Electrochemical energy storage (EES) plays an important role in personal electronics, electrified vehicles, and smart grid. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and supercapacitors (SCs) are two of the most important EES devices that have been widely used in our daily life. The energy density of LIBs is heavily dependent on the electrode capacity, in which the charge storage proceeds mainly in three different

Recently, multilayered WSe2 patterns consisting of a mixture of curved and linear edge segments and a mixture of cusps and apices have been obtained by combining chemical vapor deposition growth and etching. The underlying mechanisms and kinetics of the formation of such fascinating patterns, however, remain elusive. Here, we formulate a kinetic Monte Carlo model aiming at revealing the etching mechanisms

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites as promising light-harvesting materials have been the focus of scientific research and development of photovoltaics recently. Especially, metal halide perovskites currently become one of the most competitive candidates for the fabrication of solar cells with record certified efficiency over 25%. Despite the high efficiency, many fundamental questions remain unclear

Au core and Pd shell supported on carbon structure [email protected]/C can cleave the C–C bond of ethanol molecules leading to the production of a relatively high amount of CO2 when compared with Pd/C electrocatalyst as the attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) experiment shows. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that this could be explained by the oxidation

Triple-negative breast cancers are extremely aggressive with limited treatment options because of the reduced response of the cancerous cells to hormonal therapy. Here, monodispersed zinc-containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs-Zn) were produced as a tuneable biodegradable platform for delivery of therapeutic zinc ions into cells. We demonstrate that the nanoparticles were internalized by

van der Waals heterojunctions (vdWHs) formed between 2D materials have attracted tremendous attention in recent years owing to their exceptional electronic and physical properties, such as formation of superlattice and intriguing electronic coupling at the interface. These unique properties promise various novel applications, for example, in electronics and optoelectronics. More recently, vdWHs have

Photoswitching dynamics of common organic photoisomers in solid state are often reduced compared to the solution state due to the close packing of molecules that limits structural changes. The facile solid-state switching of photoisomers has implications in developing novel light-controlled devices such as actuator, field-effect transistor, and photodetector, as well as photon energy storage materials

Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) are considered as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) especially in large-scale energy storage systems of renewable energy owing to their potentially low production cost. In view of the larger ionic size of Na ions than Li ions, the commercial graphite anode in LIBs is not suitable for NIBs. To achieve NIBs with a high energy density, various anode materials

Iron pyrite (FeS2) exhibits dynamic thermal stability and represents an ideal model system to probe complex phase transformations in materials. At elevated temperatures, the sublimation of S atoms from the FeS2 lattice results in a phase transformation to one of the many polymorphic forms of pyrrhotite, i.e., from Fe1-XS (where 0 ≤ X < 0.2) to stoichiometric FeS. The complex nature of this phase transformation

With the coming era of large-scale energy storage, development of next-generation non–Li-based rechargeable battery technologies is imperative. Owing to the abundance, economy, and high energy density, K-ion batteries (KIBs) have attracted much attention. However, the overlarge K-ion can greatly destroy the electrode materials during potassiation-depotassiation process, resulting in a sharp decrease

Injury to the central nervous system remains a significant therapeutic challenge from a tissue engineering perspective because of the soft tissue properties, anatomical and spatial complexities, and highly divergent injury mechanisms that must be addressed. Emerging strategies to approach the difficulties of central nervous system regeneration include the use of hydrogel formulations as scaffolds for

The exceptional and unique properties of cerium dioxide have encouraged scientists to exploit this material beyond its traditional role as a promoter in automotive engines. Electrochemical processes relevant to fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors can be facilitated or even directly catalyzed by the CeO2, whose redox properties are ideal for electrochemistry. However, given the insulating nature

Economical and efficient energy storage in general, and battery technology, in particular, are as imperative as humanity transitions to a renewable energy economy. Rare and/or expensive battery materials are unsuitable for widespread practical application, and an alternative has to be found for the currently prevalent lithium-ion battery technology. In this review article, we discuss the current state-of-the-art

Microporous organic polymers (MOPs) with internal pores less than 2 nm have potential use in gas separation, sensing, and storage, in the form of membranes, monoliths, fibers, or adsorbent granules. These covalently bonded polymers are being formed by reacting with rigid organic monomers, and MOPs have lately been studied for capturing CO2 from gas mixtures in the form of membranes and adsorbents.

As a non-invasive technology, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely studied for tumor ablation and infection control. In recent years, nanoparticle (NP)-based PDT has attracted significant interest in improving wound healing. By photodynamically tuning the temperature of the wounds, NP-based PDT may promote cell proliferation and generate reactive oxygen species, thereby playing a beneficial role