Kirigami Nanocomposites as Wide-Angle Diffraction Gratings

Beam steering devices represent an essential part of an advanced optics toolbox and are needed in a spectrum of technologies ranging from astronomy and agriculture to biosensing and networked vehicles. Diffraction gratings with strain-tunable periodicity simplify beam steering and can serve as a foundation for light/laser radar (LIDAR/LADAR) components of robotic systems. However, the mechanical properties of traditional materials severely limit the beam steering angle and cycle life. The large strain applied to gratings can severely impair the device performance both in respect of longevity and diffraction pattern fidelity. Here, we show that this problem can be resolved using micromanufactured kirigami patterns from thin film nanocomposites based on high-performance stiff plastics, metals, and carbon nanotubes, <i>etc</i>. The kirigami pattern of microscale slits reduces the stochastic concentration of strain in stiff nanocomposites including those made by layer-by-layer assembly (LBL). The slit patterning affords reduction of strain by 2 orders of magnitude for stretching deformation and consequently enables reconfigurable optical gratings with over a 100% range of period tunability. Elasticity of the stiff nanocomposites and plastics makes possible cyclic reconfigurability of the grating with variable time constant that can also be referred to as 4D kirigami. High-contrast, sophisticated diffraction patterns with as high as fifth diffraction order can be obtained. The angular range of beam steering can be as large as 6.5° for a 635 nm laser beam compared to ∼1° in surface-grooved elastomer gratings and ∼0.02° in MEMS gratings. The versatility of the kirigami patterns, the diversity of the available nanocomposite materials, and their advantageous mechanical properties of the foundational materials open the path for engineering of reconfigurable optical elements in LIDARs essential for autonomous vehicles and other optical devices with spectral range determined by the kirigami periodicity

Indirubin mediates adverse intestinal reactions in guinea pigs by downregulating the expression of AchE through AhR

Indirubin is the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Indigo naturalis (IN), a potent agonist of aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs). In China, IN is used to treat psoriasis and ulcerative colitis, and indirubin is used for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. However, IN and indirubin have adverse reactions, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and intussusception, and their specific mechanism is unclear.The purpose of our research was to determine the specific mechanism underlying the adverse effects of IN and indirubin. By tracking the modifications in guinea pigs after the intragastric administration of indirubin for 28 days.The results demonstrate that indirubin could accelerate bowel movements and decrease intestinal acetylcholinesterase (AchE) expression. Experiments with NCM460 cells revealed that indirubin significantly reduced the expression of AchE, and the AchE levels were increased after the silencing of AhR and re-exposure to indirubin.This study showed that the inhibition of AchE expression by indirubin plays a key role in the occurrence of adverse reactions to indirubin and that the underlying mechanism is related to AhR-mediated AchE downregulation. Indirubin is the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Indigo naturalis (IN), a potent agonist of aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs). In China, IN is used to treat psoriasis and ulcerative colitis, and indirubin is used for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. However, IN and indirubin have adverse reactions, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and intussusception, and their specific mechanism is unclear. The purpose of our research was to determine the specific mechanism underlying the adverse effects of IN and indirubin. By tracking the modifications in guinea pigs after the intragastric administration of indirubin for 28 days. The results demonstrate that indirubin could accelerate bowel movements and decrease intestinal acetylcholinesterase (AchE) expression. Experiments with NCM460 cells revealed that indirubin significantly reduced the expression of AchE, and the AchE levels were increased after the silencing of AhR and re-exposure to indirubin. This study showed that the inhibition of AchE expression by indirubin plays a key role in the occurrence of adverse reactions to indirubin and that the underlying mechanism is related to AhR-mediated AchE downregulation.</p

A new casbane diterpene from <i>Euphorbia pekinensis</i>

<div><p>A new casbane diterpenoid, referred to as pekinenin G, together with one cembrane diterpene and four known casbane diterpenoids were isolated from the roots of <i>Euphorbia pekinensis</i>. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies and comparison with related known compounds. The six compounds showed different cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines.</p></div

DataSheet1_Activation of peroxymonosulfate by cow manure biochar@1T-MoS2 for enhancing degradation of dimethyl phthalate: Performance and mechanism.docx

Introduction: Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) which has been widely detected in water is neurotoxic to humans and should be effectively eliminated. Persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes are considered to be reliable methods aiming at emerging contaminants degradation, while an efficient catalyst is urgently needed for the activation of the reaction. As a typical 2D material, 1T-MoS2 is expected to be applied to the activation of persulfate owing to its abundant active sites and excellent electrical conductivity. In practical applications, 1T-MoS2 has the phenomenon of reunion which affects the exposure of its catalytic sites.Methods: Therefore, in this study, we used waste cow manure as a raw material to prepare biochar and achieved high exposure of 1T-MoS2 activation sites by loading 1T-MoS2 onto the surface of cow manure biochar through hydrothermal synthesis. The prepared composite catalytic material CMB@1T-MoS2 was used to activate PMS for the degradation of DMP.Results: It was found that CMB@1T-MoS2 has better effect than CMB or 1T-MoS2 alone for the degradation of DMP, reaching 77.65% at pH = 3. Under alkaline conditions, the degradation rate of DMP was reduced due to the inhibition of the catalytic process. Among the different coexisting anions, HCO-3 interfered and inhibited the degradation process the most, leading to the lowest degradation rate of DMP with 42.45%.Discussion: The quenching experiments and EPR analysis showed that SO-4• and •OH were the main ROS in the CMB@1T-MoS2/PMS process. This study promotes the resourceful use of cow manure and is expected to provide a novel persulfate-based advanced oxidation process catalyzed by CMB@1T-MoS2 for the elimination of DMP in an aqueous environment.</p

Lithium-Salt-Rich PEO/Li_0.3La_0.557TiO₃ Interpenetrating Composite Electrolyte with Three-Dimensional Ceramic Nano-Backbone for All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

Solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and good mechanical properties are required for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we synthesized composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) with a three-dimensional (3D) Li_0.33La_0.557TiO₃ (LLTO) network as a nano-backbone in poly­(ethylene oxide) matrix by hot-pressing and quenching. Self-standing 3D-CPE membranes were obtained with the support of the LLTO nano-backbone. These membranes had much better thermal stability and enhanced mechanical strength in comparison with solid polymer electrolytes. The influence of lithium (Li) salt concentration on the conductivity of 3D-CPEs was systematically studied, and an ionic conductivity as high as 1.8 × 10^–4 S·cm^–1 was achieved at room temperature. The electrochemical window of the 3D-CPEs was 4.5 V vs Li/Li⁺. More importantly, the 3D-CPE membranes could suppress the growth of Li dendrite and reduce polarization; therefore, a symmetric Li|3D-CPE|Li cell with these membranes was cycled at a current density of 0.1 mA·cm^–2 for over 800 h. All of the superior properties above made the 3D-CPEs with the LLTO nano-backbone a promising electrolyte candidate for flexible solid-state lithium-ion batteries

Enhancing the Power Conversion Efficiency for Polymer Solar Cells by Incorporating Luminescent Nanosolid Micelles as Light Converter

In this research contribution, the idea is created that Ln³⁺-doped nanosolid micelles have first been applied to enhance the photovoltaic properties of novel hybrid polymer solar cells (HPSCs). Among other publications in the literature, we have never found the same or similar work to be published previously. The new method of Ln³⁺-doped diblock copolymer (DBC) to develop nanosolid micelle luminescent materials is established. Very importantly the applicable technique to incorporate nanosolid micelles into PSCs by spin-coating on the surface of the indium tin oxide (ITO) layer is accomplished after comparing the different cooperation methods. This research contribution elucidates two novel HPSCs containing Ln³⁺ nanosolid micelles formed by Ln³⁺-doped diblock copolymer (Ln³⁺-DBC) and organic conjugated ligands. The Ln³⁺-DBC luminescent nanosolid micelles (LNSMs) are formed via coordination between Ln³⁺ ions and DBC, and are readily dispersed in a hydrophobic solvent. Nanosolid micelles can be incorporated into PSCs by spin-coating on the surface of the indium tin oxide (ITO) layer, to increase the absorption of sunlight. Critically, the presence of the LNSMs increases PSC absorption of light and increases the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PTB7-Th/PC₇₁BM-based devices from 8.68% to 9.61%, increased by 10.71%, which is mainly caused by the enhanced short-circuit current density (<i>J</i>_sc), increased by 12.69% . In addition, the incorporation of LNSMs improved the stability of devices by protecting the active materials’ degradation from UV light