The effect of phosphate buffer solutions on uniconazole complexation with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin

The inclusion complexes of uniconazole [(E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-lyl)-1-penten-3-ol, UCZ] with two cyclodextrin derivatives, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and methylated-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD), were prepared and characterized by ¹H NMR and FT-IR. The phase solubility of UCZ and HP-β-CD, UCZ and Me-β-CD, which displays the ability of CDs complexation and solubilization, was studied in aqueous solutions and phosphate buffer solutions (PBS) with different property pH values (6.2, 7.2, 8.0). The solubility results indicated that the pH of PBS showed more enhancement on the interaction of HP-β-CD and UCZ than Me-β-CD with the increasing pH value, and the optimal pH value for complexation of UCZ and HP-β-CD, UCZ and Me-β-CD was at 8.0 and at 7.2, respectively. These were also determined by UCZ release behavior and dissolution studies of the complexes in solid state.     

Output response in orthogonal directions of a He–Ne laser caused by birefringent-external-cavity feedback

The output responses of phase, amplitude, and polarization of light intensity of a He–Ne laser with the birefringent external cavity are presented. All phenomena are observed in two orthogonal directions related to the birefringent element’s orientation, and are studied under weak optical feedback. Experiments are carried out in five available detecting positions. It is found that laser intensities are modulated in the two orthogonal directions simultaneously, with a phase difference dominated by the phase retardation of the birefringence element. The modulation amplitudes are different in the two directions. A special polarization phenomenon is also observed and discussed. This research may provide a potential novel measuring principle for transparent birefringent materials.     

High Carbon-Resistance Ni@CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Core–Shell Catalysts for Dry Reforming of Methane

Ni@CeO₂ core–shell catalysts were synthesized via a facile surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method and their catalytic performance in the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction was evaluated. A variety of techniques including XRD, N₂ adsorption–desorption, SEM, TEM, TPO, TGA were employed to characterize the prepared or spent catalysts. The encapsulation by the CeO₂ shell, on one side, can restrict the sintering and growth of Ni nanoparticles under harsh reaction conditions. On the other side, compared to the conventional shell material of SiO₂, CeO₂ can provide more lattice oxygens and vacancies, which is helpful to suppress coke deposition. Consequently, the Ni@CeO₂ core–shell catalysts exhibited better catalytic activity and stability in the DRM reaction with respect to the referenced Ni@SiO₂ core–shell catalysts and Ni/CeO₂ supported catalysts.     

Grand Canonical Ensemble Interpretation for Charged Particle Quantum Tunneling Radiation

In this paper, we present a grand canonical ensemble interpretation for the massive charged particles tunneling from a charged black hole. The probability distribution function corresponding the emission shell system is derived in details, and the expression is same as the tunneling rate in Parikh-Wilzeck framework. With this result, the statistical significance of the quantum tunneling radiation is discussed.     

High-birefringence nematic liquid crystal for broadband THz applications

Liquid crystals (LCs) have been studied extensively in the visible range for their dielectric tunability, and the characterisation in the terahertz (THz) range has gained increasing interest due to the need for active THz modulation and switching devices. In this paper, we use THz time-domain spectroscopy to measure the frequency-dependent birefringence and the absorption coefficient of a number of commercial and non-commercial nematic LCs, including E7, BL037, MDA-98-1602, LCMS-107, GT3-23001 and 1825, over a range of bias voltages at room temperature. Furthermore, several basic components of LC mixture are analysed to establish their contributions to birefringence and theoretical model is used to fit the absorption spectra. The large tunability and low loss measured for a range of samples show that the LCs are useful tunable dielectrics for compact, efficient and broadband THz devices.     

Material growth and device fabrication of terahertz quantum-cascade laser based on bound-to-continuum structure

The terahertz quantum-cascade laser （THz QCL） based on bound-to-continuum structure is demonstrated. The X-ray diffraction measurement of the material shows a high crystalline quality of the active region. A THz QCL device was fabricated with semi-insulating surface-plasmon waveguide. The test device is lasing at about 3 THz and operating up to 60 K. It shows a single frequency property under different drive currents and temperatures. At 9 K, the maximum output power is greater than 2 mW with a threshold current density of 159 A/cm2.     

Enantioselective Sulfoxidation Catalyzed by a Bisguanidinium Diphosphatobisperoxotungstate Ion Pair

The first enantioselective tungstate‐catalyzed oxidation reaction is presented. High enantioselectivities were achieved for a variety of drug‐like phenyl and heterocyclic sulfides under mild conditions with H₂O₂, a cheap and environmentally friendly oxidant. Synthetic utility was demonstrated through the preparation of (S)‐Lansoprazole, a commercial proton‐pump inhibitor. The active ion‐pair catalyst was identified to be bisguanidinium diphosphatobisperoxotungstate using Raman spectroscopy and computational studies.