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A simple method for the lithium selective recovery from spent lithium manganate batteries via direct oxidation was proposed, which will promote the sustainable development of lithium manganate industry.

We report an Ag doped Pd nano-dendritic catalyst, which achieves high selectivity of EG production from ethylene. Both experiment and theory reveal that the catalyst not only reduces the reaction barrier of coupling steps but also facilitates the desorption of EG.

Lower extremity robotic exoskeletons (LEEX) can not only improve the ability of the human body but also provide healing treatment for people with lower extremity dysfunction. There are a wide range of application needs and development prospects in the military, industry, medical treatment, consumption and other fields, which has aroused widespread concern in society. This paper attempts to review LEEX technical development. First, the history of LEEX is briefly traced. Second, based on existing research, LEEX is classified according to auxiliary body parts, structural forms, functions and fields, and typical LEEX prototypes and products are introduced. Then, the latest key technologies are analyzed and summarized, and the research contents, such as bionic structure and driving characteristics, human–robot interaction (HRI) and intent-awareness, intelligent control strategy, and evaluation method of power-assisted walking efficiency, are described in detail. Finally, existing LEEX problems and challenges are analyzed, a future development trend is proposed, and a multidisciplinary development direction of the key technology is provided.

ConspectusSelf-assembly, which enables spontaneous arrangement of objects, is of particular importance for nanomaterials in both fundamental and applied research fields. Multiple types of nanoparticle superstructures have been successfully built in highly controllable and efficient manners through balancing the nanoscale interactions. Uniform and proper arrangement of nanoparticles inside the assembled superstructures is essential to exhibit their constant, reliable, and homogeneous functionalities. To be specific, the long-range ordered superlattices not only succeed with their building blocks' intrinsic property, but also, more importantly, can display collective properties that are absent both in individual nanoparticles and in their bulk states. One of the most attractive aspects of nanomaterials is their exceptional optical properties that have tremendous application potential in multidisciplinary fields. In this regard, constructing the superstructures from optical nano units like noble metal nanostructures, semiconductor nanoparticles, or hybrid nanomaterials is critical for attaining the unique optical properties and exploring their practical applications in multiple fields including photonics, optoelectronics, optical sensing, photocatalysis, etc. In this Account, we provide guidelines for self-assembly strategies to fabricate the superstructures and discuss the optical properties that the superstructures display. In the first part, we categorize and discuss the key factors that strongly affect the self-assembly process and determine the configurational and integral quality of the superstructures. On one hand, the diversity and designability of nanoparticles offer the intrinsic complexity of the building blocks, including geometry, size, composition, and surface ligand, which efficiently tailors the assembly process and superstructure configuration. On the other hand, multiple factors originating from the introduction of extrinsic features are recognized to facilitate the metastable or dynamic self-assembly process. Such extrinsic features include both matter like DNA origami, peptides, small molecules, etc. and nonmatter involved with electric fields, magnetic fields, light, temperature, etc. In the second part, we introduce the state-of the art progress on the collective optical performances of the assembled superstructures, including (1) chiral optics, such as circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence, (2) plasmonic properties and related applications, and (3) luminescence related optics and their applications. Finally, we summarize the existing problems and main challenges briefly, and some future directions of this field are proposed. We envision that, with deep understanding of the assembly mechanism and development of the synthetic and surface chemistry, rational modulation of nanoassemblies will be the trend of this field, which is beneficial to achieve the emerging collective performances and create new generation devices with advanced functions.

Distinct from the conventional view that nanopores are considered independent channels for mass transport, recent study on the covalent organic framework (COF)-based monolayers characteristic of an ordered nanopore array exhibits a series of interesting properties originating from the strong interactions between adjacent pores. These interactions are determined to be highly dependent on interpore distance and pose a significant influence on the ion transport, accounting for the exceptional membrane performance including both selectivity and conductance. In this Perspective, we discuss the recently discovered nanoscale pore-pore coupling as well as the exciting features of porous nanostructures. We also look at the challenges and future opportunities of ion transport in ordered porous monolayers in the aspects of both fundamental research and practical use.

N-directing asymmetric hydrogenation of vinyl ether can afford excellent yield and ee without a coordinating group engagement.

Single atomic Fe–Nx moieties have shown great performance in CO2-to-CO conversion.