Towards an efficient atomic frequency comb quantum memory

We present an efficient photon-echo experiment based on atomic frequency combs [Phys. Rev. A 79 (2009) 052329]. Echoes containing an energy of up to 35% of that of the input pulse are observed in a Pr³⁺-doped Y₂SiO₅ crystal. This material allows for the precise spectral holeburning needed to make a sharp and highly absorbing comb structure. We compare our results with a simple theoretical model with satisfactory agreement. Our results show that atomic frequency combs has the potential for high-efficiency storage of single photons as required in future long-distance communication based on quantum repeaters.     

Recent developments in synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization coupled to mass spectrometry

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to “soft” photoionization (PI), which will potentially become a standard, universal ionization method. Tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (SVUV) light, a quasi-continuous light with good energy resolution and high photon flux, has proved an ideal source for “soft” PI in various research fields (e.g., combustion chemistry and molecular imaging).This review focuses on combinations of SVUV light with commonly used techniques (e.g., molecular-beam sampling, laser desorption, ion desorption, and thermal vaporization). These couplings have successful applications in flame chemistry, organic analysis, chemical imaging and aerosol mass spectrometry.     

聚合物负载的钯-咪唑催化烯烃加氢

A polymer-supported palladium-imidazole catalyst was used to catalyze the hydrogenation of various olefins under mild conditions. The rate of hydrogenation was studied. The effects of factors such as substrate concentration,catalyst concentration,partial pressure of hydrogen and temperature on initial rate of reaction of selected olefins were investigated. A mechanism for the reaction was proposed from the rate equation. The effects of the solvent and structure of the olefin on the rate of hydrogenation were investigated. The catalyst showed good reusability without any leaching of metal from the support. The homologous analog of the polymer-supported catalyst could not be used as catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefins in methanol because there was precipitation of the metal during reaction.     

Zwitterionic amino acids as precursors for nonmetal cation pentaborate salts

Nonmetal cation (NMC) pentaborate structures were synthesized using the amino acid molecules as cations precursors. Chemical composition analysis, infrared spectroscopy, mass analysis, boron nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) methods were used for structural characterization. The hydrogen storage efficiency of molecules was also determined experimentally. The recorded infrared spectra support the structural similarities of the molecules. Stretchings of pentaborate rings and characteristic peaks of amino acids were detected in infrared spectra. When the thermal analysis curves were recorded, it was found that the structures showed similar decomposition steps. Due to the result of thermal decay, glassy boron oxide (B₂O₃) formation was observed as the final decomposition products of all molecules. Peaks associated with boric acid, triborate, and pentaborate were observed in the ¹¹B spectra of these salts. Powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy supports the presence of BO₃ and BO₄⁻ groups regarding the presence of pentaborate rings. It also indicates the high crystallinity of the structures. The molecular cavities detected by brunauer–emmett–teller analysis were found to be 3.586, 1.922, 1.673, and 1.923 g/cm³. Low-molecular cavities can be attributed to the high hydrogen-bonding capacity of the structures. The hydrogen capture efficiency of the pentaborate salts was found to be in the range of 0.039-0.     

Photoconductivity of C60‐doping benzocarbazole‐substituted polysiloxanes on an operating wavelength of 633 nm

A novel polysiloxane having benzo[a]carbazole, benzo[a,i]carbazole, and benzo[a,g]carbazole pendant groups has been synthesized and characterized. We studied the electric‐field‐induced xerographic properties, the photogeneration efficiency, and the photoconductivity of C₆₀‐doping polymeric composites at a wavelength of 633 nm. C₆₀‐doping with benzo[a,g]carbazole‐substituted polysiloxane shows a photogeneration efficiency of 56.55 × 10^?5 and a photoconductivity of 52.2 pS/cm at E = 100 V/µm, which was found to be higher than that of the other benzocarbazole‐substituted polysiloxane composites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Non-Conjugated Polymer Acceptor for Efficient and Thermally Stable All-Polymer Solar Cells

A non-conjugated polymer acceptor PF1-TS4 was firstly synthesized by embedding a thioalkyl segment in the mainchain, which shows excellent photophysical properties on par with a fully conjugated polymer, with a low optical band gap of 1.58 eV and a high absorption coefficient >10⁵ cm⁻¹, a high LUMO level of −3.89 eV, and suitable crystallinity. Matched with the polymer donor PM6, the PF1-TS4-based all-PSC achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.63 %, which is ≈45 % higher than that of a device based on the small molecule acceptor counterpart IDIC16. Moreover, the PF1-TS4-based all-PSC has good thermal stability with ≈70 % of its initial PCE retained after being stored at 85 °C for 180 h, while the IDIC16-based device only retained ≈50 % of its initial PCE when stored at 85 °C for only 18 h. Our work provides a new strategy to develop efficient polymer acceptor materials by linkage of conjugated units with non-conjugated thioalkyl segments.     

选择性合成不同形貌的Sb2S3纳米结构应用于高性能的染料敏化太阳能电池（英文）

近几十年来,随着全球变暖和能源危机的日益严重,对取之不尽、用之不竭的清洁能源技术的需求越来越迫切.1991年Gratzel首次报道了染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs),它以低廉的价格、优异的理论功率转换效率(PCE)、环保、多色透明等优点而引起了研究者的关注.Sb2S3因其1.5-2.2 eV的间隙宽度被认为是最有前途的对电极材料之一.此外,Sb2S3是地球中含量丰富的无毒锑矿物的主要成分,还被广泛应用于太阳能转换材料、催化剂、光导探测器等领域.众所周知,石墨烯具有巨大的比表面积、显著的载流子迁移率和优异的热/化学稳定性,这使得提高电子转移效率和电催化活性成为可能.首先,采用改进的Hummers方法制备了氧化石墨烯纳米片;然后采用水热法通过改变Sb源以及实验pH值,合成了Sb2S3和Sb2S3@RGO样品.对样品进行X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜镜(SEM)、投射电子显微镜(TEM)以及比表面积表征.结果表明,在Sb源不变的情况下,Sb2S3样品的形貌随pH值的变化而变化.以三乙酸锑为Sb源,在pH=3时,Sb2S3的形貌类似于一个完整的纳米棒结构;在pH值为6时,样品为不规则球体;当pH值为8时,纳米片结构开始出现;但当p H=10时,纳米片结构并不均匀.根据XRD分析,只有当pH值为3时,样品的衍射峰才与标准卡(JCPDS42-1393)的衍射峰一致.当以氯化锑作为锑源,样品的形貌由不规则的杆状(pH=3)转变为纳米球(pH=6),然后出现纳米片结构(pH=8).不同的是,当p H值为10时,纳米薄片形成均一的花状结构.XRD结果表明,除pH值为3外,样品的衍射峰与标准卡(JCPDS42-1393)的值吻合较好.结果表明,合成条件所需的Sb源和碱性环境是合成具有均匀花状结构的纳米片状Sb2S3所必不可少的.测得Sb2S3的比表面积约为41.72 m^2g^-1,平均孔径为31.08nm,Sb2S3@RGO的分别为44.53 m^2g^-1和22.65 nm.Sb2S3和Sb2S3@RGO复合材料均具有介孔结构,为内部电催化剂提供了广阔的通道,从而提高了对电极的催化能力,促进了电化学反应.将Sb2S3纳米花球和Sb2S3@RGO纳米薄片作为染料敏化太阳能电池的对电极进行了测试,由于石墨烯的引入,后者比前者具有更好的电催化性能.电化学实验结果表明,与Sb2S3,RGO,Pt作为对电极相比,制备的Sb2S3@RGO纳米薄片具有更好的催化活性、电荷转移能力和电化学稳定性,Sb2S3@RGO的功率转换效率达到8.17%,优于标准Pt对电极(7.75%).     

基于吡咯并吡咯二酮核心的苝二酰亚胺类受体分子的合成及光伏性能

苝二酰亚胺类小分子由于其固有的强分子聚集特性,导致活性层形貌难于调控,器件效率相对于近年来报道的受体-给体-受体型稠环小分子受体一直处于劣势.针对这一关键问题,我们设计并合成了三个以吡咯并吡咯二酮为中心核的双臂型和四臂型苝二酰亚胺类小分子受体.其中,c-PDI2和nc-PDI2两个双臂型分子分别将两个苝二酰亚胺臂置于吡咯并吡咯二酮核心骨架的碳取代位和氮取代位;四臂型PDI4是将四个苝二酰亚胺臂置于吡咯并吡咯二酮核心骨架的四个取代位.通过对三个受体小分子的光谱吸收、能级水平、薄膜形貌以及光伏性能的详细研究,发现三个受体小分子都拥有扭曲的分子结构并由此带来无定形薄膜形貌,表明其分子聚集趋势得到了有效的抑制.相对于双臂型受体分子,四臂型PDI4具有更强的光吸收能力和电子传输性能,从而获得了8.45%的最高光电转换效率,是c-PDI2器件效率的2倍和nc-PDI2器件效率的1.5倍.     

基于上转换纳米粒子的低损伤神经界面技术

Optogenetics is a neuromodulation technology that combines light control technology with genetic technology, thus allowing the selective activation and inhibition of the electrical activity in specific types of neurons with millisecond time resolution. Over the past several years, optogenetics has become a powerful tool for understanding the organization and functions of neural circuits, and it holds great promise to treat neurological disorders. To date, the excitation wavelengths of commonly employed opsins in optogenetics are located in the visible spectrum. This poses a serious limitation for neural activity regulation because the intense absorption and scattering of visible light by tissues lead to the loss of excitation light energy and also cause tissue heating. To regulate the activity of neurons in deep brain regions, it is necessary to implant optical fibers or optoelectronic devices into target brain areas, which however can induce severe tissue damage. Non- or minimally-invasive remote control technologies that can manipulate neural activity have been highly desirable in neuroscience research. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can emit light with a short wavelength and high frequency upon excitation by light with a long wavelength and low frequency. Therefore, UCNPs can convert low-frequency near-infrared (NIR) light into high-frequency visible light for the activation of light-sensitive proteins, thus indirectly realizing the NIR optogenetic system. Because NIR light has a large tissue penetration depth, UCNP-mediated optogenetics has attracted significant interest for deep-tissue neuromodulation. However, in UCNP-mediated in vivo optogenetic experiments, as the up-conversion efficiency of UCNPs is low, it is generally necessary to apply high-power NIR light to obtain up-converted fluorescence with energy high enough to activate a photosensitive protein. High-power NIR light can cause thermal damage to tissues, which seriously restricts the applications of UCNPs in optogenetic technology. Therefore, the exploration of strategies to increase the up-conversion efficiency, fluorescence intensity, and biocompatibility of UCNPs is of great significance to their wide applications in optogenetic systems. This review summarizes recent developments and challenges in UCNP-mediated optogenetics for deep-brain neuromodulation. We firstly discuss the correspondence between the parameters of UCNPs and employed opsins in optogenetic experiments, which mainly include excitation wavelengths, emission wavelengths, and luminescent lifetimes. Thereafter, we introduce the methods to enhance the conversion efficiency of UCNPs, including optimizing the structure of UCNPs and modifying the organic dyes in UCNPs. In addition, we also discuss the future opportunities in combining UCNP-mediated optogenetics with flexible microelectrode technology for the long-term detection and regulation of neural activity in the case of minimal injury.