This review deals with methods for synthesis and fields of application of silicon-based nanoparticles (SiNPs). Physical, chemical and biogenic methods for the synthesis are systematized and described in detail, certain features of some approaches are highlighted, correlations between the synthesis conditions and SiNPs properties are discussed. The recent achievements in application of SiNPs for sensing of inorganic and organic compounds, improving the properties of detecting systems, creating sensors and visualizing cells are considered. The role and functions of SiNPs for solving some problems of analytical chemistry are elucidated.

Effect of amines on formation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)/polymer nanocomposites has been observed and studied. Nanocomposites based on polyurethane foam and AuNPs were synthesized by interaction between the polymer modified with sodium borohydride and aqueous solution of tetrachloroauric acid. It has been shown that some amines cause a remarkable decrease of the surface plasmon resonance band of AuNPs in the nanocomposite material. Both aliphatic and aromatic amines as well as amines containing several amino groups were studied. A possible mechanism of the effect is discussed. It is probably based on stabilization of AuNPs with an amine that entails a decrease in the degree of their adsorption on PUF and appearance of the stabilized AuNPs in solution. The decrease of the nano-composite surface plasmon resonance band is proportional to the concentration of amine in the solution. Based on this effect, a method for the determination of cetylamine, beta-naphthylamine and neomycin in water and medical formulations using a monitor calibrator as a portable household tool is proposed. Under the selected conditions, the detection limits for amines were in the range of 0.7-1.5 mu M, the determination ranges were approximately an order of magnitude. The observed color change of the nanocomposite samples also provides a good basis for semiquantitative determinations.

Kinetic features of the interaction between thiocompounds differing in functional groups with triangular silver nanoplates in an aqueous solution are studied. Such interaction results in the aggregation of nanoplates, accompanied by a change in the absorption spectra of their solutions. The behavior of the systems is characterized using kinetic models of the zero–third order. Constants of aggregation are calculated for the selected models. The effect the structure of the thio compound has on the aggregation of triangular silver nanoplates is shown, and reasons for this effect are proposed.

Extraction of cadmium(II), lead(II), cobalt(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) into ionic liquids tetraoctylammonium N-lauroyl sarcosinate and trioctylmethylammonium salicylate is studied. Cadmium(II), lead(II), copper(II) in tetraoctylammonium N-lauroyl sarcosinate and copper(II) in trioctylmethylammonium salicylate are quantitatively extracted from neutral and weakly alkaline solutions in the absence of additional reagents. The effect of the composition of aqueous and organic phases, as well as the contact time, on metal extraction is investigated.

The stability constants of the [Cs(DB18C6)] + complex (DB18C6 is dibenzo-18-crown-6, L) in hydrophobic ionic liquids (room-temperature ionic liquids, RTIL) trioctylmethylammonium salicylate ([TOMA][Sal]), tetrahexylammnoium dihexylsulfosuccinate ([THA][DHSS]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([BMIM][N(Tf) 2 ], as well as of the [Cs(18C6) 2 ] + complex in [BMIM][N(Tf) 2 ], were measured by 133Cs NMR in the temperature range 27–57°C. The changes in the enthalpy and entropy of complex formation were determined. A linear correlation was revealed between log K 1 and the extraction factor log D Cs DB18C6 for the cesium extraction from an aqueous solution into the RTIL.

We show that the hydrophilic liquid N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate is suitable for the extraction of metal ions with dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6. We used magnesium sulfate as salting-out agent, resulting in the formation of two immiscible phases in the ionic liquid-water system. The pH profiles of the extraction of alkali and alkaline earth metals have been determined; the influence of the concentration of the salting-out agent on recovery has been investigated.

Extraction of amino acids from aqueous solutions into chloroform with di(2-ethyl-hexyl)phosphoric acid was studied. The extraction efficiency decreases in the sequence Trp>Phe>Leu>Arg>Lys>He>Ala>Gly. The addition of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 improves the efficiency and kinetics of extraction of most amino acids. The extraction degree depends on the concentration of the crown ether.

Adamantyl-and tert-butyl-substituted calyx[8]arene esters and tripodal podand containing diphenylphosphoryl terminal groups are capable of transporting monosaccharides, but not disaccharides, across a bulk chloroform membrane. Both stoichiometry of complex formation and transport selectivity, in particular, glucose-fructose selectivity, are sensitive to the structure of a carrier.