Electrodeposition of alginate with PEDOT/PSS coated MWCNTs to make an interpenetrating conducting hydrogel for neural interface

Neural interface is a critical component for the communication between the central nervous system and outside devices. But neural tissues withstand constant mechanical activity with outside devices which aggravates inflammation response. The investigation about soft interfacial modification materials for neural implants is a promising way to reduce the mechanical mismatch of neural tissues and implants. In this study, soft alginic acid gel and poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfate)(PEDOT/PSS) coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNT) was co-deposited on a microwire neural electrode, then PEDOT/PSS was electrochemically grown through the coating material to form a kind of soft interpenetrating networks (IPNs) for the improvement of neural interface. Compared to unmodified electrodes, the modified electrodes possess higher charge storage capacity (CSC) and lower electrochemical impedance, which would benefit the performance of stimulating and recording respectively. The IPNs are very soft after reswelling in brain tissue, and the cell experiment indicate its fantastic biocompatibility. Furthermore, acute neural recording experiments revealed that the IPNs reduced the noise floor. All these characteristics are greatly desired for the neural interface. Overall, we developed a soft interpenetrating conducting hydrogel coating material on the neural interface with excellent electrical and biological performance.     

Optimization of the slowly actively Q-switched laser

By taking into account turnoff time of the slowly active Q-switch, the coupled equations of a slowly actively Q-switched laser are given. These rate equations are solved numerically. The key parameters of an optimally coupled actively Q-switched laser with the turnoff time are determined, and a group of general curves are generated for the first time. These key parameters include the optimal normalized coupling parameter which maximizes the output energy, and the corresponding normalized energy, normalized peak power and normalized pulse width. The curves clearly show the dependence of the optimal key parameters on the parameters of the gain medium and the resonator. In addition, the importance of including turnoff time of the slowly active Q-switch is also shown. The optimal calculations for an actively Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser with acoustic–optic modulator are presented to demonstrate the use of the curves and the related formulas.     

Tunable local surface plasmon resonance in liquid-crystal-coated Ag nanoparticles

The far-field and near-field properties of a spherical nematic liquid crystal (NLC) coated metal nanoparticle (NPs) have been investigated in an external field, basing on the quasistatic theory. The resonant wavelength is tunable by varying metallic material of core, anisotropy extent and thickness of liquid crystals (LCs). The field enhancement is along the incident polarization near the outer surface of the shell. The direction of field is reverse in the inner surface comparing with the one if outer shell. In contrast to isotropy shell, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) shows an obvious red shift and field enhancement near outer surface of the shell always is stronger.     

Atomic parity non-conservation: the francium anapole project of the FrPNC collaboration at TRIUMF

We present a method for measuring the nuclear anapole in a string of francium isotopes. The anapole is a parity non-conserving electromagnetic moment that enables parity-forbidden transitions between ground state hyperfine levels of an atom. The experiment is run by the FrPNC collaboration and relies on a beam of artificially-produced francium from the ISAC facility at TRIUMF.     

Electrochemical performance of modified artificial graphite as anode material for lithium ion batteries

Artificial graphite anode material was modified by coating an amorphous carbon layer on the particle surface via a sol-gel and pyrolysis route. The electrochemical measurements demonstrate that appropriate carbon coating can increase the specific capacity and the initial coulombic efficiency of the graphite material, while excessive carbon coating leads to the decrease in specific capacity. Thick coating layer is obviously unfavorable for the lithium ion diffusion due to the increased diffusion distance, but the decreased specific surface area caused by carbon coating is beneficial to the decrease of initial irreversible capacity loss. The sample coated with 5 wt.% glucose exhibits a stable specific capacity of 340 mAhg^?1. Carbon coating can remarkably enhance the rate capability of the graphite anode material, which is mainly attributed to the increased diffusion coefficient of lithium ion.     

Study on optical and electrical properties of gold-doped silicon fabricated by femtosecond laser

Microstructured silicon (Si) materials have been fabricated by femtosecond (fs) laser ablation and have been hyperdoped with gold (Au) impurities. The ablated Si materials showed large and thermostable infrared absorption at 1.1–2.5 μm wavelengths, which was contributed by sub-band absorption and laser-induced defects absorption. The Au–Si alloy was formed after laser irradiation onto the Au-coated Si surface, which was determined by XRD characterization. Using N-type Si substrate, the fabricated Au-doped Si performed lower sheet carrier density due to the self-compensation effect between deep donor and acceptor energy lever of Au in bulk Si material. From Hall measurement, both the p- and n- types of Au-doped Si samples can be obtained by controlling the type of Si substrate.     

麦克斯韦等面积法则在范氏气体中的应用

对与范德瓦耳斯气体状态方程有关的几个问题作了进一步分析,给出了一种证明麦克斯韦等面积法则的方法,并指出了有关文献的不妥之处.     

光谱成像技术无损鉴别西洋参饮片的研究

应用电可控液晶光谱成像装置,测定不同市售来源的西洋参饮片,以期为其质量控制提供新的方法。系统光谱分辨率5nm,光谱覆盖范围为405～680nm,空间分辨率50lp·mm-1。从成像光谱立方体中提取特征光谱曲线,构建饮片指纹图谱;采用主成分等聚类分析方法解析其指纹图谱,用于饮片真伪鉴别与质量判定。结果与性状,显微及理化鉴定结果相吻合。表明光谱成像分析技术可用于中药指纹图谱的构建和质量评价,操作方法简便、快速、无损。