A novel DC microplasma sensor constructed in a cavity PDMS chamber with needle electrodes for fast detection of methanol-containing spirit.

A novel microplasma device, for the first time, was constructed in a cavity Poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chamber with two normal syringe needles serve as both the gas channels and the electrodes. This device employs argon plasma with direct current for molecular fragmentation and excitation. The microplasma is generated at atmospheric pressure in the PDMS chamber of 0.5 mL (5 × 10 × 10 mm(3)) volume with a sealable plug. Since the microplasma is maintained in a chamber by separation of the discharge zone and the substrate, stability for a long time of the microplasma is realized which could be observed by argon background emission fluctuation and SEM characterization. This property is beneficial for spectrometric detection of many volatile organics in this chamber. Besides, this kind of microplasma sensor has advantages such as flexibility in replacement of electrodes, convenience in clearance of the discharge chamber, small instrument volume, simple structure, and ease of operation. In addition, methanol-containing spirit samples were chosen to estimate the detecting performance of this microplasma for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis by molecular emission spectrometry. Significant differences are observed upon the introduction of the spirit and the methanol-containing spirit samples. A detection limit of 0.3% is obtained on this microplasma device.

A novel Janus-type AT nucleoside with benzoyl protecting groups forming a pleated-sheet structure.

The title compound, 5-amino-8-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-ß-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,8H)-dione methanol monosolvate, C(32)H(25)N(5)O(9)·CH(4)O, which crystallized slowly from methanol, exhibits an anti conformation with a glycosyl-bond torsion angle of χ=-141.28 (17)°. The furanose moiety adopts an N-type sugar puckering ((3)T(4)). The corresponding pseudorotation phase angle and maximum amplitude are P=24.5 (2)° and τ(m)=38.3 (2)°, respectively. In the solid state, one methanol molecule acts as a bridge joining adjacent nucleoside molecules head-to-head, leading to a pleated-ribbon supramolecular structure, with the base moieties located in the centre of the ribbon and the sugar residues protruding to the outside of the layers, as in a DNA helix. The pleated-ribbon supramolecular structure is tethered together into a two-dimensional infinite pleated-sheet structure through aromatic stacking between the nucleobase planes and the benzene rings of the benzoyl protecting groups on the 5'-OH group of furanose.