Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid is an important piece of puzzle in carbon neutralization and modern chemical industry. However, the catalytic activity and selectivity of this reaction still need to be improved for practical applications. Herein, we reveal that a highly active, selective, and stable electroreduction of CO2 to formic acid could be realized by wrapping tin sulfide (SnSx) nanoparticles with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The GO wrapping helps to preserve the crystal size of SnSx (2∼4nm) and confine the sulfur atoms in SnSx, obtaining a promising catalyst. As a result, a high current density of 126.25 ± 0.78mA cm-2 and high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 99.9 ± 1.1% toward formic acid is achieved in a flow cell. The current density could be further improved to 554.41 ± 2.32mA cm-2 in a membrane electrolyzer. Additionally, our catalytic system demonstrates a high stability exceeding 50h at ampere-level current. This finding provides a valuable insight for further development of highly efficient and selective catalysts for electroreduction of CO2 to high-value carbon-containing products. Our strategy may also be applied to preserve the structures of many other amorphous or nanocrystal catalysts for efficient and stable electrocatalysis.

Thermal management in two-dimensional (2D) materials is pivotal, given their extensive technological utility in miniaturized devices. However, an expedient yet precise method for predicting the thermal transport properties of 2D materials remains to be established. In this study, we derive analytical formulas for calculating the scattering rate of three-phonon Umklapp processes, specifically tailored to 2D materials, based on the continuous elasticity assumption, quasi-harmonic approximation, and central force approximation. These formulas enable the construction of a refined Debye-Callaway model that incorporates the effects of both three-phonon Umklapp scattering and boundary scattering, eliminating the need for any fitting parameters. Notably, we explicitly disentangle the contributions of optical phonons, treating them within a framework analogous to the Einstein model. This improved model facilitates efficient and accurate predictions of the anisotropic lattice thermal conductivities in 2D materials. The results generated by our model for 12 2D crystals show excellent agreement with those from fully first-principles calculations reported in the literature. In particular, this study clarifies how the relaxation time fitting parameter adopted in previous work depends on the crystal structure and dimensional characteristics of the materials. It also provides an understanding of the logarithmic divergence of lattice thermal conductivity with respect to the size of 2D crystals within a framework involving only three-phonon scattering processes and Debye approximation. Owing to its low computational cost and high prediction precision, this model can serve as a valuable tool for high-throughput screening and machine learning applications in the identification of 2D materials with tailored thermal conductivity.

An ecologically friendly, low-cost, and biogenic preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) via a green approach utilizing waste biomass material is reported. The catalyst efficiency for Friedel-Crafts acylation to access functionalized anisole under solvent-free conditions and synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives utilizing water as a green solvent is described. The Fe3O4 NPs were synthesized biogenically using an aqueous extract of areca nut husk (ANH) and subsequently confirmed by various standard spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques. FESEM analysis displayed a spherical, agglomerated porous morphology, while the XRD analysis displayed a crystal size of 2.31 nm. TG-DT analysis revealed the stability of the Fe3O4 NPs to be good up to 450 °C, and XPS analysis indicated Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states of the catalyst. A series of anisole and quinoxaline derivatives were prepared in moderate to high yields using the catalyst, and catalyst recyclability, mechanistic elucidation, and gram-scale synthesis are described herein. Additionally, the gas sensing proficiency of Fe3O4 NPs was examined toward oxidizing as well as reducing gases, establishing their potential for value-added applications.

Ice cream and frozen desserts fortified with protein often have undesirable physical and textural properties despite their increased nutritional value, and are susceptible to shrinkage during storage. The effects of dairy protein structure on structural and physical properties of the mix and frozen product were identified by studying frozen dessert mixes formulated to contain 6% milk protein concentrate, sodium caseinate, or whey protein isolate. The addition of 0.15% mono- and diglycerides decreased the mean ice crystal and air cell size in all frozen desserts and increased the degree of fat destabilization in frozen desserts made with milk protein concentrate and whey protein isolate, providing resistance to collapse during melting. The interfacial activity of serum proteins, casein micelles, nonmicellar casein, and mono- and diglycerides was essential to sequential formation and stabilization of structure, especially with regard to the emulsified fat globule membrane composition and formation of destabilized fat network during freezing. The correlation between rate of drip-through during melting and degree of fat destabilization was independent of protein source, demonstrating how mix ingredient functionality influenced the co-development of ice, air, fat, and serum phase structures in the frozen dessert, which ultimately governed the physical properties of the frozen dessert. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: With the continued interest in high-protein products, this work demonstrates the potential for selectively choosing type of protein to enhance physicochemical and microstructural properties of ice cream and frozen dairy desserts.

Tailoring monoglyceride oleogel crystallization by eutectic and crystal nucleation disturbance: functional frozen specialty fat for use in croissants.

Casein phosphopeptide as a high-performance cryoprotectant in frozen dough: Ice inhibition behaviors, stabilized gluten network, and improved quality attributes.

In the current study, zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) thin films were successfully synthesized using a simple and cost-effective hydrothermal method at various growth temperatures (100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, and 140°C). The properties of the fabricated ZnO NR thin films were investigated using various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mott-Schottky (MS) analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent (PC) measurements, dark current-voltage (I-V) analysis,, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed that the ZnO NRs possess a hexagonal polycrystalline structure with a preferred orientation along the (002) plane. The average crystal size increased with rising growth temperature, which enhances the electron transport properties. SEM analysis revealed that the ZnO NRs grown at different temperatures exhibited various orientations,, forming flower-like structures while maintaining hexagonal morphology. PL analysis revealed two distinct emission peaks in the ZnO NR spectra, confirming their optical activity. Raman spectroscopy further confirmed the formation of ZnO nanorods with a wurtzite crystal structure. UV-vis spectroscopy showed an optical absorption edge at 382nm, corresponding to the material's band gap energy. Photocurrent (PC) measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Mott-Schottky (MS) analysis demonstrated enhanced electrical properties and confirmed the N-type conductivity of the ZnO NRs. Samples fabricated at 140°C exhibited the highest carrier concentration (3.58 × 10²¹ cm⁻³) and the most negative flat-band potential (-0.95V), indicating superior electronic performance. Our findings suggest that ZnO NRs thin films synthesized at 140°C are promising candidates for optoelectronic applications, particularly as electron transport layers (ETLs) in solar cell devices.

Nucleation remains one of the least understood steps during protein crystallization, although it strongly impacts product quality attributes, including total crystal numbers, final crystal size distributions, and thus downstream processing. In this work, the nucleation behavior of Lactobacillus brevis alcohol dehydrogenase (LbADH) wild type (WT) and five mutants (Q207D, Q126H, K32A, D54F, and T102E) is investigated in a stirred 7 mL crystallizer monitored by in situ multi-angle dynamic light scattering (MADLS). Nucleation was studied with highly pure homotetrameric LbADHs by establishing a crystallization, lyophilization, and re-solubilization protocol combined with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC), yielding tetramer purities above 94% and removing low molecular weight impurities. During stirred batch crystallizations initiated by the addition of polyethyleneglycol 550 monomethyl ether (PEG 550 MME), SEC and SE-HPLC revealed decreasing tetramer peak areas but essentially constant peak apex positions, indicating that no long-lasting oligomeric intermediates accumulate at detectable levels. Time-resolved MADLS measurements using a custom-made flow-through cuvette in a bypass to the stirred crystallizer uncovered transient cluster populations. All protein variants exhibited an initial tetramer peak, followed by the formation of larger aggregates and a rapid rise in signal above a hydrodynamic diameter of 1000 nm, coinciding with the onset of macroscopic turbidity. A simple mesoscale nucleation model was formulated, yielding end-of-nucleation times, crystallized fractions, critical soluble concentrations, and apparent nucleation rate constants. The crystal contact mutations modulate both the timing and magnitude of the nucleation burst (rapid build-up of nuclei/cluster populations). The mutant Q207D showed strongly attenuated nucleation compared to the WT, whereas the other mutants (K32A, D54F, and particularly T102E) display markedly accelerated nucleation at nearly invariant critical concentrations. The combined workflow demonstrates how in situ MADLS, together with a tailored kinetic description, can provide mechanistic insight into protein nucleation in stirred batch crystallizers.

ABSTRACT The high‐voltage spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) stands as a promising cathode material for lithium‐ion batteries. However, the critical role of sol pH in modulating the crystal orientation and particle size of LNMO synthesized via sol–gel method remains insufficiently explored. Herein, this study focuses on investigating the influence of pH regulation on the crystal orientation, particle size, and electrochemical performance of LNMO. Through adjusting the pH value of the sol and calcination temperature of the resulting gel, LNMO with a truncated octahedral morphology is successfully tailored, characterized by (111)‐ and (100)‐dominant exposed crystal planes and an appropriate amount of Mn 4+ /Mn 3+ ratio. These features endow LNMO with lower Mn dissolution, less solid cathode‐electrolyte interface (CEI) formation and faster Li + transport kinetics, thereby resulting in superior specific capacity, cycling stability, and rate performance. Notably, the optimized LNMO delivers a high capacity of 123.0 mAh g −1 at 0.5C, a favorable capacity retention of 85.2% over 200 cycles at 1C, and a fast Li + diffusion coefficient on the order of 10 −10 cm 2 s −1 . This work emphasizes the significance of sol pH as a key regulatory parameter for tailoring the microstructural and electrochemical properties of LNMO, offering a facile and effective strategy for performance optimization. image

With a rising global population and worsening climate change, adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting provides one potential method to mitigate the water crisis by generating water from atmospheric air. However, before porous sorbents can be integrated into water generating systems, the structure-property relationship must be investigated to better understand the water adsorption behavior in these sorbents. Defects in MOF materials have been known to play an important role in tuning the adsorption behavior, stability, and separation efficiency through the tuning of the crystal structure. In this work, we investigated the role of defects, generated through soft templating, on the water adsorption behavior of both MOF-808 and MOF-801. MOF-808 and MOF-801 are both water stable, robust, zirconium MOFs, but their smaller pore volumes and pore sizes limit their applications for AWH. Through defect engineering, defective structures can be generated that can tune the adsorption behavior of MOF materials. Through soft templating, structure directed agents were added into the MOF synthesis, with the aim of growing crystals around the templates with larger pore sizes and pore volumes, and potentially developing more hydrophilic pores. Through soft templating, defective crystals were generated with smaller crystal sizes and larger macropores and interparticle voids. There was no distinct correlation between the introduction of defects and improved hydrophilicity or saturation capacity, most likely due to difficulties of MOF crystals successfully growing around the large template molecules. However, the decrease in crystal size and the increase in interparticle void spacing improved the mass transfer of water vapor into the sorbent materials, enhancing the dynamic water adsorption behavior. These results suggest that defect engineering of MOF-808 and MOF-801 via soft templating primarily alter the crystal size and morphology, and thus the mass transfer effect, of MOFs as opposed to the hydrophilicity and water adsorption capacity.

Currently, electrospun nanofiber membranes are widely used in sensor and photocatalysis research fields. In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) flexible nanofiber membranes were successfully prepared by electrospinning technology. The narrow band gap semiconductor tin selenide (SnSe) was innovatively introduced as a functional filler, and a SnSe/PVDF-HFP composite fibrous membrane with excellent piezoelectric and photocatalytic dual properties was developed. By systematically optimizing the load process parameters of SnSe, including loading methods, hydrothermal duration for crystal size control, and ultrasonic time for loading amount regulation, the piezoelectric properties of the material were significantly improved. Experimental results demonstrate that the composite fibrous membrane exhibits outstanding dual functionality: On one hand, the flexible sensor based on its piezoelectric properties achieves an output voltage of 23.1 V and a sensitivity of 440 mV-1, enabling precise monitoring of human motion. On the other hand, the piezo-photocatalytic synergistic enhancement mechanism is proposed based on kinetic studies. Under the combined action of light irradiation and ultrasonic vibration, the composite fibrous membrane as a catalyst achieves 99.0% degradation rate of methylene blue within 120 min while maintaining excellent stability and recyclability, effectively addressing the recovery challenges of traditional powder catalysts. This work not only provides a novel material design strategy for integrating piezoelectric sensing and photocatalytic dual functions but also opens innovative pathways for developing wearable flexible electronic devices and easily recoverable catalysts.

With the rapid advancement of elastic and translucent optoelectronics, the demand for low-cost materials has emerged as a major research topic. As a result, this paper investigated how Al2O3 incorporation altered the properties of PVC. New PVC/xAl2O3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.07, 0.1, 0.2 wt%) nanocomposites were manufactured by using a cost-effective and simple process (casting method) to adjust the Al2O3 concentration. The PVC/xAl2O3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.07, 0.1, 0.2 wt%) nanocomposites were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy, and impedance measurements. Dislocation density (δ), Distortion parameter (g), nanoparticle size (D), and lattice strain (ε) were assessed using the Scherrer and Williamson-Hall methods. Crystal size and the number of crystallites were observed to increase with Al2O3 content, revealing the higher crystallinity in the material. It was found that the particle size was ~ 30.22nm for PVC/xAl2O3 (x = 0.1wt%). SEM analysis showed a consistent distribution of Al2O3 within the PVC at low concentrations of Al2O3. These PVC/Al2O3 films were used as adjustable light- diffusing films in the packaging of different flexible photoelectric devices, according to their visible absorbance characteristic depending on filler concentrations. The optical bandgaps of PVC and PVC/x(Al2O3) (where x = 0.2) were 5.05eV and 3eV, respectively. This decrease was associated with the creation of localized states in the bandgap. The refractive index values obtained were greater than those found in earlier studies, suggesting that the incorporation of a small amount of Al2O3 nanoparticles improved the refractive index of PVC. It was noted that as the concentration of Al2O3 rose, the dispersion parameters Ed, M2, and M3 showed an increase, while E0 exhibited a decrease. Conversely, the dielectric characteristics of the synthesized nanocomposites improved as the alumina content in the PVC matrix increased. The findings concluded that inexpensive PVC/xAl2O3(x = 0.1wt%) nanocomposites can be used as an essential component in sophisticated optoelectronic applications.

Molybdenum is used as a plasma-facing component (PFC) in tokamaks, where it is exposed to high-energy neutrons and plasma particles (He and H ions). It is also proposed as a nuclear fuel cladding material for future nuclear reactors. This study examines the effects of copper ion beam with varying doses (0.108, 1.08, and 10.8 dpa) on the microstructure, surface morphology and mechanical properties of molybdenum samples, to emulate the impact of high-energy particle cascade damage. Following exposure to high-energy copper ion beams, changes in microstructure, crystal size, lattice constant, microstrain (%), and surface morphology were observed. Lower ion dose (0.108 dpa) resulted in severe cracking as shown in SEM images, attributed to a high dislocation density because of increased microstrain (%) and decreased crystal size. Features like dents, melt craters, and a rough surface were observed at high ion doses of 1.08 and 10.8 dpa. Initially, crystal size decreased (fragmentation) at low ion doses of 0.108 and slightly increased at ion dose of 1.08 dpa. However, at higher ion doses of 10.8 dpa decrease in crystal size (refinement) and the microstrain (%) was observed. A decrease in lattice constant seems linear with the ion dose, as clear from XRD results, indicating the progressive radiation damage. The change in hardness with increasing dose was nonlinear. Hardness was observed to increase first at lower ion dose (0.108 and 1.08 dpa); however, at higher ion doses of 10.8 dpa, a decrease in hardness is observed due to radiation induced structure recovery/recrystallization effects.

Water pollution by synthetic dyes from industrial effluents poses serious environmental and health risks. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and application of a novel hydroxyapatite/chitosan-glutamic acid composite (HAP-Cs-Glu) for Congo red (CR) dye removal from aqueous solutions. The composite was synthesized via chemical precipitation at 80°C and pH 10 with 5 hours aging. Characterization was performed using XRD, FESEM, TEM, BET, and FTIR techniques. XRD confirmed hydroxyapatite formation with low crystallinity and 12.27 nm average crystal size. FESEM and TEM revealed spherical particles (~45.77 nm) composed of needle-like nanocrystals. BET analysis showed a surface area of 58.958 m²/g, pore volume of 0.5538 cm³/g, and average pore diameter of 37.572 nm. FTIR confirmed successful functionalization with characteristic phosphate, amino, and carboxyl bands. Batch adsorption experiments investigated effects of contact time (15-75 min), adsorbent dose (0.03-0.15 g), pH (3-9), initial concentration (200-600 mg/L), and temperature (313-333 K). Optimum conditions were: 600 mg/L CR concentration, pH 3, 0.03 g adsorbent, 45 min contact time, and 60°C, achieving maximum adsorption capacity of 833.33 mg/g. Kinetic data followed pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.9996). Langmuir isotherm provided better fit than Freundlich, indicating monolayer adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis revealed spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) and endothermic (ΔH° > 0) adsorption with positive entropy change. The HAP-Cs-Glu composite demonstrates excellent potential as an eco-friendly adsorbent for CR removal from contaminated water.

Heat induced changes in bone and its crystal size: A comprehensive analysis by FTIR-ATR and XRD.

Evolution of thermodynamic and surface properties of platinum with changes in temperature, pressure and crystal size

Self-assembled DNA crystals provide highly ordered three-dimensional frameworks with nanoscale precision for advanced functional materials. However, conventional concentration gradient-driven droplet crystallization in open environments suffers from poorly controlled supersaturation, laborious operation, and heterogeneous products. Here, we report a homogeneous solution strategy for DNA crystal assembly in a closed test tube through base sequence regulation and chemical modification. Rational tuning of the base composition of DNA building blocks and sticky-end 5'-phosphorylation modification enables rapid crystallization within 2 h with relatively uniform crystal sizes. Additionally, phosphorothioate backbone modification enables the assembly of large-sized DNA crystals in a homogeneous environment. Due to the fully enclosed and compositionally uniform reaction environment, this strategy affords highly reproducible control over the crystal size and morphology across batches. This homogeneous solution-based crystallization platform provides a general route to DNA crystalline materials, laying a materials foundation for the construction of functional devices.

Ag QDs modified In2O3 nano-cubes for high selectivity triethylamine detection based on synergistic strategy of exposed (110) crystal plane and quantum size effect

The production of quantum dots (QDs) has increased due to their wide variety of commercial products and applications. QDs can be dangerous in the environment because their small size can encourage their incorporation into living systems. In this project, ZnS and ZnSSe were synthesized under microwave irradiation, generating a water-stable nanomaterial. The bandgap energies calculated using the UV-Vis spectra were 3.81 and 3.86 eV for ZnS and ZnSSe QDs, respectively, indicating that the selenium worked as a dopant agent. The photoluminescence analysis shows narrow emission peaks, confirming a low size distribution, and the selenium doping generated a blue shift. The crystal size of both nanomaterials was around 7 nm. The cellular toxicity of these nanomaterials was evaluated using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) Cells (a standard mammalian cell model). The results suggest that ZnS and ZnSSe QDs slightly affect the viability of CHO Cells, but Zn2+ decreases the viability at concentrations higher than 20 mg/L. The content of zinc inside cells (by ICP-OES) suggested that QDs can enter cells more easily than Zn2+. Therefore, the decrease in cell viability caused by Zn2+ outside the cells is likely due to its effect on cell membrane integrity, suggesting that these nanomaterials are less toxic than bulk materials.

Facile and green synthesis of oxygen-vacancy-rich cobalt oxide catalyst for effective eliminating nitrous oxide pollution under presence of impurity gases.