Surface chemistry studies of (CdSe)ZnS quantum dots at the air-water interface

Trioctylphosphine oxide- (TOPO-) capped (CdSe)ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared through a stepwise synthesis. The surface chemistry behavior of the QDs at the air-water interface was carefully examined by various physical measurements. The surface pressure-area isotherm of the Langmuir film of the QDs gave an average diameter of 4.4 nm, which matched very well with the value determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements if the thickness of the TOPO cap was counted. The stability of the Langmuir film of the QDs was tested by two different methods, compression/decompression cycling and kinetic measurements, both of which indicated that TOPO-capped (CdSe)ZnS QDs can form stable Langmuir films at the air-water interface. Epifluorescence microscopy revealed the two-dimensional aggregation of the QDs in Langmuir films during the early stage of the compression process. However, at high surface pressures, the Langmuir film of QDs was more homogeneous and was capable of being deposited on a hydrophobic quartz slide by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film technique. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy was utilized to characterize the LB films. The PL intensity of the LB film of QDs at the first emission maximum was found to increase linearly with increasing number of layers deposited onto the hydrophobic quartz slide, which implied a homogeneous deposition of the Langmuir film of QDs at surface pressures greater than 20 mN.m(-1).     

Interaction between organophosphorous hydrolase and paraoxon studied by surface chemistry in situ at air-water interface

Subphase conditions have been optimized to obtain stable organophosphorous hydrolase (OPH-EC 3.1.8.1) as Langmuir films. The Langmuir film was characterized by surface pressure and surface potential-area isotherms and UV-Vis spectroscopy in situ. The interaction of an organophosphorous compound, namely Paraoxon, with the OPH film was investigated for various surface pressures. The stability of the monolayer and the evidence of the enzyme activity at air-water interface support the use of enzyme LB films as biosensor.     

PHOTOVOLTATC EFFICIENCIES OF MICROCRYSTALLINE AND ANHYDROUS CHLOROPHYLL a

Abstract— A thin layer of chlorophyll a (around 2000 Å). a p -type organic semiconductor. was sandwiched between two different metals. aluminum and silver. We used the photovoltaic effect in order to study the efficiency of light conversion by the crystalline and anhydrous forms of Chl a . When the photovoltaic cell is illuminated through the semi-transparent aluminum electrode. an action spectrum similar to the visible absorption spectrum of Chl a is obtained. The anhydrous form. always shows a maximum, in the red, at 672 nm and the crystalline one at 746 nm to 738 nm depending on the amount of water vapor present in the measuring area. The light conversion efficiency has been measured at the maximum absorption in the red for both forms of Chl a . For the anhydrous form, we found values as high as 0.036%, which is very significant even compared to 0.21%, the highest value found for the crystalline form. In both cases. the incident light power was approximately 10 μW on the cell. The light conversion efficiency of both forms of Chl a cells was found to depend on a combine effect of the nature of the gas (O₁. N₂. air. Ar. N₂O. SF ₆ , H₂) and the amount of water vapor present in the measuring area. The best conversion efficiency was obtained with O ₂ , or air saturated with water. This combined effect was very large for the crystalline form whereas the anhydrous form was only slightly affected.     

Ternary and tetrahedral symmetry in hybrid fluorides, fluoride carbonates and carbonates

Tren amine cations and carbonate anions adopt a ternary symmetry while tetra amine cations are tetrahedral. The symmetry of these constitutive ions influences strongly the nature of the solids which crystallise from solutions. Large fluorinated aluminate polyanions with tetrahedral symmetry appear in the presence of tren amine, while infinite chains of AlF₆ octahedra are observed with tetra amine and that noncentrosymmetric structures are frequently encountered in rare earth fluoride carbonates.     

Chemosensors for the marine toxin saxitoxin

Eleven anthracylmethyl crown ethers have been synthesized and evaluated as fluorescence sensors for the marine toxin saxitoxin. Fluorescence enhancement data are consistent with a 1:1 binding complex for all crowns. The binding constants are in the range of 10(4) M(-)(1) in ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 7.1) in 80% ethanol solvent. Selectivity for sensing saxitoxin versus several organic analytes has been demonstrated for the first time. Possible modes of binding are presented, and relevance to saxitoxin monitoring programs are discussed.