ZnO纳米管有序阵列与Cu2O纳米晶核壳结构的光电化学性能及全固态纳米结构太阳电池研究简

采用电化学方法在铟锡氧化物(ITO)导电玻璃基底上制备了高度有序的ZnO纳米管阵列,然后在ZnO纳米管阵列上电化学沉积Cu2O纳米晶颗粒,获得了一维有序Cu2O/ZnO核壳式纳米阵列结构,通过控制Cu2O纳米晶的沉积电量得到不同厚度的Cu2O壳层,并对该核壳式纳米阵列的形貌和结构进行了分析. 以Cu2O/ZnO一维核壳式纳米阵列结构为光电极组装全固态纳米结构太阳电池,研究了Cu2O壳层厚度对光电极光吸收性能、光电性能以及组装电池光伏性能的影响,优化了电池中对电极材料的喷金厚度. 结果表明,以Cu2O沉积电量为1.5 C的Cu2O/ZnO为光活性层,以4 mA电流下真空镀金20~25 min的铜基底为对电极组装的简易太阳电池最高可获得0.013%的光电转换效率.     

The Shackling Effect in Cyclic Azobenzene Liquid Crystal

We demonstrate here a novel method for the design of liquid crystals (LCs) via the cyclization of mesogens by flexible chains. For two azobenzene-4,4′-dicarboxylate derivatives, the cyclic dimer, cyclic bis(tetraethylene glycol azobenzene-4,4′-dicarboxylate) (CBTAD), shows LC properties with smectic A phase, while its linear counterpart, bis(2-(2′-hydroxyethyloxy)ethyl azobenzene-4,4′-dicarboxylate (BHAD), has no LC phase. The difference is ascribed to the shackling effect from the cyclic topology, which leads to the much smaller entropy change during phase transitions and increases the isotropic temperature greatly for cyclics. In addition, the trans-to-cis isomerization of azobenzene groups under UV-light is also limited in CBTAD. With the reversible isomerization of azobenzene groups, CBTAD showed interesting isothermal phase transition behaviors, where the LC phase disappeared upon photoirradiation of 365 nm UV-light, and recovered when the UV-light was off. Combined with the smectic LC nature, a novel UV-light tuned visible light regulator was designed, by simply placing CBTAD in two glass plates. The scattered phase of smectic LC was utilized as the “OFF” state for light passage, while the UV-light induced isotropic phase was utilized as the “ON” state. The shackling effect outlined here should be applicable for the design of cyclic LC oligomers/polymers with special properties.

     

金属-有机框架HKUST-1膜在气体分离中研究进展※

发展高效、绿色且节能的物质分离与纯化技术具有重要意义, 气体分离更是在工业、能源、医疗及科技等领域有着广泛的应用. 传统的聚合物膜在实现高效气体分离方面还面临许多挑战, 新型分离膜材料的开发是当前研究热点和难点. 金属-有机框架(Metal-Organic Frameworks, MOFs)材料作为一种新兴多孔配位聚合物, 由于其具有独特可设计的拓扑结构以及可调节的功能而受到科学家们的广泛关注. 为了克服粉体或块体MOFs很难被高效用于气体分离的难题, 开发可用于分离的MOFs膜材料是一项具有重要意义且具有挑战性的任务. HKUST-1作为一种代表性的MOFs材料, 由于其结构稳定且原料经济并具有多级孔径的结构, 常被用作制备成膜材料用于气体分离的研究和实际应用. 总结了近十年HKUST-1膜的制备方法及其气体分离性能的研究进展, 并对这个方向的研究提出了自己的看法和展望.     

磁性Fe3O4纳米粒子的功能化修饰研究进展

Fe₃O₄纳米粒子因其独特的磁学性能和良好的生物相容性,在生物医药、催化剂、环境治理等领域具有良好的应用前景。然而,磁性Fe₃O₄纳米粒子易团聚、在潮湿的空气中易氧化,制约了Fe₃O₄纳米粒子的深度应用。本文结合课题组在磁性Fe₃O₄纳米粒子应用方面的研究成果,综述了磁性Fe₃O₄纳米粒子的功能化修饰,并讨论了磁性Fe₃O₄复合纳米材料发展面临的机遇和挑战。      

Vacuum Ultraviolet Free-Electron Laser Photoionization Mass Spectrometry of Alpha-pinene Ozonolysis

\begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene is the most abundant monoterpene that represents an important family of volatile organic compounds. Molecular identification of key transient compounds during the \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene ozonolysis has been proven to be a challenging experimental target because of a large number of intermediates and products involved. Here we exploit the recently developed hybrid instruments that integrate aerosol mass spectrometry with a vacuum ultraviolet free-electron laser to study the \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene ozonolysis. The experiments of \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene ozonolysis are performed in an indoor smog chamber, with reactor having a volume of 2 m\begin{document}$^3$\end{document} which is made of fluorinated ethylene propylene film. Distinct mass spectral peaks provide direct experimental signatures of previously unseen compounds produced from the reaction of \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene with O\begin{document}$_3$\end{document}. With the aid of quantum chemical calculations, plausible mechanisms for the formation of these new compounds are proposed. These findings provide crucial information on fundamental understanding of the initial steps of \begin{document}$\alpha$\end{document}-pinene oxidation and the subsequent processes of new particle formation.     

Numerical Investigation of Graphene as a Back Surface Field Layer on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell

This paper numerically explores the possibility of ultrathin layering and high efficiency of graphene as a back surface field (BSF) based on a CdTe solar cell by Personal computer one-dimensional (PC1D) simulation. CdTe solar cells have been characterized and studied by varying the carrier lifetime, doping concentration, thickness, and bandgap of the graphene layer. With simulation results, the highest short-circuit current (I_sc = 2.09 A), power conversion efficiency (η = 15%), and quantum efficiency (QE~85%) were achieved at a carrier lifetime of 1 × 10³ μs and a doping concentration of 1 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ of graphene as a BSF layer-based CdTe solar cell. The thickness of the graphene BSF layer (1 μm) was proven the ultrathin, optimal, and obtainable for the fabrication of high-performance CdTe solar cells, confirming the suitability of graphene material as a BSF. This simulation confirmed that a CdTe solar cell with the proposed graphene as the BSF layer might be highly efficient with optimized parameters for fabrication.     

Approaches for Mitigating Microbial Biofilm-Related Drug Resistance: A Focus on Micro- and Nanotechnologies

Biofilms play an essential role in chronic and healthcare-associated infections and are more resistant to antimicrobials compared to their planktonic counterparts due to their (1) physiological state, (2) cell density, (3) quorum sensing abilities, (4) presence of extracellular matrix, (5) upregulation of drug efflux pumps, (6) point mutation and overexpression of resistance genes, and (7) presence of persister cells. The genes involved and their implications in antimicrobial resistance are well defined for bacterial biofilms but are understudied in fungal biofilms. Potential therapeutics for biofilm mitigation that have been reported include (1) antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, (2) antimicrobial lock therapy, (3) antimicrobial peptides, (4) electrical methods, and (5) antimicrobial coatings. These approaches exhibit promising characteristics for addressing the impending crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recently, advances in the micro- and nanotechnology field have propelled the development of novel biomaterials and approaches to combat biofilms either independently, in combination or as antimicrobial delivery systems. In this review, we will summarize the general principles of clinically important microbial biofilm formation with a focus on fungal biofilms. We will delve into the details of some novel micro- and nanotechnology approaches that have been developed to combat biofilms and the possibility of utilizing them in a clinical setting.     

Computational Study of the Electron Spectra of Vapor-Phase Indole and Four Azaindoles

After geometry optimization, the electron spectra of indole and four azaindoles are calculated by density functional theory. Available experimental photoemission and excitation data for indole and 7-azaindole are used to compare with the theoretical values. The results for the other azaindoles are presented as predictions to help the interpretation of experimental spectra when they become available.     

直流电晕充电下环氧树脂表面电位衰减特性的研究

介质材料表面电荷的积累和衰减行为是制约众多高压直流电力设备研制的关键因素. 薄片状介质试样的表面电荷密度与表面电位近似呈线性关系, 因此常通过表面电位衰减行为研究表面电荷的衰减特性. 基于电晕充电、表面电荷沉积和脱陷、介质体内单极性电荷输运等3个物理过程, 建立表面电位动态响应的物理模型. 通过计算环氧树脂的表面电位衰减行为, 得到栅极电压、相对介电常数和体电导率等对其表面电位衰减特性的影响. 栅极电压越高, 表面电位的衰减速度越快; 环氧树脂材料参数典型值(相对介电常数3.93, 体电导率10^-14 S· m^-1)下, 归一化表面电位的衰减速率随时间变化的曲线可拟合为分段幂函数, 其中, 分段幂函数的特征时间、指数系数与栅极电压分别呈幂函数和线性变化关系. 相对介电常数越大, 表面电位的衰减速度越慢; 环氧树脂相对介电常数典型范围(3–4)内, 表面电位衰减时间常数由1720 s增大到2540 s, 两者呈线性关系. 体电导率越大, 表面电位的衰减速度越快; 环氧树脂体电导率典型范围(10^-15–10^-13 S· m^-1)内, 表面电位衰减时间常数由24760 s 减小到260 s, 两者呈幂函数变化关系.     

Inherent Ethyl Acetate Selectivity in a Trianglimine Molecular Solid

Ethyl acetate is an important chemical raw material and solvent. It is also a key volatile organic compound in the brewing industry and a marker for lung cancer. Materials that are highly selective toward ethyl acetate are needed for its separation and detection. Here, we report a trianglimine macrocycle ( TAMC ) that selectively adsorbs ethyl acetate by forming a solvate. Crystal structure prediction showed this to be the lowest energy solvate structure available. This solvate leaves a metastable, “templated” cavity after solvent removal. Adsorption and breakthrough experiments confirmed that TAMC has adequate adsorption kinetics to separate ethyl acetate from azeotropic mixtures with ethanol, which is a challenging and energy-intensive industrial separation.