Enhancement Of Density Research Articles

Composition-Graded Nitride Ferroelectrics Based Multi-Level Non-Volatile Memory for Neuromorphic Computing.

Multi-level non-volatile ferroelectric memories are emerging as promising candidates for data storage and neuromorphic computing applications, due to the enhancement of storage density and the reduction of energy and space consumption. Traditional multi-level operations are achieved by utilizing intermediary polarization states, which exhibit an unpredictable ferroelectric domain switching nature, leading to unstable multi-level memory. In this study, a unique approach of composition-graded ferroelectric ScAlN to achieve tunable operating voltage in a wide range and attain precise control of domain switching and stable multi-level memory is proposed. This non-volatile memory supports multi-level storage up to 7-bit capacities, and exhibits enhanced performance compared to the uniform composition device, showing one order of magnitude higher ON/OFF ratio, 30% reduced working voltage, and up to 50% enhanced tuning window of operating voltage. Finally, the emulation of long-term plasticity and linear weight update akin to biological synapse with high uniformity and reliability are demonstrated. The proposed composition-grading architecture offers new opportunities for next-generation multi-level ferroelectric memories, paving the way for advanced hybrid integration in multifunctional computing systems.

Net-shaping (Y,NSG)BCO composite superconductor into cylindrical geometry with enhanced flux pinning up to 9 T at 77 K

Abstract Fabrication of a (Y,RE)BCO superconducting compact simultaneous with improved properties is demonstrated using gelcasting of slurries into rapid prototyped precision moulds. The infiltration Growth (IG) process with NdBCO film seed was used to obtain a textured 45 mm long hollow superconducting (Y,RE)BCO cylinder, as a prototype. This involves design of a (Y,RE)2BaCuO5 preform referred to as (Y,RE)-211, into which liquid phase is infiltrated; this reacts with the preform and forms (Y,RE)Ba2Cu3O7-x. The end product aimed at is a composite of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) with 20 wt% of mixed rare earth (Nd,Sm,Gd)BCO and 0.5 wt% of WO3 nanoparticles, which are intended to cause notable enhancement in flux pinning and critical current density (J c). Uniform distribution of micron-sized (Y/RE)-211 and WO3 nanoparticles in the matrix was enabled by sol-casting process. Magnetic shielding is demonstrated at low dc fields (41 gauss). J c is found to remain nearly constant with field (B) at each temperature (T) up to 50 K, where J c reaches about 4 kA cm−2 at 8.5 T. At 77 K, J c of ∼ 4 kA cm−2 at zero field and ∼ 0.4 kA cm−2 at 8.5 T is observed. The flux pinning force density (F p) increased with the applied field, reaching a maximum at a field (B p) of 7 T to 8 T for all temperatures from 10 K to 77 K. Temperature-independent B p confirms that flux pinning is caused by structural defects that induce fluctuations in the Ginzberg-Landau parameter (k). Substitution of RE ions randomly at the Y-site in YBCO unit cells can locally create compositional fluctuations that lead to stress fields and a dense network of stacking faults and assist pinning of flux. Analysis of F p (B) by scaling laws does confirm δk pinning to be the dominant mechanism. A second peak observed in F p(B) curves at low fields, below 3 T, is attributed to additional pinning from WO3 nanoparticles and is field-dependent. Significance of the present process stems from the fact that it enables uniform distribution of second phase additions to be realized in the end product, for improved performance and it allows design and creation of components of composite ceramic superconductor in any complex shape, required for a chosen application.

Boiling performance enhancement and self-recovery of nucleate boiling regime on micro- and nanostructured porous surfaces

In this paper, we report the pool boiling experimental results for significant enhancements in the boiling heat transfer coefficient (BHTC) and CHF on various microporous surfaces. The microporous surfaces were fabricated by metal (Copper) powder sintering process, and nanostructured porous surfaces were additionally fabricated through the thermal oxidation of the metal porous surfaces. Among the examined substrates, a boiling surface with a thin metal porous layer and millimeter-sized porous pillar structures exhibited optimal boiling performance; the BHTC and CHF of the microporous surface were measured to be approximately 500 % and 270 % higher than those of a smooth reference surface, respectively. We conjecture that the results come from the combined effect of active nucleation site density enhancement, capillary wicking promotion, and separation of liquid-vapor flow paths on the microporous surface with porous pillars. On the other hands, the porous pillar surface with needle-like nanostructures showed the interesting phenomena that can be regarded to the recovery of the boiling regime from transition boiling to nucleate boiling. At the CHF, the temperature increase on the surface was slower than that on the other surfaces. Additionally, at high heat fluxes below the CHF, the overheated surface self-recovered to the nucleate boiling state, indicating the rewetting of local dry spots. We consider that the capillary wicking capability strongly improved by the nanostructures on the surface was presumably responsible for inhibiting the irreversible expansion of local dry spots. From the experimental observations throughout this study, we propose the following key requirements to design an ideal boiling surface: increasing the nucleation site density, ensuring a liquid supply path by capillary wicking, separating the liquid and vapor flow paths, and improving the liquid wettability of the solid surface by forming nanostructures.

Stress relief annealing of super Invar alloy: microstructure, soft magnetic and thermal expansion properties

Invar (Fe64Ni36) alloy is regarded as a prospective contender for thermal structural materials and transformers utilized in aerospace vehicles, in addition to electrical, and other applications, largely due to its markedly low expansion properties. It is noteworthy that the optimization of permeability and coercivity in Invar alloys has the potential to meet the requirements of a broader range of applications. Consequently, enhancing the soft magnetic properties and extending the low expansion intervals is crucial. The effects of stress relief annealing on the microstructure, soft magnetic properties, and thermal expansion behavior of super Invar alloy (Fe64Ni32Co4) are investigated. The findings indicate that the incorporation of Co has no impact on the phase structure of the Fe-Ni alloy, yet elevates the Curie temperature of the Fe-Ni alloy to 324.84°C. As the annealing temperature is increased, the grain diameter of the alloy increases gradually. Concurrently, the enhancement of density and magnetocrystalline isotropy diminishes the prevalence of lattice defects, which markedly influences the soft magnetic characteristics of super Invar alloy. At an annealing temperature of 1150°C, the material exhibits a saturation magnetic flux density of 1494 mT, a maximum permeability of 31.04mH/m, a coercivity of 13.52A/m, and a wide low expansion interval. This phenomenon can be attributed to random orientation, residual stress relief, and higher Curie temperatures. The results provide a comprehensive insight into the evolution of soft magnetic properties and their underlying mechanisms, covering a larger range of low expansion intervals.

PNb9O25-Li4Ti5O12 blended anode with enhanced capacity and volumetric energy density

Lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12, LTO) used as a “zero-strain” anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is well-known for its long cycle life. However, its practical application is limited due to the low specific capacity (170 mAh/g). In this research, we optimized the electrode composition by incorporating micrometer-sized phosphorus niobium oxides (PNb9O25, PNO) to prepare blended anode electrode, thereby significantly improving the capacity, stability, and volumetric energy density. PNO serves as a mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIECs), aiding in the reduction of polarization and enhancement of the tap density. Consequently, the LTO/PNO (20 %) blended anode with 90 % active material content are able to stably deliver 93 % capacity retention at 4000 mA g−1 after 4000 cycles and high volumetric energy density of 668 Wh L–1. Our findings underscore the significance of industrialization methods, emphasizing the need for targeted modifications to enhance cell performance.

High-resolution observations of 12CO and 13CO J = 3 → 2 towards the NGC 6334 extended filament

NGC 6334 is a giant molecular cloud (GMC) complex that exhibits elongated filamentary structure and harbours numerous OB-stars, H II regions, and star-forming clumps. To study the emission morphology and velocity structure of the gas in the extended NGC 6334 region using high-resolution molecular line data, we made observations of the 12CO and 13CO J = 3 → 2 lines with the LAsMA instrument at the APEX telescope. The LAsMA data provided a spatial resolution of 20″ (~0.16 pc) and sensitivity of 0.4 K at a spectral resolution of 0.25 km s−1. Our observations revealed that gas in the extended NGC 6334 region exhibits connected velocity coherent structure over ~80 pc parallel to the Galactic plane. The NGC 6334 complex has its main velocity component at approximately −3.9 km s−1 with two connected velocity structures at velocities approximately −9.2 km s−1 (the ‘bridge’ features) and −20 km s−1 (the northern filament, NGC 6334-NF). We observed local velocity fluctuations at smaller spatial scales along the filament that are likely tracing local density enhancement and infall, while the broader V-shaped velocity fluctuations observed towards the NGC 6334 central ridge and G352.1 region located in the eastern filament EF1 indicate globally collapsing gas onto the filament. We investigated the 13CO emission and velocity structure around 42 WISE H II regions located in the extended NGC 6334 region and found that most H II regions show signs of molecular gas dispersal from the centre (36 of 42) and intensity enhancement at their outer radii (34 of 42). Furthermore most H II regions (26 of 42) are associated with least one ATLASGAL clump within or just outside of their radii, the formation of which may have been triggered by H II bubble expansion. Typically towards larger H II regions we found visually clear signatures of bubble shells emanating from the filamentary structure. Overall the NGC 6334 filamentary complex exhibits sequential star formation from west to east. Located in the west, the GM-24 region exhibits bubbles within bubbles and is at a relatively evolved stage of star formation. The NGC 6334 central ridge is undergoing global gas infall and exhibits two gas bridge features possibly connected to the cloud-cloud collision scenario of the NGC 6334-NF and the NGC 6334 main gas component. The relatively quiescent eastern filament (EF1 - G352.1) is a hub-filament in formation, which shows the kinematic signature of global gas infall onto the filament. Our observations highlight the important role of H II regions in shaping the molecular gas emission and velocity structure as well as the overall evolution of the molecular filaments in the NGC 6334 complex.

Dynamic characteristics of pumped thermal-liquid air energy storage system: Modeling, analysis, and optimization

Pumped thermal-liquid air energy storage (PTLAES) is a novel energy storage technology that combines pumped thermal- and liquid air energy storage and eliminates the need for cold storage. However, existing studies on this system are all based on steady-state assumption, lacking dynamic analysis and optimization to better understand the system’s performance under cyclic operation. To fill this gap, the mainbody-linearized cyclic dynamic model of the PTLAES system with packed bed thermal energy storage (TES) was first developed. Then, the dynamic characteristics of the baseline system were investigated. Sensitivity analyses were carried out on TES parameters. Minimal values of levelized cost of storage (LCOS) were observed for all parameters in the range of interest. Subsequently, the TES circuit was optimized, and a triple improvement of efficiency and energy density enhancement, discharge stabilization, and cost reduction was achieved. The optimized system's round-trip efficiency and energy density increased from 61.7% to 63.1% and from 141.9 kWh/m³ to 159.2 kWh/m³, and the LCOS decreased from 163.2 $/MWh to 159.4 $/MWh. A power offset ratio lower than 3% was reached, which is the lowest value ever reported in the literature. This study provides reference for future design and operation of the PTLAES system.

Mechanism of biochar-Cu-based catalysts construction and its electrochemical CO2 reduction performance

Electrochemical CO2 reduction can convert CO2 into high-value-added products for special forms of energy storage and efficient carbon utilization for renewable electricity. To investigate the influence of biochar-Cu-based catalysts properties on electrochemical CO2 reduction performance, Cu is loaded onto rice husk-based biochar by impregnation method combined with pyrolysis and calcination in this study. The three synthesized biochar-Cu-based catalysts are tested for activity and electrochemical CO2 reduction performance in Flow Cell. The results show that biochar's properties, such as its high specific surface area, rich pore structure, and adjustable pore structure, provide sufficient sites for CO2 reduction. Urea can relatively increase the copper loading by 44 %, but it will also increase the clustering of copper. In the reduction performance test, the current density of char-Cu-700 is 2.08 times higher than that of char-Cu and 1.45 times higher than char-Cu-N at a reduction potential of -0.45 (V vs. RHE). The current density enhancement of the catalyst loaded on biochar with Cu particle size of 10 nm is about 50 % higher than that of the catalyst with a particle size of 20 nm. It indicates that the smaller the particle size of Cu at the nanoscale, the lower the average coordination of surface atoms and the greater the catalyst's reactivity. This study provides novel ideas for synthesizing biochar-Cu-based catalysts, lays part of the theoretical foundation for using biochar-Cu-based catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction, and provides experimental support for optimizing the catalyst structure.

Experimental demonstration of the “unipolar cell” dynamics in a large laboratory magnetoplasma

The nonambipolar or “unipolar” particle transport accompanied by excitation of a system of eddy (short-circuit) currents can ensure the fast dynamics of small-scale magnetoplasma disturbances arising under pulsed localized rf heating, and evolving in electron magnetohydrodynamics regime of parameters. In this regime, redistribution of plasma density is possible, which is an order of magnitude faster than the classical mechanism of the ambipolar transport with the joint movement of electron-ion pairs. During the evolution of thermal plasma irregularity in the unipolar transport regime, magnetized electrons leave the heated plasma area along the magnetic field, while nonmagnetized ions drift predominantly across the field. The electric current arising in this case can be closed through the background plasma surrounding the irregularity. This regime can determine the times of development and decay of narrow field-aligned plasma density irregularities that arise, e.g., in the pulsed ionospheric heating experiments. The refined laboratory experiments with specially selected parameters, which were carried out in a large-scale Krot plasma device with localized (pointlike) short-pulse rf heating of electrons, demonstrated clearly the unipolar-cell dynamics. The “unipolar cell” is understood as a self-consistent, freely relaxing plasma-field structure, which is formed by the initial field-aligned plasma density depletion in a heated flux tube, the peripheral background plasma density enhancements and depletions, and a quadrupole system of electric eddy currents.

Regulation of electron density in Pt nanoparticles via bimetallic metal-organic frameworks for enhancing photothermal catalysis of toluene decomposition

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are omnipresent in the sphere of human industrial, harboring latent adverse consequences for health and the ecological system. The photothermal catalytic oxidation of VOCs is an advanced integrated technology that harnesses the combined effects of light and heat energy to enhance the efficiency of VOCs degradation. Herein, a bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) was synthesized with the incorporation of Ce into the UiO-66-NH2(Zr) (i.e., UNH(Zr)), UiO-66-NH2(Zr2Ce) (i.e., UNH(Z2C)), which was achieved with Ce atom substituting for a portion of Zr atom within the Zr-oxo clusters. Pt nanoparticles (NPs) are integrated with MOFs to form composites using the dual-solvent method. Ce-oxo fulfills a bifunctional role: it not only facilitates the enhancement of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), but also establishes interaction with Pt NPs. Ce-oxo mediates an enhancement of electron density on Pt NPs. This phenomenon enhances the adsorption and activation of oxygen, significantly boosting the photocatalytic performance for toluene degradation, as demonstrated by a reduction of 30 ℃ for complete mineralization of toluene as compared to that of Pt@UiO-66-NH2(Zr) (i.e., PUNH(Zr)). This study potentially offers new insights into the relationship between electron transfer effects in bimetallic MOF-based catalysts and their efficient catalytic performance for VOCs degradation.

Fabrication, characterization, and fat substitution application in chocolate spreads of methyl cellulose and xanthan gum foam-templated oleogels

Food-grade oleogels were prepared by lyophilizing the foam-template of methyl cellulose (MC) and xanthan gum (XG). The cryogels prepared using MC exhibited low density, high porosity and firmness, as well as high oil absorption capacity (OAC) and oil binding capacity (OBC). Furthermore, the addition of XG improved properties of cryogels. As the concentrations of MC and XG were incremented, notable enhancements in the cryogels' density and firmness were observed, accompanied by a corresponding decrease in porosity. Upon attaining MC concentration of 1.2 % and XG concentration of 0.3 %, the OBC of the cryogels surpassed 90 %. SEM images revealed that the cryogels possessed a dense and highly uniform porous network structure. Furthermore, oleogels formulated using the higher viscosity variant of MC (designated as MC3) exhibited greater firmness and apparent viscosity, resulting in the formation of a robust network structure that demonstrated excellent thermal stability. The incorporation of oleogels into chocolate spreads significantly enhanced textural and rheological characteristics, while simultaneously decreasing their enthalpy of crystallization. Notably, the partial substitution of these oleogels in the spreads yielded a crystalline morphology that was indistinguishable from those prepared solely with saturated fats, indicating a successful integration and preservation of desirable structural attributes.

Robust and low swelling polyacrylamide/sodium alginate dual-network hydrogels via multiple freezing strategy toward amphibious motion sensors

The swelling and disintegration behavior of conventional hydrogels in liquid environments significantly affects their mechanical and ionic conductive properties, thereby limiting their widespread application in underwater setting. Herein, we propose a multiple freezing (MF) strategy for the construction of polyacrylamide/sodium alginate (PAM/SA) dual-network hydrogels that exhibit excellent anti-swelling properties and high toughness. The MF strategy employs a combination of freeze casting and refreezing to promote a cascading enhancement of polymer network density, resulting in a highly dense polymer network. This dense network structure endows the hydrogel with impressive tensile strength (3.491 MPa), exceptional elongation at break (435.71 %), and high toughness (5.291 MJ m⁻3), along with remarkable ionic conductivity (142.75 mS m⁻1) and sensitivity (GF = 2.278). These properties enable the hydrogel to function as a flexible sensor capable of detecting various human movement patterns. Its excellent resistance to swelling makes it an ideal material for underwater sensors, effectively monitoring different swimming strokes. This strategy provides a straightforward and effective means to enhance the mechanical strength and adaptability of traditional hydrogels in aquatic environments, demonstrating significant potential for applications in underwater sensing.

Double enhancement of energy storage density in relaxor ferroelectric 0.8BaTiO3-0.2BiScO3 by Li defect-regulated strategy

To meet the ever-increasing demands for pulsed power technologies, the development of lead-free dielectric ceramics with a large energy storage density (Wrec) and high energy storage efficiency (η) is crucial for enhancing the electrical performance of power capacitive devices. The conventional solid-solution, while effective in suppressing long-range order and improving energy storage performances, often results in a reduction of maximum polarization. This reduction necessitates the application of a larger electric field to obtain a relatively high Wrec. Herein, an effective strategy to enhance Wrec again via inducing Li-related defect dipoles is proposed. By introducing (Bi0.5Li0.5)TiO3 into 0.8BaTiO3-0.2BiScO3 matrix, the polarization contribution from defect dipoles together with intrinsic polarization induces an at least two-time enhancement in Pmax. Our findings indicate ∼62.9 % enhancement in the Wrec of 0.8BT-0.2BS, elevating from 2.56 J cm−3 to 4.17 J cm−3 at electrical field of 300 kV cm−1, while preserving an energy storage efficiency of 90.35 %. Furthermore, it also exhibits good thermal stability with the variations of ΔWrec < 3 % and η< 5 %. This research introduces a novel strategy for defect regulation strategy in the design of high-performance dielectric materials, which is expected to expedite the optimization of the advanced energy storage capacitors.

Cu2O/TiO2 Heterostructure‐Based Photoelectrochemical Photodetector with Enhanced Performance and Stability

Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure is prepared by electrodepositing Cu2O on rutile phase TiO2 particles. The morphology, structural, and optical properties of Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure are determined by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometer, and UV–vis absorption spectrum. The Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure photoelectrochemical‐type photodetector is constructed based on this heterostructure. Experimental results show that the photoresponsivity and visible light absorption of the Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure are significantly enhanced compared to those of TiO2 and Cu2O which demonstrate that the Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure with a special interfacial structure is conducive to accelerating the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. The photoresponsivity and photocurrent density of Cu2O/TiO2 can reach 154 μA W−1 and 15.6 μA cm−2 at 0 V. In addition, the photocurrent density of the Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure steadily increases with the enhancement of irradiation power density. Moreover, no significant attenuation of the photocurrent density is observed in the prepared Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure after 1800 s of photo‐on/off cycles. These results suggest that the Cu2O/TiO2 heterostructure‐based photodetector holds great potential in the photodetection field.

The fabrication of graphene supported Ni nanoparticles and its doping influence on the microstructure and superconductivity of MgB2

A highly dispersed Ni nanoparticle supported on a graphene matrix (nano-Ni/G) has been successfully synthesized using a novel chemical reduction process to overcome agglomeration in traditional MgB2 preparation methods. The influence of the reduction technique on nanoparticle size and structure was thoroughly investigated using a model system. The resulting nanoparticles were small enough (10 nm) to decorate the 2D graphene layers as sandwich structures. This unique morphology contributes to providing more effective flux pinning centers by forming tiny MgNi2.5B2 and efficiently substituting C for B in MgB2 bulks through the principle of double action. Moreover, the low-melting eutectic liquid formed by Mg-Ni at 506 °C is beneficial for the fast fabrication of well-connected MgB2 at low temperatures. Furthermore, a small enhancement of critical current density (Jc) was observed in the doped sample with respect to the undoped ones. However, the advantages of the as-prepared nanoparticles were greatly suppressed by the large presence of MgO during the deposition process, leading to lower superconducting performance than undoped MgB2 bulks. Based on the analysis, further investigation should focus on inducing more flux pinning centers by controlling impurities during the deposition process for achieving optimal performance.

Enhanced performance of Mg and La co-doped TiO2(98%)−ZrO2(2%) photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract This study explores the effects of magnesium (Mg) and lanthanum (La) doping on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) utilizing TiO2(98%)−ZrO2(2%) (TZ, TZM, and TZL) photoanodes. The photoanodes were fabricated using a spin-coating sol–gel method, followed by calcination at 400°C. The structural, morphological, crystallographic, and optical properties of the proposed photoanode composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The crystallite sizes of the synthesized thin films varied from 21.16 to 59.04 nm for the TZ, TZM, and TZL compositions. The current–voltage measurements of DSSCs based on TZL8 photoanode, cobalt sulfide-doped graphene counter electrode, and N719 dye revealed the highest efficiency of nearly 5.052%. The assembled DSSCs exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 0.74 V, a short-circuit current density of 9.964 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 0.685. The enhancement in open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current density could be attributed to the improved electronic and microstructures of the proposed photoanodes.

Enhancement of colour density and anthocyanin stability in pomegranate juice against 5-hydroxymethylfurfural at different concentrations by amino acid copigmentation during storage

This study investigated the effect of amino acid [aspartic acid (Asp), phenylalanine (Phe) and valine (Val)] copigmentation on pomegranate juice (PJ) anthocyanins in the presence of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) at different concentrations (2.3–15.2 mg/L) during storage at 20°C. A decrease in stabilities of anthocyanin and colour density (CD) was observed at 5.2–8.2 mg HMF/L. However, 15.2 mg HMF/L prevented the decrease in anthocyanin stability. In this sample, copigmentation occurred when ratios of "cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside to HMF" and "cyanidin-3-glucoside to HMF" were 1.82–2.67 and 1.91–2.85, respectively. The highest reduction in HMF content resulted from addition of Val. As number of –CH3 groups in an amino acid increased, HMF reducing effect of amino acid increased. In PJ containing 8.2 mg HMF/L, Val provided the highest stabilities for individual anthocyanins, CD and hyperchromic effect (HE). Asp increased the stability of CD and HE in PJ containing 5.2 mg HMF/L, while Phe increased the stability of CD at a concentration of 15.2 mg HMF/L. Depending on the amount of HMF, the effect of adding amino acids to PJ to improve colour stability and reduce HMF content varies. Therefore, after determining the initial HMF content of PJ, the amino acid to be added to PJ should be decided.

Impact of carbon nanotubes on superconducting properties and ferromagnetism of indium-doped Bi-2212 superconductors: Critical current density enhancement

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was incorporated as artificial flux pinning centers within the In-Bi-2212 HTSC matrix. The research focused on polycrystalline samples with the composition (Bi1.8Pb0.2Sr1.9In0.1CaCu2O8)1-x/(CNT)x, where x varied from 0 to 0.01. XRD was employed to analyse phase formation, and lattice parameters. Magnetic measurements provided insights into the diamagnetic behaviour and highest obtained onset temperatures was (Tc = 77K) for x = 0 sample. the magnetic interactions examinations between the CNT additives and the superconducting matrix at 20 K was explored the relationships between microstructure, BSCCO phase content, magnetic hysteresis loops, calculated critical current densities, and flux densities across the samples. The experimental and theoretical results indicate that CNT incorporation significantly influences the superconducting properties of In-doped-Bi-2212, particularly its flux densities and pinning mechanisms. However, the study emphasizes the importance of carefully controlling CNT nanoparticle additions to optimize the balance between microstructural features and superconducting parameters in BSCCO HTSCs.

Enhanced efficiency of carbon based all perovskite tandem solar cells via cubic plasmonic metallic nanoparticles with dielectric nano shells

This study investigates a carbon-based all-perovskite tandem solar cell (AP-TSC) with the structure ITO, SnO₂, Cs₀.₂FA₀.₈Pb(I₀.₇Br₀.₃)₃, WS₂, MoO₃, ITO, C₆₀, MAPb₀.₅Sn₀.₅I₃, PEDOT: PSS, Carbon. The bandgap configuration of the cell is 1.75 eV/1.17 eV, which is theoretically limited to 36% efficiency. The effectiveness of embedding cubic plasmonic metallic nanoparticles (NPs) made of Gold (Au) and Silver (Ag) within the absorber layers to eliminate the requirement for thicker absorber layers, decrease manufacturing costs and Pb toxicity is demonstrated in our analysis. This analysis was conducted using 3D Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations for both optical and electrical calculations. Prior to delving into the primary investigation of the tandem structure, a validation simulation was conducted to demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the simulations. Notably, the efficiency mismatch observed during the validation simulation, specifically in relation to the incorporation of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), amounted to a mere 0.01%. To mitigate the potential issues of direct contact between metallic NPs and perovskite materials, such as increased thermal and chemical instability and recombination at the NP surface, a 5 nm dielectric shell was applied to the NPs. The incorporation of cubic core-shell Ag NPs resulted in a 15.32% enhancement in short-circuit current density, from 16.39 mA/cm² to 18.90 mA/cm², and a 15.68% increase in overall efficiency, from 26.9 to 31.12%. This research paves the way for the integration of core-shell metallic NPs in AP-TSCs, highlighting a significant potential for efficiency and stability improvements. In a dedicated section the band alignment of the sub-cell was addressed. Additionally, a thermal investigation of the proposed tandem structure was conducted, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed AP-TSC. Finally, the sensitivity analyses related to input parameters and the challenges associated with large-scale fabrication of the proposed AP-TSC were extensively discussed.

Halobacteria Formula Improvement of Skin Care-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study.

Halobacteria trueperi, an extremophilic microorganism thriving in high-salt environments, produces extracellular polysaccharides with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. However, its clinical efficacy in skin improvement remains unclear. This study focuses on H. trueperi TCI66207, isolated from the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 662 m near Hualien, and its potential to enhance skin parameters, aiming to develop a novel functional formulation for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. This sudy aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of H. trueperi TCI66207 on various skin parameters and its potential for developing new functional cosmetic formulations. A total of 40 subjects were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: the test group applied a serum containing H. trueperi TCI66207, while the placebo group used a basic serum. Subjects were instructed to apply the serum twice daily for 4 weeks. Skin parameters, including moisture, brightness, elasticity, pigmentation (spots and UV spots), texture, wrinkles, pores, and collagen density, were assessed before and after the 4-week application period. After 4 weeks of using the H. trueperi TCI66207 serum, significant improvements were observed in all measured skin parameters compared to baseline, with notable enhancements in moisture, brightness, elasticity, texture, and collagen density, along with reductions in wrinkles, spots, and pore size. Halobacteria trueperi TCI66207 serum demonstrates a clear ability to improve skin conditions and delay signs of aging, making it a promising candidate for the development of new cosmetic formulations with potent anti-aging and skin-rejuvenating properties.