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A mixed amines thiogermanate (NH 4) 2 [NH 2 (CH 3) 2 2 Ge 2 S 6 was reported. Its structure features isolated [Ge 2 S 6 4− anions which are separated by NH 4 + and [NH 2 (CH 3) 2 +. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy coupled with Tauc's analysis indicates an indirect optical transition semiconductor with an energy gap value of 3.50 eV. Furthermore the energy transition type was supported by first-principles electronic structure calculation. A mixed amines thiogermanate, namely (NH 4) 2 [NH 2 (CH 3) 2 2 Ge 2 S 6 has been successfully synthesized by solvothermal reaction. Single crystal X-ray diffraction indicates the compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P 2 1 / c with the lattice parameters: a = 6.9647(14) Å, b = 15.719(3) Å, c = 7.2042(14) Å, β = 92.76(3)°. The structure features a zero-dimensional [Ge 2 S 6 4− anions which are separated by NH 4 + and [NH 2 (CH 3) 2 +. Hydrogen bond interactions play a crucial role in its structure formation. X-ray powder diffraction and TG-DSC measurements were performed to study its phase purity and thermal stability. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy coupled with Urbach fitting indicates an indirect optical transition semiconductor with a bandgap value of 3.50 eV. The result of first-principles electronic structure calculation supported the experimental indirect optical transition but the value was under estimated as 3.061 eV. Density of states and population analysis were also calculated to reveal the origin of the bandgap and bond interaction for its structure formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano α-glycine crystals, γ-glycine crystals, and amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) of glycine were prepared through solvent-free ball milling of commercial α-glycine. The solid-state polymorph conversion of glycine from α to γ was completely realized by ball milling with 0.2 wt.% NaCl for 1 h or by ball milling with 0.02 wt.% NaCl for 1 h with subsequent storage for one week. The ASD of glycine was prepared by ball milling α-glycine with an equal amount of CaCl 2 for 1 h. We studied the effect of inorganic salt types and their concentrations on the extent of polymorph conversion and amorphization of glycine in our experiments. This solvent-free ball milling method could be used for the synthesis of polymorphs and amorphous phase of drugs and other organic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • BCM as SERS substrate has little background peak interference. • "Gel-like" BCM is more conducive to the formation of high-density SERS "hot spots." • Flexible SERS substrate based on cellulose membrane has better stability. • SERS sensor based on adapter have high specificity recognition ability. • The minimum detection limit of DTX-1 can reach 9.5 × 10−10 M. Diarrheal shellfish toxins are considered one of the most lethal red tide algae toxins in the worldwide. In this work, we propose an Ag NPs-loaded bacterial cellulose membrane (BCM) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor based on an aptamer (Apt) for the ultrasensitive detection of dinophysistoxin (DTX-1), a type of diarrheal shellfish toxin. During drying, Ag NPs can be further densified on "gel-like" BCM to form high-density SERS "hot spots". We developed the "Apt-SH@Ag NPs@BCM" SERS sensor and used the competition of DTX-1 and complementary base (Cob) in the process of base complementary pairing to achieve SERS detection of DTX-1, with a minimum detection limit of 9.5 × 10−10 mol/L. Sample assays showed DTX-1 recovery rates ranging from 95.8% and 108.2% and the detection results were comparable to those obtained by LC–MS. Therefore, this work holds great potential for detecting of toxic substances in shellfish products, especially for the oyster (portuguese oyster) and mussel (blue mussel). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the incorporation of Cu(II) ions as additional connecting nodes to form heterometallic uranyl-organic frameworks with rigid ligands, we have successfully synthesized three extended complexes with varying dimensions. Notably, complex 1 features a robust 3D cds net structure and demonstrates exceptional thermal stability above 250 °C. [Display omitted] By introducing Cu(II) ions as additional connecting nodes to construct stable heterometallic uranyl-organic frameworks (UOFs) with thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H 2 TDC) and N -donor auxiliary ligands, three new uranyl complexes, namely, [Cu(phen)(UO 2)(TDC) 2 ] (1), [Cu(phen-NO 2) 2 (UO 2)(TDC) 2 ]·3H 2 O (2), and [Cu(phen-NH 2)(H 2 O) 2 (UO 2)(TDC) 2 ]·4H 2 O (3) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. Complex 1 exhibits a rare three-dimensional (3D) network structure of cds topology connected by UO 2 , Cu(phen), and TDC units. Both complexes 2 and 3 feature similar one-dimensional chain structures based on UO 2 , TDC, Cu(Phen-NO 2) 2 and UO 2 , TDC, Cu(phen-NH 2)(H 2 O) 2 respectively. The N -donor auxiliary ligands play a key role in determining their structural dimensionalities and bandgaps formation. Among the three uranyl complexes, phen with a smaller size than its derivatives, phen-NO 2 and phen-NH 2 , was found to be favorable for constructing 3D UOFs. Moreover, complexes with both phen-NO 2 and phen-NH 2 showed varying degrees of redshift on optical spectra. The UV–Visible diffuse-reflectance spectra, analyzed with Tauc's fitting in considering Urbach tailing, revealed an indirect bandgap of 2.94 eV, an indirect bandgap of 2.67 eV, and a direct bandgap of 2.45 eV for 1 , 2 and 3 , respectively. Moreover, thermogravimetric analyses indicate that 3D anhydrous uranyl complex 1 possessed a robust structure and excellent thermal stability above 250 ℃. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Potassium hydrogen phthalate obtained by hydrolyzing phthalate plasticizer has stronger SERS signal. • The minimum detection limit of potassium hydrogen phthalate can reach 10−9 M. • Hydrolysis greatly reduces the interference of other complex components in oil and fat to the SERS signal of analyte. • The total content of plasticizer in 5 groups of oil samples was successfully detected, and the recovery rate was between 94.5% and 106.0%. As a widely used industrial additive of plastic products, phthalate ester (PAE) plasticizers can easily migrate into food, threatening human health. In this work, we proposed a rapid, precise, and reliable method to detect PAE plasticizers in edible oils by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology. A two-dimensional (2D) silver plate synergizing with a nanosilver sol was prepared as a substrate for SERS to detect potassium hydrogen phthalate (PHP), a hydrolysate of a PAE plasticizer. Detection conditions, such as pH values, drying times, and hydrolysate interference, were optimized. The working curve was well fitted with a linear parameter R2 of 0.9994, and the minimum detection limit was evaluated as 10−9 mol/L. Furthermore, the detection accuracy was supported by five edible oil samples. Therefore, using SERS technology to detect PHP is expected to provide an avenue for PAE plasticizer detection in oils and fats, and it features promising potential applications in food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 is a new diamond-like semiconductor with the Cu 4 NiSi 2 S 7 structure type. • CZGSe and Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 possess optical bandgaps of 1.38 and 0.91 eV, respectively. • CZGSe and Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 are air stable and have wide windows of optical transparency. • CZGSe exhibits a strong second harmonic generation response at λ = 2900 nm. • CZGSe is an excellent candidate for low-powered infrared nonlinear optical devices. [Display omitted] In this study, two quaternary diamond-like semiconductors (DLSs) in the Cu-Zn-Ge-Se system, the known Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 (also referred to as CZGSe) and the new Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 , are compared in terms of their crystal structures, electronic structures and physicochemical properties. Both compounds were prepared by high-temperature, solid-state synthesis at 800 °C. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to determine the structure of Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7. The structures of both Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 and Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 can be considered as derivatives of cubic diamond. Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 , with a reduced symmetry due to the cation ordering pattern, adopts the Cu 4 NiSi 2 S 7 structure type, with space group C 2. The corner-sharing tetrahedra in Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 are slightly distorted because the charge for some of the S2- anions is not compensated by the first-nearest-neighbor cations. Rietveld refinements using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data were used to assess the phase purity of the samples and confirm the bulk structural behavior. Diffuse reflectance UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy shows that Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 and Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 have direct optical bandgaps of 1.38 and 0.91 eV, respectively. Electronic structure calculations implementing density functional theory confirm the direct bandgap for Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 , with a calculated value of 0.62 eV. Both compounds are air stable, thermally stable up to relatively high temperatures, undergo phase transitions and have wide windows of optical clarity. The Kurtz-Perry powder technique was used to determine the second harmonic generation (SHG) responses using a commercial AgGaSe 2 standard. While Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 displays a weak SHG response, Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 exhibits a response that is greater than several benchmark materials, with a large SHG coefficient, χ (2) , of 43 ± 6 pm/V at λ = 2900 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]