The successful implementation of numerous energy conversion devices hinges on the design and manufacture of economical and effective oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts. Employing a synergistic approach of in-situ gas foaming and the hard template method, we developed N, S-rich co-doped hierarchically ordered porous carbon (NSHOPC). This material serves as an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), synthesized via carbonization of a mixture of polyallyl thiourea (PATU) and thiourea within the voids of a silica colloidal crystal template (SiO2-CCT). Benefiting from its hierarchically ordered porous structure (HOP) and N and S doping, NSHOPC demonstrates outstanding oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with a half-wave potential of 0.889 volts in 0.1 molar potassium hydroxide and 0.786 volts in 0.5 molar sulfuric acid, and extended long-term stability surpassing that achieved by Pt/C. Electrical bioimpedance N-SHOPC, employed as the air cathode in a Zn-air battery (ZAB), showcases a high peak power density of 1746 mW/cm² and outstanding long-term discharge stability. The extraordinary achievement of the newly synthesized NSHOPC suggests substantial future use in energy conversion devices.

While the creation of piezocatalysts with remarkable piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity is highly desired, it is also a complex undertaking. Synergistic facet and cocatalyst engineering strategies are implemented to optimize the piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiency of the BiVO4 (BVO) material. Monoclinic BVO catalysts with unique exposed facets are formed through the pH-tuning of hydrothermal reaction conditions. BVO with 110 facets, exceptionally exposed, exhibits a substantially superior piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) rate (6179 mol g⁻¹ h⁻¹). This marked improvement over the 010 facet is a consequence of strengthened piezoelectric properties, a higher charge transfer rate, and improved hydrogen adsorption-desorption capacity. Strategically placing Ag nanoparticle cocatalysts on the reductive 010 facet of BVO dramatically boosts HER efficiency by 447%. This Ag-BVO interface is crucial, providing directional electron transport for optimal charge separation. The collaboration between CoOx, acting as a cocatalyst on the 110 facet, and methanol, as a hole sacrificial agent, markedly elevates the piezocatalytic HER efficiency by two-fold. This improvement is a consequence of the ability of CoOx and methanol to inhibit water oxidation and improve charge separation. A simple and easy method offers a contrasting perspective on the creation of high-performance piezocatalysts.

Exhibiting high safety similar to LiFePO4 and high energy density akin to LiMnPO4, olivine LiFe1-xMnxPO4 (LFMP, where 0 < x < 1) is a promising cathode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The charge-discharge cycle's impact on active material interfaces, with resulting instability, causes capacity decline, a significant barrier to commercial implementation. To enhance the LiFe03Mn07PO4 performance at 45 V vs. Li/Li+, a novel electrolyte additive, potassium 2-thienyl tri-fluoroborate (2-TFBP), is developed to stabilize the interface. Following a period of 200 cycles, the electrolyte with 0.2% 2-TFBP exhibited a remarkable capacity retention of 83.78%, vastly exceeding the 53.94% retention observed in the absence of 2-TFBP. The improved cyclic performance, as evidenced by the comprehensive measurements, is attributed to 2-TFBP's elevated highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy and the electropolymerization of its thiophene group, occurring above 44 V versus Li/Li+. This process forms a uniform cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) with poly-thiophene, which stabilizes the material structure and reduces electrolyte decomposition. 2-TFBP, in parallel, both promotes the depositing/shedding of Li+ at anode-electrolyte boundaries and controls Li+ deposition by potassium cations through electrostatic interactions. In this work, 2-TFBP is presented as a valuable functional additive for enhancing high-voltage and high-energy-density performance in lithium metal batteries.

Fresh water collection via interfacial solar-driven evaporation (ISE) is a promising technology, but the long-term performance of these evaporators is significantly affected by their limited salt resistance. Utilizing melamine sponge as a substrate, highly salt-resistant solar evaporators for consistent long-term desalination and water harvesting were developed. This was achieved by first coating it with silicone nanoparticles, followed by sequential modifications with polypyrrole and gold nanoparticles. The solar evaporators' superhydrophilic hull aids in both water transport and solar desalination, and their superhydrophobic nucleus contributes to reduced heat loss. Spontaneous rapid salt exchange and a decrease in the salt concentration gradient were achieved through ultrafast water transport and replenishment within the hierarchical micro-/nanostructure of the superhydrophilic hull, which thus prevented salt deposition during the ISE. Therefore, the solar evaporators exhibited a sustained and reliable evaporation rate of 165 kilograms per square meter per hour for a 35 weight percent sodium chloride solution under one sun's illumination. During a ten-hour intermittent saline extraction (ISE) of a 20% brine solution under the influence of direct sunlight, a yield of 1287 kg/m² of fresh water was observed, unadulterated by salt precipitation. This strategy is projected to bring a new viewpoint to the creation of long-term, stable solar evaporators for the purpose of gathering fresh water.

CO2 photoreduction using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as heterogeneous catalysts is hampered by their substantial band gap (Eg) and limited ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), despite their high porosity and fine-tuned physical/chemical properties. YEP yeast extract-peptone medium In this investigation, a one-pot solvothermal process is introduced for the synthesis of an amino-functionalized MOF (aU(Zr/In)). The MOF incorporates an amino-functionalizing ligand and In-doped Zr-oxo clusters, enabling efficient CO2 reduction driven by visible light. Amino functionalization decreases Eg substantially, altering charge distribution in the framework. This allows visible light absorption and efficient separation of the generated photocarriers. Particularly, the incorporation of In is not only beneficial for accelerating the LMCT process by producing oxygen vacancies in Zr-oxo clusters, but also considerably reduces the energetic hurdle encountered by the intermediates during CO2-to-CO transformation. Brr2 Inhibitor C9 With the optimized aU(Zr/In) photocatalyst, amino groups and indium dopants synergistically boost the CO production rate to 3758 x 10^6 mol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, exceeding the yields of the isostructural University of Oslo-66 and Material of Institute Lavoisier-125 photocatalysts. The potential of metal-organic framework (MOF) modification using ligands and heteroatom dopants within metal-oxo clusters for solar energy conversion is demonstrated in our work.

The design of dual-gatekeeper-functionalized mesoporous organic silica nanoparticles (MONs), leveraging physical and chemical mechanisms for controlled drug delivery, provides a solution to the critical challenge of balancing extracellular stability with high intracellular therapeutic efficiency. The clinical significance of this approach is undeniable.
This paper details the straightforward synthesis of diselenium-bridged metal-organic networks (MONs) incorporating dual gatekeepers, azobenzene (Azo) and polydopamine (PDA), enabling both physical and chemical manipulation of drug delivery properties. The mesoporous structure of MONs utilizes Azo as a physical barrier to safely encapsulate DOX outside the cellular environment. Not only does the PDA's outer corona act as a chemical barrier with acidic pH-modulated permeability to minimize DOX leakage in the extracellular blood circulation, it also facilitates a PTT effect, enabling a synergistic treatment approach with PTT and chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The optimized formulation, DOX@(MONs-Azo3)@PDA, exhibited approximately 15- and 24-fold lower IC50 values compared to DOX@(MONs-Azo3) and (MONs-Azo3)@PDA controls in MCF-7 cells, respectively. This was further demonstrated by complete tumor eradication in 4T1 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice, accompanied by minimal systemic toxicity, due to the synergistic interplay of PTT and chemotherapy, resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Optimized formulation DOX@(MONs-Azo3)@PDA dramatically reduced IC50 values in MCF-7 cells by approximately 15- and 24-fold compared to DOX@(MONs-Azo3) and (MONs-Azo3)@PDA, respectively. Consequently, this resulted in complete tumor eradication in 4T1-bearing BALB/c mice with negligible systemic toxicity, illustrating the synergistic benefits of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy for improved therapeutic efficacy.

For the first time, efficient heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like catalysts, consisting of two secondary ligand-induced Cu(II) metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOF-1 and Cu-MOF-2), were developed and studied for the degradation of a multitude of antibiotics. Two novel Cu-MOFs were synthesized employing a straightforward hydrothermal method in which mixed ligands were used. A V-shaped, long, and rigid 44'-bis(3-pyridylformamide)diphenylether (3-padpe) ligand in Cu-MOF-1 allows for the formation of a one-dimensional (1D) nanotube-like structure, contrasting with the easier preparation of polynuclear Cu clusters achievable using a short and small isonicotinic acid (HIA) ligand in Cu-MOF-2. The photocatalytic effectiveness of their substances was determined through the degradation of multiple antibiotics in a Fenton-like system. Upon visible light irradiation, Cu-MOF-2's photo-Fenton-like performance surpassed that of other materials. Cu-MOF-2's superior catalytic performance was credited to the presence of a tetranuclear Cu cluster, alongside its exceptional ability to facilitate photoinduced charge transfer and hole separation, ultimately leading to improved photo-Fenton activity.