An arrayed optofluidic system for three-dimensional (3D) focal control via electrowetting.

A new lens capability for three-dimensional (3D) focal control is presented using an optofluidic system consisting of n × n arrayed liquid prisms. Each prism module contains two immiscible liquids in a rectangular cuvette. Using the electrowetting effect, the shape of the fluidic interface can be rapidly adjusted to create its straight profile with the prism's apex angle.

Reversible Conversion of Disulfide/Dithiolate Occurring at a Vanadium(IV) Center: A Biomimetic System for Redox Exchange in Vanabin.

Ascidians use a class of cysteine-rich proteins generally referred to as vanabins to reduce vanadium ions, one of the many biological processes that involve the redox conversion between disulfide and dithiolate mediated by transition-metal ions. To further understand the nature of disulfide/dithiolate exchange facilitated by a vanadium center, we report herein a six-coordinate non-oxido V complex containing an unbound disulfide moiety, [V(PS3″)(PS1″)] () (PS3″ = [P(CH-3-MeSi-2-S)], where PS1″ is a disulfide form of PS3″). Complex is obtained from a reaction of previously reported [V(PS3″)(PS2″S)] () (PS2″S = [P(CH-3-MeSi-2-SH)(CH-3-MeSi-2-S)] with TEMPO (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl) via hydrogen atom transfer.

A multiple model approach for evaluating the performance of time-lapse capsules in trapping heavy metals from water bodies.

Adsorption by ion-exchange resins has been widely used as a cost-effective method for removing numerous hazardous materials, particularly heavy metals, from aqueous solutions. For effectively detecting the illegal discharge of industrial wastewater containing heavy metals, we developed "time-lapse capsules" to trap metallic ions from water bodies. Despite recent progress in the development of time-lapse capsules, a fundamental understanding was still needed to unravel the adsorption behavior of different heavy metals for further improvement of the design and scale-up of the capsule.