Deep-ultraviolet (DUV, wavelength λ < 200 nm) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal is the core component of frequency conversion to generate DUV laser, which plays an important role in cutting-edge laser ...technology and fundamental science. Significant progress has been made in both experimental exploration and theoretical design in the field of DUV NLO crystals over the past three decades. In-depth insight into "structure-property correlations", in particular, allows for rigorous and precise identification of DUV NLO crystals. In this article, we reviewed the current experimental and theoretical research progress while elucidating the core concepts and stringent criteria of qualified DUV phase-matched second-harmonic generation crystals. We also discussed the development of the DUV NLO "structure-property correlations" from first principles and how it has sparked interest in related materials, as well as future directions for obtaining potential DUV NLO crystals.
Hybrid metamaterials that exhibit reconfigurable responses under external stimulus, such as electric fields and light radiation, have only recently been demonstrated by combining active media with ...patterned metallic structures. Nevertheless, hybrid terahertz (THz) metamaterials whose spectral performance can be dynamically tuned over a large scale remain rare. Compared with most active media (for instance, silicon) that provide limited activity, vanadium dioxide (VO
), which exhibits an insulator-to-metal transition, has been recently explored to facilitate dynamically tunable metamaterials. More importantly, the phase transition yields a three orders of magnitude increase in THz electrical conductivity, which suggests the potential for creating VO
based hybrid resonators that operate at THz frequencies. Here, we show that an integration of VO
structures and conventional metallic resonating components can enable a class of highly tunable THz metamaterials. Considering the widely studied phase-transition dynamics in VO
, the proposed hybrid metamaterials are capable of offering ultrafast modulation of THz radiation.
Despite the exotic material properties that have been demonstrated to date, practical examples of versatile metamaterials remain exceedingly rare. The concept of metadevices has been proposed in the ...context of hybrid metamaterial composites: systems in which active materials are introduced to advance tunability, switchability and nonlinearity. In contrast to the successful hybridizations seen at lower frequencies, there has been limited exploration into plasmonic and photonic nanostructures due to the lack of available optical materials with non-trivial activity, together with difficulties in regulating responses to external forces in an integrated manner. Here, by presenting a series of proof-of-concept studies on electrically triggered functionalities, we demonstrate a vanadium dioxide integrated photonic metamaterial as a transformative platform for multifunctional control. The proposed hybrid metamaterial integrated with transition materials represents a major step forward by providing a universal approach to creating self-sufficient and highly versatile nanophotonic systems.
Solar‐energy‐driven CO2 conversion into value‐added chemical fuels holds great potential in renewable energy generation. However, the rapid recombination of charge carriers and deficient reactive ...sites, as two major obstacles, severely hampers the photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity. Herein, a desirable surface halogenation strategy to address the aforementioned concerns over a Sillén‐related layer‐structured photocatalyst Bi2O2(OH)(NO3) (BON) is demonstrated. The surface halogen ions that are anchored on the Bi atoms by replacing surface hydroxyls on the one hand facilitate the local charge separation, and, on the other hand, activate the hydroxyls that profoundly boost the adsorption of CO2 molecules and protons and facilitate the CO2 conversion process, as evidenced by experimental and theoretical results collectively. Among the three series of BON‐X (X = Cl, Br, and I) catalysts, BON‐Br shows the most substantially enhanced CO production rate (8.12 µmol g−1 h−1) without any sacrificial agents or cocatalysts, ≈73 times higher than that of pristine Bi2O2(OH)(NO3), also exceeding that of the state‐of‐the‐art photocatalysts reported to date. This work presents a surface polarization protocol for engineering charge behavior and reactive sites to promote photocatalysis, which shows great promise to the future design of high‐performance materials for clean energy production.
Surface‐halogenation‐induced atomic site activation and local charge separation of layered Bi2O2(OH)(NO3) is presented. Br−‐modified Bi2O2(OH)(NO3) shows the most prominent CO2 activation activity with a CO production rate of 8.12 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 73 times higher than that of bulk Bi2O2(OH)(NO3), exceeding that of most previously reported state‐of‐the‐art photocatalysts.
Through the combination of Bi3+ and a large negative charge ion (BO3)3–, two novel Bi-based borate photocatalysts Bi4B2O9 and Bi2O2BO2(OH) with layered structure have been successfully developed. For ...the first time, the borates were investigated as photocatalysts. They were synthesized by solid-state reaction and hydrothermal method, respectively, and further characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and DRS. Bi4B2O9 and Bi2O2BO2(OH) possess direct and indirect transition optical band gaps of 3.02 and 2.85 eV, respectively. Density functional calculations revealed that the valence band (VB) and conduction band (CB) of both borates were composed of hybridized states of the O 2p and Bi 6p or 6s orbitals, and a large dispersion was observed in the energy band of Bi2O2BO2(OH). The photodecomposition experiments demonstrated that Bi4B2O9 and Bi2O2BO2(OH) can be used as effective photocatalysts under simulated solar irradiation, and Bi2O2BO2(OH) exhibits the high photocatalytic activity, which is 2.5 and 3.2 times compared with that of P25 and Bi2O2CO3, respectively. Moreover, the photocurrent conversion further confirmed that Bi4B2O9 and Bi2O2BO2(OH) were potential photofunctional materials. The layered structure with (Bi2O2)2+ layer, hybridized and dispersion energy band, and large negative charge of (BO3)3– ion should be responsible for the high photocatalytic activity of Bi2O2BO2(OH).
In vivo vagus nerve stimulation holds great promise in regulating food intake for obesity treatment. Here we present an implanted vagus nerve stimulation system that is battery-free and spontaneously ...responsive to stomach movement. The vagus nerve stimulation system comprises a flexible and biocompatible nanogenerator that is attached on the surface of stomach. It generates biphasic electric pulses in responsive to the peristalsis of stomach. The electric signals generated by this device can stimulate the vagal afferent fibers to reduce food intake and achieve weight control. This strategy is successfully demonstrated on rat models. Within 100 days, the average body weight is controlled at 350 g, 38% less than the control groups. This work correlates nerve stimulation with targeted organ functionality through a smart, self-responsive system, and demonstrated highly effective weight control. This work also provides a concept in therapeutic technology using artificial nerve signal generated from coordinated body activities.
In this study, a series of coumarin derivatives were designed and synthesized, their structures were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) ...testing methods. In the pharmacological experiment, two behavior-monitoring methods, the forced swim test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST), were used to determine the antidepressant activity of coumarin derivatives. Compounds that showed potential activity were analyzed for their effects on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the brains of mice. Molecular docking experiments to simulate the possible interaction of these compounds with the 5-HT1A receptor was also be predicted. The results of the pharmacological experiments showed that most coumarin derivatives exhibited significant antidepressant activity. Among these compounds, 7-(2-(4-(4-fluorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-oxoethoxy)-2H-chromen-2-one (6i) showed the highest antidepressant activity. The results of the measurement of 5-HT levels in the brains of mice indicate that the antidepressant activity of coumarin derivatives may be mediated by elevated 5-HT levels. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that compound 6i had a significant interaction with amino acids around the active site of the 5-HT1A receptor in the homology model. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the target compounds were also predicted using Discovery Studio (DS) 2020 and Chemdraw 14.0.
In this paper, we investigated the corrosion behavior of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution and 3.5 wt% NaCl + 0.01 mol/L NaHSO3 solution at different temperatures ...by electrochemical testing, XPS and SEM/EDS. The findings indicate that the AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy can be passivated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at different temperatures, with the passive film dominated by metal oxides. The component proportions in the passive film change with temperature, with pitting corrosion occurring at the phase rich in Al-Ni as the primary form of corrosion. However, it cannot be passivated in 3.5 wt% NaCl + 0.01 mol/L NaHSO3 solution at any temperatures. Additionally, the surface of the corrosion product film mainly consists of metal hydroxide on the surface, while the proportion of components in the corrosion product film varies with temperature. Furthermore, the corrosion is caused by the dissolution of the Al-Ni-rich phase. The AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloy does not demonstrate adequate anti-corrosion property in Cl--containing acid Solution.
•AlCoCrFeNi2.1 cannot be passivated in the acid test solution.•The impact of temperature on corrosion is more obvious in the acid test solution.
Flexural ultrasonic transducers are a widely available type of ultrasonic sensor used for flow measurement, proximity, and industrial metrology applications. The flexural ultrasonic transducer is ...commonly operated in one of the axisymmetric modes of vibration in the low-kilohertz range, under 50 kHz, but there is an increasing demand for higher frequency operation, towards 300 kHz. At present, there are no reports of the measurement of high-frequency vibrations using flexural ultrasonic transducers. This research reports on the measurement of high-frequency vibration in flexural ultrasonic transducers, utilizing electrical impedance and phase measurement, laser Doppler vibrometry, and response spectrum analysis through the adoption of two flexural ultrasonic transducers in a transmit-receive configuration. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the ability of flexural ultrasonic transducers to measure high-frequency ultrasound in air, vital for industrial metrology.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related renal disease that causes numerous deaths annually, yet only supportive treatment is currently available in the clinics. ...Development of antioxidants with high accumulation rates in kidneys is highly desired to help prevent AKI. Here we report molybdenum-based polyoxometalate (POM) nanoclusters with preferential renal uptake as novel nano-antioxidants for kidney protection. These POM nanoclusters, with a readily variable valence state of molybdenum ions, possess the capability to scavenge detrimental ROS. Our results demonstrate that POM nanoclusters can efficiently alleviate clinical symptoms in mice subjected to AKI, as verified by dynamic PET imaging with
Ga-EDTA, serum tests, kidney tissue staining, and biomarkers detection in the kidneys. The protective effect of POM nanoclusters against AKI in living animals suggests exploring their use for the treatment of AKI patients, as well as patients with other ROS-related diseases.
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