Space-Confined Atomic Clusters Catalyze Superassembly of Silicon Nanodots within Carbon Frameworks for Use in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Incorporating nanoscale Si into a carbon matrix with high dispersity is desirable for the preparation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) but remains challenging. A space-confined catalytic strategy is proposed for direct superassembly of Si nanodots within a carbon (Si NDs⊂C) framework by copyrolysis of triphenyltin hydride (TPT) and diphenylsilane (DPS), where Sn atomic clusters created from TPT pyrolysis serve as the catalyst for DPS pyrolysis and Si catalytic growth. The use of Sn atomic cluster catalysts alters the reaction pathway to avoid SiC generation and enable formation of Si NDs with reduced dimensions. A typical Si NDs⊂C framework demonstrates a remarkable comprehensive performance comparable to other Si-based high-performance half LIBs, and higher energy densities compared to commercial full LIBs, as a consequence of the high dispersity of Si NDs with low lithiation stress. Supported by mechanic simulations, this study paves the way for construction of Si/C composites suitable for applications in future energy technologies.     

2-(苯并噻唑-2-基)-5-(N,N-二乙基氨基)苯酚衍生物的合成及其对H2S的识别

以4-N,N-二乙基氨基水杨醛为原料,制备了2-(苯并噻唑-2-基)-5-(N,N-二乙基氨基)苯酚衍生物(探针L),并对其结构进行了表征。在DMSO/PBS(体积比3∶7,pH=7.4)溶液中,探针L具有高选择性并可荧光"关-开"识别H_2S,在365nm紫外灯照射下,由无荧光变成蓝色荧光。实验表明,探针L识别H_2S的检测限为2.05×10~(-6)mol/L,pH适用范围为6～9,可用于检测实际水样中的H_2S。     

丁二烯在乙酰基丙酮镍和一氯二烷基铝均相催化体系中的定向聚合

本工作研究了丁二烯在乙酰基丙酮镍-一氯二烷基铝体系中聚合的一般规律、聚合动力学及链转移过程。实验结果表明:聚合速率对单体浓度、主催化剂(镍络盐)浓度均呈一级关系,而对一氯二异丁基铝浓度呈二级关系,即 -(dM/dt)=k[M][NiA_2][Al(i-C_4H_9)_2Cl]~2对一氯二乙基铝浓度则呈1/2级关系,即 -(dM/dt)=k[M][NiA_2][Al(C_2H_5)_2Cl]~(1/2)对这二种体系反应级数的不同作了解释。 实验测得丁二烯在乙酰基丙酮镍-一氯二异丁基铝体系中聚合的总活化能为8.0±0.5千卡/克分子,而在一氯二乙基铝体系中为 8.9±0.5千卡/克分子。 研究了丁二烯在本体系中聚合时单体浓度、主助催化剂浓度、聚合转化率、溶剂以及某些添加剂等因素对聚合物分子量的影响。结果表明:聚合物的分子量随单体浓度的增大而增大;随镍组份浓度的增大而减小;当体系中水分含量很低时,一氯二乙基铝浓度的改变对聚合物分子量基本无影响;在5—60％转化率及0—35℃范围内聚合物分子量变化不明显;庚烷中所得聚合物的分子量比苯中所得者低;添加水、吡啶、三溴化铝、三乙基铝、甲基环己烷及蒽等都不能显著提高聚合物的分子量。 计算链转移常数,得到对含镍组份为 84,对单体为 1.9× 10~(-3),终止常数为 2.3×10~(-3)。因而得知本体系中主要的链转移过程是     

What are the Factors that Determine the Number of People Coming to China?

This paper studies the factors that affect people coming to China. We select the spending of United States and South Korea, GDP, railway transportation capacity of China as observations. Based on the data from 1988 to 2015, we use the ordinary least squares analysis regression model and present a most reasonable regression equation. It is found that South Korea’s spending is negative to the number of visitors, whereas the spending of US is positive. On comparing the effect of other variables, the growth of railway transportation capacity and the overseas travel expenses of South Korea or United States, have almost no significant impact on the number of people coming to China. However, as China economic growth increasing rapidly, more and more people are willing to come.     

A fast parallel clustering algorithm for molecular simulation trajectories

We implemented a GPU‐powered parallel k‐centers algorithm to perform clustering on the conformations of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The algorithm is up to two orders of magnitude faster than the CPU implementation. We tested our algorithm on four protein MD simulation datasets ranging from the small Alanine Dipeptide to a 370‐residue Maltose Binding Protein (MBP). It is capable of grouping 250,000 conformations of the MBP into 4000 clusters within 40 seconds. To achieve this, we effectively parallelized the code on the GPU and utilize the triangle inequality of metric spaces. Furthermore, the algorithm's running time is linear with respect to the number of cluster centers. In addition, we found the triangle inequality to be less effective in higher dimensions and provide a mathematical rationale. Finally, using Alanine Dipeptide as an example, we show a strong correlation between cluster populations resulting from the k‐centers algorithm and the underlying density. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

pH-responsive star-shaped functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) with amino groups

Functional star-shaped 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[(ε-caprolactone-co-γ-amino-ε-caprolactone)] (4-arm PEG-b-P(CL-co-ACL) was synthesized through ring-opening polymerization. The structure of the copolymer was confirmed by ¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). To further understand the copolymers, the difference of the conversion rate between ε-caprolactone (CL) and γ-(carbamic acid benzyl ester)-ε-caprolactone (CABCL) and the detailed deprotection condition were studied. The thermal property of the copolymer was analyzed by WAXR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which demonstrated that the thermal property could be well adjusted. The pH-responsive behavior of the copolymers was studied in detail by dynamic light scattering (DLS), pH titration, and pyrene fluorescence methods, which indicated that it could form micelles and exhibit pH responsibility. Moreover, the copolymer was nontoxic and had good biocompatibility according to the results by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay.     

Self-Assembly of Highly Stable Zirconium(IV) Coordination Cages with Aggregation Induced Emission Molecular Rotors for Live-Cell Imaging

The self-assembly of highly stable zirconium(IV)-based coordination cages with aggregation induced emission (AIE) molecular rotors for in vitro bio-imaging is reported. The two coordination cages, NUS-100 and NUS-101, are assembled from the highly stable trinuclear zirconium vertices and two flexible carboxyl-decorated tetraphenylethylene (TPE) spacers. Extensive experimental and theoretical results show that the emissive intensity of the coordination cages can be controlled by restricting the dynamics of AIE-active molecular rotors though multiple external stimuli. Because the two coordination cages have excellent chemical stability in aqueous solutions (pH stability: 2–10) and impressive AIE characteristics contributed by the molecular rotors, they can be employed as novel biological fluorescent probes for in vitro live-cell imaging.     

A Photowelding Strategy for Conductivity Restoration in Flexible Circuits

Light‐driven micropumps, which are based on electro‐osmosis with the electric field generated by photocatalytic reactions, are among most attractive research topics in chemical micromotors. Until now, research in this field has mainly been focused on the directional motion or collective behavior of microparticles, which lack practical applications. In this study, we have developed a photowelding strategy for repeated photoinduced conductivity recovery of cracked flexible circuits. We immersed the circuit in a suspension of conductive healing particles and applied photoillumination to the crack; photocatalysis of a predeposited pentacene (PEN) layer triggered electro‐osmotic effects to gather conductive particles at the crack, thus leading to conductivity recovery of the circuit. This photowelding strategy is a novel application of light‐driven micropumps and photocatalysis for conductivity restoration.     

Covalent Assembly of MoS2 Nanosheets with SnS Nanodots as Linkages for Lithium/Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Weak van der Waals interactions between interlayers of two‐dimensional layered materials result in disabled across‐interlayer electron transfer and poor layered structural stability, seriously deteriorating their performance in energy applications. Herein, we propose a novel covalent assembly strategy for MoS₂ nanosheets to realize unique MoS₂/SnS hollow superassemblies (HSs) by using SnS nanodots as covalent linkages. The covalent assembly based on all‐inorganic and carbon‐free concept enables effective across‐interlayer electron transfer, facilitated ion diffusion kinetics, and outstanding mechanical stability, which are evidenced by experimental characterization, DFT calculations, and mechanical simulations. Consequently, the MoS₂/SnS HSs exhibit superb rate performance and long cycling stability in lithium‐ion batteries, representing the best comprehensive performance in carbon‐free MoS₂‐based anodes to date. Moreover, the MoS₂/SnS HSs also show excellent sodium storage performance in sodium‐ion batteries.