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Currently, there exists a significant number of green hydrogen production (GHP) technologies based on scaling-up issues (SCUI). Optimal prediction and process optimization could be one of the most substantial SCUI of GHP. Machine learning (ML)-based prediction and optimization of GHP technologies from water industries for a circular economy (CRE) could be a plausible solution for these SCUI. We studied a detailed techno-economic and environmental feasibility study, which recommended proton exchange membrane (PEM) and dark fermentation (DF) as the most promising and environment-friendly technologies for GHP. Thus, the present investigation aims to apply different ML models to predict and optimize the GHP of DF and PEM technologies to solve the SCUI. The results revealed K-nearest neighbor and random forest are the best-fitted models to predict GHP for DF and PEM, correspondingly based on the regression co-efficient (R2), root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MEA). The permutation variable index (PVI) recommended that chemical oxygen demand (COD), butyrate, temperature, pH and acetate/butyrate ratio are the most influential process parameters in decreasing order for DF, while temperature, cell areas, cell pressure, cell voltage and catalysts loadings are the most effective process parameters for PEM in reducing order. The partial dependency analysis (PDA) demonstrated GHP increases with increasing COD values up to 10 mg/L, and the optimal temperature range in the DF process is between 25 and 30 °C. On the other hand, cell temperature up to 35 °C should be considered optimum for PEM, and 40–70 cm2 cell areas could produce a significant GHP. In summary, the present study underscores the potential of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) as promising techniques for optimizing GHP, ultimately addressing scaling-up challenges in large-scale industrial GHP production and ensuring a sustainable hydrogen economy (HE). [Display omitted] • KNN and RF are the best-fitted models to predict green hydrogen production (GHP). • Temperature and COD are considered the most influential factors for GHP. • The GHP increases with increasing COD values up to 10 mg/L for DF. • Cell temperature up to 35 °C should be considered optimum for PEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation industry has played a crucial role in advancing human society, but it has also raised concerns about carbon emissions and environmental pollution. As a result, significant research is being conducted in various areas, such as electric vehicles, powertrain energy efficiency, shared mobility, and autonomous driving. However, vehicles remain essential, and reducing their energy consumption is vital. One effective way to achieve this is by light–weighting vehicle materials. In the past, steel was the primary material used, but the transition to materials like aluminum has shown better weight-to-strength ratios. To drive change, we must explore the use of diverse materials since no single material is perfect. By combining specific materials, we can complement their weaknesses and enhance their strengths, opening up new possibilities for the future of mobility. One critical factor in advancing future mobility is the joining of dissimilar materials. This paper delves into various methods of joining dissimilar materials, their characteristics, and techniques to improve their joining performance. The joint strength for each joining method is also summarized in this study. The joining methods are primarily divided into mechanical joining, chemical joining using adhesives, and thermal fusion welding. Methods to enhance the joint include combining each joining method and improving surface interactions through surface treatments. The joint exhibiting the highest strength was the laser-welded joint of strength 312 MPa between Ti 3 Al-Nb alloy and Ni-based superalloy, while the lightest and strong joint was the friction stir-welded joint of strength 63.4 MPa in Polyamide 6 GFRP. Welded joints of polymer materials appear promising for the future mobility industry, particularly in terms of being lightweight. Additionally, there is a need to develop new methods to measure strength as the units used to represent the physical characteristics of the joints are not standardized. Some joints suffer from issues due to unclear joint area, highlighting the necessity to develop new strength measurement methods for future advancements. • The transportation industry has significantly advanced human society, but concerns over carbon emissions and environmental pollution have emerged. • Research focuses on areas such as electric vehicles, energy-efficient powertrains, shared mobility, and autonomous driving to address these concerns. • Light-weighting vehicle materials, like transitioning from steel to aluminum, is a key approach to reduce energy consumption. • Utilizing diverse materials and combining them can offset their individual weaknesses and amplify their strengths, creating new potential for future mobility. • A pivotal aspect of this evolution is the joining of dissimilar materials, with this paper exploring various joining methods, their attributes, and strategies to enhance their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a vital renewable resource for all living organisms, including humans, and various methods have emerged to gather it from sources such as fog. Biodegradable polymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), can be utilized to capture and transport droplets, but their prolonged exposure to alkaline environments can lead to erosion, dissolution, or breakdown due to hydrolysis. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of PLA nanofibrous web as a fog collector and investigate the possibility of adjusting its hydrophilicity through alkaline treatment. By inducing the generation of COOH or OH on the PLA surface, its hydrophilicity can be modified to enhance its fog collection performance. The research aims to determine if electrospun PLA nanofibrous web can serve as a component of a fog collector with improved hydrophilicity as a result of alkaline treatment. Despite using a single material, the alkaline treated PLA nanofibrous web exhibited relatively good performance of 55.1 mg·cm−2·h−1 compared to other blend polymer nanofibers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of hydronium ions and methanol molecules in hydrated SPAES and blend membranes are investigated via molecular dynamics simulations using the COMPASS force field. In addition to calculating the diffusion coefficients as a function of the hydration level, an amorphous cell with a specific composition of H 2 O molecules and H 3 O + determined from the experimental data is constructed and tested. The water and methanol diffusion coefficients are considerably smaller at lower hydration levels and room temperature. The diffusion coefficient of the water and methanol molecules increases with increases in the hydration level, and this is in good agreement with experiment data. Analysis of the pair correlation functions supports the experimental observations of the membrane performance with hydration related to the water and methanol diffusion behavior in hydrated SPAES and blend membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of microcracks in polymer coatings degrades the structural stability and lifespan of the protective layers. Enhancing the polymer-coated surfaces with self-healing properties has attracted considerable attention as it increases the reliability and lifespan of polymer systems. Herein, the strength and self-healing properties of polyurethane/graphene oxide (PU/GO) composite materials were improved using two GO treatments, referring to mechanical milling and chemical treatment with HF. When GO was surface treated for 5 h with an HF concentration of 40%, and PU/GO was heated 80 °C for 6–8 h, the over 80% healing efficiency can be obtained. The HF-treated GO-reinforced composites demonstrated high self-healing efficiency and remarkable mechanical performance, making them a promising self-healing material for protecting structural composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene nanosheets are 2D nanomaterials composed of transition metal carbides and nitrides. MXenes have recently emerged as innovative building blocks for next-generation high-performance gas separation membranes owing to their exceptional gas permeability and selectivity with outstanding physical and chemical properties. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the design and performance of MXene-based gas separation membranes. Furthermore, the characteristics and synthesis of MXene nanosheets are explained, and various types of MXene-based membranes, fabrication strategies, and gas separation mechanisms are introduced. Next, the gas separation performance of MXene-based membranes as reported in previous studies is evaluated. Critical challenges in designing commercial MXene-based gas separation membranes are also discussed. In addition, this review demonstrates the potential of MXene nanosheets for high-performance gas separation membranes. [Display omitted] • Commonly used synthesis methods for 2D MXenes • Applicable strategies for fabricating 2D MXene-based gas separation membranes • Evaluation of gas separation performance of MXene-based membranes • Technological challenges and future perspectives of MXene-based membranes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are regarded as potential alternatives to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) for their system durability, low price and system similarity. However, their low ion conducting performance and membrane chemical stability needs to be overcome before practical applications of AEMFCs can be realized. In this study, we performed a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of an ethyl imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone) (EI-PES) block copolymer, which has high hydroxide ion conductivity due to a well-defined phase separation morphology, and compared the result with that of quaternary ammonium-functionalized PES (QA-PES). Introduction of ethyl imidazolium functional groups improved the ion conducting channel morphologies and chemical stabilities of the functional groups in AEMs compared to QA-PES models with the same polymer backbone but different functional groups, quaternary ammonium groups. Our findings are well consistent with the previous report that conjugated π-bonds of heterocyclic systems enhanced proton conductivity and chemical stability. In addition, compared to bulky functional groups, such as quaternary phosphonium and tertiary sulfonium, small size functional groups, such as ethyl imidazolium and quaternary ammonium, have a lower ion conducting performance under the same hydration conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(dibenzylated benzimidazolium) bromides (Bz-PBI-Br) were converted successfully to OH − ion conducting poly(dibenzylated benzimidazolium) hydroxides (Bz-PBI-hydroxides) by the treatment of KOH. The Bz-PBI-hydroxides obtained in this study showed an excellent alkali tolerance compared to previously synthesized poly(dimethylated benzimidazolium) hydroxides (Me-PBI-hydroxides). According to 1 H-NMR analysis, Me-PBI-hydroxides were decomposed during KOH treatment. In order to find out the reason, density functional theory (DFT) calculations of two benzimidazolium structures, e.g., dimethylated benzimidazolium (Me-BI + ) and dibenzylated benzimidazolium (Bz-BI + ), were performed. Bz-BI + showed lower electron affinity and OH − -binding energies at the C2 position of the benzimidazolium ring than Me-BI + . These DFT results strongly confirm that Bz-BI + is less vulnerable to an OH − attack than Me-BI + ; this contributes to the enhanced stability and OH − ion conductivity of the Bz-PBI-hydroxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cation modulated Nickel sufide nanospheres fabricated via a pulsed laser technique. • Homogenous shape selectivity resulted in higher surface bimetallic active sites. • Co-Ni-S achieved an overpotential of 368 mV at 10 mA/cm2 for OER. • Higher ECSA of Cu-Ni-S resulted in excellent HER with an overpotential of 271 mV. • Larger Cu accessible sites resulted in excellent MOR activity of 55.4 mA/cm2. The development of a non-precious and highly active multifunctional electrocatalyst is essential for obtaining efficient electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices. Nickel derivate occupies the most important place when it comes to the transition metal-based electrocatalyst. In this study, we used a simple and extremely effective controllable pulsed laser irradiation (PLI) technique to fabricate dual-phase nickel sulfide, and we studied cation modulation using Co and Cu atoms. The multifunctional activity was witnessed by the performances of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) measured in an alkaline medium. The cation adjustment resulted in the improvement of the catalytic performance of HER and OER during Cu and Co substitution, respectively. For the Co-Ni-S sample in OER, we achieved an overpotential of 368 mV at 10 mA/cm2 in OER. The higher ECSA Cu-Ni-S sample improved HER activity at a lower overpotential of 271 mV at 10 mA/cm2 and a lower Tafel slope of 98 mV/dec. The excellent bifunctional activity enhanced overall water splitting with a lower voltage of 1.88 V to achieve a geometrical current density of 10 mA/cm2, with high durability. Meanwhile, the high selectivity of Cu resulted in a very high methanol electrooxidation activity with a current density as high as 55.4 mA/cm2. The detailed electrochemical studies were presented with their supporting physiochemical analysis. This report shows the efficiency and simplicity of fabricating transition metal derivatives and cation modulation using superficial laser methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we systematically investigate the screen printing of Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) inks for the use of source and drain (S/D) electrodes of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), controlling printing process condition such as printing speed annealing temperature, as well as the surface modification for the substrate. The optimization of screen-printed AgNPs showed high electrical conductivity, nice pattern-fidelity and good adhesion to the substrate. Although the printed AgNP pattern indicated the thickness of about 11 μm (measured at the center area of the pattern) which is too high compared with that of semiconductor layer (∼100 nm), the edge side of the pattern showed the trapezoid shape with an angle of 18.2° enabling the feasible charge injection and extraction between electrodes and semiconductor layer. Based on the optimized AgNP S/D electrode, the OTFTs with 2,9-di-decyl-dinaphtho-[2,3-b:2,3-f]-thieno-[3,2-b]thiophene (C 10 -DNTT) semiconductor layer were fabricated on Si/SiO 2 and flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates with bottom-gate, bottom-contact (BGBC) and top-gate, bottom-contact (TGBC) device structure, respectively. Consequently, BGBC on Si/SiO 2 showed the best device performance, with a μ FET of 0.186 cm2V−1s−1 and threshold voltage (V th) of −0.41 V. In addition, TGBC OTFTs on the PET substrate obtained an electrical performance with a μ FET of 0.012 cm2V−1s−1. [Display omitted] • Screen-printed Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) patterns were applied as source/drain electrodes of organic thin-film transistors. • The printed AgNP showed high electrical conductivity, nice pattern fidelity, and good adhesion to the substrate. • The printed AgNP electrode had a thickness of about 11 μm and a trapezoidal edge with an angle of 18.2°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new hydrophilic–hydrophobic comb-type anion exchange membrane (AEM) was prepared from SEBS grafted with hexyl quaternary ammonium (HQA) and fluorobenzoyl. As confirmed by XRD and TEM, a better phase separation was obtained by adding a highly hydrophobic fluorine-substituted pendant as an enhanced hydrophobic spacer to the conducting head group (which contained a hexyl spacer as a hydrophilic unit). The HQA-F 1 -SEBS and HQA-F 5 -SEBS membranes, with fluorobenzoyl and pentafluorobenzoyl pendants, respectively, showed enhanced hydrophobicity compared to their non-fluorinated counterpart (HQA-SEBS). The highest hydroxide ion conductivity (87.0 in water and 14.37 mS cm-1 at 95% RH) was obtained at 80 °C with HQA-F 5 -SEBS, which exhibited the most thermodynamic incompatibility between hydrophilic and hydrophobic units. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and Young's Modulus) of the HQA-F 5 -SEBS membrane were also improved; they were almost 2.5 times higher than those of the HQA-SEBS. The HQA-F 5 -SEBS showed a current density of 500 mA cm-2 at a potential of 0.6 V and a peak power density of 354 mW cm-2. It also showed stable-cell durability for up to 100 h. Compared with the typical hydrophilic comb-type SEBS membrane and the previously reported SEBS-based AEM, its cell performance was significantly higher. [Display omitted] • Hydrophilic–hydrophobic comb-type SEBS prepared as novel materials for anion exchange membranes. • Hexyl quaternary ammonium- and fluorobenzoyl-grafted SEBS were prepared. • The effect of the fluorine content of the hydrophobic pendant was investigated. • Enhanced hydrophobicity helped to form a phase-separated morphology and enhance conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polybenzimidazoles (p-PBI and m-PBI) were synthesized by the reaction of 3,3-diaminobenzidine with terephthalic acid or isophthalic acid in polyphosphoric acid at 220°C for 20h. These PBI membranes were prepared by two methods: conventional casting (post-membrane fabrication) and direct casting (in situ fabrication). Their properties were found to be dependant on their polymer structure as well as the membrane casting method used in the fabrication process. p-PBI demonstrated higher ion conductivity and greater mechanical properties than m-PBI. The membrane produced by the direct casting method resulted in higher ion conductivity than that produced by the conventional casting method. For these reasons, p-PBI membrane formed by a direct casting method promises to enhance the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biodegradable polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite membranes were prepared by solution casting method for the application of dehumidification and gas separation. The intercalation and exfoliation of clay in the prepared nanocomposite membranes were confirmed through X-ray diffraction study (XRD). Their thermal and mechanical properties were observed by using Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Universal Testing Machine (UTM), respectively. Gas and vapor permeation properties were examined to investigate the effect of the intercalated nanocomposite into membranes. Both gas and vapor permeabilities of the prepared nanocomposite membranes were found to decrease with the increase of clay content. They proved their particular barrier property through intercalation of clay. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of sulfonated polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-r-butylene)-b-polystyrene (S-SEBS) membranes with high water permeability and thermo-mechanical stability were prepared to estimate the membrane utility for heating/ventilation/air conditioner (HVAC) system. The sulfonation degrees of membranes were controlled by the contents of sulfonating reagent (acetyl sulfate) added. Proton conductivity and water permeation properties of the membranes increased with increasing sulfonation degree. And gas permeation properties were measured to investigate effect of sulfonation of the membranes on permeation properties. Membrane stability with increasing sulfonation degree was also studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Optimization and miniaturization of existing electronic devices require the development of advanced nanostructured materials with high phase and structural purity. Over the past decade, barium titanate (BaTiO 3) has attracted considerable attention due to its outstanding ferroelectric and dielectric properties. The present study involved the investigation of the phase transition and structural stability of tetragonal BaTiO 3 nanopowders with pseudo-cubic phase using an in-situ high resolution and high temperature X-ray diffraction method. Under ambient conditions, the coexistence the tetragonal and cubic phases with weight fractions of 75.7% and 24.3%, respectively, was determined in BaTiO 3. In the temperature range of 25 °C-300 °C, phase boundaries of BaTiO 3 (180 nm in size) exhibiting several phases were detected. The phase transformation behavior, relative crystal phase content, lattice parameters, crystallite size, and tetragonality of the BaTiO 3 nanopowders were established by the Rietveld refinement method at the onset temperature from 25 °C to 300 °C. Up to 150 °C, the nanopowders exhibited a complete transition of the cubic phase. Additionally, a complete tetragonal to cubic transformation was accomplished by a decrease of tetragonality at 125 °C and an increase in the crystallite size at 300 °C. [Display omitted] • In-situ thermal XRD experiments involving BaTiO 3 nanopowders were conducted. • Phase transition and structural stability of tetragonal BaTiO 3 was studied. • Crystalline structure of BaTiO 3 was established by the Rietveld refinement method. • BaTiO 3 practical applications in cutting-edge nano/micro-devices have been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, modified acid–base blend membranes were fabricated via incorporation of sulfonated poly(arylene ether benzimidazole) (SPAEBI) into sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES). These membranes had excellent methanol-barrier properties in addition to an ability to compensate for the loss of proton conductivity that typically occurs in general acid–base blend system. To fabricate the membranes, SPAEBIs, which served as amphiphilic polymers with different degrees of sulfonation (0–50mol%), were synthesized by polycondensation and added to SPAES. It resulted in the formation of acid–amphiphilic complexes such as [PAES-SO3]− +[H-SPAEBI] through the ionic crosslinking, which prevented SO3H groups in the complex from transporting free protons in an aqueous medium, contributing to a reduction of ion exchange capacity values and water uptake in the blend membranes, and leading to lower methanol permeability in a water–methanol mixture. Unfortunately, the ionic bonding formation was accompanied by a decrease of bound water content and proton conductivity, although the latter problem was solved to some extent by the incorporation of additional SO3H groups in SPAEBI. In the SPAES–SPAEBI blend membranes, enhancement of proton conductivity and methanol-barrier property was prominent at temperatures over 90°C. The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance, which was based on SPAES–SPAEBI-50–5, was 1.2 times higher than that of Nafion® 117 under the same operating condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, blended anion exchange membranes were prepared using polyphenylene oxide containing quaternary ammonium groups and polyvinylidene fluoride. A polyvinylidene fluoride with high hydrophobicity was blended in to lower the vanadium ion permeability, which increased when the hydrophilicity increased. At the same time, the dimensional stability also improved due to the excellent physical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride. Subsequently, permeation of the vanadium ions was prevented due to the positive charge of the anion exchange membrane, and thus the permeability was relatively lower than that of a commercial proton exchange membrane. Due to the above properties, the self-discharge of the blended anion exchange membrane (30.1 h for QA–PPO/PVDF(2/8)) was also lower than that of the commercial proton exchange membrane (27.9 h for Nafion), and it was confirmed that it was an applicable candidate for vanadium redox flow batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous fiber reinforcements are widely used to enhance mechanical properties of composite materials, but the impregnation of continuous fiber reinforcements with thermoplastics is a challenge due to high melt viscosity of the thermoplastic matrix. One of promising routes to improve the impregnation is to prepare commingled yarns with continuous matrix filaments and reinforcement fibers. In this study, we investigate mechanical properties of commingled yarns comprising different ratios of continuous glass fibers and polypropylene filaments, and of the composite plates made up of fabrics woven by the commingled yarns with a different polypropylene content. We found that undistributed or bunched glass fibers occur at high PP contents (>50 wt%), inducing an inhomogeneous mixing of the continuous reinforcement fibers and polypropylene filaments, which resultantly leads to abrupt changes in mechanical properties of both commingled yarns and resulting composites. Notably, the inhomogeneous distribution of continuous glass fibers in the commingled yarn at high PP contents gives rise to unexpected viscoelastic characteristics of resulting composites although impregnation of continuous glass fibers with polypropylene matrix is enhanced as the absolute amount of the polymer matrix increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoplastic composites are rapidly emerging as alternative materials for auto parts owing to recyclability as well as excellent stiffness- and strength-to weight ratios. In this study, an optimal stacking sequence using twill-weave carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene (CF/PP) prepregs and random fiber-reinforced polypropylene (RFP) sheets were investigated for the fabrication of an automobile fender. The lamination consisting of CF/PP only incurred imperfect resin impregnation. RFP insertion between CF/PP layers improved the resin impregnation. The hybrid stacking sequence not only reduced internal void contents but also increased the flexural and impact strength of the composite laminate. Using the optimal stacking sequence, a real-scale composite fender was fabricated and impact tests were performed. The test results were compared with the ones from an existing steel fender. In case of the steel fender, permanent deformation was observed even in one attempt, while no visible damage was found from the composite fender even after five consecutive impact tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant advancements in reinforcing material-embedded structural adhesives, the industry still hesitates to employ the new technologies in their production line. In this communication, we investigate what critically hampers the practical application of newly developed reinforcing material-embedded structural adhesives to the industry, and analyze the factors impeding their commercialization from an economic perspective. By dividing mechanical strengths of adhesives by input cost, e.g., material cost and processing cost, we propose an evaluation index that can assess cost effectiveness of adhesives in terms of materials and processing costs, respectively. We found that the cost mainly affecting the impediment of employing reinforcing materials in structural adhesives is the processing cost that mostly consists of labor cost and electricity fees while the materials cost increase has a negligible impact on their cost effectiveness. Based on our analysis considering current materials and processing costs, we finally suggest how much the processing cost needs to be reduced and what the target achievement in mechanical strength enhancement should be in order to cross the cost effectiveness of commercialized structural adhesives. • Cost effectiveness of reinforced adhesives was assessed in terms of constituent input costs. • Materials cost has a negligible impact on the cost effectiveness while processing cost is the determinant factor for the cost effectiveness. • $17.3 and 55.6 MPa allow for a reinforced adhesive to be considered as an alternative to commercialized neat adhesives. • Upon automation with a labor cost removed, $3.89 and 36.653 MPa are the minimum requirements for commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel anion exchange composite membranes with controlled thicknesses have been developed by a simple pore-filling method using poly(phenylene oxide) containing a quaternary ammonium group as an anion conducting polymer electrolyte and a polyethylene porous substrate support for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell applications. The thickness optimization could be done by controlling the viscosity of the polymer electrolyte solution. The resulting composite membrane prepared using 5 centipoise (cP) viscous polymer electrolyte solution composed of the co-solvent system such as dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and ethanol showed a uniformly thin structure of about 40 μm thickness. Among the composite membranes developed here, the membrane with the optimized thickness exhibited high tensile strength (45.6 MPa), and a low contact angle (13.19°) indicative of a hydrophilic surface, as well as high hydroxide conductivity (38.9 mS/cm) due to the combined effect of the reinforcement of the robust PE substrate and the sound impregnation of aminated poly(phenylene oxide). Membrane electrode assembly using A-PPO30E200 revealed excellent cell performance (peak power density:153 mW/cm2 at 0.43 V) than those of commercial FAA-3-50 Fumatech anion exchange membrane (peak power density:114 mW/cm2 at 0.43 V) under the operating condition of 60 °C and 100% RH. • Low viscous polymer electrolyte solutions were prepared using A-PPO solution and ethanol as co-solvent. • As the amount of ethanol increased in the solution, composite membranes have a more uniform and thin thickness. • All of the composite membranes exhibited high mechanical strength and good ion conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of advanced brain-inspired electronic devices and memory technologies has led to explore novel materials by processing multimodal and multilevel tailored conductive properties as the next generation of semiconductor platforms, due to von Neumann architecture limits. Among such materials, antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3 ) thin films exhibit outstanding optical and electronic properties, and therefore, they are ideal for applications such as thin-film solar cells and nonvolatile memory systems. This study investigates the conduction modulation and memory functionalities of Sb 2 S 3 thin films deposited via the vapor transport deposition technique. Experimental results indicate that the Ag/Sb 2 S 3 /Pt device possesses properties suitable for memory applications, including low operational voltages, robust endurance, and reliable switching behavior. Further, the reproducibility and stability of these properties across different device batches validate the reliability of these devices for practical implementation. Moreover, Sb 2 S 3 -based memristors exhibit artificial neuroplasticity with prolonged stability, promising considerable advancements in neuromorphic computing. Leveraging the photosensitivity of Sb 2 S 3 enables the Ag/Sb 2 S 3 /Pt device to exhibit significant low operating potential and conductivity modulation under optical stimulation for memory applications. This research highlights the potential applications of Sb 2 S 3 in future memory devices and optoelectronics and in shaping electronics with versatility., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the counter electrode (CE) plays a crucial role as an electron transfer agent and regenerator of the redox couple. Unlike conventional CEs that are generally made of glass-based substrates (e.g., FTO/glass), polymer substrates appear to be emerging candidates, owing to their intrinsic properties of lightweight, high durability, and low cost. Despite great promise, current manufacturing methods of CEs on polymeric substrates suffer from serious limitations, including low conductivity, scalability, process complexity, and the need for dedicated vacuum equipment. In the present study, we employ and evaluate a fully additive manufacturing route that can enable the fabrication of CEs for DSSCs in a high-throughput and eco-friendly manner with improved performance. The proposed approach sequentially comprises: (1) material extrusion 3-D printing of polymer substrate; (2) conductive surface metallization through cold spray particle deposition; and (3) over-coating of a thin-layer catalyzer with a graphite pencil. The fabricated electrodes are characterized in terms of microstructure, electrical conductivity, and photo-conversion efficiency. Owing to its promising electrical conductivity (8.5 × 10 4 S·m -1 ) and micro-rough surface structure (R a ≈ 6.32 µm), the DSSCs with the additively manufactured CEs led to ≈2.5-times-higher photo-conversion efficiency than that of traditional CEs made of FTO/glass. The results of the study suggest that the proposed additive manufacturing approach can advance the field of DSSCs by addressing the limitations of conventional CE manufacturing platforms.

Philodendron hederaceum (Jacq.) Schott 1829, a species of the Araceae family, is a foliage plant of ornamental value. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Philodendron hederaceum was obtained by the de novo assembly of NovaSeq 6000 (Illumina Co., San Diego, CA) paired-end short reads and Oxford Nanopore long reads. The complete chloroplast genome of P. hederaceum was 168,609 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 94,393 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 25,774 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 24,221 bp. The genome contained a total of 129 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of P. hederaceum with 19 related species and two outgroup species revealed the closest taxonomical relationship with Philodendron lanceolatum in the Araceae family., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Rice accounts for most of the calories consumed by the world's population. However, the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), is an insect that can cause rice yield loss. WBPH sucks the stems of rice and negatively affects yield and grain quality. Therefore, numerous insecticides have been developed to control WBPH in rice fields. However, chemical pesticides cause serious problems such as environmental pollution and ecosystem disturbance. Here, we research the possibility of using previously reported rice extracts obtained using methanol, Chrysoeriol 7(C7) and Cochlioquinone-9 (cq-9), as potential insect repellents. WBPH was caged with C7 or cq-9 and monitored, and the WBPH behavior was recorded. The number of WBPHs approaching the periphery of the C7 and cq-9 was very low. In cages containing the C7 and cq-9, only 13 and 7 WBPHs out of 100, respectively, walked around the material. In addition, foliar spraying with C7 and cq-9 did not negatively affect the plant height. The expression level of genes related to resistance was maintained at a high level in the resistant lines when treated with WBPHs alone, but was at a similar level to those of the controls when treated with C7 or cq-9. Interfering with WBPH access did not adversely affect the plant phenotype. Recently, people's interest in the environment has increased, and the use of plant-derived materials is also increasing. There is a new trend towards using plant extracts as an environmentally friendly means of managing resistance to WBPH during the rice cultivation period, while also avoiding environmental pollution.

Fluorinated amorphous polymeric gate-insulating materials for organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) not only form hydrophobic surfaces but also significantly reduce traps at the interface between the organic semiconductor and gate insulator. Therefore, these polymeric materials can enhance the OTFT's operation stability. In this study, we synthesized a new polymeric insulating material series composed of acrylate and fluorinated functional groups (with different ratios) named MBHCa-F and used them as gate insulators for OTFTs and in other applications. The insulating features of the MBHCa-F polymers, including surface energy, surface atomic content properties, dielectric constant, and leakage current, were clearly analyzed with respect to the content of the fluorinated functional groups. At higher fluorine-based functional group content, the polymeric series exhibited higher fluorine-based contents at the surface and superior electrical properties, such as field-effect mobility and driving stability, at OTFTs. Therefore, we believe that this study provides a substantial method for synthesizing polymeric insulating materials to enhance the operational stability and electrical performance of OTFTs.

This study illustrated the potential applications of thermoresponsive poly( N -isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) grafted nylon membranes with different grafting yields and grafting architecture. The thermoresponsive gating performance at temperatures below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAm (32 °C) were demonstrated. The linear PNIPAm-grafted nylon membrane exhibited a sharp response over the temperature range 20-40 °C. The grafting yield of 25.5% and 21.9%, for linear and crosslinked PNIPAm respectively, exhibited highest thermoresponsive gating function for water flux and had a stable and repeatable "open-closed" switching function over 5 cycle operations. An excellent oil/water separation was obtained at T < 32 °C, at which the hydrophilic behavior was observed. The linear PNIPAm-grafted nylon membrane with 35% grafting yield had the highest separation efficiency of 99.7%, while PNIPAm structures were found to be independent of the separation efficiency. In addition, the membranes with thermoresponsive gas permeability were successfully achieved. The O 2 and CO 2 transmission rates through the PNIPAm-grafted nylon membranes decreased when the grafting yield increased, showing the better gas barrier property. The permeability ratio of CO 2 to O 2 transmission rates of both PNIPAm architectures at 25 °C and 35 °C were around 0.85 for low grafting yields, and approximately 1 for high grafting yields. Ultimately, this study demonstrated the possibility of using these thermoresponsive smart membranes in various applications.

In this work, electrospun PBI separators with a highly porous structure and nanofiber diameter of about 90-150 nm are prepared using a multi-nozzle under controlled conditions for lithium metal batteries. Cross-linking with α, α-dibromo-p-xylene and surface treatment using 4-(chloromethyl) benzoic acid successfully improve the electrochemical as well as mechanical properties of the separators. The resulting separator is endowed with high thermal stability and excellent wettability (1080 to 1150%) with commercial liquid electrolyte than PE and PP (Celgard 2400) separators. Besides, attractive cycling stability and rate capability in LiFePO 4 /Li cells are attained with the modified separators. Prominently, CROSSLINK PBI exhibits a stable Coulombic efficiency of more than 99% over 100 charge-discharge cycles at 0.5 C, which is superior to the value of cells using commercial PE and PP (Celgard 2400) separators. The half cells assembled using the CROSSLINK PBI separator can deliver a discharge capacity of 150.3 mAh g -1 at 0.2 C after 50 cycles corresponding to 88.4% of the theoretical value of LiFePO 4 (170 mAh g -1 ). This work offers a worthwhile method to produce thermally stable separators with noteworthy electrochemical performances which opens new possibilities to improve the safe operation of batteries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Considering the critical energy challenges and the generation of zero-emission anion exchange membrane (AEM) sources, chitosan-based anion exchange membranes have garnered considerable interest in fuel cell applications owing to their various advantages, including their eco-friendly nature, flexibility for structural modification, and improved mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability. The present mini-review highlights the advancements of chitosan-based biodegradable anion exchange membranes for fuel cell applications published between 2015 and 2022. Key points from the rigorous literature evaluation are: grafting with various counterions in addition to crosslinking contributed good conductivity and chemical as well as mechanical stability to the membranes; use of the interpenetrating network as well as layered structures, blending, and modified nanomaterials facilitated a significant reduction in membrane swelling and long-term alkaline stability. The study gives insightful guidance to the industry about replacing Nafion with a low-cost, environmentally friendly membrane source. It is suggested that more attention be given to exploring chitosan-based anion exchange membranes in consideration of effective strategies that focus on durability, as well as optimization of the operational conditions of fuel cells for large-scale applications.

Echeveria lilacina Kimnach & Moran 1980 is a succulent plant having ornamental and ecological importance. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of Echeveria lilacina, a species belonging to the Crassulaceae family, was characterized from the de novo assembly of Illumina NovaSeq 6000 paired-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome of E. lilacina is 150,080 bp in length, which includes a large single-copy (LSC) region of 81,741 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,747 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,796 bp each. The genome annotation revealed a total of 138 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 41 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 10 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis with 15 complete chloroplast genome sequences including outgroup showed that E. lilacina formed the closest taxonomical relationship with Graptopetalum amethystinum in the Crassulaceae family., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with good alkaline stability and ion conductivity are fabricated by incorporating quaternary ammonium-modified silica into quaternary ammonium-functionalized poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (QPPO). Quaternary ammonium with a long alkyl chain is chemically grafted to the silica in situ during synthesis. Glycidyltrimethylammoniumchloride functionalization on silica (QSiO 2 ) is characterized by Fourier transform infrared and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The QPPO/QSiO 2 membrane having an ion exchange capacity of 3.21 meq·g -1 exhibits the maximum hydration number (λ = 11.15) and highest hydroxide ion conductivity of 45.08 × 10 -2 S cm -1 at 80 °C. In addition to the high ion conductivity, AEMs also exhibit good alkaline stability, and the conductivity retention of the QPPO/QSiO 2 -3 membrane after 1200 h of exposure in 1 M potassium hydroxide at room temperature is about 91% ascribed to the steric hindrance offered by the grafted long glycidyl trimethylammonium chain in QSiO 2 . The application of the QPPO/QSiO 2 -3 membrane to an alkaline fuel cell can yield a peak power density of 142 mW cm -2 at a current density of 323 mA cm -2 and 0.44 V, which is higher than those of commercially available FAA-3-50 Fumatech AEM (OCV: 0.91 V; maximum power density: 114 mW cm -2 at current density: 266 mA cm -2 and 0.43 V). These membranes provide valuable insights on future directions for advanced AEM development for fuel cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

In this study, polysulfone hollow fiber membrane was successfully prepared by phase inversion method for separation of virus and bacteria. When we prepare the hollow fiber membrane, we controlled various factors such as the polymer concentration, air gap and internal coagulation to investigate effect to membrane property. Morphology of surface and cross section of membrane were measured by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Water flux of membrane was measured using test modules. Mean pore diameter of membrane was calculated using rejection of polystyrene (PS) latex beads for separation of virus and bacteria. Flux and mean flow pore diameter of prepared membrane show 800 L/mh, 0.03 μm at 1.0 kgf/cm2. The bacteria removal performance of prepared UF membranes was over 6 logs

For the first time, three coumarins were isolated from the hexane extract of limes (Citrus aurantifolia) and purified by flash chromatography. The structures were identified by NMR (1D, 2D) and mass spectral analyses as 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin, limettin, and isopimpinellin. These compounds inhibited human colon cancer (SW-480) cell proliferation, with 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin showing the highest inhibition activity (67 %) at 25 µM. Suppression of SW480 cell proliferation by 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin was associated with induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by annexin V staining and DNA fragmentation. In addition, 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin arrested cells at the G0/G1 phase, and induction of apoptosis was demonstrated through the activation of tumour suppressor gene p53, caspase8/3, regulation of Bcl2, and inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. These findings suggest that 5-geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin has potential as a cancer preventive agent., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)