Surface charging behaviors of electrocatalytic interfaces with partially charged chemisorbates

The surface charge is a key concept in electrochemistry. Mathematically, the surface charge is obtained from a spatial integration of the volume charge along a particular direction. Ambiguities thus arise in choosing the starting and ending points of the integration. As for electrocatalytic interfaces, the presence of chemisorbates further complicates the situation. In this minireview, I adopt a definition of the surface charge within a continuum picture of the electric double layer. I will introduce surface charging behaviors of firstly ordinary electrochemical interfaces and then electrocatalytic interfaces featuring partially charged chemisorbates. Particularly, the origin of nonmonotonic surface charging behaviors of electrocatalytic interfaces is explained using a primitive model. Finally, a brief account of previous studies on the nonmonotonic surface charging behavior is presented, as a subline of the spectacular history of electric double layer.     

Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Terahertz generation in quantum cascade structures by two-color deriving fields: An approach to reach inversion population via optical pumping

In this paper, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) design is proposed based on GaAs/AlGaAs material system, which simultaneously operates at three widely separated wavelengths (${\lambda }_1=11.1\mu m,{\lambda }_2=14.1\mu m$ and ${\lambda }_{THz}=60\mu m$). In the design, all the wavelength radiations are achieved by the engineering of the electronic spectrum via the quantum-well widths and the applied electric field in a single active region within a same waveguide. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths are obtained by adoption a dual-upper-state active region, and the proposed design aims to use both the mid-IR radiations as the coherent deriving fields to populate the upper THz lasing state to aid the THz-laser population inversion via optical pumping instead of direct electrical injection. A detailed analysis of electronic transport in the structure is carried out using a multi-level rate-equation model. The results show that the proposed structure offers an alternative approach to room temperature THz generation in QCLs.     

非线性玻尔兹曼方程的傅里叶谱方法

玻尔兹曼方程作为空气动理学中最基本的方程之一,是连接微观牛顿力学和宏观连续介质力学的重要桥梁.该方程描述了一个由大量粒子组成的复杂系统的非平衡态时间演化:除了基本的输运项,其最重要的特性是粒子间的相互碰撞由一个高维,非局部且非线性的积分算子来描述,从而给玻尔兹曼方程的数值求解带来非常大的挑战.在过去的二十年间,基于傅里叶级数的谱方法成为了数值求解玻尔兹曼方程的一种很受欢迎且有效的确定性算法.这主要归功于谱方法的高精度及它可以被快速傅里叶变换加速的特质.本文将回顾玻尔兹曼方程的傅里叶谱方法,具体包括方法的导出,稳定性和收敛性分析,快速算法,以及在一大类基于碰撞的空气动理学方程中的推广.     

Diffusion Model of a Non-Integer Order PIγ Controller with TCP/UDP Streams

In this article, a way to employ the diffusion approximation to model interplay between TCP and UDP flows is presented. In order to control traffic congestion, an environment of IP routers applying AQM (Active Queue Management) algorithms has been introduced. Furthermore, the impact of the fractional controller PIγ and its parameters on the transport protocols is investigated. The controller has been elaborated in accordance with the control theory. The TCP and UDP flows are transmitted simultaneously and are mutually independent. Only the TCP is controlled by the AQM algorithm. Our diffusion model allows a single TCP or UDP flow to start or end at any time, which distinguishes it from those previously described in the literature.     

广义神经传播方程的整体吸引子

使用Galerkin方法,结合Sobolev空间理论和不等式技巧,给出了广义神经传播方程解的存在唯一性定理,然后利用吸引子存在性定理,采用半群方法证明了方程整体吸引子的存在性.     

Boussinesq方程行波解的存在性

利用平面动力系统方法的分支理论，研究了Boussinesq方程，通过对Boussinesq方程进行行波变换，得到了相应行波系统的首次积分和平衡点，给出了不同参数条件下的相图，证实了Boussinesq方程存在孤立波解和周期波解。     

Negative thermal expansion in NbF_3 and NbOF_2:A comparative theoretical study

Thermal expansion control is always an obstructive factor and challenging in high precision engineering field. Here,the negative thermal expansion of Nb F_3 and Nb OF_2 was predicted by first-principles calculation with density functional theory and the quasi-harmonic approximation(QHA). We studied the total charge density, thermal vibration, and lattice dynamic to investigate the thermal expansion mechanism. We found that the presence of O induced the relatively strong covalent bond in Nb OF_2, thus weakening the transverse vibration of F and O in Nb OF_2, compared with the case of Nb F_3.In this study, we proposed a way to tailor negative thermal expansion of metal fluorides by introducing the oxygen atoms.The present work not only predicts two NTE compounds, but also provides an insight on thermal expansion control by designing chemical bond type.