Effect of strain on charge density wave order in α-U

The effect of strain on charge density wave (CDW) order in $\alpha$-U is investigated within the framework of relativistic density-functional theory. The energetical stability of $\alpha$-U with CDW distortion is enhanced by the tensile strain along $a$ and $b$ axes, which is similar to the case of negative pressure and normal. However, the tensile strain along $c$ axis suppresses the energetical stability of CDW phase. This abnormal effect could be understood from the emergence of a new one-dimensional atomic chain along $c$ axis in $\alpha$-U. Furthermore, this effect is supported by the calculations of Fermi surface and phonon mode, in which the topological objects and the dynamical instability show opposite behaviors between strains along $a$/$b$ and $c$ axes.     

体积应变对立方钛酸铅电子结构和光学性质的影响

本文利用第一性原理方法计算并分析了体积应变(-11%~11%)对立方顺电相PbTiO₃的结构、稳定性、电子结构和光学性质的影响。研究发现体积应变后PbTiO₃形成焓增大,稳定性下降,其中压应变对其稳定性的影响比拉应变大。当受到拉伸应变时,立方PbTiO₃由直接带隙半导体变为间接带隙半导体,且带隙随应变增大呈先增大后降低的趋势。在发生压应变时,从复介电函数、复折射率及吸收系数的分析结果可知,在自然光照下PbTiO₃的光吸收能力仅在个别波段有所增大,但总体呈减弱趋势,当产生拉伸应变时,介电峰、吸收峰红移,表明PbTiO₃在可见光范围内光吸收能力增强,并且当应变增大到11%时,PbTiO₃的吸收能力远高于本征立方相。     

金刚石衬底上GaN HEMT沟道温度建模:各向异性且非均匀热导率的影响

为了改善GaN HEMT的自热效应,集成高热导率的金刚石衬底有助于增强器件有源区的热量耗散。然而,化学气相淀积(CVD)生长的多晶金刚石(PCD)具有柱状晶粒结构,导致了各向异性的材料热导率,且其热导率值与生长厚度有关。为此,通过建模金刚石生长过程中晶粒尺寸的演变过程,计算了金刚石沿面内和截面方向的热导率。基于该PCD热导率模型,利用计入材料非线性热导率的GaN器件热阻解析模型,计算得到了GaN HEMT沟道温度的波动范围,并分析了其与器件结构(栅长、栅宽、栅间距、衬底厚度)和功耗的依赖关系。最后,通过与有限元(FEM)仿真结果对比,分区域提取了GaN HEMT器件中PCD衬底的有效热导率,分别为260~310 W/(m·K)和1 250~1 450 W/(m·K)。本文的计算为预测金刚石衬底上GaN HEMT器件的沟道温度提供了快速、有效的方法。     

粗糙表面之间接触热阻反问题研究

当两个固体表面相互接触时,由于接触面粗糙度的影响,界面间就形成了非一致接触,这种接触导致热流收缩,进而产生接触热阻. 目前的理论研究主要集中在正问题研究,对反问题的研究相对较少. 接触热阻反问题研究是通过研究部分边界温度、热流和部分测量点的温度来反演得到界面上的接触热阻. 反问题研究在很多工程领域都有应用,如航空航天、机械制造、微电子等,是工程中确定接触热阻一种快速有效的方法. 本文采用边界元法和共轭梯度法研究了二维空间随坐标变化的接触热阻反问题. 为了验证方法的准确性和可行性,假定在已知部分测量点温度和真实接触热阻的情况下,反演计算得到界面的温度和热流,进而得到接触热阻,并与真实接触热阻进行比较. 结果表明采用边界元法和共轭梯度法在无测量误差的情况下,可以准确反演获得界面的真实接触热阻. 若存在测量误差,反演计算结果对测量误差极其敏感,反演结果误差会由于测量误差的引入而被放大. 为处理这种不适定性, 采用最小二乘法对反演计算结果进行校正,结果表明采用最小二乘法能够避开反问题中一些偏离实际值较大的测量点,显著提高反演计算结果的准确性.      

Environmentally Stable Polymer Gels with Super Deformability and High Recoverability Enhanced by Sub‐5 nm Particles in the Nonvolatile Solvent

It remains challenging to satisfy the combined performances for hydrogels with excellent mechanical behavior, high deformability, and super recoverability under harsh environmental conditions. In this study, we first established a strong polymer network via the crosslinking of polymer chains on the surfaces of sub‐5‐nm calcium hydroxide nanospherulites in ethylene glycol solvent. The organic gel expressed excellent mechanical properties such as a recoverable compressive engineering stress of 249 MPa and an elongation stress of 402 KPa, which was attributed to the uniform nanosized crosslinking structure as characterized by SEM. Moreover, the nonvolatile solvent remained in the gel, meaning that the sample can resist a wide temperature range of ?56 to 100 °C without losing the elastic properties. This novel organic gel could provide promising routes to develop the ideal elastic carriers for wearable devices, smart skin sensors, and damping materials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 713–721     

More QACs,more questions: Recent advances in structure activity relationships and hurdles in understanding resistance mechanisms

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are a class of antimicrobials that have been around for over a century; nevertheless, they have found continued renewal in the structures to which they can be appended. Ranging from antimicrobial polymers to adding novel modes of action to existing antibiotics, QACs have found ongoing use due to their potent properties. However, resistance against QACs has begun to emerge, and the mechanism of resistance is still only partially understood. In this review, we aim to summarize the current state of the field and what is known about the mechanisms of resistance so that the QACs of the future can be designed to be evermore efficacious and utilized to unearth the remaining mysteries that surround bacteria’s resistance to them.     

MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF TOROFLUX

流动环是一款魔术玩具,具有丰富的力学行为。制作流动环时应用了预应力储存技术,使得环内部储存了弹性弯曲变形能。一经外界扰动,流动环会迅速张开,进入一种新的稳定平衡状态;若给张开的流体环输入某种形式的能量,环会合拢,恢复原有的稳定平衡状态。本文从能量的角度对流动环张开与合拢等现象进行力学分析。     

Multicomponent QM study on the reaction of HOSO + NO2 with H2O: Nuclear quantum effect on structure and reaction energy profile

The hydrogen transfer reaction in the reaction of HOSO + NO₂ with and without H₂O have been investigated using multicomponent quantum-mechanics method, which can directly take nuclear quantum effect (NQE) of light nuclei into account. For the case of the reaction without H₂O, our calculation reveals that the reaction leading to trans-HONO is preferred. For the reaction with H₂O, water-non-mediated and water-mediated (hydrogen-relay) hydrogen transfer mechanism are investigated. The NQE of hydrogen nucleus lowers the relative energy of the stationary point structures and reduces the activation barrier of the reactions. The largest stabilization is found in the transition state structure of the hydrogen-relay type reaction. H/D isotope effects for the reactions are also analyzed. In particular, H/D isotope effect on the activation barrier is analyzed in detail with the aid of the active strain model.     

A Structural View on Medicinal Chemistry Strategies against Drug Resistance

The natural phenomenon of drug resistance is a widespread issue that hampers the performance of drugs in many major clinical indications. Antibacterial and antifungal drugs are affected, as well as compounds for the treatment of cancer, viral infections, or parasitic diseases. Despite the very diverse set of biological targets and organisms involved in the development of drug resistance, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been identified to understand the emergence of resistance and to overcome this detrimental process. Detailed structural information on the root causes for drug resistance is nowadays frequently available, so next‐generation drugs can be designed that are anticipated to suffer less from resistance. This knowledge‐based approach is essential for fighting the inevitable occurrence of drug resistance.     

A conjugated alkyne functional bicyclic polybenzoxazine with superior heat resistance

A difunctional benzoxazine (coPh‐apa) with a conjugated alkyne group is synthesized by the oxidative coupling reaction from a monocycle‐benzoxazine (Ph‐apa) containing an alkyne group. A model compound, 1,4‐diphenylbutadiyne (coPa), is used to study the curing reaction process of coPh‐apa by DSC, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ¹³C NMR, and the results suggest that the conjugated alkyne groups are involved in the crosslinking reaction via the trimerization reaction of the conjugated alkynyl groups and the Diels–Alder reaction. Furthermore, thermal properties of the polybenzoxazine are studied by dynamic thermomechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. A glass‐transition temperature (T_gs) of as high as 412 °C and a char yield of 75.6% at 800 °C under nitrogen are obtained with the aid of the conjugated alkyne groups. Its excellent heat resistance dominates most thermosetting resins and will serve for heat shields. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1587–1592