Search results for "Note"
showing 10 items of 10709 documents
Homodyne Solid-State Biased Coherent Detection of Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Pulses with Static Electric Fields.
2021
We present an innovative implementation of the solid-state-biased coherent detection (SSBCD) technique, which we have recently introduced for the reconstruction of both amplitude and phase of ultra-broadband terahertz pulses. In our previous works, the SSBCD method has been operated via a heterodyne scheme, which involves demanding square-wave voltage amplifiers, phase-locked to the THz pulse train, as well as an electronic circuit for the demodulation of the readout signal. Here, we demonstrate that the SSBCD technique can be operated via a very simple homodyne scheme, exploiting plain static bias voltages. We show that the homodyne SSBCD signal turns into a bipolar transient when the stat…
Apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy: a comparison between homodyne and heterodyne approaches
2006
International audience; In coherent homodyne apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy (ASNOM) the background field cannot be fully suppressed because of the interference between the different collected fields, making the images difficult to interpret. We show that implementing the heterodyne version of ASNOM allows one to overcome this issue. We present a comparison between homodyne and heterodyne ASNOM through near-field analysis of gold nanowells, integrated waveguides, and a single evanescent wave generated by total internal reflection. The heterodyne approach allows for the control of the interferometric effect with the background light. In particular, the undesirable backgro…
Reconsidering TOF calculation in the transformation of epoxides and CO2 into cyclic carbonates
2020
Abstract The combination of Lewis acids and Lewis bases, currently defined as catalysts and co-catalysts (or promoter) respectively, in the reaction between epoxides and CO2 to give cyclic carbonates, is discussed, starting from examples in which the Lewis base was used in larger amount with respect to the Lewis acid. In these cases, turnover frequency (TOF) values have been usually calculated taking into account solely the amount of the Lewis acid employed. The occurrence of two distinct reaction pathways, one catalysed by the sole Lewis base and the other one catalysed by the Lewis acid/Lewis base couple, in which the Lewis acid alone does not play a catalytic role, should bring researche…
New Hybrid Organic-inorganic Multifunctional Materials Based on Polydopamine-like Chemistry
2021
Taking inspiration from the chemistry of dopamine, a simple and economic synthetic approach toward the synthesis of a series of silica-based polydopamine-like materials has been developed. Mild conditions and easy manipulation are the strongest aspects of this methodology. Such hybrid materials were successfully used as recyclable catalysts for Knoevenagel reactions.
p -Type and n -type conductometric behaviors of octachloro-metallophthalocyanine-based heterojunctions, the key role of the metal
2020
In the present work, we determined the electrical properties of octachlorinated metallophthalocyanines with Co(II) and Cu(II) ions as metal centers. We engaged them in heterojunctions, with lutetium bisphthalocyanine as a partner. Surprisingly, cobalt and copper complexes show opposite behaviors, the first being an [Formula: see text]-type material whereas the latter is a [Formula: see text]-type material, as deduced from the response of the heterojunctions towards ammonia; showing the unusual key role played by the metal center. While the LuPc[Formula: see text]/Cu(Cl[Formula: see text]Pc) complex exhibits a negative response to ammonia, the LuPc[Formula: see text]/Co(Cl[Formula: see text…
Single-crystal I h ice surfaces unveil connection between macroscopic and molecular structure
2017
Physics and chemistry of ice surfaces are not only of fundamental interest but also have important impacts on biological and environmental processes. As ice surfaces—particularly the two prism faces—come under greater scrutiny, it is increasingly important to connect the macroscopic faces with the molecular-level structure. The microscopic structure of the ubiquitous ice Ih crystal is well-known. It consists of stacked layers of chair-form hexagonal rings referred to as molecular hexagons. Crystallographic unit cells can be assembled into a regular right hexagonal prism. The bases are labeled crystallographic hexagons. The two hexagons are rotated 30° with respect to each other. The linkage…
Confinement-deconfinement transition due to spontaneous symmetry breaking in quantum Hall bilayers
2015
Band-inverted electron-hole bilayers support quantum spin Hall insulator and exciton condensate phases. We investigate such a bilayer in an external magnetic field. We show that the interlayer correlations lead to formation of a helical quantum Hall exciton condensate state. In contrast to the chiral edge states of the quantum Hall exciton condensate in electron-electron bilayers, existence of the counterpropagating edge modes results in formation of a ground state spin-texture not supporting gapless single-particle excitations. This feature has deep consequences for the low energy behavior of the system. Namely, the charged edge excitations in a sufficiently narrow Hall bar are confined, i…
Absolute Chiral Sensing in Dielectric Metasurfaces Using Signal Reversals.
2020
Sensing molecular chirality at the nanoscale has been a long-standing challenge due to the inherently weak nature of chiroptical signals, and nanophotonic approaches have proven fruitful in accessing these signals. However, in most cases, absolute chiral sensing of the total chiral refractive index has not been possible, while the strong inherent signals from the nanostructures themselves obscure the weak chiroptical signals. Here, we propose a dielectric metamaterial system that overcomes these limitations and allows for absolute measurements of the total chirality, and the possibility for a crucial signal reversal that enables chirality measurements without the need for sample removal. As…
Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube fibres: St Venant’s principle at the limit and the role of imperfections
2015
Abstract Carbon nanotube (CNT) fibres, especially if perfect in terms of their purity and alignment, are extremely anisotropic. With their high axial strength but ready slippage between the CNTs, there is utmost difficulty in transferring uniformly any applied force. Finite element analysis is used to predict the stress distribution in CNT fibres loaded by grips attached to their surface, along with the resulting tensile stress–strain curves. This study demonstrates that, in accordance with St Venant’s principle, very considerable length-to-diameter ratios (∼103) are required before the stress becomes uniform across the fibre, even at low strains. It is proposed that lack of perfect orienta…
Biomimetic routes to micro/nanofabrication
2020
Abstract The discovery of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), an evolutionarily ancient biopolymer, and of its function in energy storage/supply and induction of cell differentiation through specific gene expression (“morphogenetic activity”) has opened new opportunities in regenerative medicine, including therapy of bone, cartilage, and vascular diseases. Inspired by nature, various procedures have been developed for the preparation of amorphous nano and microparticles of polyP with different counterions, which mimic the physiological polyP found in blood platelets/acidocalcisomes, as well as for the preparation of morphogenetically active polyP coacervate complexes. This chapter summarizes t…