Novel two-dimensional PdSe phase: A puckered material with excellent electronic and optical properties

By combining structural search and first-principles calculations, we predict a new stable two-dimensional PdSe monolayer, and systematically investigate its structural, electronic and optical properties. The calculated formation enthalpy, phonon spectra and molecular dynamic simulations confirm that PdSe monolayer possesses excellent thermodynamic and dynamic stability. PdSe monolayer is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of ∼ 1.10 eV. The carrier transport of PdSe monolayer is dominated by hole and exhibits remarkable anisotropy due to the intrinsic structure anisotropy. The optical properties also show obvious anisotropic characteristic with considerable absorption coefficient and broad absorption from the visible to ultraviolet regions. Benefiting from these excellent physical properties, PdSe monolayer is expected to be a promising candidate as electronic and optoelectronic devices.     

Ultrafast, efficient separations of large-sized dsDNA in a blended polymer matrix by microfluidic chip electrophoresis: a design of experiments approach

Double-stranded (ds) DNA fragments over a wide size range were successfully separated in blended polymer matrices by microfluidic chip electrophoresis. Novel blended polymer matrices composed of two types of polymers with three different molar masses were developed to provide improved separations of large dsDNA without negatively impacting the separation of small dsDNA. Hydroxyethyl celluloses with average molar masses of ～27 kDa and ～1 MDa were blended with a second class of polymer, high-molar mass (～7 MDa) linear polyacrylamide. Fast and highly efficient separations of commercially available DNA ladders were achieved on a borosilicate glass microchip. A distinct separation of a 1-kb DNA extension ladder (200-40,000 bp) was completed in 2 min. An orthogonal design of experiments was used to optimize experimental parameters for DNA separations over a wide size range. We find that the two dominant factors are the applied electric field strength and the inclusion of a high concentration of low-molar mass polymer in the matrix solution. These two factors exerted different effects on the separations of small dsDNA fragments below 1 kbp, medium dsDNA fragments between 1 and 10 kbp, and large dsDNA fragments above 10 kbp.     

Large-scale synthesis of silver nanowires and platinum nanotubes

Silver nanowires have been synthesized by ethylene glycol reduction of silver nitrate with the assistance of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and sodium sulfide in a large scale. By adjusting the reaction temperature and Na₂S content, silver nanowires with lengths up to 3?4 μm can be achieved in high yield. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected areas electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been employed to characterize silver nanowires. Platinum nanotubes with length about 3 μm can be prepared using as-prepared silver nanowires as sacrificial templates. Platinum nanotubes were characterized by TEM, SAED, and HRTEM.     

氮掺杂碳纳米管负载Co3O4氧还原电催化剂的制备与性能

以碳纳米管(CNT)为原料,通过负载维生素B₁₂,简单热解得到了一种氮掺杂碳纳米管(N/CNT)负载低含量Co₃O₄纳米颗粒的氧还原电催化剂(Co₃O₄@N/CNT)。得益于均匀分散的Co₃O₄纳米颗粒以及氮掺杂,Co₃O₄@N/CNT表现出了优异的氧还原催化性能,其半波电位达到了0.844 V(vs RHE),超越了商业Pt/C(0.820 V(vs RHE))。与Pt/C相比,基于Co₃O₄@N/CNT组装的锌-空气电池表现出了更优的放电性能和循环稳定性。     

WO3/PANI核壳结构反蛋白石薄膜的电致变色性能

采用连续离子层吸附法在反蛋白石结构三氧化钨(IO-WO₃)薄膜表面引入导电聚合物聚苯胺(PANI)层, 制备了独特的WO₃/PANI核壳结构反蛋白石薄膜(IO-WO₃/PANI). 探究了IO-WO₃/PANI薄膜的形貌、 组成和电化学行为. 结果表明, 当电位扫描范围为-0.6~1.0 V时, IO-WO₃/PANI复合膜在不同电压状态下会呈现出4种不同的颜色, 分别为蓝色(1.0 V)、 绿色(0.2 V)、 浅绿色(0 V)和蓝紫色(-0.6 V). 与IO-WO₃薄膜相比, IO-WO₃/PANI复合膜的电致变色性能显著提高, 其着色与退色响应时间分别为3.8和6.14 s, 变色效率(CE)值为201.1 cm²/C. 电致变色性能的改善主要归因于WO₃与PANI形成给体-受体体系和核壳反蛋白石等级孔结构, 使得离子快速扩散, 并为电荷转移反应提供更大的表面积. 研究结果表明, IO-WO₃/PANI核壳结构反蛋白石薄膜是一种潜在的多色电致变色材料, 具有广阔的应用前景.     

Sm-activated gadolinium molybdate: an intense red-emitting phosphor for solid-state lighting based on InGaN LEDs

Sm³⁺-activated gadolinium molybdate, Gd₂(MoO₄)₃:Sm³⁺ red-emitting phosphor was prepared by conventional solid-state method. The structure, morphology, and luminescent properties of these powder samples have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fluorescent spectrophotometry, respectively. The as-obtained phosphor has a monoclinic structure with single crystalline phase. Its mean particle size is about 6-8 μm with pseudo-pompon shape and large surface area, which is suitable for manufacture of white LEDs. The phosphor can be efficiently excited by incident light of 348-445 nm, well matched with the output wavelength of a near-UV InGaN-based chip, and re-emits an intense red light peaking at 650 nm. By combing this phosphor with a 405 nm-emitting InGaN chip, a red LED was fabricated, so that the applicability of this novel phosphor to white LEDs was confirmed. It is considered to be an efficient red-emitting conversion phosphor for solid-state lighting based on InGaN LEDs.     

Investigation of water influence on coal based on thermal oxidative degradation kinetics

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In order to further understand the effect of the water content on spontaneous combustion of coal, the thermal oxidative degradation kinetics of coals...     

Facile preparation method for rare earth phosphate hollow spheres and their photoluminescence properties

We have developed a template-free hydrothermal method of constructing rare earth phosphate hollow spheres using H(6)P(4)O(13) as the PO(4) (3-) source. The mechanism of hollow spheres formation was proposed on the basis of Ostwald ripening. The resulting hollow spheres, especially with the aid of doping of other lanthanide cations, exhibit emission spanning the whole UV-visible wavelength range.