Advanced carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube fibers for biosensing applications

Since the discovery of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) by Iijima in 1991[1, 2], there has been an explosion of research into the physical and chemical properties of this novel material. CNT based biosensors can play an important role in amperometric, immunosensor and nucleic-acid sensing devices, e.g. for detection of life threatening biological agents in time of war or in terrorist attacks, saving life and money for the NHS. CNTs offer unique advantages in several areas, like high surfacevolume ratio, high electrical conductivity, chemical stability and strong mechanical strength, and CNT based sensors generally have higher sensitivities and lower detection limit than conventional ones. In this review, recent advances in biosensors utilising carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube fibres will be discussed. The synthesis methods, nanostructure approaches and current developments in biosensors using CNTs will be introduced in the first part. In the second part, the synthesis methods and up-to-date progress in CNT fibre biosensors will be reviewed. Finally, we briefly outline some exciting applications for CNT and CNT fibres which are being targeted. By harnessing the continual advancements in micro and nano- technology, the functionality and capability of CNT-based biosensors will be enhanced, thus expanding and enriching the possible applications that can be delivered by these devices. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers. All rights reserved.

Differentiate performance of eight filter media in vertical flow constructed wetland: Removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus

A comparative study was conducted to reveal the differentiate effects of eight different filter media including gravel, zeolites, anthracite, shale, vermiculite, ceramic filter media, blast furnace steel slag and round ceramsite. The study mainly related to the eight different filter media's removal performances of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus in the vertical flow constructed wetland simulated system, which treating wastewater at hydraulic loading rate of 1000-2500 mm/d. The results indicated that the removal effects were closely related to the physical and chemical properties of medium materials. Anthracite-filled system had the highest removal rate for the total organic carbon (TOC), up to 70%, and the removal rates of other systems ranged from 20% to 30%. As for the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), anthracite-filled and steel slag-filled systems had the highest removal rates, also up to 70%, as well as other systems all exceeded 50%. At the same time, for the total nitrogen (TN) and NH4(+)-N, the zeolites-filled and ceramic-filled systems had the best performances with the removal rates of more than 70%, the other way round, the removal rates of other systems were only about 20%. The distinguishable effects were also observed in removal performances of total phosphorus (TP) and total dissoluble phosphorus (TDP). The removal rates of TP and TDP in steel slag-filled systems were more than 90%, a much higher value, followed by that of the anthracite-filled system, more than 60%, but those of other systems being the less. Our study provided a potential mechanism to optimize the filter media design for the vertical flow constructed wetlands.

Electrical control of nanoscale functionalization in graphene by the scanning probe technique

Functionalized graphene is a versatile material that has well-known physical and chemical properties depending on functional groups and their coverage. However, selective control of functional groups on the nanoscale is hardly achievable by conventional methods utilizing chemical modifications. We demonstrate electrical control of nanoscale functionalization of graphene with the desired chemical coverage of a selective functional group by atomic force microscopy (AFM) lithography and their full recovery through moderate thermal treatments. Surprisingly, our controlled coverage of functional groups can reach 94.9% for oxygen and 49.0% for hydrogen, respectively, well beyond those achieved by conventional methods. This coverage is almost at the theoretical maximum, which is verified through scanning photoelectron microscope measurements as well as first-principles calculations. We believe that the present method is now ready to realize 'chemical pencil drawing' of atomically defined circuit devices on top of a monolayer of graphene. © 2014 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.

Primary succession of algal community structure in desert soil

The microbiotic crust study is among new focuses in investigating on the desertification control. Based on determination of algal crusts with different successive ages (4-, 8-, 17-, 34-, 42-year-old) and unconsolidated sand in the desert area, species composition and clustering analyses were carried out in this study. Results on successional orientation revealed that (1) the abundance of Cyanophyta, specially of Scytonema javanicum gradually decreased; (2) the abundance of Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and a species of Cyanophyta, Phormidium tenue increased; (3) the biodiversity increased gradually with the community succession; and (4) biomass of microalgae increased at the early stage, but decreased at the later stage due to the abundance of lichens and mosses. But, the speed of natural succession was so slow that the community-building species was still the first dominant species after 42 years, except that its dominant degree decreased just slightly. However, successive speed and trend were affected by water, vegetation coverage, terrain, time and soil physico-chemical properties as well, especially Mn content in the soil appeared to have a threshold effect.

Effect of desert soil algae on the stabilization of fine sands

Four filamentous cyanobacteria, Microcoleus vaginatus, Phormidium tenue, Scytonema javanicum (Kutz.) and Nostoc sp., and a single-celled green alga, Desmococcus olivaceus, all isolated from Shapotou (Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China), were batch cultured and inoculated onto unconsolidated sand in greenhouse and field experiments. Their ability to reduce wind erosion in sands was quantified by using a wind tunnel laboratory. The major factors related to cohesion of algal crusts, such as biomass, species, species combinations, bioactivity, niche, growth phase of algae, moisture, thickness of the crusts, dust accretion (including dust content and manner of dust added) and other cryptogams (lichens, fungi and mosses) were studied. The best of the five species were M. vaginatus and P. tenue, while the best mix was a blend of 80% M. vaginatus and 5% each of P. tenue, S. javanicum, Nostoc sp. and D. olivaceus. The threshold friction velocity was significantly increased by the presence of all of the cyanobacterial species, while the threshold impact velocity was notably increased only by the filamentous species. Thick crusts were less easily eroded than thin crusts, while biomass was more effective than thickness. Dust was incorporated best into Microcoleus crust when added in small amounts over time, and appeared to increase growth of the cyanobacterium as well as strengthen the cohesion of the crust. Microbial crust cohesion was mainly attributed to algal aggregation, while lichens, fungi and mosses affected more the soil structure and physico-chemical properties.

Investigation of a chemically treated InP(100) surface during hydrophilic wafer bonding process

Surface micro-roughness, surface chemical properties, and surface wettability are three important aspects of wafer surfaces during a wafer cleaning process, which determine the bonding quality of ordinary direct wafer bonding. In this study, InP wafers are divided into four groups and treated by different chemical processes. Subsequently, the characteristics of the treated InP surfaces are carefully studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. The optimal wafer treatment method for wafer bonding is determined by comparing the results of the processes as a whole. This optimization is later evaluated by a scanning electronic microscope (SEM), and the ridge waveguide 1.55 mu m Si-based InP/InGaAsP multi-quantum-well laser chips are also fabricated. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

间伐对仁用杏园土壤理化性质及生长结果的影响

为了探讨密闭仁用杏园衰败的原因,采用常规的方法研究了间伐对仁用杏园土壤养分、水分及树体生长等方面的影响。结果表明:间伐减小了土壤容重,略微增加了土壤孔隙度;间伐显著提高了0-40 cm土层土壤有机质、0-20 cm土层土壤全氮,略微提高了0-20 cm土层土壤全磷;间伐显著提高了0-80 cm土层土壤速效氮、0-40 cm土层土壤速效磷和0-60 cm土层土壤速效钾,且间伐强度越大土壤养分越高;间伐显著提高了0-500cm土层土壤水分,在干旱的春季、夏季优为显著,且间伐强度越大,土壤水分越高;间伐显著促进了仁用杏生长,提高了坐果率和杏仁产量。白于山山区仁用杏间伐后密度应为167~222株/hm2。

对间隙淋洗长期通气培养条件下黄土高原土壤供氮能力的评价

采用间隙淋洗长期通气培养法,通过对黄土高原物理化学性质差异较大的10种农田土样起始矿质氮、起始提取态总氮、起始可溶性有机氮,以及培养期间淋洗矿质氮、淋洗总氮、可溶性有机氮含量及其与作物吸氮量关系的研究,分析并评价黄土高原主要农田土壤氮素矿化能力以及包括和不包括培养淋洗可溶性有机氮对土壤供氮能力的影响。结果表明,供试土样起始可溶性有机氮平均为N 23.9 mg/kg,是起始提取态总氮的28.8%,土壤全氮的2.4%。在通气培养淋洗总氮中,可溶性有机氮所占比例不高,经过217 d通气培养,淋洗出的可溶性有机氮平均为N 28.8mg/kg,占淋洗总氮量的19.8%。相关分析表明,淋洗可溶性有机氮量与第l季作物吸氮量相关不显著,但与连续2季作物总吸氮量显著相关。淋洗矿质氮、淋洗总氮与两季作物总吸氮量的相关系数明显高于与第一季作物吸氮量的相关系数;与第一季作物吸氮量达显著相关水平,与连续两季作物吸氮量达极显著相关水平。总体上看,可溶性有机氮和土壤全氮、土壤微生物氮不能作为反映短期可矿化氮的指标;间隙淋洗通气培养淋洗液中淋洗矿质氮、淋洗总氮是评价可矿化氮的较好指标,不仅适宜于第一季作物,而且也适用于对连续两季作物土壤供氮...

侵蚀环境人工刺槐林土壤水稳性团聚体演变及其养分效应

采用时空互代法,以典型侵蚀环境纸坊沟流域生态恢复过程中不同年限的人工刺槐林为研究对象,选取坡耕地和天然侧柏林为参照,分析了植被恢复过程中土壤水稳性团聚体变化规律及其与土壤养分状况之间的相互关系。结果表明,侵蚀环境下的坡耕地由于人为耕作干扰,土壤水稳性团聚体含量低下,抗蚀性能较差。营造刺槐林前5 a土壤水稳性团聚体含量较坡耕地显著快速增加,随后增幅变缓,成对数增长,恢复25 a后土壤水稳性团聚体含量已经达到天然侧柏林水平。在植被恢复过程中土壤小粒径的水稳性团聚体逐渐聚集转变形成大粒径的团聚体。相关性分析和回归分析表明,植被恢复过程中>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体与有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、速效钾、容重等相关性达到显著(p<0.05)或极显著水平(p<0.01),与全磷和速效磷相关性较弱。坡耕地退耕营造刺槐林后可以减少人为干扰,增加碳素和氮素供给,提高水稳性团聚体含量,使土壤抗蚀性能提高。

黄土丘陵区不同植被恢复模式对土壤酶活性的影响

为了解侵蚀环境下植被恢复对土壤酶活性的影响,以典型侵蚀环境黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域生态恢复30a植被长期定位试验点为研究对象,选取坡耕地为参照,分析了植被恢复过程中土壤脲酶、磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、淀粉酶、纤维素酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶及理化性质的演变特征。结果表明,黄土丘陵区的坡耕地由于不合理的人为干扰,土壤理化性质和酶活性较弱,通过植被恢复可以有效的改善土壤肥力,不同恢复模式对土壤酶活性和肥力的改善作用不同,恢复30a,脲酶活性增加33%～213%,磷酸酶活性增加275%～394%,蔗糖酶活性增加70%～210%,纤维素酶活性增加24%～48%,过氧化氢酶增加32%～96%,多酚氧化酶降低23%～29%,淀粉酶变化规律不同。不同植被恢复模式其生物特性不同,对土壤酶活性影响也不同。相关性分析说明磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和多酚氧化酶与其它因子相关性相对较强,可以作为评价土壤质量的生物学指标。

黄土丘陵区封禁对侵蚀土壤微生物生物量的影响

采用时空互代法,以典型侵蚀环境纸坊沟流域不同封禁年限的狼牙刺群落和杂灌群落为研究对象,选取放牧地和天然次生林为参照,分析了生态恢复过程中土壤微生物生物量、呼吸强度、代谢商及理化性质的演变特征。结果表明,封禁后土壤理化性质明显改善;微生物生物量随封禁年限的延长变化显著,阳坡随封禁年限增加土壤微生物生物量逐渐增加,25 a后微生物生物量碳、氮、磷较封禁前分别增加252%、161%和174%,但显著低于天然侧柏林,仅为其39.0%、41.8%和53.7%;阴坡封禁前10年微生物生物量迅速增加,随后增加幅度减缓,呈波动式缓慢上升趋势;封禁25 a后微生物生物量碳、氮、磷分别增加108%、93%和102%,但明显低于天然杂灌丛群落和辽东栎林,仅为辽东栎林的54.4%、49.1%和40.1%。土壤呼吸强度在封禁5 a后增大明显,且随着年限增加逐渐上升,阳坡25 a时达到最大值,而阴坡15 a时达到最大值,随后开始有所下降,25 a后降至最低点,但仍显著高于放牧地,相同封禁年限的土壤呼吸强度阴坡明显高于阳坡。qCO2随着封禁进程逐渐降低,25 a后达到最低值。相关性分析显示微生物生物量碳、氮、磷、呼吸强度、qCO2与土壤养...

几种硫属化合物半导体的电化学与光电化学研究

本文分别用恒电位电沉积和恒电位脉冲电沉积技术在ITO基底上成功地沉积出表面平滑均匀、与基底附着牢固、具有一定光活性的CdS多晶薄膜。系统地考察了CdS薄膜的电性质、光性质及光电化学行为。用电沉积技术在不同基底（Ni、Ti、ITO）上成功地实现了Hg_(1-X)Cd_xTe(MCT)的三元共沉积。初步组装了P-Hg_(1-X)Cd_xTe/n-CdS异质结PV池。研究了层状结构材料n-InSe的PEC行为并考察了多种单晶材料，诸如CdS、CdTe、CdSe、InSe等的光阳极特性和界面行为。

松辽平原农田土壤碳氮磷分布特征研究

本文对东北地区松辽平原不同纬度农田土壤碳氮磷剖面分布特征进行比较研究，从北到南依次采集了黑土区的海伦、哈尔滨、德惠、公主岭和棕壤区的昌图、沈阳、大石桥玉米地土壤样品。所得主要结论如下： 各样点土壤有机碳含量随土层深度的增加而下降。海伦、哈尔滨和公主岭样点40～60cm土层土壤有机碳含量及其储量显著低于0～40cm土层；海伦、哈尔滨、德惠、公主岭和昌图样点土壤水溶性有机碳表现出随深度增加先升高后降低，在沈阳和大石桥样点土壤水溶性有机碳表现出随深度而下降的趋势；各样点0～20cm土层土壤微生物量碳含量高于20～40cm土层。典型黑土区海伦点0～100cm的SOC储量为213.4t•hm-2, 棕壤区昌图、沈阳、大石桥样点分别为69.9、87.9和73.4t•hm-2，海伦点SOC储量是棕壤区三样点的3倍左右。 土壤全氮、碱解氮、硝态氮及氮储量随剖面深度增加而下降。德惠点在20～40cm土层、沈阳点在40～60cm土层、昌图点在60～80cm土层的全磷含量最低；其他样点土壤全磷、有机磷含量和磷储量总体上呈现随土层深度增加而下降的趋势。黑土区样点土壤有机磷含量在40cm以下各土层迅速下降，而棕壤区各样点20cm以下各土层差异不显著。除公主岭和大石桥点外, 其他各样点土壤Olsen-P含量在0～20cm 土层显著高于20～40cm土层。 土壤有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、全磷和有机磷含量随纬度增加而增加。营养元素在纬度上的分异主要受成土母质、气候条件等自然因素影响，施肥、耕作等人为活动对表层土壤营养元素分布的影响较大。除土壤水溶性有机碳外，土壤碳、氮和磷之间及其与其他基本理化性质间均存在显著的相关关系。

不同年限蔬菜温室土壤基本化学性质比较研究

本文对沈阳市郊大民屯镇不同年限蔬菜温室土壤化学性质进行研究与分析。得到主要结论如下： 蔬菜温室0～20 cm表层土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷、速效钾、铵态氮、硝态氮均处于较高的养分水平，并且随温室使用年限的延长，呈增加的趋势。土壤有酸化的趋势，土壤电导率呈升高态势。土壤有效态Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn含量分别为8.57～60.30 mg kg-1、2.69～22.43 mg kg-1、0.64～7.52 mg kg-1和0.56～9.29 mg kg-1，变异系数为50%左右；随着温室使用年限的增加，土壤有效态Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn含量总体上呈增加的趋势。土壤Ni、Cd的有效含量随种植年限的延长趋于增加，有效Pb呈现出下降的趋势，土壤重金属Cr的有效态含量与种植年限之间没有明显的相关性。 不同年限蔬菜温室土壤剖面有机质、全氮、速效磷及速效钾含量高于相邻的露地菜田土壤，并随种植年限的延长而增加，随土层深度的增加而下降。温室土壤中铵态氮的含量随温室种植年限的变化相对较小，在土壤剖面不同层次中变化也没有明显的规律性。与露地菜田土壤相比，温室土壤中有效态铁、锰含量下降，有效态铜、锌、铅、镍含量增加。0～30 cm土层土壤交换性Ca呈下降的趋势，交换性Mg呈上升的趋势，土壤Ca/Mg比值呈下降的趋势。

不同施肥制度对辽西褐土理化性状的影响研究

本文通过一组中期肥料试验研究分析了几种施肥制度对辽宁西部半干旱区褐土理化性状的影响，结果表明：通过物质循环再利用是保持土壤肥力的有效措施，它可使土壤有机质、全氮、全磷和速效磷含量显著提高。连续11年的作物产量表明，有机无机相结合施肥制度下该系统不但获得了最高的作物产量，而且产量受外界影响最小，系统稳定性最好。无机农业施肥制度的不同投磷方式对土壤理化性状有一定的影响，其作用是相近的，与无磷处理相比土壤结构和水分特性表现出改善的趋势。综上所述，有机无机相结合施肥制度对辽西半干旱地区建立适合该地农田生态系统良性循环的优化经营模式，不断改善土壤生态环境，促进农业生产持续发展，有重要的理论和实践意义。