Efficient photothermal conversion of Fe2O3–RGO guided from ultrafast quenching effect of photoexcited state

In solar thermal utilization, effective photo capture and photothermal conversion are crucial. Improving the nonradiative transition rate of photoexcited electrons is important to enhance the photothermal conversion efficiency and develop efficient solar thermal utilization. Herein, we designed a new kind of light absorption-enhanced and efficient photothermal conversion material, namely, Fe₂O₃-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (Fe₂O₃–RGO). On the basis of the selective absorption (350–560 nm) of Fe₂O₃ and the synergistic effect of RGO on the quenching energy transfer of the excited state of Fe₂O₃ and ultrafast nonradiative thermal decay of RGO, the optical absorption capacity, and photothermal conversion efficiency of the composites were effectively improved. Fe₂O₃–RGO can be successfully applied to photothermal conversion phase change materials and seawater solar desalination, showing excellent photothermal conversion ability and application prospect.     

Large‐Scale Synthesis of Bi‐layer Graphene in Strongly Coupled Stacking Order

Large‐scale synthesis of single‐layer graphene (SLG) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has received a lot of attention recently. However, CVD synthesis of AB stacked bi‐layer graphene (BLG) is still challenging. Here, we report synthesis of BLG homogeneously at large scale by thermal CVD. The 2D Raman band of CVD BLG splits into four components, suggesting splitting of electronic bands due to strong interlayer coupling. The splitting of electronic bands in CVD BLG is further evidenced by the study of near infrared absorption and carrier dynamics are probed by transient absorption spectroscopy. UV photoelectron spectroscopy invesigation also indiates CVD BLG possesses different electronic structures to those of CVD SLG. The growth mechanism of BLG is found to be related to catalytic activity of the copper (Cu) surface, which is determined by the purity of Cu foils employed in the CVD process. Our work shows that strongly coupled or even AB stacked BLG can be grown on Cu foils at large scale, which is of particular importance for device applications based on their split electronic bands.     

Unexpected kinetic effect of MgB2 in reactive hydride composites containing complex borohydrides

Complex borohydrides of light metals are promising hydrogen storage materials due to their high hydrogen capacity. However, they exhibit two main drawbacks: their high thermodynamic stability and their slow kinetics. In the present work, the effect of various reactants on the formation kinetics of complex borohydrides is investigated. It is found that the kinetic barriers for the formation of LiBH₄, NaBH₄ and Ca(BH₄)₂ are drastically reduced when MgB₂ is used instead of B as starting material. Since this kinetic enhancement is observed in all borohydride studied so far, the observed effect is attributed to the higher reactivity of B in MgB₂ to form [BH₄]⁻ complexes. In addition, by using MgB₂ instead of elemental B, the corresponding reaction enthalpies are reduced by about 10 kJ/mol H, while the high gravimetric hydrogen capacities are largely preserved, i.e. LiBH₄ + MgH₂ with 11.4 wt%, Ca(BH₄)₂ + MgH₂ with 8.3 wt%, and NaBH₄ + MgH₂ with 7.8 wt%.     

Eccentric Loading of Fluorogen with Aggregation‐Induced Emission in PLGA Matrix Increases Nanoparticle Fluorescence Quantum Yield for Targeted Cellular Imaging

A simple strategy is developed to prepare eccentrically or homogeneously loaded nanoparticles (NPs) using poly (DL‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) as the encapsulation matrix in the presence of different amounts of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the emulsifier. Using 2,3‐bis(4‐(phenyl(4‐(1,2,2‐triphenylvinyl)‐phenyl)amino)‐phenyl)‐fumaronitrile (TPETPAFN), a fluorogen with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics, as an example, the eccentrically loaded PLGA NPs show increased fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) as compared to the homogeneously loaded ones. Field emission transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence lifetime measurements reveal that the higher QY of the eccentrically loaded NPs is due to the more compact aggregation of AIE fluorogens that restricts intramolecular rotations of phenyl rings, which is able to more effectively block the non‐radiative decay pathways. The eccentrically loaded NPs show far red/near infrared emission with a high fluorescence QY of 34% in aqueous media. In addition, by using poly([lactide‐co‐glycolide]‐b‐folate [ethylene glycol]) (PLGA‐PEG‐folate) as the co‐encapsulation matrix, the obtained NPs are born with surface folic acid groups, which are successfully applied for targeted cellular imaging with good photostability and low cytotoxicity. Moreover, the developed strategy is also demonstrated for inorganic‐component eccentrically or homogeneously loaded PLGA NPs, which facilitates the synthesis of polymer NPs with controlled internal architectures.     

Diffuse damage accumulation in the fracture process zone of human cortical bone specimens and its influence on fracture toughness

This study was concerned with the mechanics and micromechanisms of diffuse (ultrastructural) damage occurrence in human tibial cortical bone specimens subjected to tension–tension fatigue. A nondestructive technique was developed for damage assessment on the surfaces of intact compact tension specimens using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Results indicated that diffuse damage initiates as a result of fractures in the inter-canalicular regions. Subsequent growth of those microscopic flaws demonstrated multiple deflections from their paths due to 3D spatial distribution of microscopic porosities (lacunae–canalicular porosities) and the stress-concentrating effects of lacunae. Damage dominating effects in the early stages of fatigue had been verified by the observed variations of the fracture toughness due to artificially induced amounts of damage. Toughening behavior was observed as a function of diffuse damage. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Isolating recombinant antibodies against specific protein morphologies using atomic force microscopy and phage display technologies

Isolation of antibodies to antigens that are either unstable, exist in multiple morphologies or have very limited availability can be prohibitively difficult. Here we describe a novel technique combining the capabilities of phage display antibody technology and atomic force microscopy (AFM) that is used to isolate antibody fragments that bind to a specific morphology of the target antigen, alpha-synuclein. AFM imaging allows us to both visualize the presence and morphology of the target antigen as well as to monitor the efficiency of each step in the bio-panning process. We demonstrate that phage displayed antibodies specific to the target antigen morphology can be isolated after only two rounds of selection. The target antigen, alpha-synuclein, has been correlated with the Parkinson's disease (PD). Accumulation of alpha-synuclein fibrillar aggregates into Lewy body inclusions is a hallmark feature of PD. While alpha-synuclein can form several different aggregate morphologies including oligomers, protofibrils and fibrils, the role of these morphologies in the progression of PD is not known. The successful selection of the recombinant antibody described here can have potential therapeutic value since the single-chain fragment variable (scFv) can be expressed intracellularly to control folding and toxicity of the specific protein aggregates.     

Bright Quantum‐Dot‐Sized Single‐Chain Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Nanoparticles: Synthesis,Characterization and Application for Specific Extracellular Labeling and Imaging

We report a simple method to fabricate quantum‐dot‐sized nanoparticles (NPs) from poly[9,9‐bis((6‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene‐alt‐co‐2,1,3‐benzo­xadiazole dibromide] (PFBD). The transmission electron microscope results reveal that the obtained NPs have a mean diameter of ≈4 nm, which is composed of a single PFBD chain. The NPs show bright fluorescence with an emission maximum at ≈636 nm and a quantum yield of ≈26% in water. The fluorescence properties of the NPs are characterized by steady fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence dynamic study and single nanoparticle microscopy, which show superior brightness over commercial quantum dots QD655. The NPs are further conjugated with streptavidin to yield PFBD‐SA NPs, which serve as a specific extracellular labeling and imaging probe with high specificity and good photostability.     

Membrane Process Design for the Reduction of Wastewater Color of the Mazandaran Pulp-Paper Industry, Iran

The aim of this study is evaluate the use of membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment Mazandaran pulp and paper Industry. The qualification of wastewater is case study and Characteristics of this industry wastewater were determined by different experiments such as: COD, BOD, Color, densitometry, viscometry and TG/DTA analyzer. Also, the color creating agents in the investigated wastewater was characterized. Then In this study, flux, retention, and permeate quality of various Nanofiltration and low-pressure reverse osmosis membranes were investigated at two temperatures and by using a low shear (DSS Labstak M20®) and a high shear (CR250/2) filter. The overall aim was to study the suitability of Nanofiltration in purification of the discharge water from external activated sludge processes in the pulp and paper industry for reuse in the paper manufacturing process and to compare the results to Nanofiltration of paper machine process waters. The discharge waters were nanofiltered at a higher flux than paper machine process waters. The permeate was almost free of color and organic compounds but contained significantly more inorganic compounds than the permeate from the filtration of process waters. To successfully remove monovalent anions and inorganic carbon from the discharge water a low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane such as the TFC ULP membrane is needed. With that membrane the permeate flux is lower than for Nanofiltration membranes but the permeate quality is significantly better when considering inorganic ions such as sodium, chloride, nitrate and inorganic carbon (bicarbonate). The permeate flux was two times higher in the high shear filter than in the low shear filter but the retentions were significantly lower. The result of this study: decrease pollutants parameter in Tajan Rivers that is effluent because attention to surface water quality has limited in Iran.