One step to detect the latent fingermarks with gold nanoparticles

A simple and environment friendly chemical route for detecting latent fingermarks by one-step single-metal nanoparticles deposition method (SND) was achieved successfully on several non-porous items. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using sodium borohydride as reducing agent in the presence of glucose, were used as working solution for latent fingermarks detection. The SND technique just needs one step to obtain clear ridge details in a wide pH range (2.5-5.0), whereas the standard multi-metal deposition (MMD) technique requires six baths in a narrow pH range (2.5-2.8). The SND is very convenient to detect latent fingermarks in forensic scene or laboratory for forensic operators. The SND technique provided sharp and clear development of latent fingermarks, without background staining, dramatically diminished the bath steps.

Photoinduced DNA Cleavage by alpha-, beta-, and gamma-Cyclodextrin-Bicapped C-60 Supramolecular Complexes

Water-soluble supramolecular inclusion complexes of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin-bicapped C-60 (CD/C-60) have been investigated for their photoinduced DNA cleavage activities, with the aim to assess the potential health risks of this class of compounds and to understand the effect of host cyclodextrins having different cavity dimensions. Factors such as incubation temperature, irradiation time, and concentration of NADH or CDs/C-60 supramolecular inclusion complexes have been examined. The results show that alpha-, beta-, and gamma-CDs/C-60 are all able to cleave double-stranded DNA under visible light irradiation in the presence of NADH. However, a difference in the photoinduced DNA cleavage efficiency is observed, where the cleavage efficiency increases in the order of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-CD/C-60. The difference is attributed to the different aggregation behavior of the inclusion complexes in aqueous solution, which is correlated to the cavity dimension of the host cyclodextrin molecules.

Fast and facile preparation of superhigh aspect-ratio Cu-thiourea nanowires in large quantity

Superhigh aspect-ratio Cu-thiourea (Cu(tu)) nanowires have been synthesized in large quantity via a fast and facile method. Nanowires of Cu (tu)Cl center dot 0.5H(2)O and Cu(tu)Br center dot 0.5H(2)O were found to be 60-100 nm and 100-200 nm, in diameter, and could extend to several millimeters in length. It is found to be the most convenient and facile approach to the fabrication of one-dimensional superhigh aspect-ratio nanomaterials in large scale so far.

Characterization of non-covalent complexes of rutin with cyclodextrins by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) and the phase solubility method were used to characterize the gas-phase and solution-phase non-covalent complexes between rutin (R) and alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs). The direct correlation between mass spectrometric results and solution-phase behavior is thus revealed. The order of the 1:1 association constants (K-c) of the complexes between R and the three CDs in solution calculated from solubility diagrams is in good agreement with the order of their relative peak intensities and relative collision-induced dissociation (CID) energies of the complexes under the same ESI-MSn condition in both the positive and negative ion modes. Not only the binding stoichiometry but also the relative stabilities and even binding sites of the CD-R complexes can be elucidated by ESI-MSn. The diagnostic fragmentation of CD-R complexes, with a significant contribution of covalent fragmentation of rutin leaving the quercetin (Q) moiety attached to the CDs, provides convincing evidence for the formation of inclusion complexes between R and CDs. The diagnostic fragment ions can be partly confirmed by the complexes between Q and CDs. The gas-phase stability order of the deprotonated CD-R complexes is beta-CD-R > alpha-CD-R > gamma-CD/R; beta-CD seems to bind R more strongly than the other CDs.

Studies on microstructure bilayer film of ultrasonic dipped cadmium sulfide and d.c. sputtered indium tin oxide

A bilayer CdS/ITO film was obtained. The dipped CdS was grown by an ultrasonic colloid deposition (USCD) method. Microstructure of the CdS film made by USCD has a wider transmission range and a higher transmittance. Amorphous indium-tin-oxide (ITO) thin film was deposited using d.c. magnetron-sputtering at room temperature. The ITO films exhibited good conductivity and maximum transmittance of 94%. The CdS/ITO bilayer was investigated by means of GIXD (grazing incidence X-ray diffraction) at different incidence angles (alpha = 0.20-5.00degrees) and XRD. We discuss a model for the thin bilayer film. SEM and AFM show that homogeneous CdS films with a bar-shaped ultrafine particles and ITO film with nanometer structure. The mechanism of the bilayer CdS/ITO film is discussed.

Enhanced affinochromism of polydiacetylene monolayer in response to bacteria by incorporating US nano-crystallites

By incorporating bio-specific receptors, such as p-10,12-pentacosadiyne-1-N-(3,6,9-trioxaundecylamide)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (MPDA), into 10,12-pentacosadiyonic acid (PDA) monolayer, the MPDA/PDA monolayer underwent affinochromatic transition in response to the bacteria binding to the receptor. Here, we described a new method to study the membrane/macromolececular interaction between Escherichia coli (E coli) and mannose and its relative affinochromism by modifying MPDA/PDA with CdS nano-crystallites (MPDA/PDA-CdS). CdS not only triggered the strong tropism of the bacteria but also reduced the rigidity of the MPDA/PDA backbone, resulting in the enhanced affinochromism. This discovery might be of significance in basic biophysical studies of membrane/macromolececular and designing novel biosensor.

In(OH)(3) and In2O3 nanorod bundles and spheres: Microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal synthesis and luminescence properties

Indium hydroxide, In(OH)(3), nano-microstructures with two kinds of morphology, nanorod bundles (around 500 nm in length and 200 nm in diameter) and caddice spherelike agglomerates (around 750 - 1000 nm in diameter), were successfully prepared by the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/water/cyclohexane/n-pentanol microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal process. Calcination of the In(OH)(3) crystals with different morphologies (nanorod bundles and spheres) at 600 degrees C in air yielded In2O3 crystals with the same morphology. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples. The pH values of microemulsion play an important role in the morphological control of the as-formed In(OH)(3) nano-microstructures from the hydrothermal process. The formation mechanisms for the In( OH) 3 nano- microstructures have been proposed on an aggregation mechanism. In2O3 nanorod bundles and spheres show a similar blue emission peaking around 416 and 439 nm under the 383-nm UV excitation, which is mainly attributed to the oxygen vacancies in the In2O3 nano-microstructures.

A solvothermal route to size- and shape-controlled CdSe and CdTe nanocrystals

The size- and shape-controlled CdSe and CdTe nanocrystals, which exhibit obvious quantum confinement effect, have been synthesized by a solvothermal route. It is found that initial precursor concentrations are key factors in controlling the shape of the resulting nanocrystals. Moreover, the obtained nanocrystals are all of zinc blende structure, regardless of their sizes and shapes. A possible mechanism for the formation and growth of the nanocrystals is put forward. It is inferred that the adhesion and subsequent recrystallization of nanocrystals with an assistance of remaining monomers should be a major reason for formation and growth of the elongated nanocrystals.

Studies on the non-covalent complexes between oleanolic acid and cyclodextrins using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between an anti-inflammatory drug, oleanolic acid (OA), and alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs) were investigated by means of solubility studies and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn). The order of calculated association constants (K-1:1) of complexes between OA and different CDs in solution is in good agreement with the order of their relative peak intensities and the relative CID energies of the complexes under the same ESI-MSn conditions. These results indicate a direct correlation between the behaviors of solution- and gas-phase complexes. ESI-MS can thus be used to evaluate solution-phase non-covalent complexes successfully. The experimental results show that the most stable 1:1 inclusion complexes between three CDs and OA can be formed, but 2:1 CD-OA complexes can be formed with beta- and gamma-CDs. Multi-component complexes of alpha-CD-OA-beta-CD (1:1:1), alpha-CD-OA-gamma-CD (1:1:1) and beta-CD-OA-gamma-CD (1:1:1) were found in equimolar CD mixtures with excess OA. The formation of 2:1 and multi-component 1:1:1 non-covalent CD-OA complexes indicates that beta- and gamma-CD are able to form sandwich-type inclusion non-covalent complexes with OA. The above results can be partly supported by the relative sizes of OA and CD cavities by molecular modeling calculations.

UV-Vis and surface photovoltage spectra of Fe2O3/polystyrene composite microspheres

Fe2O3 sol with the particle diameter of 3-5 nm was flocculated by the addition of SDS, and the flocculate formed was redispersed by the further addition of that surfactant. Thus the surfactant bilayer was formed on the surface of Fe2O3. The emulsion polymerization of styrene (St) adsolubilized oil the surfactant adsorbed bilayer was carried out by initiator potassium persulfate (KPS). The UV-Vis and surface photovoltage spectra (SPS) indicate that the Fe2O3 particles were encapsulated in polystyrene(PSt) successfully.

A novel method for preparing ordered SnO2/TiO2 alternate nanoparticulate films

A novel method using LB films as precursors to prepare pure inorganic ordered film with periodic structure was developed. Surfactant-stabilized SnO2 nanoparticulate organosols and TiO2 nanoparticulate organosols were prepared and used as spreading solutions. Using LB technique, the good film-forming ability of the surfactant-stabilized SnO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanoparticles was confirmed by the determination of the pi -A isotherms. The surfactant-stabilized SnO2 and TiO2 nanoparticulate monolayers were fabricated on the water surface and then were transferred to solid substrates (CaF2, quartz, silicon, and so on) alternately, layer-by-layer. Then the as-deposited alternate LB film was treated at different temperatures. The as-deposited alternate LB film and the treated film were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that our method was successful. The as-deposited alternate LB film formed a periodic structure with a long spacing of 6.5 nm that was composed of SnO2 nanoparticles, TiO2 nanoparticles, and arachidic acid. The treated film composed of SnO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanoparticles formed a pure inorganic periodic structure with an ordered distance of 5.4 nm. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Surface photovoltage spectra and photoelectrochemical properties of semiconductor-sensitized nanostructured TiO2 electrodes

Three kinds of TiO2 nanostructured thin films and their CdS-sensitized films, consisting of different sizes of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared with different methods, have been investigated. The surface photovoltage spectra (SPS) measurements indicate that the density of surface states on TiO2 is likely dependent upon the details of prepared methods. TiO2 particles prepared from basic sol have more surface states than that prepared from acidic sol. When the TiO2 thin films prepared using the TiO2 sols were sensitized by CdS particles, the SPS responses relative to the surface states on TiO2 from 350 to 800 nm were decreased. The photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured TiO2 electrodes suggest that the fewer the surface states and the smaller the particle sizes of TiO2, the larger the photocurrent response. For CdS sensitized TiO2 thin film electrode, it is shown that the semiconductor sensitization is an efficient way to decrease the influence of surface states on the charge separation, and can improve the intensity of photocurrent response. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Langmuir-Blodgett film formation from surfactant-capped zinc sulfide nanoparticles spread on water surface

The surfactant-capped ZnS nanoparticulate multilayer film has been fabricated by Langmuir-Blodgett(LB) technique. ZnS LB firm was investigated by the small-angle x-ray diffraction(XRD), atomic force microscopy(AFM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The results indicate that ZnS nanoparticulate LB film is one-dimensional superlattice.

Cyclodextrin-catalyzed oxidation of glutathione in solution and in an ion trap

Incubated solutions containing glutathione (GSH) and alpha- or beta-cyclodextrins (CDs) were analyzed using electrospray mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, The results suggest that both CDs can catalyze oxidation of GSH to the oxidized glutathione (GSSG). The collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the 1:1 and 1:2 (CD/GSH) and 1:1 (CD/GSSG) complexes reveals the strong interactions of the CDs with the peptides tested. The 1:2 (CD/GSH) complex is considered to be the oxidation reaction intermediate, which indicates that the three-dimensional structure of the complexed two GSHs in CD complexes Is different from that of the proton-bound GSH dimer, The oxidation product, GSSG, Is also observed in the CID spectrum of the singly charged 1:1 (CD/GSH) complex, suggesting that a complex ion-complex ion reaction occurs by forming a doubly charged complex dimer, as a result of the ability of ion trap to accumulate and activate ions. The observations indicate that ion trap mass spectrometry can be used to explore cyclodextrin-catalyzed reactions and to carry out complex gaseous chemistry research. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

化学溶液法和超声化学法制备硫化镉薄膜

通过对用化学溶液法制备硫化镉薄膜的微观生长过程和机理的研究，建立一种在溶液中进行超声波化学制备硫化镉半导体薄膜的方法.用扫描电子显微镜对化学溶液法和超声化学法沉积的硫化镉薄膜的生长过程进行跟踪观察. 讨论了硫化镉薄膜的UV可见光谱