Structural Information on Supramolecular Copper(II) β-Diketonate Complexes from Atomic Force Microscopy and Analytical Ultracentrifugation.

Supramolecular Cu(II) complexes were prepared from two trifunctional β-diketone ligands. The ligands (CHSi(phacH) and CHSi(phprH), represented by LH) contain three aryl-β-diketone moieties joined by an organosilicon group. The complexes have the empirical formula CuL, as expected for combinations of Cu and L.

"Lab of the Future"─Today: Fully Automated System for High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Biotherapeutics.

Here we describe a state-of-the-art, integrated, multi-instrument automated system designed to execute methods involved in mass spectrometry characterization of biotherapeutics. The system includes liquid and microplate handling robotics and utilities, integrated LC-MS, along with data analysis software, to perform sample purification, preparation, and analysis as a seamless integrated unit. The automated process begins with tip-based purification of target proteins from expression cell-line supernatants, which is initiated once the samples are loaded onto the automated system and the metadata are retrieved from our corporate data aggregation system.

Application of visible-light photosensitization to form alkyl-radical-derived thin films on gold.

Visible-light irradiation of phthalimide esters in the presence of the photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)] and the stoichiometric reducing agent benzyl nicotinamide results in the formation of alkyl radicals under mild conditions. This approach to radical generation has proven useful for the synthesis of small organic molecules. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time the visible-light photosensitized deposition of robust alkyl thin films on Au surfaces using phthalimide esters as the alkyl radical precursors.

Facile Design and Fabrication of Superwetting Surfaces with Excellent Wear-Resistance.

Preparation of mechanically durable superwetting surfaces is imperative, yet challenging for the wide range of real applications where high durability is required. Mechanical wear on superwetting surfaces usually degrades weak roughness, leading to loss of functions. In this study, wear-resistant superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces are prepared by anchoring reinforced coatings via adhesive-swelling and adhesive-bonding processes, respectively.

Distance-Dependent Measurements of the Conductance of Porphyrin Nanorods Studied with Conductive Probe Atomic Force Microscopy.

Protocols for nanopatterning porphyrins on Au(111) were developed based on immersion particle lithography. Porphyrins with and without a central metal ion, 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin (TPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin cobalt(II) (CoTPP), were selected for study, which spontaneously formed nanorod geometries depending on concentration parameters. The elongated shapes of the nanorods offers an opportunity for successive distance-dependent conductive probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) measurements along the length of the nanorods.

Conductive-probe measurements with nanodots of free-base and metallated porphyrins.

The conductive properties of nanodots of model porphyrins were investigated using conductive-probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). Porphyrins provide excellent models for preparing surface structures that can potentially be used as building blocks for devices. The conjugated, planar structure of porphyrins offers opportunities for tailoring the electronic properties.

Polyols from Microwave Liquefied Bagasse and Its Application to Rigid Polyurethane Foam.

Bagasse flour (BF) was liquefied using bi-component polyhydric alcohol (PA) as a solvent and phosphoric acid as a catalyst in a microwave reactor. The effect of BF to solvent ratio and reaction temperatures on the liquefaction extent and characteristics of liquefied products were evaluated. The results revealed that almost 75% of the raw bagasse was converted into liquid products within 9 min at 150 °C with a BF to solvent ratio of 1/4.

Fabrication of TiO2/EP super-hydrophobic thin film on filter paper surface.

A composite filter paper with super-hydrophobicity was obtained by adhering micro/nano structure of amorphous titanium dioxide on the filter paper surface with modifying low surface energy material. By virtue of the coupling agent, which plays an important part in bonding amorphous titanium dioxide and epoxy resin, the structure of super-hydrophobic thin film on the filter paper surface is extremely stable. The microstructure of super-hydrophobic filter paper was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the images showed that the as-prepared filter paper was covered with uniform amorphous titanium dioxide particles, generating a roughness structure on the filter paper surface.

Application of visible light photocatalysis with particle lithography to generate polynitrophenylene nanostructures.

Visible light photoredox catalysis was combined with immersion particle lithography to prepare polynitrophenylene organic films on Au(111) surfaces, forming a periodic arrangement of nanopores. Surfaces masked with mesospheres were immersed in solutions of p-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate and irradiated with blue LEDs in the presence of the photoredox catalyst Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 to produce p-nitrophenyl radicals that graft onto gold substrates. Surface masks of silica mesospheres were used to protect small, discrete regions of the Au(111) surface from grafting.

Nanoscale lithography mediated by surface self-assembly of 16-[3,5-bis(mercaptomethyl)phenoxy]hexadecanoic acid on Au(111) investigated by scanning probe microscopy.

The solution-phase self-assembly of bidentate 16-[3,5-bis(mercapto-methyl)phenoxy]hexadecanoic acid (BMPHA) on Au(111) was studied using nano-fabrication protocols with scanning probe nanolithography and immersion particle lithography. Molecularly thin films of BMPHA prepared by surface self-assembly have potential application as spatially selective layers in sensor designs. Either monolayer or bilayer films of BMPHA can be formed under ambient conditions, depending on the parameters of concentration and immersion intervals.

Surface assembly and nanofabrication of 1,1,1-tris(mercaptomethyl)heptadecane on Au(111) studied with time-lapse atomic force microscopy.

The solution self-assembly of multidentate organothiols onto Au(111) was studied in situ using scanning probe nanolithography and time-lapse atomic force microscopy (AFM). Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) prepared from dilute solutions of multidentate thiols were found to assemble slowly, requiring more than six hours to generate films. A clean gold substrate was first imaged in ethanolic media using liquid AFM.