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Transition metal oxides can be used as efficient multiphase catalysts in the field of catalysis. In this study, a hydrophobic halloysite nanotube (HNT) catalyst was designed and prepared with a low loading. Tungsten oxide was immobilized on the inner surface of the HNT, through electrostatic adsorption and calcination. Furthermore, a dual-functional W/HMT/M catalyst was prepared by hydrophobic modification of the outer surface of HNT through a harmless and nontoxic method. The catalyst was applied in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT), and characterized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), contact angle tests, and other methods. Systematic characterization further confirmed that W/HNT/M has a low loading (0.48 wt %) and a relatively high contact angle of 92.6°. Oxidative desulfurization experiments demonstrated that the high contact angle corresponds to good hydrophobicity. The low loading and high activity of the catalyst enabled it to achieve a removal efficiency of 100% for DBT under conditions of 60 °C and an O/S = 4. The hydrophobic surface of HNT allowed better dispersion in the oil phase, while its hydrophilic inner cavity could adsorb H 2 O 2 and the converted dibenzothiophene sulfoxide, thereby reducing the subsequent extraction steps after oxidative desulfurization and enhancing the reaction environment for reactants and active oxygen. W/HNT/M maintained high activity for at least 5 cycles. Additionally, the potential mechanism of the catalyst in the aqueous ODS reaction was proposed. This study demonstrates that HNT-supported metal oxides have desulfurization potential and provides ideas for improving ODS catalytic activity of the ODS through low loading, high activity, and unique hydrophobicity design.

Currently, antimicrobial films with stable and efficient antibacterial activities are receiving considerable attention in the food packaging industry. Herein, a chemically/physically linked konjac glucomannan-sodium alginate (KGM-SA)@carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/Fe 3+ composite film with outstanding resistance to ultraviolet radiation, oxidation, and bacteria, as well as excellent photothermal effects and mechanical properties, was successfully prepared using a solvent flow method. Tannic acid-modified carboxyl-functionalized CNTs (TCCNTs), l-cysteine-modified carboxyl-functionalized CNTs (LCCNTs), and Fe 3+ were incorporated into the prepared film. The film structure of KGM-SA@CNTs/Fe 3+ was characterized using various methods, confirming the formation of a dual-cross-linked network through metal-coordination bonds and hydrogen bonding. This unique structure endowed the film with excellent water vapor permeability (3.58 g mm/m 2 day kPa), water resistance (water contact angle = 93.66°), and thermal stability. Further, the film exhibited outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency and stability under near-infrared irradiation (300 mW/cm 2 ) as well as excellent bactericidal properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli , achieving a bacterial inhibition rate of >99%. In a strawberry preservation experiment, the KGM-SA@CNTs/Fe 3+ composite film exhibited remarkable preservation effects, extending the shelf life of strawberries by 4-6 d. Thus, this photothermal antibacterial film offers a new approach for the application of CNTs in food packaging.

In this study, we explored the rational integration of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to create a hierarchical nano/microarray structured CuMgAl-LDH/rGO hybrid aimed at enhancing the flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties of polymer nanocomposites. The results indicated that the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of the G-CuMgAl/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composite reached 35.8%, reflecting a 6.4% increase compared to pristine PVC (29.4%), and achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating. Furthermore, in comparison to pristine PVC, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the G-CuMgAl/PVC composite was significantly reduced by 40.2%; the total heat release rate (THR) decreased by 24.3%; the maximum average heat release rate (MARHE) diminished by 41.6%; the peak smoke production (PSPR) decreased by 37.8%; the total smoke production (TSP) was reduced by 31.3%; and the average effective heat of combustion (av-EHC) decreased by 15.2%. The enhanced flame retardancy and reduced smoke production can primarily be attributed to the multiple synergistic interactions among the highly dispersed constituents and the nano/microstructures, which effectively impede the transfer of heat, mass, and O 2 from various directions while preventing further combustion of the underlying matrix by creating a tortuous path in the condensed phase. Additionally, this study provides a novel perspective on the design and synthesis of structured LDHs/rGO hybrids, with the potential to enhance flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties across a broad spectrum of polymer materials.

The development of acid-base catalysts for one-pot cascade reactions remains challenging because of the inherent incompatibility of inorganic acid and base active sites. Here, we introduced an innovative approach that employs spatial separation to construct separated inorganic acid-base sites, achieving sequence control of acid-base cascade reactions. The as-prepared bifunctional catalyst applied metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals as spatial separators, with the inside microcavities loaded with 1 nm inorganic polyoxometalate acid H 3 PMo 12 O 40 clusters (NENU-5) and the outside crystal surface covered with basic CuCo layered double hydroxide (CuCo-LDH) nanosheets. By applying the resultant NENU-5@CuCo-LDH catalyst to cascade deacetalization-Knoevenagel condensation, over 99% of the benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal (BDMA) was transformed into the final benzylidene cyanoacetate (BCA) with a 99% yield at 80 °C and solvent-free conditions. Compared to the random NENU-5+CuCo-LDH, the NENU-5@CuCo-LDH with spatially separated acid-base sites indicated a higher reaction rate due to the designed reaction sequence and the shorter mass transfer pathway. Moreover, this hierarchical structure showed inherent shape selectivity and extraordinary stability. This study introduces spatial separation to address the incompatibility issue between inorganic acid and base active sites, offering novel perspectives for acid-base systems.

Owing to the growing interest in wearable ionotronics, the demand for ionogels with outstanding mechanical and electrochemical characteristics has increased dramatically. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to simultaneously enhance the mechanical robustness and conductivity of ionogels because of their trade-off relationship. In this work, we propose physically/chemically dual-cross-linked ionogels designed to improve the mechanical strength without reducing ionic conductivity by introducing metal-ligand complexation only within the physically cross-linked domains. In particular, the impact of metal-ligand complexation, a crucial parameter in this strategy, on ionogel performance is systematically examined using various metal ions. The mechanical resilience and thermal stability of ionogels are effectively enhanced with Co 3+ having the highest coordination number, which can be explained by the highest metal-ligand complexation (i.e., chemical cross-linking) density. Additionally, there is no degradation in ionic conductivity when compared to the pristine ionogel because these complexations occur within physically cross-linking domains that are irrelevant to the ion conductive channels. The dual-cross-linked ionogels are successfully applied to alternating-current electroluminescent displays (ACEDs). Moreover, a versatile mixed-emitter strategy is suggested to improve practicality, enabling the realization of frequency-controlled multicolor ACEDs.

Transition-metal sulfides are emerging as promising materials for chemiresistive gas sensors─a field still dominated by semiconducting metal oxides. Despite the availability of materials with tunable electronic, optical, physical, and chemical properties, few studies have moved beyond synthesis to provide strategies for enhancing gas sensing performance through material modification. Here, we present a simple, scalable synthetic strategy for developing an optically semitransparent, flexible NH 3 gas sensor with a highly uniform, ultrathin CuS (covellite) active sensing layer. The optical and chemical properties of the CuS were precisely controlled near the percolation threshold of thin-film formation by varying key experimental parameters such as the Cu film thickness (<10 nm) and the sulfurization time (∼90 s) under ambient conditions. Experimental and computational studies of CuS and its NH 3 sensing characteristics identify key physicochemical properties. The controlled surface chemistry and morphology of the ultrathin CuS layer demonstrate its effectiveness in functional NH 3 sensing devices, which achieve a calculated detection limit of 1.38 ppm for NH 3 gas at 150 °C, along with exceptional mechanical robustness and optical semitransparency in the visible-light spectrum.

Porous ceramic composites play an important role in several applications. This is due to their unique properties resulting from a combination of various materials. Determination of the composite properties and structure is crucial for their further development and optimization. However, composite analysis often requires complex, expensive, and time-demanding experimental work. Mathematical modeling represents an effective tool to substitute experimental approach. The present study employs a Monte Carlo 3D equivalent electronic circuit network model developed to analyze a highly porous composite on the basis of minimum easily obtainable input parameters. Solid oxide cell electrodes were used as a model example, and this study focuses primarily on materials with a porosity of 55% and higher, characterized by deviation of behavior from those of lower void fraction share. This task is approached by adding to the original Monte Carlo model an additional parameter defining the void phase coalescence phenomenon. The enhanced model accurately simulates electrical conductivity for experimental samples of up to 75% porosity. Using sample composition, single-phase properties, and experimentally determined conductivity, this model allows us to estimate data of the internal structure of the material. This approach offers a rapid and cost-effective method to study material microstructure, providing insights into properties, such as electrical conductivity and heat conductivity. The present research thus contributes to advancing predictive capabilities in understanding and optimizing the performance of composite materials with potential in various technological applications.

Earth-abundant transition metal oxides are promising alternatives to precious metal oxides as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and are intensively investigated for alkaline water electrolysis. OER electrocatalysis, like most other catalytic reactions, is surface-initiated, and the catalyst performance is fundamentally determined by the surface properties. Most transition metal oxide catalysts show OER activities that depend on the predominantly exposed crystal facets/surface structure. Therefore, the design of synthetic strategies to obtain the most active crystal facets is of significant research interest. In this work, rock salt NiO OER catalysts with (111) predominantly exposed facets were synthesized by a solvothermal (ST) method either heated under supercritical or microwave-assisted (MW) conditions. Particular emphasis was placed on the influence of the post annealing temperature on the structural configuration and OER activity to compare their catalytic performances. The as-prepared electrocatalysts are pure α-Ni hydroxides which were converted to rock salt NiO (111) nanosheets with hexagonal pores after heat treatment at different temperatures. The OER activity of the electrodes has been evaluated in 0.1 M KOH using geometric and intrinsic current densities via normalization by the disk area and BET area, respectively. The lowest overpotential at a geometric current density of 10 mA/cm 2 is found for samples pretreated by heating between 400 and 500 °C with a catalyst loading of 115 μg/cm 2 . Despite the very similar nature of the catalysts obtained from the two methods, the ST electrodes show a higher geometric and intrinsic current density for 500 °C pretreatment. The MW electrodes, however, achieve an optimal geometric current density for 400 °C pretreatment, while their intrinsic current density requires pretreatment over 600 °C. Interestingly, pretreated electrodes show consistently higher OER activity as compared to the poorly crystalline/less ordered hydroxide as-prepared electrocatalysts. Thus, our study highlights the importance of the synthesis method and pretreatment at an optimal temperature.

Polyurethane and its composites play an important role in innovative packing materials including anticounterfeiting and ultraviolet protection, however, they are mainly derived from petroleum resources that are not sustainable. In this study, a 100% biobased thermoplastic polyurethane (Bio-TPU) was synthesized using biobased poly(trimethylene ether) glycol, pentamethylene disocyanate, and 1,4-butanediol. Subsequently, biobased tannic acid (TA) was employed to prepare biobased composites. The structures and properties of Bio-TPU and its composites were systematically evaluated. The results showed that the Bio-TPU/TA composite films had excellent and controllable fluorescence and UV-shielding properties. The fluorescence colors of the Bio-TPU/TA composite films could be adjusted to blue, green, and yellow by varying the TA content and adding coupling agents. Moreover, the UV transmittance of the Bio-TPU/TA composites decreased from 79.25 to 5.43% below 400 nm with an increasing TA content, indicating an excellent ultraviolet-barrier performance. Consequently, biobased TPU/TA composite films can be utilized as innovative anticounterfeiting materials and UV-shielding protection films. This study is expected to facilitate sustainable development in the polyurethane industry and broaden the high-end applications of polyurethane such as fashion, electronics, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and finance.

The rapid reduction of Cr(VI) across a wide pH range, from acidic to alkaline pH conditions to stable Cr(III) species for efficient remediation of Cr(VI) pollution, has long been a challenge. Herein, we propose a new concept of in situ nanoconfinement catalysis ( i NCC) for highly efficient remediation of Cr(VI) by growing nanosheets of in situ layered double hydroxide ( i LDH) on the surface of Al-Mg-Fe alloy achieving chemical reduction rates of >99% in 1 min from pH 3 to 11 for 100 mg L -1 Cr(VI) with a rate constant of 201 h -1 . In stark contrast, the reduction rate is less than 6% in 12 h with a rate constant of 0.77 h -1 for the pristine Al-Mg-Fe alloy. The ultrafast reduction of Cr(VI) is most likely attributed to the synergistic catalysis of Al 12 Mg 17 and Al 13 Fe 4 and nanoconfinement of MgAlFe- i LDH and superstable mineralization of Cr(III) by MgAlCr III - and MgFeCr III - i LDHs. This study demonstrates the potential of in situ nanoconfinement catalysis on redox transformation for environmental remediation.

In this work, oleic acid (OA)-capped core-heptad-shell (CHS) nanocrystals (NCs) that exhibit multiple emissions achieved through downshifting and orthogonal upconversion are synthesized via layer-by-layer thermal decomposition. This method enables the downshifting process to be accommodated by doping ions in the inert space between two upconversion patterns (the core and fourth shell) and doping Ce/Tb or Ce/Eu ions in the NaGdF 4 layer for the first time. These developed CHS NCs exhibit different emission colors via 980 and 800 nm orthogonal upconversion and downshifting emissions under 256 nm UV excitation in hexane solvent. Furthermore, surface-functionalized OA is removed using mild acid treatment. The resulting bare CHS NCs disperse well in water and exhibit 21.60-fold and 43.59-fold higher Ce/Tb and Ce/Eu luminescence intensities, respectively, than the OA-capped CHS NCs. These NCs are mixed with a carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) polymer in an aqueous medium to form a CMC-CHS NC gel. Invisible patterns and QR codes are printed on nonfluorescent paper using gels and screen-printing techniques. These patterns and QR codes exhibit three different emission colors under three different excitations. This method can be used for high-level anticounterfeiting applications.

Herein, we successfully observe the site effect of electron acceptors on ultralong organic room-temperature phosphorescence (UORTP) in the case of 7 H -benzo[ c ]carbazole (BCz) derivatives: cyanophenyl on the nitrogen site can promote intersystem crossing (ISC) efficiency and enhance phosphorescence intensity by facilitating n -π* transitions but make a slight change to the phosphorescence wavelength; cyanophenyl on the naphthalene site can cause a remarkable red shift of phosphorescence wavelength by reducing the T 1 energy level of BCz derivatives and also enhance phosphorescence intensity by promoting ISC but weaken phosphorescence intensity by lowering the molecular symmetry. Three BCz derivatives (1-BCzPhCN, 2-BCzPhCN, and 3-BCzPhCN) with the electron acceptor cyanophenyl at different sites (nitrogen site and naphthalene site) were synthesized through a combination of the nucleophilic substitution reaction and the Suzuki coupling reaction. The phosphorescence properties of 1-BCzPhCN, 2-BCzPhCN, and 3-BCzPhCN in toluene solution, in a copolymerized MMA film, and in a PVA film were measured and analyzed. 1-BCzPhCN emits intrinsic green ultralong phosphorescence at ∼500, ∼536, and ∼580 nm, while 2-BCzPhCN and 3-BCzPhCN give out intrinsic yellow ultralong phosphorescence with a red shift of 27 and 40 nm, showing that cyanophenyl on the naphthalene site leads to a remarkable red shift of the intrinsic phosphorescence wavelength, but cyanophenyl on the nitrogen site makes a slight difference to the intrinsic phosphorescence wavelength. Under the same condition, the phosphorescence intensity is usually ranked as 1-BCzPhCN/3-BCzPhCN > 2-BCzPhCN, demonstrating that cyanophenyl on the nitrogen site promotes ISC and enhances phosphorescence intensity, but cyanophenyl on the naphthalene site reduces molecular symmetry and accelerates nonradiative dissipation. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations verify that cyanophenyl on the naphthalene site shifts the phosphorescence wavelength by reducing the T 1 energy level, and cyanophenyl on the nitrogen site facilitates n -π* transitions to strengthen the phosphorescence intensity. Moreover, three BCz derivatives were doped into DMAP and BBP, separately. The BCz derivatives exhibited different phosphorescence colors and shifts due to interactions with the host materials. We believe this work will give an insight into the structure-property relationship of organic phosphorescence molecules and pave a way for design of colorful UORTP materials.

Postoperative radiotherapy currently stands as the cornerstone of glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Nevertheless, low-dose radiotherapy has been proven ineffective for GBM, due to hypoxia in the GBM microenvironment, which renders the resistance to radiation-induced cell death. Moreover, the overexpression of the PLK1 gene in glioma cells enhances GBM proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to radiation. This study introduced a hybrid membrane-camouflaged biomimetic lipid nanosensitizer (CNL@miPA), which efficiently encapsulated gold nanoclusters (PA) and miR-593-5p by a chimeric membrane derived from lipids, cancer cells, and natural killer cells. CNL@miPA exhibited exceptional blood-brain barrier and tumor tissue penetration, effectively ameliorating hypoxia and synergizing with radiotherapy. By enabling prolonged miRNA circulation in the bloodstream and achieving high enrichment at the tumor site, CNL@miPA significantly suppressed tumor growth in combination treatment, thereby significantly extending the survival period of treated mice. Overall, the developed biomimetic nanosensitizer represented an efficient and multifunctional targeted delivery system, offering a novel strategy for gene-radiotherapy of GBM.

Solar energy seems to be a promising solution for obtaining clean water from saltwater and wastewater. With the solar steam generator system, it is possible to effectively acquire clean water from wastewater with a low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approach. In this study, PRF/GGSM, prepared by modification of gradient graphene sponge material (GGSM) with porphyrin derivative supramolecules (PRF), was investigated as a photothermal material for solar steam generation. PRF/GGSM possessing graphene and PRF served as ideal solar thermal converters that could easily gather sunlight. This material owing to its microporous and gradient hydrophilic structure has achieved a solar thermal conversion efficiency of up to 92% under 1 sun, corresponding to the water evaporation rate of 3.8 kg h -1 m -2 . Moreover, this study exhibited that PRF/GGSM can efficiently generate clean water from seawater, wastewater, and even concentrated acid and alkali solutions.

Thorium (Th) is commonly used in various applications, but its long-term exposure poses health risks, necessitating its detection in aqueous environments. Traditional methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry are sensitive but require complex instrumentation. Optical sensors, particularly fluorometry-based methods, are simpler, cost-effective, and selective. However, developing effective aggregation-induced emission (AIE) turn-on sensors for Th(IV) requires water-soluble fluorophores with a low background fluorescence. In the present work, we report a turn-on detection method for Th(IV) based on the AIE of the fluorophore tetra(4-sulfophenyl) ethylene (SuTPE). Th(IV)-induced aggregation of SuTPE and the simultaneous drastic enhancement of the emission property of SuTPE have been utilized for the selective sensing of Th(IV) in 100% aqueous media. The sensing mechanism was explored using ground-state absorption, steady-state and time-resolved emission, FTIR, DLS, SEM, AFM and quantum chemical studies of the SuTPE-Th(IV) complex. The selectivity of the present probe toward Th(IV) ions has been established by studying the interference of several metal ions, including lanthanides and uranyl ions. The LOD for Th(IV) was estimated to be 240 nM (56 ppb). The performance of the probe was demonstrated in tap water and diluted seawater matrixes. This work provides a significant advance for Th(IV) detection in aqueous environments, with implications for environmental monitoring and health safety.

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have gained significant attention owing to their remarkable tunability and color stability, and substantial progress has been made with green and red PeLEDs. However, the advancement of blue PeLEDs still lags far behind their red and green counterparts. In this study, we report efficient sky-blue PeLEDs utilizing an in situ fabricated CsPb 2 Br 5 plates/quasi-2D perovskite heterojunction using chelating molecules to modulate the crystallization process of perovskites. The wide bandgap of CsPb 2 Br 5 facilitated the formation of a type-I band alignment at the heterojunction, allowing efficient carrier transfer from CsPb 2 Br 5 to CsPbBr 3 . This heterojunction leads to a noteworthy enhancement of device efficiency. The PeLEDs exhibit a maximum brightness of 2311 cd m -2 , accompanied by a maximum external quantum efficiency of 12.86% at 487 nm. Our tailored design of CsPb 2 Br 5 /perovskite heterojunction thin films offers a promising avenue for advancing PeLED performance. This work contributes valuable insights into the burgeoning field of perovskite electroluminescence, paving the way for further optimization of PeLED technologies.

Bi 2 S 3 has attracted increasing attention in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) for its high theoretical capacity and low discharge platform. However, the sodium storage performance of Bi 2 S 3 is limited by poor electrical conductivity and volume expansion during cycling. Herein, we report a special polypyrrole (PPy)-coated MoS 2 /Bi 2 S 3 (MBS@PPy) heterostructure composite obtained by hydrothermal reaction as an anode material for SIB. As a result, the MBS@PPy composites demonstrate exceptional electrochemical performance in SIB, exhibiting a high capacity of 361.1 mA h g -1 at 10 A g -1 and showcasing remarkable rate performance. Even under a high current density of 35 A g -1 , the specific capacity remains stable at 280 mA h g -1 after 2,000 cycles. Furthermore, a successfully assembled Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 //MBS@PPy sodium-ion full cell can achieve an impressive specific capacity of approximately 400 mA h g -1 after 300 cycles at 0.5 A g -1 . In MBS@PPy composites, the polypyridine coating not only improves the interfacial conductivity of nanorods but also effectively inhibits the agglomeration between nanorods due to large volume changes. The MoS 2 heterostructure further inhibits the coarsening of the internal structure, improves electron transport and reaction kinetics, and increases the rate capability of the material. This work provides an effective strategy to develop energy storage materials with superior electrochemical properties.

Cancer metastasis remains the most formidable cause of mortality and morbidity in cancer patients. Developing an effective and economical method toward cancer antimetastatic strategy demands immediate attention in anticancer therapy. Herein, we followed a cost-effective greener method for preparing a small family of amphiphilic catiomers with varied styrene content (45, 63, and 83%), which revealed the unique potential of promoting normal cell migration while retarding cancer metastasis. The styrenic polymers formed micellar self-assembly in aqueous phase and exhibited a cationic charge. Polymers were quite nontoxic up to 200 μg/mL concentration toward human embryonic kidney cell HEK293 as well as human, triple negative breast cancer cell MDAMB-231, mouse melanoma cell B16F10, and human oral squamous carcinoma cell FaDu. Confocal imaging and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) showed effective incorporation of polymers within cells. Interestingly, the polymer-treated HEK293 cells underwent prominent wound healing in scratch assay. However, the as-synthesized polymer-treated cancer cells resisted migration as analyzed from the scratch assay. A mechanistic study using immunoblotting assay established upregulation of migratory proteins vimentin and TGF-β and downregulation of E-cadherin in normal HEK293 cells. Remarkably, this trend was completely reversed in cancer cell MDAMB-231. This study describes the extraordinary potential of styrenic catiomers as wound healers for normal cells while inhibiting cancer metastasis.

Piezocatalysis can effectively harvest various kinds of mechanical energy with high entropy from the environment and drive some redox reactions without light irradiation, where MoS 2 - and g-C 3 N 4 -based piezocatalysts are recent research hotspots. This study constructs an architecture of ordered melamine hydrochloride-cyanuric acid/MoO 4 2- supramolecular precursor via self-assembly, serving as a self-template for in situ tight growth of vertically aligned micron-scale MoS 2 on porous foam-like g-C 3 N 4 (CM x ) under S vapor with a bioinspired rooting and sprouting-like process. Experiments, DFT calculations, and finite element simulations collectively confirm the high piezoresponse of the CM x with high exposure of active sites and enhanced mechanical energy collection. The vertical interfaces and built-in electric fields in the composite induce efficient charge carrier separation and transfer. The optimized CM0.77 efficiently degrades various organic dyes and antibiotic under dark ultrasound [rhodamine B (RhB): 0.47 s -1 , methyl orange (MO): 0.05 s -1 , methylene blue (MB): 0.21 s -1 , and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC): 0.03 s -1 ] and achieves hydrogen evolution (2431 μmol·g -1 ·h -1 ). Under simulated water flow (10 L/min), the expanded CM0.77/Al 2 O 3 porous foam ceramic (CM/alumina ceramic) purifier device degrades 95% of 400 mL of RhB within 25 min. The developed ordered vertical MoS 2 /g-C 3 N 4 piezocatalyst demonstrates rapid pollutant degradation and efficient hydrogen evolution under water flow and ultrasound, providing new insights for constructing multidimensional piezoelectric composites for environmental remediation and clean energy production.

High-temperature shock (HTS) is an emerging material synthesis technology with advantages, such as rapid processing, low energy consumption, and high controllability. This technology can prepare ultrafine nanoparticles with uniform particle size distribution and introduce additional oxygen vacancies, offering significant potential for the preparation of key materials for solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOCs). In this study, the La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ (LSCF) air electrode was successfully prepared using HTS technology. Compared to the conventional muffle furnace calcination, the HTS-prepared LSCF exhibits a larger specific surface area and a higher oxygen vacancy concentration, and it demonstrates significant improvements in performance. The oxygen ion conducting SOC (O-SOC) with the HTS-LSCF air electrode achieved a peak power density (PPD) of 960 mW cm -2 and a current density of 0.38 A cm -2 (at 1.3 V) at 700 °C. Meanwhile, the proton conducting SOC (P-SOC) with HTS-LSCF air electrode reached a PPD value of 1.34 W cm -2 and a current density of 3.43 A cm -2 (at 1.3 V) at 700 °C. Additionally, the P-SOC with HTS-LSCF air electrode showed no significant degradation during over 200 h of long-term testing, reflecting the excellent stability of HTS-LSCF. This work provides a fast, efficient, and economical approach for synthesizing high-performance, high-stability SOC air electrode materials.

A novel series of donor-donor-π-acceptor (D-D-π-A) 9,9'-dihexylfluorene-based dianchoring organic dyes, each featuring distinct bridging electron-donating moieties, have been synthesized and characterized. Their performances in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) were evaluated, taking into account of their photophysical and electrochemical attributes. Remarkably, ( Z )-3-(5-(4-((4-(5-(( E )-2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl)thiophen-2-yl)phenyl)(9,9-dihexyl- 9H -fluoren-2-yl)amino)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid achieved an active and robust H 2 generation system with a turnover number (TON) of up to 17 400 in 126 h, with a production of 1090 μmol (26.3 mL) of hydrogen. The initial turnover frequency (TOF i ), initial activity (activity i ), and initial apparent quantum yield (AQY i ) were 808 h -1 , 505 mmol g -1 h -1 , and 8.65%, respectively, under visible light irradiation in water. This photosensitizer is considered one of the most effective and durable systems for photocatalytic hydrogen production that attached to molecular Pt-TiO 2 , as stated out in the literature using organic dyes under visible light, when compared the TOF and TON values. The experimental results demonstrated that the dianchoring dyes with bridging units could significantly enhance PHE performance, maintaining justifiable durability over prolonged irradiation.

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO 2 RR) technology enables the conversion of excessive CO 2 into high-value fuels and chemicals, thereby mitigating atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and addressing energy scarcity. Single-atom alloys (SAAs) possess the potential to enhance the CO 2 RR performance by full utilization of atoms and breaking linear scaling relationships. However, quickly screening high-performance metal portfolios of SAAs remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we proposed an active learning (AL) framework to screen high-performance catalysts for CO 2 RR to yield fuels such as CH 4 and CH 3 OH. After four rounds of AL iterations, the ML model attained optimal prediction performance with the test set R 2 of approximately 0.94 and successful prediction was achieved for the binding free energy of *CHO, *COH, *CO, and *H on 380 catalyst surfaces with an accuracy within 0.20 eV. Subsequent analysis of the SAA catalysts' activity, selectivity, and stability led to the discovery of eight previously unexplored SAA catalysts for CO 2 RR. Notably, the surface activity of Ti@Cu(100), Au@Pt(100), and Ag@Pt(100) shines prominently. Utilizing DFT calculations, we elucidated the complete reaction pathway of the CO 2 RR on the surfaces of these catalysts, confirming their high catalytic activity with limiting potentials of -0.11, -0.34, and -0.46 eV, respectively, which are significantly lower than those of pure Cu catalysts. The results showcase the exceptional predictive prowess of AL, providing a valuable reference for the design of CO 2 RR catalysts.

Real-time monitoring of molecular species in aqueous solutions is crucial for diverse scientific applications, from biomedical diagnostics to environmental analysis. In this study, we investigate the selective detection and discrimination of specific molecules in aqueous solution samples using a Ag-coated anodized aluminum oxide (Ag-AAO) surface functionalized with thiol molecules. Our investigation harnesses the power of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) synergized with principal component analysis (PCA) to elucidate the distinctive signatures of aqueous dopamine and l-tyrosine molecules. By scrutinizing the Raman spectra of surface-treated molecules, we unveil nuanced variations driven by the unique functional groups of the thiol molecules and their dynamic interactions with the target molecules in solution. Notably, we observe different alterations in the SERS spectra of Ag-AAO surface-functionalized boronic acid molecules for detection of dopamine and l-tyrosine, even at a concentration as low as 10 -8 M. Moreover, the spectral PCA elucidates the discrimination of dopamine and l-tyrosine within the aqueous environment attributed to the different molecular interactions near SERS-active hotspots. Our findings facilitate real-time monitoring of minute analytes with exceptional molecular selectivity, ushering in an era of precise chemical analysis in aqueous solutions.

Gesture sensors are essential to collect human movements for human-computer interfaces, but their application is normally hampered by the difficulties in achieving high sensitivity and an ultrawide response range simultaneously. In this article, inspired by the spider silk structure in nature, a novel gesture sensor with a core-shell structure is proposed. The sensor offers a high gauge factor of up to 340 and a wide response range of 60%. Moreover, the sensor combining with a deep learning technique creates a system for precise gesture recognition. The system demonstrated an impressive 99% accuracy in single gesture recognition tests. Meanwhile, by using the sliding window technology and large language model, a high performance of 97% accuracy is achieved in continuous sentence recognition. In summary, the proposed high-performance sensor significantly improves the sensitivity and response range of the gesture recognition sensor. Meanwhile, the neural network technology is combined to further improve the way of daily communication by sign language users.

Mapping genome-wide DNA-protein interactions (DPIs) provides insights into the epigenetic landscape of complex biological systems and elucidates the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in biological progress. However, current technologies in DPI profiling still suffer from high cell demands, low detection sensitivity, and large reagent consumption. To address these problems, we developed DMF-ChIP-seq that builds on digital microfluidic (DMF) technology to profile genome-wide DPIs in a highly efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly way. The entire workflow including cell pretreatment, antibody recognition, pA-Tn5 tagmentation, fragment enrichment, and PCR amplification is programmatically manipulated on a single chip. Leveraging closed submicroliter reaction volumes and a superhydrophobic interface, DMF-ChIP-seq presented higher sensitivity in peak enrichment than other current methods, with high accuracy (Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) > 0.86) and high repeatability (PCC > 0.92). Furthermore, DMF-ChIP-seq was capable of processing the samples with as few as 8 cells while maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio. By applying DMF-ChIP-seq, H3K27ac histone modification of early embryonic cells during differentiation was profiled for the investigation of epigenomic landscape dynamics. With the benefits of high efficiency and sensitivity in DPI analysis, the system provides great promise in studying epigenetic regulation during various biological processes.

With the increasing demand for energy and worsening environmental issues, the application of photothermal materials has been widely explored due to their high energy conversion capabilities and environmental friendliness. In this work, metal-carbon fiber composites were prepared and subjected to photothermal and water evaporation performance tests alongside pure metals and pyrolytic phenolic resin materials. The results show that the addition of metals effectively improved the photothermal efficiency by narrowing the molecular energy gaps of the materials, indicating a strong synergistic enhancement effect between metals and carbon materials. This study provides a theoretical basis for the design of high-performance photothermal conversion materials.

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) involved in the excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process results in benzophenone derivatives (BPDs) with an excellent ability to passivate defects. However, the BPDs are in a continuing dynamic transition process between the ground state and the excited state under light radiation conditions. The ground-state BPDs may lose their ability to passivate defects, resulting in an increased defect density of the perovskite. Therefore, enhancing the passivation ability of the ground-state BPDs can help to achieve the full passivation ability of their ground state to excited state. Herein, we have researched the various BPDs by density functional theory and found that intramolecular H-bonding can weaken the passivation ability of ground-state BPDs, but intramolecular H-bonding is indispensable in the ESPT process. To address the issue, we investigated the influence of electron-donor properties and dipole moments of hydroxyl (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3 ), and n -octyloxy (-OC 8 H 17 ) groups in BPD molecules on their coordination capacity through molecular design engineering. Ultimately, 2-hydroxy-4- n -octyloxy-benzophenone (UV5) with strong electron-donor n -octyloxy (-OC 8 H 17 ) and elongated carbon-chain structure was selected as an additive, which enhances the passivate defect capability in both the ground and excited states. As a result, the UV5-based champion device achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.46% and remained at 75% of the initial PCE with exposure to UV light. This work focuses on the defect passivation capability of ground-state BPDs for the first time and opens a new concept for applying BPDs in PSCs.

Researchers are paying more attention to sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of their abundant supply of sodium resources and affordable price. TiO 2 offers excellent safety and a long lifespan as an anode material for SIBs. However, the process kinetics is slow due to its limited Na + storage efficiency, weak conductivity, and irreversible Na + capture. In order to address these issues, this review uses a mix of the template approach and the double-hydrolysis method to manage the structure and diffusion of TiO 2 -based anode materials by synthesizing FeTiO 3 /TiO 2 heterostructured double-shell microspheres (FTO). Through the built-in electric field effect caused by their heterostructures, FTO materials improve reaction kinetics, boost electronic conductivity, and lower the diffusion energy barrier of Na + . Their distinctive double-shell structure can increase electrolyte infiltration, shorten the diffusion distance between ions and electrons, and accommodate volume expansion during cycling. Furthermore, the irreversible capture of Na + and the unfavorable interactions between the surface active site and electrolyte can be successfully inhibited by FTO heterostructures. FTO has an exceptionally high capacity (reaching 362.7 mA h g -1 after 60 cycles at 20 mA g -1 ) and excellent cycle stability (with a decay rate of 0.0061% after 1000 cycles at 2 A g -1 ). The strategy of constructing heterogeneous interfaces assists with high-performance SIB anode design.

The threat posed by biological and chemical warfare agents (BCWA) to national security, the environment, and personal health underscores the need for innovative chemical protective clothing. To address the limitations of conventional activated carbon materials, which are prone to falling off and adsorption saturation, an efficient self-association approach was introduced. In this study, we proposed the immobilization of metal-organic framework (MOF) 808 and Ag nanoparticles onto a polypropylene (PP) fiber membrane using a rapid self-association method facilitated by chitosan (CS). The MOF 808/Ag-based (PP-CS/808-Ag) fiber membrane demonstrated exceptional degradation efficiency, achieving a remarkable rate of t 1/2 within 2 h for the mustard simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES) and a rate of t 1/2 = 4.12 min for the G-series simulant dimethyl 4-nitrophenylphosphate (DMNP). A theoretical computational model was developed to determine the overall reaction mechanism, and it was verified that MOF 808 and Ag nanoparticles were mainly involved in the hydrolysis process against 2-CEES and DMNP. The PP-CS/808-Ag composite fiber film was prepared as the core layer, and the fracture strength, bending resistance, and moisture permeability were better than those specified by many countries for biochemical protective clothing, showing that it has a broad application prospect in developing a generation of broad-spectrum bioprotective clothing.

As the societal issue of increasing global illicit drug usage emerges, there is a growing demand for more portable and versatile drug detectors. Traditional drug analysis techniques such as gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) face significant challenges in adapting to diverse real-world applications due to their size, cost, and power requirements. While advancements have been made in the development of on-site drug detection methods such as fluorescence, stereoresonance energy transfer (FRET), colorimetric, electrochemical sensing, and lateral flow assays (LFAs), their reliance on specific reactive materials poses limitations in effectively detecting a wide range of narcotics. Therefore, this study proposes the development of specialized microcolumns with optimized stationary phases for next-generation portable microfabricated GC-based narcotic detectors. The stationary phase consists of a hybrid gel incorporating the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF 4 ]) and OV-1. The stationary phase not only enhances interactions between drug analytes but also demonstrates improved separation characteristics among various narcotic substances. Additionally, the principles of the separation results were validated through density functional theory (DFT) analysis, and the effective separation of over seven types of narcotics was demonstrated through temperature optimization. This research lays the groundwork for the advancement of next-generation portable drug analyzers, offering significant potential in the field.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered as promising energy storage systems due to the high energy density of 2600 W h kg -1 . However, the practical application of Li-S batteries is hindered by the inadequate conductivity of sulfur and Li 2 S, as well as the shuttle effect caused by polysulfides during the charge-discharge process. Introducing a conductive interlayer between the cathode and the separator to physically resist polysulfides represents an effective and straightforward approach to mitigate the shuttle effect in Li-S batteries. In this paper, an ultrathin (<1 μm) 2D-2D MXene-LDH interlayer with high polysulfide adsorption ability was introduced to Li-S batteries. The synergistic effect between MXene and layered double hydroxide greatly improved the adsorption effect of the interlayers: the conductive Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene chemically adsorbs polysulfides and promotes their fast transfer, and the NiCo-LDH alleviates the restack of MXene and facilitates Li + diffusion. After inserting the MXene-LDH interlayer, the Li-S batteries exhibit an enhanced specific capacity of 1137.6 mA h g -1 at 0.1 C and retain 622.6 mA h g -1 after 100 cycles. The ultrathin 2D-2D interlayer offers a feasible way for the development of highly efficient and lightweight interlayers in Li-S batteries.

In the quest for sustainable and renewable energy sources, researchers and engineers have explored innovative technologies to harvest energy from various environmental sources. Dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) with high energy harvesting performance have been proven to be promising energy collectors, but achieving a high dielectric constant (ε') and low electrical conductivity ( EC ) under high electric fields of dielectric elastomer (DE) simultaneously is a struggle, which poses significant challenges. In this study, high-content carboxyl group-grafted liquid polybutadiene (HCPB) is synthesized and then adopted as an organic dielectric filler to blend and cocross-link with a butadiene rubber (BR) matrix to prepare DE composites with high energy harvesting performance. The introduction of carboxyl groups enhances polarization while trapping free Al 3+ in the matrix, which revolutionarily achieves a significant increase in ε' under extremely low EC . Ultimately, the contradiction between increased ε' and decreased EC under high electric fields is reconciled, resulting in a 30 HCPB/BR composite with high energy density ( w = 91.9 mJ/cm 3 ) and fine power conversion efficiency ( PCE = 24.1%). This advancement paves the way for the development of HCPB/BR composite-based DEGs with enhanced ε' and energy harvesting performance.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have attracted widespread attention as a promising candidate for energy harvesting due to their flexibility and high power density. To meet diverse application scenarios, a highly stretchable (349%), conductive (1.87 S m -1 ), and antibacterial electrode composed of carbon quantum dots/LiCl/agar-polyacrylamide (CQDs/LiCl/agar-PAAm) dual-network (DN) hydrogel is developed for wearable TENGs. Notably, the concentration of agar alters the pore spacing and pore size of the DN hydrogel, thereby impacting the network cross-linking density and the migration of conductive ions (Li + and Cl - ). This variation further affects the mechanical strength and conductivity of the hydrogel electrode, thus modulating the mechanical stability and electrical output performance of the TENGs. With the optimal agar content, the tensile strength and conductivity of the hydrogel electrode increase by 211 and 719%, respectively. This enhancement ensures the stable output of TENGs during continuous operation (6000 cycles), with open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and transferred charge increasing by 200, 530, and 155%, respectively. Additionally, doping with CQDs enables the hydrogel electrode to effectively inhibit the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli . Finally, the TENGs are utilized as a self-power smart ring for efficient and concise information transmission via Morse code. Consequently, this study introduces a creative approach for designing and implementing multifunctional, flexible wearable devices.

Intracellular infections are difficult to treat, as pathogens can take advantage of intracellular hiding, evade the immune system, and persist and multiply in host cells. One such intracellular parasite, Leishmania , is the causative agent of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), which disproportionately affects the world's most economically disadvantaged. Existing treatments have relied mostly on chemotherapeutic compounds that are becoming increasingly ineffective due to drug resistance, while the development of new therapeutics has been challenging due to the variety of clinical manifestations caused by different Leishmania species. The antimicrobial peptide melittin has been shown to be effective in vitro against a broad spectrum of Leishmania , including species that cause the most common form, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and the most deadly, visceral leishmaniasis. However, melittin's high hemolytic and cytotoxic activity toward host cells has limited its potential for clinical translation. Herein, we report a design strategy for producing a melittin-containing antileishmanial agent that not only enhances melittin's leishmanicidal potency but also abrogates its hemolytic and cytotoxic activity. This therapeutic construct can be directly produced in bacteria, significantly reducing its production cost critical for a NTD therapeutic. The designed melittin-containing fusion crystal incorporates a bioresponsive cathepsin linker that enables it to specifically release melittin in the phagolysosome of infected macrophages. Significantly, this targeted approach has been demonstrated to be efficacious in treating macrophages infected with L. amazonensis and L. donovani in cell-based models and in the corresponding cutaneous and visceral mouse models.

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a major component of cell surface glycocalyx with extensive negative charges and plays a protective role by preventing toxins, including small molecule drugs and anticancer cationic lytic peptides (ACLPs), from cells. However, this effect may compromise the treatment efficiency of anticancer drugs. To overcome the impedance of cancer cell glycocalyx, an HS-targeting ACLP PTP-7z was designed by fusion of an ACLP and a Zn 2+ -binding HS-targeting peptide. Upon Zn 2+ ion binding, PTP-7z could self-assemble into uniform nanoparticles and show improved serum stability and reduced hemolysis, which enable it to self-deliver to tumor sites. The peptide PTP-7z showed a pH- and Zn 2+ ion-dependent HS-binding ability, which triggers the HS-induced in situ self-assembling on the cancer cell surface in the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). The self-assembled PTP-7z can overcome the impedance of cell glycocalyx by either disrupting cell membranes or translocating into cells through endocytosis and inducing cell apoptosis. Moreover, PTP-7z can also inhibit cancer cell migration. These results proved that HS-responsive in situ self-assembling is a practical strategy to overcome the cancer cell glycocalyx barrier for ACLPs and could be extended to the design of other peptide drugs to promote their in vivo application.

Poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy methacrylate) (PTMA) is one of the most promising organic cathode materials thanks to its relatively high redox potential, good rate performance, and cycling stability. However, being a p-type material, PTMA-based batteries pose additional challenges compared to conventional lithium-ion systems due to the involvement of anions in the redox process. This study presents a comprehensive approach to optimize such batteries, addressing challenges in electrode design, scalability, and cost. Experimental results at a laboratory scale demonstrate high active mass loadings of PTMA electrodes (up to 9.65 mg cm -2 ), achieving theoretical areal capacities that exceed 1 mAh cm -2 . Detailed physics-based simulations and cost and performance analysis clarify the critical role of the electrolyte and the impact of the anion amount in the PTMA redox process, highlighting the benefits and the drawbacks of using highly concentrated electrolytes. The cost and energy density of lithium metal batteries with such high mass loading PTMA cathodes were simulated, finding that their performance is inferior to batteries based on inorganic cathodes even in the most optimistic conditions. In general, this work emphasizes the importance of considering a broader perspective beyond the lab scale and highlights the challenges in upscaling to realistic battery configurations.

The practical application of lithium metal anodes is significantly impeded by poor interfacial stability and uncontrolled dendrite growth. Herein, we introduce methyl trifluoroacetate (MTFA), a low-melting-point small molecule, as an electrolyte additive in an ether-based electrolyte. This additive facilitates the formation of an in situ composite solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer that is rich in LiF and features an ester-based flexible matrix. The resulting composite layer exhibits high ionic conductivity and mechanical stability, effectively regulating the lithium deposition behavior over a broad temperature range and inhibiting dendrite formation. Based on MTFA, the Li||Li symmetrical cell achieves a lifespan exceeding 5000 h at room temperature and 800 h at -20 °C, both with ultralow overpotential and exceptional cycling stability. In Li||LiFePO 4 full cells with a high-area loading (10.52 mg cm -2 ) and an N/P ratio of 1.68, an average capacity decay of merely 0.096% per cycle is observed over 200 cycles. Even at -20 °C, the Li||LiFePO 4 cell shows a CE of over 99% and maintains stable cycling performance. This work provides an innovative approach for optimizing lithium metal anode interfaces and enhancing low-temperature operation capabilities through the use of electrolyte additives.

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Research indicates that circulating histones, as pathogenic factors, may represent a therapeutic target for sepsis. However, effectively clearing circulating histones poses a challenge due to their structural similarity to normal blood proteins, their low abundance in the bloodstream, and serious interference from other blood biomacromolecules. Here we design a dodecapeptide-based functional polymer that can selectively adsorb circulating histones from the blood. The peptide, named P1 (HNHHQLALVESY), was discovered through phage display screening and demonstrated a strong affinity for circulating histones while exhibiting negligible affinities for common proteins in the blood, such as human serum albumin (HSA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and transferrin (TRF). Furthermore, the P1 peptide was incorporated into a functional polymer design, poly(PEGMA- co -P1), which was immobilized onto a silica gel surface through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The resulting material was characterized using solid nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This material demonstrated the ability to selectively and efficiently capture circulating histones from both model solutions and whole blood samples while also exhibiting satisfactory blood compatibility, good antifouling properties, and resistance to interference. Satisfactory binding affinity and efficient capture capacity toward histone were also observed for the other screened peptide P2 (QMSMDLFGSNFV)-grafted polymer, validating phage display as a reliable ligand screening strategy. These findings present an approach for the specific clearance of circulating histones and hold promise for future clinical applications in blood purification toward sepsis.

Zinc metal batteries have recently emerged as a promising stable and reversible anode aqueous battery. However, due to the serious dendrite problem and hydrogen evolution problem of the zinc metal anode, the practical application of the zinc metal battery is limited. Here, we propose Y 2 O 3 as an effective coating, which inhibits hydrogen evolution and side reactions by physical isolation and simultaneously prevents dendrite growth by ensuring a uniform Zn-ion flux and fast transport channels generated by Maxwell-Wagner polarization, thus improving the stability of batteries. Meanwhile, in situ/ex situ characterizations and different simulations are conducted to investigate in detail the effect of Maxwell-Wagner polarization on the performance of Zn metal batteries. The symmetric Y 2 O 3 @Zn anode system exhibits a stable electroplating/stripping performance over 780 h and enables the Zn battery to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of up to 99.81% over 1000 cycles by reducing side reactions. The Y 2 O 3 @Zn||MnO 2 full cell delivers a high energy density of 301.42 Wh kg -1 at a power density of 205.04 W kg -1 . The work provides insights into the reversibility and stability of zinc anodes and provides a promising way to promote the practical application of Zn metal batteries.

Optical camouflage offers an effective strategy for enhancing the survival chances of underwater flexible electronic devices akin to underwater organisms. Photochromism is one of the most effective methods to achieve optical camouflage. In this study, antiswelling hydrogels with photochromic properties were prepared using a two-step solvent replacement strategy and explored as underwater optically camouflaged flexible electronic devices. The hydrophobic network formed upon polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) ensured that the hydrogels possessed outstanding antiswelling properties. Internetwork hydrogen bonding interactions allowed the hydrogels to exhibit tissue-adaptable mechanical properties and excellent self-bonding capabilities. The introduction of polyoxometalates further enhanced the hydrogels' mechanical and self-bonding properties while imparting photochromic capability. The hydrogels could be rapidly and reversibly colored under 365 nm UV irradiation. The bleaching rate of the colored hydrogels increased with temperature, bleaching within 12 h at 60 °C but maintaining the color for more than 5 days at room temperature. The self-bonding and photochromic properties enabled the hydrogels to be easily assembled into optically camouflaged underwater flexible electronic devices for underwater motion sensing and wireless information transmission. An optically camouflaged strain sensor was first assembled for underwater limb motion sensing. Additionally, an underwater optically camouflaged wireless information exchange device was assembled to enable wireless communication with a smartphone. This work provided an effective strategy for the optical camouflage of underwater flexible electronic devices, presenting opportunities for next-generation underwater hydrogel-based flexible devices.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted widespread attention in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. However, the application of AgNPs synthesized by conventional methods is restricted by its high costs, toxicity, and poor stability. Herein, a water-soluble polysaccharide ( Scutellaria baicalensis polysaccharide, SBP) rich in reducing sugars was used as both the reductant and stabilizer to greenly synthesize spherical AgNPs@SBP with smaller particle sizes (11.18 ± 2.50 nm) and higher negative zeta potential (-23.05 ± 2.76 mV), which was favorable to enhance its antimicrobial activity and improve pH and thermal stability. Besides, SBP facilitated the adhesion and penetration of AgNPs@SBP to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC), thus significantly enhancing its antibacterial activity (increased by 32-fold and 64-fold, respectively). Likewise, AgNPs@SBP at a low concentration (7.8 μg/mL) could effectively penetrate and inhibit nearly 90% of MRSA and CREC biofilm formation. Antimicrobial mechanism studies showed that AgNPs@SBP could lead to more severe cell membrane damage and genetic material leakage by upregulating reactive oxygen species and depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential, ultimately resulting in the apoptosis of bacteria. Overall, the wrapping of SBP significantly enhanced the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of AgNPs, which possessed great potential in the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Nanoparticle surfactants assembled at water-oil interfaces can significantly lower the interfacial tension and can be used to stabilize liquids. Understanding and actively tuning the mechanical properties of the generated membranes, which comprise the nanoparticle surfactants, are of significant fundamental interest for the interfacial behavior of nanoparticles and of interest for water purification, drug encapsulation, enhanced oil recovery, and innovative energy transduction applications. Here, we present electrostatic interaction-driven fabrication of freestanding and close-packed SiO 2 surfactant membranes with diameters up to 0.10 mm. The membranes of 20-30 nm in thickness were spanned over holes with a diameter of 2 μm, exhibiting a Young's modulus ranging from 1.5 to 5.9 GPa. The controllable elastic properties of the fabricated nanoparticle surfactant membranes are found to be dictated by the strength of interactions between nanoparticles and ligands, between ligands and ligands, and between the nanoparticle surfactants. The results present an efficient approach for fabricating and developing nanoparticle surfactant-based large-area, freestanding, and ultrathin membranes with finely tunable mechanical properties on a large scale.

Caffeic acid is a natural product that contains both phenolic and acrylic functional groups and has been widely employed as an alternative drug to combat chronic infections induced by microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Several strategies, including derivatization and nanoformulation, have been applied in order to overcome the issues of water insolubility, poor stability, and the bioavailability of caffeic acid. Here, caffeic acid and cyclen-Zn(II) are incorporated into a G 4 -assembly by using a phenylborate linker to form the mixed supramolecular prodrug GB-CA/Cy-Zn(II) hydrogel. The delivery system is expected to enhance antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties during the wound healing process through the synergistic effect of caffeic acid and cyclen-Zn(II). The preparation and physicochemical and mechanical properties of the hydrogel were investigated by NMR, CD, TEM, and rheological assays. The typical inflammatory cytokines and in vitro antibacterial experiments indicated that inflammation and infection can be significant suppressed by the hydrogel treatment. An in vivo infected wound model treated by the hydrogel showed rapid wound healing capacity and biosafety. The current work depicts a simple method to prepare a caffeic acid hydrogel carrier, which facilitates synergistic treatment for inflammation and bacterial infections at the wound site.

Reversible solid oxide cells (RSOCs) are an all-solid-state electrochemical device, which can convert H 2 into electricity in the fuel cell (SOFC) mode and electrolyze H 2 O into fuel gas in the electrolytic cell (SOEC) mode, exhibiting good application prospect in the development of carbon neutrality. However, the degradation of the air electrode caused by Cr-containing steel interconnects is a major obstacle that limits the broader application of RSOCs. Herein, the Cr poisoning effect on La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-σ (LSCF)-based oxygen electrodes under the electrolysis mode was systematically investigated. The phase transition of the sediment during the chromium poisoning process was captured and monitored. When tested under the presence of Fe-Cr interconnects at 800 °C for 40 h, SrCrO 4 on the surface of LSCF was clearly identified through XRD and Raman analysis as the main deposition, and with the prolonged operating time, LaCrO 3 slowly emerged. Due to the much higher electrical conductivity of LaCrO 3 compared to SrCrO 4 , the negative effect induced by Cr poisoning was offset along with test progressing due to the deposition transition phenomenon. Inspired by the interesting discoveries, transition from SrCrO 4 to LaCrO 3 can be artificially facilitated by switching the operating mode to the SOEC mode, which can partially recover the dramatic degradation caused by the Cr poisoning effect under the SOFC mode. The feasibility of the in situ electrochemical recovery method was also verified by the experimental results. The peak power density of the cells decreased from 0.829 to 0.505 W/cm 2 when operating under the SOFC mode with an Fe-Cr metal connector, and after in situ electrochemical recovery in the SOEC mode, the peak power density recovered to 0.630 W/cm 2 . This study provides a new strategy for achieving high performance and stability of RSOCs.

Transition-metal sulfide is considered to be an admirable transformational electrode material due to low cost, large specific capacity, and good reversibility in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, the reduced graphene oxide-wrapped open bimetallic sulfide (NiS 2 -Co 3 S 4 @rGO) nanocage, derived from nickel-cobalt Prussian blue, was obtained by two-step calcination. There are luxuriant pore structures in the nanocage composite with a specific surface area of 85.28 m 2 g -1 , which provides plentiful paths for rapid transmission of Li + /Na + and alleviates the volume stress caused by insertion and extraction of alkali metal ions. The excellent interface combination of bimetallic sulfide wrapped in reduced graphene oxide improves the conductivity and overall performance of the battery. Thanks to the special interface engineering, the open NiS 2 -Co 3 S 4 @rGO nanocage composite displays rapid lithium storage properties with an average diffusion coefficient of 8.5 × 10 -13 cm 2 s -1 . Moreover, after 300 cycles, the reversible capacity of the composite is 1113.2 mAh g -1 at 1 A g -1 . In SIBs, the capacity of the open NiS 2 -Co 3 S 4 @rGO composite is 487.9 mAh g -1 when the current density is 5 A g -1 . These preeminent performances demonstrate the enormous development prospects of bimetallic sulfide nanocage as anode material in LIBs and SIBs.

Among inorganic thermoelectric materials, flexible thermoelectric materials have attracted considerable attention. In this study, highly flexible and plastically bendable silver selenide films with excellent thermoelectric performance at room temperature are presented. The flexibility of the freestanding silver selenide films was significantly improved through a simple annealing treatment. The highly flexible silver selenide films with a thickness of 26.0 μm displayed outstanding n-type thermoelectric performance, achieving an in-plane zT value of 0.38 at room temperature. Because silver selenide films are plastically bendable with a bending radius of less than 1 mm, they can be shaped into various forms. To achieve stretchability and skin-conformality in the thermoelectric generator, S-shaped silver selenide strips were used as an n-type thermoelectric element. Effective harvesting of electricity from heat of the human body was successfully demonstrated.

The creation of synthetic materials that emulate the complexity of natural systems, such as enzymes, remains a challenge in biomimicry. Here, we present a simple yet effective strategy to introduce substrate selectivity and dynamic responsiveness into an enzyme-mimetic supramolecular material. We achieved this by anchoring γ-cyclodextrin to a fluorene-modified Lys/Cu 2+ assembly, which mimics copper-dependent oxidase. The binding affinity among the components was examined using 1 H NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and theoretical simulation. The γ-cyclodextrin acts as a host, forming a complex with the fluorenyl moiety and aromatic substrates of specific sizes. This ensures the proximity of the substrate reactive groups to the copper center, leading to size-selective enhancement of aromatic substrate oxidation, particularly favoring biphenyl substrates. Notably, α- and β-cyclodextrins do not exhibit this effect, and the native oxidase lacks this selectivity. Additionally, the binding affinity of the aromatic substrate to the catalyst can be dynamically tuned by adding α-cyclodextrin or by irradiating with different wavelengths in the presence of competitive azo-guests, resulting in switched oxidative activities. This approach offers a new avenue for designing biomimetic materials with tailorable active site structures and catalytic properties.

Photoactivation is a phenomenon that could enhance the photoluminescence (PL) and photostability upon UV/vis light exposure, which is usually observed in CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). However, the photoactivation phenomenon has been scarcely reported in fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs). Herein, the nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were prepared through a facile solvothermal approach with naphthalenetracarboxylic dianhydride and serine as precursors. Upon simple UV light irradiation for 10 min, the fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of N-CQDs could increase up to 10-fold. Based on this phenomenon, the N-CQDs were explored as an ultraviolet (UV) light sensor to assess the intensity of ultraviolet radiation in sunlight and indirectly evaluate the UV-blocking efficiency of various sunscreen products. Thus, this contribution not only provided an insight into developing a low-cost UV detector but also opened a door for the development of carbon quantum dots with converse-photobleaching properties.

Lithium metal anode has attracted wide attention due to its ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity, lowest reduction potential, and low density. However, uncontrollable dendritic growth and volume change caused by uneven Li + deposition still seriously hinder the large-scale commercial application of lithium metal batteries, even causing serious battery explosions and other safety problems. Hence, gold nanoparticles with a gradient distribution anchored on 3D carbon fiber paper (CP) current collectors followed by the encapsulation of polydopamine (PDA) (CP/Au/PDA) are constructed for stable and dendrite-free Li metal anodes for the first time. Significantly, lithiophilic Au nanoparticles showing a gradient distribution in the carbon fiber paper could guide the transfer of Li + from the outside to the inside of the CP/Au/PDA electrode as well as lower the nucleation overpotential of Li, thereby obtaining the uniform Li deposition. Meanwhile, the PDA layer could in situ be converted to Li-PDA which could serve as an efficient Li + conductor to further facilitate uniform Li + transport among the whole CP/Au/PDA electrode. Besides, 3D carbon fiber paper could effectively accommodate the volume change during the plating/stripping process of Li metal. As a result, CP/Au/PDA electrodes deliver a low nucleation overpotential (∼9 mV) and a high Coulombic efficiency (mean value of ∼98.8%) at a current density of 1 mA cm -2 with the capacity of 1 mA h cm -2 . Furthermore, Li@CP/Au/PDA electrodes also can demonstrate an ultralow voltage hysteresis (∼20 mV) and a long cycle life (1000 h) in symmetric cells. Finally, with LiFePO 4 (LFP) as the cathode, the Li@CP/Au/PDA-LFP full cell delivers a high discharge capacity of 136 mA h g -1 even after 350 cycles at 1C, exhibiting a per cycle loss as low as 0.01%. This gradient lithium ion regulation current collector is of great significance for the development of lithium metal anodes.

Graphite, with abundant resources and low cost, is regarded as a promising anode material for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). However, because of the large size of potassium ions, the intercalation/deintercalation of potassium between the interlayers of graphite results in its huge volume expansion, leading to poor cycling stability and rate performance. Herein, a self-propagating reduction strategy is adopted to fabricate a flexible, self-supporting 3D porous graphite@reduced graphene oxide (3D-G@rGO) composite film for PIBs. The 3D porous network can not only effectively mitigate the volume expansion in graphite but also provide numerous active sites for potassium storage as well as allow for electrolyte penetration and rapid ion migration. Therefore, compared to the pristine graphite anode, the flexible 3D-G@rGO film electrode exhibits greatly improved K-storage performance with a reversible capacity of 452.8 mAh g -1 at 0.1 C and a capacity retention rate of 80.4% after 100 cycles. It also presents excellent rate capability with a high specific capacity of 139.1 and 94.2 mAh g -1 maintained at 2 and 5 C, respectively. The proposed self-propagating reduction strategy to construct a three-dimensional self-supporting structure is a viable route to improve the structural stability and potassium storage performance of graphite anodes.