Prospects of Band Structure Engineering in MXenes for Active Switching MXetronics: Computational Insights and Experimental Approaches.

MXenes, two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides, have shown promise in a variety of applications. The use of MXenes in active electronic devices is restricted to electrode materials due to their metallic nature. However, MXenes can be modified to be semiconducting and can be used for next-generation channel materials.

An all-graphene quantum dot Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probe for ratiometric detection of HE4 ovarian cancer biomarker.

Ovarian cancer (OVC), the most lethal form of all gynecological cancers, is a big threat to women's health. Late diagnosis at the advanced stages is one of the major reasons for the ovarian cancer-related deaths. Conventionally, the up-regulated proteins CA125 (cancer antigen 125) and HE4 (human epididymis protein 4) are used as biomarkers to diagnose the OVC malignancies.

Insight into the photophysics of strong dual emission (blue & green) producing graphene quantum dot clusters and their application towards selective and sensitive detection of trace level Fe and Cr ions.

Graphene-nanostructured systems, such as graphene quantum dots (GQDs), are well known for their interesting light-emitting characteristics and are being applied to a variety of luminescence-based applications. The emission properties of GQDs are complex. Therefore, understanding the science of the photophysics of coupled quantum systems (like quantum clusters) is still challenging.

Rapid and Targeted Photoactivation of Ca Channels Mediated by Squaraine To Regulate Intracellular and Intercellular Signaling Processes.

As an important cellular signal transduction messenger, Ca has the capability to regulate cell function and control many biochemical processes, including metabolism, gene expression, and cell survival and death. Here, we introduce an accessible method for the photoactivation of Ca channels mediated by squaraine (SQ) to rapidly induce cellular Ca release and activate signal transduction. With a short preparation time, the maximum Ca concentration increase could reach approximately 450% in 30 s, resulting from marked Ca release channel opening in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Highly Responsive Ultraviolet Sensor Based on ZnS Quantum Dot Solid with Enhanced Photocurrent.

Detection of visible blind UV radiation is not only interesting but also of technologically important. Herein, we demonstrate the efficient detection of UV radiation by using cluster like ZnS quantum dot solid nanostructures prepared by simple reflux condensation technique. The short-chain ligand 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) involved in the synthesis lead to the cluster like formation of ZnS quantum dots into solids upon prolonged synthesis conditions.

Fabrication of g-CN Nanomesh-Anchored Amorphous NiCoPO: Tuned Cycling Life and the Dynamic Behavior of a Hybrid Capacitor.

Developing a novel electrode material with better electrochemical behavior and extended cyclability is a major issue in the field of hybrid capacitors. In this work, we propose a novel strategy for the facile synthesis of nickel-cobalt pyrophosphate nanoparticles anchored on graphitic carbon nitride (NiCoPO/g-CN) via the simple solvothermal method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the uniform anchoring of NiCoPO nanocomposite on g-CN nanosheets.

Graphene Quantum Dot Solid Sheets: Strong blue-light-emitting & photocurrent-producing band-gap-opened nanostructures.

Graphene has been studied intensively in opto-electronics, and its transport properties are well established. However, efforts to induce intrinsic optical properties are still in progress. Herein, we report the production of micron-sized sheets by interconnecting graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are termed 'GQD solid sheets', with intrinsic absorption and emission properties.