Single-atom Pt on carbon nanotubes for selective electrocatalysis

Utilizing supported single atoms as catalysts presents an opportunity to reduce the usage of critical raw materials such as platinum,which are essential for electrochemical reactions such as hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).Herein,we describe the synthesis of a Pt single electrocatalyst inside single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs)via a redox reaction.Characterizations via electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron microscopy,and X-ray absorption spectroscopy show the single-atom nature of the Pt.The electrochemical behavior of the sample to hydrogen and oxygen was investigated using the advanced floating electrode technique,which minimizes mass transport limitations and gives a thorough insight into the activity of the electrocatalyst.The single-atom samples showed higher HOR activity than state-of-the-art 30%Pt/C while almost no oxygen reduction reaction activity in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell operating range.The selective activity toward HOR arose as the main fingerprint of the catalyst confinement in the SWCNTs.

Metal-organic framework-based single-atom electro-/ photocatalysts: Synthesis, energy applications, and opportunities

Single-atom catalysts(SACs)have gained substantial attention because of their exceptional catalytic properties.However,the high surface energy limits their synthesis,thus creating significant challenges for further development.In the last few years,metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)have received significant consideration as ideal candidates for synthesizing SACs due to their tailorable chemistry,tunable morphologies,high porosity,and chemical/thermal stability.From this perspective,this review thoroughly summarizes the previously reported methods and possible future approaches for constructing MOF-based(MOF-derived-supported and MOF-supported)SACs.Then,MOF-based SAC's identification techniques are briefly assessed to understand their coordination environments,local electronic structures,spatial distributions,and catalytic/electrochemical reaction mechanisms.This review systematically highlights several photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications of MOF-based SACs for energy conversion and storage,including hydrogen evolution reactions,oxygen evolution reactions,O_(2)/CO_(2)/N_(2) reduction reactions,fuel cells,and rechargeable batteries.Some light is also shed on the future development of this highly exciting field by highlighting the advantages and limitations of MOF-based SACs.

Optimizing high-coordination shell of Co-based single-atom catalysts for efficient ORR and zinc-air batteries

Atom-level modulation of the coordination environment for single-atom catalysts(SACs)is considered as an effective strategy for elevating the catalytic performance.For the MNxsite,breaking the symmetrical geometry and charge distribution by introducing relatively weak electronegative atoms into the first/second shell is an efficient way,but it remains challenging for elucidating the underlying mechanism of interaction.Herein,a practical strategy was reported to rationally design single cobalt atoms coordinated with both phosphorus and nitrogen atoms in a hierarchically porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks.X-ray absorption spectrum reveals that atomically dispersed Co sites are coordinated with four N atoms in the first shell and varying numbers of P atoms in the second shell(denoted as Co-N/P-C).The prepared catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity as well as zinc-air battery performance.The introduction of P atoms in the Co-SACs weakens the interaction between Co and N,significantly promoting the adsorption process of ^(*)OOH,resulting in the acceleration of reaction kinetics and reduction of thermodynamic barrier,responsible for the increased intrinsic activity.Our discovery provides insights into an ultimate design of single-atom catalysts with adjustable electrocatalytic activities for efficient electrochemical energy conversion.

Single Ventricle in a 40-Year-Old Male Patient “Natural Evolution and Single Ventricle-Associated Complications in Adults: A Case Report”

Single ventricle is an uncommon congenital cardiac pathology with high mortality at early ages. However, due to new strategies and timely surgical treatment, it is increasingly seen in adults, which has increased the survival rate. This condition is characterized by a heart with a single functional ventricular cavity. The aim of this article is to report the case of a 40-year-old male with single ventricle, who underwent several surgeries in his childhood. After these surgical procedures, the patient lost medical follow-up and presented complications derived from the disease itself. Heart Failure is a common complication in people with single ventricle, and pharmacological heart failure therapies have been ineffective in mitigating the need of the heart transplantation. That’s why it is essential to develop and apply new pharmacological techniques for the management of these patients in childhood as well as in adulthood. This would allow not only to avoid various comorbidities, but also to improve the quality of life of the patients.

Feasibility of Integrating Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis with Single-Dose Rifampicin (LPEP) into Routine Leprosy Control Program in Bukedi and Teso Regions in Uganda

Background: World Health Organization recommends the implementation of contact tracing and Leprosy Post Exposure prophylaxis (LPEP) to interrupt the chain of transmission. To accelerate the uptake of this recommendation, a cross-sectional study among contacts of leprosy patients was conducted to investigate the feasibility of integrating leprosy systematic contact tracing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) into the routine leprosy control program. Methods: This was a mixed methods cross-sectional study. The study was implemented in Kumi, Ngora, Serere, Soroti, Budaka and Kibuku Districts. Results: The 45 enrolled index patients (97.8% of the registered) identified a total of 135 contacts, of which 134 (99·2%) consented and were screened. Among them, one new leprosy patient was identified and started on treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT). All the eligible contacts, received the prophylactic treatment with Single Dose Rifampicin (SDR). Overall, SDR was administered to 133(98.5% of the listed contacts) with no adverse event reported. Factors associated with successful contact investigation and management included: Involvement of index patients, health care workers during the contact screening and SDR A administration, counselling of the index patients and contacts by the health care works, LPEP being administered as Directly observed Therapy (DOT) among others. Results Interpretation: The integration of leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis with administration of SDR and contact tracing is feasible, generally accepted by the patient, their contacts and health workers and can be integrated into the National Leprosy control programmes with minimal additional efforts once contact tracing has been established. Therefore, we recommend integration of administration of SDR in to the routine leprosy control program.

Single-atom photo-catalysts:Synthesis,characterization,and applications

Single-atom catalysts(SACs)are gaining popularity in catalytic reactions due to their nearly 100%atomic utilization and defined active sites,which provide great convenience for studying the catalytic mechanism of catalysts.However,SACs still present challenges such as complex formation processes,low loading and easy agglomeration of catalysts.Herein,we systematically discuss the synthesis methods for SACs,including coprecipitation,impregnation,atomic layer deposition,pyrolysis and Anti-Ostwald ripening etc.Various techniques for characterizing single-atom catalysts(SACs)are described in detail.The utilization of individual atoms in various photocatalytic reactions and their mechanisms of action in different reactions are explained.The purpose of this review is to introduce single-atom synthesis methods,characterization techniques,specific catalytic action and their applications in the direction of photocatalysis,and to provide a reference for the industrialization of photocatalytic single-atoms,which is currently impossible,in the hope of promoting further development of photocatalytic single-atoms.

Cooperation between single atom catalyst and support to promote nitrogen electroreduction to ammonia:A theoretical insight

The co-catalysis between single atom catalyst(SAC)and its support has recently emerged as a promising strategy to synergistically boost the catalytic activity of some complex electrochemical reactions,encompassing multiple intermediates and pathways.Herein,we utilized defective BC_(3)monolayer-supported SACs as a prototype to investigate the cooperative effects of SACs and their support on the catalytic performance of the nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)for ammonia(NH_(3))production.The results showed that these SACs can be firmly stabilized on these defective BC_(3)supports with high stability against aggregation.Furthermore,co-activation of the inert N_(2)reactant was observed in certain embedded SACs and their neighboring B atoms on certain BC3 sheets due to the noticeable charge transfer and significant N–N bond elongation.Our high-throughput screening revealed that the Mo/DV_(CC)and W/DV_(CC)exhibit superior NRR catalytic performance,characterized by a low limiting potential of−0.33 and−0.43 V,respectively,which can be further increased under acid conditions based on the constant potential method.Moreover,varying NRR catalytic activities can be attributed to the differences in the valence state of active sites.Remarkably,further microkinetic modeling analysis displayed that the turnover frequency of N_(2)–to–NH_(3)conversion on Mo/DV_(CC)is as large as 1.20×10^(−3)s^(−1)site^(−1) at 700 K and 100 bar,thus guaranteeing its ultra-fast reaction rate.Our results not only suggest promising advanced electrocatalysts for NRR but also offer an effective avenue to regulate the electrocatalytic performance via the co-catalytic metal–support interactions.

Electrocatalytic organic transformation reactions in green chemistry: Exploring nanocrystals and single atom catalysts

Organic synthesis chemistry plays a crucial role in supporting social sustainable development and finds widespread applications across various fields. Electrocatalysis, with its benefits of high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, controllability, and environmental friendliness, stands out as one of the most effective strategies for driving the transformation of organic substrates. In recent years, nanocrystals (NCs) and single atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered significant attention in the realm of electrocatalytic organic transformation. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the applications of NCs and SACs in electrocatalytic organic transformation. It delves into advanced catalysts for electrocatalysis of representative substrates, covering both anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction aspects, and addresses their synthesis, characterization, catalytic mechanism, and performance. The ultimate goal of this review is to serve as a valuable reference and a source of inspiration for further exploration into the development of more effective catalysts for electrocatalytic organic transformation.

Preparation of single atom catalysts for high sensitive gas sensing

Single atom catalysts(SACs)have garnered significant attention in the field of catalysis over the past decade due to their exceptional atom utilization efficiency and distinct physical and chemical properties.For the semiconductor-based electrical gas sensor,the core is the catalysis process of target gas molecules on the sensitive materials.In this context,the SACs offer great potential for highly sensitive and selective gas sensing,however,only some of the bubbles come to the surface.To facilitate practical applications,we present a comprehensive review of the preparation strategies for SACs,with a focus on overcoming the challenges of aggregation and low loading.Extensive research efforts have been devoted to investigating the gas sensing mechanism,exploring sensitive materials,optimizing device structures,and refining signal post-processing techniques.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives on the SACs based gas sensing are presented.

Advances of Synergistic Electrocatalysis Between Single Atoms and Nanoparticles/Clusters

Combining single atoms with clusters or nanoparticles is an emerging tactic to design efficient electrocatalysts.Both synergy effect and high atomic utilization of active sites in the composite catalysts result in enhanced electrocatalytic performance,simultaneously provide a radical analysis of the interrelationship between structure and activity.In this review,the recent advances of single-atomic site catalysts coupled with clusters or nanoparticles are emphasized.Firstly,the synthetic strategies,characterization,dynamics and types of single atoms coupled with clusters/nanoparticles are introduced,and then the key factors controlling the structure of the composite catalysts are discussed.Next,several clean energy catalytic reactions performed over the synergistic composite catalysts are illustrated.Eventually,the encountering challenges and recommendations for the future advancement of synergistic structure in energy-transformation electrocatalysis are outlined.

Purification of copper foils driven by single crystallization

High-purity copper(Cu) with excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, is crucial in modern technological applications, including heat exchangers, integrated circuits, and superconducting magnets. The current purification process is mainly based on the zone/electrolytic refining or anion exchange, however, which excessively relies on specific integrated equipment with ultra-high vacuum or chemical solution environment, and is also bothered by external contaminants and energy consumption. Here we report a simple approach to purify the Cu foils from 99.9%(3N) to 99.99%(4N) by a temperature-gradient thermal annealing technique, accompanied by the kinetic evolution of single crystallization of Cu.The success of purification mainly relies on(i) the segregation of elements with low effective distribution coefficient driven by grain-boundary movements and(ii) the high-temperature evaporation of elements with high saturated vapor pressure.The purified Cu foils display higher flexibility(elongation of 70%) and electrical conductivity(104% IACS) than that of the original commercial rolled Cu foils(elongation of 10%, electrical conductivity of ~ 100% IACS). Our results provide an effective strategy to optimize the as-produced metal medium, and therefore will facilitate the potential applications of Cu foils in precision electronic products and high-frequency printed circuit boards.

Photostability of colloidal single photon emitter in near-infrared regime at room temperature

The photostability of a colloidal single photon emitter in near-infrared regime at room temperature is investigated.The fluorescence lifetime,blinking phenomenon,and anti-bunching effect of a single CdTeSe/ZnS quantum dot with an emission wavelength of 800 nm at room temperature are studied.The second-order correlation function at zero delay time is much smaller than 0.1,which proves that the emission from single quantum dots at 800 nm is a highly pure single-photon source.The effects of the irradiation duration on the fluorescence from single quantum dots are analyzed.The experimental results can be explained by a recombination model including a multi-nonradiative recombination center model and a multi-charged model.

Cryptanalysis of efficient semi-quantum secret sharing protocol using single particles

In paper[Chin.Phys.B 32070308(2023)],Xing et al.proposed a semi-quantum secret sharing protocol by using single particles.We study the security of the proposed protocol and find that it is not secure,that is,the three dishonest agents,Bob,Charlie and Emily can collude to obtain Alice's secret without the help of David.

Single crystal growth and transport properties of narrow-bandgap semiconductor RhP_(2)

We report the growth of high-quality single crystals of RhP_(2),and systematically study its structure and physical properties by transport,magnetism,and heat capacity measurements.Single-crystal x-ray diffraction reveals that RhP_(2) adopts a monoclinic structure with the cell parameters a=5.7347(10)A,b=5.7804(11)A,and c=5.8222(11)A,space group P2_(1)/c(No.14).The electrical resistivityρ(T)measurements indicate that RhP_(2) exhibits narrow-bandgap behavior with the activation energies of 223.1 meV and 27.4 meV for two distinct regions,respectively.The temperaturedependent Hall effect measurements show electron domain transport behavior with a low charge carrier concentration.We find that RhP_(2) has a high mobilityμ_(e)~210 cm^(2)·V^(-1)·s^(-1)with carrier concentrations n_(e)~3.3×10^(18)cm^(3) at 300 K with a narrow-bandgap feature.The high mobilityμ_(e) reaches the maximum of approximately 340 cm^(2)·V^(-1)·s^(-1)with carrier concentrations n_^(e)~2×10^(18)cm^(-3)at 100 K.No magnetic phase transitions are observed from the susceptibilityχ(T)and specific heat C_(p)(T)measurements of RhP_(2).Our results not only provide effective potential as a material platform for studying exotic physical properties and electron band structures but also motivate further exploration of their potential photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications.

Comparative analysis of single-crater parameters in ultrasonic-assisted and unassisted micro-EDM of Ti6Al4V using discharge plasma imaging

Ultrasonic-assisted micro-electro-discharge machining(EDM)has the potential to enhance processing responses such as material removal rate(MRR)and surface finish.To understand the reasons for this enhancement,the physical mechanisms responsible for the individual discharges and the craters that they form need to be explored.This work examines features of craters formed by single discharges at various parameter values in both conventional and ultrasonic-assistedEDM of Ti6Al4V.High-speed imaging of the plasma channel is performed,and data on the individual discharges are captured in real-time.A 2D axisymmetric model using finite element software is established to model crater formation.On the basis of simulation and experimental results,a comparative study is then carried out to examine the effects of ultrasonic vibrational assistance on crater geometry.For every set ofEDM parameters,the crater diameter and depth from a single discharge are found to be higher in ultrasonic-assistedEDM than in conventionalEDM.The improved crater geometry and the reduced bulge formation at the crater edges are attributed to the increased melt pool velocity and temperature predicted by the model.

Achieving Negatively Charged Pt Single Atoms on Amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)Nanosheets with Promoted Hydrogen Absorption in Hydrogen Evolution

Single-atom(SA)catalysts with nearly 100%atom utilization have been widely employed in electrolysis for decades,due to the outperforming catalytic activity and selectivity.However,most of the reported SA catalysts are fixed through the strong bonding between the dispersed single metallic atoms with nonmetallic atoms of the substrates,which greatly limits the controllable regulation of electrocatalytic activity of SA catalysts.In this work,Pt-Ni bonded Pt SA catalyst with adjustable electronic states was successfully constructed through a controllable electrochemical reduction on the coordination unsaturated amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)nanosheet arrays.Based on the X-ray absorption fine structure analysis and first-principles calculations,Pt SA was bonded with Ni sites of amorphous Ni(OH)_(2),rather than conventional O sites,resulting in negatively charged Pt^(δ-).In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the changed configuration and electronic states greatly enhanced absorbability for activated hydrogen atoms,which were the essential intermediate for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.The hydrogen spillover process was revealed from amorphous Ni(OH)_(2)that effectively cleave the H-O-H bond of H_(2)O and produce H atom to the Pt SA sites,leading to a low overpotential of 48 mV in alkaline electrolyte at-1000 mA cm^(-2)mg^(-1)_(Pt),evidently better than commercial Pt/C catalysts.This work provided new strategy for the control-lable modulation of the local structure of SA catalysts and the systematic regulation of the electronic states.

Phase-locked single-mode terahertz quantum cascade lasers array

We demonstrated a scheme of phase-locked terahertz quantum cascade lasers(THz QCLs)array,with a single-mode pulse power of 108 mW at 13 K.The device utilizes a Talbot cavity to achieve phase locking among five ridge lasers with first-order buried distributed feedback(DFB)grating,resulting in nearly five times amplification of the single-mode power.Due to the optimum length of Talbot cavity depends on wavelength,the combination of Talbot cavity with the DFB grating leads to better power amplification than the combination with multimode Fabry-Perot(F-P)cavities.The Talbot cavity facet reflects light back to the ridge array direction and achieves self-imaging in the array,enabling phase-locked operation of ridges.We set the spacing between adjacent elements to be 220μm,much larger than the free-space wavelength,ensuring the operation of the fundamental supermode throughout the laser's dynamic range and obtaining a high-brightness far-field distribution.This scheme provides a new approach for enhancing the single-mode power of THz QCLs.

Thermodynamically induced crystal restructuring to make CsPbCl_(3) single crystal films for weak light detection

CsPbCl_(3) perovskite is considered a highly promising material for ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors due to its exceptional thermal stability and excellent short-wavelength light response. However, its high lattice energy and low polarizability result in extremely low solubility in conventional solvents, making the synthesis of CsPbCl_(3) single crystals a significant challenge. In this study, we propose a novel thermodynamically induced crystal restructuring (TICR) process that can transform microcrystalline films (MCFs) into single crystal films (SCFs) within a short period. This method, for the first time, has successfully achieved the synthesis of centimeter-sized CsPbCl_(3) SCFs and the mechanism has been explored in depth using in-situ techniques. Furthermore, we report the first instance of a CsPbCl_(3) SCF UV photodiode, which exhibits a record-breaking on/off ratio of 3.32 × 10^(7) and a detectivity of up to 1.15 × 10^(14) Jones under 0 V bias. It demonstrates excellent response even under weak light conditions of 10 nW·cm^(−2) and maintains outstanding stability with almost no performance degradation after 15 months. This study provides a novel approach for the synthesis of perovskite single crystals and holds significant potential for advancing the development of high-performance optoelectronic devices.

Enhancing thermodynamic stability of single-crystal Ni-rich cathode material via a synergistic dual-substitution strategy

Nickel(Ni)-rich cathode materials have become promising candidates for the next-generation electrical vehicles due to their high specific capacity.However,the poor thermodynamic stability(including cyclic performance and safety performance or thermal stability)will restrain their wide commercial application.Herein,a single-crystal Ni-rich Li Ni_(0.83)Co_(0.12)Mn_(0.05)O_(2) cathode material is synthesized and modified by a dual-substitution strategy in which the high-valence doping element improves the structural stability by forming strong metal–oxygen binding forces,while the low-valence doping element eliminates high Li^(+)/Ni^(2+)mixing.As a result,this synergistic dual substitution can effectively suppress H2-H3 phase transition and generation of microcracks,thereby ultimately improving the thermodynamic stability of Ni-rich cathode material.Notably,the dual-doped Ni-rich cathode delivers an extremely high capacity retention of 81%after 250 cycles(vs.Li/Li+)in coin-type half cells and 87%after 1000 cycles(vs.graphite/Li^(+))in pouch-type full cells at a high temperature of 55℃.More impressively,the dual-doped sample exhibits excellent thermal stability,which demonstrates a higher thermal runaway temperature and a lower calorific value.The synergetic effects of this dual-substitution strategy pave a new pathway for addressing the critical challenges of Ni-rich cathode at high temperatures,which will significantly advance the high-energy-density and high-safety cathodes to the subsequent commercialization.

Single crystal growth and characterization of 166-type magnetic kagome metals

Kagome magnets were predicted to be a good platform to investigate correlated topology band structure,Chern quantum phase,and geometrical frustration due to their unique lattice geometry.Here we reported single crystal growth of 166-type kagome magnetic materials,including HfMn_(6)Sn_(6),ZrMn_(6)Sn_(6),GdMn_(6)Sn_(6)and GdV_(6)Sn_(6),by using the flux method with Sn as the flux.Among them,HfMn_(6)Sn_(6)and ZrMn_(6)Sn_(6)single crystals were grown for the first time.X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that all four samples crystallize in HfFe6Ge6-type hexagonal structure with space group P6/mmm.All samples show metallic behavior from temperature dependence of resistivity measurements,and the dominant carrier is hole,except for GdV6Sn6 which is electron dominated.All samples have magnetic order with different transition temperatures,HfMn_(6)Sn_(6),ZrMn_(6)Sn_(6)and GdV_(6)Sn_(6)are antiferromagnetic with TN of 541 K,466 K and 4 K respectively,while GdMn_(6)Sn_(6)is ferrimagnetic with the critical temperature of about 470 K.This study will enrich the research platform of magnetic kagome materials and help explore the novel quantum phenomena in these interesting materials.The dataset of specific crystal structure parameters for HfMn_(6)Sn_(6)are available in Science Data Bank,with the link.