Triangular gold nanoprisms with high yield percentage were synthesized via the seed-mediated approach and functionalized by mono-6-thio-β-cyclodextrin without alkyl chain. The undecorated and decorated triangular gold nanoprisms were characterized and analyzed. Moreover, the novel decorated triangular gold nanoprisms were used as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for chemical sensing of the explosive agent 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). The vibrational bands in the experimental SERS spectrum were assigned with the aid of density functional theoretical simulation. The analytical enhancement factor of the hybridized triangular gold nanoprisms for the detection of DNT has been obviously increased in contrast with hybridized spherical gold nanoparticles, suggesting that the former are excellent SERS substrates. Compared to some other approaches, the limit of detection can be remarkably improved (qualified as sub-ppb level), which indicates that the excellent chemical sensing of decorated triangular gold nanoprisms can be widely applied to trace analysis of explosive or warfare agents.

We use a conventional and straightforward route to fabricate scalable morphology-controlled regular structures. This route is based on the etching of PDMS microlens array in CF4 and CF4/O2 plasma. PDMS microlens array can be changed to regularly isolated microdot structures array in CF4 plasma. Microbowl shaped structures array can be reached in CF4/O2 plasma. Moreover, a set of structures after CF4 plasma treatment display superhydrophobicity, while a set of structures after CF4/O2 plasma treatment present hydrophilicity. DNA molecules can be readily enriched on the hydrophilic surface. We believe that the regular structure array surfaces provide a useful inspiration towards biomolecular detection and transportation in biochips.

The size-selective Zr(2)Si(n) (n = 16-24) caged clusters have been investigated by density functional approach in detail. Their geometries, relative stabilities, electronic properties and ionization potentials have been discussed. The dominant structures of bimetallic Zr(2) doped silicon caged clusters gradually transform to Zr(2) totally encapsulated structures with increase of the clustered size from 16 to 24, which is good agreement with the recent experimental result (J. Phys. Chem. A. 2007, 111, 42). Two novel isomers, i.e., naphthalene-like and dodecahedral Zr(2)Si(20) clusters, are found as low-lying conformers. Furthermore, the novel quasi-1D naphthalene-like Zr(n)Si(m) nanotubes are first reported. The second-order energy differences reveal that magic numbers of the different sized neutral Zr(2)Si(n) clusters appear at n = 18, 20 and 22, which are attributed to the fullerene-like, dodecahedral and polyhedral structures, respectively. The HOMO-LUMO gaps (>1 eV) of all the size-selective Zr(2)Si(n) clusters suggest that encapsulation of the bimetallic zirconium atoms is favorable for increasing the stabilities of silicon cages.