半胱氨酸在银基底表面吸附机理的拉曼光谱研究

以具有表面增强拉曼散射 (SERS)活性的银镜为基底 ,将半胱氨酸组装到银基底表面 ;主要通过调整氨基酸溶液的pH值控制该组装过程。利用表面增强拉曼散射光谱对半胱氨酸小分子在银基底表面的吸附方式、作用机理进行了详细的探讨和研究。结果表明 ,只有当溶液的pH值接近或高于等电点时 ,半胱氨酸分子才能以 -COO- Ag+形式被有效组装到银基底的表面 ,形成表面带有自由疏基 (-SH)的半胱氨酸单分子膜 ,从而为硒代环糊精以 -S-Se-键形式组装到上述组装体系的表面提供了可能。本文的研究将为利用分子光谱探索含硒酶活性机理和进一步提高酶活性奠定基础。     

The use of Raman microscopy and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry in the examination of synthetic organic pigments in modern works of art

Synthetic organic pigments are widely used in modern and contemporary works of art. They have been examined by a variety of techniques including spectroscopic methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, and X‐ray powder diffraction as well as chromatographic or mass spectrometric techniques such as pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI–MS). Often, a combination of techniques has been used to examine these pigments. This paper describes use of Raman spectroscopy to create a database of colorants including two pigments not previously reported, PO1 and PO2. Then, using Raman spectroscopy in combination with LDI–MS, samples from modern works of art by artists including Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and José de Rivera were examined in order to identify the pigments present. One finding was that Rothko used a variety of red pigments over the course of his career including PR11 which has not been previously reported in artwork, and PO2 found with its positional isomer PR1. Knowledge of the colorants serves to inform conservators about display and treatment decisions. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

中等光强纳秒激光电离苯团簇产生多价碳离子的数值模拟和实验研究

飞秒强激光与团簇相互作用产生多价离子的现象已被广泛报道,然而近期多个研究小组发现当功率密度低至1010W/cm2的纳秒激光照射团簇时,同样也观察到了多价离子的存在.虽然可以用"多光子电离引发-逆韧致吸收加热-电子碰撞电离"电离机理对这种现象进行解释,但是缺乏相应的数值模拟.建立了一个简化的数值模型,根据有质动力势Up计算团簇内电子能量,再由Lotz公式计算出相应的电离截面,最后由动力学反应速率方程计算出团簇内多价碳离子随时间的演变.详细分析了团簇尺寸、电子密度等关键参数对多价离子产生的影响.数值模拟结果表明:团簇电离在小于0.7 ns时间尺度内完成,C2+,C3+和C4+多价离子强度达到平衡后,离子相对强度由大到小依次为C2+,C3+,C4+,这与实验结果相一致;多价离子的价态随着团簇尺寸的增加而升高,半径为5.6 nm的苯团簇比半径为3 nm的苯团簇更容易产生高价态的离子,这也与实验结果相一致.     

金属光栅用于增强非晶硅薄膜太阳能电池光吸收率研究

提高太阳能电池光电转换效率的一个重要途径就是提高它的光子吸收能力。在传统非晶硅薄膜太阳能电池中加入了金属光栅,设计出一种新的复合电池结构。基于严格耦合波分析矢量衍射理论计算了该结构的吸收光谱和增强因子;讨论了光栅宽度、入射光角度和入射光偏振态对吸收的影响。结果显示,设计的太阳能电池结构能够显著提高光的吸收率,在TM偏振光入射条件下,该结构的吸收增强因子最高可达40%;在其他偏振态光线入射时,其吸收增强因子也可达到16%左右。     

Spectroscopy of Laser Plumes for Atto‐Mole and ng/g Elemental Analysis

Abstract

Two all‐optical analytical techniques are reviewed. Both are capable of highly sensitive multi‐element analysis. One is by means of resonance‐enhanced plasma spectroscopy. It minimizes the continuum background associated with laser‐induced plasmas. Relative to laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy, the signal‐to‐noise ratio is improved by orders of magnitude, thus allowing the quantitation of sodium and potassium at the single blood cell level. The other technique utilizes laser‐excited atomic fluorescence. It has been traditionally handicapped by its one wavelength–one transition specificity. We showed, however, that numerous elements could be induced to fluoresce at a single excitation wavelength of 193 nm provided that the analytes were imbedded in dense plumes, such as those produced by pulsed laser ablation. This method eliminates the continuum plasma background and sub‐ppb sensitivity was demonstrated in the analysis of aqueous lead colloids.     

Mass Spectrometry,Review of the Basics: Ionization

Abstract: Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an integral tool in life sciences. The first step in MS analysis is ion formation (ionization). Many ionization methods currently exist; electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) are the most commonly used. ESI relies on the formation of charged droplets releasing ions from the surface (ion evaporation model) or via complete solvent evaporation (charge residual model). MALDI ionization, however, is facilitated via laser energy and the use of a matrix. Despite wide use, ESI cannot efficiently ionize nonpolar compounds. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photo ionization (APPI) are better suited for such tasks. APPI requires photon energy and a dopant, whereas APCI is similar to chemical ionization. In 2004, ambient MS was introduced in which ionization occurs at the sample in its native form. Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and direct analysis in real time (DART) are the most widely used methods. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the main ionization methods and the mechanisms of ion formation. This article is educational and intended for students/researchers who are not very familiar with MS and would like to learn the basics; it is not for MS experts.     

A thioester substrate binds to the enzyme Arthrobacter thioesterase in two ionization states: evidence from Raman difference spectroscopy

4‐Hydroxybenzoyl‐CoA (4‐HB‐CoA) thioesterase from Arthrobacter is the final enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of 4‐HB‐CoA to produce coenzyme A and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid in the bacterial 4‐chlorobenzoate dehalogenation pathway. Using a mutation E73A that blocks catalysis, stable complexes of the enzyme and its substrate can be analyzed by Raman difference spectroscopy. Here we have used Raman difference spectroscopy, in the non‐resonance regime, to characterize 4‐HB‐CoA bound in the active site of the E73A thioesterase. In addition, we have characterized complexes of the wild‐type enzyme complexed with the unreactive substrate analog 4‐hydroxyphenacyl‐CoA (4‐HP‐CoA). Both sets of complexes show evidence for two forms of the ligand in the active site: one population has the 4‐hydroxy group protonated, 4‐OH; while the second has the group as the hydroxide, 4‐O⁻. For bound 4‐HP‐CoA, X‐ray data show that glutamate 78 is close to the 4‐OH in the complex and it is likely that this is the proton acceptor for the 4‐OH proton. Although the pK_a of the 4‐OH group on the free substrate in aqueous solution is 8.6, the relative populations of ionized and neutral 4‐HB‐CoA bound to E73A remain invariant between pH 7.3 and 9.8. The invariance with pH suggests that the 4‐OH and the ‐COO⁻ of E78 constitute a tightly coupled pair where their separate pK_a ‘s lose their individual qualities. Narrow band profiles are seen in the CO double bond and C‐S regions, suggesting that the hydrolyzable thioester group is rigidly bound in the active site in a syn gauche conformation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the origin of tip‐enhanced Raman scattering; preparation of efficient TERS probes with high yield

Tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) spectroscopy is a promising technique for nanoscale chemical analysis. However, there are several challenges preventing widespread application of this technology, including reproducible fabrication of efficient TERS probes. These problems reflect a lack of clear understanding of the origins of, and the parameters influencing TERS. It is believed that the coating characteristics at the apex of the tip have a major effect on the near‐field optical enhancement and thus the TERS activity of a metalized probe. Here we show that the aspect ratio of the tip can play a significant role in the efficiency of TERS probes. We argue that the electrostatic field arising from the lightning‐rod effect has a substantial role in the observed TERS effect. This argument is supported by ‘edge‐enhanced Raman scattering’ which is shown for a noble metal film. Furthermore, it is reported that an associated tip‐surface‐enhanced Raman scattering effect can be achieved by using a TERS‐inactive metalized probe on a surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy‐inactive roughened surface. This observation can be explained by an interparticle enhancement of the electromagnetic field. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A facile method for the synthesis of large‐size Ag nanoparticles as efficient SERS substrates

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) enjoy a reputation as an ultrasensitive substrate for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). However, large‐scale synthesis of Ag NPs in a controlled manner is a challenging task for a long period of time. Here, we reported a simple seed‐mediated method to synthesize Ag NPs with controllable sizes from 50 to 300 nm, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. SERS spectra of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) from the as‐prepared Ag NPs substrates indicate that the enhancement capability of Ag NPs varies with different excitation wavelengths. The Ag NPs with average sizes of ~150, ~175, and ~225 nm show the highest SERS activities for 532, 633, and 785‐nm excitation, respectively. Significantly, 150‐nm Ag NPs exhibit an enhancement factor exceeding 10⁸ for pyridine (Py) molecules in electrochemical SERS (EC‐SERS) measurements. Furthermore, finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) calculation is employed to explain the size‐dependent SERS activity. Finally, the potential of the as‐prepared SERS substrates is demonstrated with the detection of malachite green. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.