Latest ArticlesThe threat to public health from bacterial infections has led to an urgent need to develop simpler, faster and more reliable bacterial detection methods. In this work, we developed a universal dual-recognition based sandwich fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensor by using specific aptamer-modified quantum dots (Aptamer-QDs) as energy donor and lectin concanavalin A (Con A) modified gold nanoparticles (Con A-AuNPs) as energy acceptor to achieve rapid and sensitive detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) within 0.5 h. In the presence of the target E. coli, the energy donor of Aptamer-QDs and acceptor of Con A-AuNPs were close to each other, causing changes of FRET signals. Based on the constructed FRET sensor, a linear detection range of from 102 cfu/mL to 2 × 108 cfu/mL with the detection limit of 45 cfu/mL for E. coli was achieved. Furthermore, the FRET sensor was applied to detect E. coli in the milk and orange juice with the detection limit of 300 cfu/mL and 200 cfu/mL, respectively and recovery rate from 83.1% to 112.5%. The strategy holds great promise in pathogenic bacteria detection due to its rapid and sensitivity.
Silicon is recognized as the most advantageous next-generation anode material for LIBs in terms of its extremely high theoretical capacity and appropriate operating voltage. However, the application of Si anode is limited by huge volume expansion emerging with cycling, which in turn induces the collapse of the electrode structure, resulting in rapid capacity decay. Here, we report a strategy using self-swelling artificial laponite to prepare a laponite/MXene/CNT composite framework with both rigidity and flexibility, which can excellently address these challenges of Si anode. The self-swelling artificial laponite participates in the construction of hierarchical and porous structures, providing sufficient buffer space to mitigate the volume expansion of the LixSi alloying reaction. Meanwhile, tough and tightly cross-linked silicate nanosheets can improve the mechanical strength of the framework for strong structural stability. More importantly, the negative charge between the layers of artificial laponite can effectively promote fast Li-ion transport in the electrode. This free-standing silicon anode enables the preparation of high areal capacity electrodes to further enhance the energy density of LIBs and a higher reversible capacity of 2381.8 mAh/g at 0.1 C after 50 cycles with an initial coulombic of 85.6%. This work provides a simple and practical fabrication strategy for developing high-performance Si-based batteries, which can speed up their commercialization.
Herein, we developed for the first time two carboxylic acid based intrinsic proton conductors (COOH-COF-1 and COOH-COF-2) via pre-assembly approach. The obtained COOH-COF-1 and COOH-COF-2 not only show outstanding chemical and thermal stabilities, but also exhibit superhigh intrinsic proton conductive behaviors. Especially, the intrinsic proton conductivity of COOH-COF-2 is up to 2.6 × 10−3 S/cm at 353 K and 98% RH, which is the highest value among all the reported acid functionalized COFs. This work lights up the way for the rational design of functional COFs with remarkably intrinsic proton conducting performance and related practical applications.
Chiral organic-inorganic metal halide semiconductors (OIMHSs) have recently attracted numerous interests due to their unique chirality, structural tunability, and extensive physical properties. However, most reported chiral OIMHSs contain toxic lead, which will be a potential obstacle to their further applications. Herein, we successfully synthesized a novel chiral lead-free tin(Ⅳ)-based OIMHS [(R)-3-hydroxyquinuclidinium]2SnCl6 ([R-HQ]2SnCl6). It exhibits a wide band gap (Eg) of about 4.11 eV. Moreover, [R-HQ]2SnCl6 undergoes a phase transition around 330 K (Tc) and shows distinct dielectric switching characteristics with good repeatability. This work enriches the chiral lead-free OIMHS family and stimulates further exploration of chiral lead-free OIMHS switching materials
The rapid evolution of portable and wearable electronic devices has fueled the development of smart functional textiles that are able to conduct electricity, sense body movements, or store energy. One main challenge inhibiting the further development of functional textile-based electronics is the lack of robust functional fibers with suitable electrical, electrochemical and sensing functionalities. MXenes, an emerging family of two-dimensional (2D) materials, have shown to be promising candidates for producing functional fibers due to their exceptional electrical and electrochemical properties combined with solution processability. The unique ability of MXenes to readily form liquid crystal phases in various solvents has allowed them to generate additive-free fibers using a wet spinning process. In this work, we review the recent exciting developments in the fabrication of neat MXenes fibers and present a critical evaluation of practical challenges in MXenes processing that influence the macroscale material properties and the performance of the subsequent devices. We also provide our assessment for the future opportunities and challenges in producing MXene fibers to help pave the way for their widespread use in advanced wearable applications.
Opportunities coexist with challenges for the development of carbon-based cathodes with a high energy density applied for zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs). In the present study, a facile and effective surface engineering approach is demonstrated to greatly improve the energy storage ability of commercial carbon paper (CP) in ZIHC. Benefiting from the introduced oxygen functional groups, larger surface area and improved surface wettability upon air calcination, the assembled aqueous ZIHC with the functionalized carbon paper (FCP) exhibits a much higher areal capacity of 0.22 mAh/cm2 at 1 mA/cm2, outperforming the counterpart with blank CP by over 5000 times. More importantly, a superior energy density and power density of 130.8 µWh/cm2 and 7460.5 µW/cm2, are respectively delivered. Furthermore, more than 90% of the initial capacity is retained over 10000 cycles. This surface engineering strategy to improve the energy storage capability is potentially applicable to developing a wide range of high-energy carbon electrode materials.
In this study, a continuous-flow procedure containing four steps has been developed to synthesize Pigment Red 53 and modify its crystal structure. This process avoided the problems of conveying highly insoluble reaction intermediates by removing intermediate operating steps. After optimization, the overall yield of Pigment Red 53:1 reached 97.1% in the total residence time of 80 s by this diazotization-coupling-laking-crystal transition process. From batch to continuous flow, the purity of products increased from 97.1% to 98.2% and the median diameter of pigment particles decreased from 14 µm to 1.9 µm. This process achieved a similar crystal transition effect in 18 s as in batch, producing α, δ and ν crystals of Pigment Red 53:2 as expected. In conclusion, this continuous-flow procedure displays advantages in both synthesis and crystal transition, indicating another potential use for industrial application.
Chiral high-nuclearity lanthanide (4f) clusters have shown fantastic properties in various fields. However, their synthesis is still of great challenge. Herein, we report two pairs of enantiomers of high-nuclearity Dy-oxo clusters synthesized through in situ strategy. They are [Dy18(R/SHftp)4 (R/SH2btp)4(μ2-OH)8(μ3-OH)20(μ6-O)(NO3)4(μ-H2O)8]·[solvents] (1R and 1S) and [Dy9(R/SHftp)2 (R/SH2btp)2(OAc)6(μ3-OH)10(H2O)6](OAc)·[solvents] (2R and 2S), where R/SHftp2− and R/SH2btp3− represent in situ formed 2-formyl-6-[N-(threonine)iminomethyl]-4-methylphenol and 2,6-bis[N-(threonine)iminomethyl]-4-methylphenol anions, respectively. These in situ formed clusters were endowed with not only homochirality via introducing R/SHftp2− and R/SH2btp3− ligands, but also rich oxo-bridges by controlling the hydrolysis of DyⅢ ions. Different anions from DyⅢ salts further induced structural variation between two sets of clusters. 1R and 1S feature an unprecedent four-blade propeller shaped {Dy18} core, whose centered octahedral {Dy6} unit are surrounded by four triangular {Dy3} units. Strikingly, they represent the second largest chiral 4f cluster species so far. 2R and 2S display a sandglass-like {Dy9} skeleton that consist of two square pyramid {Dy5} units sharing a DyⅢ vertex. Magnetic investigation revealed possible antiferromagnetic interactions between the DyⅢ centers in these clusters.
Phase transition and phase separation of formamidinium-cesium (FA-Cs) perovskite during the fabrication and operation processes reduce the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we develop an in situ molecular self-assembly approach on perovskite surface using an amine nickel porphyrin (NiP). The NiP doped perovskite precursor solution was deposited on substrate by blade-coating under ambient condition. NiP molecules self-assemble into supramolecule bound on perovskite surface during the vacuum-assisted process. Such a modification controls the perovskite grain growth to generate the uniform perovskite film. The supramolecule can release the residual lattice strain to inhibit the phase transition of perovskite film, and promote the charge extraction and transport to suppress the phase separation of FA-Cs perovskite during long-term illumination condition. Consequently, the best efficiency of large-area NiP-based FA-Cs-PSCs with the active area of 1.0 cm2 is up to 20.3% (certified as 19.2%), which is close to the record efficiency (20.37%) by blade-coating. Unencapsulated NiP-doped device reveals the remarkably improved overall stabilities. This work affords a novel way to address the phase transition and phase separation in FA-Cs perovskite.
Food waste (FW) has been recognized as essential reservoir for resource recovery via anaerobic fermentation, which could also bring the potential risk of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) dissemination. Although the structural deficiency of FW could be stimulated by enzymatic pretreatment to enhance fermentation efficiency, the influences of enzymatic pretreatment on ARGs fate and microbial metabolic pathways involved in ARGs dissemination have rarely been reported. This work proved that enzymatic pretreatment could effectively decrease the total abundance of ARGs (reduced by 13.8%-24.5%) during long-term FW fermentation. It was found that enzymatic pretreatment significantly reduced the ARGs belonging to the efflux pump, which might be ascribed to its ability to increase membrane permeability. Furthermore, enzymatic pretreatment was in favor of reducing microbial diversity and various potential ARGs host (e.g., Methanosarcina, Clostridium, Prevotella, Parabacteroides). Also, this pretreatment remarkably up-regulated the genetic expressions involved in ABC transporter (e.g., eryF and mntA) and down-regulated the genetic expressions that participated in DNA replication, two-component systems (e.g., uphA and cckA), and quorum sensing (e.g., rpfF and lsrG), thereby decreasing ARGs transmission. This study would expand the insight of the influences of pretreatment method on ARGs fate during FW fermentation, and offer practical guidance on the sustainable management of FW.
No. 86 Xueyuan South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
010-62199257
qkjq@cast.org.cn
Copyright © 2025 China Association for Science and Technology. All rights reserved. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
Sponsored by the Office of the Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization of CAST, and supported by Science and Technology Review Publishing House
