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Biofilms, which are resistant to conventional antimicrobial treatments, pose significant challenges in medical and industrial environments. This study introduces manganese complex-gold nanoparticles (Mn-DPA-AuNPs) as a hybrid strategy for biofilm inhibition and eradication. Upon exposure to green light, these nanoparticles significantly enhance the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. This activity substantially reduces the regrowth potential of the surviving bacteria within the biofilm, with marked efficacy noted in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. This study highlights the potential of integrating manganese complexes with gold nanoparticles to develop advanced antimicrobial agents against resistant biofilms, offering a promising approach to enhance microbial control in diverse settings.

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Currently, research on Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) predominantly focuses on UV/visible photodetection and UV emission, seemingly overlooking the significance of Ag in enhancing deep ultraviolet photon detection. In this work, (In0.3Ga0.7)2O3 thin films were fabricated by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Due to the unique photoabsorbance characteristic and better interaction with photons of small-sized AgNPs, they effectively suppress the UVB absorbance caused by energy band engineering in the (In0.3Ga0.7)2O3 thin film while enhancing photoabsorbance in UVC due to the surface plasmon effect. Therefore, under the synergistic effect of enhanced photon absorbance and hot electron transfer, the performance of the detector is significantly improved, and its responsivity (R), external quantum efficiency, and detectivity (D*) are 193 mA/W, approximately 100%, and 1014 Jones, respectively, at a bias of -6 V. The fast response time and decay time are 634.6 and 194.1 ms, respectively; the rapid decay facilitated by AgNPs is attributed to the increased indirect recombination rate. AgNPs exhibit excellent narrowband response characteristics and absorbance properties in specific wavelength bands for the InGaO photodetector. This research lays the foundation for the practical application of localized surface plasmon resonance-enhanced photon-sensing capabilities.

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The interfacial dilational rheology of silica nanoparticles (NPs) directly reflects the relationship between surface structure and interfacial behaviors in NPs, which has attracted significant attention in various industrial fields. In this work, modified silica nanoparticles (MNPs) with various alkyl chain lengths were synthesized and systematically characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra, Zeta potential, and water contact angle measurements. It was found that the MNPs were successfully fabricated with similar degrees of modification. Subsequently, the interfacial behaviors of the MNPs in an n-octane/water system were investigated through interfacial dilational rheological experiments. The length of the modified alkyl chain dominated the hydrophilic-lipophile balance and the interfacial activity of the MNPs, evaluated by the equilibrium interfacial tension (IFT) variation and dilational elasticity modulus. In the large amplitude compression experiment, the balance between the electrostatic repulsion and interfacial activity in the MNPs was responsible for their ordered interfacial arrangement. The MNPs with the hexyl alkyl chain (M6C) presented the optimal amphipathy and could partly overcome the repulsion, causing a dramatic change in surface pressure. This was further confirmed by the variations in IFT and dilational elasticity during the compression path. The study provides novel insights into the interfacial rheology and interactions of functionally modified NPs.

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Noble gas xenon (Xe) is an excellent anesthetic gas, but its rarity, high cost and constrained production prohibits wide use in medicine. Here, we have developed a closed-circuit anesthetic Xe recovery and reusage process with highly effective CO2-specific adsorbent CUPMOF-5 that is promising to solve the anesthetic Xe supply problem. CUPMOF-5 possesses spacious cage cavities interconnected in four directions by confinement throat apertures of ~3.4 Å, which makes it an ideal molecular sieving of CO2 from Xe, O2, N2 with the benchmark selectivity and high uptake capacity of CO2. In situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and computational simulation solidly revealed the vital sieving role of the confined throat and the sorbent-sorbate induced-fit strengthening binding interaction to CO2. CUPMOF-5 can remove 5 % CO2 even from actual moist exhaled anesthetic gases, and achieves the highest Xe recovery rate (99.8 %) so far, as verified by breakthrough experiments. This endows CUPMOF-5 great potential for the on-line CO2 removal and Xe recovery from anesthetic closed-circuits.

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Heart failure (HF) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The value of deep learning survival prediction models using chest radiographs in patients with heart failure is currently unclear. The aim of our study is to develop and validate a deep learning survival prediction model using chest X-ray (DLSPCXR) in patients with HF. The study retrospectively enrolled a cohort of 353 patients with HF who underwent chest X-ray (CXR) at our institution between March 2012 and March 2017. The dataset was randomly divided into training (n = 247) and validation (n = 106) datasets. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were conducted on the training dataset to develop clinical and imaging survival prediction models. The DLSPCXR was trained and the selected clinical parameters were incorporated into DLSPCXR to establish a new model called DLSPinteg. Discrimination performance was evaluated using the time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (TD AUC) at 1, 3, and 5-years survival. Delong's test was employed for the comparison of differences between two AUCs of different models. The risk-discrimination capability of the optimal model was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier curve. In multivariable Cox analysis, older age, higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) > 50 mmHg, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III-IV and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) ≥ 0.62 in CXR were independent predictors of poor prognosis in patients with HF. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, DLSPCXR had better performance at predicting 5-year survival than the imaging Cox model in the validation cohort (AUC: 0.757 vs. 0.561, P = 0.01). DLSPinteg as the optimal model outperforms the clinical Cox model (AUC: 0.826 vs. 0.633, P = 0.03), imaging Cox model (AUC: 0.826 vs. 0.555, P < 0.001), and DLSPCXR (AUC: 0.826 vs. 0.767, P = 0.06). Deep learning models using chest radiographs can predict survival in patients with heart failure with acceptable accuracy.

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Nanoparticles have been widely applied to treat emulsion-containing wastewater in the form of chemical demulsifiers, such as SiO2, Fe3O4, and graphene oxide (GO). Owing to their asymmetric structures and selective adsorption, Janus nanoparticles show greater application potential in many fields. In the present work, the novel magnetic Janus graphene oxide (MJGO) nanoparticle was successfully prepared by grafting magnetic Fe3O4 to the surface of the JGO, and its demulsifying ability to treat a crude oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated. The MJGO structure and its magnetic intensity were verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and magnetization saturation (MS) tests. Compared with GO and JGO, MJGO displayed the superior efficiency (>96%) to demulsify the crude oil-in-water emulsion, which can be attributed to the reduced electrostatic repulsion between MJGO and the emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the effects of pH and temperature on the demulsification performance of MJGO were also studied. Lastly, the recyclability of MJGO largely reduced the cost of demulsifiers in separating crude oil and water. The current research presents an efficient and recyclable demulsifier, which provides a new perspective for the structural design of nanomaterials and their application in the field of demulsification.

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A novel polymeric ionic liquid (PDBA-IL-NH2) using imidazolium ionic liquids with short alkyl chains as monomers and two control ionic liquids (PDBA-IL-OH and PIL-NH2) were synthesized. Their inhibition properties and mechanisms were explored via surface analysis, weight loss tests, electrochemical studies, and adsorption isotherm analysis. The corrosion inhibition efficiency (CIE) of PDBA-IL-NH2 gradually increased with increasing concentration, and the largest efficiency was 94.67% at 100 ppm. At the same concentration (50 ppm), the corrosion inhibition abilities of inhibitors were in the order of PDBA-IL-NH2 > PDBA-IL-OH > PIL-NH2 > IL-NH2. Based on the experimental investigation, the synergistic effect of electrostatic interaction, protonation, and electron donor-acceptor interaction facilitated the intensive entanglement and coverage of PDBA-IL-NH2 with the reticulated form on the metal, and the generated densest films protected the metal from the corrosive media. Ultimately, the theoretical results of molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical study were in high agreement with the experimental data, which confirmed the proposed inhibition mechanisms on the microscopic scale. This study contributed valuable perspectives to the design of efficient and ecofriendly corrosion inhibitors.

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Great aqueous dispersibility, a large specific surface area, and high impermeability make graphene oxide (GO) the ideal candidate for a high-performance corrosion inhibitor. Numerous symmetrical modification methods have been reported to enhance the adsorption of GO on metal surfaces in various corrosive media. This work aims to investigate the enhancement and mechanism of unilateral hydrophobic modification on the corrosion inhibition performance of GO. In this study, amphiphilic Janus GO (JGO) was prepared by grafting hydrophobic alkyl chains on one side of GO, and its anticorrosion performance was evaluated via weight loss experiments and electrochemical tests. The results revealed that the corrosion inhibition efficiency for Q235 mild steel (MS) in a 1 M HCl aqueous solution of 25 ppm JGO (81.08%) was much higher than that of GO at the same concentration (22.12%). Furthermore, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and computational study demonstrated that the synergistic effect of physical adsorption and chemical adsorption promoted the hydrophilic side of JGO close to the surface of the metal, and the dense protective layer was formed by the hydrophobic chains toward the corrosive medium, which effectively hindered the corrosion of MS by the acidic liquid. This study emphasizes the significant role of asymmetrically modified hydrophobic alkyl chains in improving the corrosion prevention performance of GO and provides a perspective for the structural design of GO-based corrosion inhibitors.

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Potentiation of the effects of currently available antibiotics is urgently required to tackle the rising antibiotics resistance. The pyruvate (P) cycle has been shown to play a critical role in mediating aminoglycoside antibiotic killing, but the mechanism remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the effects of intermediate metabolites of the P cycle regarding the potentiation of gentamicin. We found that α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) has the best synergy with gentamicin compared to the other metabolites. This synergistic killing effect was more effective with aminoglycosides than other types of antibiotics, and it was effective against various types of bacterial pathogens. Using fish and mouse infection models, we confirmed that the synergistic killing effect occurred in vivo. Furthermore, functional proteomics showed that α-KG downregulated thiosulphate metabolism. Upregulation of thiosulphate metabolism by exogenous thiosulphate counteracted the killing effect of gentamicin. The role of thiosulphate metabolism in antibiotic resistance was further confirmed using thiosulphate reductase knockout mutants. These mutants were more sensitive to gentamicin killing, and less tolerant to antibiotics compared to their parental strain. Thus, our study highlights a strategy for potentiating antibiotic killing by using a metabolite that reduces antibiotic resistance.

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PURPOSE: The relationship between plaque progression and pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) radiomics has not been comprehensively evaluated. We aim to predict plaque progression with PCAT radiomics features and evaluate their incremental value over quantitative plaque characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2020, 500 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease who underwent serial coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) ≥2 years apart were retrospectively analyzed and randomly stratified into a training and testing data set with a ratio of 7:3. Plaque progression was defined with annual change in plaque burden exceeding the median value in the entire cohort. Quantitative plaque characteristics and PCAT radiomics features were extracted from baseline CCTA. Then we built 3 models including quantitative plaque characteristics (model 1), PCAT radiomics features (model 2), and the combined model (model 3) to compare the prediction performance evaluated by area under the curve. RESULTS: The quantitative plaque characteristics of the training set showed the values of noncalcified plaque volume (NCPV), fibrous plaque volume, lesion length, and PCAT attenuation were larger in the plaque progression group than in the nonprogression group ( P < 0.05 for all). In multivariable logistic analysis, NCPV and PCAT attenuation were independent predictors of coronary plaque progression. PCAT radiomics exhibited significantly superior prediction over quantitative plaque characteristics both in the training (area under the curve: 0.814 vs 0.615, P < 0.001) and testing (0.736 vs 0.594, P = 0.007) data sets. CONCLUSIONS: NCPV and PCAT attenuation were independent predictors of coronary plaque progression. PCAT radiomics derived from baseline CCTA achieved significantly better prediction than quantitative plaque characteristics.

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In printing, microreactors, and bioassays, the precise control of micrometer-scale droplet generation is essential but challenging, often restricted by the equipment and nozzles used in traditional methods. We introduce a needle-plate electrode corona discharge technique that injects charges into an oil layer, enabling the precise manipulation of droplet polarization and splitting. This method allows for meticulous adjustment of microdroplet formation regarding location, size, and quantity by modulating the discharge voltage, discharge time, and electrode positioning. It enables the immediate initiation and cessation of droplet production, thereby facilitating on-demand droplet generation. Our study on the voltage-dependent droplet stretch coefficient shows that as the voltage increases, the droplets transition from controlled splitting to regular Taylor cone-like ejections, eventually reaching the Rayleigh limit and fully breaking apart. These advancements significantly improve microfluidic droplet manipulation, offering considerable benefits for applications in targeted drug delivery, rapid disease diagnostics, and precise environmental monitoring.

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The utilization of solar-thermal energy and universal cold energy has led to many innovative designs that achieve effective temperature regulation in different application scenarios. Numerous studies on passive solar heating and radiation cooling often operate independently (or actively control the conversion) and lack a cohesive framework for deep connections. This work provides a concise overview of the recent breakthroughs in solar heating and radiation cooling by employing a mechanism material in the application model. Furthermore, the utilization of dynamic Janus-like behavior serves as a novel nexus to elucidate the relationship between solar heating and radiation cooling, allowing for the analysis of dynamic conversion strategies across various applications. Additionally, special discussions are provided to address specific requirements in diverse applications, such as optimizing light transmission for clothing or window glass. Finally, the challenges and opportunities associated with the development of solar heating and radiation cooling applications are underscored, which hold immense potential for substantial carbon emission reduction and environmental preservation. This work aims to ignite interest and lay a solid foundation for researchers to conduct in-depth studies on effective and self-adaptive regulation of cooling and heating.

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Imidacloprid enters the water environment through rainfall and causes harm to aquatic crustaceans. However, the potential chronic toxicity mechanism of imidacloprid in crayfish has not been comprehensively studied. In this study, red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) were exposed to 11.76, 35.27, or 88.17 µg/L imidacloprid for 30 days, and changes in the physiology and biochemistry, gut microbiota, and transcriptome of C. quadricarinatus and the interaction between imidacloprid, gut microbiota, and genes were studied. Imidacloprid induced oxidative stress and decreased growth performance in crayfish. Imidacloprid exposure caused hepatopancreas damage and decreased serum immune enzyme activity. Hepatopancreatic and plasma acetylcholine decreased significantly in the 88.17 µg/L group. Imidacloprid reduced the diversity of the intestinal flora, increased the abundance of harmful flora, and disrupted the microbiota function. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the number of up-and-down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) increased significantly with increasing concentrations of imidacloprid. DEG enrichment analyses indicated that imidacloprid inhibits neurotransmitter transduction and immune responses and disrupts energy metabolic processes. Crayfish could alleviate imidacloprid stress by regulating antioxidant and detoxification-related genes. A high correlation was revealed between GST, HSPA1s, and HSP90 and the composition of gut microorganisms in crayfish under imidacloprid stress. This study highlights the negative effects and provides detailed sequencing data from transcriptome and gut microbiota to enhance our understanding of the molecular toxicity of imidacloprid in crustaceans.

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Rising wide bandgap semiconductor gallium oxide (Ga2O3) displays huge potential in performing solar-blind photodetection, with constraint in narrow detection wavebands in nature, whereas bandgap modulation through the introduction of exotic atoms into Ga2O3 has an essential effect on the tunable performance of photodetectors and the detection waveband. Here, a novel method for the preparation of (InxGa1-x)2O3 alloy films is proposed, and the continuous tuning of the bandgap in the range of 3.70-4.99 eV is achieved by varying the In-doping content. Alloy-based metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors were fabricated, achieving a peak responsivity between 254 and 295 nm, superior performance compared to Ga2O3 photodetectors, with a photo-to-dark current ratio as high as 106, and a better optical image-sensing capability. This study offers new insight for high-performance detection of full solar-blind waveband ultraviolet light.

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Hydrate-based CO2 storage in the ocean is considered a potential method for mitigating the greenhouse effect. Numerous studies demonstrated that NaCl exhibited the dual effects of promotion and inhibition in the nucleation and growth processes of CO2 hydrate, whose mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the effects of NaCl at various concentrations on the CO2 hydrate growth and crystal are investigated. The independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition, electrostatic potential, and binding energy is conducted to study the interaction between ions and water molecules. The motion trajectories of ions are observed at the molecular level to reflect the impact of ion motion on hydrate growth. The results show that the influence of NaCl on hydrate growth depends on a delicate balance of dual promotion-inhibition effects. NaCl can combine more water molecules and provide a transport channel of CO2 to promote hydrate growth at low concentrations. Meanwhile, the promoting effects shift toward inhibition with increasing NaCl concentrations. In a word, this paper proposes a novel mechanism for the dual promotion-inhibition effects of NaCl on hydrate growth, which is significant for further research on hydrate-based CO2 storage in the ocean.

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The creation of self-healing polymers with superior strength and stretchability from biodegradable materials is attracting increasing attention. In this study, we synthesized new biomass-derived cellulose acetate (CA) derivatives by ring-opening graft polymerization of δ-valerolactone followed by the introduction of ureidopyrimidinone (Upy) groups in the polymer side chains. Due to the semicrystalline aliphatic characteristics of the side chain poly(δ-valerolactone) (PVL) and quadruple hydrogen bonds formed by the Upy groups, the stretchability of the resulting polymers was significantly enhanced. Moreover, the shape memory ability and self-healing property (58.3% of self-healing efficiency) were successfully imparted to the polymer. This study demonstrates the great significance of using biomass sources to create self-healing polymers.

This paper describes the first successful demonstration of self-healing polymers with superior strength and stretchability from a biodegradable material, cellulose acetate (CA). We initially introduced the ureidopyrimidinone (Upy) groups in the side chains of CA. However, the resulting polymer was not soluble and processable. In order to solve this issue, a new strategy based on the ring-opening graft polymerization of δ-valerolactone followed by the introduction of ureidopyrimidinone (Upy) groups was adopted. Due to the semicrystalline aliphatic characteristics of the side chain poly(δ-valerolactone) (PVL), the resulting polymers were soluble and processable. In addition, the quadruple hydrogen bonds formed by the Upy groups enhanced the stretchability of the resulting polymers. Moreover, the shape memory ability and self-healing property were successfully achieved due to the presence of PVL and Upy. The developed new strategy can be applied to a variety of polymers including biomass-based polymers and materials.

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The increasing volume of electronic waste (e-waste) poses significant challenges for efficient collection in China. Despite many measures were taken over the past two decades, the e-waste collection rate was still not high. To this end, the Chinese government issued a new policy, the collection target responsibility (CTR) policy. Under the CTR policy, however, it is essential for participants to know how to share the responsibility of collection and how much reasonable targets are set to ensure the efficiency of the collection models. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the determination of optimal collection targets and the corresponding performance from the perspective of responsibility sharing to support the successful implementation of the CTR. Firstly, the study focuses on participants including the government, manufacturers, and recyclers, and develops three CTR models, independent collection model, government cost-sharing model, and enterprise collaboration model. Secondly, collection target equations for each model are established by employing dynamic differential game analysis, and corresponding collection performances are derived. Thirdly, through practical case simulations, the evolution of collection performance is dynamically analyzed to determine reasonable collection targets for the three models, as 23.8%, 32.3%, and 34.4%, respectively. The findings highlight the effectiveness of CTR in improving e-waste collection targets and performance, with the highest levels attained when the collection responsibilities are shared by government cost-sharing and enterprise collaboration. This study provides theoretical support for setting reasonable collection targets under CTR, and assists decision-makers in developing targeted CTR implementation measures.

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Cellular RNA is asymmetrically distributed in cells and the regulation of RNA localization is crucial for proper cellular functions. However, limited chemical tools are available to capture dynamic RNA localization in complex biological systems with high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we developed a new method for RNA proximity labeling activated by near-infrared (NIR) light, which holds the potential for deep penetration. Our method, termed FAP-seq, utilizes a genetically encoded fluorogen activating protein (FAP) that selectively binds to a set of substrates known as malachite green (MG). FAP binding restricts the rotation of MG and rapidly activates its fluorescence in a wash-free manner. By introducing a monoiodo modification to MG, we created a photosensitizer (MG-HI) with the highest singlet oxygen generation ability among various MG derivatives, enabling both protein and RNA proximity labeling in live cells. New insights are provided in the transcriptome analysis with FAP-seq, while a deeper understanding of the symmetry-breaking structural arrangement of FAP-MG-HI was obtained through molecular dynamics simulations. Overall, our wash-free and NIR light-inducible RNA proximity labeling method (FAP-seq) offers a powerful and versatile approach for investigating complex mechanisms underlying RNA-related biological processes.

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What is already known about this topic?: The prevalence of monkeypox (mpox) infections is primarily observed among young men who engage in sexual activities with other men, and there is a possibility of sexual transmission. Co-occurring sexually transmitted infections have also been documented. What is added by this report?: In this report, we present a case of a patient in China who was simultaneously diagnosed with mpox, and acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The patient exhibited symptoms of fever and widespread papules on the trunk, face, and genital area. What are the implications for public health practice?: It is crucial for health agencies to prioritize HIV testing when mpox is suspected or diagnosed in individuals with recent engagement in high-risk sexual behavior.

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Inorganic thick-film dielectric capacitors with ultrahigh absolute recovered energy at low electric fields are extremely desired for their wide application in pulsed power systems. However, a long-standing technological bottleneck exists between high absolute energy and large recovered energy density. A new strategy is offered to fabricate selected all-inorganic 0-3 composite thick films up to 10 µm by a modified sol-slurry method. Here, the ceramic powder is dispersed into the sol-gel matrix to form a uniform suspension, assisted by powder, therefore, the 2 µm-thickness after single layer spin coating. To enhance the energy-storage performances, the composites process is thoroughly optimized by ultrafine powder (<50 nm) technique based on a low-cost coprecipitation method instead of the solid-state and sol-gel methods. 0D coprecipitation powder has a similar dielectric constant to the corresponding 3D films, thus uneven electrical field distributions is overcome. Moreover, the increase of interfacial polarization is realized due to the larger specific surface area. A maximum recoverable energy density of 14.62 J cm-3 is obtained in coprecipitation thick films ≈2.2 times that of the solid-state powder and ≈1.3 times for sol-gel powder. This study provides a new paradigm for further guiding the design of composite materials.