Strategic Combination Research Articles

Exploitation of Perennial Plant Biomass for Particleboards Designed for Insulation Applications

With rising demand for wood products and reduced wood harvesting due to the European Green Deal, alternative lignocellulosic materials for insulation are necessary. In this work, we manufactured reference particleboard from industrial particles and fifteen different board variants from alternative lignocellulosic plants material, i.e., five types of perennial plant biomass in three substitutions: 30, 50 and 75% of their share in the board with a nominal density of 250 kg/m3. Within the analysis of manufactured boards, the mechanical, chemical and thermal properties were investigated—internal bond, formaldehyde emissions, thermal insulation, heat transfer coefficient and thermal conductivity. In the case of thermal conductivity, the most promising results from a practical point of view (W/mK < 0.07) were obtained with Sida hermaphrodita and Miscanthus, achieving the best results at 50% substitution. The lowest formaldehyde emissions were recorded for boards with Panicum virgatum and Miscanthus, highlighting their positive environmental performance. In terms of mechanical properties, the highest internal bond was noticed in particleboards with a 30% substitution of Spartina pectinata and Miscanthus. Research findings confirm the potential of perennial plants as a sustainable source of raw materials for insulation panel manufacturing. Despite needing improvements in mechanical properties, most notably internal bond strength, these plants offer an ecologically responsible solution aligned with global construction trends, thus lessening reliance on traditional wood products. Thus, long-term benefits may be realized through the strategic combination of diverse raw materials within a single particleboard.

Comparative Sensitivity of MRI Indices for Myelin Assessment in Spinal Cord Regions

Background/Objectives: Although multiple magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indices are known to be sensitive to the noninvasive assessment of myelin integrity, their relative sensitivities have not been directly compared. This study aimed to identify the most sensitive MRI index for characterizing myelin composition in the spinal cord’s gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM). Methods: MRI was performed on a deer’s ex vivo cervical spinal cord. Quantitative indices known to be sensitive to myelin, including the myelin water fraction (MWF), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), the signal ratio between T1- and T2-weighted images (T1W/T2W), fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), electrical conductivity (σ), and T1, T2, and T1ρ relaxation times were calculated. Their mean values were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Bonferroni tests or Friedman and post hoc Wilcoxon tests to identify differences across GM and WM columns possessing distinct myelin distributions, as revealed by histological analysis. Relationships among the indices were examined using Spearman’s rank-order correlation analysis. Corrected p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: All indices except σ differed significantly between GM and all WM columns. Two of the three WM columns had significantly different MWF, FA, MD, and T2, whereas one WM column had significantly different MTR, σ, T1, and T1ρ from the others. A significant moderate to very strong correlation was observed among most indices. Conclusions: The sensitivity of MRI indices in distinguishing spinal cord regions varied. A strategic combination of two or more indices may allow the accurate differentiation of spinal cord regions.

Ionic Liquid-Functionalized Defective MOFs for Membrane-Based CO2 Separation: A Dual Optimization Approach for Interface and Transport.

Defective MOFs have been identified as promising candidates for efficient membrane-based separation applications. However, the utilization of defective MOFs in membrane gas separation is still in its infancy due primarily to the inefficient molecular differentiation induced by structural defects. Herein, we report a strategic combination of ionic liquid (IL) and defective UiO-66-NH2 MOF to ameliorate the CO2/N2 selectivity within the highly permeable PIM-1 polymer. Characterizations and analysis have shown that postmodification of defective UiO-66-NH2 with IL greatly improved its dispersion and compatibility within PIM-1. Meanwhile, the CO2-philic nature of IL facilitated increased adsorption of CO2 molecules, enabling them to pass rapidly through the transport channels in defective MOF. As a result, the optimal membranes demonstrated a concurrent enhancement in both the CO2 permeability and the CO2/N2 ideal selectivity, which were 197.1% and 24.9% greater than those of PIM-1, respectively. Additionally, the complex Lewis acid/base and hydrogen bonding interactions among IL/defective MOF/PIM-1 have ensured that the resulting membranes possess long-term operational durability and significant antiaging behavior. This deliberate matching between IL and defective MOFs has well circumvented the potential limitation of defective MOFs for carbon capture, with potential applications in other areas.

High rectification and gate-tunable photoresponse in 1D-2D lateral van der waals heterojunctions

<p>The self-passivating surfaces and reduced tunneling leakage current enable the creation of ideal Schottky contacts in van der Waals (vdW) semiconductor heterojunctions. However, simultaneously achieving high rectification ratios, low reverse leakage currents, and rapid photoresponse remains challenging. Here, we present a one-dimensional (1D)/two-dimensional (2D) mixed-dimensional heterostructure photodiode to address these challenges. The significant valence band offset and minimal electron affinity difference in this structure ensure high rectification ratios and efficient charge collection. Additionally, the dimensional disparity between the 1D and 2D materials, characterized by a smaller contact area and significant thickness difference, results in low reverse leakage current and a high current on-off ratio. Moreover, it enables gate-tunable band structure transitions. Our device exhibits an exceptional rectifying ratio of 4.7 × 10<sup>7</sup> and a high on-off ratio of 5 × 10<sup>7</sup> (<i>V</i><sub>ds</sub> = 2 V and, <i>V</i><sub>g</sub> = 30 V) at room temperature. Under a gate voltage of 20 V, the photodiode achieves a specific detectivity (<i>D</i><sup><i>*</i></sup>) of 4.9 × 10<sup>14</sup> Jones, a rapid response time of 14 μs, and an extended operational wavelength approaching to <styled-content style-type="number">1550</styled-content> nm. The strategic combination of mixed-dimensional design and band engineering yields a 1D-2D p-n heterojunction photodiode with remarkable sensitivity, repeatability, and fast response, underscoring the potential of vdW semiconductors for advanced optoelectronic applications.</p>

Scaffolding and Heavy-Atom Effects of Metal Chains Enhanced Tunable Long Persistent Luminescence in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with long persistent luminescence (LPL) have attracted extensive research attention due to their potential applications in information encryption, anticounterfeiting technology, and security logic. The strategic combinations of organic phosphor linkers and metal ions lead to tremendous frameworks, which could unveil many undiscovered properties of organics. Here, the synthesis and characterization of a three-dimensional MOF (Cd-MOF) is reported, which demonstrates enhanced blue photoluminescence and a phosphorescent lifetime of 124 ms as compared to the pristine linker (H2L) under ambient conditions due to the scaffolding and heavy-atom effects of metal chains in the framework. Notably, the Cd-MOF exhibits intriguing excitation-, time-, and temperature-dependent LPL, with a duration of 3 s at room temperature and the ability to shift from blue to green to yellow at lower temperatures. Optical characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that H2L molecules are responsible for the emissions in the Cd-MOF, while LPL properties of molecular phosphors can be significantly enhanced and regulated through coordination interactions and heavy-atom effect of the metal chains. This work highlights the potential of such materials as promising candidates for multiple anticounterfeiting, displaying, and encryption applications.

Optimized MR pulse sequence for high-resolution brain 3D-T1ρ mapping with weighted spin-lock acquisitions.

To implement and evaluate the feasibility of brain spin-lattice relaxation in the rotating frame (T1ρ) mapping using a novel optimized pulse sequence that incorporates weighted spin-lock acquisitions, enabling high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) mapping. The optimized variable flip-angle framework, previously proposed for knee T1ρ mapping, was enhanced by integrating weighted spin-lock acquisitions. This strategic combination significantly boosts signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while reducing data acquisition time, facilitating high-resolution 3D-T1ρ mapping of the brain. The proposed sequence was compared with magnetization-prepared angle-modulated partitioned k-space spoiled gradient-echo sequence snapshots (MAPSS). The newly developed pulse sequence, tested for brain 3D-T1ρ mapping for the first time, obtained maps in 4 min with quality comparable to a 20-min MAPSS sequence. Specifically, the voxel-wise median absolute percentage difference between these MR sequences at a resolution of 0.9 × 0.9 × 3 mm3 is 13.1%. If high resolution is desired, with a voxel size of 0.5 × 0.5 × 3 mm3, the new sequence can acquire T1ρ maps in 8 min, surpassing a 20-min (and resolution of 0.9 × 0.9 × 3 mm3) MAPSS in SNR. The weighted spin-lock acquisition combined with optimized variable flip angle improved the SNR over optimized variable flip angle alone by about 28%. Compared with the 20-min MAPSS sequence for brain T1ρ mapping, the proposed learned high-resolution 3D pulse sequence simultaneously achieved a 2.3-fold improvement in effective (3.2-fold nominal) spatial resolution, a 1.1-fold improvement in SNR, and a 2.5-fold reduction in scan time.

Important tool in our rare disease toolbox: hybrid retrospective-prospective natural history studies serve well as external comparators for rare disease studies

Natural history studies (NHS) can support regulatory decision-making at different stages of the drug product life cycle and are especially important in the context of rare diseases, which are associated with not only delayed or erroneous diagnoses but also a lack of approved treatments. Real-world evidence can fill knowledge gaps and support treatment decision-making, thereby benefiting affected patients. In this context, there are three important options for NHS design: retrospective, prospective, and cross-sectional. Each of these has been successfully used to support regulatory approval as external comparator arms (ECAs) for clinical studies, especially single-arm trials (SATs). While longitudinal data obtained from retrospective or prospective designs have been more commonly used and have been the focus of regulatory guidance documents, hybrid designs that combine retrospective and prospective data collection are particularly powerful for rare disease studies. This is due, in part, to the smaller number of patients impacted by each rare disease. In these settings, retrospective or prospective data collection alone may not be sufficient or fit-for-purpose for an external comparator. Rather, a strategic combination of all available data, regardless of timing, can deliver the right information of the desired quality and completeness to answer these important questions and support regulatory evidentiary needs. For instance, patients included in retrospective studies may differ from recently treated patients in terms of disease severity, disease variants, clinical management, or other important aspects of the disease that may impact patient outcomes. Further, retrospectively collected data may lack specific data elements required to achieve adequate comparison with the treated group in single-arm studies. In the context of prospective designs, the recruitment of sufficient new patients for prospective follow-up may not be feasible or may be prolonged due to the rarity of the disease. Further, the potential for premature truncation of patient follow-up may result in insufficient longitudinal data, or prospectively collected data alone may not provide insights into the disease course for specific groups of patients. In these situations, primary data collection in a prospective study may be supplemented with retrospectively collected data from chart reviews, registries, or electronic medical record databases, either for the same patients, in an ambispective design, or for a different set of patients. These hybrid designs allow for broader and more robust contextual information on the patient journey and the natural course of the disease to be obtained, which can improve the suitability of the data as an external comparator for SATs or studies that lack internal control in situations where a prospective design alone might not be sufficient. Because retrospective and prospective data, or any two data sources that are being combined, may differ in availability and quality, there are unique challenges alongside the strengths of these designs. In this paper, we discuss considerations for the design, analysis, and conduct of hybrid NHS intended as ECAs for single-arm studies in clinical development programs for rare diseases.

Novel cocktail therapy based on multifunctional supramolecular hydrogel targeting immune-angiogenesis-nerve network for enhanced diabetic wound healing

Diabetes-associated chronic skin wounds present a formidable challenge due to inadequate angiogenesis and nerve regeneration during the healing process. In the present study, we introduce a groundbreaking approach in the form of a novel cocktail therapy utilizing a multifunctional supramolecular hydrogel. Formulated through the photo-crosslinking of gelatinized aromatic residues and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), this injectable hydrogel fosters weak host-guest interactions, offering a promising solution. The therapeutic efficacy of the hydrogel is realized through its integration with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and lipid nanoparticles encapsulating ginsenoside RG1 and Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). This strategic combination directs ADSCs to the injury site, guiding them toward neurogenic specialization while establishing an advantageous immunomodulatory environment through macrophage reprogramming. The synergistic effects of the newly differentiated nerve cells and the regenerative cytokines secreted by ADSCs contribute significantly to enhanced angiogenesis, ultimately expediting the diabetic wound healing process. To summarize, this innovative hydrogel-based therapeutic system represents a novel perspective for the management of diabetic wounds by concurrently targeting immune response, angiogenesis, and nerve regeneration—a pivotal advancement in the quest for effective solutions in diabetic wound care.

Data-Driven Fault Detection and Positioning of Eccentric Rolls in Roll-to-Roll Systems Using Wrap Angle and Sensor Proximity

This paper presents a novel approach for detecting and positioning eccentricity defects in roll-to-roll (R2R) slot-die coating systems, which is critical for maintaining high production quality and efficiency. It introduces the feature combination matrix (FCM) method, which improves fault detection and precise positioning of eccentric rolls through focused feature engineering. The study employs the FCM method to enhance defect detection accuracy, using Support Vector Machine (SVM) as the classifier to consistently evaluate the effectiveness of selected feature sets in identifying and positioning eccentricity in R2R systems. By leveraging tension data, optimal feature sets are identified, emphasizing the Mean, Fast Fourier Transform, and other key variables that capture crucial system dynamics, including wrap angles and sensor proximities. Classification algorithms were used to compare the performance of models employing these optimized FCM-based features against traditional models utilizing a full suite of 40 statistical features. The FCM methodology achieved a notable improvement in eccentric roll detection and positioning accuracy, reaching 97.3%, while also reducing data capacity requirements and processing time. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of selective feature optimization and strategic combinations, demonstrating that high-impact features enhance both detection accuracy and efficiency. Conclusively, the FCM is positioned as a pivotal tool for advancing industrial diagnostic processes, with future work suggested in the areas of adaptive feature extraction techniques and real-time model integration to improve the reliability and adaptability of R2R manufacturing.

Hydrogen Production and Li-Ion Battery Performance with MoS2-SiNWs-SWNTs@ZnONPs Nanocomposites.

This study explores the hydrogen generation potential via water-splitting reactions under UV-vis radiation by using a synergistic assembly of ZnO nanoparticles integrated with MoS2, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), and crystalline silicon nanowires (SiNWs) to create the MoS2-SiNWs-SWNTs@ZnONPs nanocomposites. A comparative analysis of MoS2 synthesized through chemical and physical exfoliation methods revealed that the chemically exfoliated MoS2 exhibited superior performance, thereby being selected for all subsequent measurements. The nanostructured materials demonstrated exceptional surface characteristics, with specific surface areas exceeding 300 m2 g-1. Notably, the hydrogen production rate achieved by a composite comprising 5% MoS2, 1.7% SiNWs, and 13.3% SWNTs at an 80% ZnONPs base was approximately 3909 µmol h-1g-1 under 500 nm wavelength radiation, marking a significant improvement of over 40-fold relative to pristine ZnONPs. This enhancement underscores the remarkable photocatalytic efficiency of the composites, maintaining high hydrogen production rates above 1500 µmol h-1g-1 even under radiation wavelengths exceeding 600 nm. Furthermore, the potential of these composites for energy storage and conversion applications, specifically within rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, was investigated. Composites, similar to those utilized for hydrogen production but excluding ZnONPs to address its limited theoretical capacity and electrical conductivity, were developed. The focus was on utilizing MoS2, SiNWs, and SWNTs as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. This strategic combination significantly improved the electronic conductivity and mechanical stability of the composite. Specifically, the composite with 56% MoS2, 24% SiNWs, and 20% SWNTs offered remarkable cyclic performance with high specific capacity values, achieving a complete stability of 1000 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 1 A g-1. These results illuminate the dual utility of the composites, not only as innovative catalysts for hydrogen production but also as advanced materials for energy storage technologies, showcasing their potential in contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

Optimizing anode performance of (La,Sr)1-αTi1-βNiβO3-δ in solid oxide fuel cells via synergistic a-site deficiency and b-site doping regulation strategy

This study introduces an innovative approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of La-substituted SrTiO3 anode materials in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) through the strategic combination of A-site deficiency and B-site doping. The effective method leverages the synergistic effects of A-site deficiency and B-site doping on Ni in situ exsolution and the electrochemical behavior of the SOFCs. The tailored (La,Sr)1-αTi1-βNiβO3-δ (α=0.2, β=0.15, (LS)0.8TN0.15) anode, modified with Ni nanoparticles, significantly boosts the power output of YSZ-supported single cells, achieving peak power densities of 720.5, 535.8, and 376.3 mW cm-2 at 800, 700, and 600 °C, respectively, under a humidified hydrogen atmosphere (3 % H2O-97 % H2). The findings underscore the pivotal role of optimized A-site deficiency and B-site doping in fine-tuning the morphology and dispersion of Ni nanoparticles, thereby markedly enhancing the catalytic activity and the overall electrochemical efficiency of the electrodes. These results indicate the promising candidacy of (La,Sr)1-αTi1-βNiβO3-δ as an anode material for SOFCs, opening new avenues for the design of high-performance fuel cell components.

High wall shear stress-dependent podosome formation in a novel murine model of intracranial aneurysm

High wall shear stress (HWSS) contributes to intracranial aneurysm (IA) development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, in part due to the lack of robust animal models that develop IAs in a HWSS-dependent manner. The current study established a new experimental IA model in mice that was utilized to determine HWSS-triggered downstream mechanisms. By a strategic combination of HWSS and low dose elastase, IAs were induced with a high penetrance in hypertensive mice. In contrast, no IAs were observed in control groups where HWSS was absent, suggesting that our new IA model is HWSS-dependent. IA outcomes were assessed by neuroscores that correlate with IA rupture events. Pathological analyses confirmed these experimental IAs resemble those found in humans. Interestingly, HWSS alone promotes the turnover of collagen IV, a major basement membrane component underneath the endothelium, and the formation of endothelial podosomes, subcellular organelles that are known to degrade extracellular matrix proteins. These induced podosomes are functional as they degrade collagen-based substrates locally in the endothelium. These data suggest that this new murine model develops IAs in a HWSS-dependent manner and highlights the contribution of endothelial cells to the early phase of IA. With this model, podosome formation and function was identified as a novel endothelial phenotype triggered by HWSS, which provides new insight into IA pathogenesis.

Engineering Densely Packed Ion-Cluster Electrolytes for Wide-Temperature Lithium-Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Batteries.

The electrolyte plays an essential role in the advancement of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), as it not only transports the charge carriers but also extensively influences sulfur conversion mechanisms and electrode-electrolyte interphases formed on the electrode surface, thereby directly impacting battery performance. However, the majority of existing electrolytes suffer from incompatibility with either the Li anode or the sulfur cathode. Here, we develop a densely packed ion-cluster electrolyte (DPIE) through the strategic combination of a weakly solvating solvent and an inert diluent, resulting in the self-assembly of abundant compact ion-pair aggregates within its structure. This peculiar solvation structure promotes fast Li+ desolvation, the formation of robust electrode-electrolyte interphases, and the suppression of polysulfide dissolution. Leveraging the tailored DPIE, room-temperature Li||sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) batteries demonstrate 300 stable cycles with a capacity retention of 97.8% and a steady Coulombic efficiency exceeding 99.9%. Even under a limited negative/positive areal capacity ratio of four, the Li||SPAN cells exhibit good stability over 250 cycles with 97.1% capacity retention. Furthermore, Li||SPAN batteries show impressive stability over a wide temperature range spanning from -20 to 60 °C and exhibit reversibility at -10 °C over 200 cycles. This electrolyte design enables LSBs with prolonged operational lifetimes, rapid charging capabilities, and expanded temperature tolerance.

The evolution of BRAF-targeted therapies in melanoma: overcoming hurdles and unleashing novel strategies.

Melanoma, a highly aggressive form of skin cancer, poses a significant global health burden, with 331,647 new cases and 58,645 deaths reported in 2022. The development of melanoma is influenced by various factors, including sunlight exposure and BRAFV600 mutations that activate the MAPK/ERK pathway. The introduction of BRAF and MEK inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment landscape for melanoma patients. However, innate and acquired therapeutic resistance remains a significant challenge. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of BRAF-targeted therapies in melanoma, highlighting the efficacy and limitations of FDA-approved combinations of BRAF and MEK inhibitors such as vemurafenib, dabrafenib, trametinib, and cobimetinib. The review also explores the off-target effects of BRAF inhibitors on endothelial cells, emphasizing the need for more selective therapies to minimize vascular complications and metastatic potential. The article also discusses potential druggable targets, including ERK5, CD73, ALDH1A1, PLA1A, and DMKN, which are promising in addressing diagnostic hurdles and guiding personalized therapeutic decisions. Recent studies on regorafenib, ERK5 signaling, and CD73 inhibition are highlighted as novel strategies to overcome resistance and improve treatment outcomes. The review also delves into the role of advanced therapeutic tools, such as mRNA vaccines and CRISPR-Cas9, in revolutionizing personalized oncology by targeting specific genetic mutations and enhancing immune responses against melanoma. The ongoing synergy between advancing research, targeted interventions, strategic treatment combinations, and cost-effectiveness evaluations offers a promising pathway to elevate patient outcomes in the persistent battle against melanoma significantly.

Depth-dependent energy absorption control of large pulsed electron beam (LPEB) irradiations for defect-free surface modification of metallic alloys

Electron beam surface finishing offers the ability to treat various materials and shapes while enhancing surface properties such as wear and corrosion resistance. However, its industrial application is limited by the formation of crater-like defects' pulse count, irradiation angle, and energy density, were optimized to achieve defect-free surfaces. By systematically investigating the synergistic effects of previously studied parameters (irradiation angle and energy density), the optimal conditions were established through strategic combination of these parameters, demonstrating enhanced surface quality and reduced defect formation. These were compared to previously optimized conditions that focused solely on increasing pulse counts. The new conditions significantly reduced the density of crater-like defects and produced smoother surfaces. This improvement is attributed to concentrated energy absorption near the surface and the creation of a high-temperature gradient, which prevents the introduction of non-metallic inclusions. Unlike conventional methods, where accumulated heat leads to phase transformations and reduces hardness and corrosion resistance, the new approach maintains a rapid cooling rate. This allows the surface to retain a fully martensitic phase even at 45 pulses, resulting in higher surface hardness. These findings highlight that the newly developed conditions not only produce defect-free surfaces but also impart enhanced mechanical properties. This approach suggests that future improvements in surface quality for electron beam-based processes can be achieved by considering adjustments to the irradiation angle and energy density.

Tunable Anomalous Hall Effect in Broken–Symmetry Integrated Perovskite/Brownmillerite Superlattices

AbstractThe anomalous Hall effect (AHE), a hallmark of broken time–reversal symmetry, serves as a powerful tool for probing magnetic states and elucidating complex spin–orbit interactions in transition metal oxides. It is reported here that the emergence of AHE signals and interfacial ferromagnetism is directly observed from broken–symmetry integrated perovskite PrCoO3 and brownmillerite SrCoO2.5 superlattices. Through the strategic combinations of these two complex oxide systems onto the substrates with tailored lattice parameters, squared AHE hysteresis loops with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are found under compressive strain in the optimized superlattices, and the magnitude of the loops is more than three times greater compared to those under tensile strain. The manifestation of AHE in these superlattices is attributed to an extrinsic mechanism involving spin–polarized scattering of charge carriers, with the mismatched perovskite/brownmillerite interfaces acting as the primary scattering centers. These discoveries suggest a promising avenue for the development of artificial materials with controllable AHE properties.

Monodispersed Cu sites assembled on ultrathin 2D C3N4 for efficient electrocatalytic CO2 methanation

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (ECO2R) to methane is a promising technology that could effectively realize carbon resource integration and energy recycling. Currently, Cu-based catalysts are the most effective catalysts for this process, and a long-term goal of high selectivity and high stability still remains elusive. In this study, a controllable and multistep solid-state pyrolysis route is implemented to successfully introduce atomically dispersed Cu sites (Cu SA) into the two-dimensional carbon nitride (2D C3N4) matrices. The active site density and morphology structure of the Cu SA-2D C3N4 catalyst could be precisely controlled by adjusting the calcination process. Through the strategic combination of an ultrathin 2D structure and uniformly dispersed active sites, the Cu SA-2D C3N4 maximizes the exposure of active sites while suppressing competitive C–C coupling reactions. Ultimately, the optimized Cu SA-2D C3N4-30 exhibit a Faradaic efficiency of 62.9 % for CO2-to-CH4 conversion with a partial current density of 172.4 mA cm−2 at −1.68 V vs. RHE. This work demonstrates an advanced Cu-based electrocatalyst that effectively improves the performance of electrocatalytic CO2 methanation.

Optimal Integration of Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, and Indonesia’s Super Grid

This paper examines the optimal integration of renewable energy (RE) sources, energy storage technologies, and linking Indonesia’s islands with a high-capacity transmission “super grid”, utilizing the PLEXOS 10 R.02 simulation tool to achieve the country’s goal of 100% RE by 2060. Through detailed scenario analysis, the research demonstrates that by 2050, Indonesia could be on track to meet this target, with 62% of its energy generated from RE sources. Solar PV could play a dominant role, contributing 363 GW, or 72.3% of the total installed capacity out of over 500 GW. The study highlights that lithium-ion batteries, particularly with 4 h of storage, were identified as the most suitable energy storage option across various scenarios, supporting over 1000 GWh of storage capacity. The introduction of a super grid is shown to reduce the average energy generation cost to around USD 91/MWh from the current USD 98/MWh. These findings underscore the potential of a strategic combination of RE, optimized energy storage, and grid enhancements to significantly lower costs and enhance energy security, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders for Indonesia’s transition to a sustainable energy future.

Research Progress on the Characteristics and Recovery of Phosphorus from Sludge

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:等线"><a name="_Hlk170675397"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:black">     Phosphorus is a non-metallic element essential for all forms of life, and the issue of phosphorus resource scarcity is increasingly gaining attention. Understanding the content and forms of phosphorus in sludge, as well as the technologies for phosphorus recovery from sludge, is of great importance. </span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:black">Firstly, this paper provided a comprehensive overview of various pre-treatment methods (biological, oxidation, acid-base, microwave, ultrasonic, and hydrolysis) for sludge phosphorus recovery, highlighting the potential for combining these techniques to enhance recovery efficiency. Secondly, it introduced the concept of mixed recovery technology for phosphorus in sludge, which involved the strategic arrangement and combination of different treatment technologies. This approach represented a novel and innovative way of addressing the phosphorus recovery challenge. Furthermore, by discussing the effects of various factors on the phosphorus content in sludge, the paper offered an integrated perspective on the complex interplay of these factors, facilitating a more nuanced understanding of the phosphorus recovery process. This review provides a good reference for recovery processes of sludge phosphorus, enabling engineers to select the most appropriate techniques based on specific project requirements.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Effect of quaternary binder slag-based geopolymer slurries on mechanical durability and microstructural properties of green prepacked composites

This study conducts a detailed investigation into the effects of slag-based quaternary binder geopolymer slurries on the physico-mechanical properties, high temperature resistance, and microstructural characteristics of prepacked composites. This research employs a strategic combination of aluminosilicate precursors, including metakaolin (MK), pumice powder (Pum), and perlite powder (Per), which are blended with slag in varying mix proportion to identify and optimizing the composite’s performance. In the key finding reveal that samples containing 20 % of MK achieved superior performance, displaying the lowest porosity and water absorption rates. The oven-dry density of the mixtures demonstrated a marked improvement with the inclusion of MK, increasing from a range of 2150–2230 kg/m3 in 0 % MK mixture to 2250–2350 kg/m3 in those with 20 % MK. Post heat curing, the compressive strength peaked at 31.12 MPa in the mixture comprising 20 % MK, 20 % pumice, and 10 % perlite; however, this strength reduced to 11.92 MPa when subjected to a temperature of 600℃. In high temperature resistance tests, the combination of 20 % MK and 10 % perlite resulted in a minimal mass loss of 4 % at 600℃, indicating a robust resistance to thermal degradation. Furthermore, the 24-h water capillary absorption displaying lowest water absorption rates. This study provides a critical advancement in the use of natural pozzolans for developing high-performance, slag based geopolymer slurries. The enhanced high-temperature strength and reduced water absorption underscore the potential of these materials to deliver durable and sustainable solution for the construction industry, particularly in application requiring superior thermal resistance and longevity.