Highly sensitive and stable SERS probes of alternately deposited Ag and Au layers on 3D SiO2 nanogrids for detection of trace mercury ions

The hazard of Hg ion pollution triggers the motivation to explore a fast, sensitive, and reliable detection method. Here, we design and fabricate novel 36-nm-thick Ag-Au composite layers alternately deposited on three-dimensional （3D） periodic SiO2 nanogrids as surface-enhanced Raman scattering （SERS） probes. The SERS effects of the probes depend mainly on the positions and intensities of their localized surface plasmon resonance （LSPR） peaks, which is confirmed by the absorption spectra from finite-difference time-domain （FDTD） calculations. By optimizing the structure and material to maximize the intrinsic electric field enhancement based on the design method of 3D periodic SERS probes proposed, high performance of the Ag-Au/SiO2 nanogrid probes is achieved with the stability further enhanced by annealing. The optimized probes show the outstanding stability with only 4.0% SERS intensity change during 10-day storage, the excellent detection uniformity of 5.78% （RSD）, the detection limit of 5.0 × 10-12 M （1 ppt）, and superior selectivity for Hg ions. The present study renders it possible to realize the rapid and reliable detection of trace heavy metal ions by developing high- performance 3D periodic structure SERS probes by designing novel 3D structure and optimizing plasmonic material.

Detection of Trace Heavy Metals Ions by Arrays of Titania Nanotubes Annealed in Nitrogen

Redox response of trace heavy metals ions（THMIs） has better performance on highly ordered vertically oriented titania nanotube arrays（TNA） annealed in nitrogen. Experimental data showed that different THMIs possess different reaction peak shapes and charge and discharge capacities. Therefore, the TNA will become an important tool used for environmental protection and facilitating the rapid determination of THMIs. THMIs of 5×10^4 mol/L concentration were measured at a scan rate of 100 mV/s. The analytical utility of TNA is demonstrated in a neutral 0.5 mol/L Na2SO4 solution. The results sufficiently show that titania nanotube arrays electrodes（TNAE） will be used to measure THMIs.

Trace-element ions in snow,ice and water from Antarctic and Arctic with reference of their water vapor chemistry

The some trace elements in the Antarctic and Arctic snow, ice, water were studied using the methodology and theory of water vapor chemistry. The concentrations of ions Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ , Cu 2+ , Sn 4+ , Bi 3+ in Antarctic and Arctic snow a significant spatial similarity; they are also close to those defined elsewhere on the basic of studies of water vapor chemistry: on average Zn 2+ 5.0 μg/L, Cd 2+ 0.080 μg/L, Pb 2+ 0.030 μg/L, Cu 2+ 0.70 μg/L, Sn 4+ 0.99 μg/L, Bi 3+ 0.18 μg/L. Apparently, the ion concentration in the Antarctic and Arctic region represent natural baseline values and are controlled by natural water cycles.

Chemical characteristics and Pb isotopic compositions of PM2.5 in Nanchang, China

In mid-September 2013, PM2.5 samples were collected at six sites in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, to quantify nine water-soluble ions （Ca2＋, Mg2＋, K＋, Na＋, NH4＋, SO42-, Cl-, F , NO3 ）, 29 trace elements （Ba, Zn, Pb, Ni, Mo, Cr, Cu, Sr, Sb, Rb, Cd, Bi, Zr, V, Ga, Li, Y, Nb, W, Cs, Tl, Sc, Co, U, Hf, In, Re, Be, and Ta）, and to characterize Pb isotopic ratios （^207pb/^206pb, ^208pb/^206pb, and ^207pb/^204pb） for identifying the main source（s） of Pb. The results showed that the average daily PM2.5 concentration （53.16 ± 24.17） Dg/m3 was within the secondary level of the Chinese ambient air quality standard. The combined concentrations of SO42-, NH4＋, and NO3- to total measured water-soluble ion concentrations in PM2.5 ranged from 79.40% to 95.18%, indicating that anthropogenic sources were significant. Coal combustion and vehicle emissions were both contributors to PM2.5 based on the NO3-/SO4^2- ratios. Wushu School experienced the lowest concentrations of PM2.s and most trace elements among the six sampling sites. Enrichment factor results showed that TI, Cr, In, Cu, Zn, Pb, Bi, Ni, Sb, and Cd in PM2.5 were affected by anthropogenic activities. Cluster analysis suggested that Cd, Sb, Pb, Re, Zn, Bi, Cs, Tl, Ga, and In were possibly related to coal combustion and vehicle exhaust, while Ni, Nb, Cr, and Mo may have originated from metal smelting. Pb isotopic tracing showed that coal dust, cement dust, road dust and construction dust were the major Pb sources in PM2.5 in Nanchang. Combined, these sources contributed an average of 72.51% of the Pb measured, while vehicle exhaust accounted for 27.49% of Pb based on results from a binary Pb isotope mixed model,