Flexible Glass-Based Hybrid Nanofluidic Device to Enable the Active Regulation of Single-Molecule Flows.

Single-molecule studies offer deep insights into the essence of chemistry, biology, and materials science. Despite significant advances in single-molecule experiments, the precise regulation of the flow of single small molecules remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we present a flexible glass-based hybrid nanofluidic device that can precisely block, open, and direct the flow of single small molecules in nanochannels.

Fabrication of Nanoscale Gas-Liquid Interfaces in Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Nanopatterned Nanofluidic Channels.

Gas-liquid interfaces (GLIs) are ubiquitous and have found widespread applications in a large variety of fields. Despite the recent trend of downscaling GLIs, their nanoscale fabrication remains challenging because of the lack of suitable tools. In this study, a nanofluidic device, which has undergone precise local surface modification, is used in combination with tailored physicochemical effects in nanospace and optimized nanofluidic operations, to produce uniform, arrayable, stable, and transportable nanoscale GLIs that can concentrate molecules of interest at the nanoscale.

Development of a Photometric Method to Measure Molecular Oxygen in Water.

A photometric method to determine molecular oxygen in water was developed. When manganese(II) is oxidized by oxygen under alkaline conditions, the presence of polyphosphate can prevent precipitation due to a coacervate reaction. The oxidized manganese later dissolves in acid to form a pink Mn(III) species, which has a stable UV/vis spectrum.