A Star-Structured Polymer Electrolyte for Low-Temperature Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Solid-state polymer lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) have attracted considerable attention because of their excellent safety and high energy density. However, the application of SSLMBs is significantly impeded by uneven Li deposition at the interface between solid-state electrolytes and lithium metal anode, especially at a low temperature. Herein, this issue is addressed by designing an agarose-based solid polymer electrolyte containing branched structure.

Interfacial Compatibility of Core-Shell Cellulose Nanocrystals for Improving Dynamic Covalent Adaptable Networks' Fracture Resistance in Nanohybrid Vitrimer Composites.

The development of polymeric nanocomposites with dynamic covalent adaptable networks and biobased nanomaterials has been a promising approach toward sustainable advanced materials, enabling reprogramming and recycling capabilities. Herein, a core-shell nanohybrid of functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is explored to provide crucial interfacial compatibility for improving the covalent adaptable networks of epoxy-thiol vitrimers in fracture resistance. The poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) shells grafted from CNC surfaces can be cross-linked with the covalent adaptable networks via a hot-pressing transesterification process.

Preparation and characterization of attapulgite-supported phase change energy storage materials.

Phase change materials (PCMs) for the charge and discharge of thermal energy at a nearly constant temperature are of interest for thermal energy storage and management, and porous materials are usually used to support PCMs for preventing the liquid leakage and shape instability during the phase change process. Compared with commonly used polymer matrices and porous carbons, mineral materials with naturally occurring porous structures have obvious advantages such as cost-saving and abundant resources. Attapulgite (ATP) is a clay mineral with natural porous structures, which can be used to contain PCMs for thermal energy storage.

Ultrahigh Elastic Polymer Electrolytes for Solid-State Lithium Batteries with Robust Interfaces.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising for solid-state lithium batteries, but their practical application is significantly impeded by their low ionic conductivity and poor compatibility. Here, we report an ultrahigh elastic SPE based on cross-linked polyurethane (PU), succinonitrile (SN), and lithium bistrifluoromethanesulfonimide (LiTFSI). The resulting electrolyte (PU-SN-LiTFSI) exhibits an ionic conductivity of 2.

Stabilizing Lithium Metal Anodes by a Self-Healable and Li-Regulating Interlayer.

Lithium (Li) metal is a promising anode for high-energy-density batteries, but its practical applications are severely hindered by side reactions and dendrite growth at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Herein, we propose that the problems can be effectively solved by introducing an interlayer. The interlayer is composed of a trifluorophenyl-modified poly(ethylene imine) network cross-linked by dynamic imine bonding (PEI-3F).

Synthesis of Shape-Controllable Anisotropic Microparticles and "Walnut-like" Microparticles via Emulsion Interfacial Polymerization.

Anisotropic microparticles have plenty of applications for their asymmetric structure and precisely modified surface. In our research, the uniform anisotropic microparticles with benzyl chloride group were synthesized successfully via emulsion interfacial polymerization. By varying the degree of cross-linking and the concentration of slightly hydrophilic monomer 4-vinyl benzyl chloride (VBC), several types of microparticles with different concavities and different shapes of microparticles (hemisphere, bowl-like, egg-like, etc.

Self-Healable Hydrogel Electrolyte toward High-Performance and Reliable Quasi-Solid-State Zn-MnO Batteries.

Zinc-ion batteries are promising power sources, but their practical application is impeded by the Zn dendrite growth and side reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Here, we report that such issues can be effectively addressed by a self-healable hydrogel electrolyte. The electrolyte is comprised of carboxyl-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) cross-linked by COO-Fe bonding in the presence of Zn(NO) and MnSO.

Fast Healable Superhydrophobic Material.

Self-healability is a crucial feature for developing artificial superhydrophobic surfaces. Although self-healing of microscopic defects has been reported, the restoration of severely damaged superhydrophobic surfaces remains a technological challenge. Here, we report a robust superhydrophobic surface possessing ultrafast recoverability after catastrophic damage.

Surface-engineered vanadium nitride nanosheets for an imaging-guided photothermal/photodynamic platform of cancer treatment.

Of the many strategies for precise tumor treatment, near-infrared (NIR) light-activated "one-for-all" theranostic modality with real-time diagnosis and therapy has attracted extensive attention from researchers. Herein, a brand-new theranostic nanoplatform was established on versatile vanadium nitride (VN) nanosheets, which show significant NIR optical absorption, and resultant photothermal effect and reactive oxygen species activity under NIR excitation, thereby realizing the synergistic action of photothermal/photodynamic co-therapy. As expected, systematic in vitro and in vivo antitumor evaluations demonstrated efficient cancer cell killing and solid tumor removal without recurrence.

Sodium Hyaluronate: A Versatile Polysaccharide toward Intrinsically Self-Healable Energy-Storage Devices.

Self-healability is an attractive feature for next-generation energy-storage devices aiming at flexible/wearable electronics. However, realizing self-healability usually involves complicated molecular design and synthetic processes. Here, we demonstrate that sodium hyaluronate (SH), a kind of natural polysaccharide, can be used as a versatile polymer to facile fabricate intrinsically self-healable energy-storage devices.

Controlled Movement of a Smart Miniature Submarine at Various Interfaces.

Smart miniaturized aquatic devices have many important applications, but their locomotion at different interfaces remains a challenge. Here, we report a smart miniaturized submarine moving at various air/liquid or oil/water interfaces. The microsubmarine is fabricated by a CO-responsive superhydrophobic copper mesh and is driven by the Marangoni effect.

Rationally Designed Self-Healing Hydrogel Electrolyte toward a Smart and Sustainable Supercapacitor.

Excellent self-healability and renewability are crucial for the development of wearable/flexible energy-storage devices aiming for advanced personalized electronics. However, realizing low-temperature self-healing and harmless regeneration remains a big challenge for existing wearable/flexible energy-storage devices, which is fundamentally limited by conventional polymeric electrolytes that are intrinsically neither cryo-healable nor renewable. Here, we rationally design a multifunctional polymer electrolyte on the basis of the copolymer of vinylimidazole and hydroxypropyl acrylate, which exhibits all features solving the above-mentioned limitations.

Pd(II)/Bipyridine-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids. Synthesis of β-Quaternary Carbons Substituted Carboxylic Acids.

Pd(II)/bipyridine-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids (including β,β-disubstituted acrylic acids) was developed and optimized, which provided a mild and convenient method for the highly challenging synthesis of β-quaternary carbons substituted carboxylic acids.

Self-Healable and Cold-Resistant Supercapacitor Based on a Multifunctional Hydrogel Electrolyte.

Excellent self-healability and cold resistance are attractive properties for a portable/wearable energy-storage device. However, achieving the features is fundamentally dependent on an intrinsically self-healable electrolyte with high ionic conduction at low temperature. Here we report such a hydrogel electrolyte comprising sodium alginate cross-linked by dynamic catechol-borate ester bonding.

Remote Manipulation of a Microdroplet in Water by Near-Infrared Laser.

Facile manipulation of a tiny liquid droplet is an important but challenging issue for many miniaturized chemical and biological systems. Here we report that a microdroplet can be readily and remotely manipulated in aqueous environments under ambient conditions. The droplet is encapsulated with photothermal nanoparticles to form a liquid marble, and subsequently irradiated with a near-infrared (NIR) laser.

3D Graphene Functionalized by Covalent Organic Framework Thin Film as Capacitive Electrode in Alkaline Media.

To harness the electroactivity of anthraquinone as an electrode material, a great recent effort have been invested to composite anthraquinone with carbon materials to improve the conductivity. Here we report on a noncovalent way to modify three-dimensional graphene with anthraquinone moieties through on-surface synthesis of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks. We incorporate 2,6-diamino-anthraquinone moieties into COF through Schiff-base reaction with benzene-1,3,5-tricarbaldehyde.

A smart "strider" can float on both water and oils.

Aquatic devices that can work on both water and oils have great scientific and practical significance, but the challenge remains in developing novel materials with excellent repellence to both water and oils. Here, we report that an artificial "strider" can float on both water and oils by using supporting legs with ultraviolet (UV) switchable wettability. The legs were fabricated by immobilizing TiO2 nanoparticles and n-dodecanethiol onto copper foams via a simple mussel-inspired process.

Bubble-induced transport of oil droplets in water.

An oil droplet wrapped with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafted nanoparticles can ascend or descend in water repeatedly by simply tuning the temperature of water above or below 33 °C, while avoiding the use of sophisticated equipment and complex nanostructures.

Constructing robust liquid marbles for miniaturized synthesis of graphene/Ag nanocomposite.

Miniaturized synthesis is attracting much attention due to many potential applications; a challenge remains in exploring versatile microreactors capable of producing pure products. In this study, we reported a kind of thermally robust liquid marbles and their application for miniaturized synthesis of graphene/Ag nanocomposite. The liquid marbles were constructed by using superhydrophobic Fe3O4/C microsheets as encapsulating agents.

Cobalt-catalyzed cyclization of carbon monoxide, imine, and epoxide.

Cobalt-catalyzed cyclization of CO, imine, and epoxide has been developed. A convenient catalyst system composed of Co2(CO)8 and LiCl is identified, and the substrate scope has been explored. The reaction provides an efficient method for the synthesis of substituted 1,3-oxazinan-4-ones.

Mussel-inspired direct immobilization of nanoparticles and application for oil-water separation.

Immobilization of various nanoparticles onto complex 2D or 3D macroscopic surface is an important issue for nanotechnology, but the challenge remains to explore a facile, general and environmentally friendly method for achieving this goal. Taking inspiration from the adhesion of marine mussels, we reported here that oxide nanoparticles of different compositions and sizes were directly and robustly anchored on the surface of monolithic foams ranging from polymer to metals in an aqueous solution of dopamine. The effective immobilization of the nanoparticles was strongly dependent on the oxidation of dopamine, which could be tuned by either pH or by adding n-dodecanethiol.

Versatile fabrication of ultralight magnetic foams and application for oil-water separation.

Ultralow-density (<10 mg cm(-3)) materials have many important technological applications; however, most of them were fabricated using either expensive materials or complicated procedures. In this study, ultralight magnetic Fe2O3/C, Co/C, and Ni/C foams (with a density <5 mg cm(-3)) were fabricated on the centimeter scale by pyrolyzing commercial polyurethane sponge grafted with polyelectrolyte layers based on the corresponding metal acrylate at 400 °C. The ultralight foams consisted of 3D interconnected hollow tubes that have a diameter of micrometer and nanoscale wall thickness, forming hierarchical structures from macroscopic to nanometer length scales.

Cloud point-dispersive μ-solid phase extraction of hydrophobic organic compounds onto highly hydrophobic core-shell Fe₂O₃@C magnetic nanoparticles.

A novel two-step extraction technique combining cloud point extraction (CPE) with dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) is presented in this work for the first time. The method involves initial extraction of the target analytes by CPE in the micelles of a non-ionic surfactant medium; then highly hydrophobic polysiloxane-coated core-shell Fe(2)O(3)@C magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are used to retrieve the micellar phase. In that manner, the micellar phase containing the analytes is the target of the D-μ-SPE step rather than the analytes directly.

Why superhydrophobicity is crucial for a water-jumping microrobot? Experimental and theoretical investigations.

This study reported for the first time a novel microrobot that could continuously jump on the water surface without sinking, imitating the excellent aquatic locomotive behaviors of a water strider. The robot consisted of three supporting legs and two actuating legs made from superhydrophobic nickel foam and a driving system that included a miniature direct-current motor and a reduction gear unit. In spite of weighing 11 g, the microrobot jumped 14 cm high and 35 cm long at each leap.