Photocatalytic reduction of o-chloronitrobenzene under visible light irradiation over CdS quantum dot sensitized TiO2.

The photocatalytic activity of CdS/P25 hybrid catalysts was studied under visible-light irradiation. The CdS quantum dots sensitized P25 (CdS QDs-P25) showed extremely enhanced activity in the reduction of o-chloronitrobenzene (o-CNB) by comparing to CdS-P25 prepared by the direct deposition-precipitation method in the presence of HCOOH. The synergistic effects between CdS QDs and P25 were beneficial for the separation of photogenerated carriers in space and thus the combination of photoelectrons and holes was prevented, and the CdS QDs could provide more photocharges than CdS due to the particle size effect.

Embedding NiCo2O4 nanoparticles into a 3DHPC assisted by CO2-expanded ethanol: a potential lithium-ion battery anode with high performance.

A high-performance anode material, NiCo2O4/3DHPC composite, for lithium-ion batteries was developed through direct nanoparticles nucleation on a three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon (3DHPC) matrix and cation substitution of spinel Co3O4 nanoparticles. It was synthesized via a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) expanded ethanol solution-assisted deposition method combined with a subsequent heat-treatment process. The NiCo2O4 nanoparticles were uniformly embedded into the porous carbon matrix and efficiently avoided free-growth in solution or aggregation in the pores even at a high content of 55.

Glucose-sensitive colorimetric sensor based on peroxidase mimics activity of porphyrin-Fe3O4 nanocomposites.

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin-functionalized Fe3O4 nanocomposites (H2TCPP-Fe3O4) were successfully prepared by a simple two-step method. These nanocomposites exhibited ultra-high peroxidase-like activity compared with pure Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Colorless peroxidase substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) was changed by H2O2 to its blue oxidized state.

Supercritical carbon dioxide assisted deposition of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles on hierarchical porous carbon and their lithium-storage performance.

A composite of highly dispersed Fe3 O4 nanoparticles (NPs) anchored in three-dimensional hierarchical porous carbon networks (Fe3 O4 /3DHPC) as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) was prepared by means of a deposition technique assisted by a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2 )-expanded ethanol solution. The as-synthesized Fe3 O4 /3DHPC composite exhibits a bimodal porous 3D architecture with mutually connected 3.7 nm mesopores defined in the macroporous wall on which a layer of small and uniform Fe3 O4 NPs was closely coated.

Self-assembly into temperature dependent micro-/nano-aggregates of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyl phenyl)-porphyrin.

Various nanostructures of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyl phenyl)-porphyrin (H2TCPP) can be easily synthesized by a surfactant-assisted self-assembly (SAS) method at different temperatures. When the DMF solution of porphyrin monomer was injected into cetyltimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) aqueous solution by a syringe, diverse H2TCPP nanostructures dependent on the different temperatures, including hollow nanospheres, solid nanospheres and nanospheres with holes, were successfully obtained. As a result, the suitable concentration of the CTAB aqueous solution used to form nanostructues of porphyrin ranges from 0.

Trace amounts of water-induced distinct growth behaviors of NiO nanostructures on graphene in CO2-expanded ethanol and their applications in lithium-ion batteries.

In this work, we have developed a new method to grow NiO nanomaterials on the surface of graphene nanosheets (GNSs). The morphologies of NiO nanomaterials grown on GNSs could be tailored by trace amounts of water introduced into the mixed solvents of CO2-expanded ethanol (CE). Small and uniform Ni-salt nanoparticles (Ni-salt-NPs) were grown on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) through the decomposition of nickel nitrate directly in CE.

A highly selective and sensitive nanoprobe for detection and imaging of the superoxide anion radical in living cells.

A novel fluorescent nanoprobe with high sensitivity and selectivity for detection and imaging of the superoxide anion radical O(2)(·-) in living cells was designed and synthesized by a simple self-assembly method based on 2-chloro-1,3-dibenzothiazoline-cyclohexene (DBZTC) and Ag@SiO(2) core-shell nanoparticles.

Simultaneous detection of intracellular tumor mRNA with bi-color imaging based on a gold nanoparticle/molecular beacon.

The successful treatment of most cancers depends on early detection. Tumor mRNA as a specific marker provides new avenues to monitor tumor progression in the early stages and assesses response to treatment. However, single tumor mRNA testing usually yields "false positive" results because cancer is associated with multiple tumor mRNA.

Study on the photoluminescence character of water-soluble CdSe nanocrystals under ambient conditions.

Water soluble, thioglycolic acid (TGA) modified CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) have been prepared in aqueous media by the reaction between Cd2+ and NaHSe. Although initially these quantum dots (QDs) display photoluminescence (PL) with very low quantum yields (QY), upon prolonged exposure to ambient light, a strong PL enhancement by illumination is observed which leads to water soluble QDs with high luminescence. This result may have important application potential in biological or other fields.

A highly selective, cell-permeable fluorescent nanoprobe for ratiometric detection and imaging of peroxynitrite in living cells.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) is a highly reactive species implicated in the pathology of numerous diseases and there is currently great interest in developing fluorescent probes that can selectively detect ONOO(-) in living cells. Herein, a polymeric micelle-based and cell-penetrating peptide-coated fluorescent nanoprobe that incorporates ONOO(-) indicator dye and reference dye for the ratiometric detection and imaging of ONOO(-) has been developed. The nanoprobe effectively avoids the influences from enzymatic reaction and high-concentration ·OH and ClO(-).

A tumor mRNA-dependent gold nanoparticle-molecular beacon carrier for controlled drug release and intracellular imaging.

We demonstrate a tumor mRNA-dependent drug carrier for controlled release of doxorubicin (Dox) and intracellular imaging based on gold nanoparticle-molecular beacon. Fluorescent Dox is released effectively and induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells but not in normal cells. Significantly, the release of Dox is correlated positively with the quantities of tumor mRNA, which is according to various stages of tumor progression, and so can decrease effectively side effects of Dox.

A tumor mRNA-mediated bi-photosensitizer molecular beacon as an efficient imaging and photosensitizing agent.

A bi-photosensitizer molecular beacon (bi-PS MB) is assembled by coupling two PS molecules, respectively, onto the opposite ends of a single MB. The MB can be triggered by a tumor marker-survivin mRNA. Fluorescence and cytotoxic (1)O(2) generation occur effectively in breast cancer cells, but not in normal cells.

Hierarchically nanoporous ceria nanoparticles with a high-surface area: synthesis, characterization, and their catalytic activity.

A redox route based on ethylene glycol mediated process was developed to synthesize hierarchically nanoporpous ceria nanoparticles (ceria HNPNPs). The synthesized ceria HNPNPs are composed of building blocks fabricated with cubic ceria nanocrystals of several nanometers in diameter. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to investigate the evolution process of ceria precursor, and a two-step growth process was suggested for the morphology evolution.

Microcrystalline sodium tungsten bronze nanowire bundles as efficient visible light-responsive photocatalysts.

Microcrystalline sodium tungsten bronze nanowire bundles were obtained via a facile hydrothermal synthesis, and were applied in water purification as visible-light-driven photocatalysts for the first time.

Direct electrochemistry of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on the layered calcium carbonate-gold nanoparticles inorganic hybrid composite.

A mediator-free hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) biosensor was fabricated based on immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on layered calcium carbonate-gold nanoparticles (CaCO(3)-AuNPs) inorganic hybrid composite. The proposed biosensor showed a strong electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H(2)O(2), which could be attributed to the favored orientation of HRP in the well-confined surface as well as the high electrical conductivity of the resulting CaCO(3)-AuNPs inorganic hybrid composite. The hybrid composite was obtained by the adsorption of AuNPs onto the surfaces of layered CaCO(3) through electrostatic interaction.

A novel assembly of Au NPs-beta-CDs-FL for the fluorescent probing of cholesterol and its application in blood serum.

A novel assembly of Au NPs-beta-CDs-FL for the fluorescent probing of cholesterol (Cho) is provided. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) possessing a high extinction coefficient function can be used as excellent fluorescent quenchers in Au NP-fluorophore composites. Inclusion of fluorescein (FL) into beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) makes fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) occur through the donor and quencher nearby.

A new nanobiosensor for glucose with high sensitivity and selectivity in serum based on fluorescence resonance Energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe quantum dots and Au nanoparticles.

A novel assembled nanobiosensor QDs-ConA-beta-CDs-AuNPs was designed for the direct determination of glucose in serum with high sensitivity and selectivity. The sensing approach is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe quantum dots (QDs) as an energy donor and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as an energy acceptor. The specific combination of concanavalin A (ConA)-conjugated QDs and thiolated beta-cyclodextrins (beta-SH-CDs)-modified AuNPs assembles a hyperefficient FRET nanobiosensor.

Probing hydroxyl radicals and their imaging in living cells by use of FAM-DNA-Au nanoparticles.

The incorporation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as quencher modules in fluorescent probes for DNA damage caused by intracellular hydroxyl radicals (HO*) is reported. Au NPs of 15 nm diameter were decorated with DNA oligomers terminating in thiol functions in their 3' positions and possessing 5' fluorophore modifications. The Au NPs, which have high extinction coefficients, functioned as excellent fluorescent quenchers in the fluorophore-Au NP composites.

One-dimensional hierarchical layered KxMnO2 (x < 0.3) nanoarchitectures: synthesis, characterization, and their magnetic properties.

One-dimensional (1D) hierarchical nanostructures of ultralong layered K(x)MnO(2) (x < 0.3) bundles with diameters 50-100 nm and lengths up to 50-100 microm have been successfully prepared by a PEG-assisted hydrothermal method based on the reaction of KMnO(4) with 2-ethylhexanol. The obtained samples ascribe to the monoclinic phase and exhibit ferromagnetic behaviors below 32 K and paramagnetic behaviors above 32 K, which may make this system a promising base material for magnetic devices.

Facile route to alpha-FeOOH and alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods and magnetic property of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods.

alpha-FeOOH nanorods with diameters of 15-25 nm and lengths up to 170-300 nm were synthesized in high yield via a facile and template-free hydrothermal method at low temperature. After calcining the as-synthesized alpha-FeOOH at 250 degrees C for 2 h, we could obtain alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods. Interestingly, the as-obtained alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods exhibited weakly ferromagnetic characteristics at low temperature and superparamagnetic property at room temperature, which is different from the behavior of the corresponding bulk material.

Novel dandelion-like beta-manganese dioxide microstructures and their magnetic properties.

Single-crystalline dandelion-like β-MnO(2) three-dimensional microstructures have been successfully prepared for the first time via a simple hydrothermal process based on the direct reaction between Mn(NO(3))(2) and H(2)O(2). H(2)O(2) plays an important role in the formation of the dandelion-like morphology. The formation mechanism of the dandelion-like nanostructures was investigated and discussed based on the experimental results.

Highly luminescent water-soluble CdTe nanowires as fluorescent probe to detect copper(II).

Highly luminescent water-soluble CdTe nanowires synthesized in one step were used to detect copper(II) selectively below 0.078 microM in the presence of other physiologically relevant cations.

A surfactant-free route to single-crystalline CeO2 nanowires.

A surfactant-free route was successfully established to synthesize CeO2 single-crystalline nanowires using H2O2 as oxidizer and template agent.

Hydrothermal synthesis of ultralong and single-crystalline Cd(OH)2 nanowires using alkali salts as mineralizers.

Ultralong and single-crystalline Cd(OH)(2) nanowires were fabricated by a hydrothermal method using alkali salts as mineralizers. The morphology and size of the final products strongly depend on the effects of the alkali salts (e.g.