Equivalence after extension and Schur coupling coincide for inessential operators

In recent years the coincidence of the operator relations equivalence after extension (EAE) and Schur coupling (SC) was settled for the Hilbert space case. For Banach space operators, it is known that SC implies EAE, but the converse implication is only known for special classes of operators, such as Fredholm operators with index zero and operators that can in norm be approximated by invertible operators. In this paper we prove that the implication EAE $?$ SC also holds for inessential Banach space operators. The inessential operators were introduced as a generalization of the compact operators, and include, besides the compact operators, also the strictly singular and strictly co-singular operators; in fact they form the largest ideal such that the invertible elements in the associated quotient algebra coincide with (the equivalence classes of) the Fredholm operators.     

Efficient 1.3-μm electroluminescence from high concentration boron-diffused silicon p+-n junctions Invited Paper

Electroluminescence peaking at 1.3 μm is observed from high concentration boron-diffused silicon p+-n junctions. This emission is efficient at low temperature with a quantum efficiency 40 times higher than that of the band-to-band emission around 1.1μm, but disappears at room temperature. The 1.3-μm band possibly originates from the dislocation networks lying near the junction region, which are introduced by high concentration boron diffusion.     

用于脉冲功率装置测量的混合式高压分压器

为准确测量脉冲放电电压,提出了固液混合式高压分压器的原理与结构,并进行了标定和实验测试。用简化模型分析了分压器系统的理想响应条件,讨论了两级分压的衰减特性,提出了控制误差的方法。通过负载标定,得到分压器脉冲电压频率响应大于2.9 MHz,最长脉冲宽度40 s,分压比(或衰减系数)为2.60 kV/V,测量误差小于5%。该高压分压器具有造价低、制作易,同时适于ns到s级脉冲电压的测量等优点,可以在实验室中得到应用。     

An improved synthesis of pennogenin

An improved synthesis of pennogenin, a bioactive component of Chinese herb “Chonglou” (Paris), is described. A ring-switching process opened the ring E of diosgenin and allowed the use of a hydroxyl-directed diboration/oxidation to introduce C17α-OH, hence eliminating the use of OsO₄. This strategy might be rendered to synthesize similar steroids with C17α-OH.     

A smart gelator as a chemosensor: application to integrated logic gates in solution, gel, and film

A gelator that consisted of one benzimidazole moiety and four amide units was used as a chemosensor. We found that its absorption and emission spectra in solution were sensitive to two complementary chemical stimuli: protons and anions. Thus, YES and INH logic gates were obtained when absorbance was defined as an output. A combination gate of XNOR and AND with an emission output was also obtained. Moreover, wet gels in two solvents were used to construct two more-complicated three-input-three-output gates, owing to the existence of the gel phase as an additional output. Finally, in xerogel films that were formed from two kinds of wet gels, reversible changes in their emission spectra were observed when they were sequentially exposed to volatile acid and NH(3). Another combination two-output logic gate was obtained for xerogel films. Finally, three states of the gelator were used to construct not only basic logic gate, but also some combination gates because of their response to multiple chemical stimuli and their multiple output signals, in which one chemical input could erase the effect of another chemical input.     

Quantum dot-based "turn-on" fluorescent probe for detection of zinc and cadmium ions in aqueous media

Health or environmental issue caused by abnormal level of metal ions like Zn²⁺ or Cd²⁺ is a worldwide concern. Developing an inexpensive and facile detection method for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ is in urgent demand. Due to their super optical properties, fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) have been developed as a promising alternative for organic dyes in fluorescence analysis. In this study, a CdTe QDs-based sensitive and selective probe for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in aqueous media was reported. The proposed probe worked in fluorescence “turn-on” mode. The initial bright fluorescence of CdTe QDs was effectively quenched by sulfur anions (S²⁻). The presence of Zn²⁺ (or Cd²⁺) can “turn-on” the weak fluorescence of QDs quenched by S²⁻ due to the formation of ZnS (or CdS) passivation shell. Under optimal conditions, a good linear relationship between the fluorescence response and concentration of Zn²⁺ (or Cd²⁺) could be obtained in the range from 1.6 to 35 μM (1.3–25 μM for Cd²⁺). The limit of detection (LOD) for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were found to be 1.2 and 0.5 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the present probe exhibited a high selectivity for Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ over other metal ions and was successfully used in the detection of Zn²⁺ or Cd²⁺ in real water samples.     

纳米颗粒复合材料增强的葡萄糖生物传感器

二氧化硅和金或铂组成的复合纳米颗粒可以大幅度地提高葡萄糖生物传感器的电流响应,其效果明显优于这三种纳米颗粒单独使用时对葡萄糖生物传感器的增强作用。除了具有吸附浓缩效应,吸附定向和量子尺寸颗粒 应外,复合纳米颗粒比单独一种纳米颗粒更易于形成连续势场,降低电子在电极和固定化酶间的迁移阻力,提高电子迁移率,有效地加速了酶的再生过程,因此复合纳米颗粒显著增强了传感器电流响应。     

Ag-Cu Nanoparticles Supported on N-Doped TiO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} Nanowire Arrays for Efficient Photocatalytic CO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} Reduction

Photocatalytic reduction of CO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} into various types of fuels has attracted great interest, and serves as a potential solution to addressing current global warming and energy challenges. In this work, Ag-Cu nanoparticles are densely supported on N-doped TiO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} nanowire through a straightforward nanofabrication approach. The range of light absorption by N-doped TiO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} can be tuned to match the plasmonic band of Ag nanoparticles, which allows synergizing a resonant energy transfer process with the Schottky junction. Meanwhile, Cu nanoparticles can provide active sites for the reduction of CO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} molecules. Remarkably, the performance of photocatalytic CO\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} reduction is improved to produce CH\begin{document}$_4$\end{document} at a rate of 720 \begin{document}$\mu$\end{document}mol\begin{document}$\cdot$\end{document}g\begin{document}$^{-1}$\end{document}\begin{document}$\cdot$\end{document}h\begin{document}$^{-1}$\end{document} under full-spectrum irradiation.     

The use of hydrophobicity and pozzolanic reactivity of the PMHS/nanosilica hybrid composites on the water absorption of cement mortar

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The durability of cement-based materials can be significantly improved by surface treatment with organic or inorganic silica-based treatment agents. In...