Microwave plasma torch mass spectrometry for the direct detection of copper and molybdenum ions in aqueous liquids

Microwave plasma torch (MPT) is a simple and low power‐consumption ambient ion source. And the MPT Mass spectra of many metal elements usually exhibit some novel features different from their inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectra, which may be helpful for metal element analysis. Here, we presented the results about the MPT mass spectra of copper and molybdenum elements by a linear ion trap mass spectrometer (LTQ). The generated copper or molybdenum contained ions in plasma were characterized further in collision‐induced dissociated (CID) experiments. These researches built a novel, direct and sensitive method for the direct analysis of trace levels of copper and molybdenum in aqueous liquids. Quantitative results showed that the limit of detection (LOD) by using MS² procedure was estimated to be 0.265 µg/l (ppb) for copper and 0.497 µg/l for molybdenum. The linear dynamics ranges cover at least 2 orders of magnitude and the analysis of a single aqueous sample can be completed in 5–6 min with a reasonable semi‐quantitative sense. Two practical aqueous samples, milk and urine, were also analyzed qualitatively with reasonable recovery rates and RSD. These experimental data demonstrated that the MPT MS is able to turn into a promising and hopeful tool in field analysis of copper and molybdenum ions in water and some aqueous media, and can be applied in many fields, such as environmental controlling, hydrogeology, and water quality inspection. Moreover, MPT MS could also be used as the supplement of ICP‐MS for the rapid and in‐situ analysis of metal ions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Methanol Conversion into Dimethyl Ether on the Anatase TiO2(001) Surface

Exploring reactions of methanol on TiO₂ surfaces is of great importance in both C1 chemistry and photocatalysis. Reported herein is a combined experimental and theoretical calculation study of methanol adsorption and reaction on a mineral anatase TiO₂(001)‐(1×4) surface. The methanol‐to‐dimethyl ether (DME) reaction was unambiguously identified to occur by the dehydration coupling of methoxy species at the fourfold‐coordinated Ti⁴⁺ sites (Ti_4c), and for the first time confirms the predicted higher reactivity of this facet compared to other reported TiO₂ facets. Surface chemistry of methanol on the anatase TiO₂(001)‐(1×4) surface is seldom affected by co‐chemisorbed water. These results not only greatly deepen the fundamental understanding of elementary surface reactions of methanol on TiO₂ surfaces but also show that TiO₂ with a high density of Ti_4c sites is a potentially active and selective catalyst for the important methanol‐to‐DME reaction.     

Influence of the deposition parameters on the properties of SnS2 films prepared by PECVD method combined with solid sources

We report a simple and rapid biological approach to synthesize water-soluble and highly roughened “meatball”-like Au nanoparticles using green tea extract under microwave irradiation. The synthesized Au meatball-like nanoparticles possess excellent monodispersity and uniform size (250 nm in diameter). Raman measurements show that these tea-generated meatball-like gold nanostructures with high active surface areas exhibit a high enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. In addition, the Au meatball-like nanoparticles demonstrate good biocompatibility and remarkable in vitro stability at the biological temperature. Meanwhile, the factors that influence the Au meatball-like nanoparticles morphology are investigated, and the mechanisms behind the nonspherical shape evolution are discussed.     

A general modal approach for the development of optimal multi-layer stacked vibration energy harvesters

Piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters with multi-layer stacked structures have been developed. They consist of multi-layer beams, of zigzag configurations, with rigid masses attached between the beams. The rigid masses, which also serve as spacers, are attached to each layer to tune the frequencies of the harvester. Close resonance frequencies and considerable power output can be achieved in multiple modes by varying the positions of the masses. A modal approach is introduced to determine the modal performance conveniently using the mass ratio and the modal electromechanical coupling coefficient, and the required modal parameters are derived using the finite element method. Mass ratio represents the influence of modal mechanical behaviour on the power density. Since the modes with larger mass ratios cause the remaining modes to have smaller mass ratios and lower power densities, a screening process using the modal approach is developed to determine the optimal or near-optimal performance of the harvesters when altering mass positions. This procedure obviates the need for full analysis by pre-selecting the harvester configurations with close resonances and favourable values of mass ratio initially. Furthermore, the multi-layer stacked designs using the modal approach can be used to develop harvesters with different sizes with the power ranging from microwatts to milliwatts.     

Characteristics analysis of extruded elliptical hole photonic crystal fibers with square air-core

An extruded elliptical hole photonic crystal fibers PCF with square air-core is proposed. By using a full vector finite-element method FV-FEM and anisotropic perfectly matched layers APML, the structure and optical properties of the proposed PCF are analyzed. Simulation results show that the birefringence of the proposed photonic crystal fiber can be up to the order of 10⁻², and has a flattened dispersion from 1.20 μm to 1.80 μm. The proposed PCF may have important application in super-continuum SC generation, dispersion compensation, fiber-optic sensing systems and other aspects.     

Relative density-based classification noise detection

Classification noise is a common byproduct of traditional data mining approaches, and no specialized approach for detecting classification noise is currently available. Methods for outlier detection are well-developed, but outliers and classification noise have characteristics different enough to make outlier detection algorithms unsuitable for classification noise detection. In this paper, a new, specialized approach to detect classification noise is proposed, named relative density based classification noise detection (RDBCND). Computational experiments in artificial data sets described herein show that RDBCND has time complexity of O(n log n), indicating greater efficiency than traditional approaches, which exhibit time complexity of at least O(n²). The use of classification noise detection to improve the generalization ability of common classifier algorithms is also described. In particular, a new unified approach based on RDBCND is compared to a cross validation approach applied to a BP neural network. Trials in both artificial and real-life datasets show that the RDBCND-based approach can greatly accelerate the process of identifying the best decision function. The novel method can also eliminate underfitting, as the algorithm simply searches for the highest training accuracy. The experiments also show that the RDBCND-based method has greater accuracy and lower cpu time in reaching global solutions than the cross-validation method. Since the relative density is a local concept, our new approach can be directly used in nonlinear datasets without data transformation. It is a great advantage compared to some linear classifier algorithms. As in current linear classifiers, the kernel functions or other transformations need to be used to make them suitable for non-linear datasets, and that will increase their complexity.     

Colossal enhancement in thermoelectric effect in a laterally coupled double-quantum-dot chain by the Coulomb interactions

Thermoelectric effects, including Seebeck coefficient (S), thermal conductance (κ), and figure of merit (ZT), in a laterally coupled double-quantum-dot (DQD) chain with two external nonmagnetic contacts are investigated theoretically by the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. In this system, the DQD chain between two contacts forms a main channel for thermal electrons transporting, and each QD in the main chain couples laterally to a dangling one. The numerical calculations show that the Coulomb interactions not only lead to the splitting of the asymmetrical double-peak structure of the Seebeck coefficient, but also make the thermal spectrum show a strong violation of the Wiedemann–Franz law, leading to a colossal enhancement in ZT. These results indicate that the coupled DQD chain has potential applications in the thermoelectric devices with high thermal efficiency.     

Fiber-optic sensor based on evanescent wave absorbance around 2.7 μm for determining water content in polar organic solvents

The feasibility of sapphire fiber-optic sensors based on evanescent wave absorption spectroscopy in the infrared range for quantitative determination of water content in polar organic solvents has been investigated. Evanescent wave absorption spectra of sapphire fiber-optic sensors in glycerol, ethanol, and glycol with different water concentrations obtained and analyzed, respectively. Evanescent absorbance of the sensors in those organic solvents has been utilized to implement for in situ monitoring water concentration in organic solvents. The evanescent absorbance of sensors in glycerol and glycol has been found to vary linearly with water content in the range 0–30 % and in ethanol in the range 0–10 %, respectively. The fiber-optic sensors based on evanescent absorbance for monitoring water concentrations in those organic solvents are acceptably accurate, cost-effective, and reliable. Some methods to improve the accuracy of predicated water content in those organic solvents are also suggested. Overall, the results demonstrate that the sapphire fiber-optic sensor based on evanescent absorption spectroscopy is a promising candidate for prediction of water content in polar organic solvents in on-line and remote situation.     

水热合成ZnO:Cd纳米棒的微结构及光致发光特性

采用水热法制备了ZnO和不同掺杂浓度的ZnO:Cd纳米棒,通过SEM,XRD、拉曼光谱等的分析,研究了ZnO和ZnO:Cd的微结构并测试分析了其光致发光特性.结果表明,ZnO和ZnO:Cd纳米棒呈六角纤锌矿结构,Cd掺杂使得纳米棒体积更小.由于内部张应力的影响,Cd掺杂使得材料光学带隙减少.当掺杂浓度为2%时,合成的材料光致发光谱中出现了位于2.67 eV处,由导带底和Zn空位(VZn)缺陷能级跃迁造成的蓝光发射峰,并且Cd的掺入使得位于2.90 eV附近的紫光发射峰强度增强,对于研究ZnO蓝紫发光器件具有重要的意义.     

Multiple bosonic mode coupling in the electron self-energy of (La2-xSrx)CuO4

High resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy data along the (0,0)-(pi,pi) nodal direction with significantly improved statistics reveal fine structure in the electron self-energy of the underdoped (La2-xSrx)CuO4 samples in the normal state. Fine structure at energies of (40-46) meV and (58-63) meV, and possible fine structure at energies of (23-29) meV and (75-85) meV, have been identified. These observations indicate that, in (La2-xSrx)CuO4, more than one bosonic modes are involved in the coupling with electrons.