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Accurate identification of network topology and line parameters is essential for effective management of distribution systems. An innovative joint estimation method for distribution network topology and line parameters is presented, utilizing a power flow graph convolutional network (PFGCN). This approach addresses the limitations of traditional methods that rely on costly voltage phase angle measurements. The node correlation principle is applied to construct a node correlation matrix, and a minimum distance iteration algorithm is proposed to generate candidate topologies, which serve as graph inputs for the parameter estimation model. Based on the topological dependencies and convolutional properties of AC power flow equations, a PFGCN model is designed for line parameter estimation. Parameter refinement is achieved through an alternating iterative process of pseudo-trend calculation and neural network training. Training convergence and loss function values are used as feedback to filter and validate candidate topologies, enabling precise joint estimation of both topologies and parameters. The proposed method's accuracy, transferability, and robustness are demonstrated through experiments on the IEEE-33 and modified IEEE-69 distribution systems. Multiple metrics, including MAPE, IAE, MAE, and R2, highlight the proposed method's advantages over Adaptive Ridge Regression (ARR). In the C33 scenario, the proposed method achieves MAPEs of 4.6% for g and 5.7% for b, outperforming the ARR method with MAPEs of 7.1% and 7.9%, respectively. Similarly, in the IC69 scenario, the proposed method records MAPEs of 3.0% for g and 5.9% for b, surpassing the ARR method's 5.1% and 8.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate load forecasting, especially in the short term, is crucial for the safe and stable operation of power systems and their market participants. However, as modern power systems become increasingly complex, the challenges of short-term load forecasting are also intensifying. To address this challenge, data-driven deep learning techniques and load aggregation technologies have gradually been introduced into the field of load forecasting. However, data quality issues persist due to various factors such as sensor failures, unstable communication, and susceptibility to network attacks, leading to data gaps. Furthermore, in the domain of aggregated load forecasting, considering the potential interactions among aggregated loads can help market participants engage in cross-market transactions. However, aggregated loads often lack clear geographical locations, making it difficult to predefine graph structures. To address the issue of data quality, this study proposes a model named adversarial graph convolutional imputation network (AGCIN), combined with local and global correlations for imputation. To tackle the problem of the difficulty in predefining graph structures for aggregated loads, this study proposes a learnable adjacency matrix, which generates an adaptive adjacency matrix based on the relationships between different sequences without the need for geographical information. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed imputation method outperforms other imputation methods in scenarios with random and continuous missing data. Additionally, the prediction accuracy of the proposed method exceeds that of several baseline methods, affirming the effectiveness of our approach in imputation and prediction, ultimately enhancing the accuracy of aggregated load forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity prices are a central element of the electricity market, and accurate electricity price forecasting is critical for market participants. However, in the context of increasingly integrated economic markets, the complexity of the electricity system has increased. As a result, the number of factors required to consider in electricity price forecasting is growing. In addition, the high percentage of renewable energy penetration has increased the volatility of electricity generation, making it more challenging to predict prices accurately. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic forecasting method based on SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanation) feature selection and LSTNet (long- and short-term time-series network) quantile regression. First, to reduce feature redundancy and overfitting, we use the SHAP method to perform feature selection in a high-dimensional input feature set, and specifically analyze the magnitude and manner in which features affect electricity prices. Second, we apply the LSTNet quantile regression model to predict the electricity value under different quantiles. Finally, the probability density function and the prediction interval of the predicted electricity prices are obtained by kernel density estimation. The case of the Danish electricity market validates the effectiveness and accuracy of our proposed method. The accuracy of the proposed method is better than that of other methods, and we assess the importance and direction of the impact of features on electricity prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave‐assisted Fenton process over a high microwave‐responsive catalyst (Fe3O4−BiOCl) was developed. The morphology, composition and magnetic recovery of the prepared catalyst were analyzed. Correspondingly, the optimal reaction conditions were obtained and the catalyst had a good recovery performance. A good degradation result (COD removal efficiency=82.57 %, TOC removal efficiency=85.15 %, TN removal efficiency=80.86 %) was obtained with low energy consumption and chemical inputs, which proved that the system has a certain industrialization prospect. Furthermore, take p‐nitrophenol (PNP) as an example, The reaction mechanism of this process had been investigated. The reaction was divided into three stages: 1. Activation 2. Oxidation 3. Mineralization. In the Oxidation phase, the reaction followed zero‐order reaction kinetics model and the rate constant was 0.0642 mM s−1. To investigate the kinetics, a heterogeneous Fenton‐photocatalysis synergistic degradation mechanism based on experimental data was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth kinetics and macroscopic morphology evolution of CO 2 hydrate promoted by l -Methionine (L -Met) in NaCl aqueous solutions in a wide range of mass fractions were systematically investigated. 0.05 wt% was the threshold mass fraction of L -Met to have prominent promotion effects in a batch mode. The addition of NaCl could suppress its promotion performance, while it could be regained by further addition of L -Met to 1.0 wt%. Porous feature and wall-climbing phenomena of CO 2 hydrate were obvious in the presence of L -Met while it could be suppressed by NaCl. The tangential (lateral) growth rate of the hydrate film on planar pure water surface was the highest while both L -Met and NaCl could decrease it. For L -Met, it was the highest at 0.05 wt%. Special ball-like, mosaic-like and sword-like appearances of CO 2 hydrates were found. Both the adsorption-capillary effects of L -Met and the hydration effects of L -Met and NaCl were thought to account for all the phenomena and a detailed scenario was proposed and discussed. A macroscopic growth model based on the tangential growth rates of hydrate films was proposed and evaluated. • Excellent kinetic promotion effects of l -Methionine at 0.05 wt% were found. • NaCl suppressed the promotion effects by competing for water molecules. • CO 2 hydrate films first formed with different tangential growth rates. • Both the adsorption-capillary effects and hydration effects played a role. • Growth model was proposed and the control factor was evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As many distributed power sources flood into the distribution network, the relationship between transmission and distribution grids in reactive power and voltage is becoming closer and closer. The traditional way of independent reactive power optimization in transmission and distribution grids is no longer appropriate. In this study, a collaborative and distributed reactive power optimization method for transmission and distribution grids based on the accelerated augmented Lagrangian (AAL) algorithm is proposed to adapt to the independence of the transmission and distribution grids in operation and management. The global reactive power optimization problem is decomposed into the transmission network subproblem and several distribution network subproblems. According to AAL, subproblems are solved in a distributed manner until the optimal global solution is finally reached after several iterations, and coordination between transmission and distribution grids is achieved only through the interaction of information on coordinating variables. For better convergence, a linearized and convergence-guaranteed optimal power flow model (OPF) with reactive power and voltage magnitude was applied to model the transmission grid optimization subproblem, while the second-order cone programming (SOCP) technique is used in the distribution network subproblems. The simulation results confirm that the method in this paper can effectively reduce network losses and achieve better economic performance, and converges better when compared to other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to adapt to the development of the green power certificate trading (GPCT) and carbon emissions trading (CET) market, reduce the carbon emissions of the distribution network and increase the investment income, this paper proposes a new distribution network (NDN) planning and simulation operation bi-layer model with new energy (NE) as the main body, considering the GPCT and CET mechanisms. First, the upper layer determines the capacity and location of wind turbine (WT), photovoltaic (PV), hydraulic turbine (HT), micro turbine (MT), and energy storage (ES), while the lower simulation operation considers the operation costs of WT, PV, HT, MT, ES, load demand response (DR) and carbon emissions. The planning objective was to minimize the total cost of investment, operation and carbon emissions in the planning period. Then, on the basis of a traditional distribution network (TDN), security constraints, carbon emissions intensity, GPCT volume and CET volume were added. Finally, the cases study of the improved IEEE33 node and PG&E69 node NDN planning were provided. The results of NDN planning and TDN planning are compared and analyzed, and a sensitivity analysis was carried out to study the impact of GPCT and CET mechanisms with different price levels on investment planning. The results verify the applicability and rationality of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Surface sensitive methods were used to investigate the anisotropic dissolution of olivine. • Each plane demonstrated a different reaction order. • The average dissolusion rate showed an initial rapid increase followed by a decrease over time. • Etch pit evolution was highly anisotropic and influenced by the lattice arrangement. • Initially, etch pits deepened, then expanded after 200 h. Alkaline solid wastes containing olivine minerals can be suitable for CO 2 mineralization due to their relatively higher reactivity and intrinsic alkalinity. However, an activation process is required to improve cation dissolution rates. Four pristine facets in an olivine single crystal were used to study their dissolution kinetics at far from thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. Vertical scanning interferometry was employed to analyse the distribution of surface dissolution rate and the evolution of etch pits. The dissolution rate exhibited an anisotropic distribution, by up to two orders of magnitude among facets. The rate law differed for each plane, with (0 1 0) face following zero-order, (1 2 0) plane exhibiting first-order, and (1 1 0) and (1 1 1) planes showing second-order reactions. Etch pits also displayed significant anisotropy, with spindle-shaped on (0 1 0) plane, droplet-shaped on (1 1 0) plane, and funnel-shaped on (1 1 1) plane. Strip-like etch pits only formed along certain scratches on (1 2 0) plane. Initially, the etch pits deepened, but after 200 h of reaction time, they grew in size. Raman and TEM analysis confirmed atomic-scale rearrangement of the dissolved surface, providing insights into etch pit morphology evolution. This work unveiled the anisotropic dissolution mechanism of olivine surfaces, enabling predictions of long-term reaction rates under diverse geochemical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxylated (hetero)arenes are privileged motifs in natural products, materials, small‐molecule pharmaceuticals and serve as versatile intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry. Herein, we report an efficient Cu(I)/6‐hydroxy picolinohydrazide‐catalyzed hydroxylation reaction of (hetero)aryl halides (Br, Cl) in water. By establishing machine learning (ML) models, the design of ligands and optimization of reaction conditions were effectively accelerated. The N‐(1,3‐dimethyl‐9H‐ carbazol‐9‐yl)‐6‐hydroxypicolinamide (L32, 6‐HPA‐DMCA) demonstrated high efficiency for (hetero)aryl bromides, promoting hydroxylation reactions with a minimal catalyst loading of 0.01 mol % (100 ppm) at 80 °C to reach 10000 TON; for substrates containing sensitive functional groups, the catalyst loading needs to be increased to 3.0 mol % under near‐room temperature conditions. N‐(2,7‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐6‐hydroxypicolinamide (L42, 6‐HPA‐DTBCA) displayed superior reaction activity for chloride substrates, enabling hydroxylation reactions at 100 °C with 2–3 mol % catalyst loading. These represent the state of art for both lowest catalyst loading and temperature in the copper‐catalyzed hydroxylation reactions. Furthermore, this method features a sustainable and environmentally friendly solvent system, accommodates a wide range of substrates, and shows potential for developing robust and scalable synthesis processes for key pharmaceutical intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the feasibility of replacing cement with fly ash (FA) mass ratios ranging from 40 to 70% to produce high-volume FA (HVFA) concrete. A suite of mechanical tests were conducted over a 180-day time frame. The hydration properties were systematically evaluated using isothermal calorimetry test, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and selective dissolution method. Specially, a thermodynamic modeling was also used to predict phase assemblage and compare the experimental results in terms of the HVFA blended cement system. Experimental results showed that HVFA concrete exhibited lower early-age compressive strengths. However, beyond 28 days, the compressive strength of HVFA concrete developed faster than that of control concrete and the HVFA concrete with FA replacement of 40% showed comparable 180-day compressive strength to the control concrete. Hydration tests showed that the dilution and the pozzolanic effects of FA on cement hydration can be the critical reasons for the compressive strength development of HVFA concrete at early and later ages, respectively. Additionally, a good agreement between the experimental and modeling results can also be observed. These findings help to provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to local FA disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the application of National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE)-based reform in medical microbiology teaching in a sophomore class in China as of 2023. Topics covered include students' cultivation of professional competence, and participation in structured social and medical activities, and the resulting integration of medical microbiology with other clinical disciplines. Also noted are students' recognition of the approach's motivation and enthusiasm improvement.

In order to solve the uncertainty and randomness of the output of the renewable energy resources and the load fluctuations in the reactive power optimization, this paper presents a novel approach focusing on dealing with the issues aforementioned in dynamic reactive power optimization (DRPO). The DRPO with large amounts of renewable resources can be presented by two determinate large-scale mixed integer nonlinear nonconvex programming problems using the theory of direct interval matching and the selection of the extreme value intervals. However, it has been admitted that the large-scale mixed integer nonlinear nonconvex programming is quite difficult to solve. Therefore, in order to simplify the solution, the heuristic search and variable correction approaches are employed to relax the nonconvex power flow equations to obtain a mixed integer quadratic programming model which can be solved using software packages such as CPLEX and GUROBI. The ultimate solution and the performance of the presented approach are compared to the traditional methods based on the evaluations using IEEE 14-, 118-, and 300-bus systems. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the presented approach, which potentially can be a significant tool in DRPO research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Femtosecond laser pulse scanning combined with ultra-low frequency oscillation was used to fabricate large-scale periodic micro/nanostructured copper surfaces. • Prepared large-scale periodic micro/nanostructures similar to zippers and snakeskin on the surface of copper foil. • Realized the preparation of periodic microporous structure on the copper foil for by using the femtosecond laser line scanning. • Periodic oscillation to simulate the micro/nanostructure of butterfly wings on a copper plate. Femtosecond laser micro-nano machining has become an important field for novel material and/or structure fabrications. In this paper, we propose a new and efficient laser micro-nano fabrication technique on the metal surface, in which, a femtosecond laser combined with the ultralow frequency periodic oscillation of a two-phase stepping motor was used to fabricate a large-scale 20 μm period micro/nanostructures on the copper metal surface by line scanning. The copper foils fabricated by this femtosecond laser show excellent superhydrophobic properties. Subsequently, we use femtosecond laser Z-shaped line scanning, combined with a two-phase stepping motor with ultralow frequency periodic oscillation, works on copper foil fabricate a micropores structure with a period span of 20 μm. In addition, we simulated the butterfly wing superhydro-phobic micro/nanostructures on copper plates and fabricated superhydrophobic copper surfaces. This technique lays a solid foundation for the practical application of femtosecond laser lithography and is expected to be extended to other materials for new device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amine hybrid zirconia/silica composite aerogel (AHZSA) was prepared via a simple, low-cost and environment-friendly method, i.e. one-pot sol-gel process along with supercritical drying. The pore strucutre, morphology, surface chemistry and CO 2 capture performances of AHZSA were investigated. AHZSA possesses microstructure of the typical aerogels and has a large amount of macropores, which favors the gas diffusion in the pore space. The amine loading and surface amine content of AHZSA is 8.18 and 9.60 mmol/g, respectively. The CO 2 adsorption capacity of AHZSA at 30, 50, 70 and 90 °C in the absence of water vapor is 2.70, 2.10, 2.00 and 1.48 mmol/g, respectively. The CO 2 adsorption capacity at 30 °C increases to 3.40 mmol/g after the introduction of water vapor. Adsorption and desorption kinetics of AHZSA suggest that AHZSA is dynamic for low-concentration CO 2 capture. The adsorbent preparation method is inspiring and the resulting adsorbent is capable, dynamic, and regenerable for low-concentration CO 2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bis-cyclometalated rhodium(III) complex catalyzes a visible-light-activated enantioselective α-amination of 2-acyl imidazoles with up to 99 % yield and 98 % ee. The rhodium catalyst is ascribed a dual function as a chiral Lewis acid and, simultaneously, as a light-activated smart initiator of a radical-chain process through intermediate aminyl radicals. Notably, related iridium-based photoredox catalysts reported before were unsuccessful in this enantioselective radical C−N bond formation. The surprising preference for rhodium over iridium is attributed to much faster ligand-exchange kinetics of the rhodium complexes involved in the catalytic cycle, which is crucial to keep pace with the highly reactive and thus short-lived nitrogen-centered radical intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic access to previously elusive single enantiomers of an octahedral chiral-at-metal rhodium(iii) complex containing two cyclometalated 2-phenylbenzothiazoles and two acetonitrile ligands is reported. The complex is a superior chiral Lewis acid catalyst compared to its benzoxazole congener which can be rationalized with a higher steric congestion around the coordination sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amine hybrid silsesquioxane aerogel (AHSA) was synthesized through a single-step sol–gel process followed by supercritical drying. CO 2 adsorption performances of highly porous AHSA in 1% CO 2 were investigated. 50 °C is preferred to perform the CO 2 capture of AHSA to achieve a CO 2 adsorption capacity of 3.04 mmol/g (dry) or 3.84 mmol/g (humid) under given conditions. A rise in adsorption gas flow rate from 300 to 700 ml/min results in the decrease of CO 2 adsorption capacity from 3.04 to 2.42 mmol/g. The CO 2 adsorption rate is mainly affected by the gas flow rate, while the effect of temperature can be ignored. Different with the adsorption performance, the CO 2 desorption kinetics of AHSA is mainly affected by the temperature, the effect of gas flow rate is indifferent. Water favors the CO 2 capture capability of AHSA, however, it is bad for the CO 2 adsorption and desorption kinetics. The CO 2 adsorption capacities of AHSA in 1% CO 2 are much higher than those of other amine based porous adsorbents obtained with a 1% or even higher CO 2 gas mixture. Also, AHSA has very short adsorption half time (22–55 s) and low desorption temperature of 80 °C, much lower than those of other amine-based adsorbents. The resulting adsorbent is dynamic and possesses excellent regenerability for low-concentration CO 2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of tough conductive hydrogels has led to considerable progress in the fields of tissue engineering, soft robots, flexible electronics, etc. Compared to other kinds of traditional sensing materials, tough conductive hydrogels have advantages in flexibility, stretchability and biocompatibility due to their biological structures. Numerous hydrogel flexible sensors have been developed based on specific demands for practical applications. This review focuses on tough conductive hydrogels for flexible sensors. Representative tactics to construct tough hydrogels and strategies to fulfill conductivity, which are of significance to fabricating tough conductive hydrogels, are briefly reviewed. Then, diverse tough conductive hydrogels are presented and discussed. Additionally, recent advancements in flexible sensors assembled with different tough conductive hydrogels as well as various designed structures and their sensing performances are demonstrated in detail. Applications, including the wearable skins, bionic muscles and robotic systems of these hydrogel-based flexible sensors with resistive and capacitive modes are discussed. Some perspectives on tough conductive hydrogels for flexible sensors are also stated at the end. This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of tough conductive hydrogels and will offer clues to researchers who have interests in pursuing flexible sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A data generation model for data imputation and data augmentation is proposed. • A short-term EV load forecasting model based on LSTM with a novel gating mechanism is proposed. • The prediction results of EV load data with different qualities are compared. The accurate prediction of electric vehicles (EVs) load is the research basis for evaluating the impact of EVs on the power grid and optimizing the operation of the power grid. However, because the accumulated data of the newly operated EV charging stations are scarce, it is very challenging to use scarce data to obtain accurate prediction results. On the one hand, the missing values and outliers in the scarce dataset have a greater impact on the prediction results. On the other hand, a model with high accuracy cannot be trained using scarce datasets. To obtain accurate EV prediction results based on scarce datasets, a data generation method based on a generative adversarial network (GAN) is proposed. The proposed model is used to alleviate the influence of low-quality EVs load datasets on the prediction results. In addition, the performance of the prediction model is critical for improving the accuracy. In this study, a new gating mechanism called the Mogrifier is adopted in the long short-term memory (LSTM) network to improve its performance. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An expansive high early strength alite–ye’elimite clinker containing 4.8% ye’elimite was synthesised by annealing without addition of mineralizer into the raw meal. The reformation of ye’elimite was achieved by C 3 A reacting with C$ in clinker. The microstructure of the paste was characterised by SEM, MIP and N 2 adsorption/desorption. DSC-TG and XRD were used to investigate the hydration products of the paste. Mortar tests on the clinker yielded values of 30.0 MPa, 42.3 MPa and 55.8 MPa at 1, 3 and 28 days, respectively. Due to the presence of AFt in the hydrated paste, the expansive behaviour resulted in a reduction in the total pore volume by 29–62% (0.01–10 μm), but there were more mesopores (2–50 nm) due to the crystalisation of AFt. The linear expansion converged after ∼150 days with maximum expansion of 0.136%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Octahedral iridium(III) complexes containing two bidentate cyclometalating 5- tert-butyl-2-phenylbenzoxazole ( IrO) or 5- tert-butyl-2-phenylbenzothiazole ( IrS) ligands in addition to two labile acetonitrile ligands are demonstrated to constitute a highly versatile class of asymmetric Lewis acid catalysts. These complexes feature the metal center as the exclusive source of chirality and serve as effective asymmetric catalysts (0.5-5.0 mol % catalyst loading) for a variety of reactions with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, namely Friedel-Crafts alkylations (94-99 % ee), Michael additions with CH-acidic compounds (81-97 % ee), and a variety of cycloadditions (92-99 % ee with high d.r.). Mechanistic investigations and crystal structures of an iridium-coordinated substrates and iridium-coordinated products are consistent with a mechanistic picture in which the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are activated by two-point binding (bidentate coordination) to the chiral Lewis acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amine hybrid resorcinol–formaldehyde/silica composite aerogel (AH-RFSA) was developed for the first time through a solvothermal-assisted sol–gel process combined with supercritical drying (SCD). The CO2 adsorption performances of AH-RFSA in air were investigated. The results reveal that the solvothermal temperature negatively affects the CO2 adsorption capacity of AH-RFSA. Water favors the CO2 adsorption capacities, especially the useful CO2 adsorption capacity. The total CO2 adsorption capacity achieved with the new adsorbent at 25 °C in dry and humid air is 1.80 and 2.57 mmol g−1, respectively. The useful CO2 adsorption capacity of AH-RFSA in humid air is as high as 1.85 mmol g−1. The adsorbent preparation method is inspiring and the resulting adsorbent is exceptional in capacity and regenerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to develop a new high-performance CO 2 adsorbent with a simple method. Amine hybrid resorcinol–formaldehyde/silsesquioxane composite aerogel (AH-RFSA) was developed through polymeric sol–gel process and supercritical drying (SCD) technique. CO 2 adsorption performances of AH-RFSA in 1% CO 2 gas mixture (CO 2 + N 2 ) were investigated. A rise in adsorption temperature negatively affects the total CO 2 adsorption capacity of AH-RFSA. However, the useful adsorption capacity does not change with adsorption temperature. Water is more positive to useful CO 2 adsorption capacity than to total CO 2 adsorption capacity. The total CO 2 adsorption capacity achieved with the new adsorbent at 30 °C under dry and humid 1% CO 2 is 3.57 and 4.43 mmol/g, respectively. The useful CO 2 adsorption capacity for complete removal of CO 2 from 1% CO 2 is as high as 3.56 mmol/g. The adsorbent preparation method is inspiring and its resulting adsorbent is exceptional in capacity and regenerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study was conducted to investigate the distinct mechanisms involved in the formation of the inner surfaces of cylindrical and parallelepipedic-shaped structures. The surface roughness, flatness, and sinking distance were used as key indices to measure the quality of overhanging surfaces, while the surface flatness and roughness were used to evaluate the quality of the side and bottom surfaces of the inner hole. The inner surface morphology was observed using a scanning electron microscope and a white light interferometer. The test results show that the quality of the overhanging surface had a significant impact on the quality of the parallelepipedic-shaped inner hole. In contrast, the cylindrical-shaped inner hole had a shorter but more uniformly distributed overhanging surface, resulting in a different behavior of the overhanging and side surface quality. An improved model of the overhanging surface was established by combining all of the above results and comparing them with the traditional Euler Bernoulli beam model. The factors affecting the quality of the overhanging surface were analyzed, and measures for improving the quality of the overhanging surface during the SLM manufacturing process were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric catalysis is seen as one of the most economical strategies to satisfy the growing demand for enantiomerically pure small molecules in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries. And visible light has been recognized as an environmentally friendly and sustainable form of energy for triggering chemical transformations and catalytic chemical processes. For these reasons, visible-light-driven catalytic asymmetric chemistry is a subject of enormous current interest. Photoredox catalysis provides the opportunity to generate highly reactive radical ion intermediates with often unusual or unconventional reactivities under surprisingly mild reaction conditions. In such systems, photoactivated sensitizers initiate a single electron transfer from (or to) a closed-shell organic molecule to produce radical cations or radical anions whose reactivities are then exploited for interesting or unusual chemical transformations. However, the high reactivity of photoexcited substrates, intermediate radical ions or radicals, and the low activation barriers for follow-up reactions provide significant hurdles for the development of efficient catalytic photochemical processes that work under stereochemical control and provide chiral molecules in an asymmetric fashion. Here we report a highly efficient asymmetric catalyst that uses visible light for the necessary molecular activation, thereby combining asymmetric catalysis and photocatalysis. We show that a chiral iridium complex can serve as a sensitizer for photoredox catalysis and at the same time provide very effective asymmetric induction for the enantioselective alkylation of 2-acyl imidazoles. This new asymmetric photoredox catalyst, in which the metal centre simultaneously serves as the exclusive source of chirality, the catalytically active Lewis acid centre, and the photoredox centre, offers new opportunities for the 'green' synthesis of non-racemic chiral molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Resorcinol–formaldehyde/silica composite (RF/SiO2) aerogel was synthesized by sol–gel process followed by supercritical drying (SCD). Monolithic SiC aerogel was obtained from RF/SiO2 aerogel after carbothermal reduction. The evolution of physical property, crystal structure, morphology and pore structure from RF/SiO2 to SiC aerogel was investigated by different methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and N2 adsorption/desorption. The as-synthesized SiC aerogel presented typical mesoporous structure and possessed high porosity (91.8%), high surface area (328m2/g) and large pore volume (2.28cm3/g). Carbothermal reduction mechanism was also discussed based on the experiment and characterization results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Transparent ZnO nanowhiskers were synthesized at ambient temperature (5–30°C) assisted with pH buffer of polyethylenimine from an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and zinc acetate. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed their crystalline phase, morphology and formation mechanism. The ZnO nuclei were formed at the initial stage in a wide low temperature range by in-situ forced hydrolysis of anhydrous zinc acetate template layer. Subsequently ZnO nanowhiskers were formed on the F-doped SnO2-coated glass substrate by heterogeneous nucleation and growth. Lower temperature was found to favor the hydrolysis, whereas higher temperature was found to promote the growth of ZnO. Such synthesized ZnO possessed good crystalline structure. The length, diameter, and density (number of whiskers per unit area) of ZnO nanowhiskers are controllable by simply varying the deposition time and/or solution temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Zn3(OH)4(NO3)2 nanosheets were synthesized by a low-temperature chemical deposition. [•] ZnO nanosheets obtained from thermal decomposition are porous and good crystalline. [•] The pore sizes were distributed in the region of ∼1.3–25nm with a center at ∼2.4nm. [•] Porous and nanosheets structure gave a high specific surface area (S BET ≈283.8m2/g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is a major swine pathogen of significant commercial importance worldwide and an emerging zoonotic agent of human streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome. We previously reported that the Chinese highly pathogenic SS2 strains specifically harbor an 89K pathogenicity island, and the SalK/SalR two-component system encoded within this island mediates a piglet-lethal phenotype. However, its regulatory mechanism remains obscure. In the present study, we performed a proteome analysis to identify the target proteins regulated by the SalK/SalR system. This expression profiling analysis reveals 14 down-regulated proteins and 1 up-regulated protein. In partial accord with our previous microarray analysis, 9 out of the 14 down-regulated genes are also repressed at the transcriptional level. From the 9 matched genes, 5 were selected and further subjected to gene knockout and experimental infection of mice. The results show that the selected 5 genes are potential virulence factors and participate to various extents in the pathogenesis of SS2 infection, and may contribute to the attenuation of virulence mediated by the SalK/SalR system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Well-crystallized PtAu alloy clusters of about 2.0nm in mean diameter are successfully fabricated via a one-step route of solution plasma sputtering at atmospheric pressure. The solution plasma provides a novel reaction field with highly energetic state for the formation of PtAu alloy clusters. The synergetic effects of rapid energetic radicals’ bombardment, atom vapor diffusion, plasma expansion and solution medium condensation resulted in the formation of PtAu alloy clusters with various relative atom amount ratios. PtAu alloy clusters are highly dispersive in water for a long time without any polymeric stabilizer. As-fabricated PtAu alloy clusters show well electrocatalytic activity. PtAu alloy clusters are easily collected and well re-dispersed in various organic solvents for various potential applications. And PtAu alloy clusters supported on carbon were successfully fabricated by a one-step route. These results imply that this novel process will have potential application in future in the design and mass production of various multifunctional metal and/or alloy clusters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Terminase proteins are responsible for DNA recognition and initiation of DNA packaging in phages. We previously reported the genomic sequence of a temperate Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage, PaP3, and determined its precise integration site in the host bacterial chromosome. In this study, we present a detailed functional identification of the DNA packaging terminase for phage PaP3. The purified large subunit p03 was demonstrated to possess ATPase and nuclease activities, as well as the ability to bind to specific DNA when it is unassembled. In addition, a small terminase subunit (p01) of a new type was found and shown to bind specifically to cos-containing DNA and stimulate the cos-cleavage and ATPase activities of p03. The results presented here suggest that PaP3 utilizes a typical cos site mechanism for DNA packaging and provide a first step towards understanding the molecular mechanism of the PaP3 DNA packaging reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 ( SS2) is an important zoonotic pathogen that infects pigs and sporadically causes serious infections in humans. Two recent large-scale outbreaks of human streptococcal toxic-shock-like syndrome with high mortality occurred in China, posing new challenges for global public health. However, the global regulation of the virulence of epidemic SS2 isolates lacks a systematic understanding. In this study, we performed a mutational and functional analysis of an SS2 two-component system that is orthologous to the VirR/ VirS regulatory system of Clostridium perfringens. An isogenic knockout mutant of VirR/ VirS (Δ virRS) was found to exhibit marked phenotypic changes, including the formation of shorter chains and thinner capsular walls, more easily cleared in whole blood, and decreased oxidative stress tolerance. Furthermore, the Δ virRS mutant was greatly attenuated in a mouse model. Comparative proteome analysis of the expression profiles of the wild-type strain with the Δ virRS mutant allowed us to identify 72 proteins that are differentially expressed in the absence of the VirR/ VirS system and that are directly responsible for the pleiotropic phenotype of the Δ virRS mutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyaniline was synthesized by the emulsion polymerization and the polyaniline/polyacrylic acid (PANI/PAA) composite films were prepared through a layer-by-layer method. The porous PAA layer was used as a template for the deposition of PANI, and finally the composite film showed a network structure with large surface area and high porosity. The facile process for preparation of PANI/PAA composite films was good for large-scale production and application. The electrochromic performance of the PANI/PAA composite film was investigated by means of cyclic voltammogram, chronoamperometry and transmittance measurements. The composite film showed three typical redox couples, and the response time for reduction and oxidation was 90 and 102 ms, respectively. The PANI/PAA films also exhibited remarkable electrochromism ability with a reversible color change from yellow to purple and a transmittance change from 68 to 27% at 550 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a systemic study on the effect of α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-hemihydrate) particle characteristics on the performance of calcium sulfate-based materials (CSBM) that widely used in the medical field. The hydration performance and water requirement for normal consistency of α-hemihydrate were investigated. The mechanical strength, microstructure, and pore structure of the hardened CSBM were also examined. The performance of CSBM was greatly affected by the α-hemihydrate crystal properties. α-Hemihydrate crystals with good gradation and a length/diameter ratio of 1–3:1 tended to have perfect fluidity, lower water requirement for normal consistency, and low crystallization velocity. Moreover, in the hardened CSBM hydrated from such α-hemihydrate crystals, the crystal size of the dehydrate was large, and the crystals were interconnected. The strength of the hardened CSBM was sufficient because of low porosity, small pore diameter, and dihydrate crystals firmly in contact. This study serves as a foundation for preparing high performance for CSBM medical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The interaction effects of several chemical additives such as triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, chloride and a type of monosaccharide on the strength development of silicate cement were investigated and were quantified by the design of experiment (DoE). Results showed triethanolamine was effective only for the 1d strength enhancement of cement. Triisopropanolamine, which weakened 1d, 3d strength and slightly enhanced 28d strength of cement when it was singly incorporated, was effective with the combination of monosaccharide and their interaction effects strongly contributed the strength enhancement on 3d and 28d. The effect of chloride on 3d strength of cement was strengthened by the interaction with monosaccharide. Monosaccharide can promote the effects of triisopropanolamine and chloride on 3d and 28d strength enhancement despite their interaction effects were determined by different concentration levels. It concluded that it was possible to replace chloride by the correctly formulated alkanolamine–monosaccharide combination to guarantee the strength enhancement of cement on all curing ages. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To evaluate the biocompatibility and biodegradability of various hydrogels and choose suitable hydrogels for the coronary arteries angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium, we synthesized six kinds of hyaluronan hydrogels, fibrin hydrogel, poly(vinyl alcohol)-chitosan hydrogel, and obtained elastin hydrogels. We examined their degradation rates and cytotoxicity in vitro. Then, hydrogels were implanted into rat adductor muscles for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. Hydrogels and surrounding tissues were resected, followed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemical staining for measurements of degradation, immune response, and angiogenesis. 2-Iminothiolane grafted hyaluronan hydrogel and periodate oxidated hyaluronan hydrogel presented rapid degradation rates, low quantity of inflammation-mediating cells (12 ± 3 and 12 ± 4 per 2.5 × 10−3 mm2, respectively, at week 2), thin fibrous capsules (scores were 3.8 ± 0.1 and 4.0 ± 0.3 per 0.33 mm2, respectively, at week 2) with dense blood vessels in the areas surrounding the implanted hydrogels. 2-Iminothiolane grafted hyaluronan and periodate oxidated hyaluronan hydrogels with appropriate degradation rates and low immune responses were suitable for coronary arteries angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of CuO on the formation and coexistence of 3CaO·SiO2 and 3CaO·3Al2O3·CaSO4 minerals in Portland cement containing 3CaO·3Al2O3·CaSO4 mineral is reported in this paper. The results show that a suitable amount of CuO can lower the clinkering temperature and improve the burn-ability of clinkers. It can also promote the formation of 3CaO·SiO2 and 3CaO·3Al2O3·CaSO4 minerals and facilitate the coexistence of the two minerals in the clinkers. But adding 1% CuO to the raw material can cause the decomposition of 3CaO·3Al2O3·CaSO4. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The multiscale structural engineering strategy presents a powerful method for tailoring the structural attributes of materials at various levels, enabling the flexible control and manipulation of their electromagnetic properties. Nonetheless, orchestrating the multiscale architecture of polymer‐derived carbon aerogels specifically for microwave absorption poses significant challenges. Herein, aramid‐derived hard carbon nanofiber aerogel microspheres (CNFAMs) featuring a hierarchical skin‐core structure are fabricated through a wet‐spinning technique, combined with reprotonation‐mediated self‐assembly and carbonization processes. The presence of large‐scale voids between neighboring microspheres and the microscale porosity within the microspheres themselves improves impedance matching and promotes microwave reflection and scattering. The distinct graphitic domains and defects serve as pivotal elements for conduction and polarization losses, significantly impacting microwave attenuation. By meticulously tailoring the macroscale dimensions, microscale porous architecture, and nanoscale domains, the optimized CNFAMs demonstrate a remarkable absorption bandwidth of 9.62 GHz at an ultralow filling of 0.97 wt%. Additionally, the implementation of application‐oriented microwave absorption through the innovative integration of polysilsesquioxane‐CNFAMs in a host–guest aerogel is explored. This composite system brings together broadband absorption, superhydrophobicity, thermal insulation, resistance to freezing, and robust tolerance to harsh environments. Such a multifaceted approach is designed to tackle the growing challenges associated with complex electromagnetic environments effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase engineering is considered an effective strategy to regulate the electrocatalytic activity of catalysts for Li–S batteries (LSBs). However, the underlying origin of phase‐dependent catalytic ability remains to be determined, which significantly impedes the design principles of high‐performance catalytic materials for LSBs. Herein, heteroatom‐doped engineering can trigger phase transformation from mixed‐phased cubic and orthorhombic cobalt diselenide into pure orthorhombic structure with a tensile strain and enhanced charge localization. The upshift of the d‐band center and enhanced Bader charge at Se sites synergistically strengthen the interaction with Li and S sites in polysulfide species, thus endowing the transformed P‐MoSe2/MXene with high catalytic activity and uniform lithium deposition for LSBs. Consequently, the P‐CoSe2/MXene Li–S batteries demonstrate a high‐rate capability of 603 mAh g−1 at 4C, and an excellent cyclability of 652 mAh g−1 at 1C over 500 cycles with a degradation rate of 0.076% per cycle. The work provides an in‐depth insight into the fundamental design principles of effective catalysts for LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was found that the anisotropic hydrophobicity of rice leaves was caused by the multi-level grooves and tiny papillary microstructures on their surface. Inspired by rice leaves, a rice leaf-like anisotropic super-hydrophobic aluminum surface was obtained by femtosecond laser raster scanning. The surface structure, chemical composition, contact angle and sliding angle of the structured aluminum surface have been investigated in detail. The results show that structured surface appears super-hydrophobic with sliding anisotropy. The contact angle reaches 153° for 5 μl water droplet. The sliding angle is about 9° along the groove direction and about 34° perpendicular to the groove direction for 10 μl water droplet. • The surface structures of the rice leaves were investigated and the mechanism of anisotropic hydrophobicity of rice leaves was revealed. • It achieves the processing of hierarchical grooves and tiny papillary microstructures in "one step". • The dominant mechanism for the directional wetting was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempted synthesis of sterically demanding tris-β-diketiminate complexes of europium led to oxidation–coupling of β-diketiminates and the formation of the THF-solvated divalent europium complex Eu(L2,6-Me2)2(THF) (L2,6-Me2= [{N(2,6-Me2C6H3)C(Me)}2CH]−), while the normal tris-β-diketiminate complex Eu(L2-Me)3for the less bulky ligand L2-Me([{N(2-MeC6H4)C(Me)}2CH]−) was isolated by the same procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiscale micro/nano structures (e.g. large period ripples and sputtered particles) on titanium surfaces by obliquely incident femtosecond laser texturing. The effects of laser incident angle on surface structures, wettability and structural color were studied. As a result, sputtered particles are formed on the titanium surface for all incident angle. Fine ripples are appeared on the large period ripples, when the incident angle is greater than 50°. However, there is no fine ripples structure when the incident angle is less than 50°. Meanwhile, the structured surfaces appear structural color and superhydrophobicity for all laser angle. The formation mechanism of hybrid micro/nano structures on the titanium surface is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient photocatalysts with low cost, high performance, and high selectivity is essential and imperative for CO 2 conversion and utilization, yet it remains a big challenge. Herein, a novel Ce-doped TiO 2 aerogel with oxygen vacancy anchored on the oriented carbonaceous (Ce–TiO 2 @CS) is synthesized by the sol-gel technique, combined with the freeze casting, supercritical drying technique, and heat treatment processes. The Ce–TiO 2 @CS aerogel has a typical aerogel-like structure, with the Ce–TiO 2 aerogel anchored on the oriented porous carbon, rendering a large BET-specific surface area of 124 m2/g, which leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity. The Ce-doping into the pristine TiO 2 results in impurity levels within the band gap, which extends the light response range to the visible light region. In addition, the rapid combination of electrons and holes is prevented via the two-phase microstructures and rapid transfer rate of electrons within the oriented porous carbon. The yields of CH 4 and CO are as high as 9.45 μmol h−1 g−1 and 42.26 μmol h−1 g−1, respectively, which are 28.6 and 2.46 times higher than those of pristine TiO 2 aerogel under simulated solar spectrum conditions without any sacrificial agents or co-catalysts, The density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows that larger C–O bonds of CO 2 molecule and more negative adsorption energy have occurred on the Ce–TiO 2 @CS aerogel, indicating that the CO 2 activation has been enhanced, which greatly improves the CO 2 photoreduction activity. This work may guide the designing of aerogel-based photocatalysts for CO 2 photocatalytic reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic aerogels are promising candidates for high-temperature thermal resistance and thermal insulation materials. However, their application can be restricted by their brittleness when exposed to harsh conditions. Herein, this study has developed a novel synthesis process based on a sol-gel method and carbothermal reduction-nitridation to produce a porous TiN composite aerogel from an organic/inorganic hybrid. The resulting TiN displays a polyhedral particle size of around 30–60 nm with nanoscale pores. In addition, the TiN aerogel demonstrates a high BET-specific surface area of 653.42 m2/g and a very low thermal conductivity of 0.046 W/(m·K). Furthermore, the TiN aerogel composite displays a good thermal difference with no shrinkage and cracks of the morphology during the butane blazing torch at 1300 °C for 10 min under air environment, demonstrating its excellent thermal insulation property and anti-oxidation characteristics. The gas-solid reaction mechanism of TiN aerogel based on the Gibbs free energy calculations is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alite-belite-ye'elimite (ABY) cement is considered to be eco-cements with adequate mechanical properties and fewer CO 2 emissions. The phase assemblage and ye'elimite content of ABY cement play a very important role in cement properties. In this study, ABY clinkers with increasing ye'elimite percentage (0.3 wt%-36.4 wt%) were prepared at 1300 °C and the phase composition was characterized by Rietveld Quantitative Phase Analysis combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The ye'elimite formed with a calculated composition of Ca 3.92 Mg 0.02 Al 2.81 Fe 0.05 Si 0.04 S 1.16 , incorporating additional sulfur compared to the theoretical value. In addition, the hydration properties of heat evolution, hydration products and compressive strength of ABY cement are studied. The result shows that the increase of ye'elimite content leads to a more intense initial heat release and a higher cumulative heat release. The presence of ye'elimite inhibits the hydration of alite at early ages. ABY mortars with increasing ye'elimite (15.8 wt%) exhibited a higher strength (29.6 MPa) at 3 days by the contribution of ye'elimite hydration, and an increase (47.4 MPa) at 28 days. An adequate proportion of ye'elimite (<15 wt%) is favorable to the performance of ABY cement, and releases 12 % less CO 2. • ABY clinkers with a high coexistence of alite and ye'elimite were prepared. • Ye'elimite has a higher S atom and alite riches in the Zn atom in ABY clinker. • The presence of ye'elimite retards alite hydration adverse to later strength. • Adequate ye'elimite < 15 wt% favors strength development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alite(C3S)-Ye'elimite(C4A3$) cement is a high cementitious material that incorporates a precise proportion of ye'elimite into the ordinary Portland cement. The synthesis and hydration behavior of Alite-Ye'elimite clinker with different lime saturation factors were investigated. The clinkers were synthesized using a secondary thermal treatment process, and their compositions were characterized. The hydrated pastes were analyzed for their hydration products, pore structure, mechanical strength, and microstructure. The clinkers and hydration products were characterized using XRD, TG-DSC, SEM, and MIP analysis. The results showed that the Alite-Ye'elimite cement clinker with a lime saturation factor (KH) of 0.93, prepared through secondary heat treatment, contained 64.88% C3S and 2.06% C4A3$. At this composition, the Alite-Ye'elimite cement clinker demonstrated the highest 28-day strength. The addition of SO3 to the clinkers decreased the content of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and the ratio of Alite/Belite (C3S/C2S), resulting in a preference for belite formation. The pore structure of the hydrated pastes was also investigated, revealing a distribution of pore sizes ranging from 0.01 to 10 μm, with two peaks on each differential distribution curve corresponding to micron and sub-micron pores. The pore volume decreased from 0.22 ± 0.03 to 0.15 ± 0.18 cm3 g−1, and the main peak of pore distribution shifted towards smaller sizes with increasing hydration time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel was successfully synthesized using a co-gelation technique that involves two metallic alkoxides and a supercritical drying method. This freshly prepared aerogel has a high specific surface area of over 100 m2/g and exhibits improved responsiveness to the simulated sunlight spectrum. Methyl orange (MO) was chosen as the simulated pollutant, and the results reveal that the Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel, when modified with the noble metal silver (Ag), achieves a pollutant removal rate approximately 3.2 times higher than that of the commercially available P25, reaching up to 92% within 60 min. The excellent photocatalytic performance of the Ag-modified Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel can be primarily attributed to its extensive specific surface area and three-dimensional porous architecture. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles effectively suppresses the recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes. Stability and reusability tests have confirmed the reliability of the Ag-modified Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel. Therefore, this material emerges as a highly promising candidate for the treatment of textile wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme-free glucose sensors have drawn considerable attention in clinical diagnosis, the food industry and other fields; they significantly avoid the intrinsic defects of enzyme-based biosensors. A flexible free-standing non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was successfully fabricated for the first time via potentiostatic electrochemical deposition of Cu2O/Cu nanocomposites on carbon cloth for glucose detection. The Cu2O/Cu/carbon cloth nanocomposite electrode exhibits exceedingly good sensitivity (6952 μA cm−2 mM−1), an ultralow detection limit (60 nM (S/N = 3)) and a wide linear range (1 to 1555 μM). In addition, it presents satisfactory anti-interference ability, stability and reproducibility. These admirable characteristics were considered to be due to the synergistic effects of the highly conductive carbon cloth with multiple channels and more active sites combined with the catalytic activity of Cu2O/Cu. Furthermore, because of its facile implementation and low capital cost, this Cu2O/Cu/carbon cloth will attract interest and broaden the horizons of commercial glucose sensors and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard carbon (HC) has attracted considerable research interest as the most promising anode for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) due to its tunable interlayer spacing and abundant voids to accommodate K+. However, the practical application of hard carbon is severely hampered by low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and high plateau potential. Herein, a manganese ion‐catalyzed pyrolysis strategy is explored to regulate the graphitic microcrystalline structure and localized electron distribution in hard carbon that greatly improve K+ plateau storage and ICE. Systematic experimental measurements, in situ/ex situ observations, dynamic analysis, and density functional theory calculations elucidate that the introduction of Mn2+ ions could catalyze the formation of short‐ordered graphitic nanodomains in hard carbon to provide abundant insertions of K+, and meanwhile induce localized electron distribution through the Mn─N3─C coordination structure to enable dynamic K+ diffusion and electron transfer kinetics. Consequently, the modulated hard carbon exhibits a high low‐potential–plateau capacity, excellent rate capability, and high initial Coulombic efficiency in potassium half‐cell configurations. More importantly, the charge storage mechanism of "adsorption–intercalation" is proposed based on the correlation between carbon structures and discharge/charge plateau. This work provides an in‐depth insight into the fundamentals of microstructure regulation of hard carbon anode for high‐performance PIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]