The value of maps in geographical and social-scientific research as tools that afford imaginative aesthetic engagement with research topics has become increasingly recognised. We explore here, for the first time, the value of these affordances for interviewing experts. In particular, the imaginative engagement maps can provide may help unsettle routines of thought, and invite reflexivity towards the assumptions on which expert knowledge may rest. This contribution of maps can be particularly valuable in research where anticipating potential future consequences of societal transformations is a central aim. We examine a case study from South Wales, UK, relating to explorations of socio-technical transitions in the field of energy, and show how the imaginative engagements that maps afford for expert participants can facilitate specific ways of anticipating potential futures that avoid simply extrapolating from what is familiar.

Coupled heat and moisture transfer in elliptical semi-permeable membrane fiber bundles for membrane distillation desalination.

Abstract The origin of cosmic rays from outside the Solar system are unknown, as they are deflected by the interstellar magnetic field. Supernova remnants are the main candidate for cosmic rays up to PeV energies but due to lack of evidence, they cannot be concluded as the sources of the most energetic Galactic CRs. We investigate discrete ejecta produced in state transitions of black hole X-ray binary systems as a potential source of cosmic rays, motivated by recent >100 TeV γ-ray detections by LHAASO. Starting from MAXI J1820+070, we examine the multi-wavelength observations and find that efficient particle acceleration may take place (i.e. into a robust power-law), up to ∼2 × 1016μ−1/2 eV, where μ is the ratio of particle energy to magnetic energy. From these calculations, we estimate the global contribution of ejecta to the entire Galactic spectrum to be $\sim 1~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, with the cosmic ray contribution rising to $\sim 5~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at PeV energies, assuming roughly equal energy in non-thermal protons, non-thermal electrons and magnetic fields. In addition, we calculate associated γ-ray and neutrino spectra of the MAXI J1820+070 ejecta to investigate new detection methods with CTAO, which provide strong constraints on initial ejecta size of order 107 Schwarzschild radii (10−5 pc) assuming a period of adiabatic expansion.

In This Paper We Calculated the Quantum Superposition between States of the Gravitational Fields by Feynman Path Integration and Concluded That in General the Quantum Effects Can Be Interpreted as the Negative Energy in Gravitational Field It Will Lead to Gravitational Mass Defect. Negative Energy Is Related to Einstein's Cosmological Constant and Therefore Also to Dark Energy.

Abstract Self-trapped excitons (STEs), renowned for their unique radiative properties, have been harnessed in diverse photonic devices. Yet, full comprehension and manipulation of STEs remain elusive. In this study, we present novel experimental and theoretical evidence of the hybrid nature and optical tuning of the STE state in Cs 2 Ag 0.4 Na 0.6 InCl 6 . The detection of Fano resonance in the laser energy-dependent Raman and photoluminescence spectra indicates the emergence of an exciton-phonon hybrid state, a result of the robust quantum interference between the discrete phonon and continuum exciton states. Moreover, we showcase the ability to continuously adjust this hybrid state with the energy and intensity of the laser field. These significant findings lay the foundation for a comprehensive understanding of the nature of STE and its potential for state control.

When electrons exceed the speed of light in a medium, they emit low-intensity visible light, known as Cherenkov emission (CE). This study proposes a novel CE-based quality assurance (QA) test for linear accelerators. A CE-based QA (C-QA) phantom incorporating a mock tumor and four CE observation plates (top, bottom, left, and right) was developed. After tumor-based alignment using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), lateral and posterior fields were used for irradiation. A C-Dose camera was employed to measure the treatment position, gantry angle, photon energy (TPR20,10), and CE counts for both fields. The treatment position and TPR20,10 were determined by analyzing the changes in the CE profile, while the gantry angle was calculated based on the tilt between the entry and exit field positions. Confidence limits were evaluated over a three-month period, during which long-term testing demonstrated favorable results. The standard deviations (σ) for CBCT-based positional accuracy and gantry angle were within ±1mm in all three directions and within 1°, respectively. The mean ± σ for TPR20,10 was 0.631 ± 0.004, closely matching the 0.629 measured using an ionization chamber. Detected CE counts exhibited a higher variation (σ = 2.7%). CE-based QA appears to be an effective and reliable method for radiotherapy. Treatment position could be directly measured without conventional dosimetric devices, while CE imaging simultaneously evaluated positional accuracy, gantry angle, and photon energy (TPR20,10). However, accurate assessment of linear accelerator dose output remains a challenge, and the quantification of CE counts requires further investigation.

Mullite ceramics were synthesized from filter cake waste following the diphasic gel method. Filter cake waste, with over 65% silica content, and aluminum nitrate nonahydrate were utilized as the sources of silica and alumina, respectively. The prepared samples were sintered at various temperatures of 1150, 1250, and 1350°C. The sintered bodies were then evaluated for porosity, density, compressive strength, and dielectric strength. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) revealed exothermic peaks at 970°C and 1147°C, corresponding to spinel and mullite formation, which was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The XRD result also showed single-phase mullite crystallization at 1250°C. Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrated morphological changes, grain growth, and uniform elemental distribution in sintered mullite ceramics. The mullite ceramics sintered at 1350°C exhibited a density of 2.615g/cm3, compressive strength of 420MPa, and dielectric strength of 10.2kV/mm. These findings highlight the potential of the diphasic gel method to produce high-quality mullite ceramics from industrial waste, contributing to cost-effective, eco-friendly materials with promising applications, including electronic devices, electrical power transmission systems, and other structural and functional advanced ceramics.

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs), as a promising next-generation energy storage technology, have garnered widespread attention within the energy field due to their distinct advantages over lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), particularly their superior low-temperature performance, fast-charging capabilities, and the abundance of potassium resources. However, the commercialization of PIBs still faces a series of critical technical challenges that need to be broken through, including the inadequate structural stability of electrode materials, insufficient energy density, poor rate performance, high flammability, and suboptimal matching between electrodes and electrolytes. This review systematically summarizes the current progress of PIB research, with a particular emphasis on key materials design and system optimization strategies that align with practical and commercial application demands. It highlights recent advances in the development of cathode and anode materials, innovative electrolyte formulations, separator technologies, and full battery configurations. Furthermore, the key technological bottlenecks hindering industrialization are critically analyzed, and potential pathways to overcome them are discussed. Finally, future research directions and industrialization strategies are proposed by bridging fundamental materials research with real-world performance requirements, offering valuable insights and guidance for the commercialization of PIBs and supporting their transition from laboratory research to practical application.

Studies show how actors successfully engage with temporal mobilization, understood here as purposeful attempts to harmonize temporal perceptions across different field communities, to foster cross-community engagement with rising issues. These studies predominantly focus on established fields where organizations are prone to adopt similar rhythms and timeframes for action. Less is known about how temporal tensions emerge and develop between communities over temporal mobilization attempts and how they influence mobilization processes. We address this through a four-decade qualitative investigation of temporal mobilization in a nascent solar energy field. Our findings show how temporal mobilization polarizes asynchrony in community engagement, based on the “imprinting” of early temporal mobilization attempts and the emergence of conflicting perceptions of the nature of progress in the field among communities. We present a process model that explicates how asynchrony recurs and polarizes as an unintended inter-community dynamic, resulting in repeated breakdowns in the mobilization process.

For the first time, a fractal solar collector operating in the cogeneration mode is proposed. In this context, we are talking about a modern innovative system that uses fractal structures to optimize the processes of collecting, distributing and converting solar energy simultaneously into thermal and electrical energy. The detailed design and results of the conducted experiment of this system are given. The stages of the experiment are shown in order to gain a deeper understanding of the principles of operation of a collector operating in the cogeneration mode. The high efficiency and promising application of this system in the field of renewable energy have been experimentally proven. In addition, the results obtained demonstrate the possibility of using the proposed fractal collector as an alternative energy source, which opens up new ways to develop energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies of the future.

The paper examines the theoretical and practical aspects of rod-structured matrix filters with double-periodic ar-rangement of elements, commonly employed in high-gradient magnetic separation technologies, with particular atten-tion to comparative analysis and matrix optimization. An increasing number of studies on the development of highly efficient and lightweight high-gradient systems with reduced energy consumption is noted. The aim of the article is to substantiate and develop a method for optimizing matrix parameters according to the criterion of minimizing the spe-cific energy of the magnetic field in the extraction zone, based on the calculation of local and effective force and energy characteristics of the magnetic field. The efficiency and universality of the proposed method are confirmed by a series of computational experiments with comprehensive consideration of factors influencing the quality of the final product. Specific examples demonstrate that the formation of an array of constant-magnetic-force lines (isodynes) serves as the principal means of investigating the extraction capacity of a matrix. A simple and effective approach to visualizing potential extraction zones is proposed in order to simplify the calculation of their areas. The application of the integral equation method with respect to the magnetization vector of matrix elements is substantiated, as it ensures maximum universality, simplicity, and accuracy in the analysis of complex double-periodic structures. The necessity of determin-ing not only local but also effective magnetic field parameters in energy optimization is demonstrated. The dependence of matrix efficiency on the magnetic field intensity, rod shape and concentration, and their mutual arrangement is illus-trated. The developed method is emphasized as being of a theoretical nature and is proposed as an effective comple-ment to experimental analysis methods. It is shown that practical implementation of the method requires consideration of technological characteristics and constraints. Its value lies in the completeness and reliability of the additional in-formation obtained on the basis of operational experience and high-quality experimental studies. References 20, figures 3, table 1.

The development of portable electronic devices and new energy fields has placed higher demands on the energy storage properties of lead-free multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). Here, we propose a strategy for inducing atomic-scale polymorphic polarization fluctuations via entropy engineering. This strategy promotes atomic-scale lattice disorder through increasing entropy, induces the formation of atomic-scale polymorphic polarization fluctuations with coexisting rhombohedral and tetragonal phase, significantly weakens polar anisotropy and domain switching barriers, and thus realizes a linear-like polarization behavior with low hysteresis. A giant recoverable energy density (Wrec) of 21.3 J·cm-3 under a high electric field of 1045 kV·cm-1 is obtained in the high-entropy MLCC, accompanied by a high energy efficiency (η) of 94.5%. Benefiting from such structural advantage, the MLCC prototype devices also possess excellent broad-temperature, frequency, and cyclic stability. This work presents a reliable technical approach for the design of superior-performing MLCCs by revealing the entropy-structure-performance correlation.

Phase-change energy storage represents a pivotal research direction in the energy field, with its core lying in an atomistic understanding of the solid-liquid phase transitions. Here, we optimized the force field parameters for n-octane through two-dimensional scanning in the (σ, ε) space, with the optimized parameters then employed to investigate its melting point (Tm) and solid-liquid phase transition mechanisms. Preliminary simulations with the widely used PYS-type FFs underestimated the Tm of n-octane (C8) by ∼91 K. Finite-size analysis revealed convergence for a system of 681 chains. A comprehensive sensitivity study was carried out to quantify the influence of energy, size and torsion parameters. The resulting optimized parameter set collapses the Tm prediction error to merely 1 K. Subsequent crystallization runs performed at ∼16% undercooling reveals a surface-nucleation pathway, in contrast to the extended-chain nucleation assumed by the classical Lauritzen-Hoffman theory. Moreover, the in-plane orientation of chains within the crystal dictates the structural motif of the emerging surface nuclei. These findings provide a reference framework for accurate phase-transition modeling and offer molecular-level guidance for the design of organic phase-change materials.

In this work the non-homogeneous model for the nanofluid flow is formulated to examine the consequences of Fick’s and Fourier’s laws on bioconvective MHD couple-stress nanoliquid flows across a stretching surface under the significances of multiple stratified conditions and activation energy. Both the concentrations of motile microbes and solid nanoparticles are unified flow system. Furthermore, the collective effects of the Cattaneo–Christov (CC) heat flux and thermal radiation are also analyzed. To remove the complexity from the mathematical model, the similarity conversions are presented properly to change the resulting system of PDEs into a nonlinear set of ODEs. The transform set of ODEs is then numerically solved through the parametric continuation method (PCM) in MATLAB software. To validate our results, the outcomes are compared with bvp4c package. It can be perceived that the fluid velocity decreases with the impact of mixed convection and magnetic effects. The energy field enriches with the variation of thermophoresis effect, thermal radiation, buoyancy ratio factor, and Rayleigh number. Furthermore, the mass profile diminishes under the consequences of Lewis number, whereas enhanced with the effect of thermophoresis factor and concentration stratification Biot number.

Catalysts are essential in the transformation of chemical value chains, and traditional solid catalysts encounter challenges in structural flexibility, interfacial mass transport, and long-term stability, especially in heterogeneous and electrochemical systems. Liquid metal-based catalysts, particularly gallium (Ga), provide a dynamic platform with tunable physicochemical properties and favorable interfacial responsiveness. However, the electrochemical interfacial behavior and oxide regulation of Ga-based liquid metal catalysts in alkaline electrolytes are still largely unexplored. In this work, Pt@Ga is selected as a model system and focused on the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to explore the potential of liquid metal-based catalysts in the renewable hydrogen energy field. By precisely controlling the Ga surface oxide layer, the in situ formation of Pt wires is enabled with a high proportion of (200) crystal facets. This strategy overcomes the structural constraints of solid supports and enhances the electronic coupling between Pt and Ga. Experimental results from in situ analysis visualize Pt growth dynamics and reveal the synergistic interactions that accelerate charge and mass transport at the catalyst/electrolyte interface. This study presents a novel design for liquid metal-based catalysts, where oxide-regulated metal growth and dynamic interface evolution synergistically boost catalyst performance, offering a paradigm for next-generation self-adaptive systems.

Bimetallic nanoparticles are a key focus in contemporary cancer research because of their efficacy and advantages over conventional monometallic nanoparticles. However, there are very few suitable methods available for their synthesis. Therefore, in the present study, gold–ruthenium (Au–Ru) bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized using a green, successive-growth approach, with Aloe vera gel acting as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). HRTEM images of Au–Ru NPs at different scales confirm the formation of hexagonal bimetallic Au–Ru NPs of size in the range 19.04–76.19 nm while EDX showed reveals the presence of both the metal. Comparative anticancer evaluation of Au and Au–Ru nanoparticles was carried out in Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DL) cells using the Trypan Blue assay. The IC50 value of Au–Ru NPs was 18.34 ± 0.02 µM showing highest potency, while IC50 value of AuNPs was 46.7 ± 0.018 µM indicating significantly enhanced anticancer activity. Additionally, bothnanoparticles showed minimal impact (<10%) on non-cancerous PBMC cell lines suggesting it is the least harmful to healthy tissues among the treatments.

With the large-scale deployment and continuous retirement of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the resource utilization of spent LIBs has become a research focus in the field of energy and environmental science. Traditional element recovery strategies contribute to resource conservation and environmental protection but are often constrained by complex procedures, high costs, and low product value, limiting their economic sustainability. Developing high-value regeneration pathways is therefore essential for the sustainable growth of the LIB recycling industry. The cathode materials of LIBs, rich in multivalent transition-metal oxides with abundant oxygen vacancies and redox activity, and the graphite anodes with high conductivity and structural defects, offer promising precursors for catalyst fabrication. Recycling these electrodes into functional materials for electrocatalysis and environmental catalysis provides an effective route for value-added utilization of spent LIBs. This review systematically analyzes the feasibility and recent progress in converting spent LIBs into catalysts, emphasizing their applications in electrocatalysis (OER, ORR, HER), organic pollutant degradation, and multifunctional catalytic systems. The major challenges are summarized, and future research directions are proposed, including the development of green, low-energy synthesis routes, controllable structural and interfacial design, and comprehensive life-cycle and techno-economic assessments. This work aims to provide an integrated understanding and theoretical reference for the high-value recycling of spent LIBs, promoting their deeper integration into green and sustainable development frameworks.

The hydrogen evolution reaction is a key reaction in the field of sustainable energy, and platinum is considered to be a state-of-the-art catalyst for it. Considering the cost and scarcity...

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, integrating educational materials focused on energy efficiency and environmental protection into education has become a pressing priority. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education on students’ research activities in the field of solar energy through a web platform. A pedagogical experiment was organized in the teaching of the “Alternative Energy Sources” course within the physics education program. The web portal of the Growatt server was used as a remote monitoring platform for solar energy systems in the educational process. The pedagogical experiment involved 120 students (control and experimental groups) who implemented STEM projects on the topic of the effect of the angle of incidence on the output power of solar panels. Mathematical and statistical analyses were carried out, and hypotheses were tested using the G*Power software. The results of the study showed that during the course, students became familiar with the main types of solar panels and gained a deeper understanding of their operating principles. Project-based work grounded in STEM education was found to enhance students’ research activities. Integrating research results into education enables students to work with real-time data and better understand solar energy systems through practical projects.

Most water splitting studies have been investigated in acidic or alkaline electrolytes, while achieving efficient water splitting in safer and lower-cost neutral electrolytes remains challenging. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) mechanism in neutral electrolytes is still nearly blank and elusive. We investigate the complete water splitting in neutral electrolytes on the semiconductor MoSiGeN4 monolayer. For OER, Gibbs free energy calculations revealed the highest catalytic activity (η = 0.64V) at a biaxial strain of 4%. For the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), ΔGH* is calculated in the existence of pre-adsorbed OH*, the Ge-N layer has the highest catalytic activity (ΔGH* = -0.03eV) at biaxial strain of 2%. The OH*-reservoir mechanism for OER and HER is summarized for the first time, since OH* is stored on the Ge sites when OH* is not required for HER, and OH* is released when OH* is required to be involved in each step of intermediates (OH*, O*, and OOH*) formation for OER. The involvement of OH* effectively reduces the energy barrier for the intermediates formation of neutral water splitting, resulting in an optimal reaction pathway. This work provides a promising strategy to promote the splitting of abundant neutral water, which can be utilized in the field of clean and sustainable energy.