Preparation of nanoparticles of bipyridineruthenium and silicotungstate and application as electrochemiluminescence sensor

The novel nanoparticles, [Ru(bPY)(3)](2)SiW12O40 center dot 2H(2)O(2) were firstly synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and TEM. The nanoparticles were used to fabricate a chemically modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) by dispersing nanoparticles and graphite powder in silicone grease. Thus-prepared CPE shows bifunctional electrocatalytic activities towards the reduction of nitrite and the oxidation of oxalate, and exhibits sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL).

Unique electrochemiluminescence behavior of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) in a gold/Nafion/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) composite

The unique electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) immobilized in a gold/Nafion/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) composite material was investigated. In this composite, the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL was found mainly occurred at 0-0.4 V during the cathodic scan process and the ECL peak was at about 0.1 V, which was quite different to the reported Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL. Similar to the generally observed Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL, the present ECL also could be enhanced by tri-n-propylarnine (TPA). It is also unique that in the presence of TPA, another ECL peak at about 0.38 V occurred.

Separation and detection of narcotic drugs on a microchip using micellar electrokinetic chromatography and electrochemiluminescence

A new approach for fast and sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection of narcotic drugs on a microchip after separation by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) is presented, taking the cocaine and its hydrolysate ecgonine as the test analytes. The mixture of hydrophilic BMIMBF4 ionic liquid (IL) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used directly as the buffer of MEKC with less noisy baselines, lower electrophoretic current and satisfactory separation performance.

Highly efficient red electroluminescent polymers with dopant/host system and molecular dispersion feature: polyfluorene as the host and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives as the red dopant

By selecting polyfluorene as the polymer host, choosing 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivative moieties as the red dopant units and covalently attaching 0.3 mol% of the dopant units to the side chain of the polymer host, we developed a novel series of red electroluminescent polymers of dopant/host system with molecular dispersion feature. Their EL spectra exhibited predominant red emission from the dopant units because of the energy transfer and charge trapping from the polymer backbone to the dopant units. The emission wavelength of the polymers could be tuned by modifying the chemical structures of the dopant units.

Gold nanoparticle-based surface enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopic assay for the detection of protein-protein interactions

In the present work, a sensitive spectroscopic assay based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using gold nanoparticles as substrates was developed for the rapid detection protein-protein interactions. Detection is achieved by specific binding biotin-modification antibodies with protein-stabilized 30 nm gold nanoparticles, followed by the attachment of avidin-modification Raman-active dyes. As a proof-of-principle experiment, a well-known biomolecular recognition system, IgG with protein A, was chosen to establish this new spectroscopic assay. Highly selective recognition of IgG down to 1 ng/ml in solution has been demonstrated.

Preparation of Pd/C catalyst for formic acid oxidation using a novel colloid method

A novel colloid method using (WO3)(n)center dot xH(2)O as colloidal source was developed to prepare Pd/C catalyst for formic acid oxidation. Transmission electron microscopy image shows that the Pd/C nanoparticles have an average size of 3.3 nm and a narrow size distribution. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the Pd/C catalyst exhibits significantly high electrochemical active surface area and high catalytic activity with good stability for formic acid oxidation compared with that prepared by common method.

Highly active PtRu catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes prepared by modified impregnation method for methanol electro-oxidation

A simple and rapid synthesis method (denoted as modified impregnation method, MI) for PtRu/CNTs (MI) and PtRu/C (MI) was presented. PtRu/CNTs (MI) and PtRu/C (MI) catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry. It was shown that Pt-Ru particles with small average size (2.7 nm) were uniformly dispersed on carbon supports (carbon nanotubes and carbon black) and displayed the characteristic diffraction peaks of Pt face-centered cubic structure.

Selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes in a poly(ethylene glycol)/compressed carbon dioxide biphasic system

Hydrogenation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes (citral, 3-methyl-2-butenal, cinnamaldehyde) has been studied with tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) ruthenium dihydride (H2Ru(TPP)(4)) catalyst in a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/ compressed carbon dioxide biphasic system. The hydrogenation reaction was slow under PEG/ H-2 biphasic conditions at H-2 4 MPa in the absence of CO2. When the reaction mixture was pressurized by a non-reactant of CO2, however, the reaction was significantly accelerated.

Hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene to o-chloroaniline over Pd/C in supercritical carbon dioxide

Hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene (o-CNB) to o-chloroaniline (o-CAN) with Pd/C has been investigated in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) at 308 K. The influences of several parameters such as CO2, H-2 pressures, Fd metal particle size and reaction time have been discussed. CO2 pressure presented markedly effects on the reaction rate and product selectivity under the reaction conditions used, the selectivity to o-CAN at CO2 pressure from 8 to 13 MPa (supercritical region) was larger than that at CO2 pressure below 6 MPa (subcritical region).

Hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde over Pt/RHCs in supercritical carbon dioxide - Influence of support pretreatment and phase behavior

The selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CAL) was investigated using rice husk-based porous carbon (RHCs) supported platinum catalysts in supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2). The effects of surface chemistry treatment of the support and the reaction phase behavior have been examined. The Pt/H-RHCs (HNO3-pretreated) was more active for CAL hydrogenation compared with Pt/NH3 - RHCs (NH3 center dot H2O-pretreated). The Pt/RHCs catalyst exhibited a higher selectivity to cinnamyl alcohol (COL) compared with commercial catalyst of Pt/C, which is relative to the micro - mesoporosity structure of the RHCs.

Synthesis, photoluminescence, and theoretical studies of novel Cu(I) complex

A novel diimine Cu(I)complex [Cu(ABPQ)(DPEphos)]BF4 [ABPQ and DPEphos are acenaphtho[1,2-b]bipyrido[2,3-h:3,2-f]quinoxaline and bis(2-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl) ether, respectively] is synthesized, and its photophysical properties are experimentally and theoretically characterized. The emission bands centered at ca. 400/470 and 550 nm of [Cu(ABPQ)(DPEphos)]BF4 are attributed to the ligand-centered pi -> pi* transition and the metal-to-ligand charge transfer d pi(Cu) -> pi*(N-N) transition, respectively. The luminescence quantum yield of [Cu(ABPQ)(DPEphos)]BF4 in CHCl3 is found to be about five times higher than that of [Cu(Phen)(DPEphos)]BF4.

High activity PtRu/C catalysts synthesized by a modified impregnation method for methanol electro-oxidation

A modified impregnation method was used to prepare highly dispersive carbon-supported PtRu catalyst (PtRu/C). Two modifications to the conventional impregnation method were performed: one was to precipitate the precursors ((NH4)(2)PtCl6 and Ru(OH)(3)) on the carbon support before metal reduction: the other was to add a buffer into the synthetic solution to stabilize the pH. The prepared catalyst showed a much higher activity for methanol electro-oxidation than a catalyst prepared by the conventional impregnation method. even higher than that of current commercially available, state-of-the-art catalysts. The morphology of the prepared catalyst was characterized using TEM and XRD measurements to determine particle sizes, alloying degree, and lattice parameters. Electrochemical methods were also used to ascertain the electrochemical active surface area and the specific activity of the catalyst.

Novel luminescent iminephosphine complex of copper(I) with high photochemical and electrochemical stability

Luminescent heteroleptic Cu-I complexes based on asymmetrical iminephosphine ligands exhibit improved electrochemical and photochemical stability as compared to the analogous complexes based on traditional diimine or diphosphine ligands.

The synthesis and properties of meso-tetra(4-alkylamidophenyl)porphyrin liquid crystals and their Zn complexes

A series of novel, long-chain-substituted, porphyrin derivatives, meso-tetra (4-alkylamidophenyl) porphyrin ligands and their Zn complexes (alkyl = 8,10,12,14,16,18) were prepared by acylation of the amino groups of 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin by alkyl chloride. Mesomorphism was investigated by DSC, polarized optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Only ligands containing chains > 12 carbon atoms displayed liquid crystalline behaviour, which exhibited a high phase transition temperature and a broad mesophase temperature span, Zn complexes showed no liquid crystalline behaviour. Cyclic voltammetry, luminescence spectra and surface photovoltage spectroscopy revealed that covalent linking of an alkylamido group to the tetraphenylporphyrin molecule influences, significantly, the properties of the porphyrin macrocycle.

Simultaneous blue, green, and red emission from diblock copolymer micellar films: a new approach to white-light emission

White-light emission is achieved from a single layer of diblock copolymer micelles containing green- and red-light-emitting dyes in the separate micellar cores and blue-light-emitting polymer around their periphery, in which fluorescence resonance energy transfer between fluorophores is inhibited due to micelle isolation, resulting in simultaneous emission of these three species.