Revealing the Role of Hydrogen in Electron-Doping Mottronics for Strongly Correlated Vanadium Dioxide.

Hydrogen-associated electron-doping Mottronics for d-band correlated oxides (e.g., VO) opens up a new paradigm to regulate the electronic functionality via directly manipulating the orbital configuration and occupancy.

Uranium In Situ Electrolytic Deposition with a Reusable Functional Graphene-Foam Electrode.

Nuclear fission produces 400 GWe which represents 11% of the global electricity output. Uranium is the essential element as both fission fuel and radioactive waste. Therefore, the recovery of uranium is of great importance.

A finger-jointing model for describing ultrastructures of cellulose microfibrils.

In this paper, we propose a finger-jointing model to describe the possible ultrastructures of cellulose microfibrils based on new observations obtained through heating of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) in saturated water vapor. We heated the micrometers-long TEMPO-CNFs in saturated water vapor (≥ 120 °C, ≥ 0.2 MPa) and observed a surprising fact that the long TEMPO-CNFs unzipped into short (100 s of nanometers long) fibers.

Graphene nanosheets homogeneously incorporated in polyurethane sponge for the elimination of water-soluble organic dyes.

Highly dispersed graphene nanosheets (GNS) are directly integrated into polyurethane sponge for the very first time. Individual GNS with an average thickness of 5 nm were uniformly encapsulated in polyurethane sponge (PUF). Highly durable, flexible, hydrophilic GNS/PUF demonstrated excellent organic dye absorption properties.

Aerogels from copper (II)-cellulose nanofibers and carbon nanotubes as absorbents for the elimination of toxic gases from air.

A novel deodorizer that is capable of selectively eliminating the odorous chemicals, such as ammonia, trimethylamine, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, is described. The deodorizer is a nanostructured aerogel by nature, consisting of 2,2-6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), transition metal divalent cations (M), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) as the constitutive elements. CNF are firstly mixed with M (M, in this paper, typifies Ni, Co and Cu) to form CNF-M complexes, monodispersed CNT is then mixed to prepare CNT/CNF-M waterborne slurries; CNT/CNF-M hybridized aerogels are finally obtained via freezing-drying of the CNT/CNF-M waterborne slurries.

Monolayered Platinum Nanoparticles as Efficient Electrocatalysts for the Mass Production of Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water.

High-performance/low-cost platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts have been established by top-coating both sides of a titanium plate with Pt nanoparticles. The average diameter of the Pt nanoparticles used in this study is approximately 100 nm. Three types of Pt top-coated Pt/Ti electrocatalysts, each having different top-coated Pt layer thicknesses, are prepared.

Stabilization of Prussian blue using copper sulfate for eliminating radioactive cesium from a high pH solution and seawater.

Prussian blue (PB), an adsorbent for the selective elimination of radioactive cesium from water, is highly versatile due to its unique crystal structure. However, PB crystals quickly decompose in an alkaline solution, generating hazardous cyanide contamination. In this research, the alkaline susceptibility of PB was remedied by incorporating copper sulfate as a protector.

Corrigendum: Nitrogen-doped porous carbon monoliths from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and carbon nanotubes as electrodes for supercapacitors.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep40259.

Dose effects of beta-tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles on biocompatibility and bone conductive ability of three-dimensional collagen scaffolds.

Three-dimensional collagen scaffolds coated with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) nanoparticles reportedly exhibit good bioactivity and biodegradability. Dose effects of β-TCP nanoparticles on biocompatibility and bone forming ability were then examined. Collagen scaffold was applied with 1, 5, 10, and 25 wt% β-TCP nanoparticle dispersion and designated TCP1, TCP5, TCP10, and TCP25, respectively.

Electrochemically reduced water exerts superior reactive oxygen species scavenging activity in HT1080 cells than the equivalent level of hydrogen-dissolved water.

Electrochemically reduced water (ERW) is produced near a cathode during electrolysis and exhibits an alkaline pH, contains richly dissolved hydrogen, and contains a small amount of platinum nanoparticles. ERW has reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity and recent studies demonstrated that hydrogen-dissolved water exhibits ROS-scavenging activity. Thus, the antioxidative capacity of ERW is postulated to be dependent on the presence of hydrogen levels; however, there is no report verifying the role of dissolved hydrogen in ERW.

Cellulose nanofiber backboned Prussian blue nanoparticles as powerful adsorbents for the selective elimination of radioactive cesium.

On 11 March 2011, the day of the unforgettable disaster of the 9 magnitude Tohoku earthquake and quickly followed by the devastating Tsunami, a damageable amount of radionuclides had dispersed from the Fukushima Daiichi's damaged nuclear reactors. Decontamination of the dispersed radionuclides from seawater and soil, due to the huge amounts of coexisting ions with competitive functionalities, has been the topmost difficulty. Ferric hexacyanoferrate, also known as Prussian blue (PB), has been the most powerful material for selectively trapping the radioactive cesium ions; its high tendency to form stable colloids in water, however, has made PB to be impossible for the open-field radioactive cesium decontamination applications.

Electrochemical hydrogen sulfide biosensors.

The measurement of sulfide, especially hydrogen sulfide, has held the attention of the analytical community due to its unique physiological and pathophysiological roles in biological systems. Electrochemical detection offers a rapid, highly sensitive, affordable, simple, and real-time technique to measure hydrogen sulfide concentration, which has been a well-documented and reliable method. This review details up-to-date research on the electrochemical detection of hydrogen sulfide (ion selective electrodes, polarographic hydrogen sulfide sensors, etc.

Three-dimensional Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Supported Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoparticles as an Advanced Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

An efficient three-dimensional (3D) hybrid material of nitrogen-doped graphene sheets (N-RGO) supporting molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) nanoparticles with high-performance electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is fabricated by using a facile hydrothermal route. Comprehensive microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations confirm the resulting hybrid material possesses a 3D crumpled few-layered graphene network structure decorated with MoS(2) nanoparticles. Electrochemical characterization analysis reveals that the resulting hybrid material exhibits efficient electrocatalytic activity toward HER under acidic conditions with a low onset potential of 112 mV and a small Tafel slope of 44 mV per decade.

Tunable Fabrication of Molybdenum Disulfide Quantum Dots for Intracellular MicroRNA Detection and Multiphoton Bioimaging.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) quantum dots (QDs) (size <10 nm) possess attractive new properties due to the quantum confinement and edge effects as graphene QDs. However, the synthesis and application of MoS2 QDs has not been investigated in great detail. Here, a facile and efficient approach for synthesis of controllable-size MoS2 QDs with excellent photoluminescence (PL) by using a sulfuric acid-assisted ultrasonic route is developed for this investigation.

DNA/Ag Nanoparticles as Antibacterial Agents against Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Silver (Ag) nanoparticles were produced using DNA extracted from salmon milt as templates. Particles spherical in shape with an average diameter smaller than 10 nm were obtained. The nanoparticles consisted of Ag as the core with an outermost thin layer of DNA.

Comparative study of bioactivity of collagen scaffolds coated with graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide.

Background: Graphene oxide (GO) is a single layer carbon sheet with a thickness of less than 1 nm. GO has good dispersibility due to surface modifications with numerous functional groups. Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is produced via the reduction of GO, and has lower dispersibility.

Sodium cobalt hexacyanoferrate encapsulated in alginate vesicle with CNT for both cesium and strontium removal.

Sodium cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoFC)-encapsulating alginate beads reinforced with highly dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes were prepared for the aqueous removal of cesium and strontium ions. Carbon nanotubes enhanced the effective surface area, encapsulation ability and adsorption capacity of beads. Equilibrium and kinetic studies were conducted with different mathematical models.

Potential Impact of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Exposure to the Seedling Stage of Selected Plant Species.

Phytotoxicity is a significant consideration in understanding the potential environmental impact of nanoparticles. Abundant experimental data have shown that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are toxic to plants, but the potential impacts of exposure remain unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate possible phytotoxicity of MWNTs at 0, 20, 200, 1000, and 2000 mg/L with red spinach, lettuce, rice, cucumber, chili, lady's finger, and soybean, based on root and shoot growth, cell death, and electrolyte leakage at the seedling stage.

Filtration-wet transferred transparent conducting films of mm long carbon nanotubes grown using water-assisted chemical vapor deposition.

Transparent conducting films (TCF) made up from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a tremendous potential in replacing the indium tin oxide films. Compare to single wall CNTs multiwall CNTs are more metallic and are more suitable candidate for the TCF. In this letter we report the use of selectively grown mm-scale, few-wall, vertically aligned CNTs for the fabrication of TCF.

Induction of cell death by graphene in Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia ecotype) T87 cell suspensions.

The toxicity of graphene on suspensions of Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia ecotype) T87 cells was investigated by examining the morphology, mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species generation (ROS), and translocation of graphene as the toxicological endpoints. The cells were grown in Jouanneau and Péaud-Lenoel (JPL) media and exposed to graphene at concentrations 0-80 mg/L. Morphological changes were observed by scanning electron microscope and the adverse effects such as fragmented nuclei, membrane damage, mitochondrial dysfunction was observed with fluorescence microscopy by staining with Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide and succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondrial bioenergetic enzyme).

Prussian blue caged in alginate/calcium beads as adsorbents for removal of cesium ions from contaminated water.

Prussian blue encapsulated in alginate beads reinforced with highly dispersed carbon nanotubes were prepared for the safe removal of cesium ions from aqueous solutions. Equilibrium and kinetic studies were conducted using different models and the goodness of mathematical fitting of the experimental data on the adsorption isotherms was in the order Langmuir>Freundlich, and that of the kinetic models were in the order of pseudo second order>pseudo first order. Fixed bed adsorption column analysis indicated that the beads can be used for large scale treatment of cesium contaminated water.

Phytotoxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on red spinach (Amaranthus tricolor L) and the role of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a novel nanomaterial with wide potential applications; however the adverse effects of CNTs following environmental exposure have recently received significant attention. Herein, we explore the systemic toxicity and potential influence of 0-1000 mg L(-1) the multi-walled CNTs on red spinach. The multi-walled CNTs exposed plants exhibited growth inhibition and cell death after 15 days of hydroponic culture.

Prussian blue caged in spongiform adsorbents using diatomite and carbon nanotubes for elimination of cesium.

We developed a spongiform adsorbent that contains Prussian blue, which showed a high capacity for eliminating cesium. An in situ synthesizing approach was used to synthesize Prussian blue inside diatomite cavities. Highly dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to form CNT networks that coated the diatomite to seal in the Prussian blue particles.

Graphene oxide adsorption enhanced by in situ reduction with sodium hydrosulfite to remove acridine orange from aqueous solution.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a highly effective adsorbent, and its absorbing capability is further enhanced through its in situ reduction with sodium hydrosulfite as the reductant. Acridine orange is the selected target to eliminate with GO as the adsorbent. Under identical conditions, GO without the in situ reduction showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.