Neves, CS, Granadeiro CM, Cunha-Silva L, Ananias D, Gago S, Feio G, Carvalho PA, Eaton P, Balula SS, Pereira E.
2013.
Europium Polyoxometalates Encapsulated in Silica Nanoparticles Characterization and Photoluminescence Studies. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. :2877-2886., Number 16
AbstractThe incorporation of europium polyoxometalates into silica nanoparticles can lead to a biocompatible nanomaterial with luminescent properties suitable for applications in biosensors, biological probes, and imaging. Keggin-type europium polyoxometalates Eu(PW11)x (x = 1 and 2) with different europium coordination environments were prepared by using simple methodologies and no expensive reactants. These luminescent compounds were then encapsulated into silica nanoparticles for the first time through the water-in-oil microemulsion methodology with a nonionic surfactant. The europium polyoxometalates and the nanoparticles were characterized by using several techniques [FTIR, FT-Raman, 31P magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR, and TEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), AFM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and inductively coupled plasma MS (ICP-MS) analysis]. The stability of the material and the integrity of the europium compounds incorporated were also examined. Furthermore, the photoluminescence properties of the Eu(PW11)x@SiO2 nanomaterials were evaluated and compared with those of the free europium polyoxometalates. The silica surface of the most stable nanoparticles was successfully functionalized with appropriate organosilanes to enable the covalent binding of oligonucleotides.
Oliveira, FS, Pereiro AB, Araujo JM, Bernardes CE, Canongia Lopes JN, Todorovic S, Feio G, Almeida PL, Rebelo LP, Marrucho IM.
2013.
High ionicity ionic liquids (HIILs): comparing the effect of ethylsulfonate and ethylsulfate anions. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 15:18138-47., Number 41
AbstractThe subject of ionicity has been extensively discussed in the last decade, due to the importance of understanding the thermodynamic and thermophysical behaviour of ionic liquids. In our previous work, we established that ionic liquids' ionicity could be improved by the dissolution of simple inorganic salts in their milieu. In this work, a comparison between the thermophysical properties of two binary systems of ionic liquid + inorganic salt is presented. The effect of the ammonium thiocyanate salt on the ionicity of two similar ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfonate and ethylsulfate, is investigated in terms of the related thermophysical properties, such as density, viscosity and ionic conductivity in the temperature range 298.15-323.15 K. In addition, spectroscopic (NMR and Raman) and molecular dynamic studies were conducted in order to better understand the interactions that occur at a molecular level. The obtained results reveal that although the two anions of the ionic liquid exhibit similar chemical structures, the presence of one additional oxygen in the ethylsulfate anion has a major impact on the thermophysical properties of the studied systems.
Geng, Y, Almeida PL, Feio GM, Figueirinhas JL, Godinho MH.
2013.
Water-Based Cellulose Liquid Crystal System Investigated by Rheo-NMR. Macromolecules. 46:4296-4302., Number 11
AbstractWater-based cellulose cholesteric liquid crystalline phases at rest can undergo structural changes induced by shear flow. This reflects on the deuterium spectra recorded when the system is investigated by rheo-nuclear magnetic resonance (rheo-NMR) techniques. In this work, the model system hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)+water is revisited using rheo-NMR to clarify unsettled points regarding its behavior under shear and in relaxation. The NMR spectra allow the identification of five different stable ordering states, within shear and relaxation, which are well integrated in a mesoscopic picture of the system's structural evolution under shear and relaxation. This picture emerging from the large body of studies available for this system by other experimental techniques, accounts well for the NMR data and is in good agreement with the three distinct regions of steady shear flow recognized for some lyotropic LC polymers. Shear rates in between 0.1 and 1.0 s(-1) where investigated using a Taylor-Couette flow and deuterated water was used as solvent for the deuterium NMR (DNMR) analysis.