High Compatibility Research Articles

Monodentate Acetate Anion Enhanced Hydrogel Electrolyte for Long-Term Lifespan Zn-Air Batteries.

Flexible Zn-air batteries (FZABs) hold significant promise in diverse application scenarios with high safety and compatibility yet are still impeded by byproduct formation and poor water retention. Here, the neutral hydrogel electrolyte GAHE is engineered by in situ polymerizing acrylamide (AM) in a solution composed of cationic guar gum (CGG) and acetate salts to conquer the above challenges. The acetate anions (OAc-) exert a pH near 7 to effectively inhibit the side reactions triggered by H+. Meanwhile, the monodentate OAc- ions in LiOAc have fast ion diffusion kinetics and form hydrogen bonds between the released carbonyl groups and H2O to further suppress water activity for great side reaction prevention and water retention. Additionally, the in situ polymerization strategy realizes a polymer with high mechanical properties and great electrochemical interfacial stability and further improves the water retention property with hydrophilic groups. Consequently, GAHE gives the FZABs a lifespan of 2050 h at room temperature and 2940 h at -35 °C. This work provides concepts for electrolyte design for water retention and side reaction inhibition properties of aqueous devices.

Space charge characteristics and dielectric properties of PANI/PP‐g‐MAH/PP ternary composite

AbstractSpace charge accumulation in polypropylene materials for direct current capacitor will accelerate the ageing of the materials, resulting in the degradation of their insulation properties. Besides, it will also affect the dielectric properties of the capacitor in a long term. In this paper, a ternary composite of polyaniline (PANI)/maleic anhydride functionalised PP (PP‐g‐MAH)/polypropylene (PP) based on the PANI@ dopamine (PDA) coating structure is constructed from two perspectives of PP matrix grafting and PANI nano particle. This method takes advantage of the high permittivity and good compatibility of PANI to improve the relative dielectric constant of the composite while introducing deep traps inside the composite to inhibit space charge accumulation coating. The experimental results show that with the increase in PANI content, the maximum relative permittivity can be increased by 62%. The addition of the appropriate amount of PANI can effectively inhibit the space charge accumulation. The relative dielectric constant of the composite decreases significantly due to the heteropolar space charge. The relative dielectric constant of the modified polyaniline composites decreased significantly. The reduction rate decreased from 38% before modification to 12% after modification. This work has certain guiding significance for solving space charge problem of direct current capacitor.

Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan‐Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharide Edible Films for Meat Preservation

ABSTRACTThe objective of this research was to develop and analyse a chitosan‐Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (CS‐TFP) edible film using chitosan (CS) and Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TFP) as the primary raw materials. The findings revealed significant improvements in the thickness, solubility, opacity, mechanical properties and barrier properties (water vapour and oxygen permeability) of the chitosan film upon the addition of TFP, but water content and hydrophobicity were reduced. Moreover, TFP addition markedly enhanced the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the chitosan films. Structural analysis of the CS films and CS‐TFP edible films indicated that the formation of hydrogen bonds and high compatibility between CS and TFP. Specifically, TFP increased crystallinity, reduced roughness and improved the compactness of the edible film. This increase in compactness was directly linked to enhanced physical properties, whereas increased crystallinity contributed to better thermal stability. Furthermore, the application of CS‐TFP‐3 edible films in chicken preservation proved that they could significantly delay the deterioration of chicken. Findings in this study suggested that CS‐TFP edible film as a bioactive packaging material showed great potential to preserve chicken meat and extend the shelf life.

MnO2 nanoparticles enhance the activity of the Zr-MOF matrix electrochemical sensor for efficiently identifying ultra-trace tetracycline residues in food.

Anovel nanobiosensor was constructed by in situ locating nanometer MnO2 particles with controllable size and morphology in a Zr-MOF substrate to serve as an electrochemical probe. The synergistic effect of the two components, Zr-MOFs with high specific surface area and compatibility as a carrier for MnO2, resulted in improved electrochemical activity and excellent electrochemical identification performance for the MnO2@Zr-MOF/GCE biosensor. Under optimized experimental conditions and using CV and DPV technology, the biosensor showed a wide linear detection range (2-200μM), a low detection limit (2.577 × 10-8M), a recovery range (106.26-115.01%), and maximum relative standard deviation (5.155) for tetracycline(TC) identification. The recognition mechanism of the sensor was investigated adopting Laviron adsorption theory. The applicability of the sensor was verified through practical measurements. Overall, the MnO2 @Zr-MOF/GCE sensor possesses the advantages of fast analysis speed, high sensitivity, high selectivity, and simple operation, making it suitable for detecting trace amounts of TC in food.

Softening, Conformable, and Stretchable Conductors for Implantable Bioelectronics Interfaces

AbstractNeural implantable devices serve as electronic interfaces facilitating communication between the body and external electronic systems. These bioelectronic systems ideally possess stable electrical conductivity, flexibility, and stretchability to accommodate dynamic movements within the body. However, achieving both high electrical conductivity and mechanical compatibility remains a challenge. Effective electrical conductors tend to be rigid and stiff, leading to a substantial mechanical mismatch with bodily tissues. On the other hand, highly stretchable polymers, while mechanically compatible, often suffer from limited compatibility with lithography techniques and reduced electrical stability. Therefore, there exists a pressing need to develop electromechanically stable neural interfaces that enable precise communication with biological tissues. In this study, a polymer that is softening, flexible, conformal, and compatible with lithography to microfabricate perforated thin‐film architectures is utilized. These architectures offer stretchability and improved mechanical compatibility. Three distinct geometries are evaluated both mechanically and electrically under in vitro conditions that simulate physiological environments. Notably, the Peano structure demonstrates minimal changes in resistance, varying less than 1.5× even when subjected to ≈150% strain. Furthermore, devices exhibit a maximum mechanical elongation before fracture, reaching 220%. Finally, the application of multi‐electrode spinal cord leads employing titanium nitride for neural stimulation in rat models is demonstrated.

Pulmonary Disorders After Injections of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Hyaluronic acid is chemically a repeating glycosaminoglycan (disaccharide of D- glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine), the presence of which has been established in many human organs and tissues. In vivo, this disaccharide is produced by epithelial cells of the synovial membranes of joints. The highest level of hyaluronic acid is found in the skin. Due to their high biological compatibility, hyaluronic acid preparations are used as injectable dermal fillers in cosmetology. Hyaluronic acid is believed to promote accelerated wound healing after facial plastic surgery. In recent years, fillers based on hyaluronic acid have been used for surgical interventions on the genitals. There are separate publications on the adverse outcomes of such operations related to non-compliance with standard operating procedures, protocols of operations, and the participation of unqualified personnel. The purpose of our study is to describe the signs of complications that occurred after injections of hyaluronic acid fillers. In this paper, we have summarized the available publications on such outcomes and our own case of forensic establishment of a fatal pulmonary embolism that occurred after injections with hyaluronic acid preparations of a man's penis. The studied materials are combined into one table. A comparative analysis of these observations indicates that after injections of fillers based on hyaluronic acid, in particular in the genital area, there is a risk of developing pulmonary disorders, up to the onset of a fatal outcome.

High Performance Antibacterial Structure‐Tuned Hemofiltration Membrane for Facile Permeability of Blood Plasma During Plasmapheresis

ABSTRACTA microfiltration membrane is designed to separate blood cells without altering plasma composition. A vapor‐induced phase separation (VIPS) combined with compositional adjustment is used to create a structure‐tuned hemofiltration membrane. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP‐K90), polyethylene glycol (PEG400), and either water or chlorohexidine gluconate (CHG) solution are employed to regulate membrane structure and provide antibacterial enhancement. The preparation conditions involve a 5‐min VIPS process at moderate temperature and high humidity to craft the desired membrane structure. Morphological studies show that the membranes have an asymmetric sponge‐like structure with controlled surface pore sizes that effectively separate blood cells while enabling plasma passage. Complete blood count (CBC) analysis reveals that MH2 and MH3 membranes exhibit significant potential for blood cell separation, with 78% platelet (PLT) separation, 80% red blood cell (RBC) separation, and over 90% white blood cell (WBC) separation. Biochemical analysis of plasma substances confirms that components such as fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, albumin, high‐density lipoprotein, and low‐density lipoproteins pass through the MH series without significant concentration changes. The outcomes suggest that the MH series offers high blood compatibility as evidenced by coagulation times and hemolysis ratio. In addition, MTT data validates the biocompatibility of the membrane. Biofilm inhibition results and biofouling study confirmed that MH series, especially MH2 and MH3 exhibit superior characteristics and performance for plasmapheresis applications.

Targeted Bacterial Keratitis Treatment with Polyethylene Glycol-Dithiothreitol- Boric Acid Hydrogel and Gatifloxacin.

To prolong the ocular residence time of gatifloxacin and enhance its efficacy against bacterial keratitis, this study developed a velocity-controlled polyethylene glycol-dithiothreitol- boric acid (PDB) hydrogel loaded with gatifloxacin. First, the basic properties of the synthesized PDB hydrogel and the gatifloxacin- loaded PDB hydrogel were assessed. Secondly, the in vitro degradation rate of the drugloaded PDB was measured in a simulated body fluid environment with pH 7.4/5.5. The release behavior of the drug-loaded PDB was studied using a dialysis method with PBS solution of pH 7.4/5.5 as the release medium. Finally, a mouse model of bacterial keratitis was established, and tissue morphology was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Additionally, mouse tear fluid was extracted to observe the antibacterial effect of the gatifloxacin-loaded PDB hydrogel. The results showed that the PDB hydrogel had a particle size of 124.9 nm and a zeta potential of -23.3 mV, with good porosity, thermosensitivity, viscosity distribution, rheological properties, and high cell compatibility. The encapsulation of gatifloxacin did not alter the physical properties of the PDB hydrogel and maintained appropriate swelling and stability, with a high drug release rate in acidic conditions. Furthermore, animal experiments demonstrated that the gatifloxacin- loaded PDB hydrogel exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to gatifloxacin eye drops and displayed strong antibacterial capabilities against bacterial keratitis. This study successfully synthesized PDB hydrogel and developed a gatifloxacin drug release system. The hydrogel exhibited good thermosensitivity, pH responsiveness, stability, and excellent biocompatibility, which can enhance drug retention, utilization, and therapeutic effects on the ocular surface.

Direct synthesis of α-functionalized amides via heteroatom–hydrogen insertion reactions using amide-sulfoxonium ylides

α-Functionalized Si-, Ge-, B-, Se-, and S-amide moieties are present in many medicinally active molecules, but their synthesis remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate a high-throughput synthesis using amide-sulfoxonium ylides as carbene precursors in a Si–H, Ge–H, B–H, Se–H, and S–H insertion reactions to target a wide range of α-silyl, α-geryl, α-boryl, α-selenyl, and α-sulfur (hetero)amides. The process is featured as simple operation, mild conditions, broad substrate scope, high functional group compatibility, and excellent chemoselectivity. Both experimental and computational studies are conducted to explore the mechanisms underlying the formation of C–Si/Ge/B/Se/S bond. This research highlights the use of highly selective X–H insertion reactions with amide-sulfoxonium ylide-derived carbenes, paving the way for the preparation of diverse functional organosilane, organogermane, organoboron, organoselenium, and organosulfur compounds from accessible and bench-stable precursors.

Superionic conducting vacancy-rich β-Li3N electrolyte for stable cycling of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

The advancement of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries requires breakthroughs in solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) for the suppression of lithium dendrite growth at high current densities and high capacities (>3 mAh cm-2) and innovation of SSEs in terms of crystal structure, ionic conductivity and rigidness. Here we report a superionic conducting, highly lithium-compatible and air-stable vacancy-rich β-Li3N SSE. This vacancy-rich β-Li3N SSE shows a high ionic conductivity of 2.14 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 25 °C and surpasses almost all the reported nitride-based SSEs. A Li- and N-vacancy-mediated fast lithium-ion migration mechanism is unravelled regarding vacancy-triggered reduced activation energy and increased mobile lithium-ion population. All-solid-state lithium symmetric cells using vacancy-rich β-Li3N achieve breakthroughs in high critical current densities up to 45 mA cm-2 and high capacities up to 7.5 mAh cm-2, and ultra-stable lithium stripping and plating processes over 2,000 cycles. The high lithium compatibility mechanism of vacancy-rich β-Li3N is unveiled as intrinsic stability to lithium metal. In addition, β-Li3N possesses excellent air stability through the formation of protection surfaces. All-solid-state lithium metal batteries using the vacancy-rich β-Li3N as SSE interlayers and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) and Ni-rich LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 (NCM83) cathodes exhibit excellent battery performance. Extremely stable cycling performance is demonstrated with high capacity retentions of 82.05% with 95.2 mAh g-1 over 5,000 cycles at 1.0 C for LCO and 92.5% with 153.6 mAh g-1 over 3,500 cycles at 1.0 C for NCM83. Utilizing the vacancy-rich β-Li3N SSE and NCM83 cathodes, the all-solid-state lithium metal batteries successfully accomplished mild rapid charge and discharge rates up to 5.0 C, retaining 60.47% of the capacity. Notably, these batteries exhibited a high areal capacity, registering approximately 5.0 mAh cm-2 for the compact pellet-type cells and around 2.2 mAh cm-2 for the all-solid-state lithium metal pouch cells.

Self-Catalyzed Sono-Photoinduced Arylation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with Arylhydrazines.

Herein, the first example of self-catalyzed sono-photoinduced carbon-carbon bond formation was described. Combining the advantages of phototriggered self-catalysis and ultrasonic catalysis, a wide range of 3-arylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones can be efficiently synthesized in good yields with high functional-group compatibility under mild and eco-friendly conditions.

Tailoring high-performance bipolar membrane for durable pure water electrolysis

Bipolar membrane electrolyzers present an attractive scenario for concurrently optimizing the pH environment required for paired electrode reactions. However, the practicalization of bipolar membranes for water electrolysis has been hindered by their sluggish water dissociation kinetics, poor mass transport, and insufficient interface durability. This study starts with numerical simulations and discloses the limiting factors of monopolar membrane layer engineering. On this foundation, we tailor flexible bipolar membranes (10 ∼ 40 µm) comprising anion and cation exchange layers with an identical poly(terphenyl alkylene) polymeric skeleton. Rapid mass transfer properties and high compatibility of the monopolar membrane layers endow the bipolar membrane with appreciable water dissociation efficiency and long-term stability. Incorporating the bipolar membrane into a flow-cell electrolyzer enables an ampere-level pure water electrolysis with a total voltage of 2.68 V at 1000 mA cm–2, increasing the energy efficiency to twice that of the state-of-the-art commercial BPM. Furthermore, the bipolar membrane realizes a durability of 1000 h at high current densities of 300 ∼ 500 mA cm–2 with negligible performance decay.

Proteases and keratinases from Bacillus zhangzhouensis MH1: Practical use in detergent, leather, and waste management processes

Microbial proteases and keratinases find extensive application in both the detergent and leather industries, as well as in poultry waste management. In this study, a multifunctional strain MH1 exhibiting proteolytic and keratinolytic activities was newly isolated and identified as Bacillus zhangzhouensis. To improve its stability, the proteolytic extract was spray-dried and the stability was assessed during two years of storage. The enzyme preparation was fully stable up to 20 months of conservation at 4 °C even in the absence of any protective agent, while the enzymatic half-life at room temperature was twenty months using maltodextrin as a protector additive. MH1 was a feather-decomposing strain producing keratinases (95 U/ml) on feather medium. Therefore, the study evaluated the use of these enzymes in the detergent, tannery, and feed processes. Results showed that the sprayed proteases showed high compatibility with commercial liquid and solid detergents and efficiently removed bloodstains at low wash temperatures. They also revealed significant dehairing activity of cow skin without surface damage. While keratinases effectively transformed chicken feathers into keratin hydrolysate with strong antioxidant activity. Therefore, these enzymes could be a green alternative to hazardous chemicals utilized for detergent, leather, and biodegradation of keratinous waste.

Robust Sodium Storage Enabled by Heterogeneous Engineering and Electrolyte Modification

AbstractThe modulation of heterointerfaces in 2D materials is critically important for improving the electrochemical performance of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). In this context, the MoS2/Ti3C2Tx MXene heterostructure is taken as a typical example to reveal the fundamental principle of high sodium storage performance by regulating the terminal groups of Ti3C2Tx. It is demonstrated that MoS2/Ti3C2(OH)x (M/‐(OH)x) heterostructure with a high work function difference generates an enhanced built‐in electric field, which facilitates charge transfer. Moreover, ether‐based electrolytes, when compared to ester‐based electrolytes, provide lower solvation‐free energies and exhibit high compatibility with M/‐(OH)x, resulting in superior rate capability. Notably, COMSOL simulations of sodium ion (Na+) concentration and Na+ flux distributions reveal that the M/‐(OH)x electrode has low concentration polarization and rapid diffusion kinetics in ether‐based electrolytes. Consequently, the combination of M/‐(OH)x heterostructure with the ether‐based electrolyte provides 224.06 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 5.0 A g−1. Furthermore, the Na3V2(PO4)3/C//M/‐(OH)x full cell demonstrates robust electrochemical performance, delivering 116.49 mAh g−1 after 140 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. These findings emphasize the impact of modulating terminal functional groups to optimize the electrochemical functionality of heterostructures and highlight the crucial role of electrode/electrolyte synergistic coupling in advancing the practical applications of SIBs.

Novel AlN/ScAlN composite film SAW for achieving highly sensitive temperature sensors

Traditional SAW devices, typically made from piezoelectric materials like quartz and lithium niobate (LiNbO3), face significant challenges, such as incompatibility with CMOS processes and a decline in piezoelectric performance at high temperatures. Recently, aluminum nitride (AlN) and scandium-doped AlN (ScAlN) have gained attention as promising materials for high-performance SAW devices due to their high acoustic velocity, thermal stability, and CMOS compatibility. However, the low piezoelectric coefficient of AlN and Sc precipitation in ScAlN films limit their broader application. This study investigates the fabrication and optimization of SAW resonators using AlN/ScAlN composite films to enhance piezoelectric performance while mitigating Sc precipitation. A one-port SAW sensor device was designed based on the composite piezoelectric film, and structural optimization was performed by introducing groove structures to further reduce acoustic energy leakage and improve the quality factor (Q). Temperature sensing experiments were conducted using a peripheral oscillator circuit system. The experimental results demonstrated that the developed composite film SAW resonator exhibited excellent phase noise performance and thermal stability within the oscillator circuit, achieving a phase noise of −135.18 dBc/Hz@1 MHz and a frequency temperature coefficient of −31.07 ppm/°C. These findings confirm the potential of the AlN/ScAlN composite film as a reliable and precise temperature sensor.

Silica-reinforced functional composite polymer electrolyte with high electrochemical compatibility for solid-state lithium metal battery

Composite polymer-ceramic electrolytes (CPEs) are emerging as viable substitute providing high ionic conductivity, mechanical stability, and good safety for the progress of all-solid-state rechargeable batteries. Here, SiO2 particles were generated from beach sands via a simple gelation method and embedded in to poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) to obtain precisely two types of the electrolytes namely, electrospun and solution casted. The 2.5 wt.% SiO2-embedded CPEs generated by electrospinning and solution-casting exhibit best ionic conductivities being 3.6 × 10–4 and 1.3 × 10–4 S cm-1 at 30 °C, respectively. The polarization voltage for the electrospun CPE was particularly low and showed an extremely stable voltage plateau up to 300 h demonstrating high electrochemical compatibility and immense cycling stability. Consequently, the all solid-state lithium metal battery (Li|CPE|LiFePO4) using the electrospun CPE initially exhibits a discharge capacity of 142 mAh g-1 at 0.1C-rate superior to that of the full cell using the solution-casted CPE.

High Configuration Entropy Promises Electrochemical Stability of Chloride Electrolytes for High‐Energy, Long‐Life All‐Solid‐State Batteries

AbstractSolid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) with high ionic conductivity, stability, and interface compatibility are indispensable for high‐energy‐density and long‐life all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs), yet there are scarce SSEs with sufficient ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. In this study, with a high‐entropy SSE (HE‐SSE, Li2.9In0.75Zr0.1Sc0.05Er0.05Y0.05Cl6), we show the high configuration entropy has a thermodynamically positive relationship with the high‐voltage stability. As a result, the ASSBs with HE‐SSE and high‐voltage cathode materials exhibit superior high‐voltage and long‐cycle stability, achieving 250 cycles with 81.4 % capacity retention when charged to 4.8 V (vs. Li+/Li), and even 5000 cycles if charged to 4.6 V (vs. Li+/Li). Experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations confirm that the HE‐SSE greatly suppresses the high‐voltage degradation of SSE at the interface, promoting the high‐voltage stability coordinately through high entropy and interface stability. The high entropy design offers a general strategy to simultaneously improve the high‐voltage stability and ionic conductivity of SSEs, creating an avenue to building high‐energy and long‐life ASSBs.

High Configuration Entropy Promises Electrochemical Stability of Chloride Electrolytes for High-Energy, Long-Life All-Solid-State Batteries.

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with high ionic conductivity, stability, and interface compatibility are indispensable for high-energy-density and long-life all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), yet there are scarce SSEs with sufficient ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. In this study, with a high-entropy SSE (HE-SSE, Li2.9In0.75Zr0.1Sc0.05Er0.05Y0.05Cl6), we show the high configuration entropy has a thermodynamically positive relationship with the high-voltage stability. As a result, the ASSBs with HE-SSE and high-voltage cathode materials exhibit superior high-voltage and long-cycle stability, achieving 250 cycles with 81.4 % capacity retention when charged to 4.8 V (vs. Li+/Li), and even 5000 cycles if charged to 4.6 V (vs. Li+/Li). Experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations confirm that the HE-SSE greatly suppresses the high-voltage degradation of SSE at the interface, promoting the high-voltage stability coordinately through high entropy and interface stability. The high entropy design offers a general strategy to simultaneously improve the high-voltage stability and ionic conductivity of SSEs, creating an avenue to building high-energy and long-life ASSBs.

Deep metric learning with in-batch feature vector constraints and unsupervised label integration

Deep metric learning has increasingly captured the interest of the research community in recent years, mainly due to its effectiveness in integrating distance metric learning with deep neural networks. Despite the existence of various approaches, such as pair-based angular loss functions or spherical embedding constraints, these methods often necessitate extra trainable parameters and overlook class similarities. This paper presents two approaches: ‘In-batch feature vector constraint’ and ‘Unsupervised label integration.’ These methods are notable for considering the similarities between different classes. Because of their high compatibility, these techniques can be seamlessly integrated with various loss functions. Comprehensive experimental evaluations encompassing four image classification datasets and seven network architectures have demonstrated the effectiveness of these proposed methods in enhancing network performance.

Dielectric Elastomer Generators: Recent Advances in Materials, Electronic Circuits, and Prototype Developments

The ongoing climate crisis requires innovative methods to maximize renewable and sustainable energy resources. There have been advancements in harvesting energy from ambient motions such as wind, ocean waves, and human movements. Dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) are a promising option for energy harvesting due to their high energy density and compatibility with low‐frequency oscillations. This review provides an in‐depth overview of DEGs, including electroactive materials, electromechanical characterization, electronics for harvesting, interfacing circuits, prototypes, and challenges. DEGs have the potential to play a significant role in decarbonizing energy for both small‐ and large‐scale applications using ambient energy sources.