Surfactant-Free Microemulsions of 1‑Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate, Diethylammonium Formate, and Water

Surfactant-free microemulsions (SFMEs) are a unique kind of microemulsion, which form from immiscible fluids (i.e., oil and water phases) in the presence of amphi-solvents rather than traditional surfactants. In comparison with traditional surfactant-based microemulsions (SBMEs), SFMEs have received much less attention, and the current understanding of the unique system is very limited. Herein, we report a SFME consisting of the hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methyl­imidazolium hexafluoro­phosphate (bmimPF₆), the protic IL diethylammonium formate (DEAF), and water, in which the bmimPF₆ and DEAF are used as the oil phase and amphi-solvent, respectively. Three kinds of microstructures, namely, water-in-bmimPF₆ (W/IL), bicontinuous (BC), and bmimPF₆-in-water (IL/W), are identified for the SFME, using cyclic voltammetry, cryo-TEM, and DLS techniques. Especially, the volumetric and surface free energy properties of the SFME are investigated by excess molar volume (<i>V</i>_m^E) and surface tension (γ) measurements, and they are found to be similar to those of SBMEs. Discontinuous changes in <i>V</i>_m^E and γ with the system compositions are observed as the system microstructures change, which can be used to identify the structural transition of SFMEs. We think this study provides a better understanding of SFME features

Boosting Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction with H₂O by Oxygen Vacancy- and Hydroxyl-Tailored SrBi₂Ta₂O₉ Surface-Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into high-value-added fuels is an extremely desirable process, but its practical application is limited by the weak adsorption and activation of inert CO2 molecules. Herein, oxygen vacancies (VOs) are formed on SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) by annealing in Ar gas at 400 °C and can spontaneously react with adsorbed H2O to form surface hydroxyls. Therefore, frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) are fabricated on SBT, where the surface VO and proximal surface hydroxyl serve as the Lewis acid and base, respectively. Experimental results indicate that the obtained FLPs can act as catalytic sites to adsorb, activate, and convert CO2 under low-intensity LED light irradiation (420 nm). Consequently, a CO2-to-CO conversion rate of 9.9 μmol g–1 h–1 is achieved in pure water on VO-SBT-OH without any sacrificial agents or cocatalysts, which is ∼4× higher than that of pristine SBT. Moreover, the surface hydroxyl can self-replenish by dissociating H2O during the reaction, thereby achieving a long-term CO2 conversion for 60 h. Our study demonstrates the potential of FLPs as a platform to decrease barriers to reducing CO2 and provides valuable insights into the underlying photocatalytic mechanism

First demonstration of temperature control enabled high power mode-switchable fiber laser

A transverse mode-switching method was proposed and demonstrated in a high-power ytterbium-doped fiber oscillator. 17.8 W LP11 mode laser was obtained, and it could be switched to 16.5 W LP01 mode laser through temperature control

Optical rogue wave in random distributed feedback fiber laser

The famous demonstration of optical rogue wave (RW)-rarely and unexpectedly event with extremely high intensity-had opened a flourishing time for temporal statistic investigation as a powerful tool to reveal the fundamental physics in different laser scenarios. However, up to now, optical RW behavior with temporally localized structure has yet not been presented in random fiber laser (RFL) characterized with mirrorless open cavity, whose feedback arises from distinctive distributed multiple scattering. Here, thanks to the participation of sustained and crucial stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) process, experimental explorations of optical RW are done in the highly-skewed transient intensity of an incoherently-pumped standard-telecom-fiber-constructed RFL. Furthermore, threshold-like beating peak behavior can also been resolved in the radiofrequency spectroscopy. Bringing the concept of optical RW to RFL domain without fixed cavity may greatly extend our comprehension of the rich and complex kinetics such as photon propagation and localization in disordered amplifying media with multiple scattering

Ce-Driven Ce-MnO_<i>x</i>/Na₂WO₄/SiO₂ Composite Catalysts for Low-Temperature Oxidative Coupling of Methane

Mn/Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst is widely used in the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactions because of its high catalytic performance and stability. Nevertheless, the complex elemental composition makes the role of each active component in these catalysts still controversial. Herein, we conducted separate studies on Mn/Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst by separating it into MnOx and Na2WO4/SiO2 (NaWSi). This provided a persuasive strategy to turn manganese oxide from a combustion catalyst into a selective catalyst for the OCM at low temperatures through a synergistic effect between the Ce-MnOx catalyst and Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst. The introduction of Ce is a key factor in improving the low-temperature OCM activity of the catalyst. The temperature-programmed desorption of oxygen (O2-TPD) and 18O isotope labeling experiments confirm that surface lattice oxygen is the main active oxygen species in the OCM reaction for the Ce-driven catalyst. The presence of Ce strengthens the surface lattice oxygen cycle process on the catalyst, resulting in higher oxygen exchange ability and improved migration of active lattice oxygen. Furthermore, in situ Raman spectroscopy shows that both 3Ce-MnOx and NaWSi catalysts can enhance resistance to carbon deposition in the catalysts. Hence, the 3Ce-MnOx/NaWSi composite catalyst achieved 38.4% conversion of CH4 and a 15.6% yield of C2 at 700 °C and the catalytic activity remained stable for at least 25 h

High power highly stable passively Q-switched fiber laser based on monolayer graphene

We demonstrate a monolayer graphene based passively Q-switched fiber laser with three-stage amplifiers that can deliver over 80 W average power at 1064 nm. The highest average power achieved is 84.1 W, with pulse energy of 1.67 mJ. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time for a high power passively Q-switched fiber laser in the 1 um range reported so far. More importantly, the Q-switched fiber laser operates stably during a week few-hours-per-a-day tests, which proves the stability and practical application value of graphene in high power pulsed fiber lasers

Data_Sheet_1_Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights Into the Mechanism by Which 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Improves Thermotolerance in Lentinula edodes.docx

As the widest cultivated edible mushroom worldwide, Lentinula edodes suffers serious yield and quality losses from heat stress during growth and development, and in our previous study, exogenous 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was found to improve the thermotolerance of L. edodes strain YS3357, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we explored the potential protective mechanism of exogenous 2,4-D against heat stress by transcriptome analysis. 2,4-D possible improve the thermotolerance of L. edodes through regulating antioxidant genes, transcription factors, energy-provision system, membrane fluidity, and cell wall remodeling. Furthermore, 2,4-D was also found to regulate the saturation levels of fatty acids and ATP content in L. edodes mycelium under heat stress. This study proposed a regulatory network of 2,4-D in regulating L. edodes response to heat stress, providing a theoretical basis for improving L. edodes thermotolerance, and facilitating the understanding of the molecular mechanism of exogenous hormones in alleviating abiotic stress damage to macrofungi.</p

Additional file 1: of A modified M-stage classification based on the metastatic patterns of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: a population-based study

Table S1. Clinicopathological characters associated with metastasis. (DOCX 22 kb

Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Supported Molybdena Catalysts for Propane Selective Oxidation: Catalytic Performance versus Molybdena Molecular Structure

Molybdena catalysts supported on dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Mo/DMSNs) were prepared by the impregnation method and evaluated for the selective oxidation of propane. The dendritic channels and high specific surface area of the DMSN support isolated the active components, which was beneficial for improving the dispersion of the Mo species. The identities of the active Mo species on the Mo/DMSN catalysts were determined using a combination of characterization techniques, and the relationship between the Mo loading and the structures of these Mo species was examined. Upon increasing the Mo loading, the mono-oxo OMo(O–Si)4 and di-oxo (O)2Mo(O–Si)2 species underwent gradual polymerization to afford crystalline MoOx, where the mono-oxo and di-oxo species led to higher target product selectivities compared with the crystalline phase. In situ Raman spectroscopy results indicated that the highly dispersed monomolybdenum species were highly stable and resistant to carbon deposition during the reaction. Consequently, the 0.1Mo/DMSN, 0.5Mo/DMSN, and 1.0Mo/DMSN catalysts with monomolybdenum species exhibited higher propane conversions and target product selectivities than the catalysts bearing crystalline MoOx species. The highest yield (37.6%) of the target products (olefins and total aldehydes) was obtained over the 0.5Mo/DMSN catalyst at a temperature of 625 °C

Additional file 1 of Identification of ocular refraction based on deep learning algorithm as a novel retinoscopy method

Additional file 1. Flowchart of the current study