Silver powder, as a pivotal material in electronics and new energy applications, critically depends on its tapped density and sintering activity. This study systematically optimizes the physical properties and sintering performance of micron silver powder through a synergistic surface modification strategy integrating jet milling classification and high-speed shear shaping. Results demonstrate that the modified silver powder exhibits a 40-45 % enhancement in tapped density (5.91 g/cm3), a 50-56 % increase in apparent density (4.01 g/cm3), a narrowed particle size distribution span (reduced from 2.93 to 0.52), and significantly improved flowability (angle of repose: 28.97 degrees). The conductive silver paste formulated with modified powder achieves optimized rheological properties, including a 41.8 % higher 17-s recovery rate (84.5 %) and a 79.08 % reduction in static viscosity. Sintering experiments revealed that the modified silver powder achieved a maximum reduction in sintering temperature of 100 degrees C, with a relative density exceeding 97.3 % at 650 degrees C, with grain boundary diffusion and defect density modulation identified as the core mechanisms for densification. This work elucidates the synergistic regulatory mechanisms of surface modification on the sintering behavior of silver powders, aligning with the principles of tapped density enhancement and low-temperature sintering.

A bottleneck for commercializing sodium-ion batteries is the inadequate plateau capacity of hard carbon anodes, which stems from a deficiency of closed pores. Informed by the "adsorption-insertion-pore filling" mechanism, this work employs a synergistic phosphoric acid activation and pre-oxidation process to construct hard carbon from anthracite with copious closed pores. Consequently, the reversible capacity of the modified hard carbon anode increases by 66.3% to 334.8 mAh g(-1), with its ICE remaining at 90.8%, which is attributed to the critical role of closed pores in facilitating Na+ transport and storage. Extensive investigations demonstrate that the enhanced plateau capacity (257.0 mAh g(-1)) exhibits a strong correlation with the micropore volume of the precursor, validating that the plateau capacity primarily relies on a pore-filling mechanism. The universality of this pore-formation strategy is further demonstrated by extending it to phenolic resin. The modified resin-derived hard carbon achieves a reversible capacity of 415.7 mAh g(-1), representing a 20.1% enhancement, along with a plateau capacity of 337.2 mAh g(-1). Our work not only underscores the pivotal role of precursor cross-linking but also highlights the broad application potential of this pore-formation strategy.

Surface modification strategies exhibit superior interface control capability and functional scalability, which can not only protect the structure and performance stability but also endow the materials with new features. In particular, surface modification plays an important role in performance optimization of inorganic phosphor materials to improve their luminous efficacy, thermal stability, chemical resistance and compatibility. This strategy can promote a wide range of studies in light-emitting diodes, optical sensing, anti-counterfeiting, and biomedical imaging fields. Nevertheless, a profound understanding of the effects of surface modification on the structure and performance of phosphor materials is lacking. This review focuses on the recent advances in surface modification of the inorganic, organic, and organic-inorganic layer coatings of phosphor materials. The design principles, intrinsic structure variations, luminescence performance, underlying mechanisms and applications are comprehensively summarized. Notably, the relationship between interface engineering and luminescence optimization is proposed. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges faced by the coated phosphors in emerging fields and discuss the limitations of the current cladding technologies. This review provides new perspectives for the design of multifunctional phosphor materials with surface modification for advanced emerging platforms, and the proposed interface engineering mechanism offers theoretical guidelines for the performance manipulation of other functional materials.

Gd2Zr2O7 (GZO)-based compounds are currently one of the most promising materials for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), in which some dopants are introduced. The dopants induce changes in the GZO lattice and improve the properties; however, the underlying mechanisms related to the solid solution modes of the dopant remain insufficiently understood. In this study, first-principles calculations were employed to investigate the solid solution mechanism of Yb and Sc codoping in GZO. The results showed that both substitutional and interstitial doping coexist in the GZO lattice. At a Yb doping content of 12.5 at%, a substitutional solid solution formed in the GZO lattice, and with further introduction of Sc into the lattice, the Sc atom occupied interstitial sites at concentrations below 5.88 at%. The calculation results indicate that 11.76 at% Yb and 5.88 at% Sc codoped GZO (GYbSc) exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity, the highest coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and relatively high toughness. Experimental results demonstrated that GYbSc exhibits high toughness (2.09 MPa & centerdot;m(1/2)). At 1200 degrees C, the coefficient of thermal expansion of GYbSc increased by 5% compared with that of GZO, and its thermal conductivity decreased by 37%, with values of 11.059 & times;10(-6) and 0.935 W & centerdot;m(-1)& centerdot;K-1, respectively. GYbSc also displayed outstanding CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) corrosion resistance. This work not only explores a promising TBC material but also provides a new perspective for clarifying the mechanisms for the improved properties of doped compounds and developing novel TBC materials.

Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are promising for grid-scale storage due to their safety and low cost, but interfacial instability caused by high water activity and irregular ion flux hinders their progress. Metal-polymer frameworks offer potential through regulated ion channels, yet the distinct roles of zinc ions remain unclear. Herein, we fabricate a Zn2+-coordinated bacterial cellulose electrolyte (BC-Zn) featuring dual-state zinc ions. We demonstrate that stably coordinated Zn2+ forms ordered nanochannels for uniform ion distribution, while weakly adsorbed Zn2+ dynamically participates in Zn metal deposition. This synergy, coupled with confined channel effects, enhances fast ion transport and guides dendrite-free plating. The coordination network also reduces free-water activity, enabling stable operation while granting the membrane excellent mechanical robustness and reusability. Consequently, Zn ∥ Zn cells with BC-Zn achieve stable cycling for >1500 h at 1 mA cm-2 and >300 h at 0.5 mA cm-2 with 29.2 and 9.2 wt % water content. A Zn-I2 full battery delivers 220.07 mAh g-1 with 82.1% capacity retention after 1000 cycles with 29.2 wt % water content and sustains >800 cycles with 9.2 wt % water content at 2C. This work elucidates the critical role of dual-state ions in regulating ion transport and interfacial stability, providing a viable design strategy for durable, high-performance AZMBs.

The accelerating deployment of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has triggered a massive influx of spent cells. Recycling spent graphite from end-of-life LIBs is imperative for mitigating environmental burdens, averting safety hazards, securing a sustainable supply of critical materials, and significantly reducing the carbon footprint across the entire industry chain through full-lifecycle reuse. Herein, we report for the first time a facile, eco-friendly, and cost-effective upcycling strategy that achieves synchronous deep purification and in situ interfacial engineering of spent graphite anodes using a FeCl 3 -ethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvent. This dual-functional process effectively eliminates recalcitrant impurities, including PVDF binders and SEI components, while simultaneously anchoring flower-like FeOCl nanocrystal clusters onto the graphite surface. Mechanistically, this engineered architecture unlocks a synergistic three-fold effect: (i) the expanded graphite interlayer spacing significantly lowers the energy barrier for rapid Li + diffusion kinetics; (ii) the anchored FeOCl clusters serve as highly active species, providing abundant extra sites for multi-electron reaction capacity; and (iii) the robust graphite skeleton effectively mitigates the structural strain arising from Li + intercalation over prolonged cycling, ensuring structural integrity. Consequently, the upcycled graphite (FG-3) demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance, delivering a high discharge capacity of 418 mAh g −1 , which notably exceeds the theoretical limit of pristine graphite (372 mAh g −1 ). Furthermore, it exhibits a robust capacity retention of 96.5% following a 100-cycle endurance test under 0.1 A g −1 . This work provides a sustainable and practical avenue for regenerating spent graphite, offering profound economic, strategic, and environmental value toward a net-zero, low-carbon battery lifecycle.

Abstract The large-scale consumption and low recycling rate of plastics necessitate effective chemical recycling solutions. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) serves as an ideal carbon source for synthesizing high-value carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes. In this study, a powdered Fe/MgO catalyst was prepared to convert the HDPE into high-quality SWCNTs in a two-stage reactor. Concurrently, reactive force field molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the adsorption, cracking, and carbon diffusion behaviors of pyrolytic intermediates on the Fe surface, along with the kinetics of iron carbide formation. The results demonstrate that Fe/MgO efficiently converts HDPE into SWCNTs, achieving a maximum yield of 33.7% with 1 g of the catalyst containing 2 wt % Fe at 900 °C. The catalyst preferentially adsorbs olefins such as ethylene, suppresses the polymerization and cyclization of small molecules, and thereby promotes SWCNT growth. The high efficiency of the Fe/MgO catalyst is attributed to a unique high-temperature inversion of its spinel structure, which triggers Fe3+ migration from the bulk to the surface. This work not only presents a high-value route for plastic waste utilization but also provides atomic insights into SWCNT synthesis from HDPE using Fe/MgO.

Photocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e & oline; ORR) represents a promising avenue for H2O2 production that has garnered considerable interest. This work presents a viable step-wise calcination strategy for the construction of WO3@COF heterojunction featuring with fine-tuned oxygen vacancies and the enlarged conjugation effect. The optimized N-WO3@COF contributed highly-efficient H2O2 production of 967.3 mu mol center dot g-1 center dot h-1 under visible light, affording an apparent quantum yield of 7.91% at 420 nm and solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 0.81%. The photocatalytic transformation process was probed in depth by combining experimental studies with theoretical calculations. The fine-tuned oxygen vacancies strengthened charge transfer ability and BEF intensity, and especially created selective 2e & oline; ORR surface-active sites, which promoted the end-on O2 adsorption configuration and significantly decreased the reaction barrier of key *OOH intermediate, improving the activity and selectivity of H2O2 production. It is believed that this work paves the way for the construction of active surface-defective sites owning the talent in photocatalytic reactions.

Pollination by bees underpins agriculture and ecosystem health but is increasingly threatened by American foulbrood (AFB) caused by Paenibacillus larvae. Conventional AFB diagnostics are slow and costly, underscoring the need for portable sensors targeting the key biomarker 2,5-dimethylpyrazine (2,5-DMP). Here, natural language processing is applied to mine a large corpus of scholarly literature. A domain-adaptive SensBERT model evaluates 514,088 bimetallic ion-organic ligand combinations for gas sensing, with similarity scores near unity indicating high applicability. Integrated analysis of application context, physicochemical traits, and MOFs performance identifies three optimal systems: Sm(III)/Sn(II) with 3,3 ',3 ''-((1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(azanediyl)) tribenzoic_acid (H3TATAB); In(III)/Zn(II) with 4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzoic_acid (H2TZBA); and Tm(III)/Sn(II) with furan-2,5-dicarboxylic_acid (FDCA). Sm/Sn-H3TATAB exhibits superior sensitivity and selectivity toward 2,5DMP. After plasma conversion, the derived metal oxides retain highly specific 2,5-DMP recognition with excellent response consistency and stability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations model adsorption of multiple AFB-related VOCs at the atomic scale, revealing a uniquely strong binding preference for 2,5-DMP; coupling DFT-generated data with a deep neural network further clarifies the sensing mechanism. The resulting sensor achieves a detection limit of 20 ppb for 2,5-DMP, with a response of 2.7 at 20 ppb. This work establishes a synergistic paradigm that integrates deep learning, first-principles computation, and experimental validation to deliver a high-performance, non-invasive platform for rapid AFB detection, highlighting the promise of cross-disciplinary strategies for environmental monitoring and agricultural biosecurity.

ABSTRACT Ni‐based catalysts are extensively studied for the dry reforming of methane (DRM), which converts CO 2 and CH 4 —the two most abundant greenhouse gases—into syngas for downstream chemical synthesis. The harsh reaction conditions required for DRM lead to coking, metal aggregation. Although multiple mechanisms have been proposed, the molecular‐level understanding of the reaction remains debated. Here, we report the synthesis of θ ‐Al 2 O 3 ‐supported Ni DRM catalysts via surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) and report its outstanding activity and stability. The resulting Ni nanoparticles remain highly dispersed, with an average size of 5.3 ± 1.3 nm even after reduction at 900°C. This model catalyst exhibits distinct temperature‐dependent behavior during DRM, with marked structural and mechanistic differences observed within a narrow 50°C range. In situ x‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and ex situ synchrotron x‐ray diffraction (XRD) reveal a dynamic induction process involving rapid Ni oxidation, followed by reduction and carbon insertion into the Ni lattice at 850°C, forming a carbide‐like NiC x phase. At 800°C, incorporation of carbon is limited, thus leading to surface coking and catalyst deactivation. Furthermore, gas‐switching experiments confirm the importance of a carbide cycle at 850°C, enabling continuous carbon removal and sustained catalytic stability.

Developing a fluorescence thermometric system that simultaneously provides a wide color gamut and high-precision in-situ multimode temperature sensing remains highly challenging. In this study, La2MoO6: Yb3+/Tm3+ upconversion phosphors were prepared. As the temperature increased from 303 K to 603 K, different upconversion emission channels exhibited significant differential responses to temperature, resulting in the emission color continuously changing from deep blue to purplish red, with a chromaticity shift of 0.253. Two sets of fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) thermometry models (FIR = I701/I478 and FIR = I701/I652) were constructed, achieving maximum relative temperature sensitivities (Sr) of 2.4% K−1 and 2.7% K−1, respectively. Furthermore, by capturing luminescence images using a smartphone and analyzing the RGB channel ratios (R/G), a visual in-situ thermometry method was established, with a maximum Sr of 1.8% K−1. This thermometry strategy integrates high-precision FIR temperature measurement with rapid visual temperature indication, providing a new approach for wide-color-gamut, high-sensitivity, in-situ visual optical thermometry.

Abstract 1,3-Disubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) represent privileged scaffolds in medicinal chemistry as pharmaceutical bioisosteres of benzene rings owing to their enhanced metabolic and pharmacokinetic properties. Herein, we demonstrate an unprecedented and practical photoredox-catalyzed direct C(sp2)-H trifluoromethyl-bicyclopentylation of enamides with bench-stable BCP-thianthrenium salt under environmentally friendly and transition-metal-free conditions, delivering a broad array of geometrically-defined E-configured enamides bearing the pharmaceutically prominent CF3-BCP entity in a regio- and stereoselective manner. The transformation proceeded through the Giese addition of structurally rigid CF3-BCP alkyl radical to electron-rich enamides and the ensuing oxidative radical/polar crossover followed by β-H elimination. The synthetic utility of this methodology was further highlighted by its scalability and its capacity for streamlined late-stage functionalization, enabling access to various synthetically and biologically important organic intermediates and heterocycles.

Converting N2 into ammonia under ambient conditions using mechanical energy-driven piezocatalysis represents a promising approach for sustainable nitrogen fixation, although its efficiency is often limited by insufficient nitrogen activation and rapid recombination of piezo-induced charge carriers. Herein, bi-piezoelectric ZnO-ZnS heterostructures were successfully constructed through a post-synthetic anion exchange strategy using electrospun ZnO as the precursor. The gradual O2– to S2- exchange process generated a core–shell structure composed of a ZnO core and a porous ZnS shell while preserving favorable interfacial coupling between the two piezoelectric phases. The optimized heterostructure achieved significantly enhanced ammonia production, delivering yields 2.1 and 8.9 times higher than those of ZnO and ZnS, respectively, and 2.5 times higher than a physical mixture of ZnO and ZnS with similar composition. This enhancement was also observed in dye degradation, demonstrating the general applicability of the heterostructure design. Mechanistic studies revealed that the improved performance originates from enhanced piezoelectric polarization, more efficient spatial charge separation, and abundant surface active sites that promote N2 adsorption and activation. This work provides an effective strategy for constructing strongly coupled bi-piezoelectric heterostructures and highlights the importance of interface engineering for efficient piezocatalytic nitrogen fixation.

Cationic doping engineering in perovskite oxide enhances oxygen reduction reaction kinetics of cathode for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (PCFCs). Cobalt-free cathode K0.1Sr0.9Ta0.1Fe0.9O3-delta (KSTF) was engineered through targeted potassium substitution at the A-site of SrTa0.1Fe0.9O3-delta (STF). The incorporation of potassium causes the formation of a dual-phase structure, including a cubic perovskite phase and a KFeO2 secondary phase, enhancing the concentration of oxygen vacancies and the surface adsorbed oxygen ratio (Oads/ Olat) from 2.57 to 3.52. The oxygen desorption temperature was reduced to 191.6 degrees C, indicating enhanced surface oxygen exchange kinetics. The cathode polarization resistance (Rp) of KSTF on BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3-delta (BZCYYb) electrolyte is significantly lower than that of STF across 450-700 degrees C. The KSTF-based PCFC single cell attained 771 mW cm-2 peak power density at 700 degrees C, surpassing the STF benchmark (545 mW cm-2) by 41.6 %. Notably, at lower operating temperature, e.g. 450 degrees C, the peak power density increased by 100 %.

The reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction is a promising route for CO2 utilization, providing a versatile syngas component for downstream processes such as methanol synthesis and Fischer-Tropsch chemistry. Low-temperature (<400 degrees C) RWGS offers reduced energy demand and enables process intensification, yet it remains highly challenging. Herein, we report a PtMo@SiO2 catalyst, synthesized via surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC), that achieves near-equilibrium CO2 conversion at 300 degrees C (GHSV = 60,000 mL/g(cat)/h, 1 bar). The catalyst exhibits CO formation rates over 2 orders of magnitude higher than Pt@SiO2 at 200 degrees C and ca. 30-fold higher at 300 degrees C. Spectroscopic studies, including CO/CO2-IR, in situ XAS, gas switching, and CO-TPD DRIFTS, reveal that partially reduced Mo(IV) interfacial sites on silica promote CO2 adsorption, while Mo(0) in PtMo alloys facilitates the activation of CO2 and CO desorption, jointly enhancing low-temperature RWGS performance.

Electronic packaging materials require robust and durable interfacial adhesion under harsh hygrothermal conditions. While silane coupling agents are widely adopted to enhance initial epoxy-silica bonding, their long-term aging stability and underlying failure mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. In this work, we systematically investigate the hygrothermal aging behavior of epoxy underfill interfaces modified by silane coupling agents with varied functional groups and alkyl chain lengths. Combining time-resolved die shear tests, thermogravimetric analysis, ATR-FTIR characterization and multiscale simulations, we reveal a two-stage synergistic interfacial failure mechanism: early strength decay is dominated by water-induced physical interfacial separation and van der Waals attenuation, whereas long-term degradation is governed by hydrolytic cleavage of interfacial Si-O bonds. Short-chain silanes effectively suppress interfacial gap expansion under hygrothermal conditions, and epoxy-functionalized silanes exhibit superior hydrolytic stability owing to their higher reaction energy barrier. The essential difference between mechanical homolytic bond energy and hydrolytic reactivity is also clarified. This work establishes clear structure-performance correlations and provides molecular-level guidance for the design and selection of silane coupling agents for high-reliability underfill materials.

In this study, waste rare earth polishing powder (REPPW) was employed as a raw material for the synthesis of CeOv-La oxides with a three-dimensional flower-like morphology and abundant oxygen vacancies via a controllable synthesis method. These oxides were subsequently integrated with HZSM-5 zeolites featuring different silicaalumina ratios (SiO2/Al2O3 = 50, 100, 150) to construct an acid-oxygen vacancies synergistic catalytic system. Systematic characterization results revealed that the F-Ce-Ov-La/HZ-100 catalyst possessed the highest specific surface area, the highest Ce3+/(Ce3++Ce4+) ratio, the greatest oxygen vacancy concentration, and an optimal Br & Oslash;nsted-to-Lewis (B/L) acid site ratio, all of which contributed synergistically to its superior catalytic performance in the catalytic degradation of dichloromethane (DCM). Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the study elucidated that the Si/Al ratio influenced the formation of interfacial oxygen vacancies by modulating the acid site density and the reaction pathways. Furthermore, the synergistic mechanism between the acid sites and oxygen vacancies during the deep oxidation and dechlorination of DCM was systematically elucidated.

This study addresses the challenges in recycling rare earth polishing powder waste (REPPWs)-such as harsh leaching conditions, poor morphology control, and low value-added output-by proposing a synergistic "leaching-morphology control-zeolite loading" strategy. This approach enabled the successfully synthesize of flower-like CeOvLa/HZSM-5 composite catalyst using polishing powder as the primary raw material. This strategy involves three key elements: 1) co-leaching Ce3+/La3+ with a H2SO4-ascorbic acid system, 2) precisely constructing CeOvLa with abundant oxygen vacancies (Ovs) via controlled oxalic acid addition, and 3) obtaining the final catalyst by in-situ HZSM-5 growth on the CeOvLa. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that La doping reduced the formation energy of Ovs within the CeO2 lattice. Moreover, the incorporation of HZSM-5 further decreased this energy barrier while also provided abundant acidic sites. The synergistic interaction between these components enhanced the electronic environment and dispersion of active sites, thereby significantly promoting CCl bond cleavage and deep oxidation of dichloromethane (DCM). Experimental results demonstrated that the catalyst achieved 81.8% DCM conversion at 450 °C, with over 99% CO2 selectivity and minimal Cl2 byproduct formation. This work offers new insights into the value-added utilization of REPPWs and the efficient degradation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs).

We engineered a NiSe/Ni3Se2 heterostructure on nickel foam that activates formic acid for rapid hexavalent chromium detoxification. We used one-step hydrothermal growth and probed structure and mechanism by diffraction and spectroscopy, electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrro-line N-oxide, and batch and fixed-bed tests. The optimized catalyst removed 99.7 % of 50 mg L-1 hexavalent chromium in 40 min at 25 degrees C, achieved full removal of 1 mg L-1 in 20 min, tolerated common ions, and maintained 100 % removal for 180 h in continuous flow. Mechanistic analyses show a radical pathway dominated by hydrogen radicals (H center dot) and carbon dioxide radical anions (CO center dot-2 ), promoted by selenium vacancies and tightly coupled nickel selenide interfaces that accelerate formic-acid activation and interfacial charge transfer. Operating without external energy input, this monolithic architecture avoids powder recovery and minimizes pressure drop and cost, offering a general route to defect-engineered selenides for efficient, low-cost environmental redox remediation.

To overcome the intrinsic limitations of TiO2, specifically its wide band gap and rapid photogenerated carrier recombination, for dyeing wastewater treatment, a Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped TiO2-ZnO heterostructure was fabricated by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction revealed inhibited anatase-to-rutile phase transition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed Ti 2p binding energy shifts, indicating strong electronic interactions between dopants and the host lattice. Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed band gap narrowing to 2.927 eV, with upconversion effect extending light absorption to the near-infrared region. Photoluminescence measurements demonstrated suppressed carrier recombination, and XPS confirmed abundant oxygen vacancies. The optimal sample achieved 74.31