The sodium-sulfur nonaqueous redox-flow batteries (Na-S NARFBs) using earth-abundant elements are highly attractive due to the low material cost and improved energy density for grid-scale energy storage. However, the low current performance, poor Na0/Na+ redox kinetics, and Na dendrite growth pose severe challenges. We introduce cation-diffusive layers (CDLs): thin and Na+ affinitive interlayers at the Na anode that direct Na+ transport and stabilize Na deposition. Benchmarking three archetypal materials-carbon paper (CP), glass microfiber paper (GF), and foam-across Na-Na and Na-Cu, and Na-S cells identifies CP as the optimum. CP reduces symmetric cell overpotential by more than 70%, achieves 98% Na plating-stripping efficiency, and doubles the Na-S cell current density from 0.5 to 1.0 mA cm-2 without sacrificing capacity or efficiency. Ex situ electrochemical and SEM/XPS analysis, combined with molecular dynamics (MD) studies, reveal that electron-rich carbon fibers disperse supporting salt aggregates, enrich near-surface Na+ density, and create ion transport pathways for fast Na0/Na+ exchange while mitigating membrane degradation. Because of the ion-centric mechanism, CDLs can be generalized to other metal-anode designs. Further, this work establishes CDL design rules-cationic affinity and appropriate micro/nanostructure-as a simple, scalable route to high-current, durable metal-anode flow batteries.

Corrosion prediction in aluminum can lids is important to maintain the longevity and safety of beverage containers, with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) serving as a helpful modern tool to assess coating performance. This study aims to develop a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network for predicting EIS spectra, enabling more efficient and real-time corrosion assessments. The impedance data was collected using a custom-designed experimental setup that replicated real beverage can environments, generating comprehensive EIS spectra under controlled conditions. This data was then used to train and validate an LSTM model tailored for time-series predictions. The model uses a three-dimensional input structure, incorporating frequency, real impedance (Z'), and imaginary impedance (Z'') as input features. This approach captured broader changes in the EIS spectra, allowing the model to simultaneously map changes in Nyquist plots, Bode magnitude, and phase angle plots. The results demonstrated good predictive accuracy, with the model capturing the complex dynamics of EIS spectra over conventional analytical methods. This study tries to integrate advanced machine learning with electrochemical analysis to enhance material evaluation. This approach can be expanded to predict corrosion not only in coated aluminum lids but also across broader applications involving aluminum and its alloys. By incorporating recurrent neural networks (RNNs) or advanced LSTM architectures, future work could further refine predictions of EIS spectra, advancing corrosion monitoring techniques in diverse industrial and environmental contexts.

The utilization of seawater as an electrolyte in magnesium-air (Mg-air) batteries represents an exciting opportunity for harnessing Earth's abundant resources to solve critical energy storage challenges in the energy sector. Whilst a few prior studies have explored the feasibility of Mg-air batteries with seawater electrolytes, comprehensive understanding of battery performance and underlying operating mechanisms in seawater remain unclear. In this work, the electrochemical and battery performance of Mg-air batteries constructed using 3 distinct electrolytes (3.5 wt.% NaCl in water, natural seawater, and filtered seawater) were systematically compared. For Mg-air batteries fabricated with recast Mg as the anode, the highest specific energy density was found using seawater, reaching 1267.1 mWh/g at 2 mA/cm2, compared to 642.5 mWh/g using a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and 462.03 mWh/g using filtered seawater. The anodic efficiency using the seawater electrolyte reached 47 % at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. In addition, the discharge mechanism of the Mg-air battery with the natural seawater electrolyte was investigated. The results suggest that the formation of dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) on the Mg anode surface in the seawater electrolyte contributes to the enhanced battery discharge performance observed over the 3.5 wt.% NaCl electrolyte.

Fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerators hold great promise for wearable energy harvesting applications, due to their flexibility, light weight, and skin conformability. However, their practical application is severely limited by poor output stability and inadequate mechanical durability, especially during long-term operation. To address these issues, we proposed a synergistic strategy integrating thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-induced crosslinking and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-mediated solid lubrication. Using this approach, we successfully fabricated an all-fiber TENG (AF-TENG) composed of fluoroelastomer/polyvinylidene fluoride composite negative nanofibers and polyamide 6 positive nanofibers dip-coated with TPU. The TPU formed a robust crosslinked network, which enhances the interfacial toughness and abrasion resistance and enabling it to deliver a high electrical output of 504 V and 10.5 μA, with remarkable stability over 70,000 contact-separation cycles. Nevertheless, when extending this device to sliding mode, severe wear occurred due to the high shear force generated during sliding. To mitigate this issue, MoS2 nanosheets were incorporated as a solid lubricant to reduce sliding friction, leading to a 41.4% decrease in the kinetic friction coefficient. This synergistic modification endows the AF-TENG with excellent stability over 44,000 sliding cycles. This work offers a strategy for the fabrication of highly durable AF-TENGs for wearable electronics.

Sodium polysulfide nonaqueous redox-flow batteries are promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density and earth-abundant components. However, their performance is fundamentally limited by severe polysulfide shuttling and unstable sodium-metal interfaces, particularly under high-concentration catholyte conditions. Here, we report a scalable and perfluoroalkyl-substances-free membrane modification strategy via a simple dip-coating method to fabricate commercial glass fiber (GF) with poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) sodium salt (PSSMA). The sulfonate and carboxylate functional groups in PSSMA provide both electrostatic and steric repulsion against polysulfide anions, while preserving the mechanical flexibility of the GF substrate. The optimized PSSMA-GF membrane significantly suppresses shuttle current, mitigates self-discharge, and delays the formation of short-chain, less soluble polysulfide species, leading to improved Coulombic efficiency (from <60 to 98.3%) and stable cycling over 100 cycles in sodium polysulfide coin-type full cells. Furthermore, the coating promotes uniform solid electrolyte interphase formation on the sodium anode. The feasibility of the PSSMA-GF membrane was further demonstrated using the flow-cell configuration, showing a smooth discharge plateau at 1.5 V under 1.0 mA cm(-2). This work demonstrates an environmentally benign, cost-effective, and easily scalable membrane fabrication strategy, offering a practical pathway to overcome key challenges in sodium polysulfide redox-flow batteries and other advanced energy storage systems.

Redox flow batteries are a promising energy storage technology for mitigating the intermittency of renewable energy sources. Despite certain technologies have progressed to partial commercialization, high system cost remains a barrier to broader adoption. Conventional parallel-plate architectures have provided limited potential for substantial stack cost reduction. Recently, tubular designs have emerged as an alternative, offering improved membrane packing and potential enhanced volumetric performance. In this study, we investigate scaling-up strategies for tubular redox flow batteries and demonstrate that electrode geometry fundamentally alters the appropriate performance metric. Experimental results show that, in single-tube cells, the coaxial design achieves better areal performance than the quasi-coaxial design, primarily due to improved current-distribution uniformity. However, numerical simulations of multi-tubular systems reveal that the quasi-coaxial configuration delivers superior volumetric performance by benefiting from enhanced packing efficiency. These findings emphasize an intrinsic trade-off between areal and volumetric performance and provide new insight into the cost-effective scaling strategy for tubular flow batteries.

This study investigates how synthesis conditions influence the structure and conductivity of hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne (HsGDY). By varying the reaction temperature and solvent, we find that small changes in conditions markedly affect triple-bond retention and electronic continuity. Solid-state 13C NMR and Raman spectroscopy reveal that elevated temperatures drive alkyne loss and partial graphitization, with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) promoting faster degradation than pyridine. The resulting decline in alkyne content directly correlates with reduced conductivity, indicating that preserving conjugation is essential for charge transport. These findings clarify how the synthetic environment governs the structural and electronic evolution of graphdiyne frameworks, providing insight into the controlled preparation of conjugated carbon networks.

Hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne (HsGDY) is a conjugated carbon material containing sp- and sp2-hybridized carbon atoms that has recently been shown to mechanically actuate upon exposure to acetone, suggesting a strong molecular interaction. Here, we report the first acetone sensor based on HsGDY films synthesized directly on copper foil. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals pronounced, concentration-dependent impedance changes upon acetone exposure that are absent in bare copper and carbon paper electrodes and strongly suppressed after thermal treatment that reduces alkyne retention. Distribution-of-relaxation-times analysis indicates that acetone primarily alters mass-transport processes within the HsGDY network. Raman spectroscopy shows no detectable change in the alkyne vibrational signature, whereas solid-state 13C NMR reveals clear structural evolution, highlighting the importance of complementary characterization. Structurally related solvents do not produce comparable responses, demonstrating selectivity toward acetone. These results establish HsGDY as a room-temperature acetone sensor and clarify the mass-transfer-dominated mechanism underlying its response.

Introduction: The safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement (MVR) have been reported. However, the impacts of different types of mitral valves on the safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation in patients with AF who underwent MVR have not been elucidated. Methods and results: From 2015 to 2021, 17,496 patients underwent catheter ablation of AF for the first time in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were screened. The inclusion criteria were (1) aged 18 years or older; (2) diagnosed with AF; (3) history of mitral valve replacement. The exclusion criteria were a history of catheter ablation, surgical maze procedure, left atrial appendage closure or resection. A total of 68 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: the bioprosthetic MVR group (n=12) and the mechanical MVR group(n=58). The size of the left atrial was larger (49.5mm vs. 46.0mm, p<0.05), the thickness of the left interventricular septum was larger (11.0mm vs. 10.0mm, p<0.05), and the mitral ring area was smaller (2.3mm2 vs. 2.6mm2, p<0.05) for the bioprosthetic MVR group than the mechanical MVR group. During 23.4 (6.1, 36.5) months of follow-up, the incidence of the endpoint events was not significantly different between the two groups (33.3% vs. 30.4%, log-rank p=0.48). There were 2 cases (3.4%) of pseudoaneurysm and 1 case of acute cerebral infarction in the mechanical MVR group. No complication was observed in the bioprosthetic MVR group. No significant clinical bleeding events were observed in the bioprosthetic group while eight patients in the mechanical MVR groups had bleeding events (p=0.368) during the follow-up. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of catheter ablation of AF were comparable between the patients with mechanical MVR and bioprosthetic MVR.

Conventional batteries suffer from poor biocompatibility and non-biodegradability, which severely limit their further applications in biomedical electronic implants. To overcome this issue, a degradable flexible power source of a photopolymerizing-3D printing biohydrogel battery is developed, and the conductive ionic hydrogel and InGa3-Cu nanoparticles are employed as electrolyte and electrode, respectively, which generate the stable current in the degradation period. Driven by the internal ion gradient, the InGa3-Cu nanoparticles spontaneously degrade to release free ions, thereby sustaining a stable current of 0.001–6 mA at 1.5 V. The biohydrogel battery exhibits a high printing precision of 50 μm, and its tensile strain and compression rate reach 200% and 95%, respectively, matching the mechanical properties of the biological tissues. Furthermore, it can operate with dual-current modes, providing microcurrents (0.001–1 mA) to promote tissue regeneration and high currents (1–6 mA) for effective cardiac pacing.

GaN p-channel transistors with high hole mobility are important for power electronic and high-frequency microwave applications. Here we propose that strain-induced polarization increases hole mobility through biaxial tensile strain and scattering suppression. Under applied strain, the valence band structure and piezoelectric scattering should be regulated by the piezotronic effect. We find that the piezotronic effect can increase hole mobility by 110 %. Hole mobility reaches up to 140 cm2/Vs at room temperature and 2700 cm2/Vs at 100 K.

Poly-(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) has broad applications across various metal-ion battery systems, such as a binder for electrodes, a supporting matrix for electrolytes, and a separator material. Due to its excellent mechanical properties, PVDF-HFP has become an excellent candidate for fabricating gel and solid-state electrolytes in sodium-based batteries. However, in this study, we noticed notable side reactions occurring at the interface of PVDF-HFP membranes and Na metal. These reactions not only alter chemical compositions but also further affect the surface morphology and adhesive properties of membranes. Similar phenomena are observed in other polyfluoroalkyl-based membranes (PVDF and PTFE). Therefore, we systematically studied the reaction mechanisms between the Na metal and these polymers. The influence of different functional groups (-F, -CF3, -H) and their arrangement on the reaction extent has also been discussed. Finally, we concluded with the key factors driving these side reactions and provided new perspectives for designing polymers tailored for sodium-based batteries.

Transverse magnetic-polarized emission dominates in Al-rich AlGaN quantum well-based high-efficient non-toxic deep ultraviolet light sources. In this study, we theoretically analyzed the effect of external strain on the spontaneous emission and optical gain properties of Al-rich AlGaN quantum wells using the self-consistent approach to solve the Schrödinger equation based on an eight-band k⋅p Hamiltonian or Poisson equation. External strain can modify valence band alignment and significantly enhance transverse electric-polarized spontaneous emission and optical gain. The peak transverse electric-polarized spontaneous emission rate increases by 838.3% under a stress of 8 GPa. These results provide critical insights and design strategies for the advanced AlGaN-based ultraviolet optoelectronic devices.

Novel Bi2S3/BiOBr nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared via L-Cysteine-assisted hydrothermal avenue as efficient photocatalysts to degrade rhodamine B (RhB). As a result, the obtained Bi2S3/BiOBr NCs exhibited the slice-like microstructure with the average diameters of ca. 100 nm. The elemental analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the nanocomposites were combined by Bi2S3 and BiOBr. Then, the photo-induced degradation of RhB was performed with a Xenon lamp to simulate the sunlight (lambda> 400 nm) and the photo-decomposition rate was calculated. The following results showed that the Bi2S3/BiOBr NCs possessed excellent photocatalytice performance, which was better than that of other samples as control. Thus, this avenue provides a new reference for the facile synthesis of photocatalysts with low cost and high efficiency.

A membrane is required for conventional zinc-iodine aqueous batteries, since soluble polyiodides cross over to the anode side and react with zinc metal spontaneously. Making the battery membraneless increases ion transport and reduces its cost and overall footprint. In this paper, a membraneless Zn-I2 aqueous battery is demonstrated, employing a complexing agent, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium iodide (MBPI), to promote the formation of I5--containing, phase-separated polyiodides upon charging, to minimize self-discharge and suppress Zn dendrite growth. With an additional 0.3 M MBPI in 4 M ZnI2 electrolyte, the membraneless battery achieved 65 cycles with >85% Coulombic efficiency, whereas the MBPI-free control failed immediately. Additionally, a volumetric capacity of 14.3 Ah L-1 was achieved, surpassing those of most membraneless batteries reported to date regardless of redox chemistry, and underscores the potential of complexing agents in simplifying the architecture of conventional Zn-I2 flow batteries.

Efficient mass transport is critical for tubular flow battery performance and for its eventual scale‐up; yet the influence of design parameters like electrode fiber filling density, internal membrane volume, and electrode structure remains largely unexplored. Herein, a tubular all‐vanadium flow battery with a fibrous 4 mg cm −1 electrode filling density and a 0.238 cm internal diameter (ID) membrane is fed with dilute vanadium electrolyte at varying flow rates, and its mass transfer coefficient is calculated. The filling densities are increased to 8 and 16 mg cm −1 , where the 4 mg cm −1 shows the highest mass transfer coefficient, 2.64 × 10 −6 cm s −1 . Decreasing the internal membrane diameter to 0.144 and 0.116 cm while restraining the 4 mg cm −1 filling density reveals the 0.238 cm diameter results in the largest mass transfer coefficient. Comparing a solid electrode to the 4 mg cm −1 , 0.238 cm ID electrode, the solid electrode reports the highest mass transfer coefficient, 2.56 × 10 −5 cm s −1 . These findings surprisingly demonstrate that fibrous electrodes, despite their higher total surface area, do not inherently lead to improved mass transfer performance in tubular flow batteries, rather, it is the amount of available surface area and the uniformity in electrolyte flow, seen in the solid graphite electrode, that is critical for mass transfer.

Based on the high resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra, we derived the chemical abundances of 20 elements for 20 barium (Ba-) stars. For the first time, the detailed abundances of four sample stars, namely HD 92482, HD 150430, HD 151101 and HD 177304 have been analyzed. Additionally, Ba element abundance has been measured using high resolution spectra for the first time in six of the other 16 sample stars. Based on the [s/Fe] ratios, the Ba-unknown star HD 115927 can be classified as a strong Ba-star, while the Ba-likely star HD 160538 can be categorized into a mild Ba-star. Consequently, our sample comprises three strong and 17 mild Ba-stars. The light odd-Z metal elements and Fe-peak elements exhibit near-solar abundances. The [{\alpha}/Fe] ratios demonstrate decreasing trends with increasing metallicity. Moreover, the abundances of n-capture elements show significant enhancements in different degrees. Using a threshold of the signed distances to the solar r-process abundance pattern ds = 0.6, we find that all of our sample stars are normal Ba-stars, indicating that the enhancements of s-process elements should be attributed to material transfer from their companions. We compare the observed n-capture patterns of sample stars with the FRUITY models, and estimate the mass of the Thermally-Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch stars that previously contaminated the Ba-stars. The models with low masses can successfully explain the observations. From a kinematic point of view, we note that most of our sample stars are linked with the thin disk, while HD 130255 may be associated with the thick disk.

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have attracted significant interest in next-generation intelligent displays. Vacuum deposition is a promising method for integrating PeLEDs into intelligent displays due to its high manufacturability and easy pixelation, as proven in industrial organic light-emitting diode production. However, achieving spatially confined grains with optimized crystal remains challenging in vacuum-deposited perovskite. Here, a trisource coevaporation strategy is proposed to introduce MABr to form the MA x Cs1-x PbBr3 structure with carriers' spatial confinement and defect suppression as well. This approach enables PeLEDs to contain excellent external quantum efficiency (EQE), which is nearly 10-fold as the untreated device. Based on this, we realize the first reported vacuum-deposited transparent PeLEDs with double-sided emission and an amazing maximum EQE of 7.6% by replacing Al with an optimized Ag:Mg electrode. These transparent PeLEDs are integrated into a bifunctional intelligent display device with both accurate heart rate detection and imaging display, which exhibit bright patterned emission and accurate heart rate detection.

Developing novel heteroatoms co-doped biomass porous carbon with low-cost, tunable physical/chemical properties, and environmental friendliness is an important candidate to face energy shortage and environmental pollution currently. Herein, a novel solvothermal avenue was designed using triethanolamine as self-doping solvent to treat rice straw powders with KOH. The rice straw with triethanolamine derived carbon (RSTCs-1) possessed hierarchical porous structure, N/O diatomic doping, and large specific surface area. The electrochemical energy storage performance of RSTCs-1 was evaluated in the systems of supercapacitors, aqueous zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors (AZHSs), and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) respectively. As the results, the RSTCs-1 based symmetric supercapacitor exhibited the maximum energy density of ca. 98.4 Wh center dot kg- 1 with the excellent cycling stability. Moreover, both RSTCs-1 AZHSs and RSTCs-1 LIBs achieved the relative high discharge specific capacities of ca. 407.1 and 1906.7 mAh center dot g- 1 at current density of 0.1 A center dot g- 1. These results highlighted the huge potential of the obtained with notable electrochemical performance acting as multifunctional electrode material for the different energy storage devices.

Objective: The long QT syndrome type 2 is caused by the loss-of-function mutations in the KCNH2 gene, which encodes hERG1, the voltage-gated potassium channel. The hERG1 channels conduct rapid delayed rectifier K + currents ( I Kr ) in the human cardiac tissue. KCNH2 encodes 2 main isoforms—hERG1a and hERG1b, which assemble to form the homomeric or heteromeric hERG1 channels. However, the functional characteristics of the heteromeric hERG1 channels in long QT syndrome type 2 are not clear. In this study, a novel mutation in the N-terminus of hERG1a (F129I) was identified in a proband of long QT syndrome type 2. The purpose of this study was to identify the electrophysiological change of homomeric and heteromeric hERG1 channels with the F129I-hERG1a. Methods: Candidate genes were screened by direct sequencing. F129I-hERG1a was cloned in the pcDNA3.1 vector by site-directed mutagenesis. Then, the wild-type (WT) hERG1a and/or F129I-hERG1a were transiently expressed in the HEK293 cells with or without hERG1b co-expression. The expression levels of the transgenes, cellular distribution of hERG1a and hERG1b, and the electrophysiological features of the homomeric and the heteromeric hERG1 channels with the WT-hERG1a or F129I-hERG1a were analyzed using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, western blotting, and immunofluorescence techniques. Results: The proband was clinically diagnosed with long QT syndrome type 2 and carried a heterozygous mutation c.385T>A (F129I) in the KCNH2 gene. Electrophysiology study proved that the F129I substitution in hERG1a significantly decreased I Kr in both the homomeric and heteromeric hERG1channels by 86% and 70%, respectively (WT-hERG1a (54.88 ± 18.74) pA/pF vs. F129I-hERG1a (7.34 ± 1.90) pA/pF, P < 0.001; WT-hERG1a/hERG1b (89.92 ± 24.51) pA/pF vs. F129I-hERG1a/hERG1b (26.54 ± 9.83) pA/pF, P < 0.001). The voltage dependence of I Kr activation (V ½ and k ) was not affected by the mutation in both the homomeric and heteromeric hERG1 channels. The peak current densities and the kinetic characteristics of I Kr were comparable for both WT/F129I-hERG1a and WT-hERG1a. The channel inactivation and deactivation analysis showed that F129I substitution did not affect deactivation of the homomeric hERG1a channel, but significantly accelerated the deactivation and recovery from inactivation of the heteromeric hERG1a/hERG1b channel based on the time constants of fast and slow recovery from deactivation F129I-hERG1a/hERG1b vs. WT-hERG1a/hERG1b ( P < 0.05). Western blotting and immunofluorescence labeling experiments showed that maturation and intracellular trafficking of the F129I-hERG1a protein was impaired and potentially increased the ratio of hERG1b to hERG1a in the F129I-hERG1a/hERG1b tetramer channel, thereby resulting in electrophysiological changes characteristic of the long QT syndrome type 2 pathology. Conclusions: I Kr was significantly reduced in the homomeric and heteromeric hERG1 channels with F129I-hERG1a. The F129I mutation significantly accelerated the deactivation and recovery from inactivation of the heteromeric F129I-hERG1a/hERG1b channel. F129I-hERG1a exhibited impaired maturation and intracellular trafficking, thereby potentially increasing the ratio of the hERG1b to hERG1a stoichiometry in the hERG1 tetrameric channel. These changes demonstrated the importance of the heteromeric hERG1 channel in long QT syndrome type 2 pathophysiology.