Calcium looping (CaL) is a promising thermochemical energy storage (TCES) technology with operational flexibility and suitability for medium-to-long-term storage. However, CaO-based materials’ cyclic degradation limits their practical application. This study introduces a hydration-based storage strategy to maintain their pore structure and enhance energy storage performance. Three storage modes (intermittent storage, continuous storage after carbonation, and an integrated strategy combining both) were systematically examined and the mechanism for enhancing CaO-based materials’ cyclic energy storage performance was elucidated. The results show that intermittent storage achieves short-term activation. The effect is stronger when applied post-calcination than post-carbonation, but this advantage is accompanied by energy loss associated with the hydration reaction of CaO. Continuous storage after carbonation avoids this issue, significantly improves both powdered and pelleted CaO-based materials, and increases the maximum CO2 adsorption rate of CaO powder by 44.3% at the 11th cycle. The integrated strategy achieves a cumulative energy storage density of 21543 kJ/kg after 10 cycles. Microstructural analysis reveals that continuous storage after carbonation significantly restores the pore structure of CaO-based materials, as evidenced by the recovery of internal and surface pores (especially in the 2–100 nm) and a concurrent reduction in fractal dimension. These above improvements mainly stem from water molecules repeatedly penetrating the CaCO3 layer to reach the residual CaO cores formed during cycling. The associated hydration expansion regenerates pores and optimizes their connectivity, which in turn alleviates sintering. This strategy boosts CaO-based materials’ energy storage performance, advancing the practical deployment of CaL and the development of large-scale TCES.

To address the self-sintering property of CaO-based materials for thermochemical energy storage and intensified deactivation of CaO-based pellets manufactured via traditional granulation process, a template-assisted granulation approach to yield highly effective morph-genetic Al-doped CaO pellets was reported here. The effects of preparation conditions on energy storage performance and mechanical properties were examined, alongside the kinetic enhancement mechanism of the hollow tubular pore structure. Results show that the morph-genetic Aldoped CaO pellets with the tableting pressure of 0.4 t and Ca/Al molar ratio of 100:10 exhibit staggered hollow tubular pores. This pore structure reduces CO2 diffusion resistance, and the generated Ca12Al14O33 stabilizes the hollow structure, thereby improving the energy storage density and cyclic stability of the pellets. The optimized pellets achieve remarkable energy storage density of 1610 kJ/kg after 50 cycles, the cumulative energy storage density of 99.23 MJ/kg and the crushing strength of 1.58 N. Even under CO2-rich calcination conditions (950 degrees C, 50 % CO2/N2 balance), their energy storage efficiency is 20 % higher than that of non-templated CaO-based pellets. The optimized pellets combine the advantages of the hierarchical porous biostructure derived from the template and improved mechanical strength, reaching a leading level in the energy storage performance of granular CaO-based pellets.

In/Sn introduced during precursor synthesis stabilizes NCFM lattice and boosts cycling stability.

For scalable high-temperature energy storage applications, Ca-based materials face the problems of sintering and poor light absorption. Recycling of nitrophosphate-making slag (NS) as Ca-based material was first reported for thermal energy storage, and the performance was further improved by dual doping strategy. Key challenges were investigated, focusing on pollutant component analysis, energy storage density at varying temperatures, cycling stability, and performance under harsh atmospheres of NS. Results show that water washing effectively reduces nitrogen content of NS, thus preventing nitrogen oxide emissions during its resource utilization. NS shows accelerated performance degradation under the calcination condition of high-concentration CO2, while the pure H2O calcination condition yields 1.9 times higher energy storage density after 10 cycles. Al-based supports minimize the sintering-induced energy storage loss of NS. Through screening five light-absorbing additives (Mn, Co, Fe, Cu and Ni), Ni/Al and Mn/Al-modified NS prepared by ion doping method demonstrates superior energy storage performance, with an optimal doping ratio of 100 (Ca as reference):4:8. The binary-dopant modified NS achieves an 800% enhancement in optical absorption and a threefold increase in energy storage density over the limestone-based benchmark following 10 cycles. The synergistic effect between CaMnO3/NiO and Ca12Al14O33 in binary-dopant modified NS significantly improves anti-sintering ability and reaction kinetics, which is evidenced by increased lattice oxygen concentration and abundant 10-100 nm pores. These findings elucidate the physicochemical properties and sintering mechanisms of nitrophosphate-making slag under energy storage conditions, and establish structure-property relationships for effective Ca-based energy storage materials.

Nanochannel-based sensors offer exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and real-time response for ionic analysis, yet achieving advanced recognition of heavy metal ions remains challenging due to the limitations of conventional single-layer surface modification. In this work, we investigate the ion transport and sensing behavior of l-cysteine (l-Cys)-modified nanochannels and further propose an alternating surface engineering strategy based on this chemically active interface. Initially, l-Cys-modified nanochannels are constructed, serving both as an effective Cu2+ sensor (detection limit: 10-15 M) and as a reactive platform that enables uniform in situ gold deposition via thiol-mediated reduction. This process yields a continuous gold nanolayer, which subsequently acts as a versatile substrate for secondary self-assembly. Through Au-S anchoring, a second l-Cys layer is introduced, forming a well-defined l-Cys-Au-l-Cys composite interface, which enables highly sensitive and selective detection of both Cu+ and Cu2+ ions. Notably, the engineered interface achieves clear and reliable discrimination between Cu+ and Cu2+. This alternating modification strategy provides a robust, modular, and scalable approach for constructing multifunctional nanochannel sensing platforms, offering broad potential for precise heavy metal ion monitoring in environmental and biosensing applications.

Artificial solid-state nanochannels have attracted significant interest as promising nanofluidic tools for ion/molecule detection, DNA sequencing, and biomimetic applications. In this work, we designed an aspartic acid-rich peptide, KD5 (Lys-Asp5, KDDDDD), via a green tag-assisted approach. Leveraging its strong Ca2+ recognition and coordination capability, KD5 was covalently grafted onto the inner surface of asymmetric nanochannels, inspired by the intelligent gating of biological ion channels. The resulting system enabled highly specific recognition and ultratrace detection of Ca2+ ions, achieving a detection limit as low as 10-17 M. This remarkable sensitivity arises from Ca2+ binding to KD5, which remodels interfacial charge distribution and modulates the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the nanochannels. The KD5-modified multinanochannel platform demonstrated excellent applicability and reliability in real environmental sample testing. Furthermore, the KD5-Ca2+ complexes could be effectively dissociated by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), allowing regeneration and reuse of this ultrasensitive, label-free sensor. By integrating the molecular recognition capability of selective peptides with the electrochemical advantages of nanochannels, this work not only offers a breakthrough strategy for ultratrace Ca2+ detection but also provides a novel paradigm for the design of intelligent nanofluidic sensors.

This study first synthesized nanocubic, well-dispersed magnesium hydroxystannate (MHS) and developed a novel composite flame retardant (MHS-APP-PAPP) by combining MHS with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP) to mitigate smoke/toxic gas emissions from burning epoxy resin (EP). At 10 wt% loading, MHS-APP-PAPP/EP achieved a 37.3% limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 V-0 rating. Cone calorimetry tests showed 71.3%, 42.0%, and 71.0% reductions in peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke production compared to pure EP, respectively. The decomposition products (MgO, Sn, and SnO2) from MHS promoted crosslinking of APP/PAPP phosphate groups to form SnP2O7 and phosphate networks. Concurrently, phosphoric/hypophosphoric acids from APP/PAPP enhanced char formation through dehydration, creating a dense barrier against heat, oxygen, and toxic gases while trapping free radicals. Piperazine groups in PAPP compensated for EP's carbon deficiency. The composite also maintained EP's mechanical properties by improving interfacial compatibility between the flame-retardant additives and the polymer matrix. This multipathway, multielement synergy effectively addresses both flame spread and smoke suppression challenges in EP combustion.

Cs2SnI6 is an environmentally friendly and reliable perovskite solar cell (PSCs) material. Its optimal band gap and strong light absorption make it a promising candidate for the absorption layer. However, the current challenge is to improve its photoelectric conversion efficiency. To address this, this study investigates the performance of PSCs based on Cs2SnI6 using SCAPS-1D simulation. The influence of various factors on PSC performance is examined, including different hole transport layers(HTLs) and electron transport layers(ETLs), perovskite layer thickness, ETL doping density, HTL doping density, absorber doping density, perovskite layer defect density, different back contacts and temperature. Finally, a Cs2SnI6-based solar device with an inorganic configuration of FTO/NiO/Cs2SnI6/SnO2/Au has been developed, reaching the power conversion efficiency(PCE) of 28.69 %. The study demonstrates that Cs2SnI6 PSCs exhibit promising photovoltaic performance, offering valuable insights for the solar energy sector in the production of cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly Cs-based perovskite solar cells.

Integrated diagnosis and treatment, i.e. theragnosis, has become a crucial concept in the future of the healthcare field. In this work, the properties of organic lasers are utilized for the design of nano-theranostic probes. By ingeniously modifying the distyrylbenzene structure, it achieves high two-photon absorption cross-sections and maintains low-threshold laser performance, achieving two-photon excitation (2PE) organic nano-rod lasers. These nano-rods exhibit 2PE laser properties and high singlet oxygen production efficiency, marking their emergence as integrated nano-theranostic agents. The novel nano-theranostic agents demonstrate the application of 2PE laser for in vivo imaging and 2PE photodynamic therapy treatment of melanoma, showcasing their potential to perform simultaneous tumor staging and therapy. The success of the organic 2PE laser reagent in melanoma models underscores its potential for early detection, enhanced imaging, and effective treatment, offering a promising new direction for integrated cancer theranostics.

Calcium looping is a promising technology for CO2 capture, and the utilization of calcium-rich industrial wastes as low-cost sorbents has attracted significant attention. Nitrophosphate-making slag (NS), as an industrial waste containing abundant CaCO3, theoretically represents a good candidate for low-cost CO2 sorbents. This study presented the first application of NS for CO2 capture, and high-performance CaO-based sorbents were prepared by coal bottom ash addition. A detailed study was conducted on key issues in practical applications of NS, focusing on pollution component handling, long-term performance, and performance in harsh atmospheres. Results show that pre-washing significantly reduces nitrogen and phosphorus content in NS, thereby mitigating environmental risks. The uniformly distributed Ca2Al2SiO7 and Ca2SiO4 of ash-modified NS reduce the aggregation and sintering of CaO and help maintain porous structure. The pore of ash-modified NS is significantly enhanced, particularly within the pore size ranges of 10-100 nm and above 230 nm, which facilitates CO2 diffusion. The optimum calcination and carbonation temperatures of ash-modified NS are 850 degrees C and 700 degrees C, respectively. The carbonation conversion of ash-modified NS calcined in steam atmosphere after 10 cycles is 1.8 times higher than that in high-CO2 concentration atmosphere. The optimal synthetic sorbent achieves the carbonation conversion of 0.37 after 50 cycles, which is 1.6 times that of original NS and 3.4 times that of the limestone-derived reference material. Herein, an overall process of NS recycling was proposed and a cycle assessment was given based on the concept of waste management, contributing to industrial waste valorization and carbon mitigation.

The double perovskites, as a novel material with promising applications in solar cells, have garnered significant research interest. The mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermodynamic characteristics of Cs2OsI6 are systematically studied using first-principles calculations. The material's mechanical stability satisfies the Born criteria, and it exhibits commendable elasticity and anisotropy. The application of the HSE06 hybrid functional reveals that Cs2OsI6 has a direct band gap of 1.14 eV at the Γ-point, with electronic states primarily originating from the I-p orbitals and Os-d orbitals. The optical properties, including the dielectric function, refractive index, and absorption coefficient, indicate that it has a strong UV absorption capacity. The thermodynamic properties, including the Debye temperature, heat capacity, enthalpy, entropy, and free energy, conform to the laws of thermodynamics. The results indicate that Cs2OsI6 exhibits good stability with changes in temperature. In addition, it has a suitable band gap and a strong light absorption coefficient, making it suitable for photovoltaic applications. It has great potential to be a candidate for perovskite solar cell materials.

We report PA-γ-PGA-modified asymmetric nanochannels that enable ultra-sensitive detection of Ni 2+ (limit of detection is 1 × 10 −8 M).

CaO-based materials have been considered as the viable high-temperature thermal battery for concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. However, natural CaO-based materials have poor mechanical strength, optical properties and anti-sintering ability, which limits their applications. With the aim of enhancing the energy storage performance of CaO-based materials, the Co/Al-doped carbide slag pellets were prepared by tunable coating strategy in this work. The effects of bamboo powder, Al doping amount and Co doping modes on the energy storage, mechanical and optical properties of the composites were investigated. The Ca/Al molar ratio and the impregnation time in Co solution of the optimal material are 100:10 and 20 min, respectively. After 50 cycles, the energy storage density of optimal material is 989 kJ/kg, which is 1.67 times higher than that of unmodified carbide slag. The solid-phase reaction between CaO and Al2O3 produces Ca12Al14O33. Ca12Al14O33 inhibits the growth of CaO grains and improves sintering resistance. Ca3Co2O6 is a stable phase formed by Co2O3 and CaO, which improves the optical absorption of CaO-based materials but exacerbates the sintering of CaO. Compared with the homogeneous strategy, Co/Al-doped carbide slag pellets by coating strategy has a structure with the Al-doped internal core and the Co-rich external shell, which combines the advantages of high cycle stability and high optical absorptivity. The average mechanical strength and optical absorption of optimal material are 4.2 and 4.17 times higher than those of unmodified carbide slag, respectively. Therefore, the novel material has a good application prospect in the CaO-based energy storage system.

Modification of CaO-based materials using Al -type dopants has been considered a promising method to enhance energy storage performance. The synergistic multi -doping effects of different Al -type dopants (soluble, hydrolysable and insoluble) on the energy storage performances, thermophysical and mechanical properties of CaObased materials have never been reported. The hydrolysable/soluble Al -type supports co -doped CaO-based pellets were prepared, which exhibited superior energy storage density, multi -cycle stability, reaction rate, thermal conductivity and crushing strength compared to undoped CaO pellets. The regulation mechanisms of hydrolysable/soluble Al -type dopants (AlN/Al(NO 3 ) 3 ) on the reaction kinetics, multi -cycle stability, thermophysical properties and mechanical properties of CaO-based pellets were revealed. The addition of different Altype dopants results in different dispersions of the formed Ca 12 Al 14 O 33 , which leads to different micromorphologies and pore structures of CaO-based pellets. Hydrolysable Al -type dopants exhibit a more concentrated distribution in CaO-based pellets and the pellets have smaller crystallite sizes of CaO and predominantly microporous pores, which results in the high CO 2 reactivity. Soluble Al -type dopants exhibit a more uniform dispersion in CaO-based pellets and the pellets have larger crystallite sizes of CaO and obvious pore channels, which results in the improved cyclic stability and decomposition kinetics. The optimized CaO-based pellets combine the advantages of the two Al -type dopants and present an increasing trend of energy storage density during the cyclic process. Its energy storage density remains 1571 kJ/kg after 50 cycles, and the value for CaO is only 569 kJ/kg. In addition, the optimal synthesized material has excellent thermal conductivity and crushing strength, which are 1.36 and 9.75 times those of CaO, respectively.

This work presents the first demonstration of a mechanochromic organic micro-laser, which exhibits remarkable wide range pressure sensing characteristics. The gain material, pinacolato boronate ester functionalized anthanthrene (AnBPin), is designed by incorporating mechanofluorochromic (MFC) properties into organic laser dye. The AnBPin exhibits a reversible transition between green and orange fluorescence upon grinding annealing and recrystallization cycle, and its micro-crystal exhibits typical organic micro-laser behaviors. Applying localized mechanical pressure as low as 0.1 MPa inhibits micro-laser behavior at the given spot. In contrast, under 1 to 2 GPa hydrostatic pressure, the organic laser maintains narrow emission while showing a pressure-dependent shift in emission wavelength. By combining theory and experimentation, we attribute the unusual pressure-correlated emission spectroscopy to the unique interleaved locked crystal structure. Understanding the mechanochromic laser behavior in AnBPin micro-crystals under an unprecedented pressure range significantly expands the family of organic micro-lasers and provides a new route for wide-range photonic pressure detection.

Abstract Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a kind of pulmonary circulatory failure caused by endogenous or exogenous emboli blocking the pulmonary artery or its branches. Giant embolic pulmonary embolism can cause acute right heart failure, acute respiratory failure, and even sudden death. For patients with a large number of PE and hemodynamic instability, thrombolytic therapy, inferior vena cava filter placement, or thrombectomy are usually considered. This paper reports a case of pulmonary artery thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient had pulmonary thrombosis caused by deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities and underwent pulmonary artery thrombectomy under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass. Case presentation: A 59-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to chest tightness and shortness of breath for half a month, which worsened for 3 days.Pulmonary hypertension (moderate). Color Doppler ultrasound of both lower extremities demonstrated deep venous thrombosis in the left lower limb (the percentage diameter stenosis was about 100%), and no thrombosis was found in the right lower limb. Physical examination revealed swelling of the left lower limb, skin temperature and color, and dorsalis pedis artery. The patient was treated with inferior vena cava filter implantation and heparin anticoagulant before operation. After definite surgical indications, pulmonary artery thrombectomy was performed under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass. After median thoracotomy induced by general anesthesia, the innominate vein ruptured and bled, followed by circulatory failure and cardiac arrest, and emergency cardiopulmonary bypass was established under intracardiac compression. Pulmonary embolectomy and tricuspid valvuloplasty were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. After the operation, the patient’s blood coagulation function was poor; 11 pieces of developing gauze were filled in the pericardium to stop bleeding, and chest closure was delayed. The patient died of disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemorrhagic shock, and non-infectious multiple organ dysfunction syndrome early in the morning of the next day. Learning purpose: The etiology and treatment of patients with this kind of pulmonary embolism need to be further discussed.

Coal-fired power plants have been recognized as a major source of arsenic and selenium emissions. Considering that the common temperature window exists, in which both As2O3, SeO2 and CO2 can be effectively captured by CaO-based adsorbents, new principles of CO2 presence affecting arsenic and selenium removal process were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results confirm the suppression role of CO2 on As2O3/SeO2 adsorption by CaO (100) surface. On the basis of single-molecule adsorption on CaO, the adsorption energies of As2O3 and SeO2 are -2.21 eV and -2.05 eV, which are stronger than that of CO2. Three molecules can be chemically adsorbed on CaO with the surface O atom as active sites, leading to the competition for adsorption sites on the CaO surface. Despite the higher preferential adsorption of As2O3 and SeO2 on CaO (100) than CO2, the presence of CO2 weakens the electron transfers from the surface O atoms to As and Se atoms in the co-adsorption configurations. Under the atmosphere of high-concentration CO2, the adsorption of CO2 on CaO surface primarily changes the original electronic field of CaO (10 0) surface, and abolishes the function of O sites for As2O3/SeO2 adsorption at the final stage of complete carbonation. As2O3 and SeO2 adsorb on the fully carbonated CaO surface by physisorption. The bond population and density of states verify that the presence of CO2 weakens the covalent bonds between the surface O atoms and As/Se atoms, and brings about the intermolecular repulsion in the following As2O3/SeO2 adsorption. In addition, the negative effect of CO2 on arsenic capture by CaO is more pronounced than that on selenium capture. Finally, four mechanisms including isolation mode, competition mode, low-degree carbonation mode and high-degree carbonation mode are determined to gain further insight into the structure-reaction correlation during arsenic and selenium removal from the microscopic aspect.

The low-index surfaces and defect structures of perovskite zinc stannate (ZTO) were studied based on the first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The geometry, stability and electronic properties of zinc stannate modulated by point defects were discussed. It is found that the 001 surface of ZTO and its oxygen defects on the surface were most stable thermodynamically among the 42 low-dimensional structures according to the energy calculations. The electronic properties near the Fermi level of low-dimensional ZTO structures can be modulated by different defects. This can be understood by electron band structure and density of states analysis. 101 surface of ZTO showed a metallic characteristic, while other low-dimensional ZTO structures were all semiconductors with a decreased band gap than that of the bulk. Defects could induce electron transfer and charge re-distribution on the ZTO surface by means of geometric and chemical bonding reconstruction on surfaces with defects.

Calcium looping (CaL), which can be combined with concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, is considered a promising technology for energy storage. To overcome the deactivation of calcium based materials with increasing cycles, a novel morph-genetic aluminum doped calcium oxide was prepared by a biomass template method using limestone, aluminum nitrate and cotton as raw materials. The effects of preparation parameters and heat storage conditions (especially in presence of steam) on the energy storage performance were studied. The results showed that the hollow tubular structure of the biomass template was preserved in the synthesized material and stabilized by the support of Ca12Al14O33. The presence of the hollow microtubular structure resulted in an increased pore volume of the synthesized materials and a change of the pore distribution, promoting the diffusion of CO2. This phenomenon also explained the superior performance of the synthesized material in terms of the apparent kinetic properties and resistance to sintering. The optimal synthesized material had a high energy storage density and carbonation fraction, which were more than three times those of limestone. The presence of steam during calcination served to reduce the calcination temperature and mitigate the sintering effect of CaO. An optimization route combining solar steam system and CaL-CSP system was proposed based on the positive effect of steam, which was promising for high-efficiency energy storage.

Artificial solid-state nanochannels have garnered considerable attention as promising nanofluidic tools for ion/molecular detection, DNA sequencing, and biomimicry. Recently, nanofluidic devices have emerged as cost-effective detection tools for heavy metal ions by modifying stimuli-responsive materials. In this work, high-purity glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) peptide is synthesized by using 7-diphenylphosphonooxycoumarin-4-methanol (DPCM) as a protecting group and auxiliary carrier by homogeneous synthesis of photocleavable groups. Subsequently, we developed a GHK-modified asymmetric nanochannel nanofluidic diode by covalently attaching the GHK peptide to the inner surface of the nanochannels. This modification facilitated specific recognition and ultra-trace level detection of Cu2+ ions, achieving a detection limit of 10-15 M. Due to the robust complexing ability between Cu2+ and GHK peptide, the GHK-modified asymmetric nanochannels can form GHK-Cu complexes on the inner surface of nanochannels when Cu2+ passes through the nanochannels. This results in changes of current-potential (I-V) properties, which facilitated Cu2+ detection. Theoretical calculations confirmed the high affinity of the GHK peptide for Cu2+, thereby ensuring excellent Cu2+ selectivity. To evaluate the applicability of our system for detecting Cu2+ in real-world scenarios, we analyzed the concentration of Cu2+ in tap water. The GHK-Cu complexes could be dissociated by adding EDTA to the solution, enabling the regeneration and reuse of this ultrasensitive and label-free Cu2+ detection system using GHK-modified asymmetric multi-nanochannels. We anticipate that the GHK-modified asymmetric nanochannels will find future applications in the label-free detection of Cu2+ in domestic water.