Interfacial Complex Research Articles

Investigations on interfacial complex dynamic processes of Er-BiFeO3 based perovskite solar cell heterostructures

In the present investigations, we critically examine the response of thickness variation of the photoactive layer on I-V characteristics of the final optimized Er-doped BiFeO3 (Er-BF) designed devices (Er: 0 %, 4 %, 8 %, and 12 %). The recombination rate, energy band diagrams obtained at a final simulated thickness of the absorber and at the back contact metal work function were investigated for the purpose of barrier formation analysis. To establish the presence of deep defects in the perovskite based heterostructure devices, the measurements of respective designed devices related to capacitance–voltage (C-V), Mott-Schottky (MS) (1/C2-V), and conductance-voltage (G-V) characteristics were thoroughly performed and examined. The change in capacitance (or dielectric constant) induced thermally in the respective designed devices was investigated with the temperature-dependent capacitance-frequency (C-f) characteristics performed under the illumination and dark conditions, respectively. Further, the voltage dependent Nyquist plots were studied. Overall, this work provides critical insights into the impedance response of doped BiFeO3 absorber-based designed perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with cell structure FTO/ZnO/Er-BF/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au. It further facilitates the understanding of various complex electrical processes taking place at the different interfaces during the device operations which are significant for the better optimization and play crucial role in enhancing the overall photovoltaic performance of PSCs.

Multi-strategy preparation of para-aramid paper with high interfacial bond strength

Poor interfacial bond strength and complex processing limit the widely use of para-aramid paper. Here, the meta-poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (MPPTA) was obtained by introducing poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) segments into the PPTA rigid molecular chains via secondary polymerization. The rigid-soft molecular structure not only gives MPPTA excellent thermal stability, but also enables the MPPTA fibrids to bond to the PPTA chopped fibers by plastic deformation during hot pressing. The tensile strength of Precipitated-MPPTA-paper (P-MPPTA-p) was increased by 20.3 % compared to Precipitated-PMIA-paper (P-PMIA-p). And the interfacial bond strength of aramid paper can be further improved by combining MPPTA solution and PPTA nonwoven fabric through a simpler and more efficient solution casting method, which together with more moderate hot pressing conditions can lead to the tensile strength of aramid paper up to 109.1 MPa, as well as exhibiting higher resistance to tearing and heat aging. The present study provides a new idea for the efficient preparation of para-aramid paper with excellent comprehensive performance.

Photocatalytic Reactions over TiO2-Based Interfacial Charge Transfer Complexes

The present review is related to the novel approach for improvement of the optical properties of wide bandgap metal oxides, in particular TiO2, based on the formation of the inorganic–organic hybrids that display absorption in the visible spectral range due to the formation of interfacial charge transfer (ICT) complexes. We outlined the property requirements of TiO2-based ICT complexes for efficient photo-induced catalytic reactions, emphasizing the simplicity of the synthetic procedure, the possibility of the fine-tuning of the optical properties supported by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the formation of a covalent linkage between the inorganic and organic components of hybrids, i.e., the nature of the interface. In addition, this study provides a comprehensive insight into the potential applications of TiO2-based ICT complexes in photo-driven catalytic reactions (water splitting and degradation of organic molecules), including the identification of the reactive species that participate in photocatalytic reactions by the spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Considering the practically limitless number of combinations between the inorganic and organic components capable of forming oxide-based ICT complexes and with the knowledge that this research area is unexplored, we are confident it is worth studying, and we emphasized some further perspectives.

Assembly mechanism of egg white protein-carboxymethyl cellulose based on surface patch binding effect: Interfacial complexation regulates high internal phase emulsion stability

Surface patch binding (SPB)-based protein-polysaccharide assembly complexes are a feasible and eco-friendly way to generate emulsifiers, and their unique interfacial complexation, formed post-emulsification, makes emulsion stability control effortless. We explored the assembly of egg white protein (EWP) with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at varying degrees of substitution (DS). The results demonstrated that EWP, functioning as polyampholytes, assembled with CMC through SPB, driven by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The higher DS improved the surface hydrophobicity of assembly complexes, facilitating their adsorption and rearrangement at the oil-water interface, which led to superior interfacial complexation. These interfacial complexes developed stronger steric hindrances that curbed droplet aggregation, boosted droplet friction, and minimized relative displacement, thus providing high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) multi-scenario stability. This study offers an effective strategy for achieving customized material properties through targeted modulation of interfacial complexation.

Boosting visible-light response for the complete decomposition of volatile organic compounds on the Cu-oxide deposited WO3 photocatalyst by the synergistic effects of TiO2

The degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by photocatalytic systems is the most practical strategy due to its cost performance, simplicity, and environmental sustainability. To address such issues, the photocatalytic activities of tungsten trioxide (WO3) were developed by the deposition of various cocatalysts. In particular, the Cu-oxide (CuO/Cu2O)-deposited WO3 (Cu-WO3) photocatalyst could efficiently decompose acetic acid and acetaldehyde into CO2 under visible-light irradiation, although it exhibited low activity for the decomposition of benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX). Furthermore, a composite Cu-WO3/TiO2 photocatalytic system, which was fabricated by the simple physical mixing of Cu-WO3 with TiO2, was found to exhibit unprecedented reactivity for the complete decomposition of persistent BTX pollutants into CO2 under visible light irradiation. The synergistic effects of Cu-WO3 and the interfacial surface complex (ISC) formed by toluene-adsorbed TiO2 contribute to the efficient visible light response by excitation up to around 600 nm. The reaction mechanism for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity by the Cu-WO3/TiO2 composite photocatalyst is examined in this study.

Paths of Least Resistance: Unconventional Effector Secretion by Fungal and Oomycete Plant Pathogens.

Effector secretion by different routes mediates the molecular interplay between host plant and pathogen, but mechanistic details in eukaryotes are sparse. This may limit the discovery of new effectors that could be utilized for improving host plant disease resistance. In fungi and oomycetes, apoplastic effectors are secreted via the conventional endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi pathway, while cytoplasmic effectors are packaged into vesicles that bypass Golgi in an unconventional protein secretion (UPS) pathway. In Magnaporthe oryzae, the Golgi bypass UPS pathway incorporates components of the exocyst complex and a t-SNARE, presumably to fuse Golgi bypass vesicles to the fungal plasma membrane. Upstream, cytoplasmic effector mRNA translation in M. oryzae requires the efficient decoding of AA-ending codons. This involves the modification of wobble uridines in the anticodon loop of cognate tRNAs and fine-tunes cytoplasmic effector translation and secretion rates to maintain biotrophic interfacial complex integrity and permit host infection. Thus, plant-fungal interface integrity is intimately tied to effector codon usage, which is a surprising constraint on pathogenicity. Here, we discuss these findings within the context of fungal and oomycete effector discovery, delivery, and function in host cells. We show how cracking the codon code for unconventional cytoplasmic effector secretion in M. oryzae has revealed AA-ending codon usage bias in cytoplasmic effector mRNAs across kingdoms, including within the RxLR-dEER motif-encoding sequence of a bona fide Phytophthora infestans cytoplasmic effector, suggesting its subjection to translational speed control. By focusing on recent developments in understanding unconventional effector secretion, we draw attention to this important but understudied area of host-pathogen interactions. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Enhanced comprehension of the cross-scale forming mechanism in CF/PEEK resistance welding: Analysis of temperature gradients and meso–microscopic phase transitions

Resistance welding technology is an effective solution for connecting thermoplastic composites. However, limited research on non-uniform distribution of interfacial temperature and complex evolution mechanism of phase-change molding hinders its application. This reliance on traditional experimental and trial-and-error methods severely impedes its development. Therefore, this study employed a novel cross-scale numerical simulation method, being applied for the first time in the field of resistance welding for elucidating the underlying mechanism of joint formation through multi-component phase transformation. The constructed model accurately represented the transient heat transfer of a realistic wire mesh structure in three dimensions, while incorporating complex gradient effects arising from both spatial and temporal variations in heating element temperature due to air interference. Further, melting, flow, and consolidation behavior of the resin matrix in resistance welding of carbon fiber/polyetheretherketone (CF/PEEK) thermoplastic composite was investigated herein at a mesoscopic scale. To accomplish this objective, a three-phase flow spatial forming and evolution model for resistance welding was developed at the mesoscopic scale by integrating principles from fluid dynamics. Interestingly, introduction of an air phase reinstated the spatial voids formation and flow in resistance welding, providing robust evidence for the initiation mechanism of internal defects. Moreover, this study revealed variations in the melting mode of PEEK resin across different regions within the weld and highlighted distinct distributions of voids resulting from uneven heat transfer. The interfacial phenomenon and flow diffusion mechanism between components in resistance welding tests were further verified and discussed through analyzing scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy results. Temporal and spatial correlation in void distribution within the welding zone was observed, which was found to be consistent with simulation results. Specifically, with the progress of the welding process, air near the wire mesh gradually dispersed into the laminate, with significantly more voids at weld seam edges than in central regions. This research methodology based on stepwise scale reduction offers a promising avenue for investigating resistance welding and other connection forming applications, in particular, within the context of engineering underlying logical behavior.

Improving interfacial magnetoelastic effect and complex permeability of FeSiAl alloy powders for broadband decimeter-wave absorption via Cr doping

This study showcases the interfacial magnetoelastic effect observed in flaky FeSiAl alloy powder absorbents, aimed at enhancing permeability in the decimeter-wave band for better absorption performance through Cr doping via wet ball-milling and subsequent annealing processes. The wet ball milling process facilitates the formation of a lamellar structure by inducing slip along shear stress in DO3 and α-Fe nanocrystals. During annealing, the introduced Cr element partially impedes the transition from the α-Fe phase to the DO3 phase, thereby amplifying the difference in magnetostrictive coefficients between these phases. Consequently, the flaky FeSiAlCr powders exhibit notably increased initial permeability and resonance frequency, particularly around 3 GHz, owing to domain rotation in the DO3 phase. In comparison to previously reported counterparts, the composite derived from these powders demonstrates a significant enhancement in the real part of effective permeability by approximately 66 %, alongside a 17 % reduction in density. Consequently, this composite exhibits a lowered reflection loss of below −5 dB within the frequency range of 0.7–3 GHz, reaching a minimum of −11 dB at 1.57 GHz, specifically with a thickness of 1.6 mm. These findings present an effective strategy for enhancing the magnetic permeability of alloy powders. The resultant microwave absorbing materials hold promising applications in stealth technology and wireless communication electronics.

A pharmacological approach to investigating effector translocation in rice-Magnaporthe oryzae interactions

ABSTRACT Fungal pathogens deliver effector proteins into living plant cells to suppress plant immunity and control plant processes that are needed for infection. During plant infection, the devastating rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, forms the specialized biotrophic interfacial complex (BIC), which is essential for effector translocation. Cytoplasmic effectors are first focally secreted into BICs, and subsequently packaged into dynamic membranous effector compartments (MECs), then translocated via clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) into the host cytoplasm. This study demonstrates that clathrin-heavy chain inhibitors endosidin-9 (ES9) and endosidin-9–17 (ES9–17) blocked the internalization of the fluorescently labeled effectors Bas1 and Pwl2 in rice cells, leading to swollen BICs lacking MECs. In contrast, ES9–17 treatment had no impact on the localization pattern of the apoplastic effector Bas4. This study provides further evidence that cytoplasmic effector translocation occurs by CME in BICs, suggesting a potential role for M. oryzae effectors in co-opting plant endocytosis.

Interfacial charge transfer complexes between ZnO and benzene derivatives: Characterization and photocatalytic hydrogen production

The interfacial charge transfer (ICT) complex formation is a simple procedure to bring optical absorption of wide-bandgap oxide materials in the visible spectral range, crucial for enhancing their use in photo-driven reactions. The optical absorption of the prepared ICT complexes between ZnO and five different colorless benzene derivatives is red-shifted compared to pristine ZnO nanopowder. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided realistic energy level alignment in hybrid systems. Also, the DFT-calculated infrared spectra support the binding structures derived based on experimental measurements of free and adsorbed ligands onto ZnO surfaces. The photocatalytic performance of prepared hybrids was evaluated using photocatalytic hydrogen generation in the water-splitting reaction. The ZnO nanopowders modified with catechol and caffeic acid have over 50% higher hydrogen production rate than pristine ZnO, displaying steady hydrogen production under long-run working conditions.

Investigating the influence mechanism of interfacial protein and lipid changes on the foam properties of whole egg liquid

The whole egg liquid (WEL) is rich in proteins and lipids, leading to a complex group of molecules adsorbed at the interface. Current research had mostly focused on the impact of WEL components on the texture of products. However, there had been limited exploration of the interactions and stability mechanisms of components adsorbed at the interface. This study investigated the changes in the interfacial components of WEL foam over time and the effects of these on foam stability. It was found that the WEL foam had less change in foam size at 25 min. The study employed SDS-PAGE to identify ovalbumin (45 kDa), lysozyme (14 kDa), and ovomucoid (28 kDa) as the major proteins adsorbed. Subsequently, by measuring the interfacial lipid components, it was observed that the content of free triglycerides increased to 19.85 mmol/g at 35 min. Combined with CLSM, it was confirmed that low-density lipoproteins caused the outflow of neutral lipids after unfolding at the interface. Furthermore, the analysis by interfacial dilatation rheology revealed that the foam interfacial complex modulus was the highest (52.74 mN/m) at 25 min, proving that protein stabilized the foam by forming a rigid interfacial film. However, the outflow of neutral lipids led to protein detachment from the interface, disrupting the network structure and ultimately causing foam collapse. This study elucidated the relationship between the WEL foam stabilization mechanism and changes in interfacial components. It laid the theoretical foundation for further analyzing the impact of egg yolk lipids on the interfacial protein network structure.

An interfacial host-guest inclusion complex regulated supramolecular nanocomposite hydrogel showing tunable mechanical strength, self-healing, strain sensitivity and NIR responsiveness.

The development of supramolecular nanocomposite hydrogels with good mechanical properties and multifunctional characteristics remains challenging. The reinforced role of interfacial weak interactions is important for the mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels. Here, a dynamic host-guest inclusion complex from the host molecule CB[7] and guest units was employed to prepare Fe3O4 hybrid supramolecular nanocomposite hydrogels. The results show that the as-obtained hydrogel with a porous structure was prepared. The CB[7]-modified Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@CB[7]) nanoparticles severed as a cross-linker for fabricating the hydrogel's network. By changing the Fe3O4@CB[7] content, their tensile stress ranged from 0.102 to 0.403 MPa and their compression stress ranged (70% compression strain) from 0.059 to 0.775 MPa. By changing the guest units, their tensile stress ranged from 0.3 MPa to 0.403 MPa. The self-healing efficiency of the hydrogels was 99% after 48 h at room temperature. The as-obtained hydrogels with strain sensitivity can be applied for detecting the movement of an elbow and finger. The supramolecular hydrogel exhibits NIR responsiveness, self-healing, injectability, tunable mechanical strength and conductive ability, and can be used in flexible electronics.

Decoupled electron-phonon transport in Ag2Se thermoelectric materials through constructing TiO2/MoS2 co-decorated cell-membrane-mimic grain boundaries.

Ag2Se has emerged as a promising n-type thermoelectric material; however, its application is limited mainly due to the strongly coupled charge carrier and phonon transport. Enhancing phonon scattering by constructing interfacial complexes often results in low carrier mobility due to its strong carrier scattering resulting from the high energy barrier at the multiphase interface. Inspired by the cell membrane with selective permeability, we construct bio-mimic grain boundaries with TiO2 and MoS2 co-decoration in Ag2Se to decouple electron scattering from strong phonon scattering. The nanostructured TiO2 with a high dielectric constant screens the interfacial Coulomb potential, ensuring efficient carrier transport and reducing the grain boundary barriers, while the few-layer MoS2 provides significant phonon scattering to further reduce the thermal conductivity. This method effectively enhances the zT value of Ag2Se by as much as 60% and also can significantly enhance the theoretical output performance of the thermoelectric device, which highlights the effectiveness of the bio-mimic grain boundary engineering strategy.

Progress in Fabrication and Applications of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microcapsules.

Liquid crystals (LCs) are well known for inherent responsiveness to external stimuli, such as light, thermal, magnetic, and electric fields. Cholesteric LCs are among the most fascinating, since they possess distinctive optical properties due to the helical molecular orientation. However, the good flow, easy contamination, and poor stability of small-molecule LCs limit their further applications, and microencapsulation as one of the most effective tools can evade these disadvantages. Microencapsulation can offer shell-core structure with LCs in the core can strengthen their stability, avoiding interference with the environment while maintaining the stimuli-responsiveness and optical properties. Here, we report recent progress in the fabrication and applications of cholesteric LC microcapsules (CLCMCs). We summarize general properties and basic principles, fabrication methods including interfacial polymerization, in-situ polymerization, complex coacervation, solvent evaporation, microfluidic and polymerization of reactive mesogens, and then give a comprehensive overview of their applications in various popular domains, including smart fabrics, smart sensor, smart displays, anti-counterfeiting, information encryption, biomedicine and actuators. Finally, we discuss the currently facing challenges and the potential development directions in this field.

The photocatalytic ability of visible-light-responsive interfacial charge transfer complex between TiO2 and Tiron

The surface modification of commercial TiO2 powder with catecholate-type ligand Tiron (TIR) leads to the formation of the interfacial charge transfer complex (ICT) absorbing in the visible spectral range. The estimated band gap energy of the ICT complex (Eg = 2.2 eV) by density functional theory (DFT) calculations agrees with experimental measurements. The surface-modified TiO2 with TIR has enhanced sorption capacity towards Pb2+ ions compared to the pristine one due to the presence of free sulfonate groups. Our attempt to reduce Pb2+ ions to metallic form failed. The TiO2-based ICT complex with TIR can serve as an efficient sorbent to remove Pb2+ ions from the solution without the ability to recover them in metallic form in a photo-driven catalytic process. The photocatalytic ability of the ICT complex to induce oxidation reactions is significantly improved since the complete degradation of organic dye methyl orange occurs under exclusive excitations with visible light photons.

X-ray Photoelectron characterization of the chemical states and the natural oxidation behavior of TiC ceramics reinforced steel matrix composite after stabilizing heat treatments

In the present work, the microstructure and chemical behavior of TiC ceramic reinforced steel matrix composite material after stabilizing heat treatments have been studied. The composition of the naturally formed oxide layer on the surface of the composite and the potential natural oxidation mechanisms are also elucidated. The results showed that the naturally formed oxide layer contained mainly O, C, Fe and Ti, with small amounts of Cr and Mo. In the multi-metallic oxide layer, Fe3+, Mo6+, and Ti4+ species are enriched on the free external surface of the composite, the protective Fe2+ oxides were distributed in the relative inner part of the oxide layer, and Mo4+ was more uniformly distributed throughout the natural oxide film. The Cr oxides formed near the substrate acted as a diffusion barrier for iron and chromium ions, and the preferential oxidation of chromium formed a passivation film, which effectively improved the corrosion resistance of the material. Due to the interfacial evolution and complex stress changes in the composite during the stabilizing heat treatments, the XPS spectral peaks were shifted towards lower binding energies than in the annealed sample. The core level spectra of Mo 3d, Ti 2p, and Fe 2p were all shifted to lower binding energies due to the combination of ligand and strain effects after quenching, and there was no significant difference in the spectra of the tempered and thermal cooling cycling (TCC) treated composites, which suggested that the chemical state was relatively stable during the subsequent stabilizing heat treatments.

Interfacial complex reactions and microstructures in vacuum hot-rolling bonded titanium-steel clad composites dominated by bonding temperature

Vacuum hot-rolling bonded (VHRB) titanium-steel clad composites with high performance are extensively required by both corrosion-resistant and load resistant equipment, and their high interfacial bonding strength strongly depends on an improved microstructure of interfacial reaction layer. This requires continuous exploration of a new solution. For this attempt, VHRB Ti/steel composites were prepared by hot-compression bonding on a thermal-mechanical simulator at two temperatures of 850 °C and 890 °C for typical α-Ti and β-Ti phase domains, respectively, and their interfacial reaction and products were explored mainly via transmission electron microscope (TEM). It was found that with the bonding temperature decreased from 890 to 850 °C, the interfacial multilayer microstructure of TiFe2+TiC (RLi)-TiFe (RLii)-TiC (RLiii) from the steel side to the Ti side of composites was replaced by that of TiFe2+TiC (RLI)-TiC (RLII)-TiFe (RLIII), due to their different competitive diffusion of C, Fe, and Ti atoms and diffusion barrier playing by TiC. In addition, the average thickness of the brittle interface reaction layer decreased from 0.87 to 0.64 μm, while the average thickness of corresponding sublayer changed from 0.30 μm (RLi)-0.27 μm (RLii)-0.30 μm (RLiii) to 0.22 μm (RLI)-0.28 μm (RLII)-0.14 μm (RLIII). This contributed to the increase of interfacial bonding strength from 235 to 410 MPa.

Interfacial Rheological and Emulsion Properties of Self-Assembled Cyclodextrin-Oil Inclusion Complexes.

To investigate the effect of the molecular size of alkanes and the cavity size of cyclodextrins (CDs) on the formation of interfacial host-guest inclusion complexes, the interfacial tension (IFT) of CD (α-CD, β-CD, γ-CD) solutions against oils (hexadecane, dodecylbenzene) was determined by interfacial dilational rheology measurements. The results show that the "space compatibility" between CDs and oil molecules is crucial for the formation of interface host-guest inclusion complexes. Hexadecane with a smaller molecular size can form host-guest inclusion complexes with small cavities of α-CD and β-CD, dodecylbenzene with a larger molecular size can form interfacial aggregates with the medium-sized cavity of β-CD easily, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules in kerosene can form inclusion complexes with the large cavity of γ-CD. The formation of interfacial inclusion complexes leads to lower IFT values, higher interfacial dilational modulus, nonlinear IFT responses to the interface area oscillating, and skin-like films at the oil-water interface. What's more, the phase behavior of Pickering emulsions formed by CDs with different oils is explored, and the phenomena in alkane-CD emulsions are in line with the results in dilatation rheology. The interfacial active host-guest structure in the kerosene-γ-CD system improves the stability of the Pickering emulsion, which results in smaller emulsion droplets. This unique space compatibility characteristic is of great significance for the application of CDs in selective host-guest recognition, sensors, enhanced oil recovery, food industries, and local drug delivery.

Breaking the biotrophic interfacial complex: How genome editing can lead to rice blast resistance

Breaking the biotrophic interfacial complex: How genome editing can lead to rice blast resistance

Microfluidic‐Assisted Interfacial Complexation of Extracellular Matrix Components to Mimic the Properties of Neural Tissues

AbstractAnisotropy is an important cue for neural organization during morphogenesis and healing, contributing to the mechanical and functional properties of neural tissues. The ability to replicate such anisotropy in vitro holds great promise for the development of effective regeneration strategies. In this work, interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC) is applied to fabricate microfibers from charged ECM components without any chemical modification. Using flow‐focusing microfluidics, collagen (Col) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as chondroitin sulfate (CS) or heparin (Hep), form Col/CS and Col/Hep interfacial complexes that coalesce as IPC microfibers. These fibers are flexible and absorb large amounts of water but remain stable under physiological conditions. At these conditions, the tensile strength of the assembled Col/GAG microfibers is similar to the strength of the neural tissue. The fibers are biocompatible and biofunctional; PC12 neural cells adhere and orient longitudinally to the fibers. Moreover, Col/CS microfibers promote the formation of neural processes. The results demonstrate that the microfluidic‐assisted IPC complexation enables the assembly of ECM mimics by synergetic integration of anisotropic, chemical, and mechanical cues that boost the development of neural cells.