bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Activated Carbon from Raphia Palm Nut Endocarp as Adsorbent for Solid Adsorption Refrigeration
Authors: Ayoola Rasheed Bolanle , Edeoja Alex Okibe , Ibrahim Jacob Sunday , Kwaghger Aondona Karl
Published: October 2022

Activated carbon was produced from powdered Raphia palm nut endocarp (REAC) using H3PO4 and CaCl2 as activators before carbonization, and the responses studied to investigate its suitability for solid adsorption refrigeration applications. Temperature, resident time, concentration, and impregnation ratio, were the parameters used and ash content, carbon yield and surface area were the responses. The effect of preparation sequence was evaluated. The efficiency of the activated carbon on the adsorption of methanol was investigated an experimental rig. 100 g of sample was carbonized at 200, 400 and 600oC, and the carbonized samples were used for solid adsorption refrigeration to determine the optimum carbonization temperature. Carbonization times (30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes), activating agent concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) and impregnation ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 precursor to activating agents) at the optimum temperature were used to determine the optimum resident time, concentration and impregnation ratio. The results revealed that H3PO4 activated samples at optimum conditions of 500˚C temperature, 50% concentration, 60 minutes resident time and 4 ml/g impregnation ratio yielded better response with low percentage of ash content (2.25%), high carbon yield (73.63%) and large surface area (2857.51 m2/g) activated carbon were obtained at the optimum conditions. The adsorbing efficiencies of the carbons prepared through activation with H3PO4 achieved 0.084 and 14.5 of Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Specific Cooling Power (SCP) respectively. The results indicated that the carbon is activation before carbonization is well suited solid adsorption refrigeration applications.
Design of Automatic Door Lock Based on ATMEGA328P Microcontroller with MLX90614ESF DCI and HC-SR04 Sensors
Authors: Mahardika Pillar Satya , Gunawan Anak Agung Ngurah , Kasmawan I. Gde Antha
Published: October 2022

In conditions like now, it is very important to check a person's health level to be able to enter a room so as not to transmit the disease that exists in that person. Infectious diseases can be avoided by keeping yourself healthy, besides taking care of yourself you can also avoid them by keeping your distance from people who are infected with infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to keep someone from entering the room due to high body temperature. With MLX90614ESF DCI sensor that can measure temperature without touching and solenoid door lock to lock the door of the person is sick. The suitability of the temperature measurement carried out by this tool has been calibrated with a reference tool and the results of the coefficient of determination analysis are 99.80% of the temperature data obtained.
Qualitative Analysis of Patient–Physician Discussions Regarding Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Martinez Kathryn A. , Hurwitz Heather McKee , Rothberg Michael B.
Published: October 2022

Importance

For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the decision to initiate anticoagulation involves the choice between warfarin or a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). How physicians engage patients in this decision is unknown.

Objective

To describe the content of discussions between patients with AF and physicians regarding choice of anticoagulation.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This qualitative content analysis included clinical encounters between physicians and anticoagulation-naive patients discussing anticoagulation initiation between 2014 and 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Themes identified through content analysis.

Results

Of 37 encounters, almost all (34 [92%]) resulted in a prescription for a DOAC. Most (25 [68%]) patients were White; 15 (41%) were female and 22 (59%) were male; and 24 (65%) were aged 65 to 84 years. Twenty-one physicians conducted the included encounters, the majority of whom were cardiologists (14 [67%]) and male (19 [90%]). The analysis revealed 4 major categories and associated subcategories of themes associated with physician discussion of anticoagulation with anticoagulation-naive patients: (1) benefit vs risk of taking anticoagulation—in many cases, this involved an imbalance in completeness of discussion of stroke vs bleeding risk, and physicians often used emotional language; (2) tradeoffs between warfarin and DOACs—physicians typically discussed pros and cons, used persuasive language, and provided mixed signals, telling patients that warfarin and DOACs were basically equivalent, while simultaneously saying warfarin is rat poison; (3) medication costs—physicians often attempted to address patients’ questions about out-of-pocket costs but were unable to provide concrete answers, and they often provided free samples or coupons; and (4) DOACs in television commercials—physicians used direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising about DOACs to orient patients to the issue of anticoagulation as well as the advantages of DOACs over warfarin. Patients and physicians also discussed class action lawsuits for DOACs that patients had seen on television.

Conclusions and Relevance

This qualitative analysis of anticoagulation discussions between physicians and patients during clinical encounters found that physicians engaged in persuasive communication to convince patients to accept anticoagulation with a DOAC, yet they were unable to address questions regarding medication costs. For patients who are ultimately unable to afford DOACs, this may lead to unnecessary financial burden or abandoning prescriptions at the pharmacy, placing them at continued risk of stroke.
Social Determinants Associated With Exposure to Childhood Parental Bereavement and Subsequent Risk for Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Denckla Christy A. , Averkamp Natalie M. , Slopen Natalie , Espinosa Dice Ana Lucia , Williams David , Shear M. Katherine , Koenen Karestan C.
Published: October 2022

Importance

Prevalence of childhood parental death varies by race and ethnicity and socioeconomic status, yet whether similar variation persists in the association with lifetime psychiatric disorder is unknown.

Objective

To assess whether race and ethnicity and parental educational attainment are associated with the risk of death of a parent; to determine whether the risk for lifetime psychiatric disorder associated with death of a parent was moderated by race and ethnicity and highest parental educational attainment; and to examine a potential intersection of race and ethnicity with parental educational attainment in the risk of lifetime psychiatric disorder associated with death of a parent.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Comorbidity Study: Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), 2001 to 2004. Participants included youth aged 13 to 18 years, restricted to Black, Hispanic, and White youth due to power limitations. Data were analyzed from February 26, 2021, to April 21, 2022.

Exposure

Death of a parent during childhood.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary study outcome was any lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) psychiatric disorder, assess via assessed via structured clinical interviews.

Results

Among 9501 youth (mean [SD] age, 15.2 [1.5] years; 50.9% female), including 511 youth who had experienced parental death and 8990 youth who had not, the cumulative hazard of parental death by age 18 years was approximately doubled for Hispanic (10.1%; 95% CI, 6.9%-14.7%) and Black (14.0%; 95% CI, 10.6%-18.4%) youth compared with White youth (6.0%; 95% CI, 4.7%-7.8%). Similar patterns were noted by parental educational attainment: the cumulative hazard of parental death for youth of parents with less educational attainment was nearly double (10.1%; 95% CI, 8.1%-12.6%) compared with youth of parents with more education (6.6%; 95% CI, 5.2%-8.4%). Death of a parent was positively and significantly associated with risk of any lifetime psychiatric disorder (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.75) compared with youth who had not experienced death of a parent. However, this association was not moderated by race and ethnicity (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.58-1.92) or parental educational attainment (aOR, 1.19; 95%, 0.70-2.04), although power analyses suggest that larger sample sizes are needed.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, Black and Hispanic youth experienced elevated parental death compared with White youth, yet the risk for any lifetime psychiatric disorder after parental death was not significantly moderated by race and ethnicity or parental education. Both individual- and population-level interventions may be needed to address the increased risk of psychiatric disorders, although additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed.
Capturing the sequence of events during the water oxidation reaction in photosynthesis using XFELs
Authors: Simon Philipp S. , Makita Hiroki , Bogacz Isabel , Fuller Franklin , Bhowmick Asmit , Hussein Rana , Ibrahim Mohamed , Zhang Miao , Chatterjee Ruchira , Cheah Mun Hon , Chernev Petko , Doyle Margaret D. , Brewster Aaron S. , Alonso‐Mori Roberto , Sauter Nicholas K. , Bergmann Uwe , Dobbek Holger , Zouni Athina , Messinger Johannes , Kern Jan , Yachandra Vittal K. , Yano Junko
Published: October 2022

Ever since the discovery that Mn was required for oxygen evolution in plants by Pirson in 1937 and the period‐four oscillation in flash‐induced oxygen evolution by Joliot and Kok in the 1970s, understanding of this process has advanced enormously using state‐of‐the‐art methods. The most recent in this series of innovative techniques was the introduction of X‐ray free‐electron lasers (XFELs) a decade ago, which led to another quantum leap in the understanding in this field, by enabling operando X‐ray structural and X‐ray spectroscopy studies at room temperature. This review summarizes the current understanding of the structure of Photosystem II (PS II) and its catalytic centre, the Mn4CaO5 complex, in the intermediate Si (i = 0–4)‐states of the Kok cycle, obtained using XFELs.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolism: driving or counterbalancing inflammatory bowel disease?
Authors: Xue Xinru , Miao Yumeng , Wei Zhifeng
Published: October 2022

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an important electron and hydrogen carrier for oxidative metabolism and involved in energy production, antioxidant responses, and signal transduction within cells. NAD‐consuming enzymes can mediate post‐translational modifications, such as deacylation and ADP‐ribosylation, and the production of Ca2+‐mobilizing second messengers, including OAADPR, ADPR, cADPR, and NAADP, to regulate metabolic homeostasis, DNA damage and gene expression. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterized by impaired intestinal barrier, disturbed intestinal mucosal immunity, and abnormal intestinal repair, that is caused by genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Although various components involved in NAD biosynthesis and metabolism are upregulated in IBD, it remains disputed whether increased NAD turnover drives or counterbalances IBD progression. This review discusses the significance of increased NAD turnover in the intestinal barrier integrity and the inflammation resolution in IBD conditions. We propose that a better understanding of the reasons for the altered NAD metabolism in IBD may help identify novel treatment approaches.
Calmodulin promotes a Ca2+‐dependent conformational change in the C‐terminal regulatory domain of CaV1.2
Authors: Yadav Deepak Kumar , Anderson David E. , Hell Johannes W. , Ames James B.
Published: October 2022

Calmodulin (CaM) binds to the membrane‐proximal cytosolic C‐terminal domain of CaV1.2 (residues 1520–1669, CT(1520–1669)) and causes Ca2+‐induced conformational changes that promote Ca2+‐dependent channel inactivation (CDI). We report biophysical studies that probe the structural interaction between CT(1520–1669) and CaM. The recombinantly expressed CT(1520–1669) is insoluble, but can be solubilized in the presence of Ca2+‐saturated CaM (Ca4/CaM), but not in the presence of Ca2+‐free CaM (apoCaM). We show that half‐calcified CaM (Ca2/CaM12) forms a complex with CT(1520–1669) that is less soluble than CT(1520–1669) bound to Ca4/CaM. The NMR spectrum of CT(1520–1669) reveals spectral differences caused by the binding of Ca2/CaM12 versus Ca4/CaM, suggesting that the binding of Ca2+ to the CaM N‐lobe may induce a conformational change in CT(1520–1669).
Brain magnetic resonance imaging predictors in anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor encephalitis
Authors: Zhao Ying‐Ying , Han Bing , Qin Cui‐Hong , Shi Xue‐Xiu , Yun Wen‐Jing , Wang Meng , Yuan Bo , Sun Tong‐Wen , Wang Hai‐Xu
Published: October 2022

Objective

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis are nonspecific and rarely have obvious associations with clinical characteristics and outcomes. This study aimed to comprehensively describe the MRI features of patients with NMDAR encephalitis, examine their associations with clinical characteristics, and evaluate their predictive power for disease recurrence and prognosis.

Methods

We retrospectively extracted the clinical data and brain MRI findings of 144 patients with NMDAR encephalitis. Patients underwent a 2‐year follow‐up to assess disease outcomes. We evaluated the associations of brain MRI findings at the onset with clinical characteristics, recurrence, and prognosis.

Results

Initial MRI showed typical abnormalities in 65 patients (45.1%); of these, 34 (29.3%) developed recurrence and 10 (9.4%) had poor prognosis (mRS ≥3). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that insula abnormalities were associated with acute seizure (odds ratio [OR] = 3.048, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.026–9.060) and white matter lesions were associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 2.730, 95% CI: 1.096–6.799). Risk factors for a poor 2‐year prognosis included a higher number of brain MRI abnormalities (OR = 1.573, 95% CI: 1.129–2.192) and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (OR = 15.312, 95% CI: 1.684–139.198). The risk factors for 2‐year recurrence included abnormalities of the thalamus (HR = 3.780, 95% CI: 1.642–8.699).

Interpretations

Brain MRI features of patients with NMDAR encephalitis were associated with clinical manifestations, prognosis, and recurrence. Higher numbers of MRI abnormalities and ICU admissions were predictive of poor prognosis. Abnormalities of the thalamus constituted a recurrence‐related risk factor.
Perceived Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Among Adult Patients With Rheumatologic Disease
Authors: Saxena‐Beem Shruti , Dickson Teresa A. , Englund Tessa R. , Cleveland Rebecca J. , McCormick Emily M. , Santana Andres E. , Walker Julie A. , Allen Kelli D. , Sheikh Saira Z.
Published: October 2022

Objective

The objective of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on physical activity (PA) levels of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and to examine factors associated with decreased PA.

Methods

A sample of adult patients with RMDs (n = 7,776) was identified through electronic medical records from an academic health care system in North Carolina. Invitations to participate in an online survey were sent between July 2020 and September 2020 to assess self‐reported changes in PA during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics, age‐adjusted prevalence odds ratios (PORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to examine patient characteristics associated with decreased PA.

Results

A total of 893 eligible participants completed the survey (mean age 57.8 ± 14.9 years, 75.8% female). The most common primary diagnoses reported among participants included rheumatoid arthritis (27.3%), osteoarthritis (16.0%), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (13.0%). More than half of participants (56.8%) reported engaging in less PA since the pandemic began. Factors associated with engaging in less PA included lower self‐reported general health (POR, 2.21; CI, 1.64‐2.97) and a diagnosis of SLE (POR, 1.57; CI, 1.03‐2.38). Comorbidities associated with decreased PA included chronic pain (POR, 1.38; CI, 1.04‐1.82), depression (POR, 1.48; CI, 1.09‐2.01), and hypertension (POR, 1.44; CI, 1.10‐1.90).

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic has exacerbated barriers to PA in patients with RMDs. There is a critical need to provide resources, support, and multifaceted programs to encourage PA in patients with RMDs during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Self‐Intercalated Magnetic Heterostructures in 2D Chromium Telluride
Authors: Niu Kangdi , Qiu Guotao , Wang Chuanshou , Li Daiyue , Niu Yutao , Li Songge , Kang Lixing , Cai Yongqing , Han Mengjiao , Lin Junhao
Published: October 2022

Emerging 2D magnetic heterojunctions attract substantial interest due to their potential applications in spintronics. Achieving magnetic phase engineering with structural integrity in 2D heterojunctions is of paramount importance for their magnetism manipulation. Herein, starting with chromium ditelluride (CrTe2) as the backbone framework, various lateral and vertical magnetic heterojunctions are obtained via self‐intercalated 2D chromium telluride (CrxTey). A Cr2Te3‐Cr5Te8 lateral heterojunction prototype is demonstrated for the manipulation of magnetic moments under different magnitudes of magnetic excitation, showing a sharply stepped hysteresis loop with a dual spin‐flip transition at high Curie temperatures up to 150 and 210 K by magneto‐optical Kerr measurement. High‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and first‐principles calculations reveal a preferred random location of Cr intercalants at the phase boundary, allowing lowering energy associated with crystal field splitting. The overall structural rigidity of chromium‐telluride heterostructure with magnetic phase decoupled behaviors is promising for 2D spintronic devices.
Persistent Luminescence in Strontium Aluminate: A Roadmap to a Brighter Future
Authors: Van der Heggen David , Joos Jonas J. , Feng Ang , Fritz Verena , Delgado Teresa , Gartmann Nando , Walfort Bernhard , Rytz Daniel , Hagemann Hans , Poelman Dirk , Viana Bruno , Smet Philippe F.
Published: October 2022

Glow‐in‐the‐dark materials have been around for a long time. While formerly materials had to be mixed with radioactive elements to achieve a sufficiently long and bright afterglow, these have now been replaced by much safer alternatives. Notably strontium aluminate, SrAl2O4, doped with europium and dysprosium, has been discovered over two decades ago and since then the phosphor has transcended its popular use in watch dials, safety signage, or toys with more niche applications such as stress sensing, photocatalysis, medical imaging, or flicker‐free light‐emitting diodes. A lot of research efforts are focused on further improving the storage capacity of SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+, including in nanosized particles, and on finding the underlying physical mechanism to fully explain the afterglow in this material and related compounds. Here an overview of the most important results from the research on SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ is presented and different models and the underlying physics are discussed to explain the trapping mechanism at play in these materials.
Short‐Wave Infrared Synaptic Phototransistor with Ambient Light Adaptability for Flexible Artificial Night Visual System
Authors: Huang Xin , Liu Yanwei , Liu Guocai , Liu Kai , Wei Xiaofang , Zhu Mingliang , Wen Wei , Zhao Zhiyuan , Guo Yunlong , Liu Yunqi
Published: October 2022

Flexible organic monitoring system that can work in short‐wave infrared (SIR) region has great potential in autonomous driving, night driving safety, military encryption, biomedical imaging, and robot engineering. Especially, the development of infrared artificial vision system device that can autonomously improve the computing speed and adapt to different brightness ambient light is very important. However, it is a challenge for mimicking infrared visual adaptation because of the need for infrared absorbing materials and the need to control the concentration of carriers. In this study, inorganic quantum dot material is combined with organic materials to promote carrier separation and introduce interface defects that adjust the carrier concentration in transistors, which induce the synaptic behavior under SIR (1100 nm) light in darkness and the ability to adapt to white ambient light. Furthermore, the device array realizes the image recognition of SIR light at night with white ambient light of different brightness, exhibiting good self‐adaptability, and strong anti‐interference ability. These results demonstrate promising applications of the infrared synaptic phototransistors in adapted bionic optoelectronic devices.
Determinant Role of Solution‐State Supramolecular Assembly in Molecular Orientation of Conjugated Polymer Films
Authors: Deng Junyang , Zheng Lei , Ding Chenming , Guo Yifu , Xie Yifan , Wang Jiawei , Ke Yubin , Li Mengmeng , Li Ling , Janssen René A. J.
Published: October 2022

The solid‐state molecular orientation of conjugated polymers is of vital importance for their charge transport properties, where the edge‐on orientation with π‐stacking direction parallel to the surface is generally preferable to achieving high‐mobility planar field‐effect transistors. However, so far, little is known about the origin of packing‐orientation formation in thin films. Here, it is shown that the solution‐state supramolecular structure of widely studied PffBT4T‐based polymers can be reversibly tuned between 1D worm‐like and 2D lamellar structures for the same polymer/solvent system through solution temperature. Such dimensionality in solution determines the solid‐state packing orientation of the polymer chains, where edge‐on and face‐on textures are generated from solutions with 1D and 2D structures, respectively. More importantly, the transition temperature of solution‐state supramolecular dimensionality is in excellent agreement with that of solid‐state packing orientation. These experimental observations unambiguously demonstrate the predominant roles of solution‐state supramolecular assembly in solid‐state molecular orientation, which is further verified using different molecular weight batches and other two representative polymers. The findings provide new insights into the growth mechanism of polymer semiconductors during transistor fabrication, and open prospective pathways for boosting device performance of solution‐processable plastic electronics.
Atomic Modulation and Structure Design of Fe−N4 Modified Hollow Carbon Fibers with Encapsulated Ni Nanoparticles for Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Tian Yuhui , Wu Zhenzhen , Li Meng , Sun Qiang , Chen Hao , Yuan Ding , Deng Daijie , Johannessen Bernt , Wang Yun , Zhong Yulin , Xu Li , Lu Jun , Zhang Shanqing
Published: October 2022

Excellent bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and rapid mass transport capability are two important parameters of electrocatalysts for high‐performance rechargeable Zn–air batteries (ZABs). Herein, an efficient atomic modulation and structure design to promote bifunctional activity and mass transport kinetics of an ORR/OER electrocatalyst are reported. Specifically, atomic Fe−N4 moieties are immobilized on premade hollow carbon fibers with encapsulated Ni nanoparticles (Fe‐N@Ni‐HCFs). Synchrotron X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and spherical aberration‐corrected electron microscope analyses confirm the atomic distribution of the active sites and unique lung bubble‐like hollow architecture of the catalyst, while theoretical investigations reveal that the encapsulated Ni nanoparticles can induce electron distribution of the atomic Fe−N4 moieties to reduce reaction energy barriers. As a result, the prepared catalyst possesses enhanced bifunctional ORR/OER activity and well‐constructed gas–solid–liquid interfaces for improved mass transfer. These synergetic advantages endow the binder‐free Fe‐N@Ni‐HCFs electrode with the remarkable power density and cycling stability for ZABs, outperforming the commercial Pt/C+Ir/C benchmark. This exceptional performance suggests that the proposed strategy can be extended to the design and fabrication of electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage.
Multiscale Structural Gel Polymer Electrolytes with Fast Li+ Transport for Long‐Life Li Metal Batteries
Authors: Yang Hai Xia , Liu Zhi Kang , Wang Yu , Li Nian Wu , Yu Le
Published: October 2022

Li metal batteries (LMBs) are considered as promising candidates for future rechargeable batteries with high energy density. However, Li metal anode (LMA) is extensively sensitive to general liquid electrolytes, leading to unstable interphase and dendrites growth. Herein, a novel gel polymer electrolyte consisting of a micro‐nanostructured poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) matrix and inorganic fillers of Zeolite Socony Mobil‐5 (ZSM‐5) and SiO2 nanoparticles, is fabricated to expedite Li+ ions transport and suppress Li dendrite growth. Due to the Lewis acid interaction, SiO2 can absorb amounts of PF6− and promote the dissociation of LiPF6. The specific sub‐nanometer pore structure of ZSM‐5 greatly enhances the Li+ ion transference number. These structures can restrain the decomposition of electrolytes and build stable interphase on LMA. Therefore, the Li||Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full cell maintains 92% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 1 C (1 C ≈190 mAh g−1) in carbonate electrolyte. This multiscale design provides an effective strategy for electrolyte exploration in high‐performance LMBs.
Uniformly MXene‐Grafted Eutectic Aluminum‐Cerium Alloys as Flexible and Reversible Anode Materials for Rechargeable Aluminum‐Ion Battery
Authors: Ran Qing , Zeng Shu‐Pei , Zhu Mei‐Hua , Wan Wu‐Bin , Meng Huan , Shi Hang , Wen Zi , Lang Xing‐You , Jiang Qing
Published: October 2022

Aluminum is an attractive anode material in aqueous multivalent‐metal batteries for large‐scale energy storage because of its high Earth abundance, low cost, high theoretic capacity, and safety. However, state‐of‐the‐art aqueous aluminum‐ion batteries based on aluminum anode persistently suffer from poor rechargeability and low coulombic efficiency due to irreversibility of aluminum stripping/plating and dendrite growth. Here eutectic aluminum‐cerium alloys in situ grafted with uniform ultrathin MXene (MXene/E‐Al97Ce3) as flexible, reversible, and dendrite‐free anode materials for rechargeable aqueous aluminum‐ion batteries is reported. As a result of the MXene serving as stable solid electrolyte interphase to inhibit side reactions and the lamella‐nanostructured E‐Al97Ce3 enabling directional Al stripping and deposition by making use of symbiotic α‐Al metal and intermetallic Al11Ce3 lamellas, the MXene/E‐Al97Ce3 hybrid electrodes exhibit reversible and dendrite‐free Al stripping/plating with low voltage polarization of ± 54 mV for ≥1000 h in a low‐oxygen‐concentration aqueous aluminum trifluoromethanesulfonate (Al(OTF)3) electrolyte. These superior electrochemical properties endow soft‐package aluminum‐ion batteries assembled with MXene/E‐Al97Ce3 anode and AlxMnO2 cathode to have high initial discharge capacity of ≈360 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1, and retain ≈85% after 500 cycles, along with the coulombic efficiency of as high as 99.5%.
Observation of Controllable Negative Differential Resistance Behaviors through Morphology‐Dependent Zinc Oxide/p‐Si Heterointerface Structures
Authors: Kim Somi , Park Taehyun , Yun Hyung Joong , Yoo Hocheon
Published: October 2022

Negative differential resistance (NDR) has received considerable attention owing to the unique switching property, which exhibits an n‐shaped current–voltage curve without a monolithic increase in current as of the applied voltage bias increases. Nevertheless, various issues in previously reported NDR devices need to be addressed, such as complex manufacturing processes, operational instability, and difficulties in large‐area processing. In addition, methods for generating and controlling NDR have not yet been developed. This paper presents the findings of morphology‐dependent NDR in which three types of zinc oxide (ZnO) build a junction with p‐Si in the form of small nanoparticles, large nanoparticles, and films. The principle of NDR behaviors is elucidated through a comprehensive study, including an analysis of the energy band structure, morphological investigation, and electrical characterization, offering control of the peak‐to‐valley current ratio (PVCR). The highest PVCR = 4.96 A A−1 is obtained in the quantum dot ZnO/p‐Si structure and the NDR characteristics occur without external stimuli, such as irradiating light, cryogenic temperatures, or controlled atmospheres.
Terahertz Detection Using Enhanced Two‐Step Absorption in Photoconductive Metasurfaces Gated at λ = 1.55 µm
Authors: Jung Hyunseung , Hale Lucy L. , Briscoe Jayson , Sarma Raktim , Luk Ting Shan , Addamane Sadhvikas J. , Reno John L. , Brener Igal , Mitrofanov Oleg
Published: October 2022

Superior ultrafast photoconductive properties make low temperature grown (LT) GaAs one of the best materials for photoconductive terahertz (THz) detection. However, the large bandgap of LT‐GaAs limits its operation to gating at wavelengths shorter than 870 nm. Here, it is demonstrated for the first time that nanostructuring the LT‐GaAs into a highly absorbing metasurface enables THz photoconductive detection with a pulsed laser at λ = 1.55 µm. The very weak sub‐bandgap absorption mediated by midgap states in LT‐GaAs is strongly enhanced using the concept of perfect absorption via degenerate critical coupling. Integrated with a THz antenna, the LT‐GaAs metasurface enables high sensitivity THz detection with a high dynamic range of 60 dB and large bandwidth up to 4.5 THz. The LT‐GaAs metasurface has the potential to serve as a universal ultrafast switching element for THz applications, enabling low‐cost, turn‐key THz systems for a variety of real‐world applications.
Surface Doping Boosts Triplet Generation Yield in Perovskite‐Sensitized Upconversion
Authors: Sullivan Colette M. , Bieber Alexander S. , Drozdick Hayley K. , Moller Gregory , Kuszynski Jason E. , VanOrman Zachary A. , Wieghold Sarah , Strouse Geoffrey F. , Nienhaus Lea
Published: October 2022

Triplet–triplet annihilation‐based photon upconversion (TTA‐UC) can efficiently generate higher energy photons at low relative fluences. Bulk metal halide perovskites have offered promise in efficiently sensitizing molecular triplet states in the solid state, necessary for the integration of TTA‐UC into device‐based applications. Recent work focused on TTA‐UC from a rubrene triplet annihilator sensitized by perovskite thin films has established relatively efficient charge extraction from the perovskite, forming the triplet exciton in rubrene. Yet, the specifics underpinning charge transfer at the perovskite/rubrene interface are not fully elucidated. To improve device performance and study the properties governing charge transfer at the interface, various organic solvents are explored to treat the perovskite surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy show a difference in the electronic band structure, where both n‐ and p‐type terminated perovskite surfaces are observed depending on the solvent used. Supported by optical spectroscopy, the impact of the perovskite electronic structure is monitored, indicating that n‐type perovskite sensitizers feature higher TTA‐UC efficiencies due to favorable band bending resulting in efficient hole‐mediated triplet formation. Overall, the tuning of the electronic structure of the perovskite sensitizer through solvent treatment is shown to be a key force in tuning the mechanism of efficient triplet generation.
Hydrogen Peroxide Assisted Electrooxidation of Benzene to Phenol over Bifunctional Ni–(O–C2)4 Sites
Authors: Zhang Shengbo , Jin Meng , Xu Hui , Li Wenyi , Ye Yixing , Shi Tongfei , Zhou Hongjian , Chen Chun , Wang Guozhong , Zhang Yunxia , Lin Yue , Zheng Lirong , Zhang Haimin , Zhao Huijun
Published: October 2022

Direct electrocatalytic oxidation of benzene has been regarded as a promising approach for achieving high‐value phenol product, but remaining a huge challenge. Here an oxygen‐coordinated nickel single‐atom catalyst (Ni–O–C) is reported with bifunctional electrocatalytic activities toward the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) to H2O2 and H2O2‐assisted benzene oxidation to phenol. The Ni–(O–C2)4 sites in Ni–O–C ar proven to be the catalytic active centers for bifunctional 2e− ORR and H2O2‐assisted benzene oxidation processes. As a result, Ni–O–C can afford a benzene conversion as high as 96.4 ± 3.6% with a phenol selectivity of 100% and a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 80.2 ± 3.2% with the help of H2O2 in 0.1 m KOH electrolyte at 1.5 V (vs RHE). A proof of concept experiment with Ni–O–C concurrently as cathode and anode in a single electrochemical cell demonstrates a benzene conversion of 33.4 ± 2.2% with a phenol selectivity of 100% and a FE of 44.8 ± 3.0% at 10 mA cm−2.
Elucidating the Synergic Effect in Nanoscale MoS2/TiO2 Heterointerface for Na‐Ion Storage
Authors: Ma Chunrong , Hou Dewen , Jiang Jiali , Fan Yanchen , Li Xiang , Li Tianyi , Ma Zifeng , Ben Haoxi , Xiong Hui
Published: October 2022

Interface engineering in electrode materials is an attractive strategy for enhancing charge storage, enabling fast kinetics, and improving cycling stability for energy storage systems. Nevertheless, the performance improvement is usually ambiguously ascribed to the “synergetic effect”, the fundamental understanding toward the effect of the interface at molecular level in composite materials remains elusive. In this work, a well‐defined nanoscale MoS2/TiO2 interface is rationally designed by immobilizing TiO2 nanocrystals on MoS2 nanosheets. The role of heterostructure interface between TiO2 and MoS2 by operando synchrotron X‐ray diffraction (sXRD), solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance, and density functional theory calculations is investigated. It is found that the existence of a hetero‐interfacial electric field can promote charge transfer kinetics. Based on operando sXRD, it is revealed that the heterostructure follows a solid‐solution reaction mechanism with small volume changes during cycling. As such, the electrode demonstrates ultrafast Na+ ions storage of 300 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 and excellent reversible capacity of 540 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1. This work provides significant insights into understanding of heterostructure interface at molecular level, which suggests new strategies for creating unconventional nanocomposite electrode materials for energy storage systems.
How to Promote the Industrial Application of SiOx Anode Prelithiation: Capability, Accuracy, Stability, Uniformity, Cost, and Safety
Authors: Wang Ruoyang , Li Haoyu , Wu Yuqing , Li Haodong , Zhong Benhe , Sun Yan , Wu Zhenguo , Guo Xiaodong
Published: October 2022

SiOx anode with high energy density and superior stability is expected to meet the demand of the rapidly developed electric vehicles’ market. And the prelithiation strategy is proved to be crucial for solving the low initial columbic efficiency that severely limited the practical full‐cell energy density. In the past decades, various prelithiation methods have been extensively explored. And a comprehensive evaluation aiming at the scale‐up application is highly deserved and urgent. In this review, combining the existing battery manufacturing process, the reported prelithiation methods are roundly summarized and re‐evaluated based on the capability, control accuracy, environmental stability, uniformity, cost, safety, and compatibility, which provides guidelines for selecting appropriate prelithiation methods in different application fields. Furthermore, the unsolved issues for the manufacture techniques or instrument and the development direction toward industrial application are discussed.
Suppressing Interfacial Recombination with a Strong‐Interaction Surface Modulator for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Bowei , Deng Jun , Smith Joel A. , Caprioglio Pietro , Ji Kangyu , Luo Deying , McGettrick James D. , Jayawardena K. D. G. Imalka , Kilbride Rachel C. , Ren Aobo , Hinder Steven , Bi Jinxin , Webb Thomas , Marko Igor , Liu Xueping , Xiang Yuren , Reding Josh , Li Hui , Du Shixuan , Lidzey David G. , Stranks Samuel D. , Watson Trystan , Sweeney Stephen , Snaith Henry J. , Silva S. Ravi P. , Zhang Wei
Published: October 2022

Successful manipulation of halide perovskite surfaces is typically achieved via the interactions between modulators and perovskites. Herein, it is demonstrated that a strong‐interaction surface modulator is beneficial to reduce interfacial recombination losses in inverted (p‐i‐n) perovskite solar cells (IPSCs). Two organic ammonium salts are investigated, consisting of 4‐hydroxyphenethylammonium iodide and 2‐thiopheneethylammonium iodide (2‐TEAI). Without thermal annealing, these two modulators can recover the photoluminescence quantum yield of the neat perovskite film in contact with fullerene electron transport layer (ETL). Compared to the hydroxyl‐functionalized phenethylammonium moiety, the thienylammonium facilitates the formation of a quasi‐2D structure onto the perovskite. Density functional theory and quasi‐Fermi level splitting calculations reveal that the 2‐TEAI has a stronger interaction with the perovskite surface, contributing to more suppressed non‐radiative recombination at the perovskite/ETL interface and improved open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of the fabricated IPSCs. As a result, the VOC increases from 1.11 to 1.20 V (based on a perovskite bandgap of 1.63 eV), yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) from ≈20% to 21.9% (stabilized PCE of 21.3%, the highest reported PCEs for IPSCs employing poly[N,N′′‐bis(4‐butylphenyl)‐N,N′′‐bis(phenyl)benzidine] as the hole transport layer, alongside the enhanced operational and shelf‐life stability for unencapsulated devices.
Efficient and Thermally Stable All‐Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells Using All‐FA Narrow‐Bandgap Perovskite and Metal‐oxide‐based Tunnel Junction
Authors: Wu Pu , Wen Jin , Wang Yurui , Liu Zhou , Lin Renxing , Li Hongjiang , Luo Haowen , Tan Hairen
Published: October 2022

Commercialization of all‐perovskite tandem solar cells requires thermally stable narrow‐bandgap (NBG) perovskites and tunnel junction. However, the high content of methylammonium (MA) and organic hole transport layer used in NBG perovskite subcell undermine the thermal stability of all‐perovskite tandems. Here, thermally stable mixed lead‐tin NBG perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are developed by using only formamidinium (FA) for the A‐site cation. Solution‐processed indium tin oxide nanocrystals (ITO NCs) are deployed further to replace the conventional organic charge transport layer. Meanwhile, the ITO NCs layer simultaneously functions as a recombination layer in the tunnel junction, which simplifies the architecture of all‐perovskite tandem devices. The thermally stable all‐FA Pb‐Sn PSCs achieve a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.0%. With the thermally stable all‐FA NBG perovskite and optimized tunnel junction, a stabilized PCE of 26.3% is further obtained in all‐perovskite tandems. The unencapsulated tandem devices maintain >90% of their initial efficiencies after 212 h aging at 85 °C in the N2 atmosphere. The strategies herein offer a crucial step toward efficient and thermally stable all‐perovskite tandem solar cells.
Ape femoral‐humeral rigidities and arboreal locomotion
Authors: Sarringhaus Lauren , Lewton Kristi L. , Iqbal Safiyyah , Carlson Kristian J.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

This study investigates patterns of bone functional adaptations in extant apes through comparing hindlimb to forelimb bone rigidity ratios in groups with varying levels of arboreality.

Materials and Methods

Using CT scans, bone rigidity (J) was calculated at three regions of interest (ROI) along femoral and humeral diaphyses in Homo, Pongo, Pan, and Gorilla with further comparisons made between species and subspecies divisions within Pan and Gorilla.

Results

Consistent with previous work on extant hominoids, species exhibited differences in midshaft femoral to humeral (F/H) rigidity ratios. Results of the present study confirm that these midshaft differences extend to 35% and 65% diaphyseal ROIs. Modern humans, exhibiting larger ratios, and orangutans, exhibiting smaller ratios, bracketed the intermediate African apes in comparisons. Within some African apes, limb rigidity ratios varied significantly between taxonomic groups. Eastern gorillas exhibited the highest mean ratios and chimpanzees the lowest at all three ROIs. In posthoc comparisons, chimpanzees and bonobos did not differ in relative limb rigidity ratios at any of the three ROIs. However, western gorillas were more similar to bonobos than eastern gorillas at 50% and 35% ROIs, but not at the 65% ROI.

Conclusion

Species, and to a lesser extent subspecies, can be distinguished by F/H limb rigidity ratios according to broad positional behavior patterns at multiple regions of interest along the diaphyses. Similarity of bonobos and western gorillas is in line with behavioral data of bonobos being the most terrestrial of Pan species, and western gorillas the most arboreal of the Gorilla groups.
A ferrocene‐pyrene dyad for multiple channel sensing of F− and H2PO4−
Authors: Zhang Youhui , Huang Hong‐Wei , Li Zhimei , Cao Qian‐Yong
Published: October 2022

A new ferrocene‐pyrene dyad Fc‐PYS for anion recognition was rationally designed and synthesized, in which the ferrocene and the pyrene groups were combined by the imidazolium and sulfonamide anion donors. The structure of the probe was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The anion recognition performance of the probe was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. In acetonitrile solution, Fc‐PYS can fluorescently recognize F− and H2PO4− with different models. Upon the addition of H2PO4−, the fluorescence of Fc‐PYS was increased. However, the complexation with F− quenched its fluorescence. At the same time, Fc‐PYS showed electrochemical response toward basic anions F−, H2PO4−, and AcO− with the ferrocene‐based red/ox potential a negative shift with H2PO4− > F− > AcO−. Furthermore, the binding mechanism between Fc‐PYS and anion has been investigated in detail by 1H NMR titration.
Phytogenically bioengineered metal nanoarchitecture for degradation of refractory dye water pollutants: A pragmatic minireview
Authors: Emmanuel Stephen Sunday , Adesibikan Ademidun Adeola , Saliu Oluwaseyi Damilare
Published: October 2022

The present scenario of water insecurity (poor availability and accessibility to clean and healthy water when needed) denotes the preponderance of environmental damage caused by effluents or waste runoff from industries, such as the dye and textile industries. The polluted waters have led to terrible and sonorous negative impacts on the ecosystem and econetworking, thus, urging for a sustainably suitable substitute to tackle and annul the noxious environmental constraint posse by the hazardous dye effluent. Several chemical and physical methods for treating dye effluent are now in use, but they are time‐consuming, expensive, and inefficient. Interestingly, nanoparticles have egressed as a superior answer for efficient dye removal and degradation, because of their chemical reactivity and exceptional surface characteristics. As a result, the use of metal nanomaterials in the treatment of dye runoffs has been thoroughly investigated. The study used major scientific databases such as SciFinder, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct to conduct a comprehensive review of publicly available literature. Degradation, dye effluent, green metal nanoparticles, and water pollution were the keywords used to find scholarly papers. Efforts were made to figure out and explain the mechanism of dye effluent degradation, how long the degradation will take and how effective the use of plant biosynthesized metal nanoparticles for dye removal is. In addition, the role of bimetallic nanoparticles has also been investigated with remarkable feat from literature. The current level of knowledge about the mechanism and the use of plant biogenic metal nanoparticles in common dye effluent treatment is summarized in this paper.
High‐strength, ultrastretchable hydrophobic association hydrogel reinforced by tailored modified carboxymethyl cellulose
Authors: Pan Min , Wang Pengtao , Xu Zhe , Kuai Yu
Published: October 2022

A new pathway to construct high‐strength, ultrastretchable hydrogels based on tailored modified carboxymethyl cellulose (TMCMC)and hydrophobic association(HPA) system was investigated. TMCMC was prepared from degradation of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) chemical cross‐linked hydrogels. The residual double bonds of TMCMC, confirmed by 1H‐NMR and FTIR analysis, reacted with acrylamide in HPA to form TMCMC/HPA hydrogels, and the homogeneous and fine spatial network structure of TMCMC/HPA hydrogel could be observed by scanning electron microscopy. Rheological analysis revealed that the coexistence of physical and chemical crosslinking in TMCMC/HPA hydrogels. Further studies showed that TMCMC/HPA hydrogel with MBA content of 0.5 wt% has outstanding mechanical properties, and its fracture stress, elongation and tensile strength reach 1.17 MPa, 3717.05% and 15.68 MJ·m−3, respectively. Moreover, the hydrogel displayed good swelling resistance and stable strain electrical signal response.
Heteroatom‐Doped Asymmetric Metal‐Nx‐C Single Atom Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction
Authors: Kong Linghui , Wang Min , Jiang Luhua
Published: October 2022

CO2 utilization is one of the hottest research topics worldwide. As a class of newly emerging and promising catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) reaction, heteroatom‐doped metal‐Nx‐C single atom catalysts (M‐Nx‐C SACs) attract extensive attentions. Nowadays, great progress, including structure modulation, identification of local coordination environment and ECR mechanism via advanced synthetic strategies, characterization techniques and theoretical calculations, have been achieved over heteroatom doped asymmetric M‐Nx‐C SACs, which boost the ECR performances and deepen the understanding of ECR mechanism. In this context, we summarize recent progresses in heteroatom‐doped asymmetric M‐Nx‐C SACs, with emphasis on synthetic strategies and their applications in ECR reaction, along with current understanding on the ECR mechanisms both experimentally and theoretically. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for the heteroatom‐doped asymmetric M‐Nx‐C SACs towards ECR are proposed.
Recent Progress in Surface and Interface Engineering for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Hu Xiaokang , Hu Jiuyi , Zheng Shaohui , Fan Yun , Li Hongfeng , Zhang Suoying , Liu Wenjing , Zha Baoli , Huo Fengwei , Saleem Faisal
Published: October 2022

The conversion of CO2 through CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) into valuable products has potential to lessen the greenhouse effect caused by uncontrolled CO2 emissions. Challenges of CO2RR reaction lie in the stabilization of the reaction intermediate and the activation of the inert chemical bond of CO2, but the application of CO2RR at large scale is limited by the high cost and structural instability of traditional catalysts. By applying CO2RR catalyst with delicate structure of stable CO2 intermediate to industrial production, the problems such as high cost of CO2 conversion, low catalytic selectivity and poor catalytic efficiency can be effectively solved, showing better application value and significance than traditional catalysts. This review focuses on the defects, and metal‐support interaction (MSI) effect to modify the catalyst and other strategies to enhance the effectiveness of CO2 reduction. The challenges and prospects from the three perspectives are also discussed to provide suggestions for the designing of efficient CO2RR catalysts in the future. This review offers new insights and research perspectives of reducing CO2 emission through recycling CO2, and neutralizing the carbon cycle.