For substantial utilization of carbon materials in energy storage applications, the development of high-speed preparation methods for carbon-based materials with exceptional power and energy densities is crucial. However, these objectives' quick and effective attainment continues to pose a formidable obstacle. Concentrated sulfuric acid's swift redox reaction with sucrose was harnessed to disrupt the pristine carbon lattice, introducing defects and substantial numbers of heteroatoms. These defects facilitated the rapid formation of electron-ion conjugated sites in carbon materials at ambient temperatures. Prepared sample CS-800-2 exhibited a high level of electrochemical performance (3777 F g-1, 1 A g-1) and high energy density in a 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte solution. This is attributed to its expansive specific surface area and the presence of numerous electron-ion conjugated sites. Besides that, the CS-800-2's energy storage performance was notable in other aqueous electrolyte solutions containing a variety of metallic ions. Computational results from theoretical models unveiled an augmented charge density in the vicinity of carbon lattice defects, and the presence of heteroatoms significantly lowered the adsorption energy of carbon materials for cations. Particularly, the constructed electron-ion conjugated sites, featuring defects and heteroatoms distributed across the extensive carbon-based material surface, expedited pseudo-capacitance reactions at the material's surface, resulting in a substantial improvement in the energy density of carbon-based materials while preserving power density. Overall, a groundbreaking theoretical viewpoint for the design of novel carbon-based energy storage materials was offered, suggesting exciting possibilities for the creation of superior energy storage materials and devices.

The reactive electrochemical membrane (REM)'s decontamination capability can be significantly boosted by the application of active catalysts to its surface. A novel carbon electrochemical membrane, designated FCM-30, was produced via the facile and environmentally benign electrochemical deposition of FeOOH nano-catalyst onto a low-cost coal-based carbon membrane (CM). Analysis of the structural characteristics revealed a successful coating of FeOOH onto CM, producing a morphology resembling a flower cluster, enriched with active sites when the deposition time reached 30 minutes. The nano-structured FeOOH flower clusters' effect on FCM-30 is manifest in its enhanced hydrophilicity and electrochemical performance, resulting in improved permeability and a heightened efficiency in bisphenol A (BPA) removal during electrochemical treatment. A detailed examination of applied voltages, flow rates, electrolyte concentrations, and water matrices, and their consequences on BPA removal efficiency, was conducted systematically. With operational conditions of 20 volts applied voltage and 20 milliliters per minute flow rate, the FCM-30 system demonstrates a superior removal efficiency of 9324% for BPA and 8271% for chemical oxygen demand (COD). (CM removal efficiency stands at 7101% and 5489% respectively). This highly effective treatment is achieved with a very low energy consumption of 0.041 kWh per kilogram of COD, owing to the enhanced hydroxyl radical yield and direct oxidation capability of the FeOOH catalyst. Besides its effectiveness, this treatment system is also highly reusable and can be adapted to different water types and different contaminants.

ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), a widely investigated photocatalyst, is notable for its significant photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance, stemming from its distinctive visible-light responsiveness and strong reductive potential. Yet, there has been no documented account of its photocatalytic glycerol reforming efficiency in generating hydrogen. A BiOCl@ZnIn2S4 (BiOCl@ZIS) composite, synthesized by growing ZIS nanosheets onto a pre-fabricated hydrothermally prepared template of wide-band-gap BiOCl microplates using a simple oil-bath technique, is a novel photocatalyst under visible light irradiation (above 420 nm). This material is being investigated for its potential in photocatalytic glycerol reforming, aiming for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE). A 4 wt% (4% BiOCl@ZIS) concentration of BiOCl microplates within the composite was identified as optimal, when coupled with an in-situ 1 wt% Pt deposition. Following optimization of in-situ platinum photodeposition onto 4% BiOCl@ZIS composite, the highest photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution rate (PHE) of 674 mol g⁻¹h⁻¹ was observed using an ultralow platinum loading of 0.0625 wt%. The enhancement is potentially attributable to the creation of Bi2S3, a semiconductor with a low band gap, during the synthesis of the BiOCl@ZIS composite. This generates a Z-scheme charge transfer between the ZIS and Bi2S3 components under visible light irradiation. read more This study demonstrates not just the photocatalytic glycerol reforming process over ZIS photocatalyst, but also provides compelling evidence of how wide-band-gap BiOCl photocatalysts bolster ZIS PHE performance under visible-light illumination.

Photocatalytic applications of cadmium sulfide (CdS) are greatly impeded by the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers and substantial photocorrosion. We, therefore, synthesized a three-dimensional (3D) step-by-step (S-scheme) heterojunction through the interfacial coupling of purple tungsten oxide (W18O49) nanowires and CdS nanospheres. A 97 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate is observed for the optimized W18O49/CdS 3D S-scheme heterojunction, representing a substantial 75- and 162-fold improvement over pure CdS (13 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and 10 wt%-W18O49/CdS (mechanical mixing, 06 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹). This highlights the hydrothermal method's ability to construct tightly bound S-scheme heterojunctions, leading to effective carrier separation. The apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of the W18O49/CdS 3D S-scheme heterojunction displays values of 75% at 370 nm and 35% at 456 nm. This is a substantial improvement over pure CdS, which achieves only 10% and 4% at the respective wavelengths, representing a 7.5- and 8.75-fold enhancement. Structural stability and hydrogen production are features of the produced W18O49/CdS catalyst, demonstrating relative consistency. The hydrogen evolution rate of the W18O49/CdS 3D S-scheme heterojunction surpasses that of the 1 wt%-platinum (Pt)/CdS (82 mmolh-1g-1) catalyst by a factor of 12, indicating W18O49's effectiveness as a replacement for precious metals in enhancing hydrogen production.

Novel stimuli-responsive liposomes (fliposomes) for smart drug delivery were conceived through the strategic combination of conventional and pH-sensitive lipids. Our in-depth analysis of fliposome structural properties illuminated the mechanisms driving membrane transformations in response to pH fluctuations. Lipid layer arrangement, as observed through ITC experiments, was found to be a slow process, its rate sensitive to pH changes. read more We also ascertained for the first time the pKa value of the trigger-lipid within an aqueous medium, which contrasts significantly with the methanol-based values previously reported in the publications. We further investigated the release mechanism of encapsulated sodium chloride, proposing a novel model based on physical parameters extracted from the best fit of the release profiles. read more For the first time, we have determined the self-healing times of pores and tracked their evolution across various pH levels, temperatures, and lipid-trigger quantities.

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries urgently necessitate bifunctional catalysts exhibiting high activity, exceptional durability, and economical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) capabilities. By integrating the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) active component of ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active component of cobaltous oxide (CoO) within a carbon nanoflower framework, we developed an electrocatalyst. Through meticulous control of synthesis parameters, Fe3O4 and CoO nanoparticles were evenly distributed throughout the porous carbon nanoflower structure. Employing this electrocatalyst results in a minimized potential difference, between the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, of 0.79 volts. Assembled with the component, the Zn-air battery demonstrated an open-circuit voltage of 1.457 volts, stable discharge for 98 hours, a high specific capacity of 740 mA h per gram, a high power density of 137 mW cm-2, and excellent charge/discharge cycling performance, exceeding that observed in platinum/carbon (Pt/C) batteries. By tuning ORR/OER active sites, this work offers a collection of references for the exploration of highly efficient non-noble metal oxygen electrocatalysts.

Self-assembly processes allow cyclodextrin (CD) to spontaneously build a solid particle membrane structure, incorporating CD-oil inclusion complexes (ICs). Sodium casein (SC) is likely to preferentially adsorb to the interface, influencing the type of film formed at the interface. The intensification of pressure during homogenization can expand the surface contact between components, leading to a transformation in the interfacial film's phase structure.
The assembly of CD-based films was modulated by sequential and simultaneous orders of SC addition. The resultant phase transitions in the films were examined to understand their ability to inhibit emulsion flocculation. The emulsions' and films' physicochemical properties, encompassing structural arrest, interfacial tension, interfacial rheology, linear rheology, and nonlinear viscoelasticities, were assessed using Fourier transform (FT)-rheology and Lissajous-Bowditch plots.
Analysis of the interfacial films under large-amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) rheological conditions showed that the films transitioned from a jammed to an unjammed state. Unjammed films are categorized into two types: (1) an SC-dominated liquid-like film, characterized by brittleness and droplet fusion; and (2) a cohesive SC-CD film, promoting droplet reorganization and suppressing droplet aggregation. The observed results highlight a potential strategy to control the phase transformations of interfacial films, ultimately improving emulsion stability.