Ultrafast and Low-Power 2D Bi2O2Se Memristors for Neuromorphic Computing Applications.

Memristors that emulate synaptic plasticity are building blocks for opening a new era of energy-efficient neuromorphic computing architecture, which will overcome the limitation of the von Neumann bottleneck. Layered two-dimensional (2D) Bi2O2Se, as an emerging material for next-generation electronics, is of great significance in improving the efficiency and performance of memristive devices. Herein, high-quality Bi2O2Se nanosheets are grown by configuring mica substrates face-down on the Bi2O2Se powder. Then, bipolar Bi2O2Se memristors are fabricated with excellent performance including ultrafast switching speed (<5 ns) and low-power consumption (<3.02 pJ). Moreover, synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation/depression (LTP/LTD), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), are demonstrated in the Bi2O2Se memristor. Furthermore, MNIST recognition with simulated artificial neural networks (ANN) based on conductance modification could reach a high accuracy of 91%. Notably, the 2D Bi2O2Se enables the memristor to possess ultrafast and low-power attributes, showing great potential in neuromorphic computing applications.

Deciphering different effects of ZVI and NaOH on metabolic characteristics in the process of methanogenesis recovery from VFA suppression.

Dosing zero valent iron (ZVI) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is the common method of addressing acidification in anaerobic digestion (AD) systems; however, few studies have discussed and compared their effects on microbial metabolism. In the present study, microbial syntrophy and metabolic pathways under ZVI and NaOH regulation are comparatively analyzed through microbial network analysis and metagenomic/metaproteomic analyses. CH4 yield in the ZVI reactor was 414 mL/gVS, an increase of 23% when compared with that in the reactor with NaOH dosing (336 mL/gVS). The methanogenesis recovery period in the ZVI reactor (37 days) was shorter than that in the NaOH reactor (48 days). Co-occurrence networks indicated that ZVI promoted Methanoculleus and Methanosarcina to establish a complex syntrophic association with SAO bacteria (Syntrophaceticus and Aminobacterium) and syntrophic acetogens (Syntrophomonas), strengthening SAO-hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis (HM) and acetoclastic methanogenesis (AM) pathways simultaneously. Metagenomic analysis showed that the relative abundance of mcrA and fwdB in the ZVI reactor was higher 27% than that in the NaOH reactor. Furthermore, through metaproteomics analysis, much more enzymes related to glucose degradation, bioconversion of butyric acid and pyruvate, conversion of formate and acetate to CO2, and production of CH4 from acetate and CO2 were significantly upregulated under ZVI regulation than under NaOH regulation (fold change relative to control [FC] > 1.5, p < 0.05). The results of the present study enhance our understanding of methanogenic mechanisms under the regulation of ZVI, providing a theoretical basis for its practical application in AD systems experiencing VFA suppression.

Ultralight, Elastic, Hybrid Aerogel for Flexible/Wearable Piezoresistive Sensor and Solid-Solid/Gas-Solid Coupled Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Aerogels have been attracting wide attentions in flexible/wearable electronics because of their light weight, excellent flexibility, and electrical conductivity. However, multifunctional aerogel-based flexible/wearable electronics for human physiological/motion monitoring, and energy harvest/supply for mobile electronics, have been seldom reported yet. In this study, a kind of hybrid aerogel (GO/CNT HA) based on graphene oxide (GO) and carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CMWCNTs) is prepared which can not only used as piezoresistive sensors for human motion and physiological signal detections, but also as high performance triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) coupled with both solid-solid and gas-solid contact electrifications (CE). The repeatedly loading-unloading tests with 20 000 cycles exhibit its high and ultrastable piezoresistive sensor performances. Moreover, when the obtained aerogel is used as the electrode of a TENG, high electric output performance is produced due to the synergistic effect of solid-solid, and gas-solid interface CEs (3D electrification: solid-solid interface CE between the two solid electrification layers; gas-solid interface CE between the inner surface of GO/CNT HA and the air filled in the aerogel pores). This kind of aerogel promises good applications for human physiological/motion monitoring and energy harvest/supply in flexible/wearable electronics such as piezoresistive sensors and flexible TENG.

Flexible GaN-based microscale light-emitting diodes with a batch transfer by wet etching.

Flexible inorganic GaN-based microscale light-emitting diodes (µLEDs) show potential applications in wearable electronics, biomedical engineering, and human-machine interfaces. However, developing cost-effective products remains a challenge for flexible GaN-based µLEDs. Here, a facile and stable method is proposed to fabricate flexible GaN-based µLEDs from silicon substrates in an array-scale manner by wet etching. Circular and square µLED arrays with a size and pitch of 500 µm were fabricated and then transferred to a flexible acrylic/copper substrate. The as-fabricated flexible µLEDs can maintain their structure intact while exhibiting a significant increase in external quantum efficiency. This Letter promotes the application of simple and low-cost flexible µLED devices, especially for virtual displays, wearables, and curvilinear displays.

Novel application of pyrolytic carbon generated from waste tires: Hydrolytic and methanogenic performance promotion in vinegar residue anaerobic digestion.

Random disposal of waste tires and vinegar residues is deleterious to the environment; these materials can be sufficiently treated using pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion, respectively. In this study, pyrolytic carbon was used to enhance the performance of the anaerobic digestion of vinegar residues, which is a much more economic method comparing with dosing commercial-level carbon based materials. The conductivity of pyrolytic carbon at 1000 °C is much higher than that of commercial activated carbon. At a dosage of 10 g per 29 g of vinegar residues, the maximum volatile fatty acid production was 4225.4 mg COD/L in the reactor (effective volume of 400 mL) with inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) of 1:1, representing an increase of 50.3% from that of the control reactor. A sufficient dosage is necessary to improve methane yield. The maximum methane yield was obtained at a pyrolytic carbon dosage, obtained at 1000 °C, of 12 g per 29 g of vinegar residues. The results indicated that the differences in the microbial communities of the control and experimental reactors correlated with the performance; however, the deep microbial mechanism of pyrolytic carbon boosting anaerobic digestion performance must be explored in further studies.

Mini art review for zero valent iron application in anaerobic digestion and technical bottlenecks.

Zero valent iron (ZVI) has been used extensively to control environmental pollution owing to its strong reducibility and low cost. Herein, we evaluate the impact of ZVI (iron scrap and ZVI powder with different scales) on anaerobic digestion (AD) reactor performance improvement and syntrophic relationship stimulation among various microbial groups in the methanogenesis process. In recent studies, ZVI addition significantly enhanced methane and volatile fatty acid (VFA) yields and alleviated excessive acidification, ammonia accumulation, and odorous gas production. Further, we reviewed the changes in enzyme activity and microbial metabolism after the addition of ZVI throughout the reaction process. Certain innovative technologies, such as bioelectrochemical system assistance and combined usage of conductive materials, may improve AD performance compared to the use of ZVI alone, the mechanism of which has been discussed from various viewpoints. Furthermore, the primary technical bottlenecks, such as poor mass transfer efficiency in dry AD and high ZVI dosage, have been illustrated, and syntrophic methanogenesis regulated by ZVI addition can be further studied by conducting theoretical research.