Fabrication and characterization of a chitosan/cyclodextrin/TiO2-NPs composite for preservation of avocados.

In this study, a TiO2 material with nanoparticle size of about 10-20 nm, surface area of 109 m2 g-1 was synthesized using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The chitosan/TiO2 film combined with cyclodextrin (chitosan-cyclodextrin/TiO2, CS-CD/TiO2NPs) helps significantly improve the mechanical properties and enhance the antibacterial activity of the polymer film. Furthermore, the content of TiO2 nanoparticles in CS-CD/TiO2NPs also affects the tensile strength, antibacterial activity, ripening rate, ethylene production rate, and water vapor permeability during food preservation of the CS-CD film that has been studied. The CS-CD/TiO2NPs film is effective against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aereus) reaching over 99.5% after 15 min of contact. The preservation ability of avocados coated with CS-CD/TiO2NPs was evaluated through some physiological parameters of the avocados, such as sensory evaluation, weight loss, and hardness. The results show that the use of CS-CD/TiO2NPs films extends the preservation time of avocados up to 7 days under conditions of 30 °C and 80% relative humidity.

Ultra-Broadband High-Entropy Oxide Absorber Layer for Enhanced Photodetector Performance.

A novel light-absorbing material of high-entropy oxide (HEO) has been synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The HEO has six metals, namely, Fe, Ni, Mn, Cr, Mg, and Cu. The obtained HEO light absorber is demonstrated to show unprecedented broadband absorption, ranging from 310 to 1400 nm. The photodetector having a structure of Ag/HEO/n-Si has been evaluated for its performance. Under the illumination of various light wavelengths, the photodetector exhibits a remarkably wide range of photoresponse from 365 to 1050 nm, giving wide-spectrum photocurrent densities in the order of 1 mA/cm2, a responsibility as high as 3.5 A/W (850 nm), and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of more than 700% (850 nm), outperforming all of the reported oxide-based photodetectors. The superior device performance is attributed to the excellent light absorbance and EQE of the oxygen vacancy-containing HEO. Moreover, a number of tests, including the abrasion test, temperature endurance, acidic resistance, on-off switching cycling, and 3 dB bandwidth measurement, show the excellent reliability of the obtained HEO-based photodetector.

High Entropy Oxide (CrMnFeNiMg)3 O4 with Large Compositional Space Shows Long-Term Stability as Cathode in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The repeated formation and irreversible diffusion of liquid-state lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) are the primary challenges in the development of high-energy-density lithium-sulfur battery (LSB). An effective strategy to alleviate the resulting polysulfide loss is critical for the stability of LSBs. In this regard, high entropy oxides (HEOs) appear as a promising additive for the adsorption and conversion of LiPSs owing to the diverse active sites, offering unparalleled synergistic effects. Herein, we have developed a (CrMnFeNiMg)3 O4 HEO as a functional polysulfide trapper in LSB cathode. The adsorption of LiPSs by the metal species (i. e., Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Mg) in the HEO takes place through two different paths and leads to enhanced electrochemical stability. We demonstrate that the optimal sulfur cathode with the (CrMnFeNiMg)3 O4 HEO attains a high peak and reversible discharge capacities of 857 mAh g-1 and 552 mAh g-1 , respectively, at a cycling rate of C/10, a long cycle life of 300 cycles, and a high rate performance at the cycling rates from C/10 to C/2.

Assessment of cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (CVMSs) in indoor dust from different micro-environments in northern and central Vietnam.

Comprehensive studies on emerging contaminants like volatile methyl siloxanes in settled dust from different micro-environments are still limited. In this study, concentrations and distribution of cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (CVMSs) including D3, D4, D5, and D6 were examined in indoor dust samples collected from various micro-environments in northern and central Vietnam. Concentrations of total CVMSs in the dust samples ranged from 86.0 to 5890 (median 755) ng/g and decreased in the order: waste processing workshops (median 1560; range 329-5890) > common houses (650; 115-1680) > university classrooms (480; 86.0-1540) > vehicle repair shops (295; 126-1950) ng/g. This observation suggests that informal waste processing activities are sources of CVMSs. Among the studied CVMSs, D5 was the most predominant compound (41 ± 14%), followed by D6 (26 ± 13%), D4 (23 ± 12%), and D3 (11 ± 11%). Moderate positive correlations between D3/D4, D4/D5, and D5/D6 were found. Median daily intake doses of D3, D4, D5, and D6 through dust ingestion were 0.016, 0.051, 0.11, and 0.054 ng/kg/d, respectively, which were comparable to water consumption and markedly lower than the air inhalation pathway.

Sputter-Deposited High Entropy Alloy Thin Film Electrocatalyst for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction Performance.

Thin film catalysts, giving a different morphology, provide a significant advantage over catalyst particles for the gas evolution reaction. Taking the advantages of sputter deposition, a high entropy alloy (HEA) thin film electrocatalyst is hereby reported for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The catalyst characteristics are investigated not only in its as-deposited state, but also during and after the OER. For comparison, unary, binary, ternary, and quaternary thin film catalysts are prepared and characterized. The surface electronic structure modification due to the addition of a metal is studied experimentally and theoretically using density functional theory calculation. It is demonstrated that sputtered FeNiMoCrAl HEA thin film exhibits OER performance superior to all the reported HEA catalysts with robust electrocatalytic activity having a low overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm-2 , and excellent electrochemical stability at different constant current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm-2 for 50 h. Furthermore, the microstructure transformation is investigated during the OER, which is important for the understanding of the OER mechanism provided by HEA electrocatalyst. Such a finding will contribute to future catalyst design.

Charge-Discharge Mechanism of High-Entropy Co-Free Spinel Oxide Toward Li+ Storage Examined Using Operando Quick-Scanning X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Transition metal high-entropy oxides (HEOs) are an attractive class of anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, owing to the multiple electroactive centers of HEOs, the Li+ storage mechanism is complex and debated in the literature. In this work, operando quick-scanning X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is used to study the lithiation/delithiation mechanism of the Cobalt-free spinel (CrMnFeNiCu)3 O4 HEO. A monochromator oscillation frequency of 2 Hz is used and 240 spectra are integrated to achieve a 2 min time resolution. High-photon-flux synchrotron radiation is employed to increase the XAS sensitivity. The results indicate that the Cu2+ and Ni2+ cations are reduced to their metallic states during lithiation but their oxidation reactions are less favorable compared to the other elements upon delithiation. The Mn2+/3+ and Fe2+/3+ cations undergo two-step conversion reactions to form metallic phases, with MnO and FeO as the intermediate species, respectively. During delithiation, the oxidation of Mn occurs prior to that of Fe. The Cr3+ cations are reduced to CrO and then Cr0 during lithiation. A relatively large overpotential is required to activate the Cr reoxidation reaction. The Cr3+ cations are found after delithiation. These results can guide the material design of HEOs for improving LIB performance.

A New High Entropy Glycerate for High Performance Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Herein, a new high entropy material is reported, i.e., a noble metal-free high entropy glycerate (HEG), synthesized via a simple solvothermal process. The HEG consists of 5 different metals of Fe, Ni, Co, Cr, and Mn. The unique glycerate structure exhibits an excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with a low overpotential of 229 and 278 mV at current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively, in 1 m KOH electrolyte, outperforming its subsystems of binary-, ternary-, and quaternary-metal glycerates. The HEG also shows outstanding stability and durability in the alkaline electrolyte. The result demonstrates the significance of synergistic effect that gives additional freedoms to modify the electronic structure and coordination environment. Moreover, HEG@HEG electrolyzer shows a good overall water splitting performance and durability, requiring a cell voltage of 1.63 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2.

Exploring the First High-Entropy Thin Film Libraries: Composition Spread-Controlled Crystalline Structure.

Thin films of two types of high-entropy oxides (HEOs) have been deposited on 76.2 mm Si wafers using combinatorial sputter deposition. In one type of the oxides, (MgZnMnCoNi)Ox, all the metals have a stable divalent oxidation state and similar cationic radii. In the second type of oxides, (CrFeMnCoNi)Ox, the metals are more diverse in the atomic radius and valence state, and have good solubility in their sub-binary and ternary oxide systems. The resulting HEO thin films were characterized using several high-throughput analytical techniques. The microstructure, composition, and electrical conductivity obtained on defined grid maps were obtained for the first time across large compositional ranges. The crystalline structure of the films was observed as a function of the metallic elements in the composition spreads, that is, the Mn and Zn in (MgZnMnCoNi)Ox and Mn and Ni in (CrFeMnCoNi)Ox. The (MgZnMnCoNi)Ox sample was observed to form two-phase structures, except single spinel structure was found in (MgZnMnCoNi)Ox over a range of Mn > 12 at. % and Zn < 44 at. %, while (CrFeMnCoNi)Ox was always observed to form two-phase structures. Composition-controlled crystalline structure is not only experimentally demonstrated but also supported by density function theory calculation.

Multiresidue Pesticides Analysis of Vegetables in Vietnam by Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Combination with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap MS).

An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry Thermo Q-Extractive Focus Orbitrap MS has been introduced for analysis of multiclass pesticides in vegetable samples collected in Hanoi, Vietnam. Multiclass pesticides were separated on the Thermo Hypersil Gold PFP column utilizing a gradient of the mobile phase consisting of 5 mM ammonium formate, 0.1% formic acid in deionized water, and methanol. The target analytes were detected in the full-scan mode on Thermo Scientific Q-Exactive Focus Orbitrap MS for quantitation at the optimum operating conditions. These conditions included, but not limit to, the resolution of 70000 at the full width at half maximum in both positive and negative mode, mass range from 80 to 1000 m/z, and optimized parameters for the heated electrospray ionization source. The identification of the analytes in real samples was based on retention times, mass to charge ratios, mass accuracies, and MS/MS spectra at the confirmation mode with the inclusion list of target analytes. The mass accuracies of target analytes were from -4.14 ppm (dinotefuran) to 1.42 ppm (cinosulfuron) in the neat solvent and from -3.91 ppm (spinosad D) to 1.29 ppm (cinosulfuron) in the matrix-matched solution. Target analytes in the vegetable-based matrix were extracted by the QuEChERS method. Some critical parameters of the analytical method such as linearity, repeatability, limit of detection, and limit of quantitation have been evaluated and implemented. Excellent LOD and LOQ of the developed method were achieved at the range of 0.04-0.85 and 0.13-2.9 µg·kg-1, respectively. Intraday and interday repeatability of the analytical signal (peak area, n=6) of the developed method were below 3% and 10%, correspondingly. The matrix effect, extraction recovery, and overall recovery were fully investigated by spiking experiments. Experimental results demonstrated that the ionization suppression or enhancement was the main contribution on the overall recoveries of target analytes. Finally, the in-house validated method was applied to pesticides screening in vegetables samples in local villages in Hanoi, Vietnam. The concentrations of all target analytes were below limit of quantitation and lower than US-FDA or EU maximum residue levels.