Piezoelectric-enhanced n-TiO_(2)/BaTiO_(3)/p-TiO_(2) heterojunction for highly efficient photoelectrocatalysis

Charge separation is critical for achieving efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion,whereas piezoelectric-enhanced photoelectrochemical(PEC)systems can effectively modulate band bending and charge migration.Herein,we design an n-TiO_(2)/Ba TiO_(3)/p-TiO_(2)(TBTm)heterojunction in which the piezoelectric Ba TiO_(3) layer is sandwiched between n-TiO_(2)and p-TiO_(2).The built-in electric field of TBTm can provide a strong driving force to accelerate carrier separation and prolong carrier lifetime.Consequently,the TBT3 achieves a prominent photocurrent density,as high as 2.13 m A cm^(-2)at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),which is 2.4-and 1.5-times higher than TiO_(2) and TiO_(2)–Ba TiO_(3) heterojunction,respectively.Driven by mechanical deformation,the induced dipole polarization can further regulate built-in electric fields,and the piezoelectric photocurrent density of TBT3-800 is 2.84 times higher than TiO_(2) at 1.23 V vs.RHE due to the construction of piezoelectric-heterostructures.This work provides a piezoelectric polarization strategy for modulating the built-in electric field of heterojunction for PEC system.

The preparation and the in-vitro pharmacodynamics study of the intracapsular sustained-release preparations for the prevention of posterior capsule opacification

Docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparation based on 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate(HEMA)and Methyl methacrylate(MMA)cross-linked copolymer(P(HEMA-co-MMA))was prepared to examine the potential use for preventing posterior capsule opacification(PCO).The preparations were prepared by polymerizing the mixture of HEMA,MMA,cross-linking agent(EGDMA),initiator(AIBN)and docetaxel.The influence factors and mechanism of drug release were studied in the experiments.FT-IR,X-RD and SEM methods were used to characterize the polymer(P(HEMA-co-MMA))and docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparations.Biocompatibility of P(HEMA-co-MMA)and in-vitro effect of docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparations were also evaluated.The results showed that docetaxel could release sustainedly from these preparations prepared by cross-linking polymerization.And the release rate could be accelerated by increasing the MMA ratio or EGDMA ratio of the polymer.Release mechanism of docetaxel fitted the Higuchi model well.The results of IR and X-RD showed that only a hydrogen bond was formed between docetaxel and P(HEMA-co-MMA).Docetaxel dispersed in P(HEMA-co-MMA)in amorphous form.The elution test showed that P(HEMA-co-MMA)had good biocompatibility and the in-vitro pharmacodynamics study proved that docetaxel could release stably from the preparations and inhibit HLECs’proliferation.The docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparations proved to be a promising therapy for preventing PCO.These results also lay a theoretical and experimental foundation for the future.

On-board measurement of particle numbers and their size distribution from a light-duty diesel vehicle:Influences of VSP and altitude

In this study,the particle size-resolved distribution from a China-3 certificated light-duty diesel vehicle was measured by using a portable emission measurement system（PEMS）.In order to examine the influences of vehicle specific power（VSP） and high-altitude operation,measurements were conducted at 8 constant speeds,which ranged from 10 to 80 km/hr at10 km/hr intervals,and two different high altitudes,namely 2200 and 3200 m.The results demonstrated that the numbers of particles in all size ranges decreased significantly as VSP increased when the test vehicle was running at lower speeds（〈 20 km/hr）,while at a moderate speed（between 30 and 60 km/hr）,the particle number was statistically insensitive to increase VSP.Under high-speed cruising conditions,the numbers of ultrafine particles and PM2.5were insensitive to changes in VSP,but the numbers of nanoparticles and PM10 surged considerably.An increase in the operational altitude of the test vehicle resulted in increased particle number emissions at low and high driving speeds;however,particle numbers obtained at moderate speeds decreased as altitude rose.When the test vehicle was running at moderate speeds,particle numbers measured at the two altitudes were very close,except for comparatively higher number concentrations of nanoparticles measured at 2200 m.

Slow-light-enhanced on-chip 1D and 2D photonic crystal waveguide gas sensing in near-IR with an ultrahigh interaction factor

Nanophotonic waveguides hold great promise to achieve chip-scale gas sensors. However, their performance is limited by a short light path and small light–analyte overlap. To address this challenge, silicon-based, slow-lightenhanced gas-sensing techniques offer a promising approach. In this study, we experimentally investigated the slow light characteristics and gas-sensing performance of 1D and 2D photonic crystal waveguides(PCWs) in the near-IR(NIR) region. The proposed 2D PCW exhibited a high group index of up to 114, albeit with a high propagation loss. The limit of detection(LoD) for acetylene(C_(2)H_(2)) was 277 parts per million(ppm) for a1 mm waveguide length and an averaging time of 0.4 s. The 1D PCW shows greater application potential compared to the 2D PCW waveguide, with an interaction factor reaching up to 288%, a comparably low propagation loss of 10 dB/cm, and an LoD of 706 ppm at 0.4 s. The measured group indices of the 2D and 1D waveguides are104 and 16, respectively, which agree well with the simulation results.