Spatially and electrically tunable random lasing based on a polymer-stabilised blue phase liquid crystal-wedged cell

ABSTRACT

We demonstrate a spatially and electrically tunable random lasing based on polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (PS-BPLC)-wedged cell. The spatially tunable random lasers can be obtained from the laser dye-doped PS-BPLC-wedged cell through changing the pump positions, where the emission wavelength of the random laser can be tuned due to the thickness gradient of the wedged cell, which affects the scattering mean free path. Additionally, applying different electric fields can also tune the laser emission wavelength. The changing of refractive index due to the Kerr effect leads to a change in the scattering mean free path, resulting in shift of lasing wavelength. This PS-BPLC-wedged cell device has a great potential in applications of speckle-free imaging, document coding, biomedicine and other photonic devices.     

Automatic kinetic model generation and selection based on concentration versus time curves

The goal of the paper is to automatize the construction and parameterization of kinetic reaction mechanisms that can describe a set of experimentally measured concentration versus time curves. Using the framework and theorems of formal reaction kinetics, first, we build a set of possible mechanisms with a given number of measured and unmeasured (real or fictitious) species and reaction steps that fulfill some chemically reasonable requirements. Then we fit all the corresponding mass-action kinetic models and offer the best one to the chemist to help explain the underlying chemical phenomenon or to use it for predictions. We demonstrate the use of the method via two simple examples: on an artificial, simulated set of data and on a small real-life data set. The method can also be used to do a kind of lumping to generate a model that can reproduce the simulation results of a detailed mechanism with less species and thereby can largely accelerate spatially inhomogeneous simulations.     

Optically Triggered Control of the Charge Carrier Density in Chemically Functionalized Graphene Field Effect Transistors

Field effect transistors (FETs) based on 2D materials are of great interest for applications in ultrathin electronic and sensing devices. Here we demonstrate the possibility to add optical switchability to graphene FETs (GFET) by functionalizing the graphene channel with optically switchable azobenzene molecules. The azobenzene molecules were incorporated to the GFET channel by building a van der Waals heterostructure with a carbon nanomembrane (CNM), which is used as a molecular interposer to attach the azobenzene molecules. Under exposure with 365 nm and 455 nm light, azobenzene molecules transition between cis and trans molecular conformations, respectively, resulting in a switching of the molecular dipole moment. Thus, the effective electric field acting on the GFET channel is tuned by optical stimulation and the carrier density is modulated.     

Enhancing Tris(pyrazolyl)borate-Based Models of Cysteine/Cysteamine Dioxygenases through Steric Effects: Increased Reactivities,Full Product Characterization and Hints to Initial Superoxide Formation

The design of biomimetic model complexes for the cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO) is reported, where the 3-His coordination of the iron ion is simulated by three pyrazole donors of a trispyrazolyl borate ligand (Tp) and protected cysteine and cysteamine represent substrate ligands. It is found that the replacement of phenyl groups—attached at the 3-positions of the pyrazole units in a previous model—by mesityl residues has massive consequences, as the latter arrange to a more spacious reaction pocket. Thus, the reaction with O₂ proceeds much faster and afterwards the first structural characterization of an iron(II) η²-O,O-sulfinate product became possible. If one of the three Tp-mesityl groups is placed in the 5-position, an even larger reaction pocket results, which leads to yet faster rates and accumulation of a reaction intermediate at low temperatures, as shown by UV/Vis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. After comparison with the results of investigations on the cobalt analogues this intermediate is tentatively assigned to an iron(III) superoxide species.     

金属串配合物[MoMoCo(npo)4(NCS)2]的配位结构及其与电场的关系

应用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法研究了具有分子导线潜在应用的金属串配合物[MoMoCo(npo)4(NCS)2](npo=1,8-萘基-2-酮)的配位结构及其受电场作用的影响。配位方式记为(n,m),其中n、m分别表示4个赤道配体npo^-的O与Co和Mo配位的个数:n=0,1,2,3,4;m=4,3,2,1,0。结果表明:(1)零电场下,基态能量高低为(0,4)>(4,0)>(3,1)≈(1,3)>(2,2),5种配位方式均可稳定存在且互为竞争态。Z方向偶极矩μ(Z)值大小为(0,4)(+)>(1,3)(+)>(2,2)(-)>(3,1)(-)>(4,0)(-)(+、-表示μ(Z)值的正负,与Z方向相同即为正,相反即为负),4个npo^-趋向越一致能量越高极性越大。(2)Mo-Mo具有四重键,键长随μ(Z)值减小而减小,而Mo-Co键长则相反。随μ(Z)值减小前线轨道中πNCS(1)轨道能降低,π'NCS(2)轨道能升高。(3)Z方向电场作用下,除(0,4)外所有配位方式的Mo1-N8键显著增长,结构不稳定。(4)电场作用下前线轨道能级交错,μ(Z)为正值的(0,4)、(1,3)的能隙E_LUMO-HOMO在-Z方向电场中降低更显著,μ(Z)为负值的(2,2)、(3,1)和(4,0)的能隙在Z方向电场中降低更显著。分子极性越大,随电场强度增强能隙降低越显著,分子导电性可能越好。(0,4)、(3,1)和(4,0)可能具有整流效应,但(3,1)和(4,0)的稳定性较低。     

A time-dependent density functional study on optical response in all-inorganic lead-halide perovskite nanostructures

Recently, all-inorganic perovskite nanostructures have become a hot research topic due to their unique optical response and novel properties. Here, we theoretically study the optical response in Cs₂PbX₄ and CsPb₂X₅ (X = Cl, Br, and I) nanostructures. First, to study the ground state, we calculate the band structures of the periodic system using the HSE06 method, which shows that all those periodic perovskites possess the direct band gaps, with distribution from 2.225 to 3.536 eV. Their valence band maximum are mainly contributed from both halogen and lead atoms, while the conduction band minimum are mainly contributed from lead atoms. Then, we study the excited state using the time-dependent density functional theory method and find that, with the increase of halogen atom radius, the photogenerated carrier concentrations in perovskite nanostructures become larger, while the surface plasmon resonance becomes localized rather than long-range. Moreover, through the analysis of photocurrent and local field enhancement, Cs₂PbX₄ and CsPb₂X₅ nanostructures exhibit nearly 40 μA photocurrent along the direction of optical polarization. Besides, by regulating the different anions, we predict that field enhancement in Cs₂PbI₄ and CsPb₂I₅ share a much stronger distribution at both the center and border parts of Pb-I planes due to localized plasmon resonance, while other perovskites are distributed at the edge parts of Pb-I planes, caused by long-range plasmon resonance. Our research shows that all-inorganic perovskite nanostructures are great candidate materials for developing optoelectronic devices working in high-frequency and high-energy regions and improving their application in sensitive detection and sensors.     

基于水分掺杂的高场非对称波形离子迁移谱检测硫化氢的研究

高场非对称波形离子迁移谱(FAIMS)是一种芯片级高灵敏度快速分析检测技术,其在大气压环境下工作的特点使之受环境影响明显,其中气体的湿度是显著影响因素,湿度的变化可引起迁移区离子反应机理以及迁移过程的变化。该文研究了干燥条件下痕量硫化氢的定量检测方法,确定了DF=33%时的检测线性范围与回归方程。利用PTFE管渗透作用,设定水浴温度为40～90℃,考察了不同含量水分对FAIMS检测硫化氢的影响。通过考察不同湿度下硫化氢的FAIMS特征谱图以及特征离子峰,研究了掺杂水分对于硫化氢谱峰峰值、补偿电压以及检测分辨率的影响。结果表明,FAIMS对于硫化氢的检测谱图清晰可见,能够准确定位其特征离子峰。随着气体中水分增多,不同分离电场下的产物离子峰峰值增大,说明湿度增大在一定程度上提高了灵敏度,DF=35%时的检出限为1.43×10~(-3) mg/m~3。     

Boosting Photocatalytic Oxygen Evolution: Purposely Constructing Direct Z-Scheme Photoanode by Modulating the Interface Electric Field

Ti-Fe₂O₃ photoanode has received widespread attention in photoelectrochemical(PEC) water spilling because of its optimized oxidative and reductive capability of composites catalyst. However, its low efficiency could limit its development. Herein, in order to improve the efficiency of PEC water spilling, the all-solid-state direct Z-scheme Ti-ZnFe₂O₄/Ti-Fe₂O₃(TZFO/Ti-Fe₂O₃) nanorod arrays composited with the ideal energy band structure are synthesized by modulating the Fermi level of TZFO for PEC water splitting. The photophysical methods in this work, including the Kelvin probe measurement and transient photovoltage spectroscopy(TPV) measurement, are applied to explore the migration behavior of electric charges at the enhanced interface electric field. Finally, the Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism of TZFO/Ti-Fe₂O₃ photoanode is proved successfully. Benefiting from the desirable charge transfer at interface electric field, the TZFO/Ti-Fe₂O₃ exhibits the outstanding photocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction(OER) performance, and the photocurrent of 60TZFO/Ti-Fe₂O₃ photoanode reaches 2.16 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE), which is three times higher than that of pure Ti-Fe₂O₃ photoanode. This work provides a facile approach of modulating interface electric field to optimize the Z-scheme charge-transfer process.     

Effects of a Constant Magnetic Field on the Electrochemical Reactions of Quercetin

The paper presents a study of the effect of a constant magnetic field (CMF) on the basic processes of quercetin electrochemical reactions. According to the observation made in previous studies, the presence of a double bond in the C-ring of quercetin enhances the antioxidant properties of that compound, whereas the presence of −OH groups also affects the antioxidant properties. Using cyclic voltammetry it was found that the constant magnetic field improves the efficiency of quercetin electrooxidation, especially of the third stage of the process, i. e. the stage in which the oxidation of the OH groups in the A-ring is the most difficult. The use of HPLC confirmed the electrochemical measurements and the results of cyclic voltammetry studies. The beneficial effect of the magnetic field on the efficiency of quercetin oxidation was confirmed by the results of impedance spectroscopy measurements.     

A Predictive Model Towards Site‐Selective Metalations of Functionalized Heterocycles,Arenes, Olefins,and Alkanes using TMPZnCl⋅LiCl

The development of a predictive model towards site‐selective deprotometalation reactions using TMPZnCl?LiCl is reported (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl). The pK_a values of functionalized N‐, S‐, and O‐heterocycles, arenes, alkenes, or alkanes were calculated and compared to the experimental deprotonation sites. Large overlap (>80 %) between the calculated and empirical deprotonation sites was observed, showing that thermodynamic factors strongly govern the metalation regioselectivity. In the case of olefins, calculated frozen state energies of the deprotonated substrates allowed a more accurate prediction. Additionally, various new N‐heterocycles were analyzed and the metalation regioselectivities rationalized using the predictive model.