Microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor for combined heavy metals monitoring and associated bioelectrochemical process

To explore the feasibility and related mechanism of MFC biosensor for wastewater detection under the action of combined heavy metals. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to explore the related bioelectrochemical process. The response of the reactor to single/combined heavy metals, low/high heavy metal concentrations, and the differences in ohmic resistance (Rs) and charge transfer resistance (Rct) were investigated using Ni as the core heavy metal and the combined action of Cd, Cu and Zn. The results indicated that there was a linear relationship between the concentration and output voltage of the MFC biosensor under the action of combined heavy metals (R² = 0.8803–0.973). However, the internal resistance (Rint) of the MFC biosensor under the action of single heavy metal was far less than that of the combined heavy metal group, and the power density (19.849 W m^?3) was 4 times that of the combined heavy metal group (3.109–4.589 W m^?3). The Rs of the biosensors in the combined heavy metal group were 0.868Ω and 0.860, which were higher than 0.768Ω of the single heavy metal sensor. With the increase of the concentration of heavy metals in the influent, the increase of Rct was more obvious in the combined group, while the Rs in the single group significantly increased (P < 0.05). The results imply that it is possible for MFC biosensors to be used in the detection of actual water polluted by various heavy metals, but the biosensor performance is mainly limited by Rct, which needs to be further improved.     

Double pyrovanadates CaMgV2O7: Formation mechanism,phase structure,and thermodynamic properties

A double pyrovanadate CaMgV₂O₇ sample was synthesized via a facile solid-state route under an air atmosphere. The nonequilibrium formation pathways of the CaMgV₂O₇ were investigated via powder X-ray diffraction. A multistep reactions path (metavanadates–pyrovanadates–double pyrovanadate CaMgV₂O₇) was proposed to describe the formation of the CaMgV₂O₇ considering the thermodynamic and kinetic factors. The cell unit parameters of the CaMgV₂O₇ sample indicated the crystallization according to a monoclinic system with space group P12/c1(14), and the lattice parameters of a = 6.756 Å, b = 14.495 Å, c = 11.253 Å, β = 99.12, and V = 108.806 Å³. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy also confirmed the +5 oxidation state vanadium in CaMgV₂O₇. The endothermic effects at 1033 and 1143 K were related to the incongruent melting and liquidus temperatures of CaMgV₂O₇, respectively. The comprehensive thermodynamic properties of CaMgV₂O₇ were established in both low- and high-temperature regions, utilizing a physical property measurement system and multi-high-temperature calorimetry (96 lines). The heat capacity (200 J mol K⁻¹) and entropy (198 J mol K⁻¹) at 298.15 K were computed based on the low-temperature heat capacity values, and the enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K was also estimated. The fitted high-temperature capacity can be used to obtain the changes in the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy. This study is part of building a reliable thermodynamic database of the CaO–MgO–V₂O₅ system.     

一种可传输轨道角动量的螺旋光子晶体光纤北大核心

设计了一种基于阿基米德螺线的新型螺旋光子晶体光纤,该光纤以二氧化硅为基底材料,包层由24个螺旋臂组成,每个螺旋臂包含11个小空气孔,纤芯设有大空气孔,包层与纤芯中间的环形区域用于传输轨道角动量模式。该结构在1300~1800 nm波段上可支持22种轨道角动量模式稳定传输,在1550 nm波长下,有效折射率差最高可达2.89×10^(-3),色散系数最低可达66.4 ps/(nm·km),非线性系数最低可达2.17 W^(-1)·km^(-1),且1500~1600 nm波段上的色散值变化均小于15.15 ps/(nm·km)。此螺旋光子晶体光纤不仅结构简单,且具有低非线性、色散平坦的性能,为螺旋光子晶体光纤的设计提供了思路。     

Form selection of concomitant polymorphs: A case study informed by crystallization kinetics modeling

Molecular mechanisms and process kinetics of crystallizing concomitant polymorphs remain poorly understood. Solvent-mediated phase transformation and concomitant crystallization are difficult to be distinguished in practice, as multiple forms can be detected at the same time. Herein, we developed a population balance model to simulate a concomitant crystallization process of two polymorphs of tolfenamic acid. Our kinetic modeling aims to understand concomitant crystallization and help guide form selection of such a molecular system. Crystallization kinetics of ethanolic solutions were uncovered from induction time measurements, as well as seeded and unseeded crystallization experiments. Experimental and simulation results demonstrate that the stable form I crystallizes concomitantly with the metastable form II. The faster growing form II results in an intermediate decline in the composition of form I in crystallized samples, a characteristic feature of the concomitantly crystallized system. A four-quadrant scheme of attainable polymorph outcome was simulated under various crystallization conditions.     

Good dielectric performance and broadband dielectric polarization in Ag,Nb co-doped TiO2

Due to the demand of miniaturization and integration for ceramic capacitors in electronic components market, TiO₂-based ceramics with colossal permittivity has become a research hotspot in recent years. In this work, we report that Ag⁺/Nb⁵⁺ co-doped (Ag_1/4Nb_3/4)_xTi_1−xO₂ (ANTOx) ceramics with colossal permittivity over a wide frequency and temperature range were successfully prepared by a traditional solid–state method. Notably, compositions of ANTO0.005 and ANTO0.01 respectively exhibit both low dielectric loss (0.040 and 0.050 at 1 kHz), high dielectric permittivity (9.2 × 10³ and 1.6 × 10⁴ at 1 kHz), and good thermal stability, which satisfy the requirements for the temperature range of application of X9R and X8R ceramic capacitors, respectively. The origin of the dielectric behavior was attributed to five dielectric relaxation phenomena, i.e., localized carriers' hopping, electron–pinned defect–dipoles, interfacial polarization, and oxygen vacancies ionization and diffusion, as suggested by dielectric temperature spectra and valence state analysis via XPS; wherein, electron-pinned defect–dipoles and internal barrier layer capacitance are believed to be the main causes for the giant dielectric permittivity in ANTOx ceramics.     

Multiple material domain‐based computational tools for ease assessment of modal parameter in photonic crystal fibers

We report here the development of two computational tools PCFPS (Photonic Crystal Fiber Parameter Study) and PCFPA (Photonic Crystal Fiber Parameter Analysis), equipped with graphical user interface (GUI) for modeling of photonic crystal fiber. The tools are based on different structural parameters, and they provide characteristic analysis of the modal parameters from the structural parameters. The main feature of PCFPS is that it enables the user to find out the values of each defining modal parameter that has an immense contribution towards the manufacture of photonic crystal fiber. Additionally, PCFPA allows the user to observe the variation in the modal parameters with respect to the changes in structural parameters (such as d, Λ, d/Λ, and λ/>Λ). Besides their ease of use, these two schemes have high computational precision and adaptability, giving a novel platform to optical engineers to modulate the microstructured fibers according to their requirement.     

电网设备线夹开裂原因

某电力公司变电站用铝合金设备线夹在运行过程发生批次开裂事故,通过宏观观察、断口分析、化学成分分析、力学性能测试、冷冻模拟试验等方法,对设备线夹的开裂原因和开裂机理进行了分析。结果表明:设备线夹焊缝存在焊接缺陷,导致焊缝强度下降;设备线夹接线管底部存在积水空间,寒冷天气下积水结冰,体积膨胀,使焊缝承受设计工况外的负载而过载开裂,造成了线夹开裂。