Evaporation-Driven Fabric for Synergistic Water-Electricity-Lithium Co-Production.

Water evaporation constitutes a ubiquitous physical phenomenon. This natural process enables efficient energy and resource harvesting through water interacting with materials with tailored structural, chemical, and thermal properties. Here, this work designs an evaporation-driven fabric (e-fabric) that enables the utilization of water-electricity-lithium from brine through three optimized functional layers.

Climate impacts and future trends of hailstorms in China based on millennial records.

Understanding how hailstorm trends have changed in the context of climate change is a persistent challenge, mainly because of the lack of long-term consistent observations of hailstorms. Here, we leverage hail damage records from Chinese historical books and extend hailstorm records to approximately 2890 years ago, exploring variations in the number of hailstorm days between 1500 and 1949 based on reliable and consistent data. We show that the number of hailstorm days was constant before 1850, but has increased significantly afterwards.

Oriented synergistic assembly of one-dimensional Te nanowires/SWCNTs for high-performance thermoelectric aerogels.

The decoupling of thermoelectric performance parameters to coordinately optimize power factor (PF) and figure of merit (ZT) remains a critical challenge. Aerogels are valued for their low thermal conductivity and light weight; however, the lower electrical properties also lead to poor ZT values that affect their practical use. Herein, we implement a directional assembly strategy integrating Te nanowires (Te NWs) with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to construct a three-dimensional interwoven network.

TiCT MXene/Polyaniline-Modified Nylon Fabric Electrode for Wearable Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring in Sweat.

Sweat-based electrochemical sensors for wearable applications have attracted substantial interest due to their non-invasive nature, compact design, and ability to provide real-time data. Remarkable advancements have been made in integrating these devices into flexible platforms. While thin-film polymer substrates are frequently employed for their durability, the prolonged buildup of sweat on such materials can disrupt consistent sensing performance and adversely affect skin comfort over extended periods.

A Moisture-Wicking Hierarchical Metafabric Based on Waterborne Polyurethane for Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling.

The radiative cooling technology in personal thermal management (PTM) offers a favorable technical means for energy savings and heat dissipation. However, the PTM technology is facing the challenge of integrating radiative cooling performance, wearing comfort, and scalable production. Addressing these challenges, this study proposes a hierarchical radiative cooling metafabric that can be manufactured in industry.

Multimodal Sensing Smart Skin System for Wide-Range and High-Sensitivity Stress Detection.

In natural environments, mechanical stress interactions manifest across multiple orders of magnitude in intensity. Conventional single-mechanism mechanical sensors exhibit constrained dynamic detection ranges, presenting fundamental limitations in concurrently resolving both subtle stresses and high-intensity impacts with optimal sensitivity. This inherent constraint necessitates the development of synergistic multitransduction sensing architectures combining triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), mechanoluminescent (ML) materials, and piezoelectric materials to achieve biomimetic smart skin systems with broad-spectrum responsiveness.

Preparation of shrimp shell derived magnetic biochar coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS for determination of 12 tetracyclines in aquatic products.

Shrimp shell, a waste product from seafood processing, has a great potential to be reused. In this study, a magnetic biochar derived from shrimp shell(MBC-600) was prepared and applied in magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) for pretreatment of 12 tetracyclines (TCs) in aquatic products. The characterization and adsorption experiments show that MBC-600 showed good adsorption capacity for 12 TCs due to its high specific surface area (71.

High-Performance Poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) Aerogel Fibers.

Natural materials characterized by highly oriented structures are typically lightweight yet strong and hard yet tough. These seemingly incompatible mechanical properties are highly desirable in man-made materials, particularly in aerogel fibers, which often lack ordered structure. In this study, we report tough poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) aerogel fibers (PBOAF) through a nanostructured design that introduces longitudinally oriented gradient pores, achieved by controlling the drafting orientation and skin-core layer structure.

Photocatalyst Design with an Electrical-Polarization-Ability Descriptor for Exclusive C-H Bond Activation in Methanol.

Photocatalysis is increasingly used as an effective tool for green synthesis, where the precise activation of specific chemical bonds is crucial for achieving high selectivity. Descriptor-based scaling has emerged as an effective method for assessing structure-activity relationships in heterogeneous photocatalysis; however, selectivity-related descriptors remain scarce. Here, we introduce the "electrical-polarization-ability (δ)" as a novel descriptor that considers the polarity of the active site and its surrounding microenvironment, incorporating electrical, structural, and orbital contributions.

Green Light-Responsive Electrochromic Device with Yellow-to-Green Color Switching for Optimizing Adaptive Visible Camouflage Systems.

Compared to static camouflage's fixed mode, adaptive systems utilizing electrochromic (EC) technology dynamically adjust colors and patterns to fit changing environments, greatly enhancing concealment and adaptability. However, the system necessitates sensing, processing, and EC response modules, which increases complexity and costs. In this work, the photoresponsive cadmium sulfide (CdS) yellow nanoparticles are synthesized and incorporated into an ethyl viologen-based EC ionogel (transparent/blue), thereby endowing the device with the ability to sense green light.

Weakened snow and ice melting by enhanced cloud short-wave cooling effect in the Arctic.

Clouds and surface albedo significantly affect the energy balance on Earth. With the snow/ice melting in the Arctic, an understanding of how this impacts short-wave cloud radiative effects (CRE) remains a critical, yet poorly understood, question. We analysed snow/ice coverage (SIC) changes and their impact on the CRE in the Arctic from the past to the present and to future scenarios.

High-Performance Temperature Sensors for Early Warning Utilizing Flexible All-Inorganic Thermoelectric Films.

The demand for highly sensitive temperature-response materials is critical for the advancement of intelligent temperature sensing and fire warning systems. Despite notable progress in thermoelectrical (TE) materials and devices, designing TE materials suitable for wide-range temperature monitoring across diverse scenarios remains a challenge. In this study, we introduce a TE temperature sensor for fire warnings and hot object recognition, utilizing an all-inorganic TE film composite of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Te nanowires (Te NWs).

Separation of MnWO and NaWSiO Phases Boosts Oxidative Coupling of Methane.

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is an attractive approach for methane transformations, but achieving a satisfactory combination of activity and selectivity remains challenging, even with the promising Mn-NaWO/SiO catalyst. Herein, we demonstrate that nanoscale separation of Mn-based and NaWO-based phases results in a highly efficient catalyst, achieving a remarkable 79% selectivity for C-C hydrocarbons at a 32% CH conversion at 775 °C, outperforming most previously reported catalysts. Our studies reveal that MnWO phases with adjustable surface Mn/W ratios and redox activities are more effective for the selective activation of O, thereby enhancing the OCM of CH.

In Situ Polarization Enables Dipole Alignment of α-Phase Polyamide 11 Nanoribbons for Breathable Triboelectric Textile.

Triboelectric textiles have been extensively studied for wearable energy applications, including single-fiber power generation, humidity-resistant power generation, air-breakdown-based power generation, etc. However, intrinsic tribo-charge transfer in fiber- or textile-based triboelectric materials remains at a low level. Here, we propose a polarization strategy to enhance triboelectric performance using α-phase polyamide 11 nanoribbons.

3D Printable Supramolecular Viologen-Cationic Polyurethane Ionotronics for Multimodal Sensing and Displays.

Ionic polyurethanes with excellent properties have garnered significant attention in flexible wearables. However, it is still challenging to achieve ionic polyurethane ionotronics with both excellent mechanical properties and functionalization. Here, a series of hydroxypropyl viologen (HDPV) cationic-based supramolecular polyurethane with tunable strength (7.

Mortality risk of short-term air pollution exposure in urban and rural Chinese populations: A nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study, 2008-2020.

Background: Epidemiologic evidence underpinning current World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (WHO AQGs) is primarily derived from urban populations, which remains challenging for implementing the guidelines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most people reside in rural or less developed areas. Here, we aimed to characterize the associations between ambient air pollution and mortality in Chinese populations living in both urban and rural areas, where rural populations have not been studied previously at national level.

Methods: In this nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study, we extracted non-accidental death cases of all ages in both urban and rural areas during 2008-2020 from National Mortality Surveillance System, which covered 40,300 representative township-level administration units from 29 provinces, representing nearly 24 % of Chinese population.

Liquid-Phase Electrochemically Autooxidized Doping of PEDOT Enabling Fabry-Pérot Electrochromic Pixels.

Fabry-Pérot (F-P) resonators enhance light-matter interactions and are sought to incorporate stable, flexible poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). However, existing additives for PSS phase separation to enhance conductivity lack the ability to modify optical dielectric properties of PEDOT for augmenting optical resonation. Here, we developed a synergistic strategy that combines electrochemical autooxidized doping with phase separation through simple solution mixing of polyoxometalates.

Non-copper-based Catalysts for CO Electroreduction to Multi-carbon Compounds.

Renewable energy has made significant strides, with the cost of clean electricity plummeting, making the use of renewable electricity for electrocatalytic CO reduction to synthesize high-value chemicals and fuels more economically attractive. Notably, certain non-copper-based electrocatalysts have shown remarkable selectivity for C products at low overpotentials, even enabling the production of multi-carbon molecules that are undetectable on copper-based electrodes. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for research into non-copper catalysts.

Greenness, nighttime light, and couple fecundability: A national cohort study between 2014 and 2020.

Background: Reduced greenness and increased nighttime light (NTL) have been associated with adverse health outcomes; however, the impacts of greenness and NTL on human fecundability remain uncertain.

Methods: Data was collected from 14,239,365 couples across 31 provinces in China. Greenness exposure was estimated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 1000-m buffer zones, while NTL data was derived from the Visible and Infrared Imaging Suite Day Night Band aboard satellites, both based on individual residential addresses.

Solid-liquid interface charge transfer for generation of HO and energy.

Solid-liquid contact electrification is a widespread interface phenomenon in nature. Recent research and theory demonstrate that electron transfer during this process holds the potential to initiate interfacial chemical reactions. Here, we design a dual-functional device for generation of HO and energy.

Survival strategies of cancer cells: the role of macropinocytosis in nutrient acquisition, metabolic reprogramming, and therapeutic targeting.

Macropinocytosis is a nonselective form of endocytosis that allows cancer cells to largely take up the extracellular fluid and its contents, including nutrients, growth factors, etc. We first elaborate meticulously on the process of macropinocytosis. Only by thoroughly understanding this entire process can we devise targeted strategies against it.

Roles of copper(I) in water-promoted CO electrolysis to multi-carbon compounds.

The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is promising for practical applications of the electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR) to multi-carbon (C) compounds. Water management is crucial in the MEA electrolyser without catholyte, but few studies have clarified whether the co-feeding water in cathode can enhance C formation. Here, we report our discovery of pivotal roles of a suitable nanocomposite electrocatalyst with abundant CuO-Cu interfaces in accomplishing water-promoting effect on C formation, achieving a current density of 1.

Metal chalcogenide electron extraction layers for nip-type tin-based perovskite solar cells.

Tin-based perovskite solar cells have garnered attention for their biocompatibility, narrow bandgap, and long thermal carrier lifetime. However, nip-type tin-based perovskite solar cells have underperformed largely due to the indiscriminate use of metal oxide electron transport layers originally designed for nip-type lead-based perovskite solar cells. Here, we reveal that this underperformance is caused by oxygen vacancies and deeper energy levels in metal oxide.

Air-Processed Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells With Full Lifecycle Management.

Despite the outstanding power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) realized over the years, the entire lifecycle from preparation and operation to discarding of PSCs still needs to be carefully considered when it faces the upcoming large-scale production and deployment. In this study, bio-derived chitin-based polymers are employed to realize the full lifecycle regulation of air-processed PSCs by forming multiple coordinated and hydrogen bonds to stabilize the lead iodide and organic salt precursor inks, accelerating the solid-liquid reaction and crystallization of two-step deposition process, then achieving the high crystalline and oriented perovskites with less notorious charge defects in the open air. The air-prepared PSCs exhibit a decent efficiency of 25.