Effects Of Stimuli Research Articles

Sustaining attention in affective contexts during adolescence: age-related differences and association with elevated symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Sustained attention, a key cognitive skill that improves during childhood and adolescence, tends to be worse in some emotional and behavioural disorders. Sustained attention is typically studied in non-affective task contexts; here, we used a novel task to index performance in affective versus neutral contexts across adolescence (N = 465; ages 11-18). We asked whether: (i) performance would be worse in negative versus neutral task contexts; (ii) performance would improve with age; (iii) affective interference would be greater in younger adolescents; (iv) adolescents at risk for depression and higher in anxiety would show overall worse performance; and (v) would show differential performance in negative contexts. Results indicated that participants performed more poorly in negative contexts and showed age-related performance improvements. Those at risk of depression performed more poorly than those at lower risk. However, there was no difference between groups as a result of affective context. For anxiety there was no difference in performance as a function of severity. However, those with higher anxiety showed less variance in their reaction times to negative stimuli than those with lower anxiety. One interpretation is that moderate levels of emotional arousal associated with anxiety make individuals less susceptible to the distracting effects of negative stimuli.

Mechanical Strain Induces and Increases Vesicular Release Monitored by Microfabricated Stretchable Electrodes.

Exocytosis involving the fusion of intracellular vesicles with cell membrane, is thought to be modulated by the mechanical cues in the microenvironment. Single-cell electrochemistry can offer unique information about the quantification and kinetics of exocytotic events, however, the effects of mechanical force on vesicular release has been poorly explored. Herein, we developed a stretchable microelectrode with excellent electrochemical stability under mechanical deformation by microfabrication of functionalized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive ink, which achieved real-time quantitation of strain-induced vesicular exocytosis from a single cell for the first time. We found that mechanical strain could cause calcium influx via the activation of Piezo1 channel in chromaffin cell, initiating the vesicular exocytosis process. Interestingly, mechanical strain increases the amount of catecholamines release by accelerating the opening and prolonging the closing of fusion pore during exocytosis. This work is expected to provide a revealing insight on the regulatory effects of mechanical stimuli on vesicular exocytosis.

A mathematical model for the role of dopamine-D2 self-regulation in the production of ultradian rhythms.

Many self-motivated and goal-directed behaviours display highly flexible, approximately 4 hour ultradian (shorter than a day) oscillations. Despite lacking direct correspondence to physical cycles in the environment, these ultradian rhythms may be involved in optimizing functional interactions with the environment and reflect intrinsic neural dynamics. Current evidence supports a role of mesostriatal dopamine (DA) in the expression and propagation of ultradian rhythmicity, however, the biochemical processes underpinning these oscillations remain to be identified. Here, we use a mathematical model to investigate D2 autoreceptor-dependent DA self-regulation as the source of ultradian behavioural rhythms. DA concentration at the midbrain-striatal synapses is governed through a dual-negative feedback-loop structure, which naturally gives rise to rhythmicity. This model shows the propensity of striatal DA to produce an ultradian oscillation characterized by a flexible period that is highly sensitive to parameter variations. Circadian (approximately 24 hour) regulation consolidates the ultradian oscillations and alters their response to the phase-dependent, rapid-resetting effect of a transient excitatory stimulus. Within a circadian framework, the ultradian rhythm orchestrates behavioural activity and enhances responsiveness to an external stimulus. This suggests a role for the circadian-ultradian timekeeping hierarchy in governing organized behaviour and shaping daily experience through coordinating the motivation to engage in recurring, albeit not highly predictable events, such as social interactions.

Food temperature altered macronutrients induced changes in satiety hormones; glucagon - like peptide -1 and cholecystokinin and their correlation with subjective satiety

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The benefits of dietary macronutrients for weight management depend on the integrity of gut hormones. The role of food temperature in the release of satiety hormones and satiety needs elucidation. We aimed to determine the impact of different food temperatures with varying macronutrient compositions on satiety-related gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and cholecystokinin (CCK) and find the correlation of satiety hormones with appetite scores and remainder-day food (energy) intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen healthy participants (eight males and five females) aged 25–35 years with body mass index 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 with no medical illnesses or eating disorders consumed three compositions of meals (high carbohydrate, high fat, and high protein meals) each at three temperatures (cold, warm, and hot) in a randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover design. Plasma concentrations of peptide hormones were determined at 0, 30, and 240 minutes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and 24-hours food recall was used for remainder-day food intake (remainder energy). RESULTS: A comparison of the three meals at the three temperatures (total of nine groups), showed that the GLP-1 and CCK plasma concentrations were significantly different (P < 0.001). GLP-1 and CCK responses increased more after hot meals than cold meals. Overall, high-fat meals had more effective gut hormone secretions. The area under the curve was increased for GLP-1 in high-fat meals and for CCK in hot meals. The peptide hormones (GLP-1 and CCK) were positively correlated with satiety scores and inversely with remainder food intake. CONCLUSION: The temperature of food was found to be an effective stimulus for the regulation of CCK and GLP-1 secretion. Hot food temperature increased satiety hormones (CCK and GLP-1), independent of food macronutrient composition.

4D printing of fiber-reinforced auxetic structures: the building blocks: A review

Abstract Four-dimensional (4D) printing has recently received much attention in the field of smart materials. It concerns using additive manufacturing to obtain geometries that can change shape under the effect of different stimuli. Such a technique enables the fabrication of 3D printed parts with the additional functionality of scalable, programmable, and controllable part shapes over time. 
This review provides a comprehensive examination of advances in the field of 4D printing, emphasizing the integration of fiber reinforcement and auxetic structures as crucial building blocks. 
The incorporation of fibers enhances structural integrity, while auxetic design principles contribute unique mechanical properties, such as negative Poisson's ratio and great potential for energy absorption due to their specific deformation mechanisms. Therefore, they present potential applications in aerospace, drones, and robotics.
The objective of this review article is first to describe the distinctive properties of shape memory polymers (SMPs), auxetic structures, and composite (fiber-reinforced) materials. A review of applications that use combinations of such materials is also presented when appropriate. The goal is to get a grip on the delicate balance between the different properties achievable in each case. The paper concludes by describing recent advances in 4D printing of fiber-reinforced auxetic structures.

Awe and time perception

The aim of this study was to systematically examine the effect of awe-inducing stimuli on the judgment of time. Three experiments were conducted using temporal bisection tasks in which participants viewed awe-inducing and no awe-inducing images presented for different durations and were asked to judge whether their duration was similar to a short or long anchor duration. Images of panoramic landscapes and images of the faces of well-known and admired people were used in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In experiment 3, they did not judge the duration of the images, but that of a neutral stimulus occurring during the presentation of images. In each experiment, participants rated the awe-inducing and no-awe-inducing images according to their components: admiration, beauty, awe, emotional valence, arousal, symbolic self-size, and full-body self-size. Results consistently showed significant time distortions when participants viewed the different awe-inducing images compared to the no-awe images, although the effect was weaker for the images of faces than for those of landscapes. Time distortion took the form of temporal lengthening in Experiments 1 and 2 and shortening in Experiment 3. These different temporal distortions are consistent with attention effects due to awe-inducing stimuli which capture attention to the detriment of time processing.

Effect of emotional stimulus on response inhibition in people with mild cognitive impairment: an event-related potential study

BackgroundA few studies are emerging to explore the issue of how aging promotes emotional response inhibition. However, there is a lack of empirical study concerning the impact of pathological cognitive impairment on emotional response inhibition. The present study investigated the effect of emotion on response inhibition in people with mild cognitive impairment, the stage of cognitive impairment before dementia.MethodsWe used two emotional stop-signal tasks to explore whether the dual competition framework considering limited cognitive resources could explain the relationship between emotion and response inhibition in mild cognitive impairment.ResultsThe results showed that negative emotions prolonged N2 latency. The Go trial accuracy was reduced in the high-arousal negative conditions and the stop-signal reaction time was prolonged under high-arousal conditions. This study also verified impaired response inhibition in mild cognitive impairment and found that negative emotions prolonged P3 latency in mild cognitive impairment.ConclusionEmotional information interferes with response inhibition in mild cognitive impairment populations, possibly because emotional information captures more attentional resources, thus interfering with response inhibition that relies on common-pool resources.

Discriminative stimulus properties of Cannabis sativa terpenes in rats.

Cannabis is a pharmacologically complex plant consisting of hundreds of potentially active compounds. One class of compounds present in cannabis that has received little attention are terpenes. Traditionally thought to impart aroma and flavor to cannabis, it has become increasingly recognized that terpenes might exert therapeutic effects themselves. Several recent reports have also indicated terpenes might behave as cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor agonists. This study aimed to investigate whether several terpenes present in cannabis produce discriminative stimulus effects similar to or enhance the effects of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Subsequent experiments explored other potential cannabimimetic effects of these terpenes. Rats were trained to discriminate THC from vehicle while responding under a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of food presentation. Substitution testing was performed with the CB receptor agonist JWH-018 and the terpenes linalool, limonene, γ-terpinene and α-humulene alone. Terpenes were also studied in combination with THC. Finally, THC and terpenes were tested in the tetrad assay to screen for CB1-receptor agonist-like effects. THC and JWH-018 dose-dependently produced responding on the THC-paired lever. When administered alone, none of the terpenes produced responding predominantly on the THC-paired lever. When administered in combination with THC, none of the terpenes enhanced the potency of THC, and in the case of α-humulene, decreased the potency of THC to produce responding on the THC-paired lever. While THC produced effects in all four tetrad components, none of the terpenes produced effects in all four components. Therefore, the terpenes examined in this report do not have effects consistent with CB1 receptor agonist properties in the brain.

Impact of psychic distance stimuli on international tourist flows: A cross-country analysis

Research on psychic distance in tourism studies has mainly focused on perceived psychic distance, while little attention has been paid to psychic distance stimuli. Applying the Cultural-Administrative-Geographic-Economic (CAGE) distance framework, this study employs a gravity model framework to investigate the relationship between psychic distance stimuli and international tourist flows and the moderating role of Internet popularity in such a relationship based on information asymmetry theory. Further, this study investigates the effects of psychic distance stimuli along the cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic dimensions. The empirical analysis is based on a panel dataset of bilateral tourist flows between 56 countries from 2006 to 2019. The results indicate that psychic distance stimuli negatively impact international tourist flows, but the negative effect decreases with increasing Internet penetration rate in countries of origin. The four distance dimensions exert negative effects on bilateral tourist flows. This study also provides implications for alleviating the impact of psychic distance stimuli between countries derived by COVID-19 on international tourism in the post-pandemic era.

EnduroBone: A 3D printed bioreactor for extended bone tissue culture

Studies of the effects of external stimuli on bone tissue, disease transmission mechanisms, and potential medication discoveries benefit from long-term tissue viability ex vivo. By simulating the in-vivo environment, bioreactors are essential for studying bone cellular activity throughout biological processes. We present the development of an automated 3D-printed bioreactor EnduroBone designed to sustain the ex-vivo viability of 10 mm diameter cancellous bone cores for an extended period. The device is supplied with two critical parameters for maintaining bone tissue viability: closed-loop continuous flow perfusion of 1 mL/min for nutrient diffusion and waste removal and direct mechanical stimulation with cyclic compression at 13.2 RPM (revolutions per minute) to promote cell viability which can lead to improved tissue stability during ex vivo culturing. The bioreactor addresses several limitations of existing systems and provides a versatile open-source platform for bone cancer research, orthopedic device testing, and other related applications. To validate the bioreactor, fresh swine samples were cultured ex-vivo, and their cell viability was determined to be maintained for up to 28 days. Periodic cell viability assessment through live/dead cell staining and confocal imaging at the start (0 days) and at several time points throughout the culture period (7, 14, 21, and 28 days) was used to demonstrate EnduroBone effectiveness in sustaining bone cell health for the extended period tested.

The mechanical effects of chemical stimuli on neurospheres.

The formulation of more accurate models to describe tissue mechanics necessitates the availability of tools and instruments that can precisely measure the mechanical response of tissues to physical loads and other stimuli. In this regard, neuroscience has trailed other life sciences owing to the unavailability of representative live tissue models and deficiency of experimentation tools. We previously addressed both challenges by employing a novel instrument called the cantilevered-capillary force apparatus (CCFA) to elucidate the mechanical properties of mouse neurospheres under compressive forces. The neurospheres were derived from murine stem cells, and our study was the first of its kind to investigate the viscoelasticity of living neural tissues in vitro. In the current study, we demonstrate the utility of theCCFA as a broadly applicable tool to evaluate tissue mechanics by quantifying the effect that oxidative stress has on the mechanical properties of neurospheres. We treated mouse neurospheres with non-cytotoxic levels of hydrogen peroxide and subsequently evaluated the storage and loss moduli of the tissues under compression and tension. We observed that the neurospheres exhibit viscoelasticity consistent with neural tissue and show that elastic modulus decreases with increasing size of the neurosphere. Our study yields insights for establishing rheological measurements as biomarkers by laying the groundwork for measurement techniques and showing that the influence of a particular treatment may be misinterpreted if the size dependence is ignored.

Pressure-Induced Structural, Optical and Magnetic Modifications in Lanthanide Single-Molecule Magnets.

Lanthanide Single-Molecule Magnets are fascinating objects that break magnetic performance records with observable magnetic bistability at the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen, paving the way for potential applications in high-density data storage. The switching of lanthanide SMM has been successfully achieved using several external stimuli such as redox reaction, pH titration, light irradiation or solvation/desolvation thanks to the high sensitivity of the magnetic anisotropy to any structural change in the lanthanide surrounding. Nevertheless, the use of applied high pressure as an external stimulus is largely underused, especially considering that it can be combined with high pressure X-ray diffraction to establish a complementary structure-property relationship. This Concept article summarizes the few relevant examples of investigations of lanthanide SMMs under applied high pressure, provides conclusions on the effect of such stimulus on molecular structures and magnetic anisotropy, and finally draws perspective on the future development of magnetic measurements under applied pressure.

Methodology and Characterization of a 3D Bone Organoid Model Derived from Murine Cells.

Here, we report on the development of a cost-effective, well-characterized three-dimensional (3D) model of bone homeostasis derived from commonly available stocks of immortalized murine cell lines and laboratory reagents. This 3D murine-cell-derived bone organoid model (3D-mcBOM) is adaptable to a range of contexts and can be used in conjunction with surrogates of osteoblast and osteoclast function to study cellular and molecular mechanisms that affect bone homeostasis in vitro or to augment in vivo models of physiology or disease. The 3D-mcBOM was established using a pre-osteoblast murine cell line, which was seeded into a hydrogel extracellular matrix (ECM) and differentiated into functional osteoblasts (OBs). The OBs mineralized the hydrogel ECM, leading to the deposition and consolidation of hydroxyapatite into bone-like organoids. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the mineralized matrix formed in the 3D-mcBOM was bone. The histological staining of 3D-mcBOM samples indicated a consistent rate of ECM mineralization. Type I collagen C-telopeptide (CTX1) analysis was used to evaluate the dynamics of OC differentiation and activity. Reliable 3D models of bone formation and homeostasis align with current ethical trends to reduce the use of animal models. This functional model of bone homeostasis provides a cost-effective model system using immortalized cell lines and easily procured supplemental compounds, which can be assessed by measuring surrogates of OB and OC function to study the effects of various stimuli in future experimental evaluations of bone homeostasis.

Blueprint for destigmatizing depression and increasing openness to treatment among adolescents using brief social contact-based videos: a qualitative study

BackgroundDepression is a major public health concern for adolescents, who exhibit low rates of connection to care despite significant needs. Although barriers to help-seeking such as stigma are well documented, interventions to address stigma and to increase help-seeking behavior are insufficient. Dissemination of short videos in social media offer a promising approach, but designing effective stimuli requires better insight into adolescents’ perspectives of their own experiences, barriers, and possible interventions.MethodsWe conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with adolescents recruited online via RecruitMe, a Columbia University clinical research registry, to explore their perceptions of depression stigma, barriers to care, the role of schools, and the role of brief video interventions. Thematic analysis guided our analytic approach.ResultsWe developed a model consisting of three major domains: (1) Barriers to Help-Seeking, which depicts participants debating their locus of control, naming social, parental, and peer stigma, and acknowledging systemic barriers; (2) Importance of School Systems, in which participants elaborated on the role of schools filling unmet needs and the importance of being taken care of; and (3) Role of Social Media Videos, characterized by adolescents who are seeking legitimacy, finding cultural authenticity, and working towards creating an accessible blueprint for better mental healthcare.DiscussionWe provide insights into adolescents’ perceptions of help-seeking for depression and what nuances they would hope to see reflected in future interventions, most notably school-based interventions and peer social media videos. Our study offers a steppingstone towards the creation of brief, social contact-based video interventions focused on destigmatizing depression and promoting openness to treatment among adolescents.

Disruption of positive- and negative-feature morphine interoceptive occasion setters by dopamine receptor agonism and antagonism in male and female rats.

Internally perceived stimuli evoked by morphine administration can form Pavlovian associations such that they can function as occasion setters (OSs) for externally perceived reward cues in rats, coming to modulate reward-seeking behaviour. Though much research has investigated mechanisms underlying opioid-related reinforcement and analgesia, neurotransmitter systems involved in the functioning of opioids as Pavlovian interoceptive discriminative stimuli remain to be disentangled despite documented differences in the development of tolerance to analgesic versus discriminative stimulus effects. Dopamine has been implicated in many opioid-related behaviours, so we aimed to investigate the role of this neurotransmitter in expression of morphine occasion setting. Male and female rats were assigned to positive- (FP) or negative-feature (FN) groups and received an injection of morphine or saline before each training session. A 15-s white noise conditioned stimulus (CS) was presented 8 times during every training session; offset of this stimulus was followed by 4-s access to liquid sucrose on morphine, but not saline, sessions for FP rats. FN rats learned the reverse contingency. Following stable discrimination, rats began generalization testing for expression of morphine-guided sucrose seeking after systemic pretreatment with different doses of the non-selective dopamine receptor antagonist, flupenthixol, and the non-selective dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine, combined with training doses of morphine or saline in a Latin-square design. The morphine discrimination was acquired under both FP and FN contingencies by males and females. Neither flupenthixol nor apomorphine at any dose substituted for morphine, but both apomorphine and flupenthixol disrupted expression of the morphine OS. This inhibition was specific to sucrose seeking during CS presentations rather than during the period before CS onset and, in the case of apomorphine more so than flupenthixol, to trials on which access to sucrose was anticipated. Our findings lend support to a mechanism of occasion setting involving gating of CS-induced dopamine release rather than by direct dopaminergic modulation by the morphine stimulus.

A new Eosin Y-based ‘turn[sbnd]on’ fluorescent sensor for ratiometric sensing of toxic mercury ion (Hg2+) offering unaided eye detection and its antibacterial activity

A unique fluorescent molecule (ND-S) was obtained from Eosin Y in two simple yet high yielding steps (1). ND-S has special metal ion sensing ability, such that it can selectively detect toxic Hg2+ present in very low concentration in aqueous solutions in the presence of other competing metal ions. The host-guest complexation is ratiometric and is associated with significant increase in fluorescence during the process. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments provided thermodynamic parameters related to interaction between ND-S and Hg2+. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the Hg2+(aq) removal efficiency of ND-S was estimated to be 99.88%. Appreciable limit of detection (LOD = 7.4nM) was observed. Other competing ions did not interfere with the sensing of Hg2+ by ND-S. The effects of external stimuli (temperature and pH) were studied. Besides, the complex (ND-M), formed by 1:1 coordination of ND-S and Hg2+ was found to be effective against the survival of Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. subtilis) with a high selectivity index. Moreover, bacterial cell death mechanism was studied systematically. Overall, we have shown the transformation of a toxic species (Hg2+), extracted from polluted water by a biocompatible sensor (ND-S), into an effective and potent antibacterial agent (ND-M). Environmental ImplicationMercuric (Hg2+) ions are highly mobile and non-biodegradable water pollutants that biomagnify and adversely affect human health, even in small doses. Herein, a new molecular sensor (ND-S) is synthesized that is capable of sensing and removing Hg2+ ions from water with high selectivity, sensitivity, efficiency, and recyclability. Overall, ND-S is an Eosin Y-based inexpensive sensor that is useful for detection of Hg2+ (a health hazard). The resultant complex (ND-M) possesses superior ability to destroy human pathogens (S. aureus and B. subtilis) that are frequently present in water sources.

HSP70 — A Key Regulator in Chondrocyte Homeostasis Under Naturally Coupled Hydrostatic Pressure-Thermal Stimuli

ObjectiveDuring physical activities, chondrocytes experience coupled stimulation of hydrostatic pressure (HP) and a transient increase in temperature (T), with the latter varying within a physiological range from 32.5 °C to 38.7 °C. Previous short-term in vitro studies have demonstrated that the combined HP-T stimuli more significantly enhance chondroinduction and chondroprotection of chondrocytes than isolated applications. Interestingly, this combined benefit is associated with a corresponding increase in HSP70 levels when HP and T are combined. The current study therefore explored the indispensable role of HSP70 in mediating the combined effects of HP-T stimuli on chondrocytes. DesignIn this mid-long-term study of in vitro engineered cartilage constructs, we assessed chondrocyte responses to HP-T stimuli using customized bioreactor in standard and HSP70-inhibited cultures. ResultsSurprisingly, under HSP70-inhibited conditions, the usually beneficial HP-T stimuli, especially its thermal component, exerted detrimental effects on chondrocyte homeostasis, showing a distinct and unfavorable shift in gene and protein expression patterns compared to non-HSP70-inhibited settings. Such effects were corroborated through mechanical testing and confirmed using a secondary cell source. A proteomic-based mechanistic analysis revealed a disruption in the balance between biosynthesis and fundamental cellular structural components in HSP70-inhibited conditions under HP-T stimuli. ConclusionsOur results highlight the critical role of sufficient HSP70 induction in mediating the beneficial effects of coupled HP-T stimulation on chondrocytes. These findings help pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to enhance physiotherapy outcomes and potentially shed light on the elusive mechanisms underlying the onset of cartilage degeneration, a long-standing enigma in orthopedics.

Characterization of the genetic determinants of context-specific DNA methylation in primary monocytes.

To better understand inter-individual variation in sensitivity of DNA methylation (DNAm) to immune activity, we characterized effects of inflammatory stimuli on primary monocyte DNAm (n= 190). We find that monocyte DNAm is site-dependently sensitive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), with LPS-induced demethylation occurring following hydroxymethylation. We identify 7,359 high-confidence immune-modulated CpGs (imCpGs) that differ in genomic localization and transcription factor usage according to whether they represent a gain or loss in DNAm. Demethylated imCpGs are profoundly enriched for enhancers and colocalize to genes enriched for disease associations, especially cancer. DNAm is age associated, and we find that 24-h LPS exposure triggers approximately 6months of gain in epigenetic age, directly linking epigenetic aging with innate immune activity. By integrating LPS-induced changes in DNAm with genetic variation, we identify 234 imCpGs under local genetic control. Exploring shared causal loci between LPS-induced DNAm responses and human disease traits highlights examples of disease-associated loci that modulate imCpG formation.

How extended reality influences e-commerce consumers: A literature review

Extended reality (XR) has attracted the attention of both scholars and practitioners, and the literature addressing XR in the e-commerce context has expanded. Based on the reviewed literature, the current study applied a systematic literature review method to investigate XR use in e-commerce at the individual-consumer level. It aimed to holistically explain how XR use affects individual consumers in B2C e-commerce. The screening of 71 selected peer-reviewed journal articles that had been published since 2000 enabled the current research to identify which factors affect XR use in B2C e-commerce for individual consumers. Specifically, this study analyzed the effects of stimuli on consumers’ cognitive, emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral responses to XR-based e-commerce and the interacting effects among technological, consumer, and product-related factors. Based on the literature review’s findings, an integrated framework is proposed to explain how XR influences individual e-commerce consumers, and four avenues for future research are recommended. This study provides scholars with a holistic understanding of how XR affects consumers in B2C e-commerce at the individual level. It also provides e-commerce practitioners with useful guidelines concerning consumer experience management in XR-based online shopping.

External and internal stimuli for enhanced supercapacitor performance

Use of internal and external stimuli can be an alternative tool to address the limitations of a supercapacitor for its enhanced electrochemical properties. Influence of internal stimuli, such as redox active dopants and vacancies, can alter the electronic structure or phase of the electrode material, leading to an improved redox behavior of the pseudo-capacitors by virtue of electron polarizations, leading to a better electrochemical charge transfer kinetics. On the other hand, external stimuli, such as applied magnetic field, can alter the diffusion characteristics of the active ions in the electrolyte, thereby changing the ion/charge rearrangement and ion diffusion characteristics within supercapacitor electrodes. This Perspective emphasizes the importance of these two aspects, supported by an in-depth literature review to give a comprehensive overview of internal and external stimuli effects in designing the model systems for future electrochemical applications.