In this study,we investigate the ef-ficacy of a hybrid parallel algo-rithm aiming at enhancing the speed of evaluation of two-electron repulsion integrals(ERI)and Fock matrix generation on the Hygon C86/DCU(deep compu...In this study,we investigate the ef-ficacy of a hybrid parallel algo-rithm aiming at enhancing the speed of evaluation of two-electron repulsion integrals(ERI)and Fock matrix generation on the Hygon C86/DCU(deep computing unit)heterogeneous computing platform.Multiple hybrid parallel schemes are assessed using a range of model systems,including those with up to 1200 atoms and 10000 basis func-tions.The findings of our research reveal that,during Hartree-Fock(HF)calculations,a single DCU ex-hibits 33.6 speedups over 32 C86 CPU cores.Compared with the efficiency of Wuhan Electronic Structure Package on Intel X86 and NVIDIA A100 computing platform,the Hygon platform exhibits good cost-effective-ness,showing great potential in quantum chemistry calculation and other high-performance scientific computations.展开更多
Rational design of defected carbons adjacent to nitrogen(N)dopants is a fascinating but challenging approach for enhancing the catalytic performance of N-doped carbon.Meanwhile,the combined effect of heteroatom doping...Rational design of defected carbons adjacent to nitrogen(N)dopants is a fascinating but challenging approach for enhancing the catalytic performance of N-doped carbon.Meanwhile,the combined effect of heteroatom doping and defect engineering can efficiently increase the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)ability of inactive carbons through charge redistribution.Herein,we report that an enhanced built-in electric field caused by the combined effect of N-doping and carbon defects in the twodimensional(2D)mesoporous N-doped carbon nano flakes(NCNF)is a promising technique for improving ORR performance.As a result,the NCNF exhibits more promising ORR activity than Pt/C and similar performance with reported robust catalysts.Comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations suggest that topologically defected carbon adjacent to the graphitic valley nitrogen is a real active site,rendering optimal energy for the adsorption of ORR intermediates and lowering the total energy barrier for ORR.Also,NCNF-based Zn-air batteries exhibited an excellent power density and specific capacity of~121.10 mW cm^(-2)and~679.86 mA h g_(Zn)^(-1),respectively.This study not only offers new insights into defected carbons with graphitic valley N for ORR but also proposes novel catalyst design principles and provides a solid grasp of the built-in electric field effect on the ORR performance of defective catalysts.展开更多
The self-consistent field theory(SCFT)was employed to numerically study the interaction and interpenetration between two opposing weak polyelectrolyte(PE)brushes formed by grafting weak PE chains onto the surfaces of ...The self-consistent field theory(SCFT)was employed to numerically study the interaction and interpenetration between two opposing weak polyelectrolyte(PE)brushes formed by grafting weak PE chains onto the surfaces of two long and parallel columns with rectangularshaped cross-section immersed in a salty aqueous solution.The dependences of the brush heights and the average degree of ionization on various system parameters were also investigated.When the brush separation is relatively large compared with the unperturbed brush height,the degree of interpenetration between the two opposing PE brushes was found to increase with increasing grafting density and bulk degree of ionization.The degree of interpenetration also increases with the bulk salt concentration in the osmotic brush regime.Numerical results further revealed that,at a brush separation comparable to the unperturbed brush height,the degree of interpenetration does not increase further with increasing bulk degree of ionization,bulk salt concentration in the osmotic regime and grafting density.The saturation of the degree of interpenetration with these system parameters indicates that the grafted PE chains in the gap between the two columns retract and tilt in order to reduce the unfavorable electrostatic and steric repulsions between the two opposing PE brushes.Based on salt ion concentrations at the midpoint between the two opposing brushes,a quantitative criterion in terms of the unperturbed brush height and Debye screening length was established to determine the threshold value of the brush separation beyond which they are truly independent from each other.展开更多
The morphological changes of ABA amphiphilic triblock copolymer micelles in dilute solution were systematically studied by tuning the solvent property using self-consistent field simulation. The solvent property was t...The morphological changes of ABA amphiphilic triblock copolymer micelles in dilute solution were systematically studied by tuning the solvent property using self-consistent field simulation. The solvent property was tuned by changing the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters between each type of blocks and solvent, respectively. The simulation results show that by changing the solvent properties, a series of micelle morphologies such as vesicle, cage-like, ring-shaped, rod-like and spherical micelle morphologies can be obtained. Variations of the free energy of the solution system and the surface area of micelles with the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were calculated to better understand the effect of solvent property on micelle morphologies. In addition, a phase diagram showing the morphological changes of micelles with the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters is provided.展开更多
Self-assembled nanostructures of lipids and nanoparticles hold great promise for applications in such fields as nanomedicine. This paper uses the self-consistent field theory to investigate the self-assembly behavior ...Self-assembled nanostructures of lipids and nanoparticles hold great promise for applications in such fields as nanomedicine. This paper uses the self-consistent field theory to investigate the self-assembly behavior of lipid molecules and nanoparticles with different shapes in an aqueous solution. It is found that the lipid molecules can form monolayered and bilayered nanostructures around the nanopartieles with different shapes （e.g., triangular, square, hexagonal and octangular）. With decreasing the size of nanoparticles or increasing the number of polygon edges, the shape of lipid layers will approach an approximately spherical shape. These findings may help to predict and design novel drug delivery nanocarriers.展开更多
The self-consistent Hartree-Fock equation for the He atom is solved using the pseudospectral method. The Feshbach- type autoionization resonance parameters for doubly excited 2s2, 3s2, and 4s2 IS states of He have bee...The self-consistent Hartree-Fock equation for the He atom is solved using the pseudospectral method. The Feshbach- type autoionization resonance parameters for doubly excited 2s2, 3s2, and 4s2 IS states of He have been determined by adding a complex absorbing potential to the Hamiltonian. The Riss-Meyer iterative and Pad6 extrapolation methods are applied to obtain reliable values for the autoionization resonance parameters, which are compared to previous results in the literature.展开更多
The self-consistent field theory has been employed to numerically study the response of bi-disperse flexible polyelectrolyte （PE） brushes grafted on an electrode to electric fields generated by opposite surface char...The self-consistent field theory has been employed to numerically study the response of bi-disperse flexible polyelectrolyte （PE） brushes grafted on an electrode to electric fields generated by opposite surface charges on the PE-grafted electrode and a second parallel electrode. The numerical study reveals that, under a positive external electric field, the shorter and negatively charged PE chains are more responsive than the longer PE chains in terms of the relative changes in their respective brush heights. Whereas under a negative external electric field, the opposite was observed. The total electric force on the grafted PE chains was calculated and it was found that, under a positive external electric field, the magnitude of the total electric force acting on one shorter PE chain is larger than that on one longer PE chain, or vice versa. The underlying mechanism was unraveled through analyzing the total electric field across the two oppositely charged electrodes.展开更多
The adsorption of flexible polyelectrolyte （PE） with the smeared charge distribution onto an oppositely charged sphere immersed in a PE solution is studied numerically with the continuum self-consistent field theory...The adsorption of flexible polyelectrolyte （PE） with the smeared charge distribution onto an oppositely charged sphere immersed in a PE solution is studied numerically with the continuum self-consistent field theory. The power law scaling relationships between the boundary layer thickness and the surface charge density and the charge fraction of PE chains revealed in the study are in good agreement with the existing analytical result. The curvature effect on the degree of charge compensation of the total amount of charges on the adsorbed PE chains over the surface charges is examined, and a clear understanding of it based on the dependences of the degree of charge compensation on the surface charge density and the charge fraction of PE chains is established.展开更多
ABCA tetrablock copolymers offer new opportunities for design of materials with novel structures. Using real-space self- consistent field theory and simulation, we systematically examined the self-assembly behavior of...ABCA tetrablock copolymers offer new opportunities for design of materials with novel structures. Using real-space self- consistent field theory and simulation, we systematically examined the self-assembly behavior of linear ABCA tetrablock copolymers in a 2D space. The simulation was carried out under conditions of symmetrical compositions and interactions. We focus on the influence of chain length ratio of block A and interactions between block A and other blocks B and C on the self-assembly behavior of the copolymer system. The simulation results show that most of the structures self-assembled by the ABCA tetrablock copolymers are centrosymmetric, such as diblock-like lameUa phase, two kinds of lameUae with beads at interface, two kinds of hierarchical lamella phase, hexagonal honeycomb-like phase, lamella phase with mixed BC and hexagonal spheres with mixed BC. Furthermore, we find that a novel noncentrosymmetric Janus spheres can be obtained when the interaction between blocks B and C is strong, whereas a noncentrosymmetric lamella phase was obtained at weak interaction between blocks B and C. Phase diagrams for the ABCA tetrablock copolymers with different interaction strength between blocks B and C are constructed by comparing free energies of candidate ordered structures. In addition, studies on the metastable behavior of the system reveal that enthalpy plays an important role in the metastable behavior of the ABCA tetrablock copolymer system. Our work can provide useful guide for structure control of such kind of tetrablock copolymers in experiments.展开更多
Self-consistent field theory（SCFT）, as a state-of-the-art technique for studying the self-assembly of block copolymers, is attracting continuous efforts to improve its accuracy and efficiency. Here we present a four...Self-consistent field theory（SCFT）, as a state-of-the-art technique for studying the self-assembly of block copolymers, is attracting continuous efforts to improve its accuracy and efficiency. Here we present a fourth-order exponential time differencing Runge-Kutta algorithm（ETDRK4） to solve the modified diffusion equation（MDE） which is the most time-consuming part of a SCFT calculation. By making a careful comparison with currently most efficient and popular algorithms, we demonstrate that the ETDRK4 algorithm significantly reduces the number of chain contour steps in solving the MDE, resulting in a boost of the overall computation efficiency, while it shares the same spatial accuracy with other algorithms. In addition, to demonstrate the power of our ETDRK4 algorithm, we apply it to compute the phase boundaries of the bicontinuous gyroid phase in the strong segregation regime and to verify the existence of the triple point of the O70 phase, the lamellar phase and the cylindrical phase.展开更多
Bilayer membranes self-assembled from amphiphilic molecules such as lipids, surfactants, and block copolymers are ubiquitous in biological and physiochemical systems. The shape and structure of bilayer membranes depen...Bilayer membranes self-assembled from amphiphilic molecules such as lipids, surfactants, and block copolymers are ubiquitous in biological and physiochemical systems. The shape and structure of bilayer membranes depend crucially on their mechanical properties such as surface tension, bending moduli, and line tension. Understanding how the molecular properties of the amphiphiles determine the structure and mechanics of the self-assembled bilayers requires a molecularly detailed theoretical framework. The self-consistent field theory provides such a theoretical framework, which is capable of accurately predicting the mechanical parameters of self-assembled bilayer membranes. In this mini review we summarize the formulation of the self-consistent field theory, as exemplified by a model system composed of flexible amphiphilic chains dissolved in hydrophilic polymeric solvents, and its application to the study of self-assembled bilayer membranes.展开更多
Soil DNA extraction,such as microbial community analysis and gene drift detection,is an important basis for multiple analyses in different fields.Nevertheless,the soil DNA extraction methods for field detection are st...Soil DNA extraction,such as microbial community analysis and gene drift detection,is an important basis for multiple analyses in different fields.Nevertheless,the soil DNA extraction methods for field detection are still lacking.This study established a rapid soil DNA extraction(RSDE)method that can be used in field detection.In this method,we first utilized the optimized lysate to isolate DNA from soil and then used a filtration membrane and a DNA adsorption membrane to purify the DNA via the column method.Moreover,we used the pressure from the syringe instead of the conventional centrifugal force of the centrifuge to assist the sample filtration,resulting in very low requirements for this method,with an extraction time of less than 20 min.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the RSDE method was applicable for DNA extraction from different types of soils,with the demand for soil samples as low as 0.1 g and that the amount of obtained DNA was,to some extent,greater than that obtained by a commercial kit.Further analysis revealed that this extracted genomic DNA can be used directly for polymerase chain reaction(PCR)analysis,including ordinary PCR,real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,and recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)-CRISPR/Cas12a visual assays.In addition,we demonstrated that this method can be used to extract DNA from residual plant roots in addition to soil microbes,which lays a foundation for the comprehensive analysis of soil plants and microorganisms.In summary,the RSDE method proposed in this study may have wide application prospects.展开更多
Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)converts CO_(2) into valuable chemicals by consuming renewable electricity at mild conditions,making it a promising approach to achieving carbon neutrality.Ho...Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)converts CO_(2) into valuable chemicals by consuming renewable electricity at mild conditions,making it a promising approach to achieving carbon neutrality.However,the reaction of CO_(2) with hydroxide ions to form carbonates leads to low carbon utilization and energy efficiency in near-neutral or alkaline CO_(2)RR.The high concentration of protons in acidic media can effectively mitigate carbonate formation and deposition,thereby significantly minimizing carbon loss and energy consumption.Unfortunately,hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is more kinetically favorable than CO_(2)RR in acidic media.Herein,we comprehensively overview recent progress in acidic CO_(2)RR and propose two strategies derived from the competing reaction pathways of HER and CO_(2)RR:one focuses on regulating the H+mass transport,while the other aims to modulate the intrinsic kinetic activity of CO_(2)RR.The two strategies are designed to compete for the limited active sites on the catalyst surface,inhibit side reactions,and enhance the activity and selectivity of CO_(2)RR.The representative approaches include modulating the interface electric field,constructing a local alkaline environment,and regulating competing adsorption sites.Finally,we also review the technical challenges and future perspectives of acidic CO_(2)RR coupled with membrane electrode assemblies(MEAs).展开更多
The slow-proton-fast-electron process severely limits the catalytic efficiency of oxygen evolution reaction.A method is proposed to accelerate proton transfer by building up local electric fields.Modifying acetic,etha...The slow-proton-fast-electron process severely limits the catalytic efficiency of oxygen evolution reaction.A method is proposed to accelerate proton transfer by building up local electric fields.Modifying acetic,ethanedioic and propanetricarboxylic(C_(6)H_(8)O_(6))ligands on BiVO_(4)surface results in a potential difference between BiVO_(4)and ligands that generates a local electric field which serves as a driving force for proton transfer.Among the ligands,carrying the strongest electron-withdrawing ability,the modification of C_(6)H_(8)O_(6) forms the strongest local electric field and leads to the fastest proton transfer and the smallest thermodynamic overpotential.C_(6)H_(8)O_(6)-BiVO_(4)exhibits 3.5 times photocurrent density as high as that of pure BiVO_(4),which is 3.50 mA cm^(-2)at 1.23 VRHE.The onset potential of C_(6)H_(8)O_(6)-BiVO_(4)shifts negatively from 0.70 to 0.38 VRHE.The mechanism for OER transitions from thermodynamically high energy proton-coupled electron transfer to thermodynamically low energy electron transfer as proton transfer is accelerated.展开更多
Constructing heterostructures and facilitating surface reconstruction are effective ways to obtain excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Surface reconstruction is a dynamic process that is affecte...Constructing heterostructures and facilitating surface reconstruction are effective ways to obtain excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Surface reconstruction is a dynamic process that is affected by the built-in electric field of the heterostructure.In this study,P/N co-doped carbon-coated NiCo/Ni-CoO heterostructure was prepared by in situ acid etching,aniline polymerization,and pyrolysis.This method can form a tightly connected heterogeneous interface.It was found that introducing P-O bonds in the carbon shell can increase its work function,thereby enhancing the built-in electric field between the carbon shell and the core catalyst.Detailed characterizations confirm that the P-O bridge at the heterogeneous interface can provide an electron flow highway from the core to the shell.The generated carbon defects generated by P leaching during surface reconstruction also have strong electronabsorbing capacity.These effects promote the conversion of Co^(2+)to Co^(3+),thereby providing more highly active sites.The resulting catalyst shows significantly enhanced activity and stability.This study demonstrates the promoting effect of the built-in electric field on the surface reconstruction of the catalyst and emphasizes the importance of the construction of tightly connected heterogeneous interface,which is instructive for the design of excellent OER catalysts.展开更多
Simultaneously inducing dual built-in electric fields(EFs)both within a single component and at the heterojunction interface creates a dual-driving force that is crucial for promoting spatial charge separation.This is...Simultaneously inducing dual built-in electric fields(EFs)both within a single component and at the heterojunction interface creates a dual-driving force that is crucial for promoting spatial charge separation.This is particularly significant in challenging coupled systems,such as CO_(2)photoreduction integrated with selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde.However,developing such a system is quite challenging and often requires a precise design and engineering.Herein,we demonstrate a unique Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)_(2)heterojunction synthesized via an in-situ self-assembly method.Comprehensive mechanistic and theoretical investigations reveal that the NiCdS@Ni(OH)_(2)heterojunction induces dual electric fields(EFs):an intrinsic polarized electric-field within the CdS lattice from Ni doping and an interfacial electric-field from the growth of ultrathin nanosheets of Ni(OH)_(2)on NiCdS nanorods,enabling efficient spatial charge separation and enhanced redox potential.As proof of concept,the Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)_(2)heterojunction simultaneously exhibits outstanding bifunctional photocatalytic performance,producing CO at a rate of 427μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and selectively oxidizing toluene to benzaldehyde at a rate of 1476μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)with a selectivity exceeding 85%.This work offers a promising strategy to optimize the utilization of photogenerated carriers in heterojunction photocatalysts,advancing synergistic photocatalytic redox systems.展开更多
TiB2/Al-30Si composites were fabricated via in-situ melt reaction under high-energy ultrasonic field. The microstructure and wear properties of the composite were investigated by XRD, SEM and dry sliding testing. The ...TiB2/Al-30Si composites were fabricated via in-situ melt reaction under high-energy ultrasonic field. The microstructure and wear properties of the composite were investigated by XRD, SEM and dry sliding testing. The results indicate that TiB2 reinforcement particles are uniformly distributed in the aluminum matrix under high-energy ultrasonic field. The morphology of the TiB2 particles is in circle-shape or quadrangle-shape, and the size of the particles is 0.1-1.5μm. The primary silicon particles are in quadrangle-shape and the average size of them is about 10μm. Hardness values of the Al-30Si matrix alloy and the TiB2/Al-30Si composites considerably increase as the high energy ultrasonic power increases. In particular, the maximum hardness value of the in-situ composites is about 1.3 times as high as that of the matrix alloy when the ultrasonic power is 1.2 kW, reaching 412 MPa. Meanwhile, the wear resistance of the in-situ TiB2/Al-30Si composites prepared under high-energy ultrasonic field is obviously improved and is insensitive to the applied loads of the dry sliding testing.展开更多
Magnetic field was tentatively introduced into Fenton reactions system for the degradation and discoloration of methyl blue as the represent of organic chemical dye, which was a bio-refractory organic pollutant in ind...Magnetic field was tentatively introduced into Fenton reactions system for the degradation and discoloration of methyl blue as the represent of organic chemical dye, which was a bio-refractory organic pollutant in industry wastewater. It was found that under optimal Fenton reaction conditions, with the assistant of magnetic field in Fenton reactions, the degradation rate of methyl blue, the decomposition rate of H2O2 and the conversion rate of Fe^2＋ were accelerated, the extent of them would be improved by the increase of magnetic field intensity. Meanwhile, the mineralization of methyl blue （CODer） was improved by over 10% with magnetic field.展开更多
The aim of the present experiments was to discern if the “entanglement”-like photon emissions from pairs of cell cultures or human brains separated by significant distances but sharing the same circling magnetic fie...The aim of the present experiments was to discern if the “entanglement”-like photon emissions from pairs of cell cultures or human brains separated by significant distances but sharing the same circling magnetic field could be demonstrated with a classic chemiluminescent reaction produced by hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite. Simultaneous injection of the same amount of peroxide into a local dish (above a photomultiplier tube) and a dish 10 m away in a closed chamber produced a “doubling” of the durations of the photon spikes only when the two reactions were placed in the center of separate spaces around each of which magnetic fields were generated as accelerating group velocities containing decreasing phase modulations followed by decelerating group velocities embedded with increasing phase modulations. The duration of this “entanglement” was about 8 min. These results suggest that separate distances behave as if they were “the same space” if they are exposed to the same precise temporal configuration of magnetic fields with specific angular velocities.展开更多
Developing highly efficient,durable,and non-noble electrocatalysts for the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is the pivotal for meeting the practical demand in water splitting.However,the current transitio...Developing highly efficient,durable,and non-noble electrocatalysts for the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is the pivotal for meeting the practical demand in water splitting.However,the current transition-metal electrocatalysts still suffer from low activity and durability on account of poor interfacial reaction kinetics.In this work,a facile solid-state synthesis strategy is developed to construct transition-metal sulfides heterostructures(denoted as MS_(2)/NiS_(2),M=Mo or W)for boosting OER electrocatalysis.As a result,MoS2/NiS2 and WS2/NiS2 show lower overpotentials of 300 mV and 320 mV to achieve the current density of 10 mA·cm^(-2),and smaller Tafel slopes of 60 mV.dec^(-1) and 83 mV.dec^(-1)in 1 mol·L^(-1) KOH,respectively,in comparison with the single MoS2,WS2,NiS2,as well as even the benchmark RuO2.The experiments reveal that the designed heterostructures have strong electronic interactions and spontaneously develop a built-in electric field at the heterointerface with uneven charge distribution based on the difference of band structures,which promote interfacial charge transfer,improve absorptivity of OH-,and modulate the energy level more comparable to the OER.Thus,the designed transition-metal sulfides heterostructures exhibit a remarkably high electrocatalytic activity for OER.This study provides a simple strategy to manipulate the heterostructure interface via an energy level engineering method for OER and can be extended to fabricate other heterostructures for various energy-related applications.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22373112 to Ji Qi,No.22373111 and 21921004 to Minghui Yang)GH-fund A(No.202107011790)。
文摘In this study,we investigate the ef-ficacy of a hybrid parallel algo-rithm aiming at enhancing the speed of evaluation of two-electron repulsion integrals(ERI)and Fock matrix generation on the Hygon C86/DCU(deep computing unit)heterogeneous computing platform.Multiple hybrid parallel schemes are assessed using a range of model systems,including those with up to 1200 atoms and 10000 basis func-tions.The findings of our research reveal that,during Hartree-Fock(HF)calculations,a single DCU ex-hibits 33.6 speedups over 32 C86 CPU cores.Compared with the efficiency of Wuhan Electronic Structure Package on Intel X86 and NVIDIA A100 computing platform,the Hygon platform exhibits good cost-effective-ness,showing great potential in quantum chemistry calculation and other high-performance scientific computations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22262010,22062005,22165005,U20A20128)Guangxi Science and Technology Fund for Distinguished HighTalent Introduction Program(AC22035091)Guangxi Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(2019GXNSFFA245016)。
文摘Rational design of defected carbons adjacent to nitrogen(N)dopants is a fascinating but challenging approach for enhancing the catalytic performance of N-doped carbon.Meanwhile,the combined effect of heteroatom doping and defect engineering can efficiently increase the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)ability of inactive carbons through charge redistribution.Herein,we report that an enhanced built-in electric field caused by the combined effect of N-doping and carbon defects in the twodimensional(2D)mesoporous N-doped carbon nano flakes(NCNF)is a promising technique for improving ORR performance.As a result,the NCNF exhibits more promising ORR activity than Pt/C and similar performance with reported robust catalysts.Comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations suggest that topologically defected carbon adjacent to the graphitic valley nitrogen is a real active site,rendering optimal energy for the adsorption of ORR intermediates and lowering the total energy barrier for ORR.Also,NCNF-based Zn-air batteries exhibited an excellent power density and specific capacity of~121.10 mW cm^(-2)and~679.86 mA h g_(Zn)^(-1),respectively.This study not only offers new insights into defected carbons with graphitic valley N for ORR but also proposes novel catalyst design principles and provides a solid grasp of the built-in electric field effect on the ORR performance of defective catalysts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21774067)The Foundation of Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics of Zhejiang Province(No.2023FE004)C.T.acknowledges the support from K.C.Wong Magna at Ningbo University。
文摘The self-consistent field theory(SCFT)was employed to numerically study the interaction and interpenetration between two opposing weak polyelectrolyte(PE)brushes formed by grafting weak PE chains onto the surfaces of two long and parallel columns with rectangularshaped cross-section immersed in a salty aqueous solution.The dependences of the brush heights and the average degree of ionization on various system parameters were also investigated.When the brush separation is relatively large compared with the unperturbed brush height,the degree of interpenetration between the two opposing PE brushes was found to increase with increasing grafting density and bulk degree of ionization.The degree of interpenetration also increases with the bulk salt concentration in the osmotic brush regime.Numerical results further revealed that,at a brush separation comparable to the unperturbed brush height,the degree of interpenetration does not increase further with increasing bulk degree of ionization,bulk salt concentration in the osmotic regime and grafting density.The saturation of the degree of interpenetration with these system parameters indicates that the grafted PE chains in the gap between the two columns retract and tilt in order to reduce the unfavorable electrostatic and steric repulsions between the two opposing PE brushes.Based on salt ion concentrations at the midpoint between the two opposing brushes,a quantitative criterion in terms of the unperturbed brush height and Debye screening length was established to determine the threshold value of the brush separation beyond which they are truly independent from each other.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21104078)the Project of Science and Technology of Jilin Province,China(No.201201096)the Scientific Research Starting Foundation for the Jilin Agricultural University,China(No.201212)
文摘The morphological changes of ABA amphiphilic triblock copolymer micelles in dilute solution were systematically studied by tuning the solvent property using self-consistent field simulation. The solvent property was tuned by changing the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters between each type of blocks and solvent, respectively. The simulation results show that by changing the solvent properties, a series of micelle morphologies such as vesicle, cage-like, ring-shaped, rod-like and spherical micelle morphologies can be obtained. Variations of the free energy of the solution system and the surface area of micelles with the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were calculated to better understand the effect of solvent property on micelle morphologies. In addition, a phase diagram showing the morphological changes of micelles with the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters is provided.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10972121)the Ministry of Education (SRFDP 20090002110047)the 973 Program of MOST(2012CB934101)
文摘Self-assembled nanostructures of lipids and nanoparticles hold great promise for applications in such fields as nanomedicine. This paper uses the self-consistent field theory to investigate the self-assembly behavior of lipid molecules and nanoparticles with different shapes in an aqueous solution. It is found that the lipid molecules can form monolayered and bilayered nanostructures around the nanopartieles with different shapes （e.g., triangular, square, hexagonal and octangular）. With decreasing the size of nanoparticles or increasing the number of polygon edges, the shape of lipid layers will approach an approximately spherical shape. These findings may help to predict and design novel drug delivery nanocarriers.
文摘The self-consistent Hartree-Fock equation for the He atom is solved using the pseudospectral method. The Feshbach- type autoionization resonance parameters for doubly excited 2s2, 3s2, and 4s2 IS states of He have been determined by adding a complex absorbing potential to the Hamiltonian. The Riss-Meyer iterative and Pad6 extrapolation methods are applied to obtain reliable values for the autoionization resonance parameters, which are compared to previous results in the literature.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21374052)the support from K.C.Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University
文摘The self-consistent field theory has been employed to numerically study the response of bi-disperse flexible polyelectrolyte （PE） brushes grafted on an electrode to electric fields generated by opposite surface charges on the PE-grafted electrode and a second parallel electrode. The numerical study reveals that, under a positive external electric field, the shorter and negatively charged PE chains are more responsive than the longer PE chains in terms of the relative changes in their respective brush heights. Whereas under a negative external electric field, the opposite was observed. The total electric force on the grafted PE chains was calculated and it was found that, under a positive external electric field, the magnitude of the total electric force acting on one shorter PE chain is larger than that on one longer PE chain, or vice versa. The underlying mechanism was unraveled through analyzing the total electric field across the two oppositely charged electrodes.
基金Project supports by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.21074062 and 11174163)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars,Ministry of Education of Chinathe Scientific Research Fund of Zhejiang Provincial Educational Department,China(Grant No.Y200907455)
文摘The adsorption of flexible polyelectrolyte （PE） with the smeared charge distribution onto an oppositely charged sphere immersed in a PE solution is studied numerically with the continuum self-consistent field theory. The power law scaling relationships between the boundary layer thickness and the surface charge density and the charge fraction of PE chains revealed in the study are in good agreement with the existing analytical result. The curvature effect on the degree of charge compensation of the total amount of charges on the adsorbed PE chains over the surface charges is examined, and a clear understanding of it based on the dependences of the degree of charge compensation on the surface charge density and the charge fraction of PE chains is established.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21474107)
文摘ABCA tetrablock copolymers offer new opportunities for design of materials with novel structures. Using real-space self- consistent field theory and simulation, we systematically examined the self-assembly behavior of linear ABCA tetrablock copolymers in a 2D space. The simulation was carried out under conditions of symmetrical compositions and interactions. We focus on the influence of chain length ratio of block A and interactions between block A and other blocks B and C on the self-assembly behavior of the copolymer system. The simulation results show that most of the structures self-assembled by the ABCA tetrablock copolymers are centrosymmetric, such as diblock-like lameUa phase, two kinds of lameUae with beads at interface, two kinds of hierarchical lamella phase, hexagonal honeycomb-like phase, lamella phase with mixed BC and hexagonal spheres with mixed BC. Furthermore, we find that a novel noncentrosymmetric Janus spheres can be obtained when the interaction between blocks B and C is strong, whereas a noncentrosymmetric lamella phase was obtained at weak interaction between blocks B and C. Phase diagrams for the ABCA tetrablock copolymers with different interaction strength between blocks B and C are constructed by comparing free energies of candidate ordered structures. In addition, studies on the metastable behavior of the system reveal that enthalpy plays an important role in the metastable behavior of the ABCA tetrablock copolymer system. Our work can provide useful guide for structure control of such kind of tetrablock copolymers in experiments.
基金financially supported by the China Scholarship Council (No. 201406105018)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21004013)the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB605701)
文摘Self-consistent field theory（SCFT）, as a state-of-the-art technique for studying the self-assembly of block copolymers, is attracting continuous efforts to improve its accuracy and efficiency. Here we present a fourth-order exponential time differencing Runge-Kutta algorithm（ETDRK4） to solve the modified diffusion equation（MDE） which is the most time-consuming part of a SCFT calculation. By making a careful comparison with currently most efficient and popular algorithms, we demonstrate that the ETDRK4 algorithm significantly reduces the number of chain contour steps in solving the MDE, resulting in a boost of the overall computation efficiency, while it shares the same spatial accuracy with other algorithms. In addition, to demonstrate the power of our ETDRK4 algorithm, we apply it to compute the phase boundaries of the bicontinuous gyroid phase in the strong segregation regime and to verify the existence of the triple point of the O70 phase, the lamellar phase and the cylindrical phase.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11421101 and 21274005)the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council(NSERC)of Canada
文摘Bilayer membranes self-assembled from amphiphilic molecules such as lipids, surfactants, and block copolymers are ubiquitous in biological and physiochemical systems. The shape and structure of bilayer membranes depend crucially on their mechanical properties such as surface tension, bending moduli, and line tension. Understanding how the molecular properties of the amphiphiles determine the structure and mechanics of the self-assembled bilayers requires a molecularly detailed theoretical framework. The self-consistent field theory provides such a theoretical framework, which is capable of accurately predicting the mechanical parameters of self-assembled bilayer membranes. In this mini review we summarize the formulation of the self-consistent field theory, as exemplified by a model system composed of flexible amphiphilic chains dissolved in hydrophilic polymeric solvents, and its application to the study of self-assembled bilayer membranes.
基金the Experimental Technology Research Project of Zhejiang University(SYB202138)National Natural Science Foundation of China(32000195).
文摘Soil DNA extraction,such as microbial community analysis and gene drift detection,is an important basis for multiple analyses in different fields.Nevertheless,the soil DNA extraction methods for field detection are still lacking.This study established a rapid soil DNA extraction(RSDE)method that can be used in field detection.In this method,we first utilized the optimized lysate to isolate DNA from soil and then used a filtration membrane and a DNA adsorption membrane to purify the DNA via the column method.Moreover,we used the pressure from the syringe instead of the conventional centrifugal force of the centrifuge to assist the sample filtration,resulting in very low requirements for this method,with an extraction time of less than 20 min.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the RSDE method was applicable for DNA extraction from different types of soils,with the demand for soil samples as low as 0.1 g and that the amount of obtained DNA was,to some extent,greater than that obtained by a commercial kit.Further analysis revealed that this extracted genomic DNA can be used directly for polymerase chain reaction(PCR)analysis,including ordinary PCR,real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,and recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA)-CRISPR/Cas12a visual assays.In addition,we demonstrated that this method can be used to extract DNA from residual plant roots in addition to soil microbes,which lays a foundation for the comprehensive analysis of soil plants and microorganisms.In summary,the RSDE method proposed in this study may have wide application prospects.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52301259 and 22208019)the Research Fund Program for Young Scholars of Beijing Institute of Technology。
文摘Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)converts CO_(2) into valuable chemicals by consuming renewable electricity at mild conditions,making it a promising approach to achieving carbon neutrality.However,the reaction of CO_(2) with hydroxide ions to form carbonates leads to low carbon utilization and energy efficiency in near-neutral or alkaline CO_(2)RR.The high concentration of protons in acidic media can effectively mitigate carbonate formation and deposition,thereby significantly minimizing carbon loss and energy consumption.Unfortunately,hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is more kinetically favorable than CO_(2)RR in acidic media.Herein,we comprehensively overview recent progress in acidic CO_(2)RR and propose two strategies derived from the competing reaction pathways of HER and CO_(2)RR:one focuses on regulating the H+mass transport,while the other aims to modulate the intrinsic kinetic activity of CO_(2)RR.The two strategies are designed to compete for the limited active sites on the catalyst surface,inhibit side reactions,and enhance the activity and selectivity of CO_(2)RR.The representative approaches include modulating the interface electric field,constructing a local alkaline environment,and regulating competing adsorption sites.Finally,we also review the technical challenges and future perspectives of acidic CO_(2)RR coupled with membrane electrode assemblies(MEAs).
文摘The slow-proton-fast-electron process severely limits the catalytic efficiency of oxygen evolution reaction.A method is proposed to accelerate proton transfer by building up local electric fields.Modifying acetic,ethanedioic and propanetricarboxylic(C_(6)H_(8)O_(6))ligands on BiVO_(4)surface results in a potential difference between BiVO_(4)and ligands that generates a local electric field which serves as a driving force for proton transfer.Among the ligands,carrying the strongest electron-withdrawing ability,the modification of C_(6)H_(8)O_(6) forms the strongest local electric field and leads to the fastest proton transfer and the smallest thermodynamic overpotential.C_(6)H_(8)O_(6)-BiVO_(4)exhibits 3.5 times photocurrent density as high as that of pure BiVO_(4),which is 3.50 mA cm^(-2)at 1.23 VRHE.The onset potential of C_(6)H_(8)O_(6)-BiVO_(4)shifts negatively from 0.70 to 0.38 VRHE.The mechanism for OER transitions from thermodynamically high energy proton-coupled electron transfer to thermodynamically low energy electron transfer as proton transfer is accelerated.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52073106)。
文摘Constructing heterostructures and facilitating surface reconstruction are effective ways to obtain excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Surface reconstruction is a dynamic process that is affected by the built-in electric field of the heterostructure.In this study,P/N co-doped carbon-coated NiCo/Ni-CoO heterostructure was prepared by in situ acid etching,aniline polymerization,and pyrolysis.This method can form a tightly connected heterogeneous interface.It was found that introducing P-O bonds in the carbon shell can increase its work function,thereby enhancing the built-in electric field between the carbon shell and the core catalyst.Detailed characterizations confirm that the P-O bridge at the heterogeneous interface can provide an electron flow highway from the core to the shell.The generated carbon defects generated by P leaching during surface reconstruction also have strong electronabsorbing capacity.These effects promote the conversion of Co^(2+)to Co^(3+),thereby providing more highly active sites.The resulting catalyst shows significantly enhanced activity and stability.This study demonstrates the promoting effect of the built-in electric field on the surface reconstruction of the catalyst and emphasizes the importance of the construction of tightly connected heterogeneous interface,which is instructive for the design of excellent OER catalysts.
基金The authors sincerely appreciate funding from“Producing Hydrogen in Trentino-H2@TN”(PAT-Trento)through the research grant(SAP 40104237)Researchers Supporting Project number(RSP2025R399)King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Simultaneously inducing dual built-in electric fields(EFs)both within a single component and at the heterojunction interface creates a dual-driving force that is crucial for promoting spatial charge separation.This is particularly significant in challenging coupled systems,such as CO_(2)photoreduction integrated with selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde.However,developing such a system is quite challenging and often requires a precise design and engineering.Herein,we demonstrate a unique Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)_(2)heterojunction synthesized via an in-situ self-assembly method.Comprehensive mechanistic and theoretical investigations reveal that the NiCdS@Ni(OH)_(2)heterojunction induces dual electric fields(EFs):an intrinsic polarized electric-field within the CdS lattice from Ni doping and an interfacial electric-field from the growth of ultrathin nanosheets of Ni(OH)_(2)on NiCdS nanorods,enabling efficient spatial charge separation and enhanced redox potential.As proof of concept,the Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)_(2)heterojunction simultaneously exhibits outstanding bifunctional photocatalytic performance,producing CO at a rate of 427μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and selectively oxidizing toluene to benzaldehyde at a rate of 1476μmol g^(-1)h^(-1)with a selectivity exceeding 85%.This work offers a promising strategy to optimize the utilization of photogenerated carriers in heterojunction photocatalysts,advancing synergistic photocatalytic redox systems.
基金Project(51174098)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(kjsmcx0903)supported by the Foundation of the Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Materials Tribology,China+2 种基金Project(1202015B)supported by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,ChinaProject(03)supported by the Undergraduate Practice-Innovation Training Foundation of Jiangsu University,ChinaProjects(GY2012020,GY2013032)supported by the Science and Technology Support Plan Project Foundation of Zhenjiang City,China
文摘TiB2/Al-30Si composites were fabricated via in-situ melt reaction under high-energy ultrasonic field. The microstructure and wear properties of the composite were investigated by XRD, SEM and dry sliding testing. The results indicate that TiB2 reinforcement particles are uniformly distributed in the aluminum matrix under high-energy ultrasonic field. The morphology of the TiB2 particles is in circle-shape or quadrangle-shape, and the size of the particles is 0.1-1.5μm. The primary silicon particles are in quadrangle-shape and the average size of them is about 10μm. Hardness values of the Al-30Si matrix alloy and the TiB2/Al-30Si composites considerably increase as the high energy ultrasonic power increases. In particular, the maximum hardness value of the in-situ composites is about 1.3 times as high as that of the matrix alloy when the ultrasonic power is 1.2 kW, reaching 412 MPa. Meanwhile, the wear resistance of the in-situ TiB2/Al-30Si composites prepared under high-energy ultrasonic field is obviously improved and is insensitive to the applied loads of the dry sliding testing.
基金support by the Natural Science Research Foundation of Jiangnan University(No.005796).
文摘Magnetic field was tentatively introduced into Fenton reactions system for the degradation and discoloration of methyl blue as the represent of organic chemical dye, which was a bio-refractory organic pollutant in industry wastewater. It was found that under optimal Fenton reaction conditions, with the assistant of magnetic field in Fenton reactions, the degradation rate of methyl blue, the decomposition rate of H2O2 and the conversion rate of Fe^2＋ were accelerated, the extent of them would be improved by the increase of magnetic field intensity. Meanwhile, the mineralization of methyl blue （CODer） was improved by over 10% with magnetic field.
文摘The aim of the present experiments was to discern if the “entanglement”-like photon emissions from pairs of cell cultures or human brains separated by significant distances but sharing the same circling magnetic field could be demonstrated with a classic chemiluminescent reaction produced by hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite. Simultaneous injection of the same amount of peroxide into a local dish (above a photomultiplier tube) and a dish 10 m away in a closed chamber produced a “doubling” of the durations of the photon spikes only when the two reactions were placed in the center of separate spaces around each of which magnetic fields were generated as accelerating group velocities containing decreasing phase modulations followed by decelerating group velocities embedded with increasing phase modulations. The duration of this “entanglement” was about 8 min. These results suggest that separate distances behave as if they were “the same space” if they are exposed to the same precise temporal configuration of magnetic fields with specific angular velocities.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(21922814,22138012,21961160745,21921005,22178349,22078333,22108281 and 31961133019)Excellent Member in Youth Innovation Promotion Association,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Y202014)Shandong Energy Institute(Grant Number SEI 1202133).
文摘Developing highly efficient,durable,and non-noble electrocatalysts for the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is the pivotal for meeting the practical demand in water splitting.However,the current transition-metal electrocatalysts still suffer from low activity and durability on account of poor interfacial reaction kinetics.In this work,a facile solid-state synthesis strategy is developed to construct transition-metal sulfides heterostructures(denoted as MS_(2)/NiS_(2),M=Mo or W)for boosting OER electrocatalysis.As a result,MoS2/NiS2 and WS2/NiS2 show lower overpotentials of 300 mV and 320 mV to achieve the current density of 10 mA·cm^(-2),and smaller Tafel slopes of 60 mV.dec^(-1) and 83 mV.dec^(-1)in 1 mol·L^(-1) KOH,respectively,in comparison with the single MoS2,WS2,NiS2,as well as even the benchmark RuO2.The experiments reveal that the designed heterostructures have strong electronic interactions and spontaneously develop a built-in electric field at the heterointerface with uneven charge distribution based on the difference of band structures,which promote interfacial charge transfer,improve absorptivity of OH-,and modulate the energy level more comparable to the OER.Thus,the designed transition-metal sulfides heterostructures exhibit a remarkably high electrocatalytic activity for OER.This study provides a simple strategy to manipulate the heterostructure interface via an energy level engineering method for OER and can be extended to fabricate other heterostructures for various energy-related applications.
