Experimental and Density Functional Theory Calculation Studies on Raman and Infrared Spectra of 1,1＇-Binaphthyl-2,2＇-diamine

The IR absorption, visible excited normal Raman, and UV-excited near-resonant Raman （UVRR） spectra of 1,1＇-binaphthyl-2,2＇-diamine （BINAM） were measured and analyzed. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate its vibrational frequencies, infrared absorption, normal Raman, and near-resonance Raman intensities. The observed Raman and IR bands of BINAM were assigned with respect to the local vibrations of substituted 2-naphthylamine. Several Raman bands of BINAM were found selectively enhanced in the UVRR in comparison with the normal Raman spectrum. Possible excited state geometry distortion was discussed based on the resonance Raman intensity analysis.

Orientation and Structure of Ionic Liquid Cation at Air/[bmim][BF4] Aqueous Solution Interface

The watermiscible room temperature ionic liquid 1butyl3methylimidazolium tetrafluorob orate （[bmim] [BF4]） is a model system for studying the interactions between ionic liquid and water molecules. In this work the orientational structure of the low concentrated aqueous solution of [bmim] [BF4] at the air/liquid interface was investigated by sum frequency gener ation vibrational spectroscopy. It has been found that at very low concentrations, the butyl chain exhibited a significant gauche defect, indicating a disordered conformation; and the cation ring oriented with a fairly small tilting angle at the surface. When the concentration increased, the cation ring tended to lie flat at the surface, and the gauche defects of the butyl chain decreased due to the intermolecular chainchain interactions and the consequent more ordered interfacial molecular arrangement. Additionally, the antisymmetric stretching mode in the PPP and SPS spectra exhibited a peak shift, showing that there exists more than one kind of orientation or chemical environment for the butyl CH3 group. These results may shed new light on understanding the surface behavior of watermiscible ionic liquids as well as the imidazolium based surfactants.

Dissociation Dynamics of Energy-Selected Ions using Threshold Photoelectron-Photoion Coincidence Velocity Imaging

Threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) is a powerful method to prepare and analyze internal energy- or state-selected ions. Here, we review the state-of-the-art TPEPICO imaging technique combining with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation and its recent applications at Hefei Light Source (HLS), especially on the fundamental data measurement and the dissociation dynamics of ions. By applying the double velocity map imaging for both electrons and ions in coincidence, the collection efficiency of the charged particles, the electron energy resolution and the resolving power of the released kinetic energy in dissociation have been greatly improved. The kinetic energy and the angular distributions of fragment ions dissociated from parent ions with definitive internal energy or state have been acquired directly from TPEPICO images. Some dissociation mechanisms involving non-adiabatic quantum effects, like conical intersection and internal conversion, have been revealed. Moreover, the mass-selected threshold photoelectron spectroscopy (MS-TPES) shows tremendous advantages in isomer-specific analysis of complex systems.

Laser Flash Photolysis on Electron Transfer Reactions between 1,8-Dihydroxyanthraquinone with Adenine and Cytosine

Electron transfer （ET） reactions between 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone （DHAQ） and two DNA bases, adenine （A） and cytosine （C）, have been investigated in CH3CN/H20 solution with nanosecond time-resolved laser flash photolysis. After irradiation at 355 nm, the triplet DHAQ is produced via intersystem crossing and reacts with two nucleobases. ET processes for both reactions have been definitely identified, in which two bases play a significant role of electron donor. Based on the measured decay dynamics of various intermediates and the corresponding quenching rates, an initial ET process followed by a secondary proton-transfer reaction is suggested for both the overall reactions. By plotting the observed quenching rate against the concentration of two DNA bases, the bimolecular quenching rate constants are determined as 9.0-10s L/（mol.s） for the 3DHAQ＊＋C reaction and 3.3x10^8 L/（mol.s） for the 3DHAQ＊＋A reaction, respectively.

Raman Spectra of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-carboxylate Solution

Raman spectra of 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate (TC- anion) and its ring-deprotonated deriva- tive (dpTC2- dianion) in aqueous solutions were measured respectively. The density func- tional theory calculations were performed using MN15 functional and PCM solvent model to investigate their structures, as well as the vibrational frequencies and Raman intensi- ties. With the aid of the calculated spectra, all the observed Raman bands of dpTC2- were clearly assigned, with taking into account the deuteration shifts. Moreover, various protonic tautomers of TC- anion were compared in the present theoretical calculations, and 2H- tautomer was found more stable. The experimental Raman spectrum of TC- solution was roughly consistent with the calculated spectrum of the monomeric 2H-tautomer of TC-, but some splits existed for a few bands when compared to the calculated spectra, which might be contributed by the hydrogen-bonding dimers of TC-.

Quantitative Surface Chirality Detection with Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy： Twin Polarization Angle Approach

Here we report a novel twin polarization angle （TPA） approach in the quantitative chirality detection with the surface sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy （SFG-VS）. Generally, the achiral contribution dominates the surface SFG-VS signal, and the pure chiral signal is usually two or three orders of magnitude smaller. Therefore, it has been difficult to make quantitative detection and analysis of the chiral contributions to the surface SFG- VS signal. In the TPA method, by varying together the polarization angles of the incoming visible light and the sum frequency signal at fixed s or p polarization of the incoming infrared beam, the polarization dependent SFG signal can give not only direct signature of the chiral contribution in the total SFG-VS signal, but also the accurate measurement of the chiral and achiral components in the surface SFG signal. The general description of the TPA method is presented and the experiment test of the TPA approach is also presented for the SFG-VS from the S- and R-limonene chiral liquid surfaces. The most accurate degree of chiral excess values thus obtained for the 2878 cm^-1 spectral peak of the S- and R-limonene liquid surfaces are （23.7±0.4）% and （-25.4±1.3）%, respectively.

Vibrational Spectra and Adsorption of Trisiloxane Superspreading Surfactant at Air/Water Interface Studied with Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

The C-H stretch vibrational spectra of the trisiloxane superspreading surfactant Silwet L-77 （（CH3）3Si- O-Si（CH3）（C3H6）（OCH2CH2）7-8OCH3）-O-Si（CH3）3） at the air/water interface are measured with the surface Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy （SFG-VS）. The spectra are dominated with the features from the -Si-CH3 groups around 2905 cm^-1 （symmetric stretch or SS mode） and 2957 ^-1 （mostly the asymmetric stretch or AS mode）, and with the weak but apparent contribution from the -O-CH2- groups around 2880 ^-1 （symmetric stretch or SS mode）. Comparison of the polarization dependent SFG spectra below and above the critical aggregate or micelle concentration （CAC） indicates that the molecular orientation of the C-H related molecular groups remained unchanged at different surface densities of the Silwet L-77 surfactant. The SFG-VS adsorption isotherm suggested that there was no sign of Silwet L-77 bilayer structure formation at the air/water interface. The Gibbs adsorption free energy of the Silwet surfactant to the air/water interface is -42.2±0.8kcal/mol, indicating the unusually strong adsorption ability of the Silwet L-77 superspreading surfactant.

Populations of Ethanol Conformers in Liquid CCI4 and CS2 by Raman Spectra in OH Stretching Region

Combining Raman spectroscopy with density functional theory, the populations of the trans- and gaucheethanol conformers are investigated in carbon tetrachloride （CC14） and carbon disulfide （CS2）. The spectral contributions of two ethanol conformers are identified in OH stretching region. The energy difference between both conformers is estimated with the aid of the calculated Raman cross sections. It can be seen that the trans- ethanol is more stable in CC14 and CS2 solutions. The spectra are also obtained at different temperatures, and it is found the van＇t Hoff analysis is invalid in these solutions. By taking accounts of the Boltzmann distribution and theoretical Raman cross section, the energy difference is found to be increased with temperature, which shows the weak intermolecular interactions can enhance the population of transethanol.

Concentration-Dependent Inuence of Silver Nanoparticles on Amyloid Fibrillation Kinetics of Hen Egg-White Lysozyme

Understanding the inuence of nanoparticles on the formation of protein amyloid brillation is cru-cial to extend their application in related biological diagnosis and nanomedicines.In this work,Ra-man spectroscopy was used to probe the amyloid brillation of hen egg-white lysozyme in the pres-ence of silver nanoparticles(Ag-NPs)at di erent concentrations,combined with atomic force mi-croscopy and thioavin T(ThT)uorescence assays.Four representative Raman indicators were utilized to monitor transformation of the protein tertiary and secondary structures at the molecular level:the Trp doublet bands at 1340 and 1360 cm^(-1),the disul de stretching vibrational peak at 507 cm^(-1),the N-Cα-C stretching vibration at 933 cm^(-1),and the amide I band.All experimental results con rmed the concentration-dependent inuence of AgNPs on the hen egg-white lysozyme amyloid brillation kinetics.In the presence of AgNPs at low concentration(17μg/mL),electrostatic interaction of the nanoparticles stabilizes disul de bonds,and protects the Trp residues from exposure to hydrophilic environment,thus leading to formation of amorphous aggregates rather than brils.However,with the action of AgNPs at high concentration(1700μg/mL),the native disul de bonds of hen egg-white lysozyme are broken to form Ag-S bonds owing to the competition of electrostatic interaction from a great deal of nanoparticles.As for providing functional surfaces for protein to interact with,AgNPs play a bridge role in direct transformation from-helices to organized-sheets.The present investigation sheds light on the controversial e ects of AgNPs on the kinetics of hen egg-white lysozyme amyloid brillation.

New Insights into Folding Kinetics of α,ω Dye-Functionalized Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Two narrowly-distributed poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM) samples were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with a novel dansyl functionalized initiator. The other end of the PNIPAM was functionalized by dabcyl group via click reaction. From the static fluorescence measurements, the fluorescence intensity of dansyl group and energy transfer efficiency between dansyl and dabcyl groups increased when the temperature increased from 36 °C to 45 °C, indicating that the microenvironment surrounding dansyl became hydrophobic and the distance between dansyl and dabcyl decreased. The kinetics of the conformational change of the dye-labeled PNIPAM was studied by a home-made laser-induced temperature jump device with fluorescent measurement. Our results revealed that the characteristic transition time was 3.8 and 5.8 ms for PNIPAM with degrees of polymerization of 85 and 142, respectively, indicating that the characteristic transition time was related to the chain length. Besides, characteristic transition time for the change of the energy transfer efficiency was 2.9 ms for PNIPAM with the degree of polymerization of 85, suggesting that the energy transfer efficiency change was faster than the fluorescence intensity change of dansyl group.

High-resolution Absorption Spectra of Acetylene in 142.8-152.3 nm

The absorption spectra of acetylene molecules was measured under jet-cooled conditions in the wavelength range of 142.8-152.3 nm, with a tunable and highly resolved vacuum ultraviolet （VUV） laser generated by two-photon resonant four wave difference frequency mixing processes. Due to the sufficient vibrational and rotational cooling effect of the molecular beam and the higher resolution VUV laser, the observed absorption spectra exhibit more distinct spectral features than the previous works measured at room temperature. The major three vibrational bands are assigned as a C-C symmetry stretching vibrational progress （v2=0.2） of the C^1Πu state of acetylene. The observed shoulder peak at 148,2 nm is assigned to the first overtone band of the trans-bending mode V4 of the C^1Πu state of acetylene. Additionally, the two components, 4^20（μ^1Π） and 4^20（k^1Πu）, are suggested to exhibit in the present absorption spectra, due to their Renner-Teller effect and transition selection rule. All band origins and bandwidths are obtained subsequently, and it is found that bandwidths are broadened and lifetimes decrease gradually with the excitation of vibration.

Recent developments on anode materials for magnesium-ion batteries:a review

In recent years,there has been significant growth in the demand for secondary batteries,and researchers are increasingly taking an interest in the development of nextgeneration battery systems.Magnesium-ion batteries(MIBs)have been recognized as the optimal alternative to lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)due to their low cost,superior safety,and environment-friendliness.However,research and development on rechargeable MIBs are still underway as some serious problems need to be resolved.One of the most serious obstacles is the generation of an irreversible passivation layer on the surface of the Mg anode during cycling.In addition to exploring new electrolytes for MIBs,alternative anode materials for MIBs might be an effective solution to this issue.In this review,the composition and working principle of MIBs have been discussed.In addition,recent advances in the area of anode materials(metals and their alloys,metal oxides,and two-dimensional materials)available for MIBs and the corresponding Mg-storage mechanisms have also been summarized.Further,feasible strategies,including structural design,dimension reduction,and introduction of the second phase,have been employed to design high-performance MIB anodes.