Preferential Growth Research Articles

Layer‐By‐Layer Chiral Induction of Fluorene‐Based Metal–Organic Framework Films for Circularly Polarized Luminescence Sensing of Enantiomers

AbstractDeveloping films of chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with high circular polarization luminescence (CPL) is facing a great challenge for chiral sensing applications. Herein, a layer‐by‐layer chiral induction method is first reported to prepare enantiopure MOF films for CPL sensing. By layer‐by‐layer induction with the chiral inductor camphorsulfonic acid, fluorene‐based chiral MOF D/L‐ZnHF‐SO2 film (HF‐SO2 = 3,7‐Dibenzothiophenedicarboxylate, 5,5‐dioxide) with preferential growth orientation and homogeneous surface are prepared, which shows strong chiral feature and CPL with higher asymmetry factor of ±0.073. In addition, by mixed ligand approach, the isostructural fluorene ligand 9‐fluororenone‐2,7‐dicarboxylate is chosen to replace part of HF‐SO2 for preparing a series of chiral MOF films with tunable CPL emission. Furthermore, the prepared chiral MOF films with strong CPL performance are further utilized for enantiomers sensing. The CPL changes consisted with enantioselective adsorption results showed that D/L‐ZnHF‐SO2 film has good discrimination against chiral R/S‐phenylethylamine enantiomers, first reporting chiral MOF‐based candidates for the application in CPL sensing of enantiomers. This work provides a facile and effective approach for preparing chiral MOF films materials with high and tunable CPL performance, and also gives a new way to achieve CPL sensing of chiral enantiomers.

Engineering a High-Strength and Superior-Electrolyte-Wettability Silk Fibroin-Based Gel Interface Achieving Dendrite-Free Zn Anode.

Zn metal anode is confronted with notorious Zn dendrite growth caused by inhomogeneous Zn2+ deposition, rampant dendrite growth, and serious interface side reactions, which significantly hinder their large-scale implication. Interface modification engineering is a powerful strategy to improve the Zn metal anode by regulating Zn2+ deposition behavior, suppressing dendrite formation, and protecting the anode from electrolyte corrosion. Herein, we have designed a high-strength and superior-electrolyte-wettability composite gel protective layer based on silk fibroin (SF) and ionic liquids (ILs) on the Zn anode surface by a straightforward spin-coating strategy. The Zn ion transport kinetics and mechanical properties were further improved by following the incubation process to construct a more well-ordered β-sheet structure. Consequently, the incubated composite gel coating serves as a command station, guiding the Zn ion's preferential growth along the (002) plane, resulting in a smooth and uniform deposition morphology. Driven by these improvements, the zinc anode modified with this composite gel exhibits a remarkably long-term cycling lifespan up to 2200 h at 2 mA cm-2, while also displaying superior rate capability. This study represents a landmark achievement in the realm of electrochemical science, delineating a clear pathway toward the realization of a highly reversible and enduring Zn anode.

Bandgap variation in semiconductor thin films of the solid solution (CdTe)1-x(In2Te3)x deposited by RF sputtering

(CdTe)1-x(In2Te3)x films, with 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1, were deposited by radio frequency sputtering on glass substrates employing different targets, prepared for each composition. The x-ray diffractograms were consistent with substitutional In incorporation into the CdTe lattice up to a value of x = 0.2. For higher In contents, the films presented structural disorder without reaching full amorphous characteristics. For x = 1, corresponding to In2Te3, preferential growth was observed. The bandgap of the solid solution varied between 1.46 and 1.2 eV, reaching a maximum of 1.58 eV for x = 0.3. For both end binary compounds the random incorporation of a third chemical element produced a significant broadening of the Raman modes consistent with a reduction of the lifetime of the optical phonons. The electrical resistivity was dependent on the Cd concentration reaching a minimum for x = 0.8.

Effects of curing temperature and supplementary cementitious materials on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of high-ferrite cement products

This study investigated the changes in three characteristics, including phase compositions, microstructure, and microhardness, in the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of high-ferrite cement (HFC) products when subjected to different curing systems. In addition, we explored the underlying mechanisms through which supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) influence the ITZ under steam curing conditions. The characterization was performed through the application of test techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis, backscattered electron, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and microhardness. The findings demonstrated that the increase in the curing temperatures promoted the HFC mortar to generate an excellent ITZ performance compared to Portland cement and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) showed an improvement in steam-cured HFC-ITZ better than. Specifically, optimal enhancement of the ITZ in steam-cured HFC cement-based materials was achieved through the 40% replacement of GGBFS where the calcium hydroxide (CH) content and orientation growth were reduced while the hydration product formation was increased, resulting in declined porosity. Furthermore, the incorporation of 20% replacement of fly ash (FA) led to the decrease in the CH content and porosity of the ITZ. However, due to the lower reaction activity, unreacted FA persisted in the paste even after 28 days of curing. Additionally, the uneven distribution of hydration products resulted in diminished microhardness. On the other hand, a 40% replacement of FA marginally improved the properties of the ITZ. Finally, the test data and conclusions in the paper can provide some evidence for the application of GGBFS and FA in HFC and HFC-based concrete.

A Petrological and Microstructural Study of Ten Brachinites: A Cumulate Texture?

AbstractBrachinites are igneous, ultramafic and unbrecciated primitive achondrites mainly composed of olivine and pyroxene, with a partial melt residue or cumulate origin that is still debated. This study presents a petrological and microstructural study of 10 brachinite meteorites to identify igneous and deformation processes responsible for their formation. Detailed microstructural analyses were performed using secondary electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and electron backscatter diffraction. The olivine‐spinel and two‐pyroxene closure temperatures of these brachinites ranged from 814 ± 27 to 909 ± 20°C. Olivine [001] axes coincide with the elongation of olivine grains and the crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) of clinopyroxene [001] axes, which led us to infer lineation as olivine [001] axes parallel to X for all samples. Olivine CPO displays a strong or medium concentration of [001] axes parallel to X and [010] axes parallel to Z pointing to a B‐type fabric. Limited internal deformation of olivine grains and slip systems identified from low‐angle boundary misorientation analyses are inconsistent with the CPO and grain misorientation distributions are close to those found in untextured rocks. Olivine B‐type fabrics may therefore result not from plastic deformation but rather from rigid crystal rotation or preferential crystal growth during compaction. Olivine subgrain boundary misorientation axes imply limited activation of [001](100) and [100](001) slip systems, which could be due to primary plastic deformation during or after crystal settling. These new results reveal that brachinites developed a cumulate texture and accommodated only weak plastic deformation during early differentiation processes in the parent body.

Influence of Humidity on Layer-by-Layer Growth and Structure in Coordination Networks.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials because of their high designability of pores and functionalities. Especially, MOF thin films and their properties have been investigated toward applications in nanodevices. Typically, MOF thin films are fabricated by using a bottom-up method such as layer-by-layer (LbL) growth in air. Because the water molecules can coordinate and be replaced with organic linkers during synthesis, humidity conditions will be expected to influence the LbL growth processes. In this study, we fabricated MOF thin films composed of Zn2+, tetrakis-(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (TCPP), and 4,4'-bipyridyl (bpy) at 10 and 40% relative humidity (RH) conditions. Then, we investigated the humidity effects on chemical compositions of TCPP and bpy, periodic structure, orientation, and surface morphology. At high RH, coordination replacement of water with the organic linkers becomes more competitive than that at low RH, resulting in a different TCPP/bpy composition ratio between the two RH conditions. Also, more frequent coordination replacements of water with the organic linkers at high RH led to the formation of phases other than that observed at low RH, loss of growth orientation, and rough surface. The findings clarified the importance of controlling the RH condition during LbL growth to obtain the desired coordination networks.

Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the co-deposition and frictional behavior of carbon nanotube/nickel composite layer

In this paper, the effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentrations in the electroplating solution on the morphology, nucleation rate, nucleation mode, and frictional behavior of the CNT/Ni composite layers were investigated. The results showed that the electrodeposition of Ni was in a three-dimensional nucleation/growth mode. In addition, the x-ray diffraction (XRD) of the deposited layers showed that adding SDS changed the preferred growth direction of Ni from (2 0 0) to the (2 2 0) crystallographic plane. When the carbon nanotube (CNT) content was 0.1 g l−1, and the SDS content was 0.05 g l−1, the deposition potential was the most negative, increasing the number of Ni nucleation sites on the electrode and resulting in the grain size refinement of the deposited layer. It also reduced the friction coefficient of the composite simultaneously.

공립유치원 교사의 발달단계가 승진욕구와 교사헌신에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the developmental stage of public kindergarten teachers on desire for promotion and teacher commitment. The research method collected 233 copies of data collected from teachers of public kindergartens in Gyeonggi-do and statistically analyzed them through SPSS 29.0 by frequency analysis, reliability coefficient calculation, mean and standard deviation, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. As a result of the study, first, among the sub-factors of the teacher development stage of public kindergartens, growth and maturity were found to be high, desire for promotion were found to be at an intermediate level, and teacher commitment was found to be high. Second, looking at the correlation between the teacher development stage and the promotion desire, promotion orientation, growth, and maturity were positively correlated with the promotion desire, and stability, recession, and frustration were negatively correlated. Looking at the correlation between the teacher development stage and teacher commitment, growth, maturity, and promotion orientation were positively correlated, and frustration and survival were negatively correlated.

Ultrasonic cavitation-modulated nanocrystal facets growth of zinc-based oxide

In this study, in situ detection of the transient cavitation intensity during the sonochemical synthesis of Zinc-based Oxide (ZBO) is realized. At a fixed ethanol/water ratio of 25%, the transient cavitation intensity initially increases to a certain level during the nucleation stage of ZBO since the growth units of ZBO serve as supplementary induction sites for transient cavitation bubbles. Once the process surpasses the critical supersaturation point of ZBO growth units, a decrease of transient cavitation intensity is observed because the formation of massive ZBO nanocrystals may cause ultrasonic scattering attention. As a result, high-aspect-ratio ZBO nanorods are formed due to the preferential growth along the [001] direction. In addition, by increasing the ethanol/water ratio, a similar but decreasing trend in the time-dependent transient cavitation intensity during the ZBO synthesis process is obtained. This results in fewer ethanol molecules detaching from the ZBO (001) crystal surface, due to reduced cavitation bubble explosions, thereby inhibiting ZBO growth along the [001] direction. At an ethanol/water ratio of 75%, a morphological transition from slender nanorods to ultra-thin Zn5(NO3)2(OH)8·2H2O nanoflakes is facilitated. These ultra-thin nanoflakes demonstrate promising photocatalytic performance. This work provides a rational sonochemical approach for synthesizing facet-controlled growth of nanocrystals.

Crystallization modulation and defect passivation in carbon-based perovskite solar cells using multifunctional group additive

Recently, carbon-based perovskite solar cells have attracted wide attention in academia and industry because of their simple preparation process, low cost, and adaptability to roll-to-roll industrial production. The combination of ternary perovskite composition and carbon electrode configuration is expected to meet the requirements of device performance and stability. However, low grain size, and high density of grain boundary and surface defect states result in serious non-radiative recombination, which is one of the main gaps between the carbon-based perovskite solar cells and metal-electrode-based devices. Based on the consideration of crystal tuning and defect passivation of ternary CsFAMA thin films, the additive molecule 5-(Difluoromethoxy)-2-mercapto-1H-benzimidazole (DMB) with multifunctional groups were introduced into the film. XRD show that the (100) and (200) crystal plane orientation growth directed by the DMB additive lead to the formation of the micro-sized perovskite. XPS suggests that DMB not only modulates the crystallization of the films but also exists at the grain boundaries, and realizes the passivation of undercoordinated Pb2+ defects and inhibits the generation of Pb0. The defect state density is significantly reduced, and the carrier lifetime is greatly improved. The possible mechanism for perovskite crystal growth as well as defect passivation based on Lewis acid-base coordination and hydrogen bond was also proposed. After the introduction of DMB, a power conversion efficiency of 14.40% was achieved, which was 13.4% higher than that of the control device. After nearly 1200 h of environmental stability test, the DMB modified device still retained 95% of the original efficiency. This work emphasizes the feasibility of simultaneously realizing the crystallization modulation and defect passivation of carbon-based perovskite solar cells using the additive with multifunctional groups, and provides a reference for the commercialization of carbon-based perovskite solar cells.

Cultivar-Specific Growth and Yield of Mukunuwenna (<em>Alternanthera sessilis</em>) in the Low Country Wet Zone, Sri Lanka

Joyweed/Mukunuwenna (Alternanthera sessile) is a globally significant leafy vegetable, yet its maximum yield potential remains largely unrealized due to the limited genetic diversity of existing varieties. Farmers frequently lack precise knowledge about the yield potential, growth characteristics, and quality of the produce. Few attempts of research attentions were given to assess its growth characteristics, susceptibility to diseases and pests, consumer acceptability, and yield potential. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively evaluate growth and yield traits, sensory qualities and morphological features of eight carefully selected Mukunuwenna cultivars. Thus, identifying the most suitable Mukunuwenna cultivars for the Low Country Wet Zone, Sri Lanka. In this investigation, we assessed four Mukunuwenna selections, including one wild (red) variety, alongside three local Mukunuwenna cultivars, focusing on their growth, yield and morphological characteristics under upland field conditions at the Agriculture Research Station, Thelijjawila, Sri Lanka. The study followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data were meticulously collected for eight growth parameters and two yield parameters including average internodal distance, average leaf length, average leaf width, average number of shoots per unit area, average number of leaves per stem, average number of flowers per stem, average shoot height, average chlorophyll content, average leaf to stem ratio, and average yield per plot. The results, analyzed through ANOVA and mean separation demonstrated significant differences (P< 0.05) among Mukunuwenna cultivars across various attributes, To assess the diversity in growth and yield, a principle component analysis was conducted. A sensory evaluation was performed to assess the consumer preference. Notably, the Piliyandala selection exhibited the most promising growth and yield traits, particularly excelling leaf to stem ratio and gaining the highest consumer preference. Other notable performers were the Colombo selection, Weda Mukunuwenna and Cultivar M7 showing preferable growth and yield traits with strong consumer appeal. Considering these findings, we conclude that Piliyandala selection, Colombo selection, and Cultivar M7 exhibit preferable growth and yield traits for commercial cultivation, while Weda Mukunuwenna stands out as an ideal choice for home garden cultivation under upland conditions in the Low Country Wet Zone, following recommended agronomic practices. This study’s outcomes hold significant promise for further research endeavors, focusing on enhancing desirable growth and yield traits.

Enhanced grain orientation degree and electrical properties in PSN-PMN-PT textured ceramics under the effect of sintering aids

In this work, texturing is proposed to improve the piezoelectric response of PSN-PMN-PT ceramics. The PSN-PMN-PT textured ceramic with a Lotgering factor F001 higher than 99% was synthesized by the liquid-phase-assisted template grain growth (TGG) method. The addition of CuO/B2O3 sintering aids improves the BT templates induced grain orientation growth behavior significantly. In comparison with its random counterpart, the Cu/B-T textured ceramic exhibits a high Lotgering factor F001 of 99% and significantly enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric responses: εr ∼ 3100, tanδ ∼ 0.8%, d33 ∼ 1030 pC N–1, d33⋅g33 ∼ 34.2 × 10–12 m2 N–1, d33* ∼ 1490 pm V–1@5 kV cm–1, Smax ∼ 0.26%@20 kV cm–1 and Hs ∼ 8.5%. In the meantime, good temperature stability is observed in the Cu/B-T textured ceramic with a variation of d33*@20 kV cm–1 and annealed d33 lower than 9.68% and 18.1% over a wide temperature range of 25–140 °C. This work shows that PSN-PMN-PT textured ceramic (Cu/B-T) has great potential for electromechanical device applications such as precision actuators, ultrasound transducers, and energy harvesters.

Controlled growth of edge site enriched vertical SnS2 nanoflakes for highly sensitive room temperature detection of NO2 sensor

SnS2 (Tin sulfide), a 2D layered material has been recognized as the most promising material for gas sensing applications owing to its high surface-to-volume ratio. Controlling the growth orientation provides them with remarkably high catalytic activity and better adsorption properties. In this work, SnS2 is deposited on SiO2/Si by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. The calculated peak intensity ratio from Raman A1gEg>EgA1g and HRSEM analysis confirms the vertical growth of SnS2. The band bending (qV) was found to be increased as a function of NO2 concentration, resulting in an excellent response (S%) of about 98 % towards 40 ppm of NO2 at room temperature (30 °C). It also has the characteristics of low limit of detection (LoD) of 1.29 ppm and long-term reliable stability of 28 days with 81 % retention of performance. The obtained sensing performance can be attributed towards the presence of voids, negative curvature and high adsorption of NO2 on edge sites of vertically grown SnS2. Thus, exploiting the inherent property of the layered materials using growth strategy will provide a way to develop the potential applicant for practical NO2 detector.

Enhancing sputtered GaN/Si film quality by adding AlGaN buffer layer in a continuous deposition process

In this work we demonstrate the achievement of significative improvements in the structural and morphological quality of wurtzite GaN films (approximately 250 nm thick) by introducing an initial growth step involving an AlGaN buffer layer on p-type Si (100) substrates through a continuous reactive sputtering process. We investigated the influence of using single and multiple AlxGa1-xN buffer layers with varying Al content (x ranging from 0.07 to 0.37) and different thicknesses (from 166 nm to 1 µm). The obtained samples underwent characterization through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal a slight increase in the c-axis preferred growth direction and grain sizes even with a single and thin (250 nm) Al0.07Ga0.93N buffer layer. Conversely, the use of a single Al0.37Ga0.63N buffer layer led to significant morphological changes and a remarkable improvement in the c-axis preferred orientation. The most favorable outcomes were observed with the implementation of a triple AlGaN buffer layer, featuring decreasing Al content from the substrate, indicating the attainment of a high-quality GaN top layer comparable to epitaxial GaN.

Effect of Holding Time on Structure and Optical Properties of PbSe Films Deposited in a Chemical Bath on Si(100) Substrates

Lead selenide (PbSe) thin films are widely used in the field of infrared detection due to their high infrared detection rate and sensitivity at room temperature. In recent years, PbSe thin films have been successfully grown on Si substrates. This article utilized the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method to prepare uniform and dense PbSe thin films on Si(100) substrates. The crystal structure, micro morphology, thickness, and energy band gap of polycrystalline PbSe thin films on Si(100) substrates were studied at a deposition temperature of 70 °C with a holding time of 30–120 min. Results showed that the prepared PbSe films bonded well with the Si(100) substrate. As the holding time increased, PbSe maintained [200] crystal orientation growth, and the crystallinity improved. The thickness of the PbSe thin film increased with the holding time, while the energy band gap first decreased and then increased. The PbSe thin film prepared with a holding time of 60 min had a thickness of about 388.5 nm, grew in the [200] crystal orientation, and had an energy band gap of 0.153 eV, showing the best optical properties.

Chirality-Induced Crystallization and Defect Passivation of Perovskites: Toward High-Performance Solar Cells.

As an additive for perovskites, in addition to functional groups, the steric configuration of molecules is worthy of consideration because it influences perovskite crystallization, thus determining whether defect passivation is effective without any side effects. In this work, the chiral molecules l- and d-pyroglutamic acid (l-PA and d-PA) were chosen as additives for perovskite passivators to reveal the reasons for the differences in passivation between amino acids with different steric configurations. Functional groups, such as the C═O groups and N-H groups of l-PA and d-PA, can passivate the perovskite defects. However, l-PA exhibited a more distorted steric configuration, while d-PA was more planar, leading to differences in the distances between the two C═O groups. Taking the Pb-Pb bond length as a reference, the shorter distance between the two C═O groups of l-PA distorts the perovskite lattice structure, which results in poor device stability. Conversely, the similar distance between the two C═O groups of d-PA promoted the preferred orientational growth of the perovskite. Finally, the d-PA-doped device accomplished an excellent efficiency of 24.11% with an improved open-circuit voltage of 1.17 V. Furthermore, the efficiency of the unencapsulated d-PA-doped device was maintained at 93% in N2 for more than 3000 h and 74% after 500 h of operation at maximum power point tracking under continuous illumination.

Morphology evolution of β-phase in Al-Mg-Si alloys during aging treatment

This study aims to clarify the growth process of the β-phase in Al-Mg-Si alloys from the point of view of morphological evolution. The orientation relationship, shape, growth process, misfit value, and interfacial condition between the β-phase and Al matrix were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), focused ion beam (FIB), and optical microscope (OM). In a previous study, the growth process and shape of the β-phase were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was proposed that the truncated octahedron (8{111}, 6{100} facets) transforms into a hexahedron (6{100} facets). This study proposes that two new three-dimensional shapes of the β-phase exist between the truncated octahedron and hexahedron, and we identified the {111}β facets at the edges of the β-phase. We proposed the morphology evolution during the growth process of Mg2Si crystals and calculated the misfit to understand that the unstable {111}β facet has a higher misfit value compared to the {001}β and {011}β facets. Our observations provide insight into how they influence the behavior of Mg2Si crystals, which is crucial for predicting the microstructural evolution of Al-Mg-Si alloys and for designing materials with desired properties.

Back Interface and Absorber Bulk Deep-Level Trap Optimization Enables Highly Efficient Flexible Antimony Triselenide Solar Cell.

The unique 1D crystal structure of Antimony Triselenide (Sb2Se3) offers notable potential for use in flexible, lightweight devices due to its excellent bending characteristics. However, fabricating high-efficiency flexible Sb2Se3 solar cells is challenging, primarily due to the suboptimal contact interface between the embedded Sb2Se3 layer and the molybdenum back-contact, compounded by complex intrinsic defects. This study introduces a novel Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO3) interlayer to address the back contact interface issues in flexible Sb2Se3 devices. Further investigations indicate that incorporating a MoO3 interlayer not only enhances the crystalline quality but also promotes a favorable [hk1] growth orientation in the Sb2Se3 absorber layer. It also reduces the barrier height at the back contact interface and effectively passivates harmful defects. As a result, the flexible Sb2Se3 solar cell, featuring a Mo-foil/Mo/MoO3/Sb2Se3/CdS/ITO/Ag substrate structure, demonstrates exceptional flexibility and durability, enduring large bending radii and multiple bending cycles while achieving an impressive efficiency of 8.23%. This research offers a straightforward approach to enhancing the performance of flexible Sb2Se3 devices, thereby expanding their application scope in the field of photovoltaics.

Pediococcus spp.-mediated competition interaction within Daqu microbiota determines the temperature formation and metabolic profiles.

Fermented microbiota is critical to the formation of microenvironment and metabolic profiles in spontaneous fermentation. Microorganisms generate a diverse array of metabolites concurrent with the release of heat energy. In the case of Daqu fermentation, the peak temperature exceeded 60°C, forming a typical high-temperature fermentation system known as high-temperature Daqu. However, microorganisms that cause the quality variation in Daqu and how they affect the functional microbiota and microenvironment in the fermentation process are not yet clear. This study adopted high-throughput sequencing and monitored the dynamic fluctuations of metabolites and environmental factors to identify the pivotal microorganism responsible for the alterations in interaction patterns of functional keystone taxa and quality decline in the fermentation system of different operational areas during the in situ fermentation process that had been mainly attributed to operational taxonomic unit (OTU)_22 (Pediococcus acidilactici). Additionally, we used isothermal microcalorimetry, plate inhibition experiments, and in vitro simulation fermentation experiments to explore the impact of Pediococcus spp. on heat generation, microorganisms, and metabolite profiles. Results showed the heat peak generated by Pediococcus spp. was significantly lower than that of Bacillus spp., filamentous fungi, and yeast. In addition, the preferential growth of P. acidilactici strain AA3 would obviously affect other strains to colonize through competition, and its metabolites made a significant impact on filamentous fungi. The addition of P. acidilactici strain AA3 in simulated fermentation would cause the loss of pyrazines and acids in metabolites. These evidences showed that the overgrowth of Pediococcus spp. greatly influenced the formation of high temperatures and compounds in solid-state fermentation systems. Our work illustrated the vital impact of interaction variability mediated by Pediococcus spp. for microbial assembly and metabolites, as well as in forming temperature. These results emphasized the functional role of Daqu microbiota in metabolites and heat production and the importance of cooperation in improving the fermentation quality.IMPORTANCEThe stable and high-quality saccharifying and fermenting starter in traditional solid-state fermentation was the prerequisite for liquor brewing. An imbalance of microbial homeostasis in fermentation can adversely impact production quality. Identification of such critical microorganisms and verifying their associations with other fermentation parameters pose a challenge in a traditional fermentation environment. To enhance the quality of spontaneous fermented products, strategies such as bioaugmentation or the control of harmful microorganisms would be employed. This work started with the differences in high-temperature Daqu metabolites to explore a series of functional microorganisms that could potentially contribute to product disparities, and found that the differences in interactions facilitated directly or indirectly by Pediococcus spp. seriously affected the development of microbial communities and metabolites, as well as the formation of the microenvironment. This study not only identified functional microbiota in Daqu that affected fermentation quality, but also demonstrated how microorganisms interact to affect the fermentation system, which would provide guidance for microbial supervision in the actual production process. Besides, the application of isothermal microcalorimetry in this study was helpful for us to understand the heat production capacity of microorganisms and their adaptability to the environment. This study presented a commendable framework for improving and controlling the quality of traditional fermentation and inspired further investigations in similar systems.

Salt-Assisted Vapor-Liquid-Solid Growth of 1D van der Waals Materials.

The method of salt-assisted vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth is introduced to synthesize 1D nanostructures of trichalcogenide van der Waals (vdW) materials, exemplified by niobium trisulfide (NbS3). The method uses a unique catalyst consisting of an alloy of Au and an alkali metal halide (NaCl) to enable rapid and directional growth. High yields of two types of NbS3 1D nanostructures, nanowires and nanoribbons, each with sub-ten nanometer diameter, tens of micrometers length, and distinct 1D morphology and growth orientation are demonstrated. Strategies to control the location, size, and morphology of growth, and extend the growth method to synthesize other transition metal trichalcogenides, NbSe3 and TiS3, as nanowires are demonstrated. Finally, the role of the Au-NaCl alloy catalyst in guiding VLS synthesis is described and the growth mechanism based on the relationships measured between structure (growth orientation, morphology, and dimensions) and growth conditions (catalyst volume and growth time) is discussed. These results introduce opportunities to expand the library of emerging 1D vdW materials to make use of their unique properties through controlled growth at nanoscale dimensions.