Earticle

Hydrosilanes possessing reactive Si-H bond are used in synthesizing various types of polysilanes by dehydrocoupling under the influence of various organometallic promoters.42 Catalytic Si-Si/Si-O coupling of hydrosilanes with hydrosilanes, alcohols, and lactones to silicon-based polymers are described in this article as selective examples of our recent research developments. These silicon-containing polymers can be used as a precursor to prepare useful functional materials for fabricating electronic devices.

Alginate lyases, also known as alginases or alginate depolymerases, catalyze the degradation of alginate by a β-elimination mechanism that has yet to be fully elucidated. Alginate is a copolymer of α-L-guluronate (G) and its C5 epimer β-D-mannuronate (M), arranged as homopolymeric G blocks, M blocks, alternating GM or random heteropolymeric G/ M stretches. Almost all alginate lyases depolymerize alginate in an endolytical fashion via a β-elimination reaction. The alginate lyase Atu3025 from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58, consisting of 776 amino-acid residues, is a novel exotype alginate lyase classified into polysaccharide lyase family 15. Till now there is no crystal structure available for this class of proteins. Since there is no template with high sequence identity, three-dimensional coordinates for exotype alginate lyase (PL 15 family) were determined using modeling methods (Comparitive modeling and Fold recognition). The structures were modeled using the X-ray coordinates from Heparinase protein family (PDB code: 3E7J). This enzyme (Atu3025) displays enzymatic activity for both poly-M and poly-G alginate. Since poly-M is widespread; docking of a tri-mannuronate against the modeled structure was performed. We identified some of those residues which are crucial for lyase activity. The results from this study should guide future mutagenesis studies and also provides a starting point for further proceedings.

DBR/Host dual porous silicons containing DBR and host structure were prepared and their optical properties were characterized using Ocean Optics spectrometer. In this dual porous silicon, single porous silicon layer was used as host layer for possible biomolecule and drug materials and DBR porous silicon layer was used for signal transduction due to the recognition of molecules. Optical reflection spectrum of dual porous silicon displayed only DBR reflection but Fabry- Perot fringe pattern. DBR reflection band of dual porous silicon shifted to the shorter wavelength as the etching time of host layer increased. Cross-sectional FE-SEM image of dual porous silicon displayed a thickness of about 20 micrometer for DBR porous silicon layer. Developed etching technology could be useful to prepare DBR porous silicon which exhibited specific reflection resonance at the required wavelength and to provide an label-free biosensors and drug delivery materials.

Photonic crystals containing rugate structures from a single crystalline silicon wafer was obtained by using a sinoidal alternating current during an electrochemical etch procedure. Photonic crystals were isolated from the silicon substrate by applying an electropolishing current and were then made into particles by using an ultrasonic fracture in an ethanol solution to give a smart dust. Smart dusts exhibited their unique nanostructures and optical characteristics. They exhibited sharp photonic band gaps in the optical reflectivity spectrum. The size of smart dust obtained was in the range of 10-20 nm.

It is still controversial where the improved stability of n-octadecyltriethoxysilane self-assembled monolayer (OTE SAM) on plasma-pretreated mica surface exactly originates from. To date, it has been well known that the extensive crosspolymerization between silane head-groups is a crucial factor for the outstanding mechanical strength of the monolayer. However, this study clearly showed that the stability comes not only from the cross-links but also, far more importantly, from the direct chemical bonds between silane headgroups and mica surface. To examine this phenomenon, noctadecyltrichlorosilane monolayers were self-assembled on both untreated and plasma treated mica surfaces, and their adhesion properties at various physical conditions (relative humidity, high stress, and contact repetition) were investigated and compared through the use of the surface forces apparatus technique. It revealed that, in highly humid conditions (>90%RH), there is a substantial difference of stability between untreated and plasma treated cases and the plasma treated surface is mechanically much more stable. It obviously proves that the extensive chemical bonds indeed exist between silane head-groups and plasma treated mica surface and dramatically improve the mechanical stability of the OTE monolayer-coated mica substrate.

It is still controversial where the improved stability of n-octadecyltriethoxysilane self-assembled monolayer (OTE SAM) on plasma-pretreated mica surface exactly originates from. To date, it has been well known that the extensive crosspolymerization between silane headgroups is a crucial factor for the outstanding mechanical strength of the monolayer. However, this study directly observed that the stability comes not only from the cross-links but also, far more importantly, from the direct chemical bonds between silane headgroups and mica surface. To observe this phenomenon, noctadecyltrichlorosilane monolayers were self-assembled on both untreated and plasma treated mica surfaces, and their adhesion properties at various stress conditions and force profiles in pure water were investigated and compared through the use of the surface forces apparatus technique. It revealed that, in pure water, there is a substantial difference of stability between untreated and plasma treated cases and the plasma treated surface is mechanically much more stable. In particular, the protrusion behavior of the monolayer during contact repetition experiment was always observed in the untreated case, but never in the plasma treated case. It directly demonstrates that the extensive chemical bonds indeed exist between silane head-groups and plasma treated mica surface and dramatically improve the mechanical stability of the OTE monolayercoated mica substrate.

Pentiptycene and its derivatives having cavity, π-π stacking prohibition, and AIEE functionalities were synthesized. 6,7-Dibromo-1,4-dihydropentiptycene-1,4-epoxide was obtained from the reaction of 6,7-dibromo-1,4-dihydronaphthalene-1,4-epoxide and anthracene. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Prepared pentiptycene derivatives could be useful precursor for organofluorene compounds which could be an excellent candidate for electronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLED’s) and chemical sensor.

Silicon-containing π-conjugated compounds, especially silacyclopentadienes (siloles), have emerged as a new class of electroactive materials with good electron transport properties in OLEDs. 9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene compound as well as its starting material 2,2'-dibromobiphenyl have been synthesized with higher yields. Spirosilabifluorene is expected to be an efficient host material for the blue-light emitting diodes. 9,9'-spiro-9-silabifluorene, 1,1-dichloro-1-silafluorene, and 1,1-dimethyl-1-silafluorene were characterized by 1H-NMR, UV/Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Prepared CdSe nanoparticles were systems, one of the most studied and useful nanostructures. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been the subject of much interest for both fundamental reseach and technical applications in recent years, due mainly to their strong size dependent properties and excellent chemical processibility. CdSe nanocrystals were synthesized by using sol-gel process. Synthesized CdSe quantum dots were studied to evaluate the optical, electronic and structural properties using UV-absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) measurement. Prepared CdSe nanoparticles were subjected to sense hydrofluoric acid. Photoluminescence was quenched upon adding of hydrofluoric acid.

Silicon quantum dots base on photoluminescent porous silicon were prepared from an electrochemical etching of ntype silicon wafer (boron-dopped<100> orientation, resistivity of 1~10 Ω-cm) and used as a alcohol sensor. Silicon quantum dots displayed an emission band at the wavelength of 675 nm with an excitation wavelength of 480 nm. Photoluminescence of silicon quantum dots was quenched in the presence of alcohol vapors such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol. Quenching efficiencies of 21.5, 32.5, and 45.8% were obtained for isopropanol, ethanol, and methanol, respectively. A linear relationship was obtained between quenching efficiencies and vapor pressure of analytes used. Quenching photoluminescence was recovered upon introducing of fresh air after the detection of alcohol. This provides easy fabrication of alcohol sensor based on porous silicon.