Transformation study and characterization of Cu-BTC MOF-derived nanoporous copper oxide.

This study provides a systematic and comprehensive investigation of the transformation process of copper-based metal-organic frameworks (Cu-BTC MOFs) into nanoporous copper oxides (P-CuO) through controlled calcination. While calcination is a well-established method for producing MOF-derived oxides, previous studies have primarily focused on their applications. Most of them often lack detailed exploration of the transformation process and decomposition mechanisms though it is crucial for achieving tunability in MOF-derived structures.

Formamidinium lead iodide perovskite photovoltaics with MoS quantum dots.

We present the formation of a composite film made out of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPI) and molybdenum disulphide quantum dots (MoS QDs) and propose a corresponding photovoltaic device architecture based on a 'type-I' alignment of the two materials' electronic energy levels. The introduction of the MoS QDs has not compromised the overall crystallinity of the FAPI film and the composite absorber has shown improved stability. We report on the benefits of this composite film and energy band arrangement as the photogenerated carriers in MoS QDs, both positive and negative, are injected into the FAPI host matrix, resulting in an increased current density of 24.

Cluster-doping in silicon nanocrystals.

Creating tin-alloyed silicon nanocrystals with tailored bandgap values is a significant challenge, primarily because a substantial concentration of tin is essential to observe useful changes in the electronic structure. However, high concentration of Sn leads to instability of the silicon-tin nanocrystals. This work introduces a completely new approach to doping and the modification of the electronic structure of nanoparticles by incorporating few-atom clusters in nanocrystals, deviating from isolated atom doping or attempting alloying.

Unexpected Electronic Features of NiO Quantum Dots Produced by Femtosecond Pulsed Laser Ablation in Water.

This study examines the effect of quantum confinement and surface orientations on the electronic properties of NiO quantum dots. It compares NiO nanocrystals produced via atmospheric-pressure microplasma and femtosecond laser (fs-laser) ablation in water, finding that both methods yield quantum-confined nanocrystals with a defined face-centered cubic lattice. Notably, fs-laser synthesis generates crystalline nanocrystals from both crystalline and amorphous targets.

Flexible Bifunctional Electrode for Alkaline Water Splitting with Long-Term Stability.

Progress in electrochemical water-splitting devices as future renewable and clean energy systems requires the development of electrodes composed of efficient and earth-abundant bifunctional electrocatalysts. This study reveals a novel flexible and bifunctional electrode () by hybridizing macroscopically assembled carbon nanotube ribbons () and atmospheric plasma-synthesized NiO quantum dots (QDs) with varied loadings to demonstrate bifunctional electrocatalytic activity for stable and efficient overall water-splitting (OWS) applications. Comparative studies on the effect of different electrolytes, e.

A Single-Step Process to Produce Carbon Nanotube-Zinc Compound Hybrid Materials.

An atmospheric-pressure plasma system is developed and is used to treat carbon nanotube assemblies, producing a hybrid carbon-zinc structure. This system is integrated into a floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition furnace used for the synthesis of macroscopic assemblies of carbon nanotubes to allow for the in-line, continuous, and single-step production of nano-composite materials. Material is deposited from a sacrificial zinc wire in the form of nanoparticles and can coat the surface of the individual carbon nanotubes as they form.

Controllable Anchoring of Graphitic Carbon Nitride on MnO Nanoarchitectures for Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis.

The design and fabrication of eco-friendly and cost-effective (photo)electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key research goal for a proper management of water splitting to address the global energy crisis. In this work, we focus on the preparation of supported MnO/graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) OER (photo)electrocatalysts by means of a novel preparation strategy. The proposed route consists of the plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) of MnO nanoarchitectures on porous Ni scaffolds, the anchoring of controllable g-CN amounts by an amenable electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process, and the ultimate thermal treatment in air.

Neutralizing activity and T-cell response after bivalent fifth dose of messenger RNA vaccine in people living with HIV.

Objectives: To investigate immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine third booster dose (3BD; fifth dose) with bivalent vaccine original/BA4/5 vaccine in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: This is an observational cohort study to evaluate the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (HIV-VAC study). We analyzed microneutralization assay and interferon-γ production in 48 PLWH on antiretroviral therapy with clusters of differentiation (CD4) count <200 cell/mm and/or previous AIDS according to immunization status: vaccinated PLWH who had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection (hybrid immunization, HI) vs those only vaccinated (non-hybrid immunization, nHI) and current CD4 count.

Stability of silicon-tin alloyed nanocrystals with high tin concentration synthesized by femtosecond laser plasma in liquid media.

Nanocrystals have a great potential for future materials with tunable bandgap, due to their optical properties that are related with the material used, their sizes and their surface termination. Here, we concentrate on the silicon-tin alloy for photovoltaic applications due to their bandgap, lower than bulk Si, and also the possibility to activate direct band to band transition for high tin concentration. We synthesized silicon-tin alloy nanocrystals (SiSn-NCs) with diameter of about 2-3 nm by confined plasma technique employing a femtosecond laser irradiation on amorphous silicon-tin substrate submerged in liquid media.

Quasi-band structure of quantum-confined nanocrystals.

We discuss the electronic properties of quantum-confined nanocrystals. In particular, we show how, starting from the discrete molecular states of small nanocrystals, an approximate band structure (quasi-band structure) emerges with increasing particle size. Finite temperature is found to broaden the discrete states in energy space forming even for nanocrystals in the quantum-confinement regime quasi-continuous bands in k-space.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of thymus induces loss of function that correlates with disease severity.

Background: Lymphopenia, particularly when restricted to the T-cell compartment, has been described as one of the major clinical hallmarks in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and proposed as an indicator of disease severity. Although several mechanisms fostering COVID-19-related lymphopenia have been described, including cell apoptosis and tissue homing, the underlying causes of the decline in T-cell count and function are still not completely understood.

Objective: Given that viral infections can directly target thymic microenvironment and impair the process of T-cell generation, we sought to investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on thymic function.

Total electrification of large-scale nanophotonic arrays by frictional charges.

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of metallic nanostructures is a unique phenomenon that controls the light in sub-wavelength volumes and enhances the light-matter interactions. Traditionally, the excitation and measurement of LSPR require bulky external light sources, and efforts to scale down to nano-plasmonic devices have predominantly relied on the system's miniaturization and associated accessories. Addressing this, here we show the generation and detection of LSPR wavelength (λ) shifts in large-area nanostructured Au surfaces using frictional charges generated by triboelectric surfaces.

Avalanche criticality in LaAlO[Formula: see text] and the effect of aspect ratio.

Ferroic domain dynamics, as a function of external stimuli, can be collectively described as scale-invariant avalanches characterised by a critical exponent that are sensitive to the complexity of the domain microstructure. The understanding and manipulation of these avalanches lies at the heart of developing novel applications such as neuromorphic computing. Here we combine in situ heating optical observations and mean-field analysis to investigate the collective domain behaviour in pure-ferroelastic lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO[Formula: see text]) as a function of aspect ratio, the ratio of sample length to width, where the movement of the domains is predominantly driven by thermal stresses via thermal expansion/contraction during heat cycling.