Hydrothermal synthesis of graphene oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube/Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> ternary nanocomposite for removal of Cu (II) and methylene blue

In this work, highly activated graphene oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube/Fe₃O₄ ternary nanocomposite adsorbent was prepared from a simple hydrothermal route by using ferrous sulfate as precursor. For this purpose, the graphene oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube architectures were formed through the π-π attractions between them, followed by attaching Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles onto their surface. The structure and composition of as-prepared ternary nanocomposite were characterized by XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, TEM, Raman, TGA, and BET. It was found that the resultant porous graphene oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube/Fe₃O₄ ternary nanocomposite with large surface area could effectively prevent the π-π stacking interactions between graphene oxide nanosheets and greatly improve sorption sites on the surfaces. Thus, owing to the unique ternary nanocomposite architecture and synergistic effect among various components, as-prepared ternary nanocomposite exhibited high separation efficiency when they were used to remove the Cu (II) and methylene blue from aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherms of ternary nanocomposite structures for Cu (II) and methylene blue removal fitted the Langmuir isotherm model. This work demonstrated that the graphene oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube/Fe₃O₄ ternary nanocomposite was promising as an efficient adsorbent for heavy metal ions and organic dye removal from wastewater in low concentration.     

Symbiotic organism search algorithm for simulation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">V</Emphasis> characteristics and optimizing internal parameters of DSSC developed using electrospun TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanofibers

In the present investigation, the recently developed, simple, robust, and powerful metaheuristic symbiotic organism search (SOS) algorithm was used for simulation of J-V characteristics and optimizing the internal parameters of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated using electrospun 1-D mesoporous TiO₂ nanofibers as photoanode. The efficiency (η =?5.80%) of the DSSC made up of TiO₂ nanofibers as photoanode is found to be ～ 21.59% higher compared to the efficiency (η =?4.77%) of the DSSC made up of TiO₂ nanoparticles as photoanode. The observed high efficiency can be attributed to high dye loading as well as high electron transport in the mesoporous 1-D TiO₂ nanofibers. Further, the validity and advantage of SOS algorithm are verified by simulating J-V characteristics of DSSC with Lambert-W function.     

Synthesis,structural and dielectric properties of SrBi<Subscript>2 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sm<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript>

The SrBi_{2 – x} Sm _x Nb₂O₉ (x = 0, 0.4, 0.5) structure were synthesized by a conventional solid-state method. The X-ray diffraction shows an orthorhombic at room temperature. Dielectric constant, loss tangent and Ac conductivity of Sm-doped SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ were carried out, as well. A higher concentration of samarium (x = 0.4 and 0.5) doping leads to a significant reduction in dielectric constant and in Curie temperature. Rather relaxor type of behaviour took place.     

氮自掺杂Ta_2O_5微球制备及其光催化性能研究

我们采用水热法合成了具有可见光吸收的非金属自掺杂N-Ta_2O_5多孔微球光催化剂.并通过X射线粉末衍射仪(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、紫外可见分光光度计(UV-vis)等多种表征手段对自掺杂N-Ta_2O_5的晶体结构、形貌、组分等进行了测试分析.XRD结果表明,Ta N可以在HF溶液中完全氧化为Ta_2O_5,N掺杂可以通过N与O原子的轨道杂化使Ta_2O_5的带隙从4.0 eV降低为2.2 eV,从而增强其可见光吸收.高催化活性的N-Ta_2O_5可通过调控其结晶度来实现.     

On the ambiguity in the notion of transverse traceless modes of gravitational waves

Somewhat surprisingly, in many of the widely used monographs and review articles the term Transverse-Traceless modes of linearized gravitational waves is used to denote two entirely different notions. These treatments generally begin with a decomposition of the metric perturbation that is local in the momentum space (and hence non-local in physical space), and denote the resulting transverse traceless modes by \(h_{ab}^{\mathrm{TT}}\). However, while discussing gravitational waves emitted by an isolated system—typically in a later section—the relevant modes are extracted using a ‘projection operator’ that is local in physical space. These modes are also called transverse-traceless and again labeled \(h_{ab}^{\mathrm{TT}}\), implying that this is just a reformulation of the previous notion. But the two notions are conceptually distinct and the difference persists even in the asymptotic region. We show that this confusion arises already in Maxwell theory that is often discussed as a prelude to the gravitational case. Finally, we discuss why the distinction has nonetheless remained largely unnoticed, and also point out that there are some important physical effects where only one of the notions gives the correct answer.     

An Novel Protocol for the Quantum Secure Multi-Party Summation Based on Two-Particle Bell States

A protocol for the quantum secure multi-party summation based on two-particle Bell states is proposed. In this protocol, two-particle Bell states are used as private information carriers. Without using the entangled character of Bell states, we also use Pauli matrices operations to encode information and Hadamard matrix to extract information. The proposed protocol can also resist various attacks and overcomes the problem of information leakage with acceptable efficiency. In theory, our protocol can be used to build complex secure protocols for other multiparty computations and also lots of other important applications in distributed networks.     

A highly Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Monitoring Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Ion: Synthesis,Characterization and Photophysical Properties

A new fluorescent sensor, 4-allylamine-N-(N-salicylidene)-1,8-naphthalimide (1), anchoring a naphthalimide moiety as fluorophore and a Schiff base group as receptor, was synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of sensor 1 were conducted in organic solvents of different polarities. Our study revealed that, depending on the solvent polarity, the fluorescence quantum yields varied from 0.59 to 0.89. The fluorescent activity of the sensor was monitored and the sensor was consequently applied for the detection of Cu²⁺ with high selectivity over various metal ions by fluorescence quenching in Tris-HCl (pH = 7.2) buffer/DMF (1:1, v/v) solution. From the binding stoichiometry, it was indicated that a 1:1 complex was formed between Cu²⁺ and the sensor 1. The fluorescence intensity was linear with Cu²⁺ in the concentration range 0.5–5 μM. Moreso, the detection limit was calculated to be 0.32 μM, which is sufficiently low for good sensitivity of Cu²⁺ ion. The binding mode was due to the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and the coordination of Cu²⁺ with C = N and hydroxyl oxygen groups of the sensor 1. The sensor proved effective for Cu²⁺ monitoring in real water samples with recovery rates of 95–112.6 % obtained.     

Substituent Effect on Absorption and Fluorescence Properties of Thieno[3, 2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]Pyridine Derivatives

New substituted thieno[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives 5 were synthesized by the reaction of 3-bromo-4-chlorothieno[3,2-c]pyridine 1 with cyclic amine 2, which further on Suzuki reaction with boronic acids 4 converted to corresponding 3-arylthieno[3,2-c]pyridine 5. Substituent R³ has predominant effect on fluorescence properties of thienopyridines. However, the electron donor amine at C₄ has no effect on fluorescence properties of thienopyridines.

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Graphical Abstract New thieno[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives were synthesized from 3-bromo-4-chlorothieno[3,2-c]pyridine and cyclic amines, which by on Suzuki reaction with boronic acids converted to corresponding 3-arylthieno[3,2-c]pyridine. Substituent R3 has predominant effect on fluorescence properties of thienopyridines. However, the electron donor amine at C4 has no effect on fluorescence properties of thienopyridines

     

Synthesis of Naked-eye Detectable Fluorescent 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H-</Emphasis>chromen-2-One 2, 6-Dicyanoanilines: Effect of Substituents and pH on Its Luminous Behavior

A variety of new coumarin derivatives containing C-4 bridged 2,6-dicyanoanilines (4a-4d) were synthesized via multicomponent one pot approach. These novel sensors were characterized by spectral analysis and a series of pH sensing fluorescence studies were performed, the results indicating that the sensors are highly selective and more effective at various pH. The fluorescence colour changes at different pH could be directly detected by naked eyes.     

A Ratiometric and near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe for Imaging Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in Living Cells and Animals

We have rationally constructed a novel ratiometric and near-infrared Cu²⁺ fluorescent probe based on a tricarbocyanine chromophore. The new probe NIR-Cu showed a ratiometric fluorescent response to Cu²⁺ with a large emission wavelength shift (up to 142 nm) in the far-red to near-infrared region. The probe also displayed a large variation in the fluorescence ratio (I₆₃₆/I₇₇₈) to Cu²⁺ species with high sensitivity and selectivity. Additionally, the developed probe NIR-Cu was suitable for fluorescence imaging of Cu²⁺ in living cells and mice.