Electronic Tongues Employing Electrochemical Sensors

This review presents recent advances concerning work with electronic tongues employing electroanalytical sensors. This new concept in the electroanalysis sensor field entails the use of chemical sensor arrays coupled with chemometric processing tools, as a mean to improve sensors performance. The revision is organized according to the electroanalytical technique used for transduction, namely: potentiometry, voltammetry/amperometry or electrochemical impedance. The significant use of biosensors, mainly enzyme‐based is also presented. Salient applications in real problem solving using electrochemical electronic tongues are commented.     

Micro fabrication of microlens arrays by micro dispensing

In this study, master of the microlens arrays is fabricated using micro dispensing technology, and then electroforming technology is employed to replicate the Ni mold insert of the microlens arrays. Finally, micro hot embossing is performed to replicate the molded microlens arrays from the Ni mold insert. The resin material is used as the dispensing material, which is dropped on a glass substrate. The resin is exposed to a 380 W halogen light. It becomes convex under surface tension on the glass substrate. A master for the microlens arrays is then obtained. A 150‐nm‐thick copper layer is sputtered on the master as an electrically conducting layer. The electroforming method replicates the Ni mold insert from the master of the microlens arrays. Finally, micro hot embossing is adopted to replicate the molded microlens arrays. The micro hot embossing experiment employs optical films of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC). The processing parameters of micro hot embossing are processing temperature, embossing pressure, embossing time, and de‐molding temperature. Taguchi's method is applied to optimize the processing parameters of micro hot embossing for molded microlens arrays. An optical microscope and a surface profiler are utilized to measure the surface profile of the master, the Ni mold insert and the molded microlens arrays. AFM is employed to measure the surface roughness of the master, the Ni mold insert and the molded microlens arrays. The sag height and focal length are determined to elucidate the optical characteristics of the molded microlens arrays. Copyright © 2009 John & Sons, Ltd.     

Cationic Polyelectrolyte Amplified Bead Array for DNA Detection with Zeptomole Sensitivity and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Selectivity

A highly sensitive strand specific DNA assay, which consists of a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe, a cationic conjugated polymer ( PFVP ), and self‐assembled polystyrene beads in microwell arrays on silicon chip, is reported. PFVP , as an efficient signal amplifier and signal reporter, has been specially designed and synthesized to be compatible with commercial confocal microscopes for sensing on solid substrates. The assay operates on the net increase in negative charge at the PNA surface that occurs upon single‐stranded DNA hybridization, which subsequently allows complex formation with the positively charged PFVP to favor energy transfer between the polymer and Cy5‐labeled target. With maximized surface contact provided by bead arrays and signal amplification provided by PFVP , this assay allows detection of ～300 copies of Cy5‐labeled DNA using a commercial confocal microscope. In addition, the same strategy is also extended for label‐free DNA detection with a detection sensitivity of 150 attomole. Excellent discrimination against single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is also demonstrated for both Cy5‐labeled and label‐free target detection. This study indicates that cationic conjugated polymers have great potential to be incorporated into the widely used microarray technology for simplified process with improved detection sensitivity.     

聚(苯乙烯-co-甲基丙烯酸)胶体晶体原位反转制备孔阵列研究

利用甲苯浸泡法,将聚(苯乙烯-co-甲基丙烯酸)(P(Sc-o-MAA))胶体晶体转变成孔阵列,利用扫描电镜和原子力显微镜详细研究了胶体球在向孔转变过程中结构的变化细节,同时利用表面元素分析法检测其反转前后元素含量的变化.结果表明,在选择性溶剂作用下,胶体球经历了溶胀—粘连—破裂—溶解—成孔—扩张等一系列变化,处于内核的聚苯乙烯被溶出胶体球后不仅填充到球与球之间的空隙中而且扩散到了溶剂中,而胶体球表面富集的聚甲基丙烯酸链段与溶出的聚苯乙烯混合物则主要对孔结构起固定和支撑作用,但长时间的甲苯浸泡最终会破坏孔的结构和阵列的完整性.     

First-order system least squares and the energetic variational approach for two-phase flow

This paper develops a first-order system least-squares (FOSLS) formulation for equations of two-phase flow. The main goal is to show that this discretization, along with numerical techniques such as nested iteration, algebraic multigrid, and adaptive local refinement, can be used to solve these types of complex fluid flow problems. In addition, from an energetic variational approach, it can be shown that an important quantity to preserve in a given simulation is the energy law. We discuss the energy law and inherent structure for two-phase flow using the Allen–Cahn interface model and indicate how it is related to other complex fluid models, such as magnetohydrodynamics. Finally, we show that, using the FOSLS framework, one can still satisfy the appropriate energy law globally while using well-known numerical techniques.     

Conversion efficiency enhanced photovoltaic device with nanohole arrays in antireflection coating layer

In this paper, the authors introduce an enhanced photovoltaic device with nanohole arrays only in its antireflection coating. These nanoholes can improve light trapping efficiency as well as photoelectric conversion efficiency of the device. The authors analyze the light absorption of the devices with nanohole arrays by Finite-Difference Time Domain method and calculate the photoelectric conversion efficiency. The results show that the nanohole arrays can improve the light trapping more efficiently than the Si₃N₄ antireflection coating, especially, in 400-600 nm spectral range. Nanohole arrays with different characteristic parameters were fabricated in the antireflection coating layer of a Φ200 μm Si detector by using focused-ion beam system. With the optimized nanohole arrays, the enhancements factor of the experimental sample's photoelectric conversion efficiency is ~ 16% within the 400-600 nm spectral range and ~ 10% within the 400-1100 nm spectral range.     

A radiofrequency coil configuration for imaging the human vertebral column at 7 T

We describe the design and testing of a quadrature transmit, eight-channel receive array RF coil configuration for the acquisition of images of the entire human spinal column at 7 T. Imaging parameters were selected to enable data acquisition in a clinically relevant scan time. Large field-of-view (FOV) scanning enabled sagittal imaging of the spine in two or three-stations, depending upon the height of the volunteer, with a total scan time of between 10 and 15 min. A total of 10 volunteers have been scanned, with results presented for the three subjects spanning the range of heights and weights, namely one female (1.6 m, 50 kg), one average male (1.8 m, 70 kg), and one large male (1.9 m, 100 kg).     

Growth and magnetic properties of single crystalline Ni nanowire arrays prepared by pulse DC electrodeposition

Highly textured Ni nanowire arrays were fabricated into anodic aluminum oxide(AAO) templates by pulse DC electrodeposition.The applied voltage and pH value of electrolytes were found strongly affecting the microstructure and magnetic properties of Ni nanowire arrays.Low applied potential and pH value both prefer to form polycrystalline fcc Ni nanowires.Increasing the applied potential or pH value favors the Ni [220] texture and even eventually forms the [220] oriented single crystal Ni wires,while exorbitan...     

AlN纳米线宏观阵列的制备

借助二次模板法成功的合成了AlN纳米线宏观阵列,并进行了表征.主要研究CVD法制备有一定取向,直径均匀的AlN纳米线宏观阵列的过程.通过气相沉积法和利用PS球自组装模板制备了金属纳米颗粒模板;再以模板上的金属纳米颗粒作为催化剂,利用化学气相沉积在模板上合成AlN纳米线宏观阵列.借助SEM,TEM观察所得样品,AlN纳米线阵列面积约为0.3 mm×0.2 mm,直径和长度分布均匀,平均直径约为41 nm,平均长度为1.8 μm左右,分散密度和覆盖率大的六角结构AlN纳米线宏观阵列.得到了可控制备AlN纳米线 关键词： AlN纳米线阵列 模板法 CVD法 SEM     

曲率对有限曲面狭缝阵列传输特性的影响

扩展互导纳法用于研究有限曲面狭缝阵列的传输特性,分析了一维弯曲效应以及单元列数、曲率等因素对磁流分布、散射方向图及频率响应曲线的影响.结果表明,曲面张角是衡量弯曲效应的主要参数. 当曲面张角较大时(120°以上),弯曲效应显著,单元磁流分布剧烈起伏,散射方向图波束展宽且副瓣电平升高,谐振频率、传输带宽及功率透射系数等频率响应特性均发生较大变化.当曲面张角较小时(60°以下),仅边缘附近的单元磁流分布受到曲率影响,散射方向图与传输特性均接近于有限平面阵列,表明此时可近似忽略弯曲效应. 关键词： 频率选择表面 狭缝阵列 传输特性 曲率