MoTe Photodetector for Integrated Lithium Niobate Photonics.

The integration of a photodetector that converts optical signals into electrical signals is essential for scalable integrated lithium niobate photonics. Two-dimensional materials provide a potential high-efficiency on-chip detection capability. Here, we demonstrate an efficient on-chip photodetector based on a few layers of MoTe on a thin film lithium niobate waveguide and integrate it with a microresonator operating in an optical telecommunication band.

Micro-Defects-Related Low Cycle Fatigue Mechanical Model of the Nuclear-Grade S30408 Stainless Steel.

Continuous and interrupted low cycle fatigue tests were conducted on nuclear-grade S30408 stainless steel under different stress conditions at room temperature. Vickers hardness testing and microstructure characterization were performed on the fatigue samples with different fatigue states. The evolutionary mechanism of the microstructure defects in materials under fatigue cyclic loading was discussed.

Intestinal Barrier Damage and Growth Retardation Caused by Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Through Lactation Milk in Developing Mice.

Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, degrade from larger pollutants, with nanoscale microplastic particles presenting significant biological interactions. This study investigates the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on juvenile mice, which were exposed through lactation milk and drinking water at concentrations of 0.01 mg/mL, 0.

Electrocatalytic and Photocatalytic N Fixation Using Carbon Catalysts.

Carbon catalysts have shown promise as an alternative to the currently available energy-intensive approaches for nitrogen fixation (NF) to urea, NH, or related nitrogenous compounds. The primary challenges for NF are the natural inertia of nitrogenous molecules and the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Recently, carbon-based materials have made significant progress due to their tunable electronic structure and ease of defect formation.

Nonlinear Optics in Two-Dimensional Magnetic Materials: Advancements and Opportunities.

Nonlinear optics, a critical branch of modern optics, presents unique potential in the study of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials. These materials, characterized by their ultra-thin geometry, long-range magnetic order, and diverse electronic properties, serve as an exceptional platform for exploring nonlinear optical effects. Under strong light fields, 2D magnetic materials exhibit significant nonlinear optical responses, enabling advancements in novel optoelectronic devices.

Electromagnetic Wavefront Engineering by Switchable and Multifunctional Kirigami Metasurfaces.

Developing switchable and multifunctional metasurfaces is essential for high-integration photonics. However, most previous studies encountered challenges such as limited degrees of freedom, simple tuning of predefined functionality, and complicated control systems. Here, we develop a general strategy to construct switchable and multifunctional metasurfaces.

Study of Thermal Effects in Fused-Tapered Pure Passive Fibers and Signal Combiners.

This paper investigates the thermal effects in fused-tapered passive optical fibers under near-infrared absorption. The thermal effect is primarily caused by impurities, such as OH-, which absorb incident light and generate heat. Using the finite element method, the volume changes during fiber tapering were simulated, influencing power density and thermal distribution.

Fiber Optic Micro-Hole Salinity Sensor Based on Femtosecond Laser Processing.

This study presents a novel reflective fiber Fabry-Perot (F-P) salinity sensor. The sensor employs a femtosecond laser to fabricate an open liquid cavity, facilitating the unobstructed ingress and egress of the liquid, thereby enabling the direct involvement of the liquid in light transmission. Variations in the refractive index of the liquid induce corresponding changes in the effective refractive index of the optical path, which subsequently influences the output spectrum.

The Effect of Molten Salt Composition on Carbon Structure: Preparation of High Value-Added Nano-Carbon Materials by Electrolysis of Carbon Dioxide.

The electrochemical conversion of CO into high value-added carbon materials by molten salt electrolysis offers a promising solution for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This study focuses on investigating the influence of molten salt composition on the structure of CO direct electroreduction carbon products in chloride molten salt systems. Using CaO as a CO absorber, the adsorption principle of CO in LiCl-CaCl, LiCl-CaCl-NaCl and LiCl-CaCl-KCl molten salts was discussed, and the reasons for the different morphologies and structures of carbon products were analyzed, and it was found that the electrolytic efficiency of the whole process exceeded 85%.

Controlling the Crystallinity and Morphology of Bismuth Selenide via Electrochemical Exfoliation for Tailored Reverse Saturable Absorption and Optical Limiting.

As an emerging two-dimensional (2D) Group-VA material, bismuth selenide (BiSe) exhibits favorable electrical and optical properties. Here, three distinct morphologies of BiSe were obtained from bulk BiSe through electrochemical intercalation exfoliation. And the morphologies of these nanostructures can be tuned by adjusting solvent polarity during exfoliation.

A Magnetic Photocatalytic Composite Derived from Waste Rice Noodle and Red Mud.

This study is the first to convert two waste materials, waste rice noodles (WRN) and red mud (RM), into a low-cost, high-value magnetic photocatalytic composite. WRN was processed via a hydrothermal method to produce a solution containing carbon quantum dots (CQDs). Simultaneously, RM was dissolved in acid to form a Fe ion-rich solution, which was subsequently mixed with the CQDs solution and underwent hydrothermal treatment.

Nanosized κ-Carbide and B2 Boosting Strength Without Sacrificing Ductility in a Low-Density Fe-32Mn-11Al Steel.

High-performance lightweight materials are urgently needed because of energy savings and emission reduction. Here, we design a new steel with a low density of 6.41 g/cm, which is a 20% weight reduction compared to the conventional steel.

A Hierarchical Core-Shell Structure of NiO@CuO-CF for Effective Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Detection.

Non-enzymatic glucose detection is an effective strategy to control the blood glucose level of diabetic patients. A novel hierarchical core-shell structure of nickel hydroxide shell coated copper hydroxide core based on copper foam (Ni(OH)@Cu(OH)-CF) was fabricated and derived from NiO@CuO-CF for glucose sensing. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry experiments have demonstrated the efficient electrochemical catalysis of glucose under alkaline conditions.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting: Nano-Morphological Control and Electronic Band Tailoring.

Semiconductor polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) photocatalysts have garnered significant and rapidly increasing interest in the realm of visible light-driven hydrogen evolution reactions. This interest stems from their straightforward synthesis, ease of functionalization, appealing electronic band structure, high physicochemical and thermal stability, and robust photocatalytic activity. This review starts with the basic principle of photocatalysis and the development history, synthetic strategy, and structural properties of g-CN materials, followed by the rational design and engineering of g-CN from the perspectives of nano-morphological control and electronic band tailoring.

Growth of MoS Nanosheets on Brush-Shaped PI-ZnO Hybrid Nanofibers and Study of the Photocatalytic Performance.

The design and preparation of advanced hybrid nanofibers with controllable microstructures will be interesting because of their potential high-efficiency applications in the environmental and energy domains. In this paper, a simple and efficient strategy was developed for preparing hybrid nanofibers of zinc oxide-molybdenum disulfide (ZnO-MoS) grown on polyimide (PI) nanofibers by combining electrospinning, a high-pressure hydrothermal process, and in situ growth. Unlike simple composite nanoparticles, the structure is shown in PI-ZnO to be like the skeleton of a tree for the growth of MoS "leaves" as macro-materials with controlled microstructures.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Based T Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Review.

This review highlights recent progress in utilizing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) as a safer alternative to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It consolidates findings from multiple studies, discussing current T contrast agents (CAs), the synthesis techniques for IONPs, the theoretical principles for designing IONP-based MRI CAs, and the key factors that impact their T contrast efficacy, such as nanoparticle size, morphology, surface modifications, valence states, and oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, we summarize current strategies to achieve IONP-based responsive CAs, including self-assembly/disassembly and distance adjustment.

Magnetocaloric Effect in 3D Gd(III)-Oxalate Coordination Framework.

Cryogenic magnetic refrigerants based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) hold significant potential as substitutes for the expensive and scarce He-3. Gd(III)-based complexes are considered excellent candidates for low-temperature magnetic refrigerants. We have synthesized a series of Ln(III)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) (Ln = Gd/Dy) by the slow release of oxalates in situ from organic ligands (disodium edetate dehydrate (EDTA-2Na) and thiodiglycolic acid).

Atomistic Study on the Mechanical Properties of HOP-Graphene Under Variable Strain, Temperature, and Defect Conditions.

HOP-graphene is a graphene structural derivative consisting of 5-, 6-, and 8-membered carbon rings with distinctive electrical properties. This paper presents a systematic investigation of the effects of varying sizes, strain rates, temperatures, and defects on the mechanical properties of HOP-graphene, utilizing molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that Young's modulus of HOP-graphene in the armchair direction is 21.

Facile Synthesis of Mesoporous NiCoO Nanosheets on Carbon Fibers Cloth as Advanced Electrodes for Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

The NiCoO Nanosheets@Carbon fibers composites have been successfully synthesized by a facile co-electrodeposition process. The mesoporous NiCoO nanosheets aligned vertically on the surface of carbon fibers and crosslinked with each other, producing loosely porous nanostructures. These hybrid composite electrodes exhibit high specific capacitance in a three-electrode cell.

Solar Light-Driven Efficient Degradation of Organic Pollutants Mediated by S-Scheme MoS@TiO-Layered Structures.

This study focuses on achieving high photocatalytic activity using MoS/TiO heterostructures (MOT). To this end, MoS and TiO were synthesized by employing hydrothermal synthesis techniques, and then MoS/TiO heterostructures were synthesized by using 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 ratios of MoS and TiO, respectively. While the structural and electronic changes for the 1:2 and 1:3 ratios were relatively minor, significant modifications in bandgaps and morphology were observed for the 1:1 and 1:4 ratios.

TiO Nanosphere/MoSe Nanosheet-Based Heterojunction Gas Sensor for High-Sensitivity Sulfur Dioxide Detection.

With the growing severity of air pollution, monitoring harmful gases that pose risks to both human health and the ecological environment has become a focal point of research. Titanium dioxide (TiO) demonstrates significant potential for application in SO gas detection. However, the performance of pure TiO is limited.

The Effect of Infiltration Temperature on the Microstructure and Magnetic Levitation Force of Single-Domain YBaCuO Bulk Superconductors Grown by a Modified Y+011 IG Method.

During the preparation of single-domain (S-D) REBaCuO (RE-123) superconducting bulks, the seed crystals can serve as templates for crystal growth, guiding the newly formed crystals to grow in a specific direction, thereby ensuring the consistency of the crystal orientation within the sample. However, the infiltration temperature is typically restricted to approximately 1050 °C when employing NdBaCuO (Nd-123) crystal seeds in the traditional top-seeded infiltration growth (TSIG) technique for producing single-domain Y-123 bulk superconductors. In the present study, to overcome the temperature limitations of the heat treatment process, the optimized YO +011 IG (011 refers to BaCuO powder) method was employed to fabricate a group of single-domain Y-123 bulks with a high-temperature infiltration (1000-1300 °C).

Recent Advances in Ruddlesden-Popper Phase-Layered Perovskite SrTiO Photocatalysts.

SrTiO, a prominent member of the Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) perovskite family, has garnered significant interest in photocatalysis, primarily owing to its distinctive two-dimensional (2D) layered structure. In this review, we provide an insightful and concise summary of the intrinsic properties of SrTiO, focusing on the electronic, optical, and structural characteristics that render it a promising candidate for photocatalytic applications. Moreover, we delve into the innovative strategies that have been developed to optimize the structural attributes of SrTiO.

Spin Glass State and Griffiths Phase in van der Waals Ferromagnetic Material FeGeTe.

The discovery of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferromagnetic materials opens up new avenues for making devices with high information storage density, ultra-fast response, high integration, and low power consumption. FeGeTe has attracted much attention because of its ferromagnetic transition temperature near room temperature. However, the investigation of its phase transition is rare until now.

Improved Mechanical Performances of Hastelloy C276 Composite Coatings Reinforced with SiC by Laser Cladding.

Composite coatings reinforced with varying mass fractions of SiC particles were successfully fabricated on 316 stainless steel substrates via laser cladding. The phase compositions, elemental distribution, microstructural characteristics, hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the composite coatings were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Vickers hardness testing, friction-wear testing and electrochemical methods. The coatings have no obvious pores, cracks or other defects.