Exfoliation of MoS2 Quantum Dots: Recent Progress and Challenges.

Although, quantum dots (QDs) of two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) have shown great potential for various applications, such as sensing, catalysis, energy storage, and electronics. However, the lack of a simple, scalable, and inexpensive fabrication method for QDs is still a challenge. To overcome this challenge, a lot of attention has been given to the fabrication of QDs, and several fabrication strategies have been established. These exfoliation processes are mainly divided into two categories, the 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' methods. In this review, we have discussed different top-down exfoliation methods used for the fabrication of MoS2 QDs and the advantages and limitations of these methods. A detailed description of the various properties of QDs is also presented.

Operation of a wet near-field scanning optical microscope in stable zones by minimizing the resonance change of tuning forks.

A resonant shift and a decrease of resonance quality of a tuning fork attached to a conventional fiber optic probe in the vicinity of liquid is monitored systematically while varying the protrusion length and immersion depth of the probe. Stable zones where the resonance modification as a function of immersion depth is minimized are observed. A wet near-field scanning optical microscope (wet-NSOM) is operated for a sample within water by using such a stable zone.

Tumor regression in vivo by photothermal therapy based on gold-nanorod-loaded, functional nanocarriers.

We developed a very effective hyperthermia system for successful photothermal cancer therapy. Instead of applying individual gold nanorods (GNRs) that can absorb NIR light, GNRs were loaded into functional nanocarriers that could provide stable storage of GNRs and selective delivery to a target tumor site. The functional nanocarriers (chitosan-conjugated, Pluronic-based nanocarriers) were prepared by chemically cross-linking Pluronic F 68 with chitosan conjugation to form a flexible, soft, and excellent reservoir for biomacromolecules as well as tumor targeting. In vivo characteristics of the nanocarriers including a long circulation time, a good tumor accumulation, and low liver uptake were previously characterized by us. When GNRs were delivered by using these nanocarriers, much enhanced in vitro cellular uptake and a photothermal effect were observed for a cancer cell line. More importantly, an intravenous injection of this system followed by NIR laser irradiation to the tumor site resulted in a very efficient thermolysis in vivo. Thus, apparently complete tumor resorption was achieved without damage to the surrounding tissue, suggesting a promising candidate for clinical phototherapeutic applications.

Polarization selection rules and optical transitions in terbium activated yttrium tantalate phosphor under x-ray, vacuum-ultraviolet, and ultraviolet excitations.

The terbium-activated yttrium tantalite (YTaO(4):Tb(3+)) phosphor is of great interest due to the interesting spectroscopic properties of rare earth ions in crystals and also practical use in x-ray imaging. Using the group-theoretical approach, we analyze the selection rules for the transition between Stark components of Tb(3+) in symmetry of the actual crystal field and the polarization for the allowed transitions. The luminescence upon UV, vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV), and x-ray excitation is presented and discussed. The YTaO(4):Tb(3+) phosphors are found to be efficient VUV-excited luminescent materials that could be used not only in x-ray intensifying screens, but also in mercury-free fluorescent lamps or plasma display panels.

Femtosecond phase control of spatial localization of the optical near-field in a metal nanoslit array.

We demonstrate spatial control of optical near-fields by femtosecond phase shaping in one-dimensional plasmonic structures. The near-field images display striking temporal-phase dependence, switching between double- and single-peak images within one lattice constant. The change of the near-field distribution is studied in the time and spectral domain. The spectral composition change observed by varying the time delay between two phase-locked femtosecond pulses explains the spatial control of the near-field images. Modal expansion calculations of linear light transmission using the surface impedance boundary condition are in excellent agreement with experiments.

Channel-selective wavelength conversion and tuning in periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguides.

All-optical wavelength-selective single- and dual-channel wavelength conversion and tuning has been demonstrated in a periodically poled Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide that has two second-harmonic phase-matching peaks by cascaded sum and difference frequency generation (cSFG/DFG). The wavelength conversion efficiency was measured to be -7 dB with coupled pump power of 233 mW.