Less Is More: Can Low Quantum Capacitance Boost Capacitive Energy Storage?

We present a theoretical analysis of charge storage in electrochemical capacitors with electrodes based on carbon nanotubes. Using exact analytical solutions supported by Monte Carlo simulations, we show how the limitations of the electron density of states in such low-dimensional electrode materials may help boost the energy stored at increased voltages. While these counterintuitive predictions await experimental verification, they suggest exciting opportunities for enhancing energy storage by rational engineering of the electronic properties of low-dimensional electrodes.

Growth, structure, and temperature dependent emission processes in emerging metal hexachloride scintillators CsHfCl and CsZrCl.

Crystals of metal hexachlorides CsMCl (M = Hf or Zr) have recently emerged as promising materials for scintillation applications due to their excellent energy resolution. In this work, we investigated the crystal structure and scintillation properties of CsHfCl and CsZrCl crystals in the broad temperature range from 9 to 300 K. X-ray diffraction data confirmed the same cubic structure (space group ) for CsHfCl and CsZrCl over the entire examined temperature range.

Capacitive energy storage in single-file pores: Exactly solvable models and simulations.

Understanding charge storage in low-dimensional electrodes is crucial for developing novel ecologically friendly devices for capacitive energy storage and conversion and water desalination. Exactly solvable models allow in-depth analyses and essential physical insights into the charging mechanisms. So far, however, such analytical approaches have been mainly limited to lattice models.

Bright and fast scintillations of an inorganic halide perovskite CsPbBr crystal at cryogenic temperatures.

Highly efficient scintillation crystals with short decay times are indispensable for improving the performance of numerous detection and imaging instruments that use- X-rays, gamma-quanta, ionising particles or neutrons. Halide perovskites emerged recently as very promising materials for detection of ionising radiation that motivated further exploration of the materials. In this work, we report on excellent scintillation properties of CsPbBr crystals when cooled to cryogenic temperatures.

Can enzyme proximity accelerate cascade reactions?

The last decade has seen an exponential expansion of interest in conjugating multiple enzymes of cascades in close proximity to each other, with the overarching goal being to accelerate the overall reaction rate. However, some evidence has emerged that there is no effect of proximity channeling on the reaction velocity of the popular GOx-HRP cascade, particularly in the presence of a competing enzyme (catalase). Herein, we rationalize these experimental results quantitatively.