Sodium‐Doped Mesoporous Ni2P2O7 Hexagonal Tablets for High‐Performance Flexible All‐Solid‐State Hybrid Supercapacitors

A simple hydrothermal method has been developed to prepare hexagonal tablet precursors, which are then transformed into porous sodium‐doped Ni₂P₂O₇ hexagonal tablets by a simple calcination method. The obtained samples were evaluated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. Electrochemical measurements show that the electrode based on the porous sodium‐doped Ni₂P₂O₇ hexagonal tablets exhibits a specific capacitance of 557.7 F g^?1 at a current density of 1.2 A g^?1. Furthermore, the porous sodium‐doped Ni₂P₂O₇ hexagonal tablets were successfully used to construct flexible solid‐state hybrid supercapacitors. The device is highly flexible and achieves a maximum energy density of 23.4 Wh kg^?1 and a good cycling stability after 5000 cycles, which confirms that the porous sodium‐doped Ni₂P₂O₇ hexagonal tablets are promising active materials for flexible supercapacitors.     

Ferric Phosphate Hydroxide Microstructures Affect Their Magnetic Properties

Uniformly sized and shape-controlled nanoparticles are important due to their applications in catalysis, electrochemistry, ion exchange, molecular adsorption, and electronics. Several ferric phosphate hydroxide (Fe₄(OH)₃(PO₄)₃) microstructures were successfully prepared under hydrothermal conditions. Using controlled variations in the reaction conditions, such as reaction time, temperature, and amount of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the crystals can be grown as almost perfect hyperbranched microcrystals at 180 °C (without CTAB) or relatively monodisperse particles at 220 °C (with CTAB). The large hyperbranched structure of Fe₄(OH)₃(PO₄)₃ with a size of ∼19 μm forms with the “fractal growth rule” and shows many branches. More importantly, the magnetic properties of these materials are directly correlated to their size and micro/nanostructure morphology. Interestingly, the blocking temperature (T_B) shows a dependence on size and shape, and a smaller size resulted in a lower T_B. These crystals are good examples that prove that physical and chemical properties of nano/microstructured materials are related to their structures, and the precise control of the morphology of such functional materials could allow for the control of their performance.     

A stochastic portfolio optimization model with complete memory

In this article, we consider a portfolio optimization problem of the Merton’s type with complete memory over a finite time horizon. The problem is formulated as a stochastic control problem on a finite time horizon and the state evolves according to a process governed by a stochastic process with memory. The goal is to choose investment and consumption controls such that the total expected discounted utility is maximized. Under certain conditions, we derive the explicit solutions for the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equations in a finite-dimensional space for exponential, logarithmic, and power utility functions. For those utility functions, verification results are established to ensure that the solutions are equal to the value functions, and the optimal controls are also derived.     

Heavy-traffic limits for an infinite-server fork–join queueing system with dependent and disruptive services

We study an infinite-server fork–join queueing system with dependent services, which experiences alternating renewal service disruptions. Jobs are forked into a fixed number of parallel tasks upon arrival and processed at the corresponding parallel service stations with multiple servers. Synchronization of a job occurs when its parallel tasks are completed, i.e., non-exchangeable. Service times of the parallel tasks of each job can be correlated, having a general continuous joint distribution function, and moreover, the service vectors of consecutive jobs form a stationary dependent sequence satisfying the strong mixing (\(\alpha \)-mixing) condition. The system experiences renewal alternating service disruptions with up and down periods. In each up period, the system operates normally, but in each down period, jobs continue to enter the system, while all the servers will stop working, and services received will be conserved and resume at the beginning of the next up period. We study the impact of both the dependence among service times and these down times upon the service dynamics, the unsynchronized queueing dynamics, and the synchronized process, assuming that the down times are asymptotically negligible. We prove FWLLN and FCLT for these processes, where the limit processes in the FCLT possess a stochastic decomposition property and the convergence requires the Skorohod \(M_1\) topology.     

Stabilizing Solid-state Lithium Metal Batteries through In Situ Generated Janus-heterarchical LiF-rich SEI in Ionic Liquid Confined 3D MOF/Polymer Membranes

Pursuing high power density lithium metal battery with high safety is essential for developing next-generation energy-storage devices, but uncontrollable electrolyte degradation and the consequence formed unstable solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) make the task really challenging. Herein, an ionic liquid (IL) confined MOF/Polymer 3D-porous membrane was constructed for boosting in situ electrochemical transformations of Janus-heterarchical LiF/Li₃N-rich SEI films on the nanofibers. Such a 3D-Janus SEI-incorporated into the separator offers fast Li⁺ transport routes, showing superior room-temperature ionic conductivity of 8.17×10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and Li⁺ transfer number of 0.82. The cryo-TEM was employed to visually monitor the in situ formed LiF and Li₃N nanocrystals in SEI and the deposition of Li dendrites, which is greatly benefit to the theoretical simulation and kinetic analysis of the structural evolution during the battery charge and discharge process. In particular, this membrane with high thermal stability and mechanical strength used in solid-state Li||LiFePO₄ and Li||NCM-811 full cells and even in pouch cells showed enhanced rate-performance and ultra-long life spans.     

Citronellol-Based Long-Lasting Antibacterial Cotton Fabrics without Bacterial Resistance

Antibacterial cotton helps prevent the growth and spread of harmful microorganisms, reduces the risk of infection, and has a prolonged service life by reducing bacterial degradation. However, most antibacterial agents used are toxic to humans and the environment. Citronellol-poly(N,N-dimethyl ethyl methacrylate) (CD), a highly effective antibacterial polymer, is synthesized from natural herbal essential oils (EOs). CD exhibited efficient, rapid bactericidal activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and drug-resistant bacteria. Citronellol's environmental benignity makes CDs less hemolytic. Notably, negligible drug resistance developed after 15 bacterial subcultures. The CD-treated cotton fabric displayed better antibacterial performance than AAA-grade antibacterial fabric, even after repeated washing. This study extends the practical application of EOs to antibacterial surfaces and fabrics, which is promising for use in personal care products and medical settings.     

Valence-variable Catalysts for Redox-controlled Switchable Ring-opening Polymerization

As a representative class of sustainable polymer materials, biodegradable polymers have attracted increasing interest in recent years. Despite significant advance of related polymerization techniques, realizing high sequence-control and easy-handling in ring-opening (co)polymerizations still remains a central challenge. To this end, a promising solution is the development of valence-variable metal-based catalysts for redox-induced switchable polymerization of cyclic esters, cyclic ethers, epoxides, and CO₂. Through a valence-determined electron effect, the switch between different catalytically active states as well as dormant state contributes to convenient formation of polymer products with desired microstructures and various practical performances. This redox-controlled switchable strategy for controlled synthesis of polymers is overviewed in this Review with a focus on potential applications and challenges for further studies.     

乙炔氢氯化反应中的负载金-离子液体催化剂:离子态金物种的稳定机制

聚氯乙烯(PVC)作为世界通用工程塑料之一,具有优异的物理、化学和机械性能,在工业、农业、建筑、包装、电力等行业中应用广泛.氯乙烯是生产聚氯乙烯的重要单体.氯乙烯的生产主要有电石法和乙烯法两种工艺路线,由于我国“贫油、富煤、少气”的资源现状,电石法产能占全部产能的83%以上.电石法生产氯乙烯的原理是在氯化汞催化剂存在下,将电石水解精制后的乙炔气与氯化氢加成直接合成氯乙烯.随着节能减排及环保要求的逐渐提高和国际涉汞公约的实施,开发新一代绿色无汞催化剂具有重要的战略意义.近年来,金基催化剂是无汞催化剂基础研究和技术开发中最重要的方向.在之前的工作中,我们课题组首先报道了负载离子液体-金催化剂体系(Au-SILP)在电石法生产氯乙烯工艺中的应用,并发现离子液体的存在可以显著提高金活性物种在载体表面的分散度和稳定其化学价态.在后续研究中,我们在负载离子液体-金催化体系中引入金属铜离子(Cu^2+),利用反应过程中Au-Cu之间的氧化还原循环,设计并制备了金属铜基配位离子液体,构建了负载离子液体-金-铜催化剂体系.铜离子的引入形成了一个催化剂自身维持氧化态的微环境,实现了被还原金物种的原位氧化再生.本文在上述研究基础上,利用配位离子液体[Bmim][N(CN)2]中[N(CN)2^–]阴离子和阳离子金之间的强配位作用,构建出比Au-Cl键更稳定的Au–N键,并通过X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、球差校正-扫描透射电镜(AC-STEM)和扩展X射线吸收精细结构(EXAFS)表征证明了Au以单原子状态存在于载体表面.制备的Au-N(CN)2/AC催化剂在乙炔氢氯化反应中表现出比Au-Cl/AC和Au/AC催化剂更高的稳定性和催化活性以及更短的诱导期.进一步表征分析发现,[N(CN)2^–]配体促进了阳离子金和配体之间的电子转移,提高了阳离子金的电子云密度,削弱了乙炔在阳离子金上的吸附强度,抑制了其还原,提高了催化剂的稳定性.更重要的是,与阳离子金配位的[N(CN)2^–]配体使得反应过程中的氯化氢在氮位点发生化学解离,促进了氯化氢活化,同时降低了反应能垒.对负载配位离子液体-金催化体系反应诱导期的分析结果表明,反应诱导期与反应物(乙炔、氯化氢)分子在离子液体层中的溶解度无关,而主要取决于催化剂中Au(Ⅲ)物种的含量和反应物分子在离子液体中的扩散速率.上述研究结果进一步深化了离子液体和活性金物种之间电子的作用机理,建立了负载离子液体-金催化剂体系对反应物的活化机制和反应机理,为进一步开发具有工业应用价值的乙炔氢氯化反应无汞催化剂提供了科学基础和参考.     

Sigma-1 Receptor Agonist TS-157 Improves Motor Functional Recovery by Promoting Neurite Outgrowth and pERK in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Sigma-1 (σ-1) receptor agonists are considered as potential treatment for stroke. TS-157 is an alkoxyisoxazole-based σ-1 receptor agonist previously discovered in our group. The present study describes TS-157 profile in a battery of tests for cerebral ischemia. Initial evaluation demonstrated the compound’s safety profile and blood–brain barrier permeability, as well as its ability to induce neurite outgrowth in vitro. The neurite outgrowth was shown to be mediated via σ-1 receptor agonism and involves upregulation of ERK phosphorylation (pERK). In particular, TS-157 also significantly accelerated the recovery of motor function in rats with transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Overall, the results herein support the notion that σ-1 receptor agonists are potential therapeutics for stroke and further animal efficacy studies are warranted.