The oxidation resistance of structural materials in high-temperature corrosive environments is critical for nuclear fusion reactors. This study investigates the surface physical oxidation state of Fe9Cr-based alloys from the evolution of spin-states by X-ray emission spectra. Herein, a series of in-situ heating experiments in highly concentrated nitrogen and atmosphere environments were carried out on Fe9Cr, reduced-activation ferritic/ martensitic (RAFM) and oxide dispersion strengthened ferritic (RAFM-ODS) alloys. The K(3 ' related spin states of Fe ions at different temperatures were observed. The results showed K(3 ' was discovered at a higher temperature and grew with increasing temperatures and oxygen concentration. The occurrence temperature K(3 ' peak of RAFM-ODS is higher than others, indicating superior oxidation resistance. In comparison with the K(3 spectra of Fe-O compounds, it was found that the stronger K(3 ' corresponds to higher oxidation states, attributed to the more unpaired 3d electrons in high-valence Fe. The interesting findings offer a new insight into the physical mechanisms underlying the high-temperature oxidation of Fe9Cr-based alloys from the evolution of spin-states.

This study investigates the impact of preintroduced defects on helium (He) diffusion in reduction-activated ferrite/martensitic steel under He plasma irradiation of 100 eV at room temperature. Defects are introduced via cold deformation before irradiation. Microstructural evolution is characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Doppler broadening spectroscopy, and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Compared to the undeformed specimen, the 30% deformation@annealed specimen exhibited increased dislocation density and almost no vacancies, showing larger He bubbles and broader affected zones. Dislocations enhance He diffusion toward defect traps, facilitating localized accumulation that enables He self-trapping and bubble nucleation and growth. In contrast, 30% deformation specimens without annealing exhibited high dislocation density and abundant vacancies, demonstrating medium-sized bubbles within narrower zones. The high vacancy concentration effectively traps He atoms, strongly inhibiting their mobility. Concurrently, the dispersion of He among numerous vacancy sites reduces local concentration, suppressing bubble growth. Furthermore, under simultaneous dislocation-enhanced and vacancy-inhibited diffusion conditions, the retarding effect of vacancies dominates the microstructure in only 30% deformation specimens.

X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) is a non-destructive photon-in/photon-out technique that provides exceptional chemical sensitivity to the occupied electronic states of materials. It enables quantitative insights into oxidation states, coordination environments, charge-transfer interactions, and spin states, and has emerged as an indispensable probe for electronic structure characterization across diverse fields, including quantum materials, energy catalysis, and life sciences. With the continuous development of laboratory X-ray sources, synchrotron radiation facilities, and X-ray free-electron lasers, XES methodologies have been progressively refined, evolving toward higher energy resolution and enhanced sensitivity. This review first introduces the fundamental principles of both non-resonant and resonant XES, as well as the types of electronic structure information that can be extracted from these techniques. It then outlines the development and implementation of laboratory-based and synchrotron-based XES spectrometers, with particular emphasis on resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) instrumentation and its applications. At present, both hard and soft X-ray emission spectroscopy have become technologically mature platforms worldwide. In contrast, XES operating in the tender X-ray energy regime (1500-5000 eV) has progressed more slowly due to the unique photon energy range, limitations in crystal optics, and the relatively limited availability of synchrotron beamlines in this regime. Meanwhile, the tender X-ray energy range encompasses light elements such as P, S, and Cl, as well as 4d transition metals, which play pivotal roles in catalysis, energy conversion, and biological systems. Accurate characterization of their electronic structures is therefore essential for advancing research in these fields. Driven by these scientific demands, this review systematically discusses the design principles and geometrical configurations of tender XES spectrometers, analyzes their respective advantages and limitations, and compares different configurations in terms of energy resolution, diffraction efficiency, energy coverage, and experimental compatibility. Furthermore, we comprehensively summarize the technical progress achieved over the past two decades in tender XES instrumentation based on both laboratory and synchrotron radiation sources. This review aims to provide researchers with a deeper understanding of the tender XES methodology and its potential extensions to broader applications, while also laying the foundation for the development and optimization of future XES instrumentation in this energy regime. In addition, catalytic reactions, biological processes, and electrochemical battery systems typically occur under dynamic conditions, often involving liquid phases, multiphase interfaces, and complex reaction pathways. Given these characteristics, this review places particular emphasis on the compatibility of tender XES spectrometers with sample environments under in situ/operando conditions. We discuss the development and application of tender XES in situ/operando infrastructure, including helium gloveboxes, dedicated sample chambers, and gas reaction cells. Finally, we examine the remaining technical challenges associated with practical applications of tender XES and outline future developmental directions, along with our perspective on methodological strategies for enabling operando XES in this energy regime.

Ammonium-ion hybrid supercapacitors (AIHSCs) have gained extensive attention due to their high safety and environmental friendliness. Manganese oxides are among the most promising cathode materials; however, the side electrochemical reactions occurring in aqueous electrolytes limit their reversible capacities and energy densities. This work prepares the β-/γ-MnO2 electrode and reveals the side electrochemical reactions occurring in the (NH4)2SO4 electrolyte. Besides the widely recognized dissolution of MnO2, the re-deposition of MnO2 and irreversible insertion of NH4 + exist simultaneously during cycling, resulting in irreversible structural changes of MnO2. A portion of β-/γ-MnO2 converts to δ-MnO2, and a layer of 7Mn(OH)2·2MnSO4·H2O forms on the electrode surface, modifying the ionic accessibility and structural stability of the electrode. The structural changes, along with the competition among the three types of side reactions, cause capacity decay and uprise during cycling. Accordingly, the self-adjusting mechanism is proposed, and trace Mn2+ is added to the electrolyte to facilitate this mechanism, thereby improving performance. Finally, the AIHSC, featuring the MnO2 cathode and activated carbon anode in the Mn2+-added (NH4)2SO4 electrolyte, shows 60.2 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 under 0-2 V. The maximum energy and power densities of 60.2 Wh kg-1 and 5000 W kg-1 are achieved.

Quadruple perovskite oxides of CdCu3Ti3FeO12-delta (CCTFO) with high B-site ordering degree were synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature (HP-HT) conditions. Structural Rietveld refinements reveal that the CCTFO powders crystallize in a cubic crystal structure with Im3 space group. X-ray photoelectron spectra verify the coexistence of Ti3 + /Ti4+ pair, Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions in the CCTFO compounds. The CCTFO ceramics display frequency-dependent dielectric behavior. That was ascribed to the dielectric response of double-ionized oxygen vacancies with thermal activation energy of 1.05 eV. The dielectric constant (epsilon r) and dielectric loss (tans) of the CCTFO ceramics were 27 and 0.029 at 1 MHz, respectively. The CCTFO powders exhibit ferrimagnetic behavior with saturated magnetization of 7.74 mu B/f.u. at 2 K and magnetic TC = 22 K. The choice of Cd as the A-site cation leverages its structural compatibility with Ca-based analogues while enabling the exploration of Fe3+-driven magnetoelectric coupling in a previously unreported system. This strategy aligns with the broader goal of designing tunable multiferroic materials through targeted B-site magnetic doping. The present findings demonstrate an effective approach to tailoring the dielectric and magnetic properties of CdCu3Ti4O12-delta through B-site magnetic ion doping, promoting their applications in modern microelectronics and spintronics.

Approximately 367 million metric tons of plastic were produced globally in 2020, and it is projected that the global plastic waste will reach around 12,000 metric tons by 2050. Plastic waste can be fragmented into nanoplastics (NPs). Despite their widespread presence in the environment and even within the human body, the long-term risks of NPs to plants, animals, and humans remain poorly understood. This study investigated the life-long impacts of nano polyethylene terephthalate (nPET) on rice (Oryza sativa L.), which is a staple food for a significant portion of the global population. We found that nPET exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations negatively affected rice growth, compromising grain quality and yield. nPET exposure disrupted the metallome, interfered with chlorophyll synthesis, and induced oxidative stress in rice plants. Additionally, nPET exposure influenced soil health, as evidenced by increased soil organic matter (SOM) during the tillering and flowering stages. The soil microbial community were significantly perturbed, with distinct β-diversity observed between nPET-exposed and control soils, including variations in species abundance at the phylum and family levels. Moreover, nPET exposure affected soil microbiota involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, with specific species capable of degrading PET being identified. Overall, exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of nPET led to reduced rice grain yield and compromised soil health, characterized by perturbed metallome and soil microbiome. Therefore, effective management of NPs in soils is urgently needed to ensure food safety and soil health.

Previous studies of the transition metal chalcogenide Ta2NiSe5 has identified two phase transitions occurring between 0-10 GPa, involving the excitonic insulator-to-semiconductor transition at 1 GPa and the semiconductor-to-semimetal transition at 3 GPa. However, there is still a lack of in-depth research on the changes in its physical properties changes above 10 GPa. In this study, Ta2NiSe5 were investigated under high-pressure conditions using high-pressure x-ray diffraction and high-pressure x-ray absorption experiments. During the experimental process, a novel phase transition from the semimetal to the metal phase was observed between 10-60 GPa, specifically between 10-14 GPa, and the structure of the new phase was determined to be P2(1)/m through first-principles calculations. This transition mechanism is attributed to the sliding of the weakly coupled layers of Ta2NiSe5 within the a-c plane, leading to changes in the crystal lattice constants and symmetry. This research fills a gap in the understanding of Ta2NiSe5 's crystal structure under high pressure and contributes to the broader field of transition metal chalcogenides.

This letter reports the fabrication and characterization of beta-Ga2O3 metal/ferroelectric/insulator/semiconductor (MFIS) capacitors employing 3 types of HfO2-ZrO2 superlattice (SL) ferroelectric gate dielectrics: SL5, SL10, and SL15, constructed by alternating 5,10, and 15 ALD cycles of HfO2 and ZrO2, respectively, with conventional Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) as a reference. Following rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 550 degrees C for 30 s, all dielectrics are confirmed to exhibit the orthorhombic (111) phase by grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD). Electrical measurements reveal that the SL5 structure achieves an outstanding reduction in leakage current, decreasing from 0.936 A cm(-2) (HZO) to 0.004 A cm(-2) at 3 V, and exhibits the highest remanent polarization (2P(r) = 29.3 mu C cm(-2)), compared to 27.3 mu C cm(-2) (HZO), 22.4 mu C cm(-2) (SL10), and 17 mu C cm(-2) (SL15). Moreover, the SL5 capacitor demonstrates excellent reliability, maintaining robust endurance up to 1 x 10(11) cycles at room temperature and 1 x 10(10) cycles at 150 degrees C without degradation and stable retention over 1 x 10(4) s. Importantly, interface state analysis reveals that after annealing, SL5 maintains the lowest and most stable interface trap density within the energy range of 0.25-0.45 eV. The trap state density (6.39 x 10(12)-7.11 x 10(12) cm(-2) eV(-1)) is significantly lower than that of HZO in the same energy range. These results highlight the advantages of superlattice-engineered ferroelectric gate dielectrics for achieving high-quality interfaces, low leakage current, and stable ferroelectric performance, providing a promising route toward high-performance, enhancement-mode beta-Ga2O3 MOSFET devices for next-generation power electronics.

Soluble salts primarily composed of light elements are critical factors affecting archaeological ceramics from marine environments. The synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence microanalysis (mu-SRXRF), with technological upgrades or enhancements to the equipment's functionality, overcomes the limitations of traditional methods in terms of detection capability and precision, providing high-precision elemental mapping analysis of light elements for intact samples. In this study, mu-SRXRF combined multi micro-analysis technics such as ultra-depth-of-field microscopy, micro-area X-ray diffraction analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) conducts a detailed analysis of the soluble salts within the ceramic samples from the "Nanhai I" shipwreck. The results revealed that the distribution pattern of soluble salts is closely related to the internal structural characteristics of the ceramics and the micro-structure and mineral phases are important factors influencing the distribution of soluble salts. Additionally, soluble salts can infiltrate the interior of ceramics by corroding the glaze layer or by directly passing through pore structures. As for the samples from the "Nanhai I" shipwreck, the sauce-glazed ware and lead-glazed pottery are more heavily affected by erosion compared to other types such as white-glazed porcelain and celadon. Synchrotron-based mu-XRF demonstrates its unique and excellent performance, successfully achieving in situ, non-destructive, fast, and high-resolution elemental imaging of whole samples. The result provides a scientific foundation for studying the distribution characteristics of soluble salts within ceramics and for subsequent conservation efforts of cultural relics.

Currently, the development of lithium-ion batteries is facing a bottleneck, primarily constrained by their limited storage capacity. Predictions based on two-dimensional materials could offer theoretical insights, guiding the direction of lithium-ion battery advancements towards achieving higher energy density. Here, Me-C8B5, a twodimensional polygonal ring carbon-boron compound, is predicted to possess excellent performance as a potential anode material for Li-ion batteries. The nature of the metallicity makes Me-C8B5 possess a high conductivity, which is contribute to increasing the efficiency of battery charging and discharging. The excellent mechanical properties indicate that Me-C8B5 will probably maintain a stable volume throughout the charge and discharge phases. More notably, the low diffusion barrier (0.66 eV) and suitable average open circuit voltage (0.94 V), negligible lattice distortion in the maximum adsorption system (0.66 %) as well as outstanding theoretical specific capacity (2856 mAh /g) endow Me-C8B5 with status for potential anode material of Li-ion batteries. Furthermore, the calculation result of ab initio molecular dynamics of 400 K shows that Me-C8B5 still has good thermal stability under the maximum Li storage capacity. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and development of anode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries, namely the search for 2D metallic materials with polygonal rings composed of lightweight elements.

P2-type layered transition metal oxides are potential cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), but they commonly suffer from severe capacity degradation owing to multiple phase transitions and Na+/vacancy ordering during the extraction/insertion process. An anionic/cationic co-doping strategy at high sodium contents is proposed to effectively achieve high-rate and long-term stability of P2-Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2. The resulting Na0.75Mg0.1Ni0.23Mn0.67O1.95F0.05 (NMNMOF) cathode delivers a reversible capacity of 116 mAh g-1 at 75 mA g-1 and maintains an initial capacity of 73% at 1500 mA g-1 after 1000 cycles. The Mg/F anionic/cationic co-doping strategy impacts the local environment of the surrounding transition metal and oxygen, regulates the electron distribution, and modifies the initial diffusion state of Na sites, enhancing the diffusion ability of Na+. Moreover, the phase transition of P2-O2 is well suppressed and the decrease in Mn3+ content greatly alleviates the Jahn-Teller effect to enhance structural stability. The full-cell devices with NMNMOF cathode and hard carbon anode demonstrate a high capacity of 80 mAh g-1 at 10 C and an excellent cycle life of over 500 cycles for applications. The anionic/cationic co-doping strategy will inspire the rational design of P2-type layered oxides and provide a new perspective for advanced SIBs.

The development of highly efficient catalysts in the cathodes of rechargeable Li-O2 batteries is a considerable challenge. To enhance the electrochemical performance of the Li-O2 battery, it is essential to choose a suitable catalyst material. Copper selenide (CuSe) is considered as a more promising cathode catalyst material for Li-O2 battery due to its better conductivity and rich electrochemical active sites. However, its electrochemical reaction and fundamental catalytic mechanism remain unclear till now. Herein, in-situ environmental transmission electron microscopy technique was used to study the catalysis mechanism of the CuSe nanosheets in Li-O2 batteries during discharge and charge processes. It is found that Li2O was formed and decomposed around the ultrafine-grained Cu during the discharge and charge processes, respectively, demonstrating excellent cycling. This indicate that the freshly formed ultrafine-grained Cu in the conversion reaction catalyzed the latter four-electron-transfer oxygen reduction reaction, leading to the formation of Li2O. Our study provides important understanding of the electrochemistry of the Li-O2 nanobatteries, which will aid the development of high-performance Li-O2 batteries for energy storage applications.

Li-CO2/O-2 batteries, a promising energy storage technology, not only provide ultrahigh discharge capacity but also capture CO2 and turn it into renewable energy. Their electrochemical reaction pathways' ambiguity, however, creates a hurdle for their practical application. This study used copper selenide (CuSe) nanosheets as the air cathode medium in an environmental transmission electron microscope to in situ study Li-CO2/O-2 (mix CO2 as well as O-2 at a volume ratio of 1:1) and Li-O-2 batteries as well as Li-CO2 batteries. Primary discharge reactions take place successively in the Li-CO2/O-2-CuSe nanobattery: (I) 4Li(+) + O-2 + 4e(-) -> 2Li(2)O; (II) Li2O + CO2 -> Li2CO3. The charge reaction proceeded via (III) 2Li(2)CO(3) -> 4Li(+) + 2CO(2) + O-2 + 4e(-). However, Li-O-2 and Li-CO2 nanobatteries showed poor cycling stability, suggesting the difficulty in the direct decomposition of the discharge product. The fluctuations of the Li-CO2/O-2 battery's electrochemistry were also shown to depend heavily on O-2. The CuSe-based Li-CO2/O-2 battery showed exceptional electrochemical performance. The Li-CO2/O-2 battery offered a discharge capacity apex of 15,492 mAh g(-1) and stable cycling 60 times at 100 mA g(-1). Our research offers crucial insight into the electrochemical behavior of Li-CO2/O-2, Li-O-2, and Li-CO2 nanobatteries, which may help the creation of high-performance Li-CO2/O-2 batteries for energy storage applications.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are global pollutants with emerging concerns. Methods to predict and screen their toxicity are crucial. Elemental dyshomeostasis can be used to assess toxicity of environmental pollutants. Non-targeted metallomics, combining synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and machine learning, has successfully differentiated cancer patients from healthy individuals. The whole idea of this work is to screen the phytotoxicity of nano polyethylene terephthalate (nPET) and micro polyethylene terephthalate (mPET) through non-targeted metallomics with SRXRF and deep learning algorithms. Firstly, Seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic changes, and antioxidant activity were used to evaluate the toxicity of mPET and nPET. It was showed that nPET, at 10 mg/L, was more toxic to rice seedlings, inhibiting growth and impairing chlorophyll content, MDA content, and SOD activity compared to mPET. Then, rice seedling leaves exposed to nPET or mPET was examined with SRXRF, and the SRXRF data was differentiated with deep learning algorithms. It was showed that the one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) model achieved 98.99% accuracy without data preprocessing in screening mPET and nPET exposure. In all, non-targeted metallomics with SRXRF and 1D-CNN can effectively screen the exposure and phytotoxicity of nPET/mPET and potentially other emerging pollutants. Further research is needed to assess the phytotoxicity of different types of MPs/NPs using non-targeted metallomics.

Abstract The path to searching for sustainable energy has never stopped since the depletion of fossil fuels can lead to serious environmental pollution and energy shortages. Using water electrolysis to produce hydrogen has been proven to be a prioritized approach for green resource production. It is highly crucial to explore inexpensive and high‐performance electrocatalysts for accelerating hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and apply them to industrial cases on a large scale. Here, we summarize the different mechanisms of HER in different pH settings and review recent advances in non‐noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts. Then, based on the previous efforts, we discuss several universal strategies for designing pH‐independent catalysts and show directions for the future design of pH‐universal catalysts.

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a cathodic reaction of water splitting which is crucial in energy conversion. However, its wide-scale industrial applicability is limited by the slow reaction kinetics and complex diffusion of generated gas bubbles. In this study, we chose the readily available, low-cost stainless steel as a conductive substrate and feasibly in-situ developed the active phase ZnIn2S4 and Ni-doped ZnIn2S4 on it as a high-rate cathode for HER in acidic, alkaline, and neutral conditions. The Ni-doped electrocatalysts, when compared to bare ZnIn2S4, have higher electrocatalytic activity for HER, with low overpotentials of only 259 mV and 224 mV, to generate a high current density of 100 mA cm(-2) in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1 M KOH, respectively, exhibiting obviously enhanced performance. The presence of Ni atoms is evident in EDS mapping, TEM analysis, and ICP technique. A detailed analysis of the electrochemical characteristics of the generated electrocatalysts was carried out to gain a better understanding of the effect of additional doping atoms. We not only demonstrate a feasible method for developing unique, stable and efficient HER electrocatalysts in all pH settings by comprehending the collaborative effect of the active phase, doped Ni atoms, and affordable stainless-steel substrate, but also point out new avenue to branch out self-standing HER electrocatalyst categories.

The existing approach of preparing hydrogen through electrocatalytic water splitting is hindered by several factors, including the scarcity of efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction that can function well under a variety of pH settings. The development of compounds with diverse active ingredients could contribute to the heterostructured electrocatalysts' ability to effectively react with a range of reactants. Moreover, assembling active species on a substrate to produce self-supported electrocatalysts can reduce the need for electricity. Here, we utilized nickel foam as the conductive substrate to produce heterostructured electrocatalysts with active species of ZnIn2S4, Ni2P, and NiS (denoted as ZnIn2S4/Ni2P/NiS@NF). The ZnIn2S4/Ni2P/NiS@NF only needs tiny overpotentials to drive high current densities and can be operated with long-term operational durability across a broad pH range.

Biochar, an environmentally friendly material, was found to passivate lead (Pb) in contaminated soil effectively. This study utilized spectroscopic investigations and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis to examine the impact of coconut-fiber biochar (CFB) on the translocation, accumulation, and detoxification mechanisms of Pb in soil-rice systems. The results demonstrated a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in bioavailable Pb concentration in paddy soils with CFB amendment, as well as reduced Pb concentrations in rice roots, shoots, and brown rice. Synchrotron-based micro X-ray fluorescence analyses revealed that CFB application inhibited the migration of Pb to the rhizospheric soil region, leading to reduced Pb uptake by rice roots. Additionally, the CFB treatment decreased Pb concentrations in the cellular protoplasm of both roots and shoots, and enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rice plants, improving their Pb stress tolerance. PLS-PM analyses quantified the effects of CFB on the accumulation and detoxification pathways of Pb in the soil-rice system. Understanding how biochar influences the immobilization and detoxification of Pb in soil-rice systems could provide valuable insights for strategically using biochar to address hazardous elements in complex agricultural settings.

Cathode materials of sodium-based batteries with high specific capacity and fast charge-discharge mode, as well as ultralong reversible cycles at wide applied temperatures, are essential for future development of advanced energy storage system. Developing transition metal selenides with intercalation features provides a new strategy for realizing the above cathode materials. Herein, this work reports a storage mechanism of sodium ion in hexagonal CuSe (h-CuSe) based on the density functional theory (DFT) guidance. This work reveals that the two-dimensional ion intercalation triggers localized redox reaction in the h-CuSe bulk phase, termed intercalation-induced localized conversion (ILC) mechanism, to stabilize the sodium storage structure by forming localized Cu7Se4 transition phase and adjusting the near-edge coordination state of the Cu sites to achieve high reversible capacity and ultra-long cycling life, while allowing rapid charge-discharge cycling over a wide temperature range.