Photoelectrode materials are the heart of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which hold great promise to address global energy and environmental issues by converting solar energy into electricity or ...chemical fuels. In recent decades, significant research efforts have been devoted to the design and construction of photoelectrodes for the efficient generation and utilization of charge carriers to boost PEC performance. Herein, insights from a literature study on the relationship between the architecture and charge dynamics of photoelectrodes are presented. After briefly introducing the fundamental theories of charge dynamics in nanostructured photoelectrodes, the development of photoelectrode design in 1D polycrystalline nanotube arrays, 1D single‐crystalline nanowire arrays, and hierarchical and mesoporous nanowire arrays is reviewed with a focus on the interplay between architecture and charge transport properties. For each design, commonly used synthetic approaches and the corresponding charge transport properties are discussed. Subsequently, the applications of these photoelectrodes in PEC systems are summarized. In conclusion, future challenges in the rational design of photoelectrode architecture are presented. The basic relationships between the architectures and charge dynamics of photoelectrode materials discussed here are expected to provide pertinent guidance and a reference for future advanced material design targeting improved light energy conversion systems.
An insightful literature study on the relationship between architectures and charge dynamics of the photoelectrode is presented. A historical development of photoelectrode design, including 1D polycrystalline nanotube arrays, 1D single singe‐crystalline nanowire arrays, and 3D hierarchically and mesoporous nanowire arrays is discussed. The future challenges in design of rational photoelectrode architecture for better performance are also considered.
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A content-addressable memory compares an input search word against all rows of stored words in an array in a highly parallel manner. While supplying a very powerful functionality for many ...applications in pattern matching and search, it suffers from large area, cost and power consumption, limiting its use. Past improvements have been realized by using memristors to replace the static random-access memory cell in conventional designs, but employ similar schemes based only on binary or ternary states for storage and search. We propose a new analog content-addressable memory concept and circuit to overcome these limitations by utilizing the analog conductance tunability of memristors. Our analog content-addressable memory stores data within the programmable conductance and can take as input either analog or digital search values. Experimental demonstrations, scaled simulations and analysis show that our analog content-addressable memory can reduce area and power consumption, which enables the acceleration of existing applications, but also new computing application areas.
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•The Rh-doping behavior on BN monolayer has a good doping effect.•Rh-BN monolayer exhibits ideal adsorption and sensing properties, selectivity for SF6 decomposed gases.•The ...electronic behavior and sensitivity analysis help to understand mechanism and reflect the excellent applicability.
The SF6 decomposed gases sensor is crucial for detecting insulation condition of electrical equipment. To study applicability of metal-doped two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials for gas sensors, density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on first-principle theory were used for investigating adsorption properties, sensitivity and electronic behavior. In this study, Rh-doped h-BN (Rh-BN) monolayer was first proposed to analyze adsorption of typical SF6 decomposed gases, including H2S, SO2, SOF2, SO2F2. The stable structure of Rh-BN monolayer was studied by four possible sites. The binding energy (Eb) of stable structure is −1.204 eV. Meanwhile, the adsorption energy (Ead) and sensitivity of SF6 decomposed gases show that Rh-BN monolayer has ideal adsorption and sensing properties than other materials. Moreover, the analysis of density of state (DOS) and band structure illustrate the sensing mechanism and further prove the applicability of Rh-BN monolayer for SF6 decomposed gases. The above calculations and analysis would be significant to explore Rh-BN monolayer as a novel SF6 decomposed gases sensor for electrical equipment insulation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Effect of strains CL-1 and X30 on Cd immobilization and uptake of rape was evaluated.•CL-1 and X30 increased pH and immobilized Cd in the solution and rhizosphere soil.•CL-1 and X30 increased ...polyamine concentration in the solution and rhizosphere soil.•CL-1 was better to increase arginine decarboxylase-producing bacteria in the soil.•CL-1 was better to decrease the rhizosphere soil available Cd and rapeseed Cd uptake.
Two Cd-immobilizing and polyamine-producing bacteria Serratia liquefaciens CL-1 and Bacillus thuringiensis X30 were characterized for their effects on Cd immobilization, pH, and polyamine production in the solution and the rapeseed biomass and Cd uptake of Brassica napus Qinyou-10 in Cd-contaminated soil. These strains significantly increased pH and reduced water-soluble Cd concentration (25–76%) compared to the controls. Furthermore, strain CL-1 produced more polyamine (71–192%) in the solution than strain X30. Cell surface absorbed Cd content was increased by 23-56% in the presence of strain CL-1 compared to strain X30. The strains significantly increased the rapeseed biomass (12–32%), pH, polyamine content (70–244%), and relative abundance (21-49%) of arginine decarboxylase-producing bacteria (ADPB) of the rhizosphere soils but decreased DTPA-extractable Cd content and rapeseed Cd uptake compared to the controls. Notably, strain CL-1 had higher ability to reduce the rapeseed Cd and DTPA-extractable Cd contents and increase the abundance of ADPB than strain X30. Our results showed the distinct impact of these strains on the rapeseed Cd uptake and available Cd content and suggested that these strains reduced the available Cd and rapeseed Cd uptake by increasing the cell adsorption of Cd, abundance of ADPB, polyamine production, and pH in the rhizosphere soils.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
•Strain T1-17 and biochar increased the edible tissue biomass of the two vegetables.•T1-17 and biochar reduced the edible tissue Cd and Pb uptake of the vegetables.•T1-17 and biochar decreased the ...available Cd and Pb contents of the rhizosphere soil.•T1-17 increased the ratio of IAA-producing bacteria and small aggregates in the soil.•Biochar+T1-17 was best to increase the biomass and decrease tissue Cd or Pb uptake.
The effects of a plant growth-promoting Neorhizobium huautlense T1-17, biochar, and their combination on the biomass and Cd and Pb accumulation of Chinese cabbages and radishes and the mechanisms involved were characterized. T1-17 increased the biomass and reduced the above-ground tissue (Chinese cabbages) or root (radishes) Cd and Pb contents of the seedlings compared to the control. T1-17 and biochar+T1-17 significantly increased the edible tissue biomass (ranging from 56% to 112%) of the two vegetables compared to the control. T1-17, biochar, and their combination significantly reduced the edible tissue Cd and Pb contents (ranging from 46% to 86%) and total Cd and Pb uptake (ranging from 16% to 78%) of the two vegetables compared to the controls. Biochar+T1-17 had higher ability to increase the biomass and decrease the edible tissue Cd (Chinese cabbages) and Pb (radishes) contents than T1-17 or biochar. Furthermore, T1-17, biochar, and their combination significantly decreased the water-soluble (ranging from 32% to 88%) and DTPA-extractable (ranging from 14% to 51%) Cd and Pb contents in the rhizosphere soils compared to the controls. Notably, biochar+T1-17 had higher ability to decrease the water-soluble Cd and Pb contents of the rhizosphere soils than T1-17 or biochar. T1-17 and biochar+T1-17 significantly increased the ratios of small soil aggregate particles (<0.25mm) of the rhizosphere soils of the two vegetables and negative correlation between the ratios of small soil aggregate particles and the DTPA-extractable Cd and Pb contents was observed. Furthermore, T1-17 and biochar+T1-17 significantly increased the ratio of IAA-producing bacteria in the rhizosphere soils of the two vegetables. The results showed the synergistic effects of T1-17 and biochar on the increased edible tissue biomass and decreased available Cd and Pb in the soils and Cd and Pb uptake of the vegetables. The results also suggested that T1-17 and biochar+T1-17 increased the edible tissue growth and reduced the edible tissue Cd and Pb uptake of the vegetables through increasing the proportions of plant growth-promoting bacteria and small soil aggregates in the rhizosphere soils.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
With excellent electrical conductivity as well as low thermal conductivity, Zintl phases have been well investigated for possible thermoelectric applications, from which some materials configured ...with special structures and compositions were found especially interesting owing to their distinguished efficiency in energy conversion. Although the advantages of Zintl phases as thermoelectric materials are obvious due to their complex crystal structures, currently decent thermoelectric performance is primarily limited to some long-known systems. In this short review, recent progress on the Zintl-phase-based thermoelectric materials, including some newly developed series, were summarized and discussed. The ideas on the configuration and optimization of such materials were presented. With attempts to better understand the correlation between structures and properties, it is very hopeful that more Zintl thermoelectric systems can be discovered with high performance.
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•Some recent progresses on thermoelectric Zintl phases were summarized.•Materials featuring various novel structure motifs were compared.•Optimization strategies on related thermoelectric properties were discussed.
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Electrochemical water splitting requires efficient water oxidation catalysts to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of water oxidation reaction. Here, we report a promisingly dendritic core-shell ...nickel-iron-copper metal/metal oxide electrode, prepared via dealloying with an electrodeposited nickel-iron-copper alloy as a precursor, as the catalyst for water oxidation. The as-prepared core-shell nickel-iron-copper electrode is characterized with porous oxide shells and metallic cores. This tri-metal-based core-shell nickel-iron-copper electrode exhibits a remarkable activity toward water oxidation in alkaline medium with an overpotential of only 180 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm
. The core-shell NiFeCu electrode exhibits pH-dependent oxygen evolution reaction activity on the reversible hydrogen electrode scale, suggesting that non-concerted proton-electron transfers participate in catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction. To the best of our knowledge, the as-fabricated core-shell nickel-iron-copper is one of the most promising oxygen evolution catalysts.
Activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/the unfolded protein response (UPR) has been linked to cancer, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood and there is a paucity of reagents to ...translate this for cancer therapy. Here, we report that an IRE1α RNase-specific inhibitor, MKC8866, strongly inhibits prostate cancer (PCa) tumor growth as monotherapy in multiple preclinical models in mice and shows synergistic antitumor effects with current PCa drugs. Interestingly, global transcriptomic analysis reveal that IRE1α-XBP1s pathway activity is required for c-MYC signaling, one of the most highly activated oncogenic pathways in PCa. XBP1s is necessary for optimal c-MYC mRNA and protein expression, establishing, for the first time, a direct link between UPR and oncogene activation. In addition, an XBP1-specific gene expression signature is strongly associated with PCa prognosis. Our data establish IRE1α-XBP1s signaling as a central pathway in PCa and indicate that its targeting may offer novel treatment strategies.
The design and fabrication of bio‐photoelectrodes that simultaneously possess rapid charge and gas‐phase mass transport abilities are highly desirable for the development of high‐performance ...bio‐photoelectrochemical assay systems. Here, a solid–liquid–air triphase bio‐photoelectrode is demonstrated by immobilizing glucose oxidase, a model redox active enzyme, onto 1D single crystalline TiO2 nanowire arrays grown upon a superhydrophobic carbon textile substrate. Based on this triphase bio‐photoelectrode system, oxygen can be directly and constantly supplied from the air phase to sustain enzymatic reactions, leading to much enhanced oxidase kinetics. Further, the photogenerated electrons can transport rapidly and be efficiently collected along the nanowire arrays. The bio‐photoelectrochemical assay system demonstrates a significant wide detection range, high sensitivity, and selectivity as well as a low detection limit. The design principle is generally applicable to the fabrication of other triphase bio‐photoelectrodes, which offers an excellent opportunity for significant advances in environmental analysis and clinical diagnosis.
A novel solid–liquid–air triphase bio‐photoelectrode that simultaneously possesses superior gas and charge transport pathways is demonstrated by immobilizing oxidases on TiO2 nanowire arrays grown on a superhydrophobic substrate. The significantly enhanced oxidase kinetics, efficient photogenerated charge collection, and ultralow operation overpotential lead to a high‐performance bio‐photoelectrochemical assay system.
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