Influence of solvents on the conformational order of C18 alkyl modified silica gels

Why can organic liquids move easily on smooth alkyl-terminated surfaces?

The dynamic dewettability of a smooth alkyl-terminated sol-gel hybrid film surface against 17 probe liquids (polar and nonpolar, with high and low surface tensions) was systematically investigated using contact angle (CA) hysteresis and substrate tilt angle (TA) measurements, in terms of their physicochemical properties such as surface tension, molecular weight/volume, dielectric constant, density, and viscosity. We found that the dynamic dewettability of the hybrid film markedly depended not on the surface tensions but on the dielectric constants of the probe liquids, displaying lower resistance to liquid drop movement with decreasing dielectric constant (ε < 30). Interfacial analysis using the sum-frequency generation (SFG) technique confirmed that the conformation of surface-tethered alkyl chains was markedly altered before and after contact with the different types of probe liquids. When probe liquids with low dielectric constants were in contact with our surface, CH3 groups were preferentially exposed at the solid/liquid interface, leading to a reduction in surface energy. Because of such local changes in surface energy at the three-phase contact line of the probe liquid, the contact line can move continuously from low-surface-energy (solid/liquid) areas to surrounding high-surface-energy (solid/air) areas without pinning. Consequently, the organic probe liquids with low dielectric constants can move easily and roll off when tilted only slightly, independent of the magnitude of CAs, without relying on conventional surface roughening and perfluorination.

Phase transfer of CdS nanocrystals mediated by heptamine β-cyclodextrin

A fundamental and systematic study on the fabrication of a supramolecularly assembled nanostructure of an organic ligand-capped CdS nanocrystal (NC) and multiple heptamine β-cyclodextrin ((NH(2))(7)βCD) molecules in aqueous solution has been here reported. The functionalization process of presynthesized hydrophobic CdS NCs by means of (NH(2))(7)βCD has been extensively investigated by using different spectroscopic and structural techniques, as a function of different experimental parameters, such as the composition and the concentration of CD, the concentration of CdS NCs, the nature of the NC surface capping ligand (oleic acid and octylamine), and the organic solvent. The formation of a complex based on the direct coordination of the (NH(2))(7)βCD amine groups at the NC surface has been demonstrated and found responsible for the CdS NC phase transfer process. The amine functional group in (NH(2))(7)βCD and the appropriate combination of pristine capping agent coordinating the NC surface and a suitable solvent have been found decisive for the success of the CdS NC phase transfer process. Furthermore, a layer-by-layer assembly experiment has indicated that the obtained (NH(2))(7)βCD functionalized CdS NCs are still able to perform the host-guest chemistry. Thus, they offer a model of a nanoparticle-based material with molecular receptors, useful for bio applications.

Solvents effects on the conformational order of triacontyl modified silica gels as evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

C30 alkyl modified silica gels have attracted much attention because of their enhanced shape selectivity for various types of analytes, which for instance cannot be separated with conventional C8 and C18 stationary phases. Since the retention processes strongly depend on the nature of solvents and composition of the stationary phases, a FTIR study was conducted to evaluate the influence of solvents on the conformational order of the alkyl chains in C30 alkyl modified silica gels. Variable temperature IR measurements are carried out between 273 and 353 K in the presence of polar and nonpolar solvents. Information about the conformational behavior of the tethered alkyl chains is derived from the analysis of the symmetric and antisymmetric CH2 stretching band regions. Polar solvents show both enhanced conformational order and disorder of the alkyl chains - irrespective of temperature - when compared to dry C30 alkyl modified silica gels, while nonpolar solvents in general give rise to enhanced conformational disorder in the alkyl chain region. Moreover, for polar solvents a correlation exists between the stretching band position, reflecting alkyl chain conformational order, and the solvent solvatochromic parameter pi*. Finally, both partition and adsorption models are considered to play an important role for the solvent-alkyl chain interactions which in turn determines the conformational order of the alkyl chains and thus the chromatographic properties of these phases.