High Efficiency and Low Roll-Off Pure-Red Perovskite LED Enabled by Simultaneously Inhibiting Auger and Trap Recombination of Quantum Dots.

CsPbI3 perovskite quantum dots (QDs) could achieve pure-red emission by reducing their size, but the increased exciton binding energy (EB) and surface defects for the small-sized QDs (SQDs) cause severe Auger and trap recombinations, thus worsening their electroluminescence (EL) performance. Herein, we utilize the dangling bonds of the SQDs as a driving force to accelerate KI dissolution to solve its low solubility in nonpolar solvents, thereby allowing K+ and I- to bond to the surface of SQDs. The EB of the SQDs was decreased from 305 to 51 meV because of the attraction of K+ to electrons, meanwhile surface vacancies were passivated by K+ and I-. The Auger and trap recombinations were simultaneously suppressed by this difunctional ligand. The SQD-based light-emitting diode showed a stable pure-red EL peak of 639 nm, an external quantum efficiency of 25.1% with low roll-off, and a brightness of 5934 cd m-2.

Entropy-Driven Strongly Confined Low-Toxicity Pure-Red Perovskite Quantum Dots for Spectrally Stable Light-Emitting Diodes.

Spectrally stable pure-red perovskite quantum dots (QDs) with low lead content are essential for high-definition displays but are difficult to synthesize due to QD self-purification. Here, we make use of entropy-driven quantum-confined pure-red perovskite QDs to fabricate light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that have low toxicity and are efficient and spectrum-stable. Based on experimental data and first-principles calculations, multiple element alloying results in a 60% reduction in lead content while improving QD entropy to promote crystal stability. Entropy-driven QDs exhibit photoluminescence with 100% quantum yields and single-exponential decay lifetimes without alteration of their morphology or crystal structure. The pure-red LEDs utilizing entropy-driven QDs have spectrally stable electroluminescence, achieving a brightness of 4932 cd/m2, a maximum external quantum efficiency of over 20%, and a 15-fold longer operational lifetime than the CsPbI3 QD-based LEDs. These achievements demonstrate that entropy-driven QDs can mitigate local compositional heterogeneity and ion migration.

Optical proximity sensors using multiple quantum well didoes.

InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) diodes perform multiple functions, such as optical emission, modulation and reception. In particular, the partially overlapping spectral region between the electroluminescence (EL) and responsivity spectra of each diode results in each diode being able to sense light from another diode of the same MQW structure. Here, we present a noncontact, optical proximity sensing system by integrating an MQW-based light transmitter and detector into a tiny GaN-on-sapphire chip. Changes in the external environment modulate the light emitted from the transmitter. Reflected light is received by the on-chip MQW detector, wherein the carried external modulation information is converted into electrical signals that can be extracted. The maximum detection proximity is approximately 17 mm, and the displacement detection accuracy is within 1 mm. Based on the detection of distance, we extend the application of the sensor to vibration and pressure detection. This monolithic integration design can replace external discrete light transmitter and detector systems to miniaturize reflective sensor architectures, enabling the development of novel optical sensors.

Multi-Gb/s visible light communication based on AlGaInP amber micro-LED.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), pivotal for solid-state illumination (SSL) and highly regarded as potential candidates in visible light communication (VLC) systems, have garnered significant interest as a solution to alleviate the congested radio frequency spectrum in next-generation communications. Addressing the challenge of extremely limited bandwidth due to the low response of phosphor in conventional illumination, our research focuses on an AlGaInP-based amber LED. This LED represents a promising avenue for phosphor-free, high-speed VLC applications when used in conjunction with the prevalent blue LED technology based on nitride materials. The fabricated AlGaInP amber LED, with a mesa diameter of 100 µm2, has undergone comprehensive optoelectronic property and transmission performance characterization. We have successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept for VLC using the amber LED, achieving a data transmission rate of 2.94 Gb/s that complies with the forward-error-correction (FEC) standard of 3.8 × 10-3, utilizing adaptive bit and power loading with discrete multitone (BPL-DMT) modulation.

Synchrotron Radiation: A Key Tool for Drug Discovery.

Synchrotron radiation is extensively utilized in the domains of materials science, physical chemistry, and life science, resulting from its high intensity, exceptional monochromaticity, superior collimation, and broad wave spectrum. This top-notch light source has also made significant contributions to the progress of biomedicine. The advancement of synchrotron radiation-based X-ray and protein crystallography technologies has created new prospects for drug discovery. These innovative techniques have opened up exciting avenues in the field. The investigation of protein crystal structures and the elucidation of the spatial configuration of biological macromolecules have revealed intricate details regarding the modes of protein binding. Furthermore, the screening of crystal polymorphs and ligands has laid the groundwork for rational drug modification and the improvement of drug physicochemical properties. As science and technology continue to advance, the techniques for analyzing structures using synchrotron radiation sources and the design of corresponding crystallographic beamline stations are undergoing continuous enhancement. These cutting-edge tools and facilities are expected to expedite the drug development process and rectify the current situation of a lack of targeted drugs.

Alterations of mannosylated glycopatterns recognized by Hippeastrum hybrid lectin in saliva of patients with lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Lung cancer (LC) is the malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate worldwide, and precise early diagnosis can improve patient prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether alterations in the glycopatterns recognized by the Hippeastrum hybrid lectin (HHL) in salivary proteins are associated with the development of LC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, we collected saliva samples from LC (15 lung adenocarcinoma (ADC); 15 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); 15 small cell lung cancer (SCLC)) and 15 benign pulmonary disease (BPD) for high-throughput detection of abundance levels of HHL-recognized glycopatterns using protein microarrays, and then validated the pooled samples from each group with lectin blotting analysis. Finally, the N-glycan profiles of salivary glycoproteins isolated from the pooled samples using HHL-magnetic particle conjugates were characterized separately using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. RESULTS: The results showed that the abundance level of glycopatterns recognized by HHL in salivary proteins was elevated in LC compared to BPD. The proportion of mannosylated N-glycans was notably higher in ADC (31.7%), SCC (39.0%), and SCLC (46.6%) compared to BPD (23.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The altered salivary glycopatterns such as oligomannose, Manα1-3Man, or Manα1-6Man N-glycans recognized by HHL might serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of LC patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides crucial information for studying changes in salivary to differentiate between BPD and LC and facilitate the discovery of biomarkers for LC diagnosis based on precise alterations of mannosylated N-glycans in saliva.

Nonsaturating Linear Magnetoresistance Manifesting Two-Dimensional Transport in Wet-Chemical Patternable Bi2O2Te Thin Films.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with exotic transport behaviors have attracted extensive interest in microelectronics and condensed matter physics, while scaled-up 2D thin films compatible with the efficient wet-chemical etching process represent realistic advancement toward new-generation integrated functional devices. Here, thickness-controllable growth and chemical patterning of high-quality Bi2O2Te continuous films are demonstrated. Noticeably, except for an ultrahigh mobility (∼45074 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 2 K) and obvious Shubnikov-de Hass quantum oscillations, a 2D transport channel and large linear magnetoresistance are revealed in the patterned Bi2O2Te films. Investigation implies that the linear magnetoresistance correlates with the inhomogeneity described by P. B. Littlewood's theory and EMT-RRN theory developed recently. These results not only reveal the nonsaturating linear magnetoresistance in high-quality Bi2O2Te but shed light on understanding the corresponding physical origin of linear magnetoresistance in 2D high-mobility semiconductors and providing a pathway for the potential application in multifunctional electronic devices.

Two-Dimensional Superconductivity in Air-Stable Single-Crystal Few-Layer Bi3O2S3.

The progress of unconventional superconductors at the two-dimensional (2D) limit has inspired much interest. Recently, a new superconducting system was discovered in the semimetallic ternary Bi-O-S family. However, pure-phase crystals are difficult to synthesize because of the complicated stacking sequence of multiple charged layers and similar formation kinetics among ternary polytypes, leaving several fundamental issues regarding the structure-superconductivity correlation unresolved. Herein, 2D single-crystal ultrathin Bi3O2S3 nanosheets are prepared by using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition, and their atomic arrangement is clarified. Magnetotransport measurements indicate a superconducting transition at ∼6.1 K that is thickness-independent. The transport results demonstrate 2D superconducting characteristics, such as the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, and strong anisotropy with magnetic field orientations following the 2D Tinkham formula. The difference from superconductivity of powder is demonstrated from the perspective of their corresponding microstructures. These results corroborate the superconducting behavior of Bi3O2S3, providing fresh insights into the search for other bismuth oxychalcogenides and derivative BiS2-based analogues at the 2D limit.

Monolithic integrated MQW-based optoelectronic glucose sensor.

This study presents the development process of a multi-quantum well (MQW)-based optoelectronic integrated device designed for precise glucose concentration measurements. The proposed monolithic device consists of two identical diodes containing InGaN/GaN MQWs, serving as a light emitter (LED) and a photodetector (PD), respectively. The chip is meticulously packaged with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to facilitate exposure to the glucose solution. By monitoring changes in the photocurrent of the PD that detects scattered light of the LED propagating through the sapphire substrate, the chip can accurately reflect alterations in the glucose solution's concentration. The device's uniqueness lies in its ability to achieve this precision without the need for external optical components. The device exhibits a fast response, operating at a sub-second level, and can gauge glucose solutions with concentrations ranging from 5% to 40%. The fabricated optical sensing device showcases appealing characteristics, including compactness, stability, repeatability, and rapid response, making it highly suitable for glucose concentration measurement applications.

High-Efficiency Pure-Red Perovskite Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

It is still challenging to achieve high-efficiency pure-red (620-650 nm wavelength) perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Herein, we report pure-red PeLEDs with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates (0.703, 0.297) meeting the Rec. 2020, an external quantum efficiency of 20.8%, and a luminance of 3775 cd/m2. This design is based on the strong quantum confinement CsPbI3 quantum dots (QDs) capped by composite ligands of 3-phenyl-1-propylamine and tetrabutylammonium iodide. This strategy stabilized the structure of the strong-confined QDs and reduced the influence of the electric field-induced Stark effect on the PeLEDs. Furthermore, the exciton binding energy of the QDs was decreased by the composited ligands to suppress Auger recombination within the devices. Additionally, the valence-band maximum of the QDs was lifted to match the hole-transport layer, thus balancing charge injection in the PeLEDs. Our device also demonstrated a stable electroluminescence spectrum and a lifetime of 5.6 times longer than the control device.

[Fast Removal of CT Ring Artifacts].

OBJECTIVE: To explore how to remove CT ring-shaped artifact quickly and effectively, and to improve accuracy of CT reconstruction image. METHODS: CT graphics (including the ring-shaped artifacts) were used first in coordinate transformation with a new transformation method. A two-dimensional filter was designed to filter the image. Then, a one-dimensional filter was used to re-filter the image. Finally, a new transform method was used to restore the image. RESULTS: The two-step coordinate transformation of ring-shaped artifact algorithm resulted in accurate restored original CT image, effectively reducing its interference on useful information. CONCLUSION: The method described in this study can overcome disadvantages of existing methods and obtain good results.

Advances in biosynthesis of peptide drugs: Technology and industrialization.

Peptide drugs are developed from endogenous or synthetic peptides with specific biological activities. They have advantages of strong target specificity, high efficacy and low toxicity, thus showing great promise in the treatment of many diseases such as cancer, infections, and diabetes. Although an increasing number of peptide drugs have entered market in recent years, the preparation of peptide drug substances is yet a bottleneck problem for their industrial production. Comparing to the chemical synthesis method, peptide biosynthesis has advantages of simple synthesis, low cost, and low contamination. Therefore, the biosynthesis technology of peptide drugs has been widely used for manufacturing. Herein, we reviewed the development of peptide drugs and recent advances in peptide biosynthesis technology, in order to shed a light to the prospect of industrial production of peptide drugs based on biosynthesis technology.

Integrated glycomics strategy for galactosylated-N-glycans recognized by Bandeiraea Simplicifolia Lectin I in salivary proteins associated with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, mainly due to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Saliva is an important source for discovering biomarkers and contains an abundance of biological information. The purpose of this study was to determine whether galactosylation levels of salivary proteins are associated with LC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: First, we analyzed the alterations of the glycopatterns recognized by Bandeiraea Simplicifolia Lectin I (BS-I) in five groups (healthy volunteers [HV]: 28, benign pulmonary disease [BPD]: 27, lung adenocarcinoma [ADC]: 39, squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]: 28, small-cell lung cancer [SCLC]: 22) of 144 saliva samples using lectin microarrays. Pooled samples from each group were subsequently validated by the lectin blotting technique. Finally, the N-glycan profiles of their salivary glycoproteins isolated by the BS-I-magnetic particle conjugates from pooled samples for each group were analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. RESULTS: The results showed that the expression level of galactosylated glycans recognized by BS-I was significantly increased in patients with LC compared with BPD and HV. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the levels of salivary glycopattern recognized by BS-I could discriminate lung disease (BPD, ADC, SCC, and SCLC) and HV with an AUC of 0.700 (95% CI: 0.589-0.812), and discriminate LC and BPD with an AUC of 0.860 (95% CI: 0.763-0.956). Also, the proportion of galactosylated N-glycans in ADC (38.4%), SCC (43.1%), and SCLC (39.5%) increased compared to HV (30.1%) and BPD (33.7%), and two galactosylated N-glycan peaks (m/z 1828.683, 2418.853) could be identified only in the LC groups (ADC, SCC, and SCLC). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings could provide crucial information on galactosylated N-linked glycans associated with LC and facilitate the study of LC biomarkers based on precise alterations of galactosylated N-glycans in saliva.

Operational Stability Issues and Challenges in Metal Halide Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Metal halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (Pe-LEDs) have shown promise for high-definition displays because of their wide color gamut (∼140%) and narrow emission band. Although the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of Pe-LEDs increased rapidly from ∼1% to more than 20% in several years, they still suffer from poor operational stability, which has been recognized as the bottleneck for commercial application of Pe-LEDs. Although the environmental sensitivity of perovskites can be avoided by encapsulation approaches, the ion migration of perovskites is easily induced by crystal defects under the action of an electric field in the operating state, thus accelerating irreversible phase transition and physical degradation of the perovskites. Additionally, the unbalanced carrier injection of Pe-LEDs could induce great Auger recombination and Joule heating, which deteriorate the operational stability of devices. Considering these issues, coping strategies, such as surface engineering, ion doping, and quantum confinement control of perovskites and structure design and thermal management of devices, are discussed in this Perspective.

A versatile Tb(III) complex for picosecond filamentation, a transparent thin film and a supramolecular gel.

The first complex picosecond filament, namely a filament of terbium(III) p-hydroxybenzoate, is observed. The filament is the only example of Ln(III) ion two-photon absorption in a complex. A transparent, colorless and mechanically robust thin film, as well as a supramolecular gel, of this complex are prepared in a facile manner and exhibit strong luminescence. The thin film is characterized in detail by XRD, SEM, UV-vis, luminescence spectroscopy and lifetime.

High Efficiency and Narrow Emission Band Pure-Red Perovskite Colloidal Quantum Wells.

Colloidal quantum wells (CQWs) have excellent optical performance, such as ultranarrow emission, due to strong quantum confinement in the vertical direction. However, there are few reports on metal halide perovskite CQWs with high-purity red emission (∼630 nm) for the display application, owing to the broadened photoluminescence spectrum and beyond the red emission range. Herein, we successfully synthesize high-quality CsPbI3 CQWs in a strong electronegative solvent (mesitylene), which cut the chemical reaction rate of the precursor system to slow down the crystal nuclei growth. The number of PbI64- octahedral layers (n) of CQWs can be regulated to achieve the emission of the CQW shift from orange (596 nm, n = 3) to red (626 nm, n = 4). The pure-red-emitting CQWs have a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 99% and a narrow emission bandwidth (28 nm). The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates (0.69, 0.31) meet the requirement of the Rec. 2020 standard.

Difference in light use strategy in red alga between Griffithsia pacifica and Porphyridium purpureum.

Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are the largest light-harvesting antenna in red algae, and feature high efficiency and rate of energy transfer even in a dim environment. To understand the influence of light on the energy transfer in PBSs, two red algae Griffithsia pacifica and Porphyridium purpureum living in different light environment were selected for this research. The energy transfer dynamics in PBSs of the two red algae were studied in time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in sub-picosecond resolution. The energy transfer pathways and the related transfer rates were uncovered by deconvolution of the fluorescence decay curve. Four time-components, i.e., 8 ps, 94 ps, 970 ps, and 2288 ps were recognized in the energy transfer in PBSs of G. pacifica, and 10 ps, 74 ps, 817 ps and 1292 ps in P. purpureum. In addition, comparison in energy transfer dynamics between the two red algae revealed that the energy transfer was clearly affected by lighting environment. The findings help us to understand the energy transfer mechanisms of red algae for adaptation to a natural low light environment.

Occurrence and Fate of Steroid Estrogens in a Chinese Typical Concentrated Dairy Farm and Slurry Irrigated Soil.

Animal husbandry is the second largest source of steroid estrogen (SE) pollutants in the environment, and it is significant to investigate the occurrence and fate of SEs discharged from concentrated animal feeding operations. In this research, with a Chinese typical concentrated dairy farm as the object, the concentrations of SEs (E1, 17α-E2, 17ß-E2, E3, and E1-S3) in slurry, lagoon water, and slurry-irrigated soil samples in summer, autumn, and winter were determined. The total concentrations of SEs (mainly E1, 17α-E2, and 17ß-E2) in slurry were very high in the range of 263.1-2475.08 ng·L-1. In the lagoon water, the removal efficiencies of the aerobic tank could reach up to 89.53%, with significant fluctuation in different seasons. In the slurry-irrigated soil, the maximum concentrations of SEs in the topsoil and subsoil were 21.54 ng·g-1 to 6.82 g·g-1, respectively. Most of the SEs tended to transport downward and accumulate in the soil accompanied with the complex mutual conversion. Correlations and hierarchical clustering analysis showed a variety of intertransformation among SEs, and the concentrations of SEs were correlated with various physicochemical indexes, such as TN and NO3--N of the slurry, chemical oxygen demand of the lagoon water, and the heavy metals of soil. In addition, 17ß-estradiol equivalency assessment and risk quotients indicated that the slurry irrigation and discharge of the lagoon water would cause potential estrogenic risks to the environment. Consequently, reasonable slurry irrigation and lagoon water discharge are essential to efficiently control SE pollution in the environment.

Feasibility and mechanism of enhanced 17ß-estradiol degradation by the nano Zero Valent Iron-citrate system.

17ß-Estradiol (17ß-E2) as a non-conventional pollutant with high damage, the effective removal of 17ß-E2 had been studied wildly. In recent years, nano materials application enabled the rapid removal of 17ß-E2. Nano zero valent iron (nZVI) as one of the most widely used nano materials could also be used to degrade 17ß-E2. But, the degradation performance of nZVI was limited by oxidation and aggregation. Therefore, this study explored the degradation mechanisms of 17ß-E2 by nZVI and the enhancement mechanisms of nZVI by citrate. Firstly, 17ß-E2 could be effectively degraded under acidic conditions without the addition of citrate. Citrate had protective effect on nZVI, so the degradation efficiency in neutral condition and degradation rate at all pH values of 17ß-E2 were enhanced greatly in nZVI-citrate system. 17ß-E2 degradation was mainly about group change and cleavage of ring A, as well as dominated by O2-▪ and OH∙ in the absence and presence of citrate. The formation of dimers and trimers proved the existence of laccase-like reaction during the 17ß-E2 degradation process by nZVI. In nZVI-citrate system, the laccase-like reaction was replaced by specific cross-coupling of 17ß-E2, E1, and citrate. Overall, the study proved that citrate could enhance the degradation of 17ß-E2 by nZVI.

Unusual method for phenolic hydroxyl bridged lanthanide CPs: syntheses, characterization, one and two photon luminescence.

A "basophilic method" for phenolic hydroxyl bridged lanthanide coordination polymers (CPs) was developed. With this method, eleven CPs with the general formula of [Ln(HL1)L1·H(2)O](n) (Ln = Tb (1), Nd (2), Eu (3), Gd (4), La (5), Er (6), Y (7), H(2)L1 = 4-methyl salicylic acid) and [Ln(HL2)L2·2MeOH](n) (Ln = Eu (8), Tb (9), Gd (10), La (11), H(2)L2 = 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid) were synthesized based on two ligands, and five of them (1-4 and 8) were characterised by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns (PXRD) of complexes showed that 1-7 are isostructural, 8-11 are isostructural. Furthermore, 1 was characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), elemental analysis (EA), one and two photon luminescence were investigated in detail.