We present results from our Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope(GMRT)HⅠ,Himalayan Chandra Telescope(HCT)Hα,1 m Sampurnanand Telescope(ST)and 1.3 m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope(DFOT)deep optical observations of the N...We present results from our Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope(GMRT)HⅠ,Himalayan Chandra Telescope(HCT)Hα,1 m Sampurnanand Telescope(ST)and 1.3 m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope(DFOT)deep optical observations of the NGC 7805/6(Arp 112)system to test KUG 2359+311’s tidal dwarf galaxy(TDG)candidacy and explore the properties of the interacting system.Our GMRT HⅠmap shows no HⅠdetection associated with KUG 2359+311,nor any HⅠtail or bridge-like structure connecting KUG 2359+311 to the NGC 7805/6 system.Our HCT Hαimage,on the other hand,displays strong detections in KUG 2359+311,with net SFR0.035±0.009 M_(⊙)yr^(-1).The Hαdata constrain the redshift of KUG 2359+311 to 0.00≤z≤0.043,compared to the redshift of NGC 7806 of0.015.TDGs detected to date have all been HⅠrich,and displayed HⅠ,ionised gas and stellar tidal debris trails(bridges or tails)linking them to their parent systems.However,neither our HⅠdata nor our optical imaging,while three magnitudes deeper than SDSS,reveals a tidal trail connecting KUG 2359+311 to NGC 7805/6.Lack of HⅠ,presence of an old stellar population,ongoing star formation and reasonably high SFR compared to normal dwarf galaxies suggest that KUG 2359+311 may not be an Arp 112 TDG.It is most likely a case of a regular gas-rich dwarf galaxy undergoing a morphological transformation after having lost its entire gas content to an interaction with the Arp 112 system.Redshift and metallicity from future spectroscopic observations of KUG 2359+311 would help clarify the nature of this enigmatic structure.展开更多
Coexistence of ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a single material is an intriguing phenomenon,but has been rarely found.Here we studied both the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a group of LaCoO3 films with ...Coexistence of ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a single material is an intriguing phenomenon,but has been rarely found.Here we studied both the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a group of LaCoO3 films with systematically tuned atomic structures.We found that all films exhibit ferroelastic domains with four-fold symmetry and the larger domain size(higher elasticity)is always accompanied by stronger ferromagnetism.We performed synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies to investigate the backbone structure of the CoO6 octahedra,and found that both the ferromagnetism and the elasticity are simultaneously enhanced when the in-plane Co–O–Co bond angles are straightened.Therefore the study demonstrates the inextricable correlation between the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity mediated through the octahedral backbone structure,which may open up new possibilities to develop multifunctional materials.展开更多
Constructing the efficacious and applicable bifunctional electrocatalysts and establishing out the mechanisms of organic electro-oxidation by replacing anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER) are critical to the develop...Constructing the efficacious and applicable bifunctional electrocatalysts and establishing out the mechanisms of organic electro-oxidation by replacing anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER) are critical to the development of electrochemicallydriven technologies for efficient hydrogen production and avoid CO_(2) emission. Herein, the hetero-nanocrystals between monodispersed Pt(~ 2 nm) and Ni_(3)S_(2)(~ 9.6 nm) are constructed as active electrocatalysts through interfacial electronic modulation, which exhibit superior bi-functional activities for methanol selective oxidation and H_(2) generation. The experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the asymmetrical charge distribution at Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) could be modulated by the electronic interaction at the interface of dual-monodispersed heterojunctions, which thus promote the adsorption/desorption of the chemical intermediates at the interface. As a result, the selective conversion from CH_(3)OH to formate is accomplished at very low potentials(1.45 V) to attain 100 m A cm^(-2) with high electronic utilization rate(~ 98%) and without CO_(2) emission. Meanwhile, the Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) can simultaneously exhibit a broad potential window with outstanding stability and large current densities for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) at the cathode. Further, the excellent bi-functional performance is also indicated in the coupled methanol oxidation reaction(MOR)//HER reactor by only requiring a cell voltage of 1.60 V to achieve a current density of 50 m A cm^(-2) with good reusability.展开更多
Exploring a novel strategy for large-scale production of battery-type Ni(OH)_(2)-based composites,with excellent capacitive performance,is still greatly challenging.Herein,we developed a facile and cost-effective stra...Exploring a novel strategy for large-scale production of battery-type Ni(OH)_(2)-based composites,with excellent capacitive performance,is still greatly challenging.Herein,we developed a facile and cost-effective strategy to in situ grow a layer of Ni(OH)_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)composite on the nickel foam(NF)collector,where Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)is not only a conductive component,but also a catalyst that accelerates the oxidation of NF to Ni(OH)_(2).Detailed analysis reveals that the crystallinity,morphology,and electronic structure of the integrated electrode can be tuned via the electrochemical activation,which is beneficial for improving electrical conductivity and redox activity.As expected,the integrated electrode shows a specific capacity of 1.09 C cm^(-2)at 1 mA cm^(-2)after three custom activation cycles and maintains 92.4%of the initial capacity after 1500 cycles.Moreover,a hybrid supercapacitor composed of Ni(OH)_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)/NF cathode and activated carbon anode provides an energy density of 0.1 mWh cm^(-2)at a power density of 0.97 mW cm^(-2),and excellent cycling stability with about 110%capacity retention rate after 5000 cycles.This work would afford an economical and convenient method to steer commercial Ni foam into advanced Ni(OH)_(2)-based composite materials as binder-free electrodes for hybrid supercapacitors.展开更多
Highly thermally conductive graphitic film(GF)materials have become a competitive solution for the thermal management of high-power electronic devices.However,their catastrophic structural failure under extreme altern...Highly thermally conductive graphitic film(GF)materials have become a competitive solution for the thermal management of high-power electronic devices.However,their catastrophic structural failure under extreme alternating thermal/cold shock poses a significant challenge to reliability and safety.Here,we present the first investigation into the structural failure mechanism of GF during cyclic liquid nitrogen shocks(LNS),which reveals a bubbling process characterized by“permeation-diffusion-deformation”phenomenon.To overcome this long-standing structural weakness,a novel metal-nanoarmor strategy is proposed to construct a Cu-modified graphitic film(GF@Cu)with seamless heterointerface.This well-designed interface ensures superior structural stability for GF@Cu after hundreds of LNS cycles from 77 to 300 K.Moreover,GF@Cu maintains high thermal conductivity up to 1088 W m^(−1)K^(−1)with degradation of less than 5%even after 150 LNS cycles,superior to that of pure GF(50%degradation).Our work not only offers an opportunity to improve the robustness of graphitic films by the rational structural design but also facilitates the applications of thermally conductive carbon-based materials for future extreme thermal management in complex aerospace electronics.展开更多
Zinc-ion hybrid fiber supercapacitors(FSCs)are promising energy storages for wearable electronics owing to their high energy density,good flexibility,and weavability.However,it is still a critical challenge to optimiz...Zinc-ion hybrid fiber supercapacitors(FSCs)are promising energy storages for wearable electronics owing to their high energy density,good flexibility,and weavability.However,it is still a critical challenge to optimize the structure of the designed FSC to improve energy density and realize the continuous fabrication of super-long FSCs.Herein,we propose a braided coaxial zinc-ion hybrid FSC with several meters of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_x MXene cathode as core electrodes,and shell zinc fiber anode was braided on the surface of the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_x MXene fibers across the solid electrolytes.According to the simulated results using ANSYS Maxwell software,the braided structures revealed a higher capacitance compared to the spring-like structures.The resulting FSCs exhibited a high areal capacitance of 214 mF cm^(-2),the energy density of 42.8μWh cm^(-2)at 5 mV s^(-1),and excellent cycling stability with 83.58%capacity retention after 5000 cycles.The coaxial FSC was tied several kinds of knots,proving a shape-controllable fiber energy storage.Furthermore,the knitted FSC showed superior stability and weavability,which can be woven into watch belts or embedded into textiles to power smart watches and LED arrays for a few days.展开更多
Rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density,low manufacturing costs,and environmental friendliness.Exploring bif...Rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density,low manufacturing costs,and environmental friendliness.Exploring bifunctional catalysts with high activity and stability to overcome sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is critical for the development of rechargeable ZABs.Atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon(M-N-C)catalysts possessing prominent advantages of high metal atom utilization and electrocatalytic activity are promising candidates to promote oxygen electrocatalysis.In this work,general principles for designing atomically dispersed M-N-C are reviewed.Then,strategies aiming at enhancing the bifunctional catalytic activity and stability are presented.Finally,the challenges and perspectives of M-N-C bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs are outlined.It is expected that this review will provide insights into the targeted optimization of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts in rechargeable ZABs.展开更多
This study investigates the influence of electropolymerization conditions on the deposition of polypyrrole(PPy)onto cotton-derived carbon fiber(CF)modified with reduced graphene oxide(rGO)for supercapacitors applicati...This study investigates the influence of electropolymerization conditions on the deposition of polypyrrole(PPy)onto cotton-derived carbon fiber(CF)modified with reduced graphene oxide(rGO)for supercapacitors applications using an experimental/theorical approach.The surface modification of CF by rGO and/or by PPy electrodeposited at 10,25 and 50 mV s^(-1) was thoroughly examined physicochemical and electrochemically.Composite electrodes comprising CF-rGo-PPy,synthesized via electropolymerization at 25 mV s^(-1),demonstrated a remarkable increase in capacitance,showcasing~742 F g^(-1) compared to 153 F g^(-1) for CF.SEM,N_(2)-surface area,XPS,and TD-DFT approach revealed that the higher capacitance observed in CF-rGo-PPy electrodes underscores the influence of morphology and charged nitrogen species on the electrochemical performance of these modified electrodes.Notably,this electrode material achieves a specific capacitance retention of~96%of their initial capacitance after 10000 cycles at 0.5 A g^(-1) measured in a two-electrodes cell configuration.This work also discusses the influence of the scan rate used for pyrrole electropolymerization on the pseudocapacitance contribution of PPy and its possible effect on the porosity of the material.These results highlight the importance of appropriate electropolymerization conditions that allow obtaining the synergistic effect between CF,rGO and PPy.展开更多
In a world of Google and AI, developing an encyclopedic coverage of a theme that is of great interest to biologists, social scientists, politicians and environmental managers, is a daunting challenge. Wattles is a boo...In a world of Google and AI, developing an encyclopedic coverage of a theme that is of great interest to biologists, social scientists, politicians and environmental managers, is a daunting challenge. Wattles is a book that presents new knowledge, makes interesting reading, and has the potential to stimulate research in a variety of disciplines. We learn that Acacia, commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a genus of shrubs and trees comprising 1,083 species of which 417 are known to have been introduced to areas outside their native range. We are surprised to read that Australian acacias are found almost everywhere, in virtually all terrestrial habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, alpine settings,rainforests, coastal dunes and deserts, causing major environmental and socio-economic changes in the invaded regions. Until recently, Acacia comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America and Australasia, but the name is now reserved for species predominantly from Australia, including some from Southeast Asia. The genus name Acacia is Neo-Latin, and refers to a preparation extracted from the leaves and fruit pods of Vachellia nilotica, the original type of the genus.展开更多
基金support by Fundacao paraa Ciencia e a Tecnologia(FCT)through national funds(UID/FIS/04434/2013)FCT/MCTES through national funds(PIDDAC)by this grant UID/FIS/04434/2019+3 种基金by FEDER through COMPETE2020(POCI-01-0145FED ER-007672)support from DL 57/2016/CP1364/CT0009the support of NRF(Grant Nos.105925,109577,120385,and 120378)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11828301)。
文摘We present results from our Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope(GMRT)HⅠ,Himalayan Chandra Telescope(HCT)Hα,1 m Sampurnanand Telescope(ST)and 1.3 m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope(DFOT)deep optical observations of the NGC 7805/6(Arp 112)system to test KUG 2359+311’s tidal dwarf galaxy(TDG)candidacy and explore the properties of the interacting system.Our GMRT HⅠmap shows no HⅠdetection associated with KUG 2359+311,nor any HⅠtail or bridge-like structure connecting KUG 2359+311 to the NGC 7805/6 system.Our HCT Hαimage,on the other hand,displays strong detections in KUG 2359+311,with net SFR0.035±0.009 M_(⊙)yr^(-1).The Hαdata constrain the redshift of KUG 2359+311 to 0.00≤z≤0.043,compared to the redshift of NGC 7806 of0.015.TDGs detected to date have all been HⅠrich,and displayed HⅠ,ionised gas and stellar tidal debris trails(bridges or tails)linking them to their parent systems.However,neither our HⅠdata nor our optical imaging,while three magnitudes deeper than SDSS,reveals a tidal trail connecting KUG 2359+311 to NGC 7805/6.Lack of HⅠ,presence of an old stellar population,ongoing star formation and reasonably high SFR compared to normal dwarf galaxies suggest that KUG 2359+311 may not be an Arp 112 TDG.It is most likely a case of a regular gas-rich dwarf galaxy undergoing a morphological transformation after having lost its entire gas content to an interaction with the Arp 112 system.Redshift and metallicity from future spectroscopic observations of KUG 2359+311 would help clarify the nature of this enigmatic structure.
基金the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(Grant Nos.52072244 and 12104305)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipal-ity(Grant No.21JC1405000)the ShanghaiTech Startup Fund.This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source,a U.S.Department of Energy(DOE)Office of Sci-ence User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No.DE-AC02-06CH11357.
文摘Coexistence of ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a single material is an intriguing phenomenon,but has been rarely found.Here we studied both the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity in a group of LaCoO3 films with systematically tuned atomic structures.We found that all films exhibit ferroelastic domains with four-fold symmetry and the larger domain size(higher elasticity)is always accompanied by stronger ferromagnetism.We performed synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies to investigate the backbone structure of the CoO6 octahedra,and found that both the ferromagnetism and the elasticity are simultaneously enhanced when the in-plane Co–O–Co bond angles are straightened.Therefore the study demonstrates the inextricable correlation between the ferromagnetism and ferroelasticity mediated through the octahedral backbone structure,which may open up new possibilities to develop multifunctional materials.
基金the financial support of Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (No. 2023A1515010940)Shenzhen Natural Science Fund (the Stable Support Plan Program No. 20220809160022001)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Programs (No. ZDSYS20220527171401003, KQTD20190929173914967)。
文摘Constructing the efficacious and applicable bifunctional electrocatalysts and establishing out the mechanisms of organic electro-oxidation by replacing anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER) are critical to the development of electrochemicallydriven technologies for efficient hydrogen production and avoid CO_(2) emission. Herein, the hetero-nanocrystals between monodispersed Pt(~ 2 nm) and Ni_(3)S_(2)(~ 9.6 nm) are constructed as active electrocatalysts through interfacial electronic modulation, which exhibit superior bi-functional activities for methanol selective oxidation and H_(2) generation. The experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the asymmetrical charge distribution at Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) could be modulated by the electronic interaction at the interface of dual-monodispersed heterojunctions, which thus promote the adsorption/desorption of the chemical intermediates at the interface. As a result, the selective conversion from CH_(3)OH to formate is accomplished at very low potentials(1.45 V) to attain 100 m A cm^(-2) with high electronic utilization rate(~ 98%) and without CO_(2) emission. Meanwhile, the Pt–Ni_(3)S_(2) can simultaneously exhibit a broad potential window with outstanding stability and large current densities for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) at the cathode. Further, the excellent bi-functional performance is also indicated in the coupled methanol oxidation reaction(MOR)//HER reactor by only requiring a cell voltage of 1.60 V to achieve a current density of 50 m A cm^(-2) with good reusability.
基金supported by the NSF of China(Nos.21971143,21805165,22209098)the 111 Project(D20015)+1 种基金the major research and development project of Hubei Three Gorges Laboratory(2022-3)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(2022CFB326)
文摘Exploring a novel strategy for large-scale production of battery-type Ni(OH)_(2)-based composites,with excellent capacitive performance,is still greatly challenging.Herein,we developed a facile and cost-effective strategy to in situ grow a layer of Ni(OH)_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)composite on the nickel foam(NF)collector,where Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)is not only a conductive component,but also a catalyst that accelerates the oxidation of NF to Ni(OH)_(2).Detailed analysis reveals that the crystallinity,morphology,and electronic structure of the integrated electrode can be tuned via the electrochemical activation,which is beneficial for improving electrical conductivity and redox activity.As expected,the integrated electrode shows a specific capacity of 1.09 C cm^(-2)at 1 mA cm^(-2)after three custom activation cycles and maintains 92.4%of the initial capacity after 1500 cycles.Moreover,a hybrid supercapacitor composed of Ni(OH)_(2)/Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)/NF cathode and activated carbon anode provides an energy density of 0.1 mWh cm^(-2)at a power density of 0.97 mW cm^(-2),and excellent cycling stability with about 110%capacity retention rate after 5000 cycles.This work would afford an economical and convenient method to steer commercial Ni foam into advanced Ni(OH)_(2)-based composite materials as binder-free electrodes for hybrid supercapacitors.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52272046,52090030,52090031,52122301,51973191)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LR23E020003)+4 种基金Shanxi-Zheda Institute of New Materials and Chemical Engineering(2021SZ-FR004,2022SZ-TD011,2022SZ-TD012,2022SZ-TD014)Hundred Talents Program of Zhejiang University(188020*194231701/113,112300+1944223R3/003,112300+1944223R3/004)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.226-2023-00023,226-2023-00082,2021FZZX001-17,K20200060)National Key R&D Program of China(NO.2022YFA1205300,NO.2022YFA1205301,NO.2020YFF0204400,NO.2022YFF0609801)“Pioneer”and“Leading Goose”R&D Program of Zhejiang 2023C01190.
文摘Highly thermally conductive graphitic film(GF)materials have become a competitive solution for the thermal management of high-power electronic devices.However,their catastrophic structural failure under extreme alternating thermal/cold shock poses a significant challenge to reliability and safety.Here,we present the first investigation into the structural failure mechanism of GF during cyclic liquid nitrogen shocks(LNS),which reveals a bubbling process characterized by“permeation-diffusion-deformation”phenomenon.To overcome this long-standing structural weakness,a novel metal-nanoarmor strategy is proposed to construct a Cu-modified graphitic film(GF@Cu)with seamless heterointerface.This well-designed interface ensures superior structural stability for GF@Cu after hundreds of LNS cycles from 77 to 300 K.Moreover,GF@Cu maintains high thermal conductivity up to 1088 W m^(−1)K^(−1)with degradation of less than 5%even after 150 LNS cycles,superior to that of pure GF(50%degradation).Our work not only offers an opportunity to improve the robustness of graphitic films by the rational structural design but also facilitates the applications of thermally conductive carbon-based materials for future extreme thermal management in complex aerospace electronics.
基金This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(51672308,51972025,61888102,62004187)Hebei Natural Science Foundation of Hebei(E2019208280).
文摘Zinc-ion hybrid fiber supercapacitors(FSCs)are promising energy storages for wearable electronics owing to their high energy density,good flexibility,and weavability.However,it is still a critical challenge to optimize the structure of the designed FSC to improve energy density and realize the continuous fabrication of super-long FSCs.Herein,we propose a braided coaxial zinc-ion hybrid FSC with several meters of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_x MXene cathode as core electrodes,and shell zinc fiber anode was braided on the surface of the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_x MXene fibers across the solid electrolytes.According to the simulated results using ANSYS Maxwell software,the braided structures revealed a higher capacitance compared to the spring-like structures.The resulting FSCs exhibited a high areal capacitance of 214 mF cm^(-2),the energy density of 42.8μWh cm^(-2)at 5 mV s^(-1),and excellent cycling stability with 83.58%capacity retention after 5000 cycles.The coaxial FSC was tied several kinds of knots,proving a shape-controllable fiber energy storage.Furthermore,the knitted FSC showed superior stability and weavability,which can be woven into watch belts or embedded into textiles to power smart watches and LED arrays for a few days.
基金This work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)Centre Québéco is sur les Materiaux Fonctionnels(CQMF),Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies(FRQNT)+2 种基金Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique(INRS)This work is also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21972017)the“Scientific and Technical Innovation Action Plan”Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan Science&Technology Cooperation Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(19160760600).F.Dong gratefully acknowledges scholarships from the China Scholarship Council(CSC).
文摘Rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density,low manufacturing costs,and environmental friendliness.Exploring bifunctional catalysts with high activity and stability to overcome sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is critical for the development of rechargeable ZABs.Atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon(M-N-C)catalysts possessing prominent advantages of high metal atom utilization and electrocatalytic activity are promising candidates to promote oxygen electrocatalysis.In this work,general principles for designing atomically dispersed M-N-C are reviewed.Then,strategies aiming at enhancing the bifunctional catalytic activity and stability are presented.Finally,the challenges and perspectives of M-N-C bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs are outlined.It is expected that this review will provide insights into the targeted optimization of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts in rechargeable ZABs.
基金CONCYTEC and PROCIENCIA agencies from Peru in the framework of the call for Basic Research Projects2019-01[contract number401-2019-FONDECYT].
文摘This study investigates the influence of electropolymerization conditions on the deposition of polypyrrole(PPy)onto cotton-derived carbon fiber(CF)modified with reduced graphene oxide(rGO)for supercapacitors applications using an experimental/theorical approach.The surface modification of CF by rGO and/or by PPy electrodeposited at 10,25 and 50 mV s^(-1) was thoroughly examined physicochemical and electrochemically.Composite electrodes comprising CF-rGo-PPy,synthesized via electropolymerization at 25 mV s^(-1),demonstrated a remarkable increase in capacitance,showcasing~742 F g^(-1) compared to 153 F g^(-1) for CF.SEM,N_(2)-surface area,XPS,and TD-DFT approach revealed that the higher capacitance observed in CF-rGo-PPy electrodes underscores the influence of morphology and charged nitrogen species on the electrochemical performance of these modified electrodes.Notably,this electrode material achieves a specific capacitance retention of~96%of their initial capacitance after 10000 cycles at 0.5 A g^(-1) measured in a two-electrodes cell configuration.This work also discusses the influence of the scan rate used for pyrrole electropolymerization on the pseudocapacitance contribution of PPy and its possible effect on the porosity of the material.These results highlight the importance of appropriate electropolymerization conditions that allow obtaining the synergistic effect between CF,rGO and PPy.
文摘In a world of Google and AI, developing an encyclopedic coverage of a theme that is of great interest to biologists, social scientists, politicians and environmental managers, is a daunting challenge. Wattles is a book that presents new knowledge, makes interesting reading, and has the potential to stimulate research in a variety of disciplines. We learn that Acacia, commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a genus of shrubs and trees comprising 1,083 species of which 417 are known to have been introduced to areas outside their native range. We are surprised to read that Australian acacias are found almost everywhere, in virtually all terrestrial habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, alpine settings,rainforests, coastal dunes and deserts, causing major environmental and socio-economic changes in the invaded regions. Until recently, Acacia comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America and Australasia, but the name is now reserved for species predominantly from Australia, including some from Southeast Asia. The genus name Acacia is Neo-Latin, and refers to a preparation extracted from the leaves and fruit pods of Vachellia nilotica, the original type of the genus.
