Magnetic detection under high pressures using designed silicon vacancy centres in silicon carbide.

Pressure-induced magnetic phase transitions are attracting interest as a means to detect superconducting behaviour at high pressures in diamond anvil cells, but determining the local magnetic properties of samples is a challenge due to the small volumes of sample chambers. Optically detected magnetic resonance of nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond has recently been used for the in situ detection of pressure-induced phase transitions. However, owing to their four orientation axes and temperature-dependent zero-field splitting, interpreting these optically detected magnetic resonance spectra remains challenging.

Coherent Control and Magnetic Detection of Divacancy Spins in Silicon Carbide at High Pressures.

Spin defects in silicon carbide appear to be a promising tool for various quantum technologies, especially for quantum sensing. However, this technique has been used only at ambient pressure until now. Here, by combining this technique with diamond anvil cell, we systematically study the optical and spin properties of divacancy defects created at the surface of SiC at pressures up to 40 GPa.

Compression rate of dynamic diamond anvil cells from room temperature to 10 K.

There is an ever increasing interest in studying dynamic-pressure dependent phenomena utilizing dynamic Diamond Anvil Cells (dDACs), devices capable of a highly controlled rate of compression. Here, we characterize and compare the compression rate of dDACs in which the compression is actuated via three different methods: (1) stepper motor (S-dDAC), (2) gas membrane (M-dDAC), and (3) piezoactuator (P-dDAC). The compression rates of these different types of dDAC were determined solely on millisecond time-resolved R-line fluorescence of a ruby sphere located within the sample chamber.

Photo/pH-controlled host-guest interaction between an azobenzene-containing block copolymer and water-soluble pillar[6]arene as a strategy to construct the "compound vesicles" for controlled drug delivery.

Herein, dual stimuli-responsive compound vesicles were constructed based on host-guest interaction between a water-soluble pillar[6]arene (WP6) and an amphiphilic azobenzene-containing block copolymers (BCP). Reversible morphological transformation between compound vesicles and solid aggregates was achieved by repeated pH- and photo-stimuli. These compound vesicles were then applied in the controlled release of water-soluble anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX · HCl).

Surfactant-Mediated Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly of Crystalline/Ionic Complexed Block Copolymers in Aqueous Solution.

A series of crystalline/ionic complexed block copolymers (BCPs) with various compositions have been prepared by sequential reactions. The BCPs with different hydrophilic fractions can self-assemble into various morphologies, such as spindlelike, rodlike, and spherical micelles with different crystallinity of the core. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) is added as a surfactant to induce the morphological transition of BCPs in aqueous media.

Corona Liquid Crystalline Order Helps to Form Single Crystals When Self-Assembly Takes Place in the Crystalline/Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers.

Crystalline/ionic liquid crystalline block copolymers (BCPs) with various compositions have been successfully prepared by sequential reactions. The effect of corona liquid crystalline order on self-assembly of BCPs in selective solvent is investigated in detail. It is found that two-dimensional single crystals with well-developed shapes are formed when the liquid crystalline order is present.