Response of Rice Growth and Nutrient Absorption in a SalineAlkali Paddy to Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications

Nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P)and carbon(C)are essential nutrients for rice growth and development,but the response of nutrient absorption by rice plants to different types of nitrogen fertilizer(N-fertilizer)under saline-alkali conditions is unclear.This study conducted a 147-day field-scale experiment to evaluate rice biomass and nutrient absorption capacity with five N-fertilizer applications.The results showed that the biomass.

The Decarbonization of Construction—How Can Alkali-Activated Materials Contribute?

1.Introduction and context Enormous emphasis is currently being paid to the decarbonization of the global built environment as a leading priority for the engineering community and related industrial sectors[1].One of the main contributors to the overall emissions footprint of the built environment-and thus a cornerstone of efforts to achieve decarbonization-is the emissions profile of construction materials during their production and utilization.The cement and concrete sector is the largest-volume contributor to the emissions incurred in meeting the world’s construction material needs and is therefore targeted in the discussion of the deep,rapid decarbonization that must be achieved in order to minimize irreversible damage to the Earth and its ecosystems.

Steric hindrance shielding viologen against alkali attack in realizing ultrastable aqueous flow batteries

Viologens known as a kind of promising negolyte materials for aqueous organic redox flow batteries,face a critical stability challenge due to the S_N2 nucleophilic attack by hydroxide ions(OH-)during the battery cycling.In this work,a N-cyclic quaternary ammonium-grafted viologen molecule,viz.1,1'-bis(4,4'-dime thylpiperidiniumyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium tetrachloride((DBPPy)Cl_(4)),is developed by the molecular engineering strategy.The obtained(DBPPy)Cl_(4) molecule shows a decent solubility of 1.84 M and a redox potential of-0.52 V vs.Ag/AgCl,Experimental and theoretical results reveal that the grafted N-cyclic quaternary ammonium groups act as the steric hindrance to prevent nucleophilic attack by OH~-,increasing the alkali resistance of the electroactive molecule.The symmetrical battery with 0.50 M(DBPPy)Cl4shows negligible decay during the 13-day cycling test.As demonstration,the flow battery utilizing 1.0 M(DBPPy)Cl_(4) as the negolyte and 1-(1-oxyl-2,2',6,6'-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)-1'-(3-(trimethylammonio)propyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium trichloride as the posolyte exhibits a high capacity retention rate of 99.99%per cycle at 60 mA cm^(-2).

Insight into the Alkali Resistance Mechanism of CoMnHPMo Catalyst for NH_(3) Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO

The existence of alkali metals in fl ue gases originating from stationary sources can result in catalyst deactivation in the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction(SCR)of nitrogen oxides(NO_(x)).It is widely accepted that alkali metal poisoning causes damage to the acidic sites of catalysts.Therefore,in this study,a series of CoMn catalysts doped with heteropolyacids(HPAs)were prepared using the coprecipitation method.Among these,CoMnHPMo exhibited superior catalytic performance for SCR and over 95%NO_(x) conversion at 150-300.Moreover,it exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability after alkali poisoning,demonstrating outstanding alkali metal resistance.The characterization indicated that HPMo increased the specifi c surface area of the catalyst,which provided abundant adsorption sites for NO_(x) and NH_(3).Comparing catalysts before and after poisoning,CoMnHPMo enhanced its alkali metal resistance by sacrifi cing Brønsted acid sites to protect its Lewis acid sites.In situ DRIFTS was used to study the reaction pathways of the catalysts.The results showed that CoMnHPMo maintained high NH_(3) adsorption capacity after K poisoning and then reacted rapidly with NO intermediates to ensure that the active sites were not covered.Consequently,SCR performance was ensured even after alkali metal poisoning.In sum-mary,this research proposed a simple method for the design of an alkali-resistant NH_(3)-SCR catalyst with high activity at low temperatures.

Alkali Tolerance of Concrete Internal Curing Agent Based on Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch

Internal curing agents (ICA) based on super absorbent polymer have poor alkali tolerance and reduce the early strength of concrete.An alkali tolerate internal curing agent (CAA-ICA) was designed and prepared by using sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS) with high hydrophilicity,acrylic acid (AA) containing anionic carboxylic group and acrylamide (AM) containing non-ionic amide group as the main raw materials.The results show that the ratio of CAA-ICA alkali absorption solution is higher than that existing ICA,which solves the low water absorption ratio of the ICA in alkali environment.The water absorption ratio of CAA-ICA in saturated Ca(OH)_(2) solution is 95.8 g·g^(-1),and the alkali tolerance coefficient is 3.4.The application of CAA-ICA in cement-based materials can increase the internal relative humidity and miniaturize the pore structure.The compressive strength of mortar increases up to 12.95%at 28 d,which provids a solution to overcome the reduction of the early strength.

Alkali burn injury model of meibomian gland dysfunction in mice

AIM:To establish a stable,short-time,low-cost and reliable murine model of meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD).METHODS:A filter paper sheet soaked in 1.0 mol/L sodium hydroxide(NaOH)solution was used to touch the eyelid margin of C57BL/6J mice for 10s to establish the model.The other eye was left untreated as a control group.Eyelid margin morphological changes and the meibomian glands(MGs)were observed by slit lamp microscopy on days 5 and 10 post-burn.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and Oil red O staining were adopted in detecting the changes in MGs morphology and lipid deposition.Real-time polymerase chain reaction,Western blot,immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1β,IL-18,tumor necroses factor(TNF)-α,interferon(IFN)-γ,nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)oxidase 4(NOX4),3-nitroturosine(3-NT),4-hydroxynonenal(4-HNE)and cytokeratin 10(K10)expression changes in MGs.RESULTS:MGs showed plugging of orifice,glandular deficiency,abnormal acinar morphology,ductal dilatation,and lipid deposition after alkali burn.The expressions of IL-6,IL-18,IL-1β,IFN-γ,and TNF-αindicators of inflammation and oxidative stress in MGs tissues were significantly increased.Abnormal keratinization increased in the MG duct.CONCLUSION:A murine model of MGD is established by alkali burn of the eyelid margin that matches the clinical presentation of MGD providing a stable,short-time,lowcost,and reliable MGD model.The new method suggests efficient avenues for future research.

Residual alkali-evoked cross-linked polymer layer for anti-air-sensitivity LiNi_(0.89)Co_(0.06)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)cathode

High-energy density lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)with layered high-nickel oxide cathodes(LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1-x-y)O_(2),x≥0.8)show great promise in consumer electronics and vehicular applications.However,LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1-x-y)O_(2)faces challenges related to capacity decay caused by residual alkalis owing to high sensitivity to air.To address this issue,we propose a hazardous substances upcycling method that fundamentally mitigates alkali content and concurrently induces the emergence of an anti-air-sensitive layer on the cathode surface.Through the neutralization of polyacrylic acid(PAA)with residual alkalis and then coupling it with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane(KH550),a stable and ion-conductive cross-linked polymer layer is in situ integrated into the LiNi_(0.89)Co_(0.06)Mn_(0.05)O_(2)(NCM)cathode.Our characterization and measurements demonstrate its effectiveness.The NCM material exhibits impressive cycling performance,retaining 88.4%of its capacity after 200 cycles at 5 C and achieving an extraordinary specific capacity of 170.0 mA h g^(-1) at 10 C.Importantly,this layer on the NCM efficiently suppresses unfavorable phase transitions,severe electrolyte degradation,and CO_(2)gas evolution,while maintaining commendable resistance to air exposure.This surface modification strategy shows widespread potential for creating air-stable LiNi_(x)Co_(y)Mn_(1-x-y)O_(2)cathodes,thereby advancing high-performance LIBs.

Alkali and Plasma-Treated Guadua angustifolia Bamboo Fibers:A Study on Reinforcement Potential for Polymeric Matrices

This study focuses on treating Guadua angustifolia bamboo fibers to enhance their properties for reinforcement applications in composite materials.Chemical(alkali)and physical(dry etching plasma)treatments were used separately to augment compatibility of Guadua angustifolia fibers with various composite matrices.The influence of these treatments on the fibers’performance,chemical composition,and surface morphology were analyzed.Statistical analysis indicated that alkali treatments reduced the tensile modulus of elasticity and strength of fibers by up to 40%and 20%,respectively,whereas plasma treatments maintain the fibers’mechanical performance.FTIR spectroscopy revealed significant alterations in chemical composition due to alkali treatments,while plasma-treated fibers showed minimal changes.Surface examination through Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)revealed post-treatment modifications in both cases;alkali treatments served as a cleanser,eliminating lignin and hemicellulose from the fiber surface,whereas plasma treatments also produce rough surfaces.These results validate the impact of the treatments on the fiber mechanical performance,which opens up possibilities for using Guadua angustifolia fibers as an alternative reinforcement in composite manufacturing.

Defect Engineering in Earth-Abundant Cu_(2)ZnSnSe_(4) Absorber Using Efficient Alkali Doping for Flexible and Tandem Solar Cell Applications

To demonstrate flexible and tandem device applications,a low-temperature Cu_(2)ZnSnSe_(4)(CZTSe)deposition process,combined with efficient alkali doping,was developed.First,high-quality CZTSe films were grown at 480℃by a single co-evaporation,which is applicable to polyimide(PI)substrate.Because of the alkali-free substrate,Na and K alkali doping were systematically studied and optimized to precisely control the alkali distribution in CZTSe.The bulk defect density was significantly reduced by suppression of deep acceptor states after the(NaF+KF)PDTs.Through the low-temperature deposition with(NaF+KF)PDTs,the CZTSe device on glass yields the best efficiency of 8.1%with an improved Voc deficit of 646 mV.The developed deposition technologies have been applied to PI.For the first time,we report the highest efficiency of 6.92%for flexible CZTSe solar cells on PI.Additionally,CZTSe devices were utilized as bottom cells to fabricate four-terminal CZTSe/perovskite tandem cells because of a low bandgap of CZTSe(~1.0 eV)so that the tandem cell yielded an efficiency of 20%.The obtained results show that CZTSe solar cells prepared by a low-temperature process with in-situ alkali doping can be utilized for flexible thin-film solar cells as well as tandem device applications.

Recovery of Solid Oxide Fuel CellWaste Heat by Thermoelectric Generators and AlkaliMetal Thermoelectric Converters

A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell(SOFC)is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a substance into electrical energy through an oxidation-reduction mechanism.The electrochemical reaction of a solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)generates heat,and this heat can be recovered and put to use in a waste heat recovery system.In addition to preheating the fuel and oxidant,producing steam for industrial use,and heating and cooling enclosed rooms,this waste heat can be used for many more productive uses.The large waste heat produced by SOFCs is a worry that must be managed if they are to be adopted as a viable option in the power generation business.In light of these findings,a novel approach to SOFC waste heat recovery is proposed.The SOFC is combined with a“Thermoelectric Generator and an Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter(TG-AMTC)”to transform the excess heat generated by both the SOFC and the TG-AMTC.The proposed TG-AMTC is evaluated using a number of performance indicators including power density,operating temperature,heat recovery rate,exergetic efficiency,energy efficiency,and recovery time.The experimental results state that TG-AMTC has provided an exergetic efficiency,energetic efficiency,and recovery time of 97%,98%,and 23%,respectively.The study proves that the proposed TG-AMTC for SOFC is an efficient method of recovering waste heat.

Coordination and Supramolecular Assemblies from Alkali+-Cucurbit[5]uril-[CdCl_(4)]^(2-)Systems

Thispaper has investigated the coordination and supramolecular assemblies of alkali metal ions,cucurbit[5]uril(Q[5]),and[CdCl_(4)]^(2-)to confirm whether[CdCl_(4)]^(2-)can produce the“honeycomb effect”,induce coordination of alkali metal ions to Q[5],and form linear coordination polymers.In this work,the effect of alkali metal ions on the construction of Q[5]-Cd^(2+)ion system under acidic conditions was investigated.Five complexes were successfully obtained by solvent evaporation method.Among the five crystal structures obtained,it can be observed that the presence of[CdCl_(4)]^(2-)did not result in the complexation of alkali metal ions by the Q[5]molecule.Instead,a bowl-like Cd^(2+)@Q[5]complex was formed.Indeed,[CdCl_(4)]^(2-)did not produce the honeycomb effect but led to the formation of Q[5]-based honeycomb frameworks with hexagonal cellsoccupied by[CdCl_(4)]^(2-).The experimental results show that cadmium ion showed stronger ability to coordinate to Q[5]in HCl solution.

Fundamental Study on Alkali-Activated Slag System with Sodium Carbonate or Calcium Hydroxide

Cement as a building material, has high fluidity, compressive strength, and durability, but carbon dioxide emissions during cement production are a major problem. As one of the countermeasures, alkali-activated cement using blast furnace slag powder with alkaline stimulants is considered to be a very promising solution for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but there is a lack of information about the fundamental properties of alkali-activated materials. This study presents an experimental investigation of the fundamental properties of an alkali-activated slag system with sodium carbonate (NC) and calcium hydroxide (CH). The effects of calcium sulfo-aluminate (CSA) and shrinkage reducing agent (SRA) on the properties of blast furnace slag (BFS) based alkali-activated mixture were also investigated. In the experiments, fundamental characteristics including compressive strength, drying shrinkage, and water penetration tests of mortar were evaluated. Porosity, pH, and ignition loss were measured to verify the effectiveness of the materials. The experimental investigation revealed that the compressive strength was increased with the increasing replacement rates of NC in the BFS mortar, and in the case of water to BFS ratio of 0.45 with sodium carbonation addition contents 10 wt.%, the compressive strength for 28 days of curing reaches more than 50 MPa. Low water to BFS ratio and higher addition ratio of NC had a positive effect on the compressive strength development of mortar. Incorporating NC into BFS would affect the decrease in porosity and increase in ignition loss, leading to higher compressive strength. There was a negligible change to the compressive strength, porosity, pH, and ignition loss of BFS samples made with CH, thus, the addition rates of CH to BFS have no or little significant effect on the fundamental properties of alkali-activated cement. From the results of drying shrinkage and water penetration tests, the addition of NC and CH only to BFS exhibited poor drying shrinkage and water penetration characteristics. However, these problems may be overcome due to the use of CSA or SRA in the alkali-activated system made with NC or CH.

Effects of biochar-amended alkali-activated slag on the stabilization of coral sand in coastal areas

Coral sand is widely encountered in coastal areas of tropical and subtropical regions.Compared with silica sand,it usually exhibits weaker performance from the perspective of engineering geology.To improve the geomechanical performance of coral sand and meet the requirement of foundation construction in coastal areas,a novel alkali activation-based sustainable binder was developed.The alkaliactivated slag(AAS)binder material was composed of ground granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)and hydrated lime with the amendment of biochar,an agricultural waste-derived material.The biocharamended AAS stabilized coral sand was subjected to a series of laboratory tests to determine its mechanical,physicochemical,and microstructural characteristics.Results show that adding a moderate amount of biochar in AAS could improve soil strength,elastic modulus,and water holding capacity by up to 20%,70%,and 30%,respectively.Moreover,the addition of biochar in AAS had a marginal effect on the sulfate resistance of the stabilized sand,especially at high biochar content.However,the resistance of the AAS stabilized sand to wet-dry cycles slightly deteriorated with the addition of biochar.Based on these observations,a conceptual model showing biochar-AAS-sand interactions was proposed,in which biochar served as an internal curing agent,micro-reinforcer,and mechanically weak point.

Emerging Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanomaterials for Stable and Dendrite-Free Alkali Metal Anodes:Challenges,Strategies,and Perspectives

Alkali metals(Li,Na,and K)are promising candidates for high-performance rechargeable alkali metal battery anodes due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low electrochemical potential.However,the actual application of alkali metal anodes is impeded by the challenges of alkali metals,including their high chemical reactivity,uncontrolled dendrite growth,unstable solid electrolyte interphase,and infinite volume expansion during cycling processes.Introducing carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in alkali metal anodesis an effective solution to these issues.These nanomaterials have attracted widespread attention owing to their unique properties,such as their high specific surface area,superior electronic conductivity,and excellent mechanical stability.Considering the rapidly growing research enthusiasm for this topic in the last several years,we review recent progress on the application of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in stable and dendrite-free alkali metal anodes.The merits and issues of alkali metal anodes,as well as their stabilizing strategies are summarized.Furthermore,the relationships among methods of synthesis,nano-or microstructures,and electrochemical properties of carbon nanotube-based alkali metal anodes are systematically discussed.In addition,advanced characterization technologies on the reaction mechanism of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in alkali metal anodes are also reviewed.Finally,the challenges and prospects for future study and applications of carbon nanotube-based AMAs in high-performance alkali metal batteries are discussed.

Promotion effects of alkali metals on iron molybdate catalysts for CO_(2)catalytic hydrogenation

CO_(2)hydrogenation is an attractive way to store and utilize carbon dioxide generated by industrial processes,as well as to produce valuable chemicals from renewable and abundant resources.Iron catalysts are commonly used for the hydrogenation of carbon oxides to hydrocarbons.Iron-molybdenum catalysts have found numerous applications in catalysis,but have been never evaluated in the CO_(2)hydrogenation.In this work,the structural properties of iron-molybdenum catalysts without and with a promoting alkali metal(Li,Na,K,Rb,or Cs)were characterized using X-ray diffraction,hydrogen temperatureprogrammed reduction,CO_(2)temperature-programmed desorption,in-situ^(57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and operando X-ray adsorption spectroscopy.Their catalytic performance was evaluated in the CO_(2)hydrogenation.During the reaction conditions,the catalysts undergo the formation of an iron(Ⅱ)molybdate structure,accompanied by a partial reduction of molybdenum and carbidization of iron.The rate of CO_(2)conversion and product selectivity strongly depend on the promoting alkali metals,and electronegativity was identified as an important factor affecting the catalytic performance.Higher CO_(2)conversion rates were observed with the promoters having higher electronegativity,while low electronegativity of alkali metals favors higher light olefin selectivity.

Adaptive strategy of Nitraria sibirica to transient salt,alkali and osmotic stresses via the alteration of Na+/K+fluxes around root tips

Nitraria sibirica Pall.is an important shrub with a strong salt-alkali tolerance,but the mechanism underlying this tolerance remains obscure.In this study,N.sibirica,with salt-sensitive Vigna radiata(Linn.)Wilczek as the control,was subjected to transient salt stress(100 mM NaCl),alkali stress(50 mM Na_(2)CO_(3)),and osmotic stress(175 mM mannitol).The ionic fluxes of Na^(+)and K^(+)in the root apical region were measured.Results show that,under salt and alkali stress,N.sibirica roots exhibited higher capacities to limit Na+influx and reduce K+efflux,thereby resulting in lower Na^(+)/K^(+)ratios compared with V.radiata roots.Alkali stress induced stronger Na^(+)influx and K+efflux in the root salt stress treatment;Na^(+)influx was mainly observed in the root cap,while K^(+)efflux was mainly observed in the elongation zone.While under osmotic stress,N.sibirica roots showed stronger Na+efflux and weaker K+efflux than V.radiata roots.Na+efflux was mainly observed in the root elongation zone,while K+efflux was in the root cap.These results reveal the ionic strategy of N.sibirica in response to transient salt,alkali,and osmotic stresses through the regulation of Na+/K+flux homeostasis.

A comprehensive overview of the electrochemical mechanisms in emerging alkali metal-carbon dioxide batteries

Alkali metal-carbon dioxide(Li/Na/K-CO_(2))batteries are emerging electrochemical energy storage technologies in the context of the energy crisis and the urgent demand for carbon neutrality.Alkali metal-CO_(2) batteries offer a new strategy for CO_(2) fixation and utilization,and thus has been receiving considerable attention in recent years.Considerable progress has been achieved since alkali metal-CO_(2) batteries were invented,especially in terms of development of new electrode materials,and yet,research is lacking on the underlying mechanisms of the systems.This is the first typical review focusing on the electrochemical mechanisms of metal-CO_(2) batteries that summarizes the current understanding of and provides insights into the thermodynamic reaction pathways,the kinetic characteristics,and the crucial factors determining the reaction mechanisms in alkali metal-CO_(2) batteries.The review starts with the fundamental concepts of alkali metal-CO_(2) batteries,followed by a comprehensive discussion of the working mechanisms on cathodes and anodes.Moreover,the operation mechanisms of state-of-the-art electrolytes,including liquid and(quasi-)solid-state electrolytes,are also described.Finally,we identify the unsolved problems in current alkali metal-CO_(2) batteries and propose potential topics for future research.

Orientational Separation of Sulfur in Petroleum Coke by Alkali Calcining and Reflux Washing

The application of high-sulfur petroleum coke after desulfurization in aluminum electrolysis anodes is an important development trend. However, removing sulfur from high-sulfur petroleum coke is still a significant challenge.This study proposes alkali calcining and reflux washing to examine the impacts of temperature, particle size, the mass ratio of Na_(2)CO_(3) to NaOH, and total sodium addition on the desulfurization efficiency and mechanism. The results show that the desulfurization rate increases with increasing temperature, increasing total sodium content, and decreasing particle size. The addition of alkali can significantly reduce the opening-ring reaction temperature of thiophene and convert organic sulfur into inorganic sulfur(Na_(2)S). Three washing methods were compared, and reflux washing was selected to separate inorganic sulfur(Na_(2)S) from calcined petroleum coke. The sulfur content in petroleum coke decreased from 7.29% to 1.90%, with a desulfurization rate of 80.13% under optimal conditions. The petroleum coke was analyzed before and after desulfurization using X-Ray diffraction(XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM), Infrared Spectroscopy(IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry(TG-DSC), Gaschromatography-mass Spectrometry(GC-MS). The results show that thiophene and benzothiophene in petroleum coke are decomposed and converted into octane and ethyl cyclohexane. These new observations are expected to provide further understanding and guidance for the utilization of highsulfur petroleum coke.

Genome-wide analysis of soybean DnaJA-family genes and functional characterization of GmDnaJA6 responses to saline and alkaline stress

Plant Dna JA proteins act as molecular chaperones in response to environmental stressors.The purpose of this study was to characterize the function and regulatory mechanisms of Dna JA genes in soybean.Gene expression profiles in various soybean tissues at various stages of development indicated that Gm Dna JAs function in the coordination of stress and plant hormone responses.Gm Dna JA6 was identified as a candidate regulator of saline and alkaline stress resistance and Gm Dna JA6 overexpression lines showed increased soybean saline and alkaline tolerance.Dna J interacted with Hsp70,and Gm Hsp70 increased the saline and alkaline tolerance of plants with chimeric soybean hairy roots.

Theoretical study on the morphology of cobalt nanoparticles modulated by alkali metal promoters

Cobalt nanoparticles(NPs)catalysts are extensively used in heterogeneous catalytic reactions,and the addition of alkali metal promoters is a common method to modulate the catalytic performance because the catalyst's surface structures and morphologies are sensitive to the addition of promoters.However,the underlying modulation trend remains unclear.Herein,the adsorption of alkali metal promoters(Na and K)on the surfaces of face-centered-cubic(FCC)and hexagonal-closest packed(HCP)polymorphous cobalt was systematically investigated using density functional theory.Furthermore,the effect of alkali promoters on surface energies and nanoparticle morphologies was revealed on the basis of Wulff theory.For FCC-Co,the exposed area of the(111)facet in the nanoparticle increases with the adsorption coverage of alkali metal oxide.Meanwhile,the(311),(110),and(100)facets would disappear under the higher adsorption coverage of alkali metals.For HCPCo,the Wulff morphology is dominated by the(0001)and(1011)facets and is independent of the alkali metal adsorption coverage.This work provides insights into morphology modulation by alkali metal promoters for the rational design and synthesis of cobalt-based nanomaterials with desired facets and morphologies.