The Unexpected Influence of Precursor Conversion Rate in the Synthesis of III–V Quantum Dots

Control of quantum dot (QD) precursor chemistry has been expected to help improve the size control and uniformity of III–V QDs such as indium phosphide and indium arsenide. Indeed, experimental results for other QD systems are consistent with the theoretical prediction that the rate of precursor conversion is an important factor controlling QD size and size distribution. We synthesized and characterized the reactivity of a variety of group‐V precursors in order to determine if precursor chemistry could be used to improve the quality of III–V QDs. Despite slowing down precursor conversion rate by multiple orders of magnitude, the less reactive precursors do not yield the expected increase in size and improvement in size distribution. This result disproves the widely accepted explanation for the shortcoming of current III–V QD syntheses and points to the need for a new generalizable theoretical picture for the mechanism of QD formation and growth.     

Interactions of DNA with graphene and sensing applications of graphene field-effect transistor devices: A review

Graphene field-effect transistors (GFET) have emerged as powerful detection platforms enabled by the advent of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) production of the unique atomically thin 2D material on a large scale. DNA aptamers, short target-specific oligonucleotides, are excellent sensor moieties for GFETs due to their strong affinity to graphene, relatively short chain-length, selectivity, and a high degree of analyte variability. However, the interaction between DNA and graphene is not fully understood, leading to questions about the structure of surface-bound DNA, including the morphology of DNA nanostructures and the nature of the electronic response seen from analyte binding. This review critically evaluates recent insights into the nature of the DNA graphene interaction and its affect on sensor viability for DNA, small molecules, and proteins with respect to previously established sensing methods. We first discuss the sorption of DNA to graphene to introduce the interactions and forces acting in DNA based GFET devices and how these forces can potentially affect the performance of increasingly popular DNA aptamers and even future DNA nanostructures as sensor substrates. Next, we discuss the novel use of GFETs to detect DNA and the underlying electronic phenomena that are typically used as benchmarks for characterizing the analyte response of these devices. Finally, we address the use of DNA aptamers to increase the selectivity of GFET sensors for small molecules and proteins and compare them with other, state of the art, detection methods.     

The influence of organic sample solvents on the separation efficiency of basic compounds under strong cation exchange mode

This study investigated the influence of organic sample solvents on separation efficiency of basic compounds under strong cation exchange (SCX) mode. The mixtures of acidic aqueous solution and organic solvent such as acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were tested as sample solvents. For later-eluting analytes, the increase of sample solvent elution strength was responsible for the decrease of separation efficiency. Thus, sample solvents with weak elution strength could provide high separation efficiencies. For earlier-eluting analytes, the retention of organic sample solvents was the main factor affecting separation efficiency. Weakly retained solvents could provide high separation efficiency. In addition, an optimized approach was proposed to reduce the effect of organic sample solvent, in which low ionic solvent was employed as initial mobile phase in the gradient. At last, the analysis of impurities in hydrophobic drug berberine was performed. The results showed that using acidic aqueous methanol as sample solvents could provide high separation efficiency and good resolution (R > 1.5).     

Dynamic polarizability of two‐electron ions under Debye screening

The effect of plasma screening on the dynamic dipole polarizability (DPP) of two‐electron ions Be²⁺, B³⁺, and C⁴⁺ has been investigated using highly correlated exponential wave functions within the framework of pseudostate summation technique and Debye screening concept. Plasma‐screening effect on the oscillator strengths (OS) of the ultraviolet and visible series has also been investigated for the systems Li⁺, Be²⁺, B³⁺, C⁴⁺. The DPP are reported as functions of screening parameters. The OS for S‐P transitions are also reported for various screening parameters. The OS and dynamic polarizability show interesting behavior with increasing screening strength and nuclear charge. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Thermodynamic studies on protonation constant of adenosine and guanosine at different temperatures and ionic strengths

Stepwise protonation constants of two purine nucleosides (adenosine and guanosine) were determined at different temperatures (293.15 to 308.15) and various ionic strengths (0.101 to 3.503 mol · kg⁻¹ NaClO₄) using a combination of potentiometric and spectrophotometric method. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e. enthalpy change, ΔH, and entropy change, ΔS) of the protonations were calculated at different temperatures using van’t Hoff and virial equations. The dependence of the protonation constant on ionic strength is modeled by a Debye–Hückel type equation and discussed. Finally, the protonation constants of the nucleosides and the enthalpy change of protonations were determined at zero ionic strength.     

Interfacial bonding mechanism and bonding strength of AlTiCrN coating by cathodic arc ion plating

AlTiCrN coating was prepared on the surface of YT14 tungsten carbide cutting tools by cathodic arc ion plating with Ti, Al and Cr as targets. The surface morphologies, interface energy spectrum, phase and elements' binding energy of the coatings were observed with SEM, EDS, XRD and XPS, respectively, and bonding strength of the coating interface was measured with scratch tester. The results show that the phases of AlTiCrN coating are mainly composed of AlN, CrN and TiN, the crystal plane of (111) has a strong preferred orientation. The concentrations of Al, Ti, Cr, N in the coating are higher than those in the substrate, showing the gradient diffusion distribution at the bonding interface, while C atoms of the substrate have diffused into the lattices of TiN, AlN and CrN to form an obvious interdiffusion layer, and the average bonding strength of coating interface is 57.65 N. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dependency of dynamic interlaminar shear strength of composites on test technique used

Studies are presented on dependency of dynamic interlaminar shear (ILS) strength on the experimental technique used for a typical plain weave E-glass/epoxy composite. Dynamic ILS strength was determined based on two experimental techniques, namely torsional split Hopkinson bar (TSHB) apparatus using thin walled tubular specimens and compressive split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus using single lap specimens. The results obtained from these techniques are compared. In general, it is observed that dynamic ILS strength for composites obtained by TSHB testing using thin walled tubular specimens is lower than the dynamic ILS strength obtained using single lap specimens in compressive SHPB. The issues involved in TSHB testing of thin walled tubular specimens made of composites are discussed and the reasons for reduced dynamic ILS strength using thin walled tubular specimens are highlighted. Finite element analysis (FEA) of thin walled tubular specimens made of composite and resin subjected to quasi-static torsional loading is presented. Using FEA results, the reasons for lower ILS strength of composite thin walled tubular specimens are substantiated.     

Similar Structural Dynamics for the Degradation of CH3NH3PbI3 in Air and in Vacuum

We investigate the degradation path of MAPbI₃ (MA=methylammonium) films over flat TiO₂ substrates at room temperature by means of X‐ray diffraction, spectroscopic ellipsometry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. The degradation dynamics is found to be similar in air and under vacuum conditions, which leads to the conclusion that the occurrence of intrinsic thermodynamic mechanisms is not necessarily linked to humidity. The process has an early stage, which drives the starting tetragonal lattice in the direction of a cubic atomic arrangement. This early stage is followed by a phase change towards PbI₂. We describe how this degradation product is structurally coupled with the original MAPbI₃ lattice through the orientation of its constituent PbI₆ octahedra. Our results suggest a slight octahedral rearrangement after volatilization of HI+CH₃NH₂ or MAI, with a relatively low energy cost. Our experiments also clarify why reducing the interfaces and internal defects in the perovskite lattice enhances the stability of the material.     

Anchoring Mechanism of ZnO Nanoparticles on Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Surfaces through a Modified Co‐Precipitation Method to Improve Interfacial Contact and Photocatalytic Performance

A facile three‐step co‐precipitation method is developed to synthesize graphitic carbon nanofibers (CNFs) decorated with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). By interchanging intermediate steps of the reaction processes, two kinds of nanohybrids are fabricated with stark morphological and physicochemical differences. The morphologies differ because of the different chemical environments of the NP/nanocluster formation. The hybrid with larger and non‐uniform ZnO nanocluster size is formed in liquid phase and resulted in considerable interfacial defects that deteriorate the charge‐transfer properties. The hybrid with smaller and uniform ZnO NPs was formed in a dry solid phase and produced near‐defect‐free interfaces, leading to efficient charge transfer for superior photocatalytic performance. The results broaden the understanding of the anchoring/bonding mechanism in ZnO/CNF hybrid formation and may facilitate further development of more effective exfoliation strategies for the preparation of high‐performance composites/hybrids.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of chalcone derivatives

In the present study, using chalcone as a lead compound, a series of its derivatives (compounds 1–30) were designed and synthesised. Their activity of anti-pathogenic fungi of plants has been evaluated. It is found that these compounds have good antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Helminthosprium maydis, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani and Gibberella zeae. Among them, the inhibition of growth for compound 30 against S. sclerotiorum showed 89.9%, with the median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of 15.4 μg mL^? 1. The inhibition of growth for compounds 28, 29 and 30 at a concentration of 100 μg mL^? 1 against H. maydis is 90.3%, 90.7% and 91.1%, with EC₅₀ of 15.1, 18.3 and 18.1μg mL^? 1, respectively.