Structural Transformation Research Articles

Design and performance evaluation of hierarchical ZnCo2S4@PANI core-shell nanorod arrays for high-efficiency supercapacitor applications

Ternary transition metal sulfides (TMS) have gained significant attention due to their excellent energy and power density as Faradaic electrode materials to be utilized in supercapacitors (SCs). Among various conducting polymers, polyaniline (PANI) has rapidly evolved as a valuable pseudo-capacitor material. Though it deprived cycling stability due to instability in structural transformation, which is the major obstacle to its practical level utilization in energy related applications. Herein, the synthesis of an efficient and reliable ZnCo2S4@PANI nonorod arrays (NRAs) anode with structure-to-performance hierarchical morphology is designed to achieve excellent performance. Heterostructured, extremely porous ZnCo2S4 nanorods have acted as a conductive core, which has provided the strain-buffer-support, along with nanoscaled PANI layer to act as an electrochemical active counterpart, and has demonstrated outstanding specific capacitance while retaining the remarkable cyclic performance and rate capability. Implementing the perfectly uniform and compactly coated PANI, the synthesized anode has demonstrated a high specific capacitance of ∼815 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and exceptional ∼91 % capacitance retention even after 4000 cycles at high 2 A g−1 current density. Such outcomes are much superior to the most reported electrochemical performances of PANI-related pseudo-capacitors in the literature. The enhanced electrochemical properties of the as synthesized ZnCo2S4@PANI NRAs anode demonstrate the ability of the stable componential structure as a hybrid electrode design to provide a new direction for researchers to utilize such porous framework as an operative support for proficient energy storage devices.

Strategic implications of carbon pricing on global environmental sustainability and economic development: A conceptual framework

This study critically evaluates the strategic implications of carbon pricing mechanisms on global environmental sustainability and economic development. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research synthesizes recent findings from peer-reviewed articles, reports, and policy documents published between 2010 and 2024. The study's objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, assessing its economic impacts, exploring environmental benefits, and understanding the role of international cooperation in enhancing the efficacy of carbon pricing policies. The methodology hinges on a structured search strategy, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the literature reviewed. The analysis reveals that carbon pricing, encompassing both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems, serves as a pivotal tool for mitigating climate change while fostering economic growth and structural transformation. Key findings highlight the potential of carbon pricing to drive innovation in green technologies, the importance of addressing social equity concerns, and the critical role of international policy coordination in mitigating cross-border carbon leakage and competitiveness issues. The study concludes that carbon pricing mechanisms, when effectively designed and equitably implemented, can align environmental sustainability with economic development goals. Recommendations for policymakers emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies that integrate carbon pricing with broader economic and environmental policies, underscore the importance of international cooperation, and advocate for continued research to refine carbon pricing models and strategies. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on carbon pricing, offering insights into its potential as a cornerstone of global climate governance and sustainable economic policy. Keywords: Carbon Pricing Mechanisms, Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, International Cooperation.

Bispidine based Hg(II) 1D Coordination Polymers of Helical Topology: Stability, Selective Adsorption and 1D to 2D Dimensionality Change via SC-to-SC Transformation.

Bispidine based Hg(II) coordination polymers of helical topology CP-MeOH and CP-EtOH are almost isostructural (they mainly differ for the solvent included in their lattice and by a small % in unit cell parameters) but they differ for everything else: i) their intrinsic stability, ii) their ability to adsorb solvents upon prior evacuation, iii) their accessible structural transformations. In particular, one of the two starting materials, once evacuated, is capable to adsorb methanol from atmospheres containing binary and ternary mixtures of volatile organic compounds (MeOH, CHCl3 and EtOH) under ambient conditions (25 °C, 1 atm) and with a marked selectivity. The other one is not, but undergoes a 1D to 2D dimensionality change which can be monitored in situ by SC-XRD through a SC-to-SC process.

Analysis of the Effect of Structural Transformation of The Economy

This study aims to analyze the impact of economic structural transformation on economic growth, income inequality, labor distribution, and community welfare. The method used is a literature study, by reviewing various academic literature, government agency reports, and case studies of countries that have undergone structural transformation. The results show that economic structural transformation generally increases economic growth and productivity through labor shifts from the primary sector to the secondary and tertiary sectors. These sectors tend to be more productive and efficient, resulting in increased output and new economic opportunities. However, these positive impacts are often accompanied by rising income inequality, as the industrial and service sectors offer higher compensation than the primary sector. In addition, this transformation brings significant changes to labor market dynamics, requiring new skills that the primary sector workforce may not possess, thus risking increased unemployment and skills gaps. From a social perspective, the structural transformation of the economy may lead to lifestyle changes and rapid urbanization, leading to infrastructure stress and social disintegration. To address these challenges, the study recommends a range of policies, including training and education programs that focus on inclusion, as well as income redistribution policies to reduce inequality. In conclusion, the structural transformation of the economy presents significant growth opportunities, but requires an inclusive and sustainable strategy to ensure its impact is felt equally across society. This study provides relevant recommendations for policymakers in managing economic structural transformation with a balanced approach between growth and social inclusion.

The changing distribution of land in rural Vietnam, 2004–2014

This paper analyses the changing distribution of land in rural Vietnam based on plot-level information in the Vietnam Household Living Standards Surveys. Both agricultural and residential land holdings in Vietnam became more unequally distributed between 2004 and 2014, due to rising landlessness in the bottom quintile and land accumulation in the top quartile of the land distribution. Applying Fields’ regression-based inequality decomposition, we find the main drivers of land inequality were the share of household members working in agriculture and the shares of forestry and perennial crop land. In contrast, irrigation and off-farm employment contributed to reducing land inequality. Landlessness and near landlessness, which increased by almost two-fifths, is associated with similar factors, along with higher education of the household head. Taken together, these results underline the rapid structural transformation that has occurred in rural Vietnam. The rise in functional landlessness observed presents a challenge to the Vietnamese Government’s desire to promote growth with equity.

Topology Reconfiguration of Anion-Pillared Metal-Organic Framework from Flexibility to Rigidity for Enhanced Acetylene Separation.

Flexible metal-organic framework (MOF) adsorbents commonly encounter limitations in removing trace impurities below gate-opening threshold pressures. Topology reconfiguration can fundamentally eliminate intrinsic structural flexibility, yet remains a formidable challenge and is rarely achieved in practical applications. Herein, we present a solvent-mediated approach to regulate the flexible CuSnF6-dpds-sql (dpds = 4,4''-dipyridyldisulfide) with sql topology into rigid CuSnF6-dpds-cds with cds topology. Notably, the cds topology is unprecedented and firstly obtained in anion-pillared MOF materials. As a result, rigid CuSnF6-dpds-cds exhibits enhanced C2H2 adsorption capacity of 48.61 cm3 g-1 at 0.01bar compared to flexible CuSnF6-dpds-sql (21.06 cm3 g-1). The topology transformation also facilitates the adsorption kinetics for C2H2, exhibiting a 6.5-fold enhanced diffusion time constant (D/r2) of 1.71 × 10-3 s-1 on CuSnF6-dpds-cds than that of CuSnF6-dpds-sql (2.64 × 10-4 s-1). Multiple computational simulations reveal the structural transformations and guest-host interactions in both adsorbents. Furthermore, dynamic breakthrough experiments demonstrate that high-purity C2H4 (>99.996%) effluent with a productivity of 93.9mmol g-1 can be directly collected from C2H2/C2H4 (1/99, v/v) gas-mixture in a single CuSnF6-dpds-cds column. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Combined helical-blade-strengthened co-flow focusing and high-throughput screening for the synthesis of highly homogeneous nanoliposomes

Nanoliposomes have been widely employed as promising drug delivery vehicles for the treatment of various diseases. However, the large-scale synthesis of drug-loaded nanoliposomes manifesting a highly uniform particle size is impeded by several unmet challenges. Herein a novel helical-blade-strengthened co-flow focusing (HBSCF) device was developed by installing multiple parallel helical blades in a commonly used co-flow focusing microfluidic device. This transformation in the microchannel structure may accelerate the mixing of aqueous and lipid streams in a radial direction, thereby affording the production of nanoliposomes with a significantly lower polydispersity index (PDI) value in terms of particle size. Moreover, a high-throughput experimental platform was developed by employing HBSCF device alongside its integration with various automation modules, which afforded 672 distinct experimental schemes for the synthesis and size characterization of drug-loaded nanoliposomes within 40 h. Afterwards, based on the above obtained large data set of nanoliposomes, a typical machine learning (ML) model pertaining to particle size was established to predict candidate synthesis schemes for the desired average particle size. Therefore, by narrowing the screening ranges through ML, the final synthesis scheme capable of producing liposomes with the desired particle size along with minimum PDI value can be precisely and rapidly obtained using automated experiments based on the same platform. Taken together, an effective integration of the HBSCF synthesis along with an automated high-throughput experimental platform may have broad implications for the industrialization and clinical application of nanomedicine.

High-Accuracy Photovoltaic Power Prediction under Varying Meteorological Conditions: Enhanced and Improved Beluga Whale Optimization Extreme Learning Machine

Accurate photovoltaic (PV) power prediction plays a crucial role in promoting energy structure transformation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study aims to improve the accuracy of PV power generation prediction. Extreme learning machine (ELM) was used as the core model, and enhanced and improved beluga whale optimization (EIBWO) was proposed to optimize the internal parameters of ELM, thereby improving its prediction accuracy for PV power generation. Firstly, this study introduced the chaotic mapping strategy, sine dynamic adaptive factor, and disturbance strategy to beluga whale optimization, and EIBWO was proposed with high convergence accuracy and strong optimization ability. It was verified through standard testing functions that EIBWO performed better than comparative algorithms. Secondly, EIBWO was used to optimize the internal parameters of ELM and establish a PV power prediction model based on enhanced and improved beluga whale optimization algorithm–optimization extreme learning machine (EIBWO-ELM). Finally, the measured data of the PV output were used for verification, and the results show that the PV power prediction results of EIBWO-ELM were more accurate regardless of whether it was cloudy or sunny. The R2 of EIBWO-ELM exceeded 0.99, highlighting its efficient ability to adapt to PV power generation. The prediction accuracy of EIBWO-ELM is better than that of comparative models. Compared with existing models, EIBWO-ELM significantly improves the predictive reliability and economic benefits of PV power generation. This study not only provides a technological foundation for the optimization of intelligent energy systems but also contributes to the sustainable development of clean energy.

Temperature effects on the structure of lead metasilicate glass, supercooled liquid, crystal, and liquid: Vibrational anharmonicity and configurational transformations analyzed by molecular dynamics and Raman scattering

Raman spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to explore in detail the effects of temperature on the four stages of the PbO∙SiO2 system: glass, supercooled liquid, crystalline phases, and liquid. The Qn distribution up to 1153 K and the wavenumber temperature coefficients derived from vibrational anharmonicity were determined from the Raman data, whereas the structural transformation reflected in changes in the Qn population distribution up to 2400 K was inferred from MD simulations. The results indicate that reversible configurational transformations occur only in the higher temperature ranges of the supercooled liquid and more notably in the liquid state. During these transformations, the increase in the Q0 and Q1 populations occurs at the expense of the Q3 and Q4 populations. On the other hand, only vibrational anharmonicity was observed in the glass and crystalline states.

Trans-to-cis isomerization of a platinum(II) complex with two triphosphine ligands via coordination with gold(I) ions

The reaction of a square-planar platinum(II) complex containing two bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine (triphos), [Pt(triphos)2](NO3)2, with [Au(tu)2]Cl (tu = thiourea) gave a new trinuclear AuI2PtII complex, [Pt(triphos)2{Au(tu)}2]Cl2(NO3)2, through Au-P coordination. While the [Pt(triphos)2]2+ unit in [Pt(triphos)2](NO3)2 adopted the trans-meso configuration, only the cis-racemic isomer was observed for [Pt(triphos)2{Au(tu)}2]Cl2(NO3)2. 31P NMR spectroscopy indicated rapid equilibrium among the possible isomers of [Pt(triphos)2]2+, which facilitated the trans-to-cis transformation at the PtII center in this system. Additionally, we observed that this structural transformation led to an increase in the emission intensity.

Normal-to-Supercooled Liquid Transition in Molecular Glass-Formers: A Hidden Structural Transformation Fuelled by Conformational Interconversion.

Molecular dynamics and transport coefficients change significantly around the so-called Arrhenius crossover in glass-forming systems. In this article, we revisit the dynamic processes occurring in a glass-forming macrocyclic crown thiaether MeBzS2O above its glass transition, revealing two crossover temperatures: TB at 309 and TA at 333 K. We identify the second one as the Arrhenius crossover that is closely related to the normal-to-supercooled liquid transition in this compound. We show that the transformation occurring at this point goes far beyond molecular dynamics (where the temperature dependence of structural relaxation times changes its character from activation-like to super-Arrhenius), being reflected also in the internal structure and diffraction pattern. In this respect, we found a twofold local organization of the nearest-neighbor molecules via weak van der Waals forces, without the formation of any medium-range order or mesophases. The nearest surrounding of each molecule evolves structurally in time due to the ongoing fast conformational changes. We identify several conformers of MeBzS2O, demonstrating that its lowest-energy conformation is preferred mainly at lower temperatures, i.e., in the supercooled liquid state. Its increased prevalence modifies locally the short-range intermolecular order and promotes vitrification. Consequently, we indicate that the Arrhenius transition is fuelled rather by conformational changes in this glass-forming macrocyclic crown thiaether, which is a different scenario from the so-far existing concepts. Our studies combine broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Dynamic capabilities and competitiveness: Relationship among industrial policy, structural transformation, and economic growth in Indonesian regional industries

The complex interactions of industrial Policy, structural transformation, economic growth, and competitive strategy within regional industries are examined in this research. Using a dynamic capabilities framework, the study examines the mediating roles of organizational innovation and adaptability in the link between competitiveness and macroeconomic variables. A two-way fixed effects model is used in this study to examine the influence of structural transformation (ST) on Industrial Policy (IP). Using regional data covering the years 2010 to 2022, the research undertaken in this paper explores the dynamics of the Indonesian economy by empirically assessing the consequences of structural change on industrial Policy. In order to establish a comprehensive model that clarifies the mechanisms through which industrial policies and structural shifts impact the development of dynamic capabilities, ultimately influencing competitiveness strategies, this research draws on a large amount of empirical data and integrates insights from seminal works. Our research adds to our knowledge of strategic management in regional industries by providing detailed information on how economic development and policy interventions influence businesses’ ability to adapt and gain a competitive edge. In addition to advancing scholarly discourse, this study offers business executives and politicians valuable insights for managing the intricacies of global economic processes.

Defect Induced Structural Transition and Lipase Immobilization in Mesoporous Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The transition from disorder to order and structural transformation are distinctive metal-organic framework (MOF) features. How to adapt or control both behaviors in MOF has rarely been studied. In this case, we demonstrate that our successful synthesis of [Al(OH)(PDA)]n (AlPDA-53-DEF, AlPDA-53-H, and AlPDA-68) with H2PDA=4,4'-[1,4-phenylenebis(ethyne-2,1-diyl)]-di benzoic acid has shown the intricate world of Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks (Al-MOFs). It offers profound insights into defect structures to order and transformations. AlPDA-53-DEF, in particular, revealed a fascinating interplay of various pore sizes within both micro and mesoporous regions, unveiling a unique lattice rearrangement phenomenon upon solvent desorption. Defects and disorders emerged as crucial impacts of transforming AlPDA-53-DEF, with its initially imperfect crystallinity, into the highly crystalline, hierarchically porous AlPDA-53-H.

Effect of structural characteristics on the physicochemical properties and functional activities of dietary fiber: A review of structure-activity relationship

Dietary fibers come from a wide range of sources and have a variety of preparation methods (including extraction and modification). The different structural characteristics of dietary fibers caused by source, extraction and modification methods directly affect their physicochemical properties and functional activities. The relationship between structure and physicochemical properties and functional activities is an indispensable basic theory for realizing the directional transformation of dietary fibers' structure and accurately regulating their specific properties and activities. In this paper, since a brief overview about the structural characteristics of dietary fiber, the effect of structural characteristics on a variety of physicochemical properties (hydration, electrical, thermal, rheological, emulsifying property, and oil holding capacity, cation exchange capacity) and functional activities (hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, prebiotic and harmful substances-adsorption activity) of dietary fiber explored by researchers in last five years are emphatically reviewed. Moreover, the future perspectives of structure-activity relationship are discussed. This review aims to provide theoretical foundation for the targeted regulation of properties and activities of dietary fiber, so as to improve the quality of their applied products and physiological efficiency, and then to realize high value utilization of dietary fiber resources.

Effect of aging level on the healing properties of an induction-heated ultra-thin wearing course and its mechanism

Electromagnetic induction heating can accelerate crack self-healing in asphalt concrete and extend its service life. In the maintenance project of existing pavements, induction heating and ultra-thin wearing course can be combined by paving functional induction heating wearing course. However, the ultra-thin wearing course is directly affected by the environment and loading, and undergoes aging in the service process. Thermo-oxidative aging is an irreversible and important mechanism that seriously affect the rheological and healing properties of asphalt. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to examine the impact of thermo-oxidative aging on the induction heating-healing of an ultra-thin wearing course mixture. Firstly, the AC-5 induction heated ultra-thin wearing course (IHUC) containing 1 % steel wool fiber by aggregate mass was prepared. Subsequently, the IHUC was aged to six different levels. Then, the induction heating and healing properties of the aged IHUC were evaluated. Simultaneously, the aged asphalt binder was extracted and its rheological characteristics and chemical alterations were studied. The outcomes showed that the heating rate of IHUC decreased, but the temperature gradient effect reduced at higher aging level. The optimal healing temperature of IHUC shifted to a higher temperature region and the healing rate decreased. Both heating cycles and thermo-oxidative aging reduce healing effectiveness, but the impact of heating cycles is less compared to aging. Rheology and chemical structure test results of extracted asphalt binder showed that the transformation of the molecular structure caused the fluidity and self-healing properties of asphalt were decreased. This ultimately decreased the healing rate of IHUC.

Three-dimensional ordered FeTe-SmCoO3 nanocomposite: As efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation

In this work, FeTe-SmCoO3 is fabricated through a hydrothermal method and then coated on a stainless steel (SS) substrate to enhance the electrocatalytic performance. The crystal structure, surface chemical state, and morphological features of pure (FeTe and SmCoO3) and heterogeneous catalysts (FeTe-SmCoO3) are determined via XRD, XPS, and TEM/EDX techniques. The fabricated FeTe-SmCoO3 electrocatalyst is attributed to the particular morphological design resulting from the synergistic effect of FeTe and SmCoO3 phases. The as-developed high exposure level of active sites with structural transformation greatly promoted the oxidation property with an overpotential only of 199 mV to derive a current density of 10 mA/cm2, also observed a small Tafel slope of 72 mVdec−1 with extraordinary stability of 90 h. The modified heterogeneous catalyst provides outstanding catalytic behavior toward OER in the alkaline solution, due to flexibility and multiple accessible oxidation states of samarium, cobalt, and iron ions. The catalyst not only acquires additional reaction sites and opens up new channels through the dispersion of the metal centers, but also achieves quick electron transfer in FeTe-SmCoO3 nanocomposite through the interconnection between two phases.

Interfacial Spinel Local Interlocking Strategy Toward Structural Integrity in P3 Oxide Cathodes.

P3-layered transition oxide cathodes have garnered considerable attention owing to their high initial capacity, rapid Na+ kinetics, and less energy consumption during the synthesis process. Despite these merits, their practical application is hindered by the substantial capacity degradation resulting from unfavorable structural transformations, Mn dissolution and migration. In this study, we systematically investigated the failure mechanisms of P3 cathodes, encompassing Mn dissolution, migration, and the irreversible P3-O3' phase transition, culminating in severe structural collapse. To address these challenges, we proposed an interfacial spinel local interlocking strategy utilizing P3/spinel intergrowth oxide as a proof-of-concept material. As a result, P3/spinel intergrowth oxide cathodes demonstrated enhanced cycling performance. The effectiveness of suppressing Mn migration and maintaining local structure of interfacial spinel local interlocking strategy was validated through depth-etching X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and in situ synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction. This interfacial spinel local interlocking engineering strategy presents a promising avenue for the development of advanced cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

Expanded Stability of Layered SnSe-PbSe Alloys and Evidence of Displacive Phase Transformation from Rocksalt in Heteroepitaxial Thin Films.

Bulk PbSnSe has a two-phase region, or miscibility gap, as the crystal changes from a van der Waals-bonded orthorhombic 2D layered structure in SnSe-rich compositions to the related 3D-bonded rocksalt structure in PbSe-rich compositions. This structural transition drives a large contrast in the electrical, optical, and thermal properties. We realize low temperature direct growth of epitaxial PbSnSe thin films on GaAs via molecular beam epitaxy using an in situ PbSe surface treatment and show a significantly reduced two-phase region by stabilizing the Pnma layered structure out to Pb0.45Sn0.55Se, beyond the bulk limit around Pb0.25Sn0.75Se at low temperatures. Pushing further, we directly access metastable two-phase films of layered and rocksalt grains that are nearly identical in composition around Pb0.50Sn0.50Se and entirely circumvent the miscibility gap. We present microstructural and compositional evidence for an incomplete displacive transformation from a rocksalt to layered structure in these films, which we speculate occurs during the sample cooling to room temperature after synthesis. In situ temperature-cycling experiments on a Pb0.58Sn0.42Se rocksalt film reproduce characteristic attributes of a displacive transition and show a modulation in electronic properties. We find well-defined orientation relationships between the phases formed and reveal unconventional strain relief mechanisms involved in the crystal structure transformation using transmission electron microscopy. Overall, our work adds a scalable thin film integration route to harness the dramatic contrast in material properties in PbSnSe across a potentially ultrafast crystalline-crystalline structural transition.

A systematic framework for compilation of critical raw material lists and their importance for South Africa

Mineral resources are important contributors to the global economy and societal wellbeing. Directly, they provide employment, revenue and taxes through the extraction, processing and sale of minerals. Indirectly, they are essential to all modern industries, including: energy, manufacturing, construction, biotic and abiotic resource extraction and agriculture. The principle that ‘one cannot understand the value of what they have until they measure it’ is particularly relevant with critical raw materials (CRMs). CRM is a concept that categorises select resources (mainly minerals and metals) as critical in the sense that, at a national level, they are essential and difficult to replace, and their supply is prone to disruption. It is becoming increasingly recognised that the continuity of civilisation and living standards as some have envisioned them in the future is constrained by the quality and quantity of various minerals. National-level strategic planning, including energy policy, foreign relations policy, geopolitical operations, national defence, education and infrastructure planning, among others, all require knowledge of the requirement and supply of raw materials towards a practical strategic implementation. Hence, a national CRM framework is essential for a prosperous, productive and stable future. To effectively manage the supply and use of CRMs, it is important to comprehend both their formal (e.g., economic) and informal (e.g., social and environmental) values, and to measure and monitor these values effectively over time. This study examines international practices and methodologies as components of a comprehensive CRM framework. We then propose a prototype CRM framework for South Africa as such a framework is currently missing.All CRM frameworks feature one or more rating schemes to identify the degree of criticality of raw materials. The actual rating metrics are divided into dimensions (or factors), such as: socio-economic importance, technological importance, environmental, social and governance risks. Such dimensions are important due to the following reasons.•Delineating criticality from non-criticality: by rank-ordering CRMs based on various factors, a country can identify which ones are the most important for its economy, industry and national security. This information can help policymakers prioritise the development of domestic production and secure a stable supply of CRMs.•Assessing resource sustainability and supply stability: by rating CRMs based on environmental, social and ethical factors, a country can assess the sustainability of its resource use and identify areas for improvement. This information can help policymakers develop strategies to mitigate resource depletion, and supply chain disruption, minimise negative environmental and social impacts, and promote responsible resource management.•Supporting informed decision-making: an ordered ranking of CRMs provides quantitative and qualitative information to governmental bodies, industry and other stakeholders to support informed decision-making, including strategic planning. This information can help stakeholders make informed choices about the sources and types of CRMs they use and the sustainability of their resource use.•Promoting transparency and accountability: adopting suitable business ethical dimensions, such as through a corporate social responsibility framework, enables a country to promote transparency and accountability in its resource use and supply chains. This approach can help reduce illicit financial flows, corruption, and abuse of power, while increasing trust and confidence in the resource sector.•Innovation and investment opportunities: a CRM framework enables a nation to establish policy conditions that foster innovation and investment in key activities such as measuring, monitoring, sustainability, extracting, responsible processing, and efficient use of CRMs.Findings from this study underscores the necessity of a structured CRM framework in South Africa to effectively manage the complexities of resource management, economic ground, and sustainability. Integrating these frameworks into national policies can enable South Africa to secure a sustainable, economically viable, and environmentally responsible future. Such strategic initiatives are impor tant for national security, industrial policy, structural transformation, and economic stability, as well as aligning with global initiatives for responsible sourcing and climate change.

From pixels to production: the impact of digital finance on the industrial fabric of rural China

PurposeThe aim of this study is to discern the role of digital finance in driving rural industrial integration and revitalization. Specifically, it intends to shed light on how the deep development of digital finance can contribute to the optimization and transformation of the rural industrial structure. The research further explores the particular effects of this financial transformation in the central and western regions of China.Design/methodology/approachThis research studies the influence of digital finance on rural industrial integration across 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020. Utilizing the entropy weight method, a comprehensive evaluation index system is established to gauge the level of rural industrial integration. A two-way fixed effects model, intermediary effect model, and threshold effect model are employed to decipher the relationship between digital finance and rural industrial integration.FindingsFindings reveal a positive relationship between digital finance and rural industrial integration. A single threshold feature was identified: beyond a traditional finance development level, the marginal effect of digital finance on rural industrial integration increases. These effects are more noticeable in central and western regions.Originality/valueEmpirical outcomes contribute to policy discourse on rural digital finance, assisting policymakers in crafting effective strategies. Understanding the threshold of traditional finance development provides a new perspective on the potential of digital finance to drive rural industrial integration.