Quasiparticles with fractional charges in fractionally filled systems.

We study systems that approach a state possessing discrete symmetry due to different degenerate realizations for the system. For concreteness, we consider fractionally filled systems where degeneracy comes from the presence of identical sub-lattices. We show that such systems possess a new type of quasiparticles with fractional charges, which we refer to as fractyons.

2D Electrodes From Functionalized Graphene for Rapid Electrochemical Gold Extraction and Reduction From Electronic Waste.

Electronic waste (e-waste) contains substantial quantities of valuable precious metals, particularly gold (Au). However, inefficient metal recovery leads to these precious metals being discarded in landfills, causing significant water and environmental contamination. This study introduces a two-dimensional (2D) electrode with a layered graphene oxide membrane functionalized by chitosan (GO/CS).

Photocatalytic Seawater Splitting by Earth-Abundant Catalysts: Metal-Semiconductor Metamaterials Made of Plasmonic Magnesium Diboride and Transitional Metal Dichalcogenides.

Metal-semiconductor metamaterials hold great promise for photocatalytic water splitting due to their excellent light harvesting in a broad spectral range as well as efficient charge carrier generation and transfer. In the majority of such metamaterials, semiconductors are used to initiate the water splitting reaction, while their metal counterparts are employed to improve light harvesting through plasmonic effects. Here, we describe for the first time an exceptional reversed case of metal-semiconductor photocatalysts in which metals are used to initiate the water splitting reaction and semiconductors are employed to improve light harvesting through the blackbody effect and serve as co-catalysts.

Graphene/chitosan nanoreactors for ultrafast and precise recovery and catalytic conversion of gold from electronic waste.

The extraction of gold (Au) from electronic waste (e-waste) has both environmental impact and inherent value. Improper e-waste disposal poses environmental and health risks, entailing substantial remediation and healthcare costs. Large efforts are applied for the recovery of Au from e-waste using complex processes which include the dissolution of Au, its adsorption in an ionic state and succeeding reduction to metallic Au.