The design of cost-effective and efficient metal-free carbon-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is of great significance for increasing the production of clean hydrogen by the electrolysis of alka...The design of cost-effective and efficient metal-free carbon-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is of great significance for increasing the production of clean hydrogen by the electrolysis of alkaline water.Precise control of the electronic structure by heteroatom doping has proven to be efficient for increasing catalytic activity.Nevertheless,both the structural characteristics and the underlying mechanism are not well understood,especially for doping with two different atoms,thus limiting the use of these catalysts.We report the production of phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped hollow carbon nanospheres(HCNs)by the copolymerization of pyrrole and aniline at a Triton X-100 micelle-interface,followed by doping with phytic acid and carbonization.The unique pore structure and defect-rich framework of the HCNs expose numerous active sites.Crucially,the combined effect of graphitic nitrogen and phosphorus-carbon bonds modulate the local electronic structure of adjacent C atoms and facilitates electron transfer.As a res-ult,the HCN carbonized at 1100°C exhibited superior HER activity and an outstanding stability(70 h at a current density of 10 mA cm^(−2))in alkaline water,because of the large number of graphitic nitrogen and phosphorus-carbon bonds.展开更多
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B often progresses silently toward hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),a leading cause of mortality worldwide.Early detection of HCC is crucial,yet challenging.AIM To investigate the role of dyn...BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B often progresses silently toward hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),a leading cause of mortality worldwide.Early detection of HCC is crucial,yet challenging.AIM To investigate the role of dynamic changes in alkaline phosphatase to prealbumin ratio(APR)in hepatitis B progression to HCC.METHODS Data from 4843 patients with hepatitis B(January 2015 to January 2024)were analyzed.HCC incidence rates in males and females were compared using the log-rank test.Data were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis.The Linear Mixed-Effects Model was applied to track the fluctuation of APR levels over time.Furthermore,Joint Modeling of Longitudinal and Survival data was employed to investigate the temporal relationship between APR and HCC risk.RESULTS The incidence of HCC was higher in males.To ensure the model’s normality assumption,this study applied a logarithmic transformation to APR,yielding ratio.Ratio levels were higher in females(t=5.26,P<0.01).A 1-unit increase in ratio correlated with a 2.005-fold higher risk of HCC in males(95%CI:1.653-2.431)and a 2.273-fold higher risk in females(95%CI:1.620-3.190).CONCLUSION Males are more prone to HCC,while females have higher APR levels.Despite no baseline APR link,rising APR indicates a higher HCC risk.展开更多
Common anode materials in aqueous alkaline electrolytes,such as cadmium,metal hydrides and zinc,usually suffer from remarkable biotoxicity,high cost,and serious side reactions.To overcome these problems,we develop a c...Common anode materials in aqueous alkaline electrolytes,such as cadmium,metal hydrides and zinc,usually suffer from remarkable biotoxicity,high cost,and serious side reactions.To overcome these problems,we develop a conjugated porous polymer(CPP)in-situ grown on reduced graphene oxide(rGO)and Ketjen black(KB),noted as C_(4)N/rGO and C_(4)N/KB respectively,as the alternative anodes.The results show that C_(4)N/rGO electrode delivers a low redox potential(−0.905 V vs.Ag/AgCl),high specific capacity(268.8 mAh g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1)),ultra-stable and fast sodium ion storage behavior(216 mAh g^(-1) at 20 A g^(-1))in 2 M NaOH electrolyte.The assembled C_(4)N/rGO//Ni(OH)_(2) full battery can cycle stably more than 38,000 cycles.Furthermore,by adding a small amount of antifreeze additive dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)to adjust the hydrogen bonding network,the low-temperature performance of the electrolyte(0.1 DMSO/2 M NaOH)is significantly improved while hydrogen evolution is inhibited.Consequently,the C_(4)N/rGO//Ni(OH)_(2) full cell exhibits an energy density of 147.3 Wh Kg^(-1) and ultra-high cycling stability over a wide temperature range from−70 to 45℃.This work provides an ultra-stable high-capacity CPPbased anode and antifreeze electrolyte for aqueous alkaline batteries and will facilitate their practical applications under extreme conditions.展开更多
Alkaline igneous rocks represent one of the most economically important resources of radioactive minerals and rare metals.New field observations and petrographic studies are integrated with whole-rock geochemical anal...Alkaline igneous rocks represent one of the most economically important resources of radioactive minerals and rare metals.New field observations and petrographic studies are integrated with whole-rock geochemical analyses and Gamma ray spectroscopy data of alkaline rocks associated with the Amreit complex.The fieldwork was achieved by the collection of more than forty samples from alkaline granites and alkaline syenites.The youngest rocks cropping out in the study area are the cogenetic alkaline rocks,ranging from alkaline granite to alkaline syenite.These alkaline rocks are composed essentially of K-feldspar,alkali amphiboles(arfvedsonite),and sodic pyroxene,with accessories such as zircon,apatite,and ilmenite.Mineral characterization of the highly radioactive zones in both alkaline granite and alkaline syenite displays enrichment in monazite,thorite,zircon,ferro-columbite,xenotime,and allanite minerals.Geochemical analyses indicate that the Amreit rocks are alkaline with peralkaline affinity and have high concentrations of total alkalis(K_(2)O+Na_(2)O),large ion lithophile elements(LILEs;Ba and Rb),high field strength elements(HFSEs;Y,Zr and Nb),rare earth elements(REEs)and significantly depleted in K,Sr,P,Ti,and Eu,typically of post-collision A-type granites.Typically,the Amreit alkaline igneous rocks are classified as within plate granites and display A2 subtype characteristics.The fractionation of K-feldspars played a distinctive role during the magmatic evolution of these alkaline rocks.The geochemical characteristics indicate that the studied alkaline igneous rocks which were originated by fractional crystallization of alkaline magmas were responsible for the enrichment of the REE and rare metals in the residual melt.The high radioactivity is essentially related to accessory minerals,such as zircon,allanite,and monazite.The alkaline granite is the most U-and Thrich rock,where radioactivity level reaches up to 14.7 ppm(181.55 Bq/kg)e U,40.6 ppm(164.84 Bq/kg)e Th,whereas in alkaline syenite radioactivity level is 8.5 ppm(104.96 Bq/kg)e U,30.2 ppm(122.61 Bq/kg)e Th.These observations suppose that these alkaline rocks may be important targets for REEs and radioactive mineral exploration.展开更多
Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production faces inherent challenges, including side reactions, corrosion, and scaling, stemming from the intricate composition of seawater. In response, researchers have turned to c...Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production faces inherent challenges, including side reactions, corrosion, and scaling, stemming from the intricate composition of seawater. In response, researchers have turned to continuous water splitting using forward osmosis(FO)-driven seawater desalination. However, the necessity of a neutral electrolyte hampers this strategy due to the limited current density and scarcity of precious metals. Herein, this study applies alkali-durable FO membranes to enable self-sustaining seawater splitting, which can selectively withdraw water molecules, from seawater, via concentration gradient. The membranes demonstrates outstanding perm-selectivity of water/ions(~5830 mol mol^(-1)) during month-long alkaline resistance tests, preventing electrolyte leaching(>97% OHàretention) while maintaining ~95%water balance(V_(FO)= V_(electrolysis)) via preserved concentration gradient for consistent forward-osmosis influx of water molecules. With the consistent electrolyte environment protected by the polyamide FO membranes, the Ni Fe-Ar-P catalyst exhibits promising performance: a sustain current density of 360 m A cmà2maintained at the cell voltage of 2.10 V and 2.15 V for 360 h in the offshore seawater, preventing Cl/Br corrosion(98% rejection) and Mg/Ca passivation(99.6% rejection). This research marks a significant advancement towards efficient and durable seawater-based hydrogen production.展开更多
Atomically dispersed Cu-based single-metal-site catalysts(Cu-N-C)have emerged as a frontier for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reactions(ORR)because they can effectively optimize the D-band center of the Cu active ...Atomically dispersed Cu-based single-metal-site catalysts(Cu-N-C)have emerged as a frontier for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reactions(ORR)because they can effectively optimize the D-band center of the Cu active site and provide appropriate adsorption/desorption energy for oxygen-containing intermediates.Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)show excellent prospects in many fields because of their structural regularity and designability,but their direct use for electrocatalysis has been rarely reported due to the low intrinsic conductivity.Here,a MOF material(Cu-TCNQ)with highly regular single-atom copper active centers was successfully prepared using a solution chemical reaction method.Subsequently,Cu-TCNQ and graphene oxide(GO)were directly self-assembled to form a Cu-TCNQ/GO composite,which improved the conductivity of the catalyst while maintained the atomically precise controllability.The resistivity of the Cu-TCNQ/GO decreased by three orders of magnitude(1663.6-2.7 W/cm)compared with pure Cu-TCNQ.The half-wave potential was as high as 0.92 V in 0.1 mol/L KOH,even better than that of commercial 20%Pt/C.In alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells(APEFCs),the open-circuit voltage and power density of Cu-TCNQ/GO electrode reached 0.95 V and 320 m W/cm^(2),respectively,which suggests that Cu-TCNQ/GO has a good potential for application as a cathode ORR catalyst.展开更多
The effect of using 2%and 10%sodium hydroxide solution as surface treatment of rape straw on its water vapor adsorption properties is analyzed in the relative humidity(RH)range of 0%to 98%.Scanning electron microscopy...The effect of using 2%and 10%sodium hydroxide solution as surface treatment of rape straw on its water vapor adsorption properties is analyzed in the relative humidity(RH)range of 0%to 98%.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)are used to investigate the morphological,chemical and structural changes of the treated straw surface.The mineral particles formed on the surface after the treatment are analyzed using X-ray diffraction(XRD).The application of sodium hydroxide solution results in the disruption of the straw surface.As the concentration of sodium hydroxide increases,the disruption of the straw surface increases,and the ability of the straw to adsorb water vapor also increases over the entire RH range.In addition to the surface disruption and chemical changes caused by the alkaline treatment,the differences in the equilibrium moisture content of treated and untreated rape straw can also be attributed to the formation of minerals on the straw surface,namely calcite for the 2%sodium hydroxide solution,and gaylussite and thermonatrite for the 10%solution.展开更多
Herein,the activity and stability evolution of transition metal sulfides used as electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)are studied during a prolonged HER period.We have thoroughly characterized...Herein,the activity and stability evolution of transition metal sulfides used as electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)are studied during a prolonged HER period.We have thoroughly characterized and analyzed the composition and structure of NiV_(2)S_(4),NiS,Ni_(3)S_(2),and VS_(2)prior to HER and after the HER for 2-20 h at a constant current density of−100 mA·cm^(−2).It is found that all these metal sulfides in KOH electrolyte are gradually degraded to the corresponding amorphous metal hydroxy salts/oxysulfides(i.e.,a-KNi(OH)3/a-NiO_(x)S_(y)and a-KV(OH)_(6)/a-VO_(x)S_(y))and finally to amorphous metal hydroxy salts/oxides(i.e.,a-KNi(OH)_(3)and a-KV(OH)_(6)/a-V_(2)O_(3))from surface to bulk with elongating HER time.Concomitantly,the morphologies of the derived metal hydroxy salts/oxysulfides(oxides)are significantly different from the corresponding metal sulfide precursors,especially those containing metal ions(for example,V3+in NiV2S4 and Ni+in Ni_(3)S_(2))in intermediate valence states due to the modification of chemical bonds to an extensive extent invoked by their capability of facilely accepting and donating electrons.This stability and structural evolution of these metal sulfides are substantiated by the calculated Pourbaix diagrams of Ni-S-H_(2)O and Ni-V-S-H_(2)O systems.After the HER at−100 mA·cm^(−2)for 20 h,compared to the corresponding pristine metal sulfides,the apparent HER activities of all the derived metal hydroxy salts/oxide decrease due to the diminution of their electrochemically active surface areas(ECSAs).On the contrary,their specific activities increase due to the enriched structural defects caused by the amorphous structures and changes in valence state of the metal ions.展开更多
The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a crucial process for sustainable hydrogen production,yet it requires efficient and stable electrocatalysts to overcome the high activation energy barrier.The article di...The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a crucial process for sustainable hydrogen production,yet it requires efficient and stable electrocatalysts to overcome the high activation energy barrier.The article discusses a novel strategy for enhancing the performance of Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide(Ni-Fe LDH)in the alkaline HER by modifying it with a frustrated Lewis acid-base pair(FLP)constructed through vacancy engineering.The study found that the modified Ni-Fe LDH exhibited improved alkaline HER performance.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations demonstrate that the introduction of FLP can activate water and protons more efficiently than monometallic sites,thus reducing the alkaline HER energy barrier and overpotential.In HER under alkaline conditions,the Volmer step involves an additional hydrolysis dissociation compared to acidic conditions,which is one of the factors contributing to the slow reaction kinetics.This paper demonstrates that FLPs can alter the rate-determining step in alkaline HER from the Volmer step to a step with a lower energy barrier,more suitable for hydrogen desorption.The work provides new insights into the role of FLPs in regulating the mechanism and kinetics of HER and opens a new direction for the design and optimization of LDH-based and other electrocatalysts.展开更多
The Paleoproterozoic terrains of Kedougou Inlier have an overall architecture formed of greenstones and sedimentary basins. Most of the work done on these Birimian formations has focused on either belts or basins, or ...The Paleoproterozoic terrains of Kedougou Inlier have an overall architecture formed of greenstones and sedimentary basins. Most of the work done on these Birimian formations has focused on either belts or basins, or even briefly on both, but more rarely on the transition zones between belts and Paleoproterozoic basins. Our study focuses on the lithostructural framework of the Mako-Diale transition zone located within the Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier. Its objective is to redefine the existing architecture. Geophysical, petrographic, structural and geochemical results from lithostructural domains allowed to building a new architecture based on three major lithostructural domains evolving into tectonomagmatic complexes associated with three shear zones corresponding to Western shear-contact (CiscoW) represented by Sabodala sinistral mylonitic shear (SSZ), to Median sinistral ductile then brittle shear-contact (CiscoM) and to Eastern dextral brittle-ductile shear-contact (CiscoE) corresponding to the Main transcurrent shear (MTZ). Tectonomagmatic complexes are represented by Maco oceanic crust, Sesam arc and Diale back-arc basin. The opening of Diale basin is related to CiscoM. Its closure set along the Faleme shear-contact (CiscoF) located beyong CiscoE. The tectonic evolution of the Eburnian orogeny within Kedougou-Kenieba inlier highlights four (4) deformations phases: CiscoW, CiscoM, CiscoE and CiscoF respectively running for D1, D2, D3 et D4. Such CiscoW along Sabodala, Sofia deposits and CiscoE along Massawa deposit, CiscoM and CiscoF stand as potential host structures for futures Kedougou inlier gold deposits. Furthermore, large plutonic masses within Mako-Diale transition zone belong all to three (3) distinct magmatic sources: Koulountou granodiorite, Koulountou and Tinkoto granites are sourced from high-K mafic rocks;Tiguida granite and Diabba granodiorite from low-K mafic rocks, while Dioudioukounkou granite belongs to tonalite source. The Sesam arc is located along the shear corridor defined between sinistral CiscoW and sinistral CiscoM. The main lithologies consist of volcanics (andesitic breccias or agglomerates, andesitic tuffs) reworked by Tiguida and Koulountou garnet granitoids. Magmatism is marked by MORBs tholeiites associated with arc tholeiites and calc-alkaline series: tholeiites3 with MORBs affinity, tholeiites4 with MORBs affinity, arc tholeiites and calc-alkaline2 series associated with island arc. Tholeiites are associated to metaluminous, syncollisional Koulountou garnet granite and peraluminous post-collisional Tiguida garnet granite. Overall, the geodynamic evolution of the Kedougou Kenieba inlier could be linked to the single magmatic event associated with tectonomagmatic episodes. At the end of CiscoM, tectonics would have favoured the distension phase leading to the initiation of Diale back-arc basin. The plutonics and volcanics in the context of the arc must have been locally uplifted and eroded to fill Diale basin from D2 to D4 phases.展开更多
Green hydrogen(H_(2))produced by renewable energy powered alkaline water electrolysis is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy density with zero-carbon emissions.However,efficient and economic...Green hydrogen(H_(2))produced by renewable energy powered alkaline water electrolysis is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy density with zero-carbon emissions.However,efficient and economic H_(2) production by alkaline water electrolysis is hindered by the sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Therefore,it is imperative to design and fabricate high-active and low-cost non-precious metal catalysts to improve the HER and OER performance,which affects the energy efficiency of alkaline water electrolysis.Ni_(3)S_(2) with the heazlewoodite structure is a potential electrocatalyst with near-metal conductivity due to the Ni–Ni metal network.Here,the review comprehensively presents the recent progress of Ni_(3)S_(2)-based electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrocatalysis.Herein,the HER and OER mechanisms,performance evaluation criteria,preparation methods,and strategies for performance improvement of Ni_(3)S_(2)-based electrocatalysts are discussed.The challenges and perspectives are also analyzed.展开更多
Alkaline water electrolysis(AWE)is the most mature technology for hydrogen production by water electrolysis.Alkaline water electrolyzer consists of multiple electrolysis cells,and a single cell consists of a diaphragm...Alkaline water electrolysis(AWE)is the most mature technology for hydrogen production by water electrolysis.Alkaline water electrolyzer consists of multiple electrolysis cells,and a single cell consists of a diaphragm,electrodes,bipolar plates and end plates,etc.The existing industrial bipolar plate channel is concave-convex structure,which is manufactured by complicated and high-cost mold punching.This structure still results in uneven electrolyte flow and low current density in the electrolytic cell,further increasing in energy consumption and cost of AWE.Thereby,in this article,the electrochemical and flow model is firstly constructed,based on the existing industrial concave and convex flow channel structure of bipolar plate,to study the current density,electrolyte flow and bubble distribution in the electrolysis cell.The reliability of the model was verified by comparison with experimental data in literature.Among which,the electrochemical current density affects the bubble yield,on the other hand,the generated bubbles cover the electrode surface,affecting the active specific surface area and ohmic resistance,which in turn affects the electrochemical reaction.The result indicates that the flow velocity near the bottom of the concave ball approaches zero,while the flow velocity on the convex ball surface is significantly higher.Additionally,vortices are observed within the flow channel structure,leading to an uneven distribution of electrolyte.Next,modelling is used to optimize the bipolar plate structure of AWE by simulating the electrochemistry and fluid flow performances of four kinds of structures,namely,concave and convex,rhombus,wedge and expanded mesh,in the bipolar plate of alkaline water electrolyzer.The results show that the expanded mesh channel structure has the largest current density of 3330 A/m^(2)and electrolyte flow velocity of 0.507 m/s in the electrolytic cell.Under the same current density,the electrolytic cell with the expanded mesh runner structure has the smallest potential and energy consumption.This work provides a useful guide for the comprehensive understanding and optimization of channel structures,and a theoretical basis for the design of large-scale electrolyzer.展开更多
The organic-rich mudstones and dolostones of the Permian Fengcheng Formation(Fm.)are typically alkaline lacustrine source rocks,which are typified by impressively abundantβ-carotane.Abundant β-carotane has been well...The organic-rich mudstones and dolostones of the Permian Fengcheng Formation(Fm.)are typically alkaline lacustrine source rocks,which are typified by impressively abundantβ-carotane.Abundant β-carotane has been well acknowledged as an effective indicator of biological sources or depositional environments.However,the specific biological sources of β-carotane and the coupling control of biological sources and environmental factors on the enrichment of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.remains obscure.Based on a comprehensive investigation of the bulk,molecular geochemistry,and organic petrology of sedimentary rocks and the biochemistry of phytoplankton in modern alkaline lakes,we proposed a new understanding of the biological precursors of β-carotane and elucidated the enrichment mechanism of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.The results show that the biological precursors crucially control the enrichment of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.The haloalkaliphilic cyanobacteria are the primary biological sources of β-carotane,which is suggested by a good positive correlation between the 2-methylhopane index,7-+8-methyl heptadecanes/C_(max),C_(29%),and β-carotane/C_(max)in sedimentary rocks and the predominance of cyanobacteria with abundantβ-carotene in modern alkaline lakes.The enrichment of β-carotane requires the reducing condition,and the paleoredox state that affects the enrichment of β-carotane appears to have a threshold.The paleoclimate conditions do not considerably impact the enrichment of β-carotane,but they have some influence on the water's paleosalinity by affecting evaporation and precipitation.While it does not directly affect the enrichment of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.,paleosalinity does have an impact on the cyanobacterial precursor supply and the preservation conditions.展开更多
Melamine formaldehyde foam(MFF)generates many poisonous chemicals through the traditional recycling methods for organic resin wastes.Herein,a high MFF degradation ratio of ca.97 wt.%was achieved under the mild conditi...Melamine formaldehyde foam(MFF)generates many poisonous chemicals through the traditional recycling methods for organic resin wastes.Herein,a high MFF degradation ratio of ca.97 wt.%was achieved under the mild conditions(160℃)in a NaOH–H2O system with ammelide and ammeline as the main degradation products.The alkaline solvent had an obvious corrosion effect for MFF,as indicated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The reaction process and products distribution were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and ^(13)C nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR).Besides,the MFF degradation products that have the similar chemical structures and bonding performances to those of melamine can be directly used as the raw material for synthesis of melamine urea-formaldehyde resins(MUFs).Moreover,the degradation system demonstrated here showed the high degradation efficiency after reusing for 7 times.The degradation process generated few harmful pollutants and no pre-or post-treatments were required,which proves its feasibility in the safe removal or recovery of waste MFF.展开更多
Silicon passivated emitter and rear contact(PERC) solar cells with V-groove texture were fabricated using maskless alkaline solution etching with in-house developed additive. Compared with the traditional pyramid text...Silicon passivated emitter and rear contact(PERC) solar cells with V-groove texture were fabricated using maskless alkaline solution etching with in-house developed additive. Compared with the traditional pyramid texture, the V-groove texture possesses superior effective minority carrier lifetime, enhanced p–n junction quality and better applied filling factor(FF). In addition, a V-groove texture can greatly reduce the shading area and edge damage of front Ag electrodes when the V-groove direction is parallel to the gridline electrodes. Due to these factors, the V-groove solar cells have a higher efficiency(21.78%) than pyramid solar cells(21.62%). Interestingly, external quantum efficiency(EQE) and reflectance of the V-groove solar cells exhibit a slight decrease when the incident light angle(θ) is increased from 0° to 75°, which confirms the excellent quasi omnidirectionality of the V-groove solar cells. The proposed V-groove solar cell design shows a 2.84% relative enhancement of energy output over traditional pyramid solar cells.展开更多
NiO,an anodic electrochromic material,has applications in energy-saving windows,intelligent displays,and military camouflage.However,its electrochromic mechanism and reasons for its performance degradation in alkaline...NiO,an anodic electrochromic material,has applications in energy-saving windows,intelligent displays,and military camouflage.However,its electrochromic mechanism and reasons for its performance degradation in alkaline aqueous electrolytes are complex and poorly understood,making it challenging to improve NiO thin films.We studied the phases and electrochemical characteristics of NiO films in different states(initial,colored,bleached and after 8000 cycles)and identified three main reasons for performance degradation.First,Ni(OH)_(2)is generated during electrochromic cycling and deposited on the NiO film surface,gradually yielding a NiO@Ni(OH)_(2)core-shell structure,isolating the internal NiO film from the electrolyte,and preventing ion transfer.Second,the core-shell structure causes the mode of electrical conduction to change from first-to second-order conduction,reducing the efficiency of ion transfer to the surface Ni(OH)_(2)layer.Third,Ni(OH)_(2)and NiOOH,which have similar crystal structures but different b-axis lattice parameters,are formed during electrochromic cycling,and large volume changes in the unit cell reduce the structural stability of the thin film.Finally,we clarified the mechanism of electrochromic performance degradation of NiO films in alkaline aqueous electrolytes and provide a route to activation of NiO films,which will promote the development of electrochromic technology.展开更多
Rice direct seeding technology is an appealing alternative to traditional transplanting because it conserves labor and irrigation resources.Nevertheless,there are two main issues,salt stress and alkaline stress,which ...Rice direct seeding technology is an appealing alternative to traditional transplanting because it conserves labor and irrigation resources.Nevertheless,there are two main issues,salt stress and alkaline stress,which contribute to poor emergence and seedling growth,thereby preventing the widespread adoption and application of this technique in the Ningxia Region of China.Therefore,to determine whether germination can be promoted by mixed-oligosaccharide(KP)priming(in which seeds are soaked in a KP solution before sowing)under salt and alkaline stress,a proteomics study was performed.KP-priming significantly mitigated abiotic stress,such as salt and alkaline stress,by inhibiting root elongation,ultimately improving seedling establishment.By comparing the proteomics analyses,we found that energy metabolic pathway was a vital factor in KP-priming,which explains the alleviation of salt and alkaline stress.Key proteins involved in starch mobilization,pyruvate mobilization,and ATP synthesis,were up-regulated by KP-priming,significantly blocking salt and alkaline-triggered starch accumulation while enhancing pyruvate metabolism.KP-priming also up-regulated ATP synthase to improve energy efficiency,thereby improving ATP production.In addition,it enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activities and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species.All of these factors contributed to a better understanding of the energy regulatory pathway enhanced by KP-priming,which mediated the promotion of growth under salt and alkaline conditions.Thus,this study demonstrated that KP-priming can improve rice seed germination under salt and alkaline stress by altering energy metabolism.展开更多
A paper analytical device(PAD)was developed for the colourimetric estimation of alkaline phosphatase(ALP).ALP catalyzes the hydrolysis of disodium phenyl phosphate(DSPP)to phenol,which then undergoes oxidative couplin...A paper analytical device(PAD)was developed for the colourimetric estimation of alkaline phosphatase(ALP).ALP catalyzes the hydrolysis of disodium phenyl phosphate(DSPP)to phenol,which then undergoes oxidative coupling with 4-aminoantipyrine(4-AAP)producing a reddish brown-coloured quinone imine.The colourimetric reaction tested in solution has been translated onto a PAD for the point of care(PoC)testing of ALP.A uniform colour was obtained in 25 min with the introduction of ALP onto the reagent drop cast paper device.The images obtained by scanning the PAD were processed using ImageJ software.The colour intensity obtained by image processing was proportional to the concentration of ALP present in the sample.ALP in serum and saliva samples were tested using the PAD in the range of 0 to 528 U/L and 0 to 187 U/L,respectively.The interference studies revealed that the PAD was selective to ALP in the presence of other biomolecules.The PAD exhibited a limit of detection(LOD)of 3.3 U/L and a sensitivity of 48.36 a.u/Log(U/L)for serum ALP and LOD of 1.69 U/L and a sensitivity of 28.5 a.u/Log(U/L)for salivary ALP.The PAD showed good agreement with the clinical methods for real samples.展开更多
An advantageous porous architecture of electrodes is pivotal in significantly enhancing alkaline water electrolysis(AWE)efficiency by optimizing the mass transport mechanisms.This effect becomes even more pronounced w...An advantageous porous architecture of electrodes is pivotal in significantly enhancing alkaline water electrolysis(AWE)efficiency by optimizing the mass transport mechanisms.This effect becomes even more pronounced when aiming to achieve elevated current densities.Herein,we employed a rapid and scalable laser texturing process to craft novel multi-channel porous electrodes.Particularly,the obtained electrodes exhibit the lowest Tafel slope of 79 mV dec^(-1)(HER)and 49 mV dec^(-1)(OER).As anticipated,the alkaline electrolyzer(AEL)cell incorporating multi-channel porous electrodes(NP-LT30)exhibited a remarkable improvement in cell efficiency,with voltage drops(from 2.28 to 1.97 V)exceeding 300 mV under 1 A cm^(-1),compared to conventional perforated Ni plate electrodes.This enhancement mainly stemmed from the employed multi-channel porous structure,facilitating mass transport and bubble dynamics through an innovative convection mode,surpassing the traditional convection mode.Furthermore,the NP-LT30-based AEL cell demonstrated exceptional durability for 300 h under 1.0 A cm^(-2).This study underscores the capability of the novel multi-channel porous electrodes to expedite mass transport in practical AWE applications.展开更多
Background Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase(TNSALP;encoded by the ALPL gene)has a critical role in the postnatal regulation of p hospliate homeostasis,yet how TNSALP activity and expression are regulated durin...Background Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase(TNSALP;encoded by the ALPL gene)has a critical role in the postnatal regulation of p hospliate homeostasis,yet how TNSALP activity and expression are regulated during pregnancy remain largely unknown.This study tested the hypothesis that progesterone(P4)and/or interferon tau(IFNT)regulate TNSALP activity during pregnancy in sheep.Methods In Exp.1,ewes were bred and received daily intramuscular injections of either corn oil vehicle(CO)or 25 mg progesterone in CO(P4)for the first 8 days of pregnancy and were hysterectomized on either Day 9,12,or 125 of gestation.In Exp.2,ewes were fitted with intrauterine catheters on Day 7 of the estrous cycle and received daily intramuscular injections of 50 mg P4 in CO and/or 75 mg progesterone receptor antagonist(RU486)in CO from Days 8 to 15,and twice daily intrauterine injections of either control proteins(CX)or IFNT(25μg/uterine horn/d)from Days 11 to 15(treatment groups:P4+CX;P4+IFNT;RU486+P4+CX;and RU486+P4+IFNT)and were hysterectomized on Day 16.Results In Exp.1,endometria from ewes administered P4 had greater expression of ALPL mRNA than ewes administered CO on Day 12.TNSALP activity appeared greater in the epithelia,stratum compactum stroma,and endothelium of the blood vessels in the endometrium and myometrium from ewes administered P4 than ewes administered CO on Day 12.On Day 125,TNSALP activity localized to uterine epithelial and endothelial cells,independent of P4 treatment.TNSALP activity in placentomes appeared greater in P4 treated ewes and was detected in endothelial cells and caruncular tissue in P4 treated but not CO treated ewes.In Exp.2,endometrial homogenates from ewes administered RU486+P4+CX had lower TNSALP activity those for P4+CX and P4+IFNT ewes.Immunoreactive TNSALP protein appeared greater in the mid-and deep-glandular epithelia in RU486+P4+CX treated ewes as compared to the other treatment groups.Enzymatic activity appeared greater on the apical surface of the deep glandular epithelia in endometria from ewes treated with RU486+P4+CX compared to the other treatment groups.Conclusions These results suggest that P4,but not IFNT,regulates the expression and activity of TNSALP in uteroplacental tissues and has the potential to contribute to the regulation of phosphate availability that is critical for conceptus development during pregnancy.展开更多
基金financially supported by the project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52322203)the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province(2024GHZDXM-21)。
文摘The design of cost-effective and efficient metal-free carbon-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is of great significance for increasing the production of clean hydrogen by the electrolysis of alkaline water.Precise control of the electronic structure by heteroatom doping has proven to be efficient for increasing catalytic activity.Nevertheless,both the structural characteristics and the underlying mechanism are not well understood,especially for doping with two different atoms,thus limiting the use of these catalysts.We report the production of phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped hollow carbon nanospheres(HCNs)by the copolymerization of pyrrole and aniline at a Triton X-100 micelle-interface,followed by doping with phytic acid and carbonization.The unique pore structure and defect-rich framework of the HCNs expose numerous active sites.Crucially,the combined effect of graphitic nitrogen and phosphorus-carbon bonds modulate the local electronic structure of adjacent C atoms and facilitates electron transfer.As a res-ult,the HCN carbonized at 1100°C exhibited superior HER activity and an outstanding stability(70 h at a current density of 10 mA cm^(−2))in alkaline water,because of the large number of graphitic nitrogen and phosphorus-carbon bonds.
文摘BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B often progresses silently toward hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),a leading cause of mortality worldwide.Early detection of HCC is crucial,yet challenging.AIM To investigate the role of dynamic changes in alkaline phosphatase to prealbumin ratio(APR)in hepatitis B progression to HCC.METHODS Data from 4843 patients with hepatitis B(January 2015 to January 2024)were analyzed.HCC incidence rates in males and females were compared using the log-rank test.Data were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis.The Linear Mixed-Effects Model was applied to track the fluctuation of APR levels over time.Furthermore,Joint Modeling of Longitudinal and Survival data was employed to investigate the temporal relationship between APR and HCC risk.RESULTS The incidence of HCC was higher in males.To ensure the model’s normality assumption,this study applied a logarithmic transformation to APR,yielding ratio.Ratio levels were higher in females(t=5.26,P<0.01).A 1-unit increase in ratio correlated with a 2.005-fold higher risk of HCC in males(95%CI:1.653-2.431)and a 2.273-fold higher risk in females(95%CI:1.620-3.190).CONCLUSION Males are more prone to HCC,while females have higher APR levels.Despite no baseline APR link,rising APR indicates a higher HCC risk.
基金financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22371010,21771017 and 51702009)the“Hundred Talents Program”of the Chinese Academy of Science,Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(JCYJ20210324115412035 JCYJ2021-0324123202008,JCYJ20210324122803009 and ZDSYS20210813095534001)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021A1515110880).
文摘Common anode materials in aqueous alkaline electrolytes,such as cadmium,metal hydrides and zinc,usually suffer from remarkable biotoxicity,high cost,and serious side reactions.To overcome these problems,we develop a conjugated porous polymer(CPP)in-situ grown on reduced graphene oxide(rGO)and Ketjen black(KB),noted as C_(4)N/rGO and C_(4)N/KB respectively,as the alternative anodes.The results show that C_(4)N/rGO electrode delivers a low redox potential(−0.905 V vs.Ag/AgCl),high specific capacity(268.8 mAh g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1)),ultra-stable and fast sodium ion storage behavior(216 mAh g^(-1) at 20 A g^(-1))in 2 M NaOH electrolyte.The assembled C_(4)N/rGO//Ni(OH)_(2) full battery can cycle stably more than 38,000 cycles.Furthermore,by adding a small amount of antifreeze additive dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)to adjust the hydrogen bonding network,the low-temperature performance of the electrolyte(0.1 DMSO/2 M NaOH)is significantly improved while hydrogen evolution is inhibited.Consequently,the C_(4)N/rGO//Ni(OH)_(2) full cell exhibits an energy density of 147.3 Wh Kg^(-1) and ultra-high cycling stability over a wide temperature range from−70 to 45℃.This work provides an ultra-stable high-capacity CPPbased anode and antifreeze electrolyte for aqueous alkaline batteries and will facilitate their practical applications under extreme conditions.
文摘Alkaline igneous rocks represent one of the most economically important resources of radioactive minerals and rare metals.New field observations and petrographic studies are integrated with whole-rock geochemical analyses and Gamma ray spectroscopy data of alkaline rocks associated with the Amreit complex.The fieldwork was achieved by the collection of more than forty samples from alkaline granites and alkaline syenites.The youngest rocks cropping out in the study area are the cogenetic alkaline rocks,ranging from alkaline granite to alkaline syenite.These alkaline rocks are composed essentially of K-feldspar,alkali amphiboles(arfvedsonite),and sodic pyroxene,with accessories such as zircon,apatite,and ilmenite.Mineral characterization of the highly radioactive zones in both alkaline granite and alkaline syenite displays enrichment in monazite,thorite,zircon,ferro-columbite,xenotime,and allanite minerals.Geochemical analyses indicate that the Amreit rocks are alkaline with peralkaline affinity and have high concentrations of total alkalis(K_(2)O+Na_(2)O),large ion lithophile elements(LILEs;Ba and Rb),high field strength elements(HFSEs;Y,Zr and Nb),rare earth elements(REEs)and significantly depleted in K,Sr,P,Ti,and Eu,typically of post-collision A-type granites.Typically,the Amreit alkaline igneous rocks are classified as within plate granites and display A2 subtype characteristics.The fractionation of K-feldspars played a distinctive role during the magmatic evolution of these alkaline rocks.The geochemical characteristics indicate that the studied alkaline igneous rocks which were originated by fractional crystallization of alkaline magmas were responsible for the enrichment of the REE and rare metals in the residual melt.The high radioactivity is essentially related to accessory minerals,such as zircon,allanite,and monazite.The alkaline granite is the most U-and Thrich rock,where radioactivity level reaches up to 14.7 ppm(181.55 Bq/kg)e U,40.6 ppm(164.84 Bq/kg)e Th,whereas in alkaline syenite radioactivity level is 8.5 ppm(104.96 Bq/kg)e U,30.2 ppm(122.61 Bq/kg)e Th.These observations suppose that these alkaline rocks may be important targets for REEs and radioactive mineral exploration.
基金funding provided by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2021YFB3801301)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 22075076, 22208097 and 22378119)Shanghai Pilot Program for Basic Research (22TQ1400100-4)。
文摘Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production faces inherent challenges, including side reactions, corrosion, and scaling, stemming from the intricate composition of seawater. In response, researchers have turned to continuous water splitting using forward osmosis(FO)-driven seawater desalination. However, the necessity of a neutral electrolyte hampers this strategy due to the limited current density and scarcity of precious metals. Herein, this study applies alkali-durable FO membranes to enable self-sustaining seawater splitting, which can selectively withdraw water molecules, from seawater, via concentration gradient. The membranes demonstrates outstanding perm-selectivity of water/ions(~5830 mol mol^(-1)) during month-long alkaline resistance tests, preventing electrolyte leaching(>97% OHàretention) while maintaining ~95%water balance(V_(FO)= V_(electrolysis)) via preserved concentration gradient for consistent forward-osmosis influx of water molecules. With the consistent electrolyte environment protected by the polyamide FO membranes, the Ni Fe-Ar-P catalyst exhibits promising performance: a sustain current density of 360 m A cmà2maintained at the cell voltage of 2.10 V and 2.15 V for 360 h in the offshore seawater, preventing Cl/Br corrosion(98% rejection) and Mg/Ca passivation(99.6% rejection). This research marks a significant advancement towards efficient and durable seawater-based hydrogen production.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFB3807500)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22220102003)+1 种基金the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.JL23003)“Double-First-Class”construction projects(Nos.XK180301 and XK1804-02)。
文摘Atomically dispersed Cu-based single-metal-site catalysts(Cu-N-C)have emerged as a frontier for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reactions(ORR)because they can effectively optimize the D-band center of the Cu active site and provide appropriate adsorption/desorption energy for oxygen-containing intermediates.Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)show excellent prospects in many fields because of their structural regularity and designability,but their direct use for electrocatalysis has been rarely reported due to the low intrinsic conductivity.Here,a MOF material(Cu-TCNQ)with highly regular single-atom copper active centers was successfully prepared using a solution chemical reaction method.Subsequently,Cu-TCNQ and graphene oxide(GO)were directly self-assembled to form a Cu-TCNQ/GO composite,which improved the conductivity of the catalyst while maintained the atomically precise controllability.The resistivity of the Cu-TCNQ/GO decreased by three orders of magnitude(1663.6-2.7 W/cm)compared with pure Cu-TCNQ.The half-wave potential was as high as 0.92 V in 0.1 mol/L KOH,even better than that of commercial 20%Pt/C.In alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells(APEFCs),the open-circuit voltage and power density of Cu-TCNQ/GO electrode reached 0.95 V and 320 m W/cm^(2),respectively,which suggests that Cu-TCNQ/GO has a good potential for application as a cathode ORR catalyst.
基金supported by the Czech Science Foundation,under project No.20-12166S.
文摘The effect of using 2%and 10%sodium hydroxide solution as surface treatment of rape straw on its water vapor adsorption properties is analyzed in the relative humidity(RH)range of 0%to 98%.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)are used to investigate the morphological,chemical and structural changes of the treated straw surface.The mineral particles formed on the surface after the treatment are analyzed using X-ray diffraction(XRD).The application of sodium hydroxide solution results in the disruption of the straw surface.As the concentration of sodium hydroxide increases,the disruption of the straw surface increases,and the ability of the straw to adsorb water vapor also increases over the entire RH range.In addition to the surface disruption and chemical changes caused by the alkaline treatment,the differences in the equilibrium moisture content of treated and untreated rape straw can also be attributed to the formation of minerals on the straw surface,namely calcite for the 2%sodium hydroxide solution,and gaylussite and thermonatrite for the 10%solution.
基金financially supported by the Six Talent Peaks Project in Jiangsu Province(No.JNHB-043)the Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering(No.ZK201713)Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(No.KYCX21_1174).
文摘Herein,the activity and stability evolution of transition metal sulfides used as electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)are studied during a prolonged HER period.We have thoroughly characterized and analyzed the composition and structure of NiV_(2)S_(4),NiS,Ni_(3)S_(2),and VS_(2)prior to HER and after the HER for 2-20 h at a constant current density of−100 mA·cm^(−2).It is found that all these metal sulfides in KOH electrolyte are gradually degraded to the corresponding amorphous metal hydroxy salts/oxysulfides(i.e.,a-KNi(OH)3/a-NiO_(x)S_(y)and a-KV(OH)_(6)/a-VO_(x)S_(y))and finally to amorphous metal hydroxy salts/oxides(i.e.,a-KNi(OH)_(3)and a-KV(OH)_(6)/a-V_(2)O_(3))from surface to bulk with elongating HER time.Concomitantly,the morphologies of the derived metal hydroxy salts/oxysulfides(oxides)are significantly different from the corresponding metal sulfide precursors,especially those containing metal ions(for example,V3+in NiV2S4 and Ni+in Ni_(3)S_(2))in intermediate valence states due to the modification of chemical bonds to an extensive extent invoked by their capability of facilely accepting and donating electrons.This stability and structural evolution of these metal sulfides are substantiated by the calculated Pourbaix diagrams of Ni-S-H_(2)O and Ni-V-S-H_(2)O systems.After the HER at−100 mA·cm^(−2)for 20 h,compared to the corresponding pristine metal sulfides,the apparent HER activities of all the derived metal hydroxy salts/oxide decrease due to the diminution of their electrochemically active surface areas(ECSAs).On the contrary,their specific activities increase due to the enriched structural defects caused by the amorphous structures and changes in valence state of the metal ions.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52301011,52231008,52142304,52177220,U23A200767,52302236,and 22369005)Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.524QN226 and 524QN222)+2 种基金the Key Research and Development Program of Hainan Province(No.ZDYF2022GXJS006)Starting Research Fund from the Hainan University(No.KYQD(ZR)23026)International Science&Technology Cooperation Program of Hainan Province(No.GHYF2023007).
文摘The alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a crucial process for sustainable hydrogen production,yet it requires efficient and stable electrocatalysts to overcome the high activation energy barrier.The article discusses a novel strategy for enhancing the performance of Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide(Ni-Fe LDH)in the alkaline HER by modifying it with a frustrated Lewis acid-base pair(FLP)constructed through vacancy engineering.The study found that the modified Ni-Fe LDH exhibited improved alkaline HER performance.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations demonstrate that the introduction of FLP can activate water and protons more efficiently than monometallic sites,thus reducing the alkaline HER energy barrier and overpotential.In HER under alkaline conditions,the Volmer step involves an additional hydrolysis dissociation compared to acidic conditions,which is one of the factors contributing to the slow reaction kinetics.This paper demonstrates that FLPs can alter the rate-determining step in alkaline HER from the Volmer step to a step with a lower energy barrier,more suitable for hydrogen desorption.The work provides new insights into the role of FLPs in regulating the mechanism and kinetics of HER and opens a new direction for the design and optimization of LDH-based and other electrocatalysts.
文摘The Paleoproterozoic terrains of Kedougou Inlier have an overall architecture formed of greenstones and sedimentary basins. Most of the work done on these Birimian formations has focused on either belts or basins, or even briefly on both, but more rarely on the transition zones between belts and Paleoproterozoic basins. Our study focuses on the lithostructural framework of the Mako-Diale transition zone located within the Kedougou-Kenieba Inlier. Its objective is to redefine the existing architecture. Geophysical, petrographic, structural and geochemical results from lithostructural domains allowed to building a new architecture based on three major lithostructural domains evolving into tectonomagmatic complexes associated with three shear zones corresponding to Western shear-contact (CiscoW) represented by Sabodala sinistral mylonitic shear (SSZ), to Median sinistral ductile then brittle shear-contact (CiscoM) and to Eastern dextral brittle-ductile shear-contact (CiscoE) corresponding to the Main transcurrent shear (MTZ). Tectonomagmatic complexes are represented by Maco oceanic crust, Sesam arc and Diale back-arc basin. The opening of Diale basin is related to CiscoM. Its closure set along the Faleme shear-contact (CiscoF) located beyong CiscoE. The tectonic evolution of the Eburnian orogeny within Kedougou-Kenieba inlier highlights four (4) deformations phases: CiscoW, CiscoM, CiscoE and CiscoF respectively running for D1, D2, D3 et D4. Such CiscoW along Sabodala, Sofia deposits and CiscoE along Massawa deposit, CiscoM and CiscoF stand as potential host structures for futures Kedougou inlier gold deposits. Furthermore, large plutonic masses within Mako-Diale transition zone belong all to three (3) distinct magmatic sources: Koulountou granodiorite, Koulountou and Tinkoto granites are sourced from high-K mafic rocks;Tiguida granite and Diabba granodiorite from low-K mafic rocks, while Dioudioukounkou granite belongs to tonalite source. The Sesam arc is located along the shear corridor defined between sinistral CiscoW and sinistral CiscoM. The main lithologies consist of volcanics (andesitic breccias or agglomerates, andesitic tuffs) reworked by Tiguida and Koulountou garnet granitoids. Magmatism is marked by MORBs tholeiites associated with arc tholeiites and calc-alkaline series: tholeiites3 with MORBs affinity, tholeiites4 with MORBs affinity, arc tholeiites and calc-alkaline2 series associated with island arc. Tholeiites are associated to metaluminous, syncollisional Koulountou garnet granite and peraluminous post-collisional Tiguida garnet granite. Overall, the geodynamic evolution of the Kedougou Kenieba inlier could be linked to the single magmatic event associated with tectonomagmatic episodes. At the end of CiscoM, tectonics would have favoured the distension phase leading to the initiation of Diale back-arc basin. The plutonics and volcanics in the context of the arc must have been locally uplifted and eroded to fill Diale basin from D2 to D4 phases.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2022YFB4202200)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘Green hydrogen(H_(2))produced by renewable energy powered alkaline water electrolysis is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy density with zero-carbon emissions.However,efficient and economic H_(2) production by alkaline water electrolysis is hindered by the sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Therefore,it is imperative to design and fabricate high-active and low-cost non-precious metal catalysts to improve the HER and OER performance,which affects the energy efficiency of alkaline water electrolysis.Ni_(3)S_(2) with the heazlewoodite structure is a potential electrocatalyst with near-metal conductivity due to the Ni–Ni metal network.Here,the review comprehensively presents the recent progress of Ni_(3)S_(2)-based electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrocatalysis.Herein,the HER and OER mechanisms,performance evaluation criteria,preparation methods,and strategies for performance improvement of Ni_(3)S_(2)-based electrocatalysts are discussed.The challenges and perspectives are also analyzed.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52074130)the Engineering Research Center of Resource Utilization of Carbon-containing Waste with Carbon Neutrality,Ministry of Education。
文摘Alkaline water electrolysis(AWE)is the most mature technology for hydrogen production by water electrolysis.Alkaline water electrolyzer consists of multiple electrolysis cells,and a single cell consists of a diaphragm,electrodes,bipolar plates and end plates,etc.The existing industrial bipolar plate channel is concave-convex structure,which is manufactured by complicated and high-cost mold punching.This structure still results in uneven electrolyte flow and low current density in the electrolytic cell,further increasing in energy consumption and cost of AWE.Thereby,in this article,the electrochemical and flow model is firstly constructed,based on the existing industrial concave and convex flow channel structure of bipolar plate,to study the current density,electrolyte flow and bubble distribution in the electrolysis cell.The reliability of the model was verified by comparison with experimental data in literature.Among which,the electrochemical current density affects the bubble yield,on the other hand,the generated bubbles cover the electrode surface,affecting the active specific surface area and ohmic resistance,which in turn affects the electrochemical reaction.The result indicates that the flow velocity near the bottom of the concave ball approaches zero,while the flow velocity on the convex ball surface is significantly higher.Additionally,vortices are observed within the flow channel structure,leading to an uneven distribution of electrolyte.Next,modelling is used to optimize the bipolar plate structure of AWE by simulating the electrochemistry and fluid flow performances of four kinds of structures,namely,concave and convex,rhombus,wedge and expanded mesh,in the bipolar plate of alkaline water electrolyzer.The results show that the expanded mesh channel structure has the largest current density of 3330 A/m^(2)and electrolyte flow velocity of 0.507 m/s in the electrolytic cell.Under the same current density,the electrolytic cell with the expanded mesh runner structure has the smallest potential and energy consumption.This work provides a useful guide for the comprehensive understanding and optimization of channel structures,and a theoretical basis for the design of large-scale electrolyzer.
基金financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2019YFC0605502)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42302156)+1 种基金the Major Projects of Petro China Science and Technology Fund(2021DJ0206)the Natural Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum(22CX06046A)。
文摘The organic-rich mudstones and dolostones of the Permian Fengcheng Formation(Fm.)are typically alkaline lacustrine source rocks,which are typified by impressively abundantβ-carotane.Abundant β-carotane has been well acknowledged as an effective indicator of biological sources or depositional environments.However,the specific biological sources of β-carotane and the coupling control of biological sources and environmental factors on the enrichment of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.remains obscure.Based on a comprehensive investigation of the bulk,molecular geochemistry,and organic petrology of sedimentary rocks and the biochemistry of phytoplankton in modern alkaline lakes,we proposed a new understanding of the biological precursors of β-carotane and elucidated the enrichment mechanism of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.The results show that the biological precursors crucially control the enrichment of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.The haloalkaliphilic cyanobacteria are the primary biological sources of β-carotane,which is suggested by a good positive correlation between the 2-methylhopane index,7-+8-methyl heptadecanes/C_(max),C_(29%),and β-carotane/C_(max)in sedimentary rocks and the predominance of cyanobacteria with abundantβ-carotene in modern alkaline lakes.The enrichment of β-carotane requires the reducing condition,and the paleoredox state that affects the enrichment of β-carotane appears to have a threshold.The paleoclimate conditions do not considerably impact the enrichment of β-carotane,but they have some influence on the water's paleosalinity by affecting evaporation and precipitation.While it does not directly affect the enrichment of β-carotane in the Fengcheng Fm.,paleosalinity does have an impact on the cyanobacterial precursor supply and the preservation conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21774139)China,Key Research and Development Program of Shanxi Province,China(No,202102040201009)special fund of Beijing Key Laboratory of Clean Fuels and Efficient Catalytic Emission Reduction Technology and the Fund for Shanxi“1331 Project”.Thanks to Ningbo Kejiang Culture Sci.&Tech.Development Co.,Ltd.for the help in schematic drawing。
文摘Melamine formaldehyde foam(MFF)generates many poisonous chemicals through the traditional recycling methods for organic resin wastes.Herein,a high MFF degradation ratio of ca.97 wt.%was achieved under the mild conditions(160℃)in a NaOH–H2O system with ammelide and ammeline as the main degradation products.The alkaline solvent had an obvious corrosion effect for MFF,as indicated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The reaction process and products distribution were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and ^(13)C nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR).Besides,the MFF degradation products that have the similar chemical structures and bonding performances to those of melamine can be directly used as the raw material for synthesis of melamine urea-formaldehyde resins(MUFs).Moreover,the degradation system demonstrated here showed the high degradation efficiency after reusing for 7 times.The degradation process generated few harmful pollutants and no pre-or post-treatments were required,which proves its feasibility in the safe removal or recovery of waste MFF.
基金Project supported by the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province,China (Grant No.2021B0101260001)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant No.2019A1515110411)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.61904201)。
文摘Silicon passivated emitter and rear contact(PERC) solar cells with V-groove texture were fabricated using maskless alkaline solution etching with in-house developed additive. Compared with the traditional pyramid texture, the V-groove texture possesses superior effective minority carrier lifetime, enhanced p–n junction quality and better applied filling factor(FF). In addition, a V-groove texture can greatly reduce the shading area and edge damage of front Ag electrodes when the V-groove direction is parallel to the gridline electrodes. Due to these factors, the V-groove solar cells have a higher efficiency(21.78%) than pyramid solar cells(21.62%). Interestingly, external quantum efficiency(EQE) and reflectance of the V-groove solar cells exhibit a slight decrease when the incident light angle(θ) is increased from 0° to 75°, which confirms the excellent quasi omnidirectionality of the V-groove solar cells. The proposed V-groove solar cell design shows a 2.84% relative enhancement of energy output over traditional pyramid solar cells.
基金supported by the Special Support Program for High-level Talents of Shaanxi Province(No.2020-44)Innnovative Talent Project of China and The Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universities
文摘NiO,an anodic electrochromic material,has applications in energy-saving windows,intelligent displays,and military camouflage.However,its electrochromic mechanism and reasons for its performance degradation in alkaline aqueous electrolytes are complex and poorly understood,making it challenging to improve NiO thin films.We studied the phases and electrochemical characteristics of NiO films in different states(initial,colored,bleached and after 8000 cycles)and identified three main reasons for performance degradation.First,Ni(OH)_(2)is generated during electrochromic cycling and deposited on the NiO film surface,gradually yielding a NiO@Ni(OH)_(2)core-shell structure,isolating the internal NiO film from the electrolyte,and preventing ion transfer.Second,the core-shell structure causes the mode of electrical conduction to change from first-to second-order conduction,reducing the efficiency of ion transfer to the surface Ni(OH)_(2)layer.Third,Ni(OH)_(2)and NiOOH,which have similar crystal structures but different b-axis lattice parameters,are formed during electrochromic cycling,and large volume changes in the unit cell reduce the structural stability of the thin film.Finally,we clarified the mechanism of electrochromic performance degradation of NiO films in alkaline aqueous electrolytes and provide a route to activation of NiO films,which will promote the development of electrochromic technology.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.2019YFE0197100)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences。
文摘Rice direct seeding technology is an appealing alternative to traditional transplanting because it conserves labor and irrigation resources.Nevertheless,there are two main issues,salt stress and alkaline stress,which contribute to poor emergence and seedling growth,thereby preventing the widespread adoption and application of this technique in the Ningxia Region of China.Therefore,to determine whether germination can be promoted by mixed-oligosaccharide(KP)priming(in which seeds are soaked in a KP solution before sowing)under salt and alkaline stress,a proteomics study was performed.KP-priming significantly mitigated abiotic stress,such as salt and alkaline stress,by inhibiting root elongation,ultimately improving seedling establishment.By comparing the proteomics analyses,we found that energy metabolic pathway was a vital factor in KP-priming,which explains the alleviation of salt and alkaline stress.Key proteins involved in starch mobilization,pyruvate mobilization,and ATP synthesis,were up-regulated by KP-priming,significantly blocking salt and alkaline-triggered starch accumulation while enhancing pyruvate metabolism.KP-priming also up-regulated ATP synthase to improve energy efficiency,thereby improving ATP production.In addition,it enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activities and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species.All of these factors contributed to a better understanding of the energy regulatory pathway enhanced by KP-priming,which mediated the promotion of growth under salt and alkaline conditions.Thus,this study demonstrated that KP-priming can improve rice seed germination under salt and alkaline stress by altering energy metabolism.
基金Department of Biotechnology,Ministry of Science and Technology,India,102/IFD/SAN/1555/2018-2019,102/IFD/SAN/2238/2016-17
文摘A paper analytical device(PAD)was developed for the colourimetric estimation of alkaline phosphatase(ALP).ALP catalyzes the hydrolysis of disodium phenyl phosphate(DSPP)to phenol,which then undergoes oxidative coupling with 4-aminoantipyrine(4-AAP)producing a reddish brown-coloured quinone imine.The colourimetric reaction tested in solution has been translated onto a PAD for the point of care(PoC)testing of ALP.A uniform colour was obtained in 25 min with the introduction of ALP onto the reagent drop cast paper device.The images obtained by scanning the PAD were processed using ImageJ software.The colour intensity obtained by image processing was proportional to the concentration of ALP present in the sample.ALP in serum and saliva samples were tested using the PAD in the range of 0 to 528 U/L and 0 to 187 U/L,respectively.The interference studies revealed that the PAD was selective to ALP in the presence of other biomolecules.The PAD exhibited a limit of detection(LOD)of 3.3 U/L and a sensitivity of 48.36 a.u/Log(U/L)for serum ALP and LOD of 1.69 U/L and a sensitivity of 28.5 a.u/Log(U/L)for salivary ALP.The PAD showed good agreement with the clinical methods for real samples.
基金financial support from the National Key R&D Program(2023YFE0108000)the Academy of Sciences Project of Guangdong Province(2019GDASYL-0102007,2021GDASYL-20210103063)+1 种基金GDAS’Project of Science and Technology Development(2022GDASZH-2022010203-003)financial support from the China Scholarship Council(202108210128)。
文摘An advantageous porous architecture of electrodes is pivotal in significantly enhancing alkaline water electrolysis(AWE)efficiency by optimizing the mass transport mechanisms.This effect becomes even more pronounced when aiming to achieve elevated current densities.Herein,we employed a rapid and scalable laser texturing process to craft novel multi-channel porous electrodes.Particularly,the obtained electrodes exhibit the lowest Tafel slope of 79 mV dec^(-1)(HER)and 49 mV dec^(-1)(OER).As anticipated,the alkaline electrolyzer(AEL)cell incorporating multi-channel porous electrodes(NP-LT30)exhibited a remarkable improvement in cell efficiency,with voltage drops(from 2.28 to 1.97 V)exceeding 300 mV under 1 A cm^(-1),compared to conventional perforated Ni plate electrodes.This enhancement mainly stemmed from the employed multi-channel porous structure,facilitating mass transport and bubble dynamics through an innovative convection mode,surpassing the traditional convection mode.Furthermore,the NP-LT30-based AEL cell demonstrated exceptional durability for 300 h under 1.0 A cm^(-2).This study underscores the capability of the novel multi-channel porous electrodes to expedite mass transport in practical AWE applications.
基金supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2016–67015-24958 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture。
文摘Background Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase(TNSALP;encoded by the ALPL gene)has a critical role in the postnatal regulation of p hospliate homeostasis,yet how TNSALP activity and expression are regulated during pregnancy remain largely unknown.This study tested the hypothesis that progesterone(P4)and/or interferon tau(IFNT)regulate TNSALP activity during pregnancy in sheep.Methods In Exp.1,ewes were bred and received daily intramuscular injections of either corn oil vehicle(CO)or 25 mg progesterone in CO(P4)for the first 8 days of pregnancy and were hysterectomized on either Day 9,12,or 125 of gestation.In Exp.2,ewes were fitted with intrauterine catheters on Day 7 of the estrous cycle and received daily intramuscular injections of 50 mg P4 in CO and/or 75 mg progesterone receptor antagonist(RU486)in CO from Days 8 to 15,and twice daily intrauterine injections of either control proteins(CX)or IFNT(25μg/uterine horn/d)from Days 11 to 15(treatment groups:P4+CX;P4+IFNT;RU486+P4+CX;and RU486+P4+IFNT)and were hysterectomized on Day 16.Results In Exp.1,endometria from ewes administered P4 had greater expression of ALPL mRNA than ewes administered CO on Day 12.TNSALP activity appeared greater in the epithelia,stratum compactum stroma,and endothelium of the blood vessels in the endometrium and myometrium from ewes administered P4 than ewes administered CO on Day 12.On Day 125,TNSALP activity localized to uterine epithelial and endothelial cells,independent of P4 treatment.TNSALP activity in placentomes appeared greater in P4 treated ewes and was detected in endothelial cells and caruncular tissue in P4 treated but not CO treated ewes.In Exp.2,endometrial homogenates from ewes administered RU486+P4+CX had lower TNSALP activity those for P4+CX and P4+IFNT ewes.Immunoreactive TNSALP protein appeared greater in the mid-and deep-glandular epithelia in RU486+P4+CX treated ewes as compared to the other treatment groups.Enzymatic activity appeared greater on the apical surface of the deep glandular epithelia in endometria from ewes treated with RU486+P4+CX compared to the other treatment groups.Conclusions These results suggest that P4,but not IFNT,regulates the expression and activity of TNSALP in uteroplacental tissues and has the potential to contribute to the regulation of phosphate availability that is critical for conceptus development during pregnancy.
