Metal- and Light-Free Decarboxylative Giese Addition Reaction Facilitated by Hantzsch Ester.

We have developed a novel strategy for decarboxylative radical addition reactions that employs ground-state reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) analogues under ambient and open-air conditions, facilitating the efficient formation of Csp-Csp bonds in a variety of substrates. This protocol is distinguished by its operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, high efficiency, and the use of cost-effective starting materials. Furthermore, experimental studies have provided valuable insights into the reaction mechanism, elucidating the light-independent pathways that promote these transformations.

Atomic Observation on Diamond (001) Surfaces with Near-Contact Atomic Force Microscopy.

Achieving atomic-level characterization of the diamond (001) surface has been a persistent goal over recent decades. This pursuit aims to understand the smooth growth of diamonds and investigate surface defects and adsorbates relevant to applications. However, the inherently low conductivity and the short C-C bonds present significant challenges for atomic resolution imaging.

Synergistic Effect of Nickel Hydroxide/Hexagonal Boron Nitride Hybrid: An Efficient Electrocatalyst for Detecting 5-Fluorouracil in Human Blood Serum.

5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) is the third-most often used chemotherapeutic medication and has been scientifically demonstrated to be effective in treating solid tumors, including colorectal, stomach, cutaneous, and breast cancers. When used in excess, it accumulates toxic metabolites, which can have deadly and very harmful effects on people, including neurotoxicity and the induction of morbidity. Therefore, sensitive and rapid analytical techniques for detecting 5-Fu in human blood serum are needed to enhance chemotherapy and forecast the possible adverse effects of 5-Fu residues in the human body.

Spin caloritronics as a probe of nonunitary superconductors.

Superconducting spintronics explores the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, sparking substantial interest in nonunitary superconductors as a platform for magneto-superconducting phenomena. However, identifying nonunitary superconductors remains challenging. We demonstrate that spin current driven by thermal gradients sensitively probes the nature of the condensate in nonunitary superconductors.

Mechanical Twisting-Induced Enhancement of Second-Order Optical Nonlinearity in a Flexible Molecular Crystal.

Flexible molecular crystals are essential for advancing smart materials, providing unique functionality and adaptability for applications in next-generation electronics, pharmaceuticals, and energy storage. However, the optical applications of flexible molecular crystals have been largely restricted to linear optics, with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties rarely explored. Herein, we report on the application of mechanical twisting of flexible molecular crystals for second-order nonlinear optics.

Insight into the Origin of Second Harmonic Generation and Rational Design in the Metal Halide Borates.

Metal halide borates are promising candidates for high-performance nonlinear optical (NLO) applications, yet the origins of their second harmonic generation (SHG) properties remain unclear. Using atom response theory combined with density functional theory calculations, this study investigates why halogen substitution leads to distinctly different SHG responses in halide monoborates (PbBOX) versus halide pentaborates (PbBOX). We find that the SHG origins vary between these two families due to differences in the strength of the Pb-X interactions.

Nanotwin-Induced Ferrimagnetism in an Antiferromagnetic CrO Thin Film on the SrTiO Substrate.

Nanotwinned materials have recently attracted intense interest since they often exhibit excellent mechanical properties that are far superior to those of the corresponding single crystals. However, how nanotwinned structures affect the physical properties of functional materials remains almost unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate ferrimagnetism in a nanotwinned antiferromagnetic CrO thin film.

Stabilizing Nickel-Copper Co-Deposition Electrochromism with the Assistance of Bromine Redox.

As an attractive optical/heat dynamic management technology, reversible metal electrodeposition/dissolution electrochromism (RME-EC) shows many advantages, including high optical modulation amplitude, wide modulation band, and color neutrality, but also suffers from performance degradation because of uneven dendritic metal deposition as well as the formation/accumulation of isolated metal debris. In this paper, a facile RME-EC system is established in a green and affordable aqueous electrolyte, by making good use of the nondendritic Ni-Cu codeposition. Furthermore, an in situ self-healing strategy is further established by activating the Br/Br couple of the Br-containing electrolyte to improve the EC performance.

Metal-Organic Framework with Open Metal Sites for D/H Separation.

The separation of hydrogen isotopes remains a significant challenge due to their nearly identical physicochemical properties. Recently, metal-organic frameworks employing the chemical affinity quantum sieving effect have garnered increasing attention for hydrogen isotope separation. In this study, with open metal sites was synthesized and demonstrated high hydrogen isotope adsorption capacities of 266 cm/g for H and 288 cm/g for D.

Strongly Coupled Interface in Electrostatic Self-Assembly Covalent Triazine Framework/BiSBr for High-Efficiency CO Photoreduction.

Constructing a strong bonded interface is highly desired to build fast charge-transfer channels and tune reactive sites for optimizing CO photoreduction. In this work, a covalent triazine framework (CTF) combined with a BiSBr heterojunction is designed using an electrostatic self-assembly process. Due to the oppositely charged states between two components and ultrasonic treatment, a strong coupled interface is realized with the formation of Bi-C/N/O bonds, leading to robust interfacial polarization.

Machine Learning-Assisted High-Donor-Number Electrolyte Additive Screening toward Construction of Dendrite-Free Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

The utilization of electrolyte additives has been regarded as an efficient strategy to construct dendrite-free aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, the blurry screening criteria and time-consuming experimental tests inevitably restrict the application prospect of the electrolyte additive strategy. With the rise of artificial intelligence technology, machine learning (ML) provides an avenue to promote upgrading of energy storage devices.

Aqueous Alkaline Zinc-Iodine Battery with Two-Electron Transfer.

While many cathode materials have been developed for mild electrolyte-based Zn batteries, the lack of cathode materials hinders the progress of alkaline zinc batteries. Halide iodine, with its copious valence nature and redox possibilities, is considered a promising candidate. However, energetic alkaline iodine redox chemistry is impeded by an alkali-unadapted I element cathode and thermodynamically unstable reaction products.

Mix-Charged Nanofiltration Membrane for Efficient Organic Removal from High-Salinity Wastewater: The Role of Charge Spatial Distribution.

The efficient removal of organic contaminants from high-salinity wastewater is crucial for resource recovery and achieving zero discharge. Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are effective in separating organic compounds and monovalent salts, but they typically exhibit an excessive rejection of divalent salts. Modifying the charge characteristics of NF membranes can improve salt permeation; however, the role of charge spatial distribution in governing salt transport behavior is not fully understood.

Structure-Optical Properties Relationships in Cobalt-Based Purple Pigments Used by Robert Delaunay.

Following the industrial revolution and the modernization of chemistry, purple became one of the most popular colors in the palettes of late 19th- to 20th-century painters. Among them, Robert Delaunay (1885-1941) was one of the key artists of the avant-garde movement in France in the early 20th century. Although widely used in modern and contemporary paintings, inorganic purple pigments of the cobalt phosphate and cobalt arsenate families have been little studied chemically until now.

Infrared Spectroscopic Electronic Noses: An Innovative Approach for Exhaled Breath Sensing.

Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, requiring the urgent development of innovative diagnostic tools for early detection. This study presents an integrated infrared spectroscopic electronic nose system, a novel device that combines infrared (IR) spectroscopy and electronic nose (eNose) concepts for analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. This system was calibrated using relevant gas mixtures and then tested during a feasibility study involving 26 gastric cancer patients and 32 healthy controls using chemometric analyses to distinguish between exhaled breath profiles.

Complexity in the Photofunctionalization of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes with Hypochlorite.

The reaction of aqueous suspensions of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with UV-excited sodium hypochlorite has previously been reported to be an efficient route for doping nanotubes with oxygen atoms. We have investigated how this reaction system is affected by pH level, dissolved O content, and radical scavengers and traps. Products were characterized with near-IR fluorescence, Raman, and XPS spectroscopy.

Direct Photocatalytic Oxidation of Methane to Formic Acid with High Selectivity via a Concerted Proton-Electron Transfer Process.

Light-driven direct conversion of methane to formic acid is a promising approach to convert methane to value-added chemicals and promote sustainability. However, this process remains challenging due to the complex requirements for multiple protons and electrons. Herein, we report the design of WO-based photocatalysts modified with Pt active sites to address this challenge.

Post-Treatment of Monolayer MoS Field-Effect Transistors with HO Vapor: Alleviation of Remote Channel Doping.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of high-k dielectric films on MoS channels can lead to inadvertent remote electron doping of channels owing to nonequilibrium ALD conditions, such as the low temperatures and short purge times required for pinhole-free coating, as well as the weak physical adsorption of ALD precursors on MoS. In this study, we propose the application of a simple and effective HO vapor post-treatment (HO PT) at 100 °C immediately after complete integration of bottom- and top-gate monolayer MoS field-effect transistors (FETs), to address the inadvertent channel doping effect. When HO PT was applied to bottom-gate monolayer MoS FETs with an ALD-AlO passivation layer, the mitigation of channel doping was confirmed through electrical and optical measurements.

Applications of Isosceles Triangular Coupling Structure in Optical Switching and Sensing.

In the case of waveguide-based devices, once they are fabricated, their optical properties are already determined and cannot be dynamically controlled, which limits their applications in practice. In this paper, an isosceles triangular-coupling structure which consists of an isosceles triangle coupled with a two-bus waveguide is proposed and researched numerically and theoretically. The coupled mode theory (CMT) is introduced to verify the correctness of the simulation results, which are based on the finite difference time domain (FDTD).

A Systematic Review on the Advancements in Remote Sensing and Proximity Tools for Grapevine Disease Detection.

Grapevines ( L.) are one of the most economically relevant crops worldwide, yet they are highly vulnerable to various diseases, causing substantial economic losses for winegrowers. This systematic review evaluates the application of remote sensing and proximal tools for vineyard disease detection, addressing current capabilities, gaps, and future directions in sensor-based field monitoring of grapevine diseases.

Modal Analysis with Asymptotic Strips Boundary Conditions of Skewed Helical Gratings on Dielectric Pipes as Cylindrical Metasurfaces for Multi-Beam Holographic Rod Antennas.

A core dielectric cylindrical rod wrapped in a dielectric circular pipe whose outer surface is enclosed by a helical conducting strip grating that is skewed along the axial direction is herein analyzed using the asymptotic strip boundary conditions along with classical vector potential analysis. Targeted for use as a cylindrical holographic antenna, the resultant field solutions facilitate the aperture integration of the equivalent cylindrical surface currents to obtain the radiated far fields. As each rod section of a certain skew angle exhibits a distinct modal attribute; this topology allows for the distribution of the cylindrical surface impedance via the effective refractive index to be modulated, as in gradient-index (GRIN) materials.

Style Transfer of Chinese Wuhu Iron Paintings Using Hierarchical Visual Transformer.

Within the domain of traditional art, Chinese Wuhu Iron Painting distinguishes itself through its distinctive craftsmanship, aesthetic expressiveness, and choice of materials, presenting a formidable challenge in the arena of stylistic transformation. This paper introduces an innovative Hierarchical Visual Transformer (HVT) framework aimed at achieving effectiveness and precision in the style transfer of Wuhu Iron Paintings. The study begins with an in-depth analysis of the artistic style of Wuhu Iron Paintings, extracting key stylistic elements that meet technical requirements for style conversion.

Sensitivity Analysis of an Optical Interferometric Surface Stress Ethanol Gas Sensor with a Freestanding Nanosheet.

Ethanol (EtOH) gas detection has garnered considerable attention owing to its wide range of applications in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostics, and fuel management. The development of highly sensitive EtOH-gas sensors has become a focus of research. This study proposes an optical interferometric surface stress sensor for detecting EtOH gas.

Optically Controlled Drug Delivery Through Microscale Brain-Machine Interfaces Using Integrated Upconverting Nanoparticles.

The aim of this work is to incorporate lanthanide-cored upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) into the surface of microengineered biomedical implants to create a spatially controlled and optically releasable model drug delivery device in an integrated fashion. Our approach enables silicone-based microelectrocorticography (ECoG) implants holding platinum/iridium recording sites to serve as a stable host of UCNPs. Nanoparticles excitable in the near-infrared (lower energy) regime and emitting visible (higher energy) light are utilized in a study.

A Signal-On Microelectrode Electrochemical Aptamer Sensor Based on AuNPs-MXene for Alpha-Fetoprotein Determination.

As a crucial biomarker for the early warning and prognosis of liver cancer diseases, elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumors. Herein, we present a novel signal-on electrochemical aptamer sensor, utilizing AuNPs-MXene composite materials, for sensitive AFP quantitation. The AuNPs-MXene composite was synthesized through a simple one-step method and modified on portable microelectrodes.