Rational Strategy for Space-Confined Seeded Growth of ZnO Nanowires in Meter-Long Microtubes

Novel Separation Media with Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Capillary Electrochromatography

Zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO nanowire, ZnO NWs) are nanostructures that have drawn attention as separation media for efficient biomolecules because of high biological compatibility and low cost. Development of the capillary column (ZnO column) using a ZnO NW to an inner wall has been reported, although there are only a few studies about molecular recognition of a ZnO NW regardless of numerous studies reporting ZnO NWs. In our previous studies, we conducted fundamental research to elucidate molecular recognition of ZnO NW and develop a novel liquid phase separation field. Consequently, we achieved baseline separation of mixed adenosine phosphate analytes using a phosphate buffer in the mobile phase. In this study, to improve the low resistance of ZnO NW toward a solvent, we covered a surface of ZnO NW with titanium oxide (TiO2) thin layers using atomic layer deposition. As a result, the column (TiO2 NW column) showed high affinity toward acidic compounds like the ZnO column, strongly interacting with especially phosphate groups. Resistance of ZnO NW to a weak acidic buffer solution was then dramatically improved. This is because multipoint electrostatic interaction between the phosphate groups and the NW surface occurred. Next, we conducted capillary electrochromatography to examine the possibility for application of separation analysis. The elution order of the phosphorylated compound was successfully controlled by the migration solution containing aqueous acetonitrile with weak acids.

Rational Strategy for Space-Confined Atomic Layer Deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) offers excellent controllability of spatial uniformity, film thickness at the Angstrom level, and film composition even for high-aspect-ratio nanostructured surfaces, which are rarely attainable by other conventional deposition methodologies. Although ALD has been successfully applied to various substrates under open-top circumstances, the applicability of ALD to confined spaces has been limited because of the inherent difficulty of supplying precursors into confined spaces. Here, we propose a rational methodology to apply ALD growths to confined spaces (meter-long microtubes with an aspect ratio of up to 10 000). The ALD system, which can generate differential pressures to confined spaces, was newly developed. By using this ALD system, it is possible to deposit TiO_x layers onto the inner surface of capillary tubes with a length of 1000 mm and an inner diameter of 100 μm with spatial deposition uniformity. Furthermore, we show the superior thermal and chemical robustness of TiO_x-coated capillary microtubes for molecular separations when compared to conventional molecule-coated capillary microtubes. Thus, the present rational strategy of space-confined ALD offers a useful approach to design the chemical and physical properties of the inner surfaces of various confined spaces.

Moderate molecular recognitions on ZnO m-plane and their selective capture/release of bio-related phosphoric acids

Herein, we explore the hidden molecular recognition abilities of ZnO nanowires uniformly grown on the inner surface of an open tubular fused silica capillary via liquid chromatography. Chromatographic evaluation revealed that ZnO nanowires showed a stronger intermolecular interaction with phenylphosphoric acid than any other monosubstituted benzene. Furthermore, ZnO nanowires specifically recognized the phosphate groups present in nucleotides even in the aqueous mobile phase, and the intermolecular interaction increased with the number of phosphate groups. This discrimination of phosphate groups in nucleotides was unique to the rich (101̄0) m-plane of ZnO nanowires with a moderate hydrophilicity and negative charge. The discrimination could be evidenced by the changes in the infrared bands of the phosphate groups on nucleotides on ZnO nanowires. Finally, as an application of the molecular recognition, nucleotides were separated by the number of phosphate groups, utilizing optimized gradient elution on ZnO nanowire column. Thus, the present results elucidate the unique and versatile molecular selectivity of well-known ZnO nanostructures for the capture and separation of biomolecules.

A Covalent Organic Framework Membrane with Homo Hierarchical Pores for Confined Reactive Crystallization

Gas-liquid (G-L) reactive crystallization is a major technology for advanced materials construction, which requires a short diffusion path on the interface to ensure the reactant supply and stable crystal nucleation under ultrahigh supersaturation. Herein, a covalent organic framework (COF) membrane with homo hierarchical pore structures was proposed as an effective interfacial material for the regulation of confined reactive crystallization. By combining the ordered nanopores of COFs and micropores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO), the COF membrane simultaneously provided an excellent nanoscale diffusion-reaction regulation network as the molecular-level confined G-L reactive interface and adjustable submicrometer gas mass transfer channels. The highly selective construction of CaCO₃ superstructures was then achieved. When the submicrometer primary pore size r_p of the constructed COF membrane ranged from 120 to 1.6 nm, the diffusion mechanism of CO₂ varied from viscous flow diffusion to Knudsen diffusion. The growth orientation of CaCO₃ crystals was well confined to obtain spindle-shaped crystals with high selectivity. Meanwhile, the crystal selectivity factor (cube/sphere) increased from 0 to 3.53 under the low interfacial nuclear barrier. Thus, the COF membrane with coupled micro-nanostructures successfully screened the directional preparation conditions for diverse CaCO₃ superstructures, which also paved a meaningful path for the functional application of COFs in accurate mass transfer control and confined chemical reactions.