Electrochemiluminescence detection based on Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) immobilised in sulfonic-functionalised titania nanoparticles by ion exchange strategy

A novel Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine)-based solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed in this paper. The sensor was fabricated by immobilising tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) in sulfonic-functionalised porous titania (TiO2-SO3H) nanoparticles via an ion exchange strategy, followed by employing environment friendly and stable biopolymer chitosan (CHIT) to entrap Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/TiO2-SO3H onto the ITO electrode.

A strategy of fabricating exfoliated thermoplastic polyurethane/clay nanocomposites via introducing maleated polypropylene

By reducing the attraction between the platelets of octaclecylammonium chloride modified montmorillonite (OMMT-C18) via pre-intercalation of maleated polypropylene (MAPP), OMMT-C18 was exfoliated in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix during melt-mixing. Wide angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to investigate the microstructure of TPU nanocomposites. Three factors (including introducing sequence, the kind and the content of MAPP) showed important effects on the dispersion degree of OMMT-C18 in TPU matrix. The results confirmed that the pre-intercalation of MAPP was necessary for the exfoliation of OMMT-C18; however, the role of MAPP in TPU nanocomposites was different from that in polypropylene nanocomposites.

An Engineering-Purpose Preparation Strategy for Ammonium-Type Ionic Liquid with High Purity

A new strategy for preparing ammonium-type ionic liquid (IL) by acid/base neutralization reaction was proposed. The method contributed to preparing hydroxide-based ammonium IL and resulting task specific ionic liquid (TSIL) with high purity using a low-costly and environment-friendly synthetic. route. Halide contamination in the prepared ILs could be markedly decreased than those prepared by well-established anion metathesis method. Moreover, some novel TSILs composed of cations and anions with big steric hindrances could be prepared by this method. Physicochemical properties of the bifunctional TSILs, i.e., density, water content, decomposition temperature, and munal solubility, were also studied in this article.

A versatile color tuning strategy for iridium(III) and platinum(II) electrophosphors by shifting the charge-transfer states with an electron-deficient core

By fusing an electron-deficient ring system with the phenyl ring of a 2-phenylpyridine (ppy)-type ligand, a new and synthetically versatile strategy for the phosphorescence color tuning of cyclometalated iridium(III) and platinum(II) metallophosphors has been established. Two robust red electrophosphors with enhanced electron-injection/electron-transporting features were prepared by using an electron-trapping fluoren-9-one chromophore in the ligand design. The thermal, photophysical, redox and electrophosphorescent properties of these complexes are reported. These exciting results can be attributed to a switch of the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character of the transition from the pyridyl groups in the traditional Ir-III or Pt-II ppy-type complexes to the electron-deficient ring core, and the spectral assignments corroborate well with the electrochemical data as well as the timedependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The electron-withdrawing character of the fused ring results in much more stable MLCT states, inducing a substantial red-shift of the triplet emission energy from yellow to red for the Ir-III complex and even green to red for the PtII counterpart.

A Novel Strategy to Branched Polyacrylonitrile Via One-Pot RAFT Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile and an Asymmetrical Divinyl Monomer

Branched polyacrylonitriles were prepared via the one-pot radical copolymerization of acrylonitirle and an asymmetric divinyl monomer (allyl methacrylate) that possesses both a higher reactive methacrylate and a lower reactive allyl. RAFT technique was used to keep a low-propagation chain concentration via a fast reversible chain transfer euilibration and thus the cross-linking was prevented until a high level of monomer conversions. This novel strategy was demonstrated to engenerate a branched architecture with abundant pendant functional vinyl and nitrile groups, and controlled molecular weight as a behavior of controlled/living radical polymerization characteristics. The effect of the various experimental parameters, including temperature, brancher to monomer molar ratio, and chain transfer agent to initiator molar ratio, on the control Of moleculer dimension (molecular weight and polydispersity indices) and the degree of branching were investigated in detail. Moreover, H-1 NMR and gel permeation chromatography confirm the branched architecture of the resultant polymer. The intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer is also lower than the linear counterpart.

Efficient synthesis of substituted tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3-b]thiopyran-4,5-diones by a double annulation strategy from dialkenoylketene dithioacetals

An efficient synthetic procedure for substituted 2,3,6,7tetrahydrothiopyrano [2,3-b] thiopyran-4,5 -diones by a double annulation strategy is described. The ring systems are made in good yields from readily available dialkenoylketene dithioacetals in the presence of either sodium sulfide nonahydrate/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or a sodium hydride/DMF/amine system.

A novel strategy to construct a flat-lying DNA monolayer on a mica surface

Flat-lying, densely packed DNA monolayers in which DNA chains are well organized have been successfully constructed on a mica surface by dropping a droplet of a DNA solution on a freshly cleaved mica surface and subsequently transferring the mica to ultrapure water for developing. The formation kinetics of such monolayers was studied by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM) technique. A series of TMAFM images of DNA films obtained at various developing times show that before the sample was immersed into water for developing the DNA chains always seriously aggregated by contacting, crossing, or overlapping and formed large-scale networks on the mica surface. During developing, the fibers of DNA networks gradually dispersed into many smaller fibers up to single DNA chains. At the same time, the fibers or DNA chains also experienced rearrangement to decrease electrostatic repulsion and interfacial Gibbs free energy. Finally, a flat-lying, densely packed DNA monolayer was formed. A formation mechanism of the DNA monolayers was proposed that consists of aggregation, dispersion, and rearrangement. The effects of both DNA and Mg2+ concentration in the formation solution on DNA monolayer formation were also investigated in detail.

Room-temperature strategy for networked nonspherical gold nanostructures from Au(III)-[G-2]-CO2H dendrimer complex

The present work describes a convenient approach to fabricate networked nonspherical gold nanostructures by using [G-2]-CO2H dendrimer and toluene as capping and bridging agents in a CH2Cl2 and H2O biphasic system. A controlled linear assembly is achieved without the use of any catalyst at room temperature. UV-vis spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis show that the product is well networked nanostructures with diameter of 4-10 nm and consists of coalesced face-centered cubic gold nanocrystals. Extended experiments reveal that both benzene and dimethylbenzene can also inhabit the gold ions to make them crosslinked, prolong the nucleation points and eventually facilitate the formation of the networks.

A strategy for constructing a hybrid bilayer membrane based on a carbon substrate

We construct a hybrid bilayer membrane (HBM) on a new substrate-carbon electrode. It is an extension of HBM based on other substrates. Primary alkylamine was chemically modified onto the surface of a carbon electrode by electrochemical scans; thus, a monolayer was formed on the electrode. Because the alkane chains section is toward the outside, a hydrophobic surface was constructed. Then a lipid monolayer was spread on the hydrophobic surface of the carbon electrode. The formed HBM was characterized by electrochemical and ATR-FT-IR methods. From ATR-FT-IR results, the lipid order parameter (S) of 0.73 was obtained. This kind of hybrid membrane has the advantages of a lipid/alkanethiol HBM. A potential application of this HBM as a biosensor (detecting K+) was given.

One-step synthesis and size control of dendrimer-protected gold nanoparticles: A heat-treatment-based strategy

Dendrimer-protected gold nanoparticles have been facilely obtained by heating an aqueous solution containing third generation poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers and HAuCl4 without the additional step of introducing other reducing agents. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV vis data indicate the size the nucleation and growth kinetics of gold nanoparticles thus formed which can be tuned by changing the initial molar ratio of dendrimer to gold.

A cunning strategy in design of polymeric nanomaterials with novel microstructures

A relative approach, based on the dynamic density functional theory, for simulating the solvent evaporation rate dependence of self-assembly process of block copolymers in solution is proposed. The di- and triblock copolymers are first chosen as the candidates for exploration of novel microstructures. The results reveal that asymmetrical block copolymers with unequal block length, which generally exhibit disordered microdomain patterns in melts, have the ability to assemble into periodic ordered microdomain patterns by properly controlling solvent evaporation rate, e.g., diblock copolymers may assemble into lamellar microstructures with lamellar thickness proportional to individual block length. This simulation suggests a strategy of design and manufacture of polymeric nanomaterials with novel microstructures.

Controlled nucleation and growth of surface-confined gold nanoparticles on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified class slide: A strategy for SPR substrates

The thickness of the gold film and its morphology, including the surface roughness, are very important for getting a good, reproducible response in the SPR technique. Here, we report a novel alternative approach for preparing SPR-active substrates that is completely solution-based. Our strategy is based on self-assembly of the gold colloid monolayer on a (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-modified glass slide, followed by electroless gold plating. Using this method, the thickness of films can be easily controlled at the nanometer scale by setting the plating time in the same conditions. Surface roughness and morphology of gold films can be modified by both tuning the size of gold nanoparticles and agitation during the plating. Surface evolution of the Au film was followed in real time by UV-vis spectroscopy and in situ SPRS. To assess the surface roughness and electrochemical stability of the Au films, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used. In addition, the stability of the gold adhesion is demonstrated by three methods. The as-prepared Au films on substrates are reproducible and stable, which allows them to be used as electrodes for electrochemical experiments and as platforms for studying SAMs.

A new solid-supported iterative divergent/convergent strategy for the synthesis of dendrimers

A rapid and convenient solid-supported iterative divergent/converpent approach was developed to prepare rigid phenylacetylene dendrimers. The generation number grows very rapidly and the purification at each step is very simple. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.