Facile synthesis of nanostructured Ni/NiO/N-doped graphene electrocatalysts for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction.

Electrocatalysts containing a Ni/NiO/N-doped graphene interface have been synthesised using the ligand-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique. NiO nanoparticles were used as the substrate to grow N-doped graphene by decomposing vapours of benzene and N-containing ligands. The method was demonstrated with two nitrogen-containing ligands, namely dipyrazino[2,3-:2',3'-]quinoxaline-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexacarbonitrile (L) and melamine (M).

Room-Temperature Activation of CO by Dual Defect-Stabilized Nanoscale Hematite (FeO ): Concurrent Role of Fe and O Vacancies.

We demonstrate that synthetically controlled concurrent stabilization of Fe and O vacancy defects on the surface of interbraided nanoscale hematite (FeO ) renders an interesting surface chemistry which can reduce CO to CO at room temperature (RT). Importantly, we realized a highly enhanced output of 410 μmol h g at RT, as compared to that of 10 μmol h g for bulk hematite. It is argued based on the activity degradation under cycling and first principles density functional theory calculations that the excess chemical energy embedded in the defect-stabilized surface is expended in this high-energy conversion process, which leads to progressive filling up of oxygen vacancies.

Earth Abundant Iron-Rich N-Doped Graphene Based Spacer and Cavity Materials for Surface Plasmon-Coupled Emission Enhancements.

We demonstrate for the first time the use of Fe-based nanoparticles on N-doped graphene as spacer and cavity materials and study their plasmonic effect on the spontaneous emission of a radiating dipole. Fe-C-MF was produced by pyrolizing FeOOH and melamine formaldehyde precursor on graphene, while Fe-C-PH was produced by pyrolizing the Fe-phenanthroline complex on graphene. The use of the Fe-C-MF composite consisting of Fe-rich crystalline phases supported on N-doped graphene presented a spacer material with 116-fold fluorescence enhancements.

ATP driven clathrin dependent entry of carbon nanospheres prefer cells with glucose receptors.

Background: Intrinsically fluorescent glucose derived carbon nanospheres (CSP) efficiently enter mammalian cells and also cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). However, the mechanistic details of CSP entry inside mammalian cells and its specificity are not known.

Results: In this report, the biochemical and cellular mechanism of CSP entry into the living cell have been investigated.

Microfluidic study of fast gas-liquid reactions.

We present a new concept for studies of the kinetics of fast gas-liquid reactions. The strategy relies on the microfluidic generation of highly monodisperse gas bubbles in the liquid reaction medium and subsequent analysis of time-dependent changes in bubble dimensions. Using reactions of CO(2) with secondary amines as an exemplary system, we demonstrate that the method enables rapid determination of reaction rate constant and conversion, and comparison of various binding agents.

Microgels for the encapsulation and stimulus-responsive release of molecules with distinct polarities.

A microfluidic strategy for the encapsulation and stimulus-responsive release of molecules with distinct polarities from the interior of microgels is reported. The approach relies on (i) the generation of a primary O/W emulsion by the ultrasonication method, (ii) MF emulsification of the primary emulsion, and (iii) photopolymerization of the monomer present in the aqueous phase of the droplets, thereby transforming them into microgels. Non-polar molecules are dissolved in oil droplets embedded in the microgels.

Microbubbles loaded with nanoparticles: a route to multiple imaging modalities.

We report a single-step approach to producing small and stable bubbles functionalized with nanoparticles. The strategy includes the following events occurring in sequence: (i) a microfluidic generation of bubbles from a mixture of CO(2) and a minute amount of gases with low solubility in water, in an aqueous solution of a protein, a polysaccharide, and anionic nanoparticles; (ii) rapid dissolution of CO(2) leading to the shrinkage of bubbles and an increase in acidity of the medium in the vicinity of the bubbles; and (iii) co-deposition of the biopolymers and nanoparticles at the bubble-liquid interface. The proposed approach yielded microbubbles with a narrow size distribution, long-term stability, and multiple functions originating from the attachment of metal oxide, metal, or semiconductor nanoparticles onto the bubble surface.

pH-Sensitive breathing of clay within the polyelectrolyte matrix.

Stimuli-responsive organic-inorganic hybrid spheres were synthesized by coating the colloidal polystyrene spheres with polyelectrolyte-protected aminoclay, Mg phyllo(organo)silicate layers in a layer-by-layer method. The clay layers are sandwiched between the polyelectrolyte layers. The aminoclay swells in water due to protonation of amino groups, and the degree of swelling depends on the pH of the medium.

Functionalized carbon nanomaterials derived from carbohydrates.

A tremendous growth in the field of carbon nanomaterials has led to the emergence of carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, mesoporous carbon and more recently graphene. Some of these materials have found applications in electronics, sensors, catalysis, drug delivery, composites, and so forth. The high temperatures and hydrocarbon precursors involved in their synthesis usually yield highly inert graphitic surfaces.

Investigations of the conversion of inorganic carbonates to methane.

Inorganic carbonates, which occur abundantly on earth, constitute an inexpensive natural source of carbon. Therefore, the direct conversion of these carbonates into methane is of considerable importance. Thermal decomposition of transition metal carbonates with the composition MCa(CO(3))(2) (where M=Co, Ni, or Fe, and M/Ca is 1:1) and M(1)M(2)Ca(CO(3))(3) (where M(1)M(2)=CoNi, NiFe, or FeCo, and M(1)/M(2)/Ca is 1:1:2) shows that the reduced transition metals in combination with metal oxide nanoparticles (e.

Intrinsically fluorescent carbon nanospheres as a nuclear targeting vector: delivery of membrane-impermeable molecule to modulate gene expression in vivo.

In this report, we demonstrate glucose-derived carbon nanospheres to be an emerging class of intracellular carriers. The surfaces of these spheres are highly functionalized and do not need any further modification. Besides, the intrinsic fluorescence property of carbon nanospheres helps in tracking their cellular localization without any additional fluorescent tags.