Phonon and Raman scattering of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides from monolayer, multilayer to bulk material

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanosheets exhibit remarkable electronic and optical properties. The 2D features, sizable bandgaps, and recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and device fabrication of the representative MoS$_2$, WS$_2$, WSe$_2$, and MoSe$_2$ TMDs make TMDs very attractive in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Similar to graphite and graphene, the atoms within each layer in 2D TMDs are joined together by covalent bonds, while van der Waals interactions keep the layers together. This makes the physical and chemical properties of 2D TMDs layer dependent. In this review, we discuss the basic lattice vibrations of monolayer, multilayer, and bulk TMDs, including high-frequency optical phonons, interlayer shear and layer breathing phonons, the Raman selection rule, layer-number evolution of phonons, multiple phonon replica, and phonons at the edge of the Brillouin zone. The extensive capabilities of Raman spectroscopy in investigating the properties of TMDs are discussed, such as interlayer coupling, spin--orbit splitting, and external perturbations. The interlayer vibrational modes are used in rapid and substrate-free characterization of the layer number of multilayer TMDs and in probing interface coupling in TMD heterostructures. The success of Raman spectroscopy in investigating TMD nanosheets paves the way for experiments on other 2D crystals and related van der Waals heterostructures.Comment: 30 pages, 23 figure

A Printed and Flexible NO2 Sensor Based on a Solid Polymer Electrolyte

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) is an important part of printed electrochemical gas sensors and are of value to electrochemical sensors. Here, a new type of SPE was prepared by dissolving a poly-vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix in a 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to immobilize 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM] [BF4]), which was then used in a new electrochemical amperometric nitrogen dioxide sensor. The SPE was coated on a single electrode and attached to the electrode to construct a simple two-layer structure. Nitrogen dioxide in the air was reduced on the working electrode at a bias voltage of −500 V. We controlled the components and process parameters separately for control experiments. The results show that the SPE based on [EMIM] [BF4], NMP, and PVDF coated on the electrode at a thickness of 1.25 mm with a 1:1:4 weight ratio under heat treatment conditions of 80°C for 2 min has the best sensitivity. The FTIR and XPS results indicated that SPE is prepared via physical miscibility. The SEM and XRD results showed that the sensitivity of the sensor is strongly dependent on the interconnected pore structure in SPE, and the pore structure is related to the synthesis ratio, morphology, and heat treatment mode of SPE. Moreover, the sensor sensitivity has a certain relationship with SPE conductivity. The reaction principle and cycle performance of the sensor were also studied

Observer-based fault-tolerant control for a class of networked control systems with transfer delays

Abstract not availableZehui Mao, Bin Jiang, Peng Sh

Diagnostic value of two dimensional shear wave elastography combined with texture analysis in early liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Staging diagnosis of liver fibrosis is a prerequisite for timely diagnosis and therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In recent years, ultrasound elastography has become an important method for clinical noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis stage, but its diagnostic value for early liver fibrosis still needs to be further improved. In this study, the texture analysis was carried out on the basis of two dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), and the feasibility of 2D-SWE plus texture analysis in the diagnosis of early liver fibrosis was discussed. AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of 2D-SWE combined with textural analysis in liver fibrosis staging. METHODS: This study recruited 46 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Patients underwent 2D-SWE and texture analysis; Young\u27s modulus values and textural patterns were obtained, respectively. Textural pattern was analyzed with regard to contrast, correlation, angular second moment (ASM), and homogeneity. Pathological results of biopsy specimens were the gold standard; comparison and assessment of the diagnosis efficiency were conducted for 2D-SWE, texture analysis and their combination. RESULTS: 2D-SWE displayed diagnosis efficiency in early fibrosis, significant fibrosis, severe fibrosis, and early cirrhosis (AUC \u3e 0.7, P \u3c 0.05) with respective AUC values of 0.823 (0.678-0.921), 0.808 (0.662-0.911), 0.920 (0.798-0.980), and 0.855 (0.716-0.943). Contrast and homogeneity displayed independent diagnosis efficiency in liver fibrosis stage (AUC \u3e 0.7, P \u3c 0.05), whereas correlation and ASM showed limited values. AUC of contrast and homogeneity were respectively 0.906 (0.779-0.973), 0.835 (0.693-0.930), 0.807 (0.660-0.910) and 0.925 (0.805-0.983), 0.789 (0.639-0.897), 0.736 (0.582-0.858), 0.705 (0.549-0.883) and 0.798 (0.650-0.904) in four liver fibrosis stages, which exhibited equivalence to 2D-SWE in diagnostic efficiency (P \u3e 0.05). Combined diagnosis (PRE) displayed diagnostic efficiency (AUC \u3e 0.7, P \u3c 0.01) for all fibrosis stages with respective AUC of 0.952 (0.841-0.994), 0.896 (0.766-0.967), 0.978 (0.881-0.999), 0.947 (0.835-0.992). The combined diagnosis showed higher diagnosis efficiency over 2D-SWE in early liver fibrosis (P \u3c 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed in other comparisons (P \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: Texture analysis was capable of diagnosing liver fibrosis stage, combined diagnosis had obvious advantages in early liver fibrosis, liver fibrosis stage might be related to the hepatic tissue hardness distribution

SYNTHESIS OF CYCLOBUTANE ANALOGUES

2-(3-Acetyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl)acetic acid (pinonic acid) was synthesized using α-pinene as raw material and potassium permanganate as oxidant. This compound reacted with substituted aniline to produce eight kinds of derivatives with cyclobutane moiety. The yields of the cyclobutane analogues ranged from 24.9 to 78.2 %. KEY WORDS: Cyclobutane analogues, Pinonic acid, Oxidation Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2009, 23(1), 135-139

Modulation of epithelial sodium channel in human alveolar epithelial cells by lipoxin A4 through AhR-cAMP-dependent pathway

Purpose: To investigate the effect of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) on the expressions of protein and mRNA of alveolar epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in normal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated A549 cells.Methods: A549 cell-lines were randomized into 11 groups (N = 8) and treated. EnaC level was evaluated by Western blot. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed and then levels of ENaC mRNA, cGMP and cAMP in the cells were determined.Results: LXA4 (10-7mol/L) increased the expressions of α-subunit of ENaC relative to LPS group. In addition, LXA4 significantly up-regulated the expression of mRNAs of α, β and γ subunits of ENaC (p < 0.01). The level of cAMP was increased in LXA4 group, but significantly reduced in LPS group relative to control group (p < 0.05). However, treatment with LXA4 annulled the increased cAMP concentration, compared with LPS group (p < 0.05)Conclusion: These results show that LXA4 influences ENaC up-regulation in normal and LPS stimulated A549 alveolar epithelial cells.Keywords: Acute lung injury, Alveolar epithelial sodium channel, Lipoxin A4, AhR, cAMP, cGM

Long-lived efficient delayed fluorescence organic light-emitting diodes using n-type hosts.

Organic light-emitting diodes have become a mainstream display technology because of their desirable features. Third-generation electroluminescent devices that emit light through a mechanism called thermally activated delayed fluorescence are currently garnering much attention. However, unsatisfactory device stability is still an unresolved issue in this field. Here we demonstrate that electron-transporting n-type hosts, which typically include an acceptor moiety in their chemical structure, have the intrinsic ability to balance the charge fluxes and broaden the recombination zone in delayed fluorescence organic electroluminescent devices, while at the same time preventing the formation of high-energy excitons. The n-type hosts lengthen the lifetimes of green and blue delayed fluorescence devices by > 30 and 1000 times, respectively. Our results indicate that n-type hosts are suitable to realize stable delayed fluorescence organic electroluminescent devices