Latest ArticlesThe potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have become the promising energy storage devices due to their relatively moderate cost and plenteous potassium resources. Whereas, the main drawback of PIBs is unsatisfactory electrochemical performance induced by the larger ionic radius of potassium ion. Herein, we report a well-designed, uniform-dispersed, and morphology-controllable zinc sulfide (ZnS) quantum dots loading on graphene as an anode in the PIBs. The directed uniform dispersion of the in-situ growing ZnS quantum dots (~2.8 nm in size) on graphene can mitigate the volume effect during the insertion-extraction process and shorten the migration path of potassium ions. As a result, the battery exhibits superior cycling stability (350.4 mAh/g over 200 cycles at 0.1 A/g) and rate performance (98.8 mAh/g at 2.0 A/g). We believe the design of active material with quantum dot-minimized size provides a novel route into PIBs and contributes to eliminating the major electrode failure issues of the system.
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising approach for renewable hydrogen production. However, the practical PEC solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency is still low owing to poor light absorption and rapid recombination of charge carriers in photoelectrode. In this work, we report a ternary photoanode with simultaneously enhancement of light absorption and water oxidation efficiency by introducing copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and nickel iron-layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) on TiO2 (denoted as TiO2/CuPc/NiFe-LDH). An experimental study reveals that CuPc loading on TiO2 bring strong visible light absorption; NiFe-LDH as an oxygen evolution reaction catalyst efficiently accelerates the surface water oxidation reaction. This synergistic effect of CuPc and NiFe-LDH gives enhanced photocurrent density (2.10 mA/cm2 at 0.6 V vs. SCE) and excellent stability in the ternary TiO2/CuPc/NiFeLDH photoanode.
Nanoparticle surface property is crucial for circulation stability, cellullar uptake and other biological characteristics. Zwitterionic pillar[n]arenes (ZPns) were used to coat gold nanoparticles (GNPs) via host-guest interaction. The resulting GNPs demonstrated higher stability in blood serum compared to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated GNPs. ZPn-coated GNPs were responsive to UV-irradiation, competitive displacement and acidic pH. UV-irradiation or competitive displacement could lead to the removal of ZPn coating to expose GNPs, which enhanced cell uptake efficiency by 5.9- and 7.4-fold, respectively.
A facile preparation strategy was proposed for preparation of compact zeolite LTA membranes on polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified substrates without seeding. Through the functionalization of substrates by using PEI, compact LTA membranes can be formed on various kinds of substrates. A well-intergrown and phase-pure LTA membrane with a thickness of about 3.0 μm is successfully prepared on the α-Al2O3 disk after crystallization for 24 h at 60 ℃. Besides LTA membrane, well-intergrown zeolite FAU membranes can also be formed on PEI-modified α-Al2O3 substrates, suggesting the universality of this strategy. The zeolite LTA membranes synthesized on PEI-modified α-Al2O3 tubes were evaluated for the separation of alcohols/water mixture through pervaporation. The as-synthesized zeolite LTA membranes display high pervaporation performances. For the separation of 10 wt% iso-propanol/water solution at 90 ℃, a high separation factor of 44991 and a water flux of 1.73 kg m-2 h-1 are achieved.
Most recently, cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanospheres (NSs) have been demonstrated as an ideal high-efficient photothermal agent for tumor elimination. However, the surface of CoS NSs is lack of functional chemical groups or active radicals to incorporate therapeutic agents, which tremendously hinders their versatile utilization in medical field. Here, surface activation of CoS NSs was realized through the growth of polydopamine (PDA) in situ via alkaline-triggered polymerization. Upon the formation of CoS@PDA NSs, thiol-polyethylene glycol (SH-PEG) and chemotherapeutic agent of doxorubicin (DOX) were loaded onto the particle surface by means of π-π electrostatic interaction and Michael addition reactions. As-synthesized CoS@PDA/PEG/DOX (CoPPD) NSs exhibited an admirable photothermal property and high loading capacity of DOX (44.6%). Furthermore, drug release can be accelerated under a more acidic pH condition mimicking tumor microenvironment (TME), ascribed to the protonation of amino group in DOX molecules. Finally, a strong chemotherapeutic-enhanced photothermal therapeutic effect was demonstrated toward solid tumor under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation without causing significant systemic toxicity. In this regard, this paradigm may offer valuable guidance for the design of multifunctional CoS-based nanoagents for medical treatment.
Irradiated by visible light, the recyclable (PhTe)2-catalyzed oxidative deoximation reaction could occur under mild conditions. In comparison with the thermo reaction, the method employed reduced catalyst loading (1 mol% vs. 2.5 mol%), but afforded elevated product yields with expanded substrate scope. This work demonstrated that for the organotellurium-catalyzed reactions, visible light might be an even more precise driving energy than heating because it could break the Te-Te bond accurately to generate the active free radical catalytic intermediates without damaging the fragile substituents (e.g., heterocycles) of substrates. The use of O2 instead of explosive H2O2 as oxidant affords safer reaction conditions from the large-scale application viewpoint.
A new kind of emissive small-molecular organic cage has been developed via the combination of coupling and condensation reactions, which shows outstanding solubility, structural stability and potential spatial isomeric chirality. Interestingly, through the introduction of proper donor and acceptor units, this emissive organic cage is the first among organic cages to exhibit red aggregation-induced delayed fluorescence with photoluminescence emission at 603 nm. The finding not only expands the types of emissive small-molecular organic cages, but also represents an important step for further development of red delayed fluorescence materials with good solubility and aggregation-induced emission feature.
Size-controlled flow synthesis of nanoporous particles are of considerable interest for future industrial applications, however, is facing challenges due to lack of in-situ method for size-characterization in fluidic environment. We present that ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy can be integrated into a flow-synthesis system which was produced by femtosecond laser micromachining. The shift of the absorption peak position of the ex-situ and in-situ UV–vis spectra correlates to variation of size of porous metal-organic frameworks crystals. ZIF-67 crystals with a size in the range from 200 nm to 1025 nm are fabricated with the assistance of tri-ethylamine under monitoring of in-situ UV–vis spectra. The ZIF-67 crystals are converted into nanoporous carbons particles with controlled sizes. These materials show size-dependent performance in Na-ion battery and size-independent performance in metal/H2O seawater battery.
Flexible rechargeable Zn-air batteries are considered as one of the most promising battery systems to drive flexible and wearable electronic devices owing to their high safety, high gravimetric energy density, low self-discharge and low cost. One of the key challenges is to develop air electrodes with high performance and high mechanical flexibility. This minireview discusses the recent progress in the design and fabrication of flexible air electrodes. It focuses on the latest innovations in bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts, mainly including carbon-based materials (e.g., heteroatom-doped carbon, metal-nitrogen moieties doped carbon), metal oxides (e.g., spinel oxides, perovskite oxides) and their composites. It aims to provide an insight into the structure-property relationship of bifunctional catalysts. We also discuss the challenges and future perspectives.
As natural blood components, erythrocytes were good candidates for being used as drug delivery systems to improve the pharmacokinetics, biocompatibility and many other aspects of different drugs. The advantages brought by erythrocytes making erythrocyte-derived drug delivery systems, also known as erythrocyte carriers, suitable for various anti-cancer agents, especially newly invented agents like nanoparticles, which were characterized by their undesired systematic toxicity, anaphylactic reactions and poor biocompatibility. Current researches on erythrocyte carriers in cancer therapy showed inspiring results in four major aspects: cancer enzyme therapy, delivering chemotherapeutic agents, combining with nanoparticles, and several other anti-cancer agents for gene or immune therapy. This novel delivering system was now undergoing the translation process from laboratory to clinical practice. Erythrocyte carriers for cancer enzyme therapy have entered the stage of clinical trial and have showed promising outcomes, and others were still at pre-clinical stage. In summary, erythrocyte-derived drug delivery system might play an indispensable role in the management of cancer in the future.
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