The peridynamic differential operator for solving time-fractional partial differential equations

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this paper, the numerical solution of time-fractional convection diffusion equations (TF-CDEs) is considered as a generalization of classical ones, nonexponential relaxation...     

Fabricating Dual-Atom Iron Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Heteroatom Modulator Approach

Understanding the thermal aggregation behavior of metal atoms is important for the synthesis of supported metal clusters. Here, derived from a metal–organic framework encapsulating a trinuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II complex (denoted as Fe₃) within the channels, a well-defined nitrogen-doped carbon layer is fabricated as an ideal support for stabilizing the generated iron nanoclusters. Atomic replacement of Fe^II by other metal(II) ions (e.g., Zn^II/Co^II) via synthesizing isostructural trinuclear-complex precursors (Fe₂Zn/Fe₂Co), namely the “heteroatom modulator approach”, is inhibiting the aggregation of Fe atoms toward nanoclusters with formation of a stable iron dimer in an optimal metal–nitrogen moiety, clearly identified by direct transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The supported iron dimer, serving as cooperative metal–metal site, acts as efficient oxygen evolution catalyst. Our findings offer an atomic insight to guide the future design of ultrasmall metal clusters bearing outstanding catalytic capabilities.     

Quantum Thermalization and Vanishing Thermal Entanglement in the Open Jaynes–Cummings Model

The quantum thermalization of the Jaynes–Cummings (JC) model in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium open-system cases is studied, in which the two subsystems, a two-level system and a single-mode bosonic field, are in contact with either two individual heat baths or a common heat bath. It is found that in the individual heat-bath case, the JC model can only be thermalized when either the two heat baths have the same temperature or the coupling of the JC system to one of the two baths is turned off. In the common heat-bath case, the JC system can be thermalized irrespective of the bath temperature and the system–bath coupling strengths. The thermal entanglement in this system is also studied. A counterintuitive phenomenon of vanishing thermal entanglement in the JC system is found and proved.     

Radial flow velocity profiles of a yield stress fluid between smooth parallel disks

In rock grouting, idealized 2D-radial laminar flow of yield stress fluids (YSF) is a fundamental flow configuration that is used for cement grout spread estimation. A limited amount of works have presented analytical and numerical solutions on the radial velocity profiles between parallel disks. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no experimental work that has presented measured velocity profiles for this geometry. In this paper, we present velocity profiles of Carbopol (a simple YSF), measured by pulsed ultrasound velocimetry within a radial flow model. We describe the design of the physical model and then present the measured velocity profiles while highlighting the plug-flow region and slip effects observed for three different apertures and volumetric flow rates. Although the measured velocity profiles exhibited wall slip, there was a reasonably good agreement with the analytical solution. We then discuss the major implications of our work on radial flow.

     

Coordinate Bond Breaking Induced by Collapse of Poly(\begin{document}$N$\end{document}-isopropyl acrylamide) as Ligands of a Rare Earth Complex

A novel water-soluble luminescent complex consisting of Eu(ally-dbm)\begin{document}$_3$\end{document}-2Tppo and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) is synthesized through a series of chemical reactions. The structure of the complex is characterized by TGA, GPC, HNMR, and the thermal-responsive fluorescence of the complex in aqueous solution is investigated. It is found that PNIPAM collapse above the lower critical solution temperature causes the coordination bond breaking, leading to weakening of the fluorescence from Eu\begin{document}$^{3+}$\end{document} and enhancing of the fluorescence from the ligands. When temperature decreases, the fluorescence from Eu\begin{document}$^{3+}$\end{document} is found to boost up and the fluorescence from ligands weakens accordingly. It is deduced from this phenomenon that the ligands re-coordinate with europium ions again along with the temperature decreasing, which is further confirmed by IR measurements. This thermal-responsive fluorescence is of reversibility, which can be used as molecular probes for biological imaging and collapse studying of PNIPAM.     

光学共振增强的表面铯激活银纳米结构光阴极

金属光阴极因其超短脉冲发射和运行寿命长的特性从而具有重要应用价值,但是较高的功函数和较强的电子散射使其需要采用高能量紫外光子激发且光电发射量子效率极低.本文利用Mie散射共振效应增强银纳米颗粒中的局域光学态密度,提升光吸收率和电子的输运效率,并利用激活层降低银的功函数,从而增强光阴极在可见光区的量子效率.采用时域有限差分方法分析银纳米球阵列的光学共振特性,采用磁控溅射和退火工艺在银/氧化锡铟复合衬底上制备银纳米球,紧接着在其表面沉积制备铯激活层,最后在高真空腔体中测试光电发射量子效率.实验结果表明平均粒径150 nm的银纳米球光阴极在425 nm波长的量子效率超过0.35%,为相同激活条件下银薄膜光阴极的12倍,峰值波长与理论计算的Mie共振波长相符合.     

Phase transition and quasinormal modes for charged black holes in 4D Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

In four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet(EGB)gravity,we consider the thermodynamic and phase transitions of(charged)AdS black holes.For the negative GB coefficientα<0.the system allows two physical critical points,corresponding to the reentrant phase transition.when the charge Q>2√-α.For arbitraryα>0,the system always leads to a van der Waals phase transition.We then study the quasinormal modes(QNMs)of massless scalar perturbations to probe the van der Waals-like phase transition between small and large black holes(SBH/LBH)for(charged)AdS black holes.We find that the signature of this SBH/LBH phase transition in the isobaric process can be detected since the slopes of the QNM frequencies change dramatically in small and large black holes near the critical point.The obtained results further support that QNMs can be a dynamic probe of ther-modynamic properties in black holes.     

Pt–S Bond-Mediated Nanoflares for High-Fidelity Intracellular Applications by Avoiding Thiol Cleavage

The Au−S bond is the classic way to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). However, cleavage of the bond by biothiols and other chemicals is a long-standing problem hindering practical applications, especially in cells. Instead of replacing the thiol by a carbene or selenol for stronger adsorption, it is now shown that the Pt−S bond is much more stable, fully avoiding cleavage by biothiols. AuNPs were deposited with a thin layer of platinum, and an AuNP@Pt-S nanoflare was constructed to detect the miRNA-21 microRNA in living cells. This design retained the optical and cellular uptake properties of DNA-functionalized AuNPs, while showing high-fidelity signaling. It discriminated target cancer cells even in a mixed-cell culture system, where the Au-S based nanoflare was less sensitive. Compared to previous methods of changing the ligand chemistry, coating a Pt shell is more accessible, and previously developed methods for AuNPs can be directly adapted.     

Simultaneous measurement of SO2 and NO2 concentration using an optical fiber-based LP-DOAS system

SO2 and NO2 are the most important pollution in atmosphere.An optimized long path(LP)differential optical absorption spectroscopy(DOAS)system of high light intensity at an ultraviolet(UV)wavelength is proposed and used to measure the concentration of SO2 and NO2 simultaneously.In contrast to the traditional DOAS,the system adopted a Y-type optical fiber structure instead of a combination of mirrors in the telescope.The UV light intensity test shows that the light intensity of UV can arrive to above 80% of the max measuring range when the light path reaches 135 m,and the integral time of the spectrograph is only 15 ms.The system is proved to be efficacious through laboratory calibration.The maximum error of SO2 calibration is 4.19%,and is 5.22% for NO2.The error of the SO2 and NO2 mixture calibration is within 10%.Field measurement is implemented in a wastewater treatment plant in winter.The measurement light path is 738 m.The concentration of SO2 varies from 6μg/m^3(2.26 ppb)to 20μg/m^3(7.52 ppb),and the concentration of NO2varies from 100μg/m^3(53.2 ppb)to 200μg/m^3(106.4 ppb)approximately.The results are in accordance with the data from a monitoring station nearby in magnitude order and variation tendency mostly.