Search Results (6,829)

With the global trend towards “carbon neutrality,” the use of electric vehicles is becoming increasingly widespread, leading to new impacts on urban spaces. In the process of allocating resources for urban charging stations, there are widespread issues such as a singular planning approach and inadequate adaptation to actual travel demands. Therefore, this study adopts a method of integrating multi-source data to optimize the planning and layout of public electric vehicle charging facilities in Macau, striving to achieve breakthroughs in theoretical methods and key technologies. The study obtained a determination coefficient of R² = 0.43 through quantitative analysis, which is within a reasonable range of fitting spatial syntax and charging facility layout. This indicates that there is a moderate positive correlation between the distribution of charging facilities and core indicators such as road network integration and accessibility—about 43% of layout differences can be explained by spatial syntax indicators, and the remaining 57% of differences reserve space for optimizing multiple factors such as population density and parking lot distribution. On this basis, this study compares the layout experience of medium to high-density cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, and combines the common characteristics of old parishes on Macau Island and new urban areas on outlying islands to explore innovative sustainable development technology paths that are suitable for Macau. This study not only summarizes the key factors and optimization breakthroughs that affect the spatial distribution of charging facilities in Macau, providing basic data and methodological strategies for charging facility planning, but also helps Macau save energy and reduce emissions, build a green city through layout optimization, provide practical reference for the development of land reclamation areas, and provide reference for carbon neutrality and smart city construction in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant popularity globally during the past decade. This is mostly due to their reduced emissions of hydrocarbons and greenhouse gases. Electric vehicles acquire their electricity via wireless energy transmission, thereby circumventing the challenges associated with conventional techniques. The coils that transmit and receive signals deteriorate in performance and age as temperatures increase. Under extreme conditions, this may result in fire hazards and further safety issues. This article examined the electromagnetic and thermal dispersion of a magnetically coupled coil model for electric vehicles. This paper studied the electromagnetic and temperature distribution of the magnetically coupled coil model for electric vehicles. The coils were designed utilizing ANSYS software, with boundary conditions and pertinent parameters configured accordingly. The transmitter and receiver coils were identical in dimensions, with an inner diameter of 100 mm, an outer diameter of 295 mm, and an air gap of 60 mm between them. The magnetic coil was simulated and analyzed using copper as a material. In the aligned positions, the coupling coefficient between the transmitter and receiver coil was 0.168, its maximum temperature was 16.92 °C, and it was lower for the safety of the human body. An actual prototype was built to confirm the simulation results and to establish that the methodology employed in this research is applicable to the design of magnetic coils for a wireless charging system for electric vehicle models. Full article

Two crystals of N,N′-bis(phosphonomethyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimide were grown in the presence of neutral (water) and charged (imidazolium cation) species, yielding [(H₂O₃P)CH₂-(C₁₄H₄N₂O₄)-CH₂(PO₃H₂)]∙H₂O (1) and [C₃H₅N₂][(H_1.5O₃P)CH₂-(C₁₄H₄N₂O₄)-CH₂(PO₃H_1.5)] (2), respectively. The ligand N,N′-bis(phosphonomethyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimide was synthesized via the condensation of naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride with (aminomethyl)phosphonic acid in N,N′-dimethylformamide or imidazole. The flexible N-methyl phosphonic acid groups adopt a cis configuration in compound 1 and a trans configuration in compound 2. In compound 1, the phosphonate groups engage in extensive hydrogen bonding, as well as with water molecules and π–π stacking, resulting in a three-dimensional closely packed structure. Compound 2 forms a densely packed three-dimensional network stabilized by charge-assisted hydrogen bonding (anion-cation), anion–π interactions, and π–π stacking interactions. Hirshfeld surface analysis was conducted and the associated two-dimensional fingerprint plots were generated to further elucidate the nature and contributions of these noncovalent interactions. Direct bandgap measurements estimated from Tauc plots yielded values of 2.92 eV and 2.85 eV for compounds 1 and 2, respectively, highlighting their potential as promising n-type organic semiconductors. Thermal analysis reveals that compound 2 exhibits greater thermal stability than compound 1. Full article

This study conducts a comparative content analysis of media coverage of the Russia–Ukraine war by China Global Television Network (CGTN) and Voice of America (VOA), focusing on emotional content and framing strategies. Analyzing 4997 articles from CGTN and 4975 articles from VOA, the study examines how each outlet emphasizes emotions such as neutrality, anger, fear, and hope. The findings reveal that CGTN predominantly adopts a neutral and analytical tone, prioritizing geopolitical implications; in contrast, VOA employs a more emotionally charged approach, highlighting the humanitarian crisis and expressing solidarity with Ukraine. While CGTN emphasizes hope and diplomatic solutions, VOA underscores anger and fear to justify international intervention and support for Ukraine. The contrasting framing strategies reflect the geopolitical interests of China and the U.S., with CGTN positioning China as a mediator advocating for peace and stability, and VOA framing Russia as the aggressor to bolster Western democratic values. By leveraging divergent emotional narratives, both media outlets serve the strategic objectives of their countries, shape global perceptions, and garner public support for their respective policies. This study contributes to understanding how emotional framing functions as a strategic tool in international media coverage during geopolitical conflicts. Full article

This study presents a well-to-wheel life-cycle assessment (WTW-LCA) comparing battery-electric heavy-duty trucks (BEVs) with conventional diesel trucks, utilizing real-world fleet data from Southern California’s Volvo LIGHTS project. Class 7 and Class 8 vehicles were analyzed under ISO 14040/14044 standards, combining measured diesel emissions from portable emissions measurement systems (PEMSs) with BEV energy use derived from telematics and charging records. Upstream (“well-to-tank”) emissions were estimated using USLCI datasets and the 2020 Southern California Edison (SCE) power mix, with an additional scenario for BEVs powered by on-site solar energy. The analysis combines measured real-world energy consumption data from deployed battery electric trucks with on-road emission measurements from conventional diesel trucks collected by the UCR team. Environmental impacts were characterized using TRACI 2.1 across climate, air quality, toxicity, and fossil fuel depletion impact categories. The results show that BEVs reduce total WTW CO₂-equivalent emissions by approximately 75% compared to diesel. At the same time, criteria pollutants (NO_x, VOCs, SO_x, PM_2.5) decline sharply, reflecting the shift in impacts from vehicle exhaust to upstream electricity generation. Comparative analyses indicate BEV impacts range between 8% and 26% of diesel levels across most environmental indicators, with near-zero ozone-depletion effects. The main residual hotspot appears in the human-health cancer category (~35–38%), linked to upstream energy and materials, highlighting the continued need for grid decarbonization. The analysis focuses on operational WTW impacts, excluding vehicle manufacturing, battery production, and end-of-life phases. This use-phase emphasis provides a conservative yet practical basis for short-term fleet transition strategies. By integrating empirical performance data with life-cycle modeling, the study offers actionable insights to guide electrification policies and optimize upstream interventions for sustainable freight transport. These findings provide a quantitative decision-support basis for fleet operators and regulators planning near-term heavy-duty truck electrification in regions with similar grid mixes, and can serve as an empirical building block for future cradle-to-grave and dynamic LCA studies that extend beyond the operational well-to-wheels scope adopted here. Full article

Photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS) provides a sustainable route to transform solar energy into hydrogen; however, its overall efficiency is constrained by the inherently slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) is considered an attractive visible-light-responsive photoanode due to its suitable band gap (~2.4 eV) and chemical stability; however, its efficiency is restricted by limited charge transport and significant charge carrier recombination. To overcome these limitations, BiVO₄–MoS₂ (BVO–MS) heterostructures were synthesized through a simple in situ hydrothermal approach, ensuring robust interfacial coupling and uniform dispersion of MS nanosheets over BVO dendritic surfaces. This intimate contact promotes rapid charge transfer and improved light-harvesting capability. Structural and spectroscopic analyses confirmed the formation of monoclinic BVO with uniformly integrated amorphous MS. The optimized BVO–MS10 electrode delivered a photocurrent density of 4.72 mA cm⁻² at 0.6 V vs. SCE, approximately 5.3 times higher than pristine BVO, and achieved an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 0.49%. Mott–Schottky analysis revealed a distinct negative shift in the flat-band potential for BVO–MS10, indicative of an upward movement of its conduction band and the establishment of a strong internal electric field that enhances charge separation and interfacial electron transport. These synergistic effects collectively endow the in situ engineered BVO–MS heterostructure with superior PEC water oxidation performance and highlight its promise for efficient solar-driven hydrogen generation. Full article

We present a theoretical framework describing how the electrophoretic mobility of a weakly charged oil droplet in an aqueous electrolyte varies with frequency when the system is subjected to an oscillatory electric field. The surface charge of the droplet arises from the adsorption of electrolyte ions. Our analysis is based on a simplified form of the Baygents–Saville model, in which the interior of the droplet is assumed to contain no dissolved ions. In this approach, variations in interfacial tensions along the droplet surface, generated by the Marangoni effect, are explicitly included. From the formulation, we derive a general expression for the dynamic electrophoretic mobility of a charged spherical droplet, and, in addition, obtain concise analytical formulas applicable in the limit of small zeta potentials. Full article

As electronic technologies continue to advance, the demand for high-performance and safe batteries has steadily increased. However, silicon-based anode materials experience severe volume expansion and poor structural stability during cycling, which limits their practical application. In this study, we synthesized hollow mesoporous silica to develop an anode material with long-term cycling stability. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the material exhibited low-capacity decay, decreasing from 125 mA·h·g⁻¹ to 120 mA·h·g⁻¹ at a C-rate of 20 C, and retained a 49 mA·h·g⁻¹ after 500 charge–discharge cycles at a C-rate of 10 C. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis confirmed that the hollow mesoporous silica structure is long-term cycling stability in the anode. Full article

Laser slicing has emerged as a promising low-kerf and low-damage technique for SiC wafer fabrication; however, its effects on the crystal integrity, near-surface modification, and charge-transport properties require further clarification. Here, a heavily N-doped 4° off-axis 4H-SiC wafer was sliced using an ultraviolet (UV) picosecond laser, and both laser-irradiated and laser-sliced surfaces were comprehensively characterized. X-ray diffraction and pole figure measurements confirmed that the 4H stacking sequence and macroscopic crystal orientation were preserved after slicing. Raman spectroscopy, including analysis of the folded transverse-optical and longitudinal-optical phonon–plasmon coupled modes, enabled dielectric function fitting and determination of the plasmon frequency, yielding a free-carrier concentration of ~3.1 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻³. Hall measurements provided consistent carrier density, mobility, and resistivity, demonstrating that the laser slicing process did not degrade bulk electrical properties. Multi-scale Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Angle-Resolved X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (ARXPS), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)/Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) analyses revealed the formation of a near-surface thin amorphous/polycrystalline modified layer and an oxygen-rich region, with significantly increased roughness and thicker modified layers on the hilly regions of the sliced surface. These results indicate that UV laser slicing maintains the intrinsic crystalline and electrical properties of 4H-SiC while introducing localized nanoscale surface damage that must be minimized by optimizing the slicing parameters and the subsequent surface-finishing processes. Full article

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a key oxidant for green chemical processes, yet its catalytic utilization and activation efficiency remain limited by material instability and uncontrolled radical release. Here, we report a dual-functional, hollow conductive polymer nanostructure that enables selective modulation of H₂O₂ reactivity through interfacial physicochemical design. Hollow polypyrrole nanospheres functionalized with carboxyl groups (PPy@PyCOOH) were synthesized via a one-step Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ oxidative copolymerization route, in which H₂O₂ simultaneously served as oxidant, template, and reactant. The resulting structure exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity, rapid redox degradability (>80% optical loss in 60 min (82.5 ± 4.1%, 95% CI: 82.5 ± 10.2%), 10 mM H₂O₂, pH 6.5), and strong electronic coupling to reactive oxygen intermediates. Subsequent tannic acid–copper (TA–Cu) coordination produced a conformal metal–polyphenol network that introduces a controllable Fenton-like catalytic interface, achieving a 50% increase in ROS yield (1.52 ± 0.08-fold vs. control, 95% CI: 1.52 ± 0.20-fold) while maintaining stable photothermal conversion under repeated NIR cycles. Mechanistic analysis reveals that interfacial TA–Cu complexes regulate charge delocalization and proton–electron transfer at the polymer–solution boundary, balancing redox catalysis with energy dissipation. This work establishes a sustainable platform for H₂O₂-driven redox and photo-thermal coupling, integrating conductive polymer chemistry with eco-friendly catalytic pathways. Full article

An asymmetric four-chamber redox flow desalination cell was developed to enhance ion transport and energy efficiency by controlling chamber geometry, applied voltage, and electrolyte flow rate. The design integrates thick outer redox chambers with thin desalination chambers to promote uniform redox reactions and stable mass transfer. The system operated stably for 12 h and achieved a high salt removal rate of approximately 1226 mmol·m⁻²·h⁻¹ at 1.0 V with low specific energy consumption of about 99.74 kJ·mol⁻¹, demonstrating both durable operation and highly promising desalination performance. Electrochemical impedance analysis further confirmed that increased electrolyte flow reduces charge-transfer and diffusion resistances, enabling faster ionic transport. These findings highlight the originality of the chamber-asymmetric design and its promise for compact, low-voltage redox flow systems. This work provides design guidelines for next-generation flow-based desalination systems and suggests future research directions in scaling the architecture, optimizing flow-channel geometry, and integrating higher-stability redox electrolytes for long-term practical operation. Full article

The replacement of ionizable functional groups that are predominantly charged at physiological pH with neutral bioisosteres is a common strategy in medicinal chemistry; however, its impact on binding affinity is often context-dependent. Here, we investigated a series of amide derivatives of a glycomimetic E-selectin ligand, in which the carboxylate group of the lead compound is substituted with a range of amide and isosteric analogs. Despite the expected loss of the salt-bridge interaction with Arg97, several amides retained or even improved the binding affinity. Co-crystal structures revealed conserved binding poses across the series, with consistent interactions involving the carbonyl oxygen of the amide and the key residues Tyr48 and Arg97. High-level quantum chemical calculations ruled out a direct correlation between carbonyl partial charges and affinity. Instead, a moderate correlation was observed between ligand binding and the out-of-plane pyramidality of the amide nitrogen, suggesting a favorable steric adaptation within the binding site. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that high-affinity ligands exhibit enhanced solution-phase pre-organization toward the bioactive conformation, likely reducing the entropic penalty upon binding. Further analysis of protein–ligand complexes using Molecular mechanics/Generalized born surface area (MM-GB/SA) decomposition suggested minor lipophilic contributions from amide substituents. Taken together, this work underscores the importance of geometric and conformational descriptors, beyond classical electrostatics, in driving affinity in glycomimetic ligand design and provides new insights into the nuanced role of amides as carboxylate isosteres in protein–ligand recognition. Full article

Photocatalysis represents an efficient and environmentally friendly technology for wastewater treatment. In this study, a novel composite material, comprising AgBr nanospheres anchored on the surface of SrSnO₃ nanorods, was synthesized via a co-precipitation method. Its photocatalytic activity was evaluated using Methyl Orange as the target pollutant. The results demonstrated that the composite photocatalyst achieved a degradation efficiency of 92% within 40 min, which is 7.16 times higher than AgBr. XPS analysis confirmed the successful construction of a built-in electric field between SrSnO₃ and AgBr. Photoelectrochemical experiments further verified a significant enhancement in the charge carrier dynamics of the composite catalyst. Full article

This study examines the interfacial and structural evolution of titanium disulfide (TiS₂) during Ca²⁺ intercalation/deintercalation in concentrated aqueous CaCl₂. Electrochemical measurements were combined with ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy to characterize the solvation structure, potential window, and reversibility in concentrated CaCl₂ electrolytes. Increasing the CaCl₂ concentration from 1.0 to 8.0 M was accompanied by reduced gas evolution and an expanded practical operating window. Stepwise analysis identified the potential range −1.00 to 0.10 V (vs. the saturated calomel electrode) as a practical window that minimized TiO₂/S₈ formation while preserving reversible Ca²⁺ intercalation. Ex situ XRD showed reversible (001) shifts, consistent with interlayer expansion and contraction, and peak broadening was indicative of partial amorphization and defects. XPS revealed CaS and polysulfides (S_z²⁻, 2 ≤ z ≤ 8) to be the prevalent surface species with limited Ca(OH)₂ and CaSO₄; within the detection limits, no chlorine-containing reduction products were observed after charging. The electrochemical and spectroscopic results indicate that intercalation is accompanied by partial sulfur-centered reduction and defect signatures, with associated changes in the interfacial charge-transfer characteristics and reversibility. These findings link the potential, interfacial chemistry, and lattice response, and suggest design considerations for stable aqueous multivalent-ion storage. Full article

Biopolymeric films based on chitosan and starch offer an ecological alternative for food protection. Nevertheless, their practical application is often limited by their low mechanical properties and high solubility in aqueous solutions, due to weak interactions between the chains of the biopolymers. One approach to resolve this problem is to obtain biopolymeric films based on (bio)polyelectrolyte complex ((bio)PEC). These films exhibit stronger electrostatic interactions and homogeneous biopolymeric structure. In this study, films based on (bio)PEC were obtained by the casting method, using chitosan and carboxymethyl cassava starch with different degrees of substitution with a biopolymer concentration of 2.5 wt.% at pH = 6. The obtained films were analyzed using the optical and scanning microscopy, color method, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, mechanical analysis under tension, solubility in water, simulated gastric fluid (SGF), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solutions, and contact angle of water. The results demonstrated that the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of films based on (bio)PEC increased by 2–4 times, and the elongation at break by 20% compared to films based on a mixture chitosan and starch. This is due to the increase in the attraction between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in (bio)PEC films. Additionally, the solubility of (bio)PEC films was reduced by ~40%, 35% and 70% in water, SGF and PBS solutions, respectively, when the carboxymethyl starch with highest degree of substitution was used, and z was near to 1. Full article