Modulation of acid-induced pea protein gels by gellan gum and glucono-δ-lactone: Rheological and microstructural insights.

This study investigated the effect of gellan gum (GG) and glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) on the acid-induced gel properties of pea protein isolate (PPI) pretreated with media milling. The inclusion of GG substantially enhanced the gel hardness of PPI gel from 18.69 g to 792.

Chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of alkenyl aza-heteroarenes using hydrogen peroxide.

The synthesis of chiral α-azaheteroaryl oxiranes via enantioselective catalysis is a formidable challenge due to the required complex stereoselectivity and diverse N-heterocyclic structures. These compounds play a crucial role in developing bioactive molecules, where precise chirality significantly influences biological activity. Here we show that using chiral phosphoric acid as a catalyst, our method efficiently addresses these challenges.

Precursor Induced Assembly of Si Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Graphene/Carbon Matrices and the Influence of AlO Coating on their Properties as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The theoretical capacity of pristine silicon as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can reach up to 4200 mAh g, however, the low electrical conductivity and the huge volume expansion limit their practical application. To address this challenge, a precursor strategy has been explored to induce the curling of graphene oxide (GO) flakes and the enclosing of Si nanoparticles by selecting protonated chitosan as both assembly inducer and carbon precursor. The Si nanoparticles are dispersed first in a slurry of GO by ball milling, then the resulting dispersion is dried by a spray drying process to achieve instantaneous solution evaporation and compact encapsulation of silicon particles with GO.

Carbon Nanofibers Decorated by MoS Nanosheets with Tunable Quantity as Self-Supporting Anode for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries.

Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is considered as a highly promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its unique layer structure, large plane spacing, and high theoretical specific capacity; however, the overlap of MoS nanosheets and inherently low electrical conductivity lead to rapid capacity decay, resulting in poor cycling stability and low multiplicative performance. This severely limits its practical application in LIBs. To overcome the above problems, composite fibers with a core//sheath structure have been designed and fabricated.

Electrochemical Activation of Nitromethane to Construct Isoxazoline Aldoximes.

Activation of nitromethane to endow new reactivity is an interesting and meaningful but also challenging topic. Herein, we report an electrochemical activation of nitromethane to serve as both the heterocyclic skeleton and oxime sources for the construction of isoxazoline aldoximes. The isoxazoline aldoximes that are prepared by four steps with the reported strategy are synthesized in a single step from low-cost and readily available nitromethane and olefins with moderate to excellent yields under our electrochemical conditions.

Pd-Enriched-Core/Pt-Enriched-Shell High-Entropy Alloy with Face-Centred Cubic Structure for C and C Alcohol Oxidation.

High-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA NPs) have aroused great interest globally with their unique electrochemical, catalytic, and mechanical properties, as well as diverse activity and multielement tunability for multi-step reactions. Herein, a facile low-temperature synthesis method at atmospheric pressure is employed to synthesize Pd-enriched-HEA-core and Pt-enriched-HEA-shell NPs with a single phase of face-centred cubic structure. Interestingly, the lattice of both Pd-enriched-HEA-core and Pt-enriched-HEA-shell enlarge during the formation process of HEA, with tensile strains included in the core and shell of HEA.

Proton-mediated reversible switching of metastable ferroelectric phases with low operation voltages.

The exploration of ferroelectric phase transitions enables an in-depth understanding of ferroelectric switching and promising applications in information storage. However, controllably tuning the dynamics of ferroelectric phase transitions remains challenging owing to inaccessible hidden phases. Here, using protonic gating technology, we create a series of metastable ferroelectric phases and demonstrate their reversible transitions in layered ferroelectric α-InSe transistors.

Microspheres of Si@Carbon-CNTs composites with a stable 3D interpenetrating structure applied in high-performance lithium-ion battery.

The huge volumetric expansion (>300 %) of Si that occurs during the charge-discharge process makes it to have poor cycling ability and weak stable structure. These factors are considered as critical obstacles to the further development of Si as anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, novel 3D interpenetrating microspheres, i.

Unveiling the Synergistic Effects of Monodisperse Sea Urchin-like PdPb Alloy Nanodendrites as Stable Electrocatalysts for Ethylene Glycol and Glycerol Oxidation Reactions.

In recent times, the fabrication of noble metal-based catalysts with controllable morphologies has become a research hotspot. Electrocatalytic devices with excellent catalytic performance and enhanced durability for the ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) and the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) are significant for commercial direct fuel cells. Herein, a series of PdPb sea urchin-like nanodendrite (ND) structures with controllable molar ratios were synthesized as EGOR and GOR electrocatalysts of high efficiency.

Effects of WeChat platform-based nursing intervention on disease severity and maternal and infant outcomes of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To determine the effects of WeChat platform-based nursing intervention on the disease control and pregnancy outcomes of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: A total of 112 patients with GDM treated in our hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analysed. Among them, 61 pregnant women were given routine nursing as the control group (Con group), and the other 51 were given WeChat platform-based interactive continuous nursing intervention as the observation group (Obs group).

Starfruit-like vanadium oxide with Co pre-intercalation and amorphous carbon confinement as a superior cathode for supercapacitors.

The vanadium dioxide (VO(D)), with ultra-high theoretical capacitance, has been considered as a boon for electrode materials of advanced supercapacitors (SCs). However, the VO has a series of shortcomings such as poor electrical conductivity, severe structural damage, and rapid capacity fading during cycles, resulting in unsatisfactory electrochemical performance. Herein, the Co pre-intercalation and amorphous carbon confined vanadium dioxide (CoxVO@C) with starfruit-like nanostructure is synthesized on a conductive Ni foam substrate via a versatile and cost-effective method.

The Influence of Ionic Liquids Adsorption on the Electronic and Optical Properties of Phosphorene and Arsenene with Different Phases: A Computational Study.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to investigate the interfacial interactions of ionic liquids (ILs) on the α- and β-phases of phosphorene (P) and arsenene (As). Nine representative ILs based on the combinations of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ([EMIM]), N-methylpyridinium ([MPI]), and trimethylamine ([TMA]) cations paired to tetrafluoroborate ([BF]), trifluoromethanesulfonate ([TFO]), and chloridion (Cl) anions were used as adsorbates on the 2D P and As nanosheets with different phases to explore the effect of IL adsorption on the electronic and optical properties of 2D materials. The calculated structure, adsorption energy, and charge transfer suggest that the interaction between ILs and P and As nanosheets is dominated by noncovalent forces, and the most stable adsorption structures are characterized by the simultaneous interaction of the cation and anion with the surface, irrespective of the types of ILs and surfaces.

Assembly of Alloyed PdCu Nanosheets and Their Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Ethanol.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanostructured catalysts have attracted great attention in many important fields, including energy applications and chemical industry. In this study, PdCu nanosheet assemblies (NSAs) have been synthesized and investigated as electrocatalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells in an alkaline medium. A great number of active sites on the nanosheets of PdCu NSAs for ethanol electro-oxidation are exposed, where the electron structures are optimized combined with the second element copper.

Alloyed Palladium-Lead Nanosheet Assemblies for Electrocatalytic Ethanol Oxidation.

Synthesizing alloyed bimetallic electrocatalysts with a three-dimensional (3D) structure assembly have arouse great interests in electrocatalysis. We synthesized a class of alloyed PdPb/Pd nanosheet assemblies (NSAs) composed of a two-dimensional (2D) sheet structure with adjustable compositions via an oil bath approach at a low temperature. Both the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal the successful formation of the nanosheet structure, where the morphology of PdPb/Pd NSAs can be regulated by adjusting the atomic mole ratio of Pb and Pb metal precursors.

Scalable Superior Chemical Sensing Performance of Stretchable Ionotronic Skin via a π-Hole Receptor Effect.

Skin-attachable gas sensors provide a next-generation wearable platform for real-time protection of human health by monitoring environmental and physiological chemicals. However, the creation of skin-like wearable gas sensors, possessing high sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and scalability (4S) simultaneously, has been a big challenge. Here, an ionotronic gas-sensing sticker (IGS) is demonstrated, implemented with free-standing polymer electrolyte (ionic thermoplastic polyurethane, i-TPU) as a sensing channel and inkjet-printed stretchable carbon nanotube electrodes, which enables the IGS to exhibit high sensitivity, selectivity, stability (against mechanical stress, humidity, and temperature), and scalable fabrication, simultaneously.

Ion adsorption-induced reversible polarization switching of a van der Waals layered ferroelectric.

Solid-liquid interface is a key concept of many research fields, enabling numerous physical phenomena and practical applications. For example, electrode-electrolyte interfaces with electric double layers have been widely used in energy storage and regulating physical properties of functional materials. Creating a specific interface allows emergent functionalities and effects.

Bidirectional heterostructures consisting of graphene and lateral MoS/WS composites: a first-principles study.

First-principles calculations have been performed to explore the structural and electronic properties of bidirectional heterostructures composed of graphene and (MoS) /(WS) ( = 1, 2, 3) lateral composites and compare them with those of heterobilayers formed by graphene and pristine MS (M = Mo, W). The band gaps of the lateral heterostructures lie between those of pristine MoS and WS. The weak coupling between the two layers can induce a tiny band-gap opening of graphene and formation of an n-type Schottky contact at the G-(MoS) /(WS) interface.

Electroic and optical properties of germanene/MoS heterobilayers: first principles study.

First principles calculations have been performed to investigate the structural, electronic, and optical properties of germanene/MoS heterostructures. The results show that a weak van der Waals coupling between germanene and MoS layers can lead to a considerable band-gap opening (53 meV) as well as the preserved Dirac cone with a linear band dispersion of germanene. The applied external electric filed can not only enhance the interaction strength between two layers, but also linearly control the charge transfer between germanene and MoS layers, and consequently lead to a tunable band gap.

One-Pot Decoration of Graphene with SnO₂ Nanocrystals by an Elevated Hydrothermal Process and Their Application as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries.

Tin dioxide (SnO₂), with a high theoretical storage capacity of 782 mAhg, is a potential alternative anode for rechargeable lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, its low electronic conductivity and poor stability during cycling (due to a change in volume) hinder its practical applications for energy storage. Composite materials of SnO₂-nanocrystal-decorated graphene, which show excellent electrochemical characteristics, were prepared using a one-pot elevated hydrothermal method at 250 °C without subsequent carbonization treatment.

Carbon Wrapped Ni₃S₂ Nanocrystals Anchored on Graphene Sheets as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery and the Study on Their Capacity Evolution.

Ni₃S₂ nanocrystals wrapped by thin carbon layer and anchored on the sheets of reduced graphene oxide (Ni₃S₂@C/RGO) have been synthesized by a spray-coagulation assisted hydrothermal method and combined with a calcination process. Cellulose, dissolved in Thiourea/NaOH aqueous solution is chosen as carbon sources and mixed with graphene oxide via a spray-coagulation method using graphene suspension as coagulation bath. The resulted cellulose/graphene suspension is utilized as solvent for dissolving of Ni(NO₃)₂ and then used as raw materials for hydrothermal preparation of the Ni₃S₂@C/RGO composites.

Syntheses, structures and efficient visible light-driven photocatalytic properties of layered cuprous halides based on two types of building units.

Three novel hybrid cuprous halides, [Me3TPT][Cu5I8] (1, Me3TPT = N,N',N''-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine), [Et3TPT][Cu5I8] (2, Et3TPT = N,N',N''-triethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine), and [Me3TPT][Cu5Br8] (3), were solvothermally prepared by using in situ N-alkylated 2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TPT) derivatives as structure-directing agents. All the compounds feature layered structures extended by two types of building units, i.e.

Spray-Drying-Induced Assembly of Skeleton-Structured SnO/Graphene Composite Spheres as Superior Anode Materials for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Three-dimensional skeleton-structured assemblies of graphene sheets decorated with SnO nanocrystals are fabricated via a facile and large-scalable spray-drying-induced assembly process with commercial graphene oxide and SnO sol as precursors. The influences of different parameters on the morphology, composition, structure, and electrochemical performances of the skeleton-structured SnO/graphene composite spheres are studied by XRD, TGA, SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and N adsorption-desorption techniques. Electrochemical properties of the composite spheres as the anode electrode for lithium-ion batteries are evaluated.