Design and synthesis of hierarchical NiO/NiVO nanoplatelet arrays with enhanced lithium storage properties.

Hierarchical NiO/NiVO nanoplatelet arrays (NPAs) grown on Ti foil were prepared as free-standing anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) a simple one-step hydrothermal approach followed by thermal treatment to enhance Li storage performance. Compared to the bare NiO, the fabricated NiO/NiVO NPAs exhibited significantly enhanced electrochemical performances with superior discharge capacity (1169.3 mA h g at 200 mA g), excellent cycling stability (570.

Annealing and Stretching Induced High Energy Storage Properties in All-Organic Composite Dielectric Films.

High discharged energy density and charge⁻discharge efficiency, in combination with high electric breakdown strength, maximum electric displacement and low residual displacement, are very difficult to simultaneously achieve in single-component polymer dielectrics. Plenty of researches have reported polymer based composite dielectrics filled with inorganic fillers, through complex surface modification of inorganic fillers to improve interface compatibility. In this work, a novel strategy of introducing environmentally-friendly biological polyester into fluoropolymer matrix has been presented to prepare all-organic polymer composites with desirable high energy storage properties by solution cast process (followed by annealing or stretching post-treatment), in order to simplify the preparation steps and lower the cost.

Superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings with photoinitiated three-dimensional networks based on reactive graphene nanosheet-induced self-wrinkling patterned surfaces.

Hypothesis: Bionic superhydrophobicity including high contact angle, low sliding angle and nonstick property, combined with both strong pH and ultraviolet (UV) resistance, is difficult to simultaneously achieve for large-scale preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces by blending polymer with a nonreactive inorganic nanofiller.

Experiments: A series of high pH and UV-irradiation-resistant superhydrophobic nanocomposite films were prepared through UV-light-assisted chemical cross-linking among ternary components under nitrogen protection. Ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate, 2-(perfluorooctyl) ethyl acrylate, reactive thiol-coupled graphene nanosheets and photoinitiator were evenly mixed, followed by UV-irradiation curing.

Cytocompatibility of TiAlC, TiSiC, and TiAlN: Tests and First-Principles Calculations.

Herein, the cytocompatibility of selected MAX phases, TiAlC, TiSiC, and TiAlN, were systematically evaluated using tests for the first time. These phases were anoxic to preosteoblasts and fibroblasts. Compared with the strong viable fibroblasts, the different cellular responses of these materials were clearly distinguishable for the preosteoblasts.

Photoluminescent Ti C MXene Quantum Dots for Multicolor Cellular Imaging.

The fabrication of photoluminescent Ti C MXene quantum dots (MQDs) by a facile hydrothermal method is reported, which may greatly extend the applications of MXene-based materials. Interestingly, the as-prepared MQDs show excitation-dependent photoluminescence spectra with quantum yields of up to ≈10% due to strong quantum confinement. The applications of MQDs as biocompatible multicolor cellular imaging probes and zinc ion sensors are demonstrated.

Loading Actinides in Multilayered Structures for Nuclear Waste Treatment: The First Case Study of Uranium Capture with Vanadium Carbide MXene.

Efficient nuclear waste treatment and environmental management are important hurdles that need to be overcome if nuclear energy is to become more widely used. Herein, we demonstrate the first case of using two-dimensional (2D) multilayered V2CTx nanosheets prepared by HF etching of V2AlC to remove actinides from aqueous solutions. The V2CTx material is found to be a highly efficient uranium (U(VI)) sorbent, evidenced by a high uptake capacity of 174 mg g(-1), fast sorption kinetics, and desirable selectivity.

[Strength of bi-layer dental ceramic evaluated by MSP testing].

Objective: To evaluate strength of bi-layer alumina/Y-TZP specimens, compared with 3-point bending test and to estimate the reliability of MSP testing used in dental ceramics.

Methods: The single-layer/bi-layer alumina/Y-TZP specimens were produced by the clinical methods. Strength of these specimens was determined by MSP testing and 3-point bending test respectively.