Deconvoluting Energy Transport Mechanisms in Metal Halide Perovskites Using CsPbBr3 Nanowires as a Model System

Understanding energy transport in metal halide perovskites is essential to effectively guide further optimization of materials and device designs. However, difficulties to disentangle charge carrier diffusion, photon recycling, and photon transport have led to contradicting reports and uncertainty regarding which mechanism dominates. In this study, monocrystalline CsPbBr₃ nanowires serve as 1D model systems to help unravel the respective contribution of energy transport processes in metal-halide perovskites. Spatially, temporally, and spectrally resolved photoluminescence (PL) microscopy reveals characteristic signatures of each transport mechanism from which a robust model describing the PL signal accounting for carrier diffusion, photon propagation, and photon recycling is developed. For the investigated CsPbBr₃ nanowires, an ambipolar carrier mobility of μ = 35 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ is determined, and is found that charge carrier diffusion dominates the energy transport process over photon recycling. Moreover, the general applicability of the developed model is demonstrated on different perovskite compounds by applying it to data provided in previous related reports, from which clarity is gained as to why conflicting reports exist. These findings, therefore, serve as a useful tool to assist future studies aimed at characterizing energy transport mechanisms in semiconductor nanowires using PL.     

Direct high-purity hydrogen production from ammonia by using a membrane reactor combining V-10mol%Fe hydrogen permeable alloy membrane with Ru/Cs2O/Pr6O11 ammonia decomposition catalyst

The hydrogen production capabilities of the membrane reactor combining V-10 mol%Fe hydrogen permeable alloy membrane with Ru/Cs₂O/Pr₆O₁₁ ammonia decomposition catalyst are studied. The ammonia conversion is improved by 1.7 times compared to the Ru/Cs₂O/Pr₆O₁₁ catalyst alone by removing the produced hydrogen through the V-10mol%Fe alloy membrane during the ammonia decomposition. 79% of the hydrogen atoms contained in the ammonia gas are extracted directly as high-purity hydrogen gas. Both the Ru/Cs₂O/Pr₆O₁₁ catalyst and the V-10 mol% Fe alloy membrane are highly durable, and the initial performance of the hydrogen separation rate lasts for more than 3000 h. The produced hydrogen gas conforms to ISO 14687–2:2019 Grade D for fuel cell vehicles because the ammonia and nitrogen concentrations are less than 0.1 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively.     

纳米药物非临床药代动力学的研究策略及关注要点

随着纳米技术的迅速发展，纳米药物的研发已成为目前药物创新的发展方向之一。纳米药物具有基于纳米结构的尺度效应，其药代动力学特征与普通药物相比存在明显差异，其药代动力学研究与普通药物相比也有其特殊性。本文着重探讨纳米药物的非临床药代动力学的研究策略及关注要点，包括受试物、体内/外试验、生物样本分析、数据评价分析等，期望为研发者提供参考。     

Research and development of liquid hydrogen (LH2) temperature monitoring system for marine applications

Monitoring the temperature in liquid hydrogen (LH₂) storage tanks on ships is important for the safety of maritime navigation. In addition, accurate temperature measurement is also required for commercial transactions. Temperature and pressure define the density of liquid hydrogen, which is directly linked to trading interests. In this study, we developed and tested a liquid hydrogen temperature monitoring system that uses platinum resistance sensors with a nominal electrical resistance of approximately 1000 Ω at room temperature, PT-1000, for marine applications. The temperature measurements were carried out using a newly developed temperature monitoring system under different pressure conditions. The measured values are compared with a calibrated reference PT-1000 resistance thermometer. We confirm a measurement accuracy of ±50 mK in a pressure range of 0.1 MPa–0.5 MPa.     

Plasmonic semiconductor: A tunable non-metal photocatalyst

Doped semiconductor, a newly discovered plasmonic nanomaterial, has attracted tremendous interest due to its tunable properties. In the field of photocatalysis, the perfect combination of metal-like and semiconductor properties makes it the replacement and supplement of metal plasmonic nanomaterials. This new plasmonic photocatalysis offers high conversion efficiencies and wide optical absorption range with low fabrication costs. This article reviews the recent developments and achievements by which the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in non-metal plasmonic nanomaterial for photocatalytic applications, including pure non-metal plasmonic photocatalysts and various enhancement strategies such as doping, co-catalyst, heterojunction, LSPR coupling and upconversion luminescence enhancement. It broadens the horizons for plasmonics in the study of photocatalysis and even in energy-related applications.     

氧化壳聚糖改性抗菌蚕丝织物的制备及其性能

为获得持久抗菌的功能丝绸材料,采用硝酸、磷酸、亚硝酸钠体系将原料壳聚糖的C6位伯羟基选择性氧化为羧基制得水溶性氧化壳聚糖(OCS),使OCS的羧基与脱胶蚕丝织物(SFF)的氨基反应,得到氧化壳聚糖改性蚕丝织物(OCSMSF)。借助核磁共振仪、扫描电子显微镜、红外光谱仪、X射线衍射仪等手段表征了OCS与OCSMSF的化学结构,测试了OCSMSF的力学、吸湿、抗菌等性能。结果表明:酰胺反应已将氧化壳聚糖分子化学键合在SFF中,OCS改性蚕丝纤维的结晶度降低;在优化反应参数条件下,OCS接枝蚕丝织物的质量增加率达到9.17%,OCSMSF的强力略有减小,而吸湿性提高42.92%,OCSMSF对测试细菌的抑菌率大于94%,且抗菌耐洗涤性好,同时OCSMSF对仙人掌黄酮提取物有良好的缓释效果。     

Preparation and the controlled release effect study of graphene oxide-modified poly(ε-caprolactone)

Functionalized graphene oxide-modified poly(ε-caprolactone) composites ((graphene oxide)GO/PCL) were successfully synthesized by Steglich esterification for drug applications of controlled release. Lomefloxacin (LMF) was selected as a model drug to investigate its controlled release properties. The controlled release effect of the LMF-contained pills of the GO/PCL and polylactic acid blend was evaluated. In contrast to the pure PCL, GO/PCL could effectively adjust the time of drug release and release the drug at a constant rate, achieving the controlled release requirements. Furthermore, different additive amounts of graphene oxide have different effects on adjusting the time of controlled release, while the best result obtained under the ratio is 4% GO/PCL as carrier of drug. Thus, high-quality drug carrier materials are obtained which are more suitable for clinical use. Exploring the optimum addition of graphene oxide is very significant for the development of GO/PCL carrier material.     

Syngas production by chemical looping gasification of rice husk using Fe-based oxygen carrier

The chemical looping gasification (CLG) of rice husk was conducted in a fixed bed reactor to analyze the effects of the ratio of oxygen carrier to rice husk (O/C), temperature, residence time and preparation methods of Fe-based oxygen carriers. The yield of gas, H₂/CO, lower heating value of syngas (LHV), conversion efficiency and performance parameters were analyzed to obtain CLG reaction characterization and optimal reaction conditions. Results showed that when O/C increased from 0.5 to 3.0, the gas production, H₂/CO, CO₂ yield and carbon conversion efficiency gradually increased, while the yield of H₂, CO and CH₄ and LHV gradually decreased. At the same time, a highest gasification efficiency was obtained when O/C was 1.5. As increasing temperature, the gas production, CO yield, carbon conversion efficiency and gasification efficiency gradually increased, while the yield of H₂, CH₄ and CO₂, H₂/CO and LHV gradually decreased. Sintering and agglomeration was obvious when the temperature was higher than 850 °C. When the reaction time increased from 10 min to 60 min, the gas production, CO yield, carbon conversion efficiency and gasification efficiency gradually increased, but the yield of H₂, H₂/CO and LHV decreased, among which 30 min was the best reaction residence time. In addition, coprecipitation was the best preparation method among several preparation methods of oxygen carrier. Finally, O/C of 1.5, 800 °C, 30 min and coprecipitation preparation method of oxygen carrier were the optimal parameters to obtain a gasification efficiency of 26.88%, H₂ content of 35.64%, syngas content of 56.40%, H₂/CO ratio of 1.72 and LHV of 12.25 MJ/Nm³.     

TiO2 hollow spheres as a novel antibiotic carrier for the direct delivery of gentamicin

The TiO₂ hollow spheres were synthesized using a green, cheap, and easy process, in which carbonaceous spheres were chosen as the removable template. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. According to the results, the obtained mesoporous TiO₂ hollow spheres demonstrated an external diameters less than 200?nm with shell thickness around 40?nm. The antibacterial activities of the TiO₂ hollow spheres were evaluated against gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). No antibacterial activity was found for TiO₂ hollow spheres in the used concentrations. TiO₂ hollow spheres were loaded with gentamycin as a selected antibiotic to magnify their benefits in biomedical applications. TiO₂ hollow spheres exhibited good antibiotic carrier activity for the direct delivery of gentamicin, which was attributed to interaction between gentamicin and surface due to their larger specific surface area, more abundant porous structure, and their spherical morphology. The application of TiO₂ hollow spheres as gentamicin carrier undoubtedly opens an avenue to use hollow sphere materials in other drug delivery applications.     

Polyurethane/doxorubicin nanoparticles based on electrostatic interactions as pH‐sensitive drug delivery carriers

In order to obtain a pH‐sensitive delivery carrier for doxorubicin (DOX), DOX‐loaded polyurethane (PU·DOX) nanoparticles were readily prepared in water by electrostatic interactions between amphiphilic polyurethane with carboxyl pendent groups (PU‐COOH) and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl). The structures of the products obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The average hydrodynamic size of the PU·DOX nanoparticles was around 182 nm with negative surface charge (?1.1 mV) and a spherical or rodlike shape. PU·DOX nanoparticles had a higher drug‐loading content of 14.1 wt%. The in vitro drug release properties of PU·DOX nanoparticles were investigated at pH 4.0, 5.0 and 7.4, respectively. PU·DOX nanoparticles exhibited a good pH‐sensitive drug release property, but there was almost no release of DOX from PU·DOX nanoparticles at pH 7.4. The in vitro cellular uptake assay and the Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay demonstrated that PU·DOX nanoparticles had a higher level of cellular internalization and higher inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human breast cancer (MCF‐7) cells than pure DOX. The enhancement of the inhibition effects resulted from increasing apoptosis‐inducing effects on MCF‐7 cells, which was related to the enhancement of Bax expression and the reduction of Bcl‐2 expression confirmed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and western blot assay. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry