Robust, Superhydrophobic Aluminum Fins with Excellent Mechanical Durability and Self-Cleaning Ability.

The self-cleaning ability of superhydrophobic metal surfaces has attracted extensive attention. The preparation of superhydrophobic material using the coating method is a common processing method. In this experiment, aluminum fins were processed by laser etching and perfluorinated two-step coating.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New RTH-Type Precursor and Its Interlayer Expanded Zeolite.

Two dimensional zeolites have drawn a lot of attention due to their structural diversity and chemical composition, which can be used to obtain 3D zeolites, for which there is no direct synthesis. Here, a new layer silicate zeolite L was synthesized using the N, N-dimethyl-(2-methyl)-benzimidazolium as the organic structure-directing agent (OSDA) in the presence of fluoride. Structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the pure silica precursor with five-ring pores in the crystalline sheets is composed of the rth layer stacking along the (001) direction in an …AAAA… sequence with SDA cations and F residing within the interlayer spaces.

A Systematic Study on the Extraction and Image Reproduction of Ceramic Sculpture Artworks.

In order to solve the research on the extraction of ceramic sculpture artwork patterns, and, in the process of image reproduction, the problem of too few feature points in the object image, the author proposes an image stitching algorithm that combines SIFT and MSER algorithms. After comprehensively analyzing the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of the current main image stitching methods, in terms of feature matching, based on the K-D tree search algorithm, the improved BBF algorithm is used to improve the search efficiency of feature points. In order to remove the possible cracks in the stitching process, an improved multiband fusion algorithm is used to seamlessly stitch the registered images.

Recycling of electrode materials from spent lithium-ion power batteries via thermal and mechanical treatments.

This study developed a physical separation process that recovers active cathode materials from current collectors in spent lithium-ion power batteries (LIBs). The physical separation process, implemented via thermal and mechanical treatments, was examined based on cohesive zone models (CZMs) and verified by physical separation experiments. The most efficient condition was determined by optimising the key parameters (temperature and time) of selective heating.

The Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescents in China: Differences in Only Child and Non-Only Child Groups.

This study explores the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of depressive symptoms in early adolescents in China, as well as the differences between an only child and non-only child group. A total of 2059 seventh-grade Chinese students were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included questions concerning socio-demographic factors, family function, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The results revealed the following things.

A novel fiber-optic pressure sensor device for measuring variceal pressure.

It has been reported that variceal pressure can predict the occurrence of variceal bleeding. However, the majority of methods presently used to measure variceal pressure are either invasive or inconvenient. In the present study, a fiber-optic pressure sensor was constructed to detect variceal pressure.

A new lanthanum coordination polymer built from a semi-rigid tripodal carboxylic acid ligand: synthesis, crystal structure and properties.

By employing the semi-rigid multidentate carboxylic acid ligand 4,4',4''-{[(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene)]tris(oxy)}tribenzoic acid (denoted HL), a new lanthanum coordination polymer, namely poly[[bis(dimethylformamide)(μ-4,4',4''-{[(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene)]tris(oxy)}tribenzoato)lanthanum(III)] dimethylformamide tetrasolvate 0.25-hydrate], {[La(CHO)(CHNO)]·4CHNO·0.25HO} or {[La(L)(DMF)]·4(DMF)·0.

Performance of biochar derived from rice straw for removal of Ni(II) in batch experiments.

Biochar, as a cost-efficient adsorbent, is of major interest in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Herein, batch experiments were conducted to investigate the performance of biochar derived from rice straw for the removal of Ni(II) as a function of various environmental conditions. The results showed that Ni(II) sorption was strongly dependent on pH but independent of ionic strength and the effects of electrolyte ions could be negligible over the whole pH range.

Coexistence of metallic and insulating-like states in graphene.

Since graphene has been taken as the potential host material for next-generation electric devices, coexistence of high carrier mobility and an energy gap has the determining role in its real applications. However, in conventional methods of band-gap engineering, the energy gap and carrier mobility in graphene are seemed to be the two terminals of a seesaw, which limit its rapid development in electronic devices. Here we demonstrated the realization of insulating-like state in graphene without breaking Dirac cone.

Synthesis and optical properties of organic fluorescent nanowires and nanotubes.

The well controlled alpha,alpha'-bis(4-phenyl-1,3-butadienylidene)-acetone (BPBA) nanowires and nanotubes were prepared by a template wetting method. The diameter and length of BPBA nanowires and nanotubes were identical to template pores, diameter -80 nm and length -60 microm. This facile general approach can be used for the preparation of nanowires and nanotubes from common small organic molecules.

Poly[[tetrachlorido{μ4-tetrakis[(pyridin-4-yl)oxymethyl]methane-κ4N:N':N'':N'''}dizinc(II)] dimethylformamide tetrasolvate].

A novel metal-organic framework, {[Zn2Cl4(C25H24N4O4)]·4C3H7NO}n, has been synthesized solvothermally by assembling the semi-rigid tetrahedral ligand tetrakis[(pyridin-4-yl)oxymethyl]methane (tpom) and zinc nitrate in dimethylformamide (DMF). The crystal structure is noncentrosymmetric (P42(1)c). Each Zn(II) cation has a tetrahedral coordination environment (C2 symmetry), which is formed by two chloride ligands and two pyridine N atoms from two tpom ligands.

Tuning the electronic properties of N@C60 molecule: a theoretical study.

We used first-principle calculations to explore the electronic and transport properties of N@C60 molecule. The calculated results indicate that the N atom locates at either slight or significant off-center in C60 cage under various different chemical environments. The localized N atomic magnetic moment in N@C60 molecule is about 3.

Selective fluorescence response and magnetic separation probe for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene based on iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles.

Despite the rapid development of nanomaterials and nanotechnology, it is still desirable to develop novel nanoparticle-based techniques which are cost-effective, timesaving, and environment-friendly, and with ease of operation and procedural simplicity, for assay of target analytes. In the work discussed in this paper, the dye fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was conjugated to 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA)-capped iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (FITC-HDA Fe3O4 MNPs), and the product was characterized. HDA ligands on the surface of Fe3O4 MNPs can bind 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to form TNT anions by acid-base pairing interaction.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on multiwalled carbon nanotubes-TiO2.

A visible-light photocatalyst of multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles (MWCNT/TiO2) was synthesized by a two-step method, in which TiO2 was first mounted on MWCNT surfaces by hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate and further crystallized into anatase nanocrystal in a vacuum furnace at 500°C. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue over the ultraviolet (UV) and visible-light spectrum regions was investigated. The MWCNT/TiO2 was able to absorb a high amount of photo energy in the visible-light region, driving effectively photochemical degradation reactions.

Rapid sonochemical synthesis of irregular nanolaminar-like Bi2WO6 as efficient visible-light-active photocatalysts.

Irregular Bi(2)WO(6) nanolaminars have been successfully synthesized via a rapid sonochemical approach using bismuth nitrate and tungstic acid as precursors in an aqueous solution. The characteristics of them were investigated in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N(2) adsorption, pore value, PL spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). These irregular nanolaminars are of geometric shapes of orthorhombic Bi(2)WO(6) with their basal plane being (001).

Synthesis and magnetic properties of manganite multiple heterostructure nanoribbons.

The fabrication and applications of two-dimensional complex oxide heterostructures have gained great attention. However, the achievement of these materials in one-dimensional form with multiple interfaces is still elusive. Here, we report the growth of manganite CaMn(3)O(6)/CaMn(2)O(4) heterostructure nanoribbons via the use of CaMnO(3) powders as the precursor for the molten-salt process.

Efficient spin filter based on FeN4 complexes between carbon nanotube electrodes.

We present a theoretical study to explore the spin transport properties of FeN(4) complexes sandwiched between two armchair (5, 5) carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes. The ab initio modeling is performed by combining the spin-dependent density functional theory with nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. The calculated results clearly demonstrate that the transport properties of FeN(4) complexes are sensitive to the contact configuration.

Synthesis of N-substituted acridinediones and polyhydroquinoline derivatives in refluxing water.

Acridinediones were synthesized by the one-pot Hantzsch condensation of an aromatic aldehyde, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, and aniline/4-methylaniline in refluxing water. This method has then been extended to the four-component reaction of an aromatic aldehyde, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, ethyl acetoacetate and ammonium acetate for the synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives. This is an environmentally friendly and efficient procedure providing  good to excellent yields.

Iron-phthalocyanine molecular junction with high spin filter efficiency and negative differential resistance.

We investigate the spin transport properties of iron-phthalocyanine (FePc) molecule sandwiched between two N-doped graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) based on the density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's function methods. Our calculated results clearly reveal that the FePc molecular junction has high spin-filter efficiency as well as negative differential resistance (NDR). The zero-bias conductance through FePc molecule is dominated by the spin-down electrons, and the observed NDR originates from the bias-dependent effective coupling between the FePc molecular orbitals and the narrow density of states of electrodes.

Impact of water quality parameters on the sorption of U(VI) onto hematite.

In this study, the sorption of U(VI) from aqueous solution on hematite was studied as a function of various water quality parameters such as contact time, pH, ionic strength, soil humic acid (HA) or fulvic acid (FA), solid content and temperature by using a batch technique. The results demonstrated that the sorption of U(VI) was strongly dependent on ionic strength at pH<6.0, and outer-sphere surface complexation may be the main sorption mechanism.

Kinetics of thermo-induced micelle-to-vesicle transitions in a catanionic surfactant system investigated by stopped-flow temperature jump.

The kinetics of thermo-induced micelle-to-vesicle transitions in a catanionic surfactant system consisting of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyltriethylammonium bromide (DEAB) were investigated by the stopped-flow temperature jump technique, which can achieve T-jumps within ∼2-3 ms. SDS/DEAB aqueous mixtures ([SDS]/[DEAB] = 2/1, 10 mM) undergo microstructural transitions from cylindrical micelles to vesicles when heated above 33 °C. Upon T-jumps from 20 °C to final temperatures in the range of 25-31 °C, relaxation processes associated with negative amplitudes can be ascribed to the dilution-induced structural rearrangement of cylindrical micelles and to the dissolution of non-equilibrium mixed aggregates.

3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane-functionalized manganese doped ZnS quantum dots for room-temperature phosphorescence sensing ultratrace 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in aqueous solution.

New strategies for silica coating of inorganic nanoparticles became a research hotspot for enhancing the mechanical stability of colloidal particles and protecting colloidal particles against oxidation and agglomeration, and so on. In this paper, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-functionalized Mn doped (AF MnD) ZnS QDs was prepared to be firsyly through the use of silane coupling agents to form an active layer of silica, then sol-gel reaction of TEOS co-deposited with APTES on the surface of resultant active layer of silica. The emitted long lifetime room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) of the resultant nanomaterials allows an appropriate delay time so that any fluorescent emission and scattering light can be easily avoided.