A conjugate gradient method for the unconstrained minimization of strictly convex quadratic splines

In this paper, we show that an analogue of the classical conjugate gradient method converges linearly when applied to solving the problem of unconstrained minimization of a strictly convex quadratic spline. Since a strictly convex quadratic program with simple bound constraints can be reformulated as unconstrained minimization of a strictly convex quadratic spline, the conjugate gradient method is used to solve the unconstrained reformulation and find the solution of the original quadratic program. In particular, if the solution of the original quadratic program is nondegenerate, then the conjugate gradient method finds the solution in a finite number of iterations. This author's research is partially supported by the NASA/Langley Research Center under grant NCC-1-68 Supplement-15.     

Delay-dependent asymptotic stability for neural networks with distributed delays

In this paper, dynamical behavior of a class of neural networks with distributed delays is studied by employing suitable Lyapunov functionals, delay-dependent criteria to ensure local and global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium of the neural networks. Our results are applied to classical Hopfield neural networks with distributed delays and some novel asymptotic stability criteria are also derived. The obtained conditions are shown to be less conservative and restrictive than those reported in the known literature.     

分区样条等参元方法分析加肋轴对称组合壳

本文提出分区样条等参元方法分析加肋轴对称组合壳在静水外压作用下的应力及稳定性。该方法根据母线几何形状、壳板厚度变化及边界约束状况将加肋轴对称组合壳划分为若干个区域，在不同区域采用不同步长的样条等参元进行分析，因而便于对复杂的组合壳进行分析，并可大大减少计算所需自由度数，减少计算工作量，同时计算精度很高，并且易于进行边界约束处理。应用该方法对加肋锥－柱、加肋锥－环－柱组合壳进行了计算，其结果与其它方法计算值及实验值吻合良好。     

Breaking Local Charge Symmetry of Iron Single Atoms for Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia

The electrochemical conversion of nitrate pollutants into value-added ammonia is a feasible way to achieve artificial nitrogen cycle. However, the development of electrocatalytic nitrate-to-ammonia reduction reaction (NO₃⁻RR) has been hampered by high overpotential and low Faradaic efficiency. Here we develop an iron single-atom catalyst coordinated with nitrogen and phosphorus on hollow carbon polyhedron (denoted as Fe−N/P−C) as a NO₃⁻RR electrocatalyst. Owing to the tuning effect of phosphorus atoms on breaking local charge symmetry of the single-Fe-atom catalyst, it facilitates the adsorption of nitrate ions and enrichment of some key reaction intermediates during the NO₃⁻RR process. The Fe−N/P−C catalyst exhibits 90.3 % ammonia Faradaic efficiency with a yield rate of 17980 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat⁻¹, greatly outperforming the reported Fe-based catalysts. Furthermore, operando SR-FTIR spectroscopy measurements reveal the reaction pathway based on key intermediates observed under different applied potentials and reaction durations. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the optimized free energy of NO₃⁻RR intermediates is ascribed to the asymmetric atomic interface configuration, which achieves the optimal electron density distribution. This work demonstrates the critical role of atomic-level precision modulation by heteroatom doping for the NO₃⁻RR, providing an effective strategy for improving the catalytic performance of single atom catalysts in different electrochemical reactions.     

Ab initio investigation of the magnetic states of Ca2MnO4 and Ca2MnO3.5

An analysis of the electronic and magnetic properties of Ca₂MnO₄ and Ca₂MnO_3.5 is carried out within local spin density functional theory using the augmented spherical wave method. From energy differences between the hypothetic magnetic configurations both systems are found to be insulating antiferromagnets in the ground state with a 1 eV gap. However we identify an intermediate half metallic ferromagnetic state with the Hund’s rule expected moments for Mn^IV (3 μ_B) and Mn^III (4 μ_B, high spin HS configuration), respectively. The latter result of moment magnitude finds support in recent experimental evidence of Mn^III bismuth oxide as a ferromagnet in its ground state. This is characterized by a small density of states (DOS) magnitude of itinerant states in spin (↑) channel pointing to a metallic-like behavior as it is experimentally evidenced. For both Ca₂MnO₄ and Ca₂MnO_3.5 the chemical bonding characteristics are resolved for the two spin channels. Relationship to colossal magnetoresistive compounds is proposed.     

Efficient charge assignment and back interpolation in multigrid methods for molecular dynamics

The assignment of atomic charges to a regular computational grid and the interpolation of forces from the grid back to the original atomic positions are crucial steps in a multigrid approach to the calculation of molecular forces. For purposes of grid assignment, atomic charges are modeled as truncated Gaussian distributions. The charge assignment and back interpolation methods are currently bottlenecks, and take up to one-third the execution time of the multigrid method each. Here, we propose alternative approaches to both charge assignment and back interpolation where convolution is used both to map Gaussian representations of atomic charges onto the grid and to map the forces computed at grid points back to atomic positions. These approaches achieve the same force accuracy with reduced run time. The proposed charge assignment and back interpolation methods scale better than baseline multigrid computations with both problem size and number of processors.     

锂/钠离子电池材料的固体核磁共振研究进展

固体核磁共振技术是一种定量分析固体材料结构与组成的强有力手段,结合固体核磁共振和常规x-射线衍射(XRD)、 x-射线吸收谱(XAS)等表征方法可对锂/钠离子电池材料在电化学反应中的结构演化过程进行全面的分析. 例如通过固体核磁共振研究, 可获得不同合成与修饰条件下, 锂/钠离子电池电极和电解质材料体相以及电极/电解质界面层的化学组成、局域结构和离子扩散动力学等信息,为高性能电池材料的设计和研发提供重要的基础数据. 本文结合本课题组的研究工作,综述了近三年来国内外固体核磁共振技术在锂/钠离子电池电极、电解质材料以及固体电解质界面膜（SEI）研究中的应用和进展.     

预置粒子对均匀胶体粒子形成的影响

研究预置粒子对于均匀胶体粒子形成的影响,对深入了解均匀粒子的形成机理以及开拓覆盖技术的应用具有重要意义.所谓预置粒子就是在经升温陈化能够生成均匀胶体粒子的溶液中,于陈化前加入的具有一定形态(组成、形状和大小),一定浓度的胶体粒子,新形成的沉淀物因预置粒子的表面性质、形态和浓度的不同而变化.据文献报导,新沉淀的形成过程有:①新粒子的形成与预置粒子的存在无关,新沉淀物独立成核并成长为独立的稳定     

CaF_2微晶玻璃的一步法制备及Eu~(3+)离子探针特性

以组成为n(SiO_2)∶n(Al2O3)∶n(CaO)∶n(CaF_2)∶n(NaF)∶n(B_2O_3)=40∶20∶10∶10∶15∶5的微晶发光玻璃为基质,采用一步析晶法制备了CaF_2析晶相.利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线能量散射谱仪(EDS)和荧光分光光度计等对样品结构、组成及光谱性能进行分析,探讨了Eu3+掺杂浓度和析晶温度对微晶玻璃发光性能的影响.实验结果表明,在850℃下处理可获得分布均匀、粒径尺寸为200 nm的CaF_2析晶相,微晶玻璃的发光强度是基质玻璃的1.7倍.微晶玻璃的发射光谱在590,614,652和700 nm出现发射峰,分别对应Eu3+的5D0-7FJ(J=1,2,3,4)跃迁.通过对5D0-7F1和5D0-7F2跃迁强度的分析以及Judd-Ofelt理论参数Ω2值的计算可知Eu3+周围晶体场在析晶前后对称性发生变化.机理分析表明,析晶处理后Eu3+从高声子能量的Si-O环境进入低声子能量的Ca-F环境中,说明Eu3+可作为荧光探针研究微晶玻璃晶体结构的变化.