Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots for Biosensing Applications: The Effect of the Thermal Treatments on Electrochemical and Optical Properties

The knowledge of the ways in which post-synthesis treatments may influence the properties of carbon quantum dots (CDs) is of paramount importance for their employment in biosensors. It enables the definition of the mechanism of sensing, which is essential for the application of the suited design strategy of the device. In the present work, we studied the ways in which post-synthesis thermal treatments influence the optical and electrochemical properties of Nitrogen-doped CDs (N-CDs). Blue-emitting, N-CDs for application in biosensors were synthesized through the hydrothermal route, starting from citric acid and urea as bio-synthesizable and low-cost precursors. The CDs samples were thermally post-treated and then characterized through a combination of spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical techniques. We observed that the post-synthesis thermal treatments show an oxidative effect on CDs graphitic N-atoms. They cause their partially oxidation with the formation of mixed valence state systems, [CDs]⁰⁺, which could be further oxidized into the graphitic N-oxide forms. We also observed that thermal treatments cause the decomposition of the CDs external ammonium ions into ammonia and protons, which protonate their pyridinic N-atoms. Photoluminescence (PL) emission is quenched.     

Recent Progress in Iron-Based Microwave Absorbing Composites: A Review and Prospective

With the rapid development of communication technology in civil and military fields, the problem of electromagnetic radiation pollution caused by the electromagnetic wave becomes particularly prominent and brings great harm. It is urgent to explore efficient electromagnetic wave absorption materials to solve the problem of electromagnetic radiation pollution. Therefore, various absorbing materials have developed rapidly. Among them, iron (Fe) magnetic absorbent particle material with superior magnetic properties, high Snoek’s cut-off frequency, saturation magnetization and Curie temperature, which shows excellent electromagnetic wave loss ability, are kinds of promising absorbing material. However, ferromagnetic particles have the disadvantages of poor impedance matching, easy oxidation, high density, and strong skin effect. In general, the two strategies of morphological structure design and multi-component material composite are utilized to improve the microwave absorption performance of Fe-based magnetic absorbent. Therefore, Fe-based microwave absorbing materials have been widely studied in microwave absorption. In this review, through the summary of the reports on Fe-based electromagnetic absorbing materials in recent years, the research progress of Fe-based absorbing materials is reviewed, and the preparation methods, absorbing properties and absorbing mechanisms of iron-based absorbing materials are discussed in detail from the aspects of different morphologies of Fe and Fe-based composite absorbers. Meanwhile, the future development direction of Fe-based absorbing materials is also prospected, providing a reference for the research and development of efficient electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with strong absorption performance, frequency bandwidth, light weight and thin thickness.     

Acid–Base Equilibrium and Self-Association in Relation to High Antitumor Activity of Selected Unsymmetrical Bisacridines Established by Extensive Chemometric Analysis

Unsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) represent a novel class of anticancer agents previously synthesized by our group. Our recent studies have demonstrated their high antitumor potential against multiple cancer cell lines and human tumor xenografts in nude mice. At the cellular level, these compounds affected 3D cancer spheroid growth and their cellular uptake was selectively modulated by quantum dots. UAs were shown to undergo metabolic transformations in vitro and in tumor cells. However, the physicochemical properties of UAs, which could possibly affect their interactions with molecular targets, remain unknown. Therefore, we selected four highly active UAs for the assessment of physicochemical parameters under various pH conditions. We determined the compounds’ pK_a dissociation constants as well as their potential to self-associate. Both parameters were determined by detailed and complex chemometric analysis of UV-Vis spectra supported by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The obtained results indicate that general molecular properties of UAs in aqueous media, including their protonation state, self-association ratio, and solubility, are strongly pH-dependent, particularly in the physiological pH range of 6 to 8. In conclusion, we describe the detailed physicochemical characteristics of UAs, which might contribute to their selectivity towards tumour cells as opposed to their effect on normal cells.     

Exploration of the Crystal Structure and Thermal and Spectroscopic Properties of Monoclinic Praseodymium Sulfate Pr2(SO4)3

Praseodymium sulfate was obtained by the precipitation method and the crystal structure was determined by Rietveld analysis. Pr₂(SO₄)₃ is crystallized in the monoclinic structure, space group C2/c, with cell parameters a = 21.6052 (4), b = 6.7237 (1) and c = 6.9777 (1) Å, β = 107.9148 (7)°, Z = 4, V = 964.48 (3) ų (T = 150 °C). The thermal expansion of Pr₂(SO₄)₃ is strongly anisotropic. As was obtained by XRD measurements, all cell parameters are increased on heating. However, due to a strong increase of the monoclinic angle β, there is a direction of negative thermal expansion. In the argon atmosphere, Pr₂(SO₄)₃ is stable in the temperature range of T = 30–870 °C. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition process of praseodymium sulfate octahydrate Pr₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂O was studied as well. The vibrational properties of Pr₂(SO₄)₃ were examined by Raman and Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy methods. The band gap structure of Pr₂(SO₄)₃ was evaluated by ab initio calculations, and it was found that the valence band top is dominated by the p electrons of oxygen ions, while the conduction band bottom is formed by the d electrons of Pr³⁺ ions. The exact position of ZPL is determined via PL and PLE spectra at 77 K to be at 481 nm, and that enabled a correct assignment of luminescent bands. The maximum luminescent band in Pr₂(SO₄)₃ belongs to the ³P₀ → ³F₂ transition at 640 nm.     

纳米流体中气体水合物生成条件

为了研究纳米粒子对制冷剂水合物热力学生成条件的影响,建立了新型纳米流体中制冷剂水合物相平衡热力学模型,理论研究了HFC134a(R134a)气体水合物的热力学生成条件,并用实验验证了模拟结果.结果表明:新型纳米流体中制冷剂水合物热力学相平衡模型能够较好地反映纳米流体中制冷剂气体水合物相平衡特征,相同温度下相平衡最大相对误差为7.3%,平均相对误差为5.3%.     

聚合物纳米复合电介质

聚合物纳米复合材料能够发挥纳米材料在电、磁、光等方面的优越性,也具有聚合物的易成型等方面的优点,正成为电介质领域研究的热点.本文综述了聚合物纳米复合材料在介电性能方面的研究概况,主要涉及了电导、介电强度与空间电荷、介电常数、介电损耗以及局部放电等方面的研究.最后展望了今后的研究方向.     

乙醇-环己烷体系中NaI活度系数的测定与计算

由于非水溶剂的应用日趋广泛,促使物理化学工作者对于溶剂和溶液性质进行研究,同时开展了有关物理化学数据的测定和积累工作,以利于指导实践[1]。目前文献报道含水混合溶剂中的电解质活度系数较多,但非水混合溶剂中电解质活度系数报道较少。电解质浓溶液活度系数的计算方法目前应用较广的是Pitzer半经验算法[2]。Pitzer的算法中具体物系的β(0)、β(1)等系数需从实测活度系数数据拟合求得。孙仁义等通过测定汽液平衡盐效应的方法研究了盐在混合溶剂中的活度系数[3-4]。最近孙仁义等[5]提出了双液比固定条件下含盐体系汽液平衡数据热力学一…     

锰基液流电池电解液的体积性质研究

体积性质是锰基液流电池电解液的重要热力学性质,常用于解释溶液中复杂的离子间相互作用关系。本文在283.15-318.15 K温度范围内,测定了浓度为0.5-3.0 mol/kg的MnSO₄水溶液的密度值,得到了MnSO₄溶液的几个热力学参数和弱分子间的相互作用关系。结合Pitzer电解液表观摩尔体积热力学模型,得到了体积参数β(0)V MX,β(1)V MX和CV MX,而且计算值与实验值的相关系数能够达到0.988。这一研究可以更好地理解锰电解液中离子相互作用机制,为优化电解液成分和提高电池性能提供理论支撑。     

卷云短波红外辐射特性

 采用离散纵标法耦合大气分子吸收,模拟计算了卷云大气的反射特性。研究了在短波波段卷云辐射性质随波长、卷云光学厚度、卷云有效尺度、云高和卷云中冰晶粒子形状等的变化关系,分析了卷云对大气红外背景辐射的影响。结果表明：在2.7 μm的水汽强吸收带上,卷云的出现明显增强了该波段的大气背景辐射,反射率随光学厚度和云高增大而增大。     

前驱体法制备氮氧化硅纳米线及其光学性能研究

在Ni催化剂的存在下,通过SiCl4的水解氨解反应并在1300℃氨气气氛中进行热氮化处理制得了无定形氮氧化硅纳米线.产物经X射线衍射(XRD)、热重-差示扫描量热(TG-DSC)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、能量色散谱(EDS)和选区电子衍射(SAED)等表征手段进行分析,结果表明纳米线为无定形结构,直径为100～150nm.在波长为220nm的光激发下,产物的光致发光光谱(PL)在563nm和289nm处分别出现了一个强的绿光发光峰和一个弱的紫光发光峰.对纳米线的生长机理进行分析,表明纳米线的生长遵循气-液-固(VLS)机制控制模式.