Natural and artificial light-harvesting systems utilizing the functions of carotenoids

Carotenoids are essential pigments in natural photosynthesis. They absorb in the blue–green region of the solar spectrum and transfer the absorbed energy to (bacterio-)chlorophylls, and so expand the wavelength range of light that is able to drive photosynthesis. This process is an example of singlet–singlet energy transfer and so carotenoids serve to enhance the overall efficiency of photosynthetic light reactions. Carotenoids also act to protect photosynthetic organisms from the harmful effects of excess exposure to light. In this case, triplet–triplet energy transfer from (bacterio-)chlorophyll to carotenoid plays a key role in this photoprotective reaction. In the light-harvesting pigment–protein complexes from purple photosynthetic bacteria and chlorophytes, carotenoids have an additional role, namely the structural stabilization of those complexes. In this article we review what is currently known about how carotenoids discharge these functions. The molecular architecture of photosynthetic systems will be outlined to provide a basis from which to describe the photochemistry of carotenoids, which underlies most of their important functions in photosynthesis. Then, the possibility to utilize the functions of carotenoids in artificial photosynthetic light-harvesting systems will be discussed. Some examples of the model systems are introduced.     

Application of the Tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III)/(II) Redox Couple in p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

An electrolyte based on the tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III)/(II) redox couple ([Fe(acac)₃]^0/1?) was developed for p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Introduction of a NiO blocking layer on the working electrode and the use of chenodeoxycholic acid in the electrolyte enhanced device performance by improving the photocurrent. Devices containing [Fe(acac)₃]^0/1? and a perylene–thiophene–triphenylamine sensitizer (PMI–6T–TPA) have the highest reported short‐circuit current (J_SC=7.65 mA cm^?2), and energy conversion efficiency (2.51 %) for p‐type DSSCs coupled with a fill factor of 0.51 and an open‐circuit voltage V_OC=645 mV. Measurement of the kinetics of dye regeneration by the redox mediator revealed that the process is diffusion limited as the dye‐regeneration rate constant (1.7×10⁸ M ^?1 s^?1) is very close to the maximum theoretical rate constant of 3.3×10⁸ M ^?1 s^?1. Consequently, a very high dye‐regeneration yield (>99 %) could be calculated for these devices.     

Effects of Mn2+ on the chrome‐free colored Ti/Zr‐based conversion coating on 6063 aluminum alloy

The conversion coating with golden color and improved corrosion resistance had been prepared by adding Mn²⁺ in the Ti/Zr conversion coating solution. Comparing with that of conversion coating without Mn²⁺, the optimal treatment time of this conversion coating was much shorter and the corrosion resistance was obviously improved. The effect of Mn²⁺ on the formation of golden Ti/Zr conversion coating was thoroughly investigated by means of energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, SEM, XPS, and Raman and electrochemical workstation. The results showed that the conversion coating had a double‐layer structure: the outer layer consisted of the metal‐organic complex and the inner layer was mainly made up of Na₃AlF₆. Mn²⁺ was oxidized into MnOOH in solution and precipitated on the substrate surface which provided the nucleus to Na₃AlF₆ crystal and accelerated Na₃AlF₆ crystal formation and also made the microstructure of conversion coating change to the cubic. The mechanism of the formation of the conversion coating can be deemed as nucleation, growth of Na₃AlF₆ crystal, and formation of metal‐organic complex. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

褐煤半焦直接加氢制甲烷反应特性及其孔结构和表面形态变化

在高温高压(1 000 ℃、12 MPa)固定床反应器上对内蒙古褐煤半焦的加氢甲烷化反应特性进行了研究,采用氮吸附和扫描电镜(SEM)对甲烷化残渣比表面积、孔结构和表面形态进行了表征。结果表明,半焦加氢甲烷化可分为加氢热解、快速加氢和慢速加氢等三个反应阶段,每阶段分别发生含氧官能团和烷基侧链加氢反应、芳环结构加氢反应以及贫氢骨架碳结构加氢反应。半焦加氢甲烷化最优反应温度为800 ℃,反应压力为3.0~4.0 MPa;提高升温速率可以缩短前段(碳转化率低于46%)反应过程时间,对后段(碳转化率高于46%)反应过程影响较小。半焦甲烷化残渣的吸附-脱附等温线呈反S型,滞后环呈H3回线形状;在甲烷化反应过程中,半焦平均孔径先减小后增大,总孔容积和介孔容积逐渐增大,微孔容积和比表面积先增大后减小。     

Recent progress in applications of graphene oxide for gas sensing: A review

This paper is a review of the recent progress on gas sensors using graphene oxide (GO). GO is not a new material but its unique features have recently been of interest for gas sensing applications, and not just as an intermediate for reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Graphene and RGO have been well known gas-sensing materials, but GO is also an attractive sensing material that has been well studied these last few years. The functional groups on GO nanosheets play important roles in adsorbing gas molecules, and the electric or optical properties of GO materials change with exposure to certain gases. Addition of metal nanoparticles and metal oxide nanocomposites is an effective way to make GO materials selective and sensitive to analyte gases. In this paper, several applications of GO based sensors are summarized for detection of water vapor, NO₂, H₂, NH₃, H₂S, and organic vapors. Also binding energies of gas molecules onto graphene and the oxygenous functional groups are summarized, and problems and possible solutions are discussed for the GO-based gas sensors.     

退火处理提高P3HT:PCBM聚合物太阳能电池光伏性能

利用旋转涂膜方法制备了以P3HT:PCBM为有源层的聚合物太阳能电池, 器件结构为ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/Al(氧化铟锡导电玻璃/聚二氧乙基噻吩:聚对苯乙烯磺酸/聚三已基噻酚:富勒烯衍生物/铝),研究了退火温度对聚合物太阳能电池性能的影响. 实验发现: 聚合物薄膜经过120 °C退火10 min处理后, 开路电压(V_oc)达到0.64 V, 短路电流密度(J_sc)为10.25 mA·cm^-2, 填充因子(FF) 38.1%, 光电转换效率(PCE)达到2.00%. 为了讨论其内在机制, 对不同退火条件下聚合物薄膜进行了各种表征. 从紫外-可见吸收光谱中发现, 退火处理使P3HT在可见光范围内吸收加强且吸收峰展宽, 特别是在560和610 nm处的吸收强度明显增大; X射线衍射(XRD)结果表明, 120 °C退火后P3HT在(100)晶面上的衍射强度是未退火薄膜的2.8倍, 有利于光生载流子的输运; 原子力显微镜(AFM)研究结果表明, 退火显著增大了P3HT与PCBM的相分离程度, 提高了激子解离的几率; 傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱验证了退火并没有引起聚合物材料物性的变化.     

在碱金属/液氨作用下两类还原反应的机理探讨

碱金属/液氨溶液具有很强还原性,在有机合成中有着广泛的运用。在高等教育出版社出版的由邢其毅、裴伟伟、徐瑞秋以及裴坚等人编著的《基础有机化学》(第3版)中描述了在碱金属/液氨作用条件下的两类还原反应:炔烃被还原为烯烃的反应和Birch还原反应。一般认为这两种反应均生成了自由基负离子中间体。本文结合近几年的文献报道,对它们的机理进行进一步的探讨。     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5,6,7-trimethoxy- 1- benzylidene-3,4-dihydro-naphthalen-2-one as tubulinpolymerization inhibitors

A series of new combretastatin-A4 analogs were synthesized, in which a six-membered ring connects the linking bridge and A ring, and their tumor cell growth and tubulin-polymerization inhibitory activity were evaluated. These compounds appear to be potential tubulin-polymerization inhibitors. Compounds 1b with amino substituted on position 3 of B ring conferred optimal bioactivity, higher than that of the lead compound 22b and equivalent to that of CA-4. The binding modes of these compounds to tubulin were obtained by molecular docking, which can explain the structure-activity relationship. The studies presented here provide a new structural type for the development of novel antitumor agents.     

Au/ZnO/TiO_2复合薄膜的制备及光电转换性质

以含有Au和ZnO纳米颗粒的氢氧化钛溶胶作为成膜液,通过浸渍-提拉及灼烧处理在导电玻璃表面制备Au/ZnO/TiO2复合薄膜.利用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等方法对所得产物进行表征.结果表明,Au和ZnO纳米颗粒均匀地分布在多孔TiO2薄膜上,通过TiO2、ZnO和Au三组分的协同效应促进了光吸收和电荷分离,使Au/ZnO/TiO2复合薄膜具有较好的光电转换性质,可用作太阳能电池材料.