curves of the electrode potential changes and temperature changes against time for Fe(CN) ₆ ^3?/4? couple with five groups of different concentrations were obtained under the condition of various constant-current polarizations. The EPH values for the considered electrode reaction are determined to be ?41.31, ?42.73, ?44.28, ?45.87, and ?46.65 kJ mol^?1 at the respective concentrations of 0.125, 0.175, 0.225, 0.275, and 0.300 mol dm^?3; and the EPH and the apparent enthalpy change corresponding to the infinite dilution to be ?37.42 and ?84.10 kJ mol^?1 at 295.15 K, respectively.     

The influence of silicone shell on double-layered microcapsules in intumescent flame-retardant natural rubber composites

The mechanisms of the thermal degradation of polyhedral oligomeric octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS), octa(nitrophenyl)silsesquioxane (ONPS), and octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS) were investigated. The –NO₂ or –NH₂ substituents on the phenyl group affected the mechanism of the POSS thermal degradation. The thermal stabilities of OPS, ONPS, and OAPS were characterized by TG and FTIR. Thermal degradation of OPS included mainly the degradation of caged polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane structures and phenyl groups. Nitro or amino substituents decreased its thermal stability. The thermal degradation processes of OPS, ONPS, and OAPS differed. Phenyl groups and cyclobutadiene were observed in the OPS degradation products. Oxygen radicals that caused intensive CO₂ release between 350 and 450 °C were generated by the degradation of ONPS –NO₂. OAPS released mainly aminophenyl groups at 370 °C, whereas a small number of phenyl groups decomposed at 500 °C. The OAPS reactivity could enhance the thermal stability of POSS structure in the polyimide OAPS composites.     

Improvement of electrochemical performance for Li-rich spherical Li1.3[Ni0.35Mn0.65]O2+x modified by Al2O3

The Li-rich Li_1.3[Ni_0.35Mn_0.65]O_2+x microspheres are firstly prepared and subsequently transferred into the Al₂O₃-coated Li-rich Li_1.3[Ni_0.35Mn_0.65]O_2+x microspheres by a simple deposition method. The as-prepared samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and charge/discharge tests. The results reveal that the Al₂O₃-coated Li-rich Li_1.3[Ni_0.35Mn_0.65]O_2+x sample has a typical α-NaFeO₂ layered structure with the existence of Li₂MnO₃-type integrated component, and the Al₂O₃ layer is uniformly coated on the surface of the spherical Li-rich Li_1.3[Ni_0.35Mn_0.65]O_2+x particles with a thickness of about 4 nm. Importantly, the Al₂O₃-coated Li-rich sample exhibits obviously improved electrochemical performance compared with the pristine one, especially the 2 wt.% Al₂O₃-coated sample shows the best electrochemical properties, which delivers an initial discharge capacity of 228 mAh g^?1 at a rate of 0.1 C in the voltage of 2.0–4.6 V, and the first coulombic efficiency is up to 90 %. Furthermore, the 2 wt.% Al₂O₃-coated sample represents excellent cycling stability with capacity retention of 90.9 % at 0.33 C after 100 cycles, much higher than that of the pristine one (62.2 %). Particularly, herein, the typical inferior rate capability of Li-rich layered cathode is apparently improved, and the 2 wt.% Al₂O₃-coated sample also shows a high rate capability, which can deliver a capacity of 101 mAh g^?1 even at 10 C. Besides, the thin Al₂O₃ layer can reduce the charge transfer resistance and stabilize the surface structure of active material during cycling, which is responsible for the improvement of electrochemical performance of the Li-rich Li_1.3[Ni_0.35Mn_0.65]O_2+x .     

A 3D 12‐Ring Zeolite with Ordered 4‐Ring Vacancies Occupied by (H2O)2 Dimers

A germanate zeolite, PKU‐14, with a three‐ dimensional large‐pore channel system was structurally characterized by a combination of high‐resolution powder X‐ray diffraction, rotation electron diffraction, NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Ordered Ge₄O₄ vacancies inside the [4⁶.6¹²] cages has been found in PKU‐14, in which a unique (H₂O)₂ dimer was located at the vacancies and played a structure‐directing role. It is the first time that water clusters are found to be templates for ordered framework vacancies.     

Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Metallic Sn in NiO/SnO2 Nanocomposite

It is well accepted that metallic tin as a discharge (reduction) product of SnO_x cannot be electrochemically oxidized below 3.00 V versus Li⁺/Li⁰ due to the high stability of Li₂O, though a similar oxidation can usually occur for a transition metal formed from the corresponding oxide. In this work, nanosized Ni₂SnO₄ and NiO/SnO₂ nanocomposite were synthesized by coprecipitation reactions and subsequent heat treatment. Owing to the catalytic effect of nanosized metallic nickel, metallic tin can be electrochemically oxidized to SnO₂ below 3.00 V. As a result, the reversible lithium‐storage capacities of the nanocomposite reach 970 mAh g^?1 or above, much higher than the theoretical capacity (ca. 750 mAh g^?1) of SnO₂, NiO, or their composites. These findings extend the well‐known electrochemical conversion reaction to non‐transition‐metal compounds and may have important applications, for example, in constructing high‐capacity electrode materials and efficient catalysts.     

Redesigning the DNA‐Targeted Chromophore in Platinum–Acridine Anticancer Agents: A Structure–Activity Relationship Study

Platinum–acridine hybrid agents show low‐nanomolar potency in chemoresistant non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but high systemic toxicity in vivo. To reduce the promiscuous genotoxicity of these agents and improve their pharmacological properties, a modular build–click–screen approach was used to evaluate a small library of twenty hybrid agents containing truncated and extended chromophores of varying basicities. Selected derivatives were resynthesized and tested in five NSCLC cell lines representing large cell, squamous cell, and adenocarcinomas. 7‐Aminobenz[c]acridine was identified as a promising scaffold in a hybrid agent ( P1–B1 ) that maintained submicromolar activity in several of the DNA‐repair proficient and p53‐mutant cancer models, while showing improved tolerability in mice by 32‐fold compared to the parent platinum–acridine ( P1–A1 ). The distribution and DNA/RNA adduct levels produced by the acridine‐ and benz[c]acridine‐based analogues in NCI‐H460 cells (confocal microscopy, ICP‐MS), and their ability to bind G‐quadruplex forming DNA sequences (CD spectroscopy, HR‐ESMS) were studied. P1–B1 emerges as a less genotoxic, more tolerable, and potentially more target‐selective hybrid agent than P1–A1 .     

Activation of Open‐Cage Fullerenes with Ruthenium Carbonyl Clusters

Reactions of the open‐cage fullerene C₆₃NO₂(Py)(Ph)₂ ( 1 ) with [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] produce [Ru₃(CO)₈(μ,η⁵‐C₆₃NO₂(Py)(Ph)₂)] ( 2 ), [Ru₂H(CO)₃(μ,η⁷‐C₆₃N(Py)(Ph)(C₆H₄))] ( 3 ), and [Ru(CO)(Py)₂₍η³‐C₆₃NO₂(Py)(Ph)₂)] ( 4 ), in which the orifice sizes are modified from 12 to 8, 11, and 15‐membered ring, through ruthenium‐mediated C?O and C?C bond activation and formation.