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Dec 18, 2024 Weak fluorination strategy unlocks graphene's potential for optoelectronic and energy applications ( Nanowerk News ) Researchers from Tohoku University and collaborators have developed a weak fluorination strategy to address the zero-bandgap limitation of graphene . The findings are published in Applied Physics Letters ( "Photoluminescence and transport properties of fluorinated graphene via a weak fluorination strategy" ). In most electronic materials, a "gate," i.e., a bandgap, exists that can either stop or allow electricity to pass. This is how we control electricity in things like computers or phones. But graphene has no such gate, meaning it conducts electricity continuously and cannot be turned off. To counteract this, scientists have often added a small amount of fluorine atoms to graphene, slightly changing its structure and introducing a bandgap, without damaging its core advantages. Fluorination, however, relies on the use of hazardous chemicals rendering it dangerous and impractical to apply at a large scale. "We developed an environmentally-friendly approach, one where we utilized fluoropolymers under controlled conditions to achieve selective fluorination," said Dr. Yaping Qi, assistant professor at Tohoku University. "This advancement also enables enhanced photoluminescence and tunable transport properties while maintaining high carrier mobility, making graphene more applicable for use in optoelectronic and energy devices." Characterization of the Gr and FGr. (Image: Yue Xue, Yaping Qi, Tong Tong, et al.) Qi and her colleagues used advanced techniques, including photoluminescence (PL) mapping and Raman spectroscopy, to analyze how fluorination changes graphene's structure and optical properties. Their tests showed that fluorinated graphene has improved light-emitting abilities, making it promising for use in LEDs, sensors, and other energy technologies. This work also connects to recent developments in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, which are created by layering different 2D materials to achieve multiple functions. Such structures have potential uses in memory storage, artificial intelligence, and photoelectric devices. "The integration of fluorinated graphene into vdW heterostructures opens up exciting possibilities, especially for flexible electronics and systems that can perform multiple tasks at once," said stated Dr. Xichan Gao, a co-author and assistant professor at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University. "This research demonstrates how environmentally friendly processing can significantly improve the functional properties of graphene," adds Qi. "Combining fluorination with strain engineering opens new possibilities for the development of scalable, high-performance 2D materials, providing a pathway to enhance graphene's practical utility while maintaining a focus on safe and scalable material processing techniques." Source: Tohoku University (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)
‘The View’ co-host bashes Trump ‘Time’ cover by mentioning Hitler got same recognition
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. – Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and Syosset Hospital have been selected as 2024 Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals, placing Northwell Health hospitals among an elite group of health care institutions. The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization, conducts the survey to support informed health care decisions for consumers when choosing a hospital and to promote high-value care. Lenox Hill and Syosset are two of 69 hospitals nationwide to achieve Top Teaching Hospitals and one of only six in New York State. This is the second accolade Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals received in the span of a month from the Leapfrog Group. Both hospitals achieved an “A,” the gold standard measure of patient safety in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade survey in November, along with nine other Northwell hospitals including: Glen Cove Hospital, Huntington Hospital, Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, Mather Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Phelps Hospital, Plainview Hospital and South Shore University Hospital. Achieving an “A” in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade survey is a requirement before being considered as a Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospital, one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. “Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals have demonstrated exceptional performance by earning not one, but two prestigious awards from Leapfrog," said Peter Silver, MD, senior vice president, associate chief medical officer and chief quality officer at Northwell Health. “Achieving Leapfrog's Top Teaching Hospital status requires mastering 45 rigorous measures that includes low infection rates, practices for safer surgery and a hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors which less than 10 percent of the hospitals surveyed were able to achieve.” Teaching hospitals partner with medical and nursing schools, education programs and research centers to improve health care through learning and research. Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals are among only 10 percent of the 2,400 teaching hospitals nationwide that met Leapfrog’s criteria to be Top Teaching Hospitals. Lenox Hill is a nationally ranked 450-bed non-profit, tertiary, research and academic medical center. U.S. News & World Report placed Lenox Hill as the fifth best hospital in New York State and Healthgrades named it among the 50 best hospitals in America for 2024 for the third consecutive year. Syosset, a 136-bed community hospital, is home to centers of excellence in bariatric surgery and orthopedics, with a radiology department that includes some of the most advanced technology available. The Joint Commission recognized Syosset for its bariatric surgery program and certified the hospital for health care quality in diabetes care. “I'm proud of the dedication and commitment shown by the doctors, staff, and administrators at Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals,” Dr. Silver said. “They are truly deserving of being recognized as Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals.” The Leapfrog Group, known as the toughest standard-setters for health care, analyzes and publishes data on safety and quality. The highest-performing hospitals on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey are recognized annually with the Leapfrog Top Hospital award. "Protecting patients from preventable harm is central to The Leapfrog Group’s mission," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals have set the standard for patient safety, earning the prestigious distinction of a Top Hospital. This elite honor reflects the exceptional efforts of the entire team and places Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals among the nation's elite in health care." Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health system, with 21 hospitals and 890 outpatient facilities across the city, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. For more information on Leapfrog 2024 Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals go to: Top Hospitals | Leapfrog!Poeltl, Olynyk, Mitchell return to Toronto Raptors' lineup versus Mavericks
FREIBURG, Germany (AP) — Freiburg survived a late comeback to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 and move into fifth place in the Bundesliga on Friday. The sides started the day equal on points and Wolfsburg had won its last five games in the league and cup. But Lukas Kübler scored an opportunist opener three minutes before the break and added a second with his head six minutes into the second half to put Freiburg in the driving seat. Michael Gregoritsch added the third in the 62nd. Jonas Wind came off the bench to score his third goal in two games and Mattias Svanberg cut the deficit seven minutes from time as Wolfsburg desperately looked for a way into the game. But it was too late, and Freiburg moved above Wolfsburg to fifth place on the table and equal on points with Leipzig, which has a game in hand. The match was an important one for two teams vying for a Champions League place next year. Although Bayern Munich have a six-point advantage over second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, only eight points separate the next nine clubs. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Council plan to build 109 social homes near Luas stop faces High Court challengeSocial media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events.
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South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial lawSocial media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
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TORONTO - Jakob Poeltl, Kelly Olynyk and Davion Mitchell will all return to the Toronto Raptors lineup tonight against the Dallas Mavericks. Poeltl missed Toronto’s 129-92 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday due to illness. Mitchell was listed as questionable with right hip stiffness after that loss, but Raptors head coach Dakro Rajakovic says he’s available against Dallas. It will be Olynyk’s first time playing in the 2024-25 season after missing the entire pre-season and first 23 games of the campaign with back spasms. Olynyk, who was born in Toronto but grew up in Kamloops, B.C., will add significant depth to the Raptors’ rotation. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 28 games for Toronto last season after he was traded to the Raptors by the Utah Jazz on Feb. 8. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2024. Follow @jchidleyhill.bsky.social on BlueskyIn a recent video posted to social media, the Vancouver Canucks had high praise for forward Conor Garland and what he brings to the team on a nightly basis. Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland doesn't get nearly enough credit for what he does night in, night out for the team. Since joining the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2021 from the Arizona Coyotes, Garland has been quite consistent, with the lowest point total during his time with the B.C.-based club being 46 in 2022-23. Conor Garland receiving the praise he truly deserves On Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks shared a video on their social media accounts featuring Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes and yes, the man himself - Conor Garland, as they discuss what he brings to the team and how important he is to them. He added, 'You know, he always contributes, makes plays. He plays a big part in our team and brings that consistency when we need it.' Captain Quinn Hughes added , 'He's just got a lot of passion, a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, produces, can carry a line. He respects being in the NHL every day, he knows how hard it was for him to get here. He's continued to work on his game every single year. Brings a lot of laughter and joy to the group and I think he's been great for us. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Conor Garland has taken on a much bigger role with the Canucks , which included his promotion into the team's top-six forward group. The 28-year-old said that over the course of his career in both the junior ranks and professional level, he's had to believe in himself and work hard each and every day to get to this point. Being an undersized player too, he had to work extra hard and find way to be more detailed in his game to make it not only make it to the National Hockey League, but to stick around too. He added, 'I just think about having a motor, I just think about having my legs and then stuff you're kind of born with takes over and you make plays, be creative. For me that's when my feet are moving, like I'm an effective player.' The Vancouver Canucks are very luck to have Conor Garland on their roster and hopefully he won't be leaving the team anytime soon as he can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026. It'll be interesting to see if Patrik Allvin and Conor Garland's representatives start talking about a contract extension in the new year and if they can put pen-to-paper before the start of the 2025-26 season. This article first appeared on Canucks Daily and was syndicated with permission.
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CALGARY - The Alberta government did not consult with the oil and gas sector before announcing a sweeping set of plans it says it could use to challenge the proposed federal greenhouse gas emissions cap, industry sources say. Companies are still digesting Premier Danielle Smith’s move to announce a forthcoming motion under the province’s Sovereignty Act, which Smith said Tuesday will give Alberta the ability to assert ownership over its own fossil fuel resources. Tristan Goodman, president and CEO of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada, said while industry insiders expected the UCP government would use the Sovereignty Act to take aim at the emissions cap, the details unveiled Tuesday came as a surprise. “We weren’t broadly consulted,” he said. A second industry source confirmed the lack of consultation, adding that companies on Wednesday were still trying to absorb what Smith’s proposals could mean. Goodman said companies need to see more detail, particularly around Smith’s suggestion that the provincial government could take exclusive control and ownership of emissions data collected at oil and gas company sites. “That’s where we would like to be collaborated with. We would like to be talked to, to see how that would specifically work,” he said. Smith also said the provincial government will consider instructing provincial authorities, such as the Alberta Energy Regulator, not to enforce the cap. And she said Alberta would consider barring federal officials from physically setting foot on oil and gas facilities. Goodman acknowledged some of these proposals will require the fine-tuning of details. “If the province wishes to ban certain types of other government officials from sites, we (the industry) are not going to get involved in that,” he said. “That would be up to the province to enforce that.” But he emphasized the oil and gas sector as a whole remains deeply opposed to the emissions cap, and is happy the Alberta government is standing up for the province’s No. 1 industry. “We agree with Premier Smith that these are provincial resources, and that the federal government is overstepping their constitutional boundaries,” Goodman said. “So we’re actually quite pleased to see the premier taking strong action and defending the sector.” The proposed federal emissions cap, which is still in draft form, would require oil and gas companies to cut emissions by 35 per cent below 2019 levels by 2030. The oil and gas industry has maintained that the proposed cap is unconstitutional and amounts to a cap on production that would severely harm Alberta and the Canadian economy. Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, called the cap “the epitome of bad public policy” and said Wednesday he believes it would be open to constitutional challenge. “We support and applaud the provincial government exploring all potential tools to push back against this unfair and discriminatory policy, and have told the premier we would lend support to a legal challenge,” Legge said in an emailed statement. But behind the scenes, not all industry leaders are likely to be thrilled with Smith’s proposals, said Richard Masson, an executive fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy and the former CEO of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission. He said he believes Smith’s proposals will come off “poorly” around corporate board tables in Calgary and be viewed as “another layer of complication and uncertainty.” “And I’m not even sure it’s going to have the desired effect of getting the federal government to back off,” Masson said. “It just looks like more fighting, more risk, and to companies, will probably look like another example of governments who can’t get their act together to try to come up with some kind of attractive investment environment in our country.” Masson said neither Smith’s proposal about restricting site access, nor her suggestion that the province could take ownership of individual companies’ proprietary emissions data, would be easy to carry out. “It doesn’t seem to be fruitful on any level,” he said, adding he also believes the suggestion that the Alberta government could help sell more of the province’s bitumen by marketing their royalty share barrels is unworkable. “It would be super complicated. It’s not a good idea,” he said. The Pathways Alliance, a consortium of Canada’s six largest oilsands companies, said Wednesday it believes the federal emissions cap will actually deter companies from investing in emissions-reducing technology by saddling them with an additional layer of regulatory complexity. “We appreciate the Alberta government is supporting and standing up for the economic interests of the province and Canada, and we will continue to work with Alberta to oppose the flawed proposed emissions cap,” said Pathways president Kendall Dilling in an emailed statement. Under Alberta’s Sovereignty Act, the government must first put a motion forward in the legislative assembly identifying a federal matter at issue and outlining potential steps the government should take to overcome it. Once the motion is passed in the assembly, the Act stipulates that Smith’s cabinet will then determine the legality of the chosen measures before taking action. Smith did not say when a motion will be put forward in the legislature. The federal government’s finalized regulations for the emissions cap are expected to be published in the spring. The federal government has maintained its stance that the cap is meant to limit pollution, not oil and gas production. But Alberta has said the cap would lead to a drop in production to the tune of one million barrels per day, resulting in large-scale job losses and leading to a five per cent loss in royalty revenues for the provincial government. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024.Trump’s picks for key positions in his second administration