Controlled synthesis and diameter-dependent optical properties of Cu nanowire arrays

Using electrochemical deposition, Cu nanowire arrays have been successfully fabricated by home-made polycarbonate ion-track templates. The diameters were well controlled by etching time of templates. The minimum diameter is 15 nm. The morphologies and structures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The wires prefer [1 1 0] growth direction due to H ions absorption. The optical properties of Cu nanowire arrays are studied by an ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared spectrophotometer. Two extinction peaks were observed in spectra. The optical mechanism is discussed based on surface plasmon resonance

Time-dependent density-functional calculations for optical spectra of Na-2 and Na-4 clusters

With the frame of the time-dependent local density approximation, an efficient description of the optical response of clusters has been used to study the photo-absorption cross section of Na-2 and Na-4 clusters. It is shown that our calculated results are in good agreement with the experiment. In addition, our calculated spectrum for the Na-4 cluster is in better agreement with experiment than the GW absorption spectrum.

Survival and initial chromatid breakage in normal and tumour cells exposed in vitro to gamma rays and carbon ions at the HIRFL

Human hepatoma and normal liver cells were irradiated with C-12(6+) ion beams (linear energy transfer (LET) = 96 keV mu m(-1)) and gamma-rays at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL). The numbers and types of chromatid breaks were detected using the premature chromosome condensation technique. Irradiation with C-12(6+) ions produced a majority of isochromatid break types, while chromatid breaks were dominant for irradiation with gamma-rays. Experimental results showed that the initial level of chromatid breaks is clearly related to the absorbed dose from C-12(6+), ions and gamma-rays. The (12)C(6+)ions are relatively more effective at inducing initial chromatid breaks when compared with the gamma-rays. A relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of about 2.5 resulted for the induction of initial chromatid breaks by C-12(6+) ions relative to gamma-rays in both cell lines.

Activated carbons chemically modified by concentrated H2SO4 for the adsorption of the pollutants from wastewater and the dibenzothiophene from fuel oils

The surface properties, porosities, and adsorption capacities of activated carbons (AC) are modified by the oxidation treatment using concentrated H2SO4 at temperatures 150-270 degreesC. The modified AC was characterized by N-2 adsorption, base titration, FTIR, and the adsorption of iodine, chlorophenol, methylene blue, and dibenzothiophene. The treatment of AC with concentrated H2SO4 at 250 degreesC greatly increases the mesoporous volume from 0.243 mL/g to 0.452 mL/g, specific surface areas from 393 m(2)/g to 745 m(2)/g, and acidic surface oxygen complexes from 0.071 meq/g to 1.986 meq/g as compared with the unmodified AC. The base titration results indicate that the amount of acidic surface oxygen groups on the modified AC increases with increasing the treatment temperatures and carboxyls and phenols are the most abundant carbon-oxygen functional groups. The carboxyl groups, COO- species, and hydroxyl groups are detected mainly for the sample treated at 250 degreesC. The mesoporous properties of the AC modified by concentrated H2SO4 were further tested by the adsorption of methylene blue and dibenzothiophene. The AC modified by concentrated H2SO4 at 250 degreesC has much higher adsorption capacities for large molecules (e.g., methylene blue and dibenzothiophene) than the unmodified AC but less adsorption capacities for small molecules (e.g., iodine). The adsorption results from aqueous solutions have been interpreted using Freundlich adsorption models.

Novel Potentiometric Membrane Sensor for the Determination of Trace Amounts of Chromium(III) Ions

A plasticized Cr3+ ion sensor by incorporating 2,3,8,9-tetraphenyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododeca-1,3,7,9-tetraene (TTCT) ionophore exhibits a good potentiometric response for Cr3+ over a wide concentration range (1.0×10-6-1.0×10-1 M) with a slope of 19.5 mV per decade. The sensor response is stable for at least three months. Good selectivity for Cr3+ in comparison with alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions, and minimal interference are caused by Li+, Na+, K+, Co2+, Hg2+, Ca2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions, which are known to interfere with other chromium membrane sensors. The TTCT-based electrode shows a fast response time (15 s), and can be used in aqueous solutions of pH 3 - 5.5. The proposed sensor was used for the potentiometric titration of Cr3+ with EDTA and for a direct potentiometric determination of Cr3+ content in environmental samples.

Synthesis and metallophilic properties of troponoid thiocrown ethers

A new class of ionophores with troponoid and thiocrown ether units was prepared. Cation-binding properties of troponoid dithiocrown ethers were characterized using UV and NMR spectroscopies. They have affinity with metal ions; in particular, they showed high affinity with Hg2+. Transport of Hg2+ through a CHCl3 liquid membrane with troponoid dithiocrown ethers was examined in a U-type cell. From an aqueous solution of HgCl2 and CuCl2, Hg2+ is transferred selectively and smoothly, while the Cu2+ remained quantitatively in the original solution. The cavity size of dithiocrown ethers is one of the requirements for effective extraction and transport of Hg2+. However, derivatives with a smaller cavity still extract and transport Hg2+. A polymer-supported troponoid dithiocrown ether was prepared to transport Hg2+ effectively and repeatedly. Comparing the troponoid dithiocrown ether with the benzenoid dithiocrown ether with a similar cavity size, the former was more effective for the transport of Hg2+. It is proposed that the tropone ring assisted the release of Hg2+ from the complex by Coulomb repulsion between the protonated tropone ring and Hg2+.

Synthesis and Metal-ion Binding Properties of New N2S4O2- and N2S5O2-Donor Macrocycles

Synthetic procedures for new mixed-donor macrocycle compounds were reported. The macrocyclic compounds were used in solvent extraction metal picrates such as Ag+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Pb2+, and Co2+. The metal picrate extractions were investigated at 25±0.1°C with the aid of UV-visible spectrometry. It was found that 6,7,9,10,12,13,23,24-octahydro-19H,26Hdibenzo[h,t](1,4,7,13,16,22,10,19) dioxatetrathiadiazasiclotetracosine-20,27(21H,28H)-dione showed selectivity towards Ag+, Hg2+, and Cd2+ among the other metals. The extraction constants (Log Kex) and complex compositions were determined for the Ag+ and Hg2+ complexes for this compound and 9,10,12,13,23,24,26,27,29,30-decahydro-5H,15H-dibenzo-[h,w][1,4,7,13,16,19,25-,10,22] dioxapentathiadiazacycloheptacosine-6,16(7H,17H)-dione.

Properties of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-ionic liquid composite film and its application in the determination of trace metals combined with bismuth film electrode

A new kind of bismuth film modified electrode to sensitively detect trace metal ions based on incorporating highly conductive ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6) in solid matrices at glassy carbon (GC) was investigated. Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), silica, and Nafion were selected as the solid matrices. The electrochemical properties of the mixed films modified GC were evaluated. The electron transfer rate of Fe(CN)(6)(4-)/Fe(CN)(6)(3-) can be effectively improved at the PSS-BMIMPF6 modified GC.

Rapid label-free detection of metal-induced Alzheimer's amyloid beta peptide aggregation by electrochemical method

Amyloid beta peptide plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Metal ions are highly enriched in cerebral amyloid deposits in AD and are proposed to be able to mediate A beta conformation. Therefore, a rapid, low-cost, and sensitive detection of metal-induced A beta aggregation and their relation to AD is clearly needed for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. In this report, we study metal-induced A beta aggregation by a rapid, label-free electrochemical method and monitor both the aggregation kinetics and the morphology in the absence or presence of Zn (II) and Cu (II).

Facile Synthesis and Optical Property of Porous Tin Oxide and Europium-Doped Tin Oxide Nanorods through Thermal Decomposition of the Organotin

Porous SnO2 and SnO2-Eu3+ nanorods have been facilely prepared using triphenyltin hydroxide microrods as precursors. The porous structure of SnO2 nanorods, which was aggregated by small SnO2 nanocrystallites, has been confirmed by TEM images and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The optical property of the porous SnO2-Eu3+ nanorods was investigated by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra.

The separation of Cerium(IV) from nitric acid solutions containing Thorium(IV) and Lanthanides(III) using pure [C(8)mim]PF6 as extracting phase

The extraction behavior of Ce(IV) along with Th(IV) and Ln(III) (Ln = Ce, Gd, Yb) nitrate by pure ionic liquid, [C(8)mim]PF6, was investigated. [C(8)mim]PF6 alone showed good extraction ability for Ce(IV), while it was slight for Th(IV) and negligible for Ln(III). The extraction behavior of Ce(IV) by [C(8)mim]PF6 was particularly studied, and the most probable extraction mechanism proposed was the anion exchange mechanism. Moreover, the stripping of Ce(IV) from IL phase was also investigated. The Ce(IV) in IL phase can be quantitatively recovered by water.

Synergistic extraction of rare earths using acid-base coupling extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative and primary amine N1923

Synergistic effect in the extraction of rare earth (RE) metals by the acid-base coupling (ABC) extractants of calix[4]arene carboxyl derivative Bu-t[4]CH2COOH (H(4)A) and primary amine N1923 (RNH2) has been investigated. The extraction of RE was enhanced by the addition of sodium cations into the aqueous phase not only in the extraction system of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH alone but also in the mixture of Bu-t[4]CH2COOH and N1923. The separation factors (SFs) indicating the extraction selectivity of adjacent RE elements became higher in the mixture system.

Solvent impregnated resin prepared using task-specific ionic liquids for rare earth separation

A novel bifunctional task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL), i.e. [trialkylmethylammonium][sec-nonylphenoxy acetate] ([A336] [CA-100]) was impregnated on intermediate polarized XAD-7 resin, and the prepared solvent impreganated resin (SIR) was studied for rare earth (RE) separation. Adsorption ability of the SIR was indicated to be obviously higher than that prepared by [A336][NO3] because of the functional anion of [A336][CA-100]. Adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, separation and desorption of the SIR were also studied.

Sensitive detection of cysteine based on fluorescent silver clusters

In this work,we report the application of novel, water-soluble fluorescent Ag clusters in fluorescent sensors for detecting cysteine, an important biological analyte. The fluorescence of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)templated Ag clusters was found to be quenched effectively by cysteine, but not when the other alpha-amino acids were present. By virtue of the specific response, a new, simple, and sensitive fluorescent method for detecting cysteine has been developed based on Ag clusters. The present assay allows for the selective determination of cysteine in the range of 2.5 x 10(-8) to 6.0 x 10(-6) M with a detection limit of 20 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Based on the absorption and fluorescence studies, we suggested that cysteine quenched the emission by the thiol-adsorption-accelerated oxidation of the emissive Ag clusters. The present study shows a promising step toward the application of silver clusters, a new class of attractive fluorescence probes.