Nucleobase-metal hybrid materials: Preparation of submicrometer-scale, spherical colloidal particles of adenine-gold(III) via a supramolecular hierarchical self-assembly approach

We report a simple and effective supramolecular route for facile synthesis of submicrometer-scale, hierarchically self-assembled spherical colloidal particles of adenine - gold(III) hybrid materials at room temperature. Simple mixture of the precursor aqueous solutions of adenine and HAuCl4 at room temperature could result in spontaneous formation of the hybrid colloidal particles. Optimization of the experimental conditions could yield uniform-sized, self-assembled products at 1:4 molar ration of adenine to HAuCl4. Transmission electron microscopy results reveal the formation of hierarchical self-assembled structure of the as-prepared colloidal particles. Concentration dependence, ratio dependence, time dependence, and kinetic measurements have been investigated. Moreover, spectroscopic evidence [i.e., Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-vis spectra and wide-angle X-ray scattering data] of the interaction motives causing the formation of the colloidal particles is also presented.

A novel hybrid nanostructure based on SiO2@carbon nanotube coaxial nanocable

We present a simple, generally applicable procedure for obtaining diameter-controlled SiO2@ carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coaxial nanocables. These coaxial nanocables with high solubility in polar solvents, have been used as functional templates for assembling CNTs/Au nanorods heterogeneous nanostructures to form multifunctional assembly system. These hybrid nanostructures may find applications in nanoelectronics, photonics, and nanodevices.

Bifunctional Au@Pt hybrid nanorods

The controlled synthesis of bifunctional Au@Pt hybrid nanorods has been realized through a simple wet chemical approach. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis-near infrared spectroscopy (UV-vis-NIR) were employed to characterize the obtained hybrid nanorods. TEM results indicate that the thickness of Pt nanoislands on the surfaces of gold nanorods can be easily tunable via controlling the molar ratio of An nanorods to the H2PtCl6. These Au@Pt hybrid nanorods have dual functions, which can be used not only for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), but also to exhibit good catalytic activity for 02 reduction. It is expected that these hybrid nanorods can be used as new functional building blocks to assemble novel three-dimensional (31)) complex multicomponent nanostructures, which are believed to be useful for electrochemical nanodevices.

Construction of metal nanoparticle/multiwalled carbon nanotube hybrid nanostructures providing the most accessible reaction sites

Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were selected as cross-linkers to construct three-dimensional (3D) porous nanoparticle/MWNT hybrid nanostructures by "bottom-up'' self-assembly. The resultant 3D hybrid nanostructure was different from that of metal nanoparticle multilayer assemblies prepared by traditional routes using small molecules or polymers as cross-linkers. The rigidity of the MWNTs resulted in only partial coverage of the nanoparticle surfaces between the linkers during the growth of multilayer film, providing more accessible surfaces to allow target molecules to adsorb on to and react with. HRP was used as a simple model to study the porosity of this assembly.

Effect of silver nanoparticles on luminescent properties of europium complex in di-ureasil hybrid materials

Organic-inorganic hybrids containing luminescent lanthanide complex Eu(tta)(3)Phen (tta = thenoyltrifluoroaceton, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and silver nanoparticles have been prepared via mixing rare earth complex and nanoparticles with the precursors of di-ureasil using a sol-gel process. The obtained hybrid materials with transparent and elastomeric features were characterized by transmission electron microscope, solid-state Si-29 magic-angle spinning NMR spectra, diffuse reflectance, UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The effect of the silver nanoparticles on the luminescence properties was investigated. The experimental results showed that the luminescence intensity of the Eu(tta)(3)phen complex could be enhanced by less than ca. 9.5 nM of silver nanoparticles with the average diameter of 4 nm, and reached its maximum at the concentration of ca. 3.6 nM. Further increasing the concentration of the silver nanoparticles (> 9.5 nM) made the luminescence quenched. The enchancement and quench mechnism was discussed.

High gain in hybrid transistors with vanadium oxide/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum emitter

We report the electrical characterization of hybrid permeable-base transistors with tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum as emitter layer. These transistors were constructed presenting an Al/n-Si/Au/Alq(3)/V2O5/Al structure. We investigate the influence of the V2O5 layer thickness and demonstrate that these devices present high common-base and common-emitter current gain, and can be operated at very low driving voltages, lower than 1 V, in both, common-base and common-emitter modes.

Conductive hybrid film from polyaniline and polyurethane-silica

In order to improve the mechanical performance and water resistance of water-borne conducting polyaniline film, conducting polyaniline/polyurethane-silica hybrid film was prepared in aqueous solution employing silanol-terminated polyurethane and methyltriethoxysilane as sol-gel precursors. The hybrid film showed surface resistivity of 10(8) Omega even though the conducting polyaniline loading was only 10 wt% (or 1.5 wt% of polyaniline), and the mechanical performance as well as water resistance was significantly improved, making it suitable for antistatic application. Therefore, a practical route to water-borne processing of conducting polyaniline is disclosed.

Electrostatic assembly of polyaniline and platinum-poly(amidoamine) dendrimers hybrid nanocomposite multilayer, and its electrocatalysis towards CO and O-2

The electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly method was successfully used in a multilayer buildup of polyaniline (PANT) and platinum nanocrystals encapsulated in the carboxyl-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (generation 4.5 G4.5COOH) (Pt-G4.5COOH NPs) on solid substrates. Multilayer growth was monitored by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy. The AFM observation revealed a molecularly smooth (PANI/Pt-G4.5COOH NPs) multilayer film which is rougher and thicker than the multilayer of PANT and G4.5COOH (G4.5COOH/PANI)(m). The PANI/Pt-G4.5COOH NPs multilayers show a fast surface-confined electron-exchange process at the Au electrode in an acid solution, and remains stable, reversible and electroactive, even in neutral solution. Furthermore, the multilayers show a strong elect rocatalytic response towards CO oxidation and O-2 reduction, and the catalytic capability can be easily tuned by the control of multilayer thickness.

A novel hybrid based on carbon nanotubes and heteropolyanions as effective catalyst for hydrogen evolution

Heteropolyanions of tungstophosphoric acid (PWA) have been successfully hybridized with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a severe mechanical milling. The obtained hybrid is electroactive for hydrogen evolution (HE) at potentials as positive as -0.16 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 0.2 M HClO4 aqueous solution and its electrocatalysis is up to the level of Pt/CNTs (20 wt% Pt) for HE, indicating a vigorous alternative to Pt group metals. The HE mechanism of the hybrid was also studied and it was found that the tungsten oxycarbides are the electroactive components for HE.

Synthesis and properties of a novel isomeric polyimide/SiO2 hybrid material

A novel isomeric polyimide/SiO2 hybrid material was successfully prepared through sol-gel technique, and its structure, thermal properties and nano-indenter properties were investigated. First, 3-[(4-phenylethynyl)phthalimide]propyl triethoxysilane (PEIPTES) was successfully synthesized, its structure was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and C-13 NMR. The researches on solubility and thermal properties of PEIPTES show that it can be used for modifying nano-SiO2 precursor. Nano-SiO2 precursor was synthesized by tetraethoxysilane (TECS) through sol-gel technique. Then the PEIPTES solution and the nano-SiO2 precursor were mixed for 6 h to let the PEIPTES molecules react with the nano-SiO2 precursor, and modified nano-SiO2 precursor was obtained. The modified reaction was confirmed by the analyses of FT-IR. At last, isomeric polyimide/SiO2 hybrid material was produced by using isomeric polyimide resin solution and the modified nano-SiO2 precursor after heat treatment process. The structure analysis by SEM indicated that SiO2 particles dispersed in isomeric polyimide matrix homogeneously with nanoscale. Thermogravimetric analyzer, dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer and nano-indenter XP was employed to detect the properties of the materials, the results demonstrated that isomeric polyimide/SiO2 hybrid material has much better thermal properties and nano-indenter properties than those of isomeric polyimide.

Enhanced response induced by polyelectrolyte-functionalized ionic liquid in glucose biosensor based on sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid material

In this work, a polyelectrolyte-functionalized ionic liquid (PFIL) was firstly incorporated into a sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid material (PFIL/sol-gel). This new composite material was used to immobilize glucose oxidase on a glassy carbon electrode. An enhanced current response towards glucose was obtained, relative to a control case without PFIL. In addition, chronoamperometry showed that electroactive mediators diffused at a rate 10 times higher in the apparent diffusion coefficient in PFIL-containing matrices. These findings suggest a potential application in bioelectroanalytical chemistry.