Retention modeling and optimization of pH value and solvent composition in HPLC using back-propagation neural networks and uniform design

A novel method for the optimization of pH value and composition of mobile phase in HPLC using artificial neural networks and uniform design is proposed. As the first step. seven initial experiments were arranged and run according to uniform design. Then the retention behavior of the solutes is modeled using back-propagation neural networks. A trial method is used to ensure the predicting capability of neural networks. Finally, the optimal separation conditions can be found according to a global resolution function. The effectiveness of this method is validated by optimization of separation conditions for both basic and acidic samples.

Preparation of uniform calcium alginate gel beads by membrane emulsification coupled with internal gelation

With the objective of making calcium alginate gel beads with small and uniform size, membrane emulsification coupled with internal gelation was proposed. Spherical gel beads with mean size of about 50 mum, and even smaller ones in water, and with narrow size distribution were successfully obtained. Experimental studies focusing mainly on the effect of process parameters on bead properties were performed. The size of the beads was mainly dependent on the diameter of the membrane pores. High transmembrane pressure made for large gel beads with wide size distribution. Low sodium alginate concentration produced nonspherical beads, whereas a high concentration was unsuitable for the production of small beads with narrow distribution. Thus 1.5% w/v was enough. A high surfactant concentration favored the formation of small beads, but the adverse effect on mass transfer should be considered in this novel process. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Uniform Colloidal Alkaline Earth Metal Fluoride Nanocrystals: Nonhydrolytic Synthesis and Luminescence Properties

In this paper, we present a facile and general synthetic route to high-quality alkaline earth metal fluoride (AEF(2), AE = Ca, Sr, Ba) nanocrystals and CaF2:Tb3+ nanocrystals based on the thermal decomposition of corresponding trifluoroacetate precursors in hot oleylamine. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectra, photoluminescence spectra, and kinetic decays were employed to characterize the samples. The use of single-source precursors plays an important role in the formation of high-quality AEF(2) nanocrystals, and the formation process is demonstrated in detail.

Highly Uniform and Monodisperse Ba2CIF3 Microrods: Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization

One-dimensional hexagonal Ba2CIF3 microrods with highly uniform morphology and size have been successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method at a low temperature (160 degrees C). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the samples. The synthesis process, based on a phase-transfer and separation mechanism, allows the control of properties such as particle size and shape in low dispersity by bonding the surfactant oleic acid to the crystal surface.

Uniform YVO4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Dy, and Sm) nanocrystals: Solvothermal synthesis and luminescence properties

Well-dispersed YVO4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Dy, and Sm) nanocrystals with uniform morphology and size have been synthesized via a facile solvothermal route. XRD results demonstrate that all of the three samples can be well indexed to the pure tetragonal phase Of YVO4, indicating that the Eu3+, Dy3+, and Sm3+ have been effectively doped into the host lattices of YVO4. TEM images show that the YVO4 nanocrystals exhibit ellipsoid shape and a mean size of about 20 nm, which is in good agreement with the estimation of XRD results.

Fabrication and characterization of uniform Fe3O4 octahedral micro-crystals

Uniform Fe3O4 octahedral microcrystals with perfect appearance have been successfully synthesized by a Triton X100-assisted polyol process. During the polyols process for the preparation of Fe3O4 octahedra. the introduction of Triton X100 decreases significantly the needed concentration of NaOH. The results show that Fe3O4 octahedra are composed of eight triangular sheets, which are equilateral triangles. The edge size of Fe3O4 octahedron is about 4 mu m. The magnetic properties of Fe3O4 octahedral particles were evaluated on a SQUID magnetometer at room temperature.

Facile EG/ionic liquid interfacial synthesis of uniform RE3+ doped NaYF4 nanocubes

Uniform multicolor upconversion luminescent RE3+ doped NaYF4 nanocubes are fabricated through a facile ethylene glycol (EG)/ionic liquid interfacial synthesis route at 80 degrees C, with the ionic liquids acting as both reagents and templates.

Uniform Ln(OH)(3) and Ln(2)O(3) (Ln = Eu, Sm) Submicrospindles: Facile Synthesis and Characterization

Monodisperse hexagonal Ln(OH)(3) (Ln = Eu, Sm) submicrospindles with uniform morphology and size have been Successfully synthesized in a large scale via a Facile aqueous solution route from the mixture of aqueous solutions or LnCl(3) and NaOH at 5 degrees C without using any surfactant or template. The as-synthesized products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The SEM and TEM images show that the as-formed Ln(OH)(3) samples have a spindlelike shape with an equatorial diameter of 80-200 nm and a length of 500-900 nm, which are aggregates of even smaller nanoparticles.

Uniform AMoO(4):Ln (A = Sr2+, Ba2+; Ln = Eu3+, Tb3+) submicron particles: Solvothermal synthesis and luminescent properties

Rare-earth ions (Eu3+, Tb3+) doped AMoO(4) (A = Sr, Ba) particles with uniform morphologies were successfully prepared through a facile solvothermal process using ethylene glycol (EG) as protecting agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the kinetic decays were performed to characterize these samples. The XRD results reveal that all the doped samples are of high purity and crystallinity and assigned to the tetragonal scheelite-type structure of the AMoO(4) phase. It has been shown that the as-synthesized SrMoO4:Ln and BaMoO4:Ln samples show respective uniform pea nut-like and oval morphologies with narrowsize distribution. The possible growth process of the AMoO(4):Ln has been investigated in detail. The EG/H2O volume ratio, reaction temperature and time have obvious effect on themorphologies and sizes of the as-synthesized products.

Facile synthesis of highly uniform octahedral LuVO4 microcrystals by a facile chemical conversion method

Uniform octahedral LuVO4 microcrystals have been successfully prepared through a designed two-step hydrothermal method. One-dimensional lutetium precursor was first prepared through a simple hydrothermal route. Subsequently, a well-shaped octahedral LuVO4 sample was synthesized at the expense of the wirelike precursors during the hydrothermal process. The whole process in this method was carried out in aqueous conditions without the use of any organic solvents, surfactant, or catalyst. The conversion process from nanowire precursor to octahedral product has been investigated in detail. The LuVO4 : Ln(3+) (Ln Eu, Dy, Sm, and Er) phosphors show strong light emissions with different colors coming from different activator ions under ultraviolet light excitation or low-voltage electron beam excitation. Furthermore, this general and facile method may be of much significance in the synthesis of many other lanthanide compounds with polyhedral morphology.

Facile chemical conversion synthesis and luminescence properties of uniform Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb)-doped NaLuF4 nanowires and LuBO3 microdisks

Uniform NaLuF(4) nanowires and LuBO(3) microdisks have been successfully prepared by a designed chemical conversion method. The lutetium precursor nanowires were first prepared through a simple hydrothermal process. Subsequently, uniform NaLuF(4) nanowires and LuBO(3) microdisks were synthesized at the expense of the precursor by a hydrothermal conversion process. The whole process was carried out in aqueous condition without any organic solvents, surfactant, or catalyst. The conversion processes from precursor to the final products have been investigated in detail. The as-obtained Eu(3+) and Tb(3+)-doped LuBO(3) microdisks and NaLuF(4) nanowires show strong characteristic red and green emissions under ultraviolet excitation or low-voltage electron beam excitation. Moreover, the luminescence colors of the Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) codoped LuBO(3) samples can be tuned from red, orange, yellow, and green-yellow to green by simply adjusting the relative doping concentrations of the activator ions under a single wavelength excitation, which might find potential applications in the fields such as light display systems and optoelectronic devices.

Uniform Lanthanide Orthoborates LnBO(3) (Ln = Gd, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, and Dy) Microplates: General Synthesis and Luminescence Properties

A variety of uniform lanthanide orthoborates LnBO(3) (Ln = Gd, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, and Dy) microplates have been successfully prepared by a general and facile conversion method. One-dimensional (ID) lanthanide hydroxides were first prepared through a simple hydrothermal process. Subsequently, uniform LnBO(3) microplates were synthesized at the expense of the ID precursors during a hydrothermal conversion process. The whole process in this method was carried out in aqueous condition without the use of any organic solvents, surfactant, or catalyst. The as-obtained rare earth ions doped GdBO3 and TbBO3 microplates show strong light emissions with different colors coming from different activator ions under ultraviolet excitation or low-voltage electron beam excitation, which might find potential applications in fields such as light phosphor powders and advanced flat panel display devices.

Facile Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Highly Uniform MF/YVO4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Dy, and Sm) Composite Microspheres

Uniform MF/YVO4:Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Dy, and Sm) composite microspheres have been prepared via a simple and economical wet-chemical route at ambient pressure and low temperature. Monodisperse micrometer-sized melamine formaldehyde (MF) colloidal particles were first fabricated by a condensation process of melamine with formaldehyde. Subsequently, well-dispersed YVO4 nanoparticles were successfully grown onto the MF microspheres to form core-shell structured composite particles in aqueous Solution. The as-obtained composite microspheres with perfect spherical shape are uniform in size and distribution, and the thickness and roughness of the YVO4 shells on MF cores could be tuned by varying the reaction temperature. The MF/YVO4:Ln(3+) composite phosphors show strong light emissions with different colors coming from different activator ions under ultraviolet excitation, which might find potential applications in fields such as light phosphor powders and advanced flat panel displays.

Highly Uniform Gd(OH)(3) and Gd2O3:Eu3+ Nanotubes: Facile Synthesis and Luminescence Properties

Uniform Gd(OH)(3) nanotubes have been prepared via a simple wet-chemical route at ambient pressure and low temperature, without any catalysts, templates, or substrates, in which Gd(NO3)(3) was used as the gallium source and ammonia as the alkali. SEM and TEM images indicate that the as-obtained Gd(OH)3 entirely consists of uniform nanotubes in high yield with diameters of about 40 nm and lengths of 200-300 nm. The temperature-dependent morphological evolution and the formation mechanism of the Gd(OH)(3) nanotubes were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the Gd2O3 and Eu3+-doped Gd2O3 nanotubes, which inherit their parents' morphology, were obtained during a direct annealing process in air. The corresponding Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanotubes exhibit the strong red emission corresponding to the D-5(0)-F-7(2), transition of the Eu3+ ions under UV light or low-voltage electron beam excitation, which might find potential applications in the fields such as light-emitting phosphors, advanced flat panel displays, or biological labeling.