Charge transport through single-molecule bilayer-graphene junctions with atomic thickness

The van der Waals interactions (vdW) between π-conjugated molecules offer new opportunities for fabricating heterojunction-based devices and investigating charge transport in heterojunctions with atomic thickness. In this work, we fabricate sandwiched single-molecule bilayer-graphene junctions via vdW interactions and characterize their electrical transport properties by employing the cross-plane break junction (XPBJ) technique. The experimental results show that the cross-plane charge transport through single-molecule junctions is determined by the size and layer number of molecular graphene in these junctions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the charge transport through molecular graphene in these molecular junctions is sensitive to the angles between the graphene flake and peripheral mesityl groups, and those rotated groups can be used to tune the electrical conductance. This study provides new insight into cross-plane charge transport in atomically thin junctions and highlights the role of through-space interactions in vdW heterojunctions at the molecular scale.

Charge transport through single-molecule bilayer-graphene junctions fabricated by a cross-plane break junction technique can be tuned at the atomic level.     

Two-dimensional heterostructures built from ultrathin CeO2 nanosheet surface-coordinated and confined metal–organic frameworks with enhanced stability and catalytic performance

Two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic framework (MOF) based heterostructures will be greatly advantageous to enhance catalytic performance because they increase the contact surface and charge transfer. Herein, a novel 2D heterostructure named CeO₂@NiFe-MOFs, in which monolayer NiFe-MOFs is coordinated with ceria (CeO₂) to improve catalytic and stability performance, is successfully constructed by the strategy of in situ growth on the surface of ultrathin CeO₂ nanosheets being functionalized with monolayer carboxylic acid groups. The 2D heterostructure possesses a sandwich structure, where monolayer NiFe-MOFs are coordinated to both the top and bottom surface of CeO₂ nanosheets via joining carboxylic acid groups. In particular, CeO₂ with robust coordination plays a significant role in the anchoring of carboxylic acid groups and binding strength of heterostructures. The 2D CeO₂@NiFe-MOF heterostructure with a joint effect of metal–ligand coordination not only presents good structural stability but also significantly enhances the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) efficiencies in comparison to bare NiFe-MOFs, achieving a current density of 20 mA cm⁻² at a low overpotential of 248 mV as well as durability for at least 40 h. Meanwhile, the electronics, optics, band gap energy and local strains of CeO₂ decorated with 2D NiFe-MOFs are different to the properties of bare CeO₂. Our study on the construction of an ultrathin CeO₂ surface-coordinated and confined MOF layer may pave a new way for novel 2D MOF composites/heterostructures or multi-functional 2D CeO₂ materials to be used in energy conversion or other fields.

A synthetic strategy to prepare 2D heterostructures from ultrathin CeO₂ surface-coordinated metal–organic framework was proposed, proving multiple effects of metal-coordinated interactions in 2D heterostructures.     

Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters with Interlocked Staples and a Fully Thiolate‐Bound Kernel

The structural features that render gold nanoclusters intrinsically fluorescent are currently not well understood. To address this issue, highly fluorescent gold nanoclusters have to be synthesized, and their structures must be determined. We herein report the synthesis of three fluorescent Au₂₄(SR)₂₀ nanoclusters (R=C₂H₄Ph, CH₂Ph, or CH₂C₆H₄^tBu). According to UV/Vis/NIR, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis, these three nanoclusters adopt similar structures that feature a bi‐tetrahedral Au₈ kernel protected by four tetrameric Au₄(SR)₅ motifs. At least two structural features are responsible for the unusual fluorescence of the Au₂₄(SR)₂₀ nanoclusters: Two pairs of interlocked Au₄(SR)₅ staples reduce the vibration loss, and the interactions between the kernel and the thiolate motifs enhance electron transfer from the ligand to the kernel moiety through the Au?S bonds, thereby enhancing the fluorescence. This work provides some clarification of the structure–fluorescence relationship of such clusters.     

Structural Evolution of Anatase-Supported Platinum Nanoclusters into a Platinum-Titanium Intermetallic Containing Platinum Single Atoms for Enhanced Catalytic CO Oxidation

Strong metal-support interactions characteristic of the encapsulation of metal particles by oxide overlayers have been widely observed on large metal nanoparticles, but scarcely occur on small nanoclusters (<2 nm) for which the metal-support interactions remain elusive. Herein, we study the structural evolution of Pt nanoclusters (1.5 nm) supported on anatase TiO₂ upon high-temperature H₂ reduction. The Pt nanoclusters start to partially evolve into a CsCl-type PtTi intermetallic compound when the reduction temperature reaches 400 °C. Upon 700 °C reduction, the PtTi nanoparticles are exclusively formed and grow epitaxially along the TiO₂ (101) crystal faces. The thermodynamics of the formation of PtTi via migration of reduced Ti atoms into Pt cluster is unraveled by theoretical calculations. The thermally stable PtTi intermetallic compound, with single-atom Pt isolated by Ti, exhibits enhanced catalytic activity and promoted catalytic durability for CO oxidation.     

向蔡树棠先生学习什么——写在送别蔡先生这一天

题记蔡树棠教授离开我们已近半年,他的音容笑貌还时不时地浮现在我的脑海里.我刚从中国科学技术大学回来,蔡先生曾在该校工作多年,而那里的几位年青学子居然不知道蔡树棠这个名字,这使我有点悲哀.这里公布我写于送别他那天的短文<向蔡树棠先生学习什么>,希望大家记住这位曾在力学园地耕耘了半个多世纪的知名学者.     

Self-trapping and oscillation of quadruple beams in high band gap of 2D photonic lattices

through single-site excitation. By changing the initial to the lattices, periodic oscillations of the localized quadruple state becomes a rotating doubly charged undergo charge-flipping when the rotating direction is orientation of the incident quadruple beam related quadruple mode may be obtained. The localized optical vortex （DCV） during rotation and should reversed.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Monofunctionalized Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes by Cohydrolytic and Cocondensation of Propyltrimethoxysilane and Vinyltrimethoxysilane

A monofunctional POSS [Si₈O₁₂(CH?CH₂)(C₃H₇)₇] was synthesized by the cohydrolysis and cocondensation of propyltrimethoxysilane and vinyltrimethoxysilane in methanol solvent under acidic conditions. Then, the structure of the product was investigated using FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ²⁹Si-NMR and XRD. Experimental results indicated that the mole rate of propyls and vinyls attached on POSS was approximately 7:1, which was controlled through altering the ratio of two monomers. Furthermore, the TGA result also showed a rapid mass loss began at temperature over 218°C due to the degradation or sublimation of POSS itself. The new method, in comparison with the conventional corner-capping method, offered us another simple and effective access to preparing this kind of monofunctional POSS.     

新型仿生蜂窝结构的设计与耐撞性能分析

受自然界毛竹微观结构的启发,在传统圆管与六边形管的基础上引入内管及双菱形肋骨,通过拓扑衍生方法设计了两种新型仿生蜂窝结构。在此基础上利用有限元软件ABAQUS对新型仿生蜂窝的耐撞性进行数值模拟,研究了蜂窝单胞构型、蜂窝壁厚、双菱形肋骨夹角对仿生蜂窝耐撞性能的影响。此外,基于超折叠单元理论,建立了仿生蜂窝结构的理论分析模型。结果表明:仿生蜂窝的面外压缩耐撞性能优于传统圆形蜂窝和传统六边形蜂窝。新型仿生六边形蜂窝的比吸能相比传统六边形蜂窝提高51.18%,压缩力效率提高53.14%。仿生蜂窝结构的平均压缩力理论预测结果与数值模拟结果吻合,两者间的误差均在10%以内。单胞构型为六边形的仿生蜂窝的耐撞性能优于圆形仿生蜂窝。适当增加仿生蜂窝壁厚或增大双菱形肋骨夹角,均有利于提高结构的耐撞性能。     

周培源先生学术思想初探

周培源先生是蜚声海内外的著名理论物理学家、流体力学家、教育家和社会活动家,是我国力学事业的奠基人之一. 他在爱因斯坦广义相对论引力论和湍流理论领域攻坚70余年,取得了卓越的成就. 通过周培源先生的生平、学术成就及学术品格方面的重要事迹初步探索周培源先生的学术思想,以共享这宝贵的精神财富.