Topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) are predicted to be a promising candidate material for ultra-broadband photodetectors ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to terahertz (THz) due to its gapless surface state and narrow bulk bandgap. However, the low responsivity of TCIs-based photodetectors limits their further applications. In this regard, a high-performance photodetector based on SnTe, a recently developed TCI, working in a broadband wavelength range from deep UV to mid-IR with high responsivity is reported. By taking advantage of the strong light absorption and small bandgap of SnTe, photodetectors based on the as-grown SnTe crystalline nanoflakes as well as specific short channel length achieve a high responsivity (71.11 A W at 254 nm, 49.03 A W at 635 nm, 10.91 A W at 1550 nm, and 4.17 A W at 4650 nm) and an ultra-broad spectral response (254-4650 nm) simultaneously. Moreover, for the first time, a durable flexible SnTe photodetector fabricated directly on a polyethylene terephthalate film is demonstrated. These results prove the great potential of TCIs as a promising material for integrated and flexible optoelectronic devices.

As a crucial structural parameter, shell thickness greatly influences the optical properties of metallic nanoshells. However, there still lacks a reliable approach to prepare ultrathin core-shell nanoparticles. To solve this problem, a two-step gold seeding process was pointed out to increase the packing density of gold seeds on the silica core. With use of this method, the packing density of gold seeds reaches ∼60%, enabling us to successfully reduce the shell thickness to the sub-10 nm range. Afterward, we investigated optical properties of the as-prepared ultrathin nanoshells. It is found that thinner nanoshells exhibit a wider optical tunability and a greater electromagnetic field enhancement than their thicker counterparts, which makes ultrathin nanoshells an ideal substrate for surface-enhanced spectroscopes.

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BackgroundThe aim of the study was to investigate the expression of the NEK7-NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as its clinical significance.MethodsA total of 38 SLE patients and 33 healthy volunteers were recruited. Real time PCR and western blotting were performed to determine mRNA and protein levels of NEK7, NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1), and downstream cytokines (IL-1b and IL-18) in PBMCs from the two groups. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of IL-1b and IL-18. The same methods were used to detect changes in the above indices in the 25 SLE patients after treatment. Correlations between clinical and laboratory parameters were also analyzed.ResultsCompared to those in healthy controls, levels of NEK7, NLPR3, and ASC were lower in SLE patients; however, Caspase-1, IL-1b, and IL-18 were expressed at higher levels. mRNA levels of NEK7, NLRP3, and ASC were inversely correlated with disease activity, whereas a positive correlation was observed with IL-1b and IL-18. After treatment, mRNA levels of NEK7 and NLRP3 increased, whereas Caspase-1, IL-1b, and IL-18 decreased significantly. Compared to those in SLE patients without renal damage, patients with lupus nephritis (LN) exhibited lower mRNA levels of NEK7, NLRP3, and ASC but higher levels of Caspase-1, IL-1b, and IL-18.ConclusionsResults indicate that the expression of the NEK7-NLRP3 complex might play a protective role in the pathogenesis of SLE and is inversely correlated with disease activity. A positive effect of NEK7 on NLRP3 was observed, and the low expression of NLRP3 in SLE patients might be related to the low expression of NEK7. Overexpression of Caspase-1 in SLE patients mediates the maturation and release of IL-1b and IL-18, and contributes to the pathogenesis of SLE and LN.