FeOOH Quantum Dots Assembled MXene-Decorated 3D Photothermal Evaporator for Synergy Application in Solar Evaporation and Fenton Degradation.

Solar-driven water evaporation is considered as the sustainable approach to alleviate freshwater resource crisis through direct use of solar energy. However, it is still challenging to achieve the multifunctional solar evaporators equipped with both high evaporation and purification performance to handle practical complex wastewater. Here, a simple and cost-effective multifunctional 3D solar evaporator is prepared by alternately decorating the commercial sponge with FeOOH quantum dots (FQDs) supported MXene sheets composites and chitosan hydrogel coatings for enabling the solar water evaporation and organic wastewater photodegradation simultaneously.

Structural, Elastic, Electronic, Dynamic, and Thermal Properties of SrAlO with an Orthorhombic Structure Under Pressure.

Its outstanding mechanical and thermodynamic characteristics make SrAlO a highly desirable ceramic material for high-temperature applications. However, the effects of elevated pressure on the structural and other properties of SrAlO are still poorly understood. This study encompassed structural, elastic, electronic, dynamic, and thermal characteristics.

Accelerated water dissociation kinetics by nickel-nickelous hydroxide epitaxial interfaces for superior alkaline hydrogen generation.

The intrinsic performance of an electrocatalyst can be reinforced by constructing appropriate epitaxial interfaces, where the modulated electronic states and adsorption/desorption behaviors are conductive to enhancing electrocatalytic activity. Herein, nickel-nickelous hydroxide epitaxial interface supported on nickel foam (Ni-Ni(OH)/NF) with epitaxial growth of nickel nanoparticles on the surface of nickelous hydroxide nanoribbons is devised for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Notably, the Ni-Ni(OH)/NF reveals excellent electrocatalytic activity of alkaline HER (158 mV @ 100 mA cm), along with robust stability (90 % activity retention after 150 h continuous test at 200 mA cm).

Realizing Dual-Mode Zinc-Ion Storage of Generic Vanadium-Based Cathodes via Organic Molecule Intercalation.

Intercalation engineering is a promising strategy to promote zinc-ion storage of layered cathodes; however, is impeded by the complex fabrication routes and inert electrochemical behaviors of intercalators. Herein, an organic imidazole intercalation strategy is proposed, where VO and NHVO (NVO) model materials are adopted to verify the feasibility of the imidazole intercalator in improving the zinc storage capabilities of vanadium-based cathodes. The intercalated imidazole molecules could not only expand interlayer spacing and strengthen structural stability by serving as extra "pillars" but also provide extra coordination sites for zinc storage via the coordination reaction between Zn and the C═N group.

Flexible Piezoelectric Nanocolumnar Composite Films as Flat-Panel Loudspeakers: Application and Modeling.

Highly anisotropic piezoelectric composites promise to progress electroacoustic devices as a class by combining the advantages of both piezoceramics and polymers. Fundamentally, piezoelectric loudspeakers employ the converse piezoelectric effect to convert electrical to mechanical energy. Quasi-1-3 piezoceramic/polymer composites enable flat-panel loudspeakers that are tunable in elastic modulus, with opportunities for mechanical flexibility, optical transparency, and large-area coverage.

Water-Triboelectrification-Complemented Moisture Electric Generator.

Energy harvesting from ubiquitous natural water vapor based on moisture electric generator (MEG) technology holds great potential to power portable electronics, the Internet of Things, and wireless transmission. However, most devices still encounter challenges of low output, and a single MEG complemented with another form of energy harvesting for achieving high power has seldom been demonstrated. Herein, we report a flexible and efficient hybrid generator capable of harvesting moisture and tribo energies simultaneously, both from the source of water droplets.

Nanoengineering steel's durability: creating gradient nanostructured spheroidal carbides and lath-shaped nano-martensite ultrasonic shot peening.

Surface nanoengineering can significantly improve the mechanical properties and performance of metals, such as strength, hardness, fatigue, wear resistance, . In this work, we tailored the surface microstructure of GCr15 bearing steel within a thickness of approximately 800 μm using room temperature ultrasonic shot peening (USP) technology. Microstructure characterization studies reveal the formation of gradient nanosized spheroidal carbides and lath-shaped nano-martensite in the GCr15 bearing steel during the USP process.

A proposal for the combined analysis of bone quantity and quality of human cortical bone by quasi-brittle fracture mechanics.

Quasi-brittle fracture mechanics is used to evaluate fracture of human cortical bone in aging. The approach is demonstrated using cortical bone bars extracted from one 92-year-old human male cadaver. In-situ fracture mechanics experiments in a 3D X-ray microscope are conducted.

Combination Energetic Materials Consisting of Strained Rings Combined with High Heat of Formation Tetrazoles.

The reaction of cyanogen azide with strained-ring containing primary and secondary amines led to the isolation of energetic molecules deriving their energy content from both strained rings as well as aminotetrazoles. Azo-coupling of these materials afforded novel high-nitrogen energetic materials of very high sensitivity. All compounds were chemically characterized by IR, NMR, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Bacterial consortium amendment effectively reduces Pb/Cd bioavailability in soil and their accumulation in wheat.

Microbial remediation can maintain the sustainability of farmlands contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). However, the effects of bacterial consortium on crop growth and potential risks under HM stress, as well as its mechanisms, are still unclear compared with a single microorganism. Here, we investigated the effect of a bacterial consortium consisting of some HMs-resistant bacteria, including Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Herbaspirillum huttiense, on plant growth promotion and inhibition of Pb/Cd accumulation within different contaminated soil-wheat systems through pot experiments.

Control Patterning of Cyanobiphenyl Liquid Crystals for Electricity Applications.

Controlling molecular self-assembly from organic solution evaporation is an important strategy for developing many functional materials and systems. In this work, it is demonstrated that 4-octyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) liquid crystals can be patterned into well-oriented stripes with very high micrometer-scale precision using a sandwich system through a dewetting method. The preparation temperature, concentration, and surface energy are combined to control the morphology and orientation of 8OCB microstripe arrays assisted by silicon micropillars.

Biomaterials for reliable wearable health monitoring: Applications in skin and eye integration.

Recent advancements in biomaterials have significantly impacted wearable health monitoring, creating opportunities for personalized and non-invasive health assessments. These developments address the growing demand for customized healthcare solutions. Durability is a critical factor for biomaterials in wearable applications, as they must withstand diverse wearing conditions effectively.

Wafer-Scale Atomic Layer-Deposited TeO/Te Heterostructure P-Type Thin-Film Transistors.

There is an increasing demand for p-type semiconductors with scalable growth, excellent device performance, and back-end-of-line (BEOL) compatibility. Recently, tellurium (Te) has emerged as a promising candidate due to its appealing electrical properties and potential low-temperature production. So far, nearly all of the scalable production and integration of Te with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology have been based on physical vapor deposition.

Ionic Hydrogel-Based Moisture Electric Generators for Underwater Electronics.

Ubiquitous moisture is of particular interest for sustainable power generation and self-powered electronics. However, current moisture electric generators (MEGs) can only harvest moisture energy in the air, which tremendously limits the energy harvesting efficiency and practical application scenarios. Herein, the operationality of MEG from air to underwater environment, through a sandwiched engineered-hydrogel device with an additional waterproof breathable membrane layer allowing water vapor exchange while preventing liquid water penetration, is expanded.

Electroless Deposition for Robust and Uniform Copper Nanoparticles on Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Microfiltration Membranes.

Filtration membranes coated in metals such as copper have dramatically improved biofouling resistance and pathogen destruction. However, existing coating methods on polymer membranes impair membrane performance, lack uniformity, and may detach from their substrate, thus contaminating the permeate. To solve these challenges, we developed the first electroless deposition protocol to immobilize copper nanoparticles on electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers for the design of antimicrobial membranes.

Deterministic Synthesis of a Two-Dimensional MAPbI Nanosheet and Twisted Structure with Moiré Superlattice.

The synthesis of extremely thin 2D halide perovskites and the exploration of their interlayer interactions have garnered significant attention in current research. A recent advancement we have made involves the development of a successful technique for generating ultrathin MAPbI nanosheets with controlled thickness and an exposed intrinsic surface. This innovative method relies on utilizing the Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phase perovskite (BAMAPbI) as a template.

Enhanced self-cementation of arsenic-contaminated soil via activation of non-thermal plasma-irradiated ferromanganese: A mechanistic investigation.

The self-cementation characteristics of arsenic (As)-contaminated soil were comprehensively investigated in this study. Different non-thermal plasma-irradiated binary (hydro)oxides of polyvalent ferromanganese (poly-Fe-Mn) were synthesized and exploratorily dispersed to soil samples to activate solidification and stabilization during the self-cemented process. The maximum compressive strength of 56.

Rigidochromism of tetranuclear Cu(I)-pyrazolate macrocycles: steric crowding with trifluoromethyl groups.

Macrocyclic Cu(I)-pyrazolate tetramers (Cupz) can fold into compact structures with luminescent Cu cores whose emission wavelengths are sensitive to steric effects along the periphery of the macrocycle. Introducing CF at the C4 position of 3,5-di-Bu-pyrazolate increases steric crowding that modifies the conformational behavior of the Cupz complex, highlighted by a low-temperature martensitic transition. Variable-temperature analysis of solid-state luminescence reveal an unexpected blueshifting of emission with rising temperature.

Rheological and Lipid Characterization of Minipig and Human Skin Tissue: A Comparative Study Across Different Locations and Depths.

Understanding the rheology of minipig and human skin is crucial for enhancing drug delivery methods, particularly for injections. Despite many studies on skin's viscoelasticity, especially the subcutaneous layer, comparative analyses across different clinical sites are scarce, as is data on the impact of hydration or lipid levels. This study employs shear rheology and lipid analysis to evaluate viscoelasticity and lipid content across three anatomical locations-breast, belly, and neck and three different depth layers in Yucatan minipigs.