The electrocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) offers a sustainable route for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, serving as an alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. However, its performance is fundamentally constrained by the coupled requirements of efficient O2 adsorption, *OOH stabilization, and high reaction selectivity. Herein, we report a Fe3C-modified nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe3C/NC) catalyst that achieves an ultrahigh H2O2 selectivity of 99.0%, along with a production rate of 4.3 mol gcat−1 h−1 in an H-cell. Combined in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a cascade mechanism in which Fe3C sites preferentially adsorb and activate O2, while adjacent NC sites facilitate *OOH protonation and subsequent desorption. This spatial decoupling of elementary reaction steps effectively circumvents the intrinsic activity-selectivity trade-off associated with single-site catalysts. In a flow cell, the catalyst sustains a stable H2O2 concentration of 3.5 g L−1 over 20 h and enables direct downstream conversion to sodium perborate, demonstrating strong practical applicability. Moreover, the in situ generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) enable rapid and complete inactivation of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria within 30 min, highlighting the potential of this system for decentralized chemical production and environmental disinfection.

This study systematically investigates three self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)-3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS), and perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS)-as surface passivation (Pa) and interfacial modification/surface passivation (In and Pa) layers to enhance the performance of p-type SnO thin-film transistors (TFTs). Structural and electrical characterization indicates that the SAM passivation suppresses surface-related trap states, leading to significant improvements in field-effect hole mobility (mu), on/off current ratio (I on/off), and threshold voltage (V TH) reliability. Specifically, APTES passivation yields a 154% increase in mobility, while FDTS passivation reduces the subthreshold swing by 35% and enhances the I on/off by more than 3.6-fold. When SAMs are further introduced at the channel/source/drain-electrode interfaces, their intrinsic surface polarity modulates interfacial charge distribution and contact properties, thereby tailoring the output and transfer characteristics of SnO TFTs. Notably, FDTS insertion enhances the output current and further increases mu by approximately 33.3% compared with FDTS passivation alone, whereas insertions of APTES and ODTS both with molecular dipole moments in opposite direction compared with FDTS tend to reduce the current. In addition, selected SAMs suppress gate leakage and enhance bias-stress reliability, both APTES and FDTS suppress V TH shifts under a +30 V bias, with FDTS insertion reducing Delta V TH from 5.41 to 4.39 V after 3600 s. These results demonstrate an effective and versatile surface and interface engineering strategy for substantially improving the performance and stability of p-type oxide TFTs.

Cancer vaccines have proven to be a powerful tool in anti-tumor immunotherapy, leveraging antigen-specific T-cell responses. The effective activation of the stimulator of the interferon gene (STING) protein signal pathway by natural or synthetic agonists leads to the creation of a pro-immune tumor microenvironment. Here, we report the preparation of ovalbumin (OVA) loaded cancer vaccines based on nanoemulsions, denoted as DMMF59-OVA, for the co-delivery of antigens and a STING agonist (MSA-2). The nanovaccines were obtained via encapsulation of MSA-2 into squalene phase, which was stabilized by surfactants and coated with OVA. Upon intramuscular administration, the engineered nanovaccine facilitates antigen internalization, maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and efficient activation of the STING pathway. These results in enhanced antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses that significantly inhibit tumor growth in an E.G7-OVA mouse model. The studies provide an avenue for the application of nanovaccine in tumor immunotherapy. Given the ease of preparation and tunable physicochemical properties, DMMF59-OVA represents a promising therapeutic nanovaccine for biomedical applications

Abstract Corrosion and biofouling of metals in marine environments are critical issues affecting the long-term stability of marine engineering infrastructure. Traditional protection methods suffer from limitations such as high energy consumption and environmental pollution. Photoelectrochemical cathodic protection (PECCP) technology utilizes solar energy to drive the transfer of photogenerated electrons from semiconductors to metal surfaces, enabling green and low-energy-consumption corrosion protection. However, its core challenge lies in developing efficient and stable photoelectrode materials. In this study, a TiO2/CoNi-LDH composite photoanode was fabricated via hydrothermal and electrodeposition methods. It was found that under illumination, CoNi-LDH undergoes in situ reconstruction to generate CoOOH as a cocatalyst. The composite material exhibited excellent photoelectrochemical cathodic protection performance in a simulated seawater environment, providing a potential shift of 380 mV for coupled 304 stainless steel under intermittent illumination. Simultaneously, it demonstrated high antibacterial efficiency, achieving a 100% inactivation rate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa within 120 min. Structural characterization and theoretical calculations revealed that the in situ formation of CoOOH enhances interfacial charge transfer and promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species, thereby synergistically improving the anti-corrosion and anti-biofouling performance of the material. This study provides a novel strategy for developing integrated marine protective materials with long-term corrosion resistance and biofouling prevention capabilities.

PEGylated liposomes are widely used as drug delivery carriers due to their prolonged circulation and enhanced accumulation at pathological sites. However, repeated administration can trigger the accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon, reducing delivery efficacy. Herein, we report a zwitterionic PEGylation strategy by grafting glutamic acid-lysine (EK) peptides onto PEGylated phospholipid derivatives to assemble liposome (Lip)-based drug delivery systems. Small-angle neutron scattering analysis confirmed that EK modification significantly enhanced Lip hydration, leading to a 40-fold reduction in protein adsorption compared to conventional PEGylation, which therefore reduced immune cell uptake, anti-PEG antibody production, and nonspecific hepatic accumulation of EK-Lip. Furthermore, even in the presence of preexisting APAs, EK-Lip could mitigate the ABC effect and exhibit a twofold increase in the area under the curve of the pharmacokinetic profile after multiple injections compared to Lip. When loaded with doxorubicin, the zwitterionic EK-Lip demonstrated lower immunogenicity and superior antitumor efficacy compared to conventional formulations. This work provides a facile strategy to assemble zwitterionic liposomes with modified surface chemistry, offering a promising solution to the ABC effect in PEGylated liposomes.

The photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using water and oxygen represents an economically viable, environmentally benign, and sustainable pathway. However, single-component photo-catalysts are constrained by limited light-harvesting ranges, rapid carrier recombination, and insufficient redox capacities. In this study, the CdIn2S4/poly (barbituric acid) (CdInS/PBA) inorganic/organic S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was fabricated via ultrasonic self-assembly. The as-formed internal electric field and band bending in the prepared CdInS/PBA heterojunction not only accelerate the transfer of interface photogenerated charges, but also retain the strong reduction ability of electrons in CdIn2S4 and the strong oxidation ability of holes in PBA. In addition, the inorganic/organic composite systems can synergistically utilize the advantages of each component in photocatalytic generation of H2O2, in which the inorganic CdIn2S4 acts as a reaction site to promote the hydrophobic oxygen reduction process, while the organic PBA acts as an oxidation reaction site to promote the hydrophilic H2O oxidation process. The as-prepared CdInS/PBA heterojunction demonstrates a high H2O2 production rate under visible light irradiation that is 4.5 times and 2.4 times higher than pristine CdIn2S4 and PBA, respectively. Finally, the rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) measurements and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy verify that the H2O2 generation by CdInS/PBA heterojunction follows a two-step single-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) mechanism. (c) 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

The development of efficient, integrated anti-corrosion and anti-biofouling technologies is crucial for ensuring the long-term operational safety of marine equipment. In this study, a TiO2/GaInS3 Z-scheme heterojunction photoelectrode was constructed by in situ growth of hexagonal GaInS3 with a filamentous network architecture on TiO2 nanorods via a two-step hydrothermal method. Under simulated solar irradiation, the composite photoelectrode exhibited excellent photoelectrochemical cathodic protection performance for 304 stainless steel (304 SS), shifting its open-circuit potential negatively by 301 mV. Simultaneously, it demonstrated broad-spectrum and highly efficient photocatalytic inactivation (>98 % within 90 min) against multiple microorganisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Microcystis aeruginosa). Even after four cycles of photocatalytic inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a high antibacterial rate of >99 % was retained. By comparing the performance of single-function systems (anti-corrosion or anti-biofouling) with that of the coupled system (anti-corrosion + anti-biofouling), this study revealed a competitive relationship between the two processes for photogenerated electrons for the first time. This work not only presents a high-performance material for integrated corrosion and biofouling prevention but also provides an insightful understanding of the underlying interaction mechanisms, offering new perspectives for the rational design of marine anti-corrosion and anti-biofouling materials.

Understanding and regulating the electronic states of transition-metal centers is critical for the high-voltage mixed-polyanion cathodes. Here, a metal-assisted electronic modulation strategy is proposed for Na-V-PO4 by introducing Bi during liquid-phase synthesis. The incorporation of Bi induces the electron shift from the carbon source to vanadium and promotes the in-situ formation of metallic Bi and impurity phases, reconstructing the local VO electronic environment and governing the subsequent phase evolution. Consequently, the composites exhibit the composition-dependent change in crystal structure, morphology, and electrochemical behavior, especially a distinct change of discharge voltage plateaus. The framework structure remains stable upon prolonged cycling, accompanied by V 2p1/2 and Bi3+ electronic signature. However, the signals of metallic and V 2p3/2 are covered. This work bridges solution-phase redox chemistry with solid-state electrochemical behavior and provides a general understanding for electron-state engineering in polyanion-based cathodes.

p-Nitrophenol (PNP) and bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP), as typical persistent and toxic organic contaminants, present significant risks to both ecological systems and human health. Accurately quantifying these compounds using luminescent sensors remains a formidable task. In this study, we successfully synthesized a zinc-based metal–organic framework (Zn-MOF) that functions as a luminescent sensing material. The synthesized Zn-MOF demonstrates exceptional dual-response luminescent detection toward PNP and BNPP, with detection limits as low as 3.49 × 10−6 and 8.43 × 10−6 mol/L, respectively. The sensor maintains high selectivity and functionality even in the presence of various potentially interfering substances commonly found in complex environmental samples. Moreover, the material can be fabricated into a visual sensing film, greatly facilitating its application in on-site rapid detection scenarios. Overall, this work introduces a novel luminescent sensor platform that enables fast and reliable monitoring of PNP and BNPP in environmental contexts, demonstrating strong potential for integration into real-time surveillance and early warning systems.

In this paper, Ti1-xNdxZr0.1Fe0.8Mn0.2 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) alloys were prepared using vacuum magnetic levitation melting. The influences of Nd addition on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of the alloys were investigated. The Nd addition reduces the grain size of the TiFe phase, with the average grain size decreasing from 278.67 & Aring; in the TiZr0.1Fe0.8Mn0.2 alloy to a minimum of 188.00 & Aring; in the Ti0.94Zr0.1Nd0.06-Fe0.8Mn0.2 alloy. The Nd addition decreases the activation incubation period of the alloys. The TiZr0.1Fe0.8Mn0.2 alloy exhibits an activation incubation period of 1000 s, while the Ti0.92Zr0.1Nd0.08Fe0.8Mn0.2 alloy shows a markedly reduced activation incubation period of only 50 s. The Nd addition enhances the hydrogen absorption saturation ratio of the alloys. When measured at 333 K, the saturation ratio increases from 79.58 % in the TiZr0.1Fe0.8Mn0.2 alloy to 97.42 % in the Ti0.94Zr0.1Nd0.06Fe0.8Mn0.2 alloy in the first 100 s of the reaction. Furthermore, the Nd addition does not alter the rate-determining step during the hydrogen release process, and with the increase in Nd content, the reaction rate constant gradually increases. When x = 0.08, the value of this constant increases by 32.61 %.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), with its well-defined hybrid organic-inorganic cage architecture, has emerged as a versatile nano-building block for engineering advanced nanostructures. This review focuses specifically on free-standing POSS-based nanostructures, distinct from the extensively covered hydrogels or scaffolds, to systematically examine their synthesis, properties and biomedical applications. The synthetic methodologies and fundamental properties of POSS, which form the basis for its utility in nanostructure design, are introduced first. Next, we highlight how these nanostructures leverage the rigid POSS to achieve exceptional stability, high functionalization density, controlled self-assembly and improved theranostic performance. A separate section is devoted to POSS-based dendrimers, given their unique architectural precision. Several key roles of POSS in targeted drug delivery, improved bio-imaging and long-term anti-biofouling have been outlined. Despite the promising advances, we critically address key challenges hindering clinical translation, including synthetic reproducibility, long-term toxicity and biodegradability concerns. This overview aims to provide a focused perspective on POSS-based nanostructures, bridging material design with biomedical potential while outlining pathways toward future therapeutic and diagnostic platforms.

To achieve the dual functions of photoelectrochemical cathodic protection and antibacterial activity, Bi2MoO6/TiO2 composite photoelectrodes were successfully fabricated via anodization and hydrothermal, and the photoelectrochemical cathodic protection and sterilization performances were systematically evaluated. Compared with pure TiO2, Bi2MoO6/TiO2 composite photoelectrode exhibited a significantly extended light absorption range into the visible region, and an enhancing separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. The photocurrent density of Bi2MoO6/TiO2-12 h composite photoelectrode with the optimal performance reached 42 μA·cm–2, markedly higher than that of pure TiO2 and Bi2MoO6. And the open-circuit potential decreased by 350 mV, approximately five times that of pure TiO2, demonstrating excellent photoelectrochemical cathodic protection performance. Meanwhile, the Bi2MoO6/TiO2-12 h composite achieved 100% inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus within 60 min. The formation of Bi2MoO6/TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction effectively promotes directional migration and separation of charge carriers, thereby synergistically enhancing both photoelectrochemical cathodic protection and sterilization performances. These results indicate that the Bi2MoO6/TiO2 composite photoelectrode exhibits excellent performance in light-driven corrosion protection and sterilization applications, providing an effective strategy for photoelectrochemical cathodic protection and antibacterial treatment in marine and other complex environments.

Hysteresis and operational instability remain major obstacles for high-performance tin monoxide (SnO) thin-film transistors (TFTs), particularly under back-end-of-line (BEOL) thermal constraints. Here, we report a synergistic interface-engineering strategy that integrates two-step annealing, back-channel fluorine plasma treatment, and a tailored multilayer passivation stack (SiNx/Al2O3/HfO2/SiO2, bottom-up) to simultaneously suppress bulk and interfacial trap states in SnO TFTs. This combined approach effectively mitigates charge trapping and back-channel adsorption of ambient species, leading to hysteresis-free ambipolar operation. The optimized SnO TFT exhibits negligible hysteresis (45 mV), balanced hole and electron mobilities (& micro;p = 1.9 cm2/V center dot s, & micro;n = 2.0 cm2/ V center dot s), a steep subthreshold swing of 0.15 V/dec, and an on/off current ratio exceeding 104. Under prolonged negative and positive bias stress (NBS and PBS) for 10,000 s at 25 degrees C, threshold voltage shifts remain minimal (-57 mV for NBS and +122 mV for PBS), demonstrating excellent bias stress stability. CMOS-like inverter constructed using these ambipolar TFTs achieves a high voltage gain of 184 V/V at a supply voltage of 3.3 V, together with hysteresis-free voltage transfer characteristics. This study offers a robust pathway for oxide-based complementary logic targeting moderate-temperature BEOL integration, highlighting the critical role of coordinated defect passivation and environmental barrier engineering in achieving stable, hysteresis-free ambipolar oxide electronics.

Effectively addressing the interfacial charge transfer between metal-organic framework (MOF) co-catalysts and photoanodes is crucial for enhancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. In this work, an in-situ phosphorization strategy is innovatively proposed to construct oxidized phosphorus groups (POx) between a bimetallic MOF and BiVO4 photoanode, without introducing an additional hole transport layer or impeding light absorption of the photoanode. This approach optimizes the electronic environment at the contact interface between the MOF and BiVO4. Mediated by the POx groups, dual-path charge transfer channels (Bi-POx-Co and Ni-POx-V) are established. The electron-enriched Co sites serve as active centers for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), while the electron-enriched V sites suppress metal dissolution. Consequently, the fabricated BVO/POx/CoNi-MOL photoanode achieves an ultra-high photocurrent density of 6.2 mA cm-2 along with excellent long-term stability. The in-situ phosphorization approach presented here offers a powerful and generalizable methodology for enhancing interfacial charge transfer in composite photoelectrode systems.

Understanding how solution chemistry governs phase formation is critical for designing high-voltage polyanion cathodes for sodium-ion batteries. Here, Li-doped (Na3-xLix)VP/C and (Na3Lix)VP/C composites are systematically investigated from precursor solution to final products to reveal the origin of phase and electronic structure evolution. The apparent valence of V varies from ∼ +4 in the solution to mixed V2+/V3+/V4+ in the product. Increasing Li content drives a phase transition from the rod-like Na7V4(P2O7)4PO4 to Na3V2(PO4)3, accompanied by a shortened 3.8 V plateau and expanded 3.3 V plateau. These results demonstrate that the electrostatic interaction among ions in liquid phase dictate phase formation, vanadium valence, and discharge plateau. As a result, Na2·7Li0·3VP/C delivers an initial discharge capacity of 63 mAh g−1 at 117.6 mA g−1 with a voltage of 3.8 V and excellent cycling stability. Ex-situ XRD, XPS, and in-situ XANES reveal that Na2·7Li0·3VP/C maintains a robust framework during cycling, with only minor lattice breathing and subtle modulation of the local electronic environment. This work highlights solution-phase regulation as an effective strategy for designing high-voltage polyanion cathodes.

Seawater and microbe-caused corrosion of metals and their alloys in marine environments are more critical than ever. So alleviate this corrosion with reduced marine pollution, a combination of photoelectrochemical cathodic protection and anti-biofouling is highly desirable. In this study, SnS2 and CdS nanomaterials were deposited onto the surface of TiO2 through an impregnation deposition method, to potentiate the anticorrosive capability of TiO2. The impregnation time, cycles and concentrations of Cd2+, S2− and Sn4+ were well optimized based on the potential change and current density under intermittent irradiation with simulated sunlight. The obtained SnS2/CdS/TiO2 photoelectrode exhibited photogenerated cathodic protection performance for 304 stainless steel under irradiation with efficient sterilization, realizing anticorrosion via dual pathways. Notably, in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution without a capture agent (e.g., Na2S/Na2SO3), the open circuit potential shifted negatively to about −1080 mV (vs. SCE), and the steady-state photocurrent density (100 μA·cm−2), which was about 7 times that of pure TiO2 (15 μA·cm−2). Antibacterial tests showed efficient inactivation against of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with highest removal efficiency reaching 94.2% after 2 hours of irradiation. All these results suggested a strong application potential of the as-prepared ternary anticorrosive layer in real marine environments.

Boron carbide (B4C) ceramics are characterized by a high melting point, high hardness, low density, and other excellent properties. Moreover, the presence of10GB in B4C has neutron absorption properties, and it is commonly used to fabricate control rods in reactors. The preparation of coatings is important for reducing friction and wear between mechanical components to extend their service life. Coating preparation technologies include chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition (PVD), and other plasma-based techniques. Among these, direct-current and radio-frequency magnetron sputtering in PVD have been successfully commercialized on a large scale because of their simple process and low-temperature characteristics. To improve the performance of coatings, deposition parameters such as bias voltage, gas flow rate, vacuum level, and deposition temperature can be adjusted during the coating preparation process, leading to significant changes in the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological properties of the films. This study investigated the deposition of a chromium transition layer on a W18Cr4V substrate, followed by the preparation of B4C and diamond-like carbon (B4C-DLC) coatings using direct current magnetron sputtering in an argon gas atmosphere with the introduction of methane (CH4) gas. Different flow rates of CH4 gas were introduced during the coating deposition process to prepare B4C-DLC coatings with varying properties. The microstructure and chemical structure of the films were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. A comparative analysis of the tribological properties of the prepared films was conducted using a CSM standard friction and wear tester. The transfer films on the ball after friction tests and the wear tracks were characterized to investigate the effects of the CH4 flow rate on the microstructure and tribological properties of B4C nanocoatings, as well as the frictional chemical reactions occurring during friction. The results indicate that the CH4 gas flow significantly affects the surface morphology, thickness, chemical structure, and tribological properties of the films. The deposition rate of the films gradually increased with increasing CH4 gas flow rate, with film thickness increasing from 1.4 mu m at 0 mL/min to 2.2 mu m at 20 mL/min CH4 gas flow. The surface roughness initially decreased and then increased with CH4 gas introduction. XPS analysis showed that the carbon content inside the films increased from 55% to 86% with increasing CH4 gas flow, accompanied by an increase in the proportion of C-C bonds, forming more carbon-rich carbides. When the CH4 flow rate was >= 10 mL/min, the Raman spectra of the films exhibited typical DLC lubricating phase characteristic peaks, indicating successful preparation of B4C-DLC films. Moreover, the ID / IG ratios of the films gradually increased with increasing CH4 gas flow rate. Friction results demonstrate that the friction factor of B4C films fluctuates at approximately 0.8-0.9, with a wear rate of 4.47 & times;10-5 mm3 & centerdot;N-1 & centerdot;m-1. Stable transfer films did not form after friction tests, and the wear tracks exhibited wide and plowed characteristics. When the CH4 flow rate was in the range of 15-20 mL/min, the friction factor of the films decreased to 0.05, and the wear rate decreased by two orders of magnitude compared to the case without CH4 flow. Stable transfer films were formed on the ball, with shallower and narrower wear tracks. The main reason for the improved tribological properties of B4C-DLC nanocomposite films was the introduction of the DLC lubricating phase. Further XPS analysis of the wear tracks after the friction of the B4C-DLC films revealed frictional chemical reactions occurring at the sliding interface. The improvement in their tribological properties was attributed to the synergistic effect between the DLC lubricating phase and the frictional chemical reaction products (B2O3). Therefore, DLC films with good lubrication properties were successfully prepared by regulating the CH4 flow rate, which enriched the theoretical study of DLC-lubricated coatings.

Three benzoic acids with different bulkiness of side chain groups of –Cl, –NO 2 or –CH (CH 3 ) 2 were employed to modulate the CP frameworks and further tune the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction and the photosalient behaviors.