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X S Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to X S Zhao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Modeling synergistic adsorption of phenol/aniline mixtures in the aqueous phase onto porous polymer adsorbents.

The adsorption equilibria of phenol and aniline on nonpolar polymer adsorbents (NDA-100, XAD-4, NDA-16 and NDA-1800) were investigated in single- and binary-solute adsorption systems at 313 K. The results showed that all the adsorption isotherms of phenol and aniline on these adsorbents can be well fitted by Freundlich and Langmuir equations, and the experimental uptake of phenol and aniline in all binary-component systems is obviously higher than predicted by the extended Langmuir model, arising presumably from the synergistic effect caused by the laterally acid-base interaction between the adsorbed phenol and aniline molecules. A new model (MELM) was developed to quantitatively describe the synergistic adsorption behavior of phenol/aniline equimolar mixtures in the binary-solute systems and showed a marked improvement in correlating the binary-solute adsorption of phenol and aniline by comparison with the widely used extended Langmuir model. The newly developed model confirms that the synergistic coefficient of one adsorbate is linearly correlated with the adsorbed amount of the other, and the larger average pore size of adsorbent results in the greater synergistic effect of phenol/aniline equimolar mixtures adsorption.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Effect of operating conditions on the removal of Pb2+ by microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 in a fixed-bed column.

The breakthrough behavior of Pb2+ in an ETS-10 fixed bed was experimentally examined at various operating conditions. Results showed that the adsorption amount of Pb2+ ions per unit mass of ETS-10 particles in a column is about 1.68 mmol/g under the experimental conditions. This amount was not markedly affected by the operating conditions because of the rapid adsorption rate of Pb2+ ions on ETS-10. In the presence of competitive metal ions, the amount of Pb2+ adsorbed on ETS-10 was slightly reduced. An overshoot of the effluent concentrations of competitive metal ions Cu2+ and Cd2+ was observed in the adsorption systems of binary and ternary solutions. This is ascribed to the replacement of pre-adsorbed Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions by Pb2+ ions. The ETS-10 column broken up by Pb2+ ions can be regenerated by using an EDTA-Na2 solution and the regenerated column can be reused.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Colloidal woodpile structure: three-dimensional photonic crystal with a dual periodicity.

With planar photolithography and self-assembly techniques, multilayer colloidal crystals with a woodpile structure were fabricated. They represent a new kind of photonic crystals, that is, three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystals with a dual periodicity; one comes from the face-centered cubic (fcc) structure within the colloidal crystal strips and the other one results from the periodic arrangement of the colloidal crystal strips.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Evolution of interparticle capillary forces during drying of colloidal crystals.

Photonic crystals are periodic structures that have the capability to manipulate the photons in the same way as semiconductors do for electrons. The self-assembly strategy that utilizes colloidal crystals as a template to form photonic crystals has received a great deal of recent research interest because it is simple and cost-effective. Experimental studies and theoretical analysis have speculated that capillary forces play a pivotal role in forming the colloidal crystals during the crystal growth process and that particularly during the drying stage the changing of the magnitude of capillary forces is critical to the resultant microstructure. This paper presents a computational analysis of the changing capillary forces, which may throw light on a refined strategy for controlling colloidal crystal growth.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

From planar defect in opal to planar defect in inverse opal.

We demonstrate a facile method of fabricating opal and inverse opal structures with a planar defect. A single layer of silica beads was embedded into polystyrene opals by combining an inward-growing self-assembly method with spin-coating technique. After the infiltration of silica followed by the removal of the polystyrene beads by calcination, an inverted structure was obtained. The silica beads were connected together by the infiltrated silica, thus a solid silica phase with the silica beads as a planar defect embedded in the inverse silica opal was obtained. The thickness of the defect layer can be adjusted by changing the size of the silica beads. Scanning electron microscope images showed the good quality of the crystal and the uniformity of the defect layer. Optical transmission spectra indicated the existence of a defect state induced by the defect layer in both the opal and inverse opal structures. High-cost techniques such as lithography and chemical vapor deposition are not involved in the fabrication of inverse opals with planar defects.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis of large-pore methylene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas and its implications.

In this article, we report the synthesis of methylene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) of the SBA-15 type. The materials were characterized by SAXS, BET, NMR, FESEM, and TEM. It was found that the synthesis of methylene-bridged SBA-15 PMOs requires more rigorous conditions than that of SBA-15 PMOs bearing organic bridges other than methylene. A mild acidic environment, which slows down the hydrolysis and condensation rates of the precursor, with the assistance of a salt, which enhances precursor-template interaction, should be used to synthesize high-quality large-pore methylene-bridged PMOs. We attributed this to the fast hydrolysis and condensation rates and the rigid backbone of precursor 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)methylene. By examining and comparing the synthesis of three large-pore PMOs with different bridges, we concluded that the inductive, bridging, and conformation effects of the organic bridging group play an important role in the synthesis of large-pore PMO materials.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed2006

Nanosphere lithography from template-directed colloidal sphere assemblies.

Conventional nanosphere lithography holds the drawbacks of lacking precise control over the shape and architecture of the resultant nanostructures. In this work, nanoimprinting lithography was used to construct various desired patterns on a polymer film coated on a silicon substrate. The patterns were then used as templates to direct the self-assembly of silica colloidal spheres, forming colloidal assemblies with well-controlled sizes, shapes, and structures. Subsequent nanosphere lithography using template-directed colloidal sphere assemblies resulted in complex nanostructures that can not be obtained using the conventional nanosphere lithography method.

Colloids↗
PubMed2005

Synthesis of graphitic ordered macroporous carbon with a three-dimensional interconnected pore structure for electrochemical applications.

In this study, ordered macroporous carbon with a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected pore structure and a graphitic pore wall was prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of benzene using inverse silica opal as the template. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometry, nitrogen adsorption, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were used to characterize the carbon samples. The electrochemical properties of the carbon materials as a carbon-based anode for lithium-ion batteries and as a Pt catalyst support for room-temperature methanol electrochemical oxidation were examined. It was observed that the CVD method is a simple route to fabrication of desired carbon nanostructures, affording a carbon with graphitic pore walls and uniform pores. The graphitic nature of the carbon enhances the rate performance and cyclability in lithium-ion batteries. The specific capacity was found to be further improved when SnO(2) nanoparticles were supported on the carbon. The specific activity of Pt catalyst supported on the carbon materials for room-temperature methanol electrochemical oxidation was observed to be higher than that of a commercial Pt catalyst (E-TEK).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Competitive adsorption of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ ions on microporous titanosilicate ETS-10.

In the present study, the competitive adsorption characteristics of binary and ternary heavy metal ions Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ on microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 were investigated in batch systems. Pure microporous titanosilicate ETS-10 was synthesized with P25 as the Ti source and characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FESEM), nitrogen adsorption, and zeta-potential. Equilibrium and kinetic adsorption data showed that ETS-10 displays a high selectivity toward one metal in a two-component or a three-component system with an affinity order of Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+. The equilibrium behaviors of heavy metals species with stronger affinity toward ETS-10 can be described by the Langmuir equation while the adsorption kinetics of the metals can be well fitted to a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2005

Morphologies of large-pore periodic mesoporous organosilicas.

In this article, we report a systematic investigation on the morphologies of SBA-15 type large-pore periodic mesoporous organosilicas templated by the block copolymer P123. By tuning synthetic parameters such as stirring, acidity, reaction ratio, reaction duration, and autoclaving, a wide spectrum of unique primary particle morphologies, such as the spindle-, pearl-, diamond-, rod-, and platelike particles, and nanoparticles has been prepared. These primary particles were found to self-assemble in solution to form various large hierarchical macrostructures, such as mesostructured necklaces and cobweb-supported necklaces. The assembling process was elucidated with the information observed at different stages of reaction. Stirring, reaction duration, and autoclaving were identified to be the key factors affecting the efficiency and degree of the self-assembly process. A nucleation-accretion mechanism for the formation of various PMO primary particles was proposed by examining the relation between the external morphologies and the underlying mesostructure.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Opal and inverse opal fabricated with a flow-controlled vertical deposition method.

In this work, an improved vertical deposition method, namely, a flow-controlled vertical deposition (FCVD) method, was used to grow colloidal crystals with large spherical colloids in water solvent and to infiltrate the colloidal crystals. Using the FCVD method, latex spheres as large as 2 microm can be fabricated into colloidal crystals in water. In addition, the method works very well for controlling surface morphologies of silica-infiltrated opals. Furthermore, fabrication of colloidal crystal heterostructures was demonstrated.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Inward-growing self-assembly of colloidal crystal films on horizontal substrates.

Colloidal crystal films have been fabricated on solid substrates with a horizontal deposition method. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the colloidal crystal films exhibit ordered face-centered cubic structures in large domains. Optical measurements demonstrated the presence of photonic band gap along the crystallographic [111] direction. The fabrication method described in this paper allows one to rapidly fabricate colloidal crystal films of different thicknesses, which can be controlled by varying colloidal suspension concentration or volume. In addition, the method also works well for growing colloidal crystal films on a hydrophilic solid substrate with a rough surface. Furthermore, the fabrication of colloidal crystal heterostructures has been demonstrated. An inward-growing mechanism responsible for self-assembly of colloidal spheres on horizontal substrates has been proposed to interpret the observed experimental results.

Colloids↗
PubMed2004

A two-step sol-gel method for synthesis of nanoporous TiO2.

This article reports a study of the effects of synthesis parameters on the preparation and formation of mesoporous titania nanopowders by employing a two-step sol-gel method. These materials displayed crystalline domains characteristic of anatase. The first step of the process involved the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide in a basic aqueous solution mediated by neutral surfactant. The solid product obtained from step 1 was then treated in an acidified ethanol solution containing the same titanium precursor to thicken the pore walls. Low pH and higher loading of the Ti precursor in step 2 produced better mesoporosity and crystallinity of titanium dioxide polymorphs. The resultant powder exhibited a high surface area (73.8 m2/g) and large pore volume (0.17 cm3/g) with uniform mesopores. These materials are envisaged to be used as precursors for mesoporous titania films as a wide band gap semiconductor in dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2001

Plasticity and adaptation of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis in SERCA2(+/-) mice.

Darier's disease (DD) is a high penetrance, autosomal dominant mutation in the ATP2A2 gene, which encodes the SERCA2 Ca2+ pump. Here we have used a mouse model of DD, a SERCA2(+/-) mouse, to define the adaptation of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis to a deletion of one copy of the SERCA2 gene. The [Ca2+]i transient evoked by maximal agonist stimulation was shorter in cells from SERCA2(+/-) mice, due to an up-regulation of specific plasma membrane Ca2+ pump isoforms. The change in cellular Ca2+ handling caused approximately 50% reduction in [Ca2+]i oscillation frequency. Nonetheless, agonist-stimulated exocytosis was identical in cells from wild-type and SERCA2(+/-) mice. This was due to adaptation in the levels of the Ca2+ sensors for exocytosis synaptotagmins I and III in cells from SERCA2(+/-) mice. Accordingly, exocytosis was approximately 10-fold more sensitive to Ca2+ in cells from SERCA2(+/-) mice. These findings reveal a remarkable plasticity and adaptability of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-dependent cellular functions in vivo, and can explain the normal function of most physiological systems in DD patients.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of cathepsin B on thymocyte apoptosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

AIM: To further investigate the mechanism of the thymus dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats. METHODS: The location of cathepsin B expression was determined by in situ hybridization. The expression of cathepsin B was analyzed by Northern blot, and thymocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and flow cytometer, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of cathepsin B in thymus paralleled with thymocyte apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Cathepsin B transcripts were located in the plasma of thymocytes and were more over-expressed of 6- and 8-week-old SHR than those in the thymus of WKY. CONCLUSION: Thymocyte apoptosis in SHR is increased and this phenomenon is associated with the expression of cathepsin B.

Animals↗