3-D mesoporous nano/micro-structured Fe3O4/C as a superior anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Urchin-like nano/micro-structured Fe₃O₄/C composite has been successfully synthesized using inexpensive starting materials. The urchin-shaped nano/micro-structure consisted of several oriented nanorods. TEM analysis revealed that there is a large number of pores and uniform amorphous carbon distribution at a nanoscale in the nanorods walls. As used in lithium-ion batteries, the mesoporous Fe₃O₄/C anode delivered a higher reversible capacity of about 830?mAh?g^?1 at 0.1?C up to 50 cycles, as well as enhanced high-rate capability compared with urchin-like Fe₂O₃ and commercial Fe₃O₄. The improvements can be attributed to the combined effects of the nano/micro-architecture, the porosity, and the ultra-fine carbon matrix, where the three factors would contribute to possess both the merits of nanometer-sized building blocks and micro-sized assemblies and provide high electronic conductivity. It is believed that the results of this study offer new prospects for improving the lithium storage capacity of metal oxides by controlling both architecture and composition.     

One‐step strategy for the synthesis of a derivatized cyclodextrin‐based monolithic column

Derivatized β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) functionalized monolithic columns were prepared by a “one‐step” strategy using click chemistry. First, the intended derivatized β‐CD monomers were synthesized by a click reaction between propargyl methacrylate and mono‐6‐azido‐β‐CD and then sulfonation or methylation was carried out. Finally, monolithic columns were prepared through a one‐step in situ copolymerization of the derivatized β‐CD monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The sulfated β‐CD‐based monolith was successfully applied to the hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography separation of nucleosides and small peptides, while the methylated β‐CD‐functionalized monolith was useful for the separation of nonpolar compounds and drug enantiomers in capillary reversed‐phase liquid chromatography. The structures of the monomers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The physicochemical properties and column performance of monoliths were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and micro high performance liquid chromatography. This strategy has considerable prospects for the preparation of other derivatized CD‐functionalized methacrylate monoliths.     

In-situ polymerized cross-linked binder for cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries

Volume expansion and polysulfide shuttle effect are the main barriers for the commercialization of lithium-sulfur(Li-S) battery.In this work,we in-situ polymerized a cross-linked binder in sulfur cathode to solve the aforementioned problems using a facile method under mild conditions.Polycarbonate diol(PCDL),triethanolamine(TEA) and hexamethylene diisocyanate(HDI) were chosen as precursors to prepare the cross-linked binder.The in-situ polymerized binder(PTH) builds a strong network in sulfur cathode,which could restrain the volume expansion of sulfu r.Moreover,by adopting functional groups of oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms,the binder could effectively facilitate transportation of Li-ion and adsorb polysulfide chemically.The Li-S battery with bare sulfur and carbon/sulfur composite cathodes and cross-linked PTH binder displays much better electrochemical performance than that of the battery with PVDF.The PTH-bare S cathode with a mass loading of 5.97 mg/cm^2 could deliver a capacity of 733.3 mAh/g at 0.2 C,and remained 585.5 mAh/g after 100 cycles.This in-situ polymerized binder is proved to be quite effective on restraining the volume expansion and suppressing polysulfide shuttle effect,then improving the electrochemical performance of Li-S battery.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of peony-like CuO micro/nanostructures for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes

The peony-like CuO micro/nanostructures were fabricated by a facile hydrothermal approach. The peonylike CuO micro/nanostructures about 3-5 μm in diameter were assembled by CuO nanoplates. These CuO nanoplates, as the building block, were self-assembled into multilayer structures under the action of ethidene diamine, and then grew into uniform peony-like CuO architecture. The novel peony-like CuO micro/nanostructures exhibit a high cycling stability and improved rate capability. The peony-like CuO micro/nanostructures electrodes show a high reversible capacity of 456 mAh/g after 200 cycles, much higher than that of the commercial CuO nanocrystals at a current 0.1 C. The excellent electrochemical performance of peony-like CuO micro/nanostructures might be ascribed to the unique assembly structure, which not only provide large electrode/electrolyte contact area to accelerate the lithiation reaction, but also the interval between the multilayer structures of CuO nanoplates electrode could provide enough interior space to accommodate the volume change during Li~+ insertion and de-insertion process.     

Palladium-catalyzed 2-pyridylmethyl-directed β-C(sp~3)—H activation and cyclization of aliphatic amides with gem-dibromoolefins:A rapid access to γ-lactams

The direct Pd-catalyzed β-C(sp³) H activation and cyclization of aliphatic amides bearing a removable 2-pyridylmethyl directing group with gem-dibromoolefins is described for the first time to construct a variety of γ-lactams.     

用于双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像的高重复频率皮秒扫描相机

建立了一台基于新研制的高重复频率皮秒扫描相机的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像系统,重点介绍所研制的高重复频率皮秒扫描相机。为了在高时间分辨力的同时扩大时间测量范围,实现大面积两维空间高时间分辨取样测量,从而提高采样速率和更有效地发挥扫描相机的作用,设计和研制了一种大面积、高时间分辨力扫描变像管和一种重复频率高达1MHz的斜坡电压扫描电路。基于上述关键部件所研制的扫描相机具有重复频率高、扫描速度可调、时间分辨力高、工作面积大、非线性低、触发晃动小等优点。用钛宝石飞秒激光器作为激光脉冲源,通过脉冲提取器将76MHz的高重复频率降低为1MHz,采用可调延时器和标准具对扫描相机的时间分辨力、扫描速度和非线性进行标定。该系统的时间分辨力达到6.5ps,非线性为2.60%,可测量的时间范围从十几皮秒到几十纳秒。测量了若丹明6G和香豆素314两种标准荧光染料的荧光寿命,取得了与参考文献一致的实验结果。     

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of neurosteroid compounds and magnesium interactions

The neurosteroid trans‐dehydroandrosterone (DHEA) and its analogs with slightly different modifications in the side chain attached to C17, that is, (3S)‐acetoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐one ( 1 ) and (3S,20R)‐acetoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐ol ( 2 ), have been synthesized to investigate DHEA–cation interactions. In this study, we applied solid‐state ¹H/¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning (CP/MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to a series of DHEA analog/Mg²⁺ mixtures at different Mg²⁺ concentrations. The high‐resolution ¹³C NMR spectra of 1 /Mg²⁺ mixtures exhibit two distinct ¹³C spectral patterns, one attributable to 1 free from Mg²⁺, and the other attributable to 1 with bound Mg²⁺. For 2 , the ¹³C NMR spectra exhibit three distinct spectral patterns; besides that of the free form, the other two can be assigned to Mg²⁺‐bound forms. Based on the analysis of the chemical shift deviations (CSDs), we conclude that both 1 and 2 might be subject to a cation–π interaction via the C5–C6 double bond, in contrast to that observed previously for DHEA. As demonstrated, DHEA possesses two Mg²⁺ binding sites, that is, C17–O and C5–C6 double bond, in which the binding affinity of the former is at least three times stronger than that of the latter. The solid‐state ¹³C NMR investigation allows better understanding of the underlying cation binding effects of neurosteroid molecules in vitro.     

Uptake of transferrin-conjugated quantum dots in single living cells

We study the uptake and distribution of transferrin （Tf）-conjugated CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots （QDs） in single living HeLa cells with both fluorescence confocal microscopy and three-dimensional （3D） reconstruction technique. By increasing the co-incubation time or the dosage of QDs-Tf, we find that the uptake of QDs-Tf bioconjugates in the cells increases correspondingly, but with different uptake rates. Additionally, the distribution of QDs-Tf, in single live HeLa cells is time dependent. To our knowledge, this is the first study on quantitatively analyzing the uptake and distribution of bioconjugated QDs in single living cells. Such QDs nanoplatform can be further modified for developing biomedical evaluation tool in cancer diagnosis and targeted drug delivery.     

新型衍射光学成像光谱仪的设计和分析

为了克服在传统衍射光学成像光谱仪中,衍射透镜的焦距随波长变化引起系统放大率随波长变化,从而导致光谱图像的像元配准误差,得到并不精确的相对光谱信号强度,提出了将衍射透镜与消色差透镜系统相结合的新型折/衍混合、二组元复合远心成像光学系统的技术方案,具体分析推导了该系统的成像理论.在此理论指导下,利用光学设计软件Zemax设计了一套可见近红外成像光谱仪光学系统.结果表明,不但系统的放大率不随波长变化,而且进一步降低了衍射透镜的加工难度,改进了衍射光学成像光谱仪的光学性能,为新型衍射光学成像光谱仪的研制提供了重要的理论依据和设计指导.     

Stabilizing Interfaces in High-Temperature NCM811-Li Batteries via Tuning Terminal Alkyl Chains of Ether Solvents

Ether electrolytes are promising for lithium metal batteries. Despite the intensive research in recent years, most state-of-the-art ether electrolytes still cannot form reliable electrode-electrolyte interfaces in NCM811-Li batteries at diluted concentrations, especially in those operating at elevated temperatures. We report a simple but effective strategy to break this bottleneck and stabilize interfaces in high-temperature NCM811-Li batteries in ether electrolytes. We propose that by gradually extending the terminal groups of glycol diethers from methyl groups to n-butyl groups, the comprehensive stability of ether electrolytes is improved. An anion-dominated solvation structure is realized at a concentration of 1 M. Accordingly, the electrode-electrolyte interactions are suppressed, and a thinner, denser, and more inorganic-rich solid- /cathode-electrolyte interface is achieved. Additionally, the surface phase transition and structural degradation of NCM811 cathode are alleviated. Consequently, in the ethylene glycol dibutyl ether-based electrolyte, the Coulombic efficiency for Li−Cu cells working at 60 °C is boosted to 99.41 % with a cycling life of over 200 cycles. The lifespan of high-temperature NCM811-Li cells is prolonged by more than 400 % with a stable average Coulombic efficiency of 99.77 % at quasi-practical conditions of 50 μm Li, lean electrolyte of 10 μL mAh⁻¹, and medium-high cathode loading of >2.2 mAh cm⁻².