Controllable reconstruction of lignified biomass with molecular scissors to form carbon frameworks for highly stable Li metal batteries.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) promise high-energy-density storage but face safety issues due to dendrite-induced lithium deposition, irreversible electrolyte consumption, and large volume changes, which hinder their practical applications. To address these issues, tuning lithium deposition by structuring a host for the lithium metal anode has been recognized as an efficient method. Herein, we report a supercritical water molecular scissor-controlled strategy to form a carbon framework derived from biomass wood.

Growth and atomic oxygen erosion resistance of AlO-doped TiO thin film formed on polyimide by atomic layer deposition.

Polyimide (PI) coated with atomic layer deposition (ALD) thin films shows promising potential for applications in extreme environments. To achieve a high quality ultrathin ALD coating on the PI surface, Al-doped ALD-TiO (ATO) films were deposited on the alkaline hydrothermally activated PI surfaces. The nucleation and growth of ATO films were studied by XPS monitoring and SEM observation.

2D compounds with heterolayered architecture for infrared photodetectors.

Compounds with heterolayered architecture, as a family of two-dimensional (2D) materials, are composed of alternating positive and negative layers. Their physical properties are determined not only by the charged constituents, but also by the interaction between the two layers. This kind of material has been widely used for superconductivity, thermoelectricity, energy storage, In recent years, heterolayered compounds have been found as an encouraging choice for infrared photodetectors with high sensitivity, fast response, and remarkable reliability.

Preparation of a CPVC composite loose nanofiltration membrane based on plant polyphenols for effective dye wastewater treatment.

The textile industry's high-salinity wastewater presents a significant difficulty for fractioning salts and dyes. To fractionate the dyes and salts, a high-performance CPVC composite loose nanofiltration membrane (LNM) was fabricated by interfacial polymerization. The organic phase was obtained by crosslinking polyethylenimine (PEI) with tannic acid (TA) and gallic acid (GA) using TMC.

2D arrays of hollow carbon nanoboxes: outward contraction-induced hollowing mechanism in Fe-N-C catalysts.

Maximizing the utilization efficiency of monatomic Fe sites in Fe-N-C catalysts poses a significant challenge for their commercial applications. Herein, a structural and electronic dual-modulation is achieved on a Fe-N-C catalyst to substantially enhance its catalytic performance. We develop a facile multi-component ice-templating co-assembly (MIC) strategy to construct two-dimensional (2D) arrays of monatomic Fe-anchored hollow carbon nanoboxes (Fe-HCBA) a novel dual-outward interfacial contraction hollowing mechanism.

High Thermoelectric Performance in TiCT MXene/SbTe Composite Film for Highly Flexible Thermoelectric Devices.

Flexible thin-film thermoelectric devices (TEDs) can generate electricity from the heat emitted by the human body, which holds great promise for use in energy supply and biomonitoring technologies. The p-type SbTe hexagon nanosheets are prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method and compounded with TiCT to make composite films, and the results show that the TiCT content has a significant impact on the thermoelectric properties of the composite films. When the TiCT content is 2 wt%, the power factor of the composite film reaches ≈59 µW m K.

Divergent 1,2-carboallylation of terminal alkynes enabled by metallaphotoredox catalysis with switchable triplet energy transfer.

We report a metallaphotoredox strategy for stereodivergent three-component carboallylation of terminal alkynes with allylic carbonates and alkyl trifluoroborates. This redox-neutral dual catalytic protocol utilizes commercially available organic photocatalyst 4CzIPN and nickel catalysts to trigger a radical addition/alkenyl-allyl coupling sequence, enabling straightforward access to functionalized 1,4-dienes in a highly chemo-, regio-selective, and stereodivergent fashion. This reaction features a broad substrate generality and a tunable triplet energy transfer control with pyrene as a simple triplet energy modulator, offering a facile synthesis of complex - and -selective skipped dienes with the same set of readily available substrates.

Preparation of hydroxyapatite coated porous carbon nanofibres for DEX loading and enhancing differentiation of BMSCs.

The proliferation and differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are the key properties of bone tissue engineering for biomaterials. In this study, hydroxyapatite (HA) coated porous carbon nanofibres (PCNFs) were prepared to load dexamethasone (DEX) and further improve the differentiation ability of the BMSCs. Various characterisations were applied to reveal the DEX loading efficacy and biocompatibility, especially the differentiation strength.

-(2-(Diphenylphosphino)ethyl)-2-alkyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-quinolin-8-amines iron(ii) complexes: structural diversity and the ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone.

A series of -(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl)-2-alkyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolin-8-amines was prepared and used in individually reacting with iron chloride under nitrogen atmosphere to form their iron(ii) complexes Fe1-Fe6. All compounds were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses, the organic compounds were confirmed with NMR measurements, and the iron complexes were submitted to single-crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing Fe1, Fe2, Fe4, Fe5, and Fe6 as either mono- or di-nuclear forms. Forming a binary system with two equivalents of LiCHSiMe, all iron complexes Fe1-Fe6 efficiently initiated the ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone, achieving the TOF up to 8.

Achieving above 24% efficiency with non-toxic CsSnI perovskite solar cells by harnessing the potential of the absorber and charge transport layers.

Lead toxicity is a barrier to the widespread commercial manufacture of lead halide perovskites and their use in solar photovoltaic (PV) devices. Eco-friendly lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been developed using certain unique non- or low-toxic perovskite materials. In this context, Sn-based perovskites have been identified as promising substitutes for Pb-based perovskites due to their similar characteristics.

Influence of VO based structures and smart coatings on weather resistance for boosting the thermochromic properties of smart window applications.

Vanadium dioxide (VO)-based energy-saving smart films or coatings aroused great interest in scientific research and industry due to the reversible crystalline structural transition of VO from the monoclinic to tetragonal phase around room temperature, which can induce significant changes in transmittance and reflectance in the infrared (IR) range. However, there are still some obstacles for commercial application of VO-based films or coatings in our daily life, such as the high phase transition temperature (68 °C), low luminous transmittance, solar modulation ability, and poor environmental stability. Particularly, due to its active nature chemically, VO is prone to gradual oxidation, causing deterioration of optical properties during very long life span of windows.

growth of CuS NPs on 3D porous cellulose macrospheres as recyclable biocatalysts for organic dye degradation.

Aiming at recyclable catalyst carriers, porous cellulose macrospheres from wood pulp dissolved in an alkaline urea system were regenerated by simple injection regeneration. After solvent exchange, porous cellulose macrospheres (CMs) with a high specific surface area of 325.3 m g were obtained by lyophilization, and CuS nanoparticles (CuS NPs) were coated on CMs by growth in the liquid phase to achieve CuS-supported CM macrospheres (CuS@CM).

Manufacturing of polytetrafluoroethylene fine fibers by waterjet impacting.

Due to unique anti-erosion properties and excellent thermal stability, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers are regarded as an ideal material to manufacture filters for industrial dust purification. Based on weak interactions between PTFE molecular chains, we applied a high-pressure waterjet to cause normal PTFE split-film fibers to split fibers again. Four kinds of PTFE split-film fibers and sintered films with different molecular weights were produced.

Efficient coupling of MnO/TiN on carbon cloth positive electrode and FeO/TiN on carbon cloth negative electrode for flexible ultra-fast hybrid supercapacitors.

Recent research and development of energy storage devices has focused on new electrode materials because of the critical effects on the electrochemical properties of supercapacitors. In particular, MnO and FeO have drawn extensive attention because of their low cost, high theoretical specific capacity, environmental friendliness, and natural abundance. In this study, MnO ultrathin nanosheet arrays and FeO nanoparticles are fabricated on TiN nanowires to produce binder-free core-shell positive and negative electrodes for a flexible and ultra-fast hybrid supercapacitor.

Correction: Nanoporous hybrid CuO/ZnO/carbon papers used as ultrasensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C9RA08223A.].

Magnetic field responsive microspheres with tunable structural colors by controlled assembly of nanoparticles.

Dynamic color tuning has many useful applications in nature for communication, camouflage, mood indication, Structural colors have more advanced applications due to their ability to respond to external stimuli by dynamically changing color. In this work, we proposed an efficient method to prepare magneto-chromatic microspheres with tunable structural color. Through a microfluidic technique, the magneto-chromatic microspheres containing FeO@C magnetic particles were continuously prepared.

Biochemical characterization of a novel azo reductase named BVU5 from the bacterial flora DDMZ1: application for decolorization of azo dyes.

One of the main mechanisms of bacterial decolorization and degradation of azo dyes is the use of biological enzymes to catalyze the breaking of azo bonds. This paper shows the expression and properties of a novel azo reductase (hybrid-cluster NAD(P)-dependent oxidoreductase, accession no. A0A1S1BVU5, named BVU5) from the bacterial flora DDMZ1 for degradation of azo dyes.

Unique "posture" of rose Bengal for fabricating personal protective equipment with enhanced daylight-induced biocidal efficiency.

The aggregation-caused self-quenching of photosensitizers (PS), especially on a solid substrate, has highly limited their photo-induced biocidal efficiency in practical applications. Here, we designed a unique "posture" of rose Bengal (RB) on cotton-based super-adsorptive fibrous equipment, with RB being separately captured in the mesopores of porous organic polymers (POPs). The resultant daylight-induced biocidal cotton fabric with enhanced efficiency was named as DBwEE-Cotton.

Enhanced performance and degradation of wastewater in microbial fuel cells using titanium dioxide nanowire photocathodes.

This paper explores the decolorization of dye wastewaters and electricity generation using dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with titanium dioxide nanowire (TiO NW) photocathodes. TiO NW cathodes under ultraviolet light are observed to enhance the reduction of azo dye Active Red 30 (AR 30) and electricity generation. The analysis of electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) indicates acceleration of the electron transfer processes of photoelectrode reduction by the photocatalysis of TiO NWs, with polarization resistance of the photocathode being 10.

Organic-photoredox-catalyzed three-component sulfonylative pyridylation of styrenes.

An efficient, metal-free protocol for the three-component sulfonylative pyridylation of styrenes organic-photoredox catalysis is described. This metal-free process enables the direct and selective installation of sulfonyl and heteroaryl motifs and tolerates a wide array of functional groups as well as complex molecular scaffolds, that could complement previous methods and would be of interest in pharmaceutical research.

Liquid-Phase Assisted Engineering of Highly Strong SiC Composite Reinforced by Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes.

Despite the ultrahigh intrinsic strength of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), the strengthening effect on ceramic matrix composite remains far from expectation mainly due to the weak load transfer between the reinforcement and ceramic matrix. With the assistance of the in situ pullout test, it is revealed that the liquid-phase sintering (LPS) can serve as a novel strategy to achieve effective load transfer in MWCNT reinforced ceramic matrix composites. The YAlO formed liquid phase during spark plasma sintering of SiC composite greatly facilitates radical elastic deformation of MWCNT, leading to highly increased interfacial shear strength (IFSS) as well as interlayer shear resistance (ISR) of nested walls.

Adaptive molecular quaternary clips made with pyrene functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.

Evolving synthetic molecules toward complex structures is a major goal in supramolecular chemistry. Increasing the number of clips in a unimolecular multi-clip (UMC), although vital to elevate the complexity of supramolecular architectures, often prevents the UMC from forming host-guest complexes in the bulk phase. To overcome this difficulty, adaptive chemistry was applied to develop a novel adaptive unimolecular quaternary clip (Q-clip).

Improving the all-polymer solar cell performance by adding a narrow bandgap polymer as the second donor.

Ternary all-polymer solar cells are fabricated using an N2200 acceptor and two donor polymers (PF2 and PM2) with complementary absorption. The major donor PF2 is a relatively wide bandgap polymer that contributes the most photon absorption in the UV-vis region while the second donor PM2 improves the light harvesting due to its strong absorption in the near-IR region. By carefully tuning the ratio of two donor polymers, the best ratio of 9 : 1 : 5 (PF2 : PM2 : N2200) is achieved and shows a PCE of 6.

Catalytic/magnetic assemblies of rolled-up tubular nanomembrane-based micromotors.

Nano/-micromotors self-assembling into static and dynamic clusters are of considerable promise to study smart, interactive, responsive, and adaptive nano/-micromaterials that can mimic spatio-temporal patterns, swarming, and collective behaviors widely observed in nature. Previously, the dynamic self-assembly of bubble-propelled catalytic micromotors initiated by capillary forces has been reported. This manuscript shows novel self-assembly modes of magnetic/catalytic Ti/FeNi/Pt tubular micromotors.

Graphene-Like Carbon Film Wrapped Tin (II) Sulfide Nanosheet Arrays on Porous Carbon Fibers with Enhanced Electrochemical Kinetics as High-Performance Li and Na Ion Battery Anodes.

SnS, is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs), however, undergoes poor cyclic lifespan due to its huge volume changes and bad electroconductivity. Here, a modified CVD method is used to directly grow graphene-like carbon film on the surface of SnS nanosheet arrays which are supported by Co-, N-modified porous carbon fibers (CCF@SnS@G). In the strategy, the SnS nanosheet arrays confined into the integrated carbon matrix containing porous carbon fibers and graphene-like carbon film, perform a greatly improved electrochemical performance.