Environmental Stability Research Articles

Aging damage characteristics of acid‐etched sandstone samples

AbstractTo investigate the erosive damage effect of the acidic solution on sandstone, experiments were conducted to examine the macro‐ and micro‐characteristics of sandstone samples under different acid etching times. Microscopic morphology changes, pore structure characteristics, mineral composition changes, and mechanical response characteristics were obtained before and after acid etching. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation index for acid etching damage was proposed. The results show that: (1) Acidic solution will erode the sandstone skeleton and cause the sandstone to collapse. The etched surface appears “flocculent” and yellow sediment is produced. (2) The pores in sandstone samples are mainly micro‐ and mesopores, and the total porosity increases exponentially with the duration of acid etching. The volume fraction of micropores can reach up to 81.5%. (3) The acid etching process of sandstone samples includes physical diffusion and chemical dissolution, which can be divided into four stages and three regions from the outside to the inside. After acid etching, the uniaxial compression failure mode of the sample changes from shear to mixed shear‐tensile failure. (4) The comprehensive evaluation index based on three failure modes generated during the loading process shows good consistency with the overall changes of characteristics parameters such as elastic modulus, peak stress, and peak strain. The research findings of this paper can provide theoretical support for the assessment of rock mass stability and disaster prevention in acidic environments.

Characterization of novel phage pK3–24 targeting multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and its therapeutic efficacy in Galleria mellonella larvae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common, conditionally pathogenic bacterium that often has a multidrug-resistant phenotype, leading to failure of antibiotic therapies. It can therefore induce serious diseases, including community-acquired pneumonia and bloodstream infections. As an emerging alternative to antibiotics, phages are considered key to solving the problem of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Here, we report a novel phage, pK3–24, that mainly targets ST447 K. pneumoniae. Phage pK3–24 is a T7-like short-tailed phage with a fast adsorption capacity that forms translucent plaques with halos on bacterial lawns. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) is 0.01, and the average burst size is 50 PFU/mL. Phage pK3–24 shows environmental stability, surviving at below 50 °C and at pH values of 6–10. It has a double-stranded DNA genome of 40,327 bp and carries no antibiotic-resistance, virulence, or lysogeny genes. Phylogenetic analysis assigned phage pK3–24 to the genus Przondovirus as a new species. Phage pK3–24 inhibited the production of biofilm. Moreover, treatment with pK3–24 at doses with an MOI > 1 effectively reduced the mortality of Galleria mellonella larvae infected with ST447 K. pneumoniae.

Menthol-Based Extraction of Fragile Wooden Coffin Lid (7–10th Centuries CE) in Laboratory Archaeology Excavation

Block lifting is a key step in stabilizing and removing fragile remains at archaeological excavation sites. Due to its favorable working properties and adhesive effect, menthol has recently been proposed as a volatile binding medium for temporary consolidation in archaeological conservation. This paper presents a case study on the use of menthol in the extraction and restoration of a large wooden coffin lid, approximately 1.9 m long and 0.9 m wide, from tomb 11 (M11) at Xie’ertala, located east of a Xie’ertala town in Hailar City, Inner Mongolia, dating to the 7th to 10th centuries CE. This coffin lid had fragmented into numerous wooden pieces, and was preserved in a relatively arid steppe environment, necessitating the extraction of the lid as a consolidated block. The use of menthol for consolidating and lifting the highly fragmented wooden coffin lid was intended to preserve critical archaeological information while avoiding damage to the underlying objects. An analysis of the physicochemical properties of these wooden remains suggests that the timber used for the coffin lid belongs to a common pine species from the Hulunbuir region. The degradation of the coffin lid was relatively mild, as shown by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results. Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) tests indicated that the hygroscopicity of the archaeological wood was 23.4%, compared to 21.1% for the reference sample, demonstrating good environmental stability. The safety of menthol as a treatment for fragile wooden remains was evaluated by comparing changes in the morphological and porosity characteristics of the coffin lid before and after menthol treatment. After treatment, the widths of the fissures remained largely unchanged, with all relative variations being less than 1%, and the porosity as well as pore size distribution of the wood showed negligible changes. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that only 0.6% of menthol residue remained after 8 days of sublimation. This pilot study demonstrates that menthol is a safe temporary consolidant for block lifting and offers a promising alternative to the widely used cyclododecane. In conclusion, this research provided a new approach for conservators to safely lift similarly large and fragile wood remains during archaeological excavations.

Caves’ environmental stability shaping subterranean biodiversity in the neotropics

Caves, once thought to be isolated ecosystems", are now understood to have intricate connections with surface environments, particularly evident at their entrances. These connections can significantly affect the microclimate within caves, leading to varying degrees of environmental stability. Our research explores the impact of microclimate conditions, specifically related to cave environmental stability, on biodiversity changes. We surveyed subterranean invertebrates during two different seasonal periods in 17 limestone caves in three karst regions in southeastern Brazil. Our analysis aimed to understand how environmental stability influences the overall richness of cave invertebrates and troglobitic species richness (restricted to subterranean habitats). We hypothesized that more stable caves would experience less fluctuation in relative species richness and lower turnover between seasons. Additionally, we anticipated that caves with greater environmental stability would harbor a higher richness of cave-restricted species in the function of their length. Our findings support these hypotheses, revealing a significant positive correlation between cave environmental stability and species richness. Caves with higher environmental stability demonstrated lower species turnover rates between seasons, indicating enhanced community stability. While environmental stability significantly affected species richness, its influence on cave-restricted species was comparatively less pronounced. This suggests a complex interplay of factors shaping the unique fauna of caves. Nonetheless, the implications of climate change underscore the importance of preserving the environmental stability of these ecosystems. Using environmental stability as a guide can help protect cave biodiversity from the adverse effects of climate change, contributing to broader conservation efforts for these unique habitats.

Dynamic Changes and Driving Factors in the Surface Area of Ebinur Lake over the Past Three Decades

Dryland lakes are indispensable to regional water resource systems. Ebinur Lake, the largest saline lake in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is vital for regional biodiversity and environmental stability but has been facing the predicament of gradual shrinkage in recent decades. In this study, we proposed a new dual-index method for Landsat (-5, -7, -8, and -9) data to extract water with the combinations of the normalized difference water index (NDWI) and the modified NDWI for turbid waters (NDWIturbid). The dual-index method showed a high overall accuracy of 96.36% for Ebinur Lake. Landsat series images from 1992 to 2023 were employed to acquire the water areas of Ebinur Lake. The results showed that, over the past three decades, the area of Ebinur Lake exhibited a fluctuating decreasing trend, with an average lake area of 568.74 ± 152.43 km². The northwest intermittent water areas showed significant changes, and there was a close connection between the northwest and core water areas. Seasonally, the lake area decreased from spring to autumn. River inflow, driven by rainfall and human activities, was the primary factor affecting the inter/inner annual changes in Ebinur Lake. Furthermore, due to the valley effects, wind was found to be a critical factor in the diurnal changes in the water areas. This study should deepen the understanding of the variations of Ebinur Lake and benefit local water resource management.

Smart Green Cotton Textiles with Hierarchically Responsive Conductive Network for Personal Healthcare and Thermal Management.

Whereas cotton as an abundant natural cellulose has been widely used for sustainable and skin-friendly textiles and clothes, developing cotton fabrics with smart functions that could respond to various stimuli is still eagerly desired while remaining a great challenge. Herein, smart multiresponsive cotton fabric with hierarchically copper nanowire interwoven MXene conductive networks that are seamlessly assembled along a 3D woven fabric template for efficient personal healthcare and thermal comfort regulation is successfully developed. The robust hierarchically interwoven conductive network was "glued" and protected by organic conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) along a 3D interconnected fabric template to enhance interfacial adherent and environmental stability. Benefiting from the robust multiresponsive hierarchically interwoven conductive network, smart cotton fabric exhibits real-time response to various external stimuli (light/electrical/heat/temperature/stress), and the details of human activities can be accurately recognized and monitored. Furthermore, the porous structure of 3D smart fabric induced strong capillary force and confinement to phase change materials PEG, which exhibits a wide range of phase transition temperatures for efficient thermal comfort regulation. After further encapsulation with transparent fluorosilicone resin, the smart cotton fabric exhibits excellent self-cleaning performance with water/oil repellent. The smart multiresponsive cotton fabrics hold great promise in next-generation wearable systems for efficient personal healthcare and thermal management.

Nanosilica-Reinforced Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Stretchable Transparent Electrodes and Multifunctional Applications.

Soft and stretchable transparent electrodes still face many challenges, requiring a balance between stretchability, conductivity, transparency, and stability. In this paper, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer is selected, and amphoteric nonionic surfactants (Triton X-100) are introduced to improve the interfacial bonding between nanosilica (SiO2) and the elastic matrix. At the same time, a fluorosilane-modified glass template is used to induce nanosilica enrichment on the membrane surface. Based on the dual effects of nanoenhancement and surface regulation, a PDMS transparent nanocomposite membrane with good stretchability, surface hydrophilicity, and easy in situ polymerization of polydopamine can be obtained. Silver nanowires (AgNWs) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) conductive polymers can be assembled layer by layer on the surface of the nanocomposite membrane by simple spin coating and heat treatment. The transmittance of the soft and stretchable composite membrane can reach 63% in the visible light range, and the strength and elongation at break increase to 2.30 MPa and 150%, respectively. The sheet resistance of the stretchable transparent dry electrode is as low as about 6 Ω/sq. After being placed in the air for 3 months, the resistance increment is less than 5%, showing good environmental stability. The stretchable transparent electrode prepared based on the material-structure-preparation integrated method has brilliant application potential in wearable thermal management, electrochromism, strain sensing, and electromagnetic shielding.

Efficacy of Phthalocyanine‐Based Catalysts in Electrochemical Sensors: A Comprehensive Review

AbstractMetal phthalocyanines (MPcs) are promising materials for electrochemical sensing due to their physicochemical properties, including redox activity, structural versatility, and chemical stability. These materials can incorporate various metals into their central core, ensuring tunable catalytic activity and enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. This makes MPcs valuable for designing advanced electrochemical sensors, which require precise and reliable performance for applications ranging from environmental monitoring to biomedical diagnostics. This review discusses the advancements in MPc‐based catalysts for electrochemical sensors, focusing on their superior catalytic properties, stability under diverse operating conditions, and high functionalization potential. The unique redox behavior of the metal center in MPcs ensures improved detection capabilities of analytes like biomolecules, heavy metal ions, and environmental pollutants, positioning MPc materials as a cornerstone in future sensor technology. MPc‐based sensors have diverse applications across various fields, including environmental sensing, medical diagnostics, and industrial process monitoring. Recent reports highlight the practical relevance and growing importance of MPcs in real‐world applications. Challenges associated with MPc‐based sensors include scalability, environmental stability, and integration into practical devices. The review concludes with a discussion on the future outlook on MPcs in the design and development of next‐generation electrochemical sensors, paving the way for more efficient, cost‐effective, and reliable detection technologies.

A hot exciton organic glassy scintillator for high-resolution X-ray imaging.

Hot exciton organic scintillators offer promising prospects due to their efficient generation of bright triplet excitons and ultrafast response time, having potential applications in security detection and medical diagnostics. However, fabricating large-area, highly transparent scintillator screens still remains challenging, impeding the realization of high-resolution X-ray imaging. Herein, we firstly demonstrate a novel highly-transparent hot exciton organic glassy scintillator (>87% transmittance @ 450-800 nm), produced using a low-temperature melt-quenching method with 2',5'-difluoro-N4,N4,N4'',N4''-tetraphenyl-[1,1':4',1''-terphenyl]-4,4''-diamine (DTPA2F) powder. Remarkably, compared to crystalline DTPA2F, which has a photoluminescence quantum yield of 67.8% and a relative light yield of 46 400 ± 406 photons MeV-1, the DTPA2F glass retains 49.8% and 28 341 ± 246 photons MeV-1, respectively. This results in a low detection limit of about 53.7 nGy s-1 and an ultrafast decay time of 1.66 ns for DTPA2F glass. Besides, it exhibits excellent environmental stability with no recrystallization or degradation after over 100 days of exposure to ambient conditions. Furthermore, the scintillator screen demonstrates exceptional spatial resolution of 38.5 lp mm-1 for X-ray imaging. It provides a simple molecular design strategy and a screen fabrication method for developing large-area, highly-transparent, efficient and ultrafast organic glassy scintillators.

The Focus and Evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility in the United Arab Emirates

Through in-depth interviews with public- and private-sector decision-makers, this qualitative study investigated modern corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its future path in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Quality education, health and well-being, environment, community development, circular economy, alignment with national priorities, consumer protection and public-private partnerships were discovered as core CSR priorities. Participants identified economic diversification, rebranding, increased environmental stability, strengthened corporate citizenship, improved regulation, and widespread differentiation as future focuses in the evolution of CSR in the UAE. The current and future emphasis of CSR is propelled by the UAE’s sustainable development objectives and human capital strategy. Transparent regulations, robust environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, and innovative strategies can distinguish responsible companies apart in the UAE. Nevertheless, it is expected that CSR will be further integrated into key business activities, aligning with evolving national economic visions, collaboration between sectors, and orientation towards a long-term impact on society. In deed the reputations of companies are enhanced through rigorous adherence to ESG standards, transparency regulations, and innovative approaches. Hence, there has been a strategic shift towards environmental sustainability, stakeholder capitalism, and robust regulation, shaping a highly competitive, impact-focused CSR environment in the UAE, consistent with economic diversification plans.

Epidemiological investigation of equine rotavirus B outbreaks in horses in central Kentucky

Using metagenomic sequencing we identified equine rotavirus group B (ERVB) of ruminant origin in foal diarrhea outbreaks in the 2021 foaling season. To further investigate ERVB occurrence and determine its environmental stability, we collected mare and foal fecal samples from different farms in Central Kentucky during the 2022 foaling season. The RT-qPCR-based analyses showed that ERVB genome was detected in 16.67 % (42/252) of surveyed mare samples and 26.56 % (34/128) of foal samples. Furthermore, 94.12 % (16/17) of collected soil samples and 100 % (13/13) of water samples obtained from the ERVB-positive farm premises also tested weakly positive. In addition, ERVB genome fragments were detected in 58.33 % (7/12) of indoor samples collected from the equipment/barn/hospital wards during the outbreak period. Finally, the seroprevalence study showed 87 % (113/130) of surveyed horse serum samples were positive for ERVB antibodies. Despite unsuccessful attempts in ERVB cultivation, phylogenetic analyses showed that fecal ERVB strains representing 2022 and 2023 foal diarrhea outbreaks, like 2021 strains, were more closely related to ruminant rotavirus B than other viruses. Further sequence analyses revealed that none of the three viral capsid proteins, the primary targets of virus-neutralizing antibodies, exhibited notable mutations among ERVB strains circulated over the past three years. Our data demonstrated that ERVB was widespread in horses on affected farms with extreme stability in the farm environment. These findings continue to support the need for future surveillance of ERVB in horses and the surrounding environment, and the development of effective countermeasures to protect horses against this new viral disease.

Highly Water‐Dispersible Spiropyran‐Octapeptide Supramolecules: Efficient, Multi‐processable, and Versatile Photoswitches for Time‐Dependent Dual‐Mode Encryption

AbstractWith exceptional photochromic and photoluminescent properties, spiropyrans have demonstrated significant potential for advanced information encryption and anti‐counterfeiting applications. However, its inherent water insolubility leads to incompatibility with aqueous polymers, and even more, its ease of leaching from the matrix hinders the formation of stable stimuli‐responsive platforms through direct blending with all polymers. Here, the fabrication of amphiphilic spiropyran‐octapeptide molecules is reported that can spontaneously self‐assemble into highly water‐dispersible supramolecular nanofibers in water. These assemblies exhibit universal polymer matrix compatibility while retaining the rapid photo‐responsiveness of spiropyrans. The formation of strong interactions between the supramolecular assembly and polymer chains ensures the long‐term stability of the resultant stimuli‐responsive materials in aqueous environments. These platforms fully preserve the base polymers’ processing properties, with silk fibroin as the matrix offering exceptional opportunities for constructing photo‐responsive platforms in various forms (e.g., films, gels, fibers, and coatings) with multiple functionalities using diverse solution processing techniques. Integrating distinct photochromic and photoluminescent responses within a single format without interference, combined with environmental stability and processing flexibility, enables the creation of dual‐mode, high‐security encryption devices for diverse application scenarios. The outlined strategy provides innovative concepts for developing high‐performance, versatile intelligent systems utilizing stimulus‐responsive molecules.

Atomically dispersed ruthenium single-atom alloy catalysts enabling efficient iodide oxidation reaction electrolysis in acidic media

Single-atom catalysts exhibit immense potential across diverse reactions, yet their synthesis and stability in acidic environments pose significant challenges. Herein, we introduce a facile one-step hydrothermal approach to fabricate Ru single-atom alloy catalysts (Ru SAAC) through the reaction of Ru and Ti precursors, followed by annealing in an argon atmosphere. Analysis via extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy confirms the atomically dispersed Ru alloy catalyst anchored on a TiO2 support. Remarkably, Ru SAAC demonstrates exceptional electrocatalytic performance in the iodide oxidation reaction (IOR), achieving a benchmark current density of 10 mA/cm2 at a mere voltage of 0.64 V in acidic conditions within a three-electrode electrolyzer setup. Surpassing nanoscale Ru/TiO2 and RuO2/TiO2 counterparts, Ru SAAC exhibits the highest voltage efficiency (84.4%), lowest Tafel slope (36 mV/dec), and lowest overpotential (100 mV) under identical experimental conditions. This method enables facile control over Ru morphology. It enhances the kinetics and thermodynamic favorability of Ru SAAC in acidic media, opening avenues for synthesizing diverse transition metal-based single-alloy catalysts for varied applications.

Integrating social, climate and environmental changes to confront accelerating global aging

IntroductionThe global increase in the aging population presents critical challenges for healthcare systems, social security, and economic stability worldwide. Although the studies of the global rate of aging have increased more than four times in the past two decades, few studies have integrated the potential combined effects of socio-economic, climatic, and environmental factors.MethodsWe calculated the geographic heterogeneity of aging population growth rates from 218 countries between 1960 and 2022. Public databases were then integrated to assess the impacts of seven global stressors: socio-economic vulnerability, temperature, drought, seasonality, climate extremes, air pollution, and greening vulnerability on growth rates of aging population (a totally 156 countries). Linear regression models were primarily used to test the statistically significant effects of these stressors on the rate of aging, and multiple model inference was then used to test whether the number of stressors exceeding specific thresholds (e.g., > 25, 50, and 75%) was consistently significant in the best models. The importance of stressors and the number of stressors exceeding thresholds was verified using random forest models for countries experiencing different population aging rates.ResultsOur analysis identified significant heterogeneity in growth rates of aging population globally, with many African countries exhibiting significantly lower aging rates compared with Europe. High socio-economic vulnerability, increased climate risks (such as high temperature and intensive extreme climate), and decreased environmental quality were found to significantly increase growth rates of the aging population (P < 0.05). The positive combined impacts of these stressors were diminished at medium–high levels of stressors (i.e., relative to their maximum levels observed in nature). The number of global stressors exceeding the 25% threshold emerged as an important predictor of global aging rates. Demographic changes in regions with relatively rapid aging (e.g., Africa and Asia) are more sensitive to climate change (e.g., extreme climate and drought) and the number of global stressors, and regions with low to medium rates of aging (e.g., Europe and the Americas) are more sensitive to socio-economic vulnerability and environmental stability (e.g., drought, green fragility and air pollution).ConclusionsOur findings underscore that policy tools or methods must be developed that consider the holistic dimension of the global factor. Further investigations are essential to understand the complex interactions between multiple stressors and their combined effects on global aging.

Synergetic effect of non-invasive posttreatment agents enables highly efficient and stable all-inorganic Sn-Pb perovskite solar cells

All-inorganic tin–lead perovskites present a promising avenue for achieving an ideal bandgap, approaching the Shockley-Queisser limit, while circumventing the use of volatile organic cations. However, challenges such as relatively low power conversion efficiency (PCE) and rapid degradation dynamics—stemming from complex film crystallization mechanisms and Sn oxidation—hinder their advancement. In this study, we employed sequential interface engineering on the CsPb0.6Sn0.4I3 system, utilizing non-invasive carbazole propylamine bromide and ethylenediamine diiodide as post-treatment agents. This approach significantly enhances both the bulk structure and surface morphology, thereby promoting charge transport, suppressing non-radiative recombination, and improving structural stability. The champion device achieved a PCE of 16.62 % and demonstrated over 2200 h of T80 stability in dry N2. Remarkably, stability in high-humidity environments was validated through device aging tests and in situ GIWAXS analysis. These results underscore the substantial potential of sub-1.4 eV bandgap all-inorganic Sn-Pb perovskite solar cells.

Improving the pore properties of porous aromatic frameworks in two aspects via partition strategy

Microporous solids are famous for their high surface area and pore size at the molecular scale, which are crucial for the applications of adsorption, separation and catalysis. An ideal porous solid would simultaneously have a high surface area and nanopores with the desired opening size. However, due to the uncontrollable reaction process of porous organic frameworks (POFs), the acquisition of such a solid is still technically limited. Herein, we reported a simple but platform-wide pore partition strategy to improve the porosity of porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) in two aspects. This strategy was achieved by introducing a partition unit with flexible linkage to segment the original voids of PAFs into multiple micropore domains. The obtained partitioning PAFs have 130%-217% increments in surface area due to the creation of extra accessible surfaces while the pores are segmented into smaller ones. Notably, the partitioning PAFs showed significantly increased adsorption capacity for CO2 due to their improved surface area. At the same time, the narrowed pore size allowed selective capture of dye molecules by their size differences. Similar to their parent PAFs, the partitioning PAFs retained their high stability in harsh environments. A simple and universal pore partition strategy will be an important step in improving PAF porosity to desired functions.

Multifunctional MnGA Nanozymes for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Reducing Intestinal Inflammation and Regulating the Intestinal Flora.

In ulcerative colitis (UC), the formation of an inflammatory environment is due to the combined effects of excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, and disruption of immune system function. There are many kinds of traditional drugs for the clinical treatment of UC, but long-term drug use can cause toxic side effects and drug resistance and can also reduce patient compliance and other drawbacks. Hence, in light of the clinical challenges associated with UC, including the limitations of existing treatments, intense adverse reactions and the development of resistance to medications, no novel therapeutic agents that offer effective relief and maintain a high level of biosafety are urgently needed. Although many anti-inflammatory nanomedicines have been developed by researchers, the development of efficient and nontoxic nanomedicines is still a major challenge in clinical medicine. Using the natural product gallic acid and the metal compound manganese chloride, a highly effective and nontoxic multifunctional nanoenzyme was developed for the treatment of UC. Nanozymes can effectively eliminate ROS and RNS to reduce the inflammation of intestinal epithelial cells caused by oxidation, facilitate the restoration of the intestinal epithelial barrier through the upregulation of tight junction protein expression, and balance the intestinal microbiota to maintain the stability of the intestinal environment. Using a rodent model designed to mimic UC, we monitored body weight, colon length, the spleen index, and the degree of tissue damage and demonstrated that manganese gallate (MnGA) nanoparticles can reduce intestinal inflammation by clearing ROS and active nitrogen. Intestinal flora sequencing revealed that MnGA nanoparticles could regulate the intestinal flora, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and decrease the levels of detrimental bacteria within the intestinal tract in a mouse model of UC. Thus, MnGA nanoparticles can maintain the balance of the intestinal flora. This study demonstrated that MnGA nanoparticles are excellent antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory agents, have good biosafety, and can effectively treat UC.

2,2'-Bipyridyl-4,4'-Dicarboxylic Acid Modified Buried Interface of High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells.

The regulation of interfaces remains a critical and challenging aspect in the pursuit of highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (HBPDC) is incorporated as an interfacial layer between SnO2 and perovskite layers in PSCs. The two carboxylic acid moieties on HBPDC bind to SnO2 through esterification, while its nitrogen atoms, possessing lone electron pairs, interact with uncoordinated lead (Pb2+) atoms through Lewis acid-base interactions. This dual functionality enables simultaneous passivation of surface defects on both the SnO2 and buried perovskite layers. In addition, the electron-deficient nature of HBPDC enhances interfacial energy band alignment and facilitates electron transfer from the perovskite to SnO2. Furthermore, the incorporation of HBPDC strengthens the interfacial adhesion, improving mechanical reliability. As a result, the PSCs exhibited an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.41 % under standard AM 1.5G conditions, along with remarkable environmental stability.

Customizing Aniline-Derived Molecular Structures to Attain beyond 22 % Efficient Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells.

The characteristics of the soft component and the ionic-electronic nature in all-inorganic CsPbI3-xBrx perovskite typically lead to a significant number of halide vacancy defects and ions migration, resulting in a reduction in both photovoltaic efficiency and stability. Herein, we present a tailored approach in which both anion-fixation and undercoordinated-Pb passivation are achieved in situ during crystallization by employing a molecule derived from aniline, specifically 2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethylaniline (MFA), to address the above challenges. The incorporation of MFA into the perovskite film results in a pronounced inhibition of ion migration, a significant reduction in trap density, an enhancement in grain size, an extension of charge carrier lifetime, and a more favorable alignment of energy levels. These advantageous characteristics contribute to achieving a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.14 % for the MFA-based CsPbI3-xBrx perovskite solar cells (PSCs), representing the highest efficiency reported thus far for this type of inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells, to the best of our knowledge. Moreover, the resultant PSCs exhibits higher environmental stability and photostability. This strategy is anticipated to offer significant advantages for large-area fabrication, particularly in terms of simplicity.

Bionic cell wall models: Utilizing TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers for fucoxanthin delivery systems

Fucoxanthin (FX) has various excellent biological properties but suffers from poor bioavailability. In this work, we build a bionic cell wall model using TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy)-oxidized cellulose. The bionic cell wall enhances the environmental stability of the liposomes and serves as a pH-responsive mechanism. The coating processes protect the structure of liposomes and fucoxanthin under the acidic conditions of the stomach. The bionic cell wall disperses and releases the fucoxanthin in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Overall, the protective and release capabilities highlight the potential of cellulose in a bionic cell wall model and provide diversity for the structural design of carriers for delivering functional bioactive components.