Aqueous phase synthesized CdSe magic-sized clusters: solution composition dependence of adsorption layer structure

We report dispersion solution composition dependence of the adsorption layer structure and the physical and optical properties of aqueous phase-synthesized semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs). We synthesized cysteine (Cys)-capped CdSe NPs with well-defined core structures, dispersed them in a series of aqueous solutions with different compositions, and then investigated their adsorption layer structure and physical and optical properties. Each CdSe NP consisted of a (CdSe)33 or (CdSe)34 magic-sized cluster (d - 1.45 nm) core, a ligand-Cys shell, and an adsorption layer. The dispersion solution composition strongly affected the adsorption layer structure of the CdSe NPs. The solution with a composition close to that of the as-prepared solution stabilized the physical and optical properties of the NPs. The solution with a composition different from that of the as-prepared solution, however, resulted in large changes in their adsorption layer structure and thus their physical and optical properties. The solution composed of neutral or weakly charged Cys and Cd-Cys complexes led to the adsorption layer with low charge density and that destabilized the NPs. The solution containing only neutral or weakly charged forms of Cys, without Cd-Cys complexes, was favorable to the formation of a thick adsorption layer with low charge density and that destabilized the NPs. The amount of adsorbed Cys in the adsorption layer depended on the dispersion solution composition. However, the amount of adsorbed Cd-Cys complexes in the adsorption layer was almost constant regardless of the dispersion solution composition.     

MD STUDY ON INTERFACELIKE PHENOMENA IN SUPERCRITICAL FLUID

An interfacelike structure obser ved during heat transfer in fluid near the critical point has been analyzed using a molecular dynamics (MD) method for a simple fluid modeled by the Lennard-Jones (12-6) potential. Under the condition that a temperature gradient exists, MD simulations at supercritical pressure reproduced a structure which is similar to the normal liquid - vapor interface obser ved at subcritical pressure. Some characteristics of the interfacelike structure, such as density profile, interface thickness, and interfacial tension, are compared with those of a subcritical liquid - vapor interface. The predicted value of the supercritical interfacial tension is compared with the value that was estimated using a theory of hydrodynamic instability due to the interfacial tension.     

Simplified protocol for detection of protein-ligand interactions via surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering and surface-enhanced fluorescence

A simple and effective protocol for detections of protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions has been developed. After interactions between proteins and their corresponding ligands, we employed colloidal silver staining for producing active substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF). Tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC) and Atto610 were used for both Raman and fluorescent probes. We detected interactions between human IgG and TRITC-anti-human IgG, and those between avidin and Atto610-biotin by surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) and SEF. The detection limits of the proposed SERRS-based method are comparable to those of the proposed SEF-based one, 0.9 pg/mL for anti-human IgG and 0.1 pg/mL for biotin. This protocol exploits several advantages of simplicity over other SERS and SEF-based related methods because of the protein staining-based strategy for silver nanoparticle assembling, high sensitivity from SERRS and SEF, and high stability in photostability comparing to fluorescence-based protein detections. Therefore, the proposed method for detection of protein-ligand interactions has great potential in high-sensitivity and high-throughput chip-based protein function determination.     

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Processing for Polymer Adhesion: A Review

Atmospheric pressure plasma processing has attracted significant interests over decades due to its usefulness and a variety of applications. Adhesion improvement of polymer surfaces is among the most important applications of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. Reflecting recent significant development of the atmospheric pressure plasma processing, this work presents its fundamental aspects, applications, and characterization techniques relevant to adhesion.     

Intermediate band photovoltaics based on interband–intraband transitions using In0.53Ga0.47As/InP superlattice

We present a theoretical model to incorporate the quantum mechanism of two‐photon transitions into macroscopic operations. The two‐photon transition is described as a two‐step interband–intraband transition within the one‐band envelope‐function framework and is coupled with drift–diffusion as well as the potential distribution. In_0.53Ga_0.47As/InP superlattices (SLs) are chosen as the initial candidate to simulate intermediate band solar cell operation. In this type of structure, the absorption spectrum of interband and intraband transitions is asymmetric and strongly depends on device structure and operating conditions. Our results also reveal that the intraband transition dominates the detailed balance. Both the intermediate band (IB) configuration and the conversion efficiency are determined by the SL structure. Only well‐designed SLs can form the appropriate IB. Furthermore, an efficiency contour plot has been calculated to guide quantum design: the peak efficiency is 45.61% when the well thickness is 4 nm and the barrier thickness is 2 nm. As the well or barrier thickness increases to 10 nm, the absorption peak of the intraband transition gradually redshifts and narrows, so the efficiency correspondingly decreases to below 40%. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Origin of the pozzolanic effect of rice husks

Rice husk ash has been used in many countries as a low cost concrete admixture because of its role as a filler and a pozzolan. A study is made of an ash produced in Senegal to establish the existence and origin of silica. Two calcinated rice husk ashes were studied. X-Ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of quartz whose origin may be attributed to contamination and/or re-crystallisation of silica in the calcination. Amorphous silica was detected by scanning electron microscopy and microanalysis, its presence is concentrated on the interior and exterior surfaces of the uncalcinated husk which may promote a pozzolanic action on the surface of the husk and therefore enable its use in lightweight concrete.     

Improvement in impact strength of modified cardanol‐bonded cellulose thermoplastic resin by adding modified silicones

The impact strength of cellulose diacetate (CDA) bonded with a modified cardanol (3‐pentadecylphenoxy acetic acid: PAA) was greatly improved up to 9 kJ/m² by adding a relatively small amount of modified silicones while suppressing a decrease in bending strength. In our recent research, this thermoplastic resin (PAA‐bonded CDA) exhibited high rigidity, glass transition temperature, and water resistance. However, its impact strength was insufficient for use in durable products. Therefore, silicones modified with polyether, amino, and epoxy groups were investigated as possible ways to improve the impact strength. The results show that adding polyether‐modified silicone (polyether silicone) with moderate polarity relative to PAA‐bonded CDA resulted in shearing deformation greatly enhances its impact strength while maintaining other properties, including glass transition temperature (T_g), water resistance, and thermoplasticity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40366.     

Improvement in impact strength of modified cardanol‐bonded cellulose thermoplastic resin by using olefin resins

Impact strength of a modified cardanol‐bonded cellulose thermoplastic resin was greatly improved by using a small amount of olefin resins. As we showed, this thermoplastic resin (3‐pentadecylphenoxy acetic acid (PAA)‐bonded cellulose diacetate (CDA): PAA‐bonded CDA) exhibited high practical properties such as bending strength, heat resistance, and water resistance. However, its impact strength was insufficient for use in durable products. We improved the impact strength of PAA‐bonded CDA by adding hydrophobic olefin resins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, while maintaining good bending strength and breaking strain. Furthermore, the application of olefin resins also increased water resistance and fluidity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39829.     

The reaction of hydrogen atoms with methionine residues: A model of reductive radical stress causing tandem protein-lipid damage

The occurrence of tandem damage, due to reductive radical stress involving proteins and lipids, is shown by using a biomimetic model. It is made of unsaturated lipid vesicle suspensions in phosphate buffer in the presence of methionine, either as a single amino acid or as part of a protein such as RNase A, which contains four methionine residues. The radical process starts with the formation of H(.) atoms by reaction of solvated electrons with dihydrogen phosphate anions, which selectively attack the thioether function of methionine. The modification of methionine to alpha-aminobutyric acid is accompanied by the formation of thiyl radicals, which in turn cause the isomerization of the cis fatty acid residues to the trans isomers. The relationship between methionine modification and lipid damage and some details of the reductive radical stress obtained by proteomic analysis of irradiated RNase A are presented.