bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lightweight, Strong, Hydrostable, Bendable, Rolled‐Up, and Biodegradable Straws Enabled by Nano‐ and Microarchitecture Tuning of the Wood Cell Wall and Molecular Welding Strategy
Authors: He Shuaiming , Chen Tianle , Li Zhulin , Li Yang , Little Joshua M. , Liang Chu‐Chun , Wu Yiqiang , Lee I‐Chi , Chen Po‐Yen 
Published: February 2025

AbstractPlastic pollution has become a global environmental challenge. Specifically, plastic straws are widely discarded and do not naturally decompose. Paper straws, as alternatives, suffer from weak mechanical strength, poor water/beverage stability, and lack of bendability. Here, an all‐natural plastic substitute is fabricated using a top‐down approach. After lignin is selectively removed from a natural wood slice, the delignified wood is infiltrated with chitosan solution. The chitosan‐infiltrated wood, in its wet state, is highly flexible, moldable, and can be rolled into desired shapes. After drying, strong hydrogen bonds form at the cellulose/chitosan interfaces, making it an all‐natural plastic substitute. By enclosing two sides using a chitosan adhesive, an all‐natural straw is produced with a superior mechanical strength of 242 MPa, higher than polypropylene and paper straws. After baking, the all‐natural straws show high water stability and maintain high mechanical strength in water (136 MPa) and carbonated beverages (71 MPa) for >2 days. A water‐moldable process also creates accordion‐like joints, giving the all‐natural straws superior bendability (120°) and compressibility (50%). The all‐natural straws exhibit high biocompatibility, full biodegradability in 5 months, and high circularity. Overall, the eco‐friendly fabrication of all‐natural straws holds great potential in addressing the ongoing pollution of plastic straws.
Soft and Stretchable Thienopyrroledione‐Based Polymers via Direct Arylation
Authors: Lin Angela , Guio Lorenzo , LeCroy Garrett , Lo Stanley , Sharif Adnan , Wang Yunfei , Salleo Alberto , Gu Xiaodan , Luscombe Christine K. , Tran Helen 
Published: February 2025

Abstractπ‐conjugated polymers (CPs) that are concurrently soft and stretchable are needed for deformable electronics. Molecular‐level modification of indacenodithiophene (IDT) copolymers, a class of CPs that exhibit high hole mobilities (hole), is an approach that can help realize intrinsically soft and stretchable CPs. Numerous examples of design strategies to adjust the stretchability of CPs exist, but imparting softness is comparatively less studied. In this study, a systematic molecular weight (MW) series is constructed on a promising candidate for soft CPs, poly(indacenodithiophene‐co‐thienopyrroledione) (p(IDTC16‐TPDC8)), by optimizing direct arylation polymerization conditions in hopes of improving stretchability and μhole without significantly impacting softness. We found p(IDTC16‐TPDC8) at a degree of polymerization of 32 shows high stretchability (crack onset strain, CoS > 100%) without significantly impacting softness (elastic modulus, E = 32 MPa), which to the best of our knowledge outperforms previously reported stretchable and soft CPs. To further study how molecular‐level modifications impact polymer properties, a MW series of a new extended donor unit polymer, poly(indacenodithienothiophene‐co‐thienopyrroledione) (p(IDTTC16‐TPDC8)), was synthesized. The IDTTC16 copolymers did not result in a greater average μhole when comparing between p(IDTTC16‐TPDC8) and p(IDTC16‐TPDC8) despite their higher crystallinity observed by GIWAXS. While these findings warrant further investigation, this study points toward unique charge transport properties of IDT‐based polymers.
Enhancing Cycle Life in Superoxide‐Based Na–O2 Batteries by Reducing Interface Reactivity
Authors: Azaribeni Adel , Kondori Alireza , Shan Nannan , Park Moon Gyu , Harzandi Ahmad M. , Kim Ga‐Yoon , Saray Mahmoud Tamadoni , Thind Arashdeep S. , Delgado Pablo Navarro Munoz , Ncube Musawenkosi , Klie Robert F. , Shahbazian‐Yassar Reza , Ngo Ahn T. , Curtiss Larry A. , Asadi Mohammad 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSodium–oxygen (Na–O2) batteries are considered a promising energy storage alternative to current state‐of‐the‐art technologies owing to their high theoretical energy density, along with the natural abundance and low price of Na metal. The chemistry of these batteries depends on sodium superoxide (NaO2) or peroxide (Na2O2) being formed/decomposed. Most Na–O2 batteries form NaO2, but reversibility is usually quite limited due to side reactions at interfaces. By using new materials, including a highly active catalyst based on vanadium phosphide (VP) nanoparticles, an ether/ionic liquid‐based electrolyte, and an effective sodium bromide (NaBr) anode protection layer, the sources of interface reactivity can be reduced to achieve a Na–O2 battery cell that is rechargeable for 1070 cycles with a high energy efficiency of more than 83%. Density functional theory calculations, along with experimental characterization confirm the three factors leading to the long cycle life, including the effectiveness of the NaBr protective layer on the anode, a tetraglyme/EMIM‐BF4 based electrolyte that prevents oxidation of the VP cathode catalyst surface, and the EMIM‐BF4 ionic liquid aiding in avoiding electrolyte decomposition on NaO2.
Photo‐Switchable Supercapacitors based on Photo‐Responsive Azopolymers: Enabling Dual‐Functionality in Tunable High Capacitance and Low Self‐Discharge
Authors: Kim Younghoon , Bark Hyunwoo , Gupta Adit , Zhang Yufei , Lee Jinpyo , Lee Pooi See 
Published: February 2025

AbstractStimuli‐responsive energy storage devices have attracted significant interest for their potential in next‐generation smart devices. Herein, the reversible photo‐switchable supercapacitors utilizing azobenzene‐containing polymer composite electrolytes are presented. Through the gel‐to‐sol transition triggered by light exposure, as proven using rheological analysis, these photo‐switchable electrolytes exhibit an impressive ionic conductivity modulation of 3206%. Owing to the reversible photo‐responsive physical properties, the photo‐switchable supercapacitors deliver a notable capacitance modulation of 105% with a rapid response time of 4 min. Additionally, the devices showed reduced self‐discharging properties under visible light exposure, highlighting their potential use in long‐term energy storage applications. The photo‐controllable and fast response features in this study create new possibilities for the development of multi‐functional energy storage devices.
Impact of Molecular Structure on Generation in D–A Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Efficient Dye Degradation under Weak Light
Authors: Huang Ciyuan , Yang Linji , Geng Nannan , Sun Ke , Yang Tao , Pan Mingzhang , Liu Tao 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThe dual challenges of photocatalysis technology in addressing wastewater pollution and the energy crisis demand advanced photocatalysts with enhanced visible light absorption and efficient charge separation. This work utilizes bulk‐heterojunction organic solar cell (BHJ‐OSCs) active layers as photocatalytic sources, presenting PM6:PIID‐ClBF@BC, a biochar‐supported donor‐acceptor (D‐A) heterojunction organic photocatalyst, designed for water phototreatment and clarify the impacts of molecular structure on photocatalytic activity, simultaneously assist with challenges associated with OSCs waste disposal and resource secondary expansion. PM6:PIID‐ClBF@BC achieves complete RhB degradation within 10 minutes and maintains nearly 100% over 20 cycles. Additionally, it generated 28.15 µmol of H₂ within 3 hours, corresponding to a rate of 187.67 µmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹. The superior performance is attributed to its broader visible‐light absorption, increased electronegativity (enhanced dipole moment) induced by chlorine substitution, and favorable stacking interactions provide larger electron delocalization, forming a strong internal electric field that drives efficient charge separation and intramolecular charge transfer thereby enhancing reactive oxygen species generation. Electrostatic interactions between PM6:PIID‐ClBF@BC and RhB facilitate effective adsorption and catalysis, with higher superoxide radical levels driving degradation. This highlights the crucial role of molecular structure in optimizing photocatalytic performance, offering insights for designing next‐generation photocatalysts for environmental remediation and sustainable energy.
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger? Examining Relationships Between Early‐Life Stress, Later‐Life Inflammation and Mortality Risk in Skeletal Remains
Authors: Wigley B. R. , Stillman E. C. , Craig‐Atkins E. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTObjectivesThis paper explores conflicting perspectives on the adaptive significance of phenotypic plasticity during fetal and early postnatal development and the impact that stressors experienced during this critical early‐life period have on later‐life morbidity and mortality risk.MethodsThe sample (n = 216) comprised archeologically‐recovered human skeletons. A geometric morphometric (GM) method was employed to evaluate first permanent molar (M1) fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and provide a proxy for early‐life stress. Shifts in later‐life physiology were inferred through two inflammatory lesions: periosteal new bone formation (PNBF) and periodontal disease (PD). To explore mortality risk, age‐at‐death was estimated through dental development for skeletally immature individuals (n = 104) and through senescent skeletal changes for mature skeletons (n = 112).ResultsSignificant differences were found in M1 FA between groups, with the immature cohort associated with elevated FA. Within‐group analysis revealed age‐at‐death in the immature group had a significant positive relationship with M1 FA and PD presence. In the mature group, alongside sex and the co‐occurrence of PD and PNBF, FA was a significant predictor of a shorter life. Higher FA was also associated with active and bilaterally expressed PNBF.ConclusionsIt is theorized that early‐life stress, if survived, programmed a hyperinflammatory response to environmentally‐mediated physiological perturbations which increased the chances of survival during subsequent development but also elevated later‐life mortality risk. Findings demonstrate a complicated relationship between developmental stress and physiological shifts that helps to illustrate the adaptive significance of early‐life programming and support the Thrifty Phenotype hypothesis.
Mitigating Diffusion‐Induced Intragranular Cracking in Single‐Crystal LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 via Extended Solid‐Solution Behavior
Authors: Shin Hyeonsol , Ndukwe Agwu , Kim Taemin , Lee Ji Hoon , Li Guanchen , Lee Hyeon Jeong 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSingle‐crystal cathodes have been investigated for their inherent resistance to intergranular cracking due to the absence of grain boundaries. However, these materials exhibit significant intragranular cracking, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the impact of extended solid‐solution reactions on mitigating crack formation in magnesium‐doped single‐crystal LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (Mg‐SC‐LNMO) cathodes. With Mg acting as a structural pillar, the overall volume change was reduced by nearly 50 %, the two‐phase reaction was effectively suppressed, and the Li‐ion diffusion coefficient was doubled. Continuum modeling based on experimental observations demonstrates that Mg doping significantly reduces the internal stress induced by lithium diffusion, thereby preserving the mechanical integrity of single‐crystal LNMO. This improvement leads to enhanced electrochemical performance and durability. Our study provides new insights into mechanically robust single‐crystal cathodes and proposes a design strategy to improve the durability of next‐generation Li‐ion batteries.
Selbstoptimierende Kobalt Wolframoxid Elektrokatalysatoren zur verbesserten Sauerstoffentwicklung in alkalischen Medien
Authors: Nickel Christean , Troglauer David Leander , Dallos Zsolt , Abid Dhouha , Sowa Kevin , Cichocka Magdalena Ola , Kolb Ute , Mashtakov Boris , Feizi Mohazzab Bahareh , Han Shikang , Prädel Leon , Ci Lijie , Li Deping , Lin Xiaohang , Hua Minghao , Liu Rongji , Gao Dandan 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSelbstoptimierende Mischmetalloxide stellen eine neue Klasse von Elektrokatalysatoren für die fortgeschrittene Sauerstoffentwicklungsreaktion (OER) dar. Hier berichten wir über selbstorganisierte Kobalt‐Wolframoxid‐Nanostrukturen auf einem im Labor synthetisierten Kupferoxidsubstrat mittels eines einstufigen Depositionsansatz. Das entstandene Komposit weist ein bemerkenswertes Selbstoptimierungsverhalten auf, das sich in deutlich reduzierten Überspannungen und erhöhten Stromdichten zeigt, begleitet von einer erheblichen Steigerung der OER‐Kinetik, der elektrokatalytisch aktiven Oberfläche, der Oberflächenbenetzbarkeit und der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit. Unter Betriebsbedingungen erweisen sich die in situ gebildeten oxidierten Kobalt‐Spezies durch eine Grenzflächenumstrukturierung des Elektrokatalysators als die eigentlichen aktiven Zentren. Ergänzende Dichtefunktionaltheorie‐Berechnungen (DFT) zeigen außerdem die Bildung von *OOH‐Zwischenprodukten als geschwindigkeitsbestimmenden Schritt der OER und heben die adaptive Bindung von Sauerstoffzwischenprodukten hervor, die während des OER‐Prozesses von Wolfram‐ zu Kobalt‐Zentren übergeht. Unsere Studie liefert ein grundlegendes Verständnis des Selbstoptimierungsmechanismus und fördert das wissensbasierte Design effizienter wasserspaltender Elektrokatalysatoren.
Practical High‐Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by the In‐Situ Fabrication of Main‐Chain Fluorinated Polymer Electrolytes
Authors: Zhu Jie , Bian Peiran , Sun Guolin , Zhang Jinping , Lou Genglin , Song Xingchen , Zhao Ruiqi , Liu Jie , Xu Nuo , Li Aihong , Wan Xiangjian , Ma Yanfeng , Li Chenxi , Zhang Hongtao , Chen Yongsheng 
Published: February 2025

AbstractPolymer electrolytes are crucial for advancing safe, high‐energy‐density lithium batteries. Therefore, such electrolytes must possess stability with high‐voltage cathodes and lithium metal, ensuring efficient interfacial contact and high room‐temperature ionic conductivity. In this study, we present a novel main‐chain fluorinated polymer electrolyte, FEOP, synthesized through cationic ring‐opening polymerization. FEOP integrates high oxidative resistance of polytetrafluoroethylene with lithium metal compatibility of polyether, achieving an oxidation potential of up to 5.6 V and an anion‐involved solvation structure. The exceptional stability enables NCM811 cells to deliver an impressive cycling life of 2000 cycles at 1 C up to 4.5 V. Furthermore, at ultra‐high cut‐off voltages of 4.7 and 4.9 V, both NCM811 and LNMO cells demonstrate stable cycling over 700 cycles, marking the longest lifespan for polymer‐based batteries under these challenging conditions. Moreover, 4.7 V solid‐state lithium metal pouch cells incorporating FEOP exhibit an energy density of 405.3 Wh kg−1 and maintain stable cycling over 70 cycles, while successfully passing industry‐standard nail penetration tests. Moreover, FEOP demonstrate excellent compatibility with ultra‐high‐loading electrode (70 mg cm−2), achieving an exceptional areal capacity of 16.2 mAh cm−2. These results provide a solid foundation for designing practical electrolytes that enable next‐generation high‐energy‐density and high‐safety solid‐state batteries.
Efficient Infrared‐Detecting Organic Semiconductors Featuring a Tetraheterocyclic Core with Reduced Ionization Potential
Authors: Hou Huiqing , Wang Wei , Li Tengfei , Zhang Zhenzhen , Miao Xiaodan , Cai Guilong , Lu Xinhui , Yi Yuanping , Lin Yuze 
Published: February 2025

AbstractInfrared organic semiconductors are crucial in organic optoelectronics, yet high‐performance materials with photoresponse beyond 1.1 μm (the limit of crystalline silicon) remain scarce due to the limit of building blocks including strong electron‐donating units. Here, we report an asymmetric tetraheterocycle (TPCT) with a reduced ionization potential of 6.18 eV relative to those reported dithiophene‐based electron‐donating blocks, and TPCT‐2F and TPCTO‐2F constructed with TPCT as the core exhibit absorption onset up to 1 μm and 1.4 μm, respectively. Especially, TPCTO‐2F possesses a narrow band gap of 1.00 eV and displays a small Urbach energy of 22.0 meV comparable to or even lower than those of some typical inorganic short‐wave infrared (SWIR) semiconductors (13–44 meV). The organic photodetectors (OPDs) based on TPCT‐2F achieve a peak detectivity (D*) of 2.2×1013 Jones at 810 nm under zero bias, among the highest values for reported OPDs and on par with commercial silicon photodetectors. Impressively, TPCTO‐2F‐based OPDs demonstrate a wide response from 0.3 to 1.4 μm and high D* comparable to germanium photodetector at wavelengths <1.2 μm with a maximum D* of 2.3×1011 Jones at 1.06 μm in SWIR region.
From Autonomous Chemical Micro‐/Nanomotors to Rationally Engineered Bio‐Interfaces
Authors: Ding Miaomiao , Chen Bin , Wilson Daniela A. , Tu Yingfeng , Peng Fei 
Published: February 2025

AbstractDeveloping micro‐/nanomotors that convert a chemical energy input into a local gradient field and motion is an appealing but challenging task that holds particular promise for the intersection of materials and nanoengineering. Over the past two decades, remarkable advancements have refined these out‐of‐equilibrium chemically powered micro‐/nanomotors, enabling them to orchestrate in situ chemical transformations that dynamically change local environments. The ionic products, radicals, gases, and electric fields from these active materials reshape the microenvironment, paving the way for ecofriendly disease interventions. This review discusses the state‐of‐the‐art reactions that propel these energy‐consuming micro‐/nanomotors and elucidates the emerging implications of their products on biological systems. Particular emphasis has been placed on their potential for neural modulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation, synergistic tumor therapy, antibacterial strategies, and tissue regeneration. Collectively, these sketches provide a landscape of therapeutic modalities, heralding a new era of biomedicine. By harnessing the in situ product field of this active matter, we envision a paradigm shift toward active therapies that transcend conventional approaches, promising breakthroughs in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Achieving Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence in Solution Phase from Carbon Dots Confined in Nanocrystals
Authors: He Xiaoyan , Huang Weilan , Zheng Yihao , Xu Xiaokai , Wei Haopeng , Liang Ping , Yang Xianfeng , Hu Chaofan , Zhang Xuejie , Lei Bingfu , Zhang Xingcai , Ye Jianting , Liu Yingliang , Zhuang Jianle 
Published: February 2025

AbstractCarbon dots (CDs) have attracted growing interest in the construction of room‐temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials. However, in the solution phase of CDs, it is still challenging to obtain efficient and stable phosphorescent emission due to the intense quenching effect by dissolved oxygen and solvent molecules. Herein, we report robust phosphorescence in the solution phase, achieved by encapsulating citrate‐derived CDs into NaYF4 nanocrystals via a one‐step method of high‐temperature coprecipitation. Combined characterizations show that the triplet emission from CDs is related to the abundance of C=O in the CDs, the formation of ionic‐bond networks around the CDs, and the spatial confinement and quenching inhibition effects of NaYF4 nanocrystals. Notably, the transition of CDs@NaYF4 from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity can be easily achieved by simple surface modulation of NaYF4 nanocrystals, which allows the RTP of CDs to be maintained in either polar or nonpolar solvents. In addition, CDs@NaYF4 exhibits stable afterglow in different pH environments, suggesting its excellent stability. Finally, we demonstrated the application of CDs@NaYF4 in 3D printing, oily anti‐counterfeiting patterns, and cell imaging. Our work can serve the controllable preparation of solution‐phase RTP materials and their various applications.
Antimicrobial Phenolic Materials: From Assembly to Function
Authors: Xu Wanjun , Lin Zhixing , Cortez‐Jugo Christina , Qiao Greg G. , Caruso Frank 
Published: February 2025

AbstractInfectious diseases pose considerable challenges to public health, particularly with the rise of multidrug‐resistant pathogens that globally cause high mortality rates. These pathogens can persist on surfaces and spread in public and healthcare settings. Advances have been made in developing antimicrobial materials to reduce the transmission of pathogens, including materials composed of naturally sourced polyphenols and their derivatives, which exhibit antimicrobial potency, broad‐spectrum activity, and a lower likelihood of promoting resistance. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the fabrication of antimicrobial phenolic biomaterials, where natural phenolic compounds act as active antimicrobial agents or encapsulate other antimicrobial agents (e.g., metal ions, antimicrobial peptides, natural biopolymers). Various forms of phenolic biomaterials synthesized through these two strategies, including antimicrobial particles, capsules, hydrogels, and coatings, are summarized, with a focus on their application in wound healing, bone repair and regeneration, oral health, and antimicrobial coatings for medical devices. The potential of these advanced phenolic biomaterials provides a promising therapeutic approach for combating antimicrobial‐resistant infections and reducing microbial transmission.
Unlocking the Power of Photothermal Agents: A Universal Platform for Smart Immune NIR‐Agonists for Precise Cancer Therapy
Authors: Zhang Hao , Xu Xiaona , Cao Yahui , Chen Zihui , Liu Weiqing , Lu Xinyi , Li Changhua 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSelective ablation of tumor cells allows safe eradication, thereby minimizing off‐target damage, while specifically inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) rather than commonly non‐immunogenic apoptosis of tumor cells enables activation of anti‐tumor immune response against residual cancer cells, including metastatic lesions. Herein, we present a general strategy leveraging a novel photothermal agent (PTA) that concomitantly enables precise tumor killing and activation of anti‐tumor immunity. The unique PTA scaffold exhibits unexpected inherent endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐targeting capability and potent near‐infrared (NIR) photothermal activity, inducing NIR‐controlled immunogenic pyroptosis in various tumor cell lines via targeting ER stress in an oxygen‐independent manner. Moreover, both ER‐targeting and NIR‐activity of our scaffold can be modulated on demand by chemical caging/uncaging, allowing quick activation with diverse biological and bioorthogonal molecular triggers. The potency of this universal platform is demonstrated via its application to develop a membrane protein‐activatable NIR‐agonist that selectively activates ICD in tumor sites while priming anti‐tumor immunity, minimizing off‐target effects and enhancing efficacy against mouse breast tumors. This versatile approach could lead to customization of various personalized and effective immune NIR‐agonists for specific photoimmunotherapy applicable to diverse solid tumors.