Strong Interaction Research Articles

Se‐dopant Modulated Selective Co‐Insertion of H+ and Zn2+ in MnO2 for High‐Capacity and Durable Aqueous Zn‐Ion Batteries

MnO2 is commonly used as the cathode material for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs). The strong Coulombic interaction between Zn ions and the MnO2 lattice causes significant lattice distortion and, combined with the Jahn‐Teller effect, results in Mn2+ dissolution and structural collapse. While proton intercalation can reduce lattice distortion, it changes the electrolyte pH, producing chemically inert byproducts. These issues greatly affect the reversibility of Zn2+ intercalation/extraction, leading to significant capacity degradation of MnO2. Herein, we propose a novel method to enhance the cycling stability of δ‐MnO2 through selenium doping (Se‐MnO2). Our work indicates that varying the selenium doping content can regulate the intercalation ratio of H+ in MnO2, thereby suppressing the formation of ZnMn2O4 by‐products. Se doping mitigates the lattice strain of MnO2 during Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation by reducing Mn‐O octahedral distortion, modifying Mn‐O bond length upon Zn2+ insertion, and alleviating Mn dissolution caused by the Jahn‐Teller effect. The optimized Se‐MnO2 (Se concentration of 0.8 at.%) deposited on carbon nanotube demonstrates a notable capacity of 386 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, with exceptional long‐term cycle stability, retaining 102 mAh g−1 capacity after 5000 cycles at 3.0 A g−1.

II-Scheme Heterojunction Frameworks Based on Covalent Organic Frameworks and HKUST-1 for Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are one type of promising polymer semiconductors in solar-driven hydrogen production, but majority of COFs-based photocatalytic systems show low photocatalytic efficiency owing to lack of metal active sites. Herein, we reported II-Scheme heterojunction frameworks based on COF (TpPa-1) and metal-organic framework (HKUST-1) for highly efficient hydrogen production. The coordination bonding directed self-assembly of HKUST-1 on the surface of TpPa-1 endows the heterojunction frameworks (HKUST-1/TpPa-1) with strong interface interaction, optimized electronic structures and abundant redox active sites, thus remarkably boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The hydrogen evolution rate for optimal HKUST-1/TpPa-1 is as high as 10.50 mmol g-1 h-1, which is significantly enhanced when compared with that of their physical mixture (4.13 mmol g-1 h-1), TpPa-1 (0.013 mmol g-1 h-1) and Pt-based counterpart (6.70 mmol g-1 h-1). This work offers a facile approach to the construction of noble-metal-free II-Scheme heterojunctions based on framework materials for efficient solar energy conversion.

High thermal conductivity and low dielectric loss of three-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets/epoxy composites

Electronic power devices are moving towards high frequency, high integration, and high power, which urgently needs to develop high thermal conductive encapsulating insulation materials to improve the heat dissipation of electronic devices. Herein, we propose to modify the commercialized encapsulating materials of epoxy resin (EP) by incorporating three-dimensional hydroxylated boron nitride nanosheets (3D-BNNSs). The cryogel and vacuum freeze-drying techniques are employed to prepare the 3D-BNNSs using agarose. The results show that the constructed high thermal conductive structure of 3D-BNNSs can effectively enhance the thermal conductivity of EP and reduce the interfacial thermal resistance between BNNSs fillers. The thermal conductivity of 3D-BNNSs/EP composites with 33.03 wt% BNNSs reach 2.54 W/(m·K), which is 13.11 times higher than that of EP (0.18 W/(m·K)). Meanwhile, the resultant composites remain outstanding electrical insulation and dielectric properties. Because agarose contains numerous hydroxyl groups that can form hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups on the surface-functionalized BNNSs, hydrogen bonding can lead to strong intermolecular interactions, which is conductive to accelarate phonon transport. Additionally, agarose can cross-link with the molecular chains of epoxy, impeding the movement of molecular chain segments and resulting in composites with low dielectric loss at high frequencies. This study demonstrates that the 3D-BNNSs/EP composites have great potential for application in thermal management of electronic components.

Se-dopant Modulated Selective Co-Insertion of H+ and Zn2+ in MnO2 for High-Capacity and Durable Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries.

MnO2 is commonly used as the cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). The strong Coulombic interaction between Zn ions and the MnO2 lattice causes significant lattice distortion and, combined with the Jahn-Teller effect, results in Mn2+ dissolution and structural collapse. While proton intercalation can reduce lattice distortion, it changes the electrolyte pH, producing chemically inert byproducts. These issues greatly affect the reversibility of Zn2+ intercalation/extraction, leading to significant capacity degradation of MnO2. Herein, we propose a novel method to enhance the cycling stability of δ-MnO2 through selenium doping (Se-MnO2). Our work indicates that varying the selenium doping content can regulate the intercalation ratio of H+ in MnO2, thereby suppressing the formation of ZnMn2O4 by-products. Se doping mitigates the lattice strain of MnO2 during Zn2+ intercalation/deintercalation by reducing Mn-O octahedral distortion, modifying Mn-O bond length upon Zn2+ insertion, and alleviating Mn dissolution caused by the Jahn-Teller effect. The optimized Se-MnO2 (Se concentration of 0.8 at.%) deposited on carbon nanotube demonstrates a notable capacity of 386 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1, with exceptional long-term cycle stability, retaining 102 mAh g-1 capacity after 5000 cycles at 3.0 A g-1.

SU(3) Gauge Symmetry: An Experimental Review of Diffractive Physics in e+p, p+p, p+A, and A+A Collision Systems

This review focuses on diffractive physics, which involves the long-range interactions of strong nuclear force at high energies described by SU(3) gauge symmetry. It is expected that diffractive processes account for nearly 40% of the total cross-section at LHC energies. These processes consist of soft-scale physics where perturbation theory cannot be applied. Although highly successful and often described as a perfect theory, quantum chromodynamics relies heavily on perturbation theory, a model best suited for hard-scale physics. The study of pomerons could help bridge the soft and hard processes and provide a complete description of the theory of the strong interaction across the full momentum spectrum. Here, we will discuss some of the features of diffractive physics, experimental results from SPS, HERA, and the LHC, and where the field could potentially lead. With the recent publication of the odderon discovery in 2021 by the D0 and TOTEM collaborations and the new horizon of physics that lies ahead with the upcoming Electron-Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory, interest is seemingly piquing in high energy diffractive physics.

Photon–carrier–spin coupling in a one-dimensional Ni(II)-doped ZnTe nanostructure

Transition metal (TM) ion doping in II–VI semiconductors can produce exciton magnetic polarons (EMPs) and localized EMPs containing longitudinal optical (LO) phonon coupling, which will be discussed in this paper. TM ion doping in II–VI semiconductors for a dilute magnetic semiconductor show emission via magnetic polarons (MPs) together with hot carrier effects that need to be understood via its optical properties. The high excitation power that is responsible for hot carrier effects suppresses the charge trapping effect in low exciton binding energy (8.12 meV) semiconductors, even at room temperature (RT). The large polaron radius exhibits strong interaction between the carrier and MP, resulting in anharmonicity effects, in which the side-band energy overtone to LO phonons. The photon-like polaritons exhibit polarized spin interactions with LO phonons that show strong spin–phonon polaritons at RT. The temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectra of Ni-doped ZnTe show free excitons (FX) and FXs interacting with 2LO phonon–spin interactions, corresponding to 3T1(3F) → 1T1(1G) and EMP peaks with ferromagnetically coupled Ni ions at 3T1(3F) → 1E(1G). In addition, other d–d transitions of single Ni ions (600–900 nm) appear at the low-energy side. RT energy shifts of 14–38 meV are observed due to localized states with density-of-states tails extending far into the bandgap-related spin-induced localization at the valence band. These results show spin–spin magnetic coupling and spin–phonon interactions at RT that open up a more realistic new horizon of optically controlled dilute magnetic semiconductor applications.

Design and optimization of a Cr(VI)-Selective Electrode based on a polymeric ß-cyclodextrin membrane modified with sulfur donor groups

This work presents the design and optimization of a new Cr(VI)-selective electrode. The new sensor is based on modifying a glassy carbon electrode with carbon quantum dots, ß-cyclodextrin, and carbon disulfide. The carbon quantum dots aided the electrical properties of the glassy carbon by improving charge transfer; the electropolymerization of ß-cyclodextrin resulted in a polymeric membrane that functions as a recognition element when modified by adding sulfur donor groups to its structure. Modifying the membrane with sulfur atoms gave the sensor excellent selectivity toward Cr(VI) ions. The electrode synthesis was optimized using a 23 factorial design; the factors studied were pH, the number of cycles in the electropolymerization, and the presence or absence of carbon nanoparticles. Eight different electrodes were constructed, and their potentiometric response to different concentrations of Cr(VI) was evaluated for all of them. The analysis of variance of the experimental design found no significant effect of any factor on the response. However, it suggests a strong interaction between the three factors studied. The sensor that presented the best analytical parameters was synthesized at pH 5 and 50 consecutive cycles in the presence of carbon quantum dots. This new electrode, with its response times of 40 s at different concentrations of the metal ion, exhibiting a slope of (66.0 ± 2.1) mV decade−1 and a detection limit of (5.2 ± 0.1)x10−7 mol L−1, can be used at pH between 0 and 3 without the effect of hydronium ions. The proposed electrode has good reproducibility and excellent selectivity against various metal ions and has significant advantages over other analysis methods. Its cost, ease of construction, easy handling, ease of operation, ease of storage and transportation, as well as good performance, short response time, and high selectivity make this electrode a valuable tool for easy, fast, and reliable monitoring of Cr(VI) in water samples, contributing to the safety and health of our environment.

Comprehensive analysis and implications of Veronica persica germination and growth traits in their invasion ecology

Invasive alien species implications in ecological threats are attributed to their unique characteristics that are linked to their invasion. Veronica persica (Plantaginaceae family) is an alien weed species in Egypt. Regardless of its widespread globally in various regions, the growth traits and behavior of V. persica remain poorly understood. The comprehensive analysis, reveals the optimal germination (Gmax) was detected at 10/20 °C, 15/20 °C, and 20/25 °C at the moderate temperature regimes. The rapid germination rate (G rate) peaked at 10/20 °C regime, with a rate of 0.376 per day. Furthermore, under stress conditions, V. persica has 50% germination inhibition (G50) and 50% of growth inhibition occurred at − 0.91 MPa and 0.75 MPa of osmotic pressure and 3225.81 ppm and 2677.1 ppm of salt stress (NaCl) respectively. The germination ranged from 6 to 9 pH, with the highest germination percentage occurring at a pH of 7 & 8, reaching 88.75% compared to the control group. There is a strong interaction effect between habitats and plant stages, the plant stages and habitats have significant effects (p ≤ 0.00) on V. persica growth. There was high and moderate plasticity in the response of morphological and growth features between stages. During the seedling-juvenile interval and the juvenile-flowering stages, respectively, there was a noticeable increase in both Relative Growth Rate and Net Assimilation Rate. Demographic surveys identified approximately 24 species across 11 families associated with V. persica in invaded areas. The Sorenson indices of qualitative index exhibited high similarity values in the invaded sites by (82.35%) compared to (72.72%) in non-invaded sites. However, interactions with native communities were reflected in lower richness, diversity, and evenness, displaying slightly higher Simpson index 1 (λ) values compared to invaded and non-invaded sites (0.043 and 0.0290) vs. (0.0207 and 0.268), in rangelands and F. carica orchards respectively. These results emphasize the substantially higher adaptability of V. persica to variable environmental conditions and abilities to invade a new community. This knowledge about invasive V. persica weeds germination and growth is itemized as the consistent predictive base for future invasion and informs strategic management priorities.

Synthesis and characterisation of carbon nanofiber-wrapped polyaniline and polypyrrole sensory films in polyester resin for strain sensing

ABSTRACT Nanomaterials hold promise as flexible sensor elements due to their enhanced flexibility and efficiency compared to conventional sensors. This study explores Carbon Nanofibers (CNF) in strain-sensing applications, synthesised with Polyaniline (PANI) and Polypyrrole (PPy) via a chemical oxidative technique. These composites form sensory layers on flexible Polyester resin substrates using a layer-by-layer technique. Characterisation through Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) reveals strong interactions within CNF/PANI/Polyester and CNF/PPy/Polyester configurations, with heightened crystallinity in CNF/PANI, indicating enhanced electrical conductivity. Stress-strain analysis shows a significant 25% elongation with a corresponding 15% change in resistance across all samples. Calculated gauge factors exhibit substantial improvements: Polyester/PPy (12.96), Polyester/PANI (13.54), Polyester/CNF wrapped PPy (58.62), and Polyester/CNF wrapped PANI (95.8). Notably, CNF-wrapped PPy and CNF-wrapped PANI demonstrate superior gauge factors compared to conventional strain sensors, with Polyester/CNF-wrapped PANI displaying the highest sensitivity at 95.8%. This research underscores the potential of CNF-based composites, particularly CNF-wrapped PANI within a Polyester matrix, for advanced strain-sensing applications.

Impact of Zeeman and hyperfine interactions on the magnetic properties of paramagnetic metal Ions: I. Local interactions of the electron spin

The anisotropic Zeeman interaction of an ion, and the strong hyperfine interaction with its own nucleus, can significantly influence its interactions with the local environment. These effects, including the reduction of the effective magnetic moment of the electron spin and the phase memory decay rate, are studied theoretically. Analytical expressions describing the mean magnetic moment of the electron spin are obtained. The results of the theoretical analysis and accompanying numerical computations show that the strong hyperfine interaction of the ion reduces its effective magnetic moment. In particular, a 7% reduction is found for the scandium endofullerene Sc2@C80(CH2Ph) under conditions typical of an X-band EPR experiment.

Synthesis of strongly interactive FeWO4/BiOCl heterostructures for efficient photoreduction of CO2 and piezo-photodegradation of bisphenol A

Development of multi-functional photocatalysts for CO2 reduction and pollutant elimination is practically significant for solving the environmental problems and energy shortages. In this study, we have immobilized FeWO4 (FWO) nanoparticles on the surface of (001)-facet-exposed BiOCl (BOC) nanosheets through their strong electrostatic interaction to form FWO/BOC heterojunctions. Experimental and theoretical studies corroborate that the FWO/BOC heterojunctions exhibit high-efficiency Z-scheme transfer and separation of photocarriers, and possess excellent photocatalysis for CO2 reduction and bisphenol A (BPA) degradation. Under simulated-sunlight irradiation, the 9 %FWO/BOC heterojunction exhibits a photoreduction performance with CH4/CO yield rates of 4.25/9.41 μmol g−1 h−1 (5 h reaction), which are 3.86/5.26 times higher than those for bare BOC; whereas its photodegradation performance (η(60 min) = 66.8 %, kapp = 0.01755 min−1) is enhanced by 4.3 and 2.7 times compared with that of bare FWO and BOC, respectively. Furthermore, when ultrasonic vibration is simultaneously employed during the simulated-sunlight illumination, the ultrasonic-induced piezoelectric polarization field in BOC nanosheets accelerates the bulk photocarrier separation, resulting in a further improvement in the BPA degradation, and the calculated SF = 1.79 quantifies the degree of enhancement achieved by piezo-photocatalysis collaboration. The introduction of a moderate amount of H2O2 or peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the reaction solution plays a significant role in promoting the BPA degradation due to the generation of additional •OH and •SO4− reactive species. The mechanisms for photocatalytic CO2 reduction and piezo-photodegradation of BPA catalysis were deeply studied by combining experiments and theory.

New insights into selective depression mechanism of Tamarindus indica kernel gum in flotation separation of fluorapatite and calcite

The similar floatability of fluorapatite (FAp) and calcite (Cal) lead to difficulty in their separation using fatty acid collectors alone. To effectively recover FAp from Cal, a biodegradable polysaccharide, called Tamarindus indica kernel gum (TIKG), was introduced as an efficient Cal depressant in this study, and its depression mechanisms were elucidated. Flotation tests suggested that in sodium oleate (NaOl) system, TIKG strongly depressed Cal but hardly affected FAp, significantly widening the difference in their floatability. Infrared spectroscopy (IR), zeta potential, and wettability analyses indicated that TIKG had strong adsorption interaction with Cal, hindered NaOl adsorption on Cal, and significantly weakened the hydrophobicity of Cal, while the opposite effect was observed for FAp. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that intense interactions of TIKG with Ca sites of Cal enhanced its adsorption on Cal rather than FAp. Extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (EDLVO) calculations confirmed that TIKG reduced the hydrophobic attraction between Cal and bubbles and enhanced the electrostatic repulsion between them, thereby weakening Cal adhesion to bubbles and depressing Cal flotation. Consequently, TIKG achieved effective separation of FAp and Cal, in which 90.21% of Cal was efficiently removed in addition to 83.58% of FAp recovered. Based on these findings, TIKG serves as a Cal depressant for the purification of Cal-bearing phosphate ores by flotation.

A pH-sensitive film based on chitosan/gelatin and anthocyanin from Zingiber striolatum Diels for monitoring fish freshness

As a new type of packaging method, the anthocyanin-based pH-sensitive indicator film has gained much attention owing to low cost, small size, and visually informative property. In this study, an intelligent film based on chitosan/gelatin (CG) matrix with Zingiber striolatum Diels (ZSD) anthocyanin for fish freshness monitoring was developed. The film properties, including thickness, moisture content, color, mechanical properties, UV–vis light barrier property, as well as pH and ammonia sensitivity, were evaluated. The CG-ZSD films exhibited a more compact structure when compared with the CG film. The CG-ZSD20 film showed the highest elongation at break (6.33 ± 0.62%) and lowest tensile strength (20.0 ± 0.58 MPa). FTIR spectra revealed the strong hydrogen bond interactions between ZSD and polymer matrix. Film incorporated with 15% anthocyanin extract has increased melting temperature at 118.9 °C, and a lower weight loss (13.8%) at melting temperature. In pH 1–14 buffer, the color of CG-ZSD films underwent a significant change from red to yellow-green. The CG-ZSD15 film was utilized for monitoring fish freshness and showed visible color changes from deep purple to brown. The total volatile basic nitrogen content and pH value changes of fish were closely related to the visual color changes in film. This demonstrated that the film was a highly pH-sensitive film for quantifying fish freshness in real-time.

Exploring the interface dynamics of emulsion gel via a novel non-destructive technique provides insights into the underlying mechanism of gel formation, water mobility, functionality and structural variations

Tri-frequency ultrasound (TFU) at 20-40-60 kHz was used to systematically examine the effects on the multi-scale network structure of an emulsion gel containing orange essential oil prepared with glycosylated whey protein (WP). Treatment intervals of pre-and-post 10, 20, and 30 min were utilized to evaluate the influence and interactions on functional (particle size, zeta-potential), rheological (storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″), and oxidative stability (conjugated diene and peroxide value). The optimized tri-frequency pre- and post-treated sample demonstrated enhanced physical stability as compared to the un-treated sample, as evidenced by droplet size, (from 468.14 ± 0.56 to 214.21 ± 0.42 nm), ζ-Potential (mV) (from −29.67 ± 0.31 to −39.98 ± 1.42), and structural morphology. Structure analysis using FTIR that the aforementioned improvements were made possible through TFU enhanced hydrogen bonds, molecular arrangements with greater order, and improved intermolecular compatibility. XRD results showed gradual shift from 8.32° to 8.64° and from 19.2° to 19.5°, respectively. TFU post-treatment gels exhibited higher viscosity, more pronounced pseudoplastic behavior compare to pre-treatment, attributed to strong interaction forces and three-dimensional gel network. Our results provide valuable insights into the application of multi-frequency ultrasound as a promising technique for designing protein emulsion gels tailored for nutrient delivery systems.

Are recyclable plastics eco-friendly? Recycled PVC microplastics show higher toxicity than pristine PVC on Vallisneria natans, regardless of Cadmium

As environmental awareness increases, the use of recyclable plastics has risen. However, it is currently unclear whether recycled microplastics (MPs) pose a lesser or greater environmental risk than pristine MPs. Cadmium (Cd), known for its toxicity to most organisms, can bind with MPs and accumulate in sediments. Few studies have explored the environmental risks posed by the coexistence of recycled MPs and pristine MPs with Cd to rooted macrophytes. We investigated the effects of recycled PVC MPs (R-PVC-MPs) and pristine PVC MPs (PVC-MPs) on Vallisneria natans in the presence and absence of Cd. Results showed that at moderate and high Cd levels, R-PVC-MPs reduced plant Cd enrichment. Despite this, the fresh weight of V. natans exposed to R-PVC-MPs was significantly lower than those exposed to PVC-MPs. Furthermore, R-PVC-MPs had more negative impacts on the physiological traits of V. natans than PVC-MPs, as chlorophyll was significantly reduced across all Cd levels. At high Cd levels, both R-PVC-MPs and PVC-MPs caused significantly high oxidative stress, with no significant differences observed. The PCoA plot showed that different MPs cause noticeable variations within the same Cd concentration. The trait network diagrams illustrated strong interactions among traits, with R-PVC-MPs showing the highest complexity. Lower average degree and decreased edge density indicate that traits of plants with R-PVC-MPs addition are more independent of each other. Our findings suggest that recycled PVC MPs pose a greater environmental risk than pristine PVC MPs, offering reference for assessing the risks of recycled plastics in freshwater ecosystems.

Selective determination of Fe (III) with carbon dots as photoluminescence Probes: Chemometric analysis using Excitation-Emission matrices

The selective and accurate determination of metal ions, crucial in various physiological processes within the human body, is of paramount importance, particularly when these ions, such as Fe(III), coexist with others in the sample. The manuscript addresses the challenge of determining Fe(III) selectively in the presence of interfering species. To achieve this, carbon dots (CDs) are employed as photoluminescence probes due to their biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. The chemometric analysis of photoluminescence (PL) data was used to overcome selectivity challenges associated with CDs. This study utilized fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), considered as second-order data, and applied unfolded partial least squares followed by residual bilinearization (U-PLS/RBL) to account for uncalibrated species.The developed model methodology was assessed using spiked samples containing uncalibrated and interfering species, namely Al(III), Pb(II) and Ni(II), at different concentration levels. The achieved limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) at 0.02 and 0.06 mmol/L, respectively, highlight the high sensitivity of the approach. Notably, the application of one RBL component significantly reduces RMSEP values in samples spiked individually with each uncalibrated and interfering species, demonstrating the methodology’s effectiveness in overcoming strong interactions with CDs. Interestingly, this reduction was not observed in test samples containing only Fe(III), where optimal results were achieved without the application of the RBL component.This study introduces a novel approach by formulating a selective methodology for the determination of Fe(III) in the presence of interfering species, employing carbon dots (CDs) as photoluminescence probes. The application of chemometric analysis, specifically U-PLS/RBL, to mitigate selectivity challenges, coupled with the demonstrated sensitivity characterized by low LOD and LOQ values, emphasizes the scientific significance of this research. The results highlight the practical viability of the methodology, particularly in complex samples, contributing valuable insights to the field.

Across Interfacial Li+ Conduction Accelerated by a Single-Ion Conducting Polymer in Ceramic-Rich Composite Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries.

Composite electrolytes have been accepted as the most promising species for solid-state batteries, exhibiting the synergistic advantages of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) and solid ceramic electrolytes (SCEs). Unfortunately, the interrupted Li+ conduction across the SPE and SCE interface hinders the ionic conductivity improvement of composite electrolytes. In our study on a ceramic-rich composite electrolyte (CRCE) membrane composed of borate polyanion-based lithiated poly(vinyl formal) (LiPVFM) and Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) particles, it is found that the strong interaction between the polyanions in LiPVFM and LATP particles results in a uniform distribution of ceramic particles at a high proportion of 50 wt % and good robustness of the electrolyte membrane with a Young's modulus of 9.20 GPa. More importantly, ab initio molecular dynamics simulation and experimental results demonstrate that Li+ conduction across the SPE and SCE interface is induced by the polyanion-based polymer due to its high lithium-ion transference number and similar Li+ diffusion coefficient with the SCE. Therefore, the unblocked Li+ conduction among ceramic particles dominates in the CRCE membrane with a high ionic conductivity of 6.60 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 25 °C, a lithium-ion transference number of 0.84, and a wide electrochemical stable window of 5.0 V (vs Li/Li+). Consequently, the high nickel ternary cathode LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2-based batteries with CRCE deliver a high-rate capability of 135.08 mAh g-1 at 1.0 C and a prolonged cycle life of 100 cycles at 0.2 C between 3.0 and 4.3 V. The polyanion-induced Li+ conduction across the interface sheds new light on solving composite electrolyte problems for solid-state batteries.

CuNi alloy anchored on dual-substrate TiOx/N-doped carbon nanofibers as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Development of non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts to enhance the performance of zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is of great significance, but it remains a formidable challenge due to their poor stability and activity. Herein, a bifunctional CuNi-TiOx/NCNFS electrocatalyst, featuring with electron-rich copper-nickel (CuNi) alloy nanoparticles anchored on titanium oxide/N-doped carbon nanofibers (TiOx/NCNFS), is constructed by a dual-substrate loading strategy. The introduction of TiOx has led to a significant increase in the stability of the dual-substrate. The strong electronic interaction between CuNi and TiOx strengthens the anchoring of active metal sites, thus accelerating the electron transfer. Theoretical calculations unclose that NCNFS can regulate the charge distribution of TiOx, inducing the charge transfer from NCNFS → TiOx → CuNi, thereby reducing the d-band center of Cu and Ni, which is beneficial to the desorption of intermediate oxide species of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Therefore, CuNi-TiOx/NCNFS delivers a remarkable bifunctional performance with a low OER overpotential of 258 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and an ORR half-wave potential of 0.85 V. When assembled into ZABs, CuNi-TiOx/NCNFS shows a low potential gap of 0.64 V, a higher power density of 149.6 mW cm−2 at 330 mA cm−2, and an outstanding stability for 250 h at 5mA cm−2. This study provides a novel approach by constructing dual-substrate to tune the electronic structure of active metal sites for efficient rechargeable ZABs.

An extended interaction site determines binding between AP180 and AP2 in clathrin mediated endocytosis

The early phases of clathrin mediated endocytosis are organized through a highly complex interaction network mediated by clathrin associated sorting proteins (CLASPs) that comprise long intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). AP180 is a CLASP exclusively expressed in neurons and comprises a long IDR of around 600 residues, whose function remains partially elusive. Using NMR spectroscopy, we discovered an extended and strong interaction site within AP180 with the major adaptor protein AP2, and describe its binding dynamics at atomic resolution. We find that the 70 residue-long site determines the overall interaction between AP180 and AP2 in a dynamic equilibrium between its bound and unbound states, while weaker binding sites contribute to the overall affinity at much higher concentrations of AP2. Our data suggest that this particular interaction site might play a central role in recruitment of adaptors to the clathrin coated pit, whereas more transient and promiscuous interactions allow reshaping of the interaction network until cargo uptake inside a coated vesicle.

Transverse momentum-dependent heavy-quark fragmentation at next-to-leading order

The transverse momentum-dependent fragmentation functions (TMD FFs) of heavy (bottom and charm) quarks, which we recently introduced, are universal building blocks that enter predictions for a large number of observables involving final-state heavy quarks or hadrons. They enable the extension of fixed-order subtraction schemes to quasi-collinear limits, and are of particular interest in their own right as probes of the nonperturbative dynamics of hadronization. In this paper we calculate all TMD FFs involving heavy quarks and the associated TMD matrix element in heavy-quark effective theory (HQET) to next-to-leading order in the strong interaction. Our results confirm the renormalization properties, large-mass, and small-mass consistency relations predicted in our earlier work. We also derive and confirm a prediction for the large-z behavior of the heavy-quark TMD FF by extending, for the first time, the formalism of joint resummation to capture quark mass effects in heavy-quark fragmentation. Our final results in position space agree with those of a recent calculation by another group that used a highly orthogonal organization of singularities in the intermediate momentum-space steps, providing a strong independent cross check. As an immediate application, we present the complete quark mass dependence of the energy-energy correlator (EEC) in the back-to-back limit at Oαs\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O}\\left({\\alpha}_s\\right) $$\\end{document}.