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In recent years, lithium oxygen batteries (Li–O2) have received considerable research attention due to their extremely high energy density. However, the poor conductivity and ion conductivity of the discharge product lithium peroxide (Li2O2) result in a high charging overpotential, poor cycling stability, and low charging rate. Therefore, studying and improving catalysts is a top priority. This study focuses on the commonly used heterogeneous catalyst ruthenium (Ru). The local distribution of this catalyst is controlled by using sputtering technology. Moreover, X-ray nanodiffraction is applied to observe the relationship between the decomposition of Li2O2and the local distribution of Ru. Results show that Li2O2decomposes homogeneously in liquid systems and heterogeneously in solid-state systems. This study finds that the catalytic effect of Ru is related to electrolyte decomposition and that its soluble byproducts act as electron acceptors or redox mediators, effectively reducing charging overpotential but also shortening the cycle life.

Solar-driven water electrolysis to produce hydrogen is one of the clean energy options for the current energy-related challenges. Si as a photocathode exhibits a large overpotential due to the slow hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics and hence needs to be modified with a cocatalyst layer. MoS2is a poor HER cocatalyst due to its inert basal plane. Activation of the MoS2basal plane will facilitate HER kinetics. In this study, we have incorporated SnS2into MoS2ultrathin sheets to induce defect formation and phase transformation. MoS2/SnS2composite ultrathin sheets with a Sn2+state create a large number of S vacancies on the basal sites. The optimized defect-rich MoS2/SnS2ultrathin sheets decorated on surface-modified Si micro pyramids as photocathodes show a current density of −23.8 mA/cm2at 0 V with an onset potential of 0.23 V under acidic conditions, which is higher than that of the pristine MoS2. The incorporation of SnS2into 2H-MoS2ultrathin sheets not only induces a phase but also can alter the local atomic arrangement, which in turn is verified by their magnetic response. The diamagnetic SnS2phase causes a decrease in symmetry and an increase in magnetic anisotropy of the Mo3+ions.

The design of high‐energy‐density batteries is the future goal of research on Li‐ion batteries. Halide‐type solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) exceed their counterparts in terms of their stability at high potential. In this minireview, we discuss the developments in the work on halide‐type SSEs for all‐solid‐state Li batteries. In particular, we focus on the Li3InCl6structure. The effect of synthesis routes on this structure, as well as the convertible products resulting from its phase changes, is discussed. Conductivity can be increased and the electrochemical window can be improved through doping with different materials. Our review aims to provide readers with an overview of the stability and degradation of Li3InCl6SSE and the structure of halide‐type SSEs (Li–M–X, where M is a metal and X is a halogen). Using Li3InCl6as the solid‐state electrolyte is promising for future development. Halide SSEs exceed their counterparts by stability at high potential.

Metal–CO2rechargeable batteries are of great importance due to their higher energy density and carbon capture capability. In particular, Na–CO2batteries are potential energy-storage devices that can replace Li-based batteries due to their lower cost and abundance. However, because of the slow electrochemical processes owing to the carbonated discharge products, the cell shows a high overpotential. The charge overpotential of the Na–CO2battery increases because of the cathode catalyst’s inability to break down the insulating discharge product Na2CO3, thereby resulting in poor cycle performance. Herein, we develop an ultrathin nanosheet MoS2/SnS2cathode composite catalyst for Na–CO2battery application. Insertion of SnS2reduces the overpotential and improves the cyclic stability compared to pristine MoS2. As shown by a cycle test with a restricted capacity of 500 mAh/g at 50 mA/g, the battery is stable up to 100 discharge–charge cycles as the prepared catalyst successfully decomposes Na2CO3. Furthermore, the battery with the MoS2/SnS2cathode catalyst has a discharge capacity of 35 889 mAh/g. The reasons for improvements in the cycle performance and overpotential of the MoS2/SnS2composite cathode catalyst are examined by a combination of Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, which reveals an underneath phase transformation and changes in the local atomic environment to be responsible. SnS2incorporation induces S-vacancies in the basal plane and 1T character in 2H MoS2. This combined impact of SnS2incorporation results in undercoordinated Mo atoms. Such a change in the electronic structure and the phase of the MoS2/SnS2composite cathode catalyst results in higher catalytic activity and reduces the cell overpotential.

With magnesium being a cost-effective anode metal compared to the other conventional Li-based anodes in the energy market, it could be a capable source of energy storage. However, Mg–O2batteries have struggled its way to overcome the poor cycling stability and sluggish reaction kinetics. Therefore, Ru metallic nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were introduced as a cathode for Mg–O2batteries, which are known for their inherent electronic properties, large surface area, and increased crystallinity to favor remarkable oxygen reduction reactions and oxygen evolution reactions (ORR and OER). Also, we deployed a first-of-its-kind, conducive mixed electrolyte (CME) (2 M Mg(NO3)2:1 M Mg(TFSI)2/diglyme). Hence, this synergistic incorporation of CME-based Ru/CNT Mg–O2batteries could unleash long cycle life with low overpotential, excellent reversibility, and high ionic conductivity and also reduces the intrinsic corrosion behavior of Mg anodes. Correspondingly, this novel amalgamation of CME with Ru/CNT cathode has displayed superior cyclic stability of 65 cycles and a maximum discharge potential of 25 793 mAh g–1with a small overvoltage plateau of 1.4 V, noticeably subjugating the findings of conventional single electrolyte (CSE) (1 M Mg(TFSI)2/diglyme). This CME-based Ru/CNT Mg–O2battery design could have a significant outcome as a future battery technology.

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs) have attracted much attention owing to their high energy density and safety and are known as the most promising next-generation LIBs. The biggest advantage of ASSLIBs is that it can use lithium metal as the anode without any safety concerns. This study used a high-conductivity garnet-type solid electrolyte (Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12, LLZTO) and Li-Ga-N composite anode synthesized by mixing melted Li with GaN. The interfacial resistance was reduced from 589 to 21 Ω cm2, the symmetry cell was stably cycled for 1000 h at a current density of 0.1 mA cm–2at room temperature, and the voltage range only changed from ±30 to ±40 mV. The full cell of Li-Ga-N|LLZTO|LFP exhibited a high first-cycle discharge capacity of 152.2 mAh g–1and Coulombic efficiency of 96.5% and still maintained a discharge capacity retention of 91.2% after 100 cycles. This study also demonstrated that Li-Ga-N had been shown as two layers. Li3N shows more inclined to be closer to the LLZTO side. This method can help researchers understand what interface improvements can occur to enhance the performance of all-solid-state batteries in the future.

Narrowband green phosphors with high quantum efficiency are required for backlighting white light-emitting diode (WLED) devices. Materials from the A[Li3SiO4]4:Eu2+family have recently been proposed as having superior properties to industry-standard β-SiAlON green phosphors. Here, we show that a cheap, easily synthesized host NaK2Li[Li3SiO4]4(NKLLSO) doped with a mixture of Eu2+and Eu3+is an outstanding narrowband green phosphor, with an external quantum efficiency of 51% and superb thermal stability (97.1% of room-temperature performance at 150 °C). Structural studies reveal that green emission occurs from two Eu2+sites, while Eu3+introduces a high concentration of vacancies that may suppress quenching from energy transfer between Eu2+sites. A WLED package constructed using our NKLLSO phosphor shows extremely high color vividness, competitive with a β-SiAlON comparator. This work will stimulate further research on efficient green phosphors for practical WLED devices.

Limiting the carbon emission to the atmosphere requires the efficient utilization of carbonaceous gases and their capture via well‐designed platforms. Metal–CO2batteries are currently being demonstrated as the route to utilize CO2and produce energy simultaneously. In particular, Na–CO2batteries are considered an alternative to Li‐batteries because of their abundance and low cost. In the current review, the developments in the field of Na–CO2batteries are discussed. Carbon dioxide reactions to the decomposition of discharge products have been discussed elaborately. The main discharge products of Na–CO2batteries are Na2CO3and C. In the current review, various strategies are discussed to decompose the discharge products and hence improve cycle stability. The fraction of CO2has a substantial influence on cell cycles. A plausible route of battery reaction can be drawn with the help of an ex situ analysis of the electrodes. The final part of the review focuses on the use of solid‐state Na‐ion conductors in Na–CO2batteries. NA–CO2batteries are considered alternative to Li‐batteries because of their abundance and low cost. The main discharge products of NA–CO2batteries are NA2CO3and C. In the current review, various strategies are discussed to decompose the discharge products and hence improve cycle stability.

Near‐infrared (NIR) phosphors have gained a substantial amount of attention in the past few years simply due to their numerous applications. Recent publications have reported interesting findings regarding the fundamentals of phosphors. However, the unclear application of these phosphors limits their potential. This mini review aims to provide insights for researchers regarding the potential applications of NIR phosphors and their perspectives for further development of NIR phosphor technology. Near‐infrared phosphors are fascinating materials with numerous applications. This mini review discusses a few phosphor fundamentals to understand the application of NIR phosphors for practical use and highlight several works that elaborated on the enticing applications of NIR‐LED technology. The significance of these phosphors in the spectroscopic, biomedical, and agricultural industries is also presented.

Alkali metal–carbon dioxide (Li/Na–CO2) batteries have generated widespread interest in the past few years owing to the attractive strategy of utilizing CO2while still delivering high specific energy densities. Among these systems, Na–CO2batteries are more cost effective than Li–CO2batteries because the former uses cheaper and abundant Na. Herein, a Ru/carbon nanotube (CNT) as a cathode material was used to compare the mechanisms, stabilities, overpotentials, and energy densities of Li–CO2and Na–CO2batteries. The potential of Na–CO2batteries as a viable energy storage technology was demonstrated.

Hydrogen energy is a promising alternative for fossil fuels because of its high energy density and carbon-free emission. Si is an ideal light absorber used in solar water splitting to produce H2gas because of its small band gap, appropriate conduction band position, and high theoretical photocurrent. However, the overpotential required to drive the photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on bare Si electrodes is severely high owing to its sluggish kinetics. Herein, a molybdenum tungsten disulfide (MoS2–WS2) composite decorated on a Si photoabsorber is used as a cocatalyst to accelerate HER kinetics and enhance PEC performance. This MoS2–WS2hybrid showed superior catalytic activity compared with pristine MoS2or WS2. The optimal MoS2–WS2/Si electrode delivered a photocurrent of −25.9 mA/cm2at 0 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode). X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that MoS2–WS2possessed a high hole concentration of unoccupied electronic states in the MoS2component, which could promote to accept large amounts of carriers from the Si photoabsorber. Moreover, a large number of sulfur vacancies are generated in the MoS2constituent of this hybrid cocatalyst. These sulfur defects served as HER active sites to boost the catalytic efficiency. Besides, the TiO2-protective MoS2–WS2/Si photocathode maintained a current density of −15.0 mA/cm2after 16 h of the photocatalytic stability measurement.

Li metal, which has a high theoretical capacity and negative electrochemical potential, is regarded as the “holy grail” in Li-ion batteries. However, the flammable nature of liquid electrolyte leads to safety issues. Hence, the cooperation of solid-state electrolyte and Li-metal anode is demanded. However, the short cycle life induced by interfacial issues is the main challenge faced by their cooperation. In this review, dendrite and interfacial side reactions are comprehensively analyzed as the main interfacial problems. Meanwhile, the “state-of-the-art” interphase materials are summarized. The challenges faced by each kind of material are underscored. Moreover, different processing routes to fabricate artificial interphase are also investigated from an engineering perspective. The processing routes suitable for mass production are also underscored.

Near-infrared (NIR) phosphors are fascinating materials that have numerous applications in diverse fields. In this study, a series of La3Ga5GeO14:Cr3+phosphors, which was incorporated with Sn4+, Ba2+, and Sc3+, was successfully synthesized using solid-state reaction to explore every cationic site comprehensively. The crystal structures were well resolved by combining synchrotron X-ray diffraction and neutron powder diffraction through joint Rietveld refinements. The trapping of free electrons induced by charge unbalances and lattice vacancies changes the magnetic properties, which was well explained by a Dyson curve in electron paramagnetic resonance. Temperature and pressure-dependent photoluminescence spectra reveal various luminescent properties between strong and weak fields in different dopant centers. The phosphor-converted NIR light-emitting diode (pc-NIR LED) package demonstrates a superior broadband emission that covers the near-infrared (NIR) region of 650–1050 nm. This study can provide researchers with new insight into the control mechanism of multiple-cation-site phosphors and reveal a potential phosphor candidate for practical NIR LED application.

The marriage between a Li metal anode and the solid-state electrolyte is expected to limit the safety risk of secondary batteries. However, dendrites and interfacial stability hinder the combination of Li metal anode and solid-state electrolyte. Herein, a plastic crystal electrolyte (PCE) and three-dimensional (3D) host structure played the role of a matchmaker in combining the solid-state electrolyte and Li metal anode. Succinonitrile cooperated with Li salt and Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12nanosize powder and built a PCE interphase, which enhanced the interfacial stability between Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3and Li metal anode. To protect the soft PCE from the dendrite penetration, commercially sold Super P, carbon nanotube, KS6, and Ketjen black were co-heated with the melted Li metal. However, only KS6 built a 3D host in Li metal successfully because of its high graphitization and layered structure. Benefitting from the matchmakers, the solid-state batteries exhibited enhanced cycling stability.

The systematic substitution of Ba in the Sr site of Sr[Mg2Al2N4]:Eu2+generates a deep-red-emitting phosphor with enhanced thermal luminescence properties. Gas pressure sintering (GPS) of all-nitride starting materials in Molybdenum (Mo) crucibles yields pure-phase red-orange-colored phosphors. Peaks in the synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) data show a systematic shift toward smaller angles due to the introduction of the larger Ba cation in the same crystal structure. The photoluminescence property reveals that Ba substitution shifts the original emission wavelength of Sr[Mg2Al2N4]:Eu2+(625 nm) toward ∼690 nm for Ba[Mg2Al2N4]:Eu2+. Thermal stability measurement of Sr1–xBax[Mg2Al2N4] indicates a systematic increase in stability from x= 0 to x= 1. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) results demonstrate the coexistence of Eu2+and Eu3+. The red-shift and the enhanced thermal stability reveals that the distance of the emitting 5dlevel to the conduction band of Ba[Mg2Al2N4]:Eu2+is large. The ionic size mismatch of Eu occupying a Ba site reduces the symmetry, thereby further splitting the degenerate emitting 5dlevel and lowering the energy of the emitting center. The development of deep-red phosphors emitting at 670–690 nm (x= 0.8–1.0) offers possible candidates for plant lighting applications.

Li–CO2batteries are of great interest among researchers due to their high energy density and utilization of the greenhouse gas CO2to produce energy. However, several shortcomings have been encountered in the practical applications of Li–CO2batteries, among which their poor cyclability and high charge overpotential necessary to decompose the highly insulating discharge product (Li2CO3) are the most important. Herein, the spinel zinc cobalt oxide porous nanorods with carbon nanotubes (ZnCo2O4@CNTs) composite is employed as a cathode material in Li–CO2batteries to improve the latter’s cycling performance. The ZnCo2O4@CNT cathode-based Li–CO2battery exhibited a full discharge capacity of 4275 mAh g–1and excellent cycling performance over 200 cycles with a charge overpotential below 4.3 V when operated at a current density of 100 mA g–1and fixed capacity of 500 mAh g–1. The superior performance of the ZnCo2O4@CNT cathode composite was attributed to the synergistic effects of ZnCo2O4and CNT. The highly porous ZnCo2O4nanorod structures in the ZnCo2O4@CNT catalyst showed enhanced catalytic activity/stability, which effectively promoted CO2diffusion during the discharging process and accelerated Li2CO3decomposition at a low charge overpotential.

Research on light-emitting diodes has considerably progressed over the years, so they are expected to possess excellent color rendition and high luminescent intensity. Cuboid-based red-nitride phosphors are highly promising because they are characterized by a narrow-band emission property, low energy waste, and excellent thermal stability. However, existing nitride phosphors have limited color diversity because of the lack of other anions. A new series of cuboid-based oxide phosphors called alkali lithosilicates is attracting considerable research attention because of these phosphors’ narrow-band emission and color-tunable properties. In this review, we demonstrate for the first time the features of nitride cuboid-based phosphors from a new perspective. The new perspective is then used to elucidate the color-control mechanism of the oxide cuboid-based phosphors. Finally, we propose a perspective about extending the color from the limit of current cuboid-based oxide phosphors. Our results can serve as a new reference for discovering new phosphors and controlling their luminescent color for practical applications.

Cobalt sulfide (CoSx) functioned as a co-catalyst to accelerate the kinetics of photogenerated electrons on Si photocathode, leading to the enhancement of solar hydrogen evolution efficiency. By doping phosphorus heteroatoms, CoSxmaterials showed an improved catalytic activity because of superior surface area and quantity of active sites. Furthermore, increased vacancies in unoccupied electronic states were observed, as more phosphorus atoms doped into CoSxco-catalysts. Although these vacant sites improved the capability to accept photoinduced electrons from Si photoabsorber, chemisorption energy of atomic hydrogen on catalysts was the dominant factor affecting in photoelectrochemical performance. We suggested that P-doped CoSxwith appropriate doping quantities showed thermoneutral hydrogen adsorption. Excess phosphorus dopants in CoSxcontributed to excessively strong adsorption with H atoms, causing the poor consecutive desorption ability of photocatalytic reaction. The optimal P-doped CoSx-decorated Si photocathode showed a photocurrent of −20.6 mA cm–2at 0 V. Moreover, a TiO2thin film was deposited on the Si photocathode as a passivation layer for improving the durability. The current density of 10 nm TiO2-modified photocathode remained at approximately −13.3 mA cm–2after 1 h of chronoamperometry.

Solid-state lithium-ion batteries are promising candidates for energy storage devices that meet the requirements to reduce CO2emissions. NASICON-type solid-state electrolytes (SSE) are most promising materials as electrolytes for high-performance lithium ion batteries because of their good stability and high ionic conductivity. In this study, we successfully fabricate NASICON-based Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3lithium fast-ion conductors through melt-quenching with post-crystallization. The effect of crystallization temperature on the structure of LAGP and their ionic conductivity is systematically studied using Rietveld analysis of Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction patterns, multinuclear magnetic resonance, and electrochemical analysis, revealing that the mobility of Li ion is dependent on crystallization temperature. The glass–ceramic LAGP annealed at 800 °C for 8 h exhibits the highest conductivity of 0.5 mS cm–1at room temperature. Moreover, we report the viability of the prepared LAGP glass−ceramic as a solid electrolyte in Li-ion batteries without polymer adhesion. The cycling of Li/LAGP/LFP all-solid-state cell, provides a stable cycling lifetime of up to 50 cycles. This approach demonstrates that LAGP glass–ceramic can have good contact with the electrodes without interfacial layer and can deliver a reasonable discharge capacity after 50 cycles.

The initiation of hydrogen energy production from sunlight through photoelectrochemical (PEC) system is an important strategy for resolving contemporary issues in energy requirement. Although precious Pt and other noble metals offer a desirable catalytic activity for this method, earth-abundant nonprecious metal catalysts must be developed for wide-scale application. In this regard, P-type silicon (P-Si) micropyramids (Si MPs) are a favorable photocathode because of their effective light-conversion properties and appropriate band gap position. In this study, we developed amorphous tungsten phosphosulfide nanosheets (WS2–xPxNSs) on Si MPs through a simple thermal annealing process for solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction. The P substitution in the nanostructure effectively produced many defective sites at the edges. The product exhibited an efficient photocurrent density of 19.11 mA cm–2at 0 V and a low onset potential of 0.21 VRHEcompared with tungsten disulfide (WS2; 13.43 mA cm–2). The fabricated catalyst also showed desirable stability for up to 8 h for the WS0.60P1.40@Si MPs photocathode. The extraordinary activity could be due to numerous active sites provided by heteroatoms (sulfur and phosphorus) in the edges, resulting in dwindling reaction kinetics barrier and enhanced PEC activity.

Silicon is a promising photocathode material for solar hydrogen evolution because of its small band gap, negative conduction band position, and ideal theoretical current density. In this study, p-type Si microwire (p-Si MW) arrays were prepared as photocathodes because of the large surface area and high light-harvesting capability. However, Si MWs suffered from low photocatalytic activity because of slow photo-induced carriers during driving of water-splitting reaction. Therefore, molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) with appropriate band alignment with p-Si material was employed for surface modification to function as a co-catalyst for collecting photo-generated minority carriers and reducing recombination possibility. The onset potential and current density at 0V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) of Si@MoS2MWs were +0.122V and −8.41mAcm−2. Heterometal atoms were employed to dope MoS2co-catalyst and expose more sulfur-terminated active sites to further boost photoelectrochemical performance. Optimal activity of Si@MMoSx(M = Fe, Co, Ni) was achieved by doping Co heteroatoms, and its turn-on voltage and photocurrent density at 0V (vs. RHE) were respectively increased to +0.192V and −17.2mAcm−2. X-ray absorption spectroscopy was applied to demonstrate that Fe ions of FeMoSxwere dichalcogenide materials, forming a composite with MoS2and contributing better photoelectrolytic efficiency. By contrast, two-valent heteroatoms of CoMoSxand NiMoSxsubstituted the Mo4+ions in MoS2. For charge compensation, more defects and edges were revealed as active sites of solar hydrogen production by adding Co or Ni dopants in MoS2co-catalyst, which led to lower overpotential.

Cobalt ditelluride as a cocatalyst on the surface of a silicon microwire array (Si-MWs) and as a heterocathode structure for the hydrogen evolution reaction was synthesized viaa one-step drop-casting method. The improvement in the photo-electrocatalytic efficiency, including the 0.66 V anodic shift in the onset potential and the −24.0 mA cm−2photocurrent density, is comparable to that of other cocatalyst systems for water reduction. The photocurrent decay of CoTe2@Si-MWs further improved to roughly −10 mA cm−2by deposition of 10 nm atomic-layer-deposited TiO2on the Si-MW photocathode for 67 min. Outcomes of this study may demonstrate the possibility of introducing a new class of telluride cocatalyst heterocathode system as an alternative to noble metals in facilitating the water splitting reaction. The cobalt ditelluride across the TiO2-passivated Si-MWs heterocathode is reported to have an effective response to solar water reduction for the first time.

Next-generation lithium-ion batteries must have high energy density and safety, making the development of all-solid-state batteries imperative. One of the biggest advantages of an all-solid-state lithium-ion battery (ASSLIB) is that its alloy uses lithium metal as an anode while ignoring its flammability and other dangers. Herein, high-conductivity garnet-type Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12(LLZTO) was chosen as the solid electrolyte part of an all-solid-state battery. A composite anode was formed by melting Li and MXene-MAX together, reducing the interface impedance from 566 to 55 Ω cm2. The Li-MXene|LLZTO|LFP full battery displayed a high initial discharge capacity of 163.0 mAh g–1and a Coulombic efficiency of 97.0% and maintained 90.2% of its discharge capacity over 100 cycles, but it did not maintain a good overpotential. Therefore, the synergistic effect of Li-MXene-Pt will highly improve the performance of the full battery because of its high initial discharge capacity of 150.0 mAh g–1and Coulombic efficiency of 95.5%, discharge capacity maintained at 93.3% over 100 cycles, and low overpotential of 0.04 V.

The rapid change in population, environment, and climate is accompanied by the food crisis. As a new type of farming, indoor agriculture opens the possibility of addressing this crisis in the future. In this study, a phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED), as energy-saving lighting for indoor agriculture, was used to evaluate the response and effect on the growth of Lactuca sativa. Red phosphors, SrLiAl3N4:Eu2+(SLA) and CaAlSiN3:Eu2+(CASN), were characterized and analyzed with crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties. Eu2+-doped phosphors provided the red emission of around 650 nm which is highly matched with the absorption of chlorophyll. Under the same luminescence intensity, broader emission of CASN pc-LED demonstrated a 100% increase of photosynthetically active photon flux density and 130% promotion of plant weight than the SLA pc-LED, which reflected the positive result of the carbon fixation. The chlorophyll and nitrate responses have also revealed the effect of broader red light on indoor agriculture.

In recent years, the development of electric vehicles and environmental concerns have made necessary improvements in the energy density and safety of lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, the development of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs) has become imperative. One advantage of ASSLIBs is their potential for downsizing with the use of lithium metal as the anode. However, in this study, a garnet-type solid electrolyte (Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12) was used, which has low reactivity with lithium metal. Thus, interface modification using CaCl2was employed to form a Li–Ca–Cl composite anode. The interfacial resistance was remarkably reduced to 7 Ω cm2, and the symmetric cell exhibited stable cycling for 1200 h at room temperature and a current density of 0.1 mA cm–2. The voltage ranged from ±15 to ±16 mV. The full cell demonstrated a high initial discharge capacity of 149.2 mA h g–1and a Coulombic efficiency of 98.0% while maintaining a discharge capacity retention of 91.3% after 100 cycles. These findings lay a solid foundation for future commercial applications as interface modification was achieved through a simple spin-coating process using low-cost CaCl2(0.7 USD g–1).

An efficient H2evolution catalyst is developed by grafting CoSe2nanorods into C3N4nanosheets. The as-obtained C3N4–CoSe2heterostructure can show excellent performance in H2evolution with outstanding durability. To generate phatocathode for photoelectrochemical water splitting CoSe2grafted in C3N4was decorated on the top of p-Si microwires (MWs). p-Si/C3N4–CoSe2heterostructure can work as an efficient photocathode material for solar H2production in PEC water splitting. In 0.5 M H2SO4, p-Si/C3N4–CoSe2can afford photocurrent density −4.89 mA/cm2at “0” V vs RHE and it can efficiently work for 3.5 h under visible light. Superior activity of C3N4–CoSe2compared to CoSe2toward H2evolution is explained with the help of impedance spectroscopy.

This study employed silicon@cobalt dichalcogenide microwires (MWs) as wide range pH-tolerable photocathode material for solar water splitting. Silicon microwire arrays were fabricated through lithography and dry etching technologies. Si@Co(OH)2MWs were utilized as precursors to synthesize Si@CoX2(X = S or Se) photocathodes. Si@CoS2and Si@CoSe2MWs were subsequently prepared by thermal sulfidation and hydrothermal selenization reaction of Si@Co(OH)2, respectively. The CoX2outer shell served as cocatalyst to accelerate the kinetics of photogenerated electrons from the underlying Si MWs and reduce the recombination. Moreover, the CoX2layer completely deposited on the Si surface functioned as a passivation layer by decreasing the oxide formation on Si MWs during solar hydrogen evolution. Si@CoS2photocathode showed a photocurrent density of −3.22 mA cm–2at 0 V (vs RHE) in 0.5 M sulfuric acid electrolyte, and Si@CoSe2MWs revealed moderate photocurrent density of −2.55 mA cm–2. However, Si@CoSe2presented high charge transfer efficiency in neutral and alkaline electrolytes. Continuous chronoamperometry in acid, neutral, and alkaline solutions was conducted at 0 V (vs RHE) to evaluate the photoelectrochemical durability of Si@CoX2MWs. Si@CoS2electrode showed no photoresponse after the chronoamperometry test because it was etched through the electrolyte. By contrast, the photocurrent density of Si@CoSe2MWs gradually increased to −5 mA cm–2after chronoamperometry characterization owing to the amorphous structure generation.

A successive preparation of FeCo2O4nanoflakes arrays on nickel foam substrates is achieved by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. After 170 cycles, a high capacity of 905 mAh g–1at 200 mA g–1current density and very good rate capabilities are obtained for lithium-ion battery because of the 2D porous structures of the nanoflakes arrays. The distinctive structural features provide the battery with excellent electrochemical performance. The symmetric supercapacitor on nonaqueous electrolyte demonstrates high specific capacitance of 433 F g–1at 0.1 A g–1and 16.7 F g–1at high scan rate of 5 V s–1and excellent cyclic performance of 2500 cycles of charge–discharge cycling at 2 A g–1current density, revealing excellent long-term cyclability of the electrode even under rapid charge–discharge conditions.

The preparation and properties of plasmonic gold nanostars (Au NSs) modified with a biopolymer chitosan are reported. The colloidal stability of Au NSs at the physiological pH of 7.5 and their performance in the photothermolysis of cancer cells in vitro were compared with those of gold nanorods (Au NRs). The optical characteristics of chitosan-modified Au NSs dispersed in a medium with pH = 7.5 had higher stability than those of chitosan-capped NRs because of the slower aggregation of NSs. At pH = 7.5, the chitosan-modified Au NRs formed aggregates with highly nonuniform sizes. On the other hand, Au NSs formed small chain-like clusters, in which individual NSs were connected to one another, preferably via association of branches with central cores. It is possible that the difference in areal charge density at these parts of NSs is responsible for their preferred association. Flow cytometry analysis showed the relatively nonequivalent distribution of the chitosan-capped Au NRs across the cell line compared with that of Au NSs because of the fast and nonuniform aggregation of NRs. An in-vitro photothermolysis experiment on J5 cancer cells showed that energy fluences of 23 and 33 mJ/cm2are necessary to cause complete death of J5 cells incubated with 4 μg/mL chitosan-capped Au NSs and NRs, respectively. When chitosan was used as a surface-capping agent, the Au NSs exhibited higher colloidal stability at the physiological pH than the NRs and lower energy fluence necessary for cell photothermolysis because of more uniform cellular uptake.

The lithium vanadium phosphate (Li3V2(PO4)3 solid cathode materials were synthesized by microwave-heated sol-gel method using lithium hydroxide, ammonium metavanadate, phosphate and citric acid as starting materials. The test was conducted with orthogonal experiment method. The optimal conditions for (Li3V2(PO4)3 synthesis were determined to be microwave heating time of 10 min, microwave power of 700 W, Li/V molar ratio of 3.05:2.0 and pH value(gel solution) of 7.0. The synthesized (Li3V2(PO4)3 under the optimal conditions demonstrated perfect crystal growth and good electrochemical performance with initial charge/discharge specific capacity of 172.42 mAh·g-1/154.93 mAh·g-1 and discharge decay rate of 2.25 % after 50 cycles. The lithium ion diffusion coefficient was determined to be 1.434 ×10-8 cm2·s-1 by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and mathematical models derived from simulative equivalent circuit.

The lithium vanadium phosphate (Li3V2(PO4)3) cathode materials were synthesized by microwave- assisted carbothermal reduction method. The effects of microwave heating time and Li/V molar ratio on the structure and electrochemical performance of the prepared samples were investigated. The results show that the perfect crystal growth and good electrochemical performance ( first charge / discharge specific capacity of 160.8 mAh•g-1/151.3 mAh•g-1 and discharge decay rate of 7.90% after 30 cycles ) of the Li3V2(PO4)3 were obtained under the optimal conditions of heating time 11 min and Li/V molar ratio 3.05:2.0. The voltage values appeared at the oxidation and reduction peaks of the cyclic voltammetry curves were proved to be basically consistent with those appeared at the charge / discharge curves. The lithium ion diffusion coefficient was determined to be 2.320 ×10-9 cm2•s-1 by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and mathematical models derived from simulative equivalent circuit.

Einen Wirkungsgrad von 1.83 %erreicht ein Photovoltaikelement auf der Grundlage von ZnO‐Nanodrähten, die mit CdTe‐Quantenpunkten (QDs) sensibilisiert wurden (siehe Bild; FTO=F‐dotiertes SnO2) – ein um 200 % höherer Wert als von reinen ZnO‐Nanodrähten. Das Vorliegen der CdTe‐QDs auf der Oberfläche der ZnO‐Nanodrähte wurde durch HRTEM bestätigt.

Utilizing CO2as cathode gas, Na–CO2battery has been intensively studied due to its potential application in the exploration of Mars, where CO2takes up 96% of the atmosphere. However, evaporation of the flammable liquid electrolyte restricts the practical application of the Na–CO2battery. Herein, a solid-state Na–CO2battery has been fabricated with the help of a plastic crystal electrolyte and kinetically stable interphase. The succinonitrile-based plastic crystal electrolyte interphase makes an intimate contact between Na3Zr2Si2PO12(NZSP) and cathode, thereby promotes the interfacial charge transfer. Simultaneously, the kinetically stable interphase on the anode side is revealed by the cooperation of theoretical calculation and experiments. The kinetically stable interphase protects the NZSP from the continuous interfacial parasitic reaction. The as-proposed solid-state Na–CO2battery delivers a life span of 50 cycles at 100 mA g−1with a potential gap of 1.4 V. This study makes solid-state electrolyte Na–CO2battery an attractive prospect in future applications.

Clean energy is an utmost need for the betterment of society. Li-ion batteries (LIBs) have been the clean-energy choice for several decades. However, with the increasing demand for batteries with high specific energy, the current state-of-the-art LIB technology is becoming unsatisfactory because of the capacity fade and low potential window encountered when using liquid-based electrolytes. Conversely, solid Li-ion conductors are capable of widening the cell-potential window and adding safety features to the LIB system. Nevertheless, the development of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) faces several challenges, starting from ion transport through solid components to interface reactions, leading to increased cell resistance. The current review focuses on the use of in situ/operandotechniques to explore such challenges in ASSBs. X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques can be used to evaluate the phase evolution and impurity formation in solid Li-ion conductors. Energy-dispersive X-rays can provide information about intermittent products during the battery cycle. Imaging techniques can provide direct visualization of changes that occur in cell components during cycles. Operandotechniques are further discussed to estimate the residual gas evolution in such ASSBs. Overall, this review discusses the cause of cell death and capacity fade in ASSBs.

All-solid-state Li-ion batteries (ASSLIBs), also known as next-generation batteries, have attracted much attention due to their high energy density and safety. The best advantage of ASSLIBs is the Li–metal anodes that could be used without safety issues. In this study, a highly conductive garnet solid electrolyte (Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12, LLZTO) was used in the ASSLIB, and a Pt film was used to modify the surface of LLZTO to prove the solution of the Li–metal anode for LLZTO. Li–Pt alloy was synthesized to improve the wettability and contact of the interface. The interfacial resistance was reduced by 21 times, at only 9 Ω cm2. The symmetric cell could stably cycle over 3500 h at a current density of 0.1 mA cm–2. The full cell of Li|Li–Pt|LLZTO|LiFePO4and Li|Li–Pt|LLZTO|LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4achieved high stability in terms of battery performance. Point-to-point contact transformed into homogeneous surface contact made the Li-ion flux faster and more stable. This surface modification method could provide researchers with a new choice for fixing interface issues and promoting the application of high-performance ASSLIBs in the future.

An effective Ru/CNT electrocatalyst plays a crucial role in solid-state lithium–carbon dioxide batteries. In the present article, ruthenium metal decorated on a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is introduced as a cathode for the lithium–carbon dioxide batteries with Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3solid-state electrolyte. The Ru/CNT cathode exhibits a large surface area, maximum discharge capacity, excellent reversibility, and long cycle life with low overpotential. The electrocatalyst achieves improved electrocatalytic performance for the carbon dioxide reduction reaction and carbon dioxide evolution reaction, which are related to the available active sites. Using the Ru/CNT cathode, the solid-state lithium–carbon dioxide battery exhibits a maximum discharge capacity of 4541 mA h g–1and 45 cycles of battery life with a small voltage gap of 1.24 V compared to the CNT cathode (maximum discharge capacity of 1828 mA h g–1, 25 cycles, and 1.64 V as voltage gap) at a current supply of 100 mA g–1with a cutoff capacity of 500 mA h g–1. Solid-state lithium–carbon dioxide batteries have shown promising potential applications for future energy storage.

Two quantitative PCR (qPCR)–based methods, for clonal immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor gene (Ig/TCR) rearrangements and for fusion transcripts, are widely used for the measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MRD of bone marrow samples from 165 patients carrying the three major fusion transcripts, including 74 BCR-ABL1, 54 ETV6-RUNX1, and 37 TCF3-PBX1, was analyzed by using the two qPCR-based methods. The correlation coefficient of both methods was good for TCF3-PBX1(R2 = 0.8088) and BCR-ABL1(R2 = 0.8094) ALL and moderate for ETV6-RUNX1(R2 = 0.5972). The concordance was perfect for TCF3-PBX1ALL (97.2%), substantially concordant for ETV6-RUNX1ALL (87.1%), and only moderate for BCR-ABL1ALL (70.6%). The discordant MRD, positive for only one method with a difference greater than one log, was found in 4 of 93 samples (4.3%) with ETV6-RUNX1, 31 of 245 samples (12.7%) with BCR-ABL1, and none of TCF3-PBX1ALL. None of the eight non-transplanted patients with BCR-ABL1-MRD (+)/Ig/TCR-MRD (–) with a median follow-up time of 73.5 months had hematologic relapses. Our study showed an excellent MRD concordance between the two qPCR-based methods in TCF3-PBX1ALL, whereas qPCR for Ig/TCRis more reliable in BCR-ABL1ALL.

Si5.984AlzOzN8‐z :Pr0.016(z = 0—2.0) is prepared from α‐Si3N4, AlN, Al2O3, and Pr2O3by gas pressure sintering at 1950 °C for 2 h.

We demonstrate here a simple method to tune the optical properties of thin films of nickel nanowires grown inside an anodic alumina oxide (AAO) template using different anodizing conditions. The optical properties of the metal plate can be effectively tuned by adjusting the thickness of porous alumina oxide. In our case, the thickness of the porous alumina oxide depends strongly on the current density because the duration of anodization maintained constant. The transmission electron microscopic image of the cross section reveals the growth of nickel nanowires which are embedded in porous alumina oxide. Due to the interference between incident light and reflected light, the anodic alumina oxide plate exhibits a variety of color. This demonstration of optical behavior tuning makes it possible to scale up the preparation of metal/oxide nanostructures exhibiting color tuning in the visible region.

The effects of structural, electrical and magnetic properties with the isovalent chemical substitution of Ca2+into the Sr2+sites in new series of two-dimensional La1.2(Sr1.8-xCax)Mn2O7compounds (x=0?0.8) and three-dimensional La0.6(Sr0.4-xCax)MnO3compounds (x=0?0.4) are investigated. The Curie temperatures (TC) decreased from 135 K to 102 K and 370 K to 270 K for x = 0 to 0.4 in La1.2(Sr1.8-xCax)Mn2O7and La0.6(Sr0.4-xCax)MnO3, respectively. The antiferromagnetic behavior with Néel temperature around 30 K was found in the x=0.8 sample in La1.2(Sr1.8-xCax)Mn2O7. The composition induced structural variation has been found in La0.6(Sr0.4-xCax)MnO3. All the results demonstrate that the dimensionality and chemical size play an important role in controlling the colossal magnetoresistance in manganites.