Storage Applications Research Articles

Optical polarized orthogonal matrix

Multiplexing technology serves as an effective approach to increase both information storage and transmission capability. However, when exploring multiplexing methods across various dimensions, the polarization dimension encounters limitations stemming from the finite orthogonal combinations. Given that only two mutually orthogonal polarizations are identifiable on the basic Poincaré sphere, this poses a hindrance to polarization modulation. To overcome this challenge, we propose a construction method for the optical polarized orthogonal matrix (OPOM), which is not constrained by the number of orthogonal combinations. Furthermore, we experimentally validate its application in high-dimensional multiplexing of polarization holography. We explore polarization holography technology, capable of recording amplitude, phase, and polarization, for the purpose of recording and selective reconstruction of polarization multi-channels. Our research reveals that, despite identical polarization states, multiple images can be independently manipulated within distinct polarization channels through orthogonal polarization combinations, owing to the orthogonal selectivity among information. By selecting the desired combination of input polarization states, the reconstructed image can be switched with negligible crosstalk. This non-square matrix composed of polarization unit vectors provides prospects for multi-channel information retrieval and dynamic display, with potential applications in optical communication, optical storage, logic devices, anti-counterfeiting, and optical encryption.

The impact of knowledge management on team learning: an empirical study in public enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of knowledge management (KM) practices (knowledge creation, knowledge storage, knowledge transfer and knowledge application) and demographic and occupational factors on team learning (TL) in public enterprises in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach A convenient random sample of 389 employees working in 52 various functional teams in the Jordanian public enterprises completed a self-administrated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to analyze the data and test the proposed hypotheses. Findings The results of this study showed that KM practices explained an additional 53% of the variance in TL above the 9% variance explained by the demographic and occupational factors (i.e. gender, work experience, age, education, occupational position, team size and participation in training on KM and TL). Notably, in the absence of the effects of KM dimensions, work experience, age, team size and “participation in training on KM and TL” were significant predictors of TL. However, after including the effects of KM dimensions in the regression analysis, only the participation in training variable, along with the KM dimensions, remained significant predictors of TL. Practical implications This study contributes to public enterprise administration by highlighting the importance of KM practices in nurturing a healthy TL climate that can ultimately enhance job performance and organizational success. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few studies in the Arab world that examines real functional teams to understand the role of KM in enhancing the practice of TL.

Manipulating Dynamic Light-Driven Solid-Liquid Transition and Static Reversible Photochromism via Organic Cocrystal Strategy.

Developing of molecular crystalline materials with light-induced multiple dynamic deformation in space dimension and photochromism on time scales has attracted much attention for its potential applications in actuators, sensoring and information storage. Nevertheless, organic crystals capable of both photoinduced dynamic effects and static color change are rare, particularly for multi-component cocrystals system. In this study, we first report the construction of charge transfer co-crystals allows their light-induced solid-to-liquid transition and photochromic behaviors to be controlled by trans-stilbene (TSB) as an electron donor and 3,4,5,6-Tetrafluorophthalonitrile (TFP) as an electron acceptor. In this case, the dynamic photo-responsive solid-to-liquid phase transition is due to the photoisomerization of TSB under UV irradiation, while the accumulation of melted droplets during solid-state photochemical process causes mechanical deformation of TSB-TFP cocrystals. The subsequent reversible photochromic behavior is attributed to the emergence of free radicals through a photo-induced electron transfer. Moreover, TSB-TFP microcrystals present typical excitation wavelength dependent emission (EWDE) fluorescence by surfactant-mediated method. This work realizes the dynamic-static photochemical cascade processes in response to light irradiation in an organic cocrystal system, providing the effective method for a new type of smart photo-responsive materials.

Efficient CO2 Capture Using Nitrogen-Enriched Microporous Carbon Derived from Polybenzoxazine in a Single-Step Process for Environmental Sustainability

In this research, we successfully synthesized nitrogen-enriched microporous carbon through a meticulous process involving two different activation procedures. Initially, polybenzoxazine was carbonized at 800 °C to create a precursor material, which was then activated with two different activating agents (KOH and KMnO4) at the same temperature. This activation significantly enhanced the material’s porosity, increasing its specific surface area from 335 m2/g (KOH activated) to 943 m2/g (KMnO4 activated). XPS analysis confirmed the presence of nitrogen functionalities, including secondary-N, oxide-N, pyridone-N, and pyridine-N, which are critical for CO2 adsorption. Adsorption tests demonstrated a high CO2 uptake of 3.8 mmol/g at 25 °C and 1 bar, driven by a combination of physisorption (physical interaction with the surface area) and chemisorption (chemical interaction with nitrogen sites). This high adsorption capacity can be attributed to the carbon’s substantial surface area, significant micropore volume, and the interconnected network of pores, which together provide structural stability and facilitate the diffusion of CO2 molecules. These findings suggest that this nitrogen-enriched microporous carbon, derived from polybenzoxazine, holds significant promise as a highly efficient material for applications in CO2 capture and storage.

Trap‐induced persistent luminescence in organic light‐emitting diodes

AbstractLuminescence in organics that lasts for seconds to a few hours after light excitation has been reported recently, showcasing significant application potentials in flexible electronics and bioimaging. In contrast, long‐lasting luminescence that can be electrically excited, whether in organics or inorganics, is much rarer and often less efficient. In this study, we report persistent luminescence (PersL) in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) that lasts over 100 s and an energy storage effect beyond 60 min after charging with a direct‐current electric field. Thermoluminescence studies reveal that the PersL in OLEDs is induced by traps formed in a host‐guest molecular system serving as an emission layer (EML) with a trap depth of approximately 0.24 eV, consistent with the results from the same EML materials under light irradiation. Integrating results from electronic spin resonance, and density functional theory calculations, we propose a model delineating the charge carrier migration responsible for the trap‐induced PersL in OLEDs. This study on trap‐induced PersL in OLEDs may deepen our understanding of the luminescence mechanism in organic semiconductors and pave the way for expanding their applications in optoelectronics, energy storage and biological detection technologies.image

Bioactive Hydrogel Supplemented with Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Wound Healing

Background/Objectives: Skin regeneration is a rapidly advancing field with significant implications for regenerative medicine, particularly in treating wounds and burns. This study explores the potential of hydrogels functionalized with fibroblast-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) to enhance skin regeneration in vivo. Being immunoprivileged, EVs minimize immune rejection, offering an attractive alternative to whole-cell therapies by replicating fibroblasts’ key roles in tissue repair. Methods: To promote EVs’ versatility and effective application across different conditions, a lyophilization method with lyoprotectants was optimized. Then, EVs were used to functionalize a hydrogel to perform experiments on murine cutaneous wound models. Results: Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) was selected as the polymeric hydrogel due to its biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and ability to support wound healing. Mechanical tests confirmed GelMA’s strength and elasticity for this application. Fibroblast-derived EVs were characterized using Western blot, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and NanoSight analysis, proving their integrity, size distribution, and stability. miRNome profiling identified enriched biological pathways related to cell migration, differentiation, and angiogenesis, emphasizing the critical role of EV cargo in promoting wound repair. In a murine model, hydrogels loaded with fibroblast-derived EVs significantly accelerated wound healing compared to controls (mean wound area 0.62 mm2 and 4.4 mm2, respectively), with faster closure, enhanced epithelialization, increased vascularization, and reduced fibrosis. Notably, the lyoprotectants successfully preserved the EVs’ structure and bioactivity during freeze-drying, reducing EVs loss by 35% compared to the control group and underscoring the feasibility of this approach for long-term storage and clinical application. Conclusions: This study introduces a novel scalable and adaptable strategy for regenerative medicine by combining fibroblast-derived EVs with GelMA, optimizing EVs’ stability and functionality for enhanced wound healing in clinical settings, even in challenging contexts such as combat zones or large-scale natural disasters.

3D‐printed pillar array pore ceramic membrane for high areal capacity zinc‐based flow battery

AbstractZinc‐based flow batteries (ZFBs) are promising for large‐scale energy storage applications. However, the formation of Zn dendrites and the limited areal capacity of ZFBs hinder their further development. In this study, we designed a digital light‐processed 3D‐printed pillar array pore ceramic membrane (3DPC) to construct ZFBs with high areal capacity and long cycle life. The pillar array pore design reduces the transmembrane resistance by ~60% and facilitates K+ and Na+ transport. The pore arrays serve as electrolyte reservoirs to regulate interfacial ion distribution and provide sufficient space for Zn deposition. Moreover, the surface hardness of the ceramics up to 1.46 GPa provides resistance against zinc dendrite damage. Furthermore, the cell based on the designed 3DPC exhibits a stable energy efficiency exceeding 79% during operation for over 950 h at an areal capacity of 280 mAh cm−2. This study demonstrates the promising potential of 3D‐printed ceramic membranes for metal‐based flow batteries.

Lanthanide-controlled protein switches: development and in vitro and in vivo applications.

Lanthanides, which are part of the rare earth elements group have numerous applications in electronics, medicine and energy storage. However, our ability to extract them is not meeting the rapidly increasing demand. The discovery of the bacterial periplasmic lanthanide-binding protein lanmodulin spurred significant interest in developing biotechnological routes for lanthanide detection and extraction. Here we report the construction of b-lactamase-lanmodulin chimeras that function as lanthanide-controlled enzymatic switches. Optimized switches demonstrated dynamic ranges approaching 3000-fold and could accurately quantify lanthanide ions in simple colorimetric or electrochemical assays. E.coli cells expressing such chimeras grow on b-lactam antibiotics only in the presence of lanthanide ions. The developed lanthanide-controlled protein switches represent a novel platform for engineering metal-binding proteins for biosensing and microbial engineering.

Triplet-ground-state nonalternant nanographene with high stability and long spin lifetimes

High-spin carbon-based polyradicals exhibit significant potential for applications in quantum information storage and sensing; however, their practical application is hampered by limited structural diversity and chemical instability. Here, we report a straightforward synthetic and isolation method for synthesizing a nonalternant nanographene (1) with a triplet ground state. Moving beyond the classic m-xylylene scaffold for high-spin organic molecules, seven-five-seven (7–5–7)-membered rings are introduced to create stable high-spin diradicals with half-lives (t1/2) as long as 101 days. Moreover, considering the spin relaxation of compound 1, with a spin–lattice relaxation time (T1) of 53.55 ms and a coherence time (Tm) of 3.41 μs at 10 K, the compound 1 shows great promise for applications in spin-based information retention and quantum computing.

Lanthanide‐controlled protein switches: development and in vitro and in vivo applications

Lanthanides, which are part of the rare earth elements group have numerous applications in electronics, medicine and energy storage. However, our ability to extract them is not meeting the rapidly increasing demand. The discovery of the bacterial periplasmic lanthanide‐binding protein lanmodulin spurred significant interest in developing biotechnological routes for lanthanide detection and extraction. Here we report the construction of b‐lactamase‐lanmodulin chimeras that function as lanthanide‐controlled enzymatic switches. Optimized switches demonstrated dynamic ranges approaching 3000‐fold and could accurately quantify lanthanide ions in simple colorimetric or electrochemical assays. E.coli cells expressing such chimeras grow on b‐lactam antibiotics only in the presence of lanthanide ions. The developed lanthanide‐controlled protein switches represent a novel platform for engineering metal‐binding proteins for biosensing and microbial engineering.

Functional flexible adsorbents and their potential utility.

Physisorbents are poised to address global challenges such as CO2 capture, mitigation of water scarcity and energy-efficient commodity gas storage and separation. Rigid physisorbents, i.e. those adsorbents that retain their structures upon gas or vapour exposure, are well studied in this context. Conversely, cooperatively flexible physisorbents undergo long-range structural transformations stimulated by guest exposure. Discovered serendipitously, flexible adsorbents have generally been regarded as scientific curiosities, which has contributed to misconceptions about their potential utility. Recently, increased scientific interest and insight into the properties of flexible adsorbents has afforded materials whose performance suggests that flexible adsorbents can compete with rigid adsorbents for both storage and separation applications. With respect to gas storage, adsorbents that undergo guest-induced phase transformations between low and high porosity phases in the right pressure range can offer improved working capacity and heat management, as exemplified by studies on adsorbed natural gas storage. For gas and vapour separations, the very nature of flexible adsorbents means that they can undergo induced fit mechanisms of guest binding, i.e. the adsorbent can adapt to a specific adsorbate. Such flexible adsorbents have set several new benchmarks for certain hydrocarbon separations in terms of selectivity and separation performance. This Feature Article reviews progress made by us and others towards the crystal engineering (design and control) of flexible adsorbents and addresses several of the myths that have emerged since their initial discovery, particularly with respect to those performance parameters of relevance to natural gas storage, water harvesting and hydrocarbon gas/vapour separation.

Preparation of Silver Molybdate-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Using Ionic Liquids for High-Performance Energy Storage Application: A Greener Approach

Achieving high energy density while maintaining high power density and long cycle life in supercapacitors, particularly in supercapatteries (SCs), through a thermally stable, greener ionic liquid approach remains a significant challenge for an advanced energy storage application. In this work, we prepared high conductive and high charge storage capability bimetallic transition metal molybdate [Ag2Mo2O7 (AgM)], synergistic with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated on nickel foam (AgM/rGO/NF). The physio-chemical characterization revealed a ball-like cluster morphology wrapped in rGO nanosheets and a spinel-type cubic structure using scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) displays and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Further, the electrochemical performance of AgM/rGO/NF electrode achieved a remarkable specific Csp value of 573.63 F/g at a current density of 1.0 A/g in 3 M KOH electrolyte. An asymmetric SCs (ASCs) device was fabricated using AgM/rGO/NF as the positive and rGO as the negative electrodes, achieving a wide potential window of 1.3 V. The ASC demonstrated an energy density of 16.71 Wh/kg at a power density of 642.98 W/kg, highlighting AgM/rGO/NF’s potential as an advanced electrode material for energy storage applications.

Tailoring conductive polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers: thermal-induced structural evolution in nitrogen for energy storage device

Carbon fibers from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was achieved by the electrospinning technique, which was subsequently followed by the stabilization and carbonization of electrospun PVA fibers. The XRD pattern of PVA fiber confirms the change in the structure of PVA nanofibers and carbonized PVA from temperatures of 200, 300, 400, 500, and 700 °C, resulting in a structural evolution from fibrous to plate-like and dot carbon compounds. The SEM image of the PVA precursor reveals the presence of fibers exhibiting a smooth surface following the stabilization and carbonization processes at temperatures below 500 °C. Furthermore, the image depicts fibers that melt and transform into a carbon layer at a higher carbonization temperature ranging from 600 to 700 °C. TEM results show the formation of carbon sheets and dots, with an average diameter of 8.2 nm. The evolution that occurs from fibers to carbon sheet due to the melting process indicates a change in the morphology of 1D to graphenic carbon. The identification of carbon–oxygen functional groups, such as C = C (carbon with sp2 hybridization), C–C (carbon with sp3 hybridization), and C = O bonds, has been successfully detected and analysed using both XPS and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The results of the XPS profile fitting, as proven by Raman spectra, produce a graphenic carbon containing a 2D structure, with the total sp2 fraction increasing in the increasing carbonization temperature. This is also followed by significantly increasing electrical conductivity. So, the carbonized PVA nanofiber has the potential to be applied in electronic and energy storage device applications. This is also followed by an increase in electrical conductivity due to the formation of more carbon functional groups compared to less oxygen. Thus, carbonized PVA nanofibers have great potential for application in electronic devices and energy storage applications such as batteries and supercapacitors.

Efficient Multicolor Emission Zn‐Sb‐Mn Chloride Scintillators: Large‐Scale Production for Multi‐Level Anti‐Counterfeiting, Information Storage, and X‐Ray Imaging

AbstractAchieving multiple efficient emissions from a single scintillator material is challenging. This work presents several Zn or Cd‐based halide materials with tetrahedral clusters, which show high‐efficiency, multicolor emission scintillating by co‐doping Sb3⁺ and Mn2⁺. In this 0D structure, Mn2⁺ and Sb3⁺ can function as independent emission centers, producing efficient green or red emission bands, respectively, all with photoluminescent quantum yields (PLQYs) exceeding 70% for green, yellow, and red emissions. Notably, Ph3M‐Zn:Sb3+@Mn2⁺ out of the above compounds exhibits PLQY values exceeding 90% for all three color emissions. Furthermore, it demonstrates exceptional scintillation performance under X‐ray illumination, achieving a resolution of 18 lp mm−1 and a detection limit of 50.1 nGyairS⁻¹, surpassing most commercial scintillators. Additionally, the cross‐ and independent‐emission colors produced by these compounds under varying excitations have been utilized to develop novel optical anti‐counterfeiting and information storage applications with high security. These advances demonstrate that co‐doping with Sb3⁺ and Mn2⁺ significantly can optimize the optical performance of the host halide materials, for multifunctional scintillators in a variety of technological applications.

Recent advances in graphitic carbon nitride-based nanocomposites for energy storage and conversion applications.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has gained significant attention as a promising nonmetallic semiconductor photocatalyst due to its photochemical stability, favorable electronic properties, and efficient light absorption. Nevertheless, its practical applications are hindered by limitations such as low specific surface area, rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, poor electrical conductivity, and restricted photo-response ranges. This review explores recent advancements in the synthesis, modification and application of g-C3N4 and its nanocomposites with a focus on addressing these challenges. Key strategies for enhancing g-C3N4 include various synthesis methods (solvothermal, microwave-assisted, sol-gel, and vapor deposition), doping, defect engineering, heterojunction formation, and surface modifications. Their potential in energy storage and conversion applications, including photocatalytic hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen fixation, and electrochemical energy storage are also highlighted. Overall, the review underscores the importance of structural and morphological modifications in improving the photoelectrochemical performance of g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, providing insights for future development and optimization.

Amino-substituted Azoxybenzenes as Potential Redox-Active Catholyte Materials.

Aryl diazenes, particularly azobenzenes (AB), represent a versatile class of compounds with significant historical and practical relevance, ranging from dyes to molecular machines, solar thermal and electrochemical storage. Their oxygen-substituted counterparts, azoxybenzenes (AOB), share structural similarities but have been less explored, especially in energy storage applications. This study investigates the redox properties of AOB, comparing them to AB, and evaluates their potential as redox-active materials for energy storage systems. Through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and spectro-electrochemical analyses, we demonstrate that AOBs exhibit a distinct redox behaviour, influenced by the solvent and electrolyte environment, with a reversible oxidation process. Despite their promising redox characteristics, AOBs suffer from capacity decay during galvanostatic cycling, likely due to the instability of the radical cation intermediate. These findings suggest that while AOBs offer intriguing redox properties, further investigation into stabilization strategies are needed for their application in energy storage.

Nanoengineered RF-Sputtered Mn3O4 Cathode Thin Films for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Insights into Diffusion Dynamics and Application Potential.

Manganese oxides are a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), but thin-film configurations remain underexplored. This study investigates the electrochemical dynamics of 60 nm thin Mn3O4 thin films, fabricated via RF magnetron reactive sputtering. It addresses the highest reported capacity (25 mAh/g) in thin film form, stability over 500 cycles, effective performance across varying current rates, surpassing previous studies and challenges such as phase stability, and capacity fading over extended cycling, aiming to enhance uniformity, minimizing diffusion barriers for improved performance. EIS reveals Zn2+ diffusion coefficients of 1.503 × 10-7, 1.336 × 10-16, and 1.947 × 10-20 cm2/s in precycle, charged, and discharged states, respectively, highlighting evolving diffusion dynamics during cycling. Structural instability during discharge leads to a decline in diffusion performance, emphasizing the need for material and interfacial optimizations to enhance stability and mitigate degradation. These findings underscore the critical role of interfacial engineering and structural stability in maintaining high ion diffusion rates and minimizing morphological degradation during cycling. The present study explores the critical role of targeted engineering in unlocking their full potential for lightweight, miniaturized, high-performance microbatteries for energy storage applications.

Spiny Co3O4@Hollow Carbon Spheres─Polyacrylonitrile/Carbon Black Fiber-Based Bifunctional Air Electrodes.

In the realm of zinc-air batteries, high bifunctional catalytic efficacy is intimately tied to the evaluation of catalysts. Consequently, the pursuit of proficient bifunctional catalysts that can efficiently catalyze both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a paramount objective in this research area. In this study, the spiny cobalt tetroxide (Co3O4) encapsulated hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) are constructed by anchoring Co3O4 onto HCS via hydrothermal or annealing treatment. The strategic interface design of the HCS encourages an abundance of sites while simultaneously facilitating the proliferation of spiny Co3O4, offering an expansive surface area and abundant active sites. The surface active Co3+ ions and the induction of surface oxygen vacancies in spiny Co3O4 encapsulated HCS endow it with outstanding bifunctional catalytic activity and stability. After spray-coating and subsequent annealing of the spiny Co3O4 encapsulated HCS catalyst on the flexible carbon-based polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber support, the spiny Co3O4 encapsulated HCS-PAN/carbon black (C) 800 air electrode is successfully integrated. Moreover, the optimized spiny Co3O4 encapsulated HCS-PAN/C 800 air electrode displays a decreased potential difference (ΔE) of 0.77 V for catalyzing the ORR and OER performance. This work introduces a promising candidate approach for exploring innovative bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, targeting enhanced efficiency in portable energy storage applications.

Preparation and characterization of polyaniline–dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid–cadmium oxide (PANI-DBSA-CdO) composites: as an electrode material for energy storage applications

Preparation and characterization of polyaniline–dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid–cadmium oxide (PANI-DBSA-CdO) composites: as an electrode material for energy storage applications

Applications of Verdazyl Radicals in Energy Storage, Molecular Electronics and Magnetism: Teaching Old Molecules New Tricks.

Verdazyls are a fundamental class of stable organic radicals that have been traditionally overshadowed by the more synthetically accessible stable nitroxide radicals. With the advent of enhanced synthetic routes to verdazyls, particularly in recent years, these systems are now poised to realise their potential in a range of applications across emerging technologies that will be important to addressing challenges faced by modern society. This Concept discusses the enabling properties of a selection of verdazyl-based systems that feature promising applications in energy storage, molecular electronics and magnetic molecules. Emphasis is placed on progress in these areas over the past ~5 years.