Flexible Thermoelectric Generator Based on Polycrystalline SiGe Thin Films

Flexible and reliable thermoelectric generators (TEGs) will be essential for future energy harvesting sensors. In this study, we synthesized p- and n-type SiGe layers on a high heat-resistant polyimide film using metal-induced layer exchange (LE) and demonstrated TEG operation. Despite the low process temperature (<500 °C), the polycrystalline SiGe layers showed high power factors of 560 µW m−1 K−2 for p-type Si0.4Ge0.6 and 390 µW m−1 K−2 for n-type Si0.85Ge0.15, owing to self-organized doping in LE. Furthermore, the power factors indicated stable behavior with changing measurement temperature, an advantage of SiGe as an inorganic material. An in-plane π-type TEG based on these SiGe layers showed an output power of 0.45 µW cm−2 at near room temperature for a 30 K temperature gradient. This achievement will enable the development of environmentally friendly and highly reliable flexible TEGs for operating micro-energy devices in the future Internet of Things.

Another Record: Ocean Warming Continues through 2021 despite La Niña Conditions

The increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from human activities traps heat within the climate system and increases ocean heat content (OHC). Here, we provide the first analysis of recent OHC changes through 2021 from two international groups. The world ocean, in 2021, was the hottest ever recorded by humans, and the 2021 annual OHC value is even higher than last year’s record value by 14 ± 11 ZJ (1 zetta J = 1021 J) using the IAP/CAS dataset and by 16 ± 10 ZJ using NCEI/NOAA dataset. The long-term ocean warming is larger in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans than in other regions and is mainly attributed, via climate model simulations, to an increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. The year-to-year variation of OHC is primarily tied to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In the seven maritime domains of the Indian, Tropical Atlantic, North Atlantic, Northwest Pacific, North Pacific, Southern oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea, robust warming is observed but with distinct inter-annual to decadal variability. Four out of seven domains showed record-high heat content in 2021. The anomalous global and regional ocean warming established in this study should be incorporated into climate risk assessments, adaptation, and mitigation.

Sporulation Strategies and Potential Role of the Exosporium in Survival and Persistence of Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum produces the botulinum neurotoxin that causes botulism, a rare but potentially lethal paralysis. Endospores play an important role in the survival, transmission, and pathogenesis of C. botulinum. C. botulinum strains are very diverse, both genetically and ecologically. Group I strains are terrestrial, mesophilic, and produce highly heat-resistant spores, while Group II strains can be terrestrial (type B) or aquatic (type E) and are generally psychrotrophic and produce spores of moderate heat resistance. Group III strains are either terrestrial or aquatic, mesophilic or slightly thermophilic, and the heat resistance properties of their spores are poorly characterized. Here, we analyzed the sporulation dynamics in population, spore morphology, and other spore properties of 10 C. botulinum strains belonging to Groups I–III. We propose two distinct sporulation strategies used by C. botulinum Groups I–III strains, report their spore properties, and suggest a putative role for the exosporium in conferring high heat resistance. Strains within each physiological group produced spores with similar characteristics, likely reflecting adaptation to respective environmental habitats. Our work provides new information on the spores and on the population and single-cell level strategies in the sporulation of C. botulinum.

Zinc ion thermal charging cell for low-grade heat conversion and energy storage

Converting low-grade heat from environment into electricity shows great sustainability for mitigating the energy crisis and adjusting energy configurations. However, thermally rechargeable devices typically suffer from poor conversion efficiency when a semiconductor is employed. Breaking the convention of thermoelectric systems, we propose and demonstrate a new zinc ion thermal charging cell to generate electricity from low-grade heat via the thermo-extraction/insertion and thermodiffusion processes of insertion-type cathode (VO2-PC) and stripping/plating behaviour of Zn anode. Based on this strategy, an impressively high thermopower of ~12.5 mV K−1 and an excellent output power of 1.2 mW can be obtained. In addition, a high heat-to-current conversion efficiency of 0.95% (7.25% of Carnot efficiency) is achieved with a temperature difference of 45 K. This work, which demonstrates extraordinary energy conversion efficiency and adequate energy storage, will pave the way towards the construction of thermoelectric setups with attractive properties for high value-added utilization of low-grade heat.

Inactivation Kinetics of Coxiella burnetii During High-Temperature Short-Time Pasteurization of Milk

The Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii is the causative organism of the zoonosis Q fever and is known for its resistance toward various intra- and extracellular stressors. Infected ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats can shed the pathogen in their milk. Pasteurization of raw milk was introduced for the inactivation of C. burnetii and other milk-borne pathogens. Legal regulations for the pasteurization of milk are mostly based on recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius. As described there, C. burnetii is considered as the most heat-resistant non-spore-forming bacterial pathogen in milk and has to be reduced by at least 5 log10-steps during the pasteurization process. However, the corresponding inactivation data for C. burnetii originate from experiments performed more than 60 years ago. Recent scientific findings and the technological progress of modern pasteurization equipment indicate that C. burnetii is potentially more effectively inactivated during pasteurization than demanded in the Codex Alimentarius. In the present study, ultra-high heat-treated milk was inoculated with different C. burnetii field isolates and subsequently heat-treated in a pilot-plant pasteurizer. Kinetic inactivation data in terms of D- and z-values were determined and used for the calculation of heat-dependent log reduction. With regard to the mandatory 5 log10-step reduction of the pathogen, the efficacy of the established heat treatment regime was confirmed, and, in addition, a reduction of the pasteurization temperature seems feasible.

Development and testing of an additively manufactured lattice for DEMO limiters

In the conceptual design of EU-DEMO, damage to plasma-facing components under disruption events is planned to be mitigated by specific sacrificial limiter components. A new limiter concept has been proposed using lattice structures fabricated with tungsten powder by additive manufacturing techniques. The major potential benefits of using a lattice structure for limiters are the possibility to customise the thermal conductivity and structural compliance of the structure to manage temperatures and stress within material limits and lower sensitivity to crack propagation. This paper presents the results of the first investigations into the production, characterisation, and high heat flux testing of the lattices to assess their suitability for DEMO limiters. First stage prototypes have been manufactured from tungsten and tungsten tantalum mixed powder with two distinct laser power bed fusion processes, namely pulsed laser and continuous laser with heated bed. The samples are characterised in terms of mass, volume, density, extent of microcracks and voids, level of un-melted or partially melted particulates, texture and grain size, as well as tantalum segregation when applicable. High transient (0.25ms) heat load testing, with hydrogen plasma of energy density up to ~3 MJm-2 was carried out at KIPT on the QSPA Kh-50. These tests have shown that the energy absorbed by latticed targets preheated at 500°C is close to that absorbed by solid tungsten, suggesting that they may be used for limiter applications with the added advantage of adjustment of the heat transfer and stiffness performance by geometry design or material properties.

A novel therapeutic strategy of multimodal nanoconjugates for state-of-the-art brain tumor phototherapy

Background The outcome of phototherapy, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is disappointing due to insufficient photoconversion efficiency and low targeting rate. The development of phototherapeutic agents that target GBM and generate high heat and potent ROS is important to overcome the weak anti-tumor effect. Results In this study, nanoconjugates composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and photosensitizers (PSs) were prepared by disulfide conjugation between Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and glutathione coated-AuNP. The maximum heat dissipation of the nanoconjugate was 64.5 ± 4.5 °C. Moreover, the proximate conjugation of Ce6 on the AuNP surface resulted in plasmonic crossover between Ce6 and AuNP. This improves the intrinsic ROS generating capability of Ce6 by 1.6-fold compared to that of unmodified-Ce6. This process is called generation of metal-enhanced reactive oxygen species (MERos). PEGylated-lactoferrin (Lf-PEG) was incorporated onto the AuNP surface for both oral absorption and GBM targeting of the nanoconjugate (denoted as Ce6-AuNP-Lf). In this study, we explored the mechanism by which Ce6-AuNP-Lf interacts with LfR at the intestinal and blood brain barrier (BBB) and penetrates these barriers with high efficiency. In the orthotopic GBM mice model, the oral bioavailability and GBM targeting amount of Ce6-AuNP-Lf significantly improved to 7.3 ± 1.2% and 11.8 ± 2.1 μg/kg, respectively. The order of laser irradiation, such as applying PDT first and then PTT, was significant for the treatment outcome due to the plasmonic advantages provided by AuNPs to enhance ROS generation capability. As a result, GBM-phototherapy after oral administration of Ce6-AuNP-Lf exhibited an outstanding anti-tumor effect due to GBM targeting and enhanced photoconversion efficiency. Conclusions The designed nanoconjugates greatly improved ROS generation by plasmonic crossover between AuNPs and Ce6, enabling sufficient PDT for GBM as well as PTT. In addition, efficient GBM targeting through oral administration was possible by conjugating Lf to the nanoconjugate. These results suggest that Ce6-AuNP-Lf is a potent GBM phototherapeutic nanoconjugate that can be orally administered. Graphical Abstract