Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials have been considered as a new candidate in the field of thermoelectric materials since the last decade owing to their great potential to enhance the thermoelectric performance by utilizing the low thermal conductivity of organic materials and the high Seebeck coefficient, and high electrical conductivity of inorganic materials. Herein, we provide an overview of interfacial engineering in the synthesis of various organic–inorganic thermoelectric hybrid materials, along with the dimensional design for tuning their thermoelectric properties. Interfacial effects are examined in terms of nanostructures, physical properties, and chemical doping between the inorganic and organic components. Several key factors which dictate the thermoelectric efficiency and performance of various electronic devices are also discussed, such as the thermal conductivity, electric transportation, electronic band structures, and band convergence of the hybrid materials.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of pseudoacarviosin as a potential antidiabetic agent

A pseudo-1,4'- N-linked disaccharide, pseudoacarviosin 5, was constructed via a key palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of pseudoglycosyl chloride 8 (prepared from d-glucose via a novel direct intramolecular aldol addition in 12 steps) and pseudo-4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-alpha- d-glucose 9 (prepared from l-arabinose via an unusual trans-fused isoxazolidine-selective intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition in 11 steps). Pseudoacarviosin 5 has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of alpha-glucosidases, particularly the intestinal mucosal enzymes sucrase and glucoamylase of relevance to blood glucose control.     

Integrated Photoelectrochemical Solar Energy Conversion and Organic Redox Flow Battery Devices

Building on regenerative photoelectrochemical solar cells and emerging electrochemical redox flow batteries (RFBs), more efficient, scalable, compact, and cost‐effective hybrid energy conversion and storage devices could be realized. An integrated photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion and electrochemical storage device is developed by integrating regenerative silicon solar cells and 9,10‐anthraquinone‐2,7‐disulfonic acid (AQDS)/1,2‐benzoquinone‐3,5‐disulfonic acid (BQDS) RFBs. The device can be directly charged by solar light without external bias, and discharged like normal RFBs with an energy storage density of 1.15 Wh L^?1 and a solar‐to‐output electricity efficiency (SOEE) of 1.7 % over many cycles. The concept exploits a previously undeveloped design connecting two major energy technologies and promises a general approach for storing solar energy electrochemically with high theoretical storage capacity and efficiency.     

One-step synthesis of large-aspect-ratio single-crystalline gold nanorods by using CTPAB and CTBAB surfactants

Gold nanorods were prepared in high yields by using a one-step seed-mediated process in aqueous cetyltripropylammonium bromide (CTPAB) and cetyltributylammonium bromide (CTBAB) solutions in the presence of silver nitrate. The diameters of the nanorods range from 3 to 11 nm, their lengths are in the range of 15 to 350 nm, and their aspect ratios are in the range of 2 to 70. The diameters of the Au nanorods obtained from one growth batch in CTPAB solutions decrease as their lengths increase, and their volumes decrease as the aspect ratios increase. The diameters of the Au nanorods obtained from one growth batch in CTBAB solutions first decrease and then slightly increase as their lengths increase, and their volumes increase as the aspect ratios increase. These Au nanorods are single-crystalline and are seen to be oriented in either the [100] or [110] direction under transmission electron microscopy imaging, irrespective of their sizes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the preparation by using wet-chemistry methods of single-crystalline Au nanorods with aspect ratios larger than 15.     

A General Approach to the Synthesis of Gold–Metal Sulfide Core–Shell and Heterostructures

Cores and effect : Water‐dispersible core–shell structures and heterostructures incorporating gold nanocrystals of different shapes (polyhedra, cubes, and rods) and a variety of transition metal sulfide semiconductors (ZnS, CdS, NiS, Ag₂S, and CuS) are synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide‐encapsulated gold nanocrystals and metal thiobenzoates as starting materials.

     

Characterization of non-stoichiometric co-sputtered Ba0.6Sr0.4(Ti1???x Fe x )1?+?x O3???δ thin films for tunable passive microwave applications

The fabrication of novel iron-doped barium strontium titanate thin films by means of radio frequency (RF) magnetron co-sputtering is shown. Investigations of the elemental composition and the dopant distribution in the thin films obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy reveal a homogeneous dopant concentration throughout the thin film. The incorporation of the iron dopant and the temperature-dependent evolution of the crystal structure and morphology are analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In summary, these results emphasize the RF magnetron co-sputter process as a versatile way to fabricate doped thin films.     

Infrared broadband emission of bismuth–thulium co-doped lanthanum–aluminum–silica glasses

The Bi–Tm co-doped SiO₂–Al₂O₃–La₂O₃ (SAL) glasses, which exhibited a broadband near-infrared (NIR) emission was investigated by the optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra. The super broadband near-infrared emission from 1000 to 2100 nm, which covered the whole O, E, S, C and L bands, was observed in the Bi–Tm co-doped samples, as a result of the overlap of the Bi-related emission band (centered at 1270 nm) and the emission from Tm^{3+ 3}H₄→³F₄ transition (1440 nm) as well as Tm^{3+ 3}F₄→³H₆ transition (1800 nm). Relative luminescence intensity at 1270, 1440 and 1800 nm wavelength varied depending on the mixing ratio of Bi and Tm and the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) extending from 1000 to 1600 nm could be 400 nm. These results indicated that Bi–Tm co-doped SiO₂–Al₂O₃–La₂O₃ glasses could provide potential applications in tunable lasers as well as the broadband optical amplifiers in WDM system.     

Tandem mass spectrometric accurate mass performance of time-of-flight and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: a case study with pyridine derivatives

The interpretation of mass spectra is a key process during compound identification, and the combination of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with high-accuracy mass measurements may deliver crucial information on the identity of a compound. Obtaining accurate mass data of fragment ions in MS/MS reveals the particular problem of mass calibration when a lockmass, which is frequently used to obtain accurate masses in MS, is absent. An alternative technique is to recalibrate the MS/MS spectrum using a reference MS/MS spectrum acquired under the same conditions. We have tested and validated this approach using a hybrid quadrupole/orthogonal acceleration reflectron-type time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The results were compared with those obtained under similar conditions on a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) instrument. We found that the mass accuracy observed with such an "external" recalibration on the TOF instrument in MS/MS is identical to what can be obtained on a similar instrument operating in one-dimensional MS mode using the lockmass technique. However, mass accuracy in both cases is one order of magnitude inferior to that obtained using FTMS, and also inferior to that observed using sector field MS when operated at comparable resolution. Nevertheless, for small (<200 Da) molecules, this mass accuracy was still sufficient to have the "true" elemental composition identified as the first hit in about 70% of all cases. It was possible to elucidate the fragmentation mechanism of eight azaheterocycles containing a pyridine moiety, where the accurate mass data from the TOF instrument allowed distinction between two alternative fragmentation pathways.     

Biphasic epoxidation of 1-octene with H2O2 catalyzed by amphiphilic fluorinated Ti-loaded zirconia

A series of amphiphilic fluorinated zirconia containing titanium was prepared by titanium impregnation followed by fluorination and alkylsilylation of zirconium oxide. Physical properties of the resulting samples were characterized by XRD analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, BET surface area analysis and EDAX analysis. The effects of fluorine and alkylsilane groups on the samples were studied by the epoxidation of 1-octene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The epoxidation of alkenes is one of the most important methods of functionalizing simple hydrocarbons. The amphiphilic fluorinated catalysts were more active and more efficient than the conventional titania-silica and zirconia-silica mixed oxides in linear alkene epoxidation; enhanced by the presence of alkylsilane and fluorine groups in the catalysts. Modification with alkylsilane successfully induces the hydrophobic behavior of zirconia which is hydrophilic in nature; whereas fluorine was chosen for its electron-withdrawing effect which further activates the titanium active sites.     

Supramolecular self-assembly of conjugated diblock copolymers

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel series of copolymers with different lengths of oligo(phenylene vinylene) (OPV) as the rod block, and poly(propylene oxide) as the coil block. Detailed characterization by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) revealed the strong tendency of these copolymers to self-assemble into cylindrical micelles in solution and as-casted films on a nanometer scale. These micelles have a cylindrical OPV core surrounded by a poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) corona and readily align with each other to form parallel packed structures when mica is used as the substrate. A packing model has been proposed for these cylindrical micelles.