Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

以磷化铁为添加剂沿(111)面生长磷掺杂金刚石大单晶

掺杂是调控金刚石性能的一种重要手段。本文采用温度梯度法,在5.6 GPa、1 312 ℃的条件下,选用Fe₃P作为磷源进行磷掺杂金刚石大单晶的合成。金刚石样品的显微光学照片表明,随着Fe₃P添加比例的增加,金刚石晶体的颜色逐渐变深,包裹体数量逐渐增加,晶形由板状转变为塔状直至骸晶。金刚石晶形的变化表明Fe₃P的添加使生长金刚石的V形区向右偏移,这是Fe₃P改变触媒特性的缘故。红外光谱分析表明,Fe₃P的添加使金刚石晶体中氮含量上升,这说明磷的进入诱使氮原子更容易进入金刚石晶格中。激光拉曼光谱测试表明,随着Fe₃P添加比例的增加,所合成的掺磷金刚石的拉曼峰位变化不大,其半峰全宽(FWHM)值变大,这说明磷的进入使得金刚石晶格畸变增加。XPS测试结果显示,随着Fe₃P添加比例的增加,金刚石晶体中磷相对碳的原子百分含量也会增加,这意味着添加Fe₃P所合成的金刚石晶体中有磷存在。     

Terahertz generation in quantum cascade structures by two-color deriving fields: An approach to reach inversion population via optical pumping

In this paper, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) design is proposed based on GaAs/AlGaAs material system, which simultaneously operates at three widely separated wavelengths (${\lambda }_1=11.1\mu m,{\lambda }_2=14.1\mu m$ and ${\lambda }_{THz}=60\mu m$). In the design, all the wavelength radiations are achieved by the engineering of the electronic spectrum via the quantum-well widths and the applied electric field in a single active region within a same waveguide. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths are obtained by adoption a dual-upper-state active region, and the proposed design aims to use both the mid-IR radiations as the coherent deriving fields to populate the upper THz lasing state to aid the THz-laser population inversion via optical pumping instead of direct electrical injection. A detailed analysis of electronic transport in the structure is carried out using a multi-level rate-equation model. The results show that the proposed structure offers an alternative approach to room temperature THz generation in QCLs.     

雾化辅助化学气相沉积法氧化镓薄膜生长研究

采用自主设计搭建的雾化辅助化学气相沉积系统设备,开展了Ga₂O₃薄膜制备及其特性研究工作。通过X射线衍射研究了沉积温度、系统沉积压差对Ga₂O₃薄膜结晶质量的影响。结果表明,Ga₂O₃在425~650 ℃温度区间存在物相转换关系。随着沉积温度从425 ℃升高至650 ℃,薄膜结晶分别由非晶态、纯α-Ga₂O₃结晶状态向α-Ga₂O₃、β-Ga₂O₃两相混合结晶状态改变。通过原子力显微镜表征探究了生长温度对Ga₂O₃薄膜表面形貌的影响,从475 ℃升高至650 ℃时,薄膜表面粗糙度由26.8 nm下降至24.8 nm。同时,高分辨X射线衍射仪测试表明475 ℃、5 Pa压差条件下的α-Ga₂O₃薄膜样品半峰全宽仅为190.8″,为高度结晶态的单晶α-Ga₂O₃薄膜材料。     

1,3,5-三(羧基甲氧基)苯镍配位聚合物的合成、晶体结构及性质研究

采用溶剂热法,1,3,5-三(羧基甲氧基)苯为定向配体和乙酸镍反应构筑了一个新型的金属配位聚合物[Ni(TB)₂(H₂O)₂]_n·2H₂O,其中H₃TB=1,3,5-三(羧基甲氧基)苯,通过元素分析、IR及X射线单晶衍射对配合物结构进行表征,并研究其荧光性质、热稳定性及Hirshfeld表面作用力。单晶结构分析表明,该配合物属于三斜晶系,空间群$P \overline{1}$,配合物中心离子Ni(Ⅱ)分别与来自两个水分子上的氧原子及四个不同1,3,5-三(羧基甲氧基)苯配体的羧酸氧原子配位,形成六配位的NiO₆八面体构型,并通过与1,3,5-三(羧基甲氧基)苯配体的氧原子配位不断延伸形成具有孔洞结构的一维链状构型。配合物具有良好的荧光性能和热稳定性。Hirshfeld表面作用分析表明配合物分子中O…H/H…O作用占主导且占比为39.0%,而H…H的作用力占比为25.9%,O…O的作用力占比为13.6%。     

不同退火条件对PEALD制备的Ga2O3薄膜特性的影响

利用等离子增强原子层沉积技术(PEALD)在c面蓝宝石衬底上制备了氧化镓(Ga₂O₃)薄膜,研究了退火气氛(v(N₂)∶v(O₂)=1∶1(体积比)、空气和N₂)及退火时间对Ga₂O₃薄膜晶体结构、表面形貌和光学性质的影响。研究结果表明,退火前的氧化镓处于亚稳态,不同退火气氛下退火后晶体结构发生明显改变,而且退火气氛中N₂比例增加有利于Ga₂O₃重结晶。在N₂气氛下退火达到30 min,薄膜结构已由亚稳态转变成择优取向的β-Ga₂O₃。而且表面形貌分析表明,退火30 min后表面形貌开始趋于稳定,表面晶粒密度不再增加。另外实验样品在 400~800 nm的平均透射率几乎是100%,且光吸收边陡峭。采用N₂气氛退火,对于富氧环境下沉积的Ga₂O₃更利于薄膜表面原子迁移,以及择优取向Ga₂O₃重结晶。     

Strategy to mitigate single event upset in 14-nm CMOS bulk FinFET technology

Three-dimensional (3D) TCAD simulations demonstrate that reducing the distance between the well boundary and N-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor or P-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor can mitigate the cross section of single event upset (SEU) in 14-nm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) bulk FinFET technology. The competition of charge collection between well boundary and sensitive nodes, the enhanced restoring currents and the change of bipolar effect are responsible for the decrease of SEU cross section. Unlike dual-interlock cell (DICE) design, this approach is more effective under heavy ion irradiation of higher LET, in the presence of enough taps to ensure the rapid recovery of well potential. Besides, the feasibility of this method and its effectiveness with feature size scaling down are discussed.     

Analysis on First-stage Ignition of n-Heptane at Low Temperatures with a Lumped Skeletal Mechanism

Two-stage ignition exists in the low-temperature combustion process of n-heptane and the first-stage ignition also shows a negative temperature coefficient(NTC) phenomenon. To study key reactions and understand chemical principles affecting the first-stage ignition of n-heptane, a lumped skeletal mechanism with 62 species is obtained based on the detailed NUIGMech1.0 mechanism using the directed relation graph method assisted by sensitivity analysis and isomer lumping. The lumped mechanism shows good performance on ignition delay time under wide conditions. The study revealed that the temperature after the first-stage ignition is higher and a larger amount of fuel is consumed at lower initial temperatures. The temperature at the first-stage ignition is relatively insensitive to the initial temperature. Further sensitivity analysis and reaction path analysis carried out based on the lumped mechanism show that the decomposition of RO₂ to produce alkene and HO₂is the most important reaction to inhibit the first-stage ignitions. The chain branching explosion closely related to the first-stage ignition will be terminated when the rate constant for the RO₂ decomposition is larger than that of the isomerization of RO₂ to produce QOOH. The NTC behavior as well as other characteristics of the first-stage ignition can be rationalized from the competition between these two reactions.