Flexible Janus Black Silicon Photothermal Conversion Membranes for Highly Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Water Purification.

Photothermal conversion materials are critical in the development of solar-driven interfacial evaporation techniques; however, achieving a high energy conversion efficiency remains challenging owing to the high cost and instability of light-absorbing materials, in addition to the difficulties of simultaneously improving light absorption while suppressing heat loss. A black silicon (Si) powder with a porous structure was prepared by chemical etching of a low-cost commercial micron-sized Al-Si alloy, and a flexible Janus black Si photothermal conversion membrane was constructed. The partially broken spherical particles and porous structure obtained after etching enhanced the refraction of light from the Si powder, imparting the prepared membrane with an average light absorption rate of 95.

Facile Electrochemical Microbiosensor Based on Self-Assembly of Ag Nanoparticles Coated on TiCT for Measurements of Chloride Ions in the PD Mouse Brain.

Chloride ion (Cl), one of the most important anions in the brain, has been confirmed to participate in the pathological process of Parkinson's disease (PD). As such, the development of a reliable method for measurements of Cl is extremely appealing, especially for understanding the pathogenesis of PD. We herein designed a facile electrochemical microbiosensor (ECMB), based on self-assembly of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) coated on TiCT.

Polymerization inspired synthesis of MnO@carbon nanowires with long cycling stability for lithium ion battery anodes: growth mechanism and electrochemical performance.

Manganese-based transition metal oxides are regarded as one kind of high capacity and low cost anode material for Li-ion batteries. To overcome the challenges of poor electrical conductivity and large volumetric expansion during the charging-discharging process of MnO, we here synthesize MnO@carbon (MnO@C) nanowires via the polymerization inspired in situ growth of [Mn-NTA] (NTA = nitrilotriacetic acid) precursor nanowires with a subsequent heat treatment process. The growth mechanism of [Mn-NTA] precursor nanowires was studied.