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Using electrocatalytic water reduction to produce hydrogen fuel offers significant potential for clean energy, yet its large-scale adoption depends on developing cost-effective, non-precious, and efficient catalysts to replace expensive Pt-based state-of-the-art HER catalysts. The catalytic HER performance of an active catalyst largely depends on the available catalytic active sites, conductivity, and intrinsic electrochemical kinetics, all of which can be altered by incorporating a heteroatom into the active catalyst structure. Herein, we synthesized a unique nitrogen-doped CuO@CuS (NCOS) core–shell-structured catalyst through a facile hydrothermal process followed by an efficacious nitrogenation process, and its electrochemical performance for the HER was systematically analyzed. The NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst exhibits a reduced overpotential (55 mV) and Tafel slope (107 mV dec−1) compared to the pure CuS (CS; 179 mV and 201 mV dec−1) catalyst at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst demonstrates excellent endurance for up to 50 h of chronopotentiometric testing at a driving current density rate of 10 and 100 mA cm−2. This excellent catalytic HER activity is a result of an increased electron transfer rate and a greater number of accessible active sites, attributed to a change in structural properties and the high electronic conductivity aroused from nitrogen incorporation, as evidenced from the TOF and EIS curve analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphine, as one of the most important narcotic drugs, significantly affects the nervous system and increases euphoria, which raises the likelihood of its misuse. Therefore, its measurement is of great importance. In this work, a new electrochemical sensor based on a nanocomposite of CuS/g-C3N5/AgNPs was developed for modifying Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) and used for the measurement of morphine through cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Various analytical methods initially characterized the nanocomposite. The prepared sensor, which also has an extensive surface area, achieved a detection limit of 0.01 µM for morphine in a concentration range of 0.05–100 µM at pH 7. Besides its excellent capability in measuring morphine in real samples, the sensor exhibits good stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. The presence of CuS, due to its excellent high surface area alongside silver nanoparticles, leads to an increase in the conductivity of the g-C3N5 modified electrode, resulting in an increased oxidative current of morphine at the surface of the prepared sensor. Therefore, measuring low concentrations of morphine with this sensor was made possible. Additionally, measuring morphine without interference from various species is a strong point of the electrochemical sensor for morphine detection, and combined with the simplicity and ease of the method, it allows for morphine measurements to be conducted in the shortest possible time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction serves as an important technology for value‐added solar fuel production, however, it is generally limited by interfacial charge transport. To address this limitation, a two‐dimensional/two‐dimensional (2D/2D) p‐n heterojunction CuS‐Bi2WO6 (CS‐BWO) with highly connected and matched interfacial lattices was designed in this work via a two‐step hydrothermal tandem synthesis strategy. The integration of CuS with BWO created a robust interface electric field and provided fast charge transfer channels due to the work function difference, as well as highly connected and matched interfacial lattices. The p‐n heterojunction combination promoted the electron transfer from the Cu to Bi sites, leading to the coordination of Bi sites with high electronic density and low oxidation state. The Bi sites in the BWO nanosheets facilitated the adsorption and activation of CO2, and the generation of high‐coverage key intermediate b‐CO32−, while CuS (CS) acted as a broad light‐harvesting material to provide abundant photoinduced electrons that were injected into the conduction band of BWO for CO2 photoreduction reaction. Remarkably, the p‐n heterojunction CS‐BWO exhibited average CO and CH4 yields of 33.9 and 16.4 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of CS, BWO, and physical mixture CS‐BWO samples. This work provided an innovative design strategy for developing high‐activity heterojunction photocatalyst for converting CO2 into value‐added solar fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional copper sulfide (CuS) wires were realized by the acrylamide-assisted hydrothermal process using Cu(NO3)2 and thiourea (NH2CSNH2) as reactants at 100 °C. A copper sulfide/carbon nanotube (CNTs) composite was fabricated as a similar method with the addition of CNTs. The samples are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and Raman scattering spectra, respectively. The influence of reaction temperature and amine on the morphologies of CuS nanocrystals was investigated. As anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, the electrochemical studies show that the CuS/CNT composite electrode delivers a higher reversible capacity of 428.1 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 for the 100th cycle, because CNTs can be a conductive agent to provide a fast path for electron transportation, compared with the bare CuS wires (280 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles). The synthesis results indicate that the amine-directed synthesis strategy of copper sulfide could be extended for the preparation of other metal sulfide nanostructures. Further, the incorporation of the CNT matrix into the copper sulfide is an effective approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of CuS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] In recent years, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as a prominent research topic due to their inherent safety attributes, relatively low cost, and comparatively higher energy density. However, the challenges associated with the zinc metal anode in the form of dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, and severe side reactions have proven to be particularly vexing. Thus, it is imperative to investigate novel intercalation-type anode materials for ZIBs that exhibit exceptional structural properties and appropriate redox potentials based on conversion mechanisms. In this work, through adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surfactant to precursors and tailoring reaction time, hierarchical CuS hollow spheres are successfully constructed by a facile one-step hydrothermal process. When applied as an anode in ZIBs, the hollow hierarchical CuS with large surface area can effectively reduce the transport distance of electrons and Zn2+ and alleviate volume expansion during the insertion/extraction of Zn2+. The hierarchical CuS hollow spheres prepared over 8 h (CuS-8) exhibit a specific capacity of 126 mAh/g and long-term cycle life (1500 cycles) at a current density of 3 A/g. In addition, CuS-8//MnO 2 @CNTs full-cell shows a capacity retention of 117 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 1 A/g current density, which proves the advantage of hierarchical CuS hollow spheres in serving as an efficient and durable anode material for ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Morphine, as one of the most important narcotic drugs, significantly affects the nervous system and increases euphoria, which raises the likelihood of its misuse. Therefore, its measurement is of great importance. In this work, a new electrochemical sensor based on a nanocomposite of CuS/g-C3N5/AgNPs was developed for modifying Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) and used for the measurement of morphine through cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Various analytical methods initially characterized the nanocomposite. The prepared sensor, which also has an extensive surface area, achieved a detection limit of 0.01 µM for morphine in a concentration range of 0.05–100 µM at pH 7. Besides its excellent capability in measuring morphine in real samples, the sensor exhibits good stability, reproducibility, and repeatability. The presence of CuS, due to its excellent high surface area alongside silver nanoparticles, leads to an increase in the conductivity of the g-C3N5 modified electrode, resulting in an increased oxidative current of morphine at the surface of the prepared sensor. Therefore, measuring low concentrations of morphine with this sensor was made possible. Additionally, measuring morphine without interference from various species is a strong point of the electrochemical sensor for morphine detection, and combined with the simplicity and ease of the method, it allows for morphine measurements to be conducted in the shortest possible time.

In recent decades, electronic devices have become a crucial component of everyday life and an increasingly important aspect of national security. However, despite their convenience, the emission of electromagnetic (EM) radiation from these devices has created a pollution issue that demands urgent attention. In this study, the properties and performance of CuS/C composites as EM wave-absorbing materials were examined. The main technique employed involved modifying the surface structure and properties of a lignin biopolymer via a fiber laser to derive porous carbon as a microwave absorber in the X-band range. Flower-like CuS microspheres were integrated into the porous carbon to improve the electrical conductivity and promote internal reflections. In addition, multilayer microwave absorbers were developed using CuS/C/epoxy composites with varying weight percentages, which were fabricated through refluxing and annealing techniques. The return losses of the absorbers in single- and multi-layer modes were optimized by modified local particle swarm optimization (MLPSO). The minimum average return loss improved to −15 dB (96.8%) by optimization in the 4-layer mode with a thickness of 1.8 mm. The optimum absorption peak in the 3-layer structure was −54.52 dB at a frequency of 8.83 GHz. The shielding effectiveness assessments indicated that the CuS/C/epoxy composite significantly improved the shielding capabilities of porous C and CuS, resulting in an increase of the shielding effectiveness threshold (SET) from less than 2 dB in lignin to more than 10 dB in CuS/C/epoxy.

Abstract Copper indium sulfide (CuInS2) exhibits strong visible light absorption and thus has the potential for good photocatalytic activity; however, rapid charge recombination limits its practical usage. An intriguing strategy to overcome this issue is to couple CuInS2 with another semiconductor to form a heterojunction, which can improve the charge carrier separation and, hence, enhance the photocatalytic activity. In this study, photocatalysts comprising CuInS2 with a secondary CuS phase (termed CuInxSy) and CuInxSy loaded with ZnS (termed ZnS@CuInxSy) were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method. Structural and morphological characterization revealed that the ZnS@CuInxSy photocatalyst comprised tetragonal CuInS2 containing a secondary phase of hexagonal CuS, coupled with hexagonal ZnS. The effective band gap energy of CuInxSy was widened from 2.23 to 2.71 as the ZnS loading increased from 0 to 30%. The coupling of CuInxSy with ZnS leads to long-lived charge carriers and efficient visible-light harvesting properties, which in turn lead to a remarkably high activity for the photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green (95.6% in 5 h) and conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-nitrophenolate ions (95.4% in 5 h). The active species involved in these photocatalytic processes were evaluated using suitable trapping agents. Based on the obtained results, photocatalytic mechanisms are proposed that emphasize the importance of h+, O2 •–, and OH− in photocatalytic processes using ZnS@CuInxSy.

In this study, we have synthesized a nanostructured core–shell framework of carbon-coated copper sulfide (C@CuS) through a one-step precipitation technique. The carbon sphere template facilitated the nucleation of CuS nanostructures. The synthesized nanocomposites have demonstrated remarkable lithium-ion storage capabilities when utilized as an anode in lithium-ion batteries. Notably, they exhibit an impressive rate capability of 314 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 5000 mA g−1, along with excellent long-term cycle stability, maintaining 463 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 after 800 cycles. This superior performance is due to the core–shell architecture of the composite, where the carbon core enhances the conductivity of CuS nanoparticles and mitigates volume expansion, thus preventing capacity loss. Our study not only elucidates the significance of carbon in the construction of nano-heterojunctions or composite electrodes but also presents a practical approach to significantly boost the electrochemical performance of CuS and other metal sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Advances in Engineering & Pure Sciences is the property of Marmara University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractThe current research presents a dynamically coupled mathematical model considering the energy method and employing the classical Ritz-approximation method for a thin-walled anisotropic tapered rotating box beam. The novelty of this work lies in presenting the effect of circumferentially uniform stiffness (CUS) ply layup to investigate the reverberations of not considering bending-shear couplings toward vibration behavior. The current model is formulated by considering transverse shear and cross-sectional warping of order primary and secondary. The repercussions of not including non-classical effects like Coriolis-force, centrifugal-acceleration and warping, inertial-warping is explored. Mode switching arising for change in geometry and centrifugal stiffening is presented for various ply angles and rotational speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Interfacial solar steam generation is considered as economical and more effective implementation of Solar steam generation (SSG) where solar energy is concentrated at the liquid surface via the utilization of heat localization materials (HLM). Herein we report the fabrication of an HLM constituted of a nanocomposite absorber of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and covellite copper sulfide (CuS) supported on a mixed cellulose ester membrane, with a substrate of air laid paper-wrapped polystyrene foam. This structure allowed for strong broad-spectrum absorbance, increased hydrophilic character and minimal thermal losses. The HLM system absorbed 98% of the material and had an evaporation rate of 2.58 kgs per square meter per hour. This is twice the evaporation rate of water tested under the same conditions. Moreover, as fabricated HLM was also incorporated in a solar still in order to assess its practical performance in solar distillation. Initial studies proved that HLM modified solar still was more effective than conventional solar stills.

Photocatalytic technology, as one of the most promising environmental remediation tools, has a wide range of applications in the field of removing antibiotic-based pollutants from wastewater. Therefore, to obtain efficient green and inexpensive photocatalysts, a p–n type Bi2MoO6/CuS composite photocatalyst modified by lignin carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was successfully prepared by solvothermal in situ co-precipitation in this study. It was used to achieve efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracyclic hydrochloride antibiotics (TCH). The composites were systematically characterized by XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, TEM, EIS, nitrogen adsorption–desorption test, and UV–Vis DRS regarding crystal structure, microscopic morphology, and photoelectric properties. The results showed that the prepared samples had good crystallinity and high purity. The photocatalytic degradation experiments further demonstrated that the Bi2MoO6/CuS composites modified by CQDs exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity compared to Bi2MoO6 and CuS monomers wherein CQDs@Bi2MoO6/CuS 2 was the most effective, with a TCH removal of 96.98% and a degradation rate constant (K) of 0.04405 min−1 after 60 min of light exposure. The TCH removal could be maintained at 78.25% after four cycles. The ESR and LC–MS experiments demonstrated that h+ and ·O2− were the main active substances for photocatalytic degradation of TCH. This work provides an efficient catalyst for TCH removal and offers new ideas for applying p–n heterojunction composites in photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium is a common heavy metal contaminant that is widely used in various industrial processes. CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs composite photocatalysts with different CNFs(active carbon nanofibers) content were prepared by solvothermal method to improve the reduction of hexvalent chromium under visible light irradiation. The samples underwent characterization using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–Vis, PL, and photocurrent techniques to analyze their crystal shape, morphology, structure, elemental composition, surface functional groups, and optical properties. Additionally, the photocatalytic reduction activity of Cr(VI) was investigated. The findings demonstrated a notably enhanced photocatalytic activity in CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs composites compared to CuS, Bi2WO6, and CuS-Bi2WO6 individually. In the presence of visible light, 1% CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs showed excellent photocatalytic activity for Cr(VI) reduction, with a reduction rate of 98% within 3 h. Furthermore, after four cycles, the 1% CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs composite demonstrated consistent stability and recyclability. Additionally, an active group capture experiment revealed the involvement of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), photogenerated holes (h+), and superoxide radicals (•O2−) in the reduction of Cr(VI) by CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs, with •O2− emerging as the primary active species in the system. Based on these findings, we investigated the photocatalytic reaction mechanism. This study underscores the feasibility of preparing CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs through a straightforward and manageable solvothermal approach, affirming the promising potential of CuS-Bi2WO6/CNFs composites in hexavalent chromium treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a two-dimensional transition metal disulfide (TMD), is of great concern in microwave absorption (MA). Nevertheless, pure MoS2 has limitations in realizing outstanding MA performance owing to its lower conductivity and smaller dielectric constant. To address this, compounding it with highly conductive CuS not only improves its conductivity and impedance-matching properties but also increases the interfacial polarization within the material and enhances the MA properties of the material. In this study, flower-like heterostructured CuS/MoS2 nanoflake composites were prepared using the hydrothermal method. The characterization of the morphology and properties reveals the existence of a considerable number of heterogeneous interfaces in the composites, resulting in increased dielectric loss capability. By adjusting the ratio with CuS and MoS2, the CuS/MoS2-30 composite achieved an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.4 GHz (from 11.6 to 18 GHz) and a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −57.89 dB. Meanwhile, the CuS/MoS2-50 composite with a matched thickness of 2.17 mm and an EAB of 6 GHz achieved the RLmin value of −63.09 dB. These outstanding properties are based on the transition metal sulfide heterojunction formation of microwave absorbents; without coupling with magnetic materials, it shows excellent synergistic loss through dielectric–dielectric interaction. It is demonstrated that the flower-like heterojunction CuS/MoS2 nanoflake composites are potentially ideal microwave absorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermally-based solar steam generation has emerged as a promising solution for efficient water evaporation. Photothermal particles offer significant advantages in water treatment by converting light energy into heat. While gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are commonly used, their cost can be prohibitive. This study focuses on developing a photothermal water evaporation matrix using hollow CuS nanoparticles (NPs)-embedded in a polydimethylsiloxane sponge. This innovative approach enhanced both water absorption and heat transfer. The system achieved a remarkably high water evaporation rate of 3.23 kg/m2 h under xenon arc lamp irradiation. The investigation revealed that specific wavelength ranges, particularly the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared regions, significantly contribute to water evaporation, with the UV region playing the most prominent role. These findings help optimize photothermal effects by enhancing light absorption at specific wavelengths. Notably, CuS NPs offer a cost-effective alternative to AuNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from fossil fuels to carbon-neutral energy sources is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and combat climate change. Hydrogen (H2) provides a promising path to harness fossil fuels to reduce emissions in sectors such as transportation. However, regional economic analyses of various H2 production techniques are still lacking. We selected a well-known fossil fuel-exporting region, the USA's Intermountain-West (I-WEST), to analyze the carbon intensity of H2 production and demonstrate regional tradeoffs. Currently, 78 % of global H2 production comes from natural gas and coal. Therefore, we considered steam methane reforming (SMR), surface coal gasification (SCG) and underground coal gasification (UCG) as H2 production methods in this work. We developed the cost estimation frameworks of SMR, SCG and UCG with and without carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS). In addition, we identified optimal sites for H2 hubs by considering the proximity to energy sources, energy markets, storage sites and CO2 sequestration sites. We included new production tax credits (PTCs) in the cost estimation to quantify the economic benefit of CCUS. Our results suggest that the UCG has the lowest levelized cost of H2 production due to the elimination of coal production cost. H2 production using the SMR process with 99 % carbon capture is profitable when the PTCs are considered. We also analyzed carbon utilization opportunities where CO2 conversion to formic acid is a promising profitable option. This work quantifies the potential of H2 production from fossil fuels in the I-WEST region, a key parameter for designing energy transition pathways.

Abstract This study reports the effects of a computationally informed and avocado-seed mediated Phyto engineered CuS nanoparticles as fertilizing agent on the ionome and amino acid metabolome of Pinto bean seeds using both bench top and ion beam analytical techniques. Physico-chemical analysis of the Phyto engineered nanoparticles with scanning-electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CuS nanoparticles. Molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of some active phytocompounds in avocado seeds that act as reducing agents with the nano-digenite further showed that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid had a higher affinity for interacting with the nanoparticle’s surface than other active compounds. Seeds treated with the digenite nanoparticles exhibited a unique ionome distribution pattern as determined with external beam proton-induced X-ray emission, with hotspots of Cu and S appearing in the hilum and micropyle area that indicated a possible uptake mechanism via the seed coat. The nano-digenite also triggered a plant stress response by slightly altering seed amino acid metabolism. Ultimately, the nano-digenite may have important implications as a seed protective or nutritive agent as advised by its unique distribution pattern and effect on amino acid metabolism. Graphical abstract

Using electrocatalytic water reduction to produce hydrogen fuel offers significant potential for clean energy, yet its large-scale adoption depends on developing cost-effective, non-precious, and efficient catalysts to replace expensive Pt-based state-of-the-art HER catalysts. The catalytic HER performance of an active catalyst largely depends on the available catalytic active sites, conductivity, and intrinsic electrochemical kinetics, all of which can be altered by incorporating a heteroatom into the active catalyst structure. Herein, we synthesized a unique nitrogen-doped CuO@CuS (NCOS) core–shell-structured catalyst through a facile hydrothermal process followed by an efficacious nitrogenation process, and its electrochemical performance for the HER was systematically analyzed. The NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst exhibits a reduced overpotential (55 mV) and Tafel slope (107 mV dec−1) compared to the pure CuS (CS; 179 mV and 201 mV dec−1) catalyst at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the NCOS core–shell-structured catalyst demonstrates excellent endurance for up to 50 h of chronopotentiometric testing at a driving current density rate of 10 and 100 mA cm−2. This excellent catalytic HER activity is a result of an increased electron transfer rate and a greater number of accessible active sites, attributed to a change in structural properties and the high electronic conductivity aroused from nitrogen incorporation, as evidenced from the TOF and EIS curve analyses.

Frequent oil spill accidents and the discharge of oily wastewaters cause significant threats to the marine ecological systems and human health. Herein, a CuS microspheres-based superhydrophobic paper (CuS SP) has been prepared with the photothermal property for efficient oil/water separation and emulsions. To increase the durability, polydopamine is introduced to cellulosic fibers of the filter paper via the self-assembly of dopamine. The CuS SP exhibits a water contact angle of 150.5° and an oil contact angle of ~ 0°, displaying excellent superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity. Also, the CuS SP possesses excellent chemical resistance, thermal stability, mechanical durability, and self-cleaning property. More importantly, the maximum surface temperature of the CuS SP can reach about 54.6 °C after 100 s under one sunlight irradiation (1.0 kW m−2), and it remains at about 54 ℃ even after 10 cyclic tests with light on and off. The separation flux of CCl4 can be increased by about 14.3% under one sunlight irradiation by using the CuS SP when compared with that without sunlight irradiation. Although the photothermal effect has no obvious influence on the separation efficiency, the CuS SP still shows a high separation efficiency (> 99%) for CCl4/water mixture under 15 cyclic separation tests with/without sunlight irradiation. Besides, in situ experimental observations for the separation of oil-in-water emulsions have been investigated with the CuS SP by using an optical microscopy, and the possible mechanisms for the separation of oil-in-water emulsions are discussed. Thus, the as-prepared CuS SP shows great potentials in the fields of self-cleaning, and the separation of oil/water mixtures and emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real-time photothermal degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye was studied using CuS thin film (TF) as a photocatalyst. The polycrystalline CuS TFs were fabricated on precleaned glass substrates by an aqueous solution of copper chloride and thiourea using a fully automated spray pyrolysis technique by varying temperatures (250–400°C). The properties of deposited films were studied by XRD, SEM, UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and Hall measurement. XRD results show that the CuS TFs crystallized in the cubic phase with an average crystallite size ~22–30 nm. CuS TF grown at higher temperatures (350°C, 400°C) exhibited very low strain of about 0.55 and 1%, respectively. Hall study revealed that films deposited at 400°C had good electrical parameters with mobility (μ) of 0.866 cm2 V−1 s−1, Carrier concentration (p) of 5.21 × 1019 cm−3 and conductivity (σ) of 49.4 Ω-cm−1. The estimated optical bandgap of films were found to be in the range of 2.10–2.26 eV, revealing blue shift due to quantum size effects. The PL spectra showed two characteristic bands of the CuS films, at 422 nm and an intense green band at 504 nm. The copper sulphide TF showed high photocatalytic activities in a photo-decolourization of MB dye under irradiation of visible light, as CuS TF was able to completely decompose the dye in 160 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CuAP aerogel has excellent photothermal evaporation performance, reaching a maximum rate of 1.57 kg m−2 h−1 in pure water, and has also shown excellent desalination performance in real seawater evaporation tests. [Display omitted] Solar-driven water purification is a promising technology that can effectively utilize solar energy for seawater desalination. However, poor materials are unable to meet the dense energy of solar steam generation in natural sunlight for real-time practical applications. Therefore, the demand for energy density can be increased by using improved semiconductor aerogel materials. Here, we report a simple chemical method to obtain a CuS@ATP/PS composite aerogel (named CuAP), which was made of attapulgite (ATP) and CuS loaded onto it using an N -template to give it good photothermal characteristics (CuS@ATP), and then cross-link it with potato starch (PS). The evaporation rate of CuAP-15 aerogel in pure water at 1 kW m−2 solar radiation is 1.57 kg m−2 h−1. Meanwhile, CuAP-15 aerogel showed excellent salt resistance with an evaporation rate of 1.35 kg m−2 h−1 in 20 wt% NaCl solution. And also exhibited excellent cycling durability in cycling stability tests. More importantly, the freshwater yield can reach 6.54 kg m−2 under natural light irradiation for 11 h. Therefore, CuAP aerogel has a great prospect of application in the field of seawater desalination in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, copper sulfide (CuS) nanostructure was deposited on a porous silicon wafer for the visible light by spray pyrolysis method. Through this, a series of devices were suggested as a part of the deposit concentration of CuS on n-type porous silicon. Simultaneously, the physical features of the attained film were illustrated. FESEM exhibited that the average nanoparticle diameter increased with the concentration of CuS at orientation (100) and was found to be 47.84 nm, 56.36nm and 71.32nm, while the average diameter at (111) orientation was found to be 37.64 nm, 41.46nm, 55.22 nm of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5M respectively. In addition to the atomic force microscope (AFM) showed the roughness and uniformity of the CuS/PSi fabricated decreased with increasing concentration of CuS, In detail, the attained photo-responsivity and specific detectivity were observed to be 210 mW/A, 340 mW/A and 3x1010 Jones, 4.2x1010 Jones at orientation (100 )using concentration of 0.1M and 0.5M respectively . On the other hand, the photo-responsivity and specific detectivity were observed to be 260 mW/A, 380 mW/A and 1.8 x1010 Jones, 4.5x1010 Jones at orientation (111) using concentrations of 0.1M and 0.5M respectively. The presented work shows a substitutional system for an economical and environmentally friendly optoelectronic scheme. The photo-responsive considered to be in a positive linear relationship with the used concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 electroreduction into liquid fuels is of broad interest and benefits reducing the energy crisis and environment burdens. CuS has been reported to be a desirable candidate for CO2 electroreduction into formate; however, its formate selectivity and stability are still far from the demands of practical application. Herein, we report CuS nanoparticles exhibiting good Faradaic efficiency of formate (about 98 %) in CO2 electroreduction and its deactivation mechanism during the reaction. The deactivation of CuS was found to be associated with the reconstruction and S loss of CuS, which deteriorates the Faradaic efficiency of formate. Combined with ionic and gas analyses, the S atom in CuS was lost in the form of H2S, SO2, and SO42−, followed by the reconstruction of CuS into copper oxides. Such a catalyst reconstruction facilitates electroreductions of CO2 and H2O, respectively, into CO and H2, etc., resulting in the degradation of catalytical performance of CO2 electroreduction into formate. This work reveals the important role of S loss and reconstruction of metal sulfide catalysts during the electroreduction reaction, which may benefit the further development of CuS‐based electro‐catalyst for CO2 electroreduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts have gained much attention because of the water pollution instigated by the rapid usage of organic dyes for industrial needs. The degradation of these dyes using photocatalysts under natural light is an economical and popular method for water treatment. There is a need to synthesize photocatalytic materials which can generate reactive oxygen species under natural light. Hence, keeping in mind the above point, rose flower-shaped CuS nanostructures have been synthesized first time by solvothermal technique by varying reaction duration. The self-assembled powder of CuS nanostructures is characterized using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, DLS, EDS, XPS, Raman, FT-IR, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The XRD and TEM analyses confirmed the formation of a polycrystalline hexagonal structure with prominent diffraction peaks. FE-SEM study shows the formation of uniformly self-assembled rose flower-shaped nanostructures of size 2–3 μm composed of densely packed nanoparticles. XPS study shows the presence of Cu(II) and Cu(I) states of copper in the synthesized batch and stoichiometric composition Cu:S is found to be 60:40 at.%. The optical studies showed broad absorption spectra of CuS nanostructures in about 300–800 nm wavelength range. Besides, this work studies the degradation activity of methylene blue and crystal violet organic dyes under natural sunlight conditions without the presence of any additive agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun nanofibers with highly efficient photothermal/electrothermal performance are extremely popular because of their great potential in wearable heaters. However, the lack of necessary wearable properties such as high mechanical strength and quick response of electrospun micro/nanofibers seriously affects their practical application. In this work, a technical route combining electrospinning and surface modification technology is proposed. The 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine-polyacrylonitrile@ copper sulfide (K-PAN@CuS) composite fabric was achieved by modifying the original electrospinning PAN fiber and subsequently loading CuS nanoparticles. The results show that the break strength of the K-PAN@CuS fabric was increased by 10 times compared to that of the original PAN@CuS fabric. Furthermore, the saturated temperature of the K-PAN@CuS fabric heater could reach 116 °C within 15 s at a relatively low voltage of 3 V and 120.3 °C within 10 s under an infrared therapy lamp (100 W). In addition, due to its excellent conductivity, such a unique structural design enables the fiber to be closely attached to the human skin and helps to monitor human movements. This K-PAN@CuS fabric shows great potential in wearable heaters, hyperthermia, all-weather thermal management, and in vitro physical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A3 coupling reaction can be used to efficiently synthesize propargylamine, which is an important bioactive molecule intermediate, and copper sulfide (CuS) as its catalyst is rarely reported. Herein, CuS with different morphologies including nanoflowers (NFS), nanorods (NR), nanoparticles (NP) were synthesized and applied to the A3 coupling reaction. The results show that CuS NP has the highest catalytic activity (99 % conversion) compared to other CuS, and also has good group compatibility and recyclability. Combining the activity with the CuS surface structure checked by XPS, BET and HRTEM etc. the excellent catalytic performance of CuS NP can be attributed to its higher specific surface area ((SBET=26.9 m2/g, SLangmuir=144.2 m2/g), and higher Cu+/Cu0 (58.9 %), Sn2− (16.7 %). The large specific surface area can provide more active sites, and higher Cu+/Cu0, Sn2− content are conducive to promoting the activation of alkyne terminal C−H, which is an important step in the A3 coupling reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full potential all-electron density functional method within generalized gradient approximation is used herein to investigate correlations of the electronic, elastic and thermo-electric transport properties of cubic copper sulphide and copper selenide. The electronic band structure and density of states suggest a metallic behaviour with a zero-energy band gap for both materials. Elastic property calculations suggest stiff materials, with bulk to shear modulus ratios of 0.35 and 0.44 for Cu2S and Cu2Se, respectively. Thermo-electric transport properties were estimated using the Boltzmann transport approach. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and power factor all suggest a potential p-type conductivity for α-Cu2S and n-type conductivity for α-Cu2Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the generation of hydrogen by electrolysis of water is cheapest from all other available sources but splitting of water still takes place with sluggish kinetics and is a challenging barrier for H 2 production on large scale. Moreover, research work is still in progress to understand the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and design the catalysts with improved OER performance. Herein, we report synthesis, characterization, and OER performance of copper oxide/copper sulfide (CuO/CuS) heterostructures and its individual components copper oxide (CuO) and copper sulfide (CuS) as low-cost catalysts for water oxidation. CuO/CuS has been demonstrated to be a stable and effective catalyst that initiates the OER at a potential of 1.49 V. (vs. RHE). The CuO/CuS catalyst drives the OER at only 270 mV overpotential and Tafel slope of 67 mV dec−1 with a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH. CuO/CuS heterostructures outperforms OER performance of previously reported Cu-based catalysts. Long-term stability and performance toward OER are demonstrated by the oxygen evolution at an applied potential of 1.65 V (vs. RHE) over an extended period. This feature brings a favourable, non-noble, highly efficient, and robust OER catalyst. [Display omitted] • Cuo/CuS heterostructures catalyst synthesized for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). • It exhibits enhanced OER performance with overpotential of 270 mV@10 mAcm−2. • Pre-oxidation of water generate active Cu3+ centers which boost OER performance. • Heterostructures provide large surface area which is responsible for enhanced OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Dalian Polytechnic University is the property of Journal of Dalian Polytechnic University Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A multi‐level architecture formed alternatively by the conformal graphdiyne (GDY) and CuS is well engineered for Li‐free cathode. Such a proof‐of‐concept architecture efficiently integrates the advantages of GDY and produces new functional heterojunctions (sp−C−S−Cu hybridization bond). The layer‐by‐layer 2D confinement effect successfully avoids structural collapse, the selective transport inhibits the shuttling of active components, and the interfacial sp−C−S−Cu hybridization bond significantly regulates the phase conversion reaction. Such new sp−C−S−Cu hybridization of GDY greatly improves the reaction dynamics and reversibility, and the cathode delivers an energy density of 934 Wh kg−1 and an unattenuated lifespan of 3000 cycles at 1 C. Our results indicate that the GDY‐based interface strategy will greatly promote the efficient utilization of the conversion‐type cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper sulfide (CuS) thin film was electrodeposited onto stainless steel (SS 316L) substrate under pulse potential control, from an aqueous acidic solution containing 10−3 M of CuSO4.5H2O and 10−2 M of SC(NH2)2. The solution pH was maintained at 2.2 ± 0.1 by adding a few microliters of 0.1 M H2SO4 solution. The electrodeposited thin film was grown at 30 °C by applying a forward potential (EF) of − 0.85 V vs Ag/AgCl for 0.2 s and a reverse potential (ER) of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl for 0.4 s. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to determine EF and ER as well as the possible reactions that occurred in the studied system and to understand the electrochemical behavior of the SS 316 L substrate on the deposition solutions. Normal and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX) techniques showed that the obtained thin film, applying EF and ER, was a hexagonal covellite CuS. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the obtained CuS film is grainy and contained some cracks. Profilometry indicated that the elaborated film has a thickness of 7.85 ± 0.71 µm. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Mott–Schottky (MS) analysis were performed, but the results are controversial because of the participation of SS 316 L substrate in the behavior of the obtained data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although photothermal treatment (PTT) has made significant progress in the fight against cancer, certain types of malignant tumors are still difficult to eradicate. PTT uses photothermal transforming agents to absorb NIR light and convert it to thermal energy, causing cancer cell death. In this study, we synthesized alginate (Alg)-coated CuS nanoparticles (CuS@Alg) as photothermal transforming agents to kill glioblastoma cancer cells. Nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile method, then, were characterized with different techniques such as ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Nanoparticles show high stability, and are monodisperse. CuS@Alg was discovered to have a spherical shape, a hydrodynamic size of about 19.93 nm, and a zeta potential of − 9.74 mV. CuS@Alg is able to increase temperature of medium under NIR light. Importantly, in vitro investigations show that PTT based on CuS@Alg has a strong theraputic impact, resulting in much high effectiveness. The LD50 and histopathology assays were used to confirm the NPs' non-toxicity in vivo. Results from an in vivo subacute toxicity investigation showed that the fabricated NPs were perfectly safe to biomedical usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cranial ultrasonography (CUS) has become an important tool to depict normal brain anatomy and to detect the ischemic and hemorrhagic brain injury patterns in high-risk neonates. The present study aimed to assess the utility of CUS to diagnose the spectrum of brain injury patterns in high-risk preterm and term neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to find the association of CUS findings in various adverse antenatal and perinatal feto-maternal factors. Results Out of the 200 neonates, 76 (38%) neonates had abnormal CUS findings and 124 (62%) had a normal CUS. Germinal matrix hemorrhage-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH) (28/76; 36.8 %) was the commonest abnormality with GMH (grade 1) in 14/76 (18.4%), grade 2 in 7 (9.2%), grade 3 in 5 (6.5%), and grade 4 in 2 (2.63%). The other findings observed were cerebral edema (14/76; 18.4%), thalamic hyperechogenicity (10/76; 13.1%), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (4/76; 5.2%), and congenital anomalies (8; 10.5%). Abnormal CUS findings had a statistically significant association with birth weight

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs), as one of the most promising candidates for efficient energy storage devices with high energy, power density and high safety, have attracted increasing attention. However, searching for suitable cathode materials with fast diffusion kinetics and exploring their magnesium storage mechanisms remains a great challenge. CuS submicron spheres, made by a facile low-temperature synthesis strategy, were applied as the high-performance cathode for RMBs in this work, which can deliver a high specific capacity of 396 mAh g−1 at 20 mA g−1 and a remarkable rate capacity of 250 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1. The excellent rate performance can be assigned to the nano needle-like particles on the surface of CuS submicron spheres, which can facilitate the diffusion kinetics of Mg2+. Further storage mechanism investigations illustrate that the CuS cathodes experience a two-step conversion reaction controlled by diffusion during the electrochemical reaction process. This work could make a contribution to the study of the enhancement of diffusion kinetics of Mg2+ and the reaction mechanism of RMBs.

Being social animals, rats exhibit a range of social behaviors that help them build social bonds and maintain group cohesion. Behavior is influenced by multiple factors, including stress exposure, and the expression of the impact of stress on both social and non-social behaviors may also be aected by the living conditions of rats. In this study, we explored the physiological and behavioral eects of chronic unpredictable stress on group-housed rats in the PhenoWorld (PhW), a socially and physically enriched environment closer to real-life conditions. Two independent experiments were performed: one in the control condition (PhW control, n = 8) and one in the stress condition (PhW stress, n = 8). Control animals remained undisturbed except for cage cleaning and daily handling procedures. Stress group animals were all exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Data confirm that stress exposure triggers anxiety-like behavior in the PhW. In terms of home-cage behaviors, we found that stress aects social behaviors (by decreased playing and increased huddling behaviors) and non-social behaviors (as shown by the decrease in rearing and walking behaviors). These results are of relevance to expand our knowledge on the influence of stress on social and non-social behaviors, which are of importance to understand better species-typical behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) represents a complementary ultrasound investigation done by the clinician at the person’s home or in the family doctor’s office, wherever the patient is situated, addressed to symptomatic patients with acute or chronic conditions, with the early diagnostic purpose or/and to guide and lead the treatment management. POCUS practically represents an extension of the clinical examination in the family doctor’s practice and is based on and directly correlated with the location of the symptoms. It is the right hand of medical specialties, playing a prominent role in an emergency, in acute or chronic pathology, especially in the family doctor’s practice. POCUS could be a central pillar in the first contact with the symptomatic patient. General practitioners are trained to manage both chronic conditions as well as acute emergencies, often within the same session, seeing women and men, young and old patients. Point-of-care ultrasonography performed by the clinician at the site of patient care is an important tool to guide the case management for the early diagnosis with a targeted purpose. It represents an extension and complements the clinical examination of physicians to achieve an accurate positive and differential diagnosis. In conclusion, because of a significant number of advantages, ultrasonography should be a diagnostic tool, besides the stethoscope, in the general practitioner’s office. In our opinion, the two instruments should be considered complementary. POCUS is always clinical ultrasound (CUS), but clinical ultrasound includes both POCUS directly correlated with patient’s symptoms and comprehensive specialist ultrasound. POCUS deals with narrowly defined clinical questions within a body region or an individual organ, without claiming to comprehensively assess a region or an organ system. Point-of-care ultrasound can be defined as the use of an image-producing ultrasound device for diagnostic and procedural guidance, by the clinician himself, at the point of care, in real time, allowing for a direct correlation with signs and symptoms. A pointof-care ultrasound exam involves using ultrasound to answer specific clinical questions or guide a procedure at the “point of care”, whether in a hospital or a remote setting. It provides a quick, noninvasive way to speed up the diagnosis and treat the patient more effectively. Point-of-care ultrasound is defined as a “diagnostic or procedural guidance ultrasound that is performed by a clinician during a patient encounter to help guide the evaluation and management of the patient”. POCUS is a broader term that includes the many scenarios (emergency room, ambulance, helicopter, street etc.) in which portable ultrasound can be used. The central question is what should and must a doctor specializing in general medicine be able to do to carry out clinical exams completed with POCUS in diagnostic or procedural scope. We tried to create a methodology for establishing the POCUS curriculum for family physicians/GPs, following the latest scientific acquisitions in this field. In correlation with the POCUS curriculum adopted in European countries until now, the general opinion is for a modular format, “Basic and Advanced Courses in Family Physician Care”. The curriculum will be structured in three main chapters: 1. Basic training. Ultrasound physics and basic functions of ultrasound scanner, basic notions of ultrasound semiology (two days, 16 hours); 2. POCUS applications based on topographic regions centered on the patient’s symptoms – basic level (two days, 16 hours); 3. POCUS applications based on different topographical regions centered on the patient’s symptoms – advanced level (two days, 16 hours per topographical region). We have established several topographic regions of POCUS applications in family medicine on levels of ultrasound practice (basic and advanced levels). We established some 13 topographic regions of POCUS applications correlated to different signs, symptoms and syndromes presented by the patient when being consulted in primary healthcare, systematized on the levels of ultrasound practice (basic and advanced levels), depending on the stage of training and experience accumulated by each doctor, being an operatordependent method. These applications were selected based on questionnaires launched at the European level with over 500 respondents from most European countries who participated in this survey from the WONCA Europe and EFSUMB research networks. In the end, we tried to present the results obtained by the European Working Group in Ultrasonography in terms of the experience accumulated in 25 years of POCUS practice in the creation of small curricula in primary medicine in several countries in Europe, and especially in the educational activity, in promoting clinical ultrasound within numerous European projects. We hope for the future realization of POCUS development plans at the European level, such as: • Better collaboration among the European professional organizations EUVEKUS, EFSUMB and WONCA Europe networks in joint projects; • Development of a European POCUS curriculum in primary healthcare; • Continuing medical education and the organization of POCUS accredited courses and workshops for family doctors at the European level together with EFSUMB; • Issuance of a European POCUS accreditation certificate in family medicine at basic and advanced levels; • Working on partnerships in EU projects; • Improving liaison with institutional members; • Database of ongoing projects and research interests for EUVEKUS/EFSUMB members [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, well-defined hollow CuS microspheres assembled from nanosheets were successfully synthesized through a facile solvothermal method. Hollow CuS microspheres have an average diameter of 1.5 μm; moreover, the primary CuS nanosheets have an ultrathin thickness of about 10 nm and are bound by {0001} polar facets. When used as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), hollow CuS microspheres exhibit excellent electrochemical properties, including a large discharge capacity (610.1 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C), an excellent rate capability (207.6 and 143.4 mAh g−1 at 1 and 5 C), and a superior cyclic stability (196.3 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 500 cycles). When used as photocatalysts for Rhodamine B (RhB), hollow CuS microspheres can degrade more than 99% of the initial RhB within 21 min. These excellent Li-ion storage properties and photocatalytical performances are attributed to their unique hierarchical hollow structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel S-scheme CuS/Bi5O7I heterojunction was successfully constructed using a two-step approach comprising the alkaline hydrothermal method and the adsorption–deposition method, and it consisted of Bi5O7I microrods with CuS particles covering the surface. The photocatalytic antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli (E. coli) were systematically examined with visible light exposure. The results suggested that the 3%-CuS/Bi5O7I composite showed the optimal antibacterial activity, completely inactivating E. coli (5 × 108 cfu/mL) in 180 min of irradiation. Moreover, the bacterial inactivation process was scientifically described. •O2− and h+ were the major active species for the inactivation of the bacteria. In the early stages, SOD and CAT initiated the protection system to avoid the oxidative destruction of the active species. Unfortunately, the antioxidant protection system was overwhelmed thereafter, which led to the destruction of the cell membrane, as evidenced by the microstructure changes in E. coli cells. Subsequently, the leakage of intracellular components including K+, proteins, and DNA resulted in the unavoidable death of E. coli. Due to the construction of the S-scheme heterojunction, the CuS/Bi5O7I composite displayed the boosted visible light harvesting, the high-efficiency separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, and a great redox capacity, contributing to an outstanding photocatalytic disinfection performance. This work offers a new opportunity for S-scheme Bi5O7I-based heterojunctions with potential application in water disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Molecular Science is the property of Journal of Molecular Science Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)