Ensemble Measurement of Diffusion: Novel Beauty and Evidence

Recording the evolution of concentration profiles in nanoporous materials opens a new field of diffusion research with particle ensembles. The technique is based on the complementary application of interference microscopy and IR micro‐imaging. Combining the virtues of diffusion measurements with solids and fluids, it provides information of unprecedented wealth and visual power on transport phenomena in molecular ensembles. These phenomena include the diverging uptake and release patterns for concentration‐dependent diffusivities, the mechanisms of mass transfer at the fluid–solid interface and opposing tendencies in local and global concentration evolution.     

Solid‐state microcellular and nanocellular polysulfone foams

In this article, we report on the process for creating microcellular and nanocellular polysulfone (PSU) foams. Microcellular foams with cell size up to 8 µm and nanocellular foams with cell size in the range of 20–30 nm were created. A range of CO₂ concentration was achieved by varying saturation temperature, from 5% at 60 °C to 14.7% at ?10 °C. The CO₂ concentration has a strong influence on the cellular structure. There exists a critical concentration window, between 10.7% and 12.3%, within which cell nucleation densities increase rapidly and cell sizes drop from micrometer range to below 1 µm into the nanometer range. Nanofoams with cell nucleation densities exceeding 10¹⁵ cells/cm³ and void fraction of up to 48% are achieved. At the high CO₂ concentration region, the change from closed nanocellular structure to bicontinuous nanoporous structure is observed. Also, nanostructures on the cell wall of microcells are observed and believed to be formed via stress‐induced nucleation/spinodal decomposition. The PSU nanofoams produced in this study present an opportunity to produce polymer nanofoams with a relatively high service temperature. The ability to create cells of different length scales provides an opportunity to study the effect of cell size on the foams properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 975–985     

Grafting of nanoporous alumina membranes and films with organic acids

In this study, direct surface grafting of nanoporous alumina membranes and glass‐supported alumina films was carried out with three different fluorinated organic acids: trifluoroacetic acid, perfluoropentanoic acid and 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzoic acid. Elemental surface composition and chemical environment of alumina were investigated using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Alumina surfaces grafted with fluoro‐organic acids exhibited increased hydrophobic properties compared to ungrafted surfaces when measured using goniometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). This work describes the evidence for surface chemical modification of alumina using direct reaction with organic acids. An AFM study of the adsorption of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules on the fluoro‐organic‐acid‐grafted surfaces is reported. The results show that an ordered arrangement of immunoglobulin G structures with in‐filling of pores could be achieved only on the more hydrophobic fluoro‐organic‐acid‐grafted alumina membranes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

聚3-甲基噻吩修饰硫化物量子点连接纳米结构TiO2膜的光电化学研究

采用原位化学法在纳米结构TiO₂膜上制备了量子点CdS, PbS (Q-CdS, Q-PbS), 并用电化学方法在TiO₂/Q-CdS, TiO₂/Q-PbS表面聚合3-甲基噻吩[poly(3-Methylthiophene, PMeT)]. 用光电化学方法研究了PMeT修饰Q-CdS, Q-PbS连接TiO₂纳米结构膜, 实验结果表明, PMeT和Q-CdS, Q-PbS单独修饰纳米结构TiO₂电极和PMeT修饰Q-CdS, Q-PbS连接纳米结构TiO₂电极的光电流产生的起始波长都向长波方向移动; 一定条件下在可见光区光电转换效率均较纳米结构TiO₂的光电转换效率有明显的提高; 聚3-甲基噻吩(PMeT)与Q-CdS, Q-PbS连接的纳米结构TiO₂之间存在p-n异质结. 在一定条件下p-n异质结的存在有利于光生电子/空穴的分离, 在本文实验条件下PMeT修饰Q-CdS, Q-PbS连接纳米结构TiO₂电极最高的单色光的光电转换效率分别为11%和7%.     

Development of an Amperometric Enzymatic Biosensor Based on Gold Modified Magnetic Nanoporous Microparticles

Gold modified nanoporous silica based magnetic microparticles have been prepared as support for the immobilization of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The enzyme modified gold microparticles were retained onto the surface of a solid carbon paste electrode with the help of a permanent magnet. The analytical performances of the resulting biosensor were characterized by studying hydroquinone (HQ) and hydrogen peroxide. The former was monitored by the direct electroreduction of the biocatalytically generated quinone. Several experimental parameters influencing the biosensor response were investigated. A linear response to HQ was obtained in the concentration range comprised between 5×10^?7 and 4.5×10^?6 M with a detection limit of 4×10^?7 M. The enzyme electrode provided a linear response to hydrogen peroxide over a concentration range comprised between 5×10^?7?1.3×10^?4 M with a detection limit of 4×10^?7 M. The inhibition of the biosensor response in the presence of thiols e.g. cysteine, captopril, glutathione and Nacystelyn (NAL) has been pointed out.     

Preparation of γ-Alumina Membranes From Sulphuric Electrolyte Anodic Alumina and Its Transition to α-Alumina

Gamma-alumina membrane was prepared from anodic (amorphous) alumina (AA) obtained in a sulphuric acid electrolyte. The transformation scheme, i.e., the crystallization to form metastable alumina polymorphs and the final transition to α-Al₂O₃ with heating was studied by TG-DTA and X-ray diffraction (XRD) using fixed time (FT) method. When heating at a constant rate, the crystallization occurred at 900°C or higher and the final formation of α-Al₂O₃ occurred at 1250°C or higher, which temperatures were higher than the case of using anodic (amorphous) alumina prepared from oxalic acid electrolyte. Relative content of S of the products was obtained by transmission electron microscope (TEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The proposed thermal change of anodic alumina membrane prepared from sulphuric acid is as follows: 1. At temperatures lower than ca 910°C: Formation of a quasi-crystalline phase or a polycrystalline phase (γ-, δ- and θ-Al₂O₃); 2. 910–960°C: Progressive crystallization by the migration of S toward the surface within the amorphous or the quasi-crystalline phase, forming S-rich region near the surface; 3. 960°C: Change of membrane morphology and the quasi-crystalline phase due to the rapid discharge of gaseous SO₂; 4. 960–1240°C: Crystallization of γ-Al₂O₃ accompanying δ-Al₂O₃; and 5. 1240°C: Transition from γ-Al₂O₃ (+tr. δ-Al₂O₃) into the stable α-Al₂O₃. The amorphization which occurs by the exothermic and the subsequent endothermic reaction suggests the incorporation of SO₃ groups in the quasi-crystalline structure. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Aggregation and spectral properties of Mg(II) tetracarboxyphthalocyanine in aqueous solutions and solid xerogels

Based on spectroscopic studies of magnesium(II) tetracarboxyphthalocyanine molecules in liquid solutions, we have determined the role of the carboxyl groups and the aqueous medium during formation of associates. We have shown that the Q band of the associated form is split into two components of frequency separated by ∼250 cm⁻¹. The effect of the nature of the gel matrices on the spectral luminescence properties of magnesium(II) tetracarboxyphthalocyanine has been studied by incorporating the pigment into a series of xerogels differing in the chemical structure of the inorganic framework and the nanopore surface area. We discuss the reasons for the appearance of associated forms of the pigment in different xerogels. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 2, pp. 211–217, March–April, 2007.