Evaluation of three sample preparation methods for the identification of clinical strains by using two MALDI-TOF MS systems.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has revolutionized the microbial identification, especially in the clinical microbiology laboratories. However, although numerous studies on the identification of microorganisms by MALDI-TOF MS have been reported previously, few studies focused on the effect of pretreatment on identification. Due to the sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS, different preparation methods will lead to changes in microbial protein fingerprints.

Silver ion-doped CdTe quantum dots as fluorescent probe for Hg detection.

Mercury(ii), which is a well-known toxic species, exists in the industrial waste water in many cases. In the present work, CdTe quantum dots (QDs) are studied as a fluorescence probe for Hg detection. Ag ions are induced to QDs to enlarge their detection concentration range.

The design of Mn&Co co-doped CdTe quantum dot sensitized solar cells with much higher efficiency.

High quality Mn-doped CdTe quantum dots (QDs), Co-doped CdTe QDs and Mn&Co co-doped CdTe QDs were successfully synthesized an aqueous phase method with mercaptopropanoic acid (MPA) ligands. The doped QDs maintain the same zinc blende structure of CdTe by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Mn-doped CdTe QDs and Co-doped CdTe QDs both show a red-shift on absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra compared to pure CdTe QDs.

Top-down synthesis of sponge-like MnO at low temperature.

A top-down synthetic method was developed for the fabrication of sponge-like MnO composed of MnO nanocrystals by decomposition of manganese formate at 200 °C. The samples were characterized in terms of their structural and morphological properties by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies. TEM and SEM images showed that the morphology of sponge-like MnO structures was mostly retained from the morphology of the manganese formate precursor, which was controlled by the solvothermal process.

Effects of acid on the microstructures and properties of three-dimensional TiO2 hierarchical structures by solvothermal method.

Three-dimensional (3D) TiO2 hierarchical structures with various microstructures have been successfully synthesized via a surfactant-free and single-step solvothermal route, in which hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), and acetic acid (HAc) are employed as the acid medium, respectively. The effects of acid medium on the microstructures and properties of 3D TiO2 hierarchical structure have been studied. The results indicate that 3D dandelion-like microspheres assembled of radial rutile nanorods are obtained in the sample prepared with HCl.

Low temperature synthesis of visible light-driven vanadium doped titania photocatalyst.

A simple method based on sol-gel method was developed to prepare vanadium ions doped TiO(2) nanocrystalline at low temperature. Thus-obtained vanadium doped TiO(2) was proved to be V(x)Ti(1-x)O(2) solid solution. Doping vanadium could enhance the formation of stable phase.