The science and technology of ultracapacitors are reviewed for a number of electrode materials, including carbon, mixed metal oxides, and conducting polymers. More work has been done using microporous carbons than with the other materials and most of the commercially available devices use carbon electrodes and an organic electrolytes. The energy density of these devices is 3¯5 Wh/kg with a power density of 300¯500 W/kg for high efficiency (90¯95%) charge/discharges. Projections of future developments using carbon indicate that energy densities of 10 Wh/kg or higher are likely with power densities of 1¯2 kW/kg. A key problem in the fabrication of these advanced devices is the bonding of the thin electrodes to a current collector such the contact resistance is less than 0.1 cm2. Special attention is given in the paper to comparing the power density characteristics of ultracapacitors and batteries. The comparisons should be made at the same charge/discharge efficiency.

Ultracapacitors: Why, How, and Where is the Technology

Polymer surface modification for the attachment of bioactive compounds

Polymeric materials with antimicrobial activity

The growth of microbes on textiles during use and storage negatively affects the wearer as well as the textile itself. The detrimental effects can be controlled by durable antimicrobial finishing of the textile using broad-spectrum biocides or by incorporating the biocide into synthetic fibers during extrusion. Consumers' attitude towards hygiene and active lifestyle has created a rapidly increasing market for antimicrobial textiles, which in turn has stimulated intensive research and development. This article reviews the requirements for antimicrobial finishing, qualitative and quantitative evaluations of antimicrobial efficacy, the application methods of antimicrobial agents and some of the most recent developments in antimicrobial treatments of textiles using various active agents such as silver, quaternary ammonium salts, polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, chitosan, dyes and regenerable N-halamine compounds and peroxyacids. Examples of commercial antimicrobial products are presented to illustrate...

Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Treatments of Textiles

Detection Ying Zhou,†,‡ Jun Feng Zhang, and Juyoung Yoon*,† †Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea ‡Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, P. R. China College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, P. R. China

Fluorescence and colorimetric chemosensors for fluoride-ion detection.

Acidic or basic dyeing of fibers involves ionic interactions between reactive groups on the polymers and dye molecules. Such interactions can be utilized in the functional finishing of fabrics. This article discusses a new approach of employing the ionic interactions between anionic carboxylic end groups of polyamides and cationic quaternary ammonium salts in the chemical finishing of nylon fabrics to achieve desired durable antimicrobial functions. The finishing conditions such as pH, finishing temperature, and time were studied, and the pH of the finishing bath was very critical in affecting the ionic interactions and thus exhaustion of the salts on the fabrics. The finishing process should be carried out at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of nylon 66. The finished products demonstrated excellent durability of antimicrobial functions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2194–2199, 2003

Durable antimicrobial nylon 66 fabrics: Ionic interactions with quaternary ammonium salts

Imparting durable antimicrobial properties to cotton fabrics using quaternary ammonium salts through 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid–chloro–triazine adduct

We have synthesized a novel 2-chloronicotinaldehyde-functionalized rhodamine B derivative (RBCN) that acts as an “OFF–ON” chemosensor. RBCN specifically binds Al3+ in the presence of a large excess of competing metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ag+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+) and exhibits visible changes in its electronic and fluorescent spectral behavior. These spectral changes are significant in the visible region of the spectrum and thus enable detection with the naked eye. Upon coordination with Al3+, the promoted ring opening of the rhodamine spirolactam ring in the RBCN chemosensor evokes a fluorescence turn-on response via the chelation-enhanced fluorescence process. The probe exhibited good brightness and fluorescence enhancement in which the lower detection limit for Al3+ was 2.86 × 10−8 M. The ring-opening mechanism of the rhodamine spirolactam induced by Al3+ binding and the 1:1 stoichiometric structure between RBCN and Al3+ were supported by Job's plot evaluation, UV–vis, fluorescence titrations, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopic studies. Finally, theoretical calculations and modeling simulations were conducted using Material Studio 4.3 suite to simulate the formation of a 1:1 complex between RBCN and Al3+. However, the fluorescence and colorimetric response of the RBCN-Al3+ complex was quenched by the addition of azide (N3−) anion, which abstracts the Al3+ ion from the complex and turns off the sensor, confirming that the recognition process is reversible.

Rhodamine-chloronicotinaldehyde-based “OFF–ON” chemosensor for the colorimetric and fluorescent determination of Al3+ ions

Synthesis of new TiO2/porphyrin-based composites and photocatalytic studies on methylene blue degradation

A simple 4-nitrosalicylaldimine-based receptor equipped with rhodamine B moiety (RB-HN) has been designed and synthesized as an “OFF–ON–OFF” dual sensor for the detection of Cu 2+ and Al 3+ ions, which exhibits high sensitivity over other metal ions. The chemosensor RB-HN demonstrates selective optical recognition for Cu 2+ and fluorescence recognition for Al 3+ over commonly coexistent metal ions in DMSO–H 2 O media. The LODs of the RB-HN for Cu 2+ and Al 3+ were 4.726 × 10 −7 and 4.43 × 10 −7  M, respectively. A coordination mode with 1:1 stoichiometry was proposed between RB-HN and Cu 2+ /Al 3+ by the 1 H NMR binding studies. The RB-HN complex with Cu 2+ and Al 3+ ions exhibits “turn on–off” behavior and is highly reversible with EDTA. In addition, the UV–vis and fluorescence changes of RB-HN by the inputs of Cu 2+ and Al 3+ have been used to construct a combinational logic circuit at the molecular level. Moreover, a novel selective and sensitive solid sensor (PEGDMA-RB-HN) was designed to detect and extract Al 3+ ions from aqueous solution. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the solid sensor was demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extracting capacity of the solid sensor was validated with ICP-AES, and it was significantly lower than the WHO recommendations for drinking water.

A dual chemosensor for both Cu2+ and Al3+: A potential Cu2+ and Al3+ switched YES logic function with an INHIBIT logic gate and a novel solid sensor for detection and extraction of Al3+ ions from aqueous solution

Young-A Son

Papers

Durable antimicrobial nylon 66 fabrics: Ionic interactions with quaternary ammonium salts

Imparting durable antimicrobial properties to cotton fabrics using quaternary ammonium salts through 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid–chloro–triazine adduct

Rhodamine-chloronicotinaldehyde-based “OFF–ON” chemosensor for the colorimetric and fluorescent determination of Al3+ ions

Synthesis of new TiO2/porphyrin-based composites and photocatalytic studies on methylene blue degradation

A dual chemosensor for both Cu2+ and Al3+: A potential Cu2+ and Al3+ switched YES logic function with an INHIBIT logic gate and a novel solid sensor for detection and extraction of Al3+ ions from aqueous solution