A high-efficiency and long-cycling aqueous indium metal battery enabled by synergistic In/K interactions.

Aqueous trivalent metal batteries are promising options for energy storage, owing to their ability to transfer three electrons during redox reactions. However, advances in this field have been limited by challenges such as incompatible M/M electrode potentials and salt hydrolysis. Herein, we identify the trivalent indium metal as a viable candidate and demonstrate a high-performance indium-Prussian blue hybrid battery using a K/In mixture electrolyte.

Encapsulation Engineering of Sulfur into Magnesium Oxide for High Energy Density Li-S Batteries.

This study addresses the persistent challenge of polysulfide dissolution in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries by introducing magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles as a novel additive. MgO was integrated with sulfur using a scalable process involving solid-state melt diffusion treatment followed by planetary ball milling. XRD measurements confirmed that sulfur (S) retains its orthorhombic crystalline structure (space group Fddd) following the MgO incorporation, with minimal peak shifts indicating slight lattice distortion, while the increased peak intensity suggests enhanced crystallinity due to MgO acting as a nucleation site.

Unveiling BaTiO-SrTiO as Anodes for Highly Efficient and Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Amidst the swift expansion of the electric vehicle industry, the imperative for alternative battery technologies that balance economic feasibility with sustainability has reached unprecedented importance. Herein, we utilized Perovskite-based oxide compounds barium titanate (BaTiO) and strontium titanate (SrTiO) nanoparticles as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries from straightforward and standard carbonate-based electrolyte with 10% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive [1M LiPF (1:1 EC: DEC) + 10% FEC]. SrTiO and BaTiO electrodes can deliver a high specific capacity of 80 mA h g at a safe and low average working potential of ≈0.

Enhancing Electrochemical Performance of Si@CNT Anode by Integrating SrTiO Material for High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) has attracted worldwide attention for its ultrahigh theoretical storage capacity (4200 mA h g), low mass density (2.33 g cm), low operating potential (0.4 V vs.

Unveiling Potential of Gallium Ferrite (GaFeO) as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) serve as the backbone of modern technologies with ongoing efforts to enhance their performance and sustainability driving the exploration of new electrode materials. This study introduces a new type of alloy-conversion-based gallium ferrite (GFO: GaFeO) as a potential anode material for Li-ion battery applications. The GFO was synthesized by a one-step mechanochemistry-assisted solid-state method.

Geometry and Surface Area Optimization in Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Magnetic Properties.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are recognized for their potential in biomedical applications due to their distinctive physicochemical properties. This study investigates the synthesis of IONPs with various geometric morphologies-cubic, star-like, truncated icosahedron, and spherical-via thermal decomposition to enhance their utility in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeted drug delivery. X-ray diffraction analysis verified the FeO phase in all nanoparticles, illustrating the synthesis's efficacy.

Exploring Lead Zirconate Titanate, the Potential Advancement as an Anode for Li-Ion Batteries.

Graphite, widely adopted as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), faces challenges such as an unsustainable supply chain and sluggish rate capabilities. This emphasizes the urgent need to explore alternative anode materials for LIBs, aiming to resolve these challenges and drive the advancement of more efficient and sustainable battery technologies. The present research investigates the potential of lead zirconate titanate (PZT: PbZrTiO) as an anode material for LIBs.

Building a Rechargeable Voltaic Battery via Reversible Oxide Anion Insertion in Copper Electrodes.

Voltaic pile, the very first battery built by humanity in 1800, plays a seminal role in battery development history. However, the premature design leads to the inevitable copper ion dissolution issue, which dictates its primary battery nature. To address this issue, solid-state electrolytes, ion exchange membranes, and/or sophisticated electrolytes are widely utilized, leading to high costs and complicated cell configuration.

Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon-Based Quantum Dots and Doped Derivatives for Improved Andrographolide's Hydrophilicity in Drug Delivery Platforms.

Carbon-based quantum dots (CBQDs), sulfur-doped carbon-based quantum dots (S-CBQDs), and nitrogen-doped carbon-based quantum dots (N-CBQDs) have strong potential for drug delivery platforms. They were conjugated with andrographolide, a well-known hydrophobic drug, to study the concomitant changes in hydrophilicity. The interactions between these nanomaterials and the drug were studied by characterizing the optical and structural properties of the nanoparticles before and after coupling with the drug.

Trivalent Indium Metal as a High-Capacity, High-Efficiency, Low-Polarization, and Long-Cycling Anode for Aqueous Batteries.

Aqueous batteries using multivalent metals hold great promise for energy storage due to their low cost, high energy, and high safety. Presently, divalent metals (zinc, iron, nickel, and manganese) prevail as the leading choice, which, however, suffer from low Coulombic efficiency or dendrite growth. In stark contrast, trivalent metals have received rare attention despite their capability to unlock unique redox reactions.

Water treatment membranes embedded with a stable and bactericidal nanodiamond material.

Filtration has emerged as a critical technology to reduce waterborne diseases caused by poor water quality. Filtration technology presents key challenges, such as membrane selectivity, permeability and biofouling. Nanomaterials can offer solutions to these challenges by varying the membranes' mechanical and bactericidal properties.

Paramagnetism in Microwave-Synthesized Metal-Free Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots.

Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) have gained significant attention due to their various physical and chemical properties; however, there is a gap in the study of NGQDs' magnetic properties. This work adds to the efforts of bridging the gap by demonstrating the room temperature paramagnetism in GQDs doped with Nitrogen up to 3.26 at.

Holey Graphene/Ferroelectric/Sulfur Composite Cathodes for High-Capacity Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted considerable interest as next-generation high-density energy storage devices. However, their practical applications are limited by rapid capacity fading when cycling cells with high mass loading levels. This could be largely attributed to the inferior electron/ion conduction and the severe shuttling effect of soluble polysulfide species.

Block Copolymer-Assisted Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Effective Removal of Congo Red.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized via a block copolymer-assisted hydrothermal method and the phase purity and the crystal structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffractometer spectra shows the hexagonal phase symmetry of α-FeO. Further, the vibrational study suggests Raman active modes: 2A1g + 5Eg associated with α-FeO, which corroborates the Rietveld analysis and orbital analysis of 2PFe.

Graphene Film Growth on Silicon Carbide by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition.

The electrical properties of graphene on dielectric substrates, such as silicon carbide (SiC), have received much attention due to their interesting applications. This work presents a method to grow graphene on a 6H-SiC substrate at a pressure of 35 Torr by using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique. The graphene deposition was conducted in an atmosphere of methane and hydrogen at a temperature of 950 °C.

Graphene Growth Directly on SiO/Si by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition.

We report the first direct synthesis of graphene on SiO/Si by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. Graphene deposition was conducted at low pressures (35 Torr) with a mixture of methane/hydrogen and a substrate temperature of 970 °C followed by spontaneous cooling to room temperature. A thin copper-strip was deposited in the middle of the SiO/Si substrate as catalytic material.

Magnetic Control of the Manganese Photoluminescence in FeO/l-Cys ZnS:Mn Nanocomposites.

We investigated the magnetic control of the Mn photoluminescence (PL) in iron oxide/l-cysteine-capped zinc sulfide (FeO/l-cys ZnS:Mn) nanocomposites via temperature- and field-dependent PL intensity studies. FeO/l-cys ZnS:Mn was synthesized following a wet chemical deposition route and then its physicochemical, morphological, and magnetic properties were characterized. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the formation of a semiconducting composite material with coexisting phases with high crystalline quality and purity.

Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Radiation Therapy Efficacy using Silver Nanoprisms Decorated with Graphene as Radiosensitizers.

Metal nanoparticles have significant interaction cross-sections with electromagnetic waves due to their large surface area-to-volume ratio, which can be exploited in cancer radiotherapy to locally enhance the radiation dose deposition in tumors. We developed a new type of silver nanoparticle composite, PEGylated graphene quantum dot (GQD)-decorated Silver Nanoprisms (pGAgNPs), that show excellent in vitro intracellular uptake and radiosensitization in radiation-sensitive HCT116 and relatively radiation-resistant HT29 colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, following biodistribution analysis of intravenously injected nanoparticles in nude mice bearing HCT116 tumors radiosensitization was evaluated.

Synthesis, Characterization and Fabrication of Graphene/Boron Nitride Nanosheets Heterostructure Tunneling Devices.

Various types of 2D/2D prototype devices based on graphene (G) and boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) were fabricated to study the charge tunneling phenomenon pertinent to vertical transistors for digital and high frequency electronics. Specifically, G/BNNS/metal, G/SiO, and G/BNNS/SiO heterostructures were investigated under direct current (DC-bias) conditions at room temperature. Bilayer graphene and BNNS were grown separately and transferred subsequently onto the substrates to fabricate 2D device architectures.

Controlling the transverse proton relaxivity of magnetic graphene oxide.

The engineering of materials with controlled magnetic properties by means other than a magnetic field is of great interest in nanotechnology. In this study, we report engineered magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) in the nanocomposite form of iron oxide nanoparticles (IO)-graphene oxide (GO) with tunable core magnetism and magnetic resonance transverse relaxivity (r). These tunable properties are obtained by varying the IO content on GO.

T- and T-weighted Magnetic Resonance Dual Contrast by Single Core Truncated Cubic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Abrupt Cellular Internalization and Immune Evasion.

Conventional T- or T-weighted single mode contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may produce false results. Thereby, there is a need to develop dual contrast agents, T- and T-weighted, for more accurate MRI imaging. The dual contrast agents should possess high magnetic resonance (MR) relaxivities, targeted tumor linking, and minimum recognition by the immune system.

Graphene Oxide/ZnS:Mn Nanocomposite Functionalized with Folic Acid as a Nontoxic and Effective Theranostic Platform for Breast Cancer Treatment.

Nanoparticle-based cancer theranostic agents generally suffer of poor dispersability in biological media, re-agglomeration over time, and toxicity concerns. To address these challenges, we developed a nanocomposite consisting of chemically-reduced graphene oxide combined with manganese-doped zinc sulfide quantum dots and functionalized with folic acid (FA-rGO/ZnS:Mn). We studied the dispersion stability, Doxorubicin (DOX) loading and release efficiency, target specificity, internalization, and biocompatibility of FA-rGO/ZnS:Mn against folate-rich breast cancer cells, and compared to its uncoated counterpart (rGO/ZnS:Mn).

Enhanced MRI T Relaxivity in Contrast-Probed Anchor-Free PEGylated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs, ~11-nm cores) were PEGylated without anchoring groups and studied as efficient MRI T contrast agents (CAs). The ether group of PEG is efficiently and directly linked to the positively charged surface of SPIONs, and mediated through a dipole-cation covalent interaction. Anchor-free PEG-SPIONs exhibit a spin-spin relaxivity of 123 ± 6 mMs, which is higher than those of PEG-SPIONs anchored with intermediate biomolecules, iron oxide nanoworms, or Feridex.