ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

The demand for efficient large-scale energy storage necessitates high-energy-density batteries, making research on high-voltage electrolytes particularly important. In this article, ethyl isopropyl sulfone (ES), which has a high dielectric constant, is added to traditional carbonate-based electrolyte solvents and analyzed. Based on calculated and analyzed results, different proportions of ES are added to the conventional carbonate-based electrolyte. The high-voltage performance, the influence on the surface of the electrode, the active material structure after cycling, the electrochemical behavior, and the impedance of the electrode were studied systematically...

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are among the most promising materials for solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs) due to their inherent safety advantages; however, they suffer from insufficient room-temperature ionic conductivity (up to 10-6 S cm-1 ) and limited oxidation stability (<4 V). In this study, a novel "polymer-in-high-concentrated ionic liquid (IL)" (PiHCIL) electrolyte composed of PEO, N -propyl- N -methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide (C3 mpyrFSI) IL, and LiFSI is designed...

We investigate the irreversible adsorption of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer thin films on silicon dioxide/silicon (SiO2 /Si) substrates during thermal annealing at a temperature below the melting temperature ( T m ) but far above the glass transition temperature ( T g ), i.e., T g ≪ T = 170 °C < T m , and its effect on their crystalline ordering and charge transport properties. It was found that short-time annealing enhances the molecular ordering of P3HT films, while prolonged thermal annealing gradually disrupts the crystalline structures and reduces the overall crystallinity of the film...

The advancements in targeted drug release and experimental neuroscience have amplified the scientific interest in photolabile protecting groups (PPGs) and photouncaging. The growing need for the detection of uncaging events has led to the development of reporters with fluorescence turn-on upon uncaging. In contrast, fluorescent tags with turn-off properties have been drastically underexplored, although there are applications where they would be sought after. In this work, a rhodamine-based fluorescent tag is developed with signal turn-off following photouncaging...

Near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence (PersL) materials have unique optical properties with promising applications in bioimaging and anticounterfeiting. However, their development is currently hindered by poor red-light-exciting ability. In this study, CaTiO3 :Cr0.001 ,Y0.02 (CTCY) was synthesized with 650 nm-excited 772 nm NIR PersL. The Y3+ doping in the Ca2+ lattice plays a key role in the PersL property. A charge compensation mechanism was proposed, in which Cr3+ in the Ti4+ lattice was stabilized by Y3+ -doping while oxygen vacancies were generated to store the excitation energy at the same time...

A novel series of donor-donor-π-acceptor (D-D-π-A) 9,9'-dihexylfluorene-based dianchoring organic dyes, each featuring distinct bridging electron-donating moieties, have been synthesized and characterized. Their performances in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) were evaluated, taking into account of their photophysical and electrochemical attributes. Remarkably, ( Z )-3-(5-(4-((4-(5-(( E )-2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl)thiophen-2-yl)phenyl)(9,9-dihexyl- 9H -fluoren-2-yl)amino)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid achieved an active and robust H2 generation system with a turnover number (TON) of up to 17 400 in 126 h, with a production of 1090 μmol (26...

Magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs) are a "beyond Li-ion" technology that are hampered by Mg metal reactivity, which motivates the development of anode materials such as tin (Sn) with high theoretical capacity (903 mAh g-1 ). However, pure Sn is inactive for Mg2+ storage. Herein, Mg alloying with Sn is enabled within dual-phase Bi-Sn anodes, where the optimal composition (Bi66.5 Sn33.5 ) outperformed single-phase Bi and Sn electrodes to deliver high specific capacity (462 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 ), good cycle life (84% after 200 cycles), and significantly improved rate capability (403 mAh g-1 at 1000 mA g-1 )...

Carbon neutrality necessitates new technologies for renewable energy utilization, active regulation of heat exchange, and material recycling to promote green and intelligent building development. Currently, the integration of these functions and characteristics into a single coating material presents a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a novel triboelectric and radiative cooling coating with mussel-inspired architectures, fabricated using cellulose nanofibers and Mica-TiO2 as a functional mortar and brick, respectively...

The utilization of plant-based flow catalytic microreactors has been increasingly gaining traction in the fields of water treatment, energy generation, and biotechnological science due to their inherent channel structures, renewable properties, and environmentally friendly nature. The conventional outside-in strategy for synthesizing plant-based monolithic microreactors typically entails prolonged hydrothermal modification, extensive chemical usage, or energy-intensive equipment. The present study presents a universal inside-out strategy for the rapid synthesis of monolithic catalytic microreactors derived from plant materials...

m -Xylene is a volatile organic compound that is extensively used in various industrial processes. It is toxic, posing significant risks to human health and the environment. Therefore, developing gas sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity for m -xylene detection is critical. In this work, we demonstrated the synthesis of NiO-yolk double-shell (NiO-YDS) and NiO-yolk triple-shell (NiO-YTS) derived from NiO/Ni-BTC and NiO/Ni-PTA composites, respectively, using the microwave-assisted solvothermal method from Ni-BTC-derived NiO spheres...

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), thanks to the cost-effectiveness of potassium resources and a favorable redox potential of approximately -2.936 V. The monoclinic BiVO4 , known for its layered structure, shows noteworthy electrochemical properties when utilized as an anode material for both LIBs and sodium-ion batteries. However, the fundamental electrochemical reaction mechanisms of the BiVO4 anode during the potassium insertion/extraction processes remain unclear...

The most widely used catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is Pt, but the high cost and low abundance of Pt need to be urgently addressed. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been an effective means of improving the utilization of Pt atoms. In this work, we used a nonmetal (NM = B, N, O, F, Si, P, S, Cl, As, Se, Br, Te, and I) doped β-Mo2 C (100) C-termination surface as the support, with Pt atoms dispersed on the support surface to construct Pt@NM-Mo2 C. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we selected catalysts with excellent HER activity...

Compared to conventional fibers, electrospun porous nanofibers with hierarchical structures often involve additional active sites, interfaces, and internal spaces which boost the performances of functional materials. Here in this study, coaxial composite cellulose acetate@silk fibroin (CA@SF) fibrous membranes are constructed through an electrostatic spinning technique combining solvent-induced phase separation. Hierarchical core-shell structures on the fibers are achieved, which significantly increases the surface area and benefits the mechanical property, flux, as well as the electroless deposition of Ag nanoparticles...

The high computility of electronic components put urgent requirements on the dissipation efficiency of a high thermal conductive substrate. Herein, inspired by the nature structure, leaf-vein-like Al2 O3 skeleton was first designed though topology optimization algorithm and manufactured via vat photopolymerization (VPP) 3D printing, then compounded with epoxy (EP) to prepare leaf-vein-like biohybrid structures. The biohybrid structure had a high λ (14.65 Wm-1 K-1 with the solid fraction of 40 vol %), which was 5585% higher than neat EP and 269% higher than the random dispersed Al2 O3 /EP composite at the same solid amount...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a common malignant neurological tumor, has boundaries indistinguishable from those of normal tissue, making complete surgical removal ineffective. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) further impedes the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and a heightened probability of recurrence. Hydrogels offer multiple advantages for GBM diagnosis and treatment, including overcoming the BBB for improved drug delivery, controlled drug release for long-term efficacy, and enhanced relaxation properties of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents...

Nickel-rich layered oxides stand as ideal cathode candidates for high specific capacity and energy density next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, increasing the Ni content significantly exacerbates structural degradation under high operating voltage, which greatly restricts large-scale commercialization. While strategies are being developed to improve cathode material stability, little is known about the effects of electrolyte-electrode interaction on the structural changes of cathode materials. Here, using LiNiO2 in contact with electrolytes with different proton-generating levels as model systems, we present a holistic picture of proton-induced structural degradation of LiNiO2 ...

We present four-dimensional (4D) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis to obtain a high level of detail regarding the nanoscale ordering within largely disordered organic semiconducting polymers. Understanding nanoscale molecular ordering in semiconducting polymers is crucial due to its connection to the materials' important properties. However, acquiring such information in a spatially localized manner has been limited by the lack of a nanoscale experimental probe, weak signal from ordering, and radiation damage to the sample...

Fabrication of metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films is an ongoing challenge to achieve effective device integration. Inkjet printing has been employed to print various luminescent metal-organic framework (MOF) films. Luminescent metal-organic nanosheets (LMONs), nanometer-thin particles of MOF materials with comparatively large micrometer lateral dimensions, provide an ideal morphology that offers enhancements over analogous MOFs in luminescent properties such as intensity and photoluminescent quantum yield...

The electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NO3 RR) provides a desired alternative of the traditional Haber-Bosch route for ammonia production, igniting a research boom in the development of electrocatalysts with high activity. Among them, molecular electrocatalysts hold considerable promise for the NO3 RR, suppressing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. However, the complicated synthesis procedure, usage of environmentally unfriendly organic solvents, and poor stability of Cu-based molecular electrocatalysts greatly limit their employment in NO3 RR, and the development of desired Cu-based molecular catalysts remains challenging...

The development of noninvasive glucose sensors capable of continuous monitoring without restricting user mobility is crucial, particularly for managing diabetes, which demands consistent and long-term observation. Traditional sensors often face challenges with accuracy and stability that curtail their practical applications. To address these issues, we have innovatively applied a three-dimensional porous aerogel composed of Ti3 C2 T x MXene and reduced graphene oxide (MX-rGO) in electrochemical sensing. It significantly reduces the electron-transfer distance between the enzyme's redox center and the electrode surface while firmly anchoring the enzyme layer to effectively prevent any leakage...