Crystal Structure and Judd–Ofelt Analysis of Er^(3+) Doped LuAl_3(BO_3)_4 Crystal

Single crystal Er:LuAl_3(BO_3)(Er:Lu AB) is successfully grown using the top-seeded solution growth method with a K_2Mo_3O_(10) flux. The cell parameters of the grown crystal are estimated by an x-ray single crystal diffactometor and x-ray powder diffraction analysis. The result indicates that it still belongs to the space group R32. The obtained unit-cell parameters are a= 9.2793(19) ?, c= 7.210(3) ?, V= 537.65(27) ?~3, and Z=3.The absorption spectrum is measured at room temperature. The spectroscopy properties are investigated based on the Judd–Ofelt(J-O) theory, and the effective J-O parameters were calculated to be Ω_2=8.33×10^(-20),Ω_4=3.83×10^(-20), and Ω_6 =3.55×10^(-20). The emission spectra of Er:LuAB crystal at room temperature are also studied and the ~4I_(11/2)→~4I_(13/2) fluorescence around 3170 nm is observed. The emission cross section calculated by the F-L formula is 8.6×10^(-20) cm^2. These results suggest that the Er:LuAB crystal may be a promising ~3 μm laser material.

X-ray-activated long persistent phosphors featuring strong UVC afterglow emissions

Phosphors emitting visible and near-infrared persistent luminescence have been explored extensively owing to their unusual properties and commercial interest in their applications such as glow-in-the-dark paints,optical information storage,and in vivo bioimaging.However,no persistent phosphor that features emissions in the ultraviolet C range(200–280 nm)has been known to exist so far.Here,we demonstrate a strategy for creating a new generation of persistent phosphor that exhibits strong ultraviolet C emission with an initial power density over 10 milliwatts per square meter and an afterglow of more than 2 h.Experimental characterizations coupled with first-principles calculations have revealed that structural defects associated with oxygen introduction-induced anion vacancies in fluoride elpasolite can function as electron traps,which capture and store a large number of electrons triggered by Xray irradiation.Notably,we show that the ultraviolet C afterglow intensity of the yielded phosphor is sufficiently strong for sterilization.Our discovery of this ultraviolet C afterglow opens up new avenues for research on persistent phosphors,and it offers new perspectives on their applications in terms of sterilization,disinfection,drug release,cancer treatment,anti-counterfeiting,and beyond.

Synthesis and Characterization of Crystallizable Aliphatic Thermoplastic Poly(ester urethane) Elastomers through a Non-isocyanate Route

A simple non-isocyanate route is developed for synthesizing crystallizable aliphatic thermoplastic poly(ester urethane) elastomers(TPEURs) with good thermal and mechanical properties. Three prepolymers of1,6-bis(hydroxyethyloxycarbonylamino) hexane(BHCH), i.e. Pre PBHCHs, were prepared through the self-transurethane polycondensation of BHCH. A poly(butylene adipate) prepolymer(Pre PBA) with terminal HO― groups was prepared and used as a polyester glycol. A series of TPEURs were prepared by the co-polycondensation of the Pre PBHCHs with Pre PBA at 170 ℃ under a reduced pressure of 399 Pa. The TPEURs were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, FTIR,1H-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and tensile test. The TPEURs exhibited M_n up to 23300 g/mol, M_w up to 51100 g/mol, Tg ranging from-33.8 ℃ to-3.1 ℃, T_m from 94.3 ℃ to 111.9 ℃, initial decomposition temperature over 274.7 ℃, tensile strength up to18.8 MPa with a strain at break of 450.0%, and resilience up to 77.5%. TPU elastomers with good crystallization and mechanical properties were obtained through a non-isocyanate route.

Aliphatic Thermoplastic Poly(ether urethane)s Having Long PEG Sequences Synthesized through a Non-isocyanate Route

A non-isocyanate route for synthesizing thermoplastic polyurethanes with excellent thermal and mechanical properties was described. Melt transurethane polycondensation of 1,6-bis(hydroxyethyloxy carbonyl amino)hexane with four poly(ethylene glycol)s(PEGs), i.e. PEG400, PEG600, PEG1000, or PEG1500, was conducted at different molar ratios. A series of thermoplastic poly(ether urethane)s(TPEUs) with long PEG sequences were prepared. The TPEUs were characterized via gel permeation chromatography, FTIR, 1H-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, wide-angle X-ray scattering, and tensile tests. The TPEUs exhibit Tg between 12.4 °C and-40.4 °C, Tm of up to 149.8 °C, and initial decomposition temperature over 239.4 °C. The tensile strength of the TPEUs reaches 38.39 MPa with a strain at break of 852.92%.

Amorphous and Crystallizable Thermoplastic Polyureas Synthesized through a One-pot Non-isocyanate Route

A simple one-pot non-isocyanate route for synthesizing thermoplastic polyureas is presented. In situ urethanization was conducted from the ring-opening reaction of ethylene carbonate with poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) and hexanediamine,m-xylylenediamine, or diethylene glycol bis(3-aminopropyl) ether at 100 °C for 6 h under normal pressure. Melt transurethane polycondensation was successively conducted at 170 °C under a reduced pressure of 399 Pa for different time periods. A series of nonisocyanate thermoplastic polyureas(NI-TPUreas) were prepared. The NI-TPUreas were characterized by gel permeation chromatography,FTIR, 1 H-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy,and tensile test. NI-TPUreas exhibited Mn of up to 1.67 × 104 g/mol, initial decomposition temperature over 290 °C, and tensile strength of up to 32 MPa. Several crystallizable NI-TPUreas exhibited Tm exceeding 98 °C. NI-TPUreas with good thermal and mechanical properties were prepared through a green and simple one-pot non-isocyanate route.

Gini Correlation for Feature Screening

In this paper we propose the Gini correlation screening(GCS)method to select the important variables with ultrahigh dimensional data.The new procedure is based on the Gini correlation coefficient via the covariance between the response and the rank of the predictor variables rather than the Pearson correlation and the Kendallτcorrelation coefficient.The new method does not require imposing a specific model structure on regression functions and only needs the condition which the predictors and response have continuous distribution function.We demonstrate that,with the number of predictors growing at an exponential rate of the sample size,the proposed procedure possesses consistency in ranking,which is both useful in its own right and can lead to consistency in selection.The procedure is computationally efficient and simple,and exhibits a competent empirical performance in our intensive simulations and real data analysis.

Cross-linked Polyamides Prepared through Direct Bulk Michael Addition and Polycondensation from 1,6-Hexanediamine and Methyl Acrylate

Cross-linked polyamides(c PAs)were prepared through direct bulk Michael addition and subsequent polycondensation.Several mixed hexanediamine multi-esters(HDAMEs)were generated through the Michael addition of 1,6-hexanediamine(HDA)and methyl acrylate(MA)at50℃ with different HDA/MA molar ratios.Melt polycondensation of HDAMEs then proceeded at 150 or 170℃ in flasks to obtain viscous fluids,and curing was continued in tetrafluoroethylene molds to obtain c PA films.The Michael addition was monitored on the basis of FTIR and ESI-MS spectra.The c PA films were characterized by DSC,TGA,dynamic mechanical analysis,and tensile test.These directly prepared c PAs exhibited Tg of 1–39℃,tensile strength of up to 45 MPa,and strain at break from 18%to 40%.The c PAs with high tensile strength and good toughness were successfully synthesized through the direct bulk Michael addition from HDA and MA followed with polycondensation.