Ideal Efficiency Research Articles

Optical imaging and gene transfection potential of linear polyethylenimine-coated Ag2S near-infrared quantum dots.

The application of biocompatible heavy metal-free and cationic Ag2S NIR quantum dots (QDs), which have intense luminosity in the 700-900 nm medical range, as a nonviral gene delivery system paves the way to overcome autofluorescence and easily track the delivery of genes in real time. The newly developed small and colloidally stable 2-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped Ag2S aqueous quantum dots electrostatically complexed with linear polyethyleneimine (Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI) were investigated for the first time both as a strong fluorescent probe and as a vector for nonviral gene delivery for the highest tracking of the system and delivery of genes into the nuclei of different cancer cells. The synthesized Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI quantum dots demonstrated strong optical imaging properties and were used to deliver a green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid as a standard gene. For Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI-pDNA nanoparticles, an N/P ratio of 20 was the ideal transfection efficiency. Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI was substantially more compatible with HEK 293T cells than the free 25-kDa linear polyethylenimine (LPEI). Next, the transfection efficiency evaluation of pGFP genes with synthesized Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI and LPEI in different cancer cells demonstrated their high potential as a theranostic cancer gene delivery system. This is the first instance of gene transfection and optical imaging carried out in vitro using Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI QDs. Overall, the newly synthesized highly biocompatible and trackable Ag2S@2MPA/LPEI QDs can be an effective and biocompatible theranostic system for cancer gene therapy.

ZnO/nZVI nanoparticle-enhanced double-slope U-shaped solar distillation: A thermodynamic investigation of cephalexin adsorption

The increasing need for sustainable methods to remove pharmaceutical contaminants like cephalexin and improve water desalination is critical. This study explores ZnO/nZVI nanoparticles synthesized with Jackfruit peel extracts as eco-friendly, cost-effective adsorbents, enhancing water purification in solar desalination systems. This work used a matte black paint coating within a double slope U-shaped solar distiller (DSUD) in a discontinuous experimental setting to examine potential improvements in solar distillation performance. Activated carbon (AC) and bioactive powdered nanoparticles of ZnO/nZVI (nano zerovalent iron), produced from jackfruit peel extracts (JP) were combined in a synergistic way. The effectiveness of cephalexin removal was assessed taking into account the JPAC solution parameters, reaction duration, ZnO/nZVI concentrations in the nanocomposite dosage, and initial nanocomposite concentration. The best conditions for cephalexin adsorption were found to be pH 5 and reaction time of 50 min, which resulted in high absorption efficiencies of 94.74% (nZVI) and 97.53% (ZnO) at room temperature with a JPAC dose of 2.50 g L⁻1. The efficiency of the eco-friendly adsorbent in getting rid of cephalexin was calculated using “pseudo-second-order kinetics” for nanocomposites, which is consistent with the “Langmuir” isothermal absorption process. The nanocomposites as absorbent materials in solar thermal desalination processes, efficient heat transmission and energy storage have been established. JPAC and the addition of steel balls (S) with a silver hue to the DSUD improved the internal heat transfer mechanisms. Thermodynamic of Gibbs free energy and the Laplacian method (TGL), two thermodynamic concepts, were used to extensively study the temperature dynamics of the DSUD with SJPAC components. For ZnO/JPAC, an exceptional distillate production rate was noted from 8:00 to 18:00, with a noteworthy 4.932 L/m2 output in winter and 5.833 L/m2 per day in summer. Using silver balls, ZnO/JPAC generated significant yields over a 24-h period: 8.957 L/m2 in summer and 7.253 L/m2 in winter, with an ideal energy efficiency of 51.05%. The unique advancements in TGL procedures and their environmental consequences are presented in this paper. The field of thermal energy transduction will advance if silver balls are used in DSUD for the synthesis of JPAC, ZnO/JPAC, and nZVI/JPAC, as supported by the theoretical insights presented here.

Cyclodextrin-assisted high selectivity of imprinted adsorbents loaded on polyoxometalate@UiO-66 for H2S removal at ambient temperature

The efficient removal of H2S is necessary for clean production and energy safety. However, industrial gases are usually accompanied by CO2 significantly affecting desulfurization effects. Hence, novel imprinted adsorbents (PMo12@UiO-66@H2S-MIP-CDs) were synthesized through surface imprinting technology using cyclodextrins (CDs) as molecular scaffolds and UiO-66 modified by phosphomolybdic acid (PMo12@UiO-66) as a support. Wherein, PMo12@UiO-66@H2S-MIP-β-CD was determined as the optimal adsorbent since β-CD with low solubility is prone to keep its inherent cavity to promote dispersion of imprinted polymers and enrich internal pore channels. H2S capacity of PMo12@UiO-66@H2S-MIP-β-CD (31.67 mg/g) was about 2.4 and 1.7 times that of PMo12@UiO-66 and PMo12@UiO-66@H2S-MIPs, respectively, revealing the remarkable contribution of β-CD as a molecular scaffold to improve desulfurization. The results showed that PMo12@UiO-66@H2S-MIP-β-CD can maintain stable desulfurization efficiency regardless of the presence of CO2 or moisture, and O2 can strengthen the redox reaction between H2S and PMo12 accompanied by the increased reduction degree of Mo6+ in PMo12. After five adsorption-regeneration cycles, PMo12@UiO-66@H2S-MIP-β-CD still exhibited ideal removal efficiency. The excellent desulfurization performance is mainly ascribed to the selective adsorption role of H2S-MIP-β-CD and oxidative removal ability of PMo12. This work provides a valuable reference for the directional design of high-capacity functional adsorbents for room-temperature desulfurization.

High efficiency wide gap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells: Influence of buffer layer characteristics

Wide-gap Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells exhibit a superior match to the solar spectrum, resulting in a higher ideal efficiency (Eff). However, in reality, their device Eff is lower than that of narrow-gap CIGS solar cells. This study aims to identify the factors that limit the performance enhancement of wide-gap CIGS solar cells, focusing on the characteristics of the buffer layer. The influence of the thickness and doping concentration of the CdS layer on the built-in electric field and interfacial recombination of the heterojunction has been investigated through simulation. The simulation results indicate that when the doping concentration of the CdS layer is lower than or similar to that of the CGS layer, decreasing the thickness of the CdS layer (e.g., 10 nm) is beneficial for improving device performance. However, if it is higher than that of the CGS layer, increasing the thickness of the CdS layer (e.g., 50 nm) is conducive to improving device performance. The thickness of the CdS layer that maximizes the Eff of the wide-gap CGS device should be approximately 50 nm, and its doping concentration should be higher than that of the CGS layer. This optimization can simultaneously enhance the built-in electric field of the heterojunction and minimize its interfacial recombination, thereby improving the open-circuit voltage and Eff of wide-gap CGS devices.

Ultratough Supramolecular Polyurethane Featuring an Interwoven Network with Recyclability, Ideal Self-Healing and Editable Shape Memory Properties.

Developing multifunctional polymers with excellent mechanical properties, outstanding shape memory characteristics, and good self-healing properties is a formidable challenge. Inspired by the woven cross-linking strategy, a series of supramolecular polyurethane (PU) with an interwoven network structure composed of covalent and supramolecular cross-linking nodes have been successfully synthesized by introducing the ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) motifs into the PU skeleton. The best-performing sample exhibited ultrahigh strength (∼77.2 MPa) and toughness (∼312.7 MJ m-3), along with an ideal self-healing efficiency (up to 90.8% for 6 h) and satisfactory temperature-responsive shape memory effect (shape recovery rates up to 96.9%). Furthermore, it ensured recyclability. These favorable properties are mainly ascribed to the effective dissipation of strain energy due to the disassembly and reconfiguration of supramolecular nodes (i.e., quadruple hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) between UPy units), as well as the covalent cross-linking nodes that maintain the integrity of the polymer network structure. Thus, our work provides a universal strategy that breaks through the traditional contradictions and paves the way for the commercialization of high-performance multifunctional PU elastomers.

Energy saving and speed control in autonomous electric vehicle using enhanced manta ray foraging algorithm optimized intelligent systems

The integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) with hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) aims to address the problem of optimizing energy economy while improving reliability and safety. By using intelligent driver support technologies and sophisticated control algorithms, this method aims to lower emissions and fuel consumption. Therefore, the HEVs develop an intelligent driver aid system that integrates an energy management system (EMS) with adaptive cruise control (ACC). To maximize energy use, the system integrates HEVs with autonomous vehicle technologies. In order to maintain safe distances from the lead vehicle, identify the desired acceleration, and switch between speed and distance control, the ACC uses a deep learning system in conjunction with a tilt integral derivative (TID) controller. This ensures stability. Based on ACC commands, the EMS controls energy usage. An enhanced manta ray foraging optimization (EMRFO) technique is used to significantly enhance speed control and energy economy. Simulink/MATLAB analysis of the suggested model shows notable gains in energy consumption control, particularly with the ACC with deep neural network (DNN) system, and considerable reductions in driving risks. In addition, the system precisely controls engine torque to maintain a 72.75 % State of Charge (SoC) and an average engine energy efficiency of 32.36 %. To validate the performance, the proposed approach is put into practice in real-time configuration. The configuration for the experiment produced an ideal efficiency of 31.99 % with minimal error using the proposed method.

Quantum Dots and Molecular Junctions as Energy Filters for Thermal-to-Electric Energy Conversion

The thermoelectric conversion of heat into electricity requires a form of energy filtering, that allows hot electrons to pass while blocking cold electrons. The energy conversion efficiency is determined by the details of the energy filtering, with an infinitely sharp (delta function) transmission spectrum allowing near ideal (Carnot) efficiency. [1]I will introduce this concept and report on a proof-of-performance experiment based on a quantum dot embedded into a single, semiconductor nanowire. This near-ideal quantum-dot heat engine realized power production at maximum power with Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency as well more than 70% of Carnot efficiency at maximum efficiency settings [2].To further enhance efficiency at maximum power one wishes to shape the transmission function to allow a spectrum of warmer electrons to pass while still completely blocking cold electrons. This may be achieved by exploiting quantum interference phenomena to block low-energy electron transmission by destructive interference, and to thus sculpt the transmission function of quantum dots or molecular junctions.[4] In contrast to quantum dots, molecular junctions have the advantage that they can be used at room temperature and can be produced, in principle, cheaply and scalable. To systematically explore the effect of quantum interferences, we designed and synthesized a new class of porphyrins that are expected to feature destructive quantum interference in single molecule junctions with gold electrodes and may thus show high thermopower, as well as a control that does not. We performed detailed experimental single-molecule break-junction studies of conductance and thermopower on porphyrin molecular junctions. We find a somewhat better thermoelectric performance for the porphyrin where we expect destructive interference. However, the predicted large difference in conductance and thermopower is not supported by our experimental findings.[4]Finally, I will also briefly discuss the potential application of the concepts and systems presented here in hot-carrier photovoltaics, as an approach to increasing photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency beyond current limits.[1] T.E. Humphrey et al., Reversible Quantum Brownian Heat Engines for Electrons. Phys. Rev. Lett., 89, 116801 (2002)[2] M. Josefsson et al. A quantum-dot heat engine operated close to thermodynamic efficiency limits. Nature Nanotechn. 13, 920 (2018)[3] O Karlström et al. Increasing thermoelectric performance using coherent transport. Phys. Rev. B 84, 113415 (2011)[4] H. Xu et al. Electrical Conductance and Thermopower of β-Substituted Porphyrin Molecular Junctions Synthesis and Transport. JACS 145 , 23541 (2023) Figure 1

Improved solution thermodynamics modeling in pervaporation

The current work features a system-level design of pervaporation processes (typically utilized to break azeotropes) that is solution thermodynamics-based (inclusive of validated excess thermodynamic properties). Unlike the standard pervaporation modeling methodology in the literature, the current method (referred to here as PervapS3) deconstructs the membrane module into its constituent units, and the material and energy flows were mathematically validated. These amendments to the previous methodology (i.e., leaf-wise modeling, mathematical validation, and inclusion of excess thermodynamic properties) revealed significant deviations in key parameter values. For a given large-scale pervaporation process dehydrating aqueous isopropanol, the total membrane area and energy requirement calculated were up to 22% and 19% less than the values calculated using the previous methodology. Moreover, due to the inclusion of excess thermodynamic properties in the PervapS3 method, the minimum separation work and the second law (thermodynamic) efficiency were up to 94% and 78% less. In other words, the previous pervaporation modeling methodology overestimated membrane area, energy requirement, minimum separation work, and second law efficiency. Considering a conventional azeotropic distillation process for comparison with pervaporation, it was observed that the simulation-based distillation models from the literature were inclusive of the system non-idealities. Per the previous method, the non-ideal second law efficiency of azeotropic distillation would be compared against the ideal second law efficiency of pervaporation, overestimating the latter. The non-ideal second law efficiency must be employed to facilitate a fairer and more accurate comparison of disparate separation technologies.

Design of pH-responsive molecularly imprinted polymer as a carrier for controlled and sustainable capecitabine release

A molecularly imprinting polymer (MIP) carrier with pH-responsivity was designed to construct a drug delivery system (DDS) focusing on controlled and sustainable capecitabine (CAPE) release. The pH-responsive characteristic was achieved by the functionalization of SiO2 substrate with 4-formylphenylboronic acid, accompanied by the introduction of fluorescein isothiocyanate for the visualization of the intracellular localization of the nanocarrier. Experimental results indicated that CAPE was adsorbed onto the drug carrier with satisfactory encapsulation efficiency. The controlled release of CAPE was realized based on the break of borate ester bonds between -B(OH)2 and cis-diols in the weakly acidic environment. Density functional theory computations were conducted to investigate the adsorption/release mechanism. Moreover, in vitro experiments confirmed the good biocompatibility and ideal inhibition efficiency of the developed DDS. The MIP can act as an eligible carrier and exhibits the great potential in practical applications for tumor treatment.

Preliminary Verification of the PHITS Code Applicability to Conversion Efficiency Calculation of Direct Charge Nuclear Battery

A direct charge nuclear battery, or DCNB, is one of the nuclear batteries based on direct energy conversion and is characterized by exceptional high voltage generation and conversion efficiency higher than other nuclear batteries. For studying potential applications of DCNB, a preliminary estimation of DCNB electrical power and performance is required; hence, conversion efficiency analysis is crucial. For preliminary verification purposes, an ideal DCNB conversion efficiency was calculated under the simplified electron transport model by using the general-purpose Monte Carlo particle transport calculation code PHITS. The result was compared with a reference experimental efficiency for a T-loaded parallel plate DCNB, and the resulting relative error was approximately 12%. Considering the relative error of 20% or less in DCNB conversion efficiency shown by preceding studies, the resulting error was comparable, and it was concluded that the PHITS code is sufficiently applicable to DCNB conversion efficiency analysis.

Identification and Construction of a Disulfidptosis-Mediated Diagnostic Model and Associated Immune Microenvironment of Osteoarthritis from the Perspective of PPPM.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of human disability. Despite receiving treatment, patients with the middle and late stage of OA have poor survival outcomes. Therefore, within the framework of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM), early personalized diagnosis of OA is particularly prominent. PPPM aims to accurately identify disease by integrating multiple omic techniques; however, the efficiency of currently available methods and biomarkers in predicting and diagnosing OA should be improved. Disulfidptosis, a novel programmed cell death mechanism and appeared in particular metabolic status, plays a mysterious characteristic in the occurrence and development of OA, which warrants further investigation. In this study, we integrated three public datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including 26 OA samples and 20 normal samples. Via a series of bioinformatic analysis and machine learning, we identified the diagnostic biomarkers and several subtypes of OA. Moreover, the expression of these biomarkers were verified in our in-house cohort and the single cell dataset. Three significant regulators of disulfidptosis (NCKAP1, OXSM, and SLC3A2) were identified through differential expression analysis and machine learning. And a nomogram constructed based on these three regulators exhibited ideal efficiency in predicting early- and late-stage OA. Furthermore, based on the expression of three regulators, we identified two disulfidptosis-related subtypes of OA with different infiltration of immune cells and personalized expression level of immune checkpoints. Notably, the expression of the three regulators was demonstrated in a single-cell RNA profile and verified in the synovial tissue in our in-house cohort including 6 OA patients and 6 normal people. Finally, an efficient disulfidptosis-mediated diagnostic model was constructed for OA, with the AUC value of 97.6923% in the training set and 93.3333% and 100% in two validation sets. Overall, with regard to PPPM, this study provided novel insights into the role of disulfidptosis regulators in the personalized diagnosis and treatment of OA.

Preparation of Medical 228Th-224Ra Radionuclide Generator Based on SiO2@TiO2 Microspheres.

224Ra (T1/2 = 3.63 d), an α-emitting radionuclide, holds significant promise in cancer endoradiotherapy. Current 224Ra-related therapy is still scarce because of the lack of reliable radionuclide supply. The 228Th-224Ra radionuclide generator can undoubtedly introduce continuous and sustainable availability of 224Ra for advanced nuclear medicine. However, conventional metal oxides for such radionuclide generators manifest suboptimal adsorption capacities for the parent nuclide, primarily attributable to their limited surface area. In this work, core-shell SiO2@TiO2 microspheres were proposed to develop as column materials for the construction of a 228Th-224Ra generator. SiO2@TiO2 microspheres were well prepared and systematically characterized, which has also been demonstrated to have good adsorption capacity to 228Th and very weak binding affinity toward 224Ra via simulated chemical separation. Upon introducing 228Th-containing solution onto the SiO2@TiO2 functional column, a 228Th-224Ra generator with excellent retention of the parent radionuclide and ideal elution efficiency of daughter radionuclide was obtained. The prepared 228Th-224Ra generator can produce 224Ra with high purity and medical usability in good elution efficiency (98.72%) even over five cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the core-shell mesoporous materials have been applied in a radionuclide generator, which can offer valuable insights for materials chemistry, radiochemical separation, and biological medicine.

A full solid-state conceptual magnetocaloric refrigerator based on hybrid regeneration

The environmental friendliness and high efficiency of magnetocaloric refrigeration make it a promising substitute for vapor compression refrigeration. However, the common use of heat transfer fluid in conventional passive magnetic regenerators (PMRs) and active magnetic regenerators (AMRs) makes only partial materials contribute to the regeneration process, which produces large regeneration loss and greatly limits the regeneration efficiency and refrigeration performance at high frequency. Herein, we propose a new conceptual hybrid magnetic regenerator (HMR) composed of multiple solid-state high thermal conductivity materials (HTCMs) and magnetocaloric materials (MCMs), in which both HTCM and MCM elements participate in the regeneration process. This novel working mode could greatly reduce regeneration losses caused by dead volume, pressure losses, and temperature nonuniformity in heat transfer substances to markedly improve regeneration efficiency at high working frequencies. Using the experimentally obtained adiabatic temperature change and magnetic work and with the help of finite element simulation, a maximum temperature of 26 K, a dramatically large cooling power of 8.3kW/kg, and a maximum ideal exergy efficiency of 54.2% are achieved at the working frequency of 10Hz for an ideal prototype device of a rotary HMR magnetocaloric refrigerator, which shows potential for achieving an integrative, advanced performance against current AMR/PMR systems.

Color design for cotton fabric by rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides on the fiber surface using organic solvent-assisted method

The coloration of cotton fabric with wild application has attracted extensive attention to cotton fiber, due to the efficient utilization of renewable industrial crops. However, the utilization of rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides with color is inadequate. Herein, a rapid strategy for constructing multi-color cotton fabric is designed to propose a rapid in-situ synthesis of metal oxides on the surface of cotton fiber in a high-temperature organic solvent system within 40 s. The colored metal oxide of cuprous oxide (Cu2O), tungsten trioxide (WO3), and cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4) are in-situ synthesis on the surface of cotton fibers by different precursor solutions. The bright-colored cotton fabrics are developed within 40 s as well as satisfactory K/S values of 7.53, 2.67, and 0.98, for Cu2O (Cu2O-Cotton), WO3 (WO3-Cotton), and CoMoO4 (CoMoO4-Cotton), respectively. The stable structure of the various colored cotton fabrics is demonstrated by level 3 of rubbing fastness and washing fastness, and acceptable air permeability. Moreover, assigned to the nature of particles, the colored cotton fabrics are fabricated with thermal stability and better ultraviolet protection factors. The rapid in-situ metal oxides with precursor solutions provide a time- and water-saving method to prepare colored cotton fabrics, which exhibits an ideal efficiency, and practical potential application for coloring and functionalization.

The critical roles of surface-bound radicals in the nickel phosphide/biochar-persulfate catalytic oxidation system for tetracycline removal: The synergistic catalysis between nickel phosphides and biochar

Exploring efficient and cost-effective heterogeneous persulfate (PS) oxidation systems is meaningful for addressing recalcitrant organic pollutants in wastewater. Herein, nickel phosphide/biochar (NixP/biochar) composite, with Ni12P5 as the predominant crystalline phase, is firstly synthesized utilizing a biomass phosphorus source, phytic acid (PA). NixP/biochar demonstrates outstanding catalytic capacity in activating PS for removing tetracycline (TC). At 1 mM PS, 0.15 g/L catalyst, and pH 7.0, 94.55 % of TC (20 mg/L) can be removed within 180 min, markedly superior to Fe-, Cu-, and Co-based phosphide/biochar composites. The NixP/biochar-PS system exhibits superior catalytic degradation efficiency (>94.00 %) against varying concentrations (1–20 mg/L) of TC and robustly resists interferences from complex water matrices, including sodium humate solution, surface water, anions (>90.00 %). The ideal catalytic efficiency is ascribed to surface-bound radicals (including SO4-• and •OH), with •O2– and 1O2 assisting in. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that due to the electron donations from Ni, P, and C, S2O82- may undergo homolysis to produce the surface-bound SO4-•, which may induce the generation of other reactive oxygen species (ROSs) through radical chain reactions. Besides, the electronic structures and work functions of NixP in NixP/biochar composites can be modulated by the biochar, enhancing the catalytic selectivity of NiP, Ni2P, and Ni12P5 with Ni as the electron-donating center, while diminishing that of P-centered Ni3P. These findings may serve as a reference for the theoretical study of Ni-based catalysts and the practical application of NixP in AOPs.

Fabrication, characterization and in vitro controlled-releasing of naringin nano-particles encapsulated by chitosan-carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan

Naringin (NR) is a prominent citrus bioflavonoid, but the application is greatly limited by its low bioavailability. To solve this problem, NR was encapsulated in carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan (CKGM) and chitosan (CS) to form core-shell nanoparticles (CS/CKGM-NR NPs). The physicochemical properties of CS/CKGM-NR NPs with ideal encapsulation efficiency of 82.70 ± 0.30% were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology and core-shell structure of CS/CKGM-NR NPs were observed to be successful formation (diameter 700 nm, +35 mV). Moreover, the releasing behavior of NR was evaluated in In Vitro digestion mode. The underlying mechanism indicated that carboxyl groups of CKGM were cross-linked with ammonium ion of CS by electrostatic interaction. Moreover, the releasing efficiency of NR in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, 20.62 ± 0.59%), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, 17.08 ± 0.01%) and simulated colon fluid (SCF, 18.82 ± 0.61%) were greatly lowered compared with that of naked NR (52.70 ± 0.01% in SGF, 46.42 ± 3.30% in SIF, 69.35 ± 12.63% in SCF). The findings implied that CS/CKGM-NR NPs were created in core-shell structure with controlled-releasing effect. This study provided new insight into the fabrication of CS/CKGM-NR NPs that could be developed as a potential nano-delivery with controlled-releasing effect.

Study on gasification reaction and energy conversion characteristics of the entrained flow coal gasification based on chemical kinetics simulation

Coal gasification that converts coal into syngas is a promising technology for efficient and clean utilization of coal. Current simulations of coal gasification are mostly based on equilibrium reactions, which cannot reflect the residence time and carbon conversion rate. In this paper, the reliable chemical kinetics simulation of the coal gasification is carried out considering the solid residence time and the effects of the main parameters on the gasification performance are analyzed. The results show that the higher the O2/coal ratio, the higher the carbon conversion rate until it reaches 100 %. However, an excessively high O2/coal ratio will reduce the cold gas efficiency. Therefore, the ideal cold gas efficiency is further proposed, revealing the energy saving potential of the system by reusing the ungasified coal. Based on this, the energy conversion characteristics of the combined cycle system were analyzed, showing that the effective conversion of coal to synthetic gas is the key to improving efficiency.

Rational construction of ZnFe2O4 decorated hollow carbon cloth towards effective electromagnetic wave absorption

As typical magnetic materials, ferrites and their composites play dominant roles in the design of high-performance electromagnetic wave (EW) absorber. Solvent thermal method is the most popular route for synthesizing ferrites, while systematical comparison research about the influence of reaction solvents of solvent thermal process on ferrite based material's EW absorption performance has rarely been carried out. Thus in this work, we adopted cotton fabric as raw material, and synthesized two kinds of zinc ferrite decorated hollow carbon cloth (CC@ZnFe2O4) composites through solvent thermal reaction where deionized water and ethylene glycol was adopted as reaction solvents, respectively. After comprehensive and detailed comparison of the structures and performances of these two ferrite composites, the CC@ZnFe2O4 synthesized in deionized water phase possesses an ideal optimal absorption efficiency for EW, that is the minimum reflection loss (RL min) of −46 dB, while the effective absorption bandwidth of CC@ZnFe2O4 composites synthesized in ethylene glycol phase is wider (4.9 GHz). The synergistic effect of impedance matching, interface polarization, magnetic resonance, and multiple reflections co-determined the ideal EW absorption performances of these two samples. The research can not only provide new guidance for the secondary utilization of waste textiles, but also become an important reference for the preparation of ferrite based high-performance EW absorbers through solvent thermal method.

Novel post-functionalized polymer microspheres containing capsaicin as reversed-phase chromatography stationary phase separation for hydrophilic compounds

Here, we created for the first time that highly stable polymer microspheres copolymerized with capsaicin derivative, divinyl benzene, and N-(Hydroxymethyl)acrylamide could be efficient for reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) by using a simple “one-pot cooking” method, which had the potential to be produced in large quantities. Then, the spheres were post-functionalized with two different monomers, N-vinyl formamide and 4-acrylomorpholine by double coating, which had ideal mechanical strength and efficiency as stationary phase. In order to reach best separation condition, the effects of buffer concentration, pH, column temperature, and mobile phase polarity on the retention rate were studied. Specifically, the interaction mechanism showed that the stationary phase had hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction with the water-soluble vitamins. It is of significant interest that all columns had excellent precision and accuracy (RSD < 4 %). Taken together, this study played a specific role in promoting the development of a new reverse-phase mode for separating hydrophilic compounds.

Sulfidation-Induced Surface Local Electronic and Atomic Structures in a Silver Catalyst Enables Silicon Photocathode for Selective and Efficient Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction.

Converting CO2 to value-added chemicals through a photoelectrochemical (PEC) system is a creative approach toward renewable energy utilization and storage. However, the rational design of appropriate catalysts while being effectively integrated with semiconductor photoelectrodes remains a considerable challenge for achieving single-carbon products with high efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate a novel sulfidation-induced strategy for in situ grown sulfide-derived Ag nanowires on a Si photocathode (denoted as SD-Ag/Si) based on the standard crystalline Si solar cells. Such an exquisite design of the SD-Ag/Si photocathode not only provides a large electrochemically active surface area but also endows abundant active sites of Ag2S/Ag interfaces and high-index Ag facets for PEC CO production. The optimized SD-Ag/Si photocathode displays an ideal CO Faradic efficiency of 95.2% and an onset potential of +0.26 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, ascribed to the sulfidation-induced synergistic effect of the surface atomic arrangement and electronic structure in Ag catalysts that promote charge transfer, facilitate CO2 adsorption and activation, and suppress hydrogen evolution reaction. This sulfidation-induced strategy represents a scalable approach for designing high-performance catalysts for electrochemical and PEC devices with efficient CO2 utilization.