Inherent Stability Research Articles

Efficient Inverted Perovskite Photovoltaics Through Surface State Manipulation.

Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered as the most promising avenue for the commercialization of PSCs due to their potential inherent stability. However, suboptimal interface contacts between electron transport layer (ETL) (such as C60) and the perovskite absorbing layer within inverted PSCs always result in reduced efficiency and poor stability. Herein, a surface state manipulation strategy has been developed by employing a highly electronegative 4-fluorophenethylamine hydrochloride (p-F-PEACl) to effectively address the issue of poor interface contacts in the inverted PSCs. The p-F-PEACl demonstrates a robust interaction with perovskite film through bonding of amino group and Cl- with I- and Pb2+ ions in the perovskite, respectively. As such, the surface defects of perovskite film can be significantly reduced, leading to suppressed non-radiative recombination. Moreover, p-F-PEACl also plays a dual role in enhancing the surface potential and improving energy-level alignment at the interfaces between the perovskite and C60 carrier transport layer, which directly contributes to efficient charge extraction. Finally, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of devices increases from 1.104 V to 1.157V, leading to an overall efficiency improvement from 22.34% to 24.78%. Furthermore, the p-F-PEACl-treated PSCs also display excellent stability.

Combined green analytical principles and quality by design for ultraperformance liquid chromatography analytical method development, the characterization and in-silico toxicity prediction of Ixazomib degradation products using mass spectrometry

Ixazomib citrate (IC) is the first oral selective proteosome inhibitor for treating multiple myeloma. IC is prone to degradation due to its oxidative deboronation and the amide bond, affecting patient health, drug quality, and efficacy. The stability of IC is crucial during drug development as it guides the inherent stability of the molecule, its degradation pathways, packing materials, and formulation development. Following the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q1A (R2) and Q1B, a stability study were performed for both solution and solid-state stress studies. Under oxidative and alkaline conditions, 3 degradation products (DPs) were identified, separated, and method-validated according to ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. From the Design Expert statistical tool, the Central Composite Design was used to optimize the final analytical method conditions, where the p-values for the model are < 0.05%. Green analytical chemistry has significantly reduced the use of hazardous organic solvents without losing chromatographic performance. The green separation and quantification of DPs and IC on Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) using an Inert-Sustain C8 (50×3.0) mm 2.0 µm column with gradient elution using 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.0) and ethanol at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min and detection at 230 nm. The results of green assessment tools like GAPI, AGREE, and Analytical eco-scale found that the method is excellent for the greenness of utilizing ethanol as a solvent, shorter runtime, and lesser waste. The method was validated as per ICH Q2 guidelines, and the results found it is sensitive, precise, accurate, robust, and linear for its intended use. The method is suitable for quantifying IC and its DPs from 2.0 to 150 µg/mL with R2 values of 0.9996 with a detection limit of 1.0 µg/mL. The plausible degradation structures and pathways of DPs were outlined using tandem mass spectra employed on LC-QTOF-MS/MS in both ESI positive and negative modes. The mechanistic explanation for establishing DPs was explained in detail. The ADMET Predictor™ software predicted the physicochemical and ADMET properties. The toxicity profile reveals that DP2 and DP3 are teratogenic, while D1 and D3 show phospholipidosis.

An In Situ Gelled Polymer Electrolyte to Stabilize Lithium–Air Batteries

AbstractGel polymer‐based lithium batteries exhibit a unique combination of advantageous properties, including the favorable interfacial contact characteristic of liquid‐state batteries and the inherent stability of solid‐state batteries. For Li–air batteries operated in the semi‐open atmosphere, implementing in situ synthesized gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) is effective in mitigating the environment‐induced challenges. In this study, a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)‐based GPE in situ initiated by the toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI) and 1,4‐benzenediboronic acid (BDBA) is designed to enable the stable operation of lithium–air batteries. The integration of in situ polymerization and polyvinyl alcohol's functional group engineering not only brings benefits to the interfacial contact and electrochemical stability of the battery but also mitigates the moisture sensitivity and volatility of the DMSO electrolyte in the ambient environment. In addition, the GPE can promote the formation of a robust protection film on the lithium surface. As a result, the designed GPE makes the batteries fully leverage their outstanding cycling stability in the ambient environment (241 cycles at 500 mA g−1 and 1000 mAh g−1). Moreover, an optimized Li–air pouch cell structure incorporating the GPE achieves a boasted energy density of 757.5 Wh kg−1, providing a significant technical pathway to bring Li–O2 batteries to practical Li–air batteries.

Dynamic stabilization of ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the presence of a temporally modulated laser pulse.

This paper presents a numeric study of the dynamic stabilization of the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability (ARTI) in the presence of a temporally modulated laser pulse. The results show that the specially modulated laser produces a dynamically stabilized configuration near the ablation front. The physical features of the relevant laser-driven parameters in the unperturbed ablative flows have been analyzed to reveal the inherent stability mechanism underlying the dynamically stabilized configuration. A single-mode ARTI for the modulated laser pulse is first compared with that of the unmodulated laser pulse. The results show that the modulated laser stabilizes the surface perturbations and reduces the linear growth rate and enhancement of the cutoff wavelength. For multimode perturbations, the dynamic stabilization effect of the modulated laser pulse contributes to suppress the small-scale structure and reduce the width of the mixing layer. Moreover, the results show that the stabilization effect of the modulated laser pulse decreases as the maximum wavelength increases.

Multi-derivative hybrid block methods for singular initial value problems with application

This study presents a novel class of multi-derivative integrating techniques designed to effectively address singular initial value problems. This study not only delves into the application of these methods but also explores their potential in solving parabolic partial differential equations. We introduce the underlying mathematical framework of the multi-derivative method, derived from power series polynomials. This approach encompasses the strategic incorporation of collocation and interpolation techniques, utilizing a combination of hybrid and non-hybrid points within the problem domain. This multi-derivatives method combines the advantages of derivative-based methods, which offer high accuracy, and finite difference methods, which provide simplicity and stability. By utilizing multiple derivative approximations at various points within the problem domain, the multi-derivative method effectively handles the singularities and captures the discountinuity of the solutions. Furthermore, our investigation includes comprehensive qualitative analysis, demonstrating the method's inherent stability, consistency, and convergence when applied to practical problems. The numerical results obtained through the application of the multi-derivative method attest to its reliability and efficiency, particularly in tackling singular and stiff problems.

The wear and kinematics of two medially stabilised total knee replacement systems

BackgroundMedially stabilised total knee replacement systems aim to provide a more natural feeling knee replacement by providing increased stability through flexion. The aim of this study was to compare the kinematics and wear of two different medially stabilised total knee replacement systems in an experimental simulation study. The Medial Rotation Knee™ system (MRK) is an early medially stabilised knee (>20 years clinical success); the SAIPH® knee system being a more modern and refined, bone conserving evolution of the original design with a larger size range. MethodsThree SAIPH and three MRK total knee replacements (MatOrtho Ltd, UK) were investigated. The study was performed on a knee simulator with load controlled input kinematic conditions (ISO 14243–1). 6 million cycles of simulation were carried out with the wear of the UHMWPE tibial components assessed gravimetrically. The resulting anterior-posterior translation and tibial rotation position was measured throughout the study. ResultsThe mean UHMWPE wear rate was 0.57 ± 0.71 and 1.24 ± 2.0 mm3/million cycles for SAIPH and MRK total knee replacement systems respectively with no significant difference in wear (p = 0.24). Analysis of simulator output kinematics showed a larger range of anterior-posterior motion for SAIPH total knee replacements compared to MRK. The magnitude of tibial rotation was low for both knee replacement systems. ConclusionThe small magnitude of anterior-posterior displacement and tibial rotation motion demonstrates the inherent stability of this knee system design offered by the constrained medial compartment. This study shows the potential for medially stabilised knee systems as a low polyethylene surface wear solution.

Polarization-based all-optical logic gates using diffractive neural networks

Optical logic operations are an essential part of optical computing. The inherent stability and low susceptibility of polarization to the external environment make it a suitable choice for acting as the logical state in computational tasks. Traditional polarization-based optical logic devices often rely on complex cascading structures to implement multiple logic gates. In this work, by leveraging the framework of deep diffractive neural networks (D2NN), we proposed a uniform approach to designing polarization-encoded all-optical logic devices with simpler and more flexible structures. We have implemented AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and NOR gates, as well as High-order Selector and Low-order Selector. These polarization-based all-optical logic devices using D2NN offer passive nature, stability, and high extinction ratio features, paving the way for a broader exploration of optical logic computing in the future.

Steering in-situ low-voltage phase transition from spinel to layered cathode for high-performance zinc-ion batteries

ZnV2O4, as a ternary transition metal oxides (TOMs), has garnered significant attention as a high-performance cathode for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) primarily due to its high theoretical capacity and abundance. However, its densely-packed lattice structure and strong coulomb interactions with the guest Zn2+ severely restrict the exposure of active sites and impede the diffusion kinetics. Herein, we propose an innovative in-situ low-voltage phase transition strategy and successfully trigger thorough phase transition of spinel-structured ZnV2O4 to layered-structured Zn3(OH)2V2O7⋅2H2O (ZnVOHNSs). In-depth mechanism analysis reveals that a thorough and efficient transition reaction necessitates meticulous control of the external driving force, reaction kinetics, and the reactant. The activated ZnVOHNSs with large lattice spacing and abundant oxygen vacancies provides an unobstructed pathway for accelerated ion diffusion and abundant exposed active sites for ions storage. Moreover, the inherent structure stability of ZnVOHNSs ensures exceptional reaction stability and reversibility during the Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation process. Benefiting from these merits, the activated ZnVOHNSs cathode exhibits high reversible capacity and extraordinary rate capability (achieving 369 and 233 mAh g−1 at 0.1 and 20 A g−1, respectively), which exceeds most reported cathode materials in ZIBs. This work unveils the critical phase transition mechanism and offers insight into electrode design for advanced batteries.

Assessment of the impact of direct in vitro PFAS treatment on mouse spermatozoa.

Poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic environmentally persistent chemicals. Despite the phaseout of specific PFAS, their inherent stability has resulted in ubiquitous and enduring environmental contamination. PFAS bioaccumulation has been reported globally with omnipresence in most populations wherein they have been associated with a range of negative health effects, including strong associations with increased instances of testicular cancer and reductions in overall semen quality. To elucidate the biological basis of such effects, we employed an acute in vitro exposure model in which the spermatozoa of adult male mice were exposed to a cocktail of PFAS chemicals at environmentally relevant concentrations. We hypothesized that direct PFAS treatment of spermatozoa would induce reactive oxygen species generation and compromise the functional profile and DNA integrity of exposed cells. Despite this, post-exposure functional testing revealed that short-term PFAS exposure (3 h) did not elicit a cytotoxic effect, nor did it overtly influence the functional profile, capacitation rate, or the in vitro fertilization ability of spermatozoa. PFAS treatment of spermatozoa did, however, result in a significant delay in the developmental progression of the day 4 pre-implantation embryos produced in vitro. This developmental delay could not be attributed to a loss of sperm DNA integrity, DNA damage, or elevated levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. When considered together, the results presented here raise the intriguing prospect that spermatozoa exposed to a short-term PFAS exposure period potentially harbor an alternate stress signal that is delivered to the embryo upon fertilization. PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam. Such extensive use has led to concerning levels of environmental contamination and reports of associations with a spectrum of negative health outcomes, including testicular cancer and reduced semen quality. To investigate the effects of PFAS on male reproduction, we incubated mouse sperm in a cocktail of nine PFAS at environmentally relevant concentrations before checking for a range of functional outcomes. This treatment strategy was not toxic to the sperm; it did not kill them or reduce their motility, nor did it affect their fertilization capacity. However, we did observe developmental delays among pre-implantation embryos created using PFAS-treated sperm. Such findings raise the intriguing prospect that PFAS-exposed sperm harbor a form of stress signal that they deliver to the embryo upon fertilization.

Recent Advances in Hydrogenation of CO2 to CO with Heterogeneous Catalysts Through the RWGS Reaction.

With the continuous increase in CO2 emissions, primarily from the combustion of coal and oil, the ecosystem faces a significant threat. Therefore, as an effective method to minimize the issue, the Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction which converts CO2 towards CO attracts much attention, is an environmentally-friendly method to mitigate climate change and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the inherent thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of CO2 is a big challenge under mild conditions. In addition, it remains another fundamental challenge in RWGS reaction owing to CO selectivity issue caused by CO2 further hydrogenation towards CH4 . Up till now, a series of catalysis systems have been developed for CO2 reduction reaction to produce CO. Herein, the research progress of the well-performed heterogeneous catalysts for the RWGS reaction were summarized, including the catalyst design, catalytic performance and reaction mechanism. This review will provide insights into efficient utilization of CO2 and promote the development of RWGS reaction.

Study on the Stability of Cut Slopes Caused by Rural Housing Construction in Red Bed Areas: A Case Study of Wanyuan City, China

The red beds that are widely distributed in hilly areas in eastern Sichuan Province are inevitable rock and soil masses in engineering construction. In order to obtain a larger building area, engineering slope cutting is quite common in red bed hilly areas. Engineering slope cutting destroys the inherent stability of a slope and causes geological disasters. In order to practice the concept of sustainable development and explore ways to develop and utilize land resources reasonably and reduce the possibility of geological disasters caused by engineering slope cutting, this paper took the slope cutting sites caused by rural housing construction in the red bed area of Wanyuan City as research objects. The internal and external factors affecting the stability of the cut slopes were summarized through a field investigation, and two typical slopes were selected for analysis. Sampling and indoor tests were conducted to obtain the geotechnical parameters. Geo Studio software (2018 R2) was employed to establish numerical models, simulate the stress and strain distributions, and compute stability coefficients under different slope cutting conditions at the same time. Based on field investigations and numerical simulations, the three main failure modes of shallow landslides caused by slope cutting were summarized, and the evolution process of slope landform accelerated by slope cutting activities was deduced. In an engineering application, the functional relationship between the cutting height and the stability coefficient was fitted. It was found that the critical cut height values of soil slope were 6.3 m, 6.2 m, 5.2 m, and 2.6 m at slope of 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°, respectively; the critical cut height values of rock–soil mixed slope were 9.3 m, 6.5 m, 5.9 m, and 2.2 m at slope of 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°, respectively. The research findings can be used to prevent and manage the hazards caused by slope cutting in this study area.

Catalytic One‐Pot Reductive Amination of Carboxylic Acids

AbstractThe broad applications of primary alkyl amines in various fields have spurred extensive interests in synthetic organic chemistry. Recently, the reductive amination of carboxylic acids has become an attractive and practical strategy for synthesizing primary alkyl amines, due to their wide availability and bench stability. However, the inherent stability and higher oxidation state of carboxylic acids render this new strategy with new challenges. This Concept provides a summary of the recent advancements in the reductive aminations of carboxylic acids, specifically focusing on the catalytic tactics, underlying mechanisms, and applications in the synthesis of valuable products.

Shaping immunity against infectious diseases with multivalent DNA vaccines.

Immunization has dramatically transformed human and animal health. Since its earliest days, vaccination has served as a fundamental strategy for infectious disease prevention, providing population-level coverage for childhood diseases and seasonal infections, and serving as a rapid response to pandemic pathogens. Yet, there is continued circulation of endemic, emerging, and reemerging pathogens for which there are no licensed prophylactic measures. The successes of nucleic acid technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplified in the first two licensed mRNA vaccines [1] and the first DNA vaccine receiving emergency use authorization for human use [2], are reinvigorating vaccine development to tackle this urgent unmet need. The inherent stability of DNA offers advantageous features such as thermostability and extended shelf life. These characteristics are pivotal for transport and storage in resource-constrained environments, like low and middle-income countries. Furthermore, the ability to encode large transgenes and well-established modular assembly pipelines are key attributes of DNA-based platforms. This versatility extends to combination strategies of individual DNA vaccines as a multivalent drug product. Multivalent synthetic DNA vaccines are therefore emerging as part of the exciting nucleic acid-based vaccine landscape as a strategy to induce robust and durable immunity in diverse global populations.

Tannic acid's role as both char former and blowing agent in epoxy‐based intumescent fire retardants

AbstractA novel intumescent fire‐retardant coating formulation has been developed by taking advantage of the inherent stability of large cyclic polyphenols (e.g., tannic acid) to remove the need for a dedicated blowing agent, specifically melamine. Cone calorimetry data indicate a lower fire growth rate (FIGRA) (5.0 ± 1.3 vs. 2.4 ± 0.7 kW m−2 s−1) upon removal of melamine. Total smoke release (TSR) increases following this removal (178 ± 21.4 vs. 305 ± 13.2 m2 m−2), which indicates the role of tannic acid in gas generation. Thermogravimetric analysis resulted in similar residue yield from the examined systems (36 ± 1.3% vs. 34 ± 1.7%) despite removal of a dedicated blowing agent. These results indicate that tannic acids multistep degradation allows it to behave as both a char forming and blowing agent in intumescent systems. The observed reduction of acid loading between the melamine‐tannin system and the melamine‐free composition (15.6% vs. 10.6% wt. ammonium polyphosphate, respectively) is also significant. Tannic acid occurs in agricultural waste products, which is encouraging for the pursuit of sustainable chemistry and addressing potential adverse health effects in humans combined with reducing the overall phosphorous loading.Highlights Melamine was removed from the intumescent without compromising stability. The resulting intumescent char was stronger despite less expansion. Tannic acid is attributed as both the charring and blowing agent. The tannin‐based coating requires a lower acid loading for similar performance.

Breaking Through the Luminescence Stability Bottleneck of Oxyfluoride Phosphor for Sun‐Like Led Lighting

AbstractSunlight like optical source is the primary objective of healthy lighting. In contrast, achieving full spectrum lighting with high stability remains challenging, mostly due to the scarcity of purple chip‐pumped cyan‐green phosphors and their inherent emission instability. In this study, a novel strategy is presented that realizes simultaneous enhancements in both humidity stability (increased by 2.9 times) and luminescence quantum efficiency (enhanced by 1.5 times) for cyan‐emitting Sr3AlO4F:Ce3+ phosphor by employing Si/N doping. Theoretical modelling shows that these improvements are attributed to the regulation of energy bands and structural rigidity as well as modulation of the ionicity of chemical bonds. Furthermore, blending the other violet chip‐pumped phosphors, sun‐like LEDs that accurately replicate solar spectra in different times of the day with an optimal color rendering index of 99 is successfully engineered. Moreover, the universality of this strategy on other oxyfluoride phosphors has also been validated. This groundbreaking outcome offers a practical solution to overcome the inherent luminescence stability limitations in oxyfluoride phosphors, thus catalyzing the application of these cyan‐green candidates in sun‐like LED lighting.

Extracellular Vesicles for Drug Delivery and Theranostics In Vivo.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-enclosed nanopouches generated by all cells and are abundant in various body fluids. Depending on the parent and recipient cells, EVs exchange diverse constituents including nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and metabolites. Morphologically, EVs suffer from low zeta potentials and short circulation times, but they also offer low intrinsic immunogenicity and inherent stability. Some crucial factors for the effective clinical application of EVs include controlling immune system clearance, achieving the large-scale production of EVs with efficient quality control, and determining the dominant mechanism of the in vivo action of EVs. In this Perspective, we shed light on how these intriguing nano-objects are utilized in cellular imaging and drug delivery for disease therapeutics. We also discuss potential strategies for overcoming the associated limitations.

Comprehensive Insights and Advancements in Gel Catalysts for Electrochemical Energy Conversion.

Continuous worldwide demands for more clean energy urge researchers and engineers to seek various energy applications, including electrocatalytic processes. Traditional energy-active materials, when combined with conducting materials and non-active polymeric materials, inadvertently leading to reduced interaction between their active and conducting components. This results in a drop in active catalytic sites, sluggish kinetics, and compromised mass and electronic transport properties. Furthermore, interaction between these materials could increase degradation products, impeding the efficiency of the catalytic process. Gels appears to be promising candidates to solve these challenges due to their larger specific surface area, three-dimensional hierarchical accommodative porous frameworks for active particles, self-catalytic properties, tunable electronic and electrochemical properties, as well as their inherent stability and cost-effectiveness. This review delves into the strategic design of catalytic gel materials, focusing on their potential in advanced energy conversion and storage technologies. Specific attention is given to catalytic gel material design strategies, exploring fundamental catalytic approaches for energy conversion processes such as the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and more. This comprehensive review not only addresses current developments but also outlines future research strategies and challenges in the field. Moreover, it provides guidance on overcoming these challenges, ensuring a holistic understanding of catalytic gel materials and their role in advancing energy conversion and storage technologies.

Diversification of Acrylamide Polymers via Direct Transamidation of Unactivated Tertiary Amides.

Postpolymerization modification offers a versatile strategy for synthesizing complex macromolecules, yet modifying acrylamide polymers like poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) is notoriously challenging due to the inherent stability and low reactivity of amide bonds. In this study, we unveil a novel approach for the direct transamidation of PDMA, leveraging recent advances in the transamidation of unactivated tertiary amide substrates. By exploiting photoiniferter polymerization, we extended this direct transamidation approach to ultrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) PDMA, showcasing the unprecedented postpolymerization modification of synthetic polymers exceeding 106 g/mol. We also designed acrylamide copolymers comprising both the moderately reactive N-methyl-N-phenyl tertiary amides, along with the less reactive, fully alkyl-substituted N,N-dimethyl amides inherent to PDMA. This disparate reactivity enabled a sequential, chemoselective transamidation by initially targeting the more reactive pendant aryl amides with less nucleophilic aromatic amines, and second, transamidating the untouched N,N-dimethyl amide moieties with more nucleophilic aliphatic amines, yielding a uniquely diversified acrylamide copolymer. This work not only broadens the scope of postpolymerization modification strategies by pioneering direct transamidation of unactivated amides but also provides a robust platform for the design of intricate macromolecules, particularly in the realm of UHMW polymers.

Hierarchical nanoassembly of Ni3S2-MoS2 interconnected with CeO2 as a highly remarkable hybrid electrocatalyst for enhancing water oxidation and energy storage

Emerging earth-abundant multifunctional electrocatalysts with highly efficient performance are important substitutes for replacing the expensive noble metal catalysts to attain sustainable electrochemical water splitting and supercapacitor applications. Therefore, we developed a well-interconnected Ni3S2-MoS2-CeO2 (NMC) nanostructure as a multifunctional electrocatalyst for the utilization in dual purposes, mainly energy conversion and storage applications. In alkaline conditions, the NMC-1 exhibits remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performances of lower over potential (206.03 mV at 10 mA/cm2) coupled with the lowest Tafel slope (40.19 mV·dec−1). The NMC-1 further shows excellent stability, where the durability of the electrocatalyst was verified after a considerable number of cyclic voltammetry (5000 cycles) and chronopotentiometry. The coexistence of the Ce3+ and Ce4+ oxidation states generates a favorable environment for surface oxygen ion exchange. The inherent stability of CeO2 facilitates a strong and intimate electrochemical coupling with NiOOH. This synergistic interaction between CeO2, MoS2, and NiOOH further enhances the performance of the catalytic system. Notably, the hybrid structure of NMC-1 exhibited superior supercapacitor performance (417 F/g at 1 A/g). The fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor device showed efficient performance by attaining a high energy density of 4.84 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 72 W kg−1. According to the intrinsic properties of each material in NMC and the existence of synergy owing to the outstanding interfacial contact between the compounds in NMC, reasonably abundant surface-active sites are available for attaining rapid charge transfer, enhancing the inherent activity and durability of the catalyst, which is the key reason for better OER and supercapacitor performance. This study provides useful understandings into the strategic design of advanced multifunctional electrode materials for next-generation applications.

In Situ, Rapid Synthesis of Carbon-Loaded High Density and Ultrasmall High Entropy Oxide Nanoparticles as Efficient Electrocatalysts.

High entropy materials offer almost unlimited catalytic possibilities due to their variable composition, unique structure, and excellent electrocatalytic performance. However, due to the strong tendency of nanoparticles to coarsen and agglomerate, it is still a challenge to synthesize nanoparticles using simple methods to precisely control the morphology and size of the nanoparticles in large quantities, and their large-scale application is limited by high costs and low yields. Herein, a series of high-entropy oxides (HEOs) nanoparticles with high-density and ultrasmall size (<5nm) loaded on carbon nanosheets with large quantities are prepared by Joule-heating treatment of gel precursors in a short period of time (≈60s). Among them, the prepared (FeCoNiRuMn)3O4-x catalyst shows the best electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction, with low overpotentials (230mV @10mAcm-2, 270mV @100mAcm-2), small Tafel slope (39.4mVdec-1), and excellent stability without significant decay at 100mAcm-2 after 100h. The excellent performance of (FeCoNiRuMn)3O4-x can be attributed to the synergistic effect of multiple elements and the inherent structural stability of high entropy systems. This study provides a more comprehensive design idea for the preparation of efficient and stable high entropy catalysts.