Mn Single-Atom Photocatalyst Enables Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO.

Photocatalytic conversion of CO into fuels with HO as a proton source is recognized as a promising strategy for CO utilization. However, past efforts have mainly been devoted to the CO reduction reaction and overlooked essential water dissociation that provides a proton source. Herein, the Mn/PCN-N photocatalyst with Mn-N coordination by incorporating Mn single atoms into a polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) framework endowed with nitrogen vacancies (N) is developed for CO photoreduction.

Unimolecular decomposition of pentacyclic carbonates: a computational kinetic study.

To develop chemical kinetic models for the pyrolysis and combustion of pentacyclic carbonates, including ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), 2,3-butylene carbonate (23BC), and 1,2-butylene carbonate (12BC), which are always focused on in the battery industry as representative solvents and alternative fuels, theoretical aspects of unimolecular decomposition reactions were studied. According to the calculations, CO, H, and CH elimination channels and isomerization channels were found based on the potential energy surface of the unimolecular decomposition channels. These pentacyclic carbonates predominantly tend to eliminate CO, thereby generating aldehydes, ketones, and oxiranes.

High-performance pseudocapacitors enabled by H/OH mixed ion conductors in perovskite electrodes.

Oxygen-ion intercalation perovskites in pseudocapacitors suffer from slow ion transport and instability. Here, we propose a SrZrYO-based perovskite, a H/OH mixed ion conductor, achieving 1164.9 F g at 2 A g.

Intrinsic-Defect-Rich Hierarchical Porous Carbon Enabling Enhanced Power Generation in Sulfur-Based Thermally Regenerative Batteries.

Thermally regenerative battery (TRB) systems as an emerging technology for converting low-grade waste heat into electricity show significant application potential but face challenges in terms of limited efficiency and cycling performance. To solve these problems, building upon a sulfur-based thermally regenerative battery (STRB), this work utilizes defect-rich hierarchically porous carbon architectures (DHPCs) as substrate materials for sulfur electrodes, investigating systematically the structural characteristics of sulfur electrodes based on nitrogen-doped hierarchically porous carbon architectures (NHPCs) and DHPCs, along with their effects on the power performance of STRBs. The results demonstrate polar defect sites in DHPCs effectively immobilize active materials, while the porous carbon walls facilitate rapid ion transport and promote chemical conversions.

Impacts of intermittent electrical stimulation on continuous electro-anaerobic digestion from wastewater: performance and multi-omics insights.

The recently reported electro-anaerobic digestion with intermittent electrical stimulation (IEAD) offers new opportunities for renewable energy storage. However, the mechanistic insights and resilience of long-term continuous and stable IEAD are still yet to be better understood. This study lasted up to 155 days of continuous operation of IEAD in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket bioreactors to evaluate the long-term effects of different intermittent power periods on IEAD performance.

High performance UiO-66 through microwave-assisted and Cr doping for adsorption heat storage applications.

The metal-organic framework UiO-66 is a promising water vapor adsorbent due to its stability and hydrophilicity. In this study, we systematically investigated the modulation of pore structure and water adsorption performance of UiO-66 through microwave-assisted synthesis and controlled Cr doping. The results indicated that the crystalline integrity and thermal stability of the framework remained well-preserved after doping.

Sulfur-based thermally regenerative cascade batteries enabling dual electrochemical reactions for enhanced power generation.

A thermally regenerative cascade battery (TRCB) coupling a CuS/S redox process with a Cu/Cu redox reaction is proposed. The CuS participates in energy conversion and promotes the Cu/Cu redox reaction, achieving a power density of 14.2 mW cm.

Adhesion Behavior Driven by Temperature Difference between Impinging Droplets and Superhydrophobic Surfaces.

Condensation occurs within the microtexture gaps when droplets impact and contact superhydrophobic surfaces due to temperature differences. This condensation leads directly to droplet pinning on the surface. However, the mechanisms behind condensation-induced droplet pinning remain unclear.

Thermally Drawn Flexible Fiber Sensors: Principles, Materials, Structures, and Applications.

Flexible fiber sensors, with their excellent wearability and biocompatibility, are essential components of flexible electronics. However, traditional methods face challenges in fabricating low-cost, large-scale fiber sensors. In recent years, the thermal drawing process has rapidly advanced, offering a novel approach to flexible fiber sensors.

Efficient and Scalable Thermal Radiation Management for Large-Scale Thermophotovoltaic Applications.

Thermophotovoltaics (TPVs) convert radiative heat to electricity and are promising in applications such as waste heat recovery and grid-scale energy storage. State-of-the-art TPV energy conversion promoting devices, back surface reflectors, improve the efficiency in the laboratory but experience significant efficiency drop due to out-of-band (OOB) parasitic absorptions in cell arrays. Here, we design spectral management prior to the cell, which has exceptional tolerance to the OOB absorptions, offering significant advantages for large-scale TPV applications.

Engineering twin CuZnS for CO photocatalytic reduction to ethylene.

A twin CuZnS solid solution is developed for carbon dioxide photocatalytic reduction, in which ordered stacking faults induce homojunctions to enhance the separation and migration of photogenerated charge carriers. The high-coverage of the *CO intermediate is responsible for promoting C-C coupling. The developed photocatalyst exhibits efficient CO-to-CH conversion with a CH production rate of 8.

Droplet Trapping in Oil Phase via Optically Driven Thermocapillary Convection.

Herein, we propose a novel optical strategy for stable water droplet trapping in an immiscible oil phase by using a 1550 nm focused laser beam. Distinct from conventional optical strategies, this approach leverages a local photothermal effect-induced flow field surrounding the water droplet in the oil phase to achieve stable droplet trapping without prolonged interaction between the laser and the water droplet, allowing for low-temperature operation. This feature effectively minimizes potential thermal damage risks and thereby preserves the viability of samples within the droplet, which is particularly promising for biological applications.

Ultrabroadband and band-selective thermal meta-emitters by machine learning.

Thermal nanophotonics enables fundamental breakthroughs across technological applications from energy technology to information processing. From thermal emitters to thermophotovoltaics and thermal camouflage, precise spectral engineering has been bottlenecked by trial-and-error approaches. Concurrently, machine learning has demonstrated its powerful capabilities in the design of nanophotonic and meta-materials.

Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification.

Thermal rectification is a noteworthy phenomenon of asymmetric material, which enables the directional transfer of thermal energy. But the design and construction of such asymmetric thermal conductive materials with complex structures are full of challenges. Here, an additive manufacturing method is proposed to fabricate asymmetric porous composites from layer-by-layer cast emulsions, stabilized with Janus particles (JPs), for thermal rectification.

Sustainable Increase in Thermal Resistance of Window Construction: Experimental Verification and CFD Modelling of the Air Cavity Created by a Shutter.

This study investigates, both experimentally and theoretically, the impact of incorporating window shutters on the thermal resistance of double-glazed window units, employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling. The integration of shutters, whether installed internally or externally, introduces an additional air layer that significantly influences heat transfer between indoor and outdoor environments. This effect on the thermal performance of the transparent structure was analysed through experimental measurements under real operating conditions and numerical simulations involving fluid dynamics and energy equations for the air gaps, alongside heat conduction equations for the solid components.

Ce-UiO-66 Loaded Composite Membrane for Enhanced Proton Conductivity and Performance in Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps via Recasting Method.

Electrochemical hydrogen pump (EHP) holds significant promise for industrial byproduct hydrogen purification, where efficient proton conduction is critical. In this study, a cerium-based metal-organic framework-doped composite membrane is successfully prepared via a recasting method. Compared to the Nafion membrane, the composite membrane exhibits a slight decrease in ion-exchange capacity but a significant improvement in water uptake, leading to enhanced membrane hydration.

3D Photothermal Manipulation of Droplet for Biological Applications.

3D light manipulation of water droplets at low temperatures via a local photothermal effect presents a fundamental challenge. Herein, we propose a novel light strategy for 3D manipulation of a water droplet in an immiscible oil phase using a 532 nm laser beam in which the photothermal conversion materials of carbon powders are dispersed in the oil for absorbing the 532 nm laser energy. The local photothermal effect creates temperature gradients at the oil-air and water-oil interfaces, leading to the thermocapillary flow.

Porous-Based Materials for High Power Density Thermal Energy Storage and Flexible Conversion: A Comprehensive Review.

Addressing the thermal challenges inherent in energy storage and conversion-driven by the demand for high energy and power density-is crucial for advancing carbon neutrality. Porous materials, characterized by their high surface area, tunable porosity, and nanometer-scale porous structure, offer exceptional performance due to their structural adaptability. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the key methods for synthesizing and fabricating these materials, as well as the mechanisms underlying controllable thermal behavior.

Enhancing liquid-vapor phase behavior through multiscale anisotropic wettability gradient in dandelion-inspired nanostructures.

Effective manipulation of liquid-vapor phase behavior is essential for advancing energy efficiency. This study presents a synthetic strategy for creating multiscale anisotropic wettability gradients through the assembly of dandelion-inspired nanostructures, achieving both horizontal (planar) and vertical biphilicity. This versatile approach is applicable to various nanowire materials, including silicon, zinc oxide, and copper oxide.

Synergistic Multi-Active Sites in High-Entropy Alloy Nanowires Enhances the Methanol Oxidation Reaction Performances.

The advancement of nanowire electrocatalysts with high-performance and durability is crucial for sustainable development. Herein, uniform high-entropy alloy (HEA) PtPdRuCuTe nanowires (NWs) are prepared with a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The PtPdRuCuTe NWs demonstrate a mass activity of 4200.

Non-Hermitian Thermophotonic Funneling via Nonreciprocal Surface Waves.

Non-Hermitian photonics revolutionizes the understanding and manipulation of wave propagation in open systems. However, due to the interplay of non-Hermitian light-matter interactions and complex long-range couplings, miniaturizing topological features into deep-subwavelength regimes remains a significant challenge, and state-of-the-art explorations have thus far remained on the reciprocal topological photonic states. Here, we introduce nonreciprocal surface waves into deep-subwavelength dimerized lattices to theoretically demonstrate an efficient thermophotonic funnel.

Role of Patterned Wettability of Anode Porous Transport Layer in Enhancing Two-Phase Transport for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers.

Green hydrogen production through proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, powered by renewable energy sources and capable of operating at high current densities, has attracted considerable attention. However, two-phase transport within the anode porous transport layer (PTL) and catalyst layer (CL) significantly impacts the performance of PEM electrolyzers. In this work, the role of patterned wettability of the PTL is investigated in optimizing the gas distribution in the PTL, PTL/CL interface, and CL for PEM electrolyzers by a three-dimensional, two-phase, dual-scale pore network model.

Alloying Effects on Iron Oxide Redox Pathways: Insights into Sustainable Hydrogen-Based Reduction.

Hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron oxides, particularly using renewable hydrogen sources, presents a sustainable, zero-carbon footprint alternative for the steel industry. However, the influence of secondary metallic elements on reduction pathways and the redox behavior of iron oxide remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigate the reduction and oxidation behaviors of NiFeO and pure FeO using environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM), revealing that Ni incorporation fundamentally modifies the reaction pathway, simplifying the reduction process from a two-step to a single-step mechanism.

Plasma Photocatalysis: A Novel Approach for Enhanced Air Disinfection in Centralised Ventilation Systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for sustainable and scalable air disinfection technologies in HVAC systems, addressing the limitations of energy-intensive and chemically intensive conventional methods. This study developed and evaluated a pilot experimental installation integrating plasma chemistry and photocatalysis for airborne pathogen and pollutant mitigation. The installation, designed with a modular architecture to simulate real-world HVAC dynamics, employed a bipolar plasma ioniser, a TiO photocatalytic module, and an adsorption-catalytic module for ozone abatement.

Hierarchical CoS@InS Heterojunction for Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO to Syngas.

Photocatalytic reduction of CO to solar fuels is recognized as a promising route to address environmental and energy issues. However, there exist two challenges of insufficient CO activation and fast charge carrier recombination, impeding this conversion. Herein, a hierarchical CoS@InS (CoS@InS) heterojunction is developed by the in situ growth of the InS nanosheets on the CoS nanotubes for efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO to syngas in an aqueous reaction system with [Ru(bpy)]Cl serving as a photosensitizer and triethanolamine as a sacrificial agent.