Strain-driven Kovacs-like memory effect in glasses.

Studying complex relaxation behaviors is of critical importance for understanding the nature of glasses. Here we report a Kovacs-like memory effect in glasses, manifested by non-monotonic stress relaxation during two-step high-to-low strains stimulations. During the stress relaxation process, if the strain jumps from a higher state to a lower state, the stress does not continue to decrease, but increases first and then decreases.

Crystalline Structure and Thermal Stability of an Unknown ZIF-L300 Phase.

In recent years, the synthesis, crystalline structure, and applications of zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) have attracted extensive attention. Since the ZIF-L phase was synthesized, a new phase was observed during the heating process, but its crystal structure is unknown. The unknown new phase, which was named ZIF-L300 in this study, was confirmed again.

Printable assemblies of perovskite nanocubes on meter-scale panel.

Hierarchical assemblies of functional nanoparticles can have applications exceeding those of individual constituents. Arranging components in a certain order, even at the atomic scale, can result in emergent effects. We demonstrate that printed atomic ordering is achieved in multiscale hierarchical structures, including nanoparticles, superlattices, and macroarrays.

Efficient Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO to Ethane over Nitrogen-Doped FeO.

Non-copper electrocatalysts are seldom reported to generate C products, and the efficiency over these catalysts is low. In this work, we report a nitrogen-doped γ-FeO (FeO-N@CN) electrocatalyst, which yield CH as the major product in an H-cell. At -2.

Modifying Y zeolite with chloropropyl for improving Cu load on Y zeolite as a super Cu/Y catalyst for toluene oxidation.

Developing an efficient catalyst is desirable when for example moving from a noble metal-based catalyst to a transition metal-based one for VOC removal. In this work, the chloropropyl-modified NaY zeolite (NaY-CPT) was first synthesized in an extremely dense system through introducing 3-chloropropyl-trimethoxysilane (CPT) in the aluminosilicate sol. Then the Cu/Y-CPT catalyst was fabricated by impregnating Cu species on the NaY-CPT zeolite and the highly effective Cu/Y based catalyst has been achieved for catalytic toluene oxidation.

A polycrystalline diamond micro-detector for X-ray absorption fine-structure measurements.

The microminiaturization of detectors used to record the intensity of X-ray beams is very favorable for combined X-ray experimental techniques. In this paper, chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) polycrystalline diamond film was used to fabricate a micro-detector owing to its well controlled size, good thermostability, and appropriate conductivity. The preparation process and the main components of the CVD diamond micro-detector are described.

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structures of Unknown Intermediate Phase Zn(HCO)·HO Nanoflakes and Final ZnO Nanorods.

The formation mechanism of nanoparticles is of great significance for the controllable synthesis, structural design, and performance optimization of nanomaterials. In this paper, an economical hydrothermal method was used to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods. X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption fine structure, and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques were used to probe the structural changes.

Aged layered double hydroxide nanosheet-polyvinyl alcohol dispersions for enhanced gas barrier coating performance.

Whilst applying a coating layer to a polymer film is a routine approach to enhance the gas barrier properties of the film, it is counter-intuitive to consider that the gas barrier performance of the film would improve by ageing the coating dispersion for weeks before application. Herein, we report that the oxygen barrier performance of a 12 μm PET film coated with a dispersion of inorganic nanosheets in polyvinyl alcohol can be significantly enhanced by ageing this coating dispersion for up to 8 weeks before application. We found up to a 37-fold decrease in the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the PET coated film using aged dispersions of [MgAl(OH)](NO) layered double hydroxide nanosheets (MgAl-LDH NS) in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) compared to the film coated with an equivalent freshly prepared LDH/PVA dispersion.

The distinct effects of two imidazolium-based ionic liquids, [Cmim][OAc] and [Cmim][OAc], on the phase behaviours of DPPC.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are potential green solvents with very broad application prospects. Their toxicity and other biological effects are largely related to their hydrophobic properties. In this work, the effects of two imidazolium-based ILs with either a butyl or a hexyl chain, [Cmim][OAc] or [Cmim][OAc], on the phase behaviours of a representative phospholipid, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), were examined using synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry techniques.

Actinide Separation Inspired by Self-Assembled Metal-Polyphenolic Nanocages.

The separation of actinides has a vital place in nuclear fuel reprocessing, recovery of radionuclides, and remediation of environmental contamination. Here we propose a new paradigm of nanocluster-based actinide separation, namely, nanoextraction, that can achieve efficient sequestration of uranium in an unprecedented form of giant coordination nanocages using a cone-shaped macrocyclic pyrogallol[4]arene as the extractant. The U-based hexameric pyrogallol[4]arene nanocages with distinctive [U(PG)] binuclear units (PG = pyrogallol) that rapidly assembled in situ in monophasic solvent were identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering.

Highly Electrocatalytic Ethylene Production from CO on Nanodefective Cu Nanosheets.

The electrochemical synthesis of chemicals from carbon dioxide, which is an easily available and renewable carbon resource, is of great importance. However, to achieve high product selectivity for desirable C products like ethylene is a big challenge. Here we design Cu nanosheets with nanoscaled defects (2-14 nm) for the electrochemical production of ethylene from carbon dioxide.

Technology Use among Family Caregivers of People with Dementia.

This study explored family caregivers' use of technology to care for people with dementia living at home. Three questions were pursued: (1) what are the important, unmet needs of family caregivers, (2) how do they use technologies to assist in care tasks, and (3) what do health care providers know about caregivers' needs and technology use? Two comprehensive surveys were developed to answer these questions: one for family caregivers (n = 33), and one for health care providers (n = 60). Descriptive and quantitative analyses showed that caregivers' important, unmet needs were in the domains of information, formal services, and emotional support.

Bismuth-iron-based precursor: preparation, phase composition, and two methods of thermal treatment.

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO) is a promising Bi-based perovskite-type material, which is multiferroic due to the coexistence of anti-ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity. During the preparation of pure BiFeO nanoparticles, however, the phase structures and species of bismuth-iron-based precursor (BFOH) were still unclear, and so related precursors were prepared. X-ray diffraction, Raman, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure techniques were used to probe the phase structure and species of the precursors.

Guided Assembly of Microporous/Mesoporous Manganese Phosphates by Bifunctional Organophosphonic Acid Etching and Templating.

Manganese (Mn)-based compounds are important materials for both energy conversion and energy storage. Unfortunately, it has been a significant challenge to develop highly ordered microporous/mesoporous structures for them to provide more active sites for these applications. In order to do so using the soft-templating method, three conditions have to be met, namely, a strong interaction between the inorganic precursor and the organic templates; eliminating the formation of bulk manganese phosphate; and the preservation of the manganese phosphate framework without it collapsing upon template removal.

Selective Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering for Quantitative Detection of Lung Cancer Biomarkers in Superparticle@MOF Structure.

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a trace detection technique that extends even to single molecule detection. Its potential application to the noninvasive recognition of lung malignancies by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that serve as biomarkers would be a breakthrough in early cancer diagnostics. This application, however, is currently limited by two main factors: (1) most VOC biomarkers exhibit only weak Raman scattering; and (2) the high mobility of gaseous molecules results in a low adsorptivity on solid substrates.

Ionic liquid accelerates the crystallization of Zr-based metal-organic frameworks.

The Zr-based metal-organic frameworks are generally prepared by solvothermal procedure. To overcome the slow kinetics of nucleation and crystallization of Zr-based metal-organic frameworks is of great interest and challenging. Here, we find that an ionic liquid as solvent can significantly accelerate the formation of Zr-based metal-organic frameworks at room temperature.

Formation of large nanodomains in liquid solutions near the phase boundary.

We discovered that large nanodomains were formed in liquid solutions near the phase boundary, and their size increased dramatically as the composition of solutions approached the phase boundary. Different mesoporous materials were synthesized using nanodomains as templates, and the pore size could be controlled simply by the composition of solutions.

Multifunctional thermoresponsive designer peptide hydrogels.

Unlabelled: We report the synthesis and characterization of multifunctional peptides comprised of a hydrogel forming β-sheet peptide segment and a matrix metalloproteinase 2 substrate containing a propargylglycinyl linker that is further derivatized with an RGD peptide sequence via "click" chemistry. In contrast to currently known systems, these multifunctional peptides formed gels that are stiffer than those formed by their respective precursors. All the peptides showed reversible thermoresponsive properties, which render them as suitable lead systems for a variety of possible biomedical applications.

Water-in-Supercritical CO Microemulsion Stabilized by a Metal Complex.

Herein we propose for the first time the utilization of a metal complex for forming water-in-supercritical CO (scCO ) microemulsions. The water solubility in the metal-complex-stabilized microemulsion is significantly improved compared with the conventional water-in-scCO microemulsions stabilized by hydrocarbons. Such a microemulsion provides a promising route for the in situ CO reduction catalyzed by a metal complex at the water/scCO interface.

Temperature-driven directional coalescence of silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized with a chemical reduction method in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone as stabilizing agent. The thermal stability behavior of the silver nanoparticles was studied in the temperature range from 25 to 700°C. Thermal gravimetric analysis was used to measure the weight loss of the silver nanoparticles.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the supramolecular structure of corn starch with different amylose contents.

Corn starches with amylose contents ranging from 0 to 80% were suspended in 60 wt% water or ethanol and subjected to high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) up to 600 MPa. The impact of HHP treatment on the granule morphology, lamellae structures, and crystalline characteristics were examined with a combination of SAXS, WAXS and optical microscopy. All starch dispersed in water showed a decrease in area of the lamellar peak in the SAXS data at q∼0.

Semi-crystalline polymethylene-b-poly(acrylic acid) diblock copolymers: aggregation behavior, confined crystallization and controlled growth of semicrystalline micelles from dilute DMF solution.

In this paper, we have systematically investigated the aggregation behavior, confined crystallization and controlled growth of a novel polyolefin analogue-containing block copolymers (BCPs), i.e., polymethylene-b-poly(acrylic acid) diblock copolymers (PM-b-PAA).

CO2 as a smart gelator for Pluronic aqueous solutions.

It was found that CO2 could induce the gelation of Pluronic aqueous solutions, during which the microstructure of the solution transforms from randomly dispersed spherical micelles to cubic close packed micelles. The gelation switched by compressed CO2 has many advantages and can be applied in the synthesis of porous materials.