This study investigates the thermochemical energy storage performance of magnesium chloride (MgCl2)-based composite hydrated salts physically mixed with eight chloride salts (LiCl, KCl, CaCl2, LaCl3, CuCl2, CrCl3, SrCl2, and SrBr2). Through low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), water vapor adsorption isotherms, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), we reveal how cation types govern water states (bonded/immobilized/free water) and influence dehydration kinetics, hygroscopicity, and energy storage density. Key findings include: NMR T-2 spectra demonstrate that KCl and CrCl3 composites predominantly contain bonded water (BW, T-2 < 10 ms), enhancing hydrolysis resistance, while LiCl/CaCl2 composites exhibit free water (FW, T-2 > 100 ms). XRD confirms new crystalline phases (e.g., KMgCl36H(2)O in MgCl2-KCl) formed during mixing, increasing the latent heat density of MgCl2-CaCl2 to 377.0 J g(-1). All composites surpass pure MgCl2 in low-humidity adsorption (30 degrees C, P/P0 < 0.6), with MgCl2-SrCl2 achieving a storage density of 978.8 J g(-1) at 60% RH. The LaCl(3 )composite shows the highest hydration rate (k(eff) = 0.0097 min(-1)), attributed to optimized ion dissolution and crystallization kinetics.

Simulating the flow behavior of dust-laden granules in granular bed filters is computationally challenging due to the immense scale of fine particles. This study employs an efficient friction-equivalence DEM approach to investigate the hierarchical replacement of granular flow driven by a conveyor belt. Results demonstrate that the replacement rate correlates positively with conveyor velocity and outlet size, while exhibiting a non-monotonic dependence on fines volume fraction. Crucially, the flow exhibits spatial stratification. Specifically, a dual transition is identified: moderate fines (0.08%-0.50%) enhance mobility (lubrication), whereas excessive fines (>1.00%) suppress flow (hindrance). Micro-mechanical analysis reveals that this transition is governed by the evolution of contact force networks. While low fines volume fraction reduce direct interlocking, high concentrations facilitate the formation of strong normal force chains supported by disordered tangential interlocking. This rigid network mechanically stabilizes arch structures at the outlet, leading to flow blockage. Consequently, leveraging the observed velocity disparity, an optimized strategy aligning the conveyor with the decreasing dust concentration gradient is proposed. This configuration prioritizes the discharge high-fines granules, effectively balancing filtration efficiency with thermal energy recovery.

Most of currently reported mechanofluorochromic materials typically rely on changes in the structure or aggregation state of organic molecules/crystals, and they face issues such as limited tunable range of fluorescence property, insufficient stability, and slow response. Herein, a novel strategy to achieve mechanofluorochromism by utilizing the concentration quenching effect of rare earth fluorescent complexes is proposed. The obtained nanofiber films are fabricated using coaxial electrospinning, with each nanofiber featuring a shell layer composed of Eu complex/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer and a core of pure TPU. Stretching this material increases the distance between the Eu complex molecules, thereby reducing their concentration. In the initial state, when the Eu complex concentration is below the quenching threshold, stretching the film weakens its fluorescence intensity. Conversely, when the Eu complex concentration is significantly higher than the quenching threshold, stretching reduces the concentration quenching effect, thereby enhancing the fluorescence intensity. Moreover, compared with the sample where the Eu complex is uniformly distributed throughout the nanofiber, this coaxial structure, where the complex is confined to the shell layer, significantly improves the film's mechanical properties while maintaining nearly identical fluorescence intensity. The interionic distances of Eu3+ in the prepared coaxial nanofibers are computed by COMSOL Multiphysics simulations. The proposed materials exhibit a wide tunable range of fluorescence intensity and excellent cyclability, overcoming the limitations of traditional mechanofluorochromic materials. Furthermore, the potential applications of the products on wearable and flexible display devices are explored.

We focus on the commonly observed S-shaped anomaly, or S-kink, in the I-V characteristics of silicon-based solar cells. Three representative material silicon-based photovoltaic systems were studied, including: crystalline silicon (c-Si), multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si), and amorphous silicon (a-Si: H), to systematically analyze the microscopic physical mechanisms of the S-kink under different device structures and interface conditions. By introducing concepts such as energy band engineering at interfaces, interface-state-induced potential barriers, charge accumulation, and carrier recombination behavior, the study reveals that band misalignment, Fermi level pinning, and high-density defect states are the fundamental causes of carrier transport barriers leading to S-kink. In terms of teaching practice, this work proposes integrating the S-kink phenomenon into the college physics experiment curricula, and establishes an inquiry-based instructional model that combines experimental measurement, theoretical modeling, and numerical simulation. The methodology aims to cultivate the students' ability to infer microscopic mechanisms from macroscopic observations, build quantitative models, and utilize simulation tools for parameter extraction and device performance optimization. Through cross-comparison among different material systems and experimental conditions, the students can develop a comprehensive understanding including device structure, material properties, interface physics, and electrical output response. The study deepens the physical insight into non-ideal behaviors in the photovoltaic devices and offers a practical and pedagogical framework for the reform of advanced college physics experiment courses.

Conventional porous carbon hosts face challenges in balancing sulfur loading and polysulfide confinement due to the random spatial distribution of pores with different sizes. Herein, coaxial gradient electrospinning technology is proposed, and novel carbon nanofibers with gradually changed gradient pores are constructed as sulfur hosts for lithium-sulfur batteries. The pore size decreases gradually from the core to the outer surface of the gradientpore carbon nanofibers (GPCNF). The micro-and mesopores on the outer surface of GPCNF can inhibit the outward diffusion of the produced polysulfide during the charge-discharge process, while the macropores in the core enhance sulfur loading. Moreover, the gradual gradient in pore sizes mitigates localized stress during sulfur volume expansion, which significantly enhances the structural stability of the electrode. To further enhance the electrochemical performance, polypyrrole (PPy) is modified to the GPCNF. The obtained GPCNF/PPy/S cathode can achieve the first discharge specific capacity of 845.3 mAh g- 1 at 2C, with a capacity retention rate of 82 % after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the coaxial gradient electrospinning process and the underlying mechanisms contributing to the superior performance of the GPCNF are further understood through COMSOL Multiphysics simulations.

In this study, a porous carbon precursor loaded with silica nanoparticles was constructed using low-cost water glass and activated carbon. High-purity Si3N4 nanobelts with a high alpha-phase fraction were synthesized via carbothermal reduction and nitridation. The as-prepared nanobelts exhibit uniform morphology, millimeter-scale lengths, and tunable widths ranging from 300 nm to 4 mu m. The results show that processing parameters exert a significant influence on both phase composition and morphology. The nanobelt width shows a clear positive correlation with both the nitridation temperature and N2 flow rate. Mechanistic analysis further indicates that the nanobelts grow along the [101] direction following a typical vapor-solid (VS) mechanism. Moreover, a SiO(g) high/low concentration zoning growth mode governed by the porous structure of activated carbon is proposed. This mechanism clarifies how the C/SiO2 molar ratio regulates the generation and outward escape of SiO(g), thereby determining whether nanobelt growth can occur. These findings provide new mechanistic insights into gas-solid reaction pathways for synthesizing one-dimensional nitride materials within porous media.

Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG), an eco-friendly water purification technique, has attracted extensive research attention in recent years. Combining ISSG with photocatalysis enables simultaneous freshwater production and in-situ organic pollutant elimination during water evaporation. Nevertheless, most existing solar absorbers for ISSG contain fully hydrophilic domains, and the inherent swelling tendency of hydrophilic materials impairs long-term structural stability, severely restricting their practical long-duration outdoor applications. This study reports a novel microscopically heterogeneous aerogel constructed from interwoven hydrophilic/hydrophobic Janus nanofibers and decorated with a photothermal-photocatalytic composite layer; such unique structure eliminates undesirable material swelling. Systematic optimization of the as-fabricated absorber is performed, and DFT calculations further elucidate its underlying microscopic mechanism. Under standard solar illumination (1 kW m-2), the optimized absorber achieves a high evaporation rate of 3.395 kg m-2 h-1 with an exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency of 91.37%. Concurrently, the embedded photocatalytic components degrade over 97% of model antibiotic contaminants (tetracycline hydrochloride) during the evaporation process. The material demonstrates outstanding salt-rejection capability, maintaining stable performance in high-salinity brines with slight salt accumulation. Long-term cycling tests confirm excellent durability over 10 consecutive operational cycles. When deployed in simulated seawater desalination, the system produces freshwater meeting international drinking water standards. Outdoor experiments further validate its practical feasibility for seawater desalination and agricultural wastewater remediation. This work presents a rationally designed solar absorber that synergistically combines interfacial evaporation with photocatalytic degradation, offering a promising solution for sustainable water treatment.

The misfit layered cobalt-based oxide Ca3Co4O9 has drawn extensive attention for its outstanding high-temperature thermal stability and environmental friendliness, yet its thermoelectric performance has long been restricted by the strong coupling between electrical and thermal transport parameters, and traditional single-element doping has hit a bottleneck in performance enhancement. High-entropy engineering, which introduces high configurational entropy into multi-principal-component systems, offers a new way to regulate electronic band structure and phonon transport simultaneously. This study applied high-entropy design to Ca3Co4O9, aiming to decouple electron-phonon transport and boost its thermoelectric performance. Through theoretical calculation screening, equimolar multi-element substitution is adopted at the Ca site, and single-phase high-entropy ceramic (CaBaKBiCr)(3)Co4O9 is successfully prepared via the sol-gel method combined with ambient-pressure sintering. Electrical tests revealed high-entropy modification moderately reduced carrier concentration, with the Seebeck coefficient reaching 293 mu V/K at 978 K (72% higher than pristine Ca3Co4O9). Meanwhile, the phonon scattering is enhanced and the lattice thermal conductivity is significantly reduced. Ultimately, (CaBaKBiCr)(3)Co4O9 achieved a ZT value of similar to 0.35 at 978 K, a 106% increase over the Ca3Co4O9. This work verifies an efficient high-entropy composition design strategy, clarifies its physical mechanisms for synergistic optimization of electrical and thermal transport from electronic structure and phonon engineering perspectives, and provides important theoretical and experimental foundations for the research of oxide thermoelectric materials.

This study presents a novel strategy to achieve light-tunable electrical anisotropy in Janus nanoribbon array films by incorporating a photoconductive material into their insulating functional region. The films are fabricated via parallel electrospinning, consisting of a conductive half (polyaniline/PMMA/PEO) and an insulating half (copper phthalocyanine/PMMA/PEO). Under dark conditions, the films exhibit high electrical anisotropy with a conductivity anisotropy ratio of up to 3.83 & times; 105 between the nanoribbon alignment direction (X-direction, conductive) and the perpendicular direction (Y-direction, insulating), with conductive behavior only along the Xdirection. Upon illumination, the copper phthalocyanine in the insulating region becomes photoconductive, yielding a maximum Y-direction resistance on/off ratio (ROFF/RON) of 77.3 and thus significantly increasing the conductivity in the originally insulating Y-direction. This dynamic optical modulation reduces the electrical anisotropy ratio to 1.22 & times; 104 under light irradiation, representing a reduction of more than one order of magnitude. The optical modulation of directional conductivity is reversible and composition-dependent. This work demonstrates a promising approach to designing smart, light-responsive anisotropic conductive materials for applications in reconfigurable electronics and adaptive sensors.

A fluorinated poly(urethane urea) (FPUU) doping strategy is developed to enhance the photovoltaic performance of all-perovskite tandem perovskite solar cells (T-PSCs), with the champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) achieving 26.64 %. We demonstrate that introducing FPUU into the wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite layer significantly enhances its crystallinity, and increases the corresponding single-junction cell's PCE to 18.15%. The unique multi-functional nature of FPUU explains the enhancements in TPSC performance. FPUU effectively passivated both the positively charged Pb2+ defects, as well as the negatively charged I- /Br- defects, through its intrinsic high-density O/N/F passivation sites. The fluorinated segments in FPUU acted as barriers against the water/oxygen ingress, and thus significantly enhanced the device's operational stability. Additionally, the optimized FPUU incorporation into the WBG perovskite provides advanced mechanical flexibility. On flexible polyimide (PI) substrate, the TPSC achieved a champion PCE of 22.48 %, with evidently improved anti-bending ability. The high resistance method was applied to construct a phenomenological model quantifying the contributions of key layers: indium tin oxide (ITO), WBG, and narrow-bandgap (NBG) perovskites, to the PCE degradation of flexible TPSCs under equal-radius mechanical bending. A ternary diagram illustrates each layer's contribution to the device's overall PCE degradation. After the optimized FPUU doping, the flexible device's representative points in the diagram collectively shift from the "ITO corner" towards the "WBG corner", indicating that the enhanced WBG layer has greater impact on the device's PCE reduction.

Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG), an eco-friendly water purification technique, has attracted extensive research attention in recent years. Combining ISSG with photocatalysis enables simultaneous freshwater production and in-situ organic pollutant elimination during water evaporation. Nevertheless, most existing solar absorbers for ISSG contain fully hydrophilic domains, and the inherent swelling tendency of hydrophilic materials impairs long-term structural stability, severely restricting their practical long-duration outdoor applications. This study reports a novel microscopically heterogeneous aerogel constructed from interwoven hydrophilic/hydrophobic Janus nanofibers and decorated with a photothermal-photocatalytic composite layer; such unique structure eliminates undesirable material swelling. Systematic optimization of the as-fabricated absorber is performed, and DFT calculations further elucidate its underlying microscopic mechanism. Under standard solar illumination (1 kW m−2), the optimized absorber achieves a high evaporation flux of 3.395 kg m−2 h−1 with an exceptional photothermal conversion efficiency of 91.37%. Concurrently, the embedded photocatalytic components degrade over 97% of model antibiotic contaminants (tetracycline hydrochloride) during the evaporation process. The material demonstrates outstanding salt-rejection capability, maintaining stable performance in high-salinity brines with slight salt accumulation. Long-term cycling tests confirm excellent durability over 10 consecutive operational cycles. When deployed in simulated seawater desalination, the system produces freshwater meeting international drinking water standards. Outdoor experiments further validate its practical feasibility for seawater desalination and agricultural wastewater remediation.

The oxidation of molten silicon powder in a high-temperature suspension phase represents a promising technique for the continuous production of spherical silica. However, the agglomeration of silicon powder at high temperatures increases particle size and reduces reactant surface area, ultimately slowing the oxidation rate and disrupting the suspension state, leading to failed silica preparation. To address these issues, a pre-oxidation step was implemented, whereby an oxide layer was created on the silicon powder. This was done to prevent molten silicon from agglomerating. This paper investigates the effect of pre-oxidation time and melting temperature on the generation of spherical silica using a static suspension method. The 5 mu m average-sized silicon powder underwent pre-oxidation at 1300 degrees C for 30 min, followed by oxidation at the silicon's melting point. This resulted in amorphous spherical silica, ranging from 200 to 400 nm. Pre-oxidation results in a Si@SiO2 core-shell structure, which effectively prevents molten silicon agglomeration and significantly enhances particle oxidation rates. These findings lay the foundation for scaled-up production of spherical silica using the airflow suspension method.

CAU-10-H is a promising water adsorbent for adsorption heat transformation systems due to its excellent hydrothermal stability and favorable "S" type isothermal adsorption characteristic. However, its water uptake capacity is relatively low. In this work, the hydrochloric acid modulation defect structure of CAU-10 is rationally developed to get the CAU-10-HCl-2 sample, which possesses high water absorption capacity and outstanding cycle stability. The concentrations of metal atom defects and ligand defects in CAU-10-HCl-2 are 5.8 % and 3.0 %, respectively, which are 29 times and 0.375 times those of the CAU-10 sample without hydrochloric acid addition. This indicates that hydrochloric acid modulation facilitates the production of metal atom defects while suppressing the emergence of ligand defects. The specific surface area, micropore volume, and total pore volume of CAU-10-HCl-2 are 526.6 m2/g, 0.20 ml/g, and 0.23 ml/g, respectively, up 17 %, 25 %, and 10 % from CAU-10. At a relative pressure P/P0 of 0.2, the water uptake of CAU-10-HCl-2 reaches up to 0.29 g/g, which is a 14 % increase compared to CAU-10. Compared to the initial hydration, the water uptake of CAU-10 decreases by 16 % by the 30th cycle, while that of CAU-10-HCl-2 lowers by only 2 %. These results demonstrate that hydrochloric acid modulation is an efficient strategy to improve the water absorption capacity and cyclic stability of CAU-10. This study provides quantitative analysis and synthesis instructions for designing defect structures in CAU-10 via hydrochloric acid modulation.

Efficient extraction of soy protein isolate (SPI) with high functionalities from soybean meal is essential for developing stable emulsion formulations. This study compared the effects of three extraction methods on protein yield and the stability of nanoemulsions prepared by the obtained soy protein isolate (SPI). We found that the protein recovery of the weak-base synchronized membrane separation (MS) extraction (53 %) was much higher than that of alkali extraction/isoelectric point precipitation (AE, 38 %) and salt extraction (SE, 27 %). During the storage stage (15 days at 55 °C), MS-SPI-stabilized nanoemulsions showed better physicochemical stability (e.g. particle size ∼285 nm, turbiscan stability index∼4.1) than AE-SPI- and SE-SPI-stabilized nanoemulsions, and comparable stability to commercial sodium caseinate. This was further verified by cryo-SEM/TEM, as MS-SPI had more tightly and uniformly distributed particles at the oil-water interface, facilitating the formation of a solid-like interfacial film. Therefore, MS-SPI is a highly stable emulsifier for developing nanoemulsion-based food.

In dust removal engineering, granular matter shows great potential for utilization. Due to the uneven distribution of dust in the granular filters, it is crucial to implement a hierarchical replacement strategy for dusty grains. This study achieves this hierarchical replacement in the granular bed by adjusting the outlet size (D) and the velocity of the conveyor belt (v). Our finding reveals that when D < 3 . 17 d , grains closer to the outlet side move slower, whereas for D > 3 . 17 d , grains far away from the outlet side move slower. This observation highlights a shift in the hierarchical replacement degree, transitioning from a positive value (above 0) to a negative value (below 0). We have built a theoretical model capable of predicting this kind of uneven granular flow under different conditions, which aligns well with experimental results. This research has significant implications for facilitating the hierarchical replacement of dusty grains in dust removal beds.

The metal-organic framework UiO-66 is a promising water vapor adsorbent due to its stability and hydrophilicity. In this study, we systematically investigated the modulation of pore structure and water adsorption performance of UiO-66 through microwave-assisted synthesis and controlled Cr3+ doping. The results indicated that the crystalline integrity and thermal stability of the framework remained well-preserved after doping. The UiO-66 samples with Cr3+ addition have higher pore volume and specific surface area. When the mole ratio of Cr to Zr is 1.5, the micropore volume and BET specific surface area of MW-1.5Cr-UiO-66 are 15.1% and 19.8% higher than MW-UiO-66. This structural optimization resulted in superior adsorption performance, with the saturated water adsorption capacity of MW-1.5Cr-UiO-66 reaching 0.59 g g-1. Furthermore, the water adsorption capacity of MW-1.5Cr-UiO-66 remained unchanged after 10 cycles. The coordinated modulation of pore architecture and surface chemistry through transition metal doping provides new insights for developing high-performance adsorbents in adsorption heat storage applications.

The behaviors of H atoms and vacancies at the W/Lu2O3 interface were investigated using first-principles calculations. The work of adhesion and nucleation ability of interfaces with different terminations were analyzed. root x The (3 root 3)W(111)/(2 x 2)Lu2O3(0001) interface exhibits the highest crystallization efficiency. At the W2/ Lu2O3-O1 interface, the H atom prefers to dissolve in the first layer of the W (111) surface and the interstitial sites of the interface. The presence of vacancies at the interface facilitates H atom capture, allowing continuous adsorption of H atoms. The H atom prefers to dissolve in the first layer of the W surface and the interface, rather than in the Lu2O3 layer. Vacancy formation energy analysis shows that H atoms enhance the stability of vacancy structures, forming a stable HnVac3 complex. The electronic structure indicates that the hybridization of O-2p orbitals in the first layer with W-5d orbitals results in the formation of a W-O covalent bond. The introduction of multiple H atoms strengthens the W-H bond.

A droplet impacts on high temperature surface may lead to film boiling. Hydrophobic coating used for corrosion prevention is easy to cause film boiling at low temperature, which results in a remarkable decrease in evaporation efficiency and heat transfer coefficient. However, there is a lack of quantitative visual experimental data on the flow field around the droplet to understand the heat transfer characteristics during film boiling. In this study, schlieren photography combined with high-speed imaging technology is used to observe the evolution process of a droplet impact, rebound, oscillation, and stable boiling. The effects of temperature on lifetime, vapour velocity and heat transfer coefficient of a salt droplet with different concentrations are studied for aluminum and Teflon surfaces. The distribution characteristics of vapour velocity are quantitatively analyzed using cross-correlation algorithm, and the calculation formulas of heat transfer coefficient under nucleate and film boiling modes are proposed. It is found that increasing the concentration of a salt droplet can improve the heat transfer coefficient during film boiling. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of heat exchanger efficiency in areas such as sea water spray cooling.

A new strategy aimed at significantly enhancing the anisotropic conductivity of hydrogel materials, along with a simple construction technology and design concept, are proposed. Anisotropic conductive hydrogel materials have attracted much attention from researchers in the field of flexible electronics for their inherent excellent properties. However, the anisotropic conductivity of the existing conductive hydrogels is not high and the preparation methods are complex. Herein, fluorescent-highly conductive anisotropic Janus-type nanoribbon hydrogel array film (named JNHAF) is successfully prepared using a combination of parallel electrospinning and post-polymerization as an example of the study. Highly oriented [2,7-dibromo-9-fluorenone (DF)/gelatin (GE)]// [carbon black (CB)/GE] Janus-type nanoribbon is used as the building block. The composition as well as the arrangement of Janus-type nanoribbons are microscopically designed and regulated to effectively separate the conductive and insulating materials, so that the samples can achieve highly anisotropic conductivity and obvious green fluorescence. When the mass ratio of GE to CB is 1:0.1, the conductive anisotropy ratio of JNHAF can reach 1.12 x 105. The degree of anisotropic conductivity of JNHAF is significantly improved compared with existing reported anisotropic conductive hydrogels, and the preparation method is simple. JNHAF responds quickly to light, tensile strain, and temperature, making it suitable for assembling multi-stimulus responsive sensors. JNHAF has excellent flexibility, degradability, mechanical properties and a certain degree of sensitivity (gauge factor of 4.29), and is used for human joint motion detection with an obvious response signal. The design idea and construction technology of this hydrogel breaks through the technical bottleneck of the low degree of anisotropy of conductive hydrogels, which will lead and expand the scientific frontiers of anisotropic conductive hydrogel materials, and provide novel design ideas and theoretical values for new hydrogel materials.

Adsorption-based thermal energy conversion systems offer a sustainable solution for space heating and cooling applications. However, due to the limited performance of solid adsorbents, the large-scale application of this technology still requires further research. To address this challenge, we developed a composite adsorbent by integrating a graphene oxide (GO)-modified metal-organic framework (MIL-101(Cr)) with LiCl. The material was characterized using a variety of techniques to assess its improvement in three areas: water adsorption performance, heat propagation rate and stability. The synthesized material was systematically characterized to evaluate three key performance parameters: water adsorption capacity, thermal conductivity, and cyclic stability. The optimized composite LMG-3 (90 wt% LiCl) exhibits a tenfold increase in water absorption capacity compared to MIL-101(Cr)@GO at P/P0 = 0.3. The introduction of GO significantly increases the heat diffusion coefficient, and the material exhibits excellent cyclic stability and inhibits salt deliquescence, demonstrating its potential for adsorptive thermal storage applications.