First-principles study of structural, elastic, electronic, transport properties, and dielectric breakdown of CsTe photocathode.

The pursuit to operate photocathodes at high accelerating gradients to increase brightness of electron beams is gaining interests within the accelerator community, particularly for applications such as free electron lasers (FEL) and compact accelerators. Cesium telluride (CsTe) is a widely used photocathode material and it is presumed to offer resilience to higher gradients because of its wider band gap compared to other semiconductors. Despite its advantages, crucial material properties of CsTe remain largely unknown both in theory and experiments.

Omnidirectional 3D Printing of PEDOT: PSS Aerogels with Tunable Electromechanical Performance: A Playground for Unconventional Stretchable Interconnects and Thermoelectrics.

The next generation of soft electronics will expand to the third dimension. This will require the integration of mechanically compliant 3D functional structures with stretchable materials. Here, omnidirectional direct ink writing (DIW) of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) aerogels with tunable electrical and mechanical performance is demonstrated, which can be integrated with soft substrates.

"Popping the Ion-Basket": Enhancing Thermoelectric Performance of Conjugated Polymers by Blending with Latently Dissociable Perovskite Quantum Dots.

A novel additive method to boost the Seebeck coefficient of doped conjugated polymers without a significant loss in electrical conductivity is demonstrated. Perovskite (CsPbBr) quantum dots (QDs) passivated by ligands with long alkyl chains are mixed with a conjugated polymer in a solution phase to form polymer-QD blend films. Solution sequential doping of the blend film with AuCl solution not only doped the conjugated polymer but also decomposed the QDs, resulting in a doped conjugated polymer film embedded with separated ions dissociated from the QDs.

Nanoscopic acoustic vibrational dynamics of a single virus captured by ultrafast spectroscopy.

The natural vibrational frequencies of biological particles such as viruses and bacteria encode critical information about their mechanical and biological states as they interact with their local environment and undergo structural evolution. However, detecting and tracking these vibrations within a biological context at the single particle level has remained elusive. In this study, we track the vibrational motions of single, unlabeled virus particles under ambient conditions using ultrafast spectroscopy.

Liquid Crystal-Engineered Polydimethylsiloxane: Enhancing Intrinsic Thermal Conductivity through High Grafting Density of Mesogens.

The increasing power and integration of electronic devices have intensified serious heat accumulation, driving the demand for higher intrinsic thermal conductivity in thermal interface materials, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Grafting mesogens onto PDMS can enhance its intrinsic thermal conductivity. However, the high stability of the PDMS chain limits the grafting density of mesogens, restricting the improvement in thermal conductivity.

Template-free synthesis of a multilayer manganese oxide/graphene oxide nanoflake-modified carbon felt as an anode material for microbial fuel cells.

A novel multilayer nanoflake structure of manganese oxide/graphene oxide (γ-MnO/GO) was fabricated a simple template-free chemical precipitation method, and the modified carbon felt (CF) electrode with γ-MnO/GO composite was used as an anode material for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The characterization results revealed that the γ-MnO/GO composite has a novel multilayer nanoflake structure and offers a large specific surface area for bacterial adhesion. The electrochemical analyses demonstrated that the γ-MnO/GO composite exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and enhanced the electrochemical reaction rate and reduced the electron transfer resistance, consequently facilitating extracellular electron transfer (EET) between the anode and bacteria.

Low-Cost and Stable Aramid Nanofiber Membranes for Osmotic Energy Conversion.

Osmotic energy from mixing seawater and river water offers a promising alternative to traditional nonrenewable resources. Harvesting osmotic energy requires the design of ultrathin membranes with high ion selectivity for high ionic conductance. However, lab-scale membranes suffer from high-cost, low mechanical properties, and limited membrane area.

Boosting Thermoelectric Performance of Semicrystalline Conducting Polymers by Simply Adding Nucleating Agent.

Controlling the microstructure of semiconducting polymers is critical for optimizing thermoelectric performance, yet remains challenging, requiring complex processing techniques like alignment. In this study, a straightforward strategy is introduced to enhance the thermoelectric properties of semi-crystalline polymer films by incorporating minimal amounts of nucleating agents, a method widely used in traditional polymer industries. By blending less than 1 wt% of N,N'-(1,4-phenyl)diisonicotinamide (PDA) into poly(2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (PBTTT-C14), controlled modulation of crystallization behavior is achieved, resulting in reduced structural disorder and enhanced charge carrier mobility.

Hierarchical Biogenic-Based Thermal Insulation Foam.

Biogenic-based foam, renowned for its sustainable and eco-friendly properties, is emerging as a promising thermal insulating material with the potential to significantly enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in building applications. However, its relatively high thermal conductivity, large-pore configurations, and energy-intensive manufacturing processes hinder its widespread use. Here, we report on the scalable, one-pot synthesis of biogenic foams achieved by integrating recycled paper pulp and in situ nanoporous silica formation, resulting in a hierarchical structure comprising both micropores and nanopores.

Radiative Cooling Meta-Fabric Integrated with Knitting Perspiration-Wicking and Coating Heat Conduction.

Radiative cooling is an emerging zero-energy-consumption technology for human body cooling in outdoor scenarios during hot seasons. However, existing radiative cooling textiles are limited by low intrinsic cooling power, high hydrophobicity, and heat-insulating properties, which seriously impede a satisfying cooling effect, perspiration-wicking, and heat dissipation, thus limiting human thermal comfort in practical situations. Here, we developed a radiative cooling meta-fabric that was integrated with high perspiration-wicking and thermal conduction capacity.

UV-Cured Robust and Transparent Double-Layer Membrane on Windows for Water Harvesting and Room Cooling.

The increasing demand for energy in cooling systems due to global warming presents a significant challenge. Conventional air-conditioning methods exacerbate climate change by contributing to heightened carbon emissions. Glass facades, renowned in modern architecture for their versatility and aesthetic appeal, inadvertently trap solar radiation, resulting in heat buildup and the greenhouse effect.

Engineered sulfonated porous carbon/cellulose nanofiber hybrid membrane for high-efficiency osmotic energy conversion applications.

Harnessing ionic gradients to generate electricity has inspired the development of nanofluidic membranes with charged nanochannels for osmotic energy conversion. However, achieving high-performance osmotic energy output remains elusive due to the trade-off between ion selectivity and nanochannel membrane permeability. In this study, we report a homogeneous nanofluidic membrane, composed of sulfonated nanoporous carbon (SPC) and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (T-CNF), engineered to overcome these limitations.

Stereoactive Lone-Pair Manipulation for High Thermoelectric Performance of GeSe-Based Compounds.

Materials with high crystallographic symmetry are supposed to be good thermoelectrics because they have high valley degeneracy () and superb carrier mobility (μ). Binary GeSe crystallizes in a low-symmetry orthorhombic structure accompanying the stereoactive 4s lone pairs of Ge. Herein, we rationally modify GeSe into a high-symmetry rhombohedral structure by alloying with GeTe based on the valence-shell electron-pair repulsion theory.

Interface Optimization and Thermal Conductivity of Cu/Diamond Composites by Spark Plasma Sintering Process.

Cu/Diamond (Cu/Dia) composites are regarded as next-generation thermal dissipation materials and hold tremendous potential for use in future high-power electronic devices. The interface structure between the Cu matrix and the diamond has a significant impact on the thermophysical properties of the composite materials. In this study, Cu/Dia composite materials were fabricated using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) process.

In Vivo Quantification of Anterior and Posterior Chamber Volumes in Mice: Implications for Aqueous Humor Dynamics.

Purpose: Aqueous humor inflow rate, a key parameter influencing aqueous humor dynamics, is typically measured by fluorophotometry. Analyzing fluorophotometric data depends, inter alia, on the volume of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber but not the posterior chamber. Previous fluorophotometric studies of the aqueous inflow rate in mice have assumed the ratio of anterior:posterior volumes in mice to be similar to those in humans.

Cuprous Halide Coordination Polymer for Efficient NIR-I Photothermal Effect and Photo-Thermo-Electric Conversion.

Photo-thermo-electric conversion devices represent a promising technology for converting solar energy into electrical energy. Photothermal materials, as a critical component, play a significant role in efficient conversion from solar energy into thermal energy and subsequently electrical energy, thereby directly influencing the overall system's efficiency in solar energy utilization. However, the application of single-component photothermal materials in photo-thermo-electric conversion systems remains limited.

Wearable Fluidic Fabric with Excellent Heat Transfer Performance for Sports Recovery.

Rapid temperature contrast hydrotherapy by water immersion has been utilized by athletes for effective sports recovery. However, its application at some training or competition venues is limited by high water consumption, bucky size, personal hygiene, and inconvenience. Here, a novel portable system equipped with highly effective, lightweight, and hygienic wearable fluidic fabric device is reported, that replaces direct water immersion.

High-Performance Thermoelectric Composite of BiTe Nanosheets and Carbon Aerogel for Harvesting of Environmental Electromagnetic Energy.

Intensifying the severity of electromagnetic (EM) pollution in the environment represents a significant threat to human health and results in considerable energy wastage. Here, we provide a strategy for electricity generation from heat generated by electromagnetic wave radiation captured from the surrounding environment that can reduce the level of electromagnetic pollution while alleviating the energy crisis. We prepared a porous, elastomeric, and lightweight BiTe/carbon aerogel (CN@BiTe) by a simple strategy of induced in situ growth of BiTe nanosheets with three-dimensional (3D) carbon structure, realizing the coupling of electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) and thermoelectric (TE) properties.

Contrasting Responses of Smoke Dispersion and Fire Emissions to Aerosol-Radiation Interaction during the Largest Australian Wildfires in 2019-2020.

The record-breaking 2019-2020 Australian wildfires have been primarily linked to climate change and its internal variability. However, the meteorological feedback mechanisms affecting smoke dispersion and wildfire emissions on a synoptic scale remain unclear. This study focused on the largest wildfires occurring between December 25, 2019 and January 10, 2020, under the enhanced subtropical high, when the double peak in wildfire evolution was favored by sustained low humidity and two synchronous increases in temperature and wind.

Layer dependent thermal transport properties of one- to three-layer magnetic Fe:MoS.

Two-Dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have been the subject of extensive attention thanks to their unique properties and atomically thin structure. Because of its unprecedented room-temperature magnetic properties, iron-doped MoS (Fe:MoS) is considered the next-generation quantum and magnetic material. It is essential to understand Fe:MoS's thermal behavior since temperature and thermal load/activation are crucial for their magnetic properties and the current nano and quantum devices have been severely limited by thermal management.

Robust fluorinated cellulose composite aerogels incorporating radiative cooling and thermal insulation for regionally adaptable building thermal management.

Passive radiative cooling (PRC) is an emerging sustainable technology that plays a key role for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. However, several challenges remain for PRC materials in their practical application in building thermal management, including overcooling problems and unsatisfactory cooling efficiency caused by solar absorption and parasitic heat gains. In this work, fluorinated cellulose-based composite aerogels (FCCA) integrating thermal insulation and PRC were developed by a facile manufacturing strategy that combined phase separation and freeze-drying.

Concomitant Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability Affects Postoperative Functional Outcomes in Patients With Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus but Does Not Affect Cartilage Repair After Restoration of Ankle Stability.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of concomitant chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) on postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs).

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for OLTs between January 2018 and May 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. OLT patients underwent debridement, microfracture, or bone grafting, whereas patients with concomitant CLAI underwent lateral ligament repair or reconstruction.

Flexible progestin-primed ovarian stimulation versus a GnRH antagonist protocol in predicted suboptimal responders undergoing freeze-all cycles: a randomized non-inferiority trial.

Study Question: Are live birth rates (LBRs) per woman following flexible progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (fPPOS) treatment non-inferior to LBRs per woman following the conventional GnRH-antagonist protocol in expected suboptimal responders undergoing freeze-all cycles in assisted reproduction treatment?

Summary Answer: In women expected to have a suboptimal response, the 12-month likelihood of live birth with the fPPOS treatment did not achieve the non-inferiority criteria when compared to the standard GnRH antagonist protocol for IVF/ICSI treatment with a freeze-all strategy.

What Is Known Already: The standard PPOS protocol is effective for ovarian stimulation, where medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is conventionally administered in the early follicular phase for ovulatory suppression. Recent retrospective cohort studies on donor cycles have shown the potential to prevent premature ovulation and maintain oocyte yields by delaying the administration of MPA until the midcycle (referred to as fPPOS), similar to GnRH antagonist injections.

Application of Whisker-Toughened Aerogel to Recycling of Used Polyurethane Sheets.

In this study, a new environmentally friendly and efficient method for recycling and reusing waste polyurethane sheets is proposed. SiO aerogel was prepared using the sol-gel method, and mullite whiskers were introduced to enhance its toughness. The whisker-toughened aerogel was used in the degradation of waste polyurethane to produce modified recycled polyol, which was subsequently used to prepare recycled polyurethane foam insulation material.

Effective integrated thermal management using hygroscopic hydrogel for photovoltaic-thermoelectric applications.

As the proportion of solar energy in the global energy mix increases, photovoltaic cells have emerged as one of the fastest-growing technologies in the renewable energy sector. However, photovoltaics utilize only a limited portion of the incident solar spectrum, resulting in significant amounts of light energy being wasted as heat. This excess heat raises the surface temperature of photovoltaic cells, which in turn reduces their overall efficiency.