Flow-induced shear stress and deformation of a core–shell-structured microcapsule in a microchannel

A numerical model was developed and validated to investigate the fluid–structure interactions between fully developed pipe flow and core–shell-structured microcapsule in a microchannel. Different flow rates and microcapsule shell thicknesses were considered. A sixth-order rotational symmetric distribution of von Mises stress over the microcapsule shell can be observed on the microcapsule with a thinner shell configuration, especially at higher flow rate conditions. It is also observed that when being carried along in a fully developed pipe flow, the microcapsule with a thinner shell tends to accumulate stress at a higher rate compared to that with a thicker shell. In general, for the same microcapsule configuration, higher flow velocity would induce a higher stress level over the microcapsule shell. The deformation gradient was used to capture the microcapsule's deformation in the present study. The effect of Young's modulus on the microcapsule shell on the microcapsule deformation was investigated as well. Our findings will shed light on the understanding of the stability of core–shell-structured microcapsule when subjected to flow-induced shear stress in a microfluidic system, enabling a more exquisite control over the breakup dynamics of drug-loaded microcapsule for biomedical applications.     

基于抛光基材的热蒸镀铜箔生长高平整单层石墨烯薄膜

在石墨烯的化学气相沉积工艺中,铜箔是决定石墨烯薄膜质量的重要因素。传统铜箔由于制备工艺的限制,存在大量的缺陷,导致石墨烯薄膜的成核密度较高。本工作选用抛光铝板、抛光不锈钢板、微晶玻璃和SiO₂/Si作为基材,用热蒸镀法制备了不同粗糙度的铜箔,并详细讨论了以该系列铜箔生长高平整度石墨烯薄膜的条件及铜箔对石墨烯薄膜品质的影响。实验结果表明,铜箔以(111)取向为主,与基材分离后,表面具有纳米级平整度。在生长石墨烯后,从SiO₂/Si剥离的铜箔成核密度是4种基材中最小的。同时,从SiO₂/Si剥离的铜箔晶体结构变化最不明显,具有良好的结晶性,表面几乎不存在铜晶界缺陷。当压强为3 000 Pa,氢气和甲烷流速分别为300 mL/min和0.5 mL/min时,可以获得约1 mm横向尺寸的石墨烯单晶晶畴。     

Design and fabrication of GeAsSeS chalcogenide waveguides with thermal annealing

We reported a chalcogenide glass-based rib waveguide fabricated using photolithography and dry etching method. A commercial software(COMSOL Multiphysics) was used to optimize the waveguide structure and the distribution of the fundamental modes in the waveguide based on the complete vector finite component. We further employed thermal annealing to optimize the surface and sidewalls of the rib waveguides. It was found that the optimal annealing temperature for Ge As Se S films is 220℃, and the roughness of the films could be significantly reduced by annealing. The zero-dispersion wavelength(ZDW) could be shifted to a short wavelength around ~2.1 μm via waveguide structural optimization, which promotes supercontinuum generation with a short wavelength pump laser source. The insertion loss of the waveguides with cross-sectional areas of 4.0 μm×3.5 μm and 6.0 μm×3.5 μm was measured using lens fiber and the cut-back method. The propagation loss of the 220℃ annealed waveguides could be as low as 1.9 d B/cm at 1550 nm.     

First principles investigations of Fe,Co, Ni in model honeycomb carbon networks

The behaviors of ferromagnetic transition metals of the first period: Fe, Co and Ni are examined within density functional theory calculations in two dimensional carbon extended networks using model structure LiC₆. Around geometry optimized structures, the energy-volume equations of states considering non magnetic and spin polarized configurations established ferromagnetic ground states with magnetizations –reduced with respect to the metals’– of 2 μ_B for FeC₆ and 1 μ_B for CoC₆ while no magnetic solution could be identified for NiC₆. In the D_6h point group of the P6/mmm space group l_m decomposition of the d states results with increasing energy into doublet state E_1g with d(x²-y²) and d(xy); singlet state A_1g d(z²) and doublet state E_2g d(xz) and d(yz) lying on E_F and responsible of the onset of magnetic moments. This was mirrored via molecular orbital approach with a construct of Fe embedded between two extended carbon networks thus validating the model structure proposed for TC₆ compounds. The 100% polarization in one spin channel allows proposing potential uses in spintronics applications.     

Sandwich-like Catalyst–Carbon–Catalyst Trilayer Structure as a Compact 2D Host for Highly Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Herein, we propose the construction of a sandwich-structured host filled with continuous 2D catalysis–conduction interfaces. This MoN-C-MoN trilayer architecture causes the strong conformal adsorption of S/Li₂S_x and its high-efficiency conversion on the two-sided nitride polar surfaces, which are supplied with high-flux electron transfer from the buried carbon interlayer. The 3D self-assembly of these 2D sandwich structures further reinforces the interconnection of conductive and catalytic networks. The maximized exposure of adsorptive/catalytic planes endows the MoN-C@S electrode with excellent cycling stability and high rate performance even under high S loading and low host surface area. The high conductivity of this trilayer texture does not compromise the capacity retention after the S content is increased. Such a job-synergistic mode between catalytic and conductive functions guarantees the homogeneous deposition of S/Li₂S_x, and avoids thick and devitalized accumulation (electrode passivation) even after high-rate and long-term cycling.     

Component ordering strategies in assembly systems with uncertain capacity and random yield

Sourcing components in a complex global supplier network may lead to a high degree of supply uncertainty. Events, such as unexpected production defects or insufficient supplier capacity, can cause unexpected shortages of required components and halt the assembly of final products. Accordingly, the assembly enterprises must effectively manage various supply uncertainties in their component ordering decisions to avoid such component shortfalls. These issues have guided this research to investigate the optimal ordering strategies of an assembler facing the following two types of supply uncertainty: the uncertain production capacity of a standard component (component 1) and the random production yield of a core component (component 2). The assembler makes the component ordering decisions before these supply uncertainties are realized. We characterize the optimal ordering decision and find that the assembler should order components 1 and 2 according to a fixed ratio, which only depends on the random yield of component 2 and the production cost of component 1, but not on the uncertain capacity of component 1. A case study is presented to further explore the intertwined effects of these two uncertainties in an assembly system. Finally, the model is extended to consider a secondary option of buying additional component 1 s after observing some or all of the supply uncertainties, and this secondary option endows the firm with different capabilities in counteracting the supply uncertainties.     

Small activation entropy bestows high-stability of nanoconfined D-mannitol

It has been a long-standing puzzling problem that some glasses exhibit higher glass transition temperatures(denoting high stability) but lower activation energy for relaxations(denoting low stability). In this paper, the relaxation kinetics of the nanoconfined D-mannitol(DM) glass was studied systematically using a high-precision and high-rate nanocalorimeter.The nanoconfined DM exhibits enhanced thermal stability compared to the free DM. For example, the critical cooling rate for glass formation decreases from 200 K/s to below 1 K/s; the Tg increases by about 20 K–50 K. The relaxation kinetics is analyzed based on the absolute reaction rate theory. It is found that, even though the activation energy E~*decreases,the activation entropy S~*decreases much more for the nanoconfined glass that yields a large activation free energy G~*and higher thermal stability. These results suggest that the activation entropy may provide new insights in understanding the abnormal kinetics of nanoconfined glassy systems.     

Synthesis and comparative study on polyetherimides from isomeric 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy bis(phthalic anhydride)s

Two isomers of commercial 4,4′-(4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy) bis(phthalic anhydride) (4,4′-BPADA), that is, 3,4′-(4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy) bis(phthalic anhydride) (3,4′-BPADA) and 3,3′-(4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy) bis(phthalic anhydride) (3,3′-BPADA), were synthesized through aromatic nucleophilic substitution from nitrophthalonitrile and bisphenol A. 3,4′-BPADA was first synthesized from two intermediates, that is, 3-(4-[4-hydroxyphenylisopropylidene] phenoxy) phthalonitrile (3-BPADN) and 3,4′-(4,4′-isopropylidenediphenoxy) bis(phthalonitrile) (3,4′-BPATN). The corresponding three series of polyetherimides (PEIs) were prepared with two representative aromatic diamines (4,4′-oxydianiline and m-phenylenediamine (m-PDA)) via two-step procedure and chemical imidization. Isomeric polyimides showed T_gs from 206 to 256°C in nitrogen and T_d5%s from 488 to 511°C in argon, good mechanical properties (tensile moduli of 2.3–3.3 GPa, tensile strengths of 70–96 MPa, and elongations at break of 3.2%–5.1%), and good solubility. With the introduction of 3-substituted phthalimide unit, PEIs displayed higher T_g values, lower strengths and elongations, better solubility and larger d-spacings. The rheological properties of thermoplastic polyimide resins based on the BPADA isomers were investigated, which showed that polyetherimide PEI-3b derived from 3,3′-BPADA and m-PDA had the lowest melt viscosity among the isomers, indicating that the melt processibility had been greatly improved.     

Trends in the detection of pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds by Field-Effect Transistors (FETs)

Field-effect transistors (FETs) are one of the most widely-used electronic sensors for continuous monitoring and detection of contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting compounds at low concentrations. FETs have been successfully utilized for the rapid analysis of these environmental pollutants due to their advantageous material properties like the disposability, rapid responses and simplicity. This paper presented an up-to-date overview of applied strategies with different bio-based materials in order to enhance the analytical performances of the designed sensors. Comparison and discussion were made between characteristics of recently engineered FET bio-sensors used for the detection of famous and selected pharmaceutical compounds in the literature. The recent progress in environmental research applications, comments on interesting trends, current challenge for future research in endocrine-disrupting chemicals’ (EDCs) detection using FETs biosensors were highlighted.     

Boron-Containing Lipids and Liposomes: New Conjugates of Cholesterol with Polyhedral Boron Hydrides

A series of boron-containing lipids were prepared by reactions of cyclic oxonium derivatives of polyhedron boranes and metallacarboranes (closo-dodecaborate anion, cobalt and iron bis(dicarbollides)) with amine and carboxylic acids which are derived from cholesterol. Stable liposomal formulations, on the basis of synthesized boron-containing lipids, hydrogenated soybean l -α-phosphatidylcholine and (HSPC) 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG) as excipients, were prepared and then characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) that revealed the formation of particles to be smaller than 200 nm in diameter. The resulting liposomal formulations showed moderate to excellent loading and entrapment efficiency, thus justifying the design of the compounds to fit in the lipid bilayer and ensuring ease of in vivo use for future application. The liposomal formulations based on cobalt and iron bis(dicarbollide)-based lipids were found to be nontoxic against both human breast normal epithelial cells MCF-10A and human breast cancer cells MCF-7.