Recent developments in computer vision-based analytical chemistry: A tutorial review

Chemical analysis based on colour changes recorded with imaging devices is gaining increasing interest. This is due to its several significant advantages, such as simplicity of use, and the fact that it is easily combinable with portable and widely distributed imaging devices, resulting in friendly analytical procedures in many areas that demand out-of-lab applications for in situ and real-time monitoring. This tutorial review covers computer vision-based analytical (CVAC) procedures and systems from 2005 to 2015, a period of time when 87.5% of the papers on this topic were published. The background regarding colour spaces and recent analytical system architectures of interest in analytical chemistry is presented in the form of a tutorial. Moreover, issues regarding images, such as the influence of illuminants, and the most relevant techniques for processing and analysing digital images are addressed. Some of the most relevant applications are then detailed, highlighting their main characteristics. Finally, our opinion about future perspectives is discussed.     

Chiral Perylene Diimides: Building Blocks for Ionic Self‐Assembly

A chiral perylene diimide building block has been prepared based on an amine derivative of the amino acid L ‐phenylalanine. Detailed studies were carried out into the self‐assembly behaviour of the material in solution and the solid state using UV/Vis, circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. For the charged building block BTPPP, the molecular chirality of the side chains is translated into the chiral supramolecular structure in the form of right‐handed helical aggregates in aqueous solution. Temperature‐dependent UV/Vis studies of BTPPP in aqueous solution showed that the self‐assembly behaviour of this dye can be well described by an isodesmic model in which aggregation occurs to generate short stacks in a reversible manner. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction studies (WXRD) revealed that this material self‐organises into aggregates with π–π stacking distances typical for π‐conjugated materials. TEM investigations revealed the formation of self‐assembled structures of low order and with no expression of chirality evident. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarised optical microscopy (POM) were used to investigate the mesophase properties. Optical textures representative of columnar liquid–crystalline phases were observed for solvent‐annealed samples of BTPPP. The high solubility, tunable self‐assembly and chiral ordering of these materials demonstrate their potential as new molecular building blocks for use in the construction of chiro‐optical structures and devices.     

Utilizing Paper-Based Devices for Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Detection

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the ability of a bacterial species to resist the action of an antimicrobial drug, has been on the rise due to the widespread use of antimicrobial agents. Per the World Health Organization, AMR has an estimated annual cost of USD 34 billion in the US and is predicted to be the number one cause of death worldwide by 2050. One way AMR bacteria can spread, and by which individuals can contract AMR infections, is through contaminated water. Monitoring AMR bacteria in the environment currently requires that samples be transported to a central laboratory for slow and labor intensive tests. We have developed an inexpensive assay using paper-based analytical devices (PADs) that can test for the presence of β-lactamase-mediated resistance. To demonstrate viability, the PAD was used to detect β-lactam resistance in wastewater and sewage and identified resistance in individual bacterial species isolated from environmental water sources.     

电荷耦合器件在质子辐照下的粒子输运仿真与效应分析

应用蒙特卡洛方法计算了质子在科学级电荷耦合器件(charge-coupled device, CCD) 结构中的能量沉积, 并结合该CCD的质子辐照试验及退火试验数据, 分析了器件的辐射损伤机理. 仿真计算体硅内沉积的位移损伤剂量和栅氧化层的电离损伤剂量, 辐照与退火试验过程中主要考察暗信号、电荷转移效率两个参数的变化规律. 研究结果显示, 暗信号和电荷转移效率的变化规律与位移、电离损伤剂量一致; 退火后暗信号大幅度降低, 辐照导致的表面暗信号增加占总暗信号增加的比例至少为80%; 退火后电荷转移效率恢复较小, 电荷转移效率降低的原因主要为体缺陷. 通过总结试验规律, 推导出了电荷转移效率退化程度的预估公式及其损伤因子k_damage.     

基于MEMS工艺的集成红外气体传感器工艺研究

研究了一种采用MEMS技术实现的含有红外发射源和探测单元的片上集成红外气体传感器芯片。通过理论分析证明了探测器和红外发射源可以集成在同一衬底上的可行性,采用正面刻蚀和背面ICP深刻蚀硅工艺实现红外发射元和探测单元的悬空热隔离结构,可以使红外发射源和探测器同时工作在较好的性能状态下。通过对红外气体传感器的红外发射源和探测单元的测试,表明两种单元均可以正常工作,验证了这种集成工艺的可行性。     

毫米波带状注电子枪的设计方法

利用理论分析和仿真模拟相结合的方法对带状电子注的产生进行了系统的研究,并提出了一种带状注电子枪的设计方法.首先通过理论分析,提出了一种计算带状注电子枪结构参数的迭代算法,即根据注电压、注电流、电子注注腰处半厚度、阴极半厚度和阴极宽度,计算出带状注电子枪的阴极柱面半径、阴阳极间距、阳极柱面半径和射程等主要参数;在此基础上,通过仿真模拟,为毫米波真空电子器件设计了一种带状注电子枪.     

无磁蒙乃尔材料漏气原因分析

微波真空电子器件广泛应用于雷达、卫星通信、电子加速器等方面。蒙乃尔材料也称镍一铜合金,其常被应用于微波真空电子器件,其性能好坏将直接影响微波源的可靠性和寿命。但在用银铜焊料对蒙乃尔材料进行钎焊封接时经常会发生漏气现象,直接给应用者造成损失。针对这一现象做了一系列的试验,并结合相关的理论知识对此现象进行了详细的分析,从工艺控制角度来探寻适宜可行的解决方法。介绍了在封接工艺中蒙乃尔材料合金退火的重要性及目的,并分析得出了蒙乃尔材料合金退火的温度及气氛。     

Towards neuromorphic electronics: Memristors on foldable silicon fabric

The advantages associated with neuromorphic computation are rich areas of complex research. We address the fabrication challenge of building neuromorphic devices on structurally foldable platform with high integration density. We present a CMOS compatible fabrication process to demonstrate for the first time memristive devices fabricated on bulk monocrystalline silicon (100) which is next transformed into a flexible thin sheet of silicon fabric with all the pre-fabricated devices. This process preserves the ultra-high integration density advantage unachievable on other flexible substrates. In addition, the memristive devices are of the size of a motor neuron and the flexible/folded architectural form factor is critical to match brain cortex׳s folded pattern for ultra-compact design.     

Surface and bulk structuring of materials by ripples with long and short laser pulses: Recent advances

Ripples are formed on the surface of solid materials after interaction with laser pulses of high intensity/irradiance. When ultra-short sub-1 ps laser pulses are used, the observed morphology of ripples on surfaces becomes much more complex as compared with ripples formed by long laser pulses. Uniquely for the short laser pulses, ripples can be formed in the bulk. A better understanding of the fundamentals of light-matter interaction in ripples formation is strongly required. Experimentally observed ripples and dependence of their parameters on laser fabrication conditions and material properties are summarized first. Then, a critical review of relevant ripple formation mechanisms is presented, discussed, and formation conjectures are presented.