High-stability double perovskite scintillator for flexible X-ray imaging.

Metal halide perovskites, as a new class of attractive and potential scintillators, are highly promising in X-ray imaging. However, their application is limited by the sensitivity to moisture and irradiation. To address this issue, we reported a 2D layered double perovskite material CsCdMnBiCl that exhibits high stability both under ambient condition and under X-ray irradiation.

Morphometric measurement of the cervical spine for minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation using reverse engineering and three-dimensional reconstruction.

Background: Percutaneous cervical pedicle screw fixation has been proven to be an effective method of cervical screw instrumentation, which has the advantages of less invasiveness and low blood loss. Emerging evidence has indicated that the cervical spinous process plays an important role in percutaneous spine surgery. However, there is a limited amount of information on the fundamental research of pedicle and its associated imaging parameter measurement.

Large-scale synthesis of single-crystalline iron oxide magnetic nanorings.

We present an innovative approach to the production of single-crystal iron oxide nanorings employing a solution-based route. Single-crystal hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanorings were synthesized using a double anion-assisted hydrothermal method (involving phosphate and sulfate ions), which can be divided into two stages: (1) formation of capsule-shaped alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and (2) preferential dissolution along the long dimension of the elongated nanoparticles (the c axis of alpha-Fe2O3) to form nanorings. The shape of the nanorings is mainly regulated by the adsorption of phosphate ions on faces parallel to c axis of alpha-Fe2O3 during the nanocrystal growth, and the hollow structure is given by the preferential dissolution of the alpha-Fe2O3 along the c axis due to the strong coordination of the sulfate ions.

Luminescence resonance energy transfer sensors based on the assemblies of oppositely charged lanthanide/gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution.

This work demonstrates luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) sensors based on lanthanide-doped nanoparticles as donors (D) and gold nanoparticles as acceptors (A), combined through electrostatic interactions between the oppositely charged nanoparticles. Negatively charged lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, YVO(4):Eu and LaPO(4):Ce,Tb, with high luminescence quantum yield and good water-solubility, are synthesized through a polymer-assisted hydrothermal method. Positively charged polyhedral and spherical gold nanoparticles exhibit surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands centered at 623 and 535 nm, respectively.

Supramolecular engineering of a 2D Kagomé lattice: synthesis, structures, and magnetic properties.

Two 2D Mn (II) complexes, [Mn3(TzDC)2(phen)3] x 2 H2O (1; H3TzDC = 1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and [Mn3(TzDC)2(bipy)3] x 4 H2O (2; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions and characterized magnetically, and complex 1 was the first example of the chiral complex with a Kagomé lattice connectivity obtained through spontaneous resolution.

Single-crystalline and near-monodispersed NaMF3 (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Mg) and LiMAlF6 (M = Ca, Sr) nanocrystals from cothermolysis of multiple trifluoroacetates in solution.

We report the synthesis of single-crystalline and near-monodispersed NaMF3 (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Mg), LiMAlF6 (M = Ca, Sr), and NaMgF3:Yb,Er nanocrystals (quasisquare nanoplates, nanorods, and nanopolygons) by the cothermolysis of multiple trifluoroacetates in hot combined organic solvents (oleic acid, oleylamine, and 1-octadecene). The nanocrystals were characterized by XRD, TEM, superconductive quantum interference device (SQUID), and upconversion luminescence spectroscopy. By regulating the polarity of the dispersant, the NaMF3 (M = Mn, Co, Ni) nanoplates were partially aligned to form nanoarrays on copper TEM grids.

From trifluoroacetate complex precursors to monodisperse rare-earth fluoride and oxyfluoride nanocrystals with diverse shapes through controlled fluorination in solution phase.

We report the first systematic synthesis of monodisperse rare-earth (RE=La to Lu, Y) fluoride and oxyfluoride nanocrystals with diverse shapes (trigonal REF3 triangular, truncated-triangular, hexagonal, and polygonal nanoplates; orthorhombic REF3 quadrilateral and zigzag-shaped nanoplates; cubic REOF nanopolyhedra and nanorods) from single-source precursors (SSP) of [RE(CF(3)COO)(3)] through controlled fluorination in oleic acid (OA)/oleylamine (OM)/1-octadecene (ODE). To selectively obtain REF3 or REOF nanocrystals, the fluorination of the RE-O bond to the RE-F bond at the nucleation stage was controlled by finely tuning the ratio of OA/ODE or OA/OM, and the reaction temperature. For phase-pure REF3 or REOF naocrystals, their shape-selective syntheses could be realized by further modifying the reaction conditions.

Phase evolution, texture behavior, and surface chemistry of hydrothermally derived scandium (hydrous) oxide nanostructures.

Nanostructured scandium hydrous oxides were hydrothermally synthesized at 180 degrees C for 18 h, using NaOH, NH(4)OH, and KOH as the bases. They were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and pyridine adsorption. XRD and TEM measurements showed that the nature and concentration of the bases played key roles in determining the phasic composition, texture behavior (shape and size), and surface chemistry of the hydrothermal products.

High-quality sodium rare-earth fluoride nanocrystals: controlled synthesis and optical properties.

We report a general synthesis of high-quality cubic (alpha-phase) and hexagonal (beta-phase) NaREF4 (RE: Pr to Lu, Y) nanocrystals (nanopolyhedra, nanorods, nanoplates, and nanospheres) and NaYF(4):Yb,Er/Tm nanocrystals (nanopolyhedra and nanoplates) via the co-thermolysis of Na(CF3COO) and RE(CF3COO)3 in oleic acid/oleylamine/1-octadecene. By tuning the ratio of Na/RE, solvent composition, reaction temperature and time, we can manipulate phase, shape, and size of the nanocrystals. On the basis of its alpha --> beta phase transition behavior, along the rare-earth series, NaREF4 can be divided into three groups (I: Pr and Nd; II: Sm to Tb; III: Dy to Lu, Y).