Nanophotonic droplet: a nanometric optical device consisting of size- and number-selective coupled quantum dots

Although recent advances in fabrication technologies have allowed the realization of highly accurate nanometric devices and systems, most approaches still lack uniformity and mass-production capability sufficient for practical use. We have previously demonstrated a novel technique for autonomously coupling heterogeneous quantum dots to induce particular optical responses based on a simple phonon-assisted photocuring method in which a mixture of quantum dots and photocurable polymer is irradiated with light. The cured polymer sequentially encapsulates coupled quantum dots, forming what we call a nanophotonic droplet. Recently, we found that each quantum dot in the mixture is preferably coupled with other quantum dots of similar size due to a size resonance effect of the optical near-field interactions between them. Moreover, every nanophotonic droplet is likely to contain the same number of coupled quantum dots. In this paper, we describe the basic mechanisms of autonomously fabricating nanophotonic droplets, and we examine the size- and number-selectivity of the quantum dots during their coupling process. The results from experiments show the uniformity of the optical properties of mass-produced nanophotonic droplets, revealed by emission from the contained coupled quantum dots, due to the fundamental characteristics of our method.     

Experimental demonstration and stochastic modeling of autonomous formation of nanophotonic droplets

We have previously demonstrated a novel technique for autonomously forming a nanophotonic droplet, which is micro-scale spherical polymer structure that contains paired heterogeneous nanometric components. The sort-selectivity and alignment accuracy of the nanometric components in each nanophotonic droplet, and the related homogeneity of the optical function, are due to a characteristic pairing process based on a phonon-assisted photo-curing method. The proposed method requires irradiating a mixture of components with light to induce optical near-field interactions between each component, and subsequent processes based on these interactions. The pairing yield of components via the interactions is considered to mainly depend on the frequency of their encounters and the size-resonance effect between encountered components. In this paper, we model these two factors by individual stochastic procedures and construct a numerical model to describe the pairing process. Agreement between the results of numerical and experimental demonstrations shows the validity of our stochastic modeling.     

Numerical simulations of the ignition of n-heptane droplets in the transition diameter range from heterogeneous to homogeneous ignition

Spontaneous ignition of single n-heptane droplets in a constant volume filled with air is numerically simulated with the spherical symmetry. The volume is closed against mass, species, and energy transfer. The numerical model is fully transient. It continues calculation even after the droplet has completely vaporized, and therefore can predict pre-vaporized ignition. Initial pressure and initial air temperature are fixed at 3 MPa and 773 K, respectively. The droplet is initially at room temperature, and its diameter is between 1 and 100 μm. When the overall equivalence ratio is fixed to be sufficiently large, there exists no ignition limit in terms of initial droplet diameter d₀, and the ignition delay takes a minimum value at certain d₀. In such a case, transition from the heterogeneous ignition to the homogeneous ignition with decreasing d₀ is observed. When d₀ is fixed to be so small that the ignition would not occur in an infinite volume of air, the ignition delay takes a minimum value at certain , which is less than unity. Two-stage ignition behavior is investigated with this model. Ignition delay of a cool flame has the dependence on d₀ that is similar to that of ignition delay of a hot flame when is unity. When is almost zero, the ignition limit for cool flame in terms of d₀ is not identified unlike that for hot flame.     

Sliding acceleration of water droplets on a surface coated with fluoroalkylsilane and octadecyltrimethoxysilane

Both fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS) were coated on oxidized silicon wafers using soaking and CVD method. Smooth coatings with Ra values of less than 1 nm were attained. The slope of the sliding acceleration against the inverse of the droplet mass showed an inflection point. That point shifted to the direction of smaller droplets with decreasing FAS ratio to ODS. The water droplets’ length was increased when the sliding velocity was increased. Fluoroalkylsilane addition to ODS increases the interaction between water and the hydrophobic surface. Results showed that the sliding acceleration of a water droplet depends strongly on the surface ratio of these silanes.     

Deformation Quantizations of the Poisson Algebra of Laurent Polynomials

It is well known that the Moyal bracket gives a unique deformation quantization of the canonical phase space R2n up to equivalence. In his presentation of an interesting deformation quantization of the Poisson algebra of Laurent polynomials, Ovsienko discusses the equivalences of deformation quantizations of these algebras. We show that under suitable conditions, deformation quantizations of this algebra are equivalent. Though Ovsienko showed that there exists a deformation quantization of the Poisson algebra of Laurent polynomials which is not equivalent to the Moyal product, this is not correct. We show this equivalence by two methods: a direct construction of the intertwiner via the star exponential and a more standard approach using Hochschild 2-cocycles.     

Selective separation of water–alcohol binary mixture through poly(maleimide-co-acrylonitrile) membrane

Separation of various alcohols and water through a membrane was carried out by means of a hydrogen-bonding interaction. A membrane obtained from poly(maleimide-co-acrylonitrile) was effective for a selective separation of water from aqueous alcohol solution by pervaporation technique. Spectroscopic analyses verified that this high selectivity was attributed to the hydrogen-bonding interaction between water and maleimide units in the membrane.     

Complete stereochemistry of neamphamide A and absolute configuration of the beta-methoxytyrosine residue in papuamide B

The absolute stereochemistry of the three unresolved structural components in neamphamide A (1) was determined to be (R)-beta-methoxy-L-tyrosine, (2R,3R,4S)-4-amino-7-guanidino-2,3-dihydroxyheptanoic acid, and (2R,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethylheptanoic acid. Stereochemical assignments were made by chemical degradation of 1, derivatization of the resulting products, and then spectroscopic and chromatographic comparison of the derivatives with synthetically prepared standards. Using the same analytical protocol developed for 1, the beta-methoxytyrosine residue in papuamide B (2) was found to be (R)-beta-methoxy-D-tyrosine. This represents a rare example of divergent stereochemistry in an unusual amino acid residue that is present in two closely related classes of peptides.     

Titanosilicate molecular sieve for size-screening photocatalytic conversion

Titanosilicate molecular sieves, when activated by ultraviolet light irradiation in water in the presence of molecular oxygen, catalyze a conversion of molecules having a size close to the pore of the catalysts but are inactive for molecules having much larger or smaller size. This unprecedented size-screening photocatalytic activity is triggered by a combination of H2O-induced shortened lifetime of active species (charge-transfer excited state of tetrahedrally coordinated titanium oxide) and restricted diffusion of a molecule inside the pore. This catalytic property demonstrates a potential utility of the catalyst for selective transformation of molecules that is associated with a size reduction of molecules, so-labeled "molecular shave" transformation.