Biomass has the potential to become an important source of energy for future automotive fuels. Recent biological and chemical improvements to the conversion of biomass-derived carbohydrates have produced high yields of liquid 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF). This discovery has made DMF a possible substitute for petroleum-based gasoline, because they share very similar physicochemical properties, which are superior to those of ethanol. In the present study, experiments have been carried out on a single-cylinder gasoline direct-injection (GDI) research engine to study the performance of DMF benchmarked against gasoline and what is considered to be the current biofuel leader, ethanol. Initial results are very promising for DMF as a new biofuel; not only is the combustion performance similar to commercial gasoline, but the regulated emissions are also comparable.

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An iridescent chameleon‐like material that can change its colors under different circumstances is always desired in color‐on‐demand applications. Herein, a strategy based on trichromacy and the dynamically tunable fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process to design and prepare these chameleon‐like fluorescent materials is proposed. A set of trichromic (red, green, and blue), solid fluorescent materials are synthesized by covalently attaching spiropyran, fluorescein, and pyrene onto cellulose chains independently. After simply mixing them together, a full range of color is realized. The chameleon‐like nature of these materials is based on the dynamic tunable FRET process between donors (green and blue) and acceptors (red) in which the energy transfer efficiency can be finely tuned by irradiation. Ultimately, the reversible and nonlinear regulation of fluorescence properties, including color and intensity, is achieved on a timescale recognizable by the naked eye. Benefited by the excellent processability inherited from the cellulose derivatives, the as‐prepared materials are feasibly transformed into different forms. Particularly, a fluorescent ink with the complicated fluorescent input–output dependence suggests more than a proof‐of‐concept; indeed, it suggests a unique method of information encryption, security printing, and dynamic anticounterfeiting.

An update of the progress achieved as part of the NOAA Intensity Forecasting Experiment (IFEX) is provided. Included is a brief summary of the noteworthy aircraft missions flown in the years since 2005, the first year IFEX flights occurred, as well as a description of the research and development activities that directly address the three primary IFEX goals: 1) collect observations that span the tropical cyclone (TC) life cycle in a variety of environments for model initialization and evaluation; 2) develop and refine measurement strategies and technologies that provide improved real-time monitoring of TC intensity, structure, and environment; and 3) improve the understanding of physical processes important in intensity change for a TC at all stages of its life cycle. Such activities include the real-time analysis and transmission of Doppler radar measurements; numerical model and data assimilation advancements; characterization of tropical cyclone composite structure across multiple scales, from vortex scale to turbulence scale; improvements in statistical prediction of rapid intensification; and studies specifically targeting tropical cyclogenesis, extratropical transition, and the impact of environmental humidity on TC structure and evolution. While progress in TC intensity forecasting remains challenging, the activities described here provide some hope for improvement.

LIBs), delivers very limited reversible capacity in SIBs due to its inability to form stable low-stage graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). [4,5] Thus, most research has turned to nongraphitic carbons including nanocarbons and hard carbons, [6][7][8][9][10] whose capacities are significantly higher than graphite. It has been found that the structure could be well controlled to realize the high efficiency and reversibility. Our group has reported that the commercial carbon molecular sieves with abundant ultrasmall (0.3-0.5 nm) pores can achieve high efficiency and reversible capacity. [11] Intensive researches have also revealed that the nongraphitic carbons with low specific surface areas (SSA) exhibit a high electrochemical stability. [12][13][14][15][16] However, these carbons show limited rate capability and relatively low capacity. Thus, it is desired to improve the SSA to enhance the rate performance and capacity. Unfortunately, nongraphitic carbons with large SSA and a large number of defects typically exhibit an extremely low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and unsatisfactory cyclic stability because of uncontrollable electrolyte decomposition and ineffective formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In a previous report, we used reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a model anode and found that an ether-based electrolyte can greatly suppress the Carbon materials are the most promising anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), but low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cyclic stability hinder their practical use. It is shown herein, that an effective but simple remedy for these problems can be achieved by deactivating defects in the carbon with Al 2 O 3 nanocluster coverage. A 3D porous graphene monolith (PGM) is used as the model material and Al 2 O 3 nanoclusters around 1 nm are grown on the defects of graphene. It is shown that these Al 2 O 3 nanoclusters suppress the decomposition of conductive sodium salt in the electrolyte, resulting in the formation of a thin and homogenous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In addition, Al 2 O 3 nanoclusters appear to reduce the detrimental etching of the SEI by hydrogen fluoride (HF) and improve its stability. Therefore, after the introduction of Al 2 O 3 nanoclusters, the ICE, cyclic stability, and rate capability of the PGM are greatly improved. A higher ICE (70.2%) and capacity retention (82.9% after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g −1 ) than those of normally reported for large surface area carbons are achieved. This work indicates a new way to deactivate defects and modify the SEI of carbon materials, and hopefully accelerate the commercialization of carbon materials as anode materials for SIBs.