Polytechnic University of Valencia

About: Polytechnic University of Valencia is a education organization based out in Valencia, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Population. The organization has 16282 authors who have published 40162 publications receiving 850234 citations.

pH- and photo-switched release of guest molecules from mesoporous silica supports.

Abstract: This paper proposes a new nanoscopic molecular movable gate-like functional hybrid system consisting of nanoscopic MCM-41-based material functionalized onto pore outlets with a saccharide derivative capable of interacting with boronic acid functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) acting as nanoscopic caps. The gating mechanism involves the reversible reaction between polyalcohols and boronic acids to form boronate esters. Functionalized AuNPs thus act as a suitable nanoscopic cap via the reversible formation of the corresponding boroester bonds with the saccharide derivative anchored on the external surface of the mesoporous silica-based solid. The developed platform operates in aqueous solution and can be triggered by two simple external stimuli such as pH changes or light. The hydrolysis of the boroester bond takes place at pH 3, which results in rapid delivery of the safranine cargo from the pore voids into the aqueous solution. However, at pH 5 the pores are capped with nanoparticles and the delivery is strongly inhibited. The kinetics of the delivery was studied at pH = 3, assuming a simple diffusion process and that the kinetics of guest release from the pore voids of the hybrid material can be explained by the Higuchi model. It is possible to deliver the cargo in small portions by carrying out on-off aperture cycles via changing the pH from 3 to 5. AuNPs also open the possibility of employing light as a suitable stimulus for release procedures using the AuNPs' capacity for raising their temperature locally by absorption of laser light. The plasmonic heating using a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm results in the cleavage of the boronic ester linkage that anchors the nanoparticles to the surface of the mesoporous silica-based material, allowing the release of the entrapped guests. Further studies also demonstrated that it is possible to fine-tune the amount of cargo delivered by simply controlling the laser irradiation opening the possibility to designing laser-induced pulsatile release supports.

Exceptional oxidation activity with size-controlled supported gold clusters of low atomicity

Abstract: The catalytic activity of gold depends on particle size, with the reactivity increasing as the particle diameter decreases. However, investigations into behaviour in the subnanometre regime (where gold exists as small clusters of a few atoms) began only recently with advances in synthesis and characterization techniques. Here we report an easy method to prepare isolated gold atoms supported on functionalized carbon nanotubes and their performance in the oxidation of thiophenol with O2. We show that single gold atoms are not active, but they aggregate under reaction conditions into gold clusters of low atomicity that exhibit a catalytic activity comparable to that of sulfhydryl oxidase enzymes. When clusters grow into larger nanoparticles, catalyst activity drops to zero. Theoretical calculations show that gold clusters are able to activate thiophenol and O2 simultaneously, and larger nanoparticles are passivated by strongly adsorbed thiolates. The combination of both reactants activation and facile product desorption makes gold clusters excellent catalysts.

Multipurpose silicon photonics signal processor core

Abstract: Integrated photonics changes the scaling laws of information and communication systems offering architectural choices that combine photonics with electronics to optimize performance, power, footprint, and cost. Application-specific photonic integrated circuits, where particular circuits/chips are designed to optimally perform particular functionalities, require a considerable number of design and fabrication iterations leading to long development times. A different approach inspired by electronic Field Programmable Gate Arrays is the programmable photonic processor, where a common hardware implemented by a two-dimensional photonic waveguide mesh realizes different functionalities through programming. Here, we report the demonstration of such reconfigurable waveguide mesh in silicon. We demonstrate over 20 different functionalities with a simple seven hexagonal cell structure, which can be applied to different fields including communications, chemical and biomedical sensing, signal processing, multiprocessor networks, and quantum information systems. Our work is an important step toward this paradigm.Integrated optical circuits today are typically designed for a few special functionalities and require complex design and development procedures. Here, the authors demonstrate a reconfigurable but simple silicon waveguide mesh with different functionalities.