Development of tough and stiff elastomers by leveraging hydrophilic-hydrophobic supramolecular segment interaction.

The presence of supramolecular interactions plays a crucial role in the formation of resilient multifunctional elastomers. Nevertheless, achieving elastomers with fabulous mechanical properties remains a significant challenge due to the incomplete understanding of the underlying principles. In this study, we have presented a simple yet efficient approach for manipulating the microstructure, resulting in a significant enhancement of the mechanical properties of the elastomers.

Automated detection of stale beef from electronic nose data.

Accurate detection of stale beef on the market is important for protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. To this end, we combined electronic nose measurements with machine learning technology to classify beef samples. We used an electronic nose to collect information about the odor characteristics of different beef samples and used linear discriminant analysis to reduce data dimensionality.

Release of ions enhanced the antibacterial performance of laser-generated, uncoated Ag nanoparticles.

Identifying the antibacterial mechanisms of elemental silver at the nanoscale remains a significant challenge due to the intertwining behaviors between the particles and their released ions. The open question is which of the above factor dominate the antibacterial behaviors when silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with different sizes. Considering the high reactivity of Ag NPs, prior research has primarily concentrated on coated particles, which inevitably hinder the release of Ag ions due to additional chemical agents.

NaMnSiO/C as hybrid capacitive deionization electrode material to enhance desalination performance.

The utilization of NaMnSiO as a Faraday electrode in hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) is investigated to achieve efficient desalination. The NaMnSiO/C (NMSO) materials were fabricated via a simple sol-gel method, in which the synthesis process was modulated by adjusting the volume ratio of ethanol to water. When maintaining the volume ratio of water to ethanol at 3:1, the resultant NMSO-3/1 exhibited expected salt adsorption capacity of 31.

Rapid detection of adulterated lamb meat using near infrared and electronic nose: A F1-score-MRE data fusion approach.

Individual detection techniques cannot guarantee accurate and reliable results when combatting the presence of adulterated lamb meat in the market. Here, we propose an approach combining the electronic nose and near-infrared spectroscopy fusion data with machine learning methods to effectively detect adulterated lamb meat (mixed with duck meat). To comprehensively analyse the data from both techniques, the F1-score-based Model Reliability Estimation (F1-score-MRE) data fusion method was introduced.

Surface Modification Driven Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Rate Performance Enhancement of Li Mn Ni Co O Cathode.

Due to its high energy density and low cost, Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides are considered potential cathode materials for next generation Li-ion batteries. However, they still suffer from the serious obstacle of low initial Coulombic efficiency, which is detrimental to their practical application. Here, an efficient surface modification method via NH H PO assisted pyrolysis is performed to improve the Coulombic efficiency of Li Mn Ni Co O , where appropriate oxygen vacancies, Li PO and spinel phase are synchronously generated in the surface layer of LMR microspheres.

SERS with Flexible β-CD@AuNP/PTFE Substrates for In Situ Detection and Identification of PAH Residues on Fruit and Vegetable Surfaces Combined with Lightweight Network.

The detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on fruit and vegetable surfaces is important for protecting human health and ensuring food safety. In this study, a method for the in situ detection and identification of PAH residues on fruit and vegetable surfaces was developed using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based on a flexible substrate and lightweight deep learning network. The flexible SERS substrate was fabricated by assembling β-cyclodextrin-modified gold nanoparticles (β-CD@AuNPs) on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film coated with perfluorinated liquid (β-CD@AuNP/PTFE).

Solid-State Au Nanocone Arrays Substrate for Reliable SERS Profiling of Serum for Disease Diagnosis.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a widely used rapid and noninvasive method for detecting biological substances in serum samples and is commonly employed in disease screening and diagnosis. Solid-state nanoarray SERS substrates used in serum detection may cause spectral instability due to imperfections in the detection method. For the purpose of identifying optimal detection conditions, various dilution levels of the serum were tested in this study.

Development of electronic nose for detection of micro-mechanical damages in strawberries.

A self-developed portable electronic nose and its classification model were designed to detect and differentiate minor mechanical damage to strawberries. The electronic nose utilises four metal oxide sensors and four electrochemical sensors specifically calibrated for strawberry detection. The selected strawberries were subjected to simulated damage using an H2Q-C air bath oscillator at varying speeds and then stored at 4°C to mimic real-life mechanical damage scenarios.

Oxidation-Resistant Silicon Nanosystem for Intelligent Controlled Ferrous Foliar Delivery to Crops.

Since ferrous (Fe(II)) is the main form of plant absorption, traditional ferrous foliar fertilizers (TFFF) are widely used in modern agriculture. However, TFFF suffer from the shortcomings of weak antioxidant capacity (AC), low foliar adhesion efficiency (FAE), poor fertilizer utilization efficiency (FUE), and noncontrollable slow-release behavior. To overcome these limitations, an oxidation-resistant silicon nanosystem for intelligent controlled ferrous foliar delivery to crops was first developed by using environmentally friendly micro/nano structured hollow silicon as carrier, and combining with vitamin C ( antioxidant) to synthesize an oxidation-resistant ferrous foliar fertilizer (ORFFF) for ameliorating Fe-deficiency in crops and increasing crop yield.

Stretchable, Adhesive, and Bioinspired Visual Electronic Skin with Strain/Temperature/Pressure Multimodal Non-Interference Sensing.

It is highly desirable to construct a single-multimodal sensor that could synchronously perceive multiple stimuli without interference. Here, we propose an adhesive multifunctional chromotropic electronic skin (MCES) that can respond to and distinguish three different stimuli of stain, temperature, and pressure within the two-terminal sensing unit. The mutually discriminating "three-in-one" device converts strain into capacitance and pressure into voltage signals for a tactile stimulus response and produces visual color changes against temperature.

Wearable, Biodegradable, and Antibacterial Multifunctional TiCT MXene/Cellulose Paper for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Passive and Active Dual-Thermal Management.

An energy-saving scheme that can simultaneously realize electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, passive solar radiative heating, and active Joule heating in a single wearable device is still a huge challenge. Here, by combining the unique properties of TiCT MXene and biocompatible cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), a flexible, degradable, and antibacterial multifunctional TiCT/CNF paper (∼0.6 Ω/sq) is constructed through a facile vacuum filtration strategy.

Controlled fabrication of nitrogen-doped porous carbon foam with refined hierarchical architectures for desalination via capacitive deionization.

Porous carbon materials have been regarded as a promising alternative to activated carbon for desalination via capacitive deionization (CDI) due to refined architectures and functionalities. However, it is still challenging to obtain a controlled hierarchical pore structure and considerable nitrogen-doped content by convenient method. Herein, nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon foams (NHCFs) with different microstructural features, nitrogen contents and nitrogen species were successfully fabricated via a stepwise pyrolysis carbonization strategy using easily available melamine foam.

Facile Synthesis of ZnO/WO Nanocomposite Porous Films for High-Performance Gas Sensing of Multiple VOCs.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments have typical features of multiple components, high concentration, and long duration. The development of gas sensors with high sensitivity to multiple VOCs is of great significance to protect human health. Herein, we proposed a sensitive ZnO/WO composite chemi-resistive sensor facilely fabricated via a sacrificial template approach.

Detection of 1-OHPyr in human urine using SERS with injection under wet liquid-liquid self-assembled films of β-CD-coated gold nanoparticles and deep learning.

1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr), a typical hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (OH-PAH), has been commonly regarded as a urinary biomarker for assessing human exposure and health risks of PAHs. Herein, a fast and sensitive method was developed for the determination of 1-OHPyr in urine using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with deep learning (DL). After emulsification, urinary 1-OHPyr was separated using simple liquid-liquid extraction.

Raman Spectroscopy and Improved Inception Network for Determination of FHB-Infected Wheat Kernels.

Detection of infected kernels is important for Fusarium head blight (FHB) prevention and product quality assurance in wheat. In this study, Raman spectroscopy (RS) and deep learning networks were used for the determination of FHB-infected wheat kernels. First, the RS spectra of healthy, mild, and severe infection kernels were measured and spectral changes and band attribution were analyzed.

Microstructures and Tensile Properties of 9Cr-F/M Steel at Elevated Temperatures.

Tensile properties and microstructure changes under different stress states of tempered 9Cr-F/M steel were characterized using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers hardness tester, and tensile tester. This tempered steel has a typical lath martensite structure with only a few polygonal ferrites embedded, and MC and MX phases nucleated on the lath boundaries or within the sub-grains. At elevated temperatures, the strength of the steel decreases.

LiZrO-Coated Monocrystalline LiAlMnO Particles as Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

LiZrO-coated and Al-doped micro-sized monocrystalline LiMnO powder is synthesized through solid-state reaction, and the electrochemical performance is investigated as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. It is found that LiZrO-coated LiAlMnO delivers a discharge capacity of 110.90 mAhg with 94% capacity retention after 200 cycles at room temperature and a discharge capacity of 104.

Effect of Nano-YO Content on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fe18Cr Films Fabricated by RF Magnetron Sputtering.

In this work, FeCr-based films with different YO contents were fabricated using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The effects of YO content on their microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP) and a nanoindenter. It was found that the YO-doped FeCr films exhibited a nanocomposite structure with nanosized YO particles uniformly distributed into a FeCr matrix.