Active and passive modulation of solar light transmittance in a uniquely multifunctional dual-band single molecule for smart window applications

Functional materials may change color by heat and electricity separately or simultaneously in smart windows.These materials have not only demonstrated remarkable potential in the modulation of solar radiation but are also leading to the development of indoor environments that are more comfortable and conducive to improving individuals'quality of life.Unfortunately,dual-responsive materials have not received ample research attention due to economic and technological challenges.As a consequence,the broader utilization of smart windows faces hindrances.To address this new generational multistimulus responsive chromic materials,our group has adopted a developmental strategy to create a poly(NIPAM)n-HV as a switchable material by anchoring active viologen(HV)onto a phase-changing poly(NIPAM)n-based smart material for better utility and activity.These constructed smart windows facilitate individualistic reversible switching,from a highly transparent state to an opaque state(thermochromic)and a red state(electrochromic),as well as facilitate a simultaneous dual-stimuli response reversible switching from a clear transparent state to a fully opaque(thermochromic)and orange(electrochromic)states.Absolute privacy can be attained in smart windows designed for exclusive settings by achieving zero transmittance.Each unique chromic mode operates independently and modulates visible and near-infrared(NIR)light in a distinct manner.Hence,these smart windows with thermal and electric dual-stimuli responsiveness demonstrate remarkable heat regulation capabilities,rendering them highly attractive for applications in building facades,energy harvesting,privacy protection,and color display.

Hydrogen-bonded organic framework modified separator for simultaneously enhancing the safety and electrochemical performance of Ni-rich lithium-ion battery

Nickel-rich layered oxide cathode(LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1−x−y)O_(2),x>0.5,NCM)shows substantial potential for applications in longer-range electrical vehicles.However,the rapid capacity decay and serious safety concerns impede its practical viability.This work provides a hydrogen-bonded organic framework(HOF)modification strategy to simultaneously improve the electrochemical performance,thermal stability and incombustibility of separator.Melamine cyanurate(MCA),as a low-cost and reliable flame-retardant HOF,was implemented in the separator modification layer,which can prevent the battery short circuit even at a high temperature.In addition,the supermolecule properties of MCA provide unique physical and chemical microenvironment for regulating ion-transport behavior in electrolyte.The MCA coating layer enabled the nickel-rich layered oxide cathode with a high-capacity retention of 90.3%after 300 cycles at 1.0 C.Collectively,the usage of MCA in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)affords a simple,low-cost and efficient strategy to improve the security and service life of nickel-rich layered cathodes.

硅负载离子液体的合成、表征以及其催化甲酸和三乙基胺作为氢源的环己酮还原胺化反应（英文）

A silica supported ionic liquid was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption, and thermogravimetric analysis. All these techniques, especially SEM results indicated the presence of well-defined spherical particles having diameters larger than the pristine silica particles, confirming the successful immobilization of the ionic liquid. The prepared silica supported ionic liquid was used in the reductive amination of cyclohexanone under different conditions with different azeotropic mixtures of formic acid and triethyl amine as a hydrogen source. The catalyst showed efficient catalytic performance and excellent yields of N-cyclohexyl amine derivatives in the range of 58% to 84% at 30 °C. After completion of the reaction, the catalyst was easily recovered by simple filtration and reused for another five cycles without any significant impact on product yields. The obtained catalytic performance indicates that the present catalyst is green, very active, and reusable for the reductive amination of cyclohexanone.

A Simple Method of Electrospun Tungsten Trioxide Nanofibers with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity

The present study involves the fabrication of tungsten trioxide(WO3) nanofibers by an electrospinning technique using polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP)/citric acid/tungstic acid as precursor solution. It was found that the PVP concentration was one of the most crucial processing parameters determining the final properties of WO3 nanofibers. The optimum concentration of PVP was from 75 to 94 g L-1. The average diameter of the nanofibers increases with increasing the PVP concentration, whereas it is decreased after sintering and orthorhombic structure were formed at 500 °C. The photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized nanofibers were also investigated by degrading methylene blue and twofold efficiency was obtained compared with that of commercial WO3 microparticles.

Environment friendly hydrothermal synthesis of carbon–Co3O4 nanorods composite as an efficient catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

The design of cost-effective, highly active catalysts for hydrogen energy production is a vital element in the societal pursuit of sustainable energy. Water electrolysis is one of the most convenient processes to produce high purity hydrogen. Cobalt-based catalysts are well-known electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction（OER）. In this article, all these merits indicate that the present cobalt nanocomposite is a promising electrocatalyst for OER. C–CoO-nanorods catalyst with nanorod structure was synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of CoCl·6HO/dextrose/urea mixture at 180 °C for 18 h and then calcined at400 °C for 3.5 h. The role of dextrose percentage in solution to achieve the uniform coating of carbon on the surface of CoO-nanorods has been demonstrated. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）, X-ray photoelectron spectrum（XPS）, field emission scanning electron microscopy（FE-SEM）, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy（HR-TEM）, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller instrument（BET）. Due to its unique morphology, the C–CoO-nanorods catalyst exhibited better activity than CoO-microplates catalyst for OER in 1 M KOH aqueous solution. The results showed a highly efficient, scalable, and low-cost method for developing highly active and stable OER electrocatalysts in alkaline solution.

Utilization of the superior properties of highly mesoporous PVP modified NiCo_2O_4 with accessible 3D nanostructure and flower-like morphology towards electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction

Up to this date,researchers are still facing difficulties to expand the technology of direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs) because of the high overpotential required to oxidize the methanol and its relatively poor performance due to CO poisoning of the leading-high cost anode catalyst.In line with this,we have successfully modified the morphological structure and composition of low cost cobalt based-metal oxides,MCo_2O_4(M = Zn and Ni),with the simple and noble use of polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP) as growth modifier and surface stabilizer during the synthesis of nanoparticles in our previous reports,which shown high electrocatalytic activity and strong stability.Due to the good performance of our PVP modified MCo_2O_4 towards pseudocapacitor and oxygen evolution reaction applications,we decided to extend our research study to methanol oxidation reaction.Remarkably,PVP modified Ni Co_2O_4 electrode directly grown on nickel foam substrate via a simple hydrothermal process exhibited better performance compared with PVP modified ZnCo_2O_4 and NiCo_2O_4 without PVP.It had obtained a remarkably low onset potential of 0.285 V and high current density of 280 m A cm^(-2),and shown great stability and high poison tolerance during a continuous CV cycling and Chronoamperometry test,which attained high efficiency of 86.86%and 98.52%,respectively.These positive results of PVP modified Ni Co_2O_4 electrode towards MOR might be attributed to its hierarchical 3 D nanostructures with highly mesoporous surface and large surface area which may have provided numerous electroactive sites,and the exceptional corrosion stability of Ni Co_2O_4 electrode in alkaline solution.

Recent Progress in the Biological Basis of Remodeling Tissue Regeneration Using Nanofibers:Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Biological Molecules

Opening up new and unlimited avenues in the biomedical field,tissue engineering and regenerative medicine,the electrospinning process is considered as a versatile and the most preferred technique for the fabrication of nanofibers.These tailor-designed nanofibers provide a desirable and bio-inspired physiological niche to cells for better attachment and subsequent proliferation.In this review,an attempt is made to explain the importance of various topological and morphological parameters of nanofibrous scaffolds for efficient bio-mimicking.Some novel approaches(e.g.,appropriate functionalization and extracellular matrix derived from decellularization)utilized for better mimicking and exponential growth of regenerating tissues are also discussed.Furthermore,this review highlights the important parameters necessary for the attachment,proliferation and differentiation of the mesenchymal stem cells for tissue regeneration.The importance of growth factors and their role after introducing the electrospinning techniques for efficient delivery and their role in the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells in the different specific lineage(e.g.,tenogenic,chondrogenic,neurogenic and osteogenic differentiation)are discussed.