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- 2012 (7) (entfernen)
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- 15N (1)
- Acid site concentration (1)
- Adsorption (1)
- BDP (1)
- Calcium carbonate biomineralization (1)
- Catalysis (1)
- Decomposition (1)
- Echinoderm skeleton (1)
- Flame retardancy (1)
- Flammability (1)
The amount of grafted poly(acrylic acid) on poly(methyl methacrylate) micro- and nanoparticles was quantified by conductometry, 13C solid-state NMR, fluorophore labeling, a supramolecular assay based on high-affinity binding of cucurbit[7]uril, and two colorimetric assays based on toluidine blue and nickel complexation by pyrocatechol violet. The methods were thoroughly validated and compared with respect to reproducibility, sensitivity, and ease of use. The results demonstrate that only a small but constant fraction of the surface functional groups is accessible to covalent surface derivatization independently of the total number of surface functional groups, and different contributing factors are discussed that determine the number of probe molecules which can be bound to the polymer surface. The fluorophore labeling approach was modified to exclude artifacts due to fluorescence quenching, but absolute quantum yield measurements still indicate a major uncertainty in routine fluorescence-based surface group quantifications, which is directly relevant for biochemical assays and medical diagnostics. Comparison with results from protein labeling with streptavidin suggests a porous network of poly(acrylic acid) chains on the particle surface, which allows diffusion of small molecules (cutoff between 1.6 and 6.5 nm) into the network.
The rational design of nano- and micrometer-sized particles with tailor-made optical properties for biological, diagnostic, and photonic applications requires tools to characterize the signal-relevant properties of these typically scattering bead suspensions. This includes methods for the preferably nondestructive quantification of the number of fluorophores per particle and the measurement of absolute fluorescence quantum yields and absorption coefficients of suspensions of fluorescent beads for material performance optimization and comparison. Here, as a first proof-of-concept, we present the first time determination of the number of dye molecules per bead using nondestructive quantitative (19F) NMR spectroscopy and 1000 nm-sized carboxylated polystyrene particles loaded with varying concentrations of the laser dye coumarin 153 containing a CF3 group. Additionally, the signal-relevant optical properties of these dye-loaded particles were determined in aqueous suspension in comparison to the free dye in solvents of different polarity with a custom-built integrating sphere setup that enables spectrally resolved measurements of emission, transmission, and reflectance as well absolute fluorescence quantum yields. These measurements present an important step toward absolute brightness values and quantitative fluorescence analysis with particle systems that can be exploited, for example, for optical imaging techniques and different fluorescence assays as well as for the metrological traceability of fluorescence methods.
Time-optimized 15N quantitative NMR (qNMR) is described for the precise determination of Lewis and Brønsted site concentrations per gram catalyst, enabling a measurement time reduction of more than a factor of 10. The proof-of-principle is demonstrated for amorphous aluminum hydroxide fluorides with their tunable Lewis to Brønsted functionalities and relevance to highly active and selective heterogeneous catalysis using pyridine as a widely accepted probe molecule for Lewis and Brønsted sites. Two different Lewis centers were found, and reliable site concentrations down to the micromole per gram region can be determined. Furthermore, 1H{15N} REDOR NMR for the acid proton at the Brønsted site yields a distance of the 15N atom of bonded pyridine to this acid proton of (0.112 ± 0.002) nm, such that fast motion/diffusion of the Brønsted site-bonded pyridine at the surface can be excluded.
We report on a new series of isoreticular frameworks based on zinc and 2-substituted imidazolate-4-amide-5-imidate (IFP-1–4, IFP=imidazolate framework Potsdam) that form one-dimensional, microporous hexagonal channels. Varying R in the 2-substitued linker (R=Me (IFP-1), Cl (IFP-2), Br (IFP-3), Et (IFP-4)) allowed the channel diameter (4.0–1.7 Å), the polarisability and functionality of the channel walls to be tuned. Frameworks IFP-2, IFP-3 and IFP-4 are isostructural to previously reported IFP-1. The structures of IFP-2 and IFP-3 were solved by X-ray crystallographic analyses. The structure of IFP-4 was determined by a combination of PXRD and structure modelling and was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and 1H MAS and 13C CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy. All IFPs showed high thermal stability (345–400°C); IFP-1 and IFP-4 were stable in boiling water for 7 d. A detailed porosity analysis was performed on the basis of adsorption measurements by using various gases. The potential of the materials to undergo specific interactions with CO2 was investigated by measuring the isosteric heats of adsorption. The capacity to adsorb CH4 (at 298 K), CO2 (at 298 K) and H2 (at 77 K) at high pressure were also investigated. In situ IR spectroscopy showed that CO2 is physisorbed on IFP-1–4 under dry conditions and that both CO2 and H2O are physisorbed on IFP-1 under moist conditions.
Structuring over many length scales is a design strategy widely used in Nature to create materials with unique functional properties. We here present a comprehensive analysis of an adult sea urchin spine, and in revealing a complex, hierarchical structure, show how Nature fabricates a material which diffracts as a single crystal of calcite and yet fractures as a glassy material. Each spine comprises a highly oriented array of Mg-calcite nanocrystals in which amorphous regions and macromolecules are embedded. It is postulated that this mesocrystalline structure forms via the crystallization of a dense array of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor particles. A residual surface layer of ACC and/or macromolecules remains around the nanoparticle units which creates the mesocrystal structure and contributes to the conchoidal fracture behavior. Natures demonstration of how crystallization of an amorphous precursor phase can create a crystalline material with remarkable properties therefore provides inspiration for a novel approach to the design and synthesis of synthetic composite materials.
The pyrolysis and flame retardancy of a bisphenol A polycarbonate/silicon rubber/bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (PC/SiR/BDP) blend were investigated and compared to those of PC/BDP and PC/SiR. The impact modifier SiR consists mainly of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS > 80 wt %). The pyrolysis of PC/SiR/BDP was studied by thermogravimetry (TG), TG–FTIR to analyze the evolved gases, and a Linkam hot stage cell within FTIR as well as 29Si NMR and 31P NMR to analyze the solid residue. The fire performance was determined by PCFC, LOI, UL 94, and a cone calorimeter under different external irradiations. The fire residues were studied by using ATR-FTIR as well as the additional binary systems PC + PDMS, PC + BDP, and BDP + PDMS, focusing on the specific chemical interactions. The decomposition pathways are revealed, focusing on the competing interaction between the components. Fire retardancy in PC/SiR/BDP is caused by both flame inhibition in the gas phase and inorganic-carbonaceous residue formation in the condensed phase. The PC/SiR/BDP does not work as well superimposing the PC/SiR and PC/BDP performances. PDMS reacts with PC and BDP, decreasing BDP's mode of action. Nevertheless, the flammability (LOI > 37%, UL 94 V-0) of PC/SiR/BDP equals the high level of PC/BDP. Indeed, SiR in PC/SiR/BDP is underlined as a promising impact modifier in flame-retarded PC/impact modifier blends as an alternative to highly flammable impact modifiers such as acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS), taking into account that the chosen SiR leads to PC blends with a similar mechanical performance.