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The solid additive strategy represents a simple yet effective approach to achieving high‐efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) by enhancing the morphology of the active layer. In this study, a highly volatile solid additive, 2,4,6‐trichloro‐1,3,5‐triazine (TCT), is employed to modulate the morphology. Unlike other solid additives previously reported, TCT exhibits remarkable intermolecular interactions with both polymer donor and acceptor, offering two distinct advantages. Firstly, TCT notably enhances the crystallinity and molecular order of the blend film, subtly optimizing the fiber network structure within, thereby facilitating carrier transport and significantly improving the mobility of the blend film. Secondly, TCT stabilizes the bi‐continuous fibrous morphology of the polymer donor and acceptor, mitigating the morphological evolution of the active layer and enhancing device stability. Consequently, the D18:L8‐BO:TCT device exhibits a higher power conversion efficiency of 19.50% compared to the D18:L8‐BO device (18.13%). Furthermore, after 960 h of storage, the OSC device treated with TCT retains 90% of its initial PCE, significantly outperforming the D18:L8‐BO device (73%). This study presents a promising avenue for achieving high‐performance OSCs through manipulating the active layer morphology with solid additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cells within biofilms exhibit resistance to antibiotics, presenting persistent health risks. Current approaches to inhibit biofilm formation have limitations due to their poor biofilm morphological control. For instance, bactericidal surfaces suffer from the accumulation of dead cells that compromise their antibacterial efficacy, and existing antifouling surfaces fail to inhibit biofilm formation. In this work, exceptional biofilm suppression is achieved on quasi‐liquid surfaces (QLS) with patterned surface chemistry where live bacterial cells are guided from slippery to sticky patterned destinations. These surfaces consist of 50 µm slippery and 10 µm sticky stripes. Live bacterial cells are directed to congregate on the sticky patterns, resulting in reduced biofilm biomass and surface coverage compared to uniform slippery surfaces. The patterned biofilm produces sparser extracellular matrix, thus reducing the barrier for antibiotic penetration and treatment. The innovative approach to direct cell migration on patterned QLS represents a promising strategy for inhibiting biofilm formation and combating biofilm‐associated infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike in Western countries, land ownership in China is overwhelmingly vested in the state, and individuals cannot directly own private lands and build houses. Therefore, developers will contract the land to the government and build it into collective apartments. Against this backdrop, a different kind of multi-story, high-density self-built residential buildings is widespread in small towns along the southeast coast of China. These buildings were built between 1980 and 2000 by residents who acquired land-use rights from the government for compensation. The uniqueness of these buildings is what makes them incompatible with the most mainstream, government-led urban renewal model in China, resulting in a large area of dilapidated and aging areas. Zherong County, Ningde, Fujian Province, is a typical example town, with a large number of such self-built houses, known locally as Liu Houses. In this study, these residential areas were selected as typical research objects of "characteristics of residential small towns". Combined with the property rights of the sample cases, the methods of diagram and quantitative analysis are used to summarize the causes of the three types of residential areas from the aspects of regional planning, land division, building construction, and renovation. In the early days, the planning of the Liu House was greatly influenced by the residents, and the construction and renovation of the building was led by the residents, which strengthened the diversity of the style. In the middle period, the government had relatively dominant control over the planning of Liu Houses, and supervision was conducted during the construction and renovation process, resulting in a relatively balanced power between residents and the government. In the later period, the houses were built and operated by the developer, and the residents no longer directly participated in the construction and renovation, so the unity of style was strengthened. At the same time, the study finds that, in the process of the formation of the style of the residential area, on the one hand, the property rights directly affect the style through its own physical land attributes, and on the other hand, it becomes the basis of the game between the government, residents, and the county environment through its own property rights, thus indirectly affecting the style. In conclusion, this paper may provide theoretical support and design reference for the renewal of the characteristic features of residential small towns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting electrocatalytic ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) holds the key to develop efficient direct ammonia fuel cells (DAFCs) and ammonia‐mediated hydrogen production (AMHP). Recent investigations indicated that Pt with the exposure of (100) facet has a moderate *N intermediate bonding strength, resulting in the highest AOR electrocatalytic activity among others. Therefore, maximizing the exposure of (100) planes with high active surface area is highly desired for efficient electrocatalysts. In this paper, Pt catalyst composed of directional alignment of nanoparticles around 50 nm (Pt‐100/C) were synthesized by hydrothermal method in the presence of KOH. The KOH concentration was found to modulate the one‐dimensional alignment of nanoparticles. The electrocatalyst showed the largest electrochemically active areas and the highest peak current density (3.14 mA cm−2), and the catalyst exhibited high stability after 500 cycles. A series of electrochemical tests and structural characterizations show that unique bead‐structured Pt combines the excellent activity of nanoparticles with the structural stability of nanowires. A scheme for "exchanging electrodes" has been proposed to solve the problem of catalyst poisoning caused by AOR in AMHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike in Western countries, land ownership in China is overwhelmingly vested in the state, and individuals cannot directly own private lands and build houses. Therefore, developers will contract the land to the government and build it into collective apartments. Against this backdrop, a different kind of multi-story, high-density self-built residential buildings is widespread in small towns along the southeast coast of China. These buildings were built between 1980 and 2000 by residents who acquired land-use rights from the government for compensation. The uniqueness of these buildings is what makes them incompatible with the most mainstream, government-led urban renewal model in China, resulting in a large area of dilapidated and aging areas. Zherong County, Ningde, Fujian Province, is a typical example town, with a large number of such self-built houses, known locally as Liu Houses. In this study, these residential areas were selected as typical research objects of “characteristics of residential small towns”. Combined with the property rights of the sample cases, the methods of diagram and quantitative analysis are used to summarize the causes of the three types of residential areas from the aspects of regional planning, land division, building construction, and renovation. In the early days, the planning of the Liu House was greatly influenced by the residents, and the construction and renovation of the building was led by the residents, which strengthened the diversity of the style. In the middle period, the government had relatively dominant control over the planning of Liu Houses, and supervision was conducted during the construction and renovation process, resulting in a relatively balanced power between residents and the government. In the later period, the houses were built and operated by the developer, and the residents no longer directly participated in the construction and renovation, so the unity of style was strengthened. At the same time, the study finds that, in the process of the formation of the style of the residential area, on the one hand, the property rights directly affect the style through its own physical land attributes, and on the other hand, it becomes the basis of the game between the government, residents, and the county environment through its own property rights, thus indirectly affecting the style. In conclusion, this paper may provide theoretical support and design reference for the renewal of the characteristic features of residential small towns.

The ammonia electrochemical oxidation reaction (AOR) has recently attracted attention not only for environmental remediation but also for anode reactions in direct ammonia fuel cells and hydrogen fuel production. A deep understanding of the AOR mechanism is of great importance in the design of powerful catalysts. Here, we introduce morphology-controlled electrocatalysts using a facile solvothermal method and dodecylamine as a shape-controlling precipitation agent. Several shapes, including scattering nanoparticles, microspheres, and microcubes, were synthesized by adjusting the ratio of metal precursors to the dodecylamine content. The optimized catalyst, NiCu-D-1:2 with a microsphere shape, showed a hierarchical nanostructure, which provided better contact of the catalyst surface with the reactants and facilitated mass transfer through the reaction. Cyclic voltammetry experiments found that NiCu-D-1:2/CP supplies a current density of 44.9 mA/cm2 at the potential of 0.6 V vs Hg/HgO. Furthermore, NiCu-D-1:2/CP promoted a high Faradaic efficiency of 79% toward N2, which was confirmed using in operando gas chromatography. In addition, a mechanism explaining the synergistic effect of nickel and copper in providing robust AOR activity with a high N2 selectivity is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting CO 2 to highly demanded fuels or chemicals is able to achieve substantial economic and environmental benefits. Herein, a series of Pd/P–CeO 2 –Al 2 O 3 coatings on foam ceramics with particular morphologies including mesh, rod, plate, as well as mixed mesh and plate, are successfully prepared. The mesh Pd/P–CeO 2 –Al 2 O 3 coatings (MC) supported on ceramic displayed much higher catalytic activity and better selectivity than those of catalysts with other morphological Pd/P–CeO 2 –Al 2 O 3 coatings. The CO 2 conversion and CH 4 selectivity of MC were up to 85.9% and 100%, respectively. The superior catalytic performance was ascribed to the strong MSI effect, high hydrogen storage capacity, abundant oxygen vacancies, and metal sites, as well as moderately basic sites, which were characterized by TEM, XPS, CO 2 -TPD, and H 2 -TPD. More importantly, the intermediates and possible reaction pathways were systematically investigated by in situ FTIR. And the high performance of MC mainly comes from the accelerated conversion of carbonate and the hydrogenation of the generated monodentate formate. Overall, the catalytic performance of Pd/P–CeO 2 –Al 2 O 3 coatings supported on ceramic can be facilely regulated and optimized by accurately devising the morphology of the Pd/P–CeO 2 –Al 2 O 3 coatings, which offers a novel perspective for high-performance CO 2 methanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, an in-depth study on the sol-gel process for the fabrication of Eu-doped CaF2 materials in the form of thin films has been addressed for the production of down-shifting layers. Fine-tuning of the operative parameters, such as the annealing temperature, substrate nature and doping ion percentage, has been finalized in order to obtain Eu(III)-doped CaF2 thin films via a reproducible and selective solution process for down-shifting applications. An accurate balance of such parameters allows for obtaining films with high uniformity in terms of both their structural and compositional features. The starting point of the synthesis is the use of a mixture of Ca(hfa)2•diglyme•H2O and Eu(hfa)3•diglyme adducts, with a suited ratio to produce 5%, 10% and 15% Eu-doped CaF2 films, in a water/ethanol solution. A full investigation of the structural, morphological and compositional features of the films, inspected using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), respectively, has stated a correlation between the annealing temperature and the structural characteristics and morphology of the CaF2 thin films. Interestingly, crystalline CaF2 films are obtained at quite low temperatures of 350–400 °C. The down-shifting properties, validated by taking luminescence measurements under UV excitation, have allowed us to correlate the local environment in terms of the degree of symmetry around the europium ions with the relative doping ion percentages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its wide energy band gap, fast ionic conductivity at high temperatures, the ability to maintain a stable ptype conductivity at room temperature and poor spin-orbit splitting, γ-CuI is widely used in optical energy applications and ultrafast scintillation materials. The morphology of γ-CuI is determined by its synthesis conditions. In this paper,γ-CuI with different morphology were synthesized by microreaction method through controlling different NH3 ·H2 O dosage, Cu source, intube reaction residence time, and temperature in the reaction. The crystalline phase and morphology of these γ-CuI were investigated by SEM, XRD and FT-IR. The γ-CuI prepared by the traditional liquid phase precipitation method was taken as a comparison. The results show that, the highest yield of 90.5% is achieved when the amount of NH3·H2O used (CNH3·H2O / CN2H4) is 0. 4, the residence time in the tube is 10 s, and the reaction temperature is 20 ℃. Among them, the amount of NH3·H2 O used (which has the greatest effect on the morphology) is 0. 4, the rod-shaped γ-CuI with homogeneous morphology is synthesized. Comparing different Cu sources, except for Cu(CH3 COO)2 ·H2 O that is prepared to obtain the rod-shaped γ-CuI, all the remaining Cu sources mainly produce the granular γ-CuI. Increasing the in-tube time contribute to the rodshaped γ-CuI CuI formation, but further increase time will lead to sample loss in the tube. In addition, too high reaction temperature will cause the gradual conversion of rod γ-CuI to granular γ-CuI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) containing azobenzene building blocks carry great potential for use in intelligent storage, separation, chemical sensing, and catalysis due to their intriguing photo‐responsiveness. However, azobenzene units are often exploited as the linkers to form the framework of COFs, thereby restricting their molecular motion and photoisomerization. Herein, a simple yet robust template‐free solvothermal strategy is reported to yield azobenzene‐dangled COFs (Azo‐COFs) with their azobenzene moieties suspending within the pores. The crystallinity, specific surface area, and morphology of Azo‐COFs can be conveniently tailored by changing the ratio of amine to aldehyde monomers. Notably, the Azo‐COFs provide sufficient free space for the reversible trans‐to‐cis isomerization of the dangled azobenzene units inside the pores, thus reversibly regulating surface wettability of Azo‐COFs. The adsorption capacity of Azo‐COFs toward organic dye molecules is increased by 3.7‐fold when irradiated with ultraviolet light, which can be ascribed to the intelligent closing/opening of molecular gates rendered by photoisomerization of azobenzene moieties. As such, the ability to photoregulate the adsorption of Azo‐COFs highlights their significance in functioning as smart porous nanomaterials for applications in cargo release, molecular sieves, ion transport, energy conversion systems, and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as promising electrochemical sensing materials and have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Compared with bulk MOFs, the construction of 2D MOFs can increase the exposure of active sites by obtaining a larger surface area ratio. Herein, a facile one‐pot hydrothermal synthesis of pyridine‐regulated lamellar Ni‐MOFs with ultrathin and well‐defined 2D morphology is described. Compared with the bulk structure, the 2D lamellar Ni‐MOF has higher surface area and active site density, showing better electrochemical glucose sensing performance. The 2D lamellar Ni‐MOF exhibits a fast amperometric response of less than 3 s and a high sensitivity of 907.54 µA mm−1 cm−2 toward glucose with a wide linear range of 0.5–2665.5 µm. Furthermore, the 2D lamellar Ni‐MOF also possesses excellent stability and reproducibility, and can be used to detect glucose with high accuracy and reliability in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as promising electrochemical sensing materials and have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Compared with bulk MOFs, the construction of 2D MOFs can increase the exposure of active sites by obtaining a larger surface area ratio. Herein, a facile one‐pot hydrothermal synthesis of pyridine‐regulated lamellar Ni‐MOFs with ultrathin and well‐defined 2D morphology is described. Compared with the bulk structure, the 2D lamellar Ni‐MOF has higher surface area and active site density, showing better electrochemical glucose sensing performance. The 2D lamellar Ni‐MOF exhibits a fast amperometric response of less than 3 s and a high sensitivity of 907.54 µA mm−1 cm−2 toward glucose with a wide linear range of 0.5–2665.5 µm. Furthermore, the 2D lamellar Ni‐MOF also possesses excellent stability and reproducibility, and can be used to detect glucose with high accuracy and reliability in different environments.

Rare-earth (RE)-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are quickly gaining popularity as flexible functional materials in a variety of technological fields. These MOFs are useful for more than just conventional uses like gas sensors and catalyst materials; in fact, they also show significant promise in emerging technologies including photovoltaics, optical, and biomedical applications. Using yttrium and europium as ionic host centres and dopants, respectively, and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3-BTC) as an organic linker, we describe a simple and green approach for the fabrication of RE-MOFs. Specifically, Y-BTCs and Eu-doped Y-BTCs MOFs have been synthesised in a single step using an eco-friendly method that makes use of ultrasound technology. To establish a correlation between the morphological and structural properties and reaction conditions, a range of distinct reaction periods has been employed for the synthetic processes. Detailed analyses of the synthesised samples through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) have confirmed the phase formation. Furthermore, thermal analyses such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been employed to evaluate the thermal stability and structural modifications of the Y-BTC and Eu-doped Y-BTC samples. Finally, the luminescent properties of the synthesised samples doped with Eu3+ have been assessed, providing an evaluation of their characteristics. As a proof of concept, an Eu-doped Y-BTC sample has been applied for the sensing of nitrobenzene as a molecule test of nitro derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional separation membrane is usually realized by multi‐component collaborative construction, which makes the membrane preparation method complicated and uncontrollable. Herein, a novel multifunctional photocatalytic separation membrane is prepared by vacuum self‐assembly of single seaweed‐like g‐C3N4 photocatalyst. The seaweed‐like g‐C3N4 gives membrane certain roughness, large specific surface area, excellent hydrophilicity and abundant transport channels. Through a systematic study, the membrane exhibits excellent separation of five oil‐in‐water emulsions with a maximum flux of 3114.0 ± 113.0 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 for 1, 2‐dichloroethane‐in‐water (Dc/W) emulsion and a maximum efficiency of 97.4 ± 0.1% for chloroform‐in‐water (C/W) emulsion. In addition, the seaweed‐like g‐C3N4 with large specific surface area and narrow bandgap render excellent visible light absorption characteristics and accelerate e−‐h+ pairs transport rate, giving the membrane excellent photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial properties. The membrane shows good degradation for eight different pollutants, among which the degradation effect for rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), and crystal violet (CV) were ≈100%. The antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus is also close to 100%. After 35 consecutive separations of C/W emulsion and 10 consecutive degradations of RhB, the membrane still maintains excellent separation performance. This long‐lasting multifunctional separation membrane exhibits broad application prospects in complex wastewater purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional separation membrane is usually realized by multi‐component collaborative construction, which makes the membrane preparation method complicated and uncontrollable. Herein, a novel multifunctional photocatalytic separation membrane is prepared by vacuum self‐assembly of single seaweed‐like g‐C3N4 photocatalyst. The seaweed‐like g‐C3N4 gives membrane certain roughness, large specific surface area, excellent hydrophilicity and abundant transport channels. Through a systematic study, the membrane exhibits excellent separation of five oil‐in‐water emulsions with a maximum flux of 3114.0 ± 113.0 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 for 1, 2‐dichloroethane‐in‐water (Dc/W) emulsion and a maximum efficiency of 97.4 ± 0.1% for chloroform‐in‐water (C/W) emulsion. In addition, the seaweed‐like g‐C3N4 with large specific surface area and narrow bandgap render excellent visible light absorption characteristics and accelerate e−‐h+ pairs transport rate, giving the membrane excellent photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial properties. The membrane shows good degradation for eight different pollutants, among which the degradation effect for rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), and crystal violet (CV) were ≈100%. The antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus is also close to 100%. After 35 consecutive separations of C/W emulsion and 10 consecutive degradations of RhB, the membrane still maintains excellent separation performance. This long‐lasting multifunctional separation membrane exhibits broad application prospects in complex wastewater purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the functionality of inorganic materials strongly depends on the chemical composition, morphology, particle size, crystal facet, etc., which are strongly influenced by the synthesis process. The precise control of the synthesis process is expected to lead to the discovery of new functionality and improvement of the functionality of materials. For example, in a high-temperature solid-phase reaction, it is difficult to control the morphology of nanocrystals. On the other hand, synthesizing functional materials using solution processes, such as hydrothermal and solvothermal reactions, makes it possible to control the morphology and particle size precisely. Usually, the solution process is strongly related to the dissolution reprecipitation mechanism. Therefore, the material composition can be strictly controlled and is suitable for forming fine particles with high crystallinity. In this review paper, the role of the solvent in the solution process, its effect on particle size and morphology of the transition metal oxide, and the related functional improvement will be focused. Furthermore, the direct formation of functional thin films by the solution process and the morphology control by non-oxide materials by the topotactic reaction will also be introduced.

Supported nanostructured photocatalysis is considered to be a sustainable and promising method for water pollution photodegradation applications due to its fascinating features, including a high surface area, stability against aggregation, and easy handling and recovery. However, the preparation and morphological control of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst remains a challenge. Herein, a one-step hydrothermal method is proposed to fabricate the supported vertically aligned ZnO nanosheet arrays based on aluminum foil. The morphologically controlled growth of the supported ZnO nanosheet arrays on a large scale was achieved, and the effects of hydrothermal temperature on morphologic, structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were observed. The results reveal that the surface area and thickness of the nanosheet increase simultaneously with the increase in the hydrothermal temperature. The increase in the surface area enhances the photocatalytic activity by providing more active sites, while the increase in the thickness reduces the charge transfer and thus decreases the photocatalytic activity. The influence competition between the area increasing and thickness increasing of the ZnO nanosheet results in the nonlinear dependence between photocatalytic activity and hydrothermal temperature. By optimizing the hydrothermal growth temperature, as fabricated and supported ZnO nanosheet arrays grown at 110 °C have struck a balance between the increase in surface area and thickness, it exhibits efficient photodegradation, facile fabrication, high recyclability, and improved durability. The RhB photodegradation efficiency of optimized and grown ZnO nanosheet arrays increased by more than four times that of the unoptimized structure. With 10 cm2 of as-fabricated ZnO nanosheet arrays, the degradation ratio of 10 mg/L MO, MB, OFL, and NOR was 85%, 51%, 58%, and 71% under UV irradiation (365 nm, 20 mW/cm2) for 60 min. All the target pollutant solutions were almost completely degraded under UV irradiation for 180 min. This work offers a facile way for the fabrication and morphological control of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst with excellent photodegradation properties and has significant implications in the practical application of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst for water pollution photodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing consumption of fossil fuels, severe energy shortages and environmental issues are fast approaching. Therefore, the development of green energy resources is urgently appealed. Among them, the sunlight-driven production of hydrogen fuel with suitable photocatalysts is regarded as one of the potential strategies to meet the sustainable energy demand in the future. However, photocatalysis still faces significant uncertainties mainly because of the notorious photogenerated electron-hole (e-h) recombination and low carriers’ mobility. To achieve high photocatalytic performance, it is essential to tailor the spatial charge separation and fast charge transfer via electronic and structural manipulation of photocatalysts. As one of the hot-spot photocatalysts, graphitic phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has received tremendous attention in the study of solar-to-fuel (STF) conversion and carbon dioxide reduction reactions (CO2RR), owing to intrinsic merits, such as metal-free components, low-cost resources, good stability, and visible light response. Recently, considerable progress has been achieved to improve the photocatalytic STF efficiency of g-C3N4-based materials by developing strategies of structures and electric configurations engineering. In this study, different modification methods for g-C3N4 were systematically reviewed from the perspective of defects control to provide a new understanding of its structure-function relationship. Particularly, this study was composed in detail from three aspects to demonstrate the latest research progress of g-C3N4 photocatalytic materials. First, different routes toward g-C3N4 with different shapes were introduced, including 1D, 2D, and 3D. Second, doping effects and defect control on the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs were carefully reviewed. Finally, heterojunctions based on g-C3N4 were summarized, highlighting the Z-scheme heterojunction. In addition, some future directions and challenges for the enhancement of the photocatalytic efficiency upon g-C3N4 were pointed out according to our understanding of photocatalytic water splitting.

[Display omitted] • Co-BDCA microspheres with arcuate petal secondary structure were prepared by hydrothermal method. • Microscopic morphology of Co-BDCA is modulated by citric acid. • The secondary structure of Co-BDCA improves the electrochemical kinetic performance and structural stability. • Co-BDCA electrode exhibits enhanced rate capability and cycling stability. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been developed as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which have attracted extensive interest due to their tunable structure and abundant Li+ storage sites. The microscopic morphology of MOFs is considered a key factor affecting their electrochemical performance. Among these factors, the presence of 3D MOFs with secondary structures has been shown to increase the specific surface area of the materials, providing a greater number of Li+ insertion and extraction sites and improving the capacity of electrode materials. In this study, the solvothermal method was employed for preparation of Co-MOF materials. The microstructure of Co-MOF undergoes a transition from ridge to embroidery sphere, as the citric acid content is increased, resulting in the formation of arcuate petal secondary structure. The materials exhibit optimum electrochemical performance when the citric acid content is 10 %. The unique embroidered sphere and arcuate petal secondary structures endow Co-MOFs with larger BET specific surface area, pore volume, pore diameter, and improved pseudocapacitance percentage. When used as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, a 1108.7 mA h g−1 capacity was achieved at 0.1 A/g with no subsequent decay (1105.9 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles). Even when the current was increased to 4 A/g, the discharge specific capacity remained at 49.7 %. This work provides a unique reference and insight for the development of high-performance MOF electrodes for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Uniformly dispersed, multilayered floral MoS 2 /SBA-15 catalyst was prepared. • MoS 2 /SBA-15 catalyst is enriched with defects and S vacancies. • SBA-15 was confirmed to regulate the dispersion and growth of MoS 2. • Complete COS conversion at 190 °C and maintains over 98 % conversion for 200 h. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is an effective method for removing carbon oxide sulfide (COS) from coke oven gas, but the synthesis of medium and low-temperature COS hydrotreatment catalysts faces great challenges. In this study, the dispersion and morphology of multilayered petal-like molybdenum(IV) sulfide (MoS 2) loaded on the silica support SBA-15 were controlled by adjusting the hydrothermal temperature, T, (160–260 °C) during synthesis. MoS 2 /SBA-15(2 0 0) catalyst showed the best catalytic performance, achieving a COS conversion exceeding 99.9 % at 190 °C and a selectivity to hydrogen sulfide surpassing 99 %, consistently maintaining above 98 % COS removal efficiency over 200 h of continuous operation. The morphological features and surface properties of the catalysts were analyzed using a variety of characterization methods, revealing that hydrothermal temperature could control the synthesis of granular, multilayered petal-like MoS 2 , and also modulate the generation of MoS 2 structures rich in defects and S vacancies. Furthermore, higher hydrothermal temperature affected the surface acidity of SBA-15, destroyed the basic pore structure of the support and weakened the regulatory ability of SBA-15, resulting in an inconsistent dispersion of MoS 2 on the surface, which in turn affected the growth of MoS 2 and had a greater impact on the exposure of the active site. The MoS 2 /SBA-15(2 0 0) catalyst, utilizing the pore-domain-limiting effect and surface acidity of SBA-15, was synthesized in a controlled manner to grow uniformly distributed, multilayered, and defect-rich petal-like MoS 2. This dual regulation of the support and the active component provides a suitable environment for the growth of MoS 2 , which in turn improves the HDS performance of the catalyst for the removal of COS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, mixed monolayers comprising starch and cellulose nanofibers are prepared on the water surface and effectively controlled their surface morphologies. Through the spreading of cellulose acetate on the water surface, we achieve the preparation of integrated films with the spontaneous formation of nanocellulose. It is confirmed that starch, which is insoluble in the spreading solvent, is solubilized through a soluble treatment and spreads into a monolayer on the water surface. Upon mixing the nanocellulose integrated layer and starch particle layer, the morphology changes based on the mixed ratio of these components. In the monolayer film of a 1:1 mixture of cellulose acetate and soluble starch, the morphology predominantly consists of fibers, with particulate aggregates incorporated here and there. Furthermore, when the ratio changes to 1:5, the mixed monolayer transforms into a single particle layer, while the mixed monolayer evolves into a fibrous integrated film at a ratio of 5:1. Meanwhile, from the evaluation of the surface pressure-area isotherms, it is predicted that both components constitute an ideal mesoscopic miscible system. In addition, in the subphase temperature dependence of the cellulose acetate:soluble starch = 1:1 mixed monolayer, fibers are promoted under low-temperature conditions, and substantial domains are formed under high-temperature conditions. Notably, the mixed film remains amorphous at all ratios and exhibits low surface free energy, simultaneously suggesting hydrophobic and oil-repellent properties. [Display omitted] • Mixed monolayer of starch nanoparticles and nanocellulose were prepared. • Single particle layers of starch were prepared by method of Langmuir monolayer. • Nanocellulose aggregates were prepared from monolayer of cellulose acetate. • Mixed film became fibrous morphology with connected nanoparticles. • Morphology of the monolayer could be controlled by changing the mixing ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, an in-depth study on the sol-gel process for the fabrication of Eu-doped CaF2 materials in the form of thin films has been addressed for the production of down-shifting layers. Fine-tuning of the operative parameters, such as the annealing temperature, substrate nature and doping ion percentage, has been finalized in order to obtain Eu(III)-doped CaF2 thin films via a reproducible and selective solution process for down-shifting applications. An accurate balance of such parameters allows for obtaining films with high uniformity in terms of both their structural and compositional features. The starting point of the synthesis is the use of a mixture of Ca(hfa)2•diglyme•H2O and Eu(hfa)3•diglyme adducts, with a suited ratio to produce 5%, 10% and 15% Eu-doped CaF2 films, in a water/ethanol solution. A full investigation of the structural, morphological and compositional features of the films, inspected using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), respectively, has stated a correlation between the annealing temperature and the structural characteristics and morphology of the CaF2 thin films. Interestingly, crystalline CaF2 films are obtained at quite low temperatures of 350–400 °C. The down-shifting properties, validated by taking luminescence measurements under UV excitation, have allowed us to correlate the local environment in terms of the degree of symmetry around the europium ions with the relative doping ion percentages.

Although graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is one of the most promising metal-free semiconductors in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen production, the preparation of efficient g-C3N4-based photocatalysts is still a challenge. Herein, the strategy of element doping and co-catalyst loading are employed to make an effective modification on g-C3N4. The Mo2C hollow nanospheres supported by porous B-C3N4 (B-doped g-C3N4) flakes, namely, B-C3N4/Mo2C photocatalysts are successfully constructed by the ultrasonic self-assembly-calcination approach. The unique Mo2C hollow nanospheres structures increases internal multiple visible light scattering, which facilitates light-harvesting, shortens the transport distance of carriers, and hence reduces the carriers recombination. Impressively, B-C3N4/Mo2C-35 exhibits excellent activity in photocatalytic hydrogen production, affording an H2 production rate up to 1696.4 µ mol gâˆ'1 hâˆ'1, which is higher than B-C3N4/3 wt% Pt photocatalyst. Moreover, the apparent quantum efficiency of B-C3N4/Mo2C-35 at 420 nm is 2.12%. Mechanism studies suggest that this desired photocatalytic performance is attributed to a broader light absorption range, more reactive sites and faster carrier transfer rate than that of pure g-C3N4. This work develops a noble metal-free hollow nanosphere co-catalyst system and proposes new insight into the design of g-C3N4-based composite photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision medicine is “an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person.” Among many medical specialists involved in precision medicine, the pathologists play an important and key role in the implementation and development of molecular tests that are in the center of decision of many therapeutic choices. Besides many laboratory procedures directly involved in the molecular tests, is fundamental to guarantee that tissues and cells collected for analysis be managed correctly before the DNA/RNA extraction. In this paper we explore the pivotal and interconnected points that can influence molecular studies, such as pre-analytical issues (fixation and decalcification); diagnosis and material selection, including the calculation of nuclei neoplastic fraction. The standardization of sample processing and morphological control ensures the accuracy of the diagnosis. Tissue or cytological samples constitutes the main foundation for the determination of biomarkers and development of druggable targets. Pathology and precision oncology still have a long way to go in terms of research and clinical practice: improving the accuracy and dissemination of molecular tests, learning in molecular tumor boards for advanced disease, and knowledge about early disease. Precision medicine needs pathology to be precise.

Rare-earth (RE)-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are quickly gaining popularity as flexible functional materials in a variety of technological fields. These MOFs are useful for more than just conventional uses like gas sensors and catalyst materials; in fact, they also show significant promise in emerging technologies including photovoltaics, optical, and biomedical applications. Using yttrium and europium as ionic host centres and dopants, respectively, and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3-BTC) as an organic linker, we describe a simple and green approach for the fabrication of RE-MOFs. Specifically, Y-BTCs and Eu-doped Y-BTCs MOFs have been synthesised in a single step using an eco-friendly method that makes use of ultrasound technology. To establish a correlation between the morphological and structural properties and reaction conditions, a range of distinct reaction periods has been employed for the synthetic processes. Detailed analyses of the synthesised samples through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) have confirmed the phase formation. Furthermore, thermal analyses such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been employed to evaluate the thermal stability and structural modifications of the Y-BTC and Eu-doped Y-BTC samples. Finally, the luminescent properties of the synthesised samples doped with Eu3+ have been assessed, providing an evaluation of their characteristics. As a proof of concept, an Eu-doped Y-BTC sample has been applied for the sensing of nitrobenzene as a molecule test of nitro derivatives.

[Display omitted] Metal ion-induced etching can effectively convert zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) to CoNi-layered double hydroxides (LDH). Here, different metal-ion-assisted etching methods are utilized to convert Co-ZIF-L to CoNi-LDH with various morphologies and electrochemical properties. The resultant CoNi-LDH (CoNi-1) with a composition of Co 0.7 Ni 0.3 (OH) 2 displayed a high electrochemical performance when Co-ZIF-L was treated in N, N -dimethylformamide-ethanol solution containing Co2+ ions followed by Ni2+ ion-induced etching under hydrothermal condition. The improved electrochemical performance of CoNi-1 can be attributed to structural advantages, where the well-dispersed ultrathin CoNi-LDH layers favor the exposure of surface active sites and promote ion diffusion to maximize electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane is the second largest greenhouse gas in the world, with a stronger greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. The efficient elimination of methane in the atmosphere has important engineering significance in slowing down global temperature rise, energy resource utilization, collaborative control of pollutants, and promoting technological innovation. In this work, a general hydrothermal synthesis method was introduced to in-situ construct four different morphologies of MnCoO x (including rod-, spherical-, filamentous- and bulk-shape) on foam nickel (NF). The synthesis of MnCoO x /NF with different morphologies was due to changes in NF pretreatment conditions and precipitants, which affected the nucleation and growth rates of MnCoO x , ultimately resulting in different morphologies. When the four different morphologies of MnCoO x /NF were used as catalysts for lean methane catalytic oxidation, MnCoO x /NF-r exhibited the best excellent catalytic activity, and the T 90 occurred at 428 °C in space velocity of 48,000 mL g−1 h−1. Such an outstanding performance was attributed to the unique properties of the MnCoO x /NF-r including the larger surface area and more oxygen vacancies for providing more active sites and a higher oxygen migration rate, which was very beneficial for improving the catalytic oxidation performance of methane. [Display omitted] • Four different morphologies of MnCoO x on foam nickel were successfully prepared by hydrothermal method. • The growth rate of grains was regulated by changing the surface treatment of foam nickel. • The MnCoO x /NF-rod catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity because it could expose more active sites and abundant oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuSbS2 particles could be rapidly prepared by the microwave-assisted liquid phase method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as the directing agent for morphology and structure of CuSbS2 particles. Microwave irradiation could induce Cu2+, adsorbed on PEG chain structure, to reduce as Cu+. In the further reaction, the rod-like structure of CuSbS2 was formed. The results showed that the CuSbS2 particles prepared by the PEG400 structure directing agent had a higher first discharge specific capacity (~1499.6 mAh g−1) and excellent electronic and ionic conductivity. This method provides a new idea for the morphology control of anode materials for high energy density lithium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Morphology is one of the principal driving forces governing the sedimentology and evolution of delta‐canyon‐fan systems. However, quantified and systematic studies of morphological controls are still very limited. This study applied hydraulic‐based stratigraphic forward modelling to investigate the impacts of morphological parameters on sediment budget partitioning and channel network of delta‐canyon‐fan systems on passive margins. A total of six sets of stratigraphic forward models are built using 47 initial bathymetries with six varying morphological parameters: shelf gradient; shelf width; slope gradient; canyon sinuosity; canyon depth; and basin gradient. The quantified relationships between morphological parameters and sedimentological parameters (dimensions, deposition/erosion volume/area, number of tributaries and slope channels) are investigated. The causes behind the relationships are explored by analyzing the response of qualified sedimentary features to morphological controls, such as grain‐size distribution, channel migration and sequence stratigraphic frame. The results suggest that low shelf gradient, low shelf width, high canyon gradient and low canyon sinuosity are beneficial for sediment budget partitioning into deep basins and turbidity currents to flow inside canyons. Low canyon depth also promotes sediment delivery but results in more channels on canyon flanks. For the delta, channel lateral migration increases then decreases with increasing shelf gradient due to the gradient threshold in determining channel sinuosity; delta size increases then stops increasing with increasing shelf width due to the shelf width threshold in determining the balance between accommodation and sediment supply. For the canyon, low canyon gradient, high canyon sinuosity and low canyon depth have similar effects on canyons, all resulting in significant channel translation and canyon widening but less canyon head retrogradation. This study improves the knowledge of controlling factors and sediment transport regime of a delta–canyon–fan system. Moreover, the observed relationships could provide semi‐quantitative guidelines to predict the dimensions of delta–canyon–fan systems and the distribution of hydrocarbon reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) has altered the flow‐sediment regimes, resulting in channel degradation and bed surface coarsening, which have been reported in recent years. However, there has been no systematic study on the impacts of the TGD on the downstream gravel–sand transition (GST). Based on detailed field observations and numerical modelling, this study fills this gap and reveals significant adjustments in the GST and the leading causes. The results show that after operation of the TGD began, the GST migrated 49.5 km downstream during 2003–2010 due to a reduction in the suspended‐load supply (grain size < 0.5 mm) and then remained stable from 2010 to 2015 under the control of a braided river morphology. In addition, as channel degradation continued, the steepening bed profile upstream of Chenjiawan and the lowering of the downstream water level caused some gravel within the GST to become more frequently mobile during low‐flow periods (discharge <15,000 m3/s). Combined with the effects of the TGD‐induced prolonged low‐flow season and reduced frequency of large floods (discharge ≥ 40,000 m3/s), the GST exhibited a poorly understood phenomenon in which gravel was mainly transported downstream during low‐flow periods. However, these processes affected only localized sediment movement, contributing little to overall GST migration in the Yangtze River. The results also show that when a low sediment supply persists long term, additional GST migration after transient downstream migration depends primarily on the river morphology. This article has implications for the channel regulation and evolutionary processes of GSTs below dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are extended three-dimensional metal–organic clusters created by the self-assembly of metal ions with organic ligands, whose repeated unit spreads in space very orderly. Yttrium based 3D network structure, have been synthesized using the tritopic organic linker 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3-BTC) adopting a one-pot, green approach through a fine tuning of the process parameters like temperature and time. The syntheses have been carried out at various temperatures and reaction times, in order to correlate the morphological and structural features to the synthetic conditions. The synthesized Y-BTC samples have been studied in detail through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and FT-IR spectroscopy in order to analyse the 3D structure arrangements. Specifically, the Y-BTC PXRD patterns have been compared with patterns derived from literature data. The Y-BTC sample synthesized at room temperature for 24 h has the same structure of the known Y(BTC)(H2O)6 compound, while the Y-BTC produced at high temperature for 24 h has a new structure, whose cell parameters are a = 14.668(2) Å, b = 16.316(2) Å, and c = 6.9650(4) Å. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) has allowed to investigate the morphological evolution of the MOF as a function of operative parameters. Additionally, thermal analyses (TGA and DSC) have assessed the thermal stability and structural modifications of the Y-BTC samples.

Soft robotic systems typically follow conventional control schemes, where actuators are supplied with dedicated inputs that are regulated through software. However, in recent years an alternative trend is being explored, where the control architecture can be simplified by harnessing the passive mechanical characteristics of the soft robotic system. This approach is named “morphological control”, and it can be used to decrease the number of components (tubing, valves and regulators) required by the controller. In this paper, we demonstrate morphological control of bio-inspired asymmetric motions for systems of soft bending actuators that are interconnected with passive flow restrictors. We introduce bending actuators consisting out of a cylindrical latex balloon in a flexible PVC shell. By tuning the radii of the tube and the shell, we obtain a nonlinear relation between internal pressure and volume in the actuator with a peak and valley in pressure. Because of the nonlinear characteristics of the actuators, they can be assembled in a system with a single pressure input where they bend in a discrete, preprogrammed sequence. We design and analyze two such systems inspired by the asymmetric movements of biological cilia. The first replicates the swept area of individual cilia, having a different forward and backward stroke, and the second generates a travelling wave across an array of cilia.

Supported nanostructured photocatalysis is considered to be a sustainable and promising method for water pollution photodegradation applications due to its fascinating features, including a high surface area, stability against aggregation, and easy handling and recovery. However, the preparation and morphological control of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst remains a challenge. Herein, a one-step hydrothermal method is proposed to fabricate the supported vertically aligned ZnO nanosheet arrays based on aluminum foil. The morphologically controlled growth of the supported ZnO nanosheet arrays on a large scale was achieved, and the effects of hydrothermal temperature on morphologic, structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were observed. The results reveal that the surface area and thickness of the nanosheet increase simultaneously with the increase in the hydrothermal temperature. The increase in the surface area enhances the photocatalytic activity by providing more active sites, while the increase in the thickness reduces the charge transfer and thus decreases the photocatalytic activity. The influence competition between the area increasing and thickness increasing of the ZnO nanosheet results in the nonlinear dependence between photocatalytic activity and hydrothermal temperature. By optimizing the hydrothermal growth temperature, as fabricated and supported ZnO nanosheet arrays grown at 110 °C have struck a balance between the increase in surface area and thickness, it exhibits efficient photodegradation, facile fabrication, high recyclability, and improved durability. The RhB photodegradation efficiency of optimized and grown ZnO nanosheet arrays increased by more than four times that of the unoptimized structure. With 10 cm2 of as-fabricated ZnO nanosheet arrays, the degradation ratio of 10 mg/L MO, MB, OFL, and NOR was 85%, 51%, 58%, and 71% under UV irradiation (365 nm, 20 mW/cm2) for 60 min. All the target pollutant solutions were almost completely degraded under UV irradiation for 180 min. This work offers a facile way for the fabrication and morphological control of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst with excellent photodegradation properties and has significant implications in the practical application of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst for water pollution photodegradation.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as attractive candidates for Li + conducting electrolytes due to their regular channels and controllable morphology, making their presence prominent in the field of solid-state lithium batteries. However, most MOF-based electrolytes are researched at or near room temperature, which poses a challenge to their practical applications at low temperatures. Herein, a thin layer flower-shaped 2D Cu-MOF (CuBDC-10)-based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are developed for facilitating Li + transport at lower temperatures, which achieve an ion conductivity of 10 -4 S cm -1 at -30 °C. The CuBDC-10-based SSE exhibits outstanding ionic conductivity over a wide temperature range of -40 to 100 °C (0.073-3.68 × 10 -3 S cm -1 ). This work provides strategies for exploring MOF-based SSEs with high ionic transport performances at low temperatures.

Morphologically and dimensionally controlled growth of Ag nanocrystals has long been plagued by surfactants or capping agents that complicate downstream applications, unstable Ag salts that impaired the reproducibility, and multistep seed injection that is troublesome and time‐consuming. Here, we report a one‐pot electro‐chemical method to fast (∼2 min) produce Ag nanoparticles from commercial bulk Ag materials in a nitric acid solution, eliminating any need for surfactants or capping agents. Their size can be easily manipulated in an unprecedentedly wide range from 35 to 660 nm. Furthermore, the Ag nanoparticles are directly grown on the Ag substrate, highly desirable for promising applications such as catalysis and plasmonics. The mechanistic studies reveal that the concentration of Ag+ in the diffusion layer nearby the surface, controlled by the magnitude and duration of voltage, is critical in governing the nanoparticle formation (<1.3 mM) and its dimensional adjustability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Lu 7 O 6 F 9 microcrystals with various novel morphologies, including hand broom-like nanorods, nanoparticles, hexagons, spindle-like nanoparticle aggregates, hexagonal prisms and microrods, were prepared via ionic liquid-assisted two-phase method and following calcination approach. Ionic liquid was used as F− resource, morphology controller and two-phase solvent. The effect of preparation condition on the phases and morphologies of the precursors as well as the calcined products was studied in detail. The crystallographic structure of Lu 7 O 6 F 9 was also confirmed by the down-conversion (DC) spectra of Lu 7 O 6 F 9 : Eu3+ phosphor with Eu3+ ion as the structure probe. Besides, different concentration of Yb3+ ions were introduced to the host to obtain Lu 7 O 6 F 9 : Yb3+, Er3+ phosphors, in case of subsequent investigation on the up-conversion (UC) luminescence properties, UC mechanism and followed temperature sensing behavior. Color-tunable UC emissions were realized and the mechanism was discussed. Furthermore, the optical temperature sensing behavior of orthorhombic Vernier lutecium oxyfluoride was investigated for the first time. The influence of Yb3+ content on the sensing sensitivity was also elaborated. These results imply that the as-prepared Lu 7 O 6 F 9 : Yb3+, Er3+ phosphors could be considered as candidates in color-tunable displaying and optical thermometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the controllable fabrication of Au nanostructures with different morphology inside the nanochannels of the Al-surrounded porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. It has been found that the morphology of the Au nanostructures is influenced by the pore diameter of the AAO templates and the bottom Au layer sputtering on the surface of the AAO templates. Au nanowires are formed in the AAO templates with smaller pore diameters (40–60 nm), and rice spike-like Au nanostructures are formed in the AAO templates with larger pore diameters (∼130 nm). When the AAO templates with bottom Au layer were used, almost all of the nanochannels were filled with Au nanostructures. As the AAO templates without bottom Au layer were employed, longer Au nanostructures are formed inside some nanochannels near the Al-AAO boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraging frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs), we enabled efficient low-temperature CO 2 methanation using tailored Ni/CeO 2 catalysts. The distinct broom-like Ni/(0.06AB)CeO 2 catalyst composed of nanorods with abundant FLPs, created competitive low-temperature CO 2 methanation performance: 67.5% CO 2 conversion, 99.6% CH 4 selectivity and 0.27 s−1 CO 2 turnover frequency (TOF CO2) at 240 °C, along with robust stability at 300 °C for 100h. In-depth analyses via in-situ spectroscopy techniques and theoretical calculations unveiled synergetic CO and formate pathways in low-temperature CO 2 methanation over Ni/(0.06AB)CeO 2 catalyst. [Display omitted] • Tunable Ni/CeO 2 morphology by changing ammonium bicarbonate and cerium molar ratio. • The broom-like catalyst composed of nanorods is abundant in frustrated Lewis pairs. • Compelling low-temperature CO 2 methanation performance at 240 °C. • Dual interplay of CO and formate pathways in the low-temperature CO 2 methanation. • CO 2 methanation over Ni/CeO 2 proceeded by CO pathway with low energy barrier. The promising realm of carbon dioxide (CO 2) conversion offers a compelling avenue to advance environmental sustainability. This study introduces a novel approach by utilizing frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) for efficient low-temperature CO 2 methanation. Through a tailored ammonium bicarbonate (AB) precipitation method, we engineered Ni/CeO 2 catalysts abundant in FLPs. Various morphologies, including aggregated flakes, broom-like structures, and irregular granules, were achieved by modulating the AB-to-cerium molar ratio. The distinctive broom-like Ni/(0.06AB)CeO 2 catalyst, comprised of nanorods with abundant FLPs, exhibited outstanding low-temperature CO 2 methanation performance: 67.5 % CO 2 conversion, 99.6 % CH 4 selectivity, and 0.27 s−1 CO 2 turnover frequency (TOF CO2) at 240 °C, with excellent stability in a 100-h test at 300 °C. Furthermore, leveraging in-situ DRIFTS and in-situ Raman techniques, and DFT study, we unraveled CO 2 hydrogenation pathways and found a dual interplay of CO and formate pathways in the low-temperature methanation over Ni/(0.06AB)CeO 2 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea and method of control are introduced into the fractal theory from the perspective of quantitative analysis. In order to speed up aggregation, MDLA growth model with source items is put froward by altering the way of particle generating and killing of the standard DLA growth model. The effect of the iterative step size and particle radius on the growth morphology are discussed, and the growth morphology was simulated directionally.

The efficient utilization of photocatalytic technology is essential for clean energy. Bismuth-based multimetal oxides (Bi2WO6, Bi2MoO6, BiVO4 and Bi4Ti3O12) have aroused widespread attention as a visible light responsive photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution due to their low cost, nontoxicity, modifiable morphology, and outstanding optical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic activities of pure materials are unsatisfactory because of their relative small specific surface area, poor quantum yield, and the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, some modification strategies, including morphological control, semiconductor combination, doping, and defect engineering, have been systematically studied to enhance photocatalytic H2 evolution activity in the past few years. Herein, we summarize the recent research progress on bismuth-based photocatalysts, pointing out the prospects, opportunities and challenges of bismuth-based photocatalysts. Eventually, we aims to put forward valuable suggestions for designing of bismuth-based photocatalysts applied in hydrogen production on the premise of consolidating the existing theoretical basis of photocatalysis.

A NiFe alloy was designed on nickel foam (NF) as a precursor using cathodic electrodeposition. NiFe 2 O 4 –Ni 3 S 2 nanorods (NRs) composite catalysts were prepared by Fe3+ impregnation and further hydrothermal sulfuration methods. NiFe 2 O 4 –Ni 3 S 2 nanosheets (NSs) were also prepared by direct hydrothermal sulfuration of the NiFe alloy for comparison. Compared to the dense NS structure of the NiFe 2 O 4 –Ni 3 S 2 NSs/NF, the NiFe 2 O 4 –Ni 3 S 2 NRs/NF showed better oxygen evolution performance due to its unique weed-like NR array structure composed of additional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active sites, with a strong electron interaction for Ni and Fe and the active sulfide synergistic effect with oxides. Therefore, Driving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 only requires an overpotential of 189 mV and the catalyst could provide 100 mA cm−2 continuously and be constant for more than 80 h in 1.0 M KOH. This experiment indicated that Fe3+ immersion had an indirect regulating effect on the morphological growth of the catalyst, which provided a novel concept for designing better OER catalysts. [Display omitted] • The NiFe 2 O 4 –Ni 3 S 2 nanorod array was constructed on Ni foam by a three-step method. • The impregnation of Fe3+ promoted the formation of 3D nanorod array structure. • The transformation of the active substances NiOOH and NiFe oxides accelerates OER. • NiFe 2 O 4 –Ni 3 S 2 NRs/NF required lower overpotential 189 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2. • The maintenance of nanorod and active sites make catalyst obtain good stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classic control theory applied to compliant and soft robots generally involves an increment of computation that has no equivalent in biology. To tackle this, morphological computation describes a theoretical framework that takes advantage of the computational capabilities of physical bodies. However, concrete applications in robotic locomotion control are still rare. Also, the trade-off between compliance and the capacity of a physical body to facilitate its own control has not been thoroughly studied in a real locomotion task. In this paper, we address these two problems on the state-of-the-art hydraulic robot HyQ. An end-to-end neural network is trained to control HyQ's joints positions and velocities using only Ground Reaction Forces. Our simulations and experiments demonstrate better controllability using less memory and computational resources when increasing compliance. However, we show empirically that this effect cannot be attributed to the ability of the body to perform intrinsic computation. It invites to give an increased emphasis on compliance and co-design of the controller and the robot to facilitate attempts in machine learning locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micron-scale robots require systems that can morph into arbitrary target configurations controlled by external agents such as heat, light, electricity, and chemical environment. Achieving this behavior using conventional approaches is challenging because the available materials at these scales are not programmable like their macroscopic counterparts. To overcome this challenge, we propose a design strategy to make a robotic machine that is both programmable and compatible with colloidal-scale physics. Our strategy uses motors in the form of active colloidal particles that constantly propel forward. We sequence these motors end-to-end in a closed chain forming a two-dimensional loop that folds under its mechanical constraints. We encode the target loop shape and its motion by regulating six design parameters, each scale-invariant and achievable at the colloidal scale. We demonstrate the plausibility of our design strategy using centimeter-scale robots called kilobots. We use Brownian dynamics simulation to explore the large design space beyond that possible with kilobots, and present an analytical theory to aid the design process. Multiple loops can also be fused together to achieve several complex shapes and robotic behaviors, demonstrated by folding a letter shape "M," a dynamic gripper, and a dynamic pacman. The material-agnostic, scale-free, and programmable nature of our design enables building a variety of reconfigurable and autonomous robots at both colloidal scales and macroscales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible gas sensors capable of working at room temperature are in great demand for the Internet-of-things (IoT) revolution. Although molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a promising material for NO2 gas sensing, the influence of morphology on sensing performance is not well understood. Existing gas sensors using conventional electrodes involve complex fabrication processes, resulting in high cost, thus severely limiting their ubiquitous application. In this paper, the design, fabrication, and characterization of MoS2 gas sensors utilizing laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes are presented. Morphology evolution of MoS2 nanostructures and the resulting gas sensing performance trade-offs are discussed. The flexibility and mechanical robustness of the sensors utilizing LIG electrodes have also been confirmed to be excellent. Overall, high performance in gas sensing combined with low susceptibility to mechanical damage enables the sensor to serve a variety of wearable sensory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different morphologies of Nb-SrTiO 3 were prepared by a one-step solvothermal method. • Sphere-shaped Nb-SrTiO 3 had the highest photocatalytic activity in Cr(VI) reduction. • Nb-SrTiO 3 -3 showed good stability in photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction. • Reasons for the improved photocatalytic efficiency of Nb-SrTiO 3 -3 were elucidated. • Nb-SrTiO 3 -3 can treat the diluted Cr(VI)-containing passivation solution efficiently. To achieve improved photocatalytic activity of Nb5+ doped SrTiO 3 (Nb-SrTiO 3), Nb-SrTiO 3 nanomaterials with different morphologies were prepared via a one-step solvothermal method in ethylene glycol (EG)-H 2 O mixed solvents. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared Nb-SrTiO 3 samples were evaluated by the reduction of Cr(VI) under xenon lamp irradiation. The effects of the ratio of V EG /V H2O on the morphology, optical and electronic properties, and photocatalytic activity of Nb-SrTiO 3 were investigated. The results indicated that Nb-SrTiO 3 with different shapes, including block, sphere, and flower-like structure, could be prepared by controlling the ratio of V EG /V H2O. The sphere-shaped Nb-SrTiO 3 -3 obtained with the ratio of V EG /V H2O being 4 exhibited stronger light absorption, more efficient separation and transfer of photo-generated charge carriers, and superior photocatalytic activity. Moreover, Nb-SrTiO 3 -3 can catalyze the reduction of almost 100 % Cr(VI) in the diluted Cr(VI)-containing passivation solution after light irradiation for 25 min, so it holds promise in Cr(VI) wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an environmentally benign and highly effective strategy for the value-added conversion of biomass platform molecules such as ethanol has emerged as a significant challenge and opportunity. This challenge stems from the need to harness renewable solar energy and conduct thermodynamically unfavorable reactions at room temperature. To tackle this challenge, one-dimensional titanium dioxide photocatalysts have been designed and fabricated to achieve a remarkable photocatalytic selectivity of almost 100 % for transforming ethanol into value-added 1,1-diethoxyethane, contrasting the primary production of acetaldehyde in titanium dioxide nanoparticles. By incorporating a Pt co-catalyst and infusing oxygen vacancies into the one-dimensional catalyst, the ethanol transformation rate was doubled to 128.8 mmol g -1  h -1 with respect to that of its unmodified counterpart (about 66.7 mmol g -1  h -1 ). The underlying mechanism for this high conversion and selectivity resides in the narrowed bandgap of the catalyst and the prolonged lifetime of the photo-generated carriers. This is a promising strategy for the photocatalytic transformation of essential biomass platform molecules that intertwines morphological control and defect engineering., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Graphical abstract The effect of MgO precursor morphologies was explored for conversion of ethanol to 1,3-BD. Extensive characterizations demonstrate that the unique layered flower-like architectures may facilitate the formation of interfacial Mg-O-Si species and enhance Lewis basicity on the bridged O in Mg-O-Si bond via the strong interaction between MgO and SiO 2 in binary MgO-SiO 2 composite catalysts which are favorable for the superior activity. Highlights • Synthesis of three novel MgO-SiO 2 composite catalysts by reverse incipient wetness impregnation. • MgO-SiO 2 composite catalysts exhibited remarkable morphology-dependent reactivity for Lebedev reaction. • The MgO precursors with different morphologies affect the physicochemical properties of the catalyst surface. • The unique layered structure of the flower-like catalyst is more favorable for 1, 3-butadiene formation. • The Mg O Si bond formed plays a crucial role in the formation of 1, 3-butadiene. Abstract In this work, three novel MgO-SiO 2 composite catalysts with inverted structure have been synthesized via a facile and scalable strategy by means of the incipient wetness impregnation of the silica sol onto MgO precursors with different morphologies, and evaluated for the one-step conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene. The prepared flower-like MgO-SiO 2 composite catalysts exhibited highly enhanced catalytic activity than those catalysts synthesized from MgO precursors with nanodisks and nanosheets morphologies. Characterization results based on XRD, FT-IR, UV–vis, BET, CO 2 -TPD, NH 3 -TPD, ethanol-TPD, and 29Si MAS NMR revealed that unique layered flower-like architectures may facilitate the formation of interfacial Mg-O-Si chemical bond in binary MgO-SiO 2 composite catalysts which are mainly responsible for the superior activity. This study presents a new strategy to design and develop the catalyst for efficient conversion of bio-ethanol to 1,3-butadiene by morphological control of MgO-SiO 2 bifunctional catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coastal dune ridges are prominent morphological features of many barrier islands. To investigate the environmental controls on coastal dune ridge formation 38 samples from prominent coastal dune ridges on the barrier island of Fanø in the Wadden Sea were dated by the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) technique. Multiple samples were recovered from each dune ridge to test the internal consistency of the ages and to establish the last time the ridges were active. The OSL ages range from 4 ± 1 yr to 318 ± 27 yr and the average age of the dune ridges from 255 ± 30 to 6 ± 2 yr. The results show that Fanø prograded between 1000 and 1500 m in the last 250 to 300 years with an average long-term progradation rate of 4 to 5 m yr−1. We argue that dune ridge formation was favoured by normal regressive conditions resulting from increased sediment supply after an extreme storm surge event in 1634, induced by a combination of regional-scale morphological changes in the updrift coastal configuration and erosion and deposition resulting from reorientation of the barrier shoreline. Increased storminess during the Little Ice Age does not appear to be directly responsible for dune building at Fanø or in the Danish Wadden Sea but may have contributed to an overall increased sediment supply along the coast. In a regional context, dune ridge building was controlled by the inherited morphology of the shoreline that forms a large-scale embayment favouring sediment surplus and regressive conditions in the inner part to the embayment and sediment deficit and transgressive conditions along protruding parts of the embayment. It is further argued that increased marine sediment supply due to changes in local to regional scale coastal morphology and changes in climatic drivers can be equally important controlling dune ridge formation. Highlights • OSL dating constrains coastal dune ridge building; barrier island of Fanø, Denmark. • Dune ridge formation appears to be mainly controlled by marine sediment supply. • Dune ridge building is linked to large-scale coast morphological changes. • No temporal synchronicity in dune ridge building in the Wadden Sea • Pulsed sediment supply after major storm surges can drive dune ridge formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In solution-processed small molecule organic solar cells (SM-OSCs), morphology of the active layer is a critically important factor in determining photovoltaic performance improvements, which needs to be optimized by more effective morphology modulation approaches. Herein, a medium bandgap conjugated polymer, namely poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene))-alt -(5,5-(1′,3′-di-2-thienyl-5′,7′-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1′,2′-c:4′,5′-c′]dithio-phene-4,8-dione))] (PBDB-T), as a morphology regulator was incorporated into the dominating binary SM system comprising of (2,2′-((5Z,5′Z)-5,5′-((3,3‴,3′′′′,4′-tetraoctyl-[2,2′:5′,2′′:5″,2‴:5‴,2′′′′-quinquethio-phene]-5,5′′′′-diyl)bis(methanyly-lidene))bis(3-ethyl-4-oxothiazoli-dine-5,2-diylidene))dimalononitrile) (DRCN5T) donor and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 71 BM) acceptor to fabricate efficient ternary devices. The PBDB-T not only exhibits the better compatibility and miscibility with DRCN5T but also modulates the crystallinity and molecular arrangement of blend films, which is beneficial to enhance the charge carrier mobility to yield the higher fill factor. Photophysical investigations demonstrate that charge transfer and Förster resonance energy transfer processes coexist between PBDB-T and DRCN5T, which enables the higher short-circuit current density to bring about the efficiency improvements in ternary devices. In addition, the relationship between underlying operating mechanisms and nanoscale morphology evolution is systematically studied. Based on the interwined multi-working mechanisms involving energy transfer and two distinct charge transfer manners associated with microstructure, a 22.1% increase of the PCE was obtained for the ternary devices. These results indicate that selecting the compatible and miscible polymer donor as the third component for SM:fullerene based binary system should be an effective method for morphology optimization to further achieve high performance ternary OSCs. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • PBDB-T can modulate the crystallinity and molecular arrangement of DRCN5T. • The alloy domains and pure DRCN5T and PBDB-T aggregates coexist in ternary system. • The interwined working mechanisms lead to a 22.1% increase of devices efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]