A Method for Performance Degradation Modeling Based upon the Accelerated Experiment

Performance degradation modeling plays an important role in prognostics and health management of mechanical system. Influenced by the complex structure of the hydraulic pump and the limited experiment standards, it is hard to establish an appropriate performance degradation model. To fulfill current requirements, a method for establishing the performance degradation model based on accelerated experiment is proposed. In order to describe the general trend of the degradation, the double-stress exponential model is firstly established as the theoretical degradation model. On this basement, combined with the characteristics of the experiment, the accelerating coefficient is settled; meanwhile, the procedures for assuring the model parameters are presented. Furthermore, based on the accelerated experiment of the hydraulic pump under various stresses, the performance degradation model is finally established. Result of the experimental analysis indicates that the proposed method is applicable and the presented model is effective to measure the performance degradation of pump.     

Graphene-Au nanoparticle based electrochemical immunosensor for fish pathogen Aphanomyces invadans detection

Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) that is primarily caused by an invasive oomycete fungus Aphanomyces invadans is a devastating fish disease. Rapid diagnosis of EUS is significantly important for the control and treatment of this highly invasive disease. In our study, a label-free immunosensor constructed with G-AuNPs/SAM-Ab-BSA/GCE was proposed for the determination of Aphanomyces invadans. The electrode was prepared by the immobilization of anti-mycelium antibodies on graphene-AuNPs nanocomposite-cysteamine monolayers modified GCE. The optimized parameters were as follows: 90 min as the immersion time of SAM modified electrode in the anti-mycelium solution, 0.20 µg/mL as the concentration of anti-mycelium solution and 10 min as the interaction time of immunoreaction. The immunosensors exhibited low limit detection of 309 ng/mL and good reproducibility.     

Effects of Ti and Mn Co-substitution on P4mm BiFeO3: An Ab Initio Calculation

Tetragonal BiFeO₃ (BFO), which has a giant spontaneous polarization, has attracted a great deal of attention recently. In this paper, we systematically study the structural, magnetic, electronic and optic properties of BFO, BiFe_0.75Mn_0.25 O ₃ (BFMM), and BiFe_0.75Ti_0.125Mn_0.125 O ₃ (BFMT). Results show that doping Ti and Mn into the Fe sites increases the c/a ratio and enhances the magnetization of BiFeO₃ from 0 to 5 μ_B. The crystal symmetry changes from orthogonality to tetragonality with half of the Mn atoms being replaced by Ti in BiFe_0.75Mn_0.25 O ₃, which suppresses the energy splitting of the Mn 3d orbitals and thus enlarge the band gap to 1.21 eV for BiFe_0.75Ti_0.125Mn_0.125 O ₃. Our calculated Bader charge and charge density difference show that the smallest volume of BiFe_0.75Mn_0.25 O ₃ arises from the strong Mn–O bonds in BiFe_0.75Mn_0.25 O ₃. Further investigations indicate similar optical behaviors for BiFeO₃ and BiFe_0.75Ti_0.125Mn_0.125 O ₃. However, BiFe_0.75Mn_0.25 O ₃ exhibits strong absorption in the infrared region for the transition from O 2p to Mn \({e_{g}^{2}}\) and \(t_{2g}^{3}\).     

Plasmon‐Enhanced Spectroscopies with Shell‐Isolated Nanoparticles

Shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), due to its versatility, has been able to break the long‐term limitations of the material‐ and substrate‐specific generalities in the traditional field of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. With a shell‐isolated work principle, this method provides an opportunity to investigate successfully in surface, biological systems, energetic materials, and environmental sciences. Both the shell material and core morphology are being improved continuously to meet the requirements in diverse systems, such as the electrochemical studies at single crystal electrode surfaces, in situ monitoring of photoinduced reaction processes, practical applications in energy conversion and storage, inspections in food safety, and the surface‐enhanced fluorescence. Predictably, the concept of shell‐isolated nanoparticle‐enhancement could be expanded to the wider range for the performance of plasmon‐enhanced spectral modifications.     

Reducing Hysteresis and Enhancing Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Low‐Temperature Processed Y‐Doped SnO2 Nanosheets as Electron Selective Layers

Despite the rapid increase of efficiency, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) still face some challenges, one of which is the current–voltage hysteresis. Herein, it is reported that yttrium‐doped tin dioxide (Y‐SnO₂) electron selective layer (ESL) synthesized by an in situ hydrothermal growth process at 95 °C can significantly reduce the hysteresis and improve the performance of PSCs. Comparison studies reveal two main effects of Y doping of SnO₂ ESLs: (1) it promotes the formation of well‐aligned and more homogeneous distribution of SnO₂ nanosheet arrays (NSAs), which allows better perovskite infiltration, better contacts of perovskite with SnO₂ nanosheets, and improves electron transfer from perovskite to ESL; (2) it enlarges the band gap and upshifts the band energy levels, resulting in better energy level alignment with perovskite and reduced charge recombination at NSA/perovskite interfaces. As a result, PSCs using Y‐SnO₂ NSA ESLs exhibit much less hysteresis and better performance compared with the cells using pristine SnO₂ NSA ESLs. The champion cell using Y‐SnO₂ NSA ESL achieves a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 17.29% (16.97%) when measured under reverse (forward) voltage scanning and a steady‐state efficiency of 16.25%. The results suggest that low‐temperature hydrothermal‐synthesized Y‐SnO₂ NSA is a promising ESL for fabricating efficient and hysteresis‐less PSC.     

Poly(N‐phenylglycine)‐Based Nanoparticles as Highly Effective and Targeted Near‐Infrared Photothermal Therapy/Photodynamic Therapeutic Agents for Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor resistant to chemotherapy. Therefore, the development of new highly effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignant melanoma is highly desirable. In this study, a new class of polymeric photothermal agents based on poly(N‐phenylglycine) (PNPG) suitable for use in near‐infrared (NIR) phototherapy of malignant melanoma is designed and developed. PNPG is obtained via polymerization of N‐phenylglycine (NPG). Carboxylate functionality of NPG allows building multifunctional systems using covalent bonding. This approach avoids complicated issues typically associated with preparation of polymeric photothermal agents. Moreover, PNPG skeleton exhibits pH‐responsive NIR absorption and an ability to generate reactive oxygen species, which makes its derivatives attractive photothermal therapy (PTT)/photodynamic therapy (PDT) dual‐modal agents with pH‐responsive features. PNPG is modified using hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyethylene glycol diamine (PEG‐diamine) acting as the coupling agent. The resultant HA‐modified PNPG (PNPG‐PEG‐HA) shows negligible cytotoxicity and effectively targets CD44‐overexpressing cancer cells. Furthermore, the results of in vitro and in vivo experiments reveal that PNPG‐PEG‐HA selectively kills B16 cells and suppresses malignant melanoma tumor growth upon exposure to NIR light (808 nm), indicating that PNPG‐PEG‐HA can serve as a very promising nanoplatform for targeted dual‐modality PTT/PDT of melanoma.     

Phase Separation Derived Core/Shell Structured Cu11V6O26/V2O5 Microspheres: First Synthesis and Excellent Lithium‐Ion Anode Performance with Outstanding Capacity Self‐Restoration

Novel amorphous vanadium oxide coated copper vanadium oxide (Cu₁₁V₆O₂₆/V₂O₅) microspheres with 3D hierarchical architecture have been successfully prepared via a microwave‐assisted solution method and subsequent annealing induced phase separation process. Pure Cu₁₁V₆O₂₆ microspheres without V₂O₅ coating are also obtained by an H₂O₂ solution dissolving treatment. When evaluated as an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), the as‐synthesized hybrid exhibits large reversible capacity, excellent rate capability, and outstanding capacity self‐recovery. Under the condition of high current density of 1 A g^?1, the 3D hierarchical Cu₁₁V₆O₂₆/V₂O₅ hybrid maintains a reversible capacity of ≈1110 mA h g^?1. Combined electrochemical analysis and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy observation during cycling reveals that the amorphous V₂O₅ coating plays an important role on enhancing the electrochemical performances and capacity self‐recovery, which provides an active amorphous protective layer and abundant grain interfaces for efficient inserting and extracting of Li‐ion. As a result, this new copper vanadium oxide hybrid is proposed as a promising anode material for LIBs.