Microtubes via assembly of imogolite with polyelectrolyte

We report the self-assembly of polyelectrolyte homopolymers such as poly(acrylic acid) with imogolite to generate stable tubular structures, which were several micrometers in diameter and millimeters in length with no hierarchical ordered structure. No special polymer architecture or interaction was required for the assembly.

Nanotubes of mixed-valence, transition metal compounds synthesized by solution phase approach

A solution-phase approach to synthesize four kinds of mixed-valence, transition metal compounds nanotube is described. The approach is based on the self-assembly of siloxane sol. The resulted production of mixed-valence, transition metal compounds share a common structural characteristic of tubular geometrical morphology, at least for the ones we studied. The results demonstrate that the synthesis strategy can be a general route for preparation of compound nanotubes. In addition, the size control of nanotubular materials can be easily achieved through varying the ionic strength of solution. Based on the strategy, the diameters of ultrathin Ru-Fe nanotubes can be easily tuned between 100 nm and 800 nm.

Large-scale, uniform DNA network on 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid modified gold (111) surface: Atomic force microscopy study

Large-scale, uniform plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) network has been successfully constructed on 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid modified gold (111) surface using a self-assembly technique. The effect of DNA concentration on the characteristics of the DNA network was investigated by atomic force microscopy. It was found that the size of meshes and the height of fibers in the DNA network could be controlled by varying the concentration of DNA with a constant time of assembly of 24 h.

The first polyoxometalate polymer constructed by assembly of the heptamolybdic anion and copper coordination groups

The first example of one-dimensional organic-inorganic polymetallic coordination polymer based on heptamolybdate anions, formulated (NH4)[Cu(en)(2)][Na(en)Cu(en)(2)(H2O)(Mo7O24)].4H(2)O (en = ethylenediamine) (1) has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by element analysis, IR, EPR, CV and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 is fabricated by self-assembly of integrated heptamolybdic anions without collapse of primary structure and copper-ethylenediamine(en) coordination groups into one-dimensional zigzag-shaped chains.

Stable multilayer films based on photoinduced interaction between polyoxometalates and diazo resin

Ultrathin multilayers films consisting of Keggin anion [PMo12O40](3-) and diazo resin were first prepared by the electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly method. This film material could be stabilized by the photoinduced interaction between Keggin anion and diazo resin. IR spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra revealed the occurrence of the partial transformation from ionic bond to covalent bond between layers of the film under irradiation by UV light. Such transformation increases the stability of the film, which was demonstrated by AFM images and the etching experiments with organic solvent.

Immunosensors based on layer-by-layer self-assembled Au colloidal electrode for the electrochemical detection of antigen

Colloidal Au particles have been deposited on the gold electrode through layer-by-layer self-assembly using cysteamine as cross-linkers. Self-assembly of colloidal Au on the gold electrode resulted in ail easier attachment of antibody, larger electrode surface and ideal electrode behavior. The redox reactions of [Fe(CN)(6)]-/[Fe(CN)(6)](3-) on the gold surface were blocked due to antibody immobilization, which were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The interaction of antigen with grafted antibody recognition layers was carried out by soaking the modified electrode into a phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 with various concentrations of antigen at 37degreesC for 30 min. Further, an amplification strategy to use biotin conjugated antibody was introduced for improving the sensitivity of impedance measurements. Thus, the sensor based oil this immobilization method exhibits a large linear dynamic range, from 5 - 400 mug/L for detection of Human IgG. The detection limit is about 0.5 mug/L.

Preparation of highly conductive, self-assembled gold/polyaniline nanocables and polyaniline nanotubes

One-dimensional gold/polyaniline (Au/PANI-CSA) coaxial nanocables with an average diameter of 5060 nm and lengths of more than 1 mu m were successfully synthesized by reacting aniline monomer with chlorauric acid (HAuCl4) through a self-assembly process in the presence Of D-camphor-10-sulfonic acid (CSA), which acts as both a dopant and surfactant. It was found that the formation probability and the size of the Au/PANI-CSA nanocables depends on the molar ratio of aniline to HAuCl4 and the concentration of CSA, respectively. A synergistic growth mechanism was proposed to interpret the formation of the Au/PANI-CSA nanocables. The directly measured conductivity of a single gold/polyaniline nanocable was found to be high (approximate to 77.2S cm(-1)). Hollow PANI-CSA nanotubes, with an average diameter of 50-60 nm, were also obtained successfully by dissolving the Au nanowire core of the Au/PANI-CSA nanocables.

Morphology and structures of self-assembled symmetric poly(di-n-alkylsilanes)

The self-assembly of poly(di-n-butylsilane) (PDBS) and poly(di-n-hexylsilane) (PDHS) on the surfaces of amorphous carbon and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) have been investigated, respectively. The morphology and structures of these self-assembled thin films were studied by using atomic force microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. In the case of weak van der Waals interactions between absorbed molecules and substrate, i.e., on amorphous carbon, the self-assembly process was driven by absorbate-absorbate intermolecular interactions. For PDBS with weak absorbate-absorbate intermolecular interactions, the thin film showed organization lacking any measurable preferred orientation on the surface of amorphous carbon. While for PDHS with rigid backbone and strong intermolecular interactions, flat-on lamellae with silicon backbones perpendicular to the surface of amorphous carbon were formed. However, in the case of strong van der Waals interactions between absorbed molecules and substrate, i.e., on HOPG, the self-assembly process was tailored by the balance of absorbate-absorbate intermolecular interactions and molecule-substrate interactions. Both PDHS and PDBS thin films grew into edge-on lamellae on the surface of HOPG, which aligned according to a Mold symmetry.

Electrochemical detection of DNA immobilized on gold colloid particles modified self-assembled monolayer electrode with silver nanoparticle label

The target DNA was immobilized successfully on gold colloid particles associated with a cysteamine monolayer on gold electrode surface. Self-assembly of colloidal An onto a cysteamine modified gold electrode can enlarge the electrode surface area and enhance greatly the amount of immobilized single stranded DNA (ssDNA). The electrontransfer processes of [Fe(CN)(6)](4)-/[Fe(CN)(6)](3-) on the gold surface were blocked due to the procedures of the target DNA immobilization, which was investigated by impedance spectroscopy. Then single stranded target DNA immobilized on the gold electrode hybridized with the silver nanoparticle-oligonucleotide DNA probe, followed by the release of the silver metal atoms anchored on the hybrids by oxidative metal dissolution, and the indirect determination of the released solubilized Ag-1 ions by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) at a carbon fiber microelectrode. The results show that this method has good correlation for DNA detection in the range of 10-800 pmol/1 and allows the detection level as low as 5 pmol/1 of the target oligonucleotides.

Pattern formation in polymer films under the mask

This paper presents a straightforward method for patterning thin films of polymers, i.e. a prepatterned mask is used to induce self-assembly of polymers and the resulting pattern is the same as the lateral structures in the mask on a submicrometre length scale, The patterns can be formed at above T-g + 30 degreesC in a short time and the external electric field is not crucial. Electrostatic force is assumed to be the driving force for the pattern transfer. Viscous fingering and novel stress-relief lateral morphology induced under the featureless mask are also observed and the formation mechanisms are discussed.

Luminescent self-assembled thin films based on rare earth-heteropolytungstate

earth (Eu3+, Dy3+)-heteropolytungstate thin films were fabricated by self-assembly method successfully. The thin films give off strong fluorescence, which can be observed by eyes upon UV irradiation. The characteristic emission behaviors of the rare earth ions in self-assembled thin film were investigated compared with those of the corresponding solids. It is noticed that the intensity ratio between D-5(0) --> F-7(2) and D-5(0) --> F-7(1) of Eu3+ and the intensity ratio between F-4(9/2) --> H-6(13/2) and F-4(9/2) --> H-6(15/2) of Dy3+ in the self-assembled films are different from those of the corresponding solids. Furthermore, the self-assembled films present shorter fluorescence lifetimes than the corresponding solids. The reasons for these results have been discussed.

Metal-containing molecular wires and their electron transportation properties

Metal-containing conjugated bisthioester 1 was synthesized. It was fabricated into "gold electrode - molecular wires monolayers - gold nanoparticles" junction using self-assembly and nanoparticles deposition techniques. The junction is suitable for investigating the electron transportation property of molecular wires.

Toluidine blue modified self-assembled silica gel coated gold electrode as biosensor for NADH

A toluidine blue modified gold electrode was constructed using self-assembled silica gel technique. Firstly, toluidine blue was encapsulated within 3D network of silica self-assembly monolayer on the surface of gold electrode. Secondly, another layer of silica sol was further assembled to protect from leaching of mediator or possible contamination. The electrochemical characteristics of toluidine blue immobilized within self-assembled silica gel were studied in detail. The modified electrode was applied for electrochemical oxidation of NADH with satisfactory results.

Preparation and nonlinear optical properties of ultrathin composite films containing both a polyoxometalate anion and a binuclear phthalocyanine

An ultrathin composite film containing both polyoxometalate anion [PMo12O40](3-) ( PMo12) and a planar binuclear phthalocyanine, bi-CoPc, has been prepared by the electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly method. UV-vis measurements revealed regular film growth with each four-layer {PMo12/bi-CoPc/PSS/PAH} adsorption. The lm structure was characterized by small-angle X-ray reflectivity measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and AFM images. The nanothick film shows a third-order nonlinear optical response of chi((3)) = 4.21 x 10(-12) esu. Experimental investigations also indicate that the combination of polyoxometalate anions [PMo12O40](3-) with the phthalocyanine bi-CoPc in multilayer films can enhance the third-order NLO susceptibility and modify the third-order NLO absorption of bi-CoPc.

Synthesis and crystal structure of a new supermolecular compound: [C12H24O6][H3PMo12O40]center dot 22H(2)O (C12H24O6=18-crown-6)

The title compound, [C12H24O6][H3PMo12O40]. 22H(2)O, was synthesized by the self-assembly of 18-crown-6 (abbreviated as C12H24O6 or 18C6) and H3PMo12O40 in the mixed solvent of CH3OH and CH3CN, and was characterized by IR, H-1 NMR and Xray diffraction for the first time. Crystal data: Triclinic, P (1) over bar, a = 13.428(3) Angstrom, b = 13.557(3)A, c = 14.642(3) Angstrom, a = 105.39(3)degrees, beta = 90.06(3)degrees, gamma = 119.56(5)degrees, V = 2207.5(8) Angstrom(3), Z = 1, R1 = 0.0719, wR2 = 0.1990. It has a disordered alpha-Keggin PMo12O403- anion, which contains the strong alternating short (mean 1.844 Angstrom) and long (mean 1.958 Angstrom) Mo-O-Mo bonds. In the unit cell, crown ethers and molybdophosphates are alternatively arranged in good order along c-axis. An oxonium ion is located at the center of a crown ether molecule., Oxonium ion interacts with 18C6 by the means of hydrogen bonds (mean 2.7771 Angstrom), which are electrostatic or resonant. The observations show the existence of [H3O(C12H24O6)](+) (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.