Enhanced visible light absorption in layered Cs3Bi2Br9 through mixed-valence Sn(ii)/Sn(iv) doping

Lead-free halides with perovskite-related structures, such as the vacancy-ordered perovskite Cs₃Bi₂Br₉, are of interest for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. We find that addition of SnBr₂ to the solution-phase synthesis of Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ leads to substitution of up to 7% of the Bi(iii) ions by equal quantities of Sn(ii) and Sn(iv). The nature of the substitutional defects was studied by X-ray diffraction, ¹³³Cs and ¹¹⁹Sn solid state NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. The resulting mixed-valence compounds show intense visible and near infrared absorption due to intervalence charge transfer, as well as electronic transitions to and from localised Sn-based states within the band gap. Sn(ii) and Sn(iv) defects preferentially occupy neighbouring B-cation sites, forming a double-substitution complex. Unusually for a Sn(ii) compound, the material shows minimal changes in optical and structural properties after 12 months storage in air. Our calculations suggest the stabilisation of Sn(ii) within the double substitution complex contributes to this unusual stability. These results expand upon research on inorganic mixed-valent halides to a new, layered structure, and offer insights into the tuning, doping mechanisms, and structure–property relationships of lead-free vacancy-ordered perovskite structures.

Mixed valence Sn doping of Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ leads to broad visible light absorption.     

层状无机化合物--磷酸锆的研究和应用进展

简要概述层状无机化合物的物理和化学性质,以及层状磷酸锆的结构特点和性质,对近年来层状磷酸锆在光、电、催化、分子识别等领域的研究和应用进行了综述,并展望了层状磷酸锆的研究前景.     

Effects of molecular weight of nitrocellulose on structure and properties of polyurethane/nitrocellulose IPNs

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) coatings were prepared by using castor oil‐based polyurethane (PU) and nitrocellulose (NC) with various viscosity‐average molecular weights (M_η) from 6 × 10⁴ to 42 × 10⁴, and coated on a regenerated cellulose (RC) film to obtain water‐resistant film. The PU/NC coatings and coated films, which were cured at 80°C for 5 min and 2 min, respectively, were investigated by infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, swelling test, strength test, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that the crosslink densities of the PU/NC semi‐IPNs were smaller than that of pure PU, and decreased with the decrease of M_η of nitrocellulose (NC M_η), indicating NC molecules cohered intimately with PU, and hindered the PU network formation. The physical and mechanical properties of the films coated with PU/NC coatings were significantly improved. With the increase of NC M_η, the strength and thermal stability of the coated films increased, but the pliability, water resistivity, and optical transmission decreased slowly. The PU/NC coating with low NC M_η more readily penetrated into the RC film, and reacted with cellulose, resulting in a strong interfacial bonding and dense surface caused by intimate blend of PU/NC in the coated films. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1623–1631, 1999     

Formation and structure of pachyman aggregates in dimethyl sulfoxide containing water

The aggregation of pachyman, β-(1 → 3)-D -glucan (M_w = 1.68 × 10⁵) from the Poria cocos mycelia, was investigated using static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing about 15% water, which leads to large aggregates. Both the time dependence of hydrodynamic radius and the angle dependence of the scattering intensity were used to calculate the fractal dimension (d_f) of the aggregates. The aggregation rate and average size of aggregates increase dramatically with increasing the polymer concentration from 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ g/mL to 8.6 × 10⁻⁴ g/mL, and with the decrease of the solvent quality, that is, water content from 13 to 15%. In the cases, the fractal dimensions change from 1.94 to 2.43 and from 1.92 to 2.54, respectively, suggesting that transforms of aggregation processes: a slow process called reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) to a fast process called diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA) in different polymer concentrations and water content. The fractal dimensions above 2 of the fast aggregation is larger than the 1.75 predicted for the ideal DLCA model, suggesting that the aggregation involves a restructuring process through the interchain hydrogen bonding interaction. There are no aggregates of pachyman in DMSO without water, but aggregates formed in the DMSO containing 15% water at 25°C as a compact structure. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3201–3207, 1999     

化学反应和球面聚心爆轰波的相互作用

考察球面爆轰波聚心传播过程中,波阵面附近压力和温度不断升高引起化学反应进程的改变;对比氢氧可燃气体与氮气的数值模拟结果,分析化学反应对波面温度和压力的影响,从而考察Zeldovich理论预测聚心爆轰波后参数的精确性.数值结果表明,爆轰波聚心传播初期,放热的燃烧反应对波后热力学参数起主导作用;传播后期,波阵面趋近于对称中心时,吸热的气体解离反应变得非常活跃,解离反应对后期的汇聚压力影响不大,但会在很大程度上限制汇聚温度的升高.     

Toeplitz Preconditioners with Block Structure for First-order PDEs

Preconditioners to nonsymmetric, nondiagonally dominant systems of equations are constructed and examined numerically. The preconditioners are based on a Toeplitz approach with a certain symmetry that we define. The inversion of the preconditioners is defined through a Fast Modified Sine Transform. As a model problem we study the systems of equations arising from a implicit time-discretization with a large time-step of a scalar hyperbolic PDE.     

A two-dimensional generalized thermo-hydro-mechanical-coupled problem for a poroelastic half-space

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of coupled thermo-hydro- mechanical dynamics on an isotropic, uniform, fully saturated, and poroelastic half-space subgrade whose surface is subjected to either mechanical force or thermal load. In this paper, our formulation is deduced in the context of two theories of generalized thermoelasticity: the Lord-Shulman theory and the Green-Lindsay theory. We then deduce the general relationships among non-dimensional vertical displacement, excess pore water pressure, vertical stress, and temperature distribution using Normal Mode Analysis (NMA) and depict them graphically. NMA is a method using weighted residuals to derive analytical solutions and can thus solve partial differential equations more quickly compared to other methods. This study continues our work of applying NMA to derive theoretical results in the multi-field coupling of soil. Following the analysis, the theoretical results are illustrated with a numerical example and a Maple program is developed. Furthermore, the differences between the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical dynamic model (THMD) and the thermo-elastic dynamic model (TED) are presented. This proposed derivation method can be widely applied in the geotechnical engineering field, especially with regard to the mechanical and thermal behaviors of commercial buildings, high-speed railways, and highway energy foundations.     

一种简便渗透压法测定高聚物分子量

本工作采用一种改进的一膜两室渗透计和简便动态渗透压法测定了一系列聚合物的数均分子量,该法操作方便、快速、可靠,测定分子量相对误差在±5％以内。     

In Vitro and In Vivo Antidiabetic Potential of Monoterpenoids: An Update

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin levels or insulin resistance. Despite the availability of several oral and injectable hypoglycemic agents, their use is associated with a wide range of side effects. Monoterpenes are compounds extracted from different plants including herbs, vegetables, and fruits and they contribute to their aroma and flavor. Based on their chemical structure, monoterpenes are classified into acyclic, monocyclic, and bicyclic monoterpenes. They have been found to exhibit numerous biological and medicinal effects such as antipruritic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. Therefore, monoterpenes emerged as promising molecules that can be used therapeutically to treat a vast range of diseases. Additionally, monoterpenes were found to modulate enzymes and proteins that contribute to insulin resistance and other pathological events caused by DM. In this review, we highlight the different mechanisms by which monoterpenes can be used in the pharmacological intervention of DM via the alteration of certain enzymes, proteins, and pathways involved in the pathophysiology of DM. Based on the fact that monoterpenes have multiple mechanisms of action on different targets in in vitro and in vivo studies, they can be considered as lead compounds for developing effective hypoglycemic agents. Incorporating these compounds in clinical trials is needed to investigate their actions in diabetic patients in order to confirm their ability in controlling hyperglycemia.