One prominent goal of 21st century research is to develop a sustainable carbon‐neutral biorefinery. Lignin is an important component of lignocellulosic biomass; however, it is currently underutilized ...owing to its highly cross‐linked, complex, and randomly polymerized composition, which poses a significant challenge to its depolymerization and valorization. Chemical catalytic approaches based on transition metals represent the primary research area to drive degradation reactions. Recently, alternative photocatalytic strategies that employ sustainable solar energy to initiate the transformation of lignin have started to emerge. This Concept article examines new developments of photocatalyzed reactions and provides insight into C−O and C−C bond‐cleavage reactions of lignin models in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems.
Bring to light: Lignin is an important component of lignocellulosic biomass but is underutilized. This article examines the development of photocatalyzed reactions and provides insight into C−O and C−C bond‐cleavage reactions of lignin models in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. The opportunities and challenges of the ultimate photoredox catalytic conversion of lignin into value‐added commodity and fine chemicals are outlined.
Practical application of aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) is significantly limited by poor reversibility of the Zn anode. This is because of 1) dendrite growth, and 2) water‐induced parasitic ...reactions including hydrogen evolution, during cycling. Here for the first time an elegantly simple method is reported that introduces ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (Na4EDTA) to a ZnSO4 electrolyte. This is shown to concomitantly suppress dendritic Zn deposition and H2 evolution. Findings confirm that EDTA anions are adsorbed on the Zn surface and dominate active sites for H2 generation and inhibit water electrolysis. Additionally, adsorbed EDTA promotes desolvation of Zn(H2O)62+ by removing H2O molecules from the solvation sheath of Zn2+. Side reactions and dendrite growth are therefore suppressed by using the additive. A high Zn reversibility with Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.5% and long lifespan of 2500 cycles at 5 mAh cm−2, 2 mAh cm−2 is demonstrated. Additionally, the highly reversible Zn electrode significantly boosts overall performance of VO2//Zn full‐cells. These findings are expected to be of immediate benefit to a range of researchers in using dual‐function additives to suppress Zn dendrite and parasitic reactions for electrochemistry and energy storage applications.
A dual‐function additive, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (Na4EDTA), is applied in a ZnSO4 electrolyte to boost the reversibility of Zn anodes via electrolysis inhibition and desolvation promotion. These characteristics originate from the high adsorption ability of EDTA on the Zn surface, and strong interaction with Zn2+ hydrated ions. The EDTA‐containing electrolyte endows high Coulombic efficiency, stable voltage profiles and stable cycling performance to VO2//Zn cells.
The overarching goal of this study was to look into the effects of academic self-efficacy and academic motivation on student long-term engagement and academic achievement. This study also sought to ...investigate the role of learning agility as a mediator in the relationship between academic self-efficacy and academic motivation. This study examined the impact of student sustainable engagement on student academic achievement as part of our model. A questionnaire technique was used to collect data from 325 music education students studying at various music training institutions in China. The data were analyzed using the Smart-PLS software and a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. Academic self-efficacy and academic motivation were found to have a positive and significant relationship with student long-term engagement. The academic motivation was also found to have a positive relationship with student long-term engagement. Furthermore, learning agility was found to mediate the relationship between academic self-efficacy and student sustainable engagement. Furthermore, learning agility mediated the relationship between academic motivation and long-term student engagement. Furthermore, student sustainable engagement has a significant and positive relationship with student academic achievement. This paper made a valuable theoretical contribution by investigating the impact of academic self-efficacy and academic motivation on student sustainable engagement, as well as the impact of student sustainable engagement on student academic achievement. Furthermore, this study added to the body of knowledge by investigating the relationship through the lens of cognitive learning theory. In terms of practical implications, this paper would undoubtedly assist educational institutions in maintaining a fair and just learning environment that encourages students to be engaged and perform well. Future research can include other constructs to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence students’ academic engagement and achievement.
In the present paper, we investigate the dark energy equation of state using the Gaussian processes analysis method, without confining a particular parametrization. The reconstruction is carried out ...by adopting the background data including supernova and Hubble parameter, and perturbation data from the growth rate. It suggests that the background and perturbation data both present a hint of dynamical dark energy. However, the perturbation data have a more promising potential to distinguish non-evolution dark energy including the cosmological constant model. We also test the influence of some parameters on the reconstruction. We find that the matter density parameter
Ω
m
0
has a slight effect on the background data reconstruction, but has a notable influence on the perturbation data reconstruction. While the Hubble constant presents a significant influence on the reconstruction from background data.
Heteroatom‐doping is a promising strategy to tuning the microstructure of carbon material toward improved electrochemical storage performance. However, it is a big challenge to control the doping ...sites for heteroatom‐doping and the rational design of doping is urgently needed. Herein, S doping sites and the influence of interlayer spacing for two kinds of hard carbon, perfect structure and vacancy defect structure, are explored by the first‐principles method. S prefers doping in the interlayer for the former with interlayer distance of 3.997 Å, while S is doped on the carbon layer for the latter with interlayer distance of 3.695 Å. More importantly, one step molten salts method is developed as a universal synthetic strategy to fabricate hard carbon with tunable microstructure. It is demonstrated by the experimental results that S‐doping hard carbon with fewer pores exhibits a larger interlayer spacing than that of porous carbon, agreeing well with the theoretical prediction. Furthermore, the S‐doping carbon with larger interlayer distance and fewer pores exhibits remarkably large reversible capacity, excellent rate performance, and long‐term cycling stability for Na‐ion storage. A stable and reversible capacity of ≈200 mAh g−1 is steadily kept even after 4000 cycles at 1 A g−1.
Two kinds of S‐doped hard carbon with different microsctructures are synthesized by a universal synthetic strategy. It is demonstrated that S‐doping hard carbon with fewer pores exhibits a larger interlayer spacing than that of porous carbon, and an excellent Na‐ion storage performance with a stable capacity of ≈200 mAh g−1 after 4000 cycles at 1 A g−1 is displayed.
Stimulated by the new discovery of
P
c
(
4312
)
+
by LHCb Collaboration, we endeavor to perform the study of
P
c
(
4312
)
+
as a
Σ
c
D
¯
state in the framework of QCD sum rules. Taking into account ...the results from two sum rules, a conservative mass range
4.07
∼
4.97
GeV
is presented for the
Σ
c
D
¯
hadronic system, which agrees with the experimental data of
P
c
(
4312
)
+
and could support its interpretation as a
Σ
c
D
¯
state.
Aqueous Zn–iodine (Zn–I2) batteries have been regarded as a promising energy‐storage system owing to their high energy/power density, safety, and cost‐effectiveness. However, the polyiodide shuttling ...results in serious active mass loss and Zn corrosion, which limits the cycling life of Zn–I2 batteries. Inspired by the chromogenic reaction between starch and iodine, a structure confinement strategy is proposed to suppress polyiodide shuttling in Zn–I2 batteries by hiring starch, due to its unique double‐helix structure. In situ Raman spectroscopy demonstrates an I5−‐dominated I−/I2 conversion mechanism when using starch. The I5− presents a much stronger bonding with starch than I3−, inhibiting the polyiodide shuttling in Zn–I2 batteries, which is confirmed by in situ ultraviolet–visible spectra. Consequently, a highly reversible Zn–I2 battery with high Coulombic efficiency (≈100% at 0.2 A g−1) and ultralong cycling stability (>50 000 cycles) is realized. Simultaneously, the Zn corrosion triggered by polyiodide is effectively inhibited owing to the desirable shuttling‐suppression by the starch, as evidenced by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. This work provides a new understanding of the failure mechanism of Zn–I2 batteries and proposes a cheap but effective strategy to realize high‐cyclability Zn–I2 batteries.
Inspired by the significant chromogenic reaction between starch and iodine, the shuttle effect of Zn–I2 batteries is effectively addressed by using starch, which strongly anchors polyiodide anions due to its unique double‐helix structure. Benefiting from this structure confinement, a Coulombic efficiency of almost 100% and an ultralong life of 50 000 cycles are realized in Zn–I2 batteries.
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