Zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) rhombic dodecahedrons as full-spectrum light harvesting photocatalyst for environmental remediation

The inferior utilization efficiency of light is the main obstacle to the practical application of traditional photocatalysts such as TiO₂ and ZnO. In this regard, the development of novel photocatalysts with the capability of harvesting full spectrum light (from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR)) energy is a promising solution for solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. Here, we report the discovery of a single material that can harvest UV, visible (VIS), and NIR radiations to decompose heavy metal contaminants in aqueous solution. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) rhombic dodecahedrons were synthesized through a facile solution approach and employed in the reduction of Cr(VI) under UV−VIS−NIR pulsed laser irradiation, which was generated from the fundamental, second and third harmonics of Nd:YAG laser, respectively. The nanostructures showed efficient Cr(VI) reduction under UV, VIS and NIR laser irradiation and the measured reduction efficiency (%) was 71.22%, 69.52%, and 40.79%, respectively after 120 min. A possible explanation for the photocatalytic activity in Cr(VI) reduction was proposed. This is the first study of its kind where pulsed laser and ZIF-67 rhombic dodecahedrons capable of harvesting full spectrum light energy have been employed for the removal of Cr(VI) from water. The extraordinary capacity of harvesting full-spectrum light and long-term stability make ZIF-67 a potential photocatalyst for environmental remediation.     

ZnO nanowire lines and bundles: Template-deformation-guided alignment for patterned field-electron emitters

One-dimensional ZnO materials have been promising for field-emission (FE) application, but how to facially control the alignment of ZnO emitters is still a great challenge especially for patterned display application. Here, we report the fabrication of novel ZnO nanowire (NW) line and bundle arrays for patterned field-electron emitters. The effects of PS template size and heating time on the resulted ZnO nanoarrays were systematically studied. The deformation degree of PS templates was controlled and hence utilized to adjust the alignment of electrochemically deposited ZnO arrays. It was found that the length of NW lines and the density of NW bundles can effectively tuned by the PS template heating time. The optimal FE performance with turn-on electric field as low as of 4.4 V μm⁻¹ and the field-enhancement factor as high as of 1450 were achieved through decreasing the screening effect among the patterned field-electron emitters.     

零气耗空气除湿实验研究

针对有热再生式压缩空气除湿装置在再生及冷吹过程中产生气耗的缺点,运用喷射器及恒压变温吸附再生原理设计了一种零气耗空气除湿工艺流程。在搭建小型实验台的基础上,通过改变喷射器引射率进行实验研究三种工况条件下活性氧化铝的吸附再生性能。实验结果表明:实验全过程能够保持一个相对稳定且有效的恒压变温吸附再生条件,且出口空气露点达到生产要求;随着喷射率的降低,吸附剂再生效果逐渐下降,而吸附效果逐渐上升。引射率为0.5时的再生时间约为引射率0.75的1.85倍,再生速率约为0.51倍。而引射率0.33,引射率0.5的吸附效率分别为引射率0.75的1.04倍,1.11倍,吸附稳定时间1.11倍,2.22倍。     

Ni–Al composite hydroxides fabricated by cation–anion double hydrolysis method for high-performance supercapacitor

Chemical doping of nickel hydroxide with other cations(e.g. Al~(3+)) is an efficient way to enhance its electrochemical capacitive performances. Herein, a simple cation–anion(Ni~(2+)and AlO_2) double hydrolysis method was developed toward the synthesis of nickel–aluminum(Ni–Al) composite hydroxides. The obtained composite hydroxides possesses a porous structure, large surface area(121 m~2/g) and homogeneous element distribution. The electrochemical test shows that the obtained composite hydroxides exhibits a superior supercapacitive performances(specific capacitance of 1670F/g and rate capability of 87% from 0.5 A/g to 20 A/g) to doping-free nickel hydroxide(specific capacitance of 1227 F/g and rate capability of 47% from 0.5 A/g to 20 A/g). Moreover, the galvanostatic charge/discharge test displays that after 2000 cycles at large current density of 10 A/g, the composite hydroxides achieves a high capacitance retention of 98%, indicative of an excellent electrochemical cycleability.     

Conjugated polymer nanoparticles with aggregation induced emission characteristics for intracellular Fe3+ sensing

In this article, a novel zwitterionic conjugated polyelectrolyte containing tetraphenylethene unit was synthesized via Pd‐catalyzed Sonogashira reaction. The resulting polymer (P2), which exhibited typical aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties, was weakly fluorescent in dilute DMSO solution and showed bright fluorescence emissions when aggregated in DMSO/water mixtures or fabricated into conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs). The nanoparticles from P2 could be prepared by reprecipitation method with an average diameter around 23 nm. Notably, the cell‐staining efficiencies of lipid‐P2 nanoparticles could be enhanced with lipid encapsulation and these nanoparticles were endocytosed via caveolae‐mediated and clathrin‐mediated endocytosis pathways. Furthermore, the lipid‐P2 nanoparticles with low cytotoxicity, high photostability and efficient cell staining ability could be employed for in vitro detection of Fe³⁺ ions in A549 cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1686–1693     

Length scale effects in epoxy: The dependence of elastic moduli measurements on spherical indenter tip radius

Significant increases in the measured elastic moduli with decreasing indentation depth have been previously found in various polymers by indentation tests with a Berkovich tip at micro-to nanometer length scales. These increases in the determined elastic moduli were related to second order displacement gradients which increase with decreasing depth when a conical tip is applied. When a spherical tip is applied, such depth dependence should not be present as the second order displacement gradients remain essentially unchanged with indentation depth. However, these gradients should be proportional to the radius of the spherical tip. To examine the notion of second order displacement gradient dependence in measurements of elastic moduli, indentation experiments are conducted on epoxy with spherical tips of different nominal radii. Accounting for tip imperfections, an increase in the determined elastic moduli is found with decreasing tip radius, which corroborates the notion of second order displacement gradient dependence.     

Curing thermodynamics and kinetics of unsaturated polyester resin with different chain length of saturated aliphatic binary carboxylic acid

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The saturated aliphatic binary carboxylic acid, including succinic acid, adipic acid and sebacic acid, were used to improve the curing process of...     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Pomegranate‐Structured Fe3O4/Carbon Nanospheres‐Doped Graphene Aerogel for High‐Rate Lithium Ion Batteries

A unique hierarchically nanostructured composite of iron oxide/carbon (Fe₃O₄/C) nanospheres‐doped three‐dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel has been fabricated by a one‐pot hydrothermal strategy. In this novel nanostructured composite aerogel, uniform Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals (5–10 nm) are individually embedded in carbon nanospheres (ca. 50 nm) forming a pomegranate‐like structure. The carbon matrix suppresses the aggregation of Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals, avoids direct exposure of the encapsulated Fe₃O₄ to the electrolyte, and buffers the volume expansion. Meanwhile, the interconnected 3D graphene aerogel further serves to reinforce the structure of the Fe₃O₄/C nanospheres and enhances the electrical conductivity of the overall electrode. Therefore, the carbon matrix and the interconnected graphene network entrap the Fe₃O₄ nanocrystals such that their electrochemical function is retained even after fracture. This novel hierarchical aerogel structure delivers a long‐term stability of 634 mA h g^?1 over 1000 cycles at a high current density of 6 A g^?1 (7 C), and an excellent rate capability of 413 mA h g^?1 at 10 A g^?1 (11 C), thus exhibiting great potential as an anode composite structure for durable high‐rate lithium‐ion batteries.     

Selective extraction of catecholamines by packed fiber solid‐phase using composite nanofibers composing of polymeric crown ether with polystyrene

For the first time, electrospun composite nanofibers comprising polymeric crown ether with polystyrene (PCE‐PS) have been used for the selective extraction of catecholamines – dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) – prior to their analysis by high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrochemical detection. Using a minicartridge packed with PCE‐PS composite nanofibers, the target compounds were extracted effectively from urine samples to which diphenylborinic acid 2‐aminoethyl ester was added as a complexing reagent. The extracted catecholamines could be liberated from the fiber by the addition of acetic acid. A good linearity was observed for catecholamines in the range of 2.0–200 ng mL^?1 (NE, E and DA). The detection limits of catecholamines (signal‐to‐noise ratio = 3) were 0.5 ng mL^?1 (NE), 0.2 ng mL^?1 (E) and 0.2 ng mL^?1 (DA), respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the absolute recoveries of the above three catecholamines were 90.6% (NE), 88.5% (E) and 94.5% (DA). The repeatability of extraction performance was from 5.4 to 9.2% (expressed as relative standard deviation). Our results indicate that the proposed method could be used for the determination of NE, E and DA in urine. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.