Phase transition behavior and molecular orientation of oligo(9,9 '-dioctylfluorene-alt-bithiophene)

A novel conjugated oligomer, oligo(9,9'-dioctylfluorene-alt-bithiophene) (OF8T2), was found to exhibit a unique phase transition between crystalline and liquid-crystalline states, and a liquid-crystalline glass was easily generated, offering better TFT device performance. In thin films, upon annealing the OF8T2 molecules oriented preferentially with their planes of conjugation being normal to the substrate, and both film thickness and annealing temperature were critical to the film morphology and the molecular orientation. When the OF8T2 film was deposited on a rubbed polyimide surface and annealed, the molecules aligned their long axes along the rubbing direction.

Microlenses fabricated by discontinuous dewetting and soft lithography

This letter describes an approach to fabricating microlens arrays with low cost and large area through the combination of discontinuous dewetting and reversible water-ice transition via a soft lithography replica process. Microlenses with different curvature can be tuned by the modulation of the wettability of the substrates. The microlenses fabricated can project clear miniaturized images.

1,2,3,4-Alternate double cone conformational extreme in the supramolecular assemblies of p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene

Two supramolecular assemblies of p-sulfonato-calix[8]arene were stacked by some infinite 1D 'molecular capsule' chains in which the calixarenes adopt an unprecedented 1,2,3,4-alternate double cone conformation.

Monodisperse mesoporous superparamagnetic single-crystal magnetite nanoparticles for drug delivery

In this contribution, we report a facile, gram-scale, low-cost route to prepare monodisperse superparamagnetic single-crystal magnetite NPs with mesoporous structure (MSSMN) via a very simple solvothermal method. The formation mechanism of MSSMN is also discussed and we think that Ostwald ripening probably plays an important role in this synthesis process. It is also interestingly found that the size and morphology of mesoporous Fe3O4 NPs can be easily controlled by changing the amount of NaOH and 1,2-ethylenediamine (ETH). Most importantly, the MSSMN can be used as an effective drug delivery carrier. A typical anticancer drug, doxorubicin (Dox), is used for drug loading, and the release behaviors of Dox in two different pH solutions are studied. The results indicate that the MSSMN has a high drug loading capacity and favorable release property for Dox; thus, it is very promising for the application in drug delivery.

Biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer bearing pendant glucose residues: Preparation and specific interaction with Concanavalin A molecules

A novel biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer PLGG-PEG-PLGG bearing pendant glucose residues is successfully prepared by the coupling reaction of 3-(2-aminoethylthio) propyl-R-D-glucopyranoside with the pendant carboxyl groups of PLGG-PEG-PLGG in the presence of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole. The polymer PLGG-PEG-PLGG, i.e., poly {(lactic acid)-co-[(glycolic acid)-alt-(L-glutamic acid)]}-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly{( lactic acid)-co-[( glycolic acid)-alt-(L-glutamic acid)]}, is prepared by ring-opening copolymerization of L-lactide (LLA) with (3s)-benzoxylcarbonylethylmorpholine-2,5-dione (BEMD) in the presence of dihydroxyl PEG with molecular weight of 2000 as macroinitiator and Sn(Oct)(2) as catalyst, and then by catalytic hydrogenation. The glucose-grafted copolymer shows a lower degree of cytotoxicity to ECV-304 cells and improved specific recognition and binding with Concanavalin A (Con A). Therefore, this kind of glucose-grafted copolymer may find biomedical applications.

应用扫描电化学显微镜研究冰/1,2-二氯乙烷界面上电子转移反应

分别以亚铁氰化钾和现场所产生的二茂铁阳离子(Fc+)作为冰相和有机相的电活性物质,应用扫描电化学显微镜(SECM)和微电极技术研究了在低温条件下冰/1,2-二氯乙烷界面上的电子转移反应.选择合适的共同离子四丁基铵阳离子(TBA+)来控制界面电位,利用SECM得到的正、负反馈信息,研究了不同温度下界面电位差驱动的液/液界面上的电子转移反应,并通过拟合实验和理论数据得到了此异相界面电子反应速率常数等.实验结果验证了此反应动力学常数是由界面电位差所决定的.在相变的温度时,电子转移反应速率常数有一个大的改变,实验结果反映了相变的过程.

In situ synthesis of terbium-benzoic acid complex in sol-gel derived silica by a two-step sol-gel method

Terbium complexes with benzoic acid and its derivatives o-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were in situ synthesized in sol-gel derived silica matrix via a two-step sol-gel process. The formation process of the complex was characterized by fluorescence spectra, absorption spectra and IR spectra. The gels that contain in situ synthesized complexes exhibit the characteristic emission bands of terbium ion. The fluorescence lifetimes of Tb3+ in the silica gels are longer than those in the pure complexes and in the solutions that contain the corresponding complexes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.