Preparation of S-CN/AgCdS Z-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalyst and Its Effectively Improved Photocatalytic Performance.

In this study, S-doped graphitic carbon nitride (S-CN) was prepared using the high-temperature polymerization method, and then S-CN/AgCdS heterojunction photocatalyst was obtained using the chemical deposition method through loading Ag-doped CdS nanoparticles (AgCdS NPs) on the surface of S-CN. Experimental results show that the AgCdS NPs were evenly dispersed on the surface of S-CN, indicating that a good heterojunction structure was formed. Compared to S-CN, CdS, AgCdS and S-CN/CdS, the photocatalytic performance of S-CN/AgCdS has been significantly improved, and exhibits excellent photocatalytic degradation performance of Rhodamine B and methyl orange.

Optimization of Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide Film Preparation and Corrosion Resistance Study on AZ91D Mg Alloy by Multivariate Polynomial Regression Fitting.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) films have received extensive attention for their unique physical barrier function and ion exchange properties, which make them promising candidates for corrosion protection of magnesium alloys. In this paper, we used the multiple polynomial regression fitting method to establish a regression equation for the electrochemical corrosion resistance with the reaction temperature (), pH, and reaction time () of the Mg-Al LDH film on the AZ91D magnesium alloy. The goodness of fit, confidence, and residual analyses confirmed the high accuracy of the model equation.

First-Principles Study of Atomic Diffusion by Vacancy Defect of the L1-AlM (M = Sc, Zr, Er, Y) Phase.

Atomic diffusion by the vacancy defect of L1-AlM (M = Sc, Zr, Er, Y) was investigated based on a first-principles calculation. The point defect formation energies were firstly evaluated. Then, the migration energy for different diffusion paths was obtained by the climbing-image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method.

Highly Soluble Dimethoxymethyl Tetrathiafulvalene with Excellent Stability for Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries.

Non-aqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs) are highly attractive for grid-scale energy storage applications because of their independent design of energy and power, high energy density and efficiency, easy maintenance, and potentially low cost. In order to develop active molecules with large solubility, excellent electrochemical stability, and high redox potential for a non-aqueous RFB catholyte, herein, two flexible methoxymethyl groups had been attached to a famous redox-active tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) core. The strong intermolecular packing of the rigid TTF unit was effectively depressed, leading to a dramatically improved solubility of up to 3.

Intrinsic Mechanism Analyses of Significantly Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance of the BiMoO/BiVO System.

In this paper, the electrodeposition and hydrothermal methods were used to prepare the BiMoO/BiVO photoelectrode, and the intrinsic mechanism of significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of the prepared BiMoO/BiVO heterojunction system was studied. Work functions of BiMoO and BiVO were analyzed using a scanning Kelvin probe, and the direction of the heterojunction electric field and the transfer direction of photogenerated carriers were finally determined by the relative positions of the energy bands and the Fermi levels of BiMoO and BiVO. A type II BiMoO/BiVO heterojunction system was finally confirmed to be formed.

Novel graphitic sheets with ripple-like folds as an NCA cathode coating layer for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.

In this work, novel graphitic sheets with ripple-like folds (GSRFs) are synthesized from cheap resin via a facile route. The obtained GSRFs are used as a cladding layer for LiNiCoAlO (NCA) particles to construct a GSRF@NCA composite cathode. Electrochemical testing for GSFR@NCA exhibits better cycling and C-rate performance than those of original NCA.

The excited-state relaxation mechanism of potential UVA-activated phototherapeutic molecules: trajectory surface hopping simulations of both 4-thiothymine and 2,4-dithiothymine.

Recent experimental investigations of the photochemical properties of a series of sulfur-substituted pyrimidine derivatives provide insights into the phototherapeutic potential of these nucleobase variants. Herein we elucidate the triplet formation mechanism of two prospective UVA-activated phototherapeutic molecules, 4-thiothymine and 2,4-dithiothymine, upon photo-excitation by applying the trajectory surface hopping dynamics at the LR-TDDFT level. Our simulations reasonably reproduce the experimental time constants and demonstrate the preferred triplet formation pathway which starts from the S(nπ*) state for both molecules.

degradation and cytocompatibility of a low temperature grown self-healing Mg-Al LDH coating on MAO-coated magnesium alloy AZ31.

Basically, Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) coatings are prepared on the surface of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coated magnesium (Mg) alloys at a high temperature or a low pH value. This scenario leads to the growth rate of LDH coating inferior to the dissolution rate of the MAO coating. This in turn results in limited corrosion resistance of the composite coating.

Synthesis of Ni@NiSn Composite with High Lithium-Ion Diffusion Coefficient for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries.

To solve the problems of fast-charging of lithium-ion batteries in essence, development of new electrode materials with higher lithium-ion diffusion coefficients is the key. In this work, a novel flower-like Ni@SnNi structure is synthesized via a two-step process design, which consists of the fabrication of Ni cores by spray pyrolysis followed by the formation of SnNi shells via a simple oxidation-reduction reaction. The obtained Ni@SnNi composite exhibits an initial capacity of ≈693 mA h g and a reversible capacity of ≈570 mA h g after 300 charge/discharge cycles at 0.

Titania/Electro-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid as an Efficient Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Allura Red.

Titania/electro-reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids (TiO/ErGO) were synthesized by the hydrolysis of titanium sulfate in graphene oxide suspension and in situ electrochemical reduction. It provides a facile and efficient method to obtain nanohybrids with TiO nanoparticles (TiO NPs) uniformly coated by graphene nanoflakes. TiO/ErGO nanohybrids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammogram, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in detail.

Towards emerging EEG applications: a novel printable flexible Ag/AgCl dry electrode array for robust recording of EEG signals at forehead sites.

Objectives: With the rapid development of EEG-based wearable healthcare devices and brain-computer interfaces, reliable and user-friendly EEG sensors for EEG recording, especially at forehead sites, are highly desirable and challenging. However, existing EEG sensors cannot meet the requirements, since wet electrodes require tedious setup and conductive pastes or gels, and most dry electrodes show unacceptable high contact impedance. In addition, the existing electrodes cannot absorb sweat effectively; sweat would cause cross-interferences, and even short circuits, between adjacent electrodes, especially in the moving scenarios, or a hot and humid environment.

Sensitive Voltammetric Sensor for Tryptophan Detection by Using Polyvinylpyrrolidone Functionalized Graphene/GCE.

In this paper, an electrochemical method for the measurement of tryptophan (Trp) was developed based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with polyvinylpyrrolidonefunctionalized graphene (PVP-GR)/glassy carbon electrode (GCE). In 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH = 2.

Broadband Plasmonic Enhancement of High-Efficiency Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells by Incorporating Au@Ag@SiO Core-Shell Nanocuboids.

The introduction of plasmonic additives is a promising approach to boost the efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) since they may improve the light harvesting of a solar cell. Herein, we design broadband and strong plasmonic absorption Au@Ag@SiO nanocuboids (GSS NCs) as nanophotonic inclusions to achieve plasmon-enhanced DSSCs. These multiple-resonance absorptions arising from GSS NCs can be readily adjusted by altering their structures to complementarily match the absorption spectra of the dyes, especially in weak absorption zones.

Biodegradable Polylactide/TiO Composite Fiber Scaffolds with Superhydrophobic and Superadhesive Porous Surfaces for Water Immobilization, Antibacterial Performance, and Deodorization.

In this short communication, TiO-nanoparticle-functionalized biodegradable polylactide (PLA) nonwoven scaffolds with a superhydrophobic and superadhesive surface are reported regarding their water immobilization, antibacterial performance, and deodorization. With numerous regular oriented pores on their surface, the as-fabricated electrospun porous PLA/TiO composite fibers possessed diameters in the range from 5 µm down to 400 nm, and the lengths were even found to be up to the meters range. The PLA/TiO composite fiber surface was demonstrated to be both superhydrophobic and superadhesive.

Arylene Ethynylene-Functionalized Bithiazole-Based Zinc Polymers for Ultraefficient Photocatalytic Activity.

Polymers containing poly(arylene ethynylene) were synthesized and characterized systematically. Among them, exhibited a remarkable H evolution rate (14.32 mmol h g) with visible-light irradiation, lasting 72 h in different water qualities; the corresponding apparent quantum yield was 11.

Selective Enrichment of Clenbuterol onto Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Microspheres with Tailor-made Structure and Oxygen Functionalities.

The noxious clenbuterol misapplied as the feed additive has posed an enormous threat to humans who actively rely on the food chains with high potential of contamination by clenbuterol, such as pork and beef. It is, therefore, highly desirable to develop novel materials and strategies for dealing with the clenbuterol. Herein, functional polymer microspheres prepared by Pickering emulsion polymerization were explored for the selective enrichment of the clenbuterol, and their structure and oxygen functionalities could be tailor-made by a molecular imprinting process.

Liquid Phase Exfoliated Hexagonal Boron Nitride/Graphene Heterostructure Based Electrode Toward Asymmetric Supercapacitor Application.

In this paper, owing to the electrostatic interaction between graphene and h-BN, a facile liquid phase exfoliation method was carried out to fabricate h-BN/graphene based van der Waals heterostructure nanocomposites without additional chemical cross-linkers. The physicochemical properties of as-prepared composites were characterized by several electron microscopic and spectroscopic measurements. The h-BN/graphene heterostructure composites were employed to use as the anodes of asymmetric supercapacitor, and exhibited exceptional capacitive performance due to their synergistic effects.

Recent advances in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides for biological sensing.

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are important members in the family of two-dimensional (2D) materials. The large surface-to-volume ratio, combined with the fascinating tunable electronic and optical properties, low toxicity, unique van der Waals layered structure, and engineerable surface structure, renders 2D TMDs highly valuable for next-generation biosensing applications. Herein, the recent progress in the development of 2D TMDs-based biosensors is comprehensively reviewed, with special focus on the implementation of the structural, electronic and optical properties of 2D TMDs in the realization of high-performance biosensors with different configurations for a wide spectrum of bioanalytes and bio-species.

A minireview of hydroamination catalysis: alkene and alkyne substrate selective, metal complex design.

Organic compounds that contain nitrogen are very important intermediates in pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Hydroamination is the reaction that can form - bond with high atom economy. The research progress in metals catalyzed hydroamination of alkenes and alkynes from the perspective of reaction mechanism is categorized and summarized.

Correction: Facile preparation of bithiazole-based material for inkjet printed light-emitting electrochemical cell.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C9RA00093C.].

Corrosion resistance and antibacterial activity of zinc-loaded montmorillonite coatings on biodegradable magnesium alloy AZ31.

A Zinc-loaded montmorillonite (Zn-MMT) coating was hydrothermally prepared using Zn ion intercalated sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) upon magnesium (Mg) alloy AZ31 as bone repairing materials. Biodegradation rate of the Mg-based materials was studied via potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and hydrogen evolution tests. Results revealed that both Na-MMT and Zn-MMT coatings exhibited better corrosion resistance in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) + 10% calf serum (CS) than bare Mg alloy AZ31 counterparts.

Electrochemical Sensor for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Tryptophan by a CuO Nanoparticles-Coated Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite.

In this paper, a nanocomposite of cuprous oxide and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (CuO‒ERGO) was prepared by a simple and low-cost method; hereby, a new method for the electrochemical determination of tryptophan (Trp) by this composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is proposed. The prepared materials and modified electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results showed that CuO‒ERGO/GCE had good electrocatalytic activity for Trp.

Fabrication and Performance of ZnO Doped Tantalum Oxide Multilayer Composite Coatings on Ti6Al4V for Orthopedic Application.

Ti6Al4V titanium alloy has been widely used as medical implant material in orthopedic surgery, and one of the obstacles preventing it from wide use is toxic metal ions release and bacterial implant infection. In this paper, in order to improve corrosion resistance and antibacterial performance of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy, ZnO doped tantalum oxide (TaO) multilayer composite coating ZnO-TaO/TaOy/TaO-TiO/TiO/Ti (ZnO-TaO) was deposited by magnetron sputtering at room temperature. As a comparison, monolayer TaO coating was prepared on the surface of Ti6Al4V alloy.

An iridescent film of porous anodic aluminum oxide with alternatingly electrodeposited Cu and SiO nanoparticles.

The structurally colored surface of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is highly useful for decoration and anti-counterfeiting applications, which are of significance for both scientific and industrial communities. This study presents the first demonstration of the fabrication of an iridescent film of porous AAO on an industrial aluminum alloy substrate, with alternatingly electrodeposited Cu and SiO nanoparticles (NPs). A rainbow effect was effectively obtained for the optimized sample with appropriate alternating electrodeposition times.