Empowering wastewater treatment with step scheme heterojunction ternary nanocomposites for photocatalytic degradation of nitrophenol.

The ongoing challenge of water pollution necessitates innovative approaches to remove organic contaminants from wastewater. In this work, new two-dimensional S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts BiO/CdS and MoS/BiO/CdS that are intended for the effective photocatalytic destruction of 4-nitrophenol, a dangerous organic pollutant, are synthesized and characterized. Utilizing a solvothermal method, successfully generated these ternary nanocomposites, which were characterized through various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high resolution transmission electronmicroscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Telle (BET) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

Solvent-dripping modulated 3D/2D heterostructures for high-performance perovskite solar cells.

The controlled growth of two-dimensional (2D) perovskite atop three-dimensional (3D) perovskite films reduces interfacial recombination and impedes ion migration, thus improving the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Unfortunately, the random orientation of the spontaneously formed 2D phase atop the pre-deposited 3D perovskite film can deteriorate charge extraction owing to energetic disorder, limiting the maximum attainable efficiency and long-term stability of the PSCs. Here, we introduce a meta-amidinopyridine ligand and the solvent post-dripping step to generate a highly ordered 2D perovskite phase on the surface of a 3D perovskite film.

Emerging Nanoparticle-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Cancer: Innovations and Challenges.

Malignant growth is expected to surpass other significant causes of death as one of the top reasons for dismalness and mortality worldwide. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, this illness causes approximately between 9 and 10 million instances of deaths annually. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the three main methods of treating cancer.

Effect of Tool Shoulder Profile on Grain and Texture Development in the Weld Interface Zone of Friction-Stir-Welded Dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 Joints.

Friction-stir-welded dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 joints have an apparent influence on grain and texture development at the weld interface due to differences in physical and chemical properties between the two aluminum alloys. In this work, the effect of tool shoulder profile on grain structure and texture evolution in the center interface zone (CIZ) and bottom interface zone (BIZ) of dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 joints were quantitatively studied by electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate that abundant fine and coarse equiaxial grains are produced in the CIZ and BIZ of the joints produced with a concentric circle shoulder (CCS) and three-helix shoulder (THS), and the average grain size of the BIZ is lower than that of the CIZ for the same CCS or THS joint.

Phase Formation Mechanism and Anomalous Magnetic Variation of High-Performance La-Co-Doped Strontium Ferrites.

La-Co-doped ferrite is widely used due to its excellent magnetic properties, but the mechanisms of La-Co doping on its phase formation and magnetic properties remain unclear. This study clarifies the phase formation mechanisms and reveals that La-Co doping reduces the formation temperatures of the intermediate phase SrFeO and thus the final SrFeO phase. This promotes complete formation of SrFeO, enhancing saturation magnetization.

Design and Fabrication of Ultrathin Metallic Phase Shifters for Visible and Near-Infrared Wavelengths.

The polarization state of light is critical for biological imaging, acousto-optics, bio-navigation, and many other optical applications. Phase shifters are extensively researched for their applications in optics. The size of optical elements with phase delay that are made from natural birefringent materials is limited; however, fabricating waveplates from dielectric metamaterials is very complex and expensive.

Carbon-carbon triple bond cleavage and reconstitution to achieve aryl amidation using nitrous acid esters.

C-C bond cleavage and recombination provide an efficient strategy for the modification and reconstruction of molecule structures. Herein, we present a method for achieving amidation of aryl C(sp)-H bond through the cleavage and recombination of C-C triple bond with the involvement of nitrous acid esters. This method marks the instance of precise and controlled stepwise cleavage of C-C triple bond, offering a fresh perspective for the cleavage of such bonds.

Large-Area Clay Composite Membranes with Enhanced Permeability for Efficient Dye/Salt Separation.

The escalating discharge of textile wastewater with plenty of dye and salt has resulted in serious environmental risks. Membranes assembled from two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with many tunable interlayer spacings are promising materials for dye/salt separation. However, the narrow layer spacing and tortuous interlayer transport channels of 2D-material-based membranes limit the processing capacity and the permeability of small salt ions for efficient dye/salt separation.

Quantification of microplastics released from plastic food containers during rinsing and migration by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

In this study, a pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method was established to quantify microplastics (MPs) released from plastic food containers during rinsing and migration. The inner surface of actual samples was rinsed with deionized water, and the MPs in rinse water were collected through a glass fiber membrane with pore size of 1 μm. Subsequently, thoroughly cleaned polypropylene (PP) food packaging containers were selected for migration tests under different simulants, migration temperatures, and migration times.

Engineering ZIF-8@Ag core-satellite superstructures through solvent-induced tunable self-assembly for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) based substrates have great potential for quantitative analysis of hazardous substances using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) due to their significant signal enhancement, but face challenges like complex preparation, and lack of tunability. Here, we have successfully prepared a well-defined core-satellite superstructure (ZIF-8@Ag) through solvent-induced assembly of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on truncated rhombic dodecahedral ZIF-8. By wisely selecting toluene as the solvent, the assembly process can be easily initiated through ultrasonic treatment and it allows for precise morphological adjustments to build a range of superstructures with different assembly densities of Ag NPs feed ratio tuning.

Bifunctional Group Modulation Strategy Enables MR-TADF Electroluminescence Toward BT.2020 Green Light Standard.

Herein, a parallel "bifunctional group" modulation method is proposed to achieve controlled modulation of the emission wavelength and full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) values. As a result, three proof-of-concept emitters, namely DBNDS-TPh, DBNDS-DFPh, and DBNDS-CNPh, are designed and synthesized, with the first functional dibenzo[b,d]thiophene unit concurrently reducing the bandgap and elevate their triplet state energy. A second functional group 1,1':3',1″-triphenyl, and electron acceptors 1,3-difluorobenzene and benzonitrile, respectively, to deepen the HOMO and LUMO levels.

A multi-modal multi-branch framework for retinal vessel segmentation using ultra-widefield fundus photographs.

Background: Vessel segmentation in fundus photography has become a cornerstone technique for disease analysis. Within this field, Ultra-WideField (UWF) fundus images offer distinct advantages, including an expansive imaging range, detailed lesion data, and minimal adverse effects. However, the high resolution and low contrast inherent to UWF fundus images present significant challenges for accurate segmentation using deep learning methods, thereby complicating disease analysis in this context.

Broad-Temperature Optical Thermometry via Dual Sensitivity of Self-Trapped Excitons Lifetime and Higher-Order Phonon Anharmonicity in Lead-Free Perovskites.

Broad-temperature optical thermometry necessitates materials with exceptional sensitivity and stability across varied thermal conditions, presenting challenges for conventional systems. Here, we report a lead-free, vacancy-ordered perovskite Cs2TeCl6, that achieves precise temperature sensing through a novel combination of self-trapped excitons (STEs) photoluminescence (PL) lifetime modulation and unprecedented fifth-order phonon anharmonicity. The STEs PL lifetime demonstrates a highly temperature-sensitive response from 200 to 300 K, ideal for low-to-intermediate thermal sensing.

A shear-responsive and lubricating hyaluronic acid-chondroitin sulfate-decellularized matrix hydrogel for articular cartilage regeneration.

The high-dynamic, high-loading environment in the joint cavity puts urgent demands on the cartilage regenerative materials with shear responsiveness and lubrication. Here, a new type of injectable hydrogel composed of oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA), adipic dihydrazide-grafted hyaluronic acid (HA-ADH), oxidized chondroitin sulfate (OChs), and decellularized extracellular matrix methacrylate (dECMMA) was fabricated. The aldehyde groups in OHA and OChs reacted with the amino groups in HA-ADH to form a dynamic hydrogel, which was then covalently crosslinked with dECMMA to create a dual-crosslinked hydrogel with sufficient mechanical strength.

Flexible chitosan-graphene oxide-based biomacroporous cryogel via grafting cryopolymerization for selective recovery of myricetin from food sample.

Myricetin has a significant role in pharmacology, specifically in traditional Chinese medicine. The most intriguing pharmacological action of myricetin consists of its multi-pathway anticancer effects. Therefore, rapid and selective isolation of myricetin from garlic and apple juices has notable pharmacological benefits.

Disturbance-Triggered Instant Crystallization Activating Bioinspired Emissive Gels.

Many marine organisms feature sensitive sensory-perceptual systems to sense the surrounding environment and respond to disturbance with intense bioluminescence. However, it remains a great challenge to develop artificial materials that can sense external disturbance and simultaneously activate intense luminescence, although such materials are attractive for visual sensing and intelligent displays. Herein, we present a new class of bioinspired smart gels constructed by integrating hydrophilic polymeric networks, metastable supersaturated salt and fluorophores containing heterogenic atoms.

Advanced Morphological and Material Engineering for High-Performance Interfacial Iontronic Pressure Sensors.

High-performance flexible pressure sensors are crucial for applications such as wearable electronics, interactive systems, and healthcare technologies. Among these, iontronic pressure sensors have garnered particular attention due to their superior sensitivity, enabled by the giant capacitance variation of the electric double layer (EDL) at the ionic-electronic interface under deformation. Key advancements, such as incorporating microstructures into ionic layers and employing diverse materials, have significantly improved sensor properties like sensitivity, accuracy, stability, and response time.

Combining Hard Shell with Soft Core to Enhance Enzyme Activity and Resist External Disturbances.

Immobilizing enzymes onto solid supports having enhanced catalytic activity and resistance to harsh external conditions is considered as a promising and critical method of broadening enzymatic applications in biosensing, biocatalysis, and biomedical devices; however, it is considerably hampered by limited strategies. Here, a core-shell strategy involving a soft-core hexahistidine metal assembly (HmA) is innovatively developed and characterized with encapsulated enzymes (catalase (CAT), horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase (GOx), and cascade enzymes (CAT+GOx)) and hard porous shells (zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), ZIF-8, ZIF-67, ZIF-90, calcium carbonate, and hydroxyapatite). The enzyme-friendly environment provided by the embedded HmA proves beneficial for enhanced catalytic activity, which is particularly effective in preserving fragile enzymes that will have been deactivated without the HmA core during the mineralization of porous shells.

Coupling Influence of pH and Cl on the Corrosion Evolution of Passivated Q355B Steel in Simulated Concrete Pore Solution.

Electrochemical tests combined with surface characterization techniques were used to investigate the corrosion evolution of passivated Q355B steel under the dual action of pH and chloride. The results show that the Q355B passivation film in simulated concrete pore solution is the amorphous oxide layer, and pH and Cl have closely coupled effects on Q355B corrosion. Meanwhile, the impact of pH is more significant: the decrease in pH shifts from pitting to uniform corrosion.

Photoinitiated Thiol-Ene Click Reaction for Preparation of Highly Adhesive and Mechanically Stable Silicone Coatings for Marine Antifouling and Anticorrosion.

Marine biofouling and corrosion have become the main problems affecting the development of the marine industry. Silicone-based coatings have been widely used for antifouling and anticorrosion due to their low surface energy. However, the poor adhesion and low mechanical stability of these materials limit their application in complex marine environments.

Explicit relation between thin film chromatography and column chromatography conditions from statistics and machine learning.

In chemistry, empirical paradigms prevail, especially within the realm of chromatography, where the selection of separation conditions frequently relies on the chemist's experience. However, the underlying rationale for such experiential knowledge has not been established or analysed. This study explicitly elucidates how chemists use thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to determine column chromatography (CC) conditions, employing statistical analysis and machine learning techniques.

Oriented Molecular Dipole-Enabled Modulation of NiO/Perovskite Interface for Pb-Sn Mixed Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells.

Nickel oxide (NiO) is considered as a potential hole transport material in the fabrication of lead-tin (Pb-Sn) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for tandem applications. However, the energy level mismatch and unfavorable redox reactions between Ni species and Sn at the NiO/perovskite interface pose challenges. Herein, high-performance Pb-Sn-based inorganic PSCs are demonstrated by modulating the NiO/perovskite interface with a multifunctional 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid (4-ABSA) interlayer.

Two-dimensional ZIF-L derived dual Fe/FeN sites for synergistic efficient oxygen reduction in alkaline and acid media.

Fe-N-C catalysts have emerged as the most promising alternatives to commercial Pt/C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to their cost-effectiveness and favorable activity. Herein, a dual-site Fe/FeN-NC catalyst was synthesized via a green, in situ doping strategy using two-dimensional Fe-doped ZIF-L as a nitrogen-rich precursor. The catalyst integrated Fe nanoparticles (NPs) and FeN sites anchored on carbon nanotubes, intertwined with nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets, achieving a high active site density and graphitisation.

Machine-learning for discovery of descriptors for gas-sensing: A case study of doped metal oxides.

Conventionally, gas sensors are studied based on functional materials, case by case, using experimental methods. In this study, 872 datasets with 34 features of doped oxides, extracted from the literature, were used to analyze the key features of gas-sensing reactions and understand gas-sensing mechanisms from a global perspective using a genetic algorithm-optimized artificial neural network. Shapley additive explanations were employed to determine the importance and relationships of the features.

Engineering Defect-Mediated S-scheme heterojunctions in MOF-Derived N-doped NiO porous microrods and ZnInS nanosheets for superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The development of efficient photocatalysts inspired by natural photosynthesis has drawn considerable interest for sustainable hydrogen (H) production. Among the various strategies for enhancing H evolution, constructing step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunctions has attracted extensive interest, thanks to their limited charge recombination and enhanced charge transport in comparison to the traditional photocatalytic systems. Herein, we report the engineering of a novel S-scheme heterojunction by integrating ultrathin ZnInS (ZIS) nanosheets with MOF-derived N-doped NiO porous microrods (ZIS/N-NiO) toward superior photocatalytic behaviors.