Explore the vast range of titles available.

Cu-based nanocatalysts are the cornerstone of various industrial catalytic processes. Synergistically strengthening the catalytic stability and activity of Cu-based nanocatalysts is an ongoing challenge. Herein, the high-entropy principle is applied to modify the structure of Cu-based nanocatalysts, and a PVP templated method is invented for generally synthesizing six-eleven dissimilar elements as high-entropy two-dimensional (2D) materials. Taking 2D Cu 2 Zn 1 Al 0.5 Ce 5 Zr 0.5 O x as an example, the high-entropy structure not only enhances the sintering resistance from 400 °C to 800 °C but also improves its CO 2 hydrogenation activity to a pure CO production rate of 417.2 mmol g −1 h −1 at 500 °C, 4 times higher than that of reported advanced catalysts. When 2D Cu 2 Zn 1 Al 0.5 Ce 5 Zr 0.5 O x are applied to the photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation, it exhibits a record photochemical energy conversion efficiency of 36.2%, with a CO generation rate of 248.5 mmol g −1 h −1 and 571 L of CO yield under ambient sunlight irradiation. The high-entropy 2D materials provide a new route to simultaneously achieve catalytic stability and activity, greatly expanding the application boundaries of photothermal catalysis. Synergistically enhancing catalytic stability and activity of Cu-based nanocatalysts is an ongoing challenge. Here the authors report Cu-based high-entropy two-dimensional oxide as stable and active catalyst for photothermal CO2 hydrogenation under ambient sunlight irradiation.

Solar-heating catalysis has the potential to realize zero artificial energy consumption, which is restricted by the low ambient solar heating temperatures of photothermal materials. Here, we propose the concept of using heterostructures of black photothermal materials (such as Bi 2 Te 3 ) and infrared insulating materials (Cu) to elevate solar heating temperatures. Consequently, the heterostructure of Bi 2 Te 3 and Cu (Bi 2 Te 3 /Cu) increases the 1 sun-heating temperature of Bi 2 Te 3 from 93 °C to 317 °C by achieving the synergy of 89% solar absorption and 5% infrared radiation. This strategy is applicable for various black photothermal materials to raise the 1 sun-heating temperatures of Ti 2 O 3 , Cu 2 Se, and Cu 2 S to 295 °C, 271 °C, and 248 °C, respectively. The Bi 2 Te 3 /Cu-based device is able to heat CuO x /ZnO/Al 2 O 3 nanosheets to 305 °C under 1 sun irradiation, and this system shows a 1 sun-driven hydrogen production rate of 310 mmol g −1 h −1 from methanol and water, at least 6 times greater than that of all solar-driven systems to date, with 30.1% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency and 20-day operating stability. Furthermore, this system is enlarged to 6 m 2 to generate 23.27 m 3 /day of hydrogen under outdoor sunlight irradiation in the spring, revealing its potential for industrial manufacture. The 1 sun-heating temperatures of photothermal materials can be generally elevated from ~90 °C to ~300 °C by hybridizing with infrared insulating materials, capable of driving methanol reforming to 310 mmol g −1 h −1 over CuO x /ZnO/Al 2 O 3 nanosheets.

Ambient sunlight-driven CO 2 methanation cannot be realized due to the temperature being less than 80 °C upon irradiation with dispersed solar energy. In this work, a selective light absorber was used to construct a photothermal system to generate a high temperature (up to 288 °C) under weak solar irradiation (1 kW m −2 ), and this temperature is three times higher than that in traditional photothermal catalysis systems. Moreover, ultrathin amorphous Y 2 O 3 nanosheets with confined single nickel atoms (SA Ni/Y 2 O 3 ) were synthesized, and they exhibited superior CO 2 methanation activity. As a result, 80% CO 2 conversion efficiency and a CH 4 production rate of 7.5 L m −2 h −1 were achieved through SA Ni/Y 2 O 3 under solar irradiation (from 0.52 to 0.7 kW m −2 ) when assisted by a selective light absorber, demonstrating that this system can serve as a platform for directly harnessing dispersed solar energy to convert CO 2 to valuable chemicals. While light-driven CO 2 methanation provides a renewable means to upgrade waste emissions, the sunlight is insufficient to drive high temperature CO 2 methanation. Here, authors prepare single-atom Ni on Y 2 O 3 with a selective light absorber for ambient-sunlight-driven photothermal CO 2 methanation.

This case report details the management of a patient with cirrhosis who developed chylous pleural and peritoneal effusions. The patient, with a 28-year history of untreated hepatitis B, presented with dyspnea and cough after traveling to a high-altitude area. Imaging and laboratory tests confirmed the presence of chylous effusions. Treatment included thoracentesis, paracentesis, antibiotics, somatostatin analogs, and supportive care. The patient showed significant improvement and was discharged with no recurrence at follow-up. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and conservative management of chylous effusions in cirrhosis, emphasizing the potential role of somatostatin analogs in reducing effusion formation and promoting lymphatic healing.

The first member of Maokou Formation (MF1) in the Sichuan Basin is characterized by marl strata that serve as effective natural gas reservoirs. Notably, the development of MCMs (magnesium-rich clay minerals) plays a significant role in enhancing these reservoirs, especially sepiolite and talc. The diagenesis of sepiolite in the MF1 (Middle Permian) of the central and southern Sichuan Basin was investigated through core and thin section observations, combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whole-rock major and trace element analysis, and LA-ICP-MS elemental analysis. MCMs occur in various forms, including lamellae, lens-like structures, clastic, strip-like, and metasomatic bioclasts. The MCMs appear gray-black on core samples, with XRD analysis indicating sepiolite and talc as the primary constituents. Under scanning electron microscope, these MCMs are typically observed as granular particles dispersed alongside quartz, while some replace bioclasts in a concentric zonal pattern. Based on rare earth element (REE) characteristics, MCMs can be classified into two genetic categories: sedimentary and hydrothermal types. Sedimentary MCMs exhibit a negative δEu anomaly, high Al/(Al + Fe + Mn) and Y/Ho ratios, and lack heavy REE enrichment. In contrast, hydrothermal MCMs display the opposite characteristics, positive δEu anomaly, low Al/(Al + Fe + Mn) ratio, and elevated concentrations of hydrothermal-related elements. Sedimentary MCMs form through chemical precipitation or metasomatic processes in silicon- and magnesium-rich seawater, while hydrothermal MCMs result from siliceous hydrothermal activity affecting magnesia-rich carbonate rocks. The diagenetic evolution of MCMs contributes to the formation of unconventional reservoirs in MF1 strata by creating organic and clay shrinkage pores. Thus, MCMs-enriched marl represents a promising target for oil and gas exploration within MF1 strata in the Sichuan Basin.

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are efficient for maximizing electrocatalytic activity, but have unsatisfactory activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, the NaCl template synthesis of individual nickel (Ni) SACs is reported, bonded to oxygen sites on graphene‐like carbon (denoted as Ni‐O‐G SACs) with superior activity and stability for OER. A variety of characterizations unveil that the Ni‐O‐G SACs present 3D porous framework constructed by ultrathin graphene sheets, single Ni atoms, coordinating nickel atoms to oxygen. Consequently, the catalysts are active and robust for OER with extremely low overpotential of 224 mV at current density of 10 mA cm−2, 42 mV dec−1 Tafel slope, oxygen production turn over frequency of 1.44 S−1 at 300 mV, and long‐term durability without significant degradation for 50 h at exceptionally high current of 115 mA cm−1, outperforming the state‐of‐the‐art OER SACs. A theoretical simulation further reveals that the bonding between single nickel and oxygen sites results in the extraordinary boosting of OER performance of Ni‐O‐G SACs. Therefore, this work opens numerous opportunities for creating unconventional SACs via metal–oxygen bonding. Nickel single‐atom catalysts bonded to oxygen sites on graphene‐like carbon nanosheets are synthesized as extraordinarily active and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction, showing the oxygen production turn over frequency of 1.44 S−1 at 300 mV, and low overpotential of 224 mV at current density of 10 mA cm−2.

Appendectomy impacts the homeostasis of gut microbiome in patients. We aimed to study the role of appendectomy in colorectal cancer (CRC) risk through causing gut microbial dysbiosis. Population-based longitudinal study (cohort 1, n  = 129,155) showed a 73.0% increase in CRC risk among appendectomy cases throughout 20 years follow-up (Adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio (SHR) 1.73, 95% CI 1.49–2.01, P  < 0.001). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on fecal samples from cohort 2 ( n  = 314). Gut microbial dysbiosis in appendectomy subjects was observed with significant enrichment of 7 CRC-promoting bacteria ( Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides fragilis, Veillonella dispar, Prevotella ruminicola, Prevotella fucsa, Prevotella dentalis, Prevotella denticola ) and depletion of 5 beneficial commensals ( Blautia sp YL58, Enterococcus hirae, Lachnospiraceae bacterium Choco86, Collinsella aerofaciens, Blautia sp SC05B48 ). Microbial network analysis showed increased correlation strengths among enriched bacteria and their enriched oncogenic pathways in appendectomy subjects compared to controls. Of which, B. fragilis was the centrality in the network of the enriched bacteria. We further confirmed that appendectomy promoted colorectal tumorigenesis in mice by causing gut microbial dysbiosis and impaired intestinal barrier function. Collectively, this study revealed appendectomy-induced microbial dysbiosis characterized by enriched CRC-promoting bacteria and depleted beneficial commensals, signifying that the gut microbiome may play a crucial role in CRC development induced by appendectomy.

CO 2 conversion to CH 3 OH under mild conditions is of particular interest yet rather challenging. Both electro- and thermo-catalytic CO 2 reduction to CH 3 OH can only produce CH 3 OH in low concentration (typically mixed with water), requiring energy-intensive purification processes. Here we design a sun-simulated-driven tandem catalytic system comprising CO 2 electroreduction to syngas, and further photothermal conversion into high-purity CH 3 OH (volume fraction > 97%). We construct a self-supporting electrocatalyst featuring dual active sites of Ni single atoms and encapsulated Co nanoparticles, which could produce syngas with a constant H 2 :CO ratio of ~2 via solar-powered CO 2 electroreduction. The generated syngas is subsequently fed into the photothermal module, which could produce high-purity CH 3 OH under 1 sun-light irradiation, with a rate of 0.238 g CH3OH g cat –1 h –1 . This work demonstrates a feasible and sustainable route for directly converting CO 2 into high-purity CH 3 OH. CO 2 conversion to CH 3 OH under mild conditions is of particular interest yet rather challenging. Here, the authors report a sun-simulated-driven tandem catalytic system comprising CO 2 electroreduction to syngas, and further photothermal conversion into high-purity CH 3 OH (volume fraction <97%).

HighlightsHierarchically structured Nb2O5 microflowers consiste of porous and ultrathin nanosheets.Nb2O5 microflowers exhibit enhanced capacity and rate performance boosting Na ion storage.Planar NIMSCs with charge and kinetics matching show superior areal capacitance and lifespan.Planar Na ion micro-supercapacitors (NIMSCs) that offer both high energy density and power density are deemed to a promising class of miniaturized power sources for wearable and portable microelectronics. Nevertheless, the development of NIMSCs are hugely impeded by the low capacity and sluggish Na ion kinetics in the negative electrode. Herein, we demonstrate a novel carbon-coated Nb2O5 microflower with a hierarchical structure composed of vertically intercrossed and porous nanosheets, boosting Na ion storage performance. The unique structural merits, including uniform carbon coating, ultrathin nanosheets and abundant pores, endow the Nb2O5 microflower with highly reversible Na ion storage capacity of 245 mAh g−1 at 0.25 C and excellent rate capability. Benefiting from high capacity and fast charging of Nb2O5 microflower, the planar NIMSCs consisted of Nb2O5 negative electrode and activated carbon positive electrode deliver high areal energy density of 60.7 μWh cm−2, considerable voltage window of 3.5 V and extraordinary cyclability. Therefore, this work exploits a structural design strategy towards electrode materials for application in NIMSCs, holding great promise for flexible microelectronics.