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Novel non-metal elementary substance heterojunction Se/S based on interfacial bonding engineering strategy is reported, fabricated by electrostatic self-assembly of sulfur quantum dots on selenium microtube arrays. Systematic investigations confirm that the stability of mixed-dimensional structure and the rapid charge separation are primarily attributed to the tightly coupled Se–S heterointerfacial chemical bonds channels. Thus Se/S exhibits outstanding photoelectrochemical water splitting performance. [Display omitted] Non-metal elements are often merely regarded as electronic modulators, yet their intrinsic characteristics are frequently overlooked. Indeed, non-metal elements possess notable advantages in high-abundance, excellent hydrogen adsorption and the ability of active sites to be inversely activated, rendering them potential photoelectrochemical (PEC) materials. However, weak non-metal interbinding, susceptibility to photocorrosion, and high photogenerated carrier recombination rates hinder their practical applications. Herein, for the first time, we report a novel non-metal elementary substance heterojunction Se/S based on interfacial bonding engineering strategy. Atomic-level tight coupling of sulfonyl-rich sulfur quantum dots (SQDs) with selenium microtube arrays (Se-MTAs) enhances the structural stability of Se/S and introduces crucial Se–S heterointerfacial bonds, which not only endow Se/S with robust internal electronic interactions, but also provide high-speed channels for charge separation via unique bridging. Consequently, Se/S achieves optimal photocurrent density of 3.91 mA cm−2 at 0 V RHE , accompanied by long-term stability over 24 h. It is the highest value reported to date for Se-based photocathodes without co-catalyst and outperforms most metal-selenide-based photoelectrodes. Furthermore, the direct Z-scheme charge transport mechanism is exposed by in-depth spectroscopic analyses. Our work fills the gap in application of non-metal elementary substance heterojunction for PEC, poised for potential expansion into other new-energy devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for high-efficiency and low-cost metal-free catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is vital to promote the recycling of natural materials and sustainable development. With the aid of density functional theory, an evaluation of a series of non-metallic elements B-, C-, N-, O-, S-, and Si-doped Hittorf's violet phosphorene (HP) as HER catalysts are reported. Our results demonstrate that the incorporation of these non-metallic dopants can effectively improve the HER performance for the HP, implying that the doping can indeed break the inertia of the HP basal plane and enhance the interaction between the H atom and active sites. The improved HER activities are ascribed to suitable hydrogen adsorption abilities which are well correlated with the p z -band center and charge transfer of the dopant. According to calculated exchange current density i 0 and pH-dependent H adsorption Δ G H∗ , in an acidic environment, seven doped systems own high i 0 (>0.1 mA/cm2) and the N/Si-codoping (configuration I, site N) has the best HER activity with 1.520 mA/cm2. Especially, combined with the high HER activity and experimental feasibility, the O-doped HP at site 2 is the most promising candidate as the electrocatalyst for HER. This work would pave the way for designing high-performance tunable metal-free catalysts for HER and also shed light on the catalytic application of HP-based materials. • Non-metallic dopants can effectively improve the HER performance for the HP. • Δ G H∗ is well correlated with the p z -band center and charge transfer of the dopant. • N/Si-codoping (configuration I, site N) has the highest exchange current density. • O-doped HP at site 2 is the most promising candidate as the electrocatalyst for HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group 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.)

Substance migration is universal and crucial in the synthesis of catalysts, which directly affects their existing form and the micro-structure of their active sites. Realizing migration during the synthesis of single-atom catalysts (SACs) is beneficial for not only increasing their metal loading capacity but also manipulating the electronic structures (coordination structure, long-range interactions, etc.) of their metal sites. This review summarizes the thermodynamics and kinetic processes involved in the synthesis of SACs to unveil the fundamental principles involved in their synthesis. For a better understanding of the effect of migration, the migration of both metal (including ions, atoms, and molecules) and nonmetal species is outlined. Moreover, we propose the research directions to guide the rational design of SACs in the future and deepen the fundamental understanding in the formation of catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research employed the powder-in-tube (PIT) method to facilitate the introduction of the non-metallic element iodine (I) into the preparation of Nb3Al superconducting wires. After heating in a tube furnace, a rapid heating, quenching, and transformation (RHQT) treatment was conducted. It was observed that as the quantity of iodine introduced increased, the extent of the Nb/Al reaction also rose, indicating that a certain amount of iodine can be introduced to facilitate the Nb/Al reaction, thereby enabling Nb to react more fully with Al in the subsequent process and generating a Nb3Al superconducting phase that is closer to the stoichiometric ratio. Wires with iodine contents of 1.0 wt%, 1.5 wt%, and 2.0 wt% exhibited a diffusion layer at the Nb/Al interface after heating in a tube furnace at 1000 °C for 30 min. The primary component of the diffusion layer was Nb2Al. No diffusion layer was observed in the pure sample or in the group with 0.5 wt% I. However, a eutectic phase was present at the edge of Nb and Al. The wires with 1.0 wt% and 1.5 wt% I exhibited higher critical temperatures (Tc) of 18.236 K and 17.421 K, respectively, than the pure sample. Additionally, they demonstrated superior critical current density (Jc) properties compared to the pure sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling approach for waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) has evolved from stabilization to value-added processes. However, the variability in the value of their components hinders the development of comprehensive WPCB recycling strategies as a whole. This paper reviews advanced recovery strategies for various fractions including base metals, precious metals, rare earth metals, hazardous metals, and nonmetals. The focal points were to elucidate the complex WPCB structure and composition, and the associated recycling challenges, and to evaluate the advanced technologies for the recovery of various fractions. From a forward-looking recycling perspective, the different fractions should be treated separately to minimize environmental impact, recycle product usage, and maximize economic benefits. A comprehensive framework for resource recovery from WPCBs is proposed to guide future research and promote a green, circular economy in electronics waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decoupling electrical and thermal properties to enhance the figure of merit of thermoelectric materials underscores an in‐depth understanding of the mechanisms that govern the transfer of charge carriers. Typically, a factor that contributes to the optimization of thermal conductivity is often found to be detrimental to the electrical transport properties. Here, we systematically investigated 26 dimeric MX2‐type compounds (where M represents a metal and X represents a nonmetal element) to explore the influence of the electronic configurations of metal cations on lattice thermal transport and thermoelectric performance using first‐principles calculations. A principled scheme has been identified that the filled outer orbitals of the cation lead to a significantly lower lattice thermal conductivity compared to that of the partly occupied case for MX2, due to the much weakened bonds manifested by the shallow potential well, smaller interatomic force constants, and higher atomic displacement parameters. Based on these findings, we propose two ionic compounds, BaAs and BaSe2, to realize reasonable high electrical conductivities through the structural anisotropy caused by the inserted covalent X2 dimers while still maintaining the large lattice anharmonicity. The combined superior electrical and thermal properties of BaSe2 lead to a high n‐type thermoelectric ZT value of 2.3 at 500 K. This work clarifies the structural origin of the heat transport properties of dimeric MX2‐type compounds and provides an insightful strategy for developing promising thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By generalizing and transferring the results of the Marcus theory for homogeneous reactions to heterogeneous, Dogonadze and Kuznetsov created a quantum-mechanical theory of electrode reactions for ionic melts, the methodological principles of which allow more adequately evaluating the results of certain experimental methods of obtaining new substances with given properties. Such methods include high-temperature electrochemical synthesis (HES), the implementation of which is complicated by the lack of precise understanding of the mechanism of multi-electron processes of reduction of various ionic forms of refractory metals and nonmetals in ionic melts, including those containing molybdate and tungstate ions, both constantly and simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiCoP nanorods loaded on cocoon-derived carbon can exhibit satisfactory electrocatalytic activity for HER, and nonmetallic atom with appropriate electronegativity and radius is expected to further improve the HER performance. [Display omitted] The quest for effective and sustainable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution is crucial in advancing the widespread use of H 2. In this study, we utilized silkworm cocoons as the source material to produce porous N-doped carbon (PNCC) substrates through a process involving degumming and annealing. Subsequently, NiCoP nanorod (NiCoP@PNCC) is deposited onto the substrates via a simple impregnation and calcination method to enhance the catalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The optimal spacing between the silk fibers of PNCC facilitates longitudinal growth, increases the active surface area, and balances the adsorption and desorption of reaction intermediates, thereby accelerating HER kinetics. Consequently, NiCoP@PNCC demonstrates impressive performance, with 44 mV overpotential to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the electronic structure and energy band of NiCoP@PNCC can be modified through the doping of elements such as B, C, N, O, F, and S. In addition, with the electronegativity enhancement of the doping elements, the interaction between Co atoms in NiCoP@PNCC and O atoms in adsorbed H 2 O molecules gradually enhanced, which is conducive to the dissociation of water in alkaline solution. This research introduces a novel approach for fine-tuning the catalytic activity of transition metal phosphides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of six metallic and non-metallic elements (Fe, Cr, Pb, Cu, Al, Si) on the quality of engine oil under normal, cautious, and critical conditions. To achieve this, the research employs the Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, specifically the Box–Behnken Design (BBD) method, for designing experiments. The electrical properties of 70 engine oil samples prepared under varying conditions were analyzed. Machine learning models, including RBF, ANFIS, MLP, GPR, and SVM, were utilized to predict the concentrations of the six pollutants in the lubricant oil samples based on their electrical characteristics. The models' performance was assessed using RMSE and R2 indicators during train, test, and All stages. The results revealed that the Radial Basis Function (RBF) model exhibited the best overall performance (RMSE = 0.01, R2 = 0.99). The study proceeds with optimizing RBF model parameters, such as hidden size (best = 17), spread (best = 0.4 or higher), and training algorithm (best = trainlm), to estimate each pollutant individually. The generalizability of the model was assessed by reducing the training data percentage and increasing the testing data percentage. The results demonstrated the model's proper performance for all pollutants in various training sizes (RMSE = 0.01, R2 = 0.99). However, as the training data ratio reduced to 60:40 and 50:50, the model's performance in estimating Cu deteriorated, resulting in increased RMSE values (10.76 or 11.85) and decreased R2 values (0.89 or 0.87) across the All step. This academic research hopes to contribute to the field of applied studies, considering the inherent complexities of lubricants and the challenges in measuring small-scale electrical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard thermoreflectance-based measurements have been routinely taken on thin metal transducer (Au or Al) deposited samples. This is based on the fundamental hypothesis that the reflectance change (ΔR/R) of the metal surface is directly and linearly related to the temperature change (ΔT), within a wide but finite temperature range (Trange). The quantitative study on Trange has been ignored for a long time, which would possibly cause severe measurement issues and impede the possible new applications that the thermoreflectance measurements are taken on new metals or even directly on non-metals. Here, we present an approach that combines multiple probe wavelengths' nanosecond transient thermoreflectance technique with a transient temperature rise model to study the linear relation. This method enables fast and accurate determination of the Trange and the proportional coefficient (commonly called the thermoreflectance coefficient, Cth). We studied the commonly used metal transducers (Au and Al) and found that Au illuminated at 532 nm has a considerably larger Trange (from room T to at least 225 °C), with respect to Al illuminated at 785 nm (room T to 150 °C). The linear relationships of uncommon Ni and Ti metals are valid from room temperature to ∼115 °C, illuminated at 785 and 660 nm, respectively. Non-linearity was observed for Al, Ni, and Ti metals when the temperature was elevated above the quantified Trange. This method enables a facile and reliable platform to characterize thermoreflectance properties and better understand the mechanism of thermoreflectance linear relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A strategy of double non-metallic elements N and O was adopted to modify ZnIn 2 S 4. • (N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4 exhibits notably higher hydrophilicity and specific surface area. • (N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4 achieves a 2.52 times higher hydrogen production rate than ZnIn 2 S 4. • Dual-element doping for semiconductor holds significant promise in photocatalysis. Heteroatom doping is a promising strategy for optimizing the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors. However, relying solely on single-element doping often poses challenges in modulating the capabilities of semiconductors. Herein, we adopt a strategy of simultaneously modifying ZnIn 2 S 4 with the double non-metallic elements nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) to form (N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4. Interestingly, (N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4 exhibits significantly higher hydrophilicity and specific surface area compared to pristine ZnIn 2 S 4. The contact angle decreases from 24° to 21°, while the specific surface area increases from 56 m2/g to 75 m2/g. The hydrogen production rate of (N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4 reaches 400 μmol/h/g, which is 2.52 times higher than that of pristine ZnIn 2 S 4. Photoelectrochemical characterization reveals that (N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4 has a lower overpotential, higher photocurrent, lower resistance, reduced fluorescence intensity, and shorter fluorescence lifetime. Additionally, co-catalyst loading boosts the hydrogen production activity of ZnCo 2 S 4 /(N, O)-ZnIn 2 S 4 from 548 μmol/h/g to 810 μmol/h/g, compared to ZnCo 2 S 4 /ZnIn 2 S 4. This study presents a dual non-metallic modification strategy to enhance semiconductor properties, achieving superior performance in photocatalytic hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Producing hydrogen through water electrolysis represents a clean and sustainable solution that is crucial in addressing the energy crisis. Nonetheless, the slow process of water electrolysis leads to large different kinetics for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under different pH solutions. Here, we designed surface modified metallic X-Cu catalysts (X = F, Cl, Br) with different non-metallic elements on nickel foam (NF) using an electrochemical deposition method, which realizes high performance for all-pH range. In 1.0 M KOH, 1.0 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 media, F-Cu catalyst reaches 10 mA cm−2 with overpotentials of 56 mV, 110 mV, and 197 mV, respectively. Theoretical calculations disclose that the surface modification of F atom leads to redistribution of electrons, causing an upward shift of Cu's d-band center and enhanced adsorption ability for H 2 O and H intermediates (H*). This work offers novel perspectives for designing Cu-based catalysts with high HER performance, making them applicable across all-pH conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This research work demonstrates that undoped a-C:H sputtered coatings can effectively inhibit the metallic release from medical-grade 316L stainless steel in acidic artificial saliva without a significant change in the microstructural characteristics. Moreover, the in vitro biocompatibility with macrophages and/or fibroblasts was significantly improved. In opposition, the a-C:H:N system seems to be unfavorable, even for low N content up to 10 at.%. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) has been considered a promising biocompatible coating to protect metallic alloys against corrosion for medical applications, namely orthodontics. However, there is still no optimal solution for this biomedical field; hence, the investigation remains open. In this work, the effect of a nonmetallic doping element (N) on sputter-deposited a-C:H coatings was studied concerning both salivary corrosion and cytotoxicity behavior. After a 30-day corrosion test in an acidic modified Fusayama-Meyer artificial saliva, metal release from both coated and uncoated 316L stainless steel (SS) substrates was quantified. Tests on the corrosion extracts were then performed by using monocultures of macrophages and fibroblasts, and their coculture; and cell viability was evaluated via the MTT test. Results show an overall inhibition of the SS corrosion, which enhanced the in vitro biocompatibility with a minimal effect on the coatings' microstructure. Among all the coatings tested, the undoped a-C:H coating performed the best, whereas an increase in N doping led to poorer protection against metal dissolution and a subsequent slightly lower biocompatibility. The findings corroborate that selecting the nonmetallic element N for doping C-based coatings is not a good choice for this biomedical field, even at low contents up to 10 at.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionicity of ionic solids is typically characterized by the electronegativity of the constituent ions. Electronegativity measures the ability of electron transfer between atoms and is commonly considered under ambient conditions. However, external stresses profoundly change the ionicity, and compressed ionic compounds may behave differently. Here, we focus on silver halides, with constituent ions from one of the most electropositive metals and some of the most electronegative nonmetals. Using first-principles calculations, we find that the strengths of the ionic bonds in these compounds change greatly under pressure owing to downshifting of the Ag 4d-orbital. The center of this orbital is lowered to fill the antibonding state below the Fermi level, leading to chemical decomposition. Our results suggest that under pressure, the orbital energies and correspondingly the electronegativities still tune the ionicity and control the electron transfer, ionicity, and reactivity of both the metal and the nonmetal elements. However, the effects of orbital energies start to become dominant under pressure, causing substantial changes to the chemistry of ionic compounds and leading to an unusual phenomenon in which elements with substantial electronegativity differences, such as Ag and Br, do not necessarily form ionic compounds, but remain in their elemental forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modified Siemens method is the dominant process for the production of polysilicon, yet it is characterised by high energy consumption. Two models of laboratory-grade Siemens reduction furnace and 12 pairs of rods industrial-grade Siemens chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reduction furnace were established, and the effects of factors such as the diameter of silicon rods, the surface temperature of silicon rods, the air inlet velocity and temperature on the heat transfer process inside the reduction furnace were investigated by numerical simulation. The results show that the convective and radiant heat losses in the furnace increased with the diameter of the silicon rods. Furthermore, the radiant heat loss of the inner and outer rings of silicon rods was inconsistent for the industrial-grade reduction furnace. As the surface temperature of the silicon rods increases, the convective heat loss in the furnace increases, while the radiative heat loss remains relatively constant. When the inlet temperature and inlet velocity increase, the convective heat loss decreases, while the radiant heat loss remains relatively constant. Furthermore, the furnace wall surface emissivity increases, resulting in a significant increase in the amount of radiant heat loss in the furnace. In practice, this can be mitigated by polishing or adding coatings to reduce the furnace wall surface emissivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of the difference in bacterial community composition caused by environmental factors in the underground coal mine is unclear. In order to reveal the influence of coal mining activities on the characteristics of bacterial community structure in coal seam, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing technology was used to determine the species abundance, biodiversity, and gene abundance of bacterial community in a coal mine in Shanxi Province, and the environmental factors such as metal elements, non-metal elements, pH value, and gas concentration of coal samples were determined. The results showed that environmental factors and bacterial communities had obvious regional characteristics. Mining activities greatly affected the α diversity of bacterial communities, mining working face > main airway > roadway roof > unexposed coal seam > tunneling roadway. The bacterial community composition of each sample point is also very different. The main airway, roadway roof, and unexposed coal seam are dominated by Actinobacteria while the mining working face and tunneling roadway are dominated by Proteobacteria. Among the gene abundances of metabolic pathways in each site, Citrate cycle had the greatest difference, followed by glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation and methane metabolism had little difference. RDA analysis showed that the environmental factors affecting the bacterial community were mainly cadmium, oxygen, hydrogen, and gas content. CCA analysis divided the bacterial community into three categories. Degradation functional bacteria are located in mining working face, bacteria that tolerate poor environments are located in main airway and tunneling roadway, and human pathogens are mostly located in roadway roof and unexposed coal seam. The research results would provide support for realizing green and safe mining in coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic diagram representation the introduction of selenium and iron synergistically modulate the d-band center of Ni 3 S 2 to enhance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). [Display omitted] • The introduction of selenium and iron synergistically modulated the d-band center of Ni 3 S 2 , resulting in the enhanced catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). • By adjusting the position of the d-band center, it is possible to optimize the adsorption and desorption energies of SeFe-Ni 3 S 2 towards urea molecules, as well as the overpotential for OER (η OER) and the limiting potential for UOR (U L). • The synthesized SeFe-Ni 3 S 2 presents as 3.9 nm lamellar structure with a larger specific surface area leading to the exposure of more active sites. Efficient production of green hydrogen energy is crucial in addressing the energy crisis and environmental concerns. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) poses a challenge in conventional overall water electrolysis due to its slow thermodynamically process. Urea oxidation reaction (UOR) offers an alternative anodic oxidation method that is highly efficient and cost-effective, with favorable thermodynamics and sustainability. Recently, there has been limited research on bifunctional catalysts that exhibit excellent activity for both OER and UOR reactions. In this study, we developed a selenium and iron co-doped nickel sulfide (SeFe-Ni 3 S 2) catalyst that demonstrated excellent Tafel slopes of 53.9 mV dec−1 and 16.4 mV dec−1 for OER and UOR, respectively. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the introduction of metal (iron) and nonmetallic elements (selenium) was found to coordinate the d-band center, resulting in improved adsorption/desorption energies of the catalysts and reduced the overpotentials and limiting potentials for OER and UOR, respectively. This activity enhancement can be attributed to the altered electronic coordination structure after the introduction of selenium (Se) and iron (Fe), leading to an increase in the intrinsic activity of the catalyst. This work offers a new strategy for bifunctional catalysts for OER and UOR, presenting new possibilities for the future development of hydrogen production and novel energy conversion technologies. It contributes towards the urgent search for technologies that efficiently produce green hydrogen energy, providing potential solutions to mitigate the energy crisis and protect the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoCrMoW alloys with different nitrogen (N) additions (0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 wt.%) were prepared via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The effects of N content on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The results indicate that the LPBFed CoCrMoW alloy with 0.1 wt.% N addition (0.1N alloy) shows the best combination of mechanical properties with a yield strength of ~ 983 MPa and an elongation of ~ 19%. Both the LPBF process and the N addition impose great effects on suppressing the g to e martensitic transformation, resulting in a decrease in the width and amount of e laths/stacking faults. Besides, the N addition promotes the segregation of elements Mo, W, and Si along the cellular sub-grain boundaries (CBs), forming fine and discontinuous precipitates rich in Mo, W and Si along the CBs in the 0.1N alloy, but dense and continuous (Mo,W)5Si3 precipitates along the CBs in the 0.2N alloy. The (Mo,W)5Si3 precipitates with a tetragonal structure were observed and characterized for the first time in the Co-Cr based alloys. The negative mixing enthalpy between the non-metallic elements N, Si and the metallic elements Mo, W, Cr, and the rapid solidification induced segregation of high melting point elements such as Mo and W along CBs during LPBF process, synergistically contribute to the chemical heterogeneity in the alloys. The pure FCC matrix, the slightly increased segregation of Mo, W, Si elements and fine precipitates along the CBs contribute to the good combination of strength and elongation of the 0.1N alloy. However, though pure FCC phase was present in the 0.2N alloy, the dense and continuous (Mo,W)5Si3 precipitates along CBs acted as nucleation sites for cracks, deteriorating the elongation of the alloy. Overall, it is possible to tune the mechanical properties of the LPBFed CoCrMoW alloy by adjusting the local chemical heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Beijing University of Technology is the property of Journal of Beijing University of Technology, 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.)

Exploring Earth-abundant and efficient electrocatalysts to replace Ir and Ru for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production. Here, we show that trace amounts of electronegative non-metallic element fluorine (F)-doped Co3O4 nanoneedles improve the activity and stability of Co3O4. The F-doped Co3O4 nanoneedles supported on carbon paper (F-Co3O4/CP) exhibit an overpotential of 350 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for the acidic OER. In addition, their performance remains consistent after continuous operation for 80 h. Detailed investigations reveal that introducing an anion promotes the enrichment of OH on the surface of Co3O4 and prevents acid corrosion, thereby enhancing the intrinsic OER activity and stability. Theoretical calculations further indicate that F doping can effectively improve electron transfer and optimize the energy barrier for the formation of *OOH intermediates, which significantly improves OER performance. This study provides guidance for designing efficient and stable non-noble metal acidic water oxidation catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a simulation and test-based procedure is created and applied to develop mechanical pyroshock test setup. In order to build an effective design, preliminary input parameters are defined with finite element simulations. The agreement between impact simulations and experimental data was achieved for resonant plate, metallic anvil plate and gun system. The obtained Shock Response Spectrum (SRS) curves are not well fitted to explicit finite element simulations for nonmetallic anvil plate materials, such as felt, which also have significant contribution to results. Therefore, further improvement is established by using test-based Response Surface Method (RSM). After validating the relationship statistically, response optimizer was used to find the best combination of design parameters to achieve target SRS curve. Finally, the prediction was checked experimentally to show the effectiveness of the developed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochemical cathodic protection represents a burgeoning, eco-friendly, and pollution-free technology for metal preservation. Strontium titanate (SrTiO3), a semiconductor material distinguished by its unique band structure, is particularly well suited for applications in photoelectrochemical cathodic protection. Addressing its limitations through the strategic doping of two nonmetal elements can significantly enhance its photoelectrochemical attributes. In this study, a flower-ball morphology of SrTiO3 was synthesized via a hydrothermal process. The material was subsequently co-doped with nitrogen and fluorine, sourced from ammonium chloride and sodium fluoride, respectively. This co-doping process was applied to protect 304 stainless steel under a simulated sunlight environment with N/F-x%-SrTiO3. The outcomes of the experiment demonstrated the successful incorporation of N and F into the SrTiO3 crystal lattice. The photoanode composed of SrTiO3 doped with 2% F and 3% N exhibited superior photochemical cathodic protection capabilities. It achieved a photocurrent density of 6.0 μA/cm2, and the open-circuit potential shifted negatively to −0.46 V. The co-doping modification with N and F facilitated the formation of impurity energy levels within the bandgap of SrTiO3. This intervention effectively reduced the semiconductor's bandgap width, thereby increasing the material's sunlight utilization efficiency and bolstering its photochemical cathodic protection performance. This advancement marks a significant stride in the development of SrTiO3 for applications in metal protection and environmental sustainability. The application of co-doping techniques significantly enhances the photochemical cathodic protection properties of SrTiO3. By introducing nitrogen (N) and fluorine (F) into the SrTiO3 lattice, a novel impurity level is created just above the native valence band. The presence of this impurity level effectively narrows the bandgap of SrTiO3, leading to an increased absorption of sunlight and a consequent improvement in the utilization of solar energy. Under identical experimental conditions, the photocurrent density of the co-doped SrTiO3 achieves a remarkable 6 μA/cm2, which is a threefold increase compared to that of the undoped SrTiO3. Furthermore, the open-circuit potential of the doped material exhibits a more negative shift, reaching −0.46 V, a significant improvement of 60 mV over the pure SrTiO3. These enhancements underscore the effectiveness of the co-doping strategy in optimizing the material's performance for photochemical cathodic protection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the existence of various elements in the universe has been extensive, but their role in the human body is not fully understood. About 98% of the human body mass consists of nine non-metallic elements, categorized into abundant and non-abundant/trace elements. Micronutrients, including trace elements, vitamins, and antioxidants, play a vital role in regenerative processes, coping with oxidative stress, and providing immunity against pathogens. Dental health is also dependent on these nutrients, which help in the production and development of oral mucosa, teeth, and surrounding tissues. The recommended intake of these nutrients remains variable due to factors such as geography, altitude, age, weight, physiological needs, pathological backlogs, and other recognizable/unrecognizable factors. Essential trace elements are broadly categorized into macro-elements, micro-elements or trace elements, probably essential elements, and potentially toxic elements. The current review focuses on the role of essential trace elements in maintaining oral health and their implications in various oral diseases and disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper discusses about the method developed for complete chemical characterization of Zirconium Washed and Dried Frit (WDF) and Reactor Grade ZrO2 powder which includes nonmetallic element sulphur using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Studies have been carried-out on several important aspects of method development such as effect of matrix on determination of analytes, removal of matrix using different solvents, selection of interference free & sensitive wavelengths, calibration strategies like internal standard & standard addition, optimization of several instrumental parameters which includes RF power, plasma gas flow, nebulizer gas flow, nitrogen purging etc., and are discussed. A % RSD of less than 1 % for Zr and up to 3 % for other elements has been achieved in this method. The developed method has been validated using standard recovery of spiked real time samples with known amount of reference materials. Integrated approach adopted in the development of this method has resulted in reduction of analytical waste generated and also enabled to give quick analytical feedback to production plant for downstream processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium alloy is an important structural material with many advantages of high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, good biocompatibility, and good processing performance, which has been widely used in aerospace, medical devices, automobile manufacturing and various other fields. However, the presence of hydrogen in titanium alloys can lead to hydrogen embrittlement, which degrades the mechanical properties. Due to its high ionization energy, high reactivity, and high diffusivity, quantitative analysis of hydrogen in metal or alloy materials faces enormous challenge. Accurately and quickly detecting the hydrogen content in titanium alloys is of great significance for optimizing material design and controlling product quality. Traditional methods for determining the hydrogen in titanium alloys require complicated sample pretreatment, which greatly prolong the analysis time. The self-built high irradiance laser ablation and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LAI-TOF MS) has many advantages such as high sensitivity, high resolution, multielement simultaneous detection, and simple sample pretreatment. It introduces helium into the ion source as a buffer gas to cool the high kinetic energy ions and reduce the multi-charged ion interferences, and has been successfully applied to the determination of metallic and nonmetallic elements in solid samples. In this study, a direct quantitative analysis method of LAI-TOF MS was established for detecting hydrogen in titanium alloys. The calibration curve of intensities and contents for hydrogen has a correlation coefficient of 0.991 3, the limit of detection (LOD) is calculated to be 0.000 4%, and the atomization and ionization efficiency of hydrogen can reach 13.4%. This method was applied to the analysis of hydrogen in other titanium alloy samples. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of hydrogen signals are less than 14%. The relative errors of the quantitative results are less than 5% compared with values obtained by the pulsed heating-infrared method. The analysis time for a single titanium alloy sample is only a few minutes, significantly shorter than the 2-4 h required for the pulsed heating-infrared method. The spectrum obtained by LAI-TOF MS enables qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of trace elements of Be, C, Al, Si, P, Ca, Cr, Fe, Zr, Mo, Pd, In and Sn in the titanium alloy samples. Considering the advantages of less sample preparation, simplicity, rapidness, and high sensitivity, the method based on LAI-TOF MS can be used to the directly quantitative analysis of hydrogen in titanium alloys and can be further extended to the quantitative analysis of hydrogen in other materials, such as hydrogen storage materials, metal materials, ceramic materials and other related materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The electronic and magnetic properties of non-metallic (NM) elements doping defective graphene-like ZnO (g-ZnO) monolayer including O vacancy (VO) and Zn vacancy (VZn) are studied. The results show that VO-g-ZnO is a semiconductor and VZn-g-ZnO is a magnetic semiconductor. B, C, N, Si, P, 2S, and 2Si doping VO-g-ZnO systems present half-metal and magnetic semiconductors, and the magnetism mainly originates from the spin polarization of doping atoms. For single or double NM elements doping VZn-g-ZnO, 2P doping system presents a semiconductor, while other systems present ferromagnetic metal, half-metal, and magnetic semiconductor. The magnetism of single NM elements doping VZn-g-ZnO mainly comes from the spin polarization of O atoms near the defect point. For double NM elements doping VZn-g-ZnO, spin splitting occurs mainly in p orbitals of O atoms, dopant atoms, and d orbitals of Zn atoms. NM elements doping defect g-ZnO can effectively regulate the electronic and magnetic properties of the system. Methods: The software package VASP 5.4.1 (Vienna ab initio Simulation Package) is used for calculations in this paper. The local density approximation (LDA) is adopted as an exchange and correlation function to perform the structural optimization and analysis of electronic structure and magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The surface modification can significantly raise the limiting potential with −1.24 V (Ti 2 NF 2) to −0.21 V (Ti 2 BSe 2). • hybridization of the σ 2 p and π* 2 p with Ti 3 d orbitals leads to the evident splitting and downshifting of the σ and π* orbitals. • The work function plays a crucial role to predict the NRR performance by the Gibbs free energy change of the rate-determining step, which can be regulated through the surface termination of MXenes. The electrochemical conversion of nitrogen to ammonia provides an encouraging method to substitute the traditional Haber-Bosch process, owing to its high efficiency and mild reaction conditions. The search for high-performance catalysts and comprehension of catalytic mechanisms remains significant challenges. Herein, we conduct a systematic theoretical calculation of the NRR performance and mechanism of 24 Ti 2 XT 2 (X = B, C, N; T = F, Cl, Br, I, O, S, Se, Te) MXenes with a T -vacancy to explore the influence of surface functional terminations and non-metallic center elements. Our findings demonstrate that surface functionalization significantly reduces the limiting potential by altering the rate-determining step. This change ranges from −1.24 V (Ti 2 NF 2) to −0.21 V (Ti 2 BSe 2), signifying the remarkable efficacy of modification of the surrounding environment of the exposed transition metal active center in promoting electrocatalytic performance. Detailed investigation of the charge density difference and orbital interaction reveals that the different NRR performance originates from the surface termination and non-metallic atoms regulate the electronic properties of the active Ti atoms. We also introduce the free energy change of *NNH 2 (Δ G *NNH2) as a descriptor to predict the performance of NRR, which exhibits satisfactory linear relationship with free energy change of different intermediates and displays favourable volcano plot with limiting potential. Moreover, we highlight the pivotal role of work function in tuning the energy barrier of the rate-determining step, which can be regulated through the surface modification of MXenes. Our study not only offers a comprehensive understanding of the crucial impact of surface modification on the catalytic activities of defective MXenes, but also provides a rational perspective for designing efficient NRR catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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50~690 ppm cerium-containing steel samples were prepared in a 50 kg vacuum induction furnace. The morphology, composition, and size of rare-earth inclusions in steel with different cerium contents were characterized by SEM, EDS, and Feature software. The results show that with the increase of cerium content, the inclusions will undergo the transformation of MnS + Al2O3 → CeAlO3 + Ce2O2S → Ce2O2S + CexSy+ CaS → CexSy+ CaS → CexSy+ CaO → CexSy+ Ce2C3+ Ce2Si2O7 + CeP + CeAs. The number and size of class A (MnS) and class B (Al2O3) inclusions decrease statistically, and the number and the size of class D and class Ds inclusions decrease first and then increase. The density of inclusions decreased from 0.43 to 0.4 μm2, and then increased to 0.44 μm2.The appropriate amount of rare-earth addition can promote the uniform distribution of inclusions. Through high-temperature equilibrium calculation, it is concluded that CeAlO3, Ce2O3, Ce2O2S, CexSy, and CaS are produced in the smelting process. MnS, CeAs, CeP, CeN, and Ce2C3 inclusions do not form above the liquidus temperature. The inclusion transformation of O–S–Ce, Si–S–Ce, Si–O–Ce, N–O–Ce, N–S–Ce, and Al–O–Ce systems is calculated, respectively. The Ohnaka segregation model was used to calculate the formation process of MnS, CeAs, CeP, CeN, and Ce2C3, and it was found that these inclusions are easy to form at the end of solidification. The kinetic analysis of the size of rare-earth inclusions shows that the small critical size radius and small polymerization force of rare-earth inclusions are the main reasons for the small size. The mechanism of rare-earth-modified Al2O3 and MnS at 1600 °C and 1454 °C is calculated, respectively, and the rare-earth content of modified inclusions under different total oxygen content is obtained, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of rare-earth Ce in microalloyed steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify the promising geochemical anomalies in the geothermal area of Mianeh in northwestern Iran. This was carried out using 840 stream sediment samples, which were analyzed by ICP-MS for 42 elements for Multivariate Geochemical Analysis (MGA). Due to the high migration and mobility power of the Arsenic element, it was selected as the main geothermal pathfinder. Thus (As) element was determined as a labeled variable, and the other important elements and their relationships with (As) can be identified through MGA. Some of these related elements can then be proposed for future exploration. Firstly, for the implementation of MGA, a Probability Plot Modeling (PPM) on the (As) concentration values was carried out to separate background and anomaly subpopulations and extract threshold values for each subpopulation. Secondly, based on the PPM results for the (As) variable, the Discriminant Function Method (DFM), using their functions of code 0, 1, and 2, was implemented to distinguish different variables belonging to each of those subpopulations (background, mixture, and anomaly). Also, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Clustering Analysis (CA) were carried out which lead to almost similar results to the DFM. Finally, the elements of Au, Mo, W, Cu, Be, K, and Rb were recognized as the most important elements related to the (As) element. Finally, ArcGIS mapping shows a geothermal region from the NW to NE of the study area for plans and detailed exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insertion of unsaturated organic molecules into a P−P bond of oligophosphorus compounds has the potential to expand the organophosphorus and organometallic chemistry and to make it more variable with the selective formation of desirable products. This article reviews the insertion reaction for oligophosphorus compounds and focuses in particular on non‐metals, unsaturated organic substrates, carbenes and carbene analogues as starting reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a significant interest in the study of highly active and stable transition metalbased electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Non-noble metal nanocatalysts with excellent inherent activity, many exposed active centers, rapid electron transfer, and excellent structural stability are especially promising for the displacement of precious-metal catalysts for the production of sustainable and "clean" hydrogen gas through water-splitting. Herein, efficient electrocatalyst N-doped nickel molybdate nanorods were synthesized on Ni foam by a hydrothermal process and effortless chemical vapor deposition. The heterostructure interface of N-NiMoO4/NiO2 led to strong electronic interactions, which were beneficial for enhancing the OER activity of the catalyst. Excellent OER catalytic activity in 1.0 M KOH was shown, which offered a small overpotential of 185.6 mV to acquire a current density of 10 mA cm-2 (superior to the commercial benchmark material RuO2 under the same condition). This excellent electrocatalyst was stable for 90 h at a constant current density of 10 mA cm-2. We created an extremely reliable and effective OER electrocatalyst without the use of noble metals by doping a nonmetal element with nanostructured heterojunctions of various active components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes the structural and synthetic aspects of heterocyclic molecules incorporating an atom of a hypervalent main-group element. The term "hypervalent" has been suggested for derivatives of main-group elements with more than eight valence electrons, and the concept of hypervalency is commonly used despite some criticism from theoretical chemists. The significantly higher thermal stability of hypervalent heterocycles compared to their acyclic analogs adds special features to their chemistry, particularly for bromine and iodine. Heterocyclic compounds of elements with double bonds are not categorized as hypervalent molecules owing to the zwitterionic nature of these bonds, resulting in the conventional 8-electron species. This review is focused on hypervalent heterocyclic derivatives of nonmetal main-group elements, such as boron, silicon, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, bromine, chlorine, iodine(III) and iodine(V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives—Metallic elements and fibrin clot properties have been linked to stroke. We examined metallic and nonmetallic elements, fibrin clot lysis time (CLT), and maximum absorbance (Absmax) in relation to ischemic stroke. Design—A case–control study of ischemic stroke patients vs. healthy individuals. Subjects and Methods—Plasma and serum were collected from 260 ischemic stroke patients (45.0% women; age, 68 ± 12 years) and 291 healthy controls (59.7% women; age, 50 ± 17 years). Fibrin CLT and Absmax were measured using a validated turbidimetric assay. Serum elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Data were analyzed by bivariate correlations and multiple or logistic regression. Results—In female stroke patients, copper, lithium, and aluminum were significantly lower compared with controls; in male stroke patients, potassium was lower, and beryllium was elevated. In female and male stroke patients, iron, zinc, nickel, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and silicon were significantly lower, while strontium was elevated. Positive correlations between fibrin clot properties and metals, observed in healthy controls, were lost in ischemic stroke patients. In multivariate regression analysis, fibrin CLT and/or Absmax was associated with zinc, calcium, potassium, beryllium, and silicon in stroke patients and with sodium, potassium, beryllium, and aluminum in controls. In logistic regression analysis, stroke was independently associated with lithium, nickel, beryllium, strontium, boron, and silicon and with sodium, potassium, calcium, and aluminum but not with fibrin CLT/Absmax. Conclusions—Various elements were associated with fibrin clot properties and the risk of ischemic stroke. Lithium, sodium, calcium, and aluminum abrogated the association of fibrin clot properties with ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of liquid fertilization through drip irrigation with nitrogenous (N) fertilizers, including ammonium sulfate and urea, compared to the application of granular fertilizers on highbush blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivar 'Draper' during the first three years of fruit production (2020-2022). Planting of the saplings took place in April 2018, distances were 1.1 m within rows and 2.8 m between rows, 3246 shrubs/ ha. Control variants (no fertilization) were identical for both fertilization methods (liquid and granular). The substrate was a mixture of soil, peat, and pine bark in a 1:1:1 ratio. Both types of fertilizers were used at three N rates, which were increased each year as the plants entered into production (70 to 95, 135 to 190, 195 to 270 kg/ha N). In the first year with liquid fertilization, the yield was 3.8 t/ha, while with granular fertilization, it was 2.7 t/ha, indicating a 29% higher yield with liquid fertilization. Additionally, the yield was 14.8% higher with ammonium sulfate compared to urea. The nitrogen concentration in the leaves with liquid fertilization reached 1.78%, while with granular fertilization, it was 1.67%. Moreover, with ammonium sulfate, it was 1.89%, and with urea, it was 1.73%. Overall, the highest total yield ranging from 16.9 to 25.9 t/ha during the first three years of production was achieved when the plants were fertilized with ammonium sulfate or urea at an annual rate of 70--95 kg/ha N. The conducted research found that liquid fertilization is more efficient in maximizing yield and optimizing the amount of nutrients. Liquid fertilizers were evenly distributed using drip irrigation; this uniform application helps ensure that all plants receive the same amount of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special structures and good characteristics make 2D iodine structures more appealing and valuable at high pressures. The electrical transport of such 2D iodine structures is theoretically studied here, taking the doping of nonmetal elements into account. Most doped devices show considerably greater equilibrium conductance than the original device. Devices with the dopants in lower atomic numbers show higher conductance. The transmission spectrum all around E F can be improved by the doping of nonmetal elements. Essentially, DDOS can well explain the variations in electron transmission probability caused by the doping of nonmetal atom for most doped devices, serving as one main inherent factor in electron transport. The influence of nonmetal dopants on transmission eigenstates varies according to the main group, essentially depending on the number of transferring channels and the strength of transmission eigenstates. Influenced by the bias, the conductance of such innovative devices fluctuates but with varied amplitudes. Every doping mode can enhance the conductance by applying the bias and such biases for all doping modes must cover lower biases. Unlike the dopants in larger atomic numbers, the devices with the dopants in smaller atomic numbers show much difference in size between the voltage interval that enhances and the voltage interval that weakens. The current grows linearly with bias. Nonmetal doping enables the current to increase at low voltages and decrease at high voltages, compared with the undoped device. The improved and attenuated effect on the current is good for doped devices with nonmetal elements in smaller atomic numbers, but poor in higher atomic numbers. These discoveries contribute significantly to our understanding of the effects of defects and elemental adsorption on electrical characteristics and give strong evidence for the use of new-type 2D iodine materials in controlled electronics and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have simulated the configuration of perovskite CsPbBr 3 quantum dot (QD), sodium borosilicate (SBS) glass matrix, and the combination of these two, namely CsPbBr 3 QDs embedded SBS glass. We delineate a microscope porthole containing ∼100,000 atoms and with a dimension of ∼30 nm × 30 nm × 1 nm, using the classical molecular dynamics (CMD) benefiting from graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration. We quantify the structural properties of glass matrix and determined the crystallization of QDs, in excellent agreement with experimental observations. Based on analysis the of boron coordination, structural undulation influenced by the K value (K SiO 2 /B 2 O 3), we demonstrate the significant compositional repulsion in the combination derived from electronegative nonmetal elements, namely oxygen (O) and bromine (Br). As the K value decreases, indicating an increase in the proportion of B 2 O 3 and a decrease in the proportion of SiO 2 , the [BO 3 ]/[BO 4 ] ratio increases, resulting in a glass matrix with a stronger repulsive 'anionic sea' and a more relaxed encapsulated environment for CsPbBr 3 QD. This creates greater repulsion for the allocation of oxide and bromide, and a more suitable space for the crystallization of CsPbBr 3 clusters, which in turn regulates the formation of CsPbBr 3 QDs. These results constructively extend our understanding of the microstructure of CsPbBr 3 QDs embedded SBS glasses, and provide valuable insights for the engineering of CsPbBr 3 QDs in SBS glasses on high luminescent CsPbBr 3 QDs embedded glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed protonic--electronic conductor of BaCe0.5Fe0.5O3-δ can be automatically decomposed into a dual-phase material of the cerium-rich oxide BaCe0.85Fe0.15O3-δ (BCFe8515) and the iron-rich oxide BaCe0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (BCFe1585). The BaCe0.5Fe0.5O3-δ membrane possessed an extremely high hydrogen (H2) permeation flux, but poor stability. Therefore, in this work, for the first time, the nonmetal P is doped to increase the proportion of the BaCe0.85Fe0.15O3-δ (P-doped Ce-rich) phase to improve the stability of the dual-phase membrane. The developed dual-phasic ceramic membranes of BaCe0.5Fe0.5-xPxO3-δ (BCFePx) (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1) exhibit enhanced stability compared to their parent oxides. Under the condition of 950°C, feed gas with dry 50% H2-50% He and sweep gas with wet Ar, the H2 permeation flux of BCFeP0.05 membrane stabilized at 1.56 mL min-1 cm-2 after the long-term stability test for 480 h. The enhanced stability resulted from the increase of the P-doped Ce-rich phase content and the inhibition of Fe2O3 phase precipitation from the BaCe0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (P-doped Fe-rich) phase in the reducing atmosphere by doping non-metal P element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heteroatom-doping of carbonaceous materials and (nano)structures permits alteration of their fundamental physicochemical properties and thus amplifies the range of their potential applications. While nitrogen-doping dominated this research area, doping and co-doping with other non-metal and metal elements proved to be equally efficient strategies to tune carbonaceous materials' characteristics. Heavier chalcogens are considered atypical carbon dopants due to their large atomic radii, high polarizability, and electronegativity comparable to that of carbon. Se-doped carbons are much less common than their S-doped counterparts, yet recently, they appeared as attractive functional materials for a range of sustainable technologies. This review depicts progress in Se-doped and co-doped carbonaceous materials from 2012 to the present. The report is divided into three major parts: first, the versatile chemistry of selenium and the significance of Se-doping is presented, followed by a variety of preparation methods, and finally, prominent examples of advanced applications in the fields of heterogeneous (electro)catalysis, energy conversion/storage, and pollutant neutralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to make 3D crossbar memory architectures viable, selector elements with highly non-linear current–voltage characteristics are required. Ovonic Threshold Switching (OTS) is a highly non-linear phenomenon observed in amorphous chalcogenides, such as GeSe, that shows promise for application in selectors. In this paper, the impact of alloying with metallic (Zr), metalloid (B, Sb), and non-metallic (C, N) elements as a function of their concentration on the thermal stability and switching properties of alloyed GeSe layers is studied. In the case of the thermal stability analysis, the key parameter that is tracked is the crystallization temperature ( T c) of the as-deposited amorphous films since OTS only occurs in amorphous materials. Using a simple metal–insulator–metal type test structure where the bottom electrode is scaled to 6 μ m, the OTS properties of the alloyed layers are also compared. The pristine leakage current ( I p r i s ), the first fire voltage ( V F F ), and the threshold voltage ( V t h ) were determined using DC and pulsed (AC) measurements. Results indicate that C alloying in combination with sufficiently high nitrogen incorporation can extend the thermal stability above 600 ° C with only low dependence on the C content. Among the metallic and metalloid elements, crystallization temperature is strongly dependent on alloying concentration. In general, larger concentrations are needed to obtain a T c above 400 ° C as compared to CN alloying. Electrical characterization indicates strong dependence of the first fire voltage and the leakage current on the metallicity of the alloying element with only small to moderate concentrations required to influence electrical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalysts involving post‐transition metals have shown almost invincible performance on generating formate in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Conversely, Cu without post‐transition metals has struggled to achieve comparable activity. In this study, a sulfur (S)‐doped‐copper (Cu)‐based catalyst is developed, exhibiting excellent performance in formate generation with a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 92 % and a partial current density of 321 mA cm−2. Ex situ structural elucidations reveal the presence of abundant grain boundaries and high retention of S−S bonds from the covellite phase during CO2RR. Furthermore, thermodynamic calculations demonstrate that S−S bonds can moderate the binding energies with various intermediates, further improving the activity of the formate pathway. This work is significant in modifying a low‐cost catalyst (Cu) with a non‐metallic element (S) to achieve comparable performance to mainstream catalysts for formate generation in industrial grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Hydrogen emerges as a promising energy solution in the quest for achieving Net Zero goals. The application of particulate semiconductors in photocatalytic water splitting introduces a potentially scalable and economically viable technology for converting solar energy into hydrogen. Overcoming the challenge of efficiently transferring photoelectrons and photoholes for both reduction and oxidation on the same catalyst is a significant hurdle in photocatalysis. In this context, we introduce highly efficient crystalline elemental boron nanostructures as photocatalysts, employing a straightforward and scalable synthesis method yield green hydrogen production without the need for additional co-catalysts or sacrificial agents. The resulting photocatalyst demonstrates stability and high activity in H 2 production, achieving over 1 % solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency (>15,000 μmol. g−1.h−1) during continuous 12-h illumination. This efficiency is credited to broad optical absorption and the crystalline nature of boron nanostructures, paving the way for potential scale-up of reactors using crystalline boron photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • Inexpensive, scalable, and novel synthesis process for Non-metallic single element catalysts. • Wide range optical absorption (UV–Vis–NIR). The H 2 production was achieved by only illuminating visible and NIR regions of light. • The H 2 production efficiency is more than 15,000 μM/gm/hr. • The high yield of H 2 production was achieved without the aid of co-catalysts and sacrificial reagents. • Long term stable performance H 2 production over 72 h is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) and boron (B) are a class of elements called metalloids, which have properties like metals and non-metals. Si is classified as a quasi-essential element, while B is a micronutrient element for plants. Nowadays, numerous discoveries have shown the analogy of silicon and boron in plant nutrition. In this minireview, the molecular mechanisms for the transport of these two metalloids are compared. We also discussed the chemical forms of Si and B and their functional similarity in response to environmental stresses in plants. In conclusion, it can be proposed that cell wall-bound silicon rather than silica might partially replace boron for plant growth, development, and stress responses, and the underlying mechanism is the Si contribution to B in its structural function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]