Volatile Imide Additives with Large Dipole and Special Film Formation Kinetics Enable High-Performance Organic Solar Cells.

Large dipole moment additives have strong interactions with the host materials, which can optimize morphology and improve the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, these additives are difficult to remove due to their strong intermolecular interactions, which may impair stability. Developing volatile additives with large dipole moments is challenging.

Ethanol-assisted stimulated graphene oxide as support for CuO/NiO nanoparticles.

Herein we report the first successful synthesis of ethanol-assisted generated reduced graphene oxide as a support for CuO/NiO nanoparticles. Through the strategic incorporation of Cu and Ni precursors into ethanol, followed by thermal treatment, we achieved the fabrication of reduced graphene oxide-supported CuO/NiO nanoparticles. The material underwent thorough characterization using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, XPS, Raman, and UV-DRS analysis.

Amine-assisted catechol-based nanocoating on ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles for high-resolution angiography.

Surface engineered iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with catecholic ligands have been investigated as alternative contrast agents. However, complex oxidative chemistry of catechol during IONP ligand exchange causes surface etching, heterogeneous hydrodynamic size distribution, and low colloidal stability because of Fe mediated ligand oxidation. Herein, we report highly stable and compact (∼10 nm) Fe rich ultrasmall IONPs functionalized with a multidentate catechol-based polyethylene glycol polymer ligand through amine-assisted catecholic nanocoating.

Furan oxidation by Mn(iii)/Co(ii) catalysts - application to benzofuran synthesis.

Furans containing a β-ketoester group at 2-position undergo oxidative ring-opening by Mn(iii)/Co(ii) catalysts under an O atmosphere to produce 1,4-dicarbonyl moieties through an endoperoxide intermediate, which consecutively cyclized with the β-ketoester unit to afford 4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-ones. This oxidation/cyclization products were efficiently transformed into versatile benzofuran derivatives after consecutive aromatization and Paal-Knorr reaction.

3D Antidrying Antifreezing Artificial Skin Device with Self-Healing and Touch Sensing Capability.

Hydrogels are attractive, active materials for various e-skin devices based on their unique functionalities such as flexibility and biocompatibility. Still, e-skin devices are generally limited to simple structures, and the realization of optimal-shaped 3D e-skin devices for target applications is an intriguing issue of interest. Furthermore, hydrogels intrinsically suffer from drying and freezing issues in operational capability for practical applications.

Prelabeling Expansion Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy with Minimal Linkage Error.

Expansion microscopy combined with single-molecule localization microscopy (ExSMLM) has a potential for approaching molecular resolution. However, ExSMLM faces multiple challenges such as loss of fluorophores and proteins during polymerization, digestion or denaturation, and an increase in linkage error arising from the distance between the fluorophore and the target molecule. Here, we introduce a trifunctional streptavidin to link the target, fluorophore and gel matrix via a biotinylizable peptide tag.

Structural and magnetic study of undoped and cobalt doped TiO nanoparticles.

The present study investigates the influence of cobalt doping on the structural and magnetic properties of TiO nanoparticles prepared by a simple wet chemical method. The single phase anatase structure of Co-doped TiO nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction. A morphological study using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicates the formation of TiO nanoparticles of sizes 6-10 nm.

Maximum Power Game as a Physical and Social Extension of Classical Games.

We consider an electric circuit in which the players participate as resistors and adjust their resistance in pursuit of individual maximum power. The maximum power game(MPG) becomes very complicated in a circuit which is indecomposable into serial/parallel components, yielding a nontrivial power distribution at equilibrium. Depending on the circuit topology, MPG covers a wide range of phenomena: from a social dilemma in which the whole group loses to a well-coordinated situation in which the individual pursuit of power promotes the collective outcomes.

Unveiling surface redox charge storage of interacting two-dimensional heteronanosheets in hierarchical architectures.

Two-dimensional (2D) heteronanosheets are currently the focus of intense study due to the unique properties that emerge from the interplay between two low-dimensional nanomaterials with different properties. However, the properties and new phenomena based on the two 2D heteronanosheets interacting in a 3D hierarchical architecture have yet to be explored. Here, we unveil the surface redox charge storage mechanism of surface-exposed WS2 nanosheets assembled in a 3D hierarchical heterostructure using in situ synchrotron X-ray absorption and Raman spectroscopic methods.

Two-dimensional hybrid nanosheets of tungsten disulfide and reduced graphene oxide as catalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution.

Composite materials: Tungsten disulfide and WS2 /reduced graphene oxide (WS2 /rGO) nanosheets were fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis using tungsten chloride, thioacetamide, and graphene oxide (GO) as starting materials. The WS2 nanosheets are efficiently templated on the rGO layer. The WS2 /rGO hybrid nanosheets show much better electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction than WS2 nanosheets alone.

Direct nitrogen fixation at the edges of graphene nanoplatelets as efficient electrocatalysts for energy conversion.

Nitrogen fixation is essential for the synthesis of many important chemicals (e.g., fertilizers, explosives) and basic building blocks for all forms of life (e.

pH-Dependent reactivity of oxidants formed by iron and copper-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by iron and copper leads to the generation of reactive oxidants capable of oxidizing various organic compounds. However, the specific nature of the reactive oxidants is still unclear, with evidence suggesting the production of hydroxyl radical or high-valent metal species. To identify the reactive species in the Fenton system, the oxidation of a series of different compounds (phenol, benzoic acid, methanol, Reactive Black 5 and arsenite) was studied for iron- and copper-catalyzed reactions at varying pH values.

N-type graphene induced by dissociative H₂ adsorption at room temperature.

Studies of the interaction between hydrogen and graphene have been increasingly required due to the indispensable modulation of the electronic structure of graphene for device applications and the possibility of using graphene as a hydrogen storage material. Here, we report on the behaviour of molecular hydrogen on graphene using the gate voltage-dependent resistance of single-, bi-, and multi-layer graphene sheets as a function of H₂ gas pressure up to 24 bar from 300 K to 345 K. Upon H₂ exposure, the charge neutrality point shifts toward the negative gate voltage region, indicating n-type doping, and distinct Raman signature changes, increases in the interlayer distance of multi-layer graphene, and a decrease in the d-spacing occur, as determined by TEM.

A hollow sphere secondary structure of LiFePO4 nanoparticles.

We report on the evolution of a hollow sphere secondary structure of spherical nanoparticles by a solubilization-reprecipitation mechanism based on the difference of solubility products (K(sp)) of two different precipitates. Carbon-coated nanoparticles of olivine structure LiFePO(4) served as the primary nano-blocks to build the secondary nano-architecture.