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Bimetallic lined pipe (BLP) has been increasingly used in offshore and subsea oil and gas structures, but how to identify the invisible inner defects such as liner wall thinning and interface debonding is a challenge for future development. A nondestructive testing (NDT) method based on pulsed eddy current testing (PECT) has been proposed to face these difficulties. The inspection of the BLP specimen (AISI1020 base tube and SS304 liner) is implemented from outside of the pipe by using a transmitter–receiver-type PECT probe consisting of two induction coils. By simplifying the BLP specimen to stratified conductive plates, the electromagnetic field interaction between the PECT probe and specimen is analytically modeled, and the probe inspection signals due to liner wall thinning and interface debonding are calculated. In order to highlight the weak response (in microvolts) from the liner, the inspection signals are subtracted by the signal, which is calculated in the case of only having a base tube, yielding differential PECT signals. The peak voltage of the differential signal is selected to characterize the liner wall thinning and interface debonding due to its distinguishable and linear variation. Experiment verification is also carried out on a double-walled specimen simulated by a combination of a Q235 casing pipe and SS304 tubes of different sizes. The experimental results basically agree with the analytical predictions. The peak value of the PECT signal has an ascending and descending variation with the increase in the remaining liner wall thickness and debonding gap, respectively, while the negative peak value shows opposite changes. The peak value exhibits a larger sensitivity than the negative peak value. The proposed method shows potential promise in practical applications for the evaluation of the inner defects in BLP lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The novel fabrics combining UV/NIR shielding and self-cleaning are fabricated. • Multi-functions are achieved via self-assembly of Cs x WO 3 nanosheets on the fabrics. • Photocatalytic self-cleaning of the fabrics is responsive to solar full spectrum. • Self-assembly of Cs x WO 3 is based on electrostatic interaction assisted by PDDA. • The fabrics exhibit superb heat insulation and highly efficient self-cleaning. Abstract Utilizing fewer functional materials to achieve multifunctional fabrics via facile approaches have been confronting worldwide scientists with an enormous challenge. In this study, a novel multifunctional cotton fabric, combining UV/NIR shielding and full-spectrum-responsive self-cleaning, has been fabricated via self-assembly of Cs x WO 3 nanosheets based on electrostatic interaction assisted by Poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) in aqueous solution. The microstructure of Cs x WO 3 nanosheets and their self-assembly coating on cotton fabric were characterized and investigated. The functional properties of the Cs x WO 3 -coated cotton fabric, including UV/NIR shielding and photocatalytic self-cleaning were evaluated. The results indicate that the Cs x WO 3 -coated cotton fabric exhibits superb UV/NIR and heat shielding performance with 15.8 °C and 5.9 °C lower than no coverage and coverage by none-treated cotton fabric, respectively. Moreover, the well-coated cotton fabric demonstrates photocatalytic self-cleaning property responsive to the light ranging from UV, Vis to NIR, especially exhibits highly efficient self-cleaning under the respective irritation of full-spectrum, UV and Vis light (color faded completely within 10 h). In summary, the Cs x WO 3 -coated fabrics can achieve multi-functions of UV shielding, heat insulation and self-cleaning by means of a single functional nanomaterial and promise of huge applications in functional textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, uniform octahedral-shaped Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ submicron single crystals with photoluminescence (PL) superior to the as-prepared aggregated spherical counterparts were prepared via a room-temperature solid-state metathesis reaction and subsequent calcination of the as-milled mixtures containing an in situ formed salt as by-product. Their formation mechanism is also discussed based on preferential growth and self-assembling of nanocrystals in the presence of the salt. In summary, the approach promises a great potential in the large scale preparation of octahedral Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ submicron phosphors due to its solvent-free, addictive-free, high-yielding and eco-friendly characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by dental applications, Pr-colored 3Y-TZP nanopowders were prepared via the mechanical activation of ZrOCl2·8H2O, YCl3·6H2O and PrCl3·7H2O and NaOH in a planetary ball mill and subsequent heat treatment. The preparation processes were investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The obtained samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of the doped Pr content on chromaticity and cytotoxicity of the sintered ceramic discs were evaluated from the esthetic and biocompatible viewpoints. The results indicated that the obtained 3Y-TZP powders were tetragonal-structured and less than 10nm in average size. The doping of trace Pr into 3Y-TZP endowed the sintered sample with shades similar to the natural teeth but showed high biological safety according to in vitro cytotoxicity tests. Therefore, Pr-colored 3Y-TZP nanopowders synthesized by mechanochemical processing are the promising materials for colored dental restorations combining esthetic with biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sn1−x RE x O2−x/2 (RE=Y, La, Gd and Nd) nanorods have been prepared by annealing the as-obtained products from microwave-induced KCl-assisted solution combustion reaction. The phase evolution in the synthesis process was investigated by an X-ray diffractometer. Accordingly, the possible growth mechanism of Sn1−x RE x O2−x/2 nanorods was discussed based on oriented attachment by polar forces. The results showed that the Sn0.8Y0.2O1.9 nanorods were rutile-structured single crystals with 8–12nm diameter and 100–200nm length. Proper addition of KCl into the redox mixture solution is critical to the formation of Sn1−x RE x O2−x/2 nanorods. The approach is convenient, inexpensive and efficient for the high yield preparation of Sn1−x RE x O2−x/2 nanorods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors were fabricated by direct thermal decomposition of monohydrate yttrium europium propionates, which can be facilely obtained via cocrystallization. The composition and structure of the cocrystallized product were confirmed by X-ray diffractionmetry (XRD), simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as well as inductively coupled plasma mass (ICP-MS) spectrometry. The effects of decomposition temperature on the resultant microstructures such as crystallinity, particle size and particle dispersibility were investigated by XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The dependence of their luminescent properties on decomposition temperature was also studied by fluorescence spectrophotometry. The results showed that the microstructures and luminescent intensities of Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors could be tuned by varying calcination temperatures of cocrystallized yttrium europium propionates from 600 to 1000°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The perovskite single-crystalline LaMnO3 nanocubes have been fabricated through a facile salt-assisted solution combustion process, using ethylene glycol as a fuel and corresponding nitrates as oxidants. The effects of the fuel-to-oxidant molar ratio and the fraction of added NaCl on the phase and microstructure of the products were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The possible mechanism about the effect of molten salt on morphological evolution of the as-prepared LaMnO3 particles in salt-assisted solution combustion synthesis was also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Highly dispersed perovskite NdCoO3 nanoparticles with an average particle size of about 9 nm have been successfully prepared by a novel salt-assisted combustion process. The effects of NaCl content and calcination temperature on the characteristics of the products were investigated by XRD, TEM and BET nitrogen adsorption. The facile introduction of NaCl in the conventional combustion synthesis process was found to result in the formation of well-dispersed perovskite nanoparticles and increase specific surface area of the resultants from 1.70 to 43.22 m2·g−1. A mechanism scheme was proposed to illustrate the possible formation processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mesoporous ceria–zirconia solid solutions were prepared by a novel salt-assisted combustion process using ethylene glycol as a fuel and nitrate as an oxidant. The effects of various operating conditions such as the fuel-to-oxidant ratio and the nature and amount of added salt on the characteristics of the products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption analysis. Results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) showed that the introduction of leachable inert inorganic salt as a hard agglomeration inhibitor into the redox mixture precursor led to the breakup of fractal nanocrystallite agglomerates and the mesoporous structure formed by the loose agglomeration of monodispersed nanoparticles, which was also confirmed by small-angle XRD and nitrogen adsorption analysis. The presence of salt was found to result in a more than 10-fold increase in the specific surface area of the products from 17.34 to 208.17m2/g at a given molar ratio of ethylene glycol–nitrate. A mechanism scheme was proposed to illustrate the possible formation processes and discuss the role of the salt additives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel salt-assisted combustion process to synthesize high surface area ceria-based nanopowders has been developed. The effects of fuel-to-oxidant ratios, type and amount of added salt on the characteristics of the resultants were investigated by powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface area analysis. The facile addition of soluble inert salt in the redox mixture solution for combustion synthesis was found to result in the formation of well-dispersed nanoparticles and a drastic increase of specific surface area from 14.10 to 156.74m2/g. Finally, a mechanism scheme was proposed to illustrate the possible formation processes of highly dispersed nanoparticles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline ceria-based powders [CeO2, (YO1.5)0.2(CeO2)1.8, (NdO1.5)0.2(CeO2)1.8, (SmO1.5)0.2(CeO2)1.8, (GdO1.5)0.2(CeO2)1.8] have been prepared using combustion synthesis with ethylene glycol as a novel fuel and nitrate as an oxider. An interpretation based on an adiabatic flame temperature, for different fuel-to-oxidant ratios, has been proposed for the nature of combustion and its correlation with the powder characteristics. The pure CeO2 powders synthesized by using different ethylene glycol–nitrate ratios have been characterized by X-ray diffractionmetry, transmission electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The effects of calcination temperature and doping on the as-synthesized powders have been investigated by XRD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To achieve the actual application of MoO x in absorption removal of organic dye from water, eco-friendly, facilely-scalable, high-yield, and cost-efficient synthesis of MoO x with desirable structures and superior adsorption capacities remains a great challenge. Herein, for the first time, a novel synthetic route to MoO 3 micro-/nanocrystals with different microstructures was based on mechanochemical reactions and subsequent annealing, and their inherent formation mechanisms were also discussed. Moreover, the adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanism of Rhodamine B (RhB) on α h -MoO 3 hybrid were systematically investigated. The results show that the microstructures of MoO 3 can be controlled by facile adjusting the dosage of H 2 C 2 O 4 ·2H 2 O, which leads to the different milling precursors. The bicrystalline hybrid of α-MoO 3 nanosheets and h -MoO 3 microrods (α h -MoO 3 hybrid) exhibits an ultrahigh maximum adsorptive capacity (751.88 mg g−1) for RhB at the high initial concentration (80 mg L−1), more than 3 times enhancement compared to that of α-MoO 3 particles (210.16 mg g−1), which can be attributed to the larger specific surface area (28.77 m2 g−1) and more negative surface potential (−72.00 mV). This work provides a scalable and controllable route to synthesize MoO 3 micro-/nanocrystals with desired microstructures, contributing a promising and excellent adsorbent for the practical removal of organic dyes from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desalination and power generation through solar energy harvesting is a crucial technology that can effectively address freshwater shortages and energy crises. However, owing to the complexity of the actual water environment, the thermal output capability of the photothermal material and the functional integration of the evaporation system need urgent improvement, to obtain high‐quality fresh water and sufficient electricity. Herein, a 2D/2D cesium tungsten bronze/copper sulfide (2D/2D Cs0.32WO3/CuS) nano‐heterojunction is developed and it is loaded into a cellulose‐based hybrid hydrogel to construct a multifunctional evaporator. Benefiting from the more nonradiative recombination centers from deep‐level defects, as well as shorter carrier migration distances and higher redox potentials in the Cs0.32WO3/CuS nano‐heterojunction, this evaporator has a significant improvement in thermal output capacity, enabling both super‐efficient seawater evaporation (4.22 kg m−2 h−1) and photodegradation of organic pollutants (removal rate ≈ 99%). Moreover, the evaporator exhibits long‐term stability and sustainable self‐cleaning property against salt accumulation. Remarkably, the thermoelectric module based on the Cs0.32WO3/CuS nano‐heterojunction shows promising electricity generation performance (4.85 W m−2), which can power small appliances durably and stably, exceeding previously reported similar devices. This 2D/2D heterojunction‐based solar evaporation system will provide a more reliable solution for efficient and sustainable freshwater‐electricity co‐generation in resource‐limited areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High near-infrared (NIR) reflective pigments have broad application prospects in alleviating urban heat island effect. But in fact, an easy and efficient method of preparing non-toxic and high near-infrared reflective pigments remains a desired choice for energy-saving coatings. In this research, several Mn doped YBO 3 pigments, possessing gray-blue and high near-infrared reflectance, were effectively prepared by solution combustion method. Relevant techniques were used to characterize the crystalline structure, morphology feature, optical properties, chemical tolerance, and heat insulation effect of the prepared pigments. The results presented that the color of powders varied from white to gray-blue due to the Mn doping. The band gap energy increased from 2.03 eV to 2.14 eV as the doping amount raised, and it could be assigned to the charge transfer transition between O 2p valence bands and Mn 3d conduction bands. The typical YB 0.97 Mn 0.03 O 3 pigment stated the excellent near-infrared reflectance of 66.18% and significant color properties (L* = 69.75, a* = −5.46, and b* = −6.36). Notably, the surface temperature of YB 0.97 Mn 0.03 O 3 coating is 39.5 °C lower than the gray-blue commercial pigmented coating. This work demonstrated that the prepared pigments with rather high reflectance possessed potential application in energy-saving materials for buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar interfacial evaporation is an effective and sustainable strategy to solve the shortage of fresh water. Nowadays, fully converting the near-infrared light with significant thermal effect, and reducing the energy loss in evaporation stage are the key factors to achieve higher evaporation rate. Herein, the nano cesium tungsten bronze (Cs 0.32 WO 3) with exceptional near-infrared absorption property was loaded on reduced graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes (rGO-CNTs) composite aerogel, drastically enhancing the evaporation efficiency from 61.0% to 85.9%, which can be explained by the remarkable synergistic effect between rGO-CNTs and nano Cs 0.32 WO 3 in improving the photothermal conversion performance. As a result, the solar evaporators assembled by the fabricated rGO-CNTs-Cs 0.32 WO 3 aerogels and corn straw grooves achieved an evaporation rate of 1.93 kg m−2 h−1, exceeding the previously-investigated carbon aerogels/foams, natural plants and tungsten-based compound systems. The characterization results reveal that the loading of nano Cs 0.32 WO 3 contributes to the partial restoration of π-conjugated structure in rGC, increasing solar absorption and the corresponding thermal energy released by the lattice vibration. Meanwhile, the oxygen vacancies and carrier density of Cs 0.32 WO 3 nanoparticles increase after compositing with rGC, which further enhances the local surface plasma resonances (LSPR) effect. Significantly, the hydrophilic functional groups and excellent wettability of composite aerogel and corn straw play crucial effect in accelerating water transport, activating water molecules and reducing evaporation energy consumption. In a word, the unique construction of rGO-CNTs-Cs 0.32 WO 3 aerogels presents a novel approach for the design of solar-driven freshwater production system, the application expansion of nano tungsten bronze and carbon aerogels. [Display omitted] • Novel carbon-supported nano cesium tungsten bronze aerogels are successfully fabricated and achieve higher evaporation efficiency of 85.9%. • rGO-CNTs-Cs 0.32 WO 3 porous aerogels exhibit higher NIR absorption performance of 97.2% and evaporation rate of 1.93 kg m−2h−1. • The synergy between rGO-CNTs and nano Cs 0.32 WO 3 significantly enhances the photothermal conversion performance of composite aerogel. • Abundant hydrophilic groups and excellent wettability of carbon aerogel and corn straw are beneficial for reducing the energy consumption of evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The europium/terbium ion-doped gadolinium orthophosphate nanorods and microcrystals phosphors were synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction and solid-phase reaction, respectively. The structures, morphologies, and luminescent behaviors were compared. The microcrystals can obtain higher quantum efficiency compared with nanorods because of the different structures (monoclinic and hexagonal). In the ultraviolet-visible region, the gadolinium ions absorbed energy then transferred to europium and terbium ions. The energy transfer from terbium to europium existed both in microcrystals and in nanorods, and it was confirmed that the energy transfer efficiency from terbium to europium in nanorods is higher than that in microcrystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A natural cellulose-based solar evaporator with high energy utilization, stable and comprehensive performance (salt-resistant, photodegradable pollutant and antimicrobial) is developed by controlling the height and applying a photothermal coating to quickly regulate the water-heat transfer efficiency, offering theoretical support and a new way for the design of the evaporator and the solution of water scarcity. [Display omitted] • Natural cellulose complements inorganic carbon to reduce energy consumption. • Correlation of evaporator height and water-heat transfer was clarified. • Evaporator-environment heat exchange optimized for improved energy utilization. • High evaporation rate (2.73 kg m-2h−1) and efficiency (97.67 %) was gained. • Evaporator exhibits stable water purification and salt resistance performance. Solar interfacial evaporation for seawater desalination and wastewater purification is considered a promising strategy to alleviate the water scarcity crisis. Currently, the ways to improve evaporators usually revolve around iteration of photothermal materials (enhancing heat generation) or macrostructural remodeling (altering water transport rate), but these means have limitations and do not achieve simultaneous and precise regulation of water-heat utilization. Herein, a simple hydrothermal method is used to synthesize natural cellulose-based hybridized hydrogels, exhibiting a high evaporation efficiency (97.67%) and a full range of water purification capabilities, including antimicrobial, anti-salt accumulation, and degradation of organic dyes. Significantly, the enhancement mechanism of the energy-mass utilization of this evaporator can be explained from two aspects. Firstly, the hybridization of natural cellulose and inorganic carbon materials can supplement a large number of hydrophilic functional groups, thus fully activating the water molecules and reducing the evaporation energy consumption. Furthermore, the COMSOL simulation is used to clarify the distribution of water and heat, and by adjusting the height of the hydrogel, the balance of water-heat transfer is cleverly achieved with the maximization of energy utilization. Overall, the optimization idea of water-heat transfer provides a new direction for future evaporator design and a fresh opportunity for the improvement of energy-mass management model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current work was to prepare partially stabilized yttria and ceria co-doped zirconia nanocrystals (PS-YCZ-NCs) with a controlled phase state and morphology. PS-YCZ-NCs were prepared via the sol–gel method based on the direct reaction of metal nitrates with ethylene glycol in the presence of sodium chloride. The effect of the NaCl dosage on the particle morphology and phase state was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The addition of NaCl in the sol–gel process was determined to improve the formation of tetragonal zirconia at calcination temperatures of less than 600 °C and to induce a phase transformation from tetragonal to monoclinic at temperatures above 600 °C. Therefore, PS-YCZ-NCs with different tetragonal and monoclinic phase ratios can be prepared by changing the dosage of NaCl and the calcination temperature. In addition, the optimal synthesis conditions for PS-YCZ-NCs with pseudo-sphere morphology and a particle size ranging from 15 to 30 nm have been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superfine CaLaAl 1-x Cr x O 4 (x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.08, 0.10) red ceramic pigments have been prepared by solution combustion reaction and subsequent high-temperature calcination. All of the pigments were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Laser particle size analyzer and CIE L*a*b* spectrophotometry. Moreover, the effects of the doping amount of Cr3+ ion, calcination temperature, salt assistance and synthetic routes on chromatic performance and particle size distributions of the pigments were also investigated. The results showed that CaLaAl 1-x Cr x O 4 pigment particles prepared via solution combustion reaction and subsequent calcination were well-dispersed and uniform in size. With the increase of doping amount of Cr3+ ion, the brightness value L* of CaLaAl 1-x Cr x O 4 pigments decreased obviously and the redness value a* increased gradually. When x = 0.08, it showed the best chromatic performance (L* = 39.37, a* = 21.33, b* = 13.99). In addition, the synthetic pigments possess excellent high temperature stability which is conducive to the application of ceramic pigments. Most importantly, the synthetic method of CaLaAl 1-x Cr x O 4 red ceramic pigments is not only cheap in raw materials, but also easy to industrialize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar thermoelectric (STE) generator is constituted by a high-thermopower thermocell and a NIR selective Cs 0.32 WO 3 -based photothermal membrane, which can provide a significant all-weather thermoelectric generation. This work demonstrates a novel strategy for STE devices with high solar-thermoelectric conversion, durability, adaptability, and low-cost, which provide an alternative resolution in terms of a continuous power supply of wearable electronics. [Display omitted] • A wearable solar thermoelectric generator with all-weather power output is prepared. • Selective NIR absorption of Cs 0.32 WO 3 benefits colouring and photothermal conversion. • Heat concentration of photothermal membrane promotes enhanced temperature gradient. • This work delivers a resolution of continuous power supply for wearable electronics. Harvesting heat or solar energy to directly generate affordable and sustainable electricity holds great promise toward both fundamental science and practical applications in self-powered wearable electronics. However, solar thermoelectric (STE) devices remain challenging in establishing a stable and significant temperature gradient (Δ T) across thermoelectric materials for cost-effective electricity generation. Herein, a wearable STE generator with all-weather and high-performance electricity generation was elaborately designed and synthesized sandwiched by a thermogalvanic cell and a large-area nanofiber membrane of Cs 0.32 WO 3 (CWO) nanoparticles with strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption. These prepared CWO membranes, which were prepared via an electrostatic spinning technique, present a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 42.7 % with no degradation after running for 10 cycles. Notably, a significant Δ T of 31.5 K across the thermoelectric modular was achieved for STE generation via the thermal concentration of these photothermal membranes under natural sunlight. Owing to the high thermopower of 2.87 mV K−1 for each p-n pair, STE generation demonstrates a maximum output voltage of 200 mV under natural solar irradiance during the time period of noon. This work explores a new strategy to achieve efficient heat management of STE devices for high electricity generation under all-weather conditions, which demonstrates great potential for self-powered wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling down the surface temperature of buildings and saving energy consumption are tasks of top priority in mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The bright and colorful pearlescent pigmented cool coatings with high near-infrared (NIR) reflectance possess promise in enhancing the reflective effect of solar light and the visual aspect, which is still an undeveloped domain. Herein, these novel solar reflective coatings containing mediums and pearlescent pigments with high NIR reflectance of 85% embodied obvious energy-saving effects on building materials. EnergyPlus software was used to simulate the energy-saving effect of four applied climate zones, including New York, Nanchang, Lima, and Brasilia. Compared to commercial pigments (Fe 2 O 3 , γ-Ce 2 S 3) with similar colors, the RK 402 and RK 301 pearlescent pigments demonstrate superior energy-saving capabilities in Nanchang climate zone, and can save 1.00 kW h m−2 and 1.60 kW h m−2 annually, respectively. In the warmer climate zone of Brasilia, the highest energy-saving efficiency is 2.06 kW h m−2 over one year by RK 301 pearlescent pigment. After irradiated by an NIR lamp, the surface temperature of the RK 301 coating can be reduced by 34.8 °C compared with that of the Fe 2 O 3 commercial coating, and that of RK 402 coating is 5.2 °C compared with the γ-Ce 2 S 3 commercial coating. Furthermore, the 7-day field test also has consistent effect of cooling down the surface temperature. This work demonstrated that pearlescent coatings with brilliant colors have great potential for application as cold materials in building areas to mitigate the UHI effect. • The cost-effective pearlescent pigments with exceptional near-infrared reflectivity and brilliant color are systematically investigated. • Excellent long-term durability allows pearlescent pigments to cope with complex and variable climatic conditions. • Simulation results confirm that the energy savings of RK 301 and RK402 pearlescent pigments are much higher than those of comparable products. • Field tests prove that the surface temperature of the house facades coated with RK 301 is reduced by 13 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional transparent glass integrating energy-saving and antifogging properties has receiving continuous attention in basic research and practical applications, which is still plagued by the lack of simple and general methods for low-cost and large-area fabrication. Herein, a multifunctional window with high thermal insulation, antifogging, and self-cleaning functions is rationally fabricated via coating a mixture of polyacrylic acid (PAA), polypropylene glycol (PPG), 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH-560), and cesium tungsten bronze (CWO) nanoparticles on a monolayer film. The synergistic effect between the plentiful hydroxyl/carboxyl groups of PAA/PPG and the nano-textured surface induced by CWO nanoparticles enabled the monolayer film to exhibit superhydrophilic, self-cleaning and antifogging capabilities. The film maintains its antifogging properties even after 80 rubbings of dust-free cloth and 120 days of exposure tests at room temperature. Moreover, the as-prepared window can reduce the indoor temperature by 15.8 °C compared to a normal window at noon. The energy simulation results demonstrate that such windows can reduce energy consumption by 18.9 % in local cities compared to traditional windows. The high visible light transmittance, low haze, stable and durable antifogging ability, distinguished energy-saving effect and climate adaptability, as well as the solution-based process of this multifunctional window make it promising for architectural and automotive glass applications. A novel highly transparent superhydrophilic monolayer coating based on the Cs x WO 3 -organic hybrids is facilely fabricated via a scalable fabrication procedure, which simultaneously demonstrates strong near-infrared shielding, excellent antifogging, and good self-cleaning performance. Moreover, the nano-textured surface induced by Cs x WO 3 nanoparticles significantly enhances the hydrophilicity of the complex film. This multifunctional coating is a promising candidate for advanced energy-saving windows. [Display omitted] • The coating shows multifunctionality. • The coating has a sustainable antifogging effect. • The coating has a good energy-saving ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gulf War illness (GWI) refers to the multitude of chronic health symptoms, spanning from fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and neurological complaints to respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic symptoms experienced by about 250,000 GW veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War (GW). Longitudinal studies showed that the severity of these symptoms often remain unchanged even years after the GW, and these veterans with GWI continue to have poorer general health and increased chronic medical conditions than their non-deployed counterparts. For better management and treatment of this condition, there is an urgent need for developing objective biomarkers that can help with simple and accurate diagnosis of GWI. In this study, we applied multiple neuroimaging techniques, including T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T1W-MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and novel neurite density imaging (NDI) to perform both a group-level statistical comparison and a single-subject level machine learning (ML) analysis to identify diagnostic imaging features of GWI. Our results supported NDI as the most sensitive in defining GWI characteristics. In particular, our classifier trained with white matter NDI features achieved an accuracy of 90% and F-score of 0.941 for classifying GWI cases from controls after the cross-validation. These results are consistent with our previous study which suggests that NDI measures are sensitive to the microstructural and macrostructural changes in the brain of veterans with GWI, which can be valuable for designing better diagnosis method and treatment efficacy studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous rechargeable batteries have attracted attention owning to their advantages of safety, low cost, and sustainability, while the limited electrochemical stability window (1.23 V) of water leads to their failure in competition with organic‐based lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, we report an alkali–acid Zn–PbO2 hybrid aqueous battery obtained by coupling an alkaline Zn anode with an acidic PbO2 cathode. It shows the capability to deliver an impressively high open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 3.09 V and an operate voltage of 2.95 V at 5 mA cm−2, thanks to the contribution of expanding the voltage window and the electrochemical neutralization energy from the alkali–acid asymmetric‐electrolyte hybrid cell. The hybrid battery can potentially deliver a large area capacity over 2 mAh cm−2 or a high energy density of 252.39 Wh kg−1 and shows almost no fading in area capacity over 250 charge–discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous rechargeable batteries have attracted attention owning to their advantages of safety, low cost, and sustainability, while the limited electrochemical stability window (1.23 V) of water leads to their failure in competition with organic‐based lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, we report an alkali–acid Zn–PbO2 hybrid aqueous battery obtained by coupling an alkaline Zn anode with an acidic PbO2 cathode. It shows the capability to deliver an impressively high open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 3.09 V and an operate voltage of 2.95 V at 5 mA cm−2, thanks to the contribution of expanding the voltage window and the electrochemical neutralization energy from the alkali–acid asymmetric‐electrolyte hybrid cell. The hybrid battery can potentially deliver a large area capacity over 2 mAh cm−2 or a high energy density of 252.39 Wh kg−1 and shows almost no fading in area capacity over 250 charge–discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To further enhance electrochemical performance of WS 2 -based materials in supercapacitors, a 3D architecture with WS 2 nanoflakes interconnected and quantum dots anchored on N and S co-doped reduced graphene oxide (WS 2 /N,S-rGO) crumpled nanosheets is fabricated for the first time via a novel, facile and scalable approach, which is based on rapid solution combustion synthesis of the precursor and subsequent gas-solid phase sulfurization, and needs no such tedious processes as filtration, washing and drying. Significantly, the WS 2 /N,S-rGO hybrid possesses a specific capacitance of 1562.5 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a rate capability of 780 F g−1at 40 A g−1, which are superior to the currently-reported WS 2 -based electrode materials. As to the WS 2 /N,S-rGO hybrid, the 3D hierarchical architecture, synergistic effect between WS 2 and N,S-rGO nanosheets as well as nitrogen and sulfur co-doping on rGO offer a variety of advantages such as larger contact surface area, shorter ion diffusion path, excellent charge transport and especially the enhanced pseudo-capacitance of rGO, and thus result in huge improvement in electrochemical activity, which demonstrate the WS 2 /N,S-rGO hybrid to be a superb anode material in supercapacitors. Graphical abstract 3D WS 2 /N,S-rGO hybrid with superior performance in supercapacitor was fabricated for the first time via a facile and scalable approach based on solution combustion and subsequent sulfurization. Unlabelled Image Highlights • 3D hybrids of WS 2 /N,S co-doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are fabricated for the first time. • The synthetic route is based on two steps of solution combustion and sulfurization. • WS 2 nanoflakes and QDs are interlinked with N,S-rGO sheets to form a 3D structure. • The hybrids exhibit a high specific capacitance of 1562.5 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in SCs. • An excellent rate capability of 780 F g−1at 40 A g−1 is achieved when used in SCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spontaneous stacking of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets for the adsorptive remediation of wastewater has been severely restricting their inherent adsorption ability from being brought into full play. Herein, hydrosols of carbon nanotubes/graphene oxide (CNTs/GO) sealed in dialysis bags were utilized for the highly efficient and re-pollution-free removal of trace Gd(III) from water for the first time. The effects of mass ratio between CNTs and GO (M CNTs : M GO ), pH value and contact time on Gd(III) adsorption of CNTs/GO hybrid hydrosol (M CNTs : M GO  = 1:6) as well as its adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were studied by comparison with GO hydrosol. The pH-dependent desorption and regeneration of the CNTs/GO hybrid hydrosol were also investigated. The results showed that CNTs/GO hybrid hydrosols with M CNTs : M GO from 1:8 to 1:2 exhibited the remarkable synergistic enhancement effect. The CNTs/GO hybrid hydrosol with M CNTs : M GO  = 1:6 had the theoretical maximum Gd(III) adsorption capacity of 534.76 mg·g −1 (pH = 5.9, t  = 60 min, T  = 303 K) with a leap of 86.42% compared to GO and remained the sorption capacity of 347.83 mg·g −1 at the fourth cycle, showing the excellent regeneration performance. Moreover, the adsorption of Gd(III) on CNTs/GO hybrid hydrosols agreed well with the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. In prospect, CNTs/GO hybrid hydrosols in dialysis bags promises of extensive application in the highly efficient and re-pollution free elimination of metal ions from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, presented is a novel and facile strategy to enhance Pb(II) adsorption capacity of graphene oxide (GO) hydrosols via the modified Hummers’ method, using the smaller-sized natural flake graphite as starting materials. The as-prepared micron GO (MGO) and submicron GO (SMGO) hydrosols were sealed in dialysis bags for adsorptive separation of Pb(II) from water to avoid secondary pollution. The effects of pH and contact duration on Pb(II) adsorption on MGO and SMGO as well as their thermodynamics and kinetics were investigated comparatively. Their performances for recycling and regeneration were also evaluated. The results indicated that SMGO exhibited an enhanced maximum sorption capacity for Pb(II) up to 1162.60 mg·g −1 higher than MGO by 25.75% and achieved adsorption equilibrium faster, which can be attributed to the fact that SMGO has more oxygen-containing functional groups on the sheet basal planes and especially at the sheet edges than SMGO. The adsorption of Pb(II) on MGO and SMGO was a spontaneous and endothermic process and well fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir sorption model. Significantly, MGO and SMGO nanosheets still kept the high sorption capacities of 514.26 mg·g −1 and 700.35 mg·g −1 after the 5 cycles, respectively, promising of enormous potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past two decades, the reported magnesium-based gasochromic switchable mirrors have been limited to magnesium alloys. Herein, inspired by the excellent catalytic property of TiO 2 for the magnesium‑hydrogen reaction, the novel gasochromic switchable mirrors based on Pd/Mg-TiO 2 films were fabricated by magnetron sputtering and their optical properties, microstructures and structure-function relationship were investigated in this study. The results show that the mirror based on Pd/0.9Mg-0.1TiO 2 film exhibits larger optical dynamic range at visible wavelengths and excellent structural recovery even after 100 cycles of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation compared with Pd/Mg film. The brookite TiO 2 , crystalline Mg and some amorphous phases coexist in the Mg-TiO 2 layer of Pd/0.9Mg-0.1TiO 2 film with no trace of Pd. Interestingly, the TiO 2 nanocrystal clusters are distributed in stripe among Mg matrix. In contrast, the Pd/0.63Mg-0.37TiO 2 film consists of crystalline Mg and MgTi 2 O 5 phase, where MgTi 2 O 5 phase is derived from the reaction of superfluous TiO 2 with a part of Mg and deteriorates the optical properties of the mirror dramatically. In summary, this work offers a novel strategy for improving optical performance of Mg-based switchable mirrors by introducing metal oxides into switchable layer and uncovers a broad field to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) Co 3 O 4 thin sheets assembled by 3D interconnected nanoflake array framework structures were first synthesized from nanoflake array-assembled porous cobalt-oxalate coordination complex thin sheets by means of direct pyrolysis in the air and the synthesis is simple and facile to implement scale-up for various application. The products exhibit excellent pseudocapacitive performance in an alkaline medium, holding great promise in supercapacitors (SCs). The electrochemical properties of the obtained Co 3 O 4 thin sheets were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge measurement (CP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 2.0 M KOH solution. Temperature has an obvious effect on the performance of the products. Impressively, the thin sheets synthesized at 500 °C for 6 h used as electrode materials for SCs exhibit a specific capacitance as high as 1500 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 and even 828 F g −1 at 10 A g −1 , as well as remarkable cycling stability with 99.3% of its initial capacitance retained after 2000 continuous charge–discharge cycles at a current density of 5 A g −1 . In addition, the assembled asymmetric system using the obtained Co 3 O 4 thin sheets at 500 °C for 6 h as positive electrode and activated carbon as negative one can produce a high energy density of 15.4 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 0.8 kW kg −1 . The hierarchical architectures of the products with hierarchical porosity and interconnected channels as well as the synergistic effect between their compositions provide several advantages including a large contact surface area, short ion diffusion path and good charge transport, which validate these thin sheets promising potential for a wide range of applications in energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel yellow-green Al-doped Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 nano-pigments are effectively synthesized via solution combustion method. • The Y 3 Fe 4 AlO 12 nano-pigments demonstrate the high NIR reflectance of 87.66% and great acid/alkali resistance. • Compared with the similar commercial pigment, 7.6 °C can be reduced by Y 3 Fe 4 AlO 12 pigment. • The synthetic pigments have potential to be used in cool coatings and to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The pigments with high near-infrared (NIR) reflectance hold great promise toward both fundamental types of researches and applications for the realization of comfortable indoor-temperature by mitigating urban heat island effect. However, the facile yet simple method for the NIR reflective pigments with bright color and non-toxic feature remains a huge challenge, limiting their practical application. Herein, we proposed a mild and universal method of solution combustion for constructing the non-toxic and NIR reflective yellow-green pigments of Al-doped Y 3 Fe 5 O 12. The Y 3 Fe 4 AlO 12 pigment presented a high NIR reflectance of 87.66%, and an outstanding acid/alkali resistance. Moreover, the pigment had an impressive color performance (L* = 78.72, a* = − 4.05, b* = 40.04). Besides, the practical near-infrared reflection performance revealed that the transient surface temperature of the Y 3 Fe 4 AlO 12 pigment was 7.6 °C lower than that of the pigment with similar color on the market. This research supplied high NIR reflecting pigments of Y 3 Fe 5−x Al x O 12 as promising coatings for roofs and exterior walls of buildings, acting as a favorable solution for urban heat island effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rice ball shaped - Fe2O3 microstructures have been synthesized using a single-step Fe(NO3)3 solution calcination route without the assistance of any other additions. A series of techniques, including XRD, XPS, FE-SEM and DLS ones, were used to characterize the product. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis provided insight into the decomposition process of the Fe(NO3)3 precursor. A possible growth mechanism of the rice ball shaped - Fe2O3 microstructures was explained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Al/Cu core-shell nanocomposites are fabricated via a facile displacement method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion spectrometry (EDS). In comparison with the thermite reactions of bulk Al powders with WO3, the thermite reactions of Al/Cu core-shell nanocomposites with WO3 as a function of the equivalence ratio of Al to WO3 (Φ) and reaction environment are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dealt with in terms of reaction performance of thermite including onset and peak temperatures, maximum reaction rate (Q max) and reaction heat (ΔH r) based on DSC data. The results indicate that the reactivity of Al/Cu core-shell nanocomposites with WO3 is higher than that of bulk Al powders but depends strongly on the equivalence ratio, which is optimal when the fuel in the thermites is slightly rich, i.e. Φ =1.2. It is significant that in air, ΔH r of WO3 and core-shell Al/Cu (Φ =1.2) is higher than that of WO3 and bulk Al by 49%. In addition, it is also observed that the solid phase reaction 2Al(s)+WO3(s)=Al2O3(s)+W(s) may be irritated prior to Al melting when heating Al/Cu–WO3 in argon, which is confirmed by DSC and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Finally, the reasons of improving the thermal performance of thermites have been discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The core–shell Al/Co nanocomposites are fabricated via a displacement reaction between Al and CoCl2 with NH4F as a complexing agent and gelatin as a protective agent, and characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion spectrometry (EDS). The results show that a continuous layer of about 50 nm Co nanoparticles is covered on the surfaces of Al particles to form core–shell Al/Co nanocomposites. The relevant mechanism and several influencing factors are also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The core–shell Al/Co nanocomposites with sheet-like and spherical Co nanocrystals as shells were fabricated via a displacement reaction between Al and CoCl2·6H2O in a glycol solution by the controlling feeding rate of NH4F glycol solution. By eroding the Al core in HCl aquatic solution, hollow spherical nanostructures assembled by sheet-like and spherical Co nanocrystals were obtained. The possible mechanism for the formation of Co hollow nanostructures composed of different shaped nanocrystals has been discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]