Simultaneous imaging of the structure and fluorescence of a supramolecular nanostructure formed by the coupling of π‐conjugated polymer chains in the intermolecular interaction

We fabricated a micrometer‐long supramolecular chain in which π‐conjugated polyrotaxane was coupled. A new experimental setup was designed and constructed, and the simultaneous direct imaging of the structure and fluorescent function was achieved. Furthermore, we identified the formation of a polymer intertwined network and observed novel fluorescence due to a long‐range interaction via this intertwined network over a distance of 5 μm or more without quenching over 15 min in the near field. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 801–809, 2006     

Polymer electrolyte membranes for the direct methanol fuel cell: A review

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) has the potential to replace lithium‐ion rechargeable batteries in portable electronic devices, but currently experiences significant power density and efficiency losses due to high methanol crossover through polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs). Numerous publications document the synthesis and characterization of new PEMs for the DMFC. This article reviews this research, transport phenomena in PEMs, and experimental techniques used to evaluate new PEMs for the DMFC. Although many PEMs do not show significant improvements over Nafion®, the benchmark PEM in DMFCs, experimental results show that several new PEMs exhibit lower methanol crossover at similar proton conductivities and/or higher DMFC power densities. These results and recommendations for future research are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Parts B: Polym Phys 44: 2201–2225, 2006     

Mechanical endurance of polymer electrolyte membrane and PEM fuel cell durability

The life of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is currently limited by the mechanical endurance of polymer electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). In this paper, the authors report recent experimental and modeling work toward understanding the mechanisms of delayed mechanical failures of polymer electrolyte membranes and MEAs under relevant PEMFC operating conditions. Mechanical breach of membranes/MEAs in the form of pinholes and tears has been frequently observed after long‐term or accelerated testing of PEMFC cells/stacks. Catastrophic failure of cell/stack due to rapid gas crossover shortly follows the mechanical breach. Ex situ mechanical characterizations were performed on MEAs after being subjected to the accelerated chemical aging and relative humidity (RH) cycling tests. The results showed significant reduction of MEA ductility manifested as drastically reduced strain‐to‐failure of the chemically aged and RH‐cycled MEAs. Postmortem analysis revealed the formation and growth of mechanical defects such as cracks and crazing in the membranes and MEAs. A finite element model was used to estimate stress/strain states of an edge‐constrained MEA under rapid RH variations. Damage metrics for accelerated testing and life prediction of PEMFCs are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2346–2357, 2006     

Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone)s containing fluorinated moieties as proton exchange membrane materials

A series of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone)s statistical copolymers with high molecular weights were synthesized via an aromatic nucleophilic substitution polymerization. The sulfonation content (SC), defined as the number of sulfonic acid groups contained in an average repeat unit, could be controlled by the feed ratios of monomers. Flexible and strong membranes in sodium sulfonate form could be prepared by the solution casting method, and readily transformed to their proton forms by treating them in 2 N sulfuric acid. The polymers showed high T_gs, which increased with an increase in SC. Membranes prepared from the present sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone ketone) copolymers containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene moiety (SPEEKK‐6F) and copolymers containing the pendant 3,5‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl moiety (SPEEKK‐6FP) had lower water uptakes and lower swelling ratios in comparison with previously prepared copolymers containing 6F units. All of the polymers possessed proton conductivities higher than 1 × 10^?2 S/cm at room temperature, and proton conductivity values of several polymers were comparable to that of Nafion at high relative humidity. Their thermal stability, oxidative stability, and mechanical properties were also evaluated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2299–2310, 2006     

A procedure for measuring the flexibility of single wood-pulp fibres

A way of determining the flexibility of wood-pulp fibres is developed, which involves i) a precise measurement of the topology of single-fibres by using a confocal laser scanning microscope and ii) the measurement of the elastic modulus of the fibres by using a single-fibre fatigue cell. Reported in this paper are the initial results of tests carried out on black spruce fibres, which have been subjected to three different levels of mechanical refining energy, namely ∼1100, 2300, and 3500 kWh/t. It is found that the fibre flexibility rises significantly between the first and second energy levels, but it does not change to the same degree between the second and third ones. The described procedure of measuring the flexibility of fibres may be used to establish the appropriate refiner energy necessary for the production of a specific grade of paper. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 115–128, January–February, 2006.     

数字式超声成象的相干处理

本文介绍一种新的医学超声成象处理方法－相干处理。这种方法保留和利用了不同通道中信号的相干性，因此能增强图象分辩率，改进图象的质量。     

成像光谱技术中机上实时数据压缩方法研究

根据成像光谱仪的特点用一系列串行的一维压缩实现二维图像压缩.提出了在机上对原始数据从光谱方向进行实时压缩的“二真值线性预测方法”.该法可做到压缩/复原后光谱特征信息不丢失.实验表明,对大多数光谱数据在1%的重建精度下,至少可获得2:1的压缩比.从总体而言,压缩后原始数据率可降低3～4倍.文中还对压缩数据的编码和误差进行了讨论.     

TNFa在血管内皮细胞ECV304中的靶向表达研究

在缺失了3'LTR U3区内病毒的启动子／增强子序列的逆转录病毒载体pLXSNd中,用血管内皮生长因子受体KDR的特异性启动子调控了TNFa在血管内细胞ECV304中的靶向表达。将构建的载体pLXSN-TNFa,pLXSNd-KDRp-TNFa和空载体pLXSN用PA317细胞包装后获得重组病毒,并用重组病毒分别感染NIH3T3细胞和ECV304细胞,培养物上清的ELISA结果证明,KDR启动子指导的TNFa在KDR阳性细胞ECV304中的表达量为在KDR阴性细胞NIH3T3中的表达量的8倍;而TR指导的TNFa在这两种细胞中的表达无明显差异,实现了TNFa在血管内皮细胞中的靶向表达,这可能为肿瘤基因治疗提供新途径。     

金属铝燃料电池的研究

铝是一种丰富廉价的有色金属，金属铝电池作为一种新型燃料电池，具有低成本、无毒害、高功率、高能量密度等优点。本文简述了金属铝电池的工作原理，并对铝阳极、空气阴极、催化剂、电解液和铝燃料电池的应用等方面的研究概况进行了叙述。     

电子自旋共振准三维图象的重建方法

根据投影切片原理, 设计了一个简单而有效的ESR图象重建算法和程序, 可利用样品的一集ESR谱, 方便地绘制出样品在某截面的自旋密度立体轮廓图、等值图和散点密度分布图等, 为分析和研究自旋密度的分布及其性质, 提供了直观依据。作为应用, 文中给出了石英杜瓦受紫外光辐照后产生的局部晶格缺陷——F心的空间分布图, 图中清楚表明, F心的浓度与辐照方向和辐照强度的密切关系, 与试验结果完全相符。