Synthesis of silica-pillared clay (SPC) with ordered mesoporous structure by one-step method without preswelling process

The simultaneous intercalation of surfactants and TEOS into clay interlayers and subsequent intragallery ammonia-catalyzed hydrolysis of TEOS resulted in mesoporous silica-pillared clay (SPC). These SPC materials exhibited refractions corresponding to a basal spacing of 3.7-4.3 nm, a uniform pore size of 2.5-3.16 nm and large surface areas of 567-576 m²/g. Our results indicate that surfactants play a decisive role in pore formation, because they act as micelle-like template during the hydrolysis of TOES. Moreover, the pore size of SPC derivatives is controllable by the molecular length of surfactant. All of the SPC materials reported here exhibit high catalytic activity and selectivity for coker gas oil (CGO) cracking reaction in comparison to parent MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41. The excellent acid catalytic activity, together with their sable, well-organized porous structure, opens up new opportunities for applications in catalysis.     

Direct synthesis and characterization of highly ordered functional mesoporous silica thin films with high amino-groups content

A series of continuous, crack-free, highly ordered amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films have been directly synthesized by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in the presence of cationic CH₃(CH₂)₁₅N⁺(CH₃)₃Br⁻ (CTAB), nonionic C₁₆H₃₃(OCH₂CH₂)₁₀OH (Brij-56) or triblock copolymer H(OCH₂CH₂)₂₀(OCH(CH₃)CH₂)₇₀(OCH₂CH₂)₂₀)OH (P123) surfactant species under acidic conditions by sol-gel dip-coating. The molar ration of APTES/(TEOS + APTES) in the starting sol attains a value of 0.4. The effect of the sol aging on the mesostructure of thin films is systematically studied, and the optimal sol aging time is obtained for different surfactant systems. The amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films exhibit long-range ordering of 2D hexagonal (p6mm) and 3D cubic (Fm3m) pore arrays of size range from 2.2 to 8.3 nm following surfactants extraction as demonstrated by XRD, TEM and physical adsorption techniques. Based on BET surface area and weight loss, the surface coverage of amino-groups for thin films prepared using different surfactants is calculated to be 3.2 and above amino-groups per nm², which is very useful and promising for incorporating inorganic ions and biomolecules into these mesoporous silica materials.     

A novel optical beam splitter based on photonic crystal with hybrid lattices

A novel optical beam splitter constructed on the basis of photonic crystal(PC) with hybrid lattices is proposed in this paper.The band gap of square-lattice PC is so designed that the incident light is divided into several branch beams.Triangular-lattice graded-index PCs are combined for focusing each branch.Computational calculations are carried out on the basis of finite-different time-domain algorithm to prove the feasibility of our design.The waveguide is unnecessary in the design.Thus the device has functions of both splitting and focusing beams.Size of the divided beam at site of full-width at half-maximum is of the order of λ/2.The designed splitter has the advantages that it has a small volume and can be integrated by conventional semiconductor manufacturing process.     

A novel structure of permanent-magnet-biased radial hybrid magnetic bearing

The paper proposes a novel structure for a permanent-magnet-biased radial hybrid magnetic bearing. Based on the air gap between the rotor and stator of traditional radial hybrid magnetic bearings, a subsidiary air gap is first constructed between the permanent magnets and the inner magnetic parts. Radial magnetic bearing makes X and Y magnetic fields independent of each other with separate stator poles, and the subsidiary air gap makes control flux to a close loop. As a result, magnetic field coupling of the X and Y channels is decreased significantly by the radial hybrid magnetic bearing and makes it easier to design control systems. Then an external rotor structure is designed into the radial hybrid magnetic bearing. The working principle of the radial hybrid magnetic bearing and its mathematical model is discussed. Finally, a non-linear magnetic network method is proposed to analyze the radial hybrid magnetic bearing. Simulation results indicate that magnetic fields in the two channels of the proposed radial hybrid magnetic bearing decouple well from each other.     

Near-field characteristics of highly non-paraxial subwavelength optical fields with hybrid states of polarization

The vectorial structure of an optical field with hybrid states of polarization(So P) in the near-field is studied by using the angular spectrum method of an electromagnetic beam. Physical images of the longitudinal components of evanescent waves are illustrated and compared with those of the transverse components from the vectorial structure. Our results indicate that the relative weight integrated over the transverse plane of the evanescent wave depends strongly on the number of the polarization topological charges. The shapes of the intensity profiles of the longitudinal components are different from those of the transverse components, and it can be manipulated by changing the initial So P of the field cross-section. The longitudinal component of evanescent wave dominates the near-field region. In addition, it also leads to three-dimensional shape variations of the optical field and the optical spin angular momentum flux density distributions.     

Preparation of highly ordered mesoporous AlSBA-15-SO3H hybrid material for the catalytic synthesis of chalcone under solvent-free condition

Single-step preparation of SBA-15 materials functionalized with both propylsulfonic acid groups and aluminum species (AlSBA-15-SO₃H) was carried out by hydrothermal treatment of a mixture of aluminum isopropoxide, 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, and triblock copolymer surfactant. At Si/Al molar ratio of 11-96, the materials exhibited well-ordered hexagonally arranged mesopores with pore diameter of ca. 9 nm, BET surface area of 546.9-666.0 m² g⁻¹, and pore volume of 0.82-1.03 cm³ g⁻¹. As-prepared AlSBA-15-SO₃H was successfully used in the Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction of benzaldehyde with acetophenone to produce chalcone under solvent-free condition, and the influence of the reaction parameters including temperatures, molar ratios of BZD to APN, and aluminum loadings were considered during the chalcone synthesis procedure. It showed that AlSBA-15-SO₃H exhibited significantly high catalytic activity and selectivity, outperforming the reference catalysts such as sulfuric acid, ZSM-5, and acidic MCM-49. In addition, the catalytic stability and regeneration of AlSBA-15-SO₃H was studied.     

A novel one-step electron beam irradiation method for synthesis of Ag/Cu2O nanocomposites

In this paper, a novel method for fabrication of silver/cuprous oxide (Ag/Cu₂O) nanocomposites is reported. The method involves the reduction of Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ in the aqueous solution to Ag/Cu₂O without adding any reducing reagent under electron beam (EB) irradiation. Dye methyl orange is used as the pollutant model to investigate the photocatalytic properties of these nanocomposites. The results reveal that they have higher photocatalytic efficiencies than that of Cu₂O under visible light. These visible light-sensitive catalysts may have potential application in the field of environmental remediation.     

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of graphene@MXene hybrid: A novel and promising material for electrochemical sensing

To date, multiple graphene@MXene hybrids have been reported via various synthesis approaches, but almost all the graphene@MXene hybrids inevitably used the reduced graphene oxide that prepared by chemical oxidation/reduction method, which generally involved the complex and dangerous operation procedure, and the highly toxic chemical reagent. How to prepare graphene@MXene hybrid through a simple, safe and eco-friendly synthetic route is highly desired. Compared with traditional synthesis technology, ultrasound synthesis strategy displays the merits of simplicity, low cost and environment protection. Herein, MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) nanoflakes coupled with graphene nanosheets (graphene@MXene) were prepared in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) by simple ultrasound-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation method for the first time. Besides, the effect of types of solvent with different viscocity, sonication temperature and sonication duration time on the property of graphene@MXene hybrids were systematacially investigated. It is found the liquid-phase exfoliated graphene owned excellent electron transfer ability and the MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) nanoflakes possessed outstanding adsorption property, the as-synthesized graphene@MXene hybrid exhibited significant signal synergistic enhancement effect toward the oxidation of hazardous veterinary drug residue compound (chlorpromazine) and food additives (rhodamine B). Based on this, a novel and sensitive electrochemical sensor was fabricated, the linear detection ranges were 5 nM to 0.5 μM for chlorpromazine with sensitivity of 1090 µA μM⁻¹ cm⁻², and 10 nM to 2.5 μM for rhodamine B with sensitivity of 440 and 102.14 µA μM⁻¹ cm⁻². Besides, the detection limits were evaluated to be as low as 1.25 nM and 2.45 nM for chlorpromazine and rhodamine B, respectively.     

A novel synthesis of highly substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine derivatives by 3-CR/2-CR sequence

By combining a three-component reaction of 2, 3-diaminomaleonitrile, ketones and isocyanides with a subsequent reaction of 1,6-dihydropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile derivatives obtained from isocyanide-based three-component reaction with various alkyl and aryl isocyanates or isothiocyanates can be assembled a new class of highly substituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine derivatives.     

考虑自适应巡航车辆影响的上匝道系统混合交通流模型

在考虑自适应巡航(adaptive cruise control, ACC)车辆的交通流模型的基础上, 建立了考虑ACC车辆影响的上匝道系统混合交通流模型, 研究ACC车辆引入对上匝道交通系统交通流的影响. 为了描述ACC车辆和手动驾驶车辆在交通流运行中的差异, 分别构建了基于常车头时距原则的ACC 车辆跟驰子模型和手动驾驶车辆MCD元胞自动机子模型; 基于上匝道车辆合流驶入主线的需求, 建立了换道子模型, 引入了表征驾驶员换道心理的参数λ. 通过对混合交通流模型进行数值模拟发现, ACC车辆的混入可以有效改善上匝道系统交通流的运行, 降低合流等事件对于交通流运行的影响, 抑制交通拥堵的时空范围及拥堵强度, 提高交通流的平均速度和流量. 此外在混合交通流模型中, ACC车辆期望车头时距H_d的减小与换道心理参数λ 的增大均可以提高混合交通流运行的速度和流量, 而合流区长度l_w对混合交通流影响则因上匝道车辆驶入概率的不同而存在差异.     

A study of Ni-based WC composite coatings by laser induction hybrid rapid cladding with elliptical spot

Ni-based WC composite coatings by laser induction hybrid rapid cladding (LIHRC) with elliptical spot were investigated. Results indicate that the efficiency using the elliptical spot of 6 mm × 4 mm (the major and minor axis of laser beam are 6 mm and 4 mm, respectively, the major axis is parallel to the direction of laser scanning) is higher than that using the elliptical spot of 4 mm × 6 mm (the major axis is perpendicular to the direction of laser scanning). The precipitated carbides with the blocky and bar-like shape indicate that WC particles suffer from the heat damage of “the disintegration pattern + the growth pattern”, whichever elliptical spot is used at low laser scanning speed. However, at high laser scanning speed, the blocky carbides are only formed if the elliptical spot of 6 mm × 4 mm is adopted, showing that WC particles present the heat damage of “the disintegration pattern”, whereas the fine carbides are precipitated when the elliptical spot of 4 mm × 6 mm is used, showing that WC particles take on the heat damage of “the radiation pattern”. Especially, the efficiency of LIHRC is increased much four times higher than that of the general laser cladding and crack-free ceramic-metal coatings can be obtained.     

A novel chemical synthesis and characterization of Mn3O4 thin films for supercapacitor application

Mn₃O₄ thin films have been prepared by novel chemical successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Further these films were characterized for their structural, morphological and optical properties by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), wettability test and optical absorption studies. The XRD pattern showed that the Mn₃O₄ films exhibit tetragonal hausmannite structure. Formation of manganese oxide compound was confirmed from FTIR studies. The optical absorption showed existence of direct optical band gap of energy 2.30 eV. Mn₃O₄ film surface showed hydrophilic nature with water contact angle of 55°. The supercapacitive properties of Mn₃O₄ thin film investigated in 1 M Na₂SO₄ electrolyte showed maximum supercapacitance of 314 F g⁻¹ at scan rate 5 mV s⁻¹.     

Copper NPs decorated titania: A novel synthesis by high energy US with a study of the photocatalytic activity under visible light

The most important drawback of the use of TiO₂ as photocatalyst is its lack of activity under visible light. To overcome this problem, the surface modification of commercial micro-sized TiO₂ by means of high-energy ultrasound (US), employing CuCl₂ as precursor molecule to obtain both metallic copper as well as copper oxides species at the TiO₂ surface, is here. We have prepared samples with different copper content, in order to evaluate its impact on the photocatalytic performances of the semiconductor, and studied in particular the photodegradation in the gas phase of some volatile organic molecules (VOCs), namely acetone and acetaldehyde. We used a LED lamp in order to have only the contribution of the visible wavelengths to the TiO₂ activation (typical LED lights have no emission in the UV region). We employed several techniques (i.e., HR-TEM, XRD, FT-IR and UV–Vis) in order to characterize the prepared samples, thus evidencing different sample morphologies as a function of the various copper content, with a coherent correlation between them and the photocatalytic results. Firstly, we demonstrated the possibility to use US to modify the TiO₂, even when it is commercial and micro-sized as well; secondly, by avoiding completely the UV irradiation, we confirmed that pure TiO₂ is not activated by visible light. On the other hand, we showed that copper metal and metal oxides nanoparticles strongly and positively affect its photocatalytic activity.