Composite Nanostructures for the Production of White Light.

In this work, two different composite nanostructures, YAG:Ce and GaInN, were prepared by the Urea Glass Route method and tested for the production of white light. The first composite was prepared by synthetizing the GaInN nanoparticles in the presence of YAG:Ce nanoparticles. The second one was prepared by synthetizing YAG:Ce nanoparticles in the presence of GaInN nanoparticles.

Designed NiMoC@C and NiFeMoC@C core-shell nanoparticles for oxygen evolution in alkaline media.

Electrochemical water splitting is one of the most promising and clean ways to produce hydrogen as a fuel. Herein, we present a facile and versatile strategy for synthesizing non-precious transition binary and ternary metal-based catalysts encapsulated in a graphitic carbon shell. NiMoC@C and NiFeMoC@C were prepared a simple sol-gel based method for application in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER).

Cutting-Edge Electrocatalysts for CORR.

A world-wide growing concern relates to the rising levels of CO in the atmosphere that leads to devastating consequences for our environment. In addition to reducing emissions, one alternative strategy is the conversion of CO (via the CO Reduction Reaction, or CORR) into added-value chemicals, such as CO, HCOOH, CHOH, CH, and more. Although this strategy is currently not economically feasible due to the high stability of the CO molecule, significant progress has been made to optimize this electrochemical conversion, especially in terms of finding a performing catalyst.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Corneal Wound Repair by Regulating Inflammation and Angiogenesis.

Severe corneal damage leads to complete vision loss, thereby affecting life quality and impinging heavily on the healthcare system. Current clinical approaches to manage corneal wounds suffer from severe drawbacks, thus requiring the development of alternative strategies. Of late, mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become a promising tool in the ophthalmic field.

Regenerative Approaches and Future Trends for the Treatment of Corneal Burn Injuries.

Ocular chemical and thermal burns are frequent causes of hospitalization and require immediate interventions and care. Various surgical and pharmacological treatment strategies are employed according to damage severity. Controlling inflammation and neovascularization while promoting normal ocular surface anatomy and function restoration is the principal aim.

Multimetallic Oxynitrides Nanoparticles for a New Generation of Photocatalysts.

A versatile synthetic strategy for the preparation of multimetallic oxynitrides has been designed and here exemplarily discussed considering the preparation of nanoscaled zinc-gallium oxynitrides and zinc-gallium-indium oxynitrides, two important photocatalysts of new generation, which proved to be active in key energy related processes from pollutant decomposition to overall water splitting. The synthesis presented here allows the preparation of small nanoparticles (less than 20 nm in average diameter), well-defined in size and shape, yet highly crystalline and with the highest surface area reported so far (up to 80 m  g ). X-ray diffraction studies show that the final material is not a mixture of single oxides but a distinctive compound.

HfN Nanoparticles: An Unexplored Catalyst for the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Water electrolysis is one of the most promising methods to produce H and O as high potential fuels. Comparing the two half-reactions, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the more difficult to be optimized and still relies on expensive noble metal-based catalysts such as Ru or Ir. In this paper, we prepared nanoparticles of HfN and Hf ON and tested them for the OER for the first time.

Non-conventional Ce:YAG nanostructures via urea complexes.

Ce:YAG nanostructures (Ce:YAG = Cerium in Yttrium Aluminium Garnet), easy to control and shape, have been prepared via templating approach using natural and synthetic materials (i.e. paper, cotton wool and glass wool) previously soaked with a gel-like metals precursor and then thermally treated to achieve the wished morphology.

Iron Carbide@Carbon Nanocomposites: A Tool Box of Functional Materials.

Iron carbide (Fe₃C) is a ceramic magnetic material with high potential for applications in different fields, including catalysis, medicine imaging, coatings, and sensors. Despite its interesting properties, it is still somehow largely unexplored, probably due to challenging synthetic conditions. In this contribution, we present a sol-gel-based method that allows preparing different Fe₃C@C nanocomposites with tailored properties for specific applications, in particular, we have focused on and discussed potential uses for adsorption of noxious gas and waste removal.

Branch-Like Iron Nitride and Carbide Magnetic Fibres Using an Electrospinning Technique.

Fe N and Fe C nanocomposites have a wide range of applications thanks to their ceramic nature, magnetic properties, conductivity and catalytic activity, just to cite some. In many fields optimal performances are ensured by crystallinity, homogeneity and hierarchical organization. In the present paper, crystalline, magnetic and well-defined nanofibres of iron nitride and iron carbide/carbon nanocomposite with tunable composition and size were prepared via electrospinning.

Enhanced catalysis of the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction using composites of molybdenum-based compounds, gold nanoparticles and carbon.

Molybdenum nitride has been recently reported to interact synergistically with gold to show an enhanced activity for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (2H(+) + 2e(-)→ H2, HER). In this work, we elucidated the roles of nitrogen, carbon, molybdenum and gold on this observed phenomenon. Composites of Mo-based compounds, carbon black (black pearl 2000) and/or Au nanoparticles (AuNP) were prepared, and their activities for the HER in a 0.

Aerosol-Assisted Synthesis of Porous TiNx Oy @C Nanocomposites.

Porous TiNx Oy -based particles were synthesized by an aerosol spray process. At first, the starting sol solution containing the metal precursor and the nitrogen source is sprayed to form an aerosol that is subsequently pyrolysed at different temperatures. The obtained dried particles are an amorphous coordination "polymer" rich in carbon and nitrogen.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis associated with an MFSD8 mutation in Chihuahuas.

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are hereditary neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive declines in neurological functions, seizures, and premature death. NCLs result from mutations in at least 13 different genes. Canine versions of the NCLs can serve as important models in developing effective therapeutic interventions for these diseases.

GaN and GaxIn1-xN Nanoparticles with Tunable Indium Content: Synthesis and Characterization.

Semiconducting GaN and GaxIn1-xN nanoparticles (4-10 nm in diameter, depending on the metal ratio) with tunable indium content are prepared through a chemical synthesis (the urea-glass route). The bandgap of the ternary system depends on its composition, and therefore, the color of the final material can be turned from bright yellow (the color of pure GaN) to blue (the color of pure InN). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM and HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the nanoparticle character and homogeneity of the as-prepared samples.

Easy access to Ni3N- and Ni-carbon nanocomposite catalysts.

In the search for alternative materials to current expensive catalysts, Ni has been addressed as one of the most promising and, on this trail, its corresponding nitride. However, nickel nitride is a thermally unstable compound, and therefore not easy to prepare especially as nanoparticles. In the present work, a sol-gel-based process (the urea glass route) is applied to prepare well-defined and homogeneous Ni3N and Ni nanoparticles.

Titanium nitride-nickel nanocomposite as heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers.

Lignin from biomass can become a sustainable source of aromatic compounds. Its depolymerization can be accomplished through hydrogenolysis, although the development of catalysts based on cheap and abundant metals is lacking. Herein, a sustainable composite based on titanium nitride and nickel is synthesized and employed as catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers as models for lignin.

Sponge-like nickel and nickel nitride structures for catalytic applications.

A safe and simple method to fabricate air-stable nickel nitride and nickel embedded in carbon and nitrogen matrix, with high surface area for catalytic applications, is presented. The new synthesis employs molten inorganic salts as the reaction media. The use of salt melt opens new possibilities for safe, simple, and cheap synthesis of metal nitrides and metals for energy-related applications.

Synthesis of highly stable, water-dispersible copper nanoparticles as catalysts for nitrobenzene reduction.

We report an aqueous-phase synthetic route to copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using a copper-surfactant complex and tests of their catalytic efficiency for a simple nitrophenol reduction reaction under atmospheric conditions. Highly stable, water-dispersed CuNPs were obtained with the aid of polyacrylic acid (PAA), but not with other dispersants like surfactants or polymethacrylic acid (PMAA). The diameter of the CuNPs could be controlled in the range of approximately 30-85 nm by modifying the ratio of the metal precursor to PAA.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of small Ru nanoparticles and their role in degradation of congo red.

Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) stabilized Ru nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by single pot rapid microwave (μW) method in presence of glucose as reducing agent. The μW reaction for different amounts of added glucose and PEG was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy. Small sized NPs (2-5 nm) were obtained with appropriate amounts of glucose and PEG.

A facile molten-salt route to graphene synthesis.

Efficient synthetic routes are continuously pursued for graphene in order to implement its applications in different areas. However, direct conversion of simple monomers to graphene through polymerization in a scalable manner remains a major challenge for chemists. Herein, a molten-salt (MS) route for the synthesis of carbon nanostructures and graphene by controlled carbonization of glucose in molten metal chloride is reported.

Bottom-up synthesis of Zn(1.7)GeN(1.8)O nanoparticles for photocatalytic application.

Via a simple bottom-up approach, a complex quaternary oxynitride system (Zn1.7GeN1.8O) was prepared in the form of small nanoparticles (d~ 15 nm), which were stable and morphologically well-defined.

Astigmatism correction with toric intraocular lenses: wavefront aberrometry and quality of life.

Background/aim: To evaluate wavefront aberrations and subjective quality of life after toric intraocular lens (TIOL) implantation.

Methods: Three groups of subjects who underwent unilateral cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were compared: (1) toric group (n=40): corneal astigmatism >1.50 D, implanted with Acrysof toric SN60TT IOL (Alcon Inc, Fort Worth,  Texas, USA); (2) astigmatic SN60AT group (n=40): corneal astigmatism >1.

A case of oculo-cerebral B-cell lymphoma in a cat.

Purpose: To describe a case of a cat with primary B-cell lymphoma affecting the eye and brain and which shared features similar to oculo-cerebral lymphoma in humans.

Methods: A 13-year-old castrated male Persian cat presented with clinical signs of anterior uveitis and increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in the left eye (OS). A complete diagnostic work-up was declined, and left-eye enucleation was performed.