A dual-modality sensing probe of fluorescent and colorimetric for detection of cobalt ion based on silver nanoparticles functionalized rhodamine 6G derivatives.

The combination of fluorescent probe and colorimetric technique has become one of the most powerful analytical methods due to the advantages of visualization, minimal measurement errors and high sensitivity. Hence, a novel dual-modality sensing probe with both colorimetric and fluorescent capabilities was developed for detecting cobalt ions (Co2+) based on homocysteine mediated silver nanoparticles and rhodamine 6G derivatives probe (AgNPs-Hcy-Rh6G2). The fluorescence of the AgNPs-Hcy-Rh6G2 probe turned on due to the opening of the Rh6G2 spirolactam ring in the presence of Co2+ by a catalytic hydrolysis. The fluorescent intensity of probe is proportional to Co2+ concentration in the range of 0.10-50 µM with a detection limit of 0.05 µM (S/N = 3). More fascinatingly, the color of AgNPs-Hcy-Rh6G2 probe changed from colorless to pink with increasing Co2+ concentration, which allowing colorimetric determination of Co2+. The absorbance of AgNPs-Hcy-Rh6G2 probe is proportional to Co2+ concentration in the range from 0.10 to 25 µM with a detection limit of 0.04 µM (S/N = 3). This colorimetric and fluorescent dual-modal method exhibited good selectivity, and reproducibility and stability, holding great potential for real samples analysis in environmental and drug field.

A High-Resolution Time Reversal Method for Target Localization in Reverberant Environments.

Reverberation in real environments is an important factor affecting the high resolution of target sound source localization (SSL) methods. Broadband low-frequency signals are common in real environments. This study focuses on the localization of this type of signal in reverberant environments. Because the time reversal (TR) method can overcome multipath effects and realize adaptive focusing, it is particularly suitable for SSL in a reverberant environment. On the basis of the significant advantages of the sparse Bayesian learning algorithm in the estimation of wave direction, a novel SSL is proposed in reverberant environments. First, the sound propagation model in a reverberant environment is studied and the TR focusing signal is obtained. We then use the sparse Bayesian framework to locate the broadband low-frequency sound source. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method for broadband low-frequency targeting in a reverberant environment, simulations and real data experiments were performed. The localization performance under different bandwidths, different numbers of microphones, signal-to-noise ratios, reverberation times, and off-grid conditions was studied in the simulation experiments. The practical experiment was conducted in a reverberation chamber. Simulation and experimental results indicate that the proposed method can achieve satisfactory spatial resolution in reverberant environments and is robust.

Preparation of low-cost functionalized diatomite and its effective removal of ammonia nitrogen from wastewater.

A low-cost functionalization method was used to treat diatomite, and an efficient adsorbent for ammonia nitrogen was prepared by optimizing the functionalization conditions. The functionalized diatomite (DTCA-Na) was characterized by SEM, EDS, BET, XRD, FT-IR, and TG. The results demonstrate that DTCA-Na has excellent adsorption performance after being modified with H2SO4 (60.00 wt.%), NaCl (5.00 wt.%), and calcination at 400 °C for 2 h. While studying the effect of adsorption factors on the removal of ammonia nitrogen, the kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors in the adsorption process were discussed. The removal efficiency of the simulated wastewater with the initial ammonia nitrogen concentration of 10.00 mg L-1 by the DTCA-Na was more than 80% when the contact time was 60 min, pH was 6-10, the dosage of adsorbent was 1.00 g, and the temperature was 25 °C. The adsorption process of ammonia nitrogen was conformed to the pseudo-first-order and Langmuir isothermal model. The removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen was still above 80% after 5 times adsorption-desorption experiments. The DTCA-Na has a brighter prospect of application in the field of ammonia nitrogen wastewater treatment due to its excellent adsorption performance and low-cost advantage.

Microwave photonics broadband unambiguous frequency measurement based on a Sagnac loop and a linear optical filter.

We propose an instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) scheme featured with unambiguous measurement utilizing a Sagnac loop with an embedded bi-directional phase modulator and an optical filter with a linear frequency response. The frequency of the microwave signal to be measured is instantaneously estimated by calculating an amplitude comparison function (ACF) of photocurrents from the upper and lower branches of the proposed structure. Compared to previous IFM schemes, the ACF in the proposed scheme is monotonic, by which the frequency of the unknown microwave signal can be uniquely confirmed without ambiguity. Only one laser source and a phase modulator are needed, which simplifies the measurement system. In addition, the monotonous ACF can guarantee measurement accuracy in a wide range, from low frequency to high frequency. The IFM system has robustness in optical and RF power shifts. Simulation results show that frequency measurement over the range of 30 GHz with a measurement error of 0.4 GHz is achieved.

Detection and imaging of Hg(II) in vivo using glutathione-functionalized gold nanoparticles.

The optical and biological properties of functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been widely used in sensing applications. GNPs have a strong binding ability to thiol groups. Furthermore, thiols are used to bind functional molecules, which can then be used, for example, to detect metal ions in solution. Herein, we describe 13 nm GNPs functionalized by glutathione (GSH) and conjugated with a rhodamine 6G derivative (Rh6G2), which can be used to detect Hg(II) in cells. The detection of Hg2+ ions is based on an ion-catalyzed hydrolysis of the spirolactam ring of Rh6G2, leading to a significant change in the fluorescence of GNPs-GSH-Rh6G2 from an "OFF" to an "ON" state. This strategy is an effective tool to detect Hg2+ ions. In cytotoxicity experiments, GNPs-GSH-Rh6G2 could penetrate living cells and detect mercury ions through the fluorescent "ON" form.

A novel fluorescent "OFF-ON" sensing strategy for Hg (II) in water based on functionalized gold nanoparticles.

Mercury ion (Hg2+) is a heavy metal pollutant that can affect the safety of water environment and endanger human health. A novel detection strategy (GNPs-L-Cys-Rh6G2) for Hg2+ based on a fluorescence "OFF-ON" was proposed. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were assembled with l-cysteine (L-Cys), which was used as a "bridge" to link with rhodamine 6G derivatives (Rh6G2). The fluorescence state transition of GNPs-L-Cys-Rh6G2 switching from "OFF"-"ON" was observed because Hg2+ opened the spirolactam ring through a catalytic hydrolysis mechanism. The fluorescence signal of the GNPs-L-Cys-Rh6G2 system mixed with Hg2+ in the concentration range of 10-100 µM was analyzed and determined with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2 µM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the spiked Hg2+ concentration in real water samples were successfully quantified by GNPs-L-Cys-Rh6G2, which was in line with the ideal average recovery rate and relative standard deviation. The proposed strategy exhibited high specificity, sensitivity and stability, providing a novel sensing platform for heavy metal ions detection in water environment.

SFDR and gain enhancement in photonic downconversion link by linearization and full spectrum utilization.

In this work, an all-optical scheme to improve the gain and linearity of the downconverted analog photonic link is proposed and verified. We utilize the different electro-optic coefficients of the z-cut LiNbO3 phase modulator to realize the suppression of the third-order intermodulation distortion. On this basis, the link gain is improved by reusing optical carrier and lower sidebands. The simulation results show that the spurious-free dynamic range is improved by ∼7.4 dB. And the link gain is increased by ∼13.42 dB compared to the linearized downconversion link without full spectrum utilization. This photonic downconversion has good feasibility and robustness in inaccurate polarized angle and phase mismatch situations. It can be realized in a wide frequency range and has a stable conversion gain on the condition of RF power changing.