Bipolar Electrode-based Electrochromic Devices for Analytical Applications – A Review

Bipolar electrode-based (BPE-based) electrochromic devices have garnered increasing attention in the past decade. These BPE-based electrochromic devices have been used for analytical health monitoring, point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, and chemical sensing. In this review, we highlight recent progress made regarding BPE-based electrochromic devices constructed for these analytical applications. Various, available electrochromic materials are summarized in the first section, after which the different device types (e. g., paper-based and self-powered) are discussed. Biological- and chemical-based analytical demonstrations of these devices are then reviewed. Finally, we conclude this review with a perspective on the future developments of BPE-based electrochromic devices in analytical applications.     

Optimized synthesis and photovoltaic performance of TiO2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cell

This paper presents response surface methodology （RSM） as an efficient approach for modeling and optimizing TiO2 nanoparticles preparation via co-precipitation for dye-sensitized solar cell （DSSC） perfor- mance. Titanium （IV） bis-（acetylacetonate） di-isopropoxide （DIPBAT）, isopropanol and water were used as precursor, solvent and co-solvent, respectively. Molar ratio of water, aging temperature and calcina- tion temperature as preparation factors with main and interaction effects on particle characteristics and performances were investigated, Particle characteristics in terms of primary and secondary sizes, crys- tal orientation and morphology were determined by X-ray diffractometry （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. Band gap energy and power conversion efficiency of DSSCs were used for perfor- mance studies. According to analysis of variance （ANOVA） in response surface methodology （RSM）, all three independent parameters were statistically significant and the final model was accurate. The model predicted maximum power conversion efficiency （0.14%） under the optimal condition of molar ratio of DIPBAT-to-isopropanol-to-water of 1 ： 10：500, aging temperature of 36 C and calcination temperature of 400 ℃. A second set of data was adopted to validate the model at optimal conditions and was found to be 0.14 ± 0.015%, which was very close to the predicted value. This study proves the reliability of the model in identi（ving the optimal condition for maximum performance.     

Experimental Observation of Bright and Dark Solitons Mode-Locked with Zirconia-Based Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser

We demonstrate the generation of dark and bright solitons with our homemade zirconia-based erbium-doped fiber and graphene oxide(GO) saturable absorber in anomalous dispersion region.The GO is fabricated using an abridged Hummer's method,which is combined with polyethylene oxide to produce a composite film.The film is sandwiched between two optical ferrules and embedded in the laser cavity to enhance its birefringence and nonlinearity.The self-starting bright soliton is easily generated at pump power of 78 mW with the whole length cavity of 14.7 m.The laser produces the bright pulse train with repetition rate,pulse width,pulse energy and central wavelength being 13.9 MHz,0.6 ps,2.74 p J and 1577.46 nm,respectively.Then,by adding the 10 m of single mode fiber into the laser cavity,dark soliton pulse is produced.For the formation of dark pulse train,the measured repetition rate,pulse width,pulse energy and central wavelength are 8.3 MHz,20 ns and 4.98 p J and1596.82 nm,respectively.Both pulses operate in the anomalous region.