Zhishi Li

THEORETICAL STUDY ON POTENTIAL-ENERGY SURFACE OF C2N2

B3LYP and CCSD(T) (single-point) calculations are performed on structures and interconversion transition states for five C2N2 isomers, i.e., the linear structures NCCN 1, CNCN 2, CNNC 3, and CCNN 4, and the NNC three-membered ring structure with exocyclic C–C bonding 5. A schematic potential-energy surface of the five C2N2 isomers is established. It is shown that the elusive and long searched for isomer 3 lies in a deep potential well against isomerization to the well-studied isomers 1 and 2, while the two transition states, which have been predicted to connect the isomers 1 and 3, are actually associated with the interexchange of the two cyano groups in isomer 2. It is also shown that the experimentally unknown but expectedly important isomer 4 may take an isomerization pathway to the isomer 1 via the intermediate 5, and the isomer 4 also lies in a deep potential well. Both the isomers 3 and 4 may be thermally as stable as the isomer 2. The results presented in this paper may provide useful information f...

Effects of Mn doping on surface enhanced Raman scattering properties of TiO2 nanoparticles

TiO(2) and Mn-doped TiO(2) (1%, 3% and 5%) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a sol-hydrothermal method for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy study. When using the 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) as the probing molecule, optimum SERS signals were observed on the Mn-TiO(2) (3%) samples. On the 3% Mn doped TiO(2) substrate, 4-MBA molecules exhibit a higher SERS intensity by a factor of six as compared with the native enhancement of 4-MBA adsorbed on pure TiO(2) NPs. The possible mechanism for the phenomena is also discussed. This study opens up a new dimension for the family of SERS substrates.

SERS detection of protein biochip fabricated by etching polystyrene template

In this study, a nanoscale protein chip is prepared by using an etched polystyrene (PS) template. This protein chip can be directly used for immunoassay, with the help of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectra. Some glass slides submerged in aldehyde is initially prepared, modified with antibodies, human immunoglobulin G (IgG). Then PS arrays are self-assembled on these slides with the Langmuir-Blodgett method. The PS template pattern is transferred to the human IgG substrate using an etching process-slides are exposed to O(2) plasma for 90s. The PS nanoparticles are then washed away using phosphate buffered saline solution. Next, the slides are dipped into bovine serum albumin solution to ensure that the anti IgG would bond only to the human IgG. At this moment, a patterned protein chip is obtained. When used for protein detection, the protein chip could be immersed into labeled specificity antigen solution. Here we chose fluorescein isothiocyanate anti-human IgG. After washing, only bonded antigens remain. Fluorescence microscopy and SERS is used to characterize the samples. The SERS spectra intensity shows liner correlation with the concentration of anti-human IgG. All the experiments are conducted in a phosphate buffered saline solution at 37°C for 2 h.

Surface-enhanced fluorescent immunoassay on 2D silver nanotriangles array.

Long range ordered silver nanotriangles array was fabricated for surface-enhanced fluorescent immunoassay in this paper. By polystyrene (PS) microspheres based LB template method, the silver nanotriangle array with about 100 nm in height was constructed on the surface of glass slide. On the surface of Ag nanotriangles array, the immune reaction of antigens and labeled antibodies was carried out. Based on the interaction of fluorophores from antibodies with the plasmon resonance from Ag nanotriangles and the enrichment effect of this patterned array, 3.11 times enhancement of the fluorescent intensity of the target antibodies was obtained. According to the fitting curve of fluorescent intensities and logarithmic concentrations of labeled antibodies from 100 pg/mL to 10 μg/mL, it concludes that the limit of detection by this Ag nanotriangles array for immune complex is 100 pg/mL. Due to the advantages of high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and convenient fabrication, the 2D silver nanotriangles array could be an exciting platform for bioassays in proteomics, drug discovery and diagnostics.

A four-component model for volume phase transition

Abstract By means of the Flory-Huggins and Iwatsubo theory for macromolecules, a four-component model of a hydrogel, which consists of a copolymer network and a solution with two solvents, is given for discussing the “normal pattern” volume phase transition which was proposed by Katayama. Furthermore, the theoretical result shows that an ionic gel can also undergo a volume phase transition caused by the variation of the ratio of the two components in the copolymer network.

A Four-Component Model for Volume Phase Transition: Discussion of Reverse Pattern and Combined Pattern

Abstract As an extension of “normal pattern” volume phase transition, the four-component model of a hydrogel, which consists of a copolymer network and a solution with two solvents, is further applied to the “reverse pattern” and “combined pattern” proposed by Katayama. It is shown that these two kinds of volume phase transitions can be explained by choosing interaction parameters suitably.