Search Results (6,396)

Supercapacitors have attracted significant interest as increased energy storage devices due to their high power density, rapid charge/discharge performance, and long cyclability. In this study, NiO, Co₃O₄, NCO, and NCO/rGO composite electrodes were prepared and evaluated for high-performance supercapacitor applications. The uniform distribution of elements and the effective incorporation of rGO into the composite were confirmed by structural and morphological characterizations. Among the evaluated materials, the NCO/rGO electrode exhibited high electrochemical performance, delivering a specific capacitance of 998 F g⁻¹ in a three-electrode configuration, attributed to the enhanced redox activity of NiCo₂O₄ coupled with the enhanced electrical conductivity of rGO. Additionally, an asymmetric supercapacitor device with activated carbon as the negative electrode and NCO/rGO as the positive electrode showed a power density of 750 W kg⁻¹, an energy density of 29.2 Wh kg⁻¹, and a specific capacitance of 93.7 F g⁻¹. After 5000 charge/discharge cycles, the device maintained 85% of its initial capacitance and a coulombic efficiency of 99%, demonstrating exceptional cyclability. These results highlight the strong potential of the NiCo₂O₄/rGO composite as an advanced electrode material for next-generation energy storage systems. Full article

Aquaponic systems are the integration of aquaculture and hydroponic systems to enhance productivity, reduce land use, and improve sustainability. This review focused on commonly used life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, system boundaries, and functional units used in aquaponics, standard impact categories, and identified hotspots. The scope is worldwide and encompasses a variety of aquaponic designs, fish species, and crops, illustrating the diversity of the systems examined. The analysis indicates that aquaponics provides the considerable environmental advantages of decreased fertilizer consumption and water conservation in comparison with aquaculture and hydroponic system. However, aquaponics systems are characterized by high energy consumption and may produce greater greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional farming methods when reliant on fossil fuel energy sources. Studies show that fish feed production, system infrastructure, and electricity usage for pumps, lights, heating, and other controls are hotspots. Harmonized comparisons of previous studies show methodological differences, especially in fish–plant co-production. Despite these variations, most believe that energy efficiency, renewable energy, feed optimization, and waste reuse may make aquaponics more sustainable. The study recommends the inclusion of broader environmental and social impacts. Also, future focus might be on making a standard functional unit or specifying system boundaries which might provide different accurate outcomes. Full article

This paper analyzes microstructural layout and electrical behavior of silicon nanowire-based Schottky diodes, for use as wide-domain temperature sensors. The employed nanostructured three-dimensional substrates provide larger contact areas and enable higher Schottky barrier heights, ultimately leading to a better operable temperature range. Two metal deposition techniques (Radio Frequency sputtering and Electron-beam evaporation) are used to fabricate experimental Schottky diode samples. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and diffuse reflectance investigations are carried out in order to determine nanowire distribution and the influence of subsequent metal deposition. The analyses evince the formation of a slightly inhomogeneous contact. The findings are validated by a thorough electrical characterization over a wide temperature domain. Inhomogeneity models are used in order to determine the main device parameters and the bias regions where they can be used as precise temperature sensors. The sputtered sample exhibits the best sensitivity, between 1 and 1.4 mV/K, while excellent linearity (R2 > 99.5%) is obtained for Electron-beam evaporated devices. Both types of silicon nanowire-based Schottky diode sensors have 100–500K operable ranges, much larger than planar counterparts. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by excessive oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and persistent activation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. Danthron, a natural anthraquinone derivative from rhubarb, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, yet its regulatory mechanisms in intestinal inflammation remain unclear. In this study, we combined network pharmacology, transcriptomic profiling, cell-based assays, intestinal organoids, and a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model to determine the protective effects of Danthron against oxidative injury. Integrated target prediction and RNA-seq analysis identified EGFR–PI3K–AKT and Nrf2–HO-1 as key signaling axes modulated by Danthron. In macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells, Danthron markedly suppressed LPS- or H₂O₂-induced ROS accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, while restoring superoxide dismutase activity and reducing malondialdehyde levels. Danthron also inhibited M1 macrophage polarization, preserved epithelial tight-junction proteins, and maintained transepithelial electrical resistance. CETSA, DARTS, and molecular docking confirmed direct engagement of Danthron with components of both the EGFR–PI3K–AKT and Nrf2–HO-1 pathways. In vivo, Danthron significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, reducing inflammatory cytokines, epithelial apoptosis, oxidative stress, and myeloid cell infiltration while improving mucosal architecture and enhancing organoid regenerative capacity. These findings demonstrate that Danthron exerts potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through coordinated inhibition of EGFR–PI3K–AKT signaling and activation of the Nrf2–HO-1 axis, suggesting its promise as a multi-target therapeutic candidate for IBD. Full article

Hydrolyzed collagen (HC) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) were used as additives in non-frozen and frozen doughs (NFDs and FDs). Both additives were characterized using specific techniques, i.e., SEM-EDX, MALDI-TOF MS, TGA, and DSC analyses. Rheological analysis of NFD samples was performed using a Chopin Mixolab Profiler. According to a central composite design (CCD), two sets of twelve experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of percentages of HC and KGM in the mixture of flour and both additives (c_HC = 0.79–2.21% and c_KGM = 0.79–2.21%) on the porosity (PO = 58.96–78.76%), humidity (HU = 42.51–45.60%), electrical conductivity (EC = 2.06–2.29 μS/cm), and pH (pH = 5.5–5.9) of bread samples prepared from NFD and FD. The freezing led to a significant decrease in PO and pH, as well as a significant increase in HU, whereas its effect on EC was not statistically significant. The highest values of response variables that were significantly affected by the process factors, i.e., PO_FD = 70.8%, pH_FD = 5.6, and pH_NFD = 5.9, were obtained in the center point runs (c_HC = c_KGM = 1.50%). For bread samples prepared from FD, the mold development process began approximately four days later than for those prepared from NFD. Bread samples produced from FD and NFD samples in the center point runs showed a low rate of mold formation. Full article

The widespread adoption of lithium-ion battery-powered electric vehicles has raised increasing concerns regarding battery safety under mechanical abuse conditions. However, mechanical abuse scenarios, such as battery extrusion, are highly diverse, making it impractical to conduct extensive destructive experiments and independent modeling for each specific scenario. In this work, a cross-scenario mechanical safety modeling framework for lithium-ion batteries is proposed based on transfer learning. Three quasi-static mechanical abuse tests, including flat-plate, rigid-rod, and hemispherical compression, are conducted on 18650 lithium-ion batteries. An equivalent mechanical model with a spring–damper parallel structure is employed to characterize the mechanical response and generate simulation data. Based on data from a single mechanical abuse scenario, a backpropagation neural network (BPNN)-based safety model is established to predict the maximum stress in the battery. The learned knowledge is then transferred to other mechanical abuse scenarios using a transfer learning strategy. The results demonstrate that, under limited target-domain data, the transferred models achieve stable prediction performance, with the average relative error controlled within 3.6%, outperforming models trained from scratch under the same conditions. Compared with existing studies that focus on single-scenario modeling, this work explicitly investigates cross-scenario transferability and demonstrates the effectiveness of transfer learning in reducing experimental and modeling effort for battery mechanical safety analysis. Full article

Standardized driving cycles often inadequately represent the driving patterns specific to a particular city, and variations in vehicle types within the same city further contribute to discrepancies in driving cycles. This study seeks to characterize the driving patterns of a specific vehicle model within a designated city and to provide robust data support for precise predictions of energy consumption and driving range. To achieve this objective, a driving cycle was developed and analyzed using real-world operational data collected from a battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Qingdao, China. The driving cycle was constructed through a process involving data preprocessing, dimensionality reduction via principal component analysis (PCA), and Improved Grey Wolf Optimizer K-means (IGWO-K-means). The analysis of energy consumption per 100 km is concluded by the study. Validation of the constructed driving cycle against the preprocessed data yielded an average relative error of 2.31%, providing a reference for the real-world driving cycle of BEVs in Qingdao, China. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the driving cycles for BEVs in Qingdao, China, and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in Fuzhou and Nanjing, China, revealed notable differences. This underscores the critical need for developing driving cycles that are specifically tailored to distinct cities and vehicle models. The examination of energy consumption per 100 km further corroborated the representativeness of the constructed driving cycle. Furthermore, a comparative assessment of energy consumption across varying ambient temperature ranges demonstrated that it increases as temperatures decrease. Full article

We report on the fabrication and characterization of InGaN-based ridge-waveguide laser diodes employing spin-on-glass (SOG) as the insulation and planarization layer. In contrast to conventional silicon dioxide (SiO₂) isolation deposited by PECVD, the SOG approach provides improved surface planarity, reduced processing complexity, and lower fabrication cost. The laser structures were grown on GaN substrates by MOCVD, with the active region consisting of In_0.11Ga_0.89N quantum wells. Following ridge formation and SOG deposition, an etch-back process was used to form the electrical contacts. We have demonstrated the formation of high-quality insulating surfaces with strong adhesion to the ridge sidewalls. When using a Ni protective layer, the fabricated devices exhibited favorable electrical and optical characteristics and achieved stable laser operation under both pulsed and continuous-wave conditions. These results indicate that the SOG-based insulation process represents a promising alternative for the scalable and cost-effective fabrication of InGaN laser diodes targeting advanced photonic applications. Full article

The strategic balance between strength and electrical conductivity in Al-Mg-Si alloys is a critical challenge that must be overcome to enable their widespread adoption as viable alternatives to copper conductors in power transmission systems. To address this, the present study comprehensively investigates model alloys with Mg/Si ratios ranging from 1.0 to 2.0. A multi-faceted experimental approach was employed, combining tailored thermo-mechanical treatments (solution treatment, cold drawing, and isothermal annealing) with comprehensive microstructural characterization techniques, including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results elucidate a fundamental competitive mechanism governing property optimization: excess Mg atoms concurrently contribute to solid-solution strengthening via the formation of Cottrell atmospheres around dislocations, while simultaneously enhancing electron scattering, which is detrimental to conductivity. A critical synergy was identified at the Mg/Si ratio of 1.75, which promotes the dense precipitation of fine β″ phase while facilitating extensive recovery of high dislocation density. Furthermore, EBSD analysis confirmed the development of a microstructure comprising 74.1% high-angle grain boundaries alongside a low dislocation density (KAM ≤ 2°). This specific microstructural configuration effectively minimizes electron scattering while providing moderate grain boundary strengthening, thereby synergistically achieving an optimal balance between strength and electrical conductivity. Consequently, this work elucidates the key quantitative relationships and competitive mechanisms among composition (Mg/Si ratio), processing parameters, microstructure evolution, and final properties within the studied Al-xMg-0.5Si alloy system. These findings establish a clear design guideline and provide a fundamental understanding for developing high-performance aluminum-based conductor alloys with tailored Mg/Si ratios. Full article

Lead-free transparent ferroelectric ceramics with integrated opto-electro-mechanical functionalities are pivotal for next-generation multifunctional devices. In this study, K_0.48Na_0.52NbO₃-xLa₂O₃ (KNN-xLa, x = 0.005 − 0.04) ceramics were fabricated via a conventional solid-state route to investigate the La³⁺-induced multiscale structural evolution and its modulation of optical and electrical properties. La³⁺ substitution drives a critical structural transition from an anisotropic orthorhombic phase (Amm2) to a high-symmetry pseudocubic-like tetragonal phase (P4mm) for x ≥ 0.025, characterized by minimal lattice distortion (c/a = 1.0052). This enhanced structural isotropy, coupled with submicron grain refinement (<1 μm) driven by -mediated solute drag, effectively suppresses light scattering. Consequently, a high-transparency plateau (T₇₈₀ ≈ 53–58%, T₁₇₀₀ ≈ 70–72%) is achieved for 0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.035. Simultaneously, the system undergoes a crossover from normal ferroelectric (FE) to relaxor (RF) state, governed by an FE–RF boundary at x = 0.015. While x = 0.005 exhibits robust piezoelectricity (d₃₃ ≈ 92 pC/N), the x = 0.015 composition facilitates a transitional polar state with large strain (0.179%) and high polarization (P_m ≈ 33.3 μC/cm², P_r ≈ 15.8 μC/cm²). Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) confirms the domain evolution from lamellar macro-domains to speckle-like polar nanoregions (PNRs), elucidating the intrinsic trade-off between optical transparency and piezoelectricity. This work underscores La³⁺ as a potent structural modifier for tailoring phase boundaries and defect chemistry, providing a cost-effective framework for developing high-performance transparent electromechanical materials. Full article

The multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) protein plays a crucial role in mediating plant responses to aluminum (Al) toxicity. The key candidate gene BnaMATE43b related to Al toxicity stress in rapeseed was identified using GWAS and transcriptome analysis. In this study, the BnaMATE43b gene was cloned and functionally characterized in rapeseed. Compared with wild-type rapeseed (WT), the BnaMATE43b overexpression lines (OE) demonstrated stronger aluminum tolerance, specifically manifested in higher relative elongation of taproots (RETs) and relative total root length (RTRL); under Al toxicity stress, the enzyme activities (SOD and POD) and root activity were significantly increased in the OE lines, whereas the MDA content and relative electrical conductivity were reduced in rapeseed root. Further transcriptome analysis of OE-3 showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in zeatin biosynthesis (map00908), glucosinolate biosynthesis (map00966), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (map00940), and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism (map00053). In addition, the yeast cDNA library of rapeseed was constructed, and twenty-two candidate upstream transcription factors (UTFs) of BnaMATE43b were screened; furthermore, four candidate UTFs were obtained through one-on-one interaction validation and luciferase assays, comprising three bHLH transcription factors (BnaA02g28220D, BnaA06g07840D, and BnaA08g24520D) and one ERF transcription factor (BnaA05g23130D). Collectively, these results suggest that BnaMATE43b could improve Al tolerance in rapeseed by mediating antioxidant enzyme activities and the related metabolic pathway, while the obtained UTFs lay the foundation for further analysis of the gene regulatory network under Al toxicity stress. Full article

Bacterial infections and the lack of bioactivity of titanium implants and their alloys remain critical challenges for the long-term performance and clinical success of these devices. These issues arise from the undesirable combination of early microbial adhesion and the limited ability of metallic surfaces to form a bioactive interface capable of supporting osseointegration. To address these limitations simultaneously, this study employed electrical discharge machining (EDM), which enables surface topography modification and in situ incorporation of bioactive ions from the dielectric fluid. Ti-6Al-4V ELI surfaces were modified using two dielectric fluids, a fluorine/phosphorus-based solution (DF1-F) and a calcium/phosphorus-based solution (DF2-Ca), under positive and negative polarities. The recast layer was characterized by SEM and EDS, while bioactivity was evaluated through immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for up to 21 days. Antibacterial performance was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus at 6 h and 24 h of incubation. The results demonstrated that dielectric composition and polarity strongly influenced ionic incorporation and the structural stability of the modified layers. The DF2-Ca(+) condition exhibited the most favorable bioactive response, with Ca/P ratios closer to hydroxyapatite and surface morphologies typical of mineralized coatings. In antibacterial assays, Ca/P-containing surfaces significantly decreased S. aureus attachment (>80–90%). Overall, EDM with Ca/P-containing dielectrics enables the fabrication of Ti-6Al-4V surfaces with enhanced mineralization capacity and anti-adhesive effects against Gram-positive bacteria, reinforcing their potential for multifunctional biomedical applications. Full article

With the rapid advancement in portable electronics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, there is an escalating demand for high-density, low-voltage non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies. Germanium (Ge) nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as a promising candidate for NVM applications; however, traditional synthesis methodologies suffer from limitations in achieving precise control over the size and density of these nanocrystals, which exert a significant influence on device performance. This study presents an innovative Ag-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methodology for the synthesis of Ge NCs with precisely controllable size and density on SiO₂/Si substrates, tailored for NVM applications. Scanning electron microscopy characterization confirms the successful growth of faceted Ge NCs. Electrical characterization of the fabricated devices reveals that Ge NCs grown at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000 °C exhibit memory windows spanning from 3.0 to 6.8 V under a ±6 V bias. Notably, the device synthesized at 900 °C demonstrates an exceptional memory window of 7.0 V under a ±8 V bias. Furthermore, the Ge NC-based NVM devices exhibit excellent charge retention characteristics. Specifically, for the device with Ge NCs grown at 700 °C, the time required to retain charge from 100% to 95% of its initial value exceeds 10 years, demonstrating long-term stable charge storage capability. These findings underscore the significant potential of this approach for the development of high-performance NVM technologies. Full article

Hybrid systems consisting of metal–fullerene composites exhibit intriguing properties but often suffer from thermal instability. With proper control, such instability can be harnessed to enable the formation of sophisticated nanostructures with nanometric precision. These self-organization phenomena are not limited to thermal stimulation alone but can also be triggered by other external stimuli. In this work, we investigate the morphological evolution of thin films composed of evaporated C₆₀ and sputtered nickel mixtures, focusing on how external stimuli influence both their structural and electrical properties. Thin films were prepared under controlled deposition conditions, and their surface morphology was analyzed using advanced characterization techniques. Progressive changes in film morphology were observed as a function of composition and external treatment, highlighting the interplay between metallic and molecular components. In particular, it was observed that, due to the annealing treatment, the sample undergoes strong phase separation, with the formation of structures tens of microns in diameter and an increase in electrical resistance, exhibiting insulating behavior. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms governing hybrid thin film formation and suggest potential applications in electronic, optoelectronic, and energy-related devices. Full article

It has long been desired to achieve mechanical enhancement and structural health monitoring by introducing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into traditional carbon fiber (CF) composites. Herein, the initiation of micro-damage and crack propagation has been investigated by utilizing in situ electrical resistance changes in interlaminar hybrid CNT network/CF composites during the shear loading process. The results show a clear relationship between the crack propagation and the electrical resistance response particularly when approaching the failure of the single-layer CNT network hybrid composites. Furthermore, the chemically modified CNT network exhibits evident enhancement on main mechanical properties of the CF composites, superior to the thermoplastic toughening method. The characterizations manifest that the multiscale interlayered CNT/CF structure can simultaneously resist the crack propagation along both the in-plane direction and the cross-plane direction, which consequently enhances the flexural and compressive strengths of the composite material. This discovery provides a novel idea for the potential application of CNT network/CF hybrid composites in the integration of mechanical reinforcement and structural health monitoring, namely, that the CNT network acts not only as a reinforcing phase but also as a sensor for the structural health monitoring of the composites. Full article