Realizing High Thermoelectric Performance in ZnCl-Doped N-Type Polycrystalline SnSe Through Band Engineering and Incorporating Multiple Defects.

SnSe-based compounds, as promising thermoelectric materials, are well-known for their intrinsically low thermal conductivity and outstanding thermoelectric performance. However, the suboptimal electrical transport capacity for n-type polycrystalline SnSe significantly hinders the improvement of its thermoelectric performance. In this work, an effective approach for enhancing the thermoelectric performance of n-type SnSe polycrystalline materials through ZnCl doping has been investigated.

Unveiling the photophysical mechanisms in low-dimensional Zn/Cu-based metal halides.

The intriguing photophysical mechanisms of low-dimensional metal-halide hybrids are still elusive. This study investigates the optical properties and photophysical mechanisms of (CHN)ZnBr and (CHN)CuBr crystals. The former shows variable emission due to π-conjugation and intramolecular halogen-hydrogen bonds, while the latter exhibits a broad, temperature-sensitive emission from self-trapped excitons.

CoSn(OH) nanocubes: Hydroxyl perovskite catalyst for efficient peroxymonosulfate activation in acetamiprid degradation.

This study presents the synthesis of a nano-cubic metal hydroxide with a perovskite structure, CoSn(OH), for the efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) towards the degradation of acetamiprid (ACE) in water treatment. The CoSn(OH)/PMS system achieved complete degradation of ACE within only 12 min and exhibited outstanding catalytic stability. Our findings indicate that the non-radical mechanism, featuring singlet oxygen (O) and Co(IV)=O, is the primary contributor to the degradation process, while the role of radical species such as sulfate radical (SO) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) is subordinate.

Three-Fold Coordination of Copper in Sulfides: A Blockade for Hole Carrier Delocalization but a Driving Force for Ultralow Thermal Conductivity.

Copper-rich sulfides are very promising for energy conversion applications due to their environmental compatibility, cost effectiveness, and earth abundance. Based on a comparative analysis of the structural and transport properties of CuBiS with those of tetrahedrite (CuSbS) and other Cu-rich sulfides, we highlight the role of the cationic coordination types and networks on the electrical and thermal properties. By precession-assisted 3D electron diffraction analysis, we find very high anisotropic thermal vibration of copper attributed to its 3-fold coordination, with an anisotropic atomic displacement parameter up to 0.

A portable magnetic electrochemical sensor for highly efficient Pb(II) detection based on bimetal composites from Fe-on-Co-MOF.

The practical, sensitive, and real-time detection of heavy metal ions is an essential and difficult problem. This study presents the design of a unique magnetic electrochemical detection system that can achieve real-time field detection. To enhance the electrochemical performance of the sensor, FeO@C-800, Co/CoO@/C-600, and CoFeO@C-600 magnetic composites were synthesized using three MOFs precursors by the solvothermal method.

Subcellular Nanobionic Liposome with High Zeta Potential Enhances Intravesical Adhesion and Drug Delivery.

The administration of drugs resident to counteract fluid washout has received considerable attention. However, the fabrication of a biocompatible system with adequate adhesion and tissue penetration capability remains challenging. This study presents a cell membrane-inspired carrier at the subcellular scale that facilitates interfacial adhesion and tissue penetration to improve drug delivery efficiency.

Negative mixing enthalpy solid solutions deliver high strength and ductility.

Body-centred cubic refractory multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs), with several refractory metal elements as constituents and featuring a yield strength greater than one gigapascal, are promising materials to meet the demands of aggressive structural applications. Their low-to-no tensile ductility at room temperature, however, limits their processability and scaled-up application. Here we present a HfNbTiVAl alloy that shows remarkable tensile ductility (roughly 20%) and ultrahigh yield strength (roughly 1,390 megapascals).

Improved selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers based on the synergistic action of hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction.

Based on the synergistic action of hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction, provided by methacrylic acid and 2-aminoethyl ester hydrochloride (FM2), respectively, novel molecularly imprinted polymers (SA-MIPs) were designed to improve its selective recognition ability. Diclofenac sodium (DFC) was chosen as the template molecule of this study. The interaction and their recognition sites between two functional monomers and templates were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy.

Controlling the electrochemical activity of dahlia-like β-NiS@rGO by interface polarization.

Transition metal sulfides have become more and more important in the field of energy storage due to their superior chemical and physical properties. Herein, dahlia β-NiS with a rough surface and β-NiS@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been green synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. The interface characteristics of β-NiS@ rGO composites have been systematically studied by XPS, Raman, and first-principles calculations.

Engineering Transport Properties in Interconnected Enargite-Stannite Type Cu Mn GeS Nanocomposites.

Understanding the mechanisms that connect heat and electron transport with crystal structures and defect chemistry is fundamental to develop materials with thermoelectric properties. In this work, we synthesized a series of self-doped compounds Cu Mn GeS through Cu for Mn substitution. Using a combination of powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and precession-assisted electron diffraction tomography, we evidence that the materials are composed of interconnected enargite- and stannite-type structures, via the formation of nanodomains with a high density of coherent interfaces.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Construction of Tetrasubstituted Carbon Stereocenters Bearing Three Heteroatoms via Intramolecular Cyclization of Vinylidene -Quinone Methide with Imidates.

We report herein an organocatalytic asymmetric protocol for the construction of tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenters bearing three heteroatoms. The reaction proceeded via the enantioselective intramolecular cyclization reaction of vinylidene -quinone methide (VQM) with imidates to form pentacyclic heterocycles. The formed tetrasubstituted carbon center was stable under a high temperature and the conditions for further transformations.

Freeze-thaw alternations accelerate plasticizers release and pose a risk for exposed organisms.

The application of plastic mulch films brings convenience to agricultural production, but also causes plastic waste that can be degraded into microplastics (MPs). However, little is known about the fate of plastic waste in agricultural ecosystem under freeze-thaw alternation in middle and high latitudes, as well as in highlands around the world. Whether the release of plasticizers, i.

A Dual-Ligand Strategy to Regulate the Nucleation and Growth of Lead Chromate Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for renewable hydrogen production has been regarded as a promising solution to utilize solar energy. However, most photoelectrodes still suffer from poor film quality and poor charge separation properties, mainly owing to the possible formation of detrimental defects including microcracks and grain boundaries. Herein, a molecular coordination engineering strategy is developed by employing acetylacetone (Acac) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) dual ligands to regulate the nucleation and crystal growth of the lead chromate (PbCrO ) photoanode, resulting in the formation of a high-quality film with large grain size, well-stitched grain boundaries, and reduced oxygen vacancies defects.

Corrosion-controlled surface engineering improves the adhesion of materials for stable free-standing electrodes.

Directly anchoring active materials on porous conductive substrates is considered an effective strategy to obtain a high-activity electrode since the direct contact between active materials and substrates benefits charge transfer, and the presence of porous structures provides more active sites. However, due to the presence of strong stress and weak adhesion, active materials loaded on the substrate are very easy to peel off during assembly and use, which can greatly shorten the lifetime of use. Herein, an ultrasonic corrosion strategy is proposed to regulate the surface of a metal substrate.

A Tunable Structural Family with Ultralow Thermal Conductivity: Copper-Deficient Cu□PbBiS.

Understanding the mechanism that connects heat transport with crystal structures and order/disorder phenomena is crucial to develop materials with ultralow thermal conductivity (κ), for thermoelectric and thermal barrier applications, and requires the study of highly pure materials. We synthesized the n-type sulfide CuPbBiS with an ultralow κ value of 0.6-0.

Lattice Thermal Transport in the Homogeneous Cage-Like Compounds Cu VSe and Cu NbSe : Interplay between Phonon-Phase Space, Anharmonicity, and Atomic Mass.

Understanding the correlation between crystal structure and thermal conductivity in semiconductors is very important for designing heat-transport-related devices, such as high-performance thermoelectric materials and heat dissipation in micro-nano-scale devices. In this work, the lattice thermal conductivity ( ) of the cage-like compounds Cu VSe and Cu NbSe was investigated by experimental measurements and first-principles calculations. The experimental of Cu NbSe is approximately 25 % lower than that of Cu VSe at 300 K.

Ultrahigh drive current and large selectivity in GeS selector.

Selector devices are indispensable components of large-scale nonvolatile memory and neuromorphic array systems. Besides the conventional silicon transistor, two-terminal ovonic threshold switching device with much higher scalability is currently the most industrially favored selector technology. However, current ovonic threshold switching devices rely heavily on intricate control of material stoichiometry and generally suffer from toxic and complex dopants.

ZnBO: Efficient Borate Photocatalyst with Fast Carrier Separation for Photodegradation of Tetracycline.

There is a need for photocatalysts with efficient photocarrier separation to address issues with environmental pollution. Photocarrier separation is largely determined by the orbital composition near the band edge. Here, we investigate ZnBO as an efficient photocatalyst for photodegradation of tetracycline.

Selective separation and purification of polydatin by molecularly imprinted polymers from the extract of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, rats' plasma and urine.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on polydatin were prepared by precipitation polymerization method. Synthesis process of MIPs was optimized by discussion of functional monomers, porogens and the molar ratio of template- functional monomer-cross linker. Then, MIPs were prepared with polydatin as the template, 4-vinyl pyridine as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethyl acrylate as the cross linker, acetonitrile as the porogen and the molar ratio of template-monomer-cross linker at 1:10:20.

Dynamic Epitaxial Crystallization of SnSe on the Oxidized SnSe Surface and Its Atomistic Mechanisms.

Surface oxidation of SnSe sharply reduces its thermoelectric properties though the bulk single-crystalline materials of SnSe claim the record high zT values. Investigation on the oxidation behaviors of SnSe together with the subsequent phase transition and element migration is fundamentally important to maintaining the ultrahigh zT values, with a potential for further improvement. In this work, we disclose the dynamic epitaxial crystallization of SnSe on the amorphous surface of partially oxidized SnSe crystals and the corresponding atomistic mechanisms transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Novel LiSnO/g-CN Heterojunction With Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Efficiency Toward Rhodamine B Degradation.

The design of highly efficient and stable photocatalysts to utilize solar energy is a significant challenge in photocatalysis. In this work, a series of novel heterojunction photocatalysts, LiSnO/g-CN, was successfully prepared via a facile calcining method, and exhibited superior photocatalytic activity toward the photodegradation of Rhodamine B solution under visible light irradiation as compared with pure LiSnO and g-CN. The maximum kinetic rate constant of photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B within 60 min was 0.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective γ-Elimination: Applications in the Preparation of Chiral Peroxides and Epoxides.

An organocatalyzed enantioselective γ-elimination process has been achieved and applied in the kinetic resolution of peroxides to access chiral peroxides and epoxides. The reaction provided a pathway for the preparation of two useful synthetic and biologically important structural motifs through a single-step reaction. A range of substrates has been resolved with a selectivity factor up to 63.

High Thermoelectric Performance of Co-Doped P-Type Polycrystalline SnSe via Optimizing Electrical Transport Properties.

This work systematically investigated the thermoelectric properties of p-type Na and M (M = K, Li, Ag) codoped polycrystalline SnSe. It is found that the electrical properties of polycrystalline SnSe can be improved significantly for (Na, Ag) codoped samples, contributed by the enhanced carrier concentration. Specifically, a carrier concentration of 6.

In Situ Construction of a MgSn(OH) Perovskite/SnO Type-II Heterojunction: A Highly Efficient Photocatalyst towards Photodegradation of Tetracycline.

Using solar energy to remove antibiotics from aqueous environments via photocatalysis is highly desirable. In this work, a novel type-II heterojunction photocatalyst, MgSn(OH)/SnO was successfully prepared via a facile one-pot in situ hydrothermal method at 220 °C for 24 h. The obtained heterojunctions were characterized via powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.