A self-powered and sensitive terahertz photodetection based on PdSe2

With the rapid development of terahertz technology, terahertz detectors are expected to play a key role in diverse areas such as homeland security and imaging, materials diagnostics, biology, medical sciences, and communication. Whereas self-powered, rapid response, and room temperature terahertz photodetectors are confronted with huge challenges. Here, we report a novel rapid response and self-powered terahertz photothermoelectronic (PTE) photodetector based on a low-dimensional material: palladium selenide (PdSe₂). An order of magnitude performance enhancement was observed in photodetection based on PdSe₂/graphene heterojunction that resulted from the integration of graphene and enhanced the Seebeck effect. Under 0.1-THz and 0.3-THz irradiations, the device displays a stable and repeatable photoresponse at room temperature without bias. Furthermore, rapid rise (5.0 μs) and decay (5.4 μs) times are recorded under 0.1-THz irradiation. Our results demonstrate the promising prospect of the detector based on PdSe₂ in terms of air-stable, suitable sensitivity and speed, which may have great application in terahertz detection.     

Distribution dependent stochastic differential equations

Due to their intrinsic link with nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations and many other applications, distribution dependent stochastic differential equations (DDSDEs) have been intensively investigated. In this paper, we summarize some recent progresses in the study of DDSDEs, which include the correspondence of weak solutions and nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations, the well-posedness, regularity estimates, exponential ergodicity, long time large deviations, and comparison theorems.     

How do molecular interactions affect fluorescence behavior of AIEgens in solution and aggregate states?

Molecular interactions are crucial in diverse fields of protein folding,material science,nanotechnology,and life origins.Although mounting experimental research controls luminescent behavior by adjusting molecular interactions in light-emitting materials,it remains elusive to correlate microscopic molecular interactions with macroscopic luminescent behavior directly.Here,we synthesized three red luminogens with subtle structural variation and investigated the influence of molecular interactions on their luminescent behavior in solution and aggregate states.Our results indicate that strongπ-πand D-A interactions in both dilute solution(between luminogen and solvent molecules)and aggregate(between luminogens)states cause the redshift in emission,while weak interactions(e.g.,Van der Waals,C–H…π,and C–H…F interactions)enhance the quantum yield.This work provides a thoughtful investigation into the complicated influence of various molecular interactions on luminescent behavior.     

Nanostructured BiVO4 Derived from Bi-MOF for Enhanced Visible-light Photodegradation

BiVO4,a promising visible-light responding photocatalyst,has aroused extensive research interest because of inexpensiveness and excellent chemical stability.However,its main drawback is the poor photoinduced charge-transfer dynamics.Building nanostructures is an effective way to tackle this problem.Herein,we put forward a new method to prepare nanostructured BiVO4 from Bi-based metal-organic frameworks[Bi-MOF(CAU-17)]precursor.The as-prepared material has a rod-like morphology inherited from the Bi-MOF sacrificial template and consists of small nanoparticle as building blocks.Compared with its counterparts prepared by conventional methods,MOF-derived nanostructured BiVO4 shows better light absorption ability,narrower bandgap,and improved electrical conductivity as well as reduced recombination.Consequently,BiVO4 nanostructure demonstrates high photocatalytic activity under visible light towards the degradation of methylene blue.Methylene blue can be degraded up to 90%within 30 min with a reaction rate constant of 0.058 min-1.Moreover,the cycling stability of the catalyst is excellent to withstand unchanged degradation efficiency for at least 5 cycles.     

Electron doping induced stable ferromagnetism in two-dimensional GdI3 monolayer

As a two-dimensional material with a hollow hexatomic ring structure, Néel-type anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) GdI₃ can be used as a theoretical model to study the effect of electron doping. Based on first-principles calculations, we find that the Fermi surface nesting occurs when more than 1/3 electron per Gd is doped, resulting in the failure to obtain a stable ferromagnetic (FM) state. More interestingly, GdI₃ with appropriate Mg/Ca doping (1/6 Mg/Ca per Gd) turns to be half-metallic FM state. This AFM−FM transition results from the transfer of doped electrons to the spatially expanded Gd-5d orbital, which leads to the FM coupling of local half-full Gd-4f electrons through 5d−4f hybridization. Moreover, the shortened Gd−Gd length is the key to the formation of the stable ferromagnetic coupling. Our method provides new insights into obtaining stable FM materials from AFM materials.     

Direct pore engineering of 2D imine covalent organic frameworks via sub-stoichiometric synthesis

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks(2D COFs)bearing various topologies can be precisely designed based on the symmetry of monomers.Their pore environment can be further regulated via either pre-functionalization of the monomers or post-modification of the skeleton.Among them,sub-stoichiometric synthesis is an efficient method which can mediate uncondensed functional moieties periodically arranged in the COF skeletons.Herein,a series of imine-linked 2D COFs with specifically decorated formyl or amino groups were selectively synthesized via sub-stoichiometric formyl transamination.The molar ratios of the monomers directly determine the structures of the resulting COFs with periodic vertex vacancies.The COF with polar amino sites could efficiently capture CO₂ and H₂O.This work demonstrates tuning the stoichiometry of the monomers could facilely modulate the functions of the pore channels.It also provides insights into constructing novel COFs with complex structures for targeted applications.     

Recent advances in the improvement of g-C3N4 based photocatalytic materials

g-C₃N₄ have been widely used in the fields of photocatalytic hydrogen production,photocatalytic degradation of dyes and oxidative degradation of toxic gases due to their excellent performance.It has attracted extensive attention in recent years due to its highly efficient photocatalytic capacity of hydrogen generation,water oxidation,carbon dioxide reduction and degradation of organic pollutants.Because of the abundant carbon and nitrogen composition of the earth,large-scale production and industrial applications of this material are possible.The modification of this material makes its performance more excellent so that this new material can obtain a steady stream of vitality.These outstanding works have become important materials and milestones on the road to mankind's photocatalytic hydrogen production.This review will begin with the basic idea of designing,synthesizing and improving g-C₃N₄ based photocatalytic materials,and introduce the latest development of g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts in hydrogen production from four aspects of controlling the carbon/nitrogen ratio,morphology,element doping and heterojunction structure of g-C₃N₄ materials.     

Chitosan-based self-healing hydrogel for bioapplications

A chitosan-based biocompatible self-healing hydrogel has been facilely prepared and used for bioapplications.     

Exact Boundary Synchronization by Groups for a Kind of System of Wave Equations Coupled with Velocities*

This paper deals with the exact boundary controllability and the exact boundary synchronization for a 1-D system of wave equations coupled with velocities. These problems can not be solved directly by the usual HUM method for wave equations, however, by transforming the system into a first order hyperbolic system, the HUM method for 1-D first order hyperbolic systems, established by Li-Lu(2022) and Lu-Li(2022), can be applied to get the corresponding results.     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Selenium-functionalized Poly(ε-caprolactone)

A selenium-functionalizedε-caprolactone was synthesized by introducing a phenyl selenide group at the 7-position.A polymer was obtained through the ring-opening polymerization of this monomer in a base/thiourea binary organocatalytic system.A living polymerization process was achieved under mild conditions.The resulting polymers had a controlled molecular weight with a narrow molecular weight distributions and high end-group fidelity.Random copolymers could be obtained by copolymerizing this monomer withε-caprolactone.The thermal degradation temperature of the obtained copolymers decreased with the increasing molar ratio of selenide functionalized monomer in copolymers,while the glass transition temperature increased.In addition,the phenyl selenide side group could be further modified to a polyselenonium salt,which resulted in a polymer with good antibacterial properties.The survival rate of E.coli and S.aureus was only 9%with a polymer concentration of 62.5μg/mL.