Properties of complex of Tb(III) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-styrene) core-shell nanoparticles

We successfully prepared a new kind of thermoresponsive and fluorescent complex of Tb(III) and PNIPAM-g-P(NIPAM-co-St) (PNNS) core-shell nanoparticle. It was found that Tb(III) mainly bonded to 0 of the carbonyl groups of PNNS, forming the novel (PNIPAM-g-P(NIPAM-co-St))-Tb(III) (PNNS-Tb(III)) complex. The maximum emission intensity of the complex at 545 nm is enhanced about 223 times comparing to that of the pure Tb(III). The intramolecular energy transfer efficiency from PNNS to Tb(III) reaches 50%. When the weight ratio of Tb(III) and the PNNS-Tb(III) complex is 1.2 wt.%, the enhancement of the emission fluorescence intensity at 545 nm is highest.

A simple and effective route for the preparation of poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) nanofibers containing gold nanoparticles by electrospinning method

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers containing gold nanoparticles have been simply obtained by electrospinning a solution containing gold nanoparticles without the additional step of introducing other stabilizing agents. The optical property of gold nanoparticles in PVA aqueous solution was observed by UV-visible absorption spectra. Morphology of the Au/PVA nanofibers and distribution of the gold nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron. microscopy (TEM). The structure transformation was characterized from PVA to PVA/Au composite by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Random lasing emission from a red fluorescent dye doped polystyrene film containing dispersed polystyrene nanoparticles

The authors report a random lasing emission from 4-(dicy-anomethylene)-2-t-butyl-6(1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran doped polystyrene thin films by introducing polystyrene nanoparticles. The aspects of concentration and diameter of polystyrene nanoparticles have been intensively investigated and found that the lasing occurs due to the scattering role of polystyrene nanoparticles. The devices emit a resonance multimode peak centered at a wavelength of 630 nm with a mode linewidth of less than 0.35 nm and exhibit threshold excitation intensity of as low as 0.06 mJ pulse(-1) cm(-2). The microscopic laser cavities formed by multiple scattering have been captured. The demonstration of random laser opens up the possibility of using organic scattering as alternative sources of coherent light emission.

Size-dependent phase transfer of gold nanoparticles from water into toluene by tetraoctylammonium cations: A wholly electrostatic interaction

In this study, it is demonstrated that the tetraoctylammonium cation can be used directly as a phase-transfer reagent of negatively charged water-based gold nanoparticles. The transference is size-dependent and is based on a wholly electrostatic interaction.

One-step synthesis and characterization of polyelectrolyte-protected gold nanoparticles through a thermal process

Polyelectrolyte-protected gold nanoparticles have been facilely obtained by heating an amine-containing polyelectrolyte/HAuCl4 aqueous solution without the additional step of introducing other reducing agents. All experimental data indicate that different initial molar ratio of polyelectrolyte to gold can lead to the formation of dispersed nanoparticles, quasi one-dimensional aggregates of nanoparticles or bulk metal deposits. More importantly, the growth kinetics of gold particles thus formed can be tuned by changing the initial molar ratio of polyelectrolyte to gold.

Direct electron transfer between cytochrome c and a gold nanoparticles modified electrode

Quasi-reversible and direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c (cyt. c) has been obtained at a novel electrochemical interface constructed by self-assembling gold nanoparticles (GNPs) onto a three-dimensional silica gel network, without polishing or any modification of the surface. A cleaned gold electrode was first immersed in a hydrolyzed sol of the precursor (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane to assemble three-dimensional silica gel, then the GNPs were chemisorbed onto the thiol groups of the sol-gel network and modified the kinetic barrier of this self-assembled silicate film. Cyclic voltammetry and AC impendance spectroscopy were performed to evaluate electrochemical properties of the as prepared interface. These nanoparticle inhibits the adsorption of cyt. c onto bare electrode and acts as a bridge of electron transfer between protein and electrode.