Manipulating surface plasmon polaritons with M-shaped nanoslit array via polarized incident waves

Surface plasmonic bending beams (SPBs), which preserve their spatial shapes while propagating along the desired curved trajectories in a metal-dielectric interface, offer important applications in the fields of fiber sensors, optical trapping, and micro-nano fabrication. In this work, the straight-lined, single-curved and double mirror-symmetric curved distributions of M-shaped nanoslit arrays are designed on a metal film to generate SPBs. These SPBs include unidirectional coupling of SPPs, single arbitrary bending beams, and double arbitrary bending beams. The electric-field intensity and the propagation directions of these SPBs are controlled by the polarization angle of input light waves. Especially, the reverse propagation of unidirectional coupling of arbitrary SPBs is generated by the polarization angles 45° and 135°. These findings provide guidance in the design and optimization of plasmonic bending beam generators

Disordered GaSiP solid solution anodes with liquid metal phase for high-performance Li-ion batteries

Silicon (Si) has become the most promising next-generation anode to replace commercial graphite for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) profiting from its large reversible capacity of 4,200 mA h g−1. However, its sluggish reaction kinetics and large volume effect need to be resolved. Herein, we prepare a ternary GaSiP solid solution with a disordered lattice by a facile mechanochemistry method. As anodes of LIBs, the GaSiP provides a reversible capacity of 1,527 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 with an initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 90.8% based on the reversible Li-storage mechanism integrated intercalation and subsequent conversion processes as confirmed by crystallography characterization and electrochemical measurements. Importantly, the GaSiP carbon composite presents a long cycling stability of maintaining 1,362 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at 0.1 A g−1, and 75% capacity retention rate after 1,200 cycles at 2 A g−1, and a high-rate performance of remaining 440 mA h g−1 at 20 A g−1. Broadly, this work opens the door to develop ternary phosphides with disordered lattice and liquid metallic phase using for electrochemical energy conversion and storage

Influence of the Skid Resistance of Ultrathin Wearing Course with Various Types of Asphalt Binders

Ultrathin wearing course (UTWC) has been widely applied in both asphalt pavements preventive maintenance and functional overlay. This study’s objective is to evaluate the influence of different modified asphalt binders with warm mix additives on the skid resistance of UTWC and to reveal the attenuation law of skid resistance of UTWC. Three types of modified asphalt binders (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene- (SBS-) modified asphalt, Acrylester Rubber- (AR-) modified asphalt, and SinoTPS-modified asphalt) and sasobit warm mix asphalt additive were selected to prepare asphalt mixtures. The Model Mobile Load Simulator 3 (MMLS3) was used to simulate repeated vehicle loading and abrasion. The British Pendulum Number (BPN) and Mean Texture Depth (MTD) were chosen to evaluate the skid resistance of the UTWC. The Analysis of Range (ANOR) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to verify the significance of asphalt binder on the antiskid performance of the UTWC. ANOR and ANOVA show that the influence of different modified asphalt binders on the skid resistance of the UTWC is significant. The SinoTPS modified asphalt mixture can maintain high texture roughness before and after abrasion, providing excellent and durable skid resistance. The influence of the addition of a warm mixing additive on the skid resistance of UTWC is not significant, and changes in microtexture mainly reflect its impact on antiskid performance. The decay curve of three modified asphalt binders of the skid resistance of the UTWC can be well fitted into an exponential function. The conclusion will play an essential role in selecting the asphalt binder in a UTWC to improve the antiskid performance

Preparation of Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystals of Zirconia by Electrodeposition in a Colloidal Crystals Template

Three-dimensional photonic crystals of zirconia were prepared by electrodeposition in a colloidal crystals template following calcination at 500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and reflectance spectroscopy were employed to characterize the photonic crystals of zirconia. It was found that hydrated zirconium ions could penetrate the colloidal crystals template and reach the substrate easily by electrodeposition, which resulted in stronger bonding between the substrate and the as-deposited membrane. Moreover, the electrodeposited membrane had low water content, leading to a low amount of shrinkage during calcination. Both these properties could suppress detachment from the substrate upon removal of the colloidal crystals template. Therefore, the three-dimensional photonic crystals of zirconia synthesized in this study exhibited very good preservation of the ordered structures of the colloidal crystals template with a high density. A peak of reflection higher than 70% was formed in the reflectance spectrum because of the strong diffraction of the ordered structures

Spinel oxide cathode material for high power lithium ion batteries for electrical vehicles

Electrical Vehicles (EVs) are very important in reducing fossil oil consumption and carbon emission in cities. Spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 is one promising cathode material for lithium ion batteries used in EVs owing to its high power density. Here AlF3 coated LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 is prepared through an newly developed method. The spinel oxide sintered at 900 ̊C presents the best electrochemical performance with a specific discharge capacity of 132.4 mAh/g at 0.5 C. 81.0% of the initial specific capacity can be retained after 50 cycles. AlF3 coating can further improve the electrochemical performance. The initial specific capacity at 10 C is enhanced from 104.6 to 109.1 mAh g-1 with the capacities retention increasing from 80.6 to 92.1% after 100 cycles

Hydraulic characterization and start-up of a novel circulating flow bio-carriers

Abstract High-quality biofilm carriers are crucial for the formation of biofilm, but problems such as slow biofilm growth on the carrier surface have been troubling a large number of researchers. The addition of a carrier changes the flow state in the reactor, which in turn affects the microbial attachment and the quantity of microorganisms. Also, aerobic microorganisms need to use dissolved oxygen in the water to remove water pollutants. In this paper, a novel recirculating flow carrier with a hollow cylinder structure is proposed, with a certain number of hollow inverted circular plates placed at equal distances inside. In this paper, the hydraulic residence time, aeration volume, and the spacing of the inflow plates of the recirculating flow biofilm carrier, which are three important factors affecting the hydraulic characteristics of the reactor, are first investigated. At the same time, it was compared with the common combined carrier to find the optimal operating conditions for the hydraulic characteristics. Secondly, a reactor start-up study was carried out to confirm that the new recirculating flow biofilm carrier could accelerate the biofilm growth by changing the hydraulic characteristics. The results showed that under the same conditions, the hydraulic properties of the reactor were better with the addition of the recirculating flow carrier, with an effective volume ratio of 98% and a significant reduction in short flows and dead zones. The stabilized removal of COD, NH3-N, and TN in the reactor with the addition of the recirculating flow carrier reached about 94%, 99%, and 91% respectively, at the beginning of the 15th day, which effectively proved the feasibility of the recirculating flow carrier

Association of recent gay-related stressful events with depressive symptoms in Chinese men who have sex with men

Abstract Background To assess the association of different gay-related stressful events (GRSEs) with depressive symptoms in Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). Method A total of 807 MSM were recruited using respondent-driven sampling from four cities in northeastern China. GRSEs were measured using the Gay Related Stressful Life Events Scale, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Results A total of 26.0% of study participants experienced GRSEs in the past three months, and the average SDS score was lower than the previously reported national average for China. The study participants had significantly elevated risks of depression (SDS score ≥ 53) due to recent troubles with a boss (OR = 4.92, 95% CI = 1.87–12.97) or a workmate (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.52–8.88), loss of a close friend (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.39–4.18), argument with a close friend (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.33–3.22), and being physically assaulted (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 0.98–4.43). Arguments with family members or classmates had no significant effect on depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the number of GRSEs, a lower level of education, more advanced age, and HIV infection significantly increased the risk of depression. Conclusions There are large differences in the associations of different types of GRSEs with depressive symptoms. Reducing the stigmatization and discrimination toward MSM in all social environments and improving the capability of MSM to cope with different types of GRSEs may improve their emotional wellbeing

Transparent and Self-Supporting Graphene Films with Wrinkled- Graphene-Wall-Assembled Opening Polyhedron Building Blocks for High Performance Flexible/Transparent Supercapacitors

Improving mass loading while maintaining high transparency and large surface area in one self-supporting graphene film is still a challenge. Unfortunately, all of these factors are absolutely essential for enhancing the energy storage performance of transparent supercapacitors for practical applications. To solve the above bottleneck problem, we produce a novel self-supporting flexible and transparent graphene film (STF-GF) with wrinkled-wall-assembled opened-hollow polyhedron building units. Taking advantage of the microscopic morphology, the STF-GF exhibits improved mass loading with high transmittance (70.2% at 550 nm), a large surface area (1105.6 m²/g), and good electrochemical performance: high energy (552.3 μWh/cm³), power densities (561.9 mW/cm³), a superlong cycle life, and good cycling stability (the capacitance retention is ∼94.8% after 20,000 cycles)