Some Measurement-Based Characterizations of Separability of Bipartite States

Importance of quantum entanglement has been demonstrated in various applications. Usually, separability of a bipartite state is defined by its algebraic structure, i.e. a convex combination of product states. But it seems to be hard to check separability (equivalently, entanglement) of a state from its algebraic structure. In this note, we give some characterizations of separability of bipartite states based on POVM measurements. For bipartite pure states, we prove the separability, Bell locality, unsteerability and classical correlation are the same. As a consequence, every entangled pure bipartite state is always Bell nonlocal, steerable and quantum correlated.

     

Tuning the excitonic and plasmonic properties of copper chalcogenide nanocrystals

The optical properties of stoichiometric copper chalcogenide nanocrystals (NCs) are characterized by strong interband transitions in the blue part of the spectral range and a weaker absorption onset up to ~1000 nm, with negligible absorption in the near-infrared (NIR). Oxygen exposure leads to a gradual transformation of stoichiometric copper chalcogenide NCs (namely, Cu(2-x)S and Cu(2-x)Se, x = 0) into their nonstoichiometric counterparts (Cu(2-x)S and Cu(2-x)Se, x > 0), entailing the appearance and evolution of an intense localized surface plasmon (LSP) band in the NIR. We also show that well-defined copper telluride NCs (Cu(2-x)Te, x > 0) display a NIR LSP, in analogy to nonstoichiometric copper sulfide and selenide NCs. The LSP band in copper chalcogenide NCs can be tuned by actively controlling their degree of copper deficiency via oxidation and reduction experiments. We show that this controlled LSP tuning affects the excitonic transitions in the NCs, resulting in photoluminescence (PL) quenching upon oxidation and PL recovery upon subsequent reduction. Time-resolved PL spectroscopy reveals a decrease in exciton lifetime correlated to the PL quenching upon LSP evolution. Finally, we report on the dynamics of LSPs in nonstoichiometric copper chalcogenide NCs. Through pump-probe experiments, we determined the time constants for carrier-phonon scattering involved in LSP cooling. Our results demonstrate that copper chalcogenide NCs offer the unique property of holding excitons and highly tunable LSPs on demand, and hence they are envisaged as a unique platform for the evaluation of exciton/LSP interactions.     

Chains, ladders and sheets of d metal–organic polymers generated from the flexible bipyridyl ligands

By use of the three-layer diffusion method, reactions of flexible bipyridyl ligands (4,4′-bpp or 3,3′-bpp) with M(II) salts (M = Zn, Cd) and multi-carboxylate ligands resulted in the formation of four interesting d¹⁰ metal–organic coordination polymers: [Zn(μ-4,4′-bpp)Br₂]_n (1), [Zn(μ-4,4′-bpp)(1,2-bdc)]_n · nH₂O (2), [Zn(μ-3,3′-bpp)(1,3-bdc)]_n · nCH₃OH · 2nH₂O (3) and [Cd(μ-3,3′-bpp)(C₄H₂O₄)]_n · 3nH₂O (4) (4,4′-bpp = 2,2′-bis(4-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; 3,3′-bpp = 2,2 ′-bis(3-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; bdc=benzenedicarboxylate, C₄H₄O₄ = fumaric acid). Complex 1 has a 2D sheet structure consisting of two unusual zigzag Zn(II) chains which are nearly perpendicular to each other. Complex 2 is comprised of two-leg ladders, in which [Zn(4,4′-bpp)] chains serve as the side rails and 1,2-bdc ligands serve as the cross rungs. In complex 3, every two 1,3-bdc ligands connect the neighbouring Zn(II)-3,3′-bpp dimetallic rings in η¹ coordination modes into an interesting chain structure. Complex 4 consists of an anionic macrocycle-containing cadmium dicarboxylate sheets that are separated by 3,3′-bpp. These d¹⁰ metal complexes exhibit high thermal stabilities and strong luminescence efficiencies.     

A basket tetradecavanadate cluster with blue luminescence

A blue luminescent tetradecavanadate compound, [Et4N]5[V14O36Cl], has been synthesized. It possesses an unprecedented half-open basket framework. Through the {ABAB}-type stacking, the {V14O36} clusters form infinite one-dimensional channels with considerable accessible volume in the crystalline state.     

Studies on the performances of silica aerogel electrodes for the application of supercapacitor

Silica aerogel (SiO₂ aerogel) was prepared by sol–gel method from tetraethyl orthosilicate hydrolyzation and has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and N₂ adsorption for its surface structure, surface area, and pore-size distribution. Constant current charge–discharge technique, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectrum were employed for its specific capacitance and equivalent series resistance. The results showed that the maximum specific capacitance of SiO₂ aerogel electrode in 1 M Et₄NBF₄/PC electrolyte was 62.5 F g⁻¹. In addition, the SiO₂ aerogel capacitor exhibits excellent long-term stability with no significant degradation after 500 charging and discharging cycles. Therefore, the application of high surface area SiO₂ aerogel as electrodes in supercapacitor devices is promising.     

Hierarchical Zeolites-confined Metal Catalysts and Their Enhanced Catalytic Performances

The confinement of metal species within hierarchical zeolites combines the acidic/basic sites of zeolites, the enhanced mass transfer of mesoporous system, and the inside active metal sites, leading to high activity, unique selectivity, and superior stability in chemicals synthesis, energy and environment catalysis. To date, review on this emerging topic is rarely reported. Herein, we classify five metals-hierarchical zeolites composite (metal@hierarchical zeolites) according to the location of metals on hierarchical structure, including metals located on micropores, intercrystalline mesopores, intracrystalline mesopores, hollow nanobox and mesoporous shells. The synthesis and catalysis applications of metal@hierarchical zeolites composite are provided, highlighting the rational design of catalyst preparation, the improved catalytic efficiency and stability of metal species. Finally, we discuss the current limitations and future opportunities for this emerging field. This Review is expected to inspire more developments and applications of metal@hierarchical zeolites.     

Soluble precursors for CuInSe2, CuIn(1-x)Ga(x)Se2, and Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 based on colloidal nanocrystals and molecular metal chalcogenide surface ligands

We report a new platform for design of soluble precursors for CuInSe(2) (CIS), Cu(In(1-x)Ga(x))Se(2) (CIGS), and Cu(2)ZnSn(S,Se)(4) (CZTS) phases for thin-film potovoltaics. To form these complex phases, we used colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) with metal chalcogenide complexes (MCCs) as surface ligands. The MCC ligands both provided colloidal stability and represented essential components of target phase. To obtain soluble precursors for CuInSe(2), we used Cu(2-x)Se NCs capped with In(2)Se(4)(2-) MCC surface ligands or CuInSe(2) NCs capped with {In(2)Cu(2)Se(4)S(3)}(3-) MCCs. A mixture of Cu(2-x)Se and ZnS NCs, both capped with Sn(2)S(6)(4-) or Sn(2)Se(6)(4-) ligands was used for solution deposition of CZTS films. Upon thermal annealing, the inorganic ligands reacted with NC cores forming well-crystallized pure ternary and quaternary phases. Solution-processed CIS and CZTS films featured large grain size and high phase purity, confirming the prospects of this approach for practical applications.     

Electrochemical sensor for lead(II) ion using a carbon ionic-liquid electrode modified with a composite consisting of mesoporous carbon, an ionic liquid, and chitosan

A novel electrode was prepared that enables sensing of lead(II) ion. A suspension composed of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC), an ionic liquid (IL), and chitosan was deposited on the highly conductive surface of a carbon ionic-liquid electrode (CILE). The surface of the sensing electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The new electrode can be used to determine lead(II) ion because the hydrophobic ionic liquid of the CILE can extract Pb(II), while the OMC accelerates the electron transfer rate between the electrode and Pb(II) and also strongly adsorbs Pb(II). The resulting electrode displays excellent and synergistic response to Pb(II) which is linear in the range from 0.05 to 1.4?μM, with a correlation coefficient of 0.997 and a detection limit of 25 nM.

Sorption of cesium on surrounding granite of Chinese low- and medium-level nuclear waste repository in the groundwater environment

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The adsorption behavior and mechanism of Cs+ on surrounding granite of nuclear waste repository under the groundwater environment were...     

Propagation of gaseous detonation across inert layers

In rotating detonation engines and explosion accidents, detonation may propagate in an inhomogeneous mixture with inert layers. This study focuses on detonation propagation in a stoichiometric H₂/O₂/N₂ mixture with multiple inert layers normal to the detonation propagation direction. One- and two-dimensional simulations considering detailed chemistry are conducted. The emphasis is placed on assessing the effects of inert layer on detonation reinitiation/failure, detonation propagation speed, detonation cell structure and cell size. Specifically, the inert layer thickness and the spacing between two consecutive inert layers are varied. Either detonation reinitiation or failure across the inert layers is observed. It is found that successful detonation reinitiation occurs only at relatively small values of the inert layer thickness and spacing. For each given value of the inert layer spacing, there is a critical inert layer thickness above which detonation fails after crossing the inert layers. This critical inert layer thickness is found to decrease as the inert layer spacing increases. The detailed process of detonation reinitiation across the inert layers is analyzed. The interaction between the transverse shock waves is shown to induce local autoignition/explosion and eventually over-driven detonation development in the reactive layer. The averaged detonation propagation speed in the inhomogeneous mixture is compared to the CJ speed and very good agreement is achieved. This indicates that the inert layer does not affect the detonation propagation speed once successful detonation reinitiation happens. Unlike the detonation speed, the detonation cell structure and cell size are greatly affected by the inert layer results. For the first time, large cellular structure with size linearly proportional to the inert layer spacing is observed for detonation propagation across inert layers. Besides, a double cellular structure is observed for relatively large spacing between inert layers. The formation of double cellular structure is interpreted.