Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis: Novel Route for Laser Triggering of Polyelectrolyte Capsules

We have demonstrated the synthesis of light-sensitive polyelectrolyte capsules (PECs) by utilizing a novel polyol reduction method and investigated its applicability as photosensitive drug delivery vehicle. The nanostructured capsules were prepared via layer by layer (LbL) assembly of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAN) and dextran sulfate (DS) on silica particles followed by in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (NPs). Capsules without silver NPs were permeable to low molecular weight (A(w), 479 g/mol) rhodamine but impermeable to higher molecular weight fluorescence labeled dextran (FITC-dextran). However, capsules synthesized with silver NPs showed porous morphology and were permeable to higher molecular weight (M(w) 70 kDa) FITC-dextran also. These capsules were loaded with FITC-dextran using thermal encapsulation method by exploiting temperature induced shrinking of the capsules. During heat treatment the porous morphology of the capsules transformed into smooth pore free structure which prevents the movement of dextran into bulk during the loading process. When these loaded capsules are exposed to laser pulses, the capsule wall ruptured, resulting in the release of the loaded drug/dye. The rupture of the capsules was dependent on particle size, laser pulse energy and exposure time. The release was linear with time when pulse energy of 400 mu J was used and burst release was observed when pulse energy increased to 600 mu J.

Light Induced Optical Properties Change in Sb20S40Se40 Thin Films

Thin films of Sb20S40Se40 of thickness 800 nm were prepared by thermal evaporation method. The as-prepared and illuminated thin films were studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The optical band gap was reduced due to photo induced effects along with the increase in disorder. These optical properties changes are due to the change of homopolar bond densities. The core level peak shifting in XPS and Raman spectra supports the optical changes happening in the film due to light exposure.

Novel low-temperature growth of SnO2 nanowires and their gas-sensing properties

A simple thermal evaporation method is presented for the growth of crystalline SnO2 nanowires at a low substrate temperature of 450 degrees C via an gold-assisted vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. The as-grown nanowires were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and were also tested for methanol vapor sensing. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed the single-crystalline nature of the each nanowire. The fabricated sensor shows good response to methanol vapor at an operating temperature of 450 degrees C. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Experimental and Numerical Studies on Gas Production from Hydrate Reservoir by Depressurization

A set of experimental system to study hydrate dissociation in porous media is built and some experiments on hydrate dissociation by depressurization are carried out. A mathematical model is developed to simulate the hydrate dissociation by depressurization in hydrate-bearing porous media. The model can be used to analyze the effects of the flow of multiphase fluids, the kinetic process and endothermic process of hydrate dissociation, ice-water phase equilibrium, the variation of permeability, convection and conduction on the hydrate dissociation, and gas and water productions. The numerical results agree well with the experimental results, which validate our mathematical model. For a 3-D hydrate reservoir of Class 3, the evolutions of pressure, temperature, and saturations are elucidated and the effects of some main parameters on gas and water rates are analyzed. Numerical results show that gas can be produced effectively from hydrate reservoir in the first stage of depressurization. Then, methods such as thermal stimulation or inhibitor injection should be considered due to the energy deficiency of formation energy. The numerical results for 3-D hydrate reservoir of Class 1 show that the overlying gas hydrate zone can apparently enhance gas rate and prolong life span of gas reservoir.

Precipitation of nanocrystals in glasses by electron irradiation: An alternative path to form glass ceramics?

This letter demonstrates an alternative method to form gallium silicate glass ceramics using high-energy electron irradiation. Compared with glass ceramics obtained from the conventional thermal treatment method, the distribution and crystal sizes of the precipitated Ga2O3 nanoparticles are the same. An advantage of this method is that the spatial distribution of the precipitated nanoparticles can be easily controlled. However, optically active dopants Ni2+ ions do not participate in the precipitation during electron irradiation. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Yb∶Y_3Al_5O_(12)/Y_3Al_5O_(12)复合晶体的制作和光谱性能

采用热键合技术,制作中运用不同的工艺参量制作出12片Yb∶Y3Al5O12/Y3Al5O12(Yb∶YAG/YAG)复合晶体。利用偏光显微镜对其键合界面进行了观察,研究了样品的透射光谱,从而确定出复合晶体合适的制作工艺。通过透射光谱的形状和透射率来表征复合晶体键合界面的质量。研究表明Yb∶YAG/YAG复合晶体键合质量较好,可实现一体化。

Bonding quality of Yb : Y3Al5O12/Y3Al5O12 composite crystals

The Yb:Y3Al5O12/Y3Al5O12 (Yb:YAG/YAG) composite crystals were prepared by thermal bonding method with different technological parameters. The bonding interface of the composite crystals were observed by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and atom force microscope. The light scattering experiments for bonding interface of the composite crystals were measured by the laser and transmission spectra. All experiments show that high-quality Yb:YAG/YAG composite crystals without space transition layer and light scattering on the bonding interface can be obtained by thermal bonding method under appropriate technological parameters.

热键合制作Yb：Y3Al5O12／Y3Al5O12复合晶体

采用热键合技术制备了Yb：Y3Al5O12／Y3Al5O12（Yb：YAG／YAG）复合晶体，对复合晶体进行了结构表征和键合质量检测，利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察了复合晶体横截面的形貌；在偏光显微镜下观察键合区域的应力，利用干涉条纹来表征复合晶体的光学均匀性；通过红外透过光谱的测量来检测复合晶体的键合质量．实验结果表明：热键合技术制备的Yb：YAG／YAG复合晶体键合界面处无界面缺陷，不存在复合界面空间过渡层，光学均匀性良好．

浑善达克沙地榆树树干液流动态研究

本文应用Granier热扩散技术对内蒙古浑善达克沙地榆树疏林林分进行树干液流通量研究，分别选择胸径大小占林分80%以上林木的三种胸径级（15-25cm，25-35cm，35-45cm）榆树样树各三株，应用Granier探针进行每隔15min的树干液流测定，同步测定林分环境因子，包括空气温度、相对湿度、土壤温度、土壤湿度、光合有效辐射、风速等10余个环境因子，在生长季节进行了5个月的测定，详细研究和分析了榆树树杆液流特征，其中包括昼夜变化趋势和规律、不同天气状况下的液流密度变化特点以及在生长季不同时期的液流密度变化规律，阐述了不同胸径级榆树树干液流变化特征。同时利用连续获得的树干液流通量与环境因子数据，分析了树干液流通量与环境因子的关系，阐明不同时期影响树干液流通量变化的主导因素，以及树干液流密度对环境因子的响应规律。并通过钻取样地内的树木生长年轮芯测定了榆树不同径级的边材面积，建立边材和胸径的关系方程，估算了不同胸径林分的边材面积以及冠层蒸腾的季节动态。 在晴朗的白天，不同胸径级榆树的树干液流密度变化曲线均呈单峰曲线，只是峰值持续的时间不同。不同胸径级榆树树干液流密度变化具有明显的昼夜节律性。在生长季结束后液流并不是马上停止，而是有微弱的波动。阴雨天液流密度变化曲线均不规则且液流密度值较小，甚至出现多峰曲线，而且峰值明显;液流密度的变化出现较大的波动性，夜间却有液流发生，而且值较晴天的夜间液流密度稍大。 林分不同胸径级榆树树干大径级木、中径级木和小径级木液流通量特征表现为: 榆树大径级木液流密度的峰值大于中等木，中等木峰值大于小径级木，差异明显;大径级木由于年龄较大，液流密度曲线变化平缓，没有明显的峰值，呈弧形曲线; 而且不同年龄的树木反映差别比较大，但是总体趋势还是受胸径的影响。 随季节推移生长季各月份液流密度均值基本逐渐减小，进入生长季末期(10月)基本处于微弱波动状态。液流通量月平均值最大值一般都出现在6-8月，大径级木、中径级木和小径级木各月液流通量变化差异较大。日液流通量比较分析得出，大径级木日液流通量最大值分别为394.53，中径级木为66.04，小径级木为63.56 kg∙ d-1。综合分析对不同胸径树木影响较大的环境因子为VPD，PAR，Ta; 但是在不同生长季节，对不同类型树木起主要作用的环境因子也不尽相同，但是PAR与VPD是其中基本主要起作用的两个因子。 通过建立边材与胸径的关系方程，得出边材和胸径关系(R2=0.99)。通过经验公式计算得出，林分生长期的蒸腾耗水量相当于2.24mm/day, 低于当地同期降雨量2.78mm/day.

Calibration of the spring constant of cantilevers of arbitrary shape using the phase signal in an atomic force microscope.

The measurement of cantilever parameters is an essential part of performing a calibrated measurement with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The thermal motion method is a widely used technique for calibrating the spring constant of an AFM cantilever, which can be applied to non-rectangular cantilevers. Given the trend towards high frequency scanning, calibration of non-rectangular cantilevers is of increasing importance. This paper presents two results relevant to cantilever calibration via the thermal motion method. We demonstrate the possibility of using the AFM's phase signal to acquire the thermal motion. This avoids the challenges associated with connecting the raw photodiode signal to a separate spectrum analyser. We also describe how numerical calculations may be used to calculate the parameters needed in a thermal motion calibration of a non-rectangular cantilever. Only accurate knowledge of the relative size of the in-plane dimensions of the cantilever is needed in this computation. We use this pair of results in the calibration of a variety of rectangular and non-rectangular cantilevers. We observe an average difference between the Sader and thermal motion values of cantilever stiffness of 10%.

Effect of substrate temperature on the growth and photoluminescence properties of vertically aligned ZnO nanostructures

Vertically well-aligned ZnO nanoridge, nanorod, nanorod-nanowall junction, and nanotip arrays have been successfully synthesized on Si (100) substrates using a pulsed laser deposition prepared ZnO film as seed layer by thermal evaporation method. Experimental results illustrated that the growth of different morphologies of ZnO nanostructures was strongly dependent upon substrate temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed that the ZnO nanostructures were single crystals with a wurtzite structure. Compared with those of the other nanostructures, the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of nanorod-nanowall junctions showed the largest intensity ratio of ultraviolet (UV) to yellow-green emission and the smallest full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the UV peak, reflecting the high optical quality and nearly defect free of crystal structure. The vertical alignment of the nanowire array on the substrate is attributed to the epitaxial growth of the nanostructures from the ZnO buffer layer. The growth mechanism was also discussed in detail. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of dopamine, ascorbic acid and uric acid with electrospun carbon nanofibers modified electrode

A novel carbon-nanofiber-modified carbon-paste electrode (CNF-CPE) was employed for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) with good selectivity and high sensitivity. The CNFs were prepared by combination of electrospinning technique with thermal treatment method and were used without any pretreatment. In application to determination of DA, AA and UA in the ternary mixture, the pristine CNF-CPE exhibited well-separated differential pulse voltammetric peaks with high catalytic current. Low detection limits of 0.04 mu M, 2 mu M and 0.2 mu M for DA, AA and UA were obtained, with the linear calibration curves over the concentration range 0.04-5.6 mu M, 2-64 mu M and 0.8-16.8 mu M, respectively.

Synthesis of carbon nanofibers for mediatorless sensitive detection of NADH

Highly sensitive amperometric detection of dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by using novel synthesized carbon nanofibers (CNFs) without addition of any mediator has been proposed. The CNFs were prepared by combination of electrospinning technique with thermal treatment method and were applied without any oxidation pretreatment to construct the electrochemical sensor. In amperometric detection of NADH, a linear range up to 11.45 mu M with a low detection limit of 20 nM was obtained with the CNF-modified carbon paste electrode (CNF-CPE).

Nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on renewable electrospun Ni nanoparticle-loaded carbon nanofiber paste electrode

A novel nonenzymatic glucose sensor was developed based on the renewable Ni nanoparticle-loaded carbon nanofiber paste (NiCFP) electrode. The NiCF nanocomposite was prepared by combination of electrospinning technique with thermal treatment method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that large amounts of spherical nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface or embedded in the carbon nanofibers. And the nanoparticles were composed of Ni and NiO, as revealed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). In application to nonenzymatic glucose determination, the renewable NiCFP electrodes, which were constructed by simply mixing the electrospun nanocomposite with mineral oil, exhibited strong and fast amperometric response without being poisoned by chloride ions. Low detection limit of 1 mu M with wide linear range from 2 mu M to 2.5 mM (R = 0.9997) could be obtained.

Syntheses and properties of polyimides derived from diamines containing 2,5-disubstituted pyridine group

A Series of novel homo- and copolyimides containing pyridine units were prepared from the heteroaromatic diamines, 2,5-bis (4-aminophenyl) pyridine and 2-(4aminophenyl)-5-aminopyridine, with pyromelltic dianhydride (PMDA), and 3,3',4,4'-biphenyl tertracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) via a conventional two-step thermal imidizaton method. The poly(amic acid) precursors have inherent viscosities of 1.60-9.64 dL/g (c = 0.5 g/dL in DMAC, 30 degrees C) and all of them can be cast and thermally converted into flexible and tough polyimide films. All of the polyimides show excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties. The polyimides have 10% weight loss temperature in the range of 548-598 degrees C in air. The glass transition temperatures of the PMDA-based samples are in the range of 395-438 degrees C, while the BPDA-based polyimides show two glass transition temperatures (T(g)1 and T(g)2), ranging from 268 to 353 degrees C and from 395 to 418 degrees C, respectively. The flexible films possess tensile modulus in the range of 3.42-6.39 GPa, strength in the range of 112-363 MPa and an elongation at break in the range of 1.2-69%. The strong reflection peaks in the wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the polyimides have a high packing density and crystallinity.