Optimizing the spectral efficiency of photonic quantum well structures

One can construct photonic single quantum well structures by sandwiching a homogeneous medium slab as a defect between two symmetrical photonic crystals (PCs). It is shown that the number of observed resonant peaks increases with increasing slab thickness. It is found that while the slab is composed of alternatively stacked step-index films, the frequencies of these resonant peaks can be adjusted finely by changing the film thickness properly. In this case, the frequency and frequency interval of confined states can be tuned accurately, and the spectral efficiency can be greatly enhanced without increasing the volume of optical devices. Numerical simulation is based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method.     

Solubility of room-temperature ionic liquid in supercritical CO2 with and without organic compounds

Ionic liquid can dramatically dissolve in supercritical (sc) CO2 with polar organic compounds (ethanol, acetone) especially as the concentration of the compounds in scCO2 exceeds 10 mol%, while the effect of a nonpolar organic compound (n-hexane) in scCO2 on the solubility is very limited even when its concentration is as high as 30 mol%.     

Determination of Trimethylamine N-oxide and Betaine in Serum and Food by Targeted Metabonomics

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), as a gut-derived metabolite, has been found to be associated with enhanced risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We presented a method for targeted profiling of TMAO and betaine in serum and food samples based on a combination of one-step sample pretreatment and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The key step included a processing of sample preparation using a selective solid-phase extraction column for retention of basic metabolites. Proton signals at δ 3.29 and δ 3.28 were employed to quantify TMAO and betaine, respectively. The developed method was examined with acceptable linear relationship, precision, stability, repeatability, and accuracy. It was successfully applied to detect serum levels of TMAO and betaine in TMAO-fed mice and high-fructose-fed rats and also used to determine the contents of TMAO and betaine in several kinds of food, such as fish, pork, milk, and egg yolk.     

Controlled synthesis and size-dependent thermal conductivity of Fe3O4 magnetic nanofluids

The effect of nanoparticle size (4~44 nm) on the thermal conductivities of heat transfer oils has been systematically examined using iron oxide nanoparticles. Such Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple one-pot pyrolysis method. The size (16~44 nm), shape and assembly patterns of monodisperse Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were modulated by only controlling the amount of Fe(acac)(3). After the as-prepared Fe(3)O(4) NPs were dispersed in heat transfer oils, the prepared magnetic nanofluids exhibit higher thermal conductivity than heat transfer oils, and the enhanced values increase with a decrease in particle size. In addition, the viscosities of all nanofliuids are remarkably lower than that of the base fluid, which has been found for the first time in the nanofluid field. The promising features offer potential application in thermal energy engineering.     

荧光石墨烯量子点制备及其在细胞成像中的应用

利用电化学方法在碱性条件下电解石墨棒, 通过常温下水合肼还原, 得到5～10 nm的荧光石墨烯量子点(Graphene Quantum Dots, GQDs). 通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)对所制备的GQDs进行形貌表征, GQDs的粒子大小均一, 为单层石墨烯. 通过傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、荧光光谱(PL)、紫外可见吸收光谱(UV-vis)、X 射线衍射光谱(XRD)对所制备的GQDs进行性质测定, 发现GQDs可以发出黄色荧光, 量子产率为14%, 毒性低、具有良好的水溶性、荧光稳定性和生物兼容性, 可顺利进入细胞, 在肿瘤细胞的成像研究方面具有广泛的应用前景.     

铁配合物的环境光化学及其参与的环境化学过程

铁是地壳中含量最为丰富的金属元素之一,而自然界中存在的绝大多数溶解性铁都是以有机络合形式存在的。环境中的铁配合物在光照下会发生直接光解和次级的(光)化学反应过程,生成还原性的Fe(Ⅱ)和有机自由基以及衍生的活性氧物种。铁配合物的环境光化学反应将深刻影响着氧自由基的生成与衰减、有机物降解和其他元素的环境化学循环过程,因此,成为近年来国际环境科学领域的研究热点。本文介绍了铁配合物光还原反应的类型和原理,分析了Fe(Ⅱ)(光)化学氧化的可能机理和影响因素,并对国内外关于铁参与的环境化学过程所开展的研究进行了评述。在此基础上,通过分析目前研究中所存在的问题,对今后的研究方向和趋势作了展望。     

Poly(2‐Oxazoline)‐Based Functional Peptide Mimics: Eradicating MRSA Infections and Persisters while Alleviating Antimicrobial Resistance

Peptides have important biological functions. However, their susceptibility to proteolysis limits their applications. We demonstrated here for the first time, that poly(2‐oxazoline) (POX) can work as a functional mimic of peptides. POX‐based glycine pseudopeptides, a host defense peptide mimic, had potent activities against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus, which causes formidable infections. The POX mimic showed potent activity against persisters that are highly resistant to antibiotics. S. aureus did not develop resistance to POX owning to the reactive oxygen species related antimicrobial mechanism. POX‐treated S. aureus is sensitive to common antibiotics, demonstrating no observable antimicrobial pressure or cross‐resistance in using antimicrobial POX. This study highlights POX as a new type of functional mimic of peptides and opens new avenues in designing and exploring peptide mimetics for biological functions and applications.     

聚离子液体功能材料研究进展

聚离子液体(PILs)材料兼具离子液体和聚合物的性质, 近年来已经在高分子化学、材料科学及能源科学等领域得到初步应用, 并引起了人们广泛关注. 本论文介绍了聚离子液体的合成, 综述其在(准)固态电解质、燃料电池聚电解质膜、刺激响应性功能材料, 以及碳材料等相关领域的研究与应用.