On-line hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis with flame-heated furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for trace mercury speciation

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was directly interfaced to flame-heated furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FHF-AAS) via a laboratory-made thermospray interface for nanoliter trace element speciation. The CE-FHF-AAS interface integrated the superiorities of stable CE separation, complete sample introduction, and continuous vaporization for AAS detection without the need of extra external heat sources and any post-column derivation steps. To demonstrate the usefulness of the developed hybrid technique for speciation analysis, three environmentally significant and toxic forms of methylmercury (MeHg), phenylmercury (PhHg), and inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) were taken as model analytes. Baseline separation of the three mercury species was achieved by CE in a 60 cm long x 75 microm inner diameter fused-silica capillary at 20 kV and using a mixture of 100 mM boric acid and 10% v/v methanol (pH 8.30) as running electrolyte. The precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, n = 7) of migration time, peak area and peak height for the mercury species at 500 microg x L(-1) (as Hg) level were in the range of 0.9-1.2%, 1.5-1.9%, and 1.4-2.0%, respectively. The detection limit (S/N = 3) of three mercury species was 3.0 +/- 0.15 pg (as Hg), corresponding to 50.8 +/- 2.4 microg x L(-1) (as Hg) for 60 nL sample injection, which was almost independent on specific mercury species. The developed hybrid technique was successfully applied to the speciation analysis of mercury in a certified reference material (DORM-2, dogfish muscle).     

Wafer-scale periodic nanohole arrays templated from two-dimensional nonclose-packed colloidal crystals

This communication reports a simple yet versatile nonlithographic approach for fabricating wafer-scale periodic nanohole arrays from a large variety of functional materials, including metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. Spin-coated two-dimensional (2D) nonclose-packed colloidal crystals are used as first-generation shadow masks during physical vapor deposition to produce isolated nanohole arrays. These regular nanoholes can then be used as second-generation etching masks to create submicrometer void arrays in the substrates underneath. Complex patterns with micrometer-scale resolution can be made by standard microfabrication techniques for potential device applications. These 2D-ordered nanohole arrays may find important technological applications ranging from subwavelength optics to interferometric biosensors.     

Two-photon excitation studies of hypocrellins for photodynamic therapy

The photophysical and photochemical properties of hypocrellins (HA and HB) are examined with two-photon excitations at 800 nm using femtosecond pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. The two-photon excited fluorescence spectra of HA and HB are very similar to those obtained by one-photon excitation, which may indicate that the two-photon induced photodynamic processes of hypocrellins are similar to one-photon induced photodynamic processes. The two-photon excitation cross sections of HA and HB are measured at 800 nm as about 34.8 x 10(-50) cm(4) s/photon and 21.3 x 10(-50) cm(4) s/photon, respectively. The large two-photon cross sections of both HA and HB, suggest that the hypocrellins can be potential two-photon phototherapeutic agents. As an example for two-photon photodynamic therapy of hypocrellins, we also further examine the cell-damaging effects of HA upon two-photon illumination. Our preliminary results of cell viability test indicate hypocrellins can effectively damage the Hela cells under two-photon illumination.     

Studies on the Synthesis of Ethylene Copolymers and Their Properties

The copolymerization of ethylene and 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) catalyzed by metallocene catalysts system is reported in this paper. The catalysts include Et(Ind)₂ ZrCl₂/MAO and Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO. The resulting copolymer contains an ethylidene group which can be readily converted to a hydroxyl group by hydrogen borane. Then the hydroxyl group in turn can be utilized for grafting with ?-caprolactone. The dependence of the graft weight percentage on the reaction time was also studied. The graft copolymer is a compatibilizer for various polyethylene blends with engineering plastics. A functional polyethylene can be easily synthesized by the copolymerization of ethylene and 9-decen-l-ol using a homogeneous catalytic system of El(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO. The resulting functional polyethylene was characterized by NMR, DSC, IR and TGA; and can also be utilized for grafting with ?-caprolactone. The grafted copolymer is also an effective compatibilizer.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of copper (II)-lanthanoid (III) binuclear complexes with N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl) oxamido ligand

Six novel μ-oxamido binuclear complexes, namely Cu(axpn)Ln(L)₂(ClO₄)₃ (Ln: Eu, Gd, Tb, Nd, Ho, Er), where oxpn is N,N'-bis(3-aminopropyl) oxamido, L denotes 5-nitro,10-phenanthroline (abbreviated as NO₂-phen), have been synthesized and characterised. The magnetic susceptibility of complexes Cu(oxpn)Gd(NO₂-phen)2(ClO₄)₃.2H₂O was measured over the 4–300 K and the observed data were successfully simulated by equation based on spin Hamiltonian operator (H = -2J₁ · S₂), giving the exchange integral J(Cu-Gd)=-1.62 cm^?1. This indicates a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) and Gd(III) ions.     

Enhanced electrical conductivity in chemically modified carbon nanotube/methylvinyl silicone rubber nanocomposite

Chemically modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes/methlyvinyl silicone rubber (m-MWNT/VMQ) nanocomposites with relatively good dispersion of nanotubes were prepared by treating the surface of MWNT using γ-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (KH550). Significant enhanced electrical conductivity was discovered in the m-MWNT/VMQ nanocomposites. The results could be attributed a strong interaction between m-MWNT and VMQ which was from the chemically modification of the surface for MWNT. The electrical property was also discussed in order to understand the percolation and electrical transport mechanism. The m-MWNT/VMQ nanocomposites with high conductivity in this study are promising application as one of novel functional materials.     

Synthesis and characterization of well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate)/CaCO3/SiO2 three-component composite particles via reverse atom transfer radical polymerization

The attempt to prepare structurally well-defined polymer/inorganic composite particles, i.e., poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/CaCO₃/SiO₂ three-component composite particles, via reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), using 2-2′-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile as initiator and Cu(II) bromide as catalyst was reported. CaCO₃/SiO₂ two-component composite particles were first obtained through sol–gel method, and their morphology and surface element information were determined by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicate that the CaCO₃ was encapsulated by the obtained SiO₂. After being modified by silane coupling agent, the CaCO₃/SiO₂ composite particles copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) under standard reverse ATRP conditions to produce PMMA/CaCO₃/SiO₂ three-component composite particles. In the case concerned, first-order kinetic plots and linear increase of molecular weight (Mn) vs conversion and narrow molecular weight distribution for the graft polymer samples were observed. Furthermore, the gel permeation chromatography results illustrated that both the free PMMA chains from the solvent and the graft PMMA chains from the surface of CaCO₃/SiO₂ two-component composite particles were growing at the same rate. Characterizations of the PMMA-grafted CaCO₃/SiO₂ composite particles were done by Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the surface of the modified inorganic particles was grafted by the MMA and that the grafting percentage was about 8.7%.     

Chains, ladders and sheets of d metal–organic polymers generated from the flexible bipyridyl ligands

By use of the three-layer diffusion method, reactions of flexible bipyridyl ligands (4,4′-bpp or 3,3′-bpp) with M(II) salts (M = Zn, Cd) and multi-carboxylate ligands resulted in the formation of four interesting d¹⁰ metal–organic coordination polymers: [Zn(μ-4,4′-bpp)Br₂]_n (1), [Zn(μ-4,4′-bpp)(1,2-bdc)]_n · nH₂O (2), [Zn(μ-3,3′-bpp)(1,3-bdc)]_n · nCH₃OH · 2nH₂O (3) and [Cd(μ-3,3′-bpp)(C₄H₂O₄)]_n · 3nH₂O (4) (4,4′-bpp = 2,2′-bis(4-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; 3,3′-bpp = 2,2 ′-bis(3-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; bdc=benzenedicarboxylate, C₄H₄O₄ = fumaric acid). Complex 1 has a 2D sheet structure consisting of two unusual zigzag Zn(II) chains which are nearly perpendicular to each other. Complex 2 is comprised of two-leg ladders, in which [Zn(4,4′-bpp)] chains serve as the side rails and 1,2-bdc ligands serve as the cross rungs. In complex 3, every two 1,3-bdc ligands connect the neighbouring Zn(II)-3,3′-bpp dimetallic rings in η¹ coordination modes into an interesting chain structure. Complex 4 consists of an anionic macrocycle-containing cadmium dicarboxylate sheets that are separated by 3,3′-bpp. These d¹⁰ metal complexes exhibit high thermal stabilities and strong luminescence efficiencies.     

末端碳链长度对偶氮苯自组装膜结构的影响

The end-group dominated molecular orientation in the azobenzene self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), CnAzoC2SH (n=1-4), on gold was evaluated for the first time by grazing incidence reflection absorption FTIR spectroscopy (RA-FTIR). All these azobenzene SAMs have highly-organized and closely-parked structures, with the molecule tilting away gradually from surface normal direction with the increase of end group alkyl length.     

In Situ Fabrication of ZnS Semiconductor Nanoparticles in Layered Organic-inorganic Solid Template

Ordered ZnS semiconductor nanoparticles were in situ synthesized in metal halide perovskite organic/inorganic layered hybrids (CnH2n 1NH3)2ZnCl4 (n=10 and 12) by reaction of their spin-casting films with H2S gas. Transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the morphology and the structure of formed nanoparticles. Obtained results indicate an effective way to incorporate functional inorganic nanoparticles into structured organic matrices.