The interplay between different potassium electrolytes and MoS@SiC@S cathodes in the performance of potassium-sulfur batteries.

Potassium-sulfur batteries (KSBs) have garnered immense attention as a high-energy, cost-effective energy storage system. Nevertheless, achieving optimal sulfur utilization and long-term cycling is the primary challenge. To address some of the different challenges of KSBs, a potassium-sulfur (K/S) battery cathode was fabricated using MoS, SiC, and S (Mo@Si@S) in a fixed ratio.

Accelerating the electron-transfer of nitrogen electro-fixation through assembling Fe nanoparticles into Fe nanochains.

Electrochemically synthesizing NH N is a facile and sustainable approach that involves multistep electron and proton transfer processes. Thus, consecutive electron and proton transfer is necessary. Here, a universal method with the assistance of magnetic stirring that can assemble Fe, Co, and Ni nanoparticles into nanochains is developed.

Tunable ohmic van der Waals-type contacts in monolayer CN field-effect transistors.

Monolayer (ML) CN, a novel two-dimensional flat crystalline material with a suitable bandgap and excellent carrier mobility, is a prospective channel material candidate for next-generation field-effect transistors (FETs). The contact properties of ML CN-metal interfaces based on FETs have been comprehensively investigated with metal electrodes (graphene, TiC(OH/F), ZrC(OH/F), Au, Ni, Pd, and Pt) by employing electronic structure calculations and quantum transport simulations. The contact properties of ML CN are isotropic along the armchair and zigzag directions except for the case of Au.

A density functional theory study on the adsorption of different organic sulfides on boron nitride nanosheet.

The adsorption of methanethiol (MT), thiophene (T), benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has been investigated by the framework of the density functional theory (DFT) calculations in this work. The prefer adsorption sites and interfacial angles of different sulfur compounds on the surface of the h-BN are investigated and analyzed. The adsorption energy results indicated that the adsorption of MT ( ≈ -6 kcal mol), T ( ≈ -10 kcal mol), BT ( ≈ -15 kcal mol), and DBT ( ≈ -21 kcal mol) on monolayer h-BN is physical interaction, and the value of on bilayer h-BN is more than that on monolayer h-BN 0.

Cofacial porphyrin organic cages. Metals regulating excitation electron transfer and CO reduction electrocatalytic properties.

Herein, we introduce a comprehensive study of the photophysical behaviors and CO reduction electrocatalytic properties of a series of cofacial porphyrin organic cages (CPOC-M, M = H, Co(ii), Ni(ii), Cu(ii), Zn(ii)), which are constructed by the covalent-bonded self-assembly of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) and chiral (2-aminocyclohexyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetraformyl diimide (ANDI), followed by post-synthetic metalation. Electronic coupling between the TFPP donor and naphthalene-1,4 : 5,8-bis(dicarboximide) (NDI) acceptor in the metal-free cage is revealed to be very weak by UV-vis spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical investigations. Photoexcitation of CPOC-H, as well as its post-synthetic Zn and Co counterparts, leads to fast energy transfer from the triplet state porphyrin to the NDI unit according to the femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic results.

First-principles study on the structure and electronic properties of MCS (M = Sc, Ti, Y, Zr and Hf, = 1, 2).

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides, known as MXenes, have attracted extensive attention due to their rich elemental composition and diverse surface chemistry. In this study, the crystal structure, electronic, mechanical, and electronic transport properties of MCS (M = Sc, Ti, Y, Zr, and Hf, = 1, 2) were investigated by density functional theory (DFT). Our results showed that the studied MCS except YCS are thermodynamically, dynamically, thermally, and mechanically stable.

Fabrication and property evaluation of calcium-oxide-loaded microcapsules during supplemental heat-based exploitation of natural gas hydrates.

The exploitation of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) by traditional methods is far lower than the commercial target. Calcium oxide (CaO)-based supplemental heat combined with depressurization is a novel method for effectively exploiting NGHs. In this study, we propose an supplemental heat method with the sustained-release CaO-loaded microcapsules coated with polysaccharide film.

Luminescence and energy transfer of single-phase white-emitting phosphor BaMg(PO):Ce, Eu for white LEDs.

A series of BaMg(PO):Ce, Eu phosphors were synthesized by the traditional high temperature solid-state method, and the crystal structures and luminescence properties of the samples were discussed systematically. The energy transfer from Ce to Eu in BaMg(PO) was proved to be of resonant type a dipole-dipole interaction mechanism. With a precisely controlled relative proportion of Ce/Eu, the emission color of the samples can vary from blue (0.

Effect of electric field on coalescence of an oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by surfactant: a molecular dynamics study.

The microscopic understanding of electrocoalescence of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions stabilized by surfactant is very important to improve the efficiency of electrical demulsification. The behaviors of the coalescence of O/W emulsion stabilized by surfactant in the presence of a direct electric field and a pulsed electric field were explored by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. According to the simulated results, an electrical method is feasible to demulsify an O/W emulsion stabilized by a surfactant.

Luminescence properties and energy transfer of the near-infrared phosphor CaInGeO:Cr,Nd.

The double doping strategy based on energy transfer is an effective way to regulate the NIR spectral distribution. In this work, CaInGeO:Nd (CIG:Nd) and Ca InGeO:0.07Cr,Nd (CIG:0.

Ratiometric fluorescence sensing of temperature based on perovskite nanocrystals and rhodamine B doped electrospun fibers.

Sensing temperature () has gained great attention since is the most important parameter in daily life, scientific research and industry. A ratiometric fluorescence sensor is fabricated by doping MAPbBr perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) and rhodamine B (RhB) into a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) matrix and the composite materials are electrospun into optical fibers. The fibers show characteristic emissions at 521 and 587 nm under UV irradiation ( = 365 nm).

Probing longitudinal carrier transport in perovskite thin films modified transient reflection spectroscopy.

Accurate characterization of the longitudinal (along the thickness direction) carrier transport property is of significant importance for evaluating the quality and performance of perovskite thin films. Herein, we report the development of a modified transient reflection (TR) spectroscopy method to realize the direct observation and determination of the longitudinal carrier transport process in MAPbI polycrystalline thin films. Unlike the traditional TR spectroscopy, the carrier transport dynamics along the film thickness is resolved by making the pump (excitation) and probe beams spatially separated on each side of the film, so that the carrier transport from the excitation side to the probe side is directly captured.

synthesis of nanostructured FeO@TiO composite grown on activated carbon cloth as a binder-free electrode for high performance supercapacitors.

Transition metal oxide (TMO) nanomaterials with regular morphology have received widening research attention as electrode materials due to their improved electrochemical characteristics. In this study we present the successful fabrication of an FeO/TiO nanocomposite grown on a carbon cloth (FeO/TiO@C) used as a high-efficiency electrochemical supercapacitor electrode. Flexible electrodes are directly used for asymmetric supercapacitors without any binder.

Achieving solubility alteration with functionalized polydimethylsiloxane for improving the viscosity of supercritical CO fracturing fluids.

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO) fracturing technology has the characteristics of a large amount of fixed CO and anhydrous fracturing. It has great application potential for developing unconventional oil and gas resources and mitigating the greenhouse effect. However, the low viscosity of SC-CO limits the development of this technology.

Facile synthesis of vacancy-induced 2H-MoS nanosheets and defect investigation for supercapacitor application.

In this paper, a 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheet is prepared a one-step hydrothermal method as electrode material for supercapacitors. Meanwhile, a series of MoS nanostructures with sulfur vacancies have been successfully obtained in an Ar/H mixed atmosphere at different annealing temperatures. The prepared materials were characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, Raman and XPS to identify their morphology and crystal properties.

The facile synthesis of core-shell PtCu nanoparticles with superior electrocatalytic activity and stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Pt is the most efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); however, it is a high cost material with scarce resources. In order to balance performance and cost in a Pt-based electrocatalyst, we prepared a series of PtCu bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with different Pt/Cu ratios through a facile synthetic strategy to optimize the utilization of Pt atoms. PtCu NPs demonstrate a uniform particle size distribution with exposed (111) facets that are highly active for the HER.

CoO/CoN nanoparticles encased in honeycomb-like N, P, O-codoped carbon framework derived from corncob as efficient ORR electrocatalysts.

It is essential to develop cost-effective rechargeable metal-air batteries, with high activity, stability, and efficiency, that use non-precious metals (NPMs)-based cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts. Here, by using earth-abundant corncob (CC) as the carbon source, Co(OH), NaHPO, and melamine as the precursors, and KOH as the chemical activator, CoNP@bio-C-a is obtained and comparative studies are carried out with three other types of CC-derived carbon-based catalytic materials, namely, bio-C, CoP@bio-C, and CoNP@bio-C. Depending mainly on the formation of CoO/CoN active sites (as p-n heterojunctions) and N, P, O-containing functional groups, the resultant CoNP@bio-C-a catalyst exhibits best electrocatalytic activity among the four types of catalysts; a 4-electron pathway, it has good stability and good methanol tolerance.

Synthesis and properties of organoboron functionalized nanocellulose for crosslinking low polymer fracturing fluid system.

The traditional organoboron crosslinker used in the guar gum fracturing fluid has the disadvantages of a larger amount of guar gum and crosslinker and higher susceptibility to pH. Nanoparticles have special properties such as large specific surface area and many active groups, so the organic boron crosslinker and nanoparticles are combined to obtain nano crosslinkers. In this paper, rod-shaped nano-cellulose particles were prepared by acid hydrolysis, and a nanocellulose crosslinker was synthesized by combining with organic boron and KH550.

One-pot conversion of dihydroxyacetone into ethyl lactate by Zr-based catalysts.

Efficient strategies for producing bio-based reagents from sustainable biomass are highly attractive for cost-effective sustainable manufacturing. In this study, a series of eco-friendly Zr-based catalysts (basic zirconium carbonate, zirconium dioxide and zirconium hydroxide) were investigated for the efficient conversion of dihydroxyacetone to ethyl lactate in a one-pot system, in which basic zirconium carbonate exhibited the best performance with 100% dihydroxyacetone conversion and 85.3% EL (ethyl lactate) yield at 140 °C, 4.

Boosting the synthesis of value-added aromatics directly from syngas a CrO and Ga doped zeolite capsule catalyst.

Even though the transformation of syngas into aromatics has been realized a methanol-mediated tandem process, the low product yield is still the bottleneck, limiting the industrial application of this technology. Herein, a tailor-made zeolite capsule catalyst with Ga doping and SiO coating was combined with the methanol synthesis catalyst CrO to boost the synthesis of value-added aromatics, especially -xylene, from syngas. Multiple characterization studies, control experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results clarified that Ga doped zeolites with strong CO adsorption capability facilitated the transformation of the reaction intermediate methanol by optimizing the first C-C coupling step under a high-pressure CO atmosphere, thereby driving the reaction forward for aromatics synthesis.

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction by a Co/CoO@N-doped carbon composite material derived from the pyrolysis of ZIF-67/poplar flowers.

Catalysts used for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial to fuel cells. However, the development of novel catalysts possessing high activity at a low cost is very challenging. Recently, extensive research has indicated that nitrogen-doped carbon materials, which include nonprecious metals as well as metal-based oxides, can be used as excellent candidates for the ORR.

Synthesis and properties of a high-performance environment-friendly micro-nano filtration reducer.

In this research study, we modified hydroxyethyl cellulose to obtain hydrophobically associating hydroxyethyl cellulose, and grafted it onto the surface of nano-calcium carbonate to obtain a graft copolymer. The intramolecular or intermolecular associations between the macromolecular chains of the graft copolymers form different forms of supramolecular network structures, and they interact with nanoparticles to form stable structures to enhance their related properties. The structure of the obtained graft copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and laser particle size analysis.

Nitrogen-containing switchable solvents for separation of hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

Solvent extraction is commonly used to separate mixtures of hydrocarbons and their derivatives, and solvent choice is strongly influenced by the affinity to the target component, cost and safety. Nitrogen-containing switchable solvents can switch from water-immiscible form to water-miscible bicarbonate salts when CO is injected and back to water-immiscible form when N is injected. Switchable solvents, as a type of recyclable green solvent, can be used not only to separate such mixtures but also to reduce process costs.

Nano-zirconia supported by graphitic carbon nitride for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) was prepared by high-temperature calcination of urea. A mixture of g-CN and nano-ZrO precursor was directly calcined to prepare g-CN/ZrO hybrid photocatalysts. The photocatalytic properties of the sample were characterized by degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light.

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by petroleum-degrading bacteria immobilized on biochar.

Biochar is investigated experimentally as a new highly effective amendment to remediate contaminated soil. A crucial consideration is the influence of biochar on the bioremediation of soil polluted with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), and in particular, the use of biochar as a bacteria immobilization carrier with a synergistic effect of absorption and degradation. Therefore, we studied the ability of petroleum-degrading bacteria immobilized on biochar, free bacteria, and biochar alone on the removal of TPHs in soil using gravimetric analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.