The synthesis, structure, and fluorescence properties of a series of new donor-pi-acceptor (D-pi-A) type compounds, with a trivalent boron, protected by two mesityl groups, as acceptor, and with various typical donors and different pi-conjugated bridges, are reported. All these stable organoboron compounds show intense single-photon excited fluorescence (SPEF) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) in a wide spectral range from blue to green, with the spectral peak position of the SPEF being basically the same as that of the TPEF. The remarkably strong Cbond;B(mesityl)(2) bonding, and the well-conjugated pi-system, shown in X-ray crystal structures of two compounds, indicate some charge transfer features of the ground state. Meanwhile, spectral data indicate that the charge transfer from donor to acceptor is greatly enhanced in the excited states. Based on typical structural data and comprehensive spectral data, the following structure-property relationships can be drawn: 1) the moderate arylamino donor can more effectively enhance the SPEF and TPEF intensities than can the strong alkylamino donor; 2) stilbene is a better pi-bridge than styrylthiophene for its capability of enhancing and blue-shifting the SPEF and TPEF of the corresponding D-pi-A compounds; and 3) when compared to its boron-free precursors and other analogues, -B(mesityl)(2) invariably and consistently acts as an effective SPEF and TPEF fluorophore in all this series of organoboron compounds, which may result from its strong pi-electron-withdrawing and charge transfer-inducing nature in the ground-state and, more dominantly, in the excited-state. Combining all the above positive structure factors, trans-4'-N,N-diphenylamino-4-dimesitylborylstilbene (compound 3) stands out as the optimized green SPEF and TPEF emitter. This compound exhibits an SPEF quantum yield Phi of 0.91 at 522 nm in THF, a TPEF cross-section sigma' that is an order of magnitude larger than that of its boron-free precursor upon excitation by 800 nm femto-second laser pulses, and a two-photon absorption section sigma of 3.0 x 10(-48) cm(4) s. In the blue light region, trans-4'-N-carbazolyl-4-dimesitylboryl-stilbene (compound 4) shows significant SPEF and TPEF properties, with Phi=0.79 at 464 nm in THF and a large sigma' value, which is five times that of fluorescein upon excitation by 740 nm femto-second laser pulses.

Bio-inspired sensing modalities enhance the ability of autonomous vehicles to characterize and respond to their environment. This paper concerns the lateral line of cartilaginous and bony fish, which is sensitive to fluid motion and allows fish to sense oncoming flow and the presence of walls or obstacles. The lateral line consists of two types of sensing modalities: canal neuromasts measure approximate pressure gradients, whereas superficial neuromasts measure local flow velocities. By employing an artificial lateral line, the performance of underwater sensing and navigation strategies is improved in dark, cluttered, or murky environments where traditional sensing modalities may be hindered. This paper presents estimation and control strategies enabling an airfoil-shaped unmanned underwater vehicle to assimilate measurements from a bio-inspired, multi-modal artificial lateral line and estimate flow properties for feedback control. We utilize potential flow theory to model the fluid flow past a foil in a uniform flow and in the presence of an upstream obstacle. We derive theoretically justified nonlinear estimation strategies to estimate the free stream flowspeed, angle of attack, and the relative position of an upstream obstacle. The feedback control strategy uses the estimated flow properties to execute bio-inspired behaviors including rheotaxis (the tendency of fish to orient upstream) and station-holding (the tendency of fish to position behind an upstream obstacle). A robotic prototype outfitted with a multi-modal artificial lateral line composed of ionic polymer metal composite and embedded pressure sensors experimentally demonstrates the distributed flow sensing and closed-loop control strategies.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a new approach to produce fresh water from salted water sources. To achieve high CDI performance, we developed a facile method of fabricating graphene -like carbon nanosheets (GCNS) with a thickness of 2.4 nm by a Fe-catalyzed glucose-blowing approach. In this process, glucose is used as carbon precursors, NH4Cl as blowing agents and Fe species as graphitization catalyst. The GCNS not only has a relatively large accessible surface area to accommodate more ions, but also has high graphitization to accelerate ion diffusion. The CDI performance of GCNS is evaluated by a batch mode electrosorptive experiment. The GCNS have higher electrosorptive capacity (38.62 μmol/L) compared with other carbon materials. It indicates that the GCNS is a novel and potential material for desalination.

Quantum dots (QDs), as unique nanoparticle probes, have been used in in vivo fluorescence imaging such as cancers. Due to the novel characteristics in fluorescence, QDs represent a family of promising substances to be used in experimental and clinical imaging. Thus far, the toxicity and harmful health effects from exposure (including environmental exposure) to QDs are not recognized, but are largely concerned by the public. To assess the biological effects of QDs, we established a mouse model of acute and chronic exposure to QDs. Results from the present study suggested that QD particles could readily spread into various organs, and liver was the major organ for QD accumulation in mice from both the acute and chronic exposure. QDs caused significant impairments to livers from mice with both acute and chronic QD exposure as reflected by morphological alternation to the hepatic lobules and increased oxidative stress. Moreover, QDs remarkably induced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) along with cytotoxicity, as characterized by a significant increase of the malondialdehyde (MDA) level within hepatocytes. However, the increase of the MDA level in response to QD treatment could be partially blunted by the pre-treatment of cells with beta-mercaptoethanol (β-ME). These data suggested ROS played a crucial role in causing oxidative stress-associated cellular damage from QD exposure; nevertheless other unidentified mediators might also be involved in QD-mediated cellular impairments. Importantly, we demonstrated that the hepatoxicity caused by QDs in vivo and in vitro was much greater than that induced by cadmium ions at a similar or even a higher dose. Taken together, the mechanism underlying QD-mediated biological influences might derive from the toxicity of QD particles themselves, and from free cadmium ions liberated from QDs as well.