Toward self-healing two dimensional MXene coatings for corrosion protection on metals: Design strategies and mechanisms.

Metallic corrosion leads to high economic losses and security risks, and coating protection is an effective approach to preventing metal from corrosion. However, defects such as cracks and micropores are inevitable in the coating, so it is urgent to develop self-healing coatings for realizing long-term corrosion protection due to the actively protective ability. Though two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbide or nitride (MXene) coatings have been employed to realize self-healing function, the design strategies of the MXene-based coatings and mechanism on how MXenes inhibit corrosion at the coating-metal interface as well as the roles of MXene in self-healing process remain elusive.

Bioinspired catalytic pocket promotes CO-to-ethanol photoconversion on colloidal quantum wells.

Sluggish surface reaction is a critical factor that strongly governs the efficiency of photocatalytic solar fuel production, particularly in CO-to-ethanol photoconversion. Here, inspired by the principles underlying enzyme catalytic proficiency and specificity, we report a biomimetic photocatalyst that affords superior CO-to-ethanol photoreduction efficiency (5.5 millimoles gram hour in average with 98.

Overcoming tumor hypoxic bismuth-based ternary heterojunctions enable defect modulation-augmented tumor sonocatalytic immunotherapy.

Inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) via sonocatalysis to initiate inflammatory programmed cell death (PANoptosis) and immunogenic cell death (ICD) presents a promising strategy for activatable cancer immunotherapy. However, the limited ROS generation by sonosensitizers under ultrasound and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment hinder the efficiency of sono-immunotherapy. To overcome these challenges, a bismuth-based ternary heterojunction, Bi@BiO-Pt-PEG (BBOP), was developed for sonocatalytic therapy aimed at activating immune responses.

Specific Adsorption of Alkaline Cations Enhances CO-CO Coupling in CO Electroreduction.

Electrolyte alkaline cations can significantly modulate the reaction selectivity of electrochemical CO reduction (eCOR), enhancing the yield of the valuable multicarbon (C) chemical feedstocks. However, the mechanism underlying this cation effect on the C-C coupling remains unclear. Herein, by performing constant-potential AIMD simulations, we studied the dynamic behavior of interfacial K ions over Cu surfaces during C-C coupling and the origin of the cation effect.

Universal Approach for Managing Iodine Migration in Inverted Single-Junction and Tandem Perovskite Solar Cells.

Despite significant progress in the power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the instability of devices remains a considerable obstacle for commercial applications. This instability primarily originates from the migration of halide ions-particularly iodide ions (I). Under light exposure and thermal stress, I migrates and transforms into I, leading to irreversible degradation and performance loss.

Charge Separation-Engineered Piezoelectric Ultrathin Nanorods Modulate Tumor Stromal Microenvironment and Enhance Cell Immunogenicity for Synergistically Piezo-Thermal-Immune Therapy.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by hypoxia and low immunogenicity, with a dense and rigid extracellular matrix (ECM) that impedes the diffusion of therapeutic agents and immune cells, thereby limiting the efficacy of immunotherapy. To overcome these challenges, an oxygen defect piezoelectric-photothermal sensitizer, bismuth vanadate nanorod-supported platinum nanodots (BVP) is developed. The integration of platinum enhances the photothermal effect and improves charge separation efficiency under ultrasound, leading to increased heat generation and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen.

Bubbling Chemical Vapors in Molten Metal toward XIV-Group Nanosheets.

Two-dimensional (2D) XIV-group nanosheets (germanene, silicene, and stannene) possess unique physical and chemical features promising in fields of electronics, energy storage, and conversions. However, preparing these nanosheets is challenging owing to their non van der Waals structure with strong chemical bonds inside. Herein, a bubbling chemical-vapor growth method is proposed to synthesize these XIV-group nanosheets by bubbling XIV-group-element chlorides in molten sodium.

New insights into biofilm formation and microbial communities in hybrid constructed wetlands with functional substrates for treating contaminated surface water.

In this study, hybrid constructed wetlands (HCW) with functional substrates (vermiculite-tourmaline modified polyurethane) were constructed to investigate nitrogen removal efficiency and metabolic cooperation mechanisms for treating rural contaminated surface water with natural temperature fluctuations. The results show that within a natural temperature fluctuation range of 9-25 °C, the HCW achieved an average nitrate nitrogen removal efficiency of 98 % and a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 76 %, with effluent total nitrogen less than 5 mg/L. The rational secretion of extracellular polymeric substance and the analysis of microbial community structure revealed that functional substrate favors biofilm formation, increases the activity of Candidatus_Brocadia and Thauera, and enhances ammonia and nitrate reduction.

A 3D-Printed Bionic Membrane with Autonomously Passive Unidirectional Liquid Transfer Capability for Water Condensation, Collection, and Purification.

Interfacial solar vapor generation is a promising technology for alleviating the current global water crisis, and the evaporation rate and efficiency have approached the theoretical limit. In a practical interfacial evaporation water purification system, the collection rate of purified water is typically lower than the evaporation rate. Passive collection devices based on gravity are susceptible to environmental influences and exhibit low collection efficiency, while active collection devices consuming external energy suffer from complex device systems and extra energy consumption.

Promoting Charge-Carriers Dynamics by Relaxed Lattice Strain in A-site-Doped Halide Perovskite for Photocatalytic H Evolution.

Because of the unique and superior optoelectronic properties, metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have attracted great interest in photocatalysis. Element doping strategy is adopted to modify perovskite materials to improve their photocatalytic performance. However, the contribution of bare doping-site onto photocatalytic efficiency, and the correlation between doping locations and activity have not yet to be demonstrated.

Li Ion-Dipole Interaction-Enabled a Dynamic Supramolecular Elastomer Interface Layer for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes.

The unstable lithium (Li)/electrolyte interface, causing inferior cycling efficiency and unrestrained dendrite growth, has severely hampered the practical deployment of Li metal batteries (LMBs), particularly in carbonate electrolytes. Herein, we present a robust approach capitalizing on a dynamic supramolecular elastomer (DSE) interface layer, which is capable of being reduced with Li metal to spontaneously form strong Li ion-dipole interaction, thereby enhancing interfacial stability in carbonate electrolytes. The soft phase in the DSE structure enables fast Li transport via loosely coordinated Li-O interaction, while the hard phase, rich in electronegative lithiophilic sites, drives the generation of fast-ion-conducting solid electrolyte interface components, including LiN and LiS.

Toward High-Performance Li-Rich Mn-Based Layered Cathodes: A Review on Surface Modifications.

Lithium-rich manganese-based layered oxides (LRMOs) have received attention from both the academic and the industrial communities in recent years due to their high specific capacity (theoretical capacity ≥250 mAh g), low cost, and excellent processability. However, the large-scale applications of these materials still face unstable surface/interface structures, unsatisfactory cycling/rate performance, severe voltage decay, etc. Recently, solid evidence has shown that lattice oxygen in LRMOs easily moves and escapes from the particle surface, which inspires significant efforts on stabilizing the surface/interfacial structures of LRMOs.

Piezoelectric-mediated two-dimensional copper-based metal-organic framework for synergistic sonodynamic and cuproptosis-driven tumor therapy.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic approach that utilizes sonosensitizers to catalyze substrates and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound stimulation, ultimately inducing tumor cell death. Enhancing the piezoelectric properties of nanomaterials and modulating the semiconductor energy band are effective strategies to improve the catalytic efficiency of sonosensitizers. In this study, we developed a two-dimensional (2D) copper-based piezoelectric metal-organic framework (MOF) sonosensitizer, denoted as CM, through the coordination of copper and dimethylimidazole.

Tetraphenylethene-Based Molecular Cage with Coenzyme FAD: Conformationally Isomeric Complexation toward Photocatalysis-Assisted Photodynamic Therapy.

Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), serving as a light-absorbing coenzyme factor, can undergo conformationally isomeric complexation within different enzymes to form various enzyme-coenzyme complexes, which exhibit photocatalytic functions that play a crucial role in physiological processes. Constructing an artificial photofunctional system using FAD or its derivatives can not only develop biocompatible photocatalytic systems with excellent activities but also further enhance our understanding of the role of FAD in biological systems. Here, we demonstrate a supramolecular approach for constructing an artificial enzyme-coenzyme-type host-guest complex with photoinduced catalytic function in water.

d-Electrons of Platinum Alloy Steering CO Pathway for Low-Charge Potential Li-CO Batteries.

Aprotic Li-CO batteries suffer from sluggish solid-solid co-oxidation kinetics of C and LiCO, requiring extremely high charging potentials and leading to serious side reactions and poor energy efficiency. Herein, we introduce a novel approach to address these challenges by modulating the reaction pathway with tailored Pt d-electrons and develop an aprotic Li-CO battery with CO and LiCO as the main discharge products. Note that the gas-solid co-oxidation reaction between CO and LiCO is both kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable.

Ultra-Tough Dynamic Supramolecular Ion-Conducting Elastomer Induced Uniform Li Transport and Stabilizes Interphase Ensures Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes.

Artificial polymer solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) with microphase-separated structures provide promising solutions to the inhomogeneity and cracking issues of natural SEIs in lithium metal batteries (LMBs). However, achieving homogeneous ionic conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and superior interfacial stability remains challenging due to interference from hard-phase domains in ion transport and solid-solid interface issues with lithium metal. Herein, we present a dynamic supramolecular ion-conducting poly (urethane-urea) interphase (DSIPI) that achieves these three properties through modulating the hard-phase domains and constructing a composite SEI in situ.

Bismuth-based mesoporous nanoball carrying sorafenib for synergistic photothermal and molecularly-targeted therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft mouse model.

Sorafenib (SOR), a multi-kinase inhibitor for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has limited clinical application due to severe side effects and drug resistance. To overcome these challenges, we developed a bismuth-based nanomaterial (BOS) for thermal injury-assisted continuous targeted therapy in HCC. Initially, the mesoporous nanomaterial was loaded with SOR, forming the BOS@SOR nano-carrier system for drug delivery and controlled release.

Water-soluble AIE photosensitizer in short-wave infrared region for albumin-enhanced and self-reporting phototheranostics.

Organic photosensitizers (PSs) play important roles in phototheranostics, and contribute to the fast development of precision medicine. However, water-soluble and highly emissive organic PSs, especially those emitting in the short-wave infrared region (SWIR), are still challenging. Also, it's difficult to prepare self-reporting PSs for visualizing the treatment via stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy.

Environmental simulation and refrigeration demand analysis for shield tunnel construction in hot summer and cold winter regions.

The thermal hazards generated during the tunnel boring machine construction process significantly impact the physical and mental health of personnel. A field test was conducted on the tunnel of Metro Line 1 in Changsha, China, where the average temperature in the work zone reached up to 33.16 °C, and the air velocity was generally below 0.

Enhanced nitrogen removal and microbial community of the mainstream deammonification treating fluctuating influent C/N wastewater by the novel functional carriers.

The plug-flow fixed bed reactors with zeolite/tourmaline-modified polyurethane carriers (PFBR) and polyurethane carriers (PFBR) were operated to assess the fluctuating influent C/N impact on the system performance and the carrier effect on the enhancing the system operation. Result suggested that fluctuations in influent C/N and variations in operational temperature reduced the removal performance and system stability within PFBR. The negative impact of C/N fluctuation could be effectively mitigated by effluent reflux.

Interfacial Thermoconvection and Atomic Relay Catalysis Enable Equilibrium Shifting and Rapid Glucose-to-Fructose Isomerization.

The aqueous glucose-to-fructose isomerization is controlled by thermodynamics to an equilibrium limit of ~50 % fructose yield. However, here we report an in situ fructose removal strategy enabled by an interfacial local photothermal effect in combination with relay catalysis of geminal and isolated potassium single atoms (K SAs) on graphene-type carbon (K/GT) to effectively bypass the equilibrium limit and markedly speed up glucose-to-fructose isomerization. At 25 °C, an unprecedented fructose yield of 68.

Boosting Chemiexcitation of Phenoxy-1,2-dioxetanes through 7-Norbornyl and Homocubanyl Spirofusion.

The chemiluminescent light-emission pathway of phenoxy-1,2-dioxetane luminophores is increasingly attracting the scientific community's attention. Dioxetane probes that undergo rapid, flash-type chemiexcitation demonstrate higher detection sensitivity than those with a slower, glow-type chemiexcitation rate. This is primarily because the rapid flash-type produces a greater number of photons within a given time.