A triboelectric nanogenerator based on a spiral rotating shaft for efficient marine energy harvesting of the hydrostatic pressure differential

Equipment used in underwater sensing and exploration typically relies on cables or batteries for energy supply,resulting in a limited and inconvenient energy supply and marine environmental pollution that hinder the sustainable development of distributed ocean sensing networks.Here,we design a deep-sea differential-pressure triboelectric nanogenerator(DP-TENG)based on a spiral shaft drive using modified polymer materials to harness the hydrostatic pressure gradient energy at varying ocean depths to power underwater equipment.The spiral shaft structure converts a single compression into multiple rotations of the TENG rotor,achieving efficient conversion of differential pressure energy.The multi-pair electrode design enables the DP-TENG to generate a peak current of 61.7μA,the instantaneous current density can reach 0.69μA cm^(-2),and the output performance can be improved by optimizing the spiral angle of the shaft.The DP-TENG can charge a 33μF capacitor to 17.5 V within five working cycles.It can also power a digital calculator and light up 116 commercial power light-emitting diodes,demonstrating excellent output capability.With its simple structure,low production cost,and small form factor,the DP-TENG can be seamlessly integrated with underwater vehicles.The results hold broad prospects for underwater blue energy harvesting and are expected to contribute to the development of self-powered equipment toward emerging“smart ocean”and blue economy applications.

States of graphene oxide and surface functional groups amid adsorption of dyes and heavy metal ions

Water pollution regarding dyes and heavy metal ions is crucial facing the world.How to effectively separate these contaminants from water has been a key issue.Graphene oxide(GO)promises the greenwater world as a long-lasting spotlight adsorbent material and therefore,harnessing GO has been the research hotspot for over a decade.The state of GO as well as its surface functional groups plays an important role in adsorption.And the way of preparation and structural modification matters to the performance of GO.In this review,the significance of the state of existence of stock GO and surface functional groups is explored in terms of preparation,structural modification,and adsorption.Besides,various adsorbates for GO adsorption are also involved,the discussion of which is rarely established elsewhere.

Investigation of improving the thermophysical properties and corrosion resistance of RE_(2)SiO_(5)/RE_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)multiphase silicates by component design with RE doping

In this research,a novel method for regulating components in RE_(2)SiO_(5)/RE_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)multiphase silicates was developed,combining the benefits of a suitable thermal expansion coefficient(CTE)and outstanding corrosion resistance against calcium–magnesium–alumino–silicate(CMAS).This approach enhanced the overall thermophysical properties.Additionally,the results from the CMAS corrosion resistance test indicated that(Lu_(1/3)Yb_(1/3)Tm_(1/3))_(2)SiO_(5)/(Lu_(1/3)Yb_(1/3)Tm_(1/3))_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)and(Lu_(1/4)Yb_(1/4)Tm_(1/4)Er_(1/4))_(2)SiO_(5)/(Lu_(1/4)Yb_(1/4)Tm_(1/4)Er_(1/4))_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)exhibited exceptional resistance to CMAS penetration,even at temperatures up to 1500℃.To comprehend the corrosion mechanism of CMAS on these silicates,we introduced a reaction–diffusion model,which involved observing the changes in the interface between the corrosion product layer and the silicate block.This was achieved using electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD).These findings lay a theoretical basis for selecting rare earth elements in RE_(2)SiO_(5)/RE_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)multiphase silicates based on the radii of different rare earth cations.

Elevating the comprehensive thermal properties of rare-earth cerates through high-entropy design

In the rapidly evolving aerospace sector,the quest for sophisticated thermal barrier coating(TBC)materials has intensified.These materials are primarily sought for their superior comprehensive thermal characteristics,which include a low thermal conductivity coupled with a high coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE)that synergizes with the substrate.In our study,we adopt a solid-state method to synthesize a series of high-entropy rare-earth cerates:La_(2)Ce_(2)O_(7)(1RC),(La_(1/2)Nd_(1/2))2Ce_(2)O_(7)(2RC),(La_(1/3)Nd_(1/3)Sm_(1/3))_(2)Ce_(2)O_(7)(3RC),(La_(1/4)Nd_(1/4)Sm_(1/4)Eu_(1/4))_(2)Ce_(2)O_(7)(4RC),and(La_(1/5)Nd_(1/5)Sm_(1/5)Eu_(1/5)Gd_(1/5))_(2)Ce_(2)O_(7)(5RC),all sintered at 1,600℃ for 10 h.We thoroughly examine their phase structure,morphology,elemental distribution,and thermal properties.Our in-depth analysis of the phonon scattering mechanisms reveals that 4RC and 5RC exhibit exceptional thermal properties:high CTEs of 13.00×10^(−6) K^(−1) and 12.77×10^(−6) K^(−1) at 1,400℃,and low thermal conductivities of 1.55 W/(m·K)and 1.68 W/(m·K)at 1,000℃,respectively.Compared to other TBC systems,4RC and 5RC stand out for their excellent thermal characteristics.This study significantly contributes to the development of high-entropy oxides for TBC applications.

Gene therapy and gene editing strategies in inherited blood disorders

Gene therapy has shown significant potential in treating various diseases,particularly inherited blood disorders such as hemophilia,sickle cell disease,and thalassemia.Advances in understanding the regulatory network of disease-associated genes have led to the identification of additional therapeutic targets for treatment,especially for β-hemoglobinopathies.Erythroid regulatory factor BCL11A offers the most promising therapeutic target for β-hemoglobinopathies,and reduction of its expression using the commercialized gene therapy product Casgevy has been approved for use in the UK and USA in 2023.Notably,the emergence of innovative gene editing technologies has further broadened the gene therapy landscape,presenting possibilities for treatment.Intensive studies indicate that base editing and prime editing,built upon CRISPR technology,enable precise single-base modification in hematopoietic stem cells for addressing inherited blood disorders ex vivo and in vivo.In this review,we present an overview of the current landscape of gene therapies,focusing on clinical research and gene therapy products for inherited blood disorders,evaluation of potential gene targets,and the gene editing tools employed in current gene therapy practices,which provides an insight for the establishment of safer and more effective gene therapy methods for a wider range of diseases in the future.

Investigation of microstructure changes in Al_(2)O_(3)-YSZ coatings and YSZ coatings and their effect on thermal cycle life

Yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ)coatings and Al_(2)O_(3)–YSZ coatings were prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying(APS).Their microstructural changes during thermal cycling were investigated via scanning electron microscopy(SEM)equipped with electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)and X-ray diffraction(XRD).It was found that the microstructure and microstructure changes of the two coatings were different,including crystallinity,grain orientation,phase,and phase transition.These differences are closely related to the thermal cycle life of the coatings.There is a relationship between crystallinity and crack size.Changes in grain orientation are related to microscopic strain and cracks.Phase transition is the direct cause of coating failure.In this study,the relationship between the changes in the coating microstructure and the thermal cycle life is discussed in detail.The failure mechanism of the coating was comprehensively analyzed from a microscopic perspective.

Orderedisorder transition and thermal conductivities of the(NdSmEuGd)_((1-x)/2)Dy_(2x)Zr_(2)O_(7)series

Rare-earth zirconates with pyrochlore and fluorite structures have recently been identified as promising thermal barrier coating materials owing to their low thermal conductivities.In this study,six samples with the general formula(NdSmEuGd)_((1-x)/2)Dy_(2x)Zr_(2)O_(7)were synthesized to further reduce the thermal conductivity.X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy showed that the transition from an ordered pyrochlore to a disordered fluorite structure is due to cation and anion disorder.Transmission electron microscopy showed that anion disorder occurred before cation disorder.A modified mass disorder parameter was introduced into this system,which can describe the change in thermal conductivity well.This parameter can be a basis for designing more complex materials with lower thermal conductivities.

Water vapor corrosion behaviors of high-entropy pyrosilicates

In this study,the water vapor corrosion resistance of two types of high-entropy pyrosilicates((Yb_(0.2)Y_(0.2)Lu_(0.2)Ho_(0.2)Er_(0.2))_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)((5RE1/5)_(2)Si_(2)O_(7))and(Yb_(0.2)5Lu_(0.2)5Ho_(0.2)5Er_(0.2)5)_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)((4RE_(1/4))_(2)Si_(2)O_(7)))and two single-component pyrosilicates(Yb_(2)Si_(2)O_(7) and Lu_(2)Si_(2)O_(7))were evaluated at 1350℃ for 50e100 h,and the initial corrosion behaviors of these pyrosilicates were studied.The results showed that the final corrosion products of the four types of pyrosilicates were all X2-type monosilicates,exhibiting similar corrosion phenomena.However,(4RE_(1/4))_(2)Si_(2)O_(7) generated many nanoscale monosilicate grains during corrosion.The corrosion resistance of Lu_(2)Si_(2)O_(7) was clearly better than those of the others,and(4RE_(1/4))_(2)Si_(2)O_(7) exhibited the worst corrosion resistance.The corrosion mechanism of the pyrosilicate blocks was analyzed from the perspectives of grain size,bulk hydrophobicity,and binding energy.This study potentially provides a theoretical basis for the preparation of high-entropy pyrosilicates with different atomic ratios according to the different properties of the various rare earth elements.

Influence of average radii of RE3+ ions on phase structures and thermal expansion coefficients of high-entropy pyrosilicates

High-entropy pyrosilicate element selection is relatively blind, and the thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of traditional β-type pyrosilicate is not adjustable, making it difficult to meet the requirements of various types of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The following study aimed to develop a universal rule for high-entropy pyrosilicate element selection and to achieve directional control of the thermal expansion coefficient of high-entropy pyrosilicate. The current study investigates a high-entropy design method for obtaining pyrosilicates with stable β-phase and γ-phase by introducing various rare-earth (RE) cations. The solid-phase method was used to create 12 different types of high-entropy pyrosilicates with 4–6 components. The high-entropy pyrosilicates gradually transformed from β-phase to γ-phase with an increase in the average radius of RE^(3+) ions ( r¯(RE^(3+))). The nine pyrosilicates with a small r¯(RE^(3+)) preserve β-phase or γ-phase stability at room temperature to the maximum of 1400 ℃. The intrinsic relationship between the thermal expansion coefficient, phase structure, and RE–O bond length has also been found. This study provides the theoretical background for designing high-entropy pyrosilicates from the perspective of r¯(RE^(3+)). The theoretical guidance makes it easier to synthesize high-entropy pyrosilicates with stable β-phase or γ-phase for the use in environmental barrier coatings (EBCs). The thermal expansion coefficient of γ-type high-entropy pyrosilicate can be altered through component design to match various types of CMCs.