Systematic search of the rotation-compatible polar phases in perovskite oxides: A first-principles study

In many perovskite oxides, ferroelectricity is intimately related to octahedral rotation patterns, which can suppress or enhance polar distortions. Using first-principles density functional theory, we investigate the relation between octahedral rotation patterns and polar instability. Based on the rotation patterns commonly observed in perovskite oxides, we present a workflow that allows to systematically and efficiently search for the unstable polar phonon modes and identify metastable polar structures. We apply the workflow to investigate rotation-pattern-dependent polar phases of CaSnO₃ and find metastable polar structures by changing rotation patterns. Further investigation of the polar R3c structures shows sizable polarization comparable to the conventional ferroelectrics. We discuss substrate materials having the potential to stabilize the polar structure. Our work provides an efficient way to identify new polar phases by changing the octahedral rotation patterns, which will be useful to design new functional materials in the thin-film/substrate configuration utilizing interfacial coupling.     

Improving hole injection ability using a newly proposed WO3/NiOx bilayer in solution processed quantum dot light-emitting diodes

We propose a novel device structure with a WO₃/NiO_x bilayer to improve the hole injection ability in QLEDs fabricated mainly by a solution-based process. First, we employed a spin-coated NiO_x thin film as a hole injection layer (HIL) to replace Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) PEDOT:PSS which corrodes indium tin oxide (ITO) used as an anode in QLEDs. We showed a simply optimized annealing process, instead of a rather complicated process like doping, can improve the electrical conductivity of the NiO_x thin film. The reason for the dependency of conductivity on the post-metallization annealing is because of the change of the total amount of Ni vacancy in the NiO_x thin film as a function of annealing temperature: The electrical conductivity of the NiO_x thin film annealed at 275 °C was the best in this work. Second, we inserted the WO₃ thin film in between ITO electrode and NiO_x HIL to form an ITO/WO₃/NiO_x structure which reduces the hole injection barrier to 0.35 eV, resulting in the excellent characteristic in view of charge balance. Finally, we measured the properties of QLEDs with the WO₃/NiO_x bilayer to check the effects of the proposed device structure and showed the substantial improvement of the electrical conductivity of NiO_x, the luminance, and the current efficiency of the QLEDs.     

Influence of wire mesh electrodes on the volume and surface characteristics of dielectric barrier discharge of atmospheric pressure helium

The dielectric barrier discharge of helium in a 6 mm gap at atmospheric pressure was studied. In this paper, the influence of electric field distribution on the uniformity of DBD is analyzed theoretically and verified by experiments. The experimental results show that the mesh electrode produces a local enhancement effect by affecting the electric field and then produces corona discharge, which provides seed electrons for the subsequent discharge process. The effects of mesh diameter and size on discharge uniformity and stability are analyzed, the electrode structure parameters are optimized, the method of a segmented electrode is proposed, and the discharge process and charge distribution are studied. The electrical diagnosis results of plasma technology show that the segmented mesh electrode reduces the breakdown voltage of DBD and increases the charge deposition.     

Improved dielectric and AC conductivity properties of P(VDF-TrFE)-Nafion blends for high-temperature flexible capacitor applications

The free-standing poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFe)] and P(VDF-TrFe)-Nafion blended films were fabricated using the casting method. The XRD and FTIR confirmed the electro-active β-phase of P(VDF-TrFe). The morphological changes were studied through SEM analysis of the blends. The dielectric and ac conductivity measurements were carried out as a function of temperature from 30 °C to 130 °C in the frequency range of 100 Hz - 1 MHz. The dielectric constant reveled a ferroelectric to paraelectric transition in all the samples with a decrease in the transition temperature of the blends. The temperature-dependent ac conductivity and power law analysis demonstrated the presence of a correlated barrier hoping mechanism with a change in the motional behavior in the blends. The blended films exhibited low dielectric loss and more stable dielecric properties with temperature in comparison to P(VDF-TrFe). These films demonstrated the potential to be used in high-temperature flexible capacitor applications.     

Systematic study on α-decay half-lives of uranium isotopes with a screened electrostatic barrier

In the present work, we systematically study the α-decay half-lives of uranium (Z=92) isotopes based on the Gamow model with a screened electrostatic barrier. There are only two adjustable parameters in our model i.e. the parameter g and the screening parameter t in the Hulthen potential for considering the screened electrostatic effect of the Coulomb potential. The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental data, and the corresponding root-mean-square (rms) deviations of uranium isotopes with α transition orbital angular momentum l=0 and l=2 are 0.141 and 0.340, respectively. Moreover, we extend this model to predict α-decay half-lives of uranium isotopes whose α decay is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantified in NUBASE2020. For comparison, the modified Hatsukawa formula (XLZ), the unified Royer formula (DZR), the universal decay law (UDL) and the Viola–Seaborg–Sobiczewski formula (VSS) are also used. The predictions are basically consistent with each other. Meanwhile, the results also indicate that N=126 shell closure is still robust at Z=92 and the spectroscopic factor \begin{document}$ S_{\alpha} $\end{document} is almost the same for uranium isotopes with the same l.     

A methodology to model the complex morphology of rough interfaces

A methodology is proposed to model the complex morphology of rough interfaces using Fourier techniques and image analysis. It allows an optimal representation of a rough interface so as to enable a realistic calculation of the local stress and strain fields in the interface vicinity using finite element techniques. The methodology is illustrated through a sensitivity analysis carried out on a thermal barrier coating system. Typical bi-material interfaces with different levels of morphological complexity are described in 2D and 3D using both periodic (sinusoidal) and Fourier functions. The results are discussed in terms of their relative accuracy.     

稀土神经毒性研究

稀土是我国特有的优势资源,在工农业和医药等行业有着广泛的应用,随之带来了稀土的环境和药物毒性等问题.其中一个受到公众广泛关注的是＂稀土是否具有神经毒性＂的问题.在过去的十年内,人们在稀土神经效应及其机制上的研究上取得了重大的进步.本文总结了在稀土能否透过血脑屏障、稀土对神经系统的生物效应、稀土对神经细胞的作用及其分子机制等方面的进展,对如何进一步研究确认稀土的神经作用进行了讨论.     

Peptide-mediated blood-brain barrier transport of polymersomes

A polymeric nanocarrier: Polymersomes tagged with a dodecamer peptide that recognizes gangliosides GM1 and GT1b are shown to cross the blood-brain barrier, both in an in?vitro model and in?vivo. The combination of polymeric vesicles with a small GM1-binding peptide and GM1/GT1b gangliosides as targeting sites for blood-brain barrier transport is unprecedented.     

静电纺丝法制备聚醚酰亚胺纤维膜的结构和介电性能研究

采用静电纺丝法制备了聚醚酰亚胺(PEI)纤维膜,通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和偏振红外对PEI纤维膜的微观结构进行研究.实验结果显示纺丝液溶剂决定了PEI的可纺性,以N-甲基吡咯烷酮(NMP)为溶剂时,空气湿度显著地影响纺丝过程以及纤维的形态.在相同纺丝工艺条件下,随着纺丝液浓度的增加,所得PEI取向纤维沿辊筒收集方向的排列规整性提高,纤维平均直径由405 nm增加到3.25 μm.PEI纤维膜介电性能的研究表明,取向纤维膜的介电常数很小,最低可达到1.1,其介电损耗也维持在较低的水平,纤维膜的接收方式以及热牵伸处理会对PEI纤维膜的介电性能产生影响.