High-Performance Circular Polarization Multiple-Resonance TADF Molecules with Enhanced Long-Range Charge Transfer Based on Chiral Paracyclophane.

Circularly polarized multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (CP-MR-TADF) materials have received widespread attention in recent years, but it remains a formidable challenge to design high-performance CP-MR-TADF emitters concurrently exhibiting high quantum efficiency, narrowband emission, and high dissymmetry factor (). Here, we perform an in-depth theoretical investigation on the CP-MR-TADF materials based on [2.2] paracyclophane (pCp) derivatives.

Deciphering the atomistic mechanism underlying highly tunable piezoelectric properties in perovskite ferroelectrics via transition metal doping.

Piezoelectricity, a fundamental property of perovskite ferroelectrics, endows the materials at the heart of electromechanical systems spanning from macro to micro/nano scales. Defect engineering strategies, particularly involving heterovalent trace impurities and derived vacancies, hold great potential for adjusting piezoelectric performance. Despite the prevalent use of defect engineering for modification, a comprehensive understanding of the specific features that positively impact material properties is still lacking, this knowledge gap impedes the advancement of a universally applicable defect selection and design strategy.

Molecular insights into the hydrolysis and transglycosylation of a deep-sea -derived GH16 family laminarinase.

The biochemical and structural characteristics of Lam, a laminarinase from deep-sea , have been extensively elucidated, unveiling the fundamental molecular mechanisms governing substrate recognition and enzymatic catalysis. Lam functions as an exo-laminarinase with the ability to sequentially hydrolyze laminarin, cleaving glucose units individually. Notably, Lam exhibits proficient transglycosylation capabilities, utilizing various sugar alcohols as acceptors, with lyxose, in particular, yielding exclusively transglycosylated products.

Layer Hall Detection of the Néel Vector in Centrosymmetric Magnetoelectric Antiferromagnets.

The efficient detection of the Néel vector in antiferromagnets is one of the prerequisites toward antiferromagnetic spintronic devices and remains a challenging problem. Here, we propose that the layer Hall effect can be used to efficiently detect the Néel vector in centrosymmetric magnetoelectric antiferromagnets. Thanks to the robust surface magnetization of magnetoelectric antiferromagnets, the combination of sizable exchange field and an applied electric field results in the layer-locked spin-polarized band edges.

Reconstruction of Ferromagnetic/Paramagnetic Cobalt-Based Electrocatalysts under Gradient Magnetic Fields for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution.

The rational manipulation of the surface reconstruction of catalysts is a key factor in achieving highly efficient water oxidation, but it is a challenge due to the complex reaction conditions. Herein, we introduce a novel in situ reconstruction strategy under a gradient magnetic field to form highly catalytically active species on the surface of ferromagnetic/paramagnetic CoFeO@CoBDC core-shell structure for electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We demonstrate that the Kelvin force from the cores' local gradient magnetic field modulates the shells' surface reconstruction, leading to a higher proportion of Co as active sites.

Ultrafast Multifunctional Photodetector Based on the NiAlO/4H-SiC Heterojunction.

Solar-blind photodetectors based on wide bandgap semiconductors have recently attracted a lot of interest. Nickel-containing spinel phase oxides, such as NiAlO, are stable p-type semiconductors. This paper describes a multifunctional solar-blind photodetector based on a NiAlO/4H-SiC heterojunction that utilizes photovoltaic effects.

Understanding the role of transition metal single-atom electronic structure in oxysulfur radical-mediated oxidative degradation.

The ubiquity of refractory organic matter in aquatic environments necessitates innovative removal strategies. Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation has emerged as an attractive solution, offering high selectivity, enduring efficacy, and anti-interference ability. Among many technologies, sulfite activation, leveraging its cost-effectiveness and lower toxicity compared to conventional persulfates, stands out.

Tuning the Catalytic Selectivity Toward C Oxygenate Products by Manipulating Cu Oxidation States in CO Electroreduction.

Enhancing the reaction selectivity for multicarbon products (C) is an important goal for the electrochemical CO reduction (ECOR) process. Cuprous compounds have demonstrated promising C selectivity in the ECOR process, but further investigation is necessary to thoroughly elucidate their catalytic behavior toward C oxygenate production. In this study, copper nitride-based materials with varying reduction rates were employed as precatalysts.

Catalytic CO Oxidation on the Cu-O-Ce Interface Constructed by an Electrospinning Method for Enhanced CO Adsorption at Low Temperature.

It is crucial to eliminate CO emissions using non-noble catalysts. Cu-based catalysts have been widely applied in CO oxidation, but their activity and stability at low temperatures are still challenging. This study reports the preparation and application of an efficient copper-doped ceria electrospun fiber catalyst prepared by a facile electrospinning method.

Large lateral photovoltaic effect with ultrafast optical relaxation time in SnS/n-Si junctions.

A large lateral photovoltaic effect (LPE) with a fast optical response time is necessary to develop high-performance position-sensitive detectors. In this paper, we report an LPE with a high self-powered position sensitivity and ultrafast optical relaxation time in /- junctions prepared using pulsed laser deposition. A large built-in electric field was generated at the / interface, which resulted in a large LPE with a positional sensitivity of up to 116 mV/mm.

Efficient Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Catalysis Using 3D-Structured Nickel Phosphosulfide Nanosheets in Alkaline Media.

Water electrolysis offers a zero-carbon route to generate renewable energy conversion systems. Herein, a self-supported nickel phosphosulfide nanosheet (NS) electrocatalyst was fabricated at a low temperature on carbon cloth, which was then subjected to Ar etching to enhance its catalytic activity. Etching resulted in better hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance than other samples, with overpotentials of 103.

Synergistically Designed Dual Interfaces to Enhance the Electrochemical Performance of MoO /MoS in Na- and Li-Ion Batteries.

It is indispensable to develop and design high capacity, high rate performance, long cycling life, and low-cost electrodes materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, MoO /MoS /C, with dual heterogeneous interfaces, is designed to induce a built-in electric field, which has been proved by experiments and theoretical calculation can accelerate electrochemical reaction kinetics and generate interfacial interactions to strengthen structural stability. The carbon foam serves as a conductive frame to assist the movement of electrons/ions, as well as forms heterogeneous interfaces with MoO /MoS through CS and CO bonds, maintaining structural integrity and enhancing electronic transport.

High-Performance Self-Powered Photodetector Based on the Lateral Photovoltaic Effect of All-Inorganic Perovskite CsPbBr Heterojunctions.

CsPbBr, an inorganic halide perovskite, has attracted great interest in recent years due to its excellent photoelectric properties. In this paper, we report a high-performance position-sensitive detector and laser communication sensor based on a CsPbBr/4H-SiC heterojunction that effectively exploits the lateral photovoltaic (LPV) effect. The X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and photoluminescence data indicate that a high-quality CsPbBr film has been successfully obtained using pulsed laser deposition.

Self-doped N, S porous carbon from semi-coking wastewater-based phenolic resin for supercapacitor electrodes.

Contamination of phenolic compounds has devastating effects on the environment. Therefore, its harmless treatment and recycling have received extensive attention. Herein, a novel method for preparing N-S doped phenolic resin (NSPR) from phenols, N and S groups in semi-coking wastewater, and formaldehyde are developed.

Unveiling the Coercivity-Induced Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Activity of Single-Domain CoFeO Nanocrystals under a Magnetic Field.

Spin polarization modulation in ferromagnetic materials has become an effective way to promote the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, to reveal the coercivity-related OER performance, single-domain ferromagnetic CoFeO (CFO) nanocrystals with different coercivities are synthesized and subjected to OER under an in situ tunable magnetic field. As the more ordered spin polarization state of CFO with a higher coercivity can afford a facilitated electron transfer process, the magnetic field-assisted OER activity can be more improved with an increase in coercivity.

Electronegativity Enhanced Strong Metal-Support Interaction in Ru@F-NiN for Enhanced Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Precious metals (Pt, Ir, Ru, and so on) and related compounds usually demonstrate superb catalytic activity for electrochemical hydrogen production. However, scarcity and stability are still challenges for hydrogen evolution reaction, even for single-atomic-site electrocatalysts. Herein, a fluorine (F) doping strategy is proposed to enhance the strong metal-support interaction between the F-doped NiN support and the loaded ruthenium (Ru) species.

Research on 3D-Print Design Method of Spatial Node Topology Optimization Based on Improved Material Interpolation.

Designing a high-strength node is significant for space structures. Topological optimization can optimally allocate the material distribution of components to meet performance requirements. Although the material distribution after topology optimization is optimum, the structure becomes complicated to manufacture.

Magnetic Field Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution of NiFe-LDH/Co O p-n Heterojunction Supported on Nickel Foam.

Here, a strategy to regulate the electron density distribution by integrating NiFe layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDH) nanosheets with Co O nanowires to construct the NiFe-LDH/Co O p-n heterojunction supported on nickel foam (NiFe-LDH/Co O /NF) for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is proposed. The p-n heterojunction can induce the charge redistribution in the heterogeneous interface to reach Fermi level alignment, thus modifying the adsorption free energy of *OOH and improving the intrinsic activity of the catalyst. As a result, NiFe-LDH/Co O /NF exhibits outstanding OER performance with a low overpotential of 274 mV at a current density of 50 mA cm and long-time stability over 90 h.

Modifying redox properties and local bonding of CoO by CeO enhances oxygen evolution catalysis in acid.

Developing efficient and stable earth-abundant electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reaction is the bottleneck for water splitting using proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. Here, we show that nanocrystalline CeO in a CoO/CeO nanocomposite can modify the redox properties of CoO and enhances its intrinsic oxygen evolution reaction activity, and combine electrochemical and structural characterizations including kinetic isotope effect, pH- and temperature-dependence, in situ Raman and ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses to understand the origin. The local bonding environment of CoO can be modified after the introduction of nanocrystalline CeO, which allows the Co species to be easily oxidized into catalytically active Co species, bypassing the potential-determining surface reconstruction process.

Tailoring physical properties of WS nanosheets by defects control.

The controllable growth of high-quality transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is crucial for their device applications, which rely on the atomic and quantitative understanding of the growth mechanism of TMDs. In this work, we propose a comprehensive picture of the growth of WS nanosheets via Monte Carlo simulation, and an extension of diffusion-limited growth under transition state theory is developed to describe heteroepitaxy growth of WS. Theoretical results are in good agreement with the results of chemical vapor deposition that growth temperature dominates growth processes leading to samples with various densities of vacancy defects.

Phase-Junction Electrocatalysts towards Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media.

To ensure sustainable hydrogen production by water electrolysis, robust, earth-abundant, and high-efficient electrocatalysts are required. Constructing a hybrid system could lead to further improvement in electrocatalytic activity. Interface engineering in composite catalysts is thus critical to determine the performance, and the phase-junction interface should improve the catalytic activity.

Defect Engineering in Metastable Phases of Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides for Electrochemical Applications.

Metastable metallic phases of transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanomaterials have displayed excellent performance and emerged as promising candidates for sustainable energy sources low-cost storage and conversion because of their two-dimensional (2D) layered structures and extraordinary physicochemical properties. In order to broaden the range of potential applications, defect engineering is applied to the metastable phases of TMDs for further improvement of their catalytic and electronic properties. According to some recent studies, effective introduction of defects without perturbing the interior conductivity contributes to the development of metastable TMDs.

2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides: Design, Modulation, and Challenges in Electrocatalysis.

Hydrogen has been deemed as an ideal substitute fuel to fossil energy because of its renewability and the highest energy density among all chemical fuels. One of the most economical, ecofriendly, and high-performance ways of hydrogen production is electrochemical water splitting. Recently, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (also known as 2D TMDs) showed their utilization potentiality as cost-effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts in water electrolysis.