Topologically protected interface mode in plasmonic waveguide arrays

Recent realization of nontrivial topological phases in photonic systems has provided unprecedented opportunities in steering light flow in novel manners. Based on the Su–Schriffer–Heeger (SSH) model, a topologically protected optical mode was successfully demonstrated in a plasmonic waveguide array with a kinked interface that exhibits a robust nonspreading feature. However, under the same excitation conditions, another antikinked structure seemingly cannot support such a topological interface mode, which appears to be inconsistent with the SSH model. Theoretical calculations are carried out based on the coupled‐mode theory, in which the mode properties, excitation conditions, and the robustness are studied in detail. It is revealed that under the exact eigenstate excitations, both kinked and antikinked structures do support such robust topological interface modes; however, for a realistic single‐waveguide input only the kinked structure does so. It is concluded that the symmetry of interface eigenmodes plays a crucial role, and the odd eigenmode in a kinked structure offers the capacity to excite the nonspreading interface mode in the realistic excitation of a one‐waveguide input. Our finding deepens the understanding of mode excitation and propagation in coupled waveguide systems, and could open a new avenue in optical simulations and photonic designs.

     

A Novel Tetranuclear Organotin(IV) Carboxylate with Chain Structure: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Characterizations

A new tetranuclear organotin carboxylate {[(n‐Bu₂SnO)₂L]₂}_n (complex 1 ) was synthesized by the reaction of di‐n‐butyltin oxide with (p‐carboxymethoxy‐phenoxy) acetic acid (LH₂) and characterized by elemental analyses: IR, UV–visible, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X‐ray study. X‐ray crystallography diffraction data revealed that the complex 1 was polymeric fashion with a chain structure containing a ladder‐like tetranuclear organo‐oxotin cluster. In the complex 1 , the ligand LH₂ is coordinated to the central tin(IV) atoms via the carboxylato‐O atoms. The tetranuclear tin system is formed by the bridges through the carbonyl oxygen atom of the carboxylate moieties and making the tin atom of pentacoordinated in distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Single crystal X‐ray data indicate that the complex 1 crystallized in the cubic system with the space group C₂/c.     

A novel 3D Tesla valve micromixer for efficient mixing and chitosan nanoparticle production

Current three-dimensional micromixers for continuous flow reactions and nanoparticle synthesis are complex in structure and difficult to fabricate. This paper investigates the design, fabrication, and characterization of a novel micromixer that uses a simple spatial Tesla valve design to achieve efficient mixing of multiple solutions. The flow characteristics and mixing efficiencies of our Tesla valve micromixer are investigated using a combination of numerical simulations and experiments. The results show that in a wide range of flow rates, viscoelastic solutions with different concentrations can be well mixed in our micromixer. Finally, experiments on the synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles are conducted to verify the practicability of our micromixer. Compared with nanoparticles prepared by conventional magnetic stirring, the size of nanoparticles prepared by micromixing is smaller and the distribution is more uniform. Therefore, our Tesla valve micromixer has significant advantages and implications for mixing chemical and biological reactions.     

Independent development and validation of a novel six-color fluorescence multiplex panel including 61 diallelic DIPs and 2 miniSTRs for forensic degradation sample

Current forensic DNA profiles are obtained based on analyses of PCR product sizes or DNA sequence polymorphisms. Sometimes routine forensic analysis using short tandem repeat (STR) generates unsuccessful DNA testing result if the biological sample encountered is excessively degraded and low-template DNA. Herein, a new six-color fluorescence labeling system, including 59 autosomal diallelic deletion or insertion polymorphisms (DIPs), 2 miniSTRs, 2 Y-chromosome DIPs, and 1 Amelogenin gene with the amplicon sizes of less than 200 bp, was self-developed. According to the validation guidelines for DNA analysis methods formulated by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods, the validation studies have also been carried out for the multiplex system. This novel panel possessed the features of strong stability, high sensitivity, and good specificity, which was especially suitable for the forensic degraded and mixed sample detections. The cumulative power of exclusion and cumulative matching probability of the system were 0.9999978 and 9.833E-28, respectively, in Han Chinese in Hunan, China. Moreover, this system will be an effective new tool that can be independently applied to forensic personal identification and paternity testing in the populations from the East Asia region, even from the South Asia, America, and Europe regions. The system can also contribute to population phylogenetic affinity and genetic structure analyses among different populations.     

A Ti3C2TX/Pt–Pd based amperometric biosensor for sensitive cancer biomarker detection

The detection of cancer biomarkers is of great significance for the early screening of cancer. Detecting the content of sarcosine in blood or urine has been considered to provide a basis for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, it still lacks simple, high-precision and wide-ranging sarcosine detection methods. In this work, a Ti₃C₂T_X/Pt–Pd nanocomposite with high stability and excellent electrochemical performance has been synthesized by a facile one-step alcohol reduction and then used on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with sarcosine oxidase (SO_x) to form a sarcosine biosensor (GCE/Ti₃C₂T_X/Pt–Pd/SO_x). The prominent electrocatalytic activity and biocompatibility of Ti₃C₂T_X/Pt–Pd enable the SO_x to be highly active and sensitive to sarcosine. Under the optimized conditions, the prepared biosensor has a wide linear detection range to sarcosine from 1 to 1000 µM with a low limit of detection of 0.16 µM (S/N = 3) and a sensitivity of 84.1 µA/mM cm². Besides, the reliable response in serum samples shows its potential in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. More importantly, the successful construction and application of the amperometric biosensor based on Ti₃C₂T_X/Pt–Pd will provide a meaningful reference for detecting other cancer biomarkers.     

Continuous Porous Aromatic Framework Membranes with Modifiable Sites for Optimized Gas Separation

Continuous microporous membranes are widely studied for gas separation, due to their low energy premium and strong molecular specificity. Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) with their exceptional stability and structural flexibility are suited to a wide range of separations. Main-stream PAF-based membranes are usually prepared with polymeric matrices, but their discrete entities and boundary defects weaken their selectivity and permeability. The synthesis of continuous PAF membranes is still a major challenge because PAFs are insoluble. Herein, we successfully synthesized a continuous PAF membrane for gas separation. Both pore size and chemistry of the PAF membrane were modified by ion-exchange, resulting in good selectivity and permeance for the gas mixtures H₂/N₂ and CO₂/N₂. The membrane with Br^? as a counter ion in the framework exhibited a H₂/N₂ selectivity of 72.7 with a H₂ permeance of 51844 gas permeation units (GPU). When the counter ions were replaced by BF₄^?, the membrane showed a CO₂ permeance of 23058 GPU, and an optimized CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 60.0. Our results show that continuous PAF membranes with modifiable pores are promising for various gas separation situations.     

Analysis of the Thermal Decomposition Path of SF6 on the Surface of Cu and its Oxides

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - Accurately grasping the decomposition path of SF6 on the surface of typical metals and metal oxides is the key to reveal the decomposition mechanism of...     

Activation of Au–Ag Plasmonic Bimetallic Nanocatalysts with Cold Plasma: The Role of Loading Sequence of Plasmonic Metals and Discharge Atmosphere

The activation of Au–Ag plasmonic bimetallic nanocatalyst can make the nanocatalyst exhibit superior visible-light (VL) photocatalytic activity. An efficient activation of Au–Ag nanocatalyst by cold plasma requires the restructuring of Au and Ag species over catalyst surface to form Au–Ag alloy nanoparticles while suppressing agglomeration of the nanoparticles. We here report that the loading sequence of Au and Ag components on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) support during catalyst preparation and discharge atmosphere play important roles in the plasma activation. Preparation of AuAg/TiO₂ nanocatalyst by depositing Ag and Au in sequence could avoid the undesired loss of Ag component, and ensure an effective restructuring of Au and Ag species in O₂ plasma activation. Compared with the reductive (H₂) and inert (Ar and N₂) plasmas, discharge in oxidative O₂ establishes Coulomb field with the negatively charged species over catalyst surface and enable the restructuring and intimate interaction of Au and Ag species. The catalyst characterization and density functional theory calculations suggest that O₂ plasma endows AuAg/TiO₂ nanocatalyst with large numbers of Au–Ag alloy nanoparticles, small size of plasmonic nanoparticles, high density of coordinatively unsaturated sites, and high content of surface oxygen species in the activation, which facilitates the adsorption and activation of O₂, and thus CO oxidation reaction under VL irradiation.

     

溶液法制备柔性压阻式传感器的研究进展

柔性压阻式传感器具有结构简单、易于制备、检测范围广等优势, 在可穿戴电子器件领域中扮演着非常重要的角色. 在制备柔性压阻式传感器的众多方法中, 溶液法由于操作简单、反应条件温和、材料的适用性广泛、易于规模化制备等优势, 成为极具发展前景的制备工艺. 在此基础上, 如何进一步提高柔性压阻式传感器的力学与电学性能也成为研究者们更加关注的话题. 另外, 制备图案化、微型化、规模化的传感器阵列为柔性压阻式传感器的应用范围拓展了新的道路. 本综述首先介绍了柔性压阻式传感器的工作原理与性能指标, 同时讨论了其性能指标对传感器在实际应用中的影响. 随后, 简单介绍了其构成材料, 并通过梳理近年来溶液法制备柔性传感器的研究成果, 选取了几种典型的溶液法制备方法进行重点介绍, 指出其具备的优势及目前存在的问题. 最后, 对溶液法制备柔性传感器的发展方向进行总结与展望.     

In2BP3O12:Cr3+宽带近红外荧光粉的发光性能及应用研究※

近红外光谱技术在安防监控、食品检测、生物成像、农业等领域具有重要应用价值, 而开发出紧凑高效的近红外光源是其大规模商业应用的前提. 荧光粉转换型近红外发光二极管(light emitting diodes, LED)光源具有结构紧凑、成本低、使用寿命长、发射光谱可调等优点, 因此近些年受到广泛关注, 其关键就在于开发出能被蓝光有效激发的高性能近红外荧光粉. 本工作利用高温固相法制备了一种新型宽带近红外荧光粉In₂BP₃O₁₂:Cr³⁺, 在480 nm激发下, 荧光粉发射峰值位于950 nm, 光谱覆盖了750~1350 nm范围, 半峰宽达到210 nm. 采用该荧光粉与商用蓝光InGaN LED芯片封装, 获得了具有宽带发射的近红外LED光源, 在60 mA的驱动电流下, 近红外光辐射功率为5 mW. 当采用该光源照射人的手掌, 用近红外电感耦合器(charge coupled device, CCD)相机能够对手掌中的血管进行清晰的成像. 上述结果表明该近红外荧光粉可用于制备基于蓝光芯片的宽带近红外LED光源, 并在生物医学等领域具有潜在应用前景.