Interfacial Layers with Desolvation Function Induced Stable Deposition of Lithium Metal for Long-Cycling Lithium Metal Batteries.

The unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formed by uncontrollable electrolyte degradation, which leads to dendrite growth and Coulombic efficiency decay, hinders the development of Li metal anodes. A controllable desolvation process is essential for the formation of stable SEI and improved lithium metal deposition behavior. Here, we show a functional artificial interface protective layer comprised of chondroitin sulfate-reduced graphene oxide (CrG), on which polar functional groups are distributed to effectively reduce the energy barrier for desolvation of Li and effectively alienate solvent molecules to avoid solvent involvement in SEI formation, thus promoting the formation of a LiF-rich SEI.

The Droplet Creeping-Sliding Dynamic Wetting Mechanism on Bionic Self-Cleaning Surfaces.

The dynamic wetting behavior of droplets has been of wide concern due to the hazards of accretion/icing of supercooled droplets on engineering components/systems served in low temperature freezing rain environment; thus, it is urgent to establish the relationship between droplet depinning/removing behaviors and surface characteristics. In this article, the actual rotation conditions of moving components such as wind turbine blades are simulated. The self-cleaning hydrophobic coating surface(S1) and bionic superhydrophobic coating surface(S2) show outstanding droplet removal performance compared to hydrophilic bare steel surface(S0), and the average speed of the droplet removal is increased by 400-500%.

Spontaneous Combustion Characteristics of Activated Carbon Modified via Liquid Phase Impregnation during Drying.

Spontaneous combustion characteristics are important issues for the safe operation of the wet-modified activated carbon drying process. The spontaneous combustion characteristics of activated carbon modified via liquid phase impregnation were fully investigated in this study. The modified activated carbon was prepared using columnar activated carbon and 4-amino-1,2-butanediol solution.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Interfaces Enable the Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Hollow Carbon Nanospheres as High-Performance Anodes for Lithium and Potassium-Ion Batteries.

An abundant hollow nanostructure is crucial for fast Li and K diffusion paths and sufficient electrolyte penetration, which creates a highly conductive network for ionic and electronic transport. In this study, we successfully developed a molecular-bridge-linked, organic-inorganic hybrid interface that enables the preparation of in situ nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanospheres. Moreover, the prepared HCNSs, with high nitrogen content of up to 10.

Controllable Preparation of Core-Shell Composites and Their Templated Hollow Carbons Based on a Well-Orchestrated Molecular Bridge-Linked Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Interface.

Controlling the interfacial effect is facing challenges because of the weak interactions between the inorganic and the organic materials. We found that the silane coupling agents with -NH groups (e.g.

Thermoelectric transports in pristine and functionalized boron phosphide monolayers.

Recently, a new monolayer Group III-V material, two-dimensional boron phosphide (BP), has shown great potential for energy storage and energy conversion applications. We study the thermoelectric properties of BP monolayer as well as the effect of functionalization by first-principles calculation and Boltzmann transport theory. Combined with a moderate bandgap of 0.

Biomimetic Copper Forest Wick Enables High Thermal Conductivity Ultrathin Heat Pipe.

Electronic devices with high heat flux are currently facing heat dissipation problems. Heat pipes can be used as efficient heat spreaders to address this critical problem. However, as electronic devices become smaller, the space for heat dissipation is becoming ever so limited; hence, ultrathin heat pipes are desired.

Carbon-coated SnO riveted on a reduced graphene oxide composite (C@SnO/RGO) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

The research on graphene-based anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been prevalent in recent years. In the present work, carbon-coated SnO riveted on a reduced graphene oxide sheet composite (C@SnO/RGO) was fabricated using GO solution, SnCl, and glucose a hydrothermal method after heat treatment. When the composite was exploited as an anode material for LIBs, the electrodes were found to exhibit a stable reversible discharge capacity of 843 mA h g at 100 mA g after 100 cycles with 99.

Cauliflower-like Nickel with Polar Ni(OH)/NiO F Shell To Decorate Copper Meshes for Efficient Oil/Water Separation.

In recent years, superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic membranes have shown promising results in advanced oil/water separation. However, these membranes still have some drawbacks, like tedious preparation process and instability, which hinder their application in oil/water separation. Accordingly, the development of a facile approach to prepare superhydrophilic membranes with excellent oil/water separation performance is still coveted.

Predicted high thermoelectric performance in a two-dimensional indium telluride monolayer and its dependence on strain.

In recent years, another two-dimensional (2D) family, monolayer metal monochalcogenides (group IIIA-VIA), has attracted extensive attention. In this work, we adopt density functional theory (DFT) and the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) method to systematically investigate the ballistic thermoelectric properties of the IIIA-VIA family, including GaS, GaSe, GaTe, InS, InSe, and InTe. Among others, the InTe monolayer possesses the highest figure of merit, ZT = 2.

Synthesis of MnCO₃/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite as Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

A MnCO₃ /Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MnCO₃/MWCNT) composite has been successfully fabricated by an in-suit hydrothermal method. When the MnCO₃/MWCNT composite is applied as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the electrodes exhibit a reversible capacity of 645 mA h g at 100 mA g after 80 cycles, reaching an initial coulombic efficiency (CE) of up to 60.6%.

Preparation of novel two-stage structure MnO micrometer particles as lithium-ion battery anode materials.

MnO micrometer particles with a two-stage structure (composed of mass nanoparticles) were produced a one-step hydrothermal method using histidine and potassium permanganate (KMnO) as reagents, with subsequent calcination in a nitrogen (N) atmosphere. When the MnO micrometer particles were utilized in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) as anode materials, the electrode showed a high reversible specific capacity of 747 mA h g at 100 mA g after 100 cycles, meanwhile, the electrode presented excellent rate capability at various current densities from 100 to 2000 mA g (∼203 mA h g at 2000 mA g). This study developed a new approach to prepare two-stage structure micrometer MnO particles and the sample can be a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Theoretical design of a new family of two-dimensional topological insulators.

A new family of two-dimensional topological insulator, hydrogenated monolayer PbXY (X = Ga/In, Y = Sb/Bi), has been predicted using first-principles density functional theory. The electronic bulk band gap of the proposed systems can be induced in the presence of a spin-orbit coupling effect and its highest value (0.25 eV) was observed in the hydrogenated monolayer PbGaBi, which is suitable for practical application.

Trehalose, an easy, safe and efficient cryoprotectant for the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei.

Trehalose, a non-permeating cryoprotective agent (CPA), has been documented as less toxic and highly efficient at cryopreserving different kinds of cells or organisms. In the present study, trehalose was evaluated for its application in cryopreservation of both Trypanosoma brucei procyclic and bloodstream form cells. The cryopreservation efficiency was determined by the motility of trypanosomes after thawing, as well as a subsequent recovery and infectivity assessment.

WSe2 nanoribbons: new high-performance thermoelectric materials.

In this work, for the first time, we systematically investigate the ballistic transport properties of WSe2 nanoribbons using first-principles methods. Armchair nanoribbons with narrow ribbon width are mostly semiconductive but the zigzag nanoribbons are metallic. Surprisingly, an enhancement in thermoelectric performance is discovered moving from monolayers to nanoribbons, especially armchair ones.