Size-dependent magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles

Uniform iron oxide nanoparticles in the size range from 10 to 24 nm and polydisperse 14 nm iron oxide particles were prepared by thermal decomposition of Fe(III) carboxylates in the presence of oleic acid and co-precipitation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) chlorides by ammonium hydroxide followed by oxidation, respectively. While the first method produced hydrophobic oleic acid coated particles, the second one formed hydrophilic, but uncoated, nanoparticles. To make the iron oxide particles water dispersible and colloidally stable, their surface was modified with poly(ethylene glycol) and sucrose, respectively. Size and size distribution of the nanoparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and X-ray diffraction. Surface of the PEG-functionalized and sucrose-modified iron oxide particles was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Magnetic properties were measured by means of vibration sample magnetometry and specific absorption rate in alternating magnetic fields was determined calorimetrically. It was found, that larger ferrimagnetic particles showed higher heating performance than smaller superparamagnetic ones. In the transition range between superparamagnetism and ferrimagnetism, samples with a broader size distribution provided higher heating power than narrow size distributed particles of comparable mean size. Here presented particles showed promising properties for a possible application in magnetic hyperthermia.     

Effects of Zr impurity on microscopic behavior of Hf metal

Hf metal with ∼ 3 wt% Zr impurity has been reinvestigated by perturbed angular correlation (PAC) spectroscopy using a LaBr₃(Ce)–BaF₂ detector set up to understand the microscopic behavior of this metal with temperature. From present measurements, five quadrupole interaction frequencies have been found at room temperature where both pure hcp fraction (∼33%) with 12 nearest neighbor Hf surrounding the probe ¹⁸¹Hf atom and the probe–impurity fraction (∼33%) corresponding to 11 nearest neighbor Hf plus one dissimilar Zr atom are clearly distinguished. At room temperature, the results for quadrupole frequency and asymmetry parameter are found to be ω_Q=51.6(4) Mrad/s, η=0.20(4) for the impurity fraction and ω_Q=46.8(2) Mrad/s, η=0 for the pure fraction with values of frequency distribution width δ=0 for both components. At 77 K, only 1 NN Zr impurity (∼93%) and pure hcp (∼7%) components have been found with a value of δ ∼ 10% for the impurity fraction. A drastic change in microstructural configuration of Hf metal is observed at 473 K where the impurity fraction increases to ∼ 50% and the pure hcp fraction reduces to ∼ 15% with abrupt changes in quadrupole frequencies for both components. The pure fraction then increases with temperature and enhances to ∼50% at 973 K. In the temperature range 473–973 K, quadrupole frequencies for both components are found to decrease slowly with temperature. Using the Arrhenius relation, binding energy (B) for the probe–impurity pair and the entropy of formation are measured from temperature dependent fractions of probe–impurity and pure hcp in the temperature range 473–773 K. The three other minor components found at different temperatures are attributed to crystalline defects.     

Exploring the electronic structure of Pb2+ ions containing material Pb16(OH)16(NO3)16

A theoretical band structure calculation for lead nitrate hydroxide Pb₁₆(OH)₁₆(NO₃)₁₆ single crystal was performed based on the experimental crystallographic data obtained by Chang et al. Calculations exhibit that the conduction band minimum (CBM) is situated at Γ the center of the Brillouin zone (BZ) while the valence band maximum (VBM) is located between Γ and Y points of the BZ, resulting in an indirect energy band gap of about 3.70 eV in close agreement to the measured one (3.78 eV). The angular momentum resolved projected density of states reveals the existence of the strong hybridization between the orbitals and the VBM is originated from Pb-6s/6p and O-2p orbitals while the CBM from N-2p and Pb-6p orbitals. The calculated valence electronic charge density distribution explore the bond characters and the dominancy of the covalent bonding between Pb–O of PbO_n ployhedra and N–O of [NO₃]⁻ triangle. The calculated bond lengths and angles show good agreement with the experimental data.     

Distributed fiber sensing system with wide frequency response and accurate location

A distributed fiber sensing system merging Mach–Zehnder interferometer and phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometer (Φ-OTDR) is demonstrated for vibration measurement, which requires wide frequency response and accurate location. Two narrow line-width lasers with delicately different wavelengths are used to constitute the interferometer and reflectometer respectively. A narrow band Fiber Bragg Grating is responsible for separating the two wavelengths. In addition, heterodyne detection is applied to maintain the signal to noise rate of the locating signal. Experiment results show that the novel system has a wide frequency from 1 Hz to 50 MHz, limited by the sample frequency of data acquisition card, and a spatial resolution of 20 m, according to 200 ns pulse width, along 2.5 km fiber link.     

Refractometer based on a tapered Mach–Zehnder interferometer with Peanut-Shape structure

A novel refractometer based on tapered Mach–Zehnder modal interferometer (MZI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. This sensor is composed of a pair of Peanut-Shape structures and an embedded taper – the former excites high-order cladding modes, while the latter enhances the evanescent field. As the effective refractive index (RI) of cladding is based on the changes of surrounding RI, thus extinction ratio will change due to the alteration of the distribution of power in the fiber which is induced by various differences of core and cladding for RI. As a result, the maximum RI sensitivity of 240.78 extinction ratio/RIU (refractive index unit) is achieved within the range from 1.3334 to 1.4081.     

Sonocatalytic injury of cancer cells attached on the surface of a nickel–titanium dioxide alloy plate

The present study demonstrates ultrasound-induced cell injury using a nickel–titanium dioxide (Ni–TiO₂) alloy plate as a sonocatalyst and a cell culture surface. Ultrasound irradiation of cell-free Ni–TiO₂ alloy plates with 1 MHz ultrasound at 0.5 W/cm² for 30 s led to an increased generation of hydroxyl (OH) radicals compared to nickel–titanium (Ni–Ti) control alloy plates with and without ultrasound irradiation. When human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells) cultured on the Ni–TiO₂ alloy plates were irradiated with 1 MHz ultrasound at 0.5 W/cm² for 30 s and then incubated for 48 h, cell density on the alloy plate was reduced to approximately 50% of the controls on the Ni–Ti alloy plates with and without ultrasound irradiation. These results indicate the injury of MCF-7 cells following sonocatalytic OH radical generation by Ni–TiO₂. Further experiments demonstrated cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation after ultrasound irradiation of MCF-7 cells attached on the Ni–TiO₂ alloy plates, indicating induction of apoptosis.     

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of Pd–Pt/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites for enhanced electro-oxidation of ethanol and methanol in alkaline medium

Herein, a facile ultrasonic-assisted strategy was proposed to fabricate the Pd–Pt alloy/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pd–Pt/CNTs) nanocomposites. A good number of Pd–Pt alloy nanoparticles with an average of 3.4 ± 0.5 nm were supported on sidewalls of CNTs with uniform distribution. The composition of the Pd–Pt/CNTs nanocomposites could also be easily controlled, which provided a possible approach for the preparation of other architectures with anticipated properties. The Pd–Pt/CNTs nanocomposites were extensively studied by electron microscopy, induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and applied for the ethanol and methanol electro-oxidation reaction in alkaline medium. The electrochemical results indicated that the nanocomposites had better electrocatalytic activities and stabilities, showing promising applications for fuel cells.     

Ultrasonic emulsification of parenteral valproic acid-loaded nanoemulsion with response surface methodology and evaluation of its stability

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the formulation of a nanoemulsion for central delivery following parenteral administration. A mixture of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and safflower seed oil (SSO) was determined as a sole phase from the emulsification properties. Similarly, a natural surfactant (lecithin) and non-ionic surfactant (Tween 80) (ratio 1:2) were used in the formulation. A central composite design (CCD) with three-factor at five-levels was used to optimize the processing method of high energy ultrasonicator. Effects of pre-sonication ultrasonic intensity (A), sonication time (B), and temperature (C) were studied on the preparation of nanoemulsion loaded with valproic acid. Influence of the aforementioned specifically the effects of the ultrasonic processing parameters on droplet size and polydispersity index were investigated. From the analysis, it was found that the interaction between ultrasonic intensity and sonication time was the most influential factor on the droplet size of nanoemulsion formulated. Ultrasonic intensity (A) significantly affects the polydispersity index value. With this optimization method, a favorable droplet size of a nanoemulsion with reasonable polydispersity index was able to be formulated within a short sonication time. A valproic acid loaded nanoemulsion can be obtained with 60% power intensity for 15 min at 60 °C. Droplet size of 43.21 ± 0.11 nm with polydispersity index of 0.211 were produced. The drug content was then increased to 1.5%. Stability study of nanoemulsion containing 1.5% of valproic acid had a good stability as there are no significant changes in physicochemical aspects such as droplet size and polydispersity index. With the characteristisation study of pH, viscosity, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and stability assessment study the formulated nanoemulsion has the potential to penetrate blood–brain barrier in the treatment of epilepsy.     

Synthesis and application of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles combined ultrasonic assisted for highly selective solid phase extraction trace amount of celecoxib from human plasma samples using design expert (DXB) software

In this work molecular imprinted nanoparticles (MINPs) was synthesized and applied for ultrasonic assisted solid phase extraction of celecoxib (CEL) from human plasma sample following its combination by HPLC–UV. The MINPs were prepared in a non-covalent approach using methacrylic acid as monomer, CEL as template, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator of polymerization. pH, volume of rinsing and eluent solvent and amount of sorbent influence on response were investigated using factorial experimental design, while optimum point was achieved and set as 250 mg sorbent, pH 7.0, 1.5 mL washing solvent and 2 mL eluent by analysis of results according to design expert (DX) software. At above specified conditions, CEL in human plasma with complicated matrices with acceptable high recoveries (96%) and RSD% lower than 10% was quantified and estimated.The proposed MISPE-HPLC–UV method has linear responses among peak area and concentrations of CEL in the range of 0.2–2000 μg L⁻¹, with regression coefficient of 0.98. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) based on three and ten times of the noise of HPLC peaks correspond to blank solution were 0.08 and 0.18 μg L⁻¹, respectively.     

不同发光染料的顶发射有机电致发光器件的研制

通过设计合理的微腔结构,制备了基于绿光染料C545t、黄光染料Rubrene、红光染料DCJTB的3种顶发射有机电致发光器件。研究了不同发光染料对顶发射器件的光谱的影响。研究表明,微腔结构对光谱具有窄化作用。绿光、黄光器件的发光峰波长并未随视角增大而明显变化,体现出良好的光谱角度性,而红光器件却出现了明显的光谱蓝移现象。绿光器件的最大功率效率为8.7 lm/W,当电流密度为45 m A/cm2时,亮度能达到7 205 cd/m2;黄光器件的电流效率最大值为11.5 cd/A,当电流密度为48 m A/cm2时,亮度可达到3 770 cd/m2;红光器件的电流效率最大能达到3.54 cd/A,当电流密度为50 m A/cm2时,可获得1 358 cd/m2的亮度。采用合适的发光材料以及合适的器件结构,不仅可以提高顶发射器件的色纯度及发光效率,还可以改善器件发光光谱的角度依赖性。