Sulfur-bridged bonds enabled structure modulation and space confinement of MnS for superior sodium-ion capacitors.

Manganese sulfide (MnS) is a promising converion-type anode for sodium storage, owing to the virtues of high theoretical capacity, coupled with it crustal abundance and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, MnS suffers from inadequate electronic conductivity, sluggish Na+ reaction kinetics and considerable volume variation during discharge/charge process, thereby impeding its rate capability and capacity retention. Herein, a novel lamellar heterostructured composite of Fe-doped MnS nanoparticles/positively charged reduced graphene oxide (Fe-MnS/PG) was synthesized to overcome these issues. The Fe-doping can accelerate the ion/electron transfer, endowing fast electrochemical kinetics of MnS. Meanwhile, the graphene space confinement with strong MnSC bond interactions can facilite the interfacial electron transfer, hamper volume expansion and aggregation of MnS nanoparticles, stabilizing the structural integrity, thus improving the Na+ storage reversibility and cyclic stability. Combining the synergistic effect of Fe-doping and space confinement with strong MnSC bond interactions, the as-produced Fe-MnS/PG anode presents a remarkable capacity of 567 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and outstanding rate performance (192 mAh/g at 10 A/g). Meanwhile, the as-assembled sodium-ion capacitor (SIC) can yield a high energy density of 119 Wh kg-1 and a maximum power density of 17500 W kg-1, with capacity retention of 77 % at 1 A/g after 5000 cycles. This work offers a promising strategy to develop MnS-based practical SICs with high energy and long lifespan, and paves the way for fabricating advanced anode materials.

Inclusion complex of turmeric essential oil with hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin: Preparation, characterization and release kinetics.

The application of turmeric essential oil (TEO), a natural effective antibacterial agent, in food preservation is limited due to high volatility and low stability. This study aimed to improve its stability and release behavior by synthesizing TEO/hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) inclusion complex (IC) in a saturated aqueous solution. An orthogonal experimental design was used to determine the optimal process conditions (HP-ß-CD to TEO, g/mL), 16:1; stirring speed, 850 r/min; encapsulation time, 2 h), achieving a comprehensive score value of 85.62% for TEO/HP-ß-CD-IC. Through comprehensive characterization, the results showed that TEO was completely embedded in HP-ß-CD with increased stability. Free TEO exhibited a weight loss of 67.64% between 30 and 300 °C, while TEO/HP-ß-CD-IC had a mass loss of only 9.33%. HP-ß-CD and TEO/HP-ß-CD-IC showed positive ZP values that were 124.76 mV and 132.16 mV, respectively. The release behavior and release kinetics of TEO/HP-ß-CD-ICs were also studied, and the results showed that TEO/HP-ß-CD-IC release rate increased under higher temperature and relative humidity-consistent with Fick's diffusion.

Chip-integrated optical fiber magnetic field sensing system.

Lightweight, low-cost, and simple systems for magnetic field sensing are in high demand. Here, we demonstrate such a magnetic field sensing system by integrating a light source, detector, magnetic fluid (MF), and plastic optical fiber (POF). Two bifunctional AlGaInP diodes with identical multiple-quantum well structures separately function as the light source and the detector of the sensing system due to the partial overlap between the electroluminescence and responsivity spectra. Magnetic field sensing is realized by changing the amount of reflected light due to the change in reflection coefficient of the POF/MF interface caused by the ambient magnetic field. The chip-integrated POF magnetic field sensor exhibits a reliable operation with a detection range from 10 Gs to 400 Gs. The results indicate that the chip-integrated POF sensor is promising for magnetic field sensing.

Vertically stacked quantum well diodes for multifunctional applications.

Dual-functioning multiple quantum well (MQW) diodes can simultaneously transmit and receive information through visible light. Here, we report vertically stacked red, green, and blue (RGB) MQW diodes for light detection and display applications. Both blue and green MQW diodes are monolithically integrated with distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) filters to realize the separation of light. The versatile RGB MQW transmitter/receiver system not only creates full-color display but also effectively separates RGB light into various colors. These results open feasible routes to generate multifunctional device for the development of full-color display and light receiver.

Touchless Input/Output Interface for Device-to-Device Communication.

Multiple quantum well (MQW) III-nitride diodes show selectable functionalities of light-emitting and light-detecting behaviors, enabling direct touchless device-to-device communication. Here, we propose and demonstrate a touchless input/output (I/O) interface using a single MQW III-nitride diode. By integrating an MQW III-nitride diode with a memory via a control circuit, optical signals are converted into electrical ones to be written into a memory, and consequently, electrical information is read out from the memory to be translated into optical signals for visible light communication (VLC). The MQW III-nitride diode can not only lead to a touchless ″writing″ action but also offer a ″reading″ process through light. Such touchless I/O interface would provide new forms of interactivity for device-to-device communication technologies.

Mesoporous Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate) as Efficient Iodine Host for High-Performance Zinc-Iodine Batteries.

Here, by introducing polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) as a multifunctional bridging molecule to synchronously coordinate the interaction between the precursor and the structure-directing agent, we developed a mesoporous conductive polymer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) featuring adjustable size in the range of 105-1836 nm, open nanochannels, large specific surface area (105.5 m2 g-1), and high electrical conductivity (172.9 S cm-1). Moreover, a large-area ultrathin PEDOT:PSS thin film with well-defined mesopores can also be obtained by controllable growth on various functional interfaces. As an example, we demonstrated that the iodine-loaded mesoporous PEDOT:PSS nanospheres can serve as a promising cathode for aqueous zinc-iodine batteries with high specific capacity (241 mAh g-1), excellent rate performance, and superlong 20,000 cycle life. In-depth theoretical calculations and systematic experimental results together reveal that the exposed sulfur- and oxygen-containing functional groups hold strong interactions with iodine species, resulting in effectively anchoring iodine species and inhibiting the shuttling of polyiodide intermediates, thus ensuring the long-term stability of the batteries. This work introduces a member to the family of mesoporous materials as well as porous polymers with versatile applications.

Tuning electron delocalization of hydrogen-bonded organic framework cathode for high-performance zinc-organic batteries.

Stable cathodes with multiple redox-active centres affording a high energy density, fast redox kinetics and a long life are continuous pursuits for aqueous zinc-organic batteries. Here, we achieve a high-performance zinc-organic battery by tuning the electron delocalization within a designed fully conjugated two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded organic framework as a cathode material. Notably, the intermolecular hydrogen bonds endow this framework with a transverse two-dimensional extended stacking network and structural stability, whereas the multiple C = O and C = N electroactive centres cooperatively trigger multielectron redox chemistry with super delocalization, thereby sharply boosting the redox potential, intrinsic electronic conductivity and redox kinetics. Further mechanistic investigations reveal that the fully conjugated molecular configuration enables reversible Zn2+/H+ synergistic storage accompanied by 10-electron transfer. Benefitting from the above synergistic effects, the elaborately tailored organic cathode delivers a reversible capacity of 498.6 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1, good cyclability and a high energy density (355 Wh kg-1).

Miniature GaN optoelectronic temperature sensor.

The combination of plastic optical fiber (POF) with monolithically integrated transmitter and receiver is becoming increasingly attractive for the development of miniature optoelectronic sensing systems. Here, we propose a temperature sensing system by integrating a GaN optoelectronic chip with a POF and aluminum (Al) reflector. Owing to the overlap between electroluminescence and responsivity spectra of multiple quantum well (MQW) diodes, both the transmitter and the receiver having identical MQW structures are monolithically integrated on a tiny GaN chip by using the same fabrication process flow. Environmental temperature change leads to thermal deformation in the Al reflector, which reflects the transmitted light back with a light pulse. The reflected light is coupled into the guided POF again and sensed by the on-chip receiver. Finally, the temperature information is read out as electrical signals. When the ambient temperature changes from 20.1°C to 100°C, the optically induced electrical signal decreases from -3.04 µA to -3.13 µA. The results suggest that the monolithically integrated GaN device offers a promising option for optoelectronic temperature sensing systems.

Solution-based self-assembly synthesis of two-dimensional-ordered mesoporous conducting polymer nanosheets with versatile properties.

Conducting polymers with conjugated backbones have been widely used in electrochemical energy storage, catalysts, gas sensors and biomedical devices. In particular, two-dimensional (2D) mesoporous conducting polymers combine the advantages of mesoporous structure and 2D nanosheet morphology with the inherent properties of conducting polymers, thus exhibiting improved electrochemical performance. Despite the use of bottom-up self-assembly approaches for the fabrication of a variety of mesoporous materials over the past decades, the synchronous control of the dimensionalities and mesoporous architectures for conducting polymer nanomaterials remains a challenge. Here, we detail a simple, general and robust route for the preparation of a series of 2D mesoporous conducting polymer nanosheets with adjustable pore size (5-20 nm) and thickness (13-45 nm) and controllable morphology and composition via solution-based self-assembly. The synthesis conditions and preparation procedures are detailed to ensure the reproducibility of the experiments. We describe the fabrication of over ten high-quality 2D-ordered mesoporous conducting polymers and sandwich-structured hybrids, with tunable thickness, porosity and large specific surface area, which can serve as potential candidates for high-performance electrode materials used in supercapacitors and alkali metal ion batteries, and so on. The preparation time of the 2D-ordered mesoporous conducting polymer is usually no more than 12 h. The subsequent supercapacitor testing takes ~24 h and the Na ion battery testing takes ~72 h. The procedure is suitable for users with expertise in physics, chemistry, materials and other related disciplines.

Analysis of Important Volatile Organic Compounds and Genes Produced by Aroma of Pepper Fruit by HS-SPME-GC/MS and RNA Sequencing.

Pepper is an important condiment, and its aroma affects its commercial value. In this study, transcriptome sequencing and combined headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were used to analyze the differentially expressed genes and volatile organic compounds in spicy and non-spicy pepper fruits. Compared with non-spicy fruits, there were 27 up-regulated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 3353 up-regulated genes (Up-DEGs) in spicy fruits. The results of KEGG enrichment analysis of the Up-DEGs combined with differential VOCs analysis showed that fatty acid biosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis may be the main metabolic pathways for aroma differences between non-spicy and spicy pepper fruits. The expression levels of the fatty acid biosynthesis-related genes FAD, LOX1, LOX5, HPL, and ADH and the key terpene synthesis gene TPS in spicy pepper fruits were significantly higher than those in non-spicy pepper fruits. The differential expression of these genes may be the reason for the different aroma. The results can provide reference for the development and utilization of high-aroma pepper germplasm resources and the breeding of new varieties.

Characterization, stability and antioxidant activity of curcumin nanocomplexes with soy protein isolate and pectin.

Curcumin (Cur) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities, but its poor stability, low water solubility and other defects limit the application. Herein, Cur was nanocomposited with soy isolate protein (SPI) and pectin (PE) for the first time and its characterization, bioavailability and antioxidant activity were discussed. The optimal encapsulation process of SPI-Cur-PE was as follow: the addition amount of PE was 4 mg, Cur was 0.6 mg and at pH of 7. It was observed by SEM that SPI-Cur-PE were partially aggregated. The average particle size of SPI-Cur-PE was 210.1 nm and the zeta potential was -31.99 mV. Through XRD, FT-IR and DSC analysis, the SPI-Cur-PE was formed through hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction. The SPI-Cur-PE released more slowly in simulated gastrointestinal treatment and displayed higher photostability and thermal stability. SPI-Cur-PE, SPI-Cur and free Cur had scavenging activities for 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.

Unification of Irreversibility and Energy Diagram Theory.

A simultaneous emission-detection phenomenon occurs when a quantum well (QW) diode is biased with a forward voltage and illuminated with a shorter-wavelength light beam. The diode is able to detect and modulate light emitted by itself due to its spectral emission-detection overlap. Here, two identical QW diode units separately function as a transmitter and a receiver to establish a wireless light communication system. In association with energy diagram theory, we explain the irreversibility between light emission and light excitation in the QW diode, which may help us deeply understand various expressions in nature.

Multilevel Simultaneous Lighting-Imaging System.

In a III-nitride multiple quantum well (MQW) diode biased with a forward voltage, electrons recombine with holes inside the MQW region to emit light; meanwhile, the MQW diode utilizes the photoelectric effect to sense light when higher-energy photons hit the device to displace electrons in the diode. Both the injected electrons and the liberated electrons are gathered inside the diode, thereby giving rise to a simultaneous emission-detection phenomenon. The 4 × 4 MQW diodes could translate optical signals into electrical ones for image construction in the wavelength range from 320 to 440 nm. This technology will change the role of MQW diode-based displays since it can simultaneously transmit and receive optical signals, which is of crucial importance to the accelerating trend of multifunctional, intelligent displays using MQW diode technology.

FATP2 regulates non-small cell lung cancer by mediating lipid metabolism through ACSL1.

Lipid metabolism is believed to play an important role in cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role and possible mechanism of fatty acid transporter protein 2 (FATP2) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). FATP2 expression and its relationship with NSCLC prognosis were analyzed using the TCGA database. The si-RNA was used to intervene FATP2 in NSCLC cells, and the effects of si-FATP2 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, lipid deposition, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphology, and the proteins expressions of fatty acid metabolism and ER stress were analyzed. In addition, Co-IP analyzed the interaction between FATP2 and ACSL1, and further analyzed the possible mechanism of FATP2 in regulating lipid metabolism using pcDNA-ACSL1. Results found that FATP2 was overexpressed in NSCLC and associated with poor prognosis. Si-FATP2 significantly inhibited the proliferation and lipid metabolism of A549 and HCC827 cells, and induced ER stress to promote apoptosis. Further studies confirmed the protein interaction between FATP2 and ACSL1. Si-FATP2 and pcDNA-ACSL1 co-transfection further inhibit the proliferation and lipid deposition of NSCLS cells, and promote the decomposition of fatty acids. In conclusion, FATP2 promoted the progression of NSCLC by regulating lipid metabolism through ACSL1.

Polyoxometalate-Bridged Synthesis of Superstructured Mesoporous Polymers and Their Derivatives for Sodium-Iodine Batteries.

Despite the impressive progress in mesoporous materials over past decades, for those precursors having no well-matched interactions with soft templates, there are still obstacles to be guided for mesoporous structure via soft-template strategies. Here, a polyoxometalate-assisted co-assembly route is proposed for controllable construction of superstructured mesoporous materials by introducing polyoxometalates as bifunctional bridge units, which weakens the self-nucleation tendency of the precursor through coordination interactions and simultaneously connects the template through the induced dipole-dipole interaction. By this strategy, a series of meso-structured polymers, featuring highly open radial mesopores and dendritic pore walls composed of continuous interwoven nanosheets can be facilely obtained. Further carbonization gave rise to nitrogen-doped hierarchical mesoporous carbon decorated uniformly with ultrafine γ-Mo2 N nanoparticles. Density functional theory proves that nitrogen-doped carbon and γ-Mo2 N can strongly adsorb polyiodide ions, which effectively alleviate polyiodide dissolving in organic electrolytes. Thereby, as the cathode materials for sodium-iodine batteries, the I2 -loaded carbonaceous composite shows a high specific capacity (235 mA h g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 ), excellent rate performance, and cycle stability. This work will open a new venue for controllable synthesis of new hierarchical mesoporous functional materials, and thus promote their applications toward diverse fields.

Self-regulation of light emission of an AlGaInP quantum well diode.

When an AlGaInP quantum well (QW) diode is biased with a forward voltage and illuminated with an external shorter-wavelength light beam, the diode is in a superposition state of both light emission and detection. The two different states take place simultaneously, and both the injected current and the generated photocurrent begin to mix. Here, we make use of this intriguing effect and integrate an AlGaInP QW diode with a programmed circuit. The AlGaInP QW diode with the dominant emission peak wavelength centered around 629.5 nm is excited by a 620-nm red-light source. The photocurrent is then extracted as a feedback signal to regulate the light emission of the QW diode in real time without an external or monolithically integrated photodetector, paving a feasible way to autonomously adjust the brightness of the QW diode for intelligent illumination in response to changes in the environmental light condition.

Modifications to microplastics by potassium ferrate(VI): impacts on sorption and sinking capability in water treatment.

Pre-treatment (oxidation) may induce potential modifications to microplastics (MPs), further affecting their behaviors and removal efficiency in drinking water treatment plants. Herein, potassium ferrate(VI) oxidation was tested as a pre-treatment for MPs with four polymer types and three sizes each. Surface oxidation occurred with morphology destruction and oxidized bond generation, which were prosperous under low acid conditions (pH 3). As pH increased, the generation and attachment of nascent state ferric oxides (FexOx) gradually became dominant, making MP-FexOx complexes. These FexOx were identified as Fe(III) compounds, including Fe2O3 and FeOOH, firmly attaching to the MP surface. Using ciprofloxacin as the targeted organic contaminant, the presence of FexOx enhanced MP sorption dramatically, e.g., the kinetic constant Kf of ciprofloxacin raised from 0.206 (6.5 µm polystyrene) to 1.062 L g-1 (polystyrene-FexOx) after oxidation at pH 6. The sinking performance of MPs was enhanced, especially for small MPs (< 10 µm), which could be attributed to the increasing density and hydrophilicity. For instance, the sinking ratio of 6.5 µm polystyrene increased by 70% after pH 6 oxidation. In general, ferrate pre-oxidation possesses multiple enhanced removals of MPs and organic contaminants through adsorption and sinking, reducing the potential risk of MPs.

Tetranuclear CuII Cluster as the Ten Node Building Unit for the Construction of a Metal-Organic Framework for Efficient C2 H2 /CO2 Separation.

Rational design of high nuclear copper cluster-based metal-organic frameworks has not been established yet. Herein, we report a novel MOF (FJU-112) with the ten-connected tetranuclear copper cluster [Cu4 (PO3 )2 (µ2 -H2 O)2 (CO2 )4 ] as the node which was capped by the deprotonated organic ligand of H4 L (3,5-Dicarboxyphenylphosphonic acid). With BPE (1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) as the pore partitioner, the pore spaces in the structure of FJU-112 were divided into several smaller cages and smaller windows for efficient gas adsorption and separation. FJU-112 exhibits a high separation performance for the C2 H2 /CO2 separation, which were established by the temperature-dependent sorption isotherms and further confirmed by the lab-scale dynamic breakthrough experiments. The grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations (GCMC) studies show that its high C2 H2 /CO2 separation performance is contributed to the strong π-complexation interactions between the C2 H2 molecules and framework pore surfaces, leading to its more C2 H2 uptakes over CO2 molecules.

Compact Fluorescence Detection System Based on a Monolithic DBR-Integrated III-Nitride LED Chip.

Portable applications of fluorescence detection systems have gained much attention in various fields and require system components to be small and compact. In this work, we report on a compact fluorescence detection system and demonstrate its application for fluorescence sensing and imaging. The light source and filter are integrated on a single chip for the proposed system, which not only realizes the separation between excitation and fluorescent lights but also improves the light-emitting diode (LED) light extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the detection system allows for a removable sample unit. The results indicate that the performance of the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) filter based on an amorphous dielectric film is excellent with selection ratios larger than 4600:1. The peak emission wavelength of the LED is 528 nm. The influence of green light leakage can be neglected, and the fluorescent red light is dominant when the fluorescence detection system is used for sensing and imaging. The low-cost and monolithic DBR-integrated III-nitride LED chip makes the proposed architecture a competitive candidate for portable fluorescence detection applications.

Effects of Elevated CO2 on the Fitness Parameters of Individually- and Group-Reared Agasicles hygrophila (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Agasicles hygrophila Selman and Vogt (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a natural enemy of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb (Amaranthaceae: Alternanthera), a worldwide invasive weed. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations may have significant impacts plants, herbivorous insects, and natural enemies. To assess the concurrent effect of elevated CO2 on the development time, fecundity, and population parameters of A. hygrophila, the age-stage, two-sex life table was used to understand the fitness and population parameters of individually-reared and group-reared A. hygrophila under elevated CO2 concentration. In individually-reared population, the development time of preadults, adult pre-oviposition period, and total pre-oviposition period of A. hygrophila in the elevated CO2 (eCO2, 750 ppm) treatment were shorter than those in the ambient CO2 (aCO2, 420 ppm) treatment. In group-reared population, the developmental time of preadults, female adult longevity, female proportion, adult pre-oviposition period, and total pre-oviposition period of A. hygrophila in eCO2 were longer than those in aCO2. Additionally, in both individually-reared and group-reared population, fecundity and oviposition days of A. hygrophila in eCO2 were higher than those in aCO2, and a higher intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, and the net reproductive rate of A. hygrophila were observed at eCO2. Moreover, shorter preadult development time, adult pre-oviposition period, total pre-oviposition period, male adult longevity, and higher fecundity were found in group-reared cohort at both aCO2 and eCO2. The results indicates that elevated CO2 has effects on the growth and reproduction of A. hygrophila, and the population growth rate of group-reared was faster and produced more offspring.