Dual-Color-Emitting Carbon Nanodots for Multicolor Bioimaging and Optogenetic Control of Ion Channels

The development of intrinsically multicolor-emitting carbon nanodots (CNDs) has been one of the great challenges for their various fields of applications. Here, the controlled electronic structure engineering of CNDs is performed to emit two distinct colors via the facile surface modification with 4-octyloxyaniline. The so-called dual-color-emitting CNDs (DC-CNDs) can be stably encapsulated within poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSMA). The prepared water-soluble DC-CNDs@PSMA can be successfully applied to in vitro and in vivo dual-color bioimaging and optogenetics. In vivo optical imaging can visualize the biodistribution of intravenously injected DC-CNDs@PSMA. In addition, the light-triggered activation of ion channel, channelrhodopsin-2, for optogenetic applications is demonstrated. As a new type of fluorophore, DC-CNDs offer a big insight into the design of charge-transfer complexes for various optical and biomedical applications.112Ysciescopu

Highly Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes of Colloidal Metal-Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals beyond Quantum Size.

Colloidal metal-halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) with a dimension less than the exciton Bohr diameter DB (quantum size regime) emerged as promising light emitters due to their spectrally narrow light, facile color tuning, and high photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE). However, their size-sensitive emission wavelength and color purity and low electroluminescence efficiency are still challenging aspects. Here, we demonstrate highly efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on the colloidal perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) in a dimension > DB (regime beyond quantum size) by using a multifunctional buffer hole injection layer (Buf-HIL). The perovskite NCs with a dimension greater than DB show a size-irrespective high color purity and PLQE by managing the recombination of excitons occurring at surface traps and inside the NCs. The Buf-HIL composed of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and perfluorinated ionomer induces uniform perovskite particle films with complete film coverage and prevents exciton quenching at the PEDOT:PSS/perovskite particle film interface. With these strategies, we achieved a very high PLQE (∼60.5%) in compact perovskite particle films without any complex post-treatments and multilayers and a high current efficiency of 15.5 cd/A in the LEDs of colloidal perovskite NCs, even in a simplified structure, which is the highest efficiency to date in green LEDs that use colloidal organic-inorganic metal-halide perovskite nanoparticles including perovskite QDs and NCs. These results can help to guide development of various light-emitting optoelectronic applications based on perovskite NCs

High performance quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on poly(lactic acid -co-glycolic acid)

A stable quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) with a novel amphiphilic polymer gel electrolyte (APGE) based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) ( PLGA) is fabricated. The APGE could be readily prepared by a simple method at low temperature of 50 degrees C and exhibits a quasi-solid property, high conductivity, and long-term stability. The 20 and 40 wt% APGE-based DSCs show high photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 7.5 and 7.4%, respectively, under AM 1.5 simulated sunlight, which is comparable to the liquid electrolyte-based DSC with the efficiency of 7.6%. The 40 wt% APGE-based DSC maintains 95% of the initial performance after 60 days in practical conditions. It is also noteworthy that the APGE endows with higher short-circuit current density than the liquid electrolyte. Different natures of the APGE from the typical polymer gel electrolytes have been elucidated by the I-V measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrophoretic measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.X111112sciescopu

Facile synthesis of graphitic carbon quantum dots with size tunability and uniformity using reverse micelles

Highly luminescent graphitic carbon quantum dots (GQDs) are synthesized employing reverse micelles as nanoreactors. This method offers size tunability and narrow size distribution without any unpractical size separation process. Also, high quantum yields of maximum 35% at the 360 nm excitation wavelength are achieved.open11117120sciescopu

Dual-Color-Emitting Carbon Nanodots for Theranostic Applications

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Task-Oriented Parameter Tuning Based on Priority Condition for Biologically Inspired Robot Application

This work gives a biologically inspired control scheme for controlling a robotic system. Novel adaptive behaviors are observed from humans or animals even in unexpected disturbances or environment changes. This is why they have neural oscillator networks in the spinal cord to yield rhythmic-motor primitives robustly under a changing task. Hence, this work focuses on rhythmic arm movements that can be accomplished in terms of employing a control approach based on an artificial neural oscillator model. The main challenge is to determine various parameters for applying a neural feedback to robotic systems with performing a desired behavior and self-maintaining the entrainment effect. Hence, this work proposes a task-oriented parameter tuning algorithm based on the simulated annealing (SA). This work also illustrates how to technically implement the proposed control scheme exploiting a virtual force and neural feedback. With parameters tuned, it is verified in simulations that a 3-DOF planar robotic arm traces a given trajectory precisely, adapting to uneven external disturbances

Carbon-nanofiber counter electrodes for quasi-solid state dye -sensitized solar Cells

Carbon-nanofibers (CNFs) with antler and herringbone structures are studied as a tri-iodide (I-3(-)) reduction electrocatalyst in combination with the liquid electrolyte or an alternative stable quasi-solid state electrolyte. The catalytic properties of the counter electrode (CE) are characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The doctor bladed low temperature CNFs-CE has faster I-3(-) reduction rate and low charge transfer resistance (R-CT) of similar to 0.5 Omega cm(2) than platinum (Pt) (similar to 2.3 Omega cm(2)) due to the nanofiber stacking morphology. Its herringbone and antler structures with graphitic layers lead to defect rich edge planes and larger diameter of CNFs facilitate the electron transfer kinetics. The cells with CNF counter electrodes are showing promising energy conversion efficiency greater than 7.0% for the glass based devices and 5.0% for the flexible cells filled with the quasi-solid state electrolyte, which is similar to Pt performance. Application of CNFs-CE in flexible and quasi-solid state electrolyte increases the possibility of roll to roll process, low cost and stable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.X114142sciescopu

Number of Tumor Foci as a Risk Factor for Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Does It Improve Predictability?

Multifocality in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) increases the risk of recurrence. Some recent studies have suggested that multifocality-related parameters, such as the number of tumor foci, total tumor diameter (TTD), and bilaterality, are more useful for predicting recurrence than multifocality. However, it is still unclear if these factors can improve the accuracy of the recurrence prediction model. Between 2012 and 2019, 1288 patients with PTC underwent total thyroidectomy at Ewha Womans University Medical Center. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 91.2% in patients with >3 tumor foci, 95.1% with 3 foci, and 97.6% with 2 foci; conversely, those with a unifocal tumor showed a 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 98.0%. Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that the number of tumor foci (HR for >3 foci, 3.214; HR for 3 foci, 2.473), bilaterality (HR, 2.530), or TTD (HR for >3 cm, 5.359; HR for 2–3 cm, 3.584) could be an independent predictor of recurrence. However, models using the number of tumor foci, bilaterality, and TTD did not show better overall predictability of recurrence than models based on multifocality. In conclusion, a simpler prediction model based on multifocality may be sufficient

Formation of highly luminescent nearly monodisperse carbon quantum dots via emulsion-templated carbonization of carbohydrates

Highly luminescent nearly monodisperse carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are synthesized by facile emulsion-templated carbonization of low cost and non toxic carbohydrates excluding the size selection procedure. The present method is further combined with in situ nitric acid treatment to offer high quantum yields up to 53% which, to our best knowledge, is unprecedented in the past.open113131sciescopu

A new equivalent circuit model for porous carbon electrodes in charge transfer reaction of iodide/triiodide redox couples

In this research, a new equivalent circuit for porous carbon electrodes is proposed. In order to analyze the validity of the new model, electrochemical impedance spectra of carbon black (CB) electrodes in a symmetric cell configuration are examined by varying the CB particle size and the electrode thickness. This model decouples and identifies the following elements: (i) the electron transport resistance and trap capacitance in the CB layer, (ii) the charge transfer resistance and the double layer capacitance, and (iii) the Nernst diffusion impedance at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The fit quality is quantified by the chi-square test, and the fit data show consistency with the measured conductivity, surface area, and thickness of the CB electrode. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.X113432sciescopu