Bottom-up approach to fabricate dislocation-free luminescent γ-MnS nanosaws via CVD that can be used as anode material for Li-ion batteries.

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were uniformly decorated with ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) by a novel route using paraffin wax as the seeding source, which is more efficient in the creation of diamond nuclei than traditional methods. These one-dimensional ultrananocrystalline diamond-decorated SiNWs (UNCD/SiNWs) exhibit uniform diameters ranging from 100 to 200 nm with a bulbous catalytic tip of ∼250 nm in diameter and an UNCD grain size of ∼5 nm. UNCD/SiNW nanostructures demonstrated enhanced electron field emission (EFE) properties with a turn-on field of about 3.7 V/μm. Current densities around 2 mA/cm(2) were achieved at 25 V/μm, which is significantly enhanced as compared to bare SiNWs.

Growth rates vary widely among plants with different strategies. For crops, evolution under predictable and high-resource environments might favour rapid resource acquisition and growth, but whether this strategy has consistently evolved during domestication and improvement remains unclear.Here we report a comprehensive study of the evolution of growth rates based on comparisons among wild, landrace, and improved accessions of 19 herbaceous crops grown under common conditions. We also examined the underlying growth components and the influence of crop origin and history on growth evolution. Domestication and improvement did not affect growth consistently, that is growth rates increased or decreased or remained unchanged in different crops. Crops selected for fruits increased the physiological component of growth (net assimilation rate), whereas leaf and seed crops showed larger domestication effects on morphology (leaf mass ratio and specific leaf area). Moreover, climate and phylogeny contributed to explaining the effects of domestication and changes in growth.Crop-specific responses to domestication and improvement suggest that selection for high yield has not consistently changed growth rates. The trade-offs between morphophysiological traits and the distinct origins and histories of crops accounted for the variability in growth changes. These findings have far-reaching implications for our understanding of crop performance and adaptation.

Silicon–carbon nanotube (Si-CNT) hybrid structures have been fabricated in a single step on Cu substrate by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). A mixture of straight chain saturated aliphatic polymer and Si nanoparticles was used as the seeding source. The material was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and the Si content in the Si-CNT was estimated to be ∼15% wt % by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thereafter, the films were used for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes, whose cyclic voltammetry studies show redox peaks for Si and C consistent with lithium insertion/extraction, indicating good reversibility over extensive cycling. Electrochemical tests showed that Si-CNT electrodes can deliver an initial high discharge capacity of ∼700 mAh/g and a reversible capacity of ∼500 mAh/g over 520 cycles. After electrochemical cycling, the Si-CNTs were analyzed and compared to pristine material. The cycled films showed an increment of Si-CNT diameter and negligible cracks, formed due to high volumetric expansion of the silicon upon lithiation. Micro-Raman spectroscopy performed before electrochemical cycling established the presence of crystalline Si nanoparticles (<10 nm), and amorphous Si particles still bound to CNT after cycling. These results were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). After cycling, the films showed good contact with the Cu substrate, and delamination was not observed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The Si-CNT hybrid structure grown in a single step represents a promising anode material for a rechargeable LIB with high energy density and long cycling stability.

Solar water disinfection was performed using TiO2 and a Ru(II) complex as fixed catalysts located in a compound parabolic collector photoreactor. Studies were performed in the laboratory as well as at a greenfield site. Under laboratory conditions, natural water contaminated with cultured bacteria was photocatalytically treated and the influence of the photolysis as well as of both catalysts was studied. Experiments were performed with contaminated water flowing at 12 l/min; under these conditions, photocatalytic experiments performed with a supported heterogeneous photocatalyst (Ahlstrom paper impregnated with TiO2) showed it to be effective in degrading bacteria in water. The Ru complex catalyst, however, showed no clear evidence for disinfecting water, and its efficiency was comparable to the simple photolysis. Under on-site experiments, bacteria contaminated water from the Yaurisque river at Cusco, Peru was treated. As a general trend, after photocatalytic treatment a reduction in the E-coli population present in water was observed. Whenever disinfection was achieved in the experiments, no regrowth of bacteria was observed after 24 h. However, a reduction in the prototype efficiency was observed both in laboratory and on-site experiments. This was ascribed to aging of the photocatalyst as well as due to the deposition of particles onto its surface. In cases in which incomplete disinfection resulted, a low rate of E-coli growth was observed 24 h after ending the experiment. However, pseudomones seem to be resistant to the treatment.