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Highlights Three key processes in carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) for ethylene generation were discussed, including CO2 adsorption/activation, *CO intermediates formation, and C-C coupling. The preferable mechanism for ethylene over C1 and other C2 products reaction pathways. Engineering strategies of Cu-based catalysts for CO2RR-ethylene.

Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), as a kind of ideal antibiotic substitutes, have been recommended to be used in combination with traditional antibiotics in medical and aquaculture fields. Due to the co-existence of QSIs and antibiotics in environmental media, it is necessary to evaluate their joint risk. However, there is little information about the acute toxicity of mixtures for QSIs and antibiotics. In this study, 10 QSIs and 3 sulfonamides (SAs, as the representatives for traditional antibiotics) were selected as the test chemicals, and their acute toxic effects were determined using the bioluminescence of Aliivibrio fischeri (A. fischeri) as the endpoint. The results indicated that SAs and QSIs all induced S-shaped dose-responses in A. fischeri bioluminescence. Furthermore, SAs possessed greater acute toxicity than QSIs, and luciferase (Luc) might be the target protein of test chemicals. Based on the median effective concentration (EC50) for each test chemical, QSI-SA mixtures were designed according to equitoxic (EC50(QSI):EC50(SA) = 1:1) and non-equitoxic ratios (EC50(QSI):EC50(SA) = 1:10, 1:5, 1:0.2, and 1:0.1). It could be observed that with the increase of QSI proportion, the acute toxicity of QSI-SA mixtures enhanced while the corresponding TU values decreased. Furthermore, QSIs contributed more to the acute toxicity of test binary mixtures. The joint toxic actions of QSIs and SAs were synergism for 23 mixtures, antagonism for 12 mixtures, and addition for 1 mixture. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models for the acute toxicity QSIs, SAs, and their binary mixtures were then constructed based on the lowest CDOCKER interaction energy (Ebind-Luc) between Luc and each chemical and the component proportion in the mixture. These models exhibited good robustness and predictive ability in evaluating the toxicity data and joint toxic actions of QSIs and SAs. This study provides reference data and applicable QSAR models for the environmental risk assessment of QSIs, and gives a new perspective for exploring the joint effects of QSI-antibiotic mixtures.

Abstract Dielectric encapsulation materials are promising for solar cell areas, but the unsatisfactory light‐management capability and relatively poor dielectric properties restrict their further applications in photovoltaic and microelectronic devices. Herein, an interface fusion strategy to engineer the interface of MOF (UiO‐66‐NH2) with anhydride terminated imide oligomer (6FDA‐TFMB) is designed and a novel MOF cluster (UFT) with enhanced forward scattering and robust porosity is prepared. UFT is applied as an optical and dielectric modifier for bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA), and UFT epoxy composites with high transmittance (>80%), tunable haze (45–58%) and excellent dielectric properties can be prepared at low UFT contents (0.5–1 wt%), which delivers an optimal design for dielectric encapsulation systems with efficient light management in solar cells. Additionally, UFT epoxy composites also show excellent UV blocking, and hydrophobic, thermal and mechanical properties. This work provides a template for the synthesis of covalent bond‐mediated nanofillers and for the modulation of haze and dielectric properties of dielectric encapsulation materials for energy systems, semiconductors, microelectronics, and more.

Abstract The undesirable Li dendrite growth and other knock‐on issues have significantly plagued the application of Li metal anodes (LMAs). Herein, we report that the synergistic regulation of double interfaces adjacent to the metallic Li anode can effectively prevent the dendritic Li growth, significantly improving the cycling performance of LMAs under harsh conditions including high current density and high depth of discharge. Thorough comparison of electrolytes demonstrated that 1 M lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME) can yield a robust and lithiophobic LiF‐rich upper interface (solid electrolyte interphase). Besides, the Sb‐based buffer layer forms a lithiophilic lower interface on current collector. The synergy of the upper and lower interfacial engineering plays an important role for outstanding cyclability of LMAs. Consequently, the plating/stripping of Li can be stably repeated for 835 and 329 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency (CE) above 99% at 1 and 3 mA h cm−2, respectively. Surprisingly, the Li||Li symmetric cell can even withstand the baptism of current density up to 20 mA cm−2. The excellent performance validates that the facile synergistic regulating of interfaces adjacent to the metallic Li anode provides an effective pathway to stabilize LMAs.

Abstract High-efficiency electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) offers a promising strategy to address energy and environmental crisis. Platinum is the most effective electrocatalyst for the HER. However, challenging scarcity, valuableness, and poor electrochemical stability still hinder its wide application. Here, we designed an outstanding HER electrocatalyst, highly dispersed rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles with an average diameter of only 3 nm supported on boron (B) nanosheets. The HER catalytic activity is even comparable to that of commercial platinum catalysts, with an overpotential of only 66 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 101 mV in 1 M KOH to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the catalyst exhibited impressive electrochemical durability during long-term electrochemical processes in acidic and alkaline media, even the simulated seawater environment. Theoretical calculations unraveled that the structure–activity relationship between B(104) crystal plane and Rh(111) crystal plane is beneficial to the release of hydrogen, and surface O plays a vital role in the catalysis process. Our work may gain insights into the development of supported metal catalysts with robust catalytic performance through precise engineering of the strong metal-supported interaction effect.

Microsized silicon oxide (SiO) has become a highly potential anode material for practical lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in virtue of its low cost and high capacity. However, its commercialization is still impeded by the low inherent conductivity and nonignorable volume expansion of SiO in the lithiation/delithiation processes. Herein, an in situ catalytic growth approach is developed for grafting N‐doped bamboo‐like carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) onto the polydopamine‐coated SiO microparticles, yielding a unique adina rubella‐like SiO@NC‐NCNT composite. The cross‐sectional scanning electron microscopy images reveal that the flexible middle‐carbon layer plays a crucial role in alleviating volume expansions and improving structural stability of SiO@NC‐NCNTs. Theoretical density functional theory simulation results further prove that the rational construction of ternary heterostructure can effectively balance lithium adsorption energies and greatly improve conductivity of SiO@NC‐NCNTs. As a result, the as‐fabricated SiO@NC‐NCNTs LIB anode shows a high reversible specific capacity of 1103.7 mA h g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 200 cycles with a high retention of 99.6% and an outstanding rate capability of 569 mA h g−1 at 5000 mA g−1. The strategy developed herein demonstrates a feasible avenue for developing high‐energy SiO‐based anodes for LIBs.

Abstract Atom-thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as fascinating materials and key structures for electrocatalysis. So far, their edges, dopant heteroatoms and defects have been intensively explored as active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to split water. However, grain boundaries (GBs), a key type of defects in TMDs, have been overlooked due to their low density and large structural variations. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of wafer-size atom-thin TMD films with an ultra-high-density of GBs, up to ~1012 cm−2. We propose a climb and drive 0D/2D interaction to explain the underlying growth mechanism. The electrocatalytic activity of the nanograin film is comprehensively examined by micro-electrochemical measurements, showing an excellent hydrogen-evolution performance (onset potential: −25 mV and Tafel slope: 54 mV dec−1), thus indicating an intrinsically high activation of the TMD GBs.

Sodium-ion batteries have been developing rapidly in recent years due to abundant sodium resources. Organic polymers and their derived carbon materials are abundant in resources, with small environmental footprint and controllable structural design, and can be directly used in the positive and anode of sodium ion batteries, which is of great significance for green and sustainable development. Organic polymers also offer great advantages in flexible Sodium-ion batteries due to their inherent flexibility. The research progress of flexible organic polymer materials and flexible polymer derived carbon materials in sodium ion batteries are reviewed. Among them, flexible organic polymer materials will be divided into flexible organic polymer carbonyl molecules and their composites with graphene/carbon nanotubes. For polymer-derived carbon materials, we will introduce several different precursors and preparation methods. Perspectives are envisioned for the further development of flexible renewable polymer materials.

The development of potassium ion batteries calls for cheap, sustainable, and high-performance electrode materials. Here, the authors report a highly nitrogen-doped soft carbon anode that exhibits superior rate capability and cyclability based on a surface dominated charge storage mechanism.

Microglia serve as the principal immune cells and play crucial roles in the central nervous system, responding to neuroinflammation via migration and the execution of phagocytosis. Dendritic cell-derived factor 1 (Dcf1) is known to play an important role in neural stem cell differentiation, glioma apoptosis, dendritic spine formation, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), nevertheless, the involvement of the Dcf1 gene in the brain immune response has not yet been reported. In the present paper, the RNA-sequencing and function enrichment analysis suggested that the majority of the down-regulated genes in Dcf1-/- (Dcf1-KO) mice are immune-related. In vivo experiments showed that Dcf1 deletion produced profound effects on microglial function, increased the expression of microglial activation markers, such as ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), Cluster of Differentiation 68 (CD68) and translocator protein (TSPO), as well as certain proinflammatory cytokines (Cxcl1, Ccl7, and IL17D), but decreased the migratory and phagocytic abilities of microglial cells, and reduced the expression levels of some other proinflammatory cytokines (Cox-2, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Csf1) in the mouse hippocampus. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that in the absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the majority of microglia were ramified and existed in a resting state, with only approximately 10% of cells exhibiting an amoeboid-like morphology, indicative of an activated state. LPS treatment dramatically increased the ratio of activated to resting cells, and Dcf1 downregulation further increased this ratio. These data indicated that Dcf1 deletion mediates neuroinflammation and induces dysfunction of activated microglia, preventing migration and the execution of phagocytosis. These findings support further investigation into the biological mechanisms underlying microglia-related neuroinflammatory diseases, and the role of Dcf1 in the immune response.

A novel type of amino functionalized core-shell fluorescein isothiocyanate-doped silica nanoparticles was synthesized using a simple and effective approach of reverse microemulsion. Isothiocyanate coupled with a silane coupling agent, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, was incorporated into silica sphere and the dye molecules were bound with silica sphere through hydrolysis and polymerization of tetraethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane. With the covalent binding between the dye molecules and silica sphere, the leakage of the dye was avoided. With amino groups on the surface, the nanoparticles can be directly conjugated with biological molecules with no need of surface modification. The nanoparticles were pH sensitive, highly fluorescent and highly photostable. The pH response range and pH responsive linear range were 2.8~8.5 and 4.6~8.0, respectively. More interestedly, the nanoparticles could be phagocytosed by murine neural stem cell and could be applied to detect pH value for single alive cell.

In this paper ITO thin films were deposited on alumina substrates by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. The NO2 sensing properties of ITO thin films were investigated. The results show ITO thin films have good sensitivity to nitrogen dioxide.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hold great promise for diverse applications when combined with polymers. However, a persistent challenge lies in the susceptibility of exposed MOF pores to molecule and polymer penetration, compromising the porosity and overall performance. Here, we design a molecular-caged MOF (MC-MOF) to achieve contracted window without sacrificing the MOF porosity by torsional conjugated ligands. These molecular cages effectively shield against the undesired molecule penetration during polymerization, thereby preserving the pristine porosity of MC-MOF and providing outstanding light and thermal management to the composites. The polymer containing 0.5 wt % MC-MOF achieves an 83% transmittance and an exceptional haze of 93% at 550 nanometers, coupled with remarkable thermal insulation. These MC-MOF/polymer composites offer the potential for more uniform daylighting and reduced energy consumption in sustainable buildings when compared to traditional glass materials. This work delivers a general method to uphold MOF porosity in polymers through molecular cage design, advancing MOF-polymer applications in energy and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal oxides are widely used as Fenton-like catalysts in the treatment of organic pollutants, but their synthesis usually requires a high temperature. Herein, an all-solid-state synthesis method controlled by graphene was used to prepare a double pyramid stacked CoO nano-crystal at a low temperature. The preparation temperature decreased by 200 °C (over 30% reduction) due to the introduction of graphene, largely reducing the reaction energy barrier. Interestingly, the corresponding degradation rate constants (kobs) of this graphene-supported pyramid CoO nano-crystals for organic molecules after their adsorption were over 2.5 and 35 times higher than that before adsorption and that of free CoO, respectively. This high catalytic efficiency is attributed to the adsorption of pollutants at the surface by supporting graphene layers, while free radicals activated by CoO can directly and rapidly contact and degrade them. These findings provide a new strategy to prepare low carbon-consuming transition metal oxides for highly efficient Fenton-like catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]