Remarkable Enhancement Research Articles

Phase nonlinearity–weighted optical flow for enhanced full-field displacement measurement and vibration imaging

In this study, we developed a technique to utilize phase nonlinearity as a quantifiable confidence measure of the reliability of component displacement vectors extracted from multi-scale and multi-direction phases. The proposed approach includes three novel concepts. First, relative confidence values are established based on phase nonlinearity to quantify the reliability of the displacement components across various environmental conditions. Second, by analyzing the distribution of the relative confidence values, adaptive confidence measures are extracted and are used to reject unreliable displacement components; these confidence measures can dynamically adapt to various environmental conditions, such as varying image noise and large amplitudes of motion. Third, phase nonlinearity–weighted motion integration is conducted to ensure accurate estimation of the full displacement vector from the component vectors. By integrating these three approaches, a remarkable enhancement was achieved in full-field displacement measurement in terms of accuracy, robustness, and signal-to-noise ratio, especially in environments with high noise levels. The capability of the proposed technique was evaluated through numerical experiments using artificial patterns that simulate identical motions under varying noise levels. Experimental validation was also performed on an air compressor to substantiate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed technique. The findings verify its improvements over conventional techniques for full-field displacement measurement.

Ga2Se3 nanosheets: Broad-spectrum antibacterial and antioxidant agents with low drug resistance

The efficient treatment of many infectious diseases is hindered by uncontrolled bacterial infections and inflammation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of multifunctional therapeutic agents that possessing both antibacterial and antioxidant features. In this study, a novel antibacterial and antioxidant agent, Ga2Se3 nanosheets (NSs), were firstly prepared by the liquid-phase exfoliation method. The Ga2Se3 NSs exhibited broad-spectrum sterilization capabilities, even including multidrug-resistant strains. Noteworthily, Ga2Se3 NSs showed a remarkable 800-fold enhancement in antibacterial efficacy compared to the bulk materials, while also demonstrating low drug resistance compared to the traditional antibiotics. Their superior antibacterial performance is primarily attributed to the disruption of basic bacterial metabolism induced by gallium and selenium components, as well as the dimensional engineering of Ga2Se3 NSs. Cellular studies further confirmed the protective effects of pluronic F127 modified Ga2Se3 NSs against oxidative stress damage, preserving cellular functions through ROS scavenging. This study highlights the superior antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Ga2Se3 NSs, which offers an alternative opportunity for addressing the drug resistance issue in treatment of certain special diseases.

Overcoming strength-ductility trade-off in bimodal metal matrix composite with 3D graphene-strengthened hetero-interface

Strength-ductility synergy has long been a challenge in the development of advanced metallic materials. In this study, we fabricated a novel bimodal-structured nickel matrix composite, which features in-situ synthesized three-dimensional graphene networks (3DGN) strengthening the hetero-interfaces between coarse-grained and fine-grained zones (CGZ and FGZ). Compared to the bimodal matrix, this 3DGN-reinforced composite exhibits remarkable enhancements of 30 % in yield strength, 40 % in ultimate tensile strength, and 40 % in uniform elongation, respectively, representing the highest comprehensive performance among nickel matrix composites and pure nickel obtained through cold rolling, severe plastic deformation, and dynamic plastic deformation as reported in the previous literature. The superior strength-ductility combination originates from the incorporation of 3DGN, which enables multiple strengthening and toughening mechanisms. Specially, the strength and strain hardening capability have been enhanced through improved dislocation storage capacity, a stronger hetero-deformation induced (HDI) hardening effect, and the activation of numerous stacking fault ribbons. Moreover, high-density dispersed microcracks in the FGZ relieve strain/stress concentrations while being constrained within the CGZ, further enhancing tensile ductility. This study provides new insights into addressing the inherent strength-ductility paradox in metal matrix composites.

Zeolite-promoted platinum catalyst for efficient reduction of nitrogen oxides with hydrogen

Internal combustion engine fueled by carbon-free hydrogen (H2-ICE) offers a promising alternative for sustainable transportation. Herein, we report a facile and universal strategy through the physical mixing of Pt catalyst with zeolites to significantly improve the catalytic performance in the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with H2 (H2-SCR), a process aiming at NOx removal from H2-ICE. Via the physical mixing of Pt/TiO2 with Y zeolite (Pt/TiO2 + Y), a remarkable enhancement of NOx reduction activity and N2 selectivity was simultaneously achieved. The incorporation of Y zeolite effectively captured the in-situ generated water, fostering a water-rich environment surrounding the Pt active sites. This environment weakened the NO adsorption while concurrently promoting the H2 activation, leading to the strikingly elevated H2-SCR activity and N2 selectivity on Pt/TiO2 + Y catalyst. This study provides a unique, easy and sustainable physical mixing approach to achieve proficient heterogeneous catalysis for environmental applications.

Exergo-enviro-economic analyses of solar energy based novel air cooling system

Implementation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units in buildings for space cooling represents a passive method for achieving thermal comfort and reducing power consumption. This paper introduces solar energy assisted in-direct evaporative cooling system with a novel multi-passage dry channel. The main objectives are to evaluate exergy variations, sustainability, and total cooling cost based on the inlet conditions for four modes: A, B, C, D (without evaporative cooling, with evaporative cooling, preheating, and preheating with humidification). This comparative study explores thermal performance enhancement of an indirect evaporative cooling system across four operational modes. Mainly, the exergy outlet values increase significantly by 77.39%, while exergy destruction decreases by 54.86%. Both energetic and exergetic coefficient of performances witness remarkable enhancements, with energetic Coefficient of Performance (COP) rising by 321.32%. Exergy efficiency experiences a notable enhancement of 29.974%, and sustainability index shows a consistent upward trend, with a 119.34% increase observed in Mode D compared from Mode A. Entropy generation decreases significantly, indicating improved system efficiency. Total capital cost per unit of cooling capacity decreases notably, highlighting cost savings. These findings underscore the effectiveness of incorporating preheating and humidification processes in optimizing indirect evaporative cooling system performance, emphasizing both exergy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Bispillar[5]arene-Based Slide-Ring Polyrotaxanation Enables Enhanced Toughness, Recyclability, Impact, and Puncture Resistance of Polyisoprene Elastomers.

A series of slide-ring polyrotaxanes (SRPs) have been constructed by the solvent-free blending of a ditopic pillar[5]arene (DP5A) and polyisoprene (PIP) after thermal annealing. Solid-state 13C NMR experiments supported the fact that the pillar[5]arene rings of DP5A were threaded by PIP chains to afford physically interlocked networks. Tensile tests revealed that 1% of DP5A can improve the elongation at break from 50 to 239%, the tensile modulus from 2.1 to 3.9 MPa, and the toughness from 0.35 to 4.5 MJ/m3. Impact and puncture resistance experiments show that the DP5A-doped materials exhibit remarkable enhancement of protective and impalement-resistant performance. The samples can be also recycled repeatedly due to their physical crosslinking nature. The important stress delocalization effects have been attributed to the pulley effect of DP5A in the SRP materials, which represents a supramolecular approach for improving the performance of PIP elastomers.

Harnessing Spatiotemporal-Specific Tumorous Exosome Dynamics: Ultra-Sensitive Lanthanide Luminescence Detection Strategy Enabled by Exosomal Membrane Engineering for Melanoma Immunotherapy Monitoring.

Focused on the newly secreted tumorous exosomes during melanoma immunotherapy, this work has pioneered an ultra-sensitive spatiotemporal-specific exosome detection strategy, leveraging advanced exosomal membrane engineering techniques. The proposed strategy harnesses the power of amplified lanthanide luminescence signals on these exosomes, enabling precise and real-time monitoring of the efficacy of melanoma immunotherapy. The methodology comprises two pivotal steps. Initially, Ac4ManNAz-associated metabolic labeling is employed to evolve azide groups onto the membranes of newly secreted exosomes with remarkable selectivity. These azide groups serve as versatile clickable artificial tags, enabling the precise identification of melanoma exosomes emerging during immunotherapy. Subsequently, lanthanide-nanoparticle-functionalized polymer chains are controllably grafted onto the exosome surfaces through click chemistry and in situ Fenton-RAFT polymerization, serving as robust signal amplifiers. When integrated with time-resolved fluorescence detection, this strategy yields detection signals with an exceptionally high signal-to-noise ratio, enabling ultra-sensitive detection of PD-L1 antigen expression levels on the spatiotemporal-specific exosomes. The detection strategy boasts a wide linear concentration range spanning from 1.7 × 104 to 1.7 × 109 particles/mL, with a remarkable theoretical detection limit of 1.28 × 103 particles/mL. The remarkable enhancements in detection sensitivity and accuracy facilitate the evaluation of the efficacy of immunotherapeutic interventions in the mouse B16 melanoma model, notably revealing a substantial disparity in PD-L1 levels between immunotherapy-treated and untreated groups (P < 0.01) and further emphasizing the cumulative therapeutic effect that intensifies with repeated treatments (P < 0.001).

Enhancing the Experimental Performance of Axially Rotating Wickless Heat Pipe Using Annular- and Longitudinally Finned Condensers

Abstract This paper investigates the impact of longitudinal- and annular-finned condensers on the steady-state thermal performance of a horizontally rotating wickless heat pipe. The parameters investigated include two fin types (longitudinal and annular) for different numbers of longitudinal (6, 12, and 18) and annular fins (15, 30, and 45) at a constant rotating speed of 1500 rpm and heat fluxes from 2090 to 16,700 W/m2. A heat pipe was designed, constructed, and commissioned with seven condenser sections. The heat pipe is charged with water as a working fluid, filling 35% of the internal pipe volume. The results indicated that fins significantly enhance the performance of the rotating heat pipe. The longitudinally finned condenser with 18 fins achieved the highest performance among the condenser configurations. Specifically, at a heat flux of 2090 W/m2, the temperature difference between the condenser and evaporator decreased by 71.2% compared to the plain condenser. Additionally, the effective thermal conductivity of the heat pipe exhibits a remarkable enhancement of 3.47 times over the plain heat pipe at the same heat flux. This enhancement highlights a substantial effect of the longitudinally finned condenser on the axially rotating heat pipe performance.

A Bamboo HD-Zip Transcription Factor PeHDZ72 Conferred Drought Tolerance by Promoting Sugar and Water Transport.

Drought drastically affects plant growth, development and productivity. Plants respond to drought stress by enhancing sugar accumulation and water transport. Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors (TFs) participate in various aspects of plant growth and stress response. However, the internal regulatory mechanism of HD-Zips in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified an HD-Zip member, PeHDZ72, which was highly expressed in bamboo shoots and roots and was induced by drought. Furthermore, PeSTP_46019, PeSWEET_23178 and PeTIP4-3 were identified as downstream genes of PeHDZ72 in moso bamboo by DAP-seq. The expressions of these three genes were all induced by drought stress. Y1H, DLR and GUS activity assays demonstrated that PeHDZ72 could bind to three types of HD-motifs in the promoters of these three genes. Overexpression of PeHDZ72 led to a remarkable enhancement in drought tolerance in transgenic rice, with significantly improved soluble sugar and sucrose contents. Meanwhile, the expressions of OsSTPs, OsSWEETs and OsTIP were all upregulated in transgenic rice under drought stress. Overall, our results indicate that drought stress might induce the expression of PeHDZ72, which in turn activated downstream genes PeSTP_46019, PeSWEET_23178 and PeTIP4-3, contributing to the improvement of cellular osmotic potential in moso bamboo in response to drought stress.

A cryogenic incremental sheet forming process for improving the formability of AA6061 to reveal the dual enhancement effect and microstructure evolution mechanism

Based on the dual enhancement effect of hardening and plasticity in aluminum alloys at cryogenic temperatures, the cryogenic incremental sheet forming process is introduced in this paper for manufacturing complex components. Experimental results indicate that incremental sheet forming at cryogenic environments results in a remarkable enhancement of formability. The ultimate forming height of specimen at 113K presents an increase of 32.4% compared with the specimen at 295K. Meanwhile, it is confirmed that cryogenic conditions increase the work-hardening ability and reduce the microcrack generation on the specimen surface. Moreover, the mechanism of dual enhancement effect on 6061 alloy during cryogenic incremental forming was studied. At 295 K, the dislocation distribution was localized due to significant cross-slip in the specimens. It was also observed that dislocation entanglement occurred at grain boundaries, which tends to cause stress concentration and therefore reduced formability. In contrast, at 113 K, the decrease in stacking fault energy leads to suppression of cross-slip, and the uniform slip leads to a significant increase in dislocation density. As a result, the cryogenic temperature exhibits enhanced work-hardening ability and formability. The rolling texture evolves mainly along the α and β orientation lines during the forming process, the 295K specimen generates a large number of Goss textures in the final forming region due to the uneven deformation which makes it difficult for the texture to evolve further. In contrast, at 113 K the texture fully evolves and intersects in the Brass texture along the two orientation lines due to the enhanced formability.

S-scheme 2D/2D B-doped N-deficient g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction for efficient H2 production intergrated with tertracycline degradation under visible-light illumination

A novel S-scheme 2D/2D boron-doped nitrogen-deficient g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 (BDCNN/ZnIn2S4) heterojunction was successfully fabricated via the in-situ assembly of ZnIn2S4 onto BDCNN in an oil bath. To assess the quality and characteristics of the synthesized photocatalysts, a comprehensive range of characterizations were conducted. The innovative S-scheme 2D/2D BDCNN/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction, equipped with a deliberately established inter-built electric field, facilitates rapid electron transfer and enhanced separation efficiency of photo-induced carriers. Consequently, this heterojunction demonstrates remarkable enhancements in both H2 production and TC degradation under visible-light illumination (λ > 420 nm). The optimized BDCNN/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction exhibited impressive photocatalytic performance, achieving a promising H2 evolution rate of 2378.8 μmolg−1h−1 and a high degradation efficiency exceeding 90 % (k = 0.021 min−1) for TC. This noteworthy improvement in photocatalytic performance is primarily attributed to the synergistic effects of boron-doping and nitrogen-defects within BDCNN, coupled with the unique S-scheme photocatalytic mechanism inherent to the BDCNN/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction. Overall, this study introduces a groundbreaking approach for constructing 2D/2D g-C3N4-based heterojunctions that exhibit exceptional visible-light photocatalytic capabilities, thereby offering significant potential for various photocatalytic applications.

Incorporation of Silver Nanoparticles for Improvement of Antibacterial and Fruit Preservation Properties of Pectin/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Packaging Film Derived from Grapefruit Peels

AbstractThe study focuses on enhancing the antibacterial properties of packaging films derived from Pectin and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) by incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Pectin and CMC were sourced from grapefruit peels to utilize agricultural by‐products and introduce sustainable alternatives to petroleum‐based packaging films. A comprehensive characterization of the films was conducted to assess their morphology, functionality, and physical/mechanical attributes. The Pectin/CMC/AgNPs composite exhibits superior mechanical properties, achieving a peak tensile strength of 33.01 MPa and an elongation at a break of 22.93 %. The antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) strains of Pectin/CMC and Pectin/CMC/AgNPs films was examined. In addition, the preservation efficacy of green grapes using those films was evaluated over 10 days, focusing on maintaining grape weight, organic acid, and vitamin C content. Results demonstrate that all films possess notable mechanical durability, with the Pectin/CMC/AgNPs film demonstrating superior antibacterial activity. Green grapes preserved with the Pectin/CMC/AgNPs film exhibit the highest fruit weight retention, and the highest maintenance in acid, and vitamin C content, underscoring the remarkable enhancement achieved by incorporating AgNPs.

Theoretical and experimental studies on 2D β-NiS battery-type electrodes for high-performance supercapacitor

Recently, quirky features and eccentric structures of transition metal sulfides have grasped great attention to remove roadblocks and unwrap fresh avenues for electrodes in energy storage devices. Herein, we developed a 2D beta phase nickel sulfide nanosheets (2D β-NiS NSs) electrode with remarkable enhancement in charge storage properties. When served as active electrodes for electrochemical tests, 2D NiS NSs exhibited ultra-high capacitance of 2693 Fg−1 at 1 mVs−1 and specific capacity of 219 mAhg−1 at 1 Ag−1. The symmetric battery type solid-state supercapacitor device comprising 2D β-NiS NSs electrodes exhibits specific capacity of 83.43 mAhg−1at 2 Ag−1 over broad potential range of 0.7V with good cycling performance, and energy and power density of 28.9 Whkg−1 (@ 2 Ag−1) and 21 kWkg−1 (@ 6 Ag−1) respectively. Complementary first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations accomplished to explore the electrolyte ion interactions with nickel sulfide nanostructures defining 2D NiS NSs as a potential candidate for real-time applications.

A novel one-time unified configuration strategy with L-SHADE optimizer for enhanced power extraction in thermoelectric generator array

The thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a promising green energy source, converting wasted heat into electric power without relying on chemical reactions or emitting harmful substances. However, a significant challenge obstructing its practical deployment is the power losses due to nonuniform temperature distribution (NUTD) within its modules, particularly in applications like solar-TEGs and automotive systems. Studies in the literature have addressed this challenge by proposing dynamic reconfiguration approaches (DRAs) for TEG arrays to mitigate power losses under NUTD conditions. However, the main issue with these DRAs is their reliance on numerous switches and sensors, which increases the system’s cost and complexity and necessitates regular maintenance. To provide a cost-effective solution, this paper introduces an innovative approach to designing a One-time Unified Configuration (OUC) for TEG arrays as an alternative to the standard series–parallel (SP) arrangement. This approach formulates an optimization problem to establish OUC as a unique layout for the TEG array under multiple NUTDs. The L-SHADE optimizer is tailored to determine the OUC layout that fits multiple NUTDs simultaneously. The yielded OUC ensures a consistent temperature distribution among the parallel strings of the TEG arrays, thereby maximizing the overall power output. The proposed OUC is rigorously implemented and tested on both symmetrical (9 × 9) and asymmetrical (10 × 15) TEG arrays and compared with DRA. Additionally, it is validated through a hardware setup involving a (5 × 5) TEG array under varying NUTDs. The results demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in TEG array output power with gains exceeding 10% compared to the standard SP configuration. Furthermore, the OUC eliminates the need for switches and sensors, resulting in cost savings of approximately 1498.5$ and 2775$ for the (9 × 9) and (10 × 15) TEG arrays, respectively, compared to DRA.

A Design Strategy for Highly Active Oxide Electrocatalysts by Incorporation of Oxygen-Vacancies.

Using both density functional theory (DFT+U) simulations and experiments, we show that the incorporation of an ordered array of oxygen-vacancies in a perovskite oxide can lead to enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER). As a benchmark, LaCoO3 was investigated, where the incorporation of oxygen-vacancies led to La3Co3O8 (LaCoO2.67), featuring a structural transformation. DFT+U simulations demonstrated the effect of oxygen-vacancies on lowering the potential required to achieve negative Gibbs Free Energy for all steps of the OER mechanism. This was also confirmed by experiments, where the vacancy-ordered catalyst La3Co3O8 (LaCoO2.67) showed a remarkable enhancement of electrocatalytic properties over the parent compound LaCoO3 that lacked vacancies. We also synthesized and studied an intermediate system, with a smaller degree of oxygen-vacancies, which showed intermediate electrocatalytic activity, lower than La3Co3O8 and higher than LaCoO3, confirming the expected trend and the impact of oxygen-vacancies. Furthermore, we employed additional DFT+U calculations to simulate a hypothetical material with the same formula as La3Co3O8 but without the vacancy-order. We found that the gap between centers of Co d and O p bands, which is considered an OER descriptor, would be significantly greater for a hypothetical disordered material compared to an ordered system.

A microwave-assisted, solvent-free approach for effective grafting of high-permittivity fillers to construct homogeneous polymer-based dielectric film with high energy density

Polymer-based dielectric film capacitors are essential energy storage components in high-power energy storage devices benefiting from their high breakdown strength (Eb) and ultra-fast charge storage/release capability. However, the state-of-the-art commercial capacitor, biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), exhibits limited energy storage density primarily due to low dielectric constant, which hinders the advancement of the film capacitor industry. Introducing high-permittivity (high-k) nanofillers into PP matrix to improve polarization is a promising method but poor filler dispersion leads to a remarkable decrease of Eb, while various strategies to enhance dispersion of fillers typically require sophisticated process involving toxic procedure and consuming significant time and cost. Herein, we show that a novel and scalable surface grafting method for high-k fillers can be achieved by a facile and short-period microwave irradiation with the assistance of silane coupling agent (KH560). As a demonstration, the KH560 is effectively grafted onto the surface of barium titanate (BT), achieving a high grafting ratio of 4.91 % at a yield of 85.1 % within a short time (40s). Furthermore, the surface modified BT nanofillers are introduced into PP matrix and then biaxially stretched. The as-prepared film exhibits excellent dispersion and superior compatibility, resulting in a remarkable enhancement of tensile strength (from 82 MPa to 115.4 MPa), breakdown strength (from 200 MV/m to 254 MV/m), and energy density (from 1.49 J/cm3 to 2.21 J/cm3). This work proposes a new strategy for constructing homogeneous polymer-based dielectric film by microwave activating high-k fillers and is crucial for the design of next-generation energy storage devices.

Identifying Root Origin of Insulating Polymer Mediated Solar Water Oxidation.

Rational construction of high-efficiency photoelectrodes with optimized carrier migration to the ideal active sites, is crucial for enhancing solar water oxidation. However, complexity in precisely modulating interface configuration and directional charge transfer pathways retards the design of robust and stable artificial photosystems. Herein, a straightforward yet effective strategy is developed for compact encapsulation of metal oxides (MOs) with an ultrathin non-conjugated polymer layer to modulate interfacial charge migration and separation. By periodically coating highly ordered TiO2 nanoarrays with oppositely charged polyelectrolyte of poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA), MOs/polymer composite photoanodes are readily fabricated under ambient conditions. It is verified that electrons photogenerated from the MOs substrate can be efficiently extracted by the ultrathin solid insulating PDDA layer, significantly boosting the carrier transport kinetics and enhancing charge separation of MOs, and thus triggering a remarkable enhancement in the solar water oxidation performance. The origins of the unexpected electron-withdrawing capability of such non-conjugated insulating polymer are unambiguously uncovered, and the scenario occurring at the interface of hybrid photoelectrodes is elucidated. The work would reinforce the fundamental understanding on the origins of generic charge transport capability of insulating polymer and benefit potential wide-spread utilization of insulating polymers as co-catalysts for solar energy conversion.

Numerical analysis of enhanced heat transfer and nanofluid flow mechanisms in fan groove and pyramid truss microchannels

A combined groove and truss structure is designed for rectangular microchannel heat sinks with 4 % Al2O3 nanofluid as the working fluid to address the heat dissipation requirements of high heat flux density electronic devices. The effects of fan shape, elliptical, waterdrop, rectangular, trapezoidal and triangular grooves on the heat transfer characteristics and mechanical properties of microchannels are investigated. The fan-shaped groove microchannels with the best overall heat transfer performance and excellent mechanical properties. The stress of the fan-shaped grooved truss microchannel is reduced by 76.41 % compared to the smooth microchannel. Three structural parameters were investigated, including the length of the truss in the spreading direction (Lx), the ratio of truss flow downstream length to upstream length (e) and truss rod diameter (d). The performance of the microchannels is reflected by the integrated heat transfer factor and the field coordination number. The individual structural parameters were analysed in a single-factor comparison. The microchannels exhibited the best hydrothermal performance in the Reynolds number range of 500 ∼ 1300 at Lx = 0.8 mm, e = 3, d = 0.2 mm. When the Reynolds number is 900, the microchannel with the optimal parameter combination exhibits a remarkable enhancement of 234 % in the Nusselt number and an 80 % increase in the integrated heat transfer factor compared to the rectangular microchannel.

Reverse Hydrogen Spillover on Metal Oxides for Water-Promoted Catalytic Oxidation Reactions.

Understanding the water-involved mechanism on metal oxide surface and the dynamic interaction of water with active sites is crucial in solving water poisoning in catalytic reactions. Herein, this work solves this problem by designing the water-promoted function of metal oxides in the ethanol oxidation reaction. In situ multimodal spectroscopies unveil that the competitive adsorption of water-dissociated *OH species with O2 at Sn active sites results in water poisoning and the sluggish proton transfer in CoO-SnO2 imparts water-resistant effect. Carbon material as electron donor and proton transport channel optimizes the Co active sites and expedites the reverse hydrogen spillover from CoO to SnO2. The water-promoted function arises from spillover protons facilitating O2 activation on the SnO2 surface, leading to crucial *OOH intermediate formation for catalyzing C-H and C-C cleavage. Consequently, the tailored CoO-C-SnO2 showcases a remarkable 60-fold enhancement in ethanol oxidation reaction compared to bare SnO2 under high-humidity conditions.

Synergistic effects of multi-segmented magnetic fields, wavy-segmented cooling, and distributed heating on hybrid nanofluid convective flow in tilted porous enclosures

This study investigates the complex thermal-fluid behavior within a tilted porous enclosure filled with a Cu−Al2O3-water hybrid nanofluid, subject to segmented magnetic fields, wavy cooling segments, and distributed heat sources. The research explores the intricate interplay between geometric factors and thermal-magnetic forces to enhance heat transfer in industrial applications. The finite volume method (FVM), coupled with the SIMPLE algorithm and a TDMA solver, is employed to solve the governing transport equations. A comprehensive parametric analysis examines the effects of key dimensionless parameters: Darcy-Rayleigh number (10–104), Darcy number (10-4–10-1), Hartmann number (0–70), magnetic field angle (0°-180°), nanoparticle volume fraction (0–2 %), porosity (0.1–1.0), wavy cooler undulation height (0–0.3), magnetic segment width (0–1), number of segmental magnetic fields (0–4), and enclosure tilting angle (0°–180°). The study elucidates the physical mechanisms underlying the transition from uniform to segmented heating scenarios. Results reveal a remarkable enhancement of up to 38 % in heat transfer performance when transitioning from a conventional square enclosure to the proposed configuration with partial waviness on opposing walls. This improvement stems from increased surface area and disrupted thermal boundary layers, promoting better fluid mixing. The application of a segmented magnetic field with strategic orientation resulted in up to 26 % enhancement by modulating flow patterns and creating localized convection cells. The segmented heating generates thermal plumes that interact with the magnetic field-induced Lorentz forces, further improving thermal transport. The findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of efficient heat transfer systems in various industries, including electronics cooling, solar thermal collectors, and nuclear reactors, demonstrating significant potential for energy savings and improved thermal management through the strategic integration of hybrid nanofluids, magnetic fields, and geometric modifications in porous media applications.