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A good bifunctional electrocatalyst can effectively drive water splitting to produce hydrogen gas. In this paper, NiMoO4an nanomaterial was prepared and combined with black phosphorus (BP) in a one-step method. Used as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, the composite demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performance with 162.7 mV and 137.6 mV achieving current densities of 20 mA cm−2 and 10 mA cm−2 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. For overall water splitting, the potential was just 1.55 V to achieve 10 mA cm−2, and, especially, the value only rises by0.05 V after 2000 cycles of CV. Here, the one-step synthesis method favors the dispersion of NiMoO4 nanomaterial on the BP surfaces, and facilitates a combination between the nickel molybdate and the BP. Also, the excellent performance of the samples should benefit from the synergistic action between the components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the excellent piezoelectric properties of 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.3PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) single crystals, a hole-doped manganite film/PMN–PT heterostructure has been constructed to achieve electric-field and light co-control of physical properties. Here, we report the resistivity switching behavior of Eu0.7Sr0.3MnO3/PMN–PT(111) multiferroic heterostructures under different in-plane reading currents, temperatures, light stimuli and electric fields, and discuss the underlying coupling mechanisms of resistivity change. The transition from the electric-field induced lattice strain effect to polarization current effect can be controlled effectively by decreasing the in-plane reading current at room temperature. With the decrease of temperature, the interfacial charge effect dominates over the lattice strain effect due to the reduced charge carrier density. In addition, light stimulus can lead to the delocalization of eg carriers, and thus enhance the lattice strain effect and suppress the interfacial charge effect. This work helps to understand essential physics of magnetoelectric coupling and also provides a potential method to realize energy-efficient multi-field control of manganite thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hsian‐tsao gum (HG) has unique gel‐promoting and nutritional properties; however, its use in processed foods is limited to starchy foods, partially due to a lack of knowledge related to its interaction with proteins. This study elucidated the interaction mechanism of heat‐induced gelatin (G) (50 g kg−1) gel fortified with HG (0 ~ 20 g kg−1) using rheology, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), large deformation tests, low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Heating promoted synergistic interactions between G and more HG molecules with enhanced apparent viscosity and higher storage modulus G′ than loss modulus G″, thus shortening the gel time (tg) of G‐HG sols into gels. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and DSC also confirmed the chemical interactions that occurred, facilitating the formation of β‐sheet structures of G. The microstructure of G gradually formed separate, coarse strands, and aggregated as HG was added, as observed by CLSM and SEM. This accelerated the gel formation rate and changed the textural properties. Although HG caused a disruptive decrease in the helix structure of G, it was possible to compensate for this by accelerating synergistic interactions, including depletion attractions and Maillard reactions, by heating. Conclusion: Hsian‐tsao gum interacted synergistically with G as a result of heating and this accelerated the gel formation rate and improved the gel properties. Novel complex gels could be designed by blending HG to improve the gel properties of G in the heat processing of the food gel formulation. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, α-Fe2O3 was prepared by hydrothermal and chemical precipitation methods, respectively, and its gas sensing properties toward CH4 were systematically studied. The larger specific surface area of the materials provided them potential and considerable gas adsorption abilities. The results of gas-sensing measurements indicated the synthesized α-Fe2O3 materials presented a p-type conductive nature. The sensitivities of the devices based on the different material fabrication methods were measured to be 195% and 214%, respectively, at 370°C for the concentration of 2000 ppm CH4. In addition, the sensing mechanism was discussed and simulated by first-principles calculation. The results revealed the higher surface adsorption energy of α-Fe2O3, which verified the experimental conclusions of our work. Our research suggests that α-Fe2O3 is a promising candidate for CH4 gas sensing in many fields such as mining safety and environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the carbon microcoils (CMCs). The Raman spectra showed that CMCs had local regular structure as ID/IG = 0.841. Then, aligned CMCs/silicone-rubber composites (5 x 5 x 1 mm³) were fabricated by coating of silicone rubber on the CMCs. Their alternating current impedance characteristics were measured as a function of applied load and the pressure sensitivity was discussed. The results showed that the impedance decreased as the increasing applied load, and the sample with less CMCs owned high pressure sensitivity, which indicated a novel composite ?lm could act as an alternative of tactile sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]