Langmuir

Owing to their inherent safety attributes, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are progressively recognized as highly promising candidates for next-generation energy storage technologies. Despite molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) having surfaced as a viable electrode material, its real-world utilization remains constrained by sluggish ion diffusion processes and restricted specific capacity. …

In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the interactions between structurally similar small molecules, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPAA), and Au-enhanced substrates in the context of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The calculated molecular electrostatic potential (ESP) results indicate that both molecul…

In biological neural systems, learning and memory rely on ion transport in liquid environments. Owing to their biomimetic signaling mechanisms, nanofluidic memristors with tunable conductance can emulate synaptic memory and plasticity, having attracted significant attention. In this work, we propose a nanofluidic memristor based on the ionic liquid-electrolyte solution interface at a conical quar…

Thin liquid films exhibit rich instability and rupture dynamics that critically impact coating performance across many applications. In this work, we use the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) simulations within a lubrication-theory framework to systematically quantify how film thickness, surface energy, wettability, and intermolecular forces govern dewetting kinetics and long-time morphology. Master…

Passive radiative cooling (PRC) shows potential for energy savings, especially in the construction and transportation industries. However, it is prone to efficiency loss due to influences from the environment. To address this challenge, we constructed a ZnAl layered double oxide (ZnAl-LDO) substrate, which has optical selectivity, and modified it with a cross-linked surfactant of SiO₂/…

Electroless copper plating is a vital technique for depositing uniform and conductive copper layers, particularly for fabricating copper-coated polymer microspheres used in anisotropic conductive adhesives. However, achieving high-quality coatings on polymer microspheres remains challenging due to their inherent catalytic inertness and the lack of reliable evaluation metrics. Herein, copper nanop…

Adsorption of aniline and pyridine on the H- and HO-terminated Si(100) surfaces has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Surface functionalization reactions were conducted under solution-chemistry conditions and an inert atmosphere, and show that adsorption proceeds very differently for anilin…

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a versatile and tunable platform for creating coordinatively unsaturated single-metal sites within inorganic-organic hybrid porous materials. Notably, Co-, Ni-, and Zn-based metal-organic frameworks, characterized by their well-defined structures, extensive surface areas, and chemically and structurally homogeneous active sites, have gained prominen…

Fatty alcohol polyoxypropylene polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (C₁₂₁₄P₈E₂S, C₁₀P₈E₂S, C₁₀P₅E₂S, and C₁₀P₃E₂S) extended surfactants were used as the research subjects. These surfactants exhibited exceptional emulsification and viscosity-reducing properties for heavy oil…

Mercury ion (Hg²⁺) is a ubiquitous heavy metal pollutant that poses health risks through its environmental transport and accumulation in living organisms. To address this, we designed and constructed a chemically reactive probe, BTS, capable of sensitively and selectively detecting Hg²⁺. The probe displayed excellent analytical performance, including high selectivity, a fast…

Efficient modulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) is essential for restoring redox homeostasis and preserving stem cell functionality, yet it remains a major challenge in stem cell-based therapies. Here, we report an electronically coupled vanadium-based MXene nanocatalyst that leverages engineered platinum nanoparticles-MXene (Pt/V₂C) interfacial interactions to a…

Proteins on interaction with surfactants are known to undergo structural and functional alterations. These protein-surfactant interactions are crucial for their applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Despite having various studies involving the interactions of albumins with surfactants, most of them are done at a standard pH (pH 7) and temperature (298 K). Peptide-based surfa…

Two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for Li-O₂ batteries due to their tunable structures, high specific surface areas, and well-defined active sites. Herein, first-principles calculations combined with the computational hydrogen electrode model are systematically employed to investigate the structural stability, electronic prop…

We propose a strategy to trigger micelle disassembly upon light irradiation by encapsulating a photoacid generator (PAG) within pH-responsive polymer micelles. A diblock copolymer composed of hydrophilic, biocompatible poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and pH-responsive poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEA), denoted as PMPC-<i>b</i>-PDEA (M₁₀₀D<sub>96</sub…

Hazardous solid waste [e.g., barium slag (BS)] can be transformed into highly efficient molecular sieve catalysts. However, catalyst deactivation caused by SO₂ poisoning remains a critical scientific challenge that requires urgent attention. Herein, V/Fe/BS-ZSM-5 molecular sieves have been devised for the NH₃-SCR for NO removal reaction, showing improved SO₂ resis…

Activating electron transfer channels in non-conductive materials remains a critical challenge for optimizing chemical reactions. For ammonium perchlorate (AP), a key oxidizer in solid propellants, opening electron transfer pathways is essential to enhance its decomposition efficiency and regulate product distribution. Herein, we report an anthraquinone-based covalent organic framework (COF) as a…