Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase:ion pump,signal transducer,or cytoprotective protein,and novel biological functions

Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase is a transmembrane protein that has important roles in the maintenance of electrochemical gradients across cell membranes by transporting three Na^(+)out of and two K^(+)into cells.Additionally,Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase participates in Ca^(2+)-signaling transduction and neurotransmitter release by coordinating the ion concentration gradient across the cell membrane.Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase works synergistically with multiple ion channels in the cell membrane to form a dynamic network of ion homeostatic regulation and affects cellular communication by regulating chemical signals and the ion balance among different types of cells.Therefo re,it is not surprising that Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase dysfunction has emerged as a risk factor for a variety of neurological diseases.However,published studies have so far only elucidated the important roles of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase dysfunction in disease development,and we are lacking detailed mechanisms to clarify how Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase affects cell function.Our recent studies revealed that membrane loss of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase is a key mechanism in many neurological disorders,particularly stroke and Parkinson's disease.Stabilization of plasma membrane Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase with an antibody is a novel strategy to treat these diseases.For this reason,Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase acts not only as a simple ion pump but also as a sensor/regulator or cytoprotective protein,participating in signal transduction such as neuronal autophagy and apoptosis,and glial cell migration.Thus,the present review attempts to summarize the novel biological functions of Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase and Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase-related pathogenesis.The potential for novel strategies to treat Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase-related brain diseases will also be discussed.

Bio-cementation for tidal erosion resistance improvement of foreshore slopes based on microbially induced magnesium and calcium precipitation

In most coastal and estuarine areas,tides easily cause surface erosion and even slope failure,resulting in severe land losses,deterioration of coastal infrastructure,and increased floods.The bio-cementation technique has been previously demonstrated to effectively improve the erosion resistance of slopes.Seawater contains magnesium ions(Mg^(2+))with a higher concentration than calcium ions(Ca^(2+));therefore,Mg^(2+)and Ca^(2+)were used together for bio-cementation in this study at various Mg^(2+)/Ca^(2+)ratios as the microbially induced magnesium and calcium precipitation(MIMCP)treatment.Slope angles,surface strengths,precipitation contents,major phases,and microscopic characteristics of precipitation were used to evaluate the treatment effects.Results showed that the MIMCP treatment markedly enhanced the erosion resistance of slopes.Decreased Mg^(2+)/Ca^(2+)ratios resulted in a smaller change in angles and fewer soil losses,especially the Mg^(2+)concentration below 0.2 M.The decreased Mg^(2+)/Ca^(2+)ratio achieved increased precipitation contents,which contributed to better erosion resistance and higher surface strengths.Additionally,the production of aragonite would benefit from elevated Mg^(2+)concentrations and a higher Ca^(2+)concentration led to more nesquehonite in magnesium precipitation crystals.The slopes with an initial angle of 53°had worse erosion resistance than the slopes with an initial angle of 35°,but the Mg^(2+)/Ca^(2+)ratios of 0.2:0.8,0.1:0.9,and 0:1.0 were effective for both slope stabilization and erosion mitigation to a great extent.The results are of great significance for the application of MIMCP to improve erosion resistance of foreshore slopes and the MIMCP technique has promising application potential in marine engineering.

Covalent Organic Framework with 3D Ordered Channel and Multi-Functional Groups Endows Zn Anode with Superior Stability

Achieving a highly robust zinc(Zn)metal anode is extremely important for improving the performance of aqueous Zn-ion batteries(AZIBs)for advancing“carbon neutrality”society,which is hampered by the uncontrollable growth of Zn dendrite and severe side reactions including hydrogen evolution reaction,corrosion,and passivation,etc.Herein,an interlayer containing fluorinated zincophilic covalent organic framework with sulfonic acid groups(COF-S-F)is developed on Zn metal(Zn@COF-S-F)as the artificial solid electrolyte interface(SEI).Sulfonic acid group(-SO_(3)H)in COF-S-F can effectively ameliorate the desolvation process of hydrated Zn ions,and the three-dimensional channel with fluoride group(-F)can provide interconnected channels for the favorable transport of Zn ions with ion-confinement effects,endowing Zn@COF-S-F with dendrite-free morphology and suppressed side reactions.Consequently,Zn@COF-S-F symmetric cell can stably cycle for 1,000 h with low average hysteresis voltage(50.5 m V)at the current density of 1.5 m A cm^(-2).Zn@COF-S-F|Mn O_(2)cell delivers the discharge specific capacity of 206.8 m Ah g^(-1)at the current density of 1.2 A g^(-1)after 800 cycles with high-capacity retention(87.9%).Enlightening,building artificial SEI on metallic Zn surface with targeted design has been proved as the effective strategy to foster the practical application of high-performance AZIBs.

Synthesis and Modulation of Low-Dimensional Transition Metal Chalcogenide Materials via Atomic Substitution

In recent years,low-dimensional transition metal chalcogenide(TMC)materials have garnered growing research attention due to their superior electronic,optical,and catalytic properties compared to their bulk counterparts.The controllable synthesis and manipulation of these materials are crucial for tailoring their properties and unlocking their full potential in various applications.In this context,the atomic substitution method has emerged as a favorable approach.It involves the replacement of specific atoms within TMC structures with other elements and possesses the capability to regulate the compositions finely,crystal structures,and inherent properties of the resulting materials.In this review,we present a comprehensive overview on various strategies of atomic substitution employed in the synthesis of zero-dimensional,one-dimensional and two-dimensional TMC materials.The effects of substituting elements,substitution ratios,and substitution positions on the structures and morphologies of resulting material are discussed.The enhanced electrocatalytic performance and photovoltaic properties of the obtained materials are also provided,emphasizing the role of atomic substitution in achieving these advancements.Finally,challenges and future prospects in the field of atomic substitution for fabricating low-dimensional TMC materials are summarized.

Progress on Transition Metal Ions Dissolution Suppression Strategies in Prussian Blue Analogs for Aqueous Sodium-/Potassium-Ion Batteries

Aqueous sodium-ion batteries(ASIBs)and aqueous potassium-ion batteries(APIBs)present significant potential for large-scale energy storage due to their cost-effectiveness,safety,and environmental compatibility.Nonetheless,the intricate energy storage mechanisms in aqueous electrolytes place stringent require-ments on the host materials.Prussian blue analogs(PBAs),with their open three-dimensional framework and facile synthesis,stand out as leading candidates for aqueous energy storage.However,PBAs possess a swift capacity fade and limited cycle longevity,for their structural integrity is compromised by the pronounced dis-solution of transition metal(TM)ions in the aqueous milieu.This manuscript provides an exhaustive review of the recent advancements concerning PBAs in ASIBs and APIBs.The dissolution mechanisms of TM ions in PBAs,informed by their structural attributes and redox processes,are thoroughly examined.Moreover,this study delves into innovative design tactics to alleviate the dissolution issue of TM ions.In conclusion,the paper consolidates various strategies for suppressing the dissolution of TM ions in PBAs and posits avenues for prospective exploration of high-safety aqueous sodium-/potassium-ion batteries.

Delving into the dissimilarities in electrochemical performance and underlying mechanisms for sodium and potassium ion storage in N-doped carbon-encapsulated metallic Cu_(2)Se nanocubes

The large volumetric variations experienced by metal selenides within conversion reaction result in inferior rate capability and cycling stability,ultimately hindering the achievement of superior electrochemical performance.Herein,metallic Cu_(2)Se encapsulated with N-doped carbon(Cu_(2)Se@NC)was prepared using Cu_(2)O nanocubes as templates through a combination of dopamine polymerization and hightemperature selenization.The unique nanocubic structure and uniform N-doped carbon coating could shorten the ion transport distance,accelerate electron/charge diffusion,and suppress volume variation,ultimately ensuring Cu_(2)Se@NC with excellent electrochemical performance in sodium ion batteries(SIBs)and potassium ion batteries(PIBs).The composite exhibited excellent rate performance(187.7 mA h g^(-1)at 50 A g^(-1)in SIBs and 179.4 mA h g^(-1)at 5 A g^(-1)in PIBs)and cyclic stability(246,8 mA h g^(-1)at 10 A g^(-1)in SIBs over 2500 cycles).The reaction mechanism of intercalation combined with conversion in both SIBs and PIBs was disclosed by in situ X-ray diffraction(XRD)and ex situ transmission electron microscope(TEM).In particular,the final products in PIBs of K_(2)Se and K_(2)Se_(3)species were determined after discharging,which is different from that in SIBs with the final species of Na_(2)Se.The density functional theory calculation showed that carbon induces strong coupling and charge interactions with Cu_(2)Se,leading to the introduction of built-in electric field on heterojunction to improve electron mobility.Significantly,the theoretical calculations discovered that the underlying cause for the relatively superior rate capability in SIBs to that in PIBs is the agile Na~+diffusion with low energy barrier and moderate adsorption energy.These findings offer theoretical support for in-depth understanding of the performance differences of Cu-based materials in different ion storage systems.

Mechanistic insights into stepwise activation of malachite for enhancing surface reactivity and flotation performance

Malachite is a common copper oxide mineral that is often enriched using the sulfidization-xanthate flotation method.Currently,the direct sulfidization method cannot yield copper concentrate products.Therefore,a new sulfidization flotation process was developed to promote the efficient recovery of malachite.In this study,Cu^(2+) was used as an activator to interact with the sample surface and increase its reaction sites,thereby strengthening the mineral sulfidization process and reactivity.Compared to single copper ion activation,the flota-tion effect of malachite significantly increased after stepwise Cu^(2+) activation.Zeta potential,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy(ToF-SIMS),scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry(SEM-EDS),and atomic force microscopy(AFM)analysis results indicated that the adsorption of S species was significantly enhanced on the mineral surface due to the increase in active Cu sites after Cu^(2+) stepwise activation.Meanwhile,the proportion of active Cu-S spe-cies also increased,further improving the reaction between the sample surface and subsequent collectors.Fourier-transform infrared spec-troscopy(FT-IR)and contact angle tests implied that the xanthate species were easily and stably adsorbed onto the mineral surface after Cu^(2+) stepwise activation,thereby improving the hydrophobicity of the mineral surface.Therefore,the copper sites on the malachite sur-face after Cu^(2+) stepwise activation promote the reactivity of the mineral surface and enhance sulfidization flotation of malachite.

Effects of Different Concentrations of Sulfate Ions on Carbonate Crude Oil Desorption:Experimental Analysis and Molecular Simulation

Low salinity water containing sulfate ions can significantly alter the surface wettability of carbonate rocks.Nevertheless,the impact of sulfate concentration on the desorption of oil film on the surface of carbonate rock is still unknown.This study examines the variations in the wettability of the surface of carbonate rocks in solutions containing varying amounts of sodium sulfate and pure water.The problem is addressed in the framework of molecular dynamics simulation(Material Studio software)and experiments.The experiment’s findings demonstrate that sodium sulfate can increase the rate at which oil moisture is turned into water moisture.The final contact angle is smaller than that of pure water.The results of the simulations show that many water molecules travel down the water channel under the influence of several powerful forces,including the electrostatic force,the van der Waals force and hydrogen bond,crowding out the oil molecules on the calcite’s surface and causing the oil film to separate.The relative concentration curve of water and oil molecules indicates that the separation rate of the oil film on the surface of calcite increases with the number of sulfate ions.

A layered multifunctional framework based on polyacrylonitrile and MOF derivatives for stable lithium metal anode

Composite Li metal anodes based on three-dimensional(3D) porous frameworks have been considered as an effective material for achieving stable Li metal batteries with high energy density.However,uneven Li deposition behavior still occurs at the top of 3D frameworks owing to the local accumulation of Li ions.To promote uniform Li deposition without top dendrite growth,herein,a layered multifunctional framework based on oxidation-treated polyacrylonitrile(OPAN) and metal-organic framework(MOF) derivatives was proposed for rationally regulating the distribution of Li ions flux,nucleation sites,and electrical conductivity.Profiting from these merits,the OPAN/carbon nano fiber-MOF(CMOF) composite framework demonstrated a reversible Li plating/stripping behavior for 500 cycles with a stable Coulombic efficiency of around 99.0% at the current density of 2 mA/cm~2.Besides,such a Li composite anode exhibited a superior cycle lifespan of over 1300 h under a low polarized voltage of 18 mV in symmetrical cells.When the Li composite anode was paired with LiFePO_(4)(LFP) cathode,the obtained full cell exhibited a stable cycling over 500 cycles.Moreover,the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation was conducted to reveal the effects on homogeneous Li ions distribution derived from the above-mentioned OPAN/CMOF framework and electrical insulation/conduction design.These electrochemical and simulated results shed light on the difficulties of designing stable and safe Li metal anode via optimizing the 3D frameworks.

Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider for Heavy Ion Fusion

Heavy Ion Fusion makes use of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Lab and the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland for Inertial Confinement Fusion. Two Storage Rings, which may or may not initially be needed, added to each of the Colliders increases the intensity of the Heavy Ion Beams making it comparable to the Total Energy delivered to the DT target by the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore Lab. The basic Physics involved gives Heavy Ion Fusion an advantage over Laser Fusion because heavy ions have greater penetration power than photons. The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider can be used as a Prototype Heavy Ion Fusion Reactor for the Large Hadron Collider.

Curative effect of hydrogen peroxide combined with silver ion disinfection on pelvic floor dysfunction

BACKGROUND Pelvic floor dysfunction(PFD)is related to muscle fiber tearing during childbirth,negatively impacting postpartum quality of life of parturient.Appropriate and effective intervention is necessary to promote PFD recovery.AIM To analyze the use of hydrogen peroxide and silver ion disinfection for vaginal electrodes in conjunction with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy for postpartum women with PFD.METHODS A total of 59 women with PFD who were admitted to the hospital from May 2019 to July 2022 were divided into two groups:Control group(n=27)received comprehensive rehabilitation therapy and observation group(n=32)received intervention with pelvic floor biostimulation feedback instrument in addition to comprehensive rehabilitation therapy.The vaginal electrodes were disinfected with hydrogen peroxide and silver ion before treatment.Intervention for both groups was started 6 weeks postpartum,and rehabilitation lasted for 3 months.Pelvic floor muscle voltage,pelvic floor muscle strength,vaginal muscle voltage,vaginal muscle tone,pelvic floor function,quality of life,and incidence of postpartum PFD were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Before comprehensive rehabilitation treatment,basic data and pelvic floor function were not significantly different between the two groups.After treatment,the observation group showed significant improvements in the maximum voltage and average voltage of pelvic floor muscles,contraction time of type I and type II fibers,pelvic floor muscle strength,vaginal muscle tone,vaginal muscle voltage,and quality of life(GQOLI-74 reports),compared with the control group.The observation group had lower scores on the pelvic floor distress inventory(PFDI-20)and a lower incidence of postpartum PFD,indicating the effectiveness of the pelvic floor biostimulation feedback instrument in promoting the recovery of maternal pelvic floor function.CONCLUSION The combination of the pelvic floor biostimulation feedback instrument and comprehensive rehabilitation nursing can improve pelvic floor muscle strength,promote the recovery of vaginal muscle tone,and improve pelvic floor function and quality of life.The use of hydrogen peroxide and silver ion disinfectant demonstrated favorable antibacterial efficacy and is worthy of clinical application.

Polymer engineering for electrodes of aqueous zinc ion batteries

With the increasing demand for scalable and cost-effective electrochemical energy storage,aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs)have a broad application prospect as an inexpensive,efficient,and naturally secure energy storage device.However,the limitations suffered by AZIBs,including volume expansion and active materials dissolution of the cathode,electrochemical corrosion,irreversible side reactions,zinc dendrites of the anode,have seriously decelerated the civilianization process of AZIBs.Currently,polymers have tremendous superiority for application in AZIBs attributed to their exceptional chemical stability,tunable structure,high energy density and outstanding mechanical properties.Considering the expanding applications of AZIBs and the superiority of polymers,this comprehensive paper meticulously reviews the benefits of utilizing polymeric applied to cathodes and anodes,respectively.To begin with,with adjustable structure as an entry point,the correlation between polymer structure and the function of energy storage as well as optimization is deeply investigated in respect to the mechanism.Then,depending on the diversity of properties and structures,the development of polymers in AZIBs is summarized,including conductive polymers,redox polymers as well as carbon composite polymers for cathode and polyvinylidene fluoride-,carbonyl-,amino-,nitrile-based polymers for anode,and a comprehensive evaluation of the shortcomings of these strategies is provided.Finally,an outlook highlights some of the challenges posed by the application of polymers and offers insights into the potential future direction of polymers in AZIBs.It is designed to provide a thorough reference for researchers and developers working on polymer for AZIBs.

Heterointerface Engineering-Induced Oxygen Defects for the Manganese Dissolution Inhibition in Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

Manganese-based material is a prospective cathode material for aqueous zinc ion batteries(ZIBs)by virtue of its high theoretical capacity,high operating voltage,and low price.However,the manganese dissolution during the electrochemical reaction causes its electrochemical cycling stability to be undesirable.In this work,heterointerface engineering-induced oxygen defects are introduced into heterostructure MnO_(2)(δa-MnO_(2))by in situ electrochemical activation to inhibit manganese dissolution for aqueous zinc ion batteries.Meanwhile,the heterointerface between the disordered amorphous and the crystalline MnO_(2)ofδa-MnO_(2)is decisive for the formation of oxygen defects.And the experimental results indicate that the manganese dissolution ofδa-MnO_(2)is considerably inhibited during the charge/discharge cycle.Theoretical analysis indicates that the oxygen defect regulates the electronic and band structure and the Mn-O bonding state of the electrode material,thereby promoting electron transport kinetics as well as inhibiting Mn dissolution.Consequently,the capacity ofδa-MnO_(2)does not degrade after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.5 Ag^(-1)and also 91%capacity retention after 500cycles at 1 Ag^(-1).This study provides a promising insight into the development of high-performance manganese-based cathode materials through a facile and low-cost strategy.

Influence of extraction voltage on electron and ion behavior characteristics

The characteristics of the extracted ion current have a significant impact on the design and testing of ion source performance.In this paper,a 2D in space and 3D in velocity space particle in cell(2D3V PIC)method is utilized to simulate plasma motion and ion extraction characteristics under various initial plasma velocity distributions and extraction voltages in a Cartesian coordinate system.The plasma density is of the order of 10^(15)m^(-3)-10^(16)m^(-3)and the extraction voltage is of the order of 100 V-1000 V.The study investigates the impact of various extraction voltages on the velocity and density distributions of electrons and positive ions,and analyzes the influence of different initial plasma velocity distributions on the extraction current.The simulation results reveal that the main reason for the variation of extraction current is the spacecharge force formed by the relative aggregation of positive and negative net charges.This lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of extraction beam characteristics.

Influence of ion species on extraction characteristicsof mixed ion beams

The spatial distributions of different kinds of ions are usually not completely the same in the process of extracting.In order to study the reason for the different characteristics of ion extraction, a simplified simulation model of Cu+ andCr+ ions extraction process was established by 2D3V (two-dimensional in space and three- dimensional in velocity space)particle-in-cell (PIC) method. The effects of different extraction voltages from 0 V to 500 V on the density distribution ofCu+ and Cr+ ions and the change of plasma emission surface were analyzed. On the basis of this model, the ion densitydistribution characteristics of Cu+ ions mixed with Li+, Mg+, K+, Fe+, Y+, Ag+, Xe+, Au+, and Pb+ ions respectivelyunder 200-V extraction voltage are further simulated, and it is revealed that the atomic mass of the ions is the key reason fordifferent ion density distributions when different kinds of ions are mixed and extracted, which provides support for furtherunderstanding of ion extraction characteristics.

Insights on advanced g‐C_(3)N_(4)in energy storage:Applications,challenges,and future

Graphitic carbon nitride(g‐C_(3)N_(4))is a highly recognized two‐dimensional semiconductor material known for its exceptional chemical and physical stability,environmental friendliness,and pollution‐free advantages.These remarkable properties have sparked extensive research in the field of energy storage.This review paper presents the latest advances in the utilization of g‐C_(3)N_(4)in various energy storage technologies,including lithium‐ion batteries,lithium‐sulfur batteries,sodium‐ion batteries,potassium‐ion batteries,and supercapacitors.One of the key strengths of g‐C_(3)N_(4)lies in its simple preparation process along with the ease of optimizing its material structure.It possesses abundant amino and Lewis basic groups,as well as a high density of nitrogen,enabling efficient charge transfer and electrolyte solution penetration.Moreover,the graphite‐like layered structure and the presence of largeπbonds in g‐C_(3)N_(4)contribute to its versatility in preparing multifunctional materials with different dimensions,element and group doping,and conjugated systems.These characteristics open up possibilities for expanding its application in energy storage devices.This article comprehensively reviews the research progress on g‐C_(3)N_(4)in energy storage and highlights its potential for future applications in this field.By exploring the advantages and unique features of g‐C_(3)N_(4),this paper provides valuable insights into harnessing the full potential of this material for energy storage applications.

Innovative Mn_(3-x)O_(4-y)@NCA design:Leveraging Mn/O vacancies and amorphous architecture for enhanced sodium-ion storage

Manganese-based oxide electrode materials suffer from severe Jahn-Teller(J-T)distortion,leading to severe cycle instability in sodium ion storage.However,it is difficult to adjust the electron at d orbitals exactly to a low spin state to eliminate orbital degeneracy and suppress J-T distortion fundamentally.This article constructed concentration-controllable Mn/O coupled vacancy and amorphous network in Mn_(3)O_(4) and coated it with nitrogen-doped carbon aerogel(Mn_(3-x)O_(4-y)@NCA).The existence of Mn/O vacancies has been confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy(PALS).Atomic absorption spectroscopy(AAS)and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)determine the most optimal ratio of Mn/O vacancies for sodium ion storage is 1:2.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations prove that Mn/O coupled vacancies with the ratio of 1:2could exactly induce a low spin states and a d~4 electron configuration of Mn,suppressing the J-T distortion successfully.The abundant amorphous regions can shorten the transport distance of sodium ions,increase the electrochemically active sites and improve the pseudocapacitance response.From the synergetic effect of Mn/O coupled vacancies and amorphous regions,Mn_(3-x)O_(4-y)@NCA exhibits an energy density of 37.5 W h kg^(-1)and an ultra-high power density of 563 W kg^(-1)in an asymmetric supercapacitor.In sodium-ion batteries,it demonstrates high reversible capacity and exceptional cycling stability.This research presents a new method to improve the Na^(+)storage performance in manganese-based oxide,which is expected to be generalized to other structural distortion.

Experimental results of a magnetic field modification to the radio frequency driver of a negative ion source

A magnetic field produced by a current flowing through the plasma grid(PG) is one of the solutions to reduce the collisional loss of negative ions in a negative ion source, which reduces the electron temperature in front of the PG. However, the magnetic field diffused into the driver has some influence on the plasma outflowing. In order to investigate the effect of changing this magnetic field on the outflowing of plasma from the driver, a circular ring(absorber) of high permeability iron has been introduced at the driver exit, which can reduce the magnetic field around it and improve plasma outflowing. With the application of the absorber, the electron density is increased by about 35%, and the extraction current measured from the extraction grid is increased from 1.02 A to 1.29 A. The results of the extraction experiment with cesium injection show that both the extraction grid(EG) current and H-current are increased when the absorber is introduced.

Polypyride intercalation boosting the kinetics and stability of V_(3)O_(7)·H_(2)O cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

V_(3)O_(7)·H_(2)O(VO)is a high capacity cathode material in the field of aqueous zinc ion batteries(AZIBs),but it is limited by slow ion migration and low electrical conductivity.In this paper,polypyridine(PPyd)intercalated VO with nanoribbon structure was prepared by a simple in-situ pre-intercalation,which is noted VO-PPyd.The total density of states(TDOS)shows that after the pre-intercalation of PPyd,an intermediate energy level appears between the valence band and conduction band,which provides a step that can effectively reduce the band gap and enhance the electron conductivity.Furthermore,the density functional theory(DFT)results found that Zn^(2+)is more easily de-intercalated from the V-O skeleton,which proves that the embeddedness of PPyd improves the diffusion kinetics of Zn^(2+).Electrochemical studies have shown that VO-PPyd cathode materials exhibit excellent rate performance(high specific capacity of 465 and 192 mA h g^(-1)at 0.2 and 10 A g^(-1),respectively)and long-term cycling performance(92.7%capacity retention rate after 5300 cycles),due to their advantages in structure and composition.More importantly,the energy density of VO-PPyd//Zn at 581 and 5806 W kg^(-1)is 375 and 247 W h kg^(-1),respectively.VO-PPyd exhibits excellent electrochemical properties compared to previously reported vanadium based cathodes,which makes it highly competitive in the field of high-performance cathode materials of AZIBs.

Ferric ion-triggered surface oxidation of galena for efficient chalcopyrite-galena separation

The efficient separation of chalcopyrite(CuFeS2)and galena(PbS)is essential for optimal resource utilization.However,find-ing a selective depressant that is environmentally friendly and cost effective remains a challenge.Through various techniques,such as mi-croflotation tests,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observation,X-ray photoelectron spec-troscopy(XPS),and Raman spectroscopy measurements,this study explored the use of ferric ions(Fe^(3+))as a selective depressant for ga-lena.The results of flotation tests revealed the impressive selective inhibition capabilities of Fe^(3+)when used alone.Surface analysis showed that Fe^(3+)significantly reduced the adsorption of isopropyl ethyl thionocarbamate(IPETC)on the galena surface while having a minimal impact on chalcopyrite.Further analysis using SEM,XPS,and Raman spectra revealed that Fe^(3+)can oxidize lead sulfide to form compact lead sulfate nanoparticles on the galena surface,effectively depressing IPETC adsorption and increasing surface hydrophilicity.These findings provide a promising solution for the efficient and environmentally responsible separation of chalcopyrite and galena.