Two-Dimensional Estrone-Imprinted System on a Self-Assembled Monolayer.

In this study, a thin poly (methyl methacrylate) coating was formed on a self-assembled monolayer formed on a gold plate after chemically binding estrone. Subsequently, the estrone molecules were hydrolyzed and extracted using a solvent to form a molecular-imprinted system. The estrone-imprinted gold plate was then used as a working electrode to measure the estrone recognition ability through electrochemical methods. The recognition ability of this working electrode was evaluated for similar compounds. The selectivity factors for the seven estrone analogs were measured, and these values ranged from 0.19 to 0.67. According to the experimental results, the estrone-imprinted system showed good differentiation of estrone from other estrone analogs. Comparing these selectivity factors with those of a previous study on a cholesterol-imprinted system, the relative molecular size difference between the target molecule and similar molecules had a significant impact on the selectivity factor.

Synergistic effects of copper and oxygen vacancies in enhancing the efficacy of partially crystalline CuMnxOy catalyst for ozone decomposition.

To tackle the challenge of ground-level ozone pollution, this study proposed a potential catalytic design approach for ozone decomposition using Cu-Mn bimetallic oxide. This approach is grounded in an understanding of the intrinsic reactivity for catalyst and incorporates a novel potassium-driven low-temperature oxidation process for catalyst synthesis. The research highlights the creation of a highly reactive Cu-Mn oxide phase with extensive defect coverage, leading to significantly increased reaction rates. It also identifies the MnO2(100) facet as a crucial active phase, where oxygen vacancies simultaneously enhance O3 adsorption and decomposition, albeit with a concurrent risk of O2 poisoning due to the stabilization of adsorbed O2. Crucially, the incorporation of Cu offsets the effects of oxygen vacancies, influencing conversion rates and lessening O2 poisoning. The synergistic interplay between Cu and oxygen vacancies elevates the performance of the defect-rich Cu-Mn oxide catalyst. By combining computational and experimental methods, this study not only advances the understanding of the Cu-Mn oxide system for ozone decomposition but also contributes valuable insights into developing more efficient catalysts to mitigate ozone pollution.

A Color-Detectable Vitamin C Controlled-Release System Fabricated Using Electrospinning.

This study develops a vitamin C controlled-release system, trackable via color changes as a function of vitamin C release. The system is composed of coaxial microfibers prepared via coaxial electrospinning, with a core of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) incorporating vitamin C, and a shell composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) containing polydiacetylene (PDA) as the color-changing material. The shell thickness is controlled by adjusting the amount of PCL ejected during electrospinning, allowing regulation of the release rate of vitamin C. When vitamin C added to PEO penetrates the PCL layer, the color of PDA changes from blue to red, indicating a color change. The results of this study can be applied to devices that require immediate detection of vitamin C release levels.