To overcome efficiency limitations in traditional thermal energy storage, a multifunctional magnetic carbon sponge composite phase change materials was developed for efficient thermal energy storage and multi-mode energy conversion. The material features a hierarchical 3D porous structure that enables a high eutectic hydrated salt loading of 94 %. The composite exhibits significantly enhanced thermal conductivity (1.881 W & sdot; m- 1 & sdot; K-1), high phase change enthalpy (239.9 J/g melting, 222.4 J/g crystallization), and excellent cyclic stability, retaining 87.5 % of its initial enthalpy after 1,000 thermal cycles. Incorporated superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles enhance magnetothermal conversion, enabling rapid heating to 90 degrees C under an alternating magnetic field. Combined with polydopamine modification and the sponge's light-trapping effect, the composite achieves a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 95.17 %. When utilized in temperature-driven thermoelectric conversion devices, this material achieves a measured output current of 0.619 mA and a generated voltage of 67.95 mV, confirming its capability for thermoelectric conversion and sustained power generation. Because of its exceptional thermal conduction, significant phase transition enthalpy, exceptional cyclic stability, and capacity to function under dual stimuli (optical and magnetic fields), this composite shows lots of promise for use in multipurpose thermal energy management systems.

Carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) hold great prospects for commercialization due to their lower manufacturing cost and better stability when compared with metal electrode perovskite. Nevertheless, their power conversion efficiency (PCE) is lower than those of metal-based perovskite solar cells because of the inadequate interface contact between the carbon electrode and the perovskite layer. In this study, the hole transport layer (HTL)-free carbon-based perovskite configuration is utilized to further reduce the cost, and the methylammonium chloride (MACl) additive is introduced to passivate the defects of the perovskite and enhance the interface contact performance. The results indicate that the MACl additive can improve the crystal quality of the perovskite film, reduce the density of defect states, fill the vacancies of the iodide ion, and inhibit the formation of the δ-phase. The optimized C-PSC exhibits an increased carrier lifetime, resulting in improved stability and PCE, with a champion efficiency of 18.04%. Additionally, the device demonstrates ultrahigh photoelectrical stability during continuous light illumination. The unpackaged device with the MACl additive retained 80% of its initial PCE after being operated for 1000 h under double 85 conditions (i.e., at 85 relative humidity (RH) and 85 °C). This work provides an extremely effective strategy for optimizing the interface contact of carbon-based perovskites and preventing the formation of the δ-phase, thereby leading to more efficient and stable optoelectronic devices.

Biomass, as a carbon-based renewable energy source, is abundant in reserves and has the potential to replace fossil fuels. The hydrogenation of furfural (FF) is considered a highly significant topic as it serves as a platform compound derived from biomass, which is used as a petrochemical raw material. Nowadays, electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) reduction of FF is regarded as a green and sustainable method. In this study, niobovanadate modified with Cu-complexes (Cu-OctNH2-V30Nb12) was utilized as catalysts for the selective reduction of FF to furfuryl alcohol (FA), achieving a remarkable conversion rate of up to 94

As a crucial component in phase change heat storage systems, phase change materials have demonstrated remarkable application potential across diverse fields, such as solar energy storage systems, magnetic induction energy conversion, and storage. This research reports a high-performance photomagnetically driven composite phase change materials. The photomagnetic response unit was fabricated via the hydrothermal coprecipitation method by in-situ loading of Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs@Fe3O4). Subsequently, it was integrated with the Na2SO4.10H2O-Na2HPO4.12H2O eutectic salt to synthesize the composite PCM heat storage material.Experimental findings indicate that the composite incorporating 2.5 % CNTs@Fe3O4 exhibits nearly zero subcooling (Delta T = 0.1 degrees C), a thermal conductivity as high as 1.0230 W/(m.K), a significant latent heat of phase transformation (melting enthalpy of 253 J/g and solidification enthalpy of 218 J/g), and an enthalpy retention rate of 94.8 % after 1000 thermal cycles. The Fe3O4 endows the material with excellent magneto- thermal conversion performance. Specifically, at a 2.5 % doping content, the temperature increase within 240 s in an alternating magnetic field can reach 67.2 degrees C through the Neel/Brownian relaxation mechanism. Additionally, the CNTs carrier enhances the photothermal conversion efficiency to 94.5 %. This material combines high thermal conductivity, cycle stability, and dual-field (optical/magnetic) driven heat storage capabilities, thus demonstrating significant application potential in multifunctional thermal energy storage.

The development of highly efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) remains a critical challenge. In this study, we designed a series of bimetallic Ce–Ni metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived nanocatalysts by precisely tuning the Ce/Ni ratio and calcination temperatures. The optimized catalyst, Ni–CeO2(7:3) @C–400 °C, featuring highly dispersed carbon-coated Ni nanoparticles, achieved complete hydrogenation of DCPD to tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (THDCPD) with 100% conversion and nearly 100% selectivity within 2 h under 100 °C and 2 MPa. The porous carbon framework significantly facilitated the diffusion and accessibility of DCPD molecules, combined with Ce species reconstructing the electronic structure of Ni active centers through electronic interactions, synergistically enhancing the hydrogenation efficiency. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated good structural stability. This work not only provides a robust strategy for the rational design of bimetallic MOF-derived catalysts but also highlights their potential for practical applications in industrial hydrogenation processes.

Two-dimensional (2D) Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are highly attractive for fabricating nanodevices due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and good compatibility with device design. In this work, without using any surfactant, the different mixed valence tin oxides were prepared by controlling the pH value of the precursor solution under simple hydrothermal condition. When the pH is at 3.22, Sn3O4 2D vdW nanocrystals will be produced, which have the characteristic of layered structure with mixed valence as confirmed by HRTEM and XPS analysis. The Sn3O4 nanocrystals show excellent adsorption and photocatalytic activity under the visible and infrared light, which is attributed to two-dimensional layered morphology, especial electrical structure and large mesopores structure. As the pH is increased to 9.72, SnO 2D nanocrystals with a layered structure similar to Sn3O4 could be generated, which have an obvious infrared response. Moreover, while the pH is decreased to 0.89, the tetragonal rutile phase SnO2-x nanocrystals with rich oxygen vacancies can be obtained. These tin oxides with different structures exhibit broad photo-response and high photocatalytic performance respectively.

The increasing challenges of energy scarcity and environmental pollution caused by non-renewable sources highlight the critical importance of phase change energy storage materials in improving energy conversion and utilization efficiency. Because of the drawbacks of single function and poor thermal stability of hydrated salt phase change materials, this study employs interfacial polymerization introducing the magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) to successfully prepare the magnetic phase change microcapsule composed of eutectic hydrated salt (EHS) as the nucleus and SiO2 as the shell, with the functions of magnetic/light-to-thermal conversion. Through the optimization of the preparation process, the enthalpies of melting of the microcapsules reached 161.3 J.g-1, and the micromorphology was uniform and complete when tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) of 8 mL and deionized water of 10 mL was added. The study showed that the SiO2 shell effectively suppressed the water loss of the core material and improved the thermal stability; the introduction of MGO increased the thermal conductivity of the microcapsules by up to 82 % and gave it the functions of magnetic/light-to-thermal conversion. Under a constant alternating magnetic field, the temperature of the microcapsules with 0.15 g of MGO was increased to 35 degrees C, and its photothermal conversion efficiency reached 90.7 % under the optical density of 860 mW.cm-2.

Titanium carbide powders were synthesized under an argon atmosphere using titanium dioxide and pyrolysis carbon derived from pyrolyzed phenolic resin as raw materials. The effects of synthesis temperature, holding time, and C/Ti molar ratio on the phase composition and morphology of the synthesized powders were investigated. The results show that the pyrolyzed phenolic resin at 1000 degrees C is a carbon source composed of amorphous and crystalline carbon. Increasing the C/Ti molar ratio of the mixed powder can reduce the content of titanium oxide impurity, indicating the improvement in the purity of TiC powder. In addition, the C/Ti molar ratio can also significantly affect the morphology of the synthesized TiC powders. SEM and EDS results exhibit that the atomic content on the surface of TiC particles is closely correlated with the atomic distribution on the surface of the particles. TiC powder with a median particle size of 384 nm could be synthesized at 1500 degrees C for 30 min at the C/ Ti molar ratio of 2.3:1. In addition, the sinterability of the synthesized TiC powder was preliminarily discussed. The hardness and fracture toughness of the TiC ceramic sintered at 2000 degrees C under 40 MPa with a dwell time of 2 h are 15.92 GPa and 3.22 MPam 1/2 , respectively.

AbstractMaterial composition and structural design are important factors influencing the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance of materials. To alleviate the impedance mismatch attributed to the high dielectric constant of Ti3C2Tx MXene, we have successfully synthesized core‐shell structured SiO2@MXene@MoS2 nanospheres. This architecture, comprising SiO2 as the core, MXene as the intermediate layer, and MoS2 as the outer shell, is achieved through an electrostatic self‐assembly method combined with a hydrothermal process. This complex core‐shell structure not only provides a variety of loss mechanisms that effectively dissipate electromagnetic energy but also prevents self‐aggregation of MXene and MoS2 nanosheets. Notably, the synergistic combination of SiO2 and MoS2 with highly conductive MXene enables the suitable dielectric constant of the composites, ensuring optimal impedance matching. Therefore, the core‐shell structured SiO2@MXene@MoS2 nanospheres exhibit excellent EMW absorption performance, featuring a remarkable minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −52.11 dB (2.4 mm). It is noteworthy that these nanospheres achieve an ultra‐wide effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.72 GHz. This work provides a novel approach for designing and synthesizing high‐performance EMW absorbers characterized by “wide bandwidth and strong reflection loss.”

The striking aesthetic appeal of fullerene-like clusters has captured the interest of researchers. Nevertheless, the assembly of fullerene-like polyoxovadanadate (POV) cages remains a significant challenge due to the scarcity of suitable pentagonal motif. Herein, we have successfully synthesized the first fullerene-like all-inorganic POV cage, {(V2 O)V30 Nb12 O102 (H2 O)12 } (V30 Nb12 ), by introducing Nb into the POVs. V30 Nb12 is assembled by 12 heterometallic {(Nb)V5 } pentagons through sharing V centers with Ih symmetry, reminiscent of C60 . To our knowledge, the fullerene-like V30 Nb12 not only represents the highest-nuclearity POV cage but also stands as the first niobovanadate cluster. Notably, V30 Nb12 exhibits excellent solution stability, as confirmed by ESI-MS, FT-IR and UV/Vis spectra. As there is no protection organic ligand on its outer surface, V30 Nb12 can be further modified with Cu-complexes to form a fullerene-like cluster based zigzag chain (Cu-V30 Nb12 ).

In this work, in situ formed TiB2-reinforced SiC ceramic composites were prepared by reactive hot pressing using SiC, TiC, B4C, and Si as raw materials. Phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical as well as electrical properties were investigated. The formation of the TiB2 phase could be realized from the reaction among TiC, B4C, and Si. In the sintered SiC-TiB2 ceramic composites, the content of alpha-SiC decreased while that of the in situ formed TiB2 increased. In addition, residual Si only existed in the SiC-TiB2 ceramic composites with in situ TiB2 below 20 mol%. Notably, the comprehensive performance of the SiC-TiB2 ceramic composites was enhanced with the increase of TiB2 content due to the reduction of pores and residual Si. Finally, nearly fully dense SiC-TiB2 ceramic composites were obtained when in situ formed TiB2 was above 20 mol%. The SiC-TiB2 ceramic composites, with in situ TiB2 of 30 mol%, exhibited hardness of 26.9 +/- 2.3 GPa, fracture toughness of 6.83 +/- 0.6 MPa m1/2, and electrical resistivity of 0.3 m Omega cm, respectively.

Dielectric capacitors show great potential for use in pulse power devices due to their high power density. However, achieving ultrahigh recoverable energy density (Wrec) and efficiency (eta) remains a challenge, limiting their applications. To address this, Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 (NBT-BT) ceramics were optimized for energy storage devices operating at a relatively low electric field (E). This study introduces a synergistic optimization strategy by incorporating Ca(Hf0.7Zr0.3)O3 (CHZ) into 0.93NBT-0.07BT (BNBT) ceramics. The addition of CHZ, in concentrations ranging from x = 0.00 to 0.18, significantly enhances the differences between saturation and remnant polarization from 15.6 mu C cm-2 to 42.5 mu C cm-2, while reducing the grain size from 2.44 mu m to 620 nm. An optimal Wrec of similar to 5.09 J cm-3 with eta of similar to 77% was achieved in BNBT-0.14CHZ ceramics at a moderate electric field (283 kV cm-1). Moreover, the energy storage density and efficiency exhibited good frequency stability (10-1000 Hz), temperature stability (25-150 degrees C) and fatigue resistance (1-104 cycles). A fast discharge time (similar to 72 ns) was concurrently realized at x = 0.14 ceramics. These results suggest that the eco-friendly BNBT-0.14CHZ ceramic is a promising candidate for application in dielectric energy storage capacitors under moderate electric field.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is a highly promising approach to achieve sustainable desalination and tackle the global freshwater crisis. Despite advancements in this field, achieving balanced thermal localization and salt resistance remains a challenge. Herein, the study presents a 3D hierarchical porous ceramic platform for SDIE applications. The utilized alumina foam ceramics (AFCs) exhibit remarkable corrosion resistance and chemical stability, ensuring a prolonged operational lifespan in seawater or brines. The millimeter-scale air-filled pores in AFCs prevent thermal losses through conduction with bulk water, resulting in heat-localized interfaces. The hydrophilic nature of macroporous AFC skeletons facilitates rapid water replenishment on the evaporating surface for effective salt-resistant desalination. Benefiting from its self-radiation adsorption and side-assisted evaporation capabilities, the AFC-based evaporators exhibit high indoor evaporation rates of 2.99 and 3.54 kg m-2 h-1 under one-sided and three-sided illumination under 1.0 sun, respectively. The AFC-based evaporator maintains a high evaporation rate of approximate to 2.77 kg m-2 h-1 throughout the 21-day long-term test. Furthermore, it achieves a daily water productivity of approximate to 10.44 kg m-2 in outdoor operations. This work demonstrates the potential of 3D hierarchical porous ceramics in addressing the trade-off between heat localization and salt resistance, and contributes to the development of durable solar steam generators. The study has designed a 3D hierarchical porous ceramic platform to enable efficient and stable solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE). The utilized alumina foam ceramics (AFCs) integrate air-filled millimeter pores for heat insulation and water-filled macropores for water transport, effectively achieving a balance between thermal localization and salt resistance in SDIE systems. Benefiting from its self-radiation adsorption and side-assisted evaporation capabilities, the optimized AFC-based evaporator exhibits a high evaporation rate during long-term operation. image

The rate performance, power density, and energy efficiency of electrochemical devices are often limited by ionic conductivities in electrolyte and electrode materials. Framework Prussian blue analogs and dense niobium oxides have been identified as high-rate electrodes for sodium- and lithium-ion batteries, respectively, yet the origin of the extremely high solid-state Na+/Li+ transport is not fully understood. Of critical importance is the fact that their ultra-low activation energy and anomalous pre-exponent factor cannot be satisfactorily rationalized from conventional theory of solid-state diffusion in the crystal lattice. Here, assisted by density-functional-theory calculations, we argued that the true origin is a unique surface-like diffusion mechanism of the intercalation ions. In a surface-like migration event, a mobile ion moves along the channel wall via a low coordination number and low migration barrier experiencing minimal steric hindrance. It is similar to surface diffusion in the conventional picture and contrasts with lattice diffusion from one interstitial/vacancy site to another one with high coordination number, crowded saddle-point geometry and high migration barrier. We found that the shifting from solid-state lattice diffusion to surface-like diffusion is determined by the size difference between the mobile ion and the diffusion channel, and a lowest migration energy barrier can be reached by mediating the channel size. The analogy to gas diffusion in molecular sieves shall be discussed. Additionally, the effects of defects and crystal water in Prussian blue analogs were also discussed for better understanding their rate performances in experimental scenarios.

NaNbO3 (NN)-based ceramics have received a great deal of attention for the potential application in dielectric energy storage capacitors. However, the energy storage properties (ESP) remain low, particularly under moderate electric field. Herein, a Bi-rich doping unit of BiMg2/3Nb1/3O3 (BMN) was introduced into a 0.85NaNbO(3)-0.15Bi(0.1)Sr(0.85)TiO(3) (NN-SBT) matrix, aiming to improve polarization along ESP. As a result, a large recoverable energy density (W-rec) of similar to 6.1 J/cm(3) and an efficiency (eta) of similar to 81 % were achieved in NN-SBT-0.08BMN ceramics under a moderate electric field of 337 kV/cm. The improved ESP can be attributed to the introduction of BMN, which delays the polarization saturation of NN-SBT ceramics, while maintaining the maximum polarization (similar to 43.6 mu C/cm(2)), and generating polar nanoregions (PNRs). Moreover, the optimal ceramics exhibited good thermal (25-130 degrees C) and frequency (1-300 Hz) stabilities, and fatigue endurance (>10(5) cycles). These results illustrate that the designed NN-SBT-0.08BMN ceramics are promising for application in dielectric energy storage capacitors with high ESP under a moderate electric field.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have received extensive attention in electric vehicles and drones because of their high energy and power density. However, the performance of the PEMFCs is limited by the slow kinetic process of cathodic oxygen reduction. It is necessary to develop efficient catalysts with a low cost, high activity, and good electrochemical stability. Pt-M (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, etc.) alloy catalysts are among the top candidates. The lattice of Pt shrinks when charge transfer from M to Pt occurs, which lowers the energy of the d-band of Pt. It not only balances the adsorption and desorption energies of oxygen-containing intermediates but also improves the stability of catalytic sites. In this study, we report a Pt3Co alloy catalyst supported on a N-doped carbon supports. The catalyst exhibits excellent ORR activity and outstanding durability performance as compared with the commercial JM Pt/C catalyst. The half-wave potential before and after accelerated durability testing is more positive, and the mass activity and the specific activity are much higher than the commercial Pt/C in both 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M HClO4. Besides, the hydrogen evolution reaction performance has also been significantly improved compared to the Pt/C catalyst. This method is simple and feasible, which offers a strategy for the synthesis of high-performance electrocatalysts for PEMFCs.

Ceramic aerogels are promising materials for thermal insulation and protection under harsh environments. Yet current synthesis methods fail to provide an energy-, time-, and cost-effective route for high-throughput production and large-scale applications, especially for non-oxide ceramic aerogels. Here we reported a way to synthesize SiC aerogels within seconds and over liter scale, with a demonstrated throughput of ~16 L min−1 in a typical lab experiment. The key lies in renovated combustion synthesis and a fast expansion from powder reactants to aerogel products over 1000% in volume. The synthesis process is self-sustainable and requires minimal energy input. The product is very cheap, with an estimated price of ~$0.7 L−1 (~$7 kg−1). The obtained SiC aerogels have excellent thermo-mechanical properties, including low thermal conductivity, high elasticity, and damage tolerance. Our invention not only offers a practical pathway for large-scale applications of ceramic aerogels, but also calls for rethinking of combustion synthesis in one-step conversion from raw chemicals to bulk products ready for practical applications. Damage-tolerant ceramic aerogels are valuable, yet their synthesis is time-consuming and expensive. Here we report a facile, low-cost combustion synthesis of SiC aerogels, at Liter scale. Further technological development may enable game-changer aerogels for extreme-environment applications.

Advanced ceramic materials and devices call for better reliability and damage tolerance. In addition to their strong bonding nature, there are examples demonstrating superior mechanical properties of nanostructure ceramics, such as damage-tolerant ceramic aerogels that can withstand high deformation without cracking and local plasticity in dense nanocrystalline ceramics. The recent progresses shall be reviewed in this perspective article. Three topics including highly elastic nano-fibrous ceramic aerogels, load-bearing nanoceramics with improved mechanical properties, and implementing machine learning-assisted simulations toolbox in understanding the relationship among structure, deformation mechanisms, and microstructure-properties shall be discussed. It is hoped that the perspectives present here can help the discovery, synthesis, and processing of future structural ceramic materials that are insensitive to processing flaws and local damages in service.

Solid-state lithium metal batteries are under development for higher energy density and better safety. A key is to develop new electrolyte systems that are readily processible and capable to improve electrochemical cycling stability. In this study, A quasi-solid-state composite electrolyte based on low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether (PEGDME) in situ confined within polymerized methyl methacrylate (PMMA) backbone is designed and presented. The new design of the polymer matrix, together with Li+-conducting ceramic fillers and appropriate lithium salts, has satisfactory Li-ionic conductivity (1.1 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 30 C and 1.0 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 80( )degrees C), good electrochemical stability (>4.7 V vs Li+/Li), and high compatibility with lithium metal anode, enabling room-temperature operation and stable long-term cycling of both Li||Li symmetric cells and lithium-metal full cells (including LiFePO4 or LiCoO2 cathode). This work can extend the design boundaries of composite electrolytes meaningfully, and the idea of in situ polymerization limiting applies to almost all low-molecular-weight polymers, high-molecular-weight backbones, ceramic fillers, lithium salts, and additives in future development of room-temperature solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Microstructural design and processing science of ceramics from materials to devices are critical to the present and future applications in various fields. They have profound effects on the mechanical and functional properties, as well as the reliability and lifetime of ceramics. The stability issue has been attracting more and more attentions, as many devices are pushed towards extreme service conditions to gain additional benefits such as energy density and efficiency. In this pespective article, we shall discuss on four selected topics of energy ceramic design, including the oxygen evolution issue of oxide battery cathodes under extreme charge voltages, the synthesis conundrum of single-crystalline battery cathodes, the metal/ceramic interface contact problem in all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries, and the nature of hole polarons in oxygen ion and protonic ceramic electrolytes. Our understanding and solutions to these challenging problems shall be discussed. The new fundamental insights and rationally optimized processing practices presented here could help to develop advanced interdisciplinary ceramics further, enabling exciting applications in the coming decades.