Mechanisms of Thickness-Dependent Nonlinear Optical Processes and Ultrafast Dynamics in NbOCl.

NbOCl has garnered interest owing to its second-order nonlinear optical properties, but the influence of thickness on its third-harmonic generation (THG) and excited-state dynamics has not been fully investigated. Here, mechanically exfoliated NbOCl flakes were found to produce THG and second-harmonic generation (SHG), simultaneously, and to show a nonmonotonic dependence on sample thickness. The increase in thickness leads to a decrease in the bandgap.

Characterization of microbial communities in the rhizosphere and water of a field-scale artificial floating island system for nutrient removal.

Eutrophication, caused by excessive nutrient inputs, threatens water quality and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Artificial Floating Islands (AFIs) offer a promising phytoremediation solution, leveraging aquatic plants and their associated microbes for nutrient removal. However, the microbial communities within AFI systems, particularly under natural conditions, remain poorly understood.

Localized surface plasmon resonance induced spatial self-phase modulation of CuS in the near-infrared region.

Generating controllable spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM), such as self-diffraction, is a challenge in the near-infrared (NIR) band. CuS nanoplates (NPs) and their heterojunction nanoplates (HNPs) were confirmed to enable enhancement SSPM between 800 nm and 1550 nm, as p-type semiconductors with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). CuS NPs with particle sizes of 36 nm and 53 nm both exhibit this enhancement, dominated by LSPR-induced hole interband transitions, proofed by the results of open aperture (OA) Z-scan and transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy.

Orientation-Related Giant Third Harmonics Generation in Quasi-One-Dimensional ZrS Crystals.

Exploring strong nonlinear optical (NLO) response and high NLO anisotropy materials is crucial for nonlinear nanophotonic devices with a polarization function. Here, we report a quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) ZrS nanobelt exhibiting ultrastrong third harmonics generation (THG) with a maximum third-order susceptibility (χ) of 67.9 × 10 m/V for a 24.

Effects of polyculture on nutrient removal from residential raw sewage using field-scale artificial floating islands.

Nutrient pollution poses a significant challenge to global water bodies, particularly from non-point sources due to their diffuse nature. This study investigated the effectiveness of Artificial Floating Islands (AFIs) as a phytoremediation technology to address this issue. We constructed and monitored a field-scale AFI system in the equalization basin of a wastewater treatment plant for preliminary treatment of residential raw sewage.

Broad -band nonlinear optical response in BiTeS alloys based on alloy engineering.

Alloy engineering plays an important role in regulating the optoelectronic properties of materials. This work demonstrates that BiTeS alloys can extend nonlinear optical response to the near-infrared range. Te alloying at S sites can narrow the band gap, as proved by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, leading to a broadband saturable absorption response ranging from ultraviolet (350 nm) to near-infrared (1100 nm) wavelength with negative nonlinear optical absorption coefficient ranging from -0.

Regular arrangement of dispersed 2D flakes detected by polarization of light.

Regular arrangement of dispersed 2D flakes, as the "Wind-Chime" model, has been regarded as possible mechanism of spatial self-phase modulation. But this regular arrangement caused by the laser have not been confirmed, and the relation with the concentration of dispersed 2D flakes is still unclear. Here, the relationship between arrangement caused by electric field and polarized transmittance have been explored at first.

Visible light-induced hole transfer in single-nanoplate CuS-CdS heterostructures.

The separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers in semiconducting materials are essential processes that determine the efficiency of optoelectronic devices and photocatalysts, and transient absorption spectroscopy provides a powerful support for exploring the diffusion and recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Herein, high-quality CuS nanoplates were synthesized by a hot injection method, and were used as starting templates for the preparation of CuS-CdS heterojunctions and CdS nanoplates by cation exchange. Their carrier dynamics were investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy, which revealed that photogenerated holes may be transferred from the CdS phase to the CuS phase under 400 nm excitation.

Genomic Epidemiology and Phenotypic Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from a Tertiary Hospital in Tianjin Municipality, Northern China.

Staphylococcus aureus remains a dangerous pathogen and poses a great threat to public health worldwide. The prevalence of the S. aureus clonotype is temporally and geographically variable.

The genetic architecture of floral traits in the woody plant Prunus mume.

Mei (Prunus mume) is an ornamental woody plant that has been domesticated in East Asia for thousands of years. High diversity in floral traits, along with its recent genome sequence, makes mei an ideal model system for studying the evolution of woody plants. Here, we investigate the genetic architecture of floral traits in mei and its domestication history by sampling and resequencing a total of 351 samples including 348 mei accessions and three other Prunus species at an average sequencing depth of 19.