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This paper investigates whether general formal education still helps youth avoid situations of unemployment and inactivity in favour of other labour force statuses (dependent employment, self-employment, education) across EU countries over the period 2006–2010. In a second step, we analyse whether the relationship between education and the labour statuses above is affected by different degrees of country-level education mismatch. Our results show that after the outbreak of the crisis and in countries with high educational mismatch there is an additional reduction in unemployment risk for highly educated people that is accompanied by a higher probability of being an employee than of remaining in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using electrical and thermal measurements, we present a method for characterising the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) within nanoscale devices implementing perpendicular anisotropy materials. Perpendicularly magnetised CoFeB/Pt nanowires were fabricated in close proximity to Pt heater elements on an electrically insulating substrate. The voltages induced within the magnetic material as a result of the ANE were recorded for increasing heater powers, and for both out-of-plane saturated states of the device. Scanning thermal probe microscopy was used to map the temperature distribution within the region of the device at a range of heater powers. By analysing the results from each thermography measurement, it was possible to correlate the temperature gradient induced at the magnetic nanowire against the anomalous Nernst voltage measured within the device. For the particular material, geometry and substrate used, a Nernst coefficient value KN = 2.3 μV(K.T)-1 was calculated. This combination of measurements can provide a powerful tool to characterise the ANE within a number of nanoscale systems, a necessary task for the future implementation and optimisation of the effect within spin-caloritronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Energy filtering has been widely considered as a suitable tool to increase the thermoelectric performances of several classes of materials. In its essence, energy filtering provides a way to increase the Seebeck coefficient by introducing a strongly energy-dependent scattering mechanism. Under certain conditions, however, potential barriers may lead to carrier localization, that may also affect the thermoelectric properties of a material. A model is proposed, actually showing that randomly distributed potential barriers (as those found, e.g., in polycrystalline films) may lead to the simultaneous occurrence of energy filtering and carrier localization. Localization is shown to cause a decrease of the actual carrier density that, along with the quantum tunneling of carriers, may result in an unexpected increase of the power factor with the doping level. The model is corroborated toward experimental data gathered by several authors on degenerate polycrystalline silicon and lead telluride. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of fluorinated synthetic chemicals that are highly recalcitrant, toxic, and bio-accumulative and have been detected in biosolids worldwide, posing potential risks to humans and the environment. Recent studies suggest that the organic C-F bond in PFAS can be destructed and potentially mineralised into inorganic fluorides during thermal treatment. This study focuses on thermodynamic equilibrium investigations and the fate of fluorine compounds post-PFAS destruction during biosolid thermal treatment. The results indicate that gas-phase fluorine compounds are mainly hydrogen fluoride (HF) and alkali fluorides, whereas solid-phase fluorine compounds include alkaline earth fluorides and their spinels. High moisture and oxygen content in the volatiles increased the concentration of HF in the gas phase. However, adding minerals reduced the emission of HF in the gas phase significantly and enhanced the capture of fluorine as CaF2 spinel in the solid phase. This study also investigates the effect of feedstock composition on the fate of fluorine. High ash content and low volatile matter in the feedstock reduced HF gas emissions and increased fluorine capture in the solid product. The findings of this work are useful in designing thermal systems with optimised operating conditions for minimising the release of fluorinated species during the thermal treatment of PFAS-containing biosolids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterostructures of two‐dimensional materials realise novel and enhanced physical phenomena, making them attractive research targets. Compared to inorganic materials, coordination nanosheets have virtually infinite combinations, leading to tunability of physical properties and are promising candidates for heterostructure fabrication. Although stacking of coordination materials into vertical heterostructures is widely reported, reports of lateral coordination material heterostructures are few. Here we show the successful fabrication of a seamless lateral heterojunction showing diode behaviour, by sequential and spatially limited immersion of a new metalladithiolene coordination nanosheet, Zn3BHT, into aqueous Cu(II) and Fe(II) solutions. Upon immersion, the Zn centres in insulating Zn3BHT are replaced by Cu or Fe ions, resulting in conductivity. The transmetallation is spatially confined, occurring only within the immersed area. We anticipate that our results will be a starting point towards exploring transmetallation of various two‐dimensional materials to produce lateral heterojunctions, by providing a new and facile synthetic route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterostructures of two‐dimensional materials realise novel and enhanced physical phenomena, making them attractive research targets. Compared to inorganic materials, coordination nanosheets have virtually infinite combinations, leading to tunability of physical properties and are promising candidates for heterostructure fabrication. Although stacking of coordination materials into vertical heterostructures is widely reported, reports of lateral coordination material heterostructures are few. Here we show the successful fabrication of a seamless lateral heterojunction showing diode behaviour, by sequential and spatially limited immersion of a new metalladithiolene coordination nanosheet, Zn3BHT, into aqueous Cu(II) and Fe(II) solutions. Upon immersion, the Zn centres in insulating Zn3BHT are replaced by Cu or Fe ions, resulting in conductivity. The transmetallation is spatially confined, occurring only within the immersed area. We anticipate that our results will be a starting point towards exploring transmetallation of various two‐dimensional materials to produce lateral heterojunctions, by providing a new and facile synthetic route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transformation of PFAS before, during and after thermal treatment of biosolids were reviewed. • Primary and secondary thermal units are the critical stage for PFAS destruction. • PFAS are volatilised and potentially destroyed during inert and oxidative thermal treatments. • Alkaline earth minerals can facilitate PFAS mineralisation during biosolids thermal treatment. • The fate of fluorine post-thermal destruction of PFAS was critically discussed. Biosolids (stabilised sewage sludge) are the final solid residues of the wastewater treatment process and are generally applied on agricultural land in many countries, including Australia. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic fluorinated chemicals with ubiquitous applications in consumer products and persist in the environment. Globally, PFAS have been detected in biosolids and are considered a source of PFAS discharge to the environment. The thermal treatment of biosolids is gaining increasing interest in the water sector. Therefore, the viability of thermal techniques for the safe destruction of PFAS has received substantial research attention in the last few years. Recent studies suggest that PFAS in biosolids can be removed and potentially destroyed during combustive (such as incineration) and non-combustive thermal treatment, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal carbonisation/liquefaction. However, there is limited understanding on the fate and transformation of PFAS degradation products across the overall thermal treatment process from biosolids feed pre-treatment to the gas cleaning (post-thermal treatment) stage. This review consolidates the current knowledge on PFAS transformation, destruction, and final fate before, during, and after thermal treatment of biosolids, covering lab, pilot scale, and industrial studies. It is suggested that PFAS degradation mechanisms during thermal treatment of biosolids may differ from the established pathways for pure PFAS salts, given that biosolids have a complex organic and inorganic matrix and typically have low PFAS concentrations. Among all thermal treatment techniques, pyrolysis has received extensive investigations at different scales of operation. However, for all techniques, treatment temperatures and residence time need to be sufficiently optimised for designing realistic large-scale thermal systems relevant to biosolids' compositional peculiarities for PFAS destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an article published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Hiroshi Nishihara et al. present a new method for creating lateral heterojunctions in two-dimensional materials. These heterojunctions have rectifying properties and are formed by immersing a coordination nanosheet made from zinc ions and benzenehexathiol into iron and copper salt solutions. This research has implications for utilizing the attractive properties of two-dimensional materials more effectively. The authors of the article include Choon Meng Tan, Naoya Fukui, Kenji Takada, Hiroaki Maeda, Ekaterina Selezneva, Cédric Bourgès, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Sono Sasaki, Kazuhito Tsukagoshi, Takao Mori, Henning Sirringhaus, and Hiroshi Nishihara. [Extracted from the article]

In an article published in Angewandte Chemie, Hiroshi Nishihara et al. present a new method for creating lateral heterojunctions in two-dimensional materials. These heterojunctions have rectifying properties and can be fabricated by immersing a coordination nanosheet made from zinc ions and benzenehexathiol into iron and copper salt solutions. This research has implications for utilizing the attractive properties of two-dimensional materials more effectively. The authors of the article include Choon Meng Tan, Naoya Fukui, Kenji Takada, Hiroaki Maeda, Ekaterina Selezneva, Cédric Bourgès, Hiroyasu Masunaga, Sono Sasaki, Kazuhito Tsukagoshi, Takao Mori, Henning Sirringhaus, and Hiroshi Nishihara. [Extracted from the article]