Controllable growth of chains and grids from polyoxomolybdate building blocks linked by silver(I) dimers

Molecular growth processes utilizing a beta-octamolybdate synthon and {Ag2} dimers are described and the directing influence of "encapsulating" cations and coordinating solvent is also demonstrated. The growth of two 1D chains, (nBu4N)2n[Ag2Mo8O26]n (1) and (nBu4N)2n[Ag2Mo8O26(CH3CN)2]n (2), is achieved when nBu4N+ ions are used, and the diameter of the chains can be expanded by the coordination of CH3CN solvent (2). The formation of a type of gridlike structure in which 1D chains are crossed-over each other in alternatively packed layers is achieved in DMSO as the solvent; DMSO acts as a linking group to give (nBu4N)2n[Ag2Mo8O26(dmso)2]n (3), which, similar to 1 and 2, still incorporates the Bu4N+ ions that exert an "encapsulating" influence. However, in (HDMF)n[Ag3(Mo8O26)(dmf)4]n (4) the relatively bulky Bu4N+ ions are exchanged for protonated DMF cations, thereby allowing the chains to condense to a 2D array. The building block concept is further enforced by the isolation of a "monomeric" unit (Ph4P)2[Ag2Mo8O26(dmso)4] (5), which is isolated when the Ph4P+ ions are so "encapsulating" as to prevent aggregation of the {Ag-Mo8-Ag} building blocks. The nature of the AgAg dimers in each of the compounds 1-4 is examined by DFT calculations and the interplay between these Ag-Ag interactions and the structure types is described.     

Determination of Utratrace Silver Using Surfactant As Sensitizer by Catalytic Near Field Laser Thermal Lens Spectrometry

Thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) is an excellent tool for trace analysis1. TLS allows the detection of absorbances of 10-7～10-8, concentration of ≈ 10-11 mol稬-1 and the analysis of 10-15 L volumes with ≈10-2 absorbing molecules2. Kinetic analysis is playing an increasingly important part in modern analytical chemistry. Therefore, TLS shows much promise in combination with kinetic analysis. However, there are few data on TLS applications in kinetic analysis method so far3～4. A ne…     

Comparative EIS study of a paste electrode containing zinc powder in neutral and near neutral solutions

The corrosion and passivation of Zn powder particles dispersed in a paste electrode immersed in 0.5 M Na₂SO₄ and 5×10^–3 M Na₂HPO₄ solutions were studied mainly by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The role played by diffusion in the mechanism of anodic oxidation of zinc powder particles has been shown. It was demonstrated that the anodic reactionof Zn powder in neutral or near neutral media involves at least two adsorbed intermediates. By simulating the porous structure of the electrode, some information about porous nature of zinc electrode could be extracted. Electronic Publication     

NADH Electrooxidation Using Bis(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) (2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-Exchanged Zirconium Phosphate Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

We present a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified using the electron mediator bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺) exchanged into the inorganic layered material zirconium phosphate (ZrP). X‐Ray powder diffraction showed that the interlayer distance of ZrP increases upon [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ intercalation from 10.3 Å to 14.2 Å. The UV‐vis and IR spectroscopies results showed the characteristic peaks expected for [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺. The UV‐vis spectrophotometric results indicate that the [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ concentration inside the ZrP layers increased as a function of the loading level. The exchanged [Ru(phend)₂bpy]²⁺ exhibited luminescence even at low concentration. Modified CPEs were constructed and analyzed using cyclic voltammetry. The intercalated mediator remained electroactive within the layers (E°′=–38.5 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, 3.5 M NaCl) and electrocatalysis of NADH oxidation was observed. The kinetics of the modified CPE shows a Michaelis–Menten behavior. This CPE was used for the oxidation of NADH in the presence of Bakers' yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. A calibration plot for ethanol is presented.     

A Sensing and Stretchable Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Device Based on Spiderweb-Inspired Silver Nanowires-Micromesh Transparent Electrode

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) devices are truly promising optical modulators for information display, smart window as well as intelligent photoelectronic applications due to their fast switching, large optical modulation as well as cost-effectiveness. However, realizing highly soft PDLC devices with sensing function remains a grand challenge because of the intrinsic brittleness of traditional transparent conductive electrodes. Here, inspired by spiderweb configuration, a novel type of silver nanowires (AgNWs) micromesh-based stretchable transparent conductive electrodes (STCEs) is developed to support the realization of soft PDLC device. Benefiting from the embedding design of AgNWs micromesh in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the STCEs can maintain excellent electrical conductivity and transparency even in various extreme conditions such as bending, folding, twisting, stretching as well as multiple chemical corrosion. Further, STCEs with the embedded AgNWs micromesh endow the assembled PDLC device with excellent photoelectrical properties including rapid switching speed (<1 s), large optical modulation (69% at 600 nm), as well as robust mechanical stability (bending over 1000 cycles and stretching to 40%). Moreover, the device displays the pressure sensing function with high sensitivity in response to pressure stimulus. It is conceivable that AgNWs micromesh transparent electrodes will shape the next generation of related soft smart electronics.     

辅酶Ⅰ电化学配位反应机理的紫外光谱电化学研究

用薄层池原位紫外光谱电化学法研究了辅酶Ⅰ(NAD)在银电极上的电化学配位反应机理。实验结果表明：NAD能与溶出的银离子生成配合物，该配合物的配位反应是一种可逆过程，用光谱电化学的Nernst图解分析获得银离子与NAD配合物的主要存在形式是［Ag(NAD)₂］⁺，银离子是与NAD分子的腺嘌呤基团形成配合物的。配合物的银离子与银电极表面发生异相电子交换反应，该电化学反应是受吸附控制的准可逆电极过程。     

Norvancomycin-capped silver nanoparticles: Synthesis and antibacterial activities against E. coli

The synthesis of norvancomycin (NVan)-capped silver nanoparticles (Ag@NVan) and their notable in vitro antibacterial activities against E. coli, a Gram-negative bacterial strain (GNB), are reported here. Mercaptoacetic acid-stabilized spherical silver nanoparticles with a diameter of 16±4 nm are prepared by a simple chemical reaction. The formation process of the silver nanoparticles is investigated by UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). NVan is then grafted to the terminal carboxyl of the mercaptoacetic acid in the presence of N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC). The TEM images of single bacteria treated with Ag@NVan show that plenty of Ag@NVan aggregate in the cell wall of E. coli. A possible antibacterial mechanism is proposed that silver nanoparticles may help destroy the stability of the outer membrane of E. coli, which makes NVan easier to bind to the nether part of the peptidoglycan structure. The antibacterial activities of silver nanoparticles on their own, together with the rigid polyvalent interaction between Ag@NVan and cell wall, enables Ag@NVan to be an effective inhibitor of GNB. This kind of bionanocomposites might be used as novel bactericidal materials and we also provide an effective synthesis method for preparing functional bioconjugated nanoparticles here. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50373036) and Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation (Grant No. J20040212)     

Interaction of the mutagen ethidium bromide with DNA, using a carbon paste electrode and a hanging mercury drop electrode

The interaction of ethidium bromide (2,7-diamino-10-ethyl-9-phenylphenanthridinium bromide; EB) with double stranded (ds) calf thymus DNA and thermally denatured single stranded (ss) DNA was studied in solution and at the electrode surface by means of transfer voltammetry using a carbon paste electrode (CPE) as working electrode in 0.2 M acetate buffer, pH 5.0. As a result of intercalation of this dye between the base pairs of dsDNA, the characteristic peak of dsDNA, due to the oxidation of guanine residues, decreased and after a particular concentration of EB a new peak at +0.81 V appeared, probably due to the formation of a complex between dsDNA and EB. The non-intercalated EB gives another peak, but at an increased concentration of the dye. A similar behaviour was observed during the interaction of the dye with ssDNA.Furthermore, the interaction of EB with ds, ss and supercoiled (sc) DNA was studied at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) surface by means of alternating current voltammetry in 0.3 M NaCl and 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.5) as supporting electrolyte. dsDNA yields a smaller peak at −1.42 V (peak III) compared to the one yielded by ssDNA, since the latter is a relaxed and more accessible form. By addition of EB into the buffer solution an increase of peak III was observed in the dsDNA form as well as in ssDNA resulting from their interaction with EB. Furthermore, the appearance of peak III in covalently closed circular scDNA after exposure to increasing concentrations of EB is a result of the introduction of ‘free ends’ in DNA affecting its structural integrity.     

Chemical species produced in the reaction between ethanedial (glyoxal) and 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline and their iron(II) complexes: preparation and some spectrometric studies

Chemical species obtained by reaction of 5-amino-1, 10-phenanthroline with ethanedial (glyoxal) are reported with regard to their preparation, chemical composition and spectrometric characterization (UV-visible, infrared and liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry). Products of the reaction are postulated to be a mixture of species with molecular weights of 339, 371,480 and 524 u. Chemical reactions leading to these products and possible structural formulas for each of these species are presented. The iron complexes of these ligands, because of their extremely low solubility in most solvents, find application as redox mediators when incorporated in carbon paste electrodes, particularly for sensing in continuous-flow systems.