Ag/ZrO2-NT/Zr hybrid material: A new platform for SERS measurements

In this paper, we present recent results of our attempts to produce nanoporous zirconia, as well as our investigations of a hybrid material consisting of nanoporous zirconia loaded with Ag-nanoparticles, Ag-n/ZrO₂-NT/Zr, which could be used as an active SERS substrate. The Zr-based hybrid material, as our investigations have shown, is an active and stable substrate in SERS investigations aimed at detecting various organic molecules: mercaptobenzoic acid, pyridine and two different dyes – rodhanine derivatives. The SERS spectra for the probe molecules adsorbed on silver nanoparticles on a ZrO₂-NT/Zr platform display characteristic intensity ratios different from those measured on previously studied nanoporous substrates based on Ti and Al, which ensure a different (alternative) interaction between the investigated adsorbate and adsorbent. In order to characterize our new substrate we used high-resolution SEM and surface analytical techniques: XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and SERS (surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy).     

Enhancing the performance of TFC nanofiltration membranes by adding organic acids in polysulfone support layer

Throughout this study, the effect of certain organic acids, methacrylic acid, lactic acid and tartaric acid, doped in polysulfone (PSF) casting solution onto the performance of nanofiltration (NF) membranes was investigated. Different NF membranes have been prepared from m-phenylenediamine and trimesoylchloride onto the top surface of the acid-modified PSF membranes through regulating the concentration and contact time of the conventional interfacial polymerization process. The study of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the influence of acids on the morphology of membranes and cross-sectional structures. The functional groups, hydroxyl and carboxylic acid, of the acids have resulted in a significant increase in membrane thickness, porosity and hydrophilicity, with a decrease in macrovoid capacity of the PSF layer. The acid-modified PSF/TFC membranes showed higher rejection of salt, with an increment in water flux compared to the neat membrane. Water flux and salt rejection (R_s %) of the control membrane was 7.6 L/m² h and 65.4%, whereas polysulfone/methacrylic acid (PSF/MAAc), polysulfone/tartaric acid (PSF/TAc), and polysulfone/lactic acid (PSF/LAc) were 16.8, 18.5, and 20.2 L/m² h and 88, 88.2 and 94.1%, respectively. Efficiency of prepared NF membranes under various inlet pressures and specific salts was investigated with selectivity and salt rejection. The salt rejection of a mixed salt solution was found to meet the order of R_s % CaSO₄ ≥ R_s % Na₂SO₄ ˃ R_s % MgSO₄ ˃ R_s MgCl₂ ˃ Rs % NaCl.     

超高分子量聚乙烯烧结制品的链缠结调控及其对性能影响

利用新的单中心Ziegler-Natta(Z-N)催化剂,通过干预分子链的生长与聚集行为,可获得低缠结的超高分子量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)初生树脂.本研究利用这类低缠结UHMWPE,通过设置不同的烧结温度(Ts)来改变熔体缠结状态,并探讨了链缠结程度对烧结制品结构与性能的影响.实验结果表明TS=220℃下,UHMWPE样品发生显著的复缠,造成高缠结度;而Ts=170℃下,初始低缠结状态能够得以充分保留,从而获得了缠结度具有明显差别的不同样品.示差扫描量热法(DSC)测试表明,在Ts=170℃下,低缠结度有利于在随后等温及冷却结晶过程中生成高熔点(最高达141℃)晶体与高的结晶度(最高达65%).力学测试表明低缠结度制品的综合力学性能显著提升,其中屈服强度提高72%,拉伸断裂强度提升139%,弹性模量提升162%以及断裂伸长率提升36%,实现了同时增强增韧.这就提供了一种从调节链缠结温度实现UHMWPE烧结制品高性能化的新思路.     

SERS Activity of Semiconductors: Crystalline and Amorphous Nanomaterials

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy on semiconductors has attracted increasing attention due to its high spectral reproducibility and unique selectively to target molecules. Recently, endeavors have been made in fabricating novel SERS‐active semiconductor substrates and exploring new enhancement mechanisms to improve the sensitivity of semiconductor substrates. This Minireview explains the enhancement mechanism of the semiconductor SERS effect in a brief tutorial and summarize recent developments of novel semiconductor substrates, in particular with regard to the remarkable SERS activity of amorphous semiconductor nanomaterials. Potential applications of semiconductor SERS are also a key issue of concern. We discuss a variety of promising applications of semiconductor SERS in the fields of in situ analytical chemistry, spectroelectrochemical analysis, biological sensing, and trace detection.     

红外光谱技术对广东博罗横岭山商周时期墓地出土古玉器上蜡工艺的揭示及其意义

广东博罗横岭山商周时期墓地是广东省目前所发现的最重要的商周时期墓葬群,该墓地出土的玉器样品通过一系列的科学鉴定研究后发现,玉器的红外光谱在2 960 cm-1(相对较弱)、2 920和2 853 cm-1附近出现了2～3个明显的特征性吸收峰,结合对纯蜡样品、现代上蜡玉器样品的测试比较,认为博罗横岭山墓地出土玉器在加工过程中曾经经过上蜡处理,首次揭示出商周时期岭南先民掌握了在加工中利用蜡来增加玉器美观技术的事实。     

Plasmonic Enhancement of Two-Photon Excited Luminescence of Gold Nanoclusters

Plasmonic-enhanced luminescence of single molecules enables imaging and detection of low quantities of fluorophores, down to individual molecules. In this work, we present two-photon excited luminescence of single gold nanoclusters, Au₁₈(SG)₁₄, in close proximity to bare gold nanorods (AuNRs). We observed 25-times enhanced emission of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) in near infrared region, which was mainly attributed to the resonant excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AuNRs and spectral overlap of LSPR band with photoluminescence of AuNCs. This work is an initial step in application of combined nanoparticles: gold nanorods and ultrasmall nanoclusters in a wide range of multiphoton imaging and biosensing applications.     

Time-averaged flow characteristics and mixing properties of double-concentric jets

We examined the flow behaviors and mixing characteristics of double-concentric jets using laser-assisted smoke flow visualization method to analyze typical flow patterns and binary boundary detection technique to investigate jet spread width. Time-averaged velocity vectors, streamline patterns, velocity distributions, turbulence properties, and vorticity contours were analyzed using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Topological flow patterns were analyzed to interpret the vortical flow structures. Mixing properties were investigated using a tracer-gas concentration detection method. Four characteristic modes were observed: annular flow dominated mode, transition mode, central jet dominated mode-low shear, and central jet dominated mode-high shear. The jets’ mixing properties were enhanced by two major phenomena: the merging of annular flow and central jet at the centerline and the large turbulence fluctuations produced in the flow field. The merging of the jets induced stagnation points on the central axis in the annular flow dominated mode, which caused reverse flow on the central axis and drastic turbulence fluctuations of the near field region. When the central jet penetrated the recirculation region in the other three modes, the stagnation points on the central axis and the reverse flow vanished. Therefore, the mixing behaviors were prominently enhanced in the annular flow dominated mode.     

Organic Nanocrystals Based on a Solid-emission-tunable AIEgen for Cell Imaging

The development of fluorescent nanocrystals based on organic small molecules is of great importance in bioimaging due to the merits of easy modification,high brightness and excellent photostability,however suffering from the emission-detrimental aggregation-caused quenching(ACQ)effect.Herein,we successfully designed and synthesized an AIE-active di(N,N-dimethylaniline)-dibenzofulvene(named as NFTPE),which exhibits the crystallization-induced emission enhancement(CIEE)effect.Interestingly,two types of yellow-and orange-emissive crystals for NFTPE were obtained,exhibiting aggregation microenvironment-dependent emission tuning in the solid state.Single-crystal analysis and density functional theory(DFT)calculations reveal that different aggregation microenvironments result in the distinct molecular conformation for various emission.Excitingly,the crystallization of NFTPE in an aqueous solution under the assistance of amphiphilic PEG polymer matrices could be monitored in situ by the fluorescence changes,facilitating the preparation of NFTPE nanocrystals(NFTPE-NCs)by adjusting the aggregation microenvironment.The obtained NFTPE-NCs exhibit the superior performance in cell imaging in respect to high brightness,photostability,and biocompatibility,thus demonstrating the potential in bioimaging applications.     

荧光淬灭和加强理论公式合理性的热力学分析

通过荧光法在不同温度下研究了3种第三代头孢新药: 盐酸头孢吡肟、头孢匹胺和头孢唑肟钠与人血清白蛋白(HSA)和牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的作用, 分别应用荧光淬灭和荧光加强理论公式计算了它们的结合常数等, 进而分别计算了它们的热力学函数. 因对应于不同的理论公式得出的K_A值并不完全相同, 由此得到它们相应的热力学参数也有所不同. 本文对这些热力学数据的差异进行了分析比较, 结果表明: 基于荧光加强理论公式(4)获得的热力学数据显示更为合理. 因而我们建议, 即使在研究受体-底物的荧光淬灭反应时, 采用荧光加强理论公式(4)可以获得更符合实际的结果.     

苯酚和苯胺类化合物对鲁米诺电致化学发光的增强和抑制作用

系统研究了不同pH下的NaHCO₃-Na₂CO₃和NaOH缓冲介质中, 36种苯酚和苯胺类化合物对鲁米诺电致化学发光(Electrochemiluminescence, ECL)体系的影响. 发现苯酚和苯胺类化合物的抑制和增强作用与化合物的结构、氧化电位和介质的pH有直接的关系: 具有较高氧化电位的苯酚和苯胺类化合物对鲁米诺的ECL没有影响; 而具有较低的氧化电位、苯环上有两个处于对位的-OH(或-NH₂)或苯环上有多个相邻的-OH的化合物, 在较低的pH下有增强作用, 在较高的pH下具有抑制作用; 其它的化合物则呈现抑制作用, 抑制作用的大小与化合物的结构有关. 通过研究化合物的氧化半峰电位、ECL光谱、荧光光谱等, 提出了增强和抑制作用的可能机理: 各种有机物的电氧化产物如醌、酮及具有醌、酮结构的聚合物等能够淬灭激发态3-氨基邻苯二甲酸根阴离子(3-AP^2－*)的发射, 导致了鲁米诺的ECL的降低; 同时, 反应过程中生成的半醌自由基中间体或 会促进鲁米诺的发光反应, 呈现增强作用.