Energy Shuttle ionization for high-sensitivity nitrogen-carrier gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: Aperture scaling and Knudsen-regime control.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the interaction between a recently synthesised phenothiazine-based ligand (ionophore), acting as a neutral ion carrier, and Ag+ ions using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The computed parameters, including complexation energy, ΔG°f, and ΔH°f, indicate that the formation of the ionophore–Ag+ complex is thermodynamically feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic. Based on these findings, a simple potentiometric sensor was developed for Ag+ detection using this ionophore. The optimised membrane composition comprised 6% ionophore, 2% ionic additive, 32% PVC, and 60% dioctyl phthalate as the plasticiser. The sensor exhibited a Nernstian response over a linear concentration range of 1 × 10−1 to 1 × 10−7 M, with a detection limit of 9.5 × 10−8 M and a slope of 60.5 mV per decade. The sensor demonstrated a lifespan of approximately three months and a rapid response time of about five seconds. It operated effectively within a pH range of 3.5–7.5. Furthermore, its performance remained stable in the presence of up to 20% non-aqueous solvents, maintaining Nernstian behaviour. Selectivity studies conducted using the matched potential method (MPM) across 16 different ionic species confirmed negligible interference. Finally, the applicability of the sensor for determining Ag+ in three industrial effluent samples was successfully evaluated. The results were compared with those obtained by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), used as the reference analytical method. Statistical comparison using the t-test showed strong agreement between the two methods, with calculated t values of 0.111, 0.288, and 1.157 for the analysed samples, all of which were below the critical value of 2.78 at the 95% confidence level.

CsPbI2Br perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a research focus in third-generation photovoltaics due to their optimal optical bandgap (1.8-1.9 eV) and excellent thermal stability derived from lattice compatibility of the cesium ion (Cs+). However, solution-processed CsPbI2Br films are plagued by intrinsic defects arising from nonequilibrium crystallization and lattice distortion caused by ionic radius differences. These issues synergistically induce carrier nonradiative recombination and ion migration, severely restricting device efficiency and stability. To tackle these challenges, we employed the ionic liquid N-butylpyridinium bromide (N-BuPyBr), which comprises a pyridine ring, butyl chain, and Br-, to optimize the crystal structure and modulate energy levels. Specifically, Br- forms strong coordination bonds with Pb2+ to passivate halogen vacancies, while the cation interacts with I- and Pb2+ to suppress defect-mediated ion migration. Additionally, the hydrophobic structure of the cations retards moisture intrusion, thereby enhancing the environmental stability. The synergistic effect of N-BuPyBr alleviates structural stress, reduces lattice distortion, downshifts the conduction band minimum, and enhances energy level alignment with the electron transport layer (ETL). Consequently, the treated PSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.51% and exhibited superior stability under 25% relative humidity (RH) in ambient conditions, maintaining high performance over an extended period.

Metal halide perovskite single crystals have emerged as promising materials for sensitive X-ray detection due to their large atomic number and superior optoelectronic properties. The widely investigated three-dimensional (3D) perovskites possess isotropic carrier transport properties that can induce lateral signal cross-talk and reduce resolution during X-ray imaging. Besides, the strong ion migration phenomenon causes the fluctuation of dark current and fast device degradation. Herein, we report the growth of centimeter-size, high-quality one-dimensional (1D) MDAPb2I6 (MDA = 4,4'-methylenedianiline) single crystals by thermostatic metastable growth and continuous solute replenishment. The 1D crystals exhibit strong anisotropy in carrier transport due to electrostatic shielding of organic chains that separate the octahedral chains. As a result, the X-ray detectors along the c axis show a high sensitivity of 0.65 × 104 μC Gyair-1 cm-2, 1 order of magnitude larger than those along a and b axes, which is potential for suppressing lateral carrier diffusion and thereby signal cross-talk. Moreover, MDAPb2I6 single crystals exhibit a high ion migration activation energy (Ea) of 1.27 eV, resulting in a small dark current fluctuation of 6 × 10-8 nA cm-1 s-1 V-1 and stable photoresponse under high-dose irradiation. Besides, a decent detection limit of 87.5 nGyair s-1 is obtained, smaller than the dose rate for practical medical imaging. Our work shows the potential of 1D perovskite single crystals for suppressing lateral carrier diffusion and ion migration, which is instructive for achieving high-resolution and stable X-ray imaging.

ABSTRACT To achieve high performance, organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) channels must support efficient transport of electronic charges and ions. When designing polymeric mixed conductors, maintaining an appropriate balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics plays a crucial role. Conventional hydrophilic side‐chain modification involves costly synthesis and limits molecular design flexibility. Here, we demonstrate a degree of functionalization (DOF)‐tunable electrochemical C–H phosphonylation strategy that enables precise post‐functionalization of semicrystalline, high‐mobility conjugated polymers, thereby providing a versatile route to optimize the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance without monomer redesign. We applied this approach to semicrystalline polymers, for example, poly[2,5‐bis(3‐tetradecylthiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene] (PBTTT) and diketopyrrolo‐pyrrole‐dithienylthieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (DPP‐DTT), which exhibit excellent charge mobilities. The functionalization was successfully carried out in Nafion‐composite films, yielding samples with DOF values up to 0.91. Systematic investigation revealed that the moderate functionalization (DOF = 0.06–0.16) enhanced the µC * values in OECTs by nearly two‐fold compared to pristine polymers. In addition, the phosphonylated materials exhibited improved switching characteristics. These results quantitatively reveal a trade‐off between enhanced ionic accessibility and retention of efficient charge‐transport pathways in the polymers with increased DOF. This precisely tunable functionalization of the hydrophobic conjugated polymers represents a practical strategy for designing mixed ionic and electronic carrier conductors, further facilitating the development of high‐performance OECT materials.

To achieve high performance, organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) channels must support efficient transport of electronic charges and ions. When designing polymeric mixed conductors, maintaining an appropriate balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics plays a crucial role. Conventional hydrophilic side-chain modification involves costly synthesis and limits molecular design flexibility. Here, we demonstrate a degree of functionalization (DOF)-tunable electrochemical C-H phosphonylation strategy that enables precise post-functionalization of semicrystalline, high-mobility conjugated polymers, thereby providing a versatile route to optimize the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance without monomer redesign. We applied this approach to semicrystalline polymers, for example, poly[2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (PBTTT) and diketopyrrolo-pyrrole-dithienylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene (DPP-DTT), which exhibit excellent charge mobilities. The functionalization was successfully carried out in Nafion-composite films, yielding samples with DOF values up to 0.91. Systematic investigation revealed that the moderate functionalization (DOF = 0.06-0.16) enhanced the µC* values in OECTs by nearly two-fold compared to pristine polymers. In addition, the phosphonylated materials exhibited improved switching characteristics. These results quantitatively reveal a trade-off between enhanced ionic accessibility and retention of efficient charge-transport pathways in the polymers with increased DOF. This precisely tunable functionalization of the hydrophobic conjugated polymers represents a practical strategy for designing mixed ionic and electronic carrier conductors, further facilitating the development of high-performance OECT materials.

Cuproptosis represents a novel form of programmed cell death that relies on copper ions and targets the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle, offering fresh avenues for tumor therapy. Elesclomol, as a highly efficient small-molecule copper ion carrier, transports copper ions into mitochondria. Under the action of ferredoxin-1 (FDX1), it induces abnormal aggregation of lipoylated proteins and loss of iron-sulphur clusters, thereby generating protein toxicity stress and killing tumor cells. Furthermore, elesclomol effectively remodels the tumor immune microenvironment by promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cell infiltration, demonstrating synergistic effects with immune checkpoint blockade therapies. However, tumor cells can develop resistance mechanisms through metabolic reprogramming via hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven reductive pathway, which partially limits the drug's clinical efficacy. Addressing this limitation, combination therapies integrating elesclomol with targeted agents such as ferroptosis inducers or chemotherapeutic drugs have demonstrated significant antitumor advantages. Future research must urgently leverage the selection of precise biomarkers and the development of novel intelligent nanodelivery systems to further advance the safe and efficient clinical translation of elesclomol.

Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) are a versatile class of polymeric materials capable of transporting and coupling both ionic and electronic charge carriers within a single framework. This dual conduction arises from π-conjugated backbones that facilitate electron and hole transport, combined with ionic functionalities, either tethered groups or solvated ions, that stabilize carriers and enable dynamic doping. Electrostatic and redox-active coupling mechanisms govern conductivity, capacitance, and stability, while ion transport proceeds via hopping in dry states or as solvated complexes in hydrated environments. OMIECs span two-component blends, block copolymers, and single-component systems, offering tunable morphologies that optimize pathways. Recent advances demonstrate utility in organic electrochemical transistors, neuromorphic synapses, chemiresistive sensors, thermoelectric generators, electrochromic devices, energy storage systems, and gas separation. By integrating reversible ion-polymer interactions, these materials achieve high sensitivity, low-voltage operation, enhanced Seebeck coefficients, and multifunctional energy-display abilities. However, challenges remain in balancing conductivity and ionic selectivity, preserving structural integrity during operation, and engineering interfaces, particularly for solid-state systems. Continued progress depends on molecular design strategies, such as zwitterionic groups, backbone planarization, and interfacial tuning, and deeper insights into mesoscale structure-function relationships. This review consolidates foundational concepts, design approaches, and milestones to guide future OMIEC development for diverse applications.

ABSTRACT The present investigation evaluates the usability of Gd and Nd co‐doped CeO 2 (0.05Gd 0.05Nd) and CeO 2 (0.05Gd 0.05Nd) + SrTiO 3 (60:40) composite synthesized by glycine combustion as electrolytes in medium‐temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) through a comprehensive analysis of their ionic conductivity and structural characteristics. The crystal structure and phase analyses of the materials were characterized by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), and it was confirmed that both samples successfully formed the targeted cubic fluorite (CeO 2 ) and perovskite (SrTiO 3 ) phases, and the dopant elements were integrated into the main lattice. Raman spectroscopy was used to study the effect of doping elements on the lattice dynamics and oxygen vacancies. FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) analyses demonstrated that the addition of SrTiO 3 reduced the grain size from 90.45 to 33.39 nm, leading to a more homogeneous and compact microstructure. Conductivity and activation energy were assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy within the temperature range of 400–550°C. In this study, it was observed that the total conductivity values of the prepared materials measured under air atmosphere are higher than the typical values reported in the literature for SOFC electrolytes. This suggests that the conduction cannot be explained solely by oxygen ion transport and may indicate the presence of a possible mixed conduction mechanism in which both ionic and electronic charge carriers are involved. In this context, the obtained findings indicate that the studied system may be considered a potential candidate as a mixed‐conducting electrode material for intermediate‐temperature SOFCs.

ABSTRACT Methane oxidation in the anode of solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) enables efficient hydrogen production at low voltage. In this work, Ce 0.8 Gd 0.2 O 2 (GDC) is synthesized via hydrolysis method as the catalyst carrier and oxygen ion conductor. The active metals such as Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, and bimetals of NiCu and CoCu are loaded on GDC by impregnation method. The results show that NiCu bimetals with mole ratios of 8:2 and 5:5 exhibit the optimal anode activity for water electrolysis in SOEC. The synergistic effect of NiCu bimetal in methane anode atmosphere can strengthen the intermetallic interaction and increase the catalytic oxidation activity. The doping of moderate amount of Cu facilitates the charge transfer process at the anode and reduces the polarization resistance of the reaction. And it can enhance the catalytic activity of Ni and promote the oxidation activity of methane at high voltage, thus improving the electrocatalytic performance.

Bioelectronic devices represent a rapidly expanding frontier at the interface of materials science, biology, and electronics, with the potential to transform healthcare by enabling seamless communication between living tissues and engineered systems. A central challenge in this field is the design of soft materials that can efficiently transport both ionic and electronic charge carriers, thereby bridging the fundamental mismatch between biological and electronic signal transduction. In this opinion, we argue that eutectic systems offer a powerful yet underexplored platform for engineering mixed ionic-electronic conducting soft materials. Eutectic mixtures, by virtue of their unique phase behavior, tunable molecular interactions, and inherent structural flexibility, provide an exceptional starting point for tailoring materials that combine biocompatibility, adaptability, and functional conductivity. We highlight how eutectic design principles can be leveraged to expand the palette of soft conductors, offering pathways to address persistent challenges such as stability, processability, and integration with complex biological environments. Looking forward, we outline key research directions to unlock the full potential of eutectic-derived conductors in advancing next-generation bioelectronic systems.

First-principles molecular dynamics simulations systematically elucidate the influence of atomic structure on ionic conductivity in BeF2-NdF3 (FBeNd) molten salt, a key constituent salt in electrochemical pyroprocessing for the molten salt reactor. The increase in ionic conductivity with Nd concentration is explained by multilevel structural analyses encompassing phonon modes, ionic pair structures, network architectures, and electronic characteristics. Phonon dispersion analysis demonstrates that high- and low-frequency vibrational modes are governed by Be and Nd ions, respectively. Detailed structural analyses confirm that enhanced Nd diffusivity correlates with improved Nd-Nd interactions manifested through shortened Nd-Nd distances, distorted Nd-F-Nd angles, emergent edge/face-sharing clusters, and intensified electronic polarization. Conversely, Be-F tetrahedra retain structural integrity with increasing Nd concentrations, and network fragmentation accelerates Be and F diffusion. The dual enhancement effect of ionic self-diffusion coefficients and charge carrier concentration synergistically elevates the bulk ionic conductivity of molten FBeNd. Overall, a composition-structure-property framework spanning macroscale conductivity to atomistic features is established, offering foundational insights for the predictive modeling of fission product accumulation effects and the rational design of separation protocols in pyroprocessing.

Ionic liquid (IL) N-methyl-N'-1-(4-t-butylphenylphosphinyl)butylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl) imide was used for the first time as an ion carrier in membrane systems to selectively transport Au(III), Pt(IV), and Pd(II) ions. Au(III), Pd(II), and Pt(IV) were transported from HCl solutions utilizing a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) with cellulose triacetate as the support, o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether as the plasticizer, and ionic liquid as the mentioned ion carrier. The modifications of source and receiving aqueous phase compositions are examined. High selectivity for Au(III) using the ionic liquid in the membrane was achieved at elevated HCl concentrations (≥0.5 M). When a 0.010 M KI solution was used as the receiving phase and a membrane with the optimal composition was applied, the extraction of Au(III) ions reached a maximum recovery rate of 93%. Moreover, PIM studies showed that carrier molecules doped in the membrane creates complexes with the Au(III) ion with a molar ratio of 1:1. The extractability of Au(III) through PIMs exceeded that of other metal ions, with the selectivity of transported metal ions ranked as follows: Au(III) >> Pt(IV), Pd(II). The recovery factors for gold, platinum, and palladium ions after 6 h of transport were 94%, 8%, and 1%, respectively.

ABSTRACT Polystyrene nanoparticles (PS‐NPs) size determines their adsorption by Chlorella vulgaris , which induces size‐dependent changes in cell membrane properties, and these two effects synergistically regulate the alga's heavy metal adsorption capacity via the carrier effect of PS‐NPs. By using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), it assessed resultant changes in cellular membrane parameters and explored the influence of different‐sized PS‐NPs, acting as carriers, on algal adsorption of heavy metals. C. vulgaris achieved adsorption for three nanoparticle size fractions within 1 h. Following uptake by C. vulgaris , PS‐NPs of different sizes exhibited distinct intracellular and extracellular distribution patterns. Smaller NPs entered cells, while larger ones remained surface‐bound. Following adsorption of polystyrene nanoparticles of varying sizes, C. vulgaris exhibited alterations in cell membrane parameters, including increased hydrophobicity and decreased permeability. These changes were size‐dependent. Notably, PS‐NPs of different sizes demonstrated distinct capacities for adsorbing Hg 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Pb 2+ . PS‐NPs were found to influence the adsorption of these heavy metals by C. vulgaris through altering cell membrane parameters and acting as carriers for the metal ions, thereby modifying the alga's equilibrium adsorption capacity.

This work reveals the structural evolution and transport behavior of chromium-substituted Ba2In2O5 (BIO) as a mixed ionic electronic conductor for oxygen transport membranes. Controlled substitution of In3+ by Cr6+ induces a transition from an orthorhombic brownmillerite to an on average cubic defect-perovskite (ABO3−δ) phase while suppressing the high-temperature phase transformations typical of undoped BIO. A comprehensive set of structural and spectroscopic techniques confirms the stabilization of Cr6+ in the lattice and its function as a donor dopant. The aliovalent substitution introduces additional electrons while reducing the oxygen-vacancy concentration in the lattice, resulting in increased electronic and decreased ionic conductivities. The composition with x = 0.1 achieves a well-balanced contribution from ionic and electronic carriers, yielding the highest ambipolar conductivity and oxygen permeation flux among the studied samples. At higher substitution levels (e.g., x = 0.2), where In3+ and Cr6+ coexist on the B-site of the perovskite framework, a coupled donor/acceptor system (Cr6+/In3+) is formed, giving rise to complex charge compensation mechanisms and mixed electronic conduction. These findings provide fundamental insights into the crystal structure, defect chemistry, and charge transport mechanisms in Cr-substituted BIO, offering a rational design strategy for efficient oxygen transport membranes.

Copper and zinc nanoparticles have been suggested as potent anticancer agents, particularly against osteosarcoma, a highly aggressive bone cancer with limited treatment options. In order to avoid systemic toxicity, biomolecular carriers able to chelate metal ions and deliver them in a targeted manner to the vicinity of cancer cells need to be developed. Herein, we have used a histidine-containing, cyclic dipeptide as a carrier able to chelate stabilized copper and zinc nanoparticles. The cyclic peptide cyclo-(histidine-phenylalanine) (cHF) self-assembled into amyloid-type fibrils; morphological and structural characterization following metal addition confirmed the formation of cHF-CuNPs and cHF-ZnNPs. These composite nanoparticles demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at the in vitro level. We evaluated the optimal concentration of cHF-metalNP complexes with limited cytotoxicity to L929 fibroblasts and high cytotoxic effects against MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. Their cytotoxicity was particularly pronounced at pH 6.4, which emulates the tumor microenvironment. The cHF peptide alone did not demonstrate significant antimicrobial or cytotoxic effects to both cell types, suggesting that it can act as a cytocompatible, pH-responsive carrier of metal ions with targeted dual functionality against both microbial infections and osteosarcoma cancer cells.

ABSTRACT Metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for low‐cost and sensitive x‐ray detection. However, the existing perovskite materials with diverse composition and dimensionality encounter an intrinsictrade‐off between carrier collection and ion migration, posing a critical challenge for high‐energy x‐ray detection. Here, we demonstrated that the quasi‐one‐dimensional perovskite of cystamine lead iodide featuring corner‐sharing [Pb 5 I 22 ] chains chain and small interchain spacing along edge‐on orientation enables efficient carrier collection and blocked ion migration simultaneously, and thus largely decouple the electronic and ionic transport pathways. The as‐grown single crystals yield a large mobility‐lifetime product of 4.35 × 10 −4 cm 2 V −1 , and a high activation energy for ion migration of 0.94 eV. Therefore, an impressive x‐ray sensitivity of 1.42 × 10 5 µC Gy −1 cm −2 (average x‐ray energy 42.7 keV) are obtained in quasi‐one‐dimensional perovskite. Under harsh conditions, such as continuous radiation, high electric fields, and high temperatures, the device exhibits excellent operational stability. As a proof of concept, the robust integration of a quasi‐one‐dimensional perovskite with a thin‐film transistor backplane for x‐ray imaging was achieved. This study offers innovative insights into the regulate the structural dimensions of materials for sensitive and stable x‐ray detection.

Metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for low-cost and sensitive x-ray detection. However, the existing perovskite materials with diverse composition and dimensionality encounter an intrinsictrade-off between carrier collection and ion migration, posing a critical challenge for high-energy x-ray detection. Here, we demonstrated that the quasi-one-dimensional perovskite of cystamine lead iodide featuring corner-sharing [Pb5I22] chains chain and small interchain spacing along edge-on orientation enables efficient carrier collection and blocked ion migration simultaneously, and thus largely decouple the electronic and ionic transport pathways. The as-grown single crystals yield a large mobility-lifetime product of 4.35×10-4 cm2 V-1, and a high activation energy for ion migration of 0.94eV. Therefore, an impressive x-ray sensitivity of 1.42×105µC Gy-1 cm-2 (average x-ray energy 42.7keV) are obtained in quasi-one-dimensional perovskite. Under harsh conditions, such as continuous radiation, high electric fields, and high temperatures, the device exhibits excellent operational stability. As a proof of concept, the robust integration of a quasi-one-dimensional perovskite with a thin-film transistor backplane for x-ray imaging was achieved. This study offers innovative insights into the regulate the structural dimensions of materials for sensitive and stable x-ray detection.

Solid oxide fuel cells generate electricity with high electrical efficiency and flexibility in fuel use without emitting pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and particulates. Nevertheless, they still face several obstacles and challenges that pose problems and questions driving researchers to find solutions. Numerical simulation is a key tool for integrating various physical fields, including charge dynamics, electrochemical pathways, chemical species kinetics, fluid flow, and energy transformations. The Butler-Volmer equation, in its various forms and approximations, is the most widely used equation for relating electrochemical pathways to current density in solid oxide fuel cell modeling. The main objective of this research is to model and simulate a high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell at atmospheric pressure, in order to test the effect of changing some properties values on the electrical power density produced. The results obtained revealed several techniques for enhancing the fuel cell performance, by improving the physical behaviors appropriate to each property on the corresponding side. It was found that fuel cell performance improves with increasing values of porosity rate, exchange current density, and pressure drop, and with decreasing both cell length and electrolyte thickness. Furthermore, since the electrolyte's conductivity class is oxygen ion carrier, the effect of parameters at the cathode side was more significant compared to the anode side. The results of this research are consistent with well-documented theories, and it is usable for developing other numerical models.

L-Alaninium borneol ester flurbiprofenate: a dual-function ionic carrier for enhanced solubility and transdermal delivery.