Fabrication of Zeolite A Rods with Irregular Macropores by Self-assembly of Zeolite A Microcrystals Using Microwave-assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis

Zeolite A rods by self-assembly of zeolite A microcrystal were successfully synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrotherrnal synthesis. The average size of zeolite crystals consisting of self-assembling materials was about 300 nm and the length of zeolite rods was in the range of 15--30μm.     

Pattern formation in diffusion-limited reactions

The conditions for macroscopic segregation ofA andB in a steady-stateA+B 0 reaction are studied in infinite systems. Segregation occurs in one and two dimensions and is marginal ford=3. We note the dependence of these results on the precise experimental conditions assumed in the theory. We also note the difference between these results and our earlier ones for finite systems where the critical dimension isd=2.     

Rate processes on fractals: Theory,simulations, and experiments

Heterogeneous kinetics are shown to differ drastically from homogeneous kinetics. For the elementary reaction A + A products we show that the diffusion-limited reaction rate is proportional tot ^– h[A]² or to [A]^x, whereh=1- d _s/2, X=1+2/d _s =(h-2)(h-1), andd _s is the effective spectral dimension. We note that ford = d _s =1, h =1/2 andX = 3, for percolating clustersd _s = 4/3,h = 1/3 andX = 5/2, while for dust ds <1, 1 >h > 1/2 and >X > 3. Scaling arguments, supercomputer simulations and experiments give a consistent picture. The interplay of energetic and geometric heterogeneity results in fractal-like kinetics and is relevant to excitation fusion experiments in porous membranes, films, and polymeric glasses. However, in isotopic mixed crystals, the geometric fractal nature (percolation clusters) dominates.     

Poly(decyl methacrylate)-based fluorescent PEBBLE swarm nanosensors for measuring dissolved oxygen in biosamples

150-250 nm Poly(decyl methacrylate)(PDMA) fluorescent ratiometric nanosensors for dissolved oxygen have been developed. Platinum octaethylporphine ketone (PtOEPK), the oxygen-sensitive dye, and octaethylporphyrin (OEP), the oxygen-insensitive dye, have been incorporated into PDMA nanoparticles to make the sensors ratiometric. Based on the corresponding Stern-Volmer plot, these nanosensors exhibit almost complete linearity over the whole range of dissolved molecular oxygen from 0 to 42.5 ppm (deoxygenated to pure oxygen-bubbled water). The overall quenching response is up to 97.5%, the best so far for all dissolved oxygen optical sensors. These PEBBLE nanosensors also show very good reversibility and stability to leaching and photobleaching, as well as very short response times and no perturbation by proteins. In human plasma they demonstrate a robust oxygen sensing capability, little affected by light scattering and autofluorescence. Potential applications include intracellular oxygen imaging and microresolved pressure profiles in biological and other heterogenous environments.     

Perturbed sites and host—guest—host exciton cascade in the biphenyl isotopic mixed crystal phosphorescence

An interesting energy cascade is observed in the phosphorescence spectra of 1% biphenyl-h₁₀ in biphenyl-d₁₀ (2–15 K); strongly perturbed host sites, with energy levels below that of the protonated guest, quench the guest sites at higher temperatures (11–15 K). The identification of the perturbed sites is based on vibrational characteristics (both intensity and frequency), obtained with the help of phosphorescence spectra of biphenyl-h₁₀ and biphenyl-d₁₀ in an argon matrix, indicating an isotope dependent vibronic structure. A partial vibrational analysis is presented, resulting in confirmation of the first triplet state of biphenyl as orbitally ungerade. The dynamics of the triplet excitation are discussed, including several possible mechanisms explaining the non-Boltzmann nature of the low-temperature steady state.     

Dimeric and oligomeric surfactants. Behavior at interfaces and in aqueous solution: a review

Dimeric and oligomeric surfactants are novel surfactants that are presently attracting considerable interest in the academic and industrial communities working on surfactants. This paper first presents a number of chemical structures that have been reported for ionic, amphoteric and nonionic dimeric and oligomeric surfactants. The following aspects of these surfactants are then successively reviewed the state of dimeric and oligomeric surfactants in aqueous solutions at concentration below the critical micellization concentration (cmc); their behavior at the air/solution and solid/solution interfaces; their solubility in water, cmc and thermodynamics of micellization; the properties of the aqueous micelles of dimeric and oligomeric surfactants (ionization degree, size, shape, micropolarity and microviscosity, solution microstructure, solution rheology, micelle dynamics, micellar solubilization, interaction between dimeric surfactants and water-soluble polymers); the mixed micellization of dimeric surfactants with various conventional surfactants; the phase behavior of dimeric surfactants and the applications of these novel surfactants.     

Micellization and adsorption of a zwitterionic surfactant: N-dodecyl betaine-effect of salt

Time-resolved fluorescence quenching, self-diffusion measurements and calorimetric investigations have been used in order to investigate the effect of salt on aggregation in aqueous solutions and the adsorption onto silica gel of the zwitterionic surfactant N-dodecyl betaine (NDB).

The micelle aggregation number of NDB stays constant when the NDB or salt concentration increases but decreases with an increase of temperature. Evidence is presented for the binding of cations and anions to micellar aggregates. The degree of binding has been obtained for Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Cl⁻ ions; it is always larger for the anion.

Enthalpies of micellization were obtained directly from calorimetric curves of NDB in dilution experiments. The observed decrease of the endothermic enthalpies of micellization with increasing temperature or salinity is attributed to a structural change in the water molecules around the alkyl chain of the free monomers.

The adsorption isotherms of NDB onto silica gel depend very little on temperature, and a plateau is reached near the CMC. At saturation, the adsorbed amount of NDB depends on the salt and follows the sequence NDB < (NDB + NaCl) < (NDB + CaCl₂).

The exothermic differential molar enthalpies of adsorption demonstrate the same behaviour as the enthalpies of micellization with varying temperature or salinity. Adsorption onto silica gel depends on the NDB concentration, the salt concentration and temperature.     

Alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dimethylalkylammonium bromide) surfactants 9. Effect of the spacer carbon number and temperature on the enthalpy of micellization

The enthalpies of dilution of micellar solutions of several 12-s-12 dimeric surfactants of the alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dodecyldi-methylammonium bromide) type, differing by the carbon number s of the alkanediyl spacer, and of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) have been measured calorimetrically, in a range of concentrations extending from well below to well above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). The results permitted the determination of the enthalpy of micellization, DeltaH degrees (M), of the investigated surfactants at 25 and 35 degrees C. The values of DeltaH degrees (M) were always negative and became more negative as the temperature was increased. The plot of -DeltaH degrees (M) against s showed a shallow minimum at about s=5 and a large decrease of -DeltaH degrees (M) going from 12-2-12 to 12- 4-12. This effect has been attributed to the contribution to DeltaH degrees (M) of the hindered rotation of the dodecyl chains around the spacer C-C bond for 12-2-12. This hindrance is shown to rapidly disappear when s is increased from 2 to above 4. The specific heats of micellization, the free energies of micellization, and the entropies of micellization (DeltaS degrees (M)) have been calculated using the DeltaH degrees (M) values and the reported cmc and micelle ionization degree data for 12-s-12 surfactants and DTAB. For all surfactants the results show that TDeltaS degrees (M)>-DeltaH degrees (M), indicating an entropy-driven micellization.     

Density and ultrasonic absorption studies of the interaction between polyions and hydrophobic counterions

The volume changes associated with the interaction between tetra-n-propylammonium, propylammonium and butylammonium ions with the polyethylenesulphonate ion (PES) have been determined from density measurements. The excess ultrasonic absorption of solutions of PES and polystyrenesulphonic (PSS) acids has been measured as a function of the neutralization degree by tetramethylammonium (TMA) and tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) hydroxides. The results confirm that a negligible volume change is associated with the interaction between tetramethylammonium ions and polyions. They indicate that the interaction of large tetraalkylammonium (TAA) ions with polyions gives rise to a small contraction. This effect may be due to [1] disruption of the organisation of the water molecules about the TAA ion alkyl chain when the chains come close enough to polyion charged sites, under the effect of the electrical charges; [2] to enhanced TAA-TAA interactions in the neighbourhood of polyions, owing to the so-called condensation phenomenon; and [3] to hydrophobic interactions between TAA ions and polyions, in the case of hydrophobic polyions such as PSS.     

The embedding of meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)-chlorin into silica nanoparticle platforms for photodynamic therapy and their singlet oxygen production and pH-dependent optical properties

This study relates to nanoparticle (NP) platforms that attach to tumor cells externally and only deliver singlet oxygen for photodynamic therapy (PDT) while conserving the embedded photosensitizers (PS). As a model, we demonstrate the successful embedding of the PS meta‐tetra(hydroxyphenyl)‐chlorin (m‐THPC) in NP that are based on a sol–gel silica matrix and also show its positive effect on the singlet oxygen production. The embedding of m‐THPC inside silica NP is accomplished by a modified Stöber sol–gel process, in which (3‐aminopropyl)‐triethoxysilane is introduced during the reaction. Singlet oxygen delivery by the targetable photodynamic NP exceeds that from free PS molecules. In the physiological pH range, there is no significant pH‐induced decrease in the fluorescence of m‐THPC embedded in silica NP, which might otherwise affect the efficiency of PDT.