Photoelectrochemical Research Articles

P–N homojunction and heteroatom active site engineering over Fe2O3 nanorods for highly efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Limited charge transfer and slow oxygen evolution (OER) kinetics significantly impede the practical realization of photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Here, pn-type-Fe2O3 homojunction photoanode catalysts with P active sites are designed by doping phosphorus (P) into outer lattice of n-type Fe2O3 nanorods (pn-P-Fe2O3). The optimized pn-P-Fe2O3 photoanode shows the maximum photocurrent density of 2.61 mA/cm2 at 1.23 VRHE, and the value is 6.4 times greater than that of pristine Fe2O3. Experimental and theoretical results clearly show that the P–N homogeneous junctions constructed in Fe2O3 through P-doping increase active sites for H2O adsorption and activation, reduce OER reaction energy barrier, and promote effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and water splitting kinetics. This not only makes the photoelectric water decomposition performance outstanding, but also produces excellent durability. This work provides a novel simple and environmentally friendly strategy for designing effective photoanodes for PEC water splitting.

Enhancing the photoelectrochemical performance of TiO2 photoanode by employing carbon nanoparticles as electron reservoirs and photothermal materials.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is regarded as a potential technique for converting solar energy. However, the fast charge recombination and slow water oxidation kinetics significantly have hindered its practical application. It is found that an elevation in operation temperature can activate the charge transport in the photoanodes. Here, a strategy was performed that carbon nanoparticles were employed to TiO2 nanorods, acting as electron reservoirs as well as photothermal materials. More specifically, a record photocurrent density of 1.62mAcm-2 at 1.23V vs. RHE has been achieved, accompanied by a high charge separation efficiency of 96% and a long-term durability for 8h. The detailed experimental results reveal that under NIR light irradiation, the synergistic effect between electron storage and temperature rise leads to accelerated charge transport in the bulk and water oxidation kinetics on the surface. This research offers a new perspective on how to boost the PEC performance of photoelectrodes.

Boosting photoelectrochemical hydrogen production performance by in-situ transformation of self-assembled Cd(OH)2 nanowire on CdS nanorod

In this work, solvothermal methods were used to create CdS nanorods (NRs) on Cd foil. Furthermore, a second hydrothermal procedure was performed in water to improve the photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the base material at different time variations (3, 6, and 12 h at 160 °C). After the second hydrothermal process, self-assembled Cd(OH)2 NWs were grown on CdS NR. The optimized Cd(OH)2 NW/CdS NR-6 h photoanode exhibited a higher photocurrent density of 5.7 mA/cm−2 at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl under one sun illumination. Also, the optimum Cd(OH)2 NW/CdS NR-6 h photoanode showed a hydrogen evolution rate of 216 μmol cm−2 for 3 h. The enhanced PEC performance is mainly attributed to the removal of organic moieties, the partial transformation of self-assembled Cd(OH)2 NWs to CdS NR during PCE measurement, and provided effective charge separation and delayed the recombination. We believe that the findings of this study will provide guidelines for designing and fabricating sunlight-driven photoanodes for the PEC hydrogen production system.

Multipath collaboration-based signal amplification on Z-scheme In2O3/g-C3N4 heterojunction photoelectrode for sensitive photoelectrochemical immunoassay

The ideal photoelectrode and efficient signaling strategy are pivotal to achieve sensitive photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis. Here, a multipath collaborative signal amplification-based PEC immunosensor was constructed for the ultrasensitive detection of cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1. Specifically, the photoelectrode fabricated by Z-scheme In2O3/g-C3N4 heterojunction showed enhanced photocurrent intensity in response to visible light. Meanwhile, the signal probe, horseradish peroxidase functionalized dopamine-melanin nanosphere@Au nanoparticles (HRP-Dpa-melanin NS@AuNPs), were introduced into the system. When the target exists, the signal probe can induce multiple quenching of the photocurrent due to the competition of light absorption, steric hindrance and HRP-mediated biocatalytic precipitation, which effectively inhibit light, electron donor, and electron access to the photoelectrode. The fabricated immunosensor exhibits a wide linear range from 1.0 × 10−3 - 1.0 × 102 ng mL−1 with the detection limit of 0.35 pg mL−1 (S/N = 3) for cytokeratin 19 fragment 21-1 detection. The study enhances sensitivity for PEC detection by utilizing the superior Z-scheme heterojunction photoelectrode, providing a valuable method that combines multiple signal pathways for a synergistic effect in bioanalysis.

Localized surface plasmon resonance-enhanced photoelectrochemical immunoassay based on high-entropy yolk-shell Au@(ZnCdMnGaCu)xS

The yolk-shell structure has become a research hotspot in the field of photocatalysis in recent years due to its stability, movable yolk, and internal voids. However, yolk-shell has not been fully explored and applied in photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassays. In this work, a smartphone-based portable PEC immunoassay was constructed by using high-entropy yolk-shell Au@(ZnCdMnGaCu)xS as a photosensitive material, showing satisfactory detection with the assistance of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Specifically, a typical sandwich reaction introduces a detection antibody modified and labeled with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) into the system with the presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Ascorbic acid (AA) content increased with increasing PSA and showed a linear enhancement of photocurrent at PSA concentrations of 0.01–50 ng mL−1 with a limit of detection of 8.94 pg mL−1. Additionally, the proposed assay technology not only provides a portable detection system for the immediate detection of tumor markers, but also offers a promising paradigm for the development of high-entropy materials.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Using NiMoO4/BiVO4/Sn-Doped WO3 Double Heterojunction Photoanodes.

Efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting systems in photoelectrodes are primarily challenged by electron-hole pair recombination. Constructing a heterostructure is an effective strategy to overcome this issue and to enhance PEC efficiency. In this study, we integrated NiMoO4, known for its proper electrocatalytic conductivity, into a BiVO4/Sn-doped WO3 heterojunction using solution-based hydrothermal and spin-coating methods, forming an innovative double heterojunction concept. The resulting NiMoO4/BiVO4/Sn:WO3 triple-layer heterojunction photoanode exhibits a photocurrent density of 2.06 mA cm-2 in a potassium borate buffer (KBi) electrolyte at 1.23 V vs RHE, outperforming the bilayer BiVO4/Sn:WO3 heterojunction (1.45 mA cm-2) and Sn:WO3 photoanodes (0.55 mA cm-2) by approximately 1.4 and 3.7 times, respectively. Remarkably, the NiMoO4/BiVO4/Sn:WO3 double heterojunction photoanode exhibits notable stability, showing only an approximate 30% reduction in initial photocurrent density after 10 h of measurement in the KBi electrolyte without a hole scavenger. This stability is attributed to the excellent corrosion resistance of the thin NiMoO4 layer, effectively protecting the bilayer BiVO4/Sn:WO3 heterojunction photoanode from photocorrosion. Our findings show how this novel double heterojunction, established through simple and cost-effective solution-based methods, offers a promising approach to enhancing PEC water splitting applications.

A Photoelectrochemical Biosensor Mediated by CRISPR/Cas13a for Direct and Specific Detection of MiRNA-21.

Direct detection of miRNA is currently limited by the complex amplification and reverse transcription processes of existing methods, leading to low sensitivity and high operational demands. Herein, we developed a CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing platform for direct and sensitive detection of miRNA-21. The direct and specific recognition of target miRNA-21 by crRNA-21 eliminates the need for pre-amplification and reverse transcription of miRNA-21, thereby preventing signal distortion and enhancing the sensitivity and precision of target detection. When crRNA-21 binds to miRNA-21, it activates the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas13a, leading to the non-specific cleavage of biotin-modified DNA with uracil bases (biotin-rU-DNA). This cleavage prevents the biotin-rU-DNA from being immobilized on the electrode surface. As a result, streptavidin cannot attach to the electrode via specific biotin binding, reducing spatial resistance and causing a positively correlated increase in the photocurrent response. This Cas-PEC biosensor has good analytical capabilities, linear responses between 10 fM and 10 nM, a minimum detection limit of 9 fM, and an excellent recovery rate in the analysis of real human serum samples. This work presented an innovative solution for detecting other biomarkers in bioanalysis and clinical diagnostics.

Achieving Tunable Band Structure and Photocarrier Dynamics by Regulating 2D Atomic Layer Stacking Toward High‐Performance Self‐Powered Broadband and Deep‐UV Photodetection

Abstract2D materials with unique layer‐dependent electronic structure can bring precise control to their photocarrier dynamics for optimizing and expanding optoelectronic applications, while the challenge of controlling layer stacking makes the layer dependency law still underexplored in emerging 2D ternary metal chalcogenides. Herein, 2D rhombohedral‐phase ZnIn2S4 (R‐ZIS) with controllable layer thickness is achieved by confined‐growth strategy in high yield, exhibiting continuously tunable direct bandgap (2.39–2.77 eV) with evident upshift of conduction band minimum (CBM) and Fermi level (EF), demonstrated arising from the synergistic effect of reduced interlayer interaction with inevitably increasing Zn defects. Remarkably, the carrier dynamics of R‐ZIS in photoelectrochemical (PEC) device is successfully regulated by adjusted CBM and EF, resulting in continuously tunable optical absorption band, photocarrier separation efficiency, self‐powered capability, and dark current noise. Beneficial from tailored band structure and carrier dynamics, self‐powered PEC‐type photodetector with broadband photoresponse (254–765 nm), is achieved fast response speed (12.3/5.3 ms) and high responsivity (90.29 mA W−1) in multilayer R‐ZIS, while deep‐UV photodetector with ultra‐high specific detectivity (1.62 × 1012 Jones) at 254 nm in monolayer R‐ZIS, exhibiting the record performance in both fields. This work motivates the development of tailored band structure for 2D‐materials‐based optoelectronic devices in strategy and mechanism.

Enhancing moisture transfer and quality attributes of tomato slices through synergistic cold plasma and Osmodehydration pretreatments during infrared-assisted pulsed vacuum drying

The present study examines the impacts of combined cold plasma treated water (PW) and osmodehydration (OD) pretreatment (PO), and operation parameters like PW duration and voltage of treatment on the dehydration, functional and sensory characteristics of sliced tomato fruits subjected to simultaneous infrared-assisted pulsed vacuum drying (IR-PVD). From the results, PO pretreatment modified the surface structures by the formation of microchannels and cavities through impingements from the reactive species (RS), and was improved due to increased treatment duration and voltage, and resulted in accelerating the transfer of moisture from the slices to the surroundings during the dehydration process. Consequently, PO pretreatment achieved an enhancement in the moisture diffusivity by up to 64.83%, shortened the total drying time by up to 40%, and presented substantial improvements in the physicochemical properties including vitamin C, lycopene, colour, total soluble solids, phenolic and flavonoid contents, and overall human acceptability. However, significant decreases in rehydration and hardness properties were shown compared with control, and higher rehydration by up to 21.66% at higher treatment duration and voltage when compared with OD pretreatment. Overall, PO pretreatment incited an effective moisture removal and retention of vital physicochemical and bioactive constituents in the slices due to the activities of plasma injected RS. This study provides an empirical basis for the application of PO during IR-PVD of fruits and vegetables and demonstrated as a suitable energy-saving alternative for improving the conventional OD of foods in the industry.

Evaluating the Use of Sacran, a Polysaccharide Isolated from Aphanothece sacrum, as a Possible Microbicide for Preventing HIV-1 Infection.

Since combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) was introduced to treat human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the AIDS mortality rate has markedly decreased, and convalescence in individuals with HIV has improved drastically. However, sexual transmission has made HIV-1 a global epidemic. Sacran is a megamolecular polysaccharide extracted from cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum that exhibits numerous desirable characteristics for transdermic applications, such as safety as a biomaterial, a high moisture retention effect, the ability to form a film and hydrogel, and an anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we evaluated the anti-HIV-1 effects in sacran as a barrier to HIV-1 transmission. Sacran inhibited HIV-1 infection and envelope-dependent cell-to-cell fusion. Moreover, we used a Transwell assay to confirm that sacran inhibited viral diffusion and captured viruses. The synergistic effects of sacran and other anti-HIV infection drugs were also evaluated. HIV-1 infections can be reduced through the synergistic effects of sacran and anti-HIV-1 drugs. Our study suggests using sacran gel to provide protection against HIV-1 transmission.

A cathodic photoelectrochemical self-powered aptasensor for ratiometric detection of cortisol based on PCN-224@graphene nanocomposites

Cathodic photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors have garnered considerable research interest in bioanalysis for their ability to mitigate interference from photogenerated holes in concomitant reducing substances, but there remains a challenge to improve detection accuracy with rational strategies. In this study, a ratiometric assay was developed for cathodic PEC aptasensing of cortisol (COR), a stress hormone. Under visible-light exposure, porphyrin-based metal organic framework (PCN-224) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-modified reduced graphene oxide (PrGO) composites were utilized as photoactive materials, enabling cathodic photocurrent production at 0 V. The spatially resolved dual photocathodes were combined with a COR-binding aptamer to selectively recognize the COR target, with one serving as the control. The ratio of the concentration-dependent inhibited photocurrent response (PI1) to the reference signal (PI2) from the control photocathode was employed for the sensitive COR bioassay. The proposed aptasensor revealed a broad linear range toward COR concentration from 0.4 nM to 800 nM, with a detection limit (3S/N) of 0.14 nM. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to real human serum samples, demonstrating promise in detecting disease markers in medical diagnostics.

Influence of ultrasound frequency, processing time, and cold temperature on quality characteristics of mutton subjected to ultrasonic nano-cooling with a preservative film

Refrigeration slows down microbial growth and oxidation in mutton, but it is not enough on its own to fully prevent spoilage. To promote preservation, this research evaluated the effectiveness of combining ultrasound treatment, nanocomposite packaging, and cold storage ― a method known as ultrasonic nano-cooling (UNC) on quality of mutton. Various ultrasound frequencies (40 and 80 kHz) and processing times (2–4 minutes) were applied to process the mutton. Thereafter, the products were packaged in nanocomposite film, made from sorghum starch and Azadirachta indica gum nanoparticles, and then stored under cold temperature condition: 2°C, 4°C, and 6°C. Analysis of the physical and biochemical properties revealed significant improvements in quality due to UNC preservation compared to the control (p < 0.05). Notably, the total bacterial load dropped from 5.4 × 10⁶ CFU/g in the control to 1.9 × 10⁶ CFU/g at 2°C with 80 kHz ultrasound after 4 minutes. This effect may be due to enhanced cavitation effects at higher frequencies, which, according to previous studies, can disrupt microbial cell walls. Lipid oxidation reduced from 0.45 mg MDA/kg to 0.20 mg MDA/kg, likely due to minimized thermal degradation and oxidative reactions, facilitated by lower temperatures and effective packaging. Water holding capacity increased from 70 % to 85 %, due to improved muscle fiber structure from ultrasound treatment, which aids moisture retention. The pH remained steady between 5.8 and 6.0, reflecting minimal spoilage and effective microbial control. This study demonstrates that UNC preservation is an effective method for extending mutton shelf life, aligning with the demand for high-quality, long-lasting mutton products.

Composting and Liquid Formulations: Panacea to Better Yield in Agriculture: A Review

Liquid formulations, including aqueous, oil, and polymer-based products, often use polysaccharides to alter fluid properties. Liquid inoculants offer cost-effective alternatives to solid carriers, particularly benefiting small producers in India by overcoming transportation and processing challenges. Ideal liquid inoculants are non-toxic, low-cost, uniform, nutrient-supplemented, and support rapid microorganism release and growth. Effective formulations stabilize organisms, ensure easy field delivery, protect against environmental factors, and enhance microbial activity. Rich in nutrients and organic matter, compost enhances the texture, structure, and moisture retention of soil, improving soil qualities and crop productivity. It boosts soil enzyme activity and microbial populations, promoting nitrogen fixation and nutrient availability. Organic manure applications increase soil fertility, water retention, and reduce bulk density. Field and horticultural crops, such as potatoes, chillies, and tomatoes, show significant yield improvements with compost, which also suppresses plant diseases and weed populations. These findings underscore the importance of adopting liquid formulations and composting as sustainable agricultural practices.

Target Recognition-Triggered Interfacial Electron Transfer Model: Toward Signal-On Photoelectrochemical Aptasensing for Efficient Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Using Ti3C2Tx-Au NBPs/ZnO NR Composites.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide, which poses a great threat to public health. It is of utmost importance to develop rapid, simple, and sensitive methods for the determination of S. aureus. A signal-on photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor is constructed herein based on titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx)-Au nanobipyramids (NBPs)/ZnO nanoarrays (NRs). The reliability and capability of the PEC aptasensor make it suitable for the sensitive and selective determination of S. aureus. First, the electrostatically self-assembled Ti3C2Tx-Au NBP nanomaterial was coated on the ZnO NR surface by a spin-coating method. On the one hand, Ti3C2Tx-Au NBPs can broaden the spectral absorption of ZnO NRs, resulting in Ti3C2Tx-Au NBPs/ZnO NR composites that exhibit a wide range of absorption from the ultraviolet to the infrared region. On the other hand, Ti3C2Tx can reduce the agglomeration of nanoparticles, while Au NBPs can effectively fix the aptamer through the Au-S bond. Specifically, the experimental results show that when S. aureus is present, the Au NBPs-aptamer-S. aureus complex is shed from the electrode surface, altering the interfacial electron transfer model and reducing the steric hindrance. Consequently, an amplified photocurrent signal for the quantitative determination of S. aureus is obtained. Under optimal experimental conditions, a linear correlation is observed between the current response of the aptasensor and the logarithm of the S. aureus concentration (ranging from 1.0 to 1.0 × 106 CFU/mL), with an impressive detection limit as low as 0.5 CFU/mL. Furthermore, the aptasensor has been successfully employed for the detection of S. aureus in milk, with the recovery of 93.0%-99.0%. Hence, this research offers a novel approach for the detection of foodborne pathogens and other noxious substances.

Multifunctional Ethyl Violet@NH2-MIL-88B(Fe) Hybrids: CRISPR-Cas12a-Assisted PEC-FL-CL Triple-Mode Sensitive Detection of HPV-16.

The multimode assay based on multiple response mechanisms has received great attention to effectively improve the accuracy of a sensing platform. However, multifunctional sensing materials for simultaneously satisfying the multiple-mode detections are still in shortage due to the incompatibility of the signal transduction mechanisms in different modes. Here, taking human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) DNA (TDNA) as the model due to its important role in cervical cancer, a novel multifunctional material, ethyl violet (EV)@NH2-MIL-88B(Fe) (ENM) hybrids, have been successfully prepared, which could simultaneously satisfy CRISPR-Cas12a-assisted photoelectrochemical (PEC)-fluorescent (FL)-colorimetric (CL) triple-mode detection of TDNA. Based on the TDNA-induced trans-cleavage ability of CRISPR-Cas12a and efficient separation of magnetic beads, ENM was obtained from the single-stranded DNA-surrounded streptavidin-modified magnetic beads-ENM (SMB-ssDNA-ENM) and decomposed by pyrophosphate to get free EV, 2-aminoterephthalic acid (NH2-BDC), and Fe3+. Thus, TDNA was sensitively detected based on the EV-enhanced PEC signal of SnS2 nanosheets (PEC mode), fluorescent signal of NH2-BDC (FL mode), and characteristic absorption peak at about 720 nm of Fe3+-induced Prussian blue (PB) (CL mode). The designed PEC-FL-CL triple-mode biosensing platform had good performance for the detection of TDNA with a wide linear range (0.1 fM-100 nM) and ultralow detection limits (0.07 fM for PEC, 0.03 fM for FL and 0.09 fM for CL). Additionally, the developed PEC-FL-CL triple-mode biosensing platform has great potential for applications in early disease diagnosis and bioanalysis, as it can be easily extended to other DNA assays through modification of the crRNA sequence within the CRISPR-Cas12a system.

CRISPR/Cas12a-Triggered Visible-Light-Driven Photoelectrochemical Assay with Single-Nucleotide Resolution for Drug-Resistant Foodborne Salmonella Detection.

The prevalence of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, especially drug-resistant strains, such as Salmonella enterica, poses serious threats to public health, highlighting the requirement for the development of rapid and precise detection methods. Herein, a CRISPR/Cas12a-triggered visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) assay (CasPEC) was developed using a SiO2-quenched BiVO4/MoS2 p/n-type heterojunction as the photoactive material. The CRISPR/Cas12a recognition endowed the CasPEC assay with high specificity capable of resolving single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and identifying SNP-involved drug-resistant bacteria. SiO2 was linked to the surface of the BiVO4/MoS2 heterojunction by single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which would be cleaved by target-activated CRISPR/Cas12a. This cleavage of ssDNA resulted in the detachment of SiO2, thereby achieving a "signal-on" PEC output. Leveraging the multiple-turnover CRISPR cleavage and the outstanding photoactive performance of PEC signaling, the CasPEC assay for S. enterica showed a detection limit of 103 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL and the ability to detect as few as 0.01% drug-resistant strains. The CasPEC assay can accurately sense the S. enterica contamination in complex food matrices, including beef and milk. These findings demonstrated the great potential of the CasPEC assay for detecting pathogenic bacterial contamination in food, particularly concerning food safety related to SNP-involved drug-resistant bacteria.

Promoting effect of interfacial hole accumulation on photoelectrochemical water oxidation in BiVO4 and Mo-doped BiVO4

Hole transfer at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface is a key elementary process in (photo)electrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. However, up to now, a detailed understanding of the hole transfer and the influence of surface hole density on PEC water oxidation kinetics is lacking. In this work, we propose a model for the first time in which the surface accumulated hole density in BiVO4 and Mo-doped BiVO4 samples during water oxidation can be acquired via employing illumination-dependent Mott-Schottky measurements. Based on this model, some results are demonstrated as below: (1) Although the surface hole density increases when increasing light intensity and applied potential, the hole transfer rate remains linearly proportional to surface hole density on a log-log scale. (2) Both water oxidation on BiVO4 and Mo-doped BiVO4 follow first-order reaction kinetics at low surface hole densities, which is in good agreement with literature. (3) We find that water oxidation active sites in both BiVO4 and Mo-doped BiVO4 are very likely to be Bi5+, which are produced by photoexcited or/and electro-induced surface holes, rather than VOx species or Mo6+ due to their insufficient redox potential for water oxidation. (4) Introduction of Mo doping brings about higher OER activity of BiVO4, as it suppresses the recombination rate of surface holes and increases formation of Bi5+. This surface hole model offers a general approach for the quantification of surface hole density in the field of semiconductor photoelectrocatalysis.

Effect of Tillage Practices and Hydrogel Applications on Yield and Yield Attributing Traits of Maize (Zea mays L.) over the Years

This study investigated the effects of different tillage practices and hydrogel applications on maize yield in sandy loam soils at the Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar, PJTSAU, Telangana state over a period of four years (2015-2018) during the Kharif season. The experiment was designed as a split plot with four main treatments i.e., Conventional tillage (CT), Conventional tillage with residue mulching (4 t/ha), Zero tillage (ZT) and Zero tillage with residue mulching (4 t/ha). These were combined with three sub-treatments involving hydrogel application i.e., Control (no hydrogel), Hydrogel at 2.5 kg/ha and Hydrogel at 5.0 kg/ha. The study was replicated three times to ensure reliability of the results. The combination of zero tillage with residue mulching yielded the highest maize grain yield (4435 kg/ha). This suggests that this practice is more effective in retaining soil moisture, which is critical under rainfed conditions. The addition of hydrogel, regardless of the rate (2.5 kg/ha or 5.0 kg/ha), did not lead to any significant improvement in maize yield. The use of zero tillage combined with residue mulching is beneficial for maize production in sandy loam soils under rainfed conditions, primarily due to enhanced moisture retention. However, hydrogel application did not provide any additional yield benefits in this context.

Spinning a Sustainable Future: Electrospun Polysaccharide-Protein Fibers for Plant-Based Meat Innovation.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of producing electrospun fibers by combining polysaccharides, zein, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to simulate the fibers applied in plant-based meat analogs. The rheological properties of biopolymer solutions were evaluated, and the electrospun fibers were characterized according to their morphology, structural interactions, and thermal analysis. The results indicated that the fibers prepared in a ratio of 90:10 of zein/carrageenan from the mixture of a solution containing 23 wt.% of zein with a solution containing 1 wt.% of carrageenan and with the addition of 1 wt.% of PEO presented a promising structure for application as fibers in meat analogs because they have a more hydrophilic surface. Thus, they have good moisture retention. In addition, they have good thermal stability at high temperatures, which is crucial to achieve a consistent and pleasant texture. Furthermore, it was observed that adding zein and PEO helps with the spinnability of the polysaccharides, producing fibers with good homogeneity.

In-situ construction of novel Sb2(S,Se)3/CdSe S-scheme heterojunction with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

Abstract Antimony selenosulfide (Sb2(S,Se)3) was considered to have great potential for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications due to its excellent chemical stability, good light absorption, abundant reserves and non-toxicity. However, Sb2(S,Se)3 faces some limitations in the field of PEC, such as the serious recombination problem of photogenerated carriers. Therefore effectively restraining its deep-level defects is the crucial for enhancing its photoelectrochemical properties. In this paper, We successfully fabricated Sb2(S,Se)3/CdSe S-scheme heterojunction via one-step hydrothermal method, which improves its solar absorption capacity, facilitates efficient carrier separation. And, Sb2(S,Se)3/CdSe S-scheme heterojunction can suppress the adverse effects of deep-level defects on the PEC performance of Sb2(S,Se)3. Under simulated solar irradiation, the light current density can reach 4.02 mA cm2 (33.5 times that of monomeric Sb2(S,Se)3) at 1.23 VRHE, accompanied by low initial voltage and extremely high surface charge injection efficiency. This study is of great significance for the application of Sb2(S,Se)3 in the PEC field.