调控强活性位点的智能光响应CO2吸附剂

光响应CO₂吸附剂能够通过外部光照的方式有效调节其捕获CO₂的能力，在吸附过程中具有可控性好和能源利用效率高的优势.然而目前报道的光响应CO₂吸附剂主要用于对弱吸附位点的调控，对强吸附位点的调控仍然是一项具有挑战性的任务.本工作构筑了一种光响应智能吸附剂，实现了对CO₂强吸附位点的光响应调控.吸附剂的构筑通过将具有顺反异构体的偶氮苯衍生物和含有伯胺的硅烷偶联剂引入介孔氧化硅实现.光照前偶氮苯处于反式构型，导致伯胺的静电势降低，充分暴露活性位；光照后偶氮苯转变为顺式构型，导致伯胺静电势的增加以及活性位点的遮蔽.吸附量在两种状态下的变化率能够达到43%，并且这一调节过程是可逆的.偶氮苯在不同构型下对伯胺的静电势产生了差异化的影响，从而实现了对吸附能力的调控.     

A Study of Electron Beam Induced Deposition and Nano Device Fabrication Using Liquid Cell TEM Technology

SiC_x nano dots and nano wires with sizes from 60 nm to approximately 2 µm were fabricated using liquid cell transmission electron microscope (TEM) technology. A SiCl₄ in CH₂Cl₂ solution was sealed between two pieces of Si₃N₄ window grids in an in situ TEM liquid cell. Focused 200 keV electron beams were used to bombard the sealed precursors, which caused decomposition of the precursor materials, and deposition of the nano materials on the Si₃N₄ window substrates. The size of nano dots increased with beam exposure time, following an approximately exponential relationship with the beam doses. Secondary electrons are attributed as the primary sources for the Si and C reduction. A nano device was formed from a deposited nano wire, with its electrical property characterized.     

可见近红外光响应直接Z型异质结光催化剂LaNiO3/CdS的产氢性能

通过冷凝-回流方式制备可见近红外光响应直接Z型LaNiO₃/CdS纳米复合物,在对其进行物理化学表征后将其应用于光解水产氢反应。在可见光照射下,LaNiO₃/CdS光催化剂在5 h的H₂产量达到737 μmol,其H₂产量是CdS的4.3倍(172 μmol)。光电化学测试证实,LaNiO₃/CdS之间异质结的构筑能有效地促进光生载流子在界面的迁移、分离,从而促进其光解水产氢效率和稳定性的提高。同时随着近红外光的引入,其产氢活性提高至996 μmol。在上转换荧光测试中,LaNiO₃在808 nm光激发下在406和628 nm显示出发射荧光,这表明其能在近红外光照射下产生光生载流子,从而进一步提高其光解水产氢效率。     

Personalized Reusable Face Masks with Smart Nano-Assisted Destruction of Pathogens for COVID-19: A Visionary Road

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency has demonstrated that the utilization of face masks plays a critical role in limiting the outbreak. Healthcare professionals utilize masks all day long without replacing them very frequently, thus representing a source of cross-infection for patients and themselves. Nanotechnology is a powerful tool with the capability to produce nanomaterials with unique physicochemical and antipathogen properties. Here, how to realize non-disposable and highly comfortable respirators with light-triggered self-disinfection ability by bridging bioactive nanofiber properties and stimuli-responsive nanomaterials is outlined. The visionary road highlighted in this Concept is based on the possibility of developing a new generation of masks based on multifunctional membranes where the presence of nanoclusters and plasmonic nanoparticles arranged in a hierarchical structure enables the realization of a chemically driven and on-demand antipathogen activities. Multilayer electrospun membranes have the ability to dissipate humidity present within the mask, enhancing the wearability and usability. The photothermal disinfected membrane is the core of these 3D printed and reusable masks with moisture pump capability. Personalized face masks with smart nano-assisted destruction of pathogens will bring enormous advantages to the entire global community, especially for front-line personnel, and will open up great opportunities for innovative medical applications.     

Programming Rotary Motions with a Hexagonal DNA Nanomachine

Biological macromolecular machines perform impressive mechanical movements. F-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase uses a proton gradient to generate ATP through mechanical rotations. Here, a programmed hexagonal DNA nanomachine, in which a three-armed DNA nanostructure (TAN) can perform stepwise rotations in the confined nanospace powered by DNA fuels, is demonstrated. The movement of TAN can precisely go through a 60° rotation, which is confirmed by atomic force microscopy, and each stepwise directional rotating is monitored by fluorescent measurements. Moreover, the rotary nanomachine is used to spatially organize cascade enzymes: glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in four different arrangements. The multistep regulations of the biocatalytic activities are achieved by employing TAN rotations. This work presents a new prototype of rotary nanodevice with both angular and directional control, and provides a nanoscale mechanical engineering platform for the reactive molecular components, demonstrating that DNA-based framework may have significant roles in futuristic nanofactory construction.     

Pyrazolylazophenyl Ether-Based Photoswitches: Facile Synthesis, (Near-)Quantitative Photoconversion,Long Thermal Half-Life,Easy Functionalization,and Versatile Applications in Light-Responsive Systems

Molecular photoswitches (e.g., azobenzenes) can reversibly interconvert between their thermodynamically stable and metastable isomers upon light irradiations. However, it remains challenging to integrate both high bidirectional photoconversion and long metastable-state lifetime into a photoswitchable functionality. Here, we introduce pyrazolylazophenyl ethers ( pzAzo ethers ) as a class of azo photoswitches that provides quantitative (>98 %) trans–cis photoisomerization (365 nm light), near-quantitative (95–96 %) reverse isomerization (532 nm light), and a long cis-isomer half-life of three months. They can be easily synthesized in high yields and readily functionalized at one or both sides with a broad scope of substituent groups. Molecular systems incorporating pzAzo ethers can be endowed with high responsiveness, robust reversibility, and long persistent metastable states. Such superior yet pragmatic azo switches hold high promise for upgraded photoregulation in many light-responsive applications.     

Quinoline Photobasicity: Investigation within Water-Soluble Light-Responsive Copolymers

Quinoline photobases exhibit a distinctly higher pK_a in their electronically excited state than in the ground state, thereby enabling light-controlled proton transfer reactions, for example, in molecular catalysis. The absorption of UV light translates to a pK_a jump of approximately 10 units, as established for small-molecule photobases. This contribution presents the first synthesis of quinoline-based polymeric photobases prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The integration of quinolines as photobase chromophores within copolymers offers new possibilities for light-triggered proton transfer in nanostructured materials, that is, in nanoparticles, at surfaces, membranes and interfaces. To exploit the light-triggered reactivity of photobases within such materials, we first investigated how the ground- and excited-state properties of the quinoline unit changes upon polymer integration. To address this matter, we combined absorption and emission spectroscopy with time-resolved transient-absorption studies to reveal photoinduced proton-transfer dynamics in various solvents. The results yield important insights into the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of these polymeric quinoline photobases.     

偶氮苯类DNA纳米机器

具备光致异构性及乏氧响应性的偶氮苯为构建DNA纳米机器提供了动态响应元件. 然而, 受限于偶氮苯类化合物有限的光异构化反应, 偶氮苯类DNA纳米机器的构建与应用仍然面临着巨大的挑战. 本文梳理了基于偶氮苯的DNA纳米机器的构建方式及相应优缺点, 总结了可见光响应的偶氮苯类DNA纳米机器的设计规则, 并进一步综合评述了偶氮苯类DNA纳米机器在调控酶活性、 物质运输和机械运动等方面的应用. 本文有望推动开发更灵活的偶氮苯与DNA的偶联方式, 并为偶氮苯类DNA纳米机器在生物医学上的应用带来一定启示.     

Flow Potentiometric Injection Analysis of Uric Acid Using Lipid Stabilized Films with Incorporated Uricase on ZnO Nanowires

A novel potentiometric uric acid biosensor was fabricated by immobilization of uricase into stabilized lipid films using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires as measuring electrode. Uricase was incorporated into the lipid film prior polymerization on the surface of well aligned ZnO nanowires resulting in a sensitive, selective, stable and reproducible uric acid biosensor. The potentiometric response was twice as large from previously reported values due to the presence of a cationic lipid in the lipid film. The sensor response had no interferences by normal concentrations of ascorbic acid, glucose, urea, proteins and lipids.