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[Display omitted] • A novel bimetallic MOFs with a stable and special framework structure was developed. • Framework structure solved problem of easy aggregation and collapse of Mo 2 C material. • High specific surface area 3D Co-Mo x N/Mo 2 C provide more HER/OER catalytic active sites. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used as precursors due to their tunable morphology and high specific surface area. Molybdenum nitride (MoN) and molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C) are promising catalyst materials with electronic structures similar to the noble metal platinum. However, the preparation and modification of the composite systems comprising MoN and Mo 2 C are complex, often leading to significant agglomeration and limiting their application in various catalytic fields. In this work, we designed and developed a novel bimetallic Co-MOFs-Mo with a stable and unique framework morphology. By varying the organic ligand content, we controlled the morphology and enhanced the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity through Mo doping. Using the Co-MOFs-Mo sample as the Co source, we fabricated a Co-Mo x N/Mo 2 C catalytic material with a special framework structure. Compared to Mo 2 N and Mo 2 N/Mo 2 C, this catalyst exhibits a larger specific surface area and superior performance in both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Co-Mo x N/Mo 2 C catalyst achieves an HER overpotential of 297 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2 and an OER overpotential of 480 mV at 20 mA·cm−2. This research provides valuable insights into the rational design of molybdenum-based noble-metal-free catalyst materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile solid additives (VSAs) have emerged as one of the most effective strategies for optimizing the active layer morphology of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, two VSAs, HBT‐1 and HBT‐2, are designed and synthesized to investigate the effect of the VASs’ conformation on the photovoltaic performances. Compared to HBT‐1, HBT‐2 incorporates internal noncovalent conformational locks (NoCLs), resulting in reduced conformational disorder, improved molecular planarity, and enhanced crystallinity. These features significantly influence the intermolecular packing of both donor and acceptor materials in the active layer, which can facilitate charge transport and reduce charge recombination. Consequently, the D18:L8‐BO:PY‐C11 OSCs utilizing the HBT‐2 additive achieved an impressive efficiency of 20.01%, markedly higher than devices fabricated without additives (17.83%) and those processed with HBT‐1 (18.76%). Furthermore, HBT‐2 demonstrated excellent compatibility across multiple systems. This work underscores the NoCL strategy as a straightforward and effective approach for designing VSAs for high performance OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, achieving the electrochemical trace detection (picomole per liter level) with high sensitivity of quercetin is rare. In this work, the nickel-doped zinc-based zeolite imidazole framework with a four-point star morphology (Ni-ZIF-8-S) was successfully prepared through simple stirring and pH adjusting at room temperature. The strategies of nickel doping and morphology control endow Ni-ZIF-8-S with a large specific surface area, a unique hierarchical pore structure comprising both micropores and mesopores, abundant active sites, and excellent electron transport ability. Therefore, under optimal conditions, the electrochemical sensor based on Ni-ZIF-8-S can detect quercetin with a very high sensitivity of 622.0 μA μM−1 and a limit of detection as low as 48 pM, enabling ultra-sensitive quantitative determination of quercetin in picomole per liter level. In addition, the proposed sensor also shows other excellent analytical performances, including good reproducibility, anti-interference, and stability. Importantly, the electrochemical sensor based on Ni-ZIF-8-S can also perform quantitative detection of quercetin in complex real samples, such as urine and honey, with acceptable results. The prepared sensor has the potential to be applied in monitoring and quality control of quercetin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallinity and morphology are critical factors that closely related to the properties and applications of covalent organic frameworks (COFs). However, the controlled synthesis of COFs with both high crystallinity and uniform morphology remains a significant challenge due to uncontrollable polymerization and complex reaction conditions. In this work, we present a general acetal‐protected aldehyde protocol for the facile synthesis of imine‐linked COFs, which enables the simultaneous optimization of crystallinity and morphology. Of the acetal‐protected aldehydes explored, ethanediol‐protected terephthalaldehyde (Tp‐E) emerged as the most effective, balancing stability and reactivity to yield highly crystalline Py‐COF‐E with a well‐defined hollow spherical morphology and a significantly enhanced BET surface area compared to its aldehyde‐based counterpart Py‐COF. This synthetic approach demonstrates broad adaptability across various framework topologies, precursor species, and synthetic solvent systems, simplifying the typically laborious solvent screening process in COF synthesis. Furthermore, Py‐DBT‐COF‐E showed superior photocatalytic H2 evolution performance relative to Py‐DBT‐COF, despite their identical chemical compositions, emphasizing the critical role of crystallinity and morphology in determining functional performance. Overall, this study provides a versatile methodology for the controlled synthesis of COFs and offers valuable insights into the interconnected roles of morphology, crystallinity, and material performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of potassium bis(oxalato)cuprate(II) is a classical inorganic chemistry experiment that helps students refine essential skills such as weighing, water-bath heating, evaporation-crystallization, and vacuum filtration. However, in the traditional experimental scheme, copper oxide obtained from the pyrolysis of copper hydroxide is used as raw material, which leads to waste of resources, environmental pollution and challenges in controlling the product morphology. This study introduces improvements based on green chemistry. Firstly, previously recovered copper hydroxide was innovatively used as the raw material, enhancing resource utilization. Secondly, simple adjustments to the reaction liquid volume and cooling conditions were employed to conveniently control morphology. Simultaneously, microscope was also introduced to observe the product morphology, enhancing the experiment's engagement and guiding students in exploring factors affecting morphology. The improved experimental procedure not only boosts resource efficiency and reduces pollution, but also promotes the concept of green synthesis and cultivates students' scientific research literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel titanate (NiTiO3) nanostructured materials have gained extensive attention in the field of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, NiTiO3 exhibits low conductivity and significant volume changes during cycling, resulting in capacity decay and poor cycling stability. Herein, we propose a feasible strategy to enhance the cycling performance of NiTiO3 nanostructures by adjusting their morphology. By manipulating the choice of solvent employed in the synthetic process, we obtain NiTiO3 microbars (NTO MBs) through self‐assembly of NiTiO3 nanoparticles (NTO NPs). When utilized as an anode material in LIBs, NTO MBs exhibit a capacity of 410 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 100 mA g−1, surpassing that of NTO NPs (212 mAh g−1). The improved performance of NTO MBs is attributed to their unique porous bar‐like structure, composed of numerous NPs, which provides a substantial storage space for Li+ ions owing to its larger specific surface area. Additionally, the porous structure accelerates the diffusion of Li+ ions and electron transfer. To gain a profound understanding of the enhanced performance through morphology adjustment, we conduct a comprehensive investigation on the growth mechanism of NTO MBs. This work provides valuable insights into the mechanism governing the morphology control of NTO MBs, facilitating the rational design and synthesis of tailored materials with enhanced performance for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are considered as a promising new generation of clean energy. Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure has been widely employed in the active layer of efficient OSCs. However, precise regulation of morphology in BHJ is still challenging due to the competitive coupling between crystallization and phase separation. Recently, a novel pseudo‐planar heterojunction (PPHJ) structure, prepared through solution sequential deposition, has attracted much attention. It is an easy‐to‐prepare structure in which the phase separation structures, interfaces, and molecular packing can be separately controlled. Employing PPHJ structure, the properties of OSCs, such as power conversion efficiency, stability, transparency, flexibility, and so on, are usually better than its BHJ counterpart. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the film‐forming process, morphology control, and device performance of PPHJ structure should be considered. In terms of the representative works about PPHJ, this review first introduces the fabrication process of active layers based on PPHJ structure. Second, the widely applied morphology control methods in PPHJ structure are summarized. Then, the influences of PPHJ structure on device performance and other property are reviewed, which largely expand its application. Finally, a brief prospect and development tendency of PPHJ devices are discussed with the consideration of their challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond laser processing has become a critical technique for the microfabrication of hard and brittle materials, particularly in microfluidic device applications. This study focuses on the fabrication of microchannels with controllable cross-sectional profiles in silica glass, a material known for its excellent physical and chemical properties. Through a combination of experimental research and theoretical analysis, the surface generation mechanisms governing microchannel morphology are investigated, alongside the influence of various processing parameters on the surface roughness at the microchannel bottom. A comprehensive optimization method is developed to control sidewall taper and surface roughness by adjusting laser scanning paths and modes. Utilizing a composite scanning approach, the study achieves near-rectangular microchannels with average sidewall taper angles below 5° and surface roughness (Sa) of 2.53 μm. These results provide a new strategy for precise control of microchannel morphology in silica glass, offering significant potential to enhance the efficiency and precision of microfluidic device fabrication, with broad applications in both industrial and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of the gas diffusion path and surface coordination environment through morphology control can improve the intrinsic activity of the catalyst in NO oxidation reactions. Microporous nanosheets, nanowires, and spheres of carbon were constructed using resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon sources, melamine as nitrogen source, and graphene oxide or carbon nanowires as structure‐directing agents to reveal the effects of morphology and nitrogen‐doping on NO oxidation activity at room temperature. With the increase of coating thickness, the ultramicroporous structure becomes pronounced and the nitrogen content increases, which contribute to the improvement of steady‐state NO conversion. The 2D microporous nanosheets (TDC‐200) with sheet structure shows prominent diffusion and adsorption capability than 1D nanowires and sphere, which shortens the gas diffusion path and enhances the efficient utilization of ultramicropores, thereby presenting the highest NO oxidation activity of 78.4% at room temperature. The results of DFT calculations further demonstrate that doping of nitrogen atoms could significantly reduce the (2NO + O2)ads energy barrier and accelerate the reaction. This study provides a deeper understanding of the NO oxidation on non‐metallic catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The morphology of the active layer plays a crucial role in the performance of organic photovoltaics. Although volatile additives are commonly used to manipulate the morphology, their mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a systematic exploration of the mechanism of the traditional volatile additive 1‐CN in film formation kinetics of typical PM6:Y6 system. We found that 1‐CN induces a secondary aggregation effect, improving film morphology and promoting face‐on crystalline orientation. Through elucidating its impact on exciton dynamics, we established a link between morphology optimization and increased exciton diffusion length and accelerated charge separation. Our findings unveil the unique mechanism of action of volatile additive, providing a new perspective for improving the morphology and enhancing the performance of organic photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile solid additive is an effective and simple strategy for morphology control in organic solar cells (OSCs). The development of environmentally friendly new additives which can also be easily removed without high‐temperature thermal annealing treatment is currently a trend, and the working mechanism needs to be further studied. Herein, a highly volatile and non‐halogenated solid additive 1‐benzothiophene (BBT) is reported to regulate molecular aggregation and stacking of active layer components. According to the film‐forming kinetics process, a momentary intermediate phase is formed during spin‐coating, which slows down the film‐forming process and leads to more ordered molecular stacking in the solid film after introducing solid additive BBT. Subsequently, after solvent vapor annealing (SVA) further treatment, the resultant blend films exhibit a tighter and more ordered molecular stacking. Consequently, the synergistic effect of solid additive BBT and SVA treatment can effectively control morphology of active layer and improve carrier transport characteristics, thereby enhancing the performance of OSCs. Finally, in D18‐Cl:N3 system, an impressive power conversion efficiency of 19.53% is achieved. The work demonstrates that the combination of highly volatile solid additives and SVA treatment is an effective morphology control strategy, guiding the development of efficient OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of so-called hybrid nanomaterials has been widely developed in terms of functional and morphological complexity. However, the specific control of the arrangement of organic and inorganic species, which determines the properties of the final material, still remains a challenge. This article offers a review of the strategies that have been used for the preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles and nanocapsules via processes involving miniemulsions. Different polymer–inorganic nanostructures are classified into four main groups according to the sequential order followed between the synthesis of the polymer and the inorganic species, and the presence or not of their counterpart precursors. The minimization of the energy of the system governs the self-assembly of the different material components and can be addressed by the miniemulsion formulation to reduce the interfacial tensions between the phases involved. The state of the art in the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles is reviewed, offering insight into the structural possibilities allowed by miniemulsion as a versatile synthetic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is a highly promising photocatalyst that facilitates efficient water splitting and hydrogen production under light conditions. In this study, Cu2O thin film photocathodes were prepared through electro-deposition, with the inclusion of NO 3 - ions resulting in the formation of a flower-like microstructure. The size, distribution and roughness of these clusters were found to be greatly influenced by the concentration of the NO 3 - ions as confirmed by SEM and AFM characterizations. When 0.4 M NO 3 - ions were used, a flat and compact structure with the smallest 'flower bud' was obtained. This structure achieved a maximum photocurrent density of − 2.90 mA/cm2 @0 V vs. RHE, which is 2.2 times greater than that of bare Cu2O. UV–Vis absorption, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and EIS measurements suggest that the compact microstructure facilitates enhanced ultraviolet absorption and separation of photogenerated holes and electrons. This results in a lower charge transfer resistance and a significant increase in photocurrent density. Additionally, a growth mechanism for the flower-like Cu2O was proposed. The XPS and EDS analyses indicate that the addition of NO 3 - during Cu2O formation results in the adsorption of NO 3 - onto the surface of the initial Cu2O grain. This, in turn, catalyses the electrocatalytic reduction of NO 3 - on the surface of Cu2O, leading to the formation of NH + 4 ions as evidenced by XPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a straightforward vacuum‐assisted method is introduced to enhance the stability of nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs). The method, termed "prevacuum" involves subjecting the active layer (D18:Y6) to a low‐pressure vacuum (−1 bar) before thermal annealing at 100 °C. Compared to untreated devices, prevacuum‐treated OSCs exhibit a notable increase in power conversion efficiency from 13.71% to 14.90%. This enhancement is attributed to improved light absorption and charge extraction, as evidenced by external quantum efficiency measurements. Moreover, prevacuum treatment significantly improves device stability under operational conditions, with a 30% power loss occurring after 8.25 h compared to 4.5 h for untreated devices. This improvement is attributed to the removal of volatile components and impurities during the vacuum process, leading to a more hydrophobic and stable active layer. The study demonstrates the efficacy of prevacuum treatment as a simple and accessible method for enhancing the performance and longevity of OSCs, paving the way for their broader application in sustainable energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M‐series molecules are one kind of promising acceptor‐donor‐acceptor (A‐D‐A)‐type acceptors for constructing high‐performance organic solar cells (OSCs). However, their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are lagging behind that of current state‐of‐the‐art OSCs, limited by the relatively low fill factor (FF) and photocurrent. Herein, combined strategies of layer‐by‐layer (LBL) deposition and interface engineering are conducted to systematically improve light utilization and thus PCEs for M36‐based OSCs. Through choosing a proper processing solvent, a PCE of 17.3% with an FF of 77.9% is achieved for the resulting LBL devices, much higher than those (15.9%/74.0%) from the blend‐casting devices. The improvement is assigned to the favorable morphological evolution that facilitates carrier generation and transport as well as reduces charge recombination. More importantly, light‐harvesting of the active layers can be enhanced upon employing a self‐assembled monolayer of (2‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)ethyl)phosphonic acid (2PACz) instead of the widely used PEDOT:PSS as the hole‐selecting layer, due to the decreased parasitic absorption of the former. Consequently, 2PACz‐based LBL devices exhibit significantly increased photocurrent, affording a PCE up to 18.2%, which is the highest among the reported A‐D‐A‐type acceptor‐based OSCs. These results deliver important strategies to enhance the performance of OSCs and thus highlight the great potential of M‐series acceptors for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous advancements in electronics towards downsizing and integration, efficient thermal dissipation from chips has emerged as a critical factor affecting their lifespan and operational efficiency. The fan-less chip cooling system has two critical interfaces for thermal transport, which are the contact interface between the base and the chip dominated by thermal conduction, and the surface of the fins dominated by thermal radiation. The different thermal transfer modes of these two critical interfaces pose different requirements for thermal management materials. In the study, a novel approach was proposed by developing graphene thermal transport functional material whose morphology could be intentionally designed via reformed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) methods to meet the diverse requirements of heat transfer properties. Specifically, graphene with multilevel branching structure of vertical graphene (BVG) was fabricated through the hydrogen-assisted PECVD (H2-PECVD) strategy, which contributed a high emissivity of ∼ 0.98. BVG was deposited on the fins' surface and functioned as the radiation enhanced layer to facilitate the rapid radiation of heat from the heat sinks into the surrounding air. Meanwhile, the well-oriented vertical graphene (OVG) was successfully prepared through the vertical electric field-assisted PECVD process (EF-PECVD), which showed a high directional thermal conductivity of ∼ 53.5 W·m−1·K−1. OVG was deposited on the contact interface and functioned as the thermal conduction enhanced layer, allowing for the quick transmission of heat from the chip to the heat sink. Utilizing this design concept, the two critical interfaces in the chip cooling system can be jointly enhanced, resulting in a remarkable cooling efficiency enhancement of ∼ 30.7%, demonstrating that this novel material possessed enormous potential for enhancing the performance of cooling systems. Therefore, this research not only provided new design concepts for the cooling system of electronic devices but also opened up new avenues for the application of graphene materials in thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining multiple design strategies often enhances catalyst performance but usually comes with high costs and low reproducibility. A technique that enhances catalyst performance in multiple strategies is urgently needed. Herein, a novel bioregulation technique is introduced, allowing simultaneous control over morphology, particle size, doping, interface engineering, and electronic properties. Bioregulation technique utilizes the soluble extracellular polymer from Aspergillus niger as a templating agent to construct high‐performance catalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER and OER). This technique controls catalyst morphology, introduces biological N and S doping, and regulates the electronic structure of the catalyst surface. Biomolecule modification enhances surface hydrophilicity, and the nanostructure increases surface roughness and gas‐release efficiency. Theoretical calculations show that the bioregulation technique shortens the d/p‐band center, optimizing reaction intermediate adsorption and desorption. The Bio‐Pt/Co3O4 catalyst with trace Pt on the surface, designed with these strategies, achieves HER (η10 of 42 mV), OER (η10 of 221 mV), and overall water‐splitting performance (1.51 V at 10 mA cm−2), maintaining stability for over 50 h, outperforming most Pt‐based catalysts. Notably, using spent lithium‐ion battery cathodes leachate, rich in Co2⁺, successfully replicates the experiment. This approach holds promise as a mainstream method for synthesizing high‐performance materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving efficient and large‐area organic solar modules via non‐halogenated solution processing is vital for the commercialization yet challenging. The primary hurdle is the conservation of the ideal film‐formation kinetics and bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) morphology of large‐area organic solar cells (OSCs). A cutting‐edge non‐fullerene acceptor (NFA), Y6, shows efficient power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) when processed with toxic halogenated solvents, but exhibits poor solubility in non‐halogenated solvents, resulting in suboptimal morphology. Therefore, in this study, the impact of modifying the inner and outer side‐chains of Y6 on OSC performance is investigated. The study reveals that blending a polymer donor, PM6, with one of the modified NFAs, namely N‐HD, achieved an impressive PCE of 18.3% on a small‐area OSC. This modified NFA displays improved solubility in o‐xylene at room temperature, which facilitated the formation of a favorable BHJ morphology. A large‐area (55 cm2) sub‐module delivered an impressive PCE of 12.2% based on N‐HD using o‐xylene under ambient conditions. These findings underscore the significant impact of the modified Y6 derivatives on structural arrangements and film processing over a large‐area module at room temperature. Consequently, these results are poised to deepen the comprehension of the scaling challenges encountered in OSCs and may contribute to their commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiC has excellent physical and chemical properties which can be used as microwave absorbing materials in special conditions. However, it has disadvantages such as single absorbing mechanism and poor impedance matching performance, while the morphology of TiC has a significant effect on its microwave absorption performance. Microcrystalline graphite, carbon fiber and cornstarch were selected as carbon source to prepare film-like, rod-like and porous TiC in high-temperature molten salt. Microwave absorbing properties in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz were systematically studied. It is found that the TiC powders will all three morphologies have promising microwave absorption performance. Among them, the TiC made from cornstarch has higher absorption performance due to its porous structure, which is conducive to the formation of conductive networks. At a thickness of 2.30 mm, the lowest reflection loss is -62.71 dB. By adjusting the thickness to 2.10 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth can reach 4.24 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights A unique approach is proposed: constructing a polymer fiber rigid network with high glass transition temperature. Frozen bulk heterojunction morphology impeded deterioration of exciton quenching, charge transport, and charge extraction properties during thermal aging. The strategy is universal and can be further optimized for enhanced thermal stability and improved mechanical resilience.

The morphology of the photoactive layer plays an important role in both the photoelectric effect and device performance of solution‐processed organic solar cells (OSCs). Optimizing the morphology requires precise control over the complex film formation kinetics, which are influenced by a range of factors from the solution state to the solid‐film state. This review delves into the in situ characterization technologies employed to understand the active layer formation process and explores strategies for controlling film formation during key stages, including solution aggregation, nucleation, crystal growth, and phase separation. Special attention is given to the mechanism by which these strategies enable real‐time morphology control during the printing process and their potential to facilitate direct printing of active layers with optimized morphology. The goal is to offer valuable insights and guidance for managing film formation kinetics in solution‐processed OSCs, ultimately addressing the challenges of real‐time morphology control in scale‐up printing and paving the way for high‐throughput production of post‐processing‐free devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic hydrogen production and supercapacitor technologies have positive impacts on the environment, promoting the production and utilization of clean and renewable energy sources, thus facilitating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Among them, cobalt oxide (Co 3 O 4) has emerged as an ideal choice for electrode materials in these technologies due to its low toxicity, affordability, and significant theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, practical applications are restricted by its low conductivity and sluggish reaction kinetics. Addressing these challenges, this study introduces a pioneering approach: the synthesis of oxygen vacancy-modified Co 3 O 4 /Co/NC small-sized nanoflower composite, which combines the advantages of abundant oxygen vacancies, small size effects, and nitrogen-doped porous carbon. The optimized Co 3 O 4 /Co/NC small-sized nanoflower exhibits high porosity and excellent conductivity, providing numerous active sites and effectively enhancing the ion and electron transport rates. As a consequence, optimized Co 3 O 4 /Co/NC shows a low Tafel slope and overpotential, highlighting its potential for catalytic application. Moreover, as an electrode for supercapacitors, optimized Co 3 O 4 /Co/NC demonstrates excellent long-term stability, maintaining 94.7% of its capacitance even after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. Additionally, it showed a significant specific capacity of 251.4 mAh g−1 when tested at 1 A g−1. In addition to addressing the pressing challenges associated with traditional Co 3 O 4 electrodes, this work opens up exciting avenues for designing and fabricating transition metal oxide-based materials with unprecedented electrochemical performance. This research addresses performance issues with cobalt oxide as an electrode material for capacitors and green hydrogen generation. Innovative methods involving nitrogen doping and the introduction of oxygen vacancies were employed to produce Co 3 O 4 /Co/NC-2 nanosheets with high porosity and a large surface area. These enhancements facilitate faster electrolyte ion diffusion, provide more active sites, and improve electrical conductivity. Nitrogen doping enhances charge transfer rates, while oxygen vacancies offer additional catalytic sites. [Display omitted] • Nitrogen doping and oxygen vacancies enhance the conductivity and reaction rate of cobalt oxide. • Nanoflowers prepared using freeze-drying technology exhibit high porosity, facilitating the diffusion of electrolytes. • This material can be applied in the fields of green catalysis and energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Fe3O4/POMs composites have been successfully synthesized by the combination of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with various polyoxometalates (referred as "POMs" for short; POMs = α-PMo12, α-PW12, α-PW9, and α-SiW9). Detailed control experiments demonstrate that the morphology and size of the composites could be controlled by the type and amount of POMs, and all of these Fe3O4/PMo12 microflowers, Fe3O4/PW12 nanospheres, Fe3O4/PW9 microrods, and Fe3O4/SiW9 nanospheres show uniform morphology. Magnetic studies indicate that the Fe3+ ions in these composites display antiferromagnetic interactions. Furthermore, photocatalytic experiments indicate that Fe3O4/POMs composites exhibits catalytic activity for the photodegradation of RhB solution. Hence, these results not only enrich the diversity of POM-based materials, but also provide a new strategy to develop magnetic POMs catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly organised arrangements of vertically aligned nanostructures are crucial foundational elements in creating versatile devices. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) offer many remarkable applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and electromechanical nanodevices. This review examines recent advancements in synthesising arrays of ZnO nanorods. This manuscript explores the significance of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods in creating versatile devices. It discusses the properties of vertical ZnO nanorods, including their high aspect ratio, large surface area, tunable optical properties, piezoelectricity, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Recent methods for synthesising vertically aligned ZnO nanorods are detailed, such as using colloidal lithography and a sol-gel-prepared ZnO seed layer. Various studies highlight the controlled growth of ZnO nanorods through top-down fabrication approaches like nanoimprint lithography, electron beam lithography, colloidal lithography, and laser interference lithography, followed by hydrothermal methods. It also includes nanostructure growth using a nanoporous polycarbonate template via electrodeposition. These nanofabrication techniques offer simplicity, uniformity across large wafer-scale areas, and the ability to precisely control the growth of vertical ZnO nanorods, which holds potential for the fabrication of high-performance devices. The last chapter highlights various potential applications of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods, including energy conversion, optoelectronics, sensors, bio-medics, and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphology plays a crucial role in defining the optical, electronic, and mechanical properties of halide perovskite microcrystals. Therefore, developing strategies that offer precise control over crystal morphology during the growth process is highly desirable. This work presents a simple scheme to simultaneously grow distinct geometries of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) microcrystals, including microrods (MR), microplates (MP), and microspheres (MS), in a single chemical vapor deposition (CVD) experiment. By strategically adjusting precursor evaporation temperatures, flux density, and the substrate temperature, we surpass previous techniques by achieving simultaneous yet selective growth of multiple CsPbBr3 geometries at distinct positions on the same substrate. This fine growth control is attributed to the synergistic variation in fluid flow dynamics, precursor substrate distance, and temperature across the substrate, offering regions suitable for the growth of different morphologies. Pertinently, perovskite MR are grown at the top, while MP and MS are observed at the center and bottom regions of the substrate, respectively. Structural analysis reveals high crystallinity and an orthorhombic phase of the as-grown perovskite microcrystals, while persistent photonic lasing manifests their nonlinear optical characteristics, underpinning their potential application for next-generation photonic and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights : A unique approach is proposed: constructing a polymer fiber rigid network with high glass transition temperature. Frozen bulk heterojunction morphology impeded deterioration of exciton quenching, charge transport, and charge extraction properties during thermal aging. The strategy is universal and can be further optimized for enhanced thermal stability and improved mechanical resilience. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) need to overcome limitations such as insufficient thermal stability to be commercialized. The reported approaches to improve stability either rely on the development of new materials or on tailoring the donor/acceptor morphology, however, exhibiting limited applicability. Therefore, it is timely to develop an easy method to enhance thermal stability without having to develop new donor/acceptor materials or donor–acceptor compatibilizers, or by introducing another third component. Herein, a unique approach is presented, based on constructing a polymer fiber rigid network with a high glass transition temperature (Tg) to impede the movement of acceptor and donor molecules, to immobilize the active layer morphology, and thereby to improve thermal stability. A high-Tg one-dimensional aramid nanofiber (ANF) is utilized for network construction. Inverted OPVs with ANF network yield superior thermal stability compared to the ANF-free counterpart. The ANF network-incorporated active layer demonstrates significantly more stable morphology than the ANF-free counterpart, thereby leaving fundamental processes such as charge separation, transport, and collection, determining the device efficiency, largely unaltered. This strategy is also successfully applied to other photovoltaic systems. The strategy of incorporating a polymer fiber rigid network with high Tg offers a distinct perspective addressing the challenge of thermal instability with simplicity and universality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layer-by-layer (LBL) fabrication method allows for controlled microstructure morphology and vertical component distribution, and also offers a reproducible and efficient technique for fabricating large-scale organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, the polymers D18 and PYIT-OD are employed to fabricate all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) using the LBL method. Morphological studies reveal that the use of additives optimizes the microstructure of the active layer, enhancing the cells' crystallinity and charge transport capability. The optimized device with 2% CN additive significantly reduces bimolecular recombination and trap-assisted recombination. All-PSCs fabricated by the LBL method based on D18/PYIT-OD deliver a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.07%. Our study demonstrates the great potential of additive engineering via the LBL fabrication method in regulating the microstructure of active layers, suppressing charge recombination, and enhancing the photovoltaic performance of devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is a cost-effective and flexible technology for producing nanofibers with large specific surface areas, functionalized surfaces, and stable structures. In recent years, electrospun nanofibers have attracted more and more attention in electrochemical biosensors due to their excellent morphological and structural properties. This review outlines the principle of electrospinning technology. The strategies of producing nanofibers with different diameters, morphologies, and structures are discussed to understand the regulation rules of nanofiber morphology and structure. The application of electrospun nanofibers in electrochemical biosensors is reviewed in detail. In addition, we look towards the future prospects of electrospinning technology and the challenge of scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • · Ion doping, morphology control and aerogel construction have been synchronously achieved. • · Zn2+ doping and rGO hybridization can boost the rate performance and cycling stability. • · The ZVOH@rGO electrode demonstrated high reversible capacity of 286.7 mAh g−1 at 30 A g−1. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted more and more attention due to their advantages of low cost, high safety and environmental protection. Unfortunately, the unsatisfactory capacity at high current density and long-term cycling performance of cathode materials hinder the development of ZIBs. Here, a novel Zn 0.079 V 2 O 5 ·0.53H 2 O/graphene (ZVOH@rGO) hybrid aerogel composed of ultrathin Zn 0.079 V 2 O 5 ·0.53H 2 O (ZVOH) nanoribbons and 3D continuous graphene conductive network was successfully prepared and used as cathode of ZIBs. Taking advantage of the synergistic effects associated with ion doping, morphology control and unique aerogel structure, the ZVOH@rGO electrode demonstrated ultrafast charge/discharge capability and remarkable cycling stability: A high reversible capacity of 286.7 mAh g−1 was achieved at a current density as large as 30 A g−1, and an impressive capacity retention ratio of 75.6 % was realized over 9800 ultra-long cycles at 12 A g−1. This work is of great significance for the synthesis modification of vanadium oxides and the development of high performance ultrafast charge–discharge ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solar cells (OSCs) are one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies due to their affordability and adaptability. However, upscaling is a critical issue that hinders the commercialization of OSCs. A significant challenge is the lack of cost-effective and facile techniques to modulate the morphology of the active layers. The slow solvent evaporation leads to an unfavorable phase separation, thus resulting in a low power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar modules. Here, a nitrogen-blowing assisted method is developed to fabricate a large-area organic solar module (active area = 12 cm2) utilizing high-boiling-point solvents, achieving a PCE of 15.6%. The device fabricated with a high-boiling-point solvent produces a more uniform and smoother large-area film, and the assistance of nitrogen-blowing accelerates solvent evaporation, resulting in an optimized morphology with proper phase separation and finer aggregates. Moreover, the device fabricated by the nitrogen-blowing assisted method exhibits improved exciton dissociation, balanced carrier mobility, and reduced charge recombination. This work proposes a universal and cost-effective technique for the fabrication of high-efficiency organic solar modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]