In this work, a facile and efficient approach has been demonstrated for size-selective separation of DNA fragments by using lysine-functionalized silica particles. At a given pH, the environmental ionic strength can be utilized to alter the electrostatic interactions of lysine-functionalized silica particles with DNA fragments and in turn the DNA fragments on the silica particle surfaces, which...

The encapsulation of [Eu(dbm)3phen] into functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) has been carried out to study the effect of chemical environments on the photoluminescence properties of the rare-earth complex. Surface functionalization was achieved by the reaction of the silanol groups on the surface of mesoporous silica with different organosilylating agents such as (3-aminopropyl...

Catalytic emulsion polymerization of ethylene with nickel catalysts in the presence of silica nanoparticles affords stable dispersions of silica/polyethylene nanocomposite particles. The modification of the surface of silica particles by grafting upon their surface of octenylor octylsilanes is a prerequisite for obtaining composites. Different morphologies of composites particles were observed ...

The synthesis of magnetically separable quasi-homogeneous base catalyst and heterogeneous base catalyst is described. The quasi-homogeneous catalyst is achieved by supporting silane monomers functionalized with different amine groups directly on the surface of magnetite nanoparticles. The heterogeneous catalyst is prepared via a sol-gel process in which silane monomers containing different amin...

Mesoporous silica-carbon composites functionalized with acidic oxygen groups were prepared by oxidation of a layer of carbon deposited inside the silica pores. The synthesis procedure involved the following steps: a) removal of the silica surfactant, b) impregnation of the silica pores with a carbon precursor, c) carbonization and d) oxidation with ammonium persulfate. The resulting silica-carb...

Coupling with robust surfaces is a promising approach to improve the stability and recyclability of highly active molecular catalysts. This study builds on our prior success to deposit a Co(iii) cyclam complex, where cyclam is 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, on mesoporous silica via a microwave-assisted process. The Co(iii) complex was successfully deposited on the silica surface through rea...

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are promising fluorescence probes for immuofluorescence assay in the biological applications. However, water solubilization and non-specific binding are two critical issues to be addressed for the practical uses. Here, we reported a new type of QDs with combined silica and polymer coating. QDs with excellent colloidal properties were prepared via carboxylation o...

Silica aerogels functionalized with strongly fluorescent carbon quantum dots were first prepared and used for simple, sensitive, and selective sensing of NO2 gas. In the presence of ethanol, homemade silica aerogels with a large specific surface area of 801.17 m(2)/g were functionalized with branched polyethylenimine-capped quantum dots (BPEI-CQDs) with fluorescence quantum yield higher than 40...

A novel and simple method for the electrochemical modification of ordered mesoporous silica is described. A well-organized thin film of amine-functionalized ordered mesoporous silica has been deposited electrochemically on the electrode surface. The resulting amine-functionalized electrodes were then subjected to post-functionalization with catechol moieties through electrochemical generation o...

A series of aminopropyl-functionalized silica nanoparticles were prepared through a basic two step sol-gel process in water. Prior to being aminopropyl-functionalized, silica particles with an average diameter of 549 nm were prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), using a Stöber method. In a second step, aminopropyl-silica particles were prepared by silanization with 3-aminopropyltrietho...