Facile synthesis of Ir-based high-entropy alloy nanomaterials for efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis.

High-entropy alloy (HEA) nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst to overcome the existing issues of the sluggish reaction kinetics and poor stability. In this study, IrRuCoCuNi HEA three-dimensional-nanoframeworks (3DNF) are prepared using a scalable approach-the spray-drying technique combined with thermal decomposition reduction (SD-TDR). The optimized catalyst, IrRuCoCuNi, demonstrates superior OER performance, with an overpotential of 264 mV at 10 mA cm and a Tafel slope of 47 mV dec, considerably surpassing the catalytic activity of commercial IrO.

Organic nano carbon source inducing 3D silica nanoparticles-graphene nanosheet layer on Cu current collector for high-performance anode-free lithium metal batteries.

Anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLBs) have attracted considerable attention due to their high theoretical specific capacity and absence of Li. However, the heterogeneous Li deposition and stripping on the lithiophobic Cu collector hamper AFLBs in practice. To achieve a uniform and reversible Li deposition, a carbon-based layer on the Cu collector has attracted intense interest due to its high conductivity.

Revelation of adhesive proteins affecting cellular contractility through reference-free traction force microscopy.

Over the past few decades, the critical role played by cellular contractility associated mechanotransduction in the regulation of cell functions has been revealed. In this case, numerous biomaterials have been chemically or structurally designed to manipulate cell behaviors through the regulation of cellular contractility. In particular, adhesive proteins including fibronectin, poly-L-lysine and collagen type I have been widely applied in various biomaterials to improve cell adhesion.

Copious Dislocations Defect in Amorphous/Crystalline/Amorphous Sandwiched Structure P-NiMoO Electrocatalyst toward Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The design and synthesis of efficient, inexpensive, and long-term stable heterostructured electrocatalysts with high-density dislocations for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media and seawater are still a great challenge. An amorphous/crystalline/amorphous sandwiched structure with abundant dislocations were synthesized through thermal phosphidation strategies. The dislocations play an important role in the hydrogen evolution reactions.

Porous N-Doped Carbon Decorated with Atomically Dispersed Independent Dual Metal Sites from Energetic Zeolite Imidazolate Frameworks as Bidirectional Catalysts for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity and energy density, which are considered to be very promising energy storage devices. However, the slow redox kinetics of polysulfides are the main reason for the rapid capacity decay of Li-S batteries. A reasonable electrocatalyst for the Li-S battery should reduce the reaction barrier and accelerate the reaction kinetics of the bidirectional catalytic conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), thereby reducing the cumulative concentration of LiPSs in the electrolyte.

Three-dimensional carbon network-supported black phosphorus-cobalt heterojunctions: An efficient electrocatalyst for high-rate oxygen evolution.

Black phosphorus (BP), as a burgeoning two-dimensional material, has shown good electrocatalytic activity due to its unique electronic structure and abundant active sites.However, the presence of lone pair electrons in black phosphorus leads to its poor stability and rapid degradation in an oxygen/water environment, which greatly limits its practical application. Herein, BP-Co heterojunctions were synthesized on carbon nanotube@nitrogen-doped carbon (BP-Co/CNT@NC) by the pyrolysis of ZnCo-zeolitic imidazolate frameworks and subsequent solvothermal treatment.

Sulfur-deficient MoS-carbon hollow nanospheres for synergistic trapping and electrocatalytic conversion of polysulfides.

Lithium-sulfur battery is one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems, but the serious shuttle effect and sluggish reaction kinetics of polysulfides impair its practical applications. Herein, sulfur-deficient MoS/carbon hollow nanospheres (MoS-CHNs) are firstly synthesized by a NaCl-template pyrolysis and employed as sulfur host for lithium-sulfur batteries. TEM analysis reveals that carbon hollow nanospheres existing in the composite are the backbones that help to immobilize the ultrathin MoS nanosheets and ensure their large specific surface area.

Promotion of Melanoma Cell Proliferation by Cyclic Straining through Regulatory Morphogenesis.

The genotype and phenotype of acral melanoma are obviously different from UV-radiation-induced melanoma. Based on the clinical data, mechanical stimulation is believed to be a potential cause of acral melanoma. In this case, it is desirable to clarify the role of mechanical stimulation in the progression of acral melanoma.

Chemical Energy-Driven Lithiation Preparation of Defect-Rich Transition Metal Nanostructures for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Transition metal nanostructures are widely regarded as important catalysts to replace the precious metal Pt for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water splitting. However, it is difficult to obtain uniform-sized and ultrafine metal nanograins through general high-temperature reduction and sintering processes. Herein, a novel method of chemical energy-driven lithiation is introduced to synthesize transition metal nanostructures.

Multifunctional Protection Layers via a Self-Driven Chemical Reaction To Stabilize Lithium Metal Anodes.

The Li metal anode is considered one of the most potential anodes due to its highest theoretical specific capacity and the lowest redox potential. However, the scalable preparation of safe Li anodes remains a challenge. In the present study, a LiF-rich protection layer has been developed using self-driven chemical reactions between the LiLaTiO/polyvinylidene fluoride/dimethylacetamide (LLTO/PVDF/DMAc) solution and the Li metal.

Mo/P Dual-Doped Co/Oxygen-Deficient CoO Core-Shell Nanorods Supported on Ni Foam for Electrochemical Overall Water Splitting.

The exploration for low-cost bifunctional materials for highly efficient overall water splitting has drawn profound research attention. Here, we present a facile preparation of Mo-P dual-doped Co/oxygen-deficient CoO core-shell nanorods as a highly efficient electrocatalyst. In this strategy, oxygen vacancies are first generated in CoO nanorods by lithium reduction at room temperature, which endows the materials with bifunctional characteristics of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Organic molecule confinement reaction for preparation of the Sn nanoparticles@graphene anode materials in Lithium-ion battery.

Sn@Graphene composites as anode materials in Lithium-ion batteries have attracted intensive interest due to the inherent high capacity. On the other side, the high atomic ratio (LiSn) induces the pulverization of the electrode with cycling. Thus, suppressing pulverization by designing the structure of the materials is an essential key for improving cyclability.

Multidrug-loaded electrospun micro/nanofibrous membranes: Fabrication strategies, release behaviors and applications in regenerative medicine.

Electrospun micro/nanofibrous membranes (EFMs) have been widely investigated as local drug delivery systems. Multiple drugs can be simultaneously incorporated into one EFM to create synergistic effects, reduce side effects, and play their respective roles in the complex physiological processes of tissue regeneration and postoperative adhesion prevention. Due to the versatile electrospinning techniques, sustained and programmed release behaviors of multiple drugs could be achieved by modulating the structure of the EFMs and the location of the drugs.

Tuning the Band Structure of MoS CoS@MoS Core-Shell Structure to Boost Catalytic Activity for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The introduction of a dual-functional interlayer into lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) provides many opportunities for restraining the "shuttle effect" and enhancing sluggish sulfur conversion kinetics. Tuning the band structure of the metal sulfide provides an opportunity to enhance its catalytic activity, which plays an important role in suppressing the "shuttle effect" of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in LSBs. Here were present a CoS@MoS core-shell heterostructure anchored to a carbon nanofiber (CoS@MoS/CNF), developed as an interlayer for suppressing the shuttle effect of LiPSs.

Production of lipophilic nanogels by spontaneous emulsification.

Nanosized gel particles, so-called nanogels, have attracted substantial interest in different application fields, thanks to their controllable and three-dimensional physical structure, good mechanical properties and potential biocompatibility. Literature reports many technologies for their preparation and design, however a recurrent limitation remains in their broad size distributions as well as in the poor size control. Therefore, the monodisperse and size-controlled nanogels preparation by simple process -like emulsification- is a real challenge still in abeyance to date.

Preparation and Deep Characterization of Composite/Hybrid Multi-Scale and Multi-Domain Polymeric Microparticles.

Polymeric microparticles were produced following a three-step procedure involving (i) the production of an aqueous nanoemulsion of tri and monofunctional acrylate-based monomers droplets by an elongational-flow microemulsifier, (ii) the production of a nanosuspension upon the continuous-flow UV-initiated miniemulsion polymerization of the above nanoemulsion and (iii) the production of core-shell polymeric microparticles by means of a microfluidic capillaries-based double droplets generator; the core phase was composed of the above nanosuspension admixed with a water-soluble monomer and gold salt, the shell phase comprised a trifunctional monomer, diethylene glycol and a silver salt; both phases were photopolymerized on-the-fly upon droplet formation. Resulting microparticles were extensively analyzed by energy dispersive X-rays spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the core-shell morphology, the presence of silver nanoparticles in the shell, organic nanoparticles in the core but failed to reveal the presence of the gold nanoparticles in the core presumably due to their too small size (c.a.

LiLaTiO Nanofibers Enhanced Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Composite Polymer Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Batteries.

Using polymer electrolytes with relatively high mechanical strength, enhanced safety, and excellent flexibility to replace the conventional liquid electrolytes is an effective strategy to curb the Li-dendrite growth in Li-metal batteries (LMBs). However, low ionic conductivity, unsatisfactory thermal stability, and narrow electrochemical window still hinder their applications. Here, we fabricate LiLaTiO (LLTO) nanofiber-enabled poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) with enhanced mechanical property and wide electrochemical window.

Production of dry-state ketoprofen-encapsulated PMMA NPs by coupling micromixer-assisted nanoprecipitation and spray drying.

We present a two-step process to produce dry-state Ketoprofen-loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (NPs) with controllable size and tunable drug release profile. A colloidal suspension of drug-loaded nanoparticles was first obtained from a nanoprecipitation process and then transferred into a commercial spray dryer. Three micromixers of different designs and mixing principles (molecular diffusion and impact mixing) were tested.

Double emulsions prepared by two-step emulsification: History, state-of-the-art and perspective.

Attractive interest on double emulsions comes from their unique morphology, making them general multifunctional carriers able to encapsulate different hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules in the same particle. Over the past century, two different types of methods were followed to prepare double emulsions for pharmaceutics applications, so-called "one-step" and "two-step" processes. The two-step approach, consisting in two different emulsifications successively performed, allows the optimal and more efficient formulations due to simplicity of principle and controllability of the process.

Microfluidic-Assisted Production of Size-Controlled Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles-Loaded Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanohybrids.

In this paper, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs, around 6 nm) encapsulated in poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (PMMA NPs) with controlled sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm have been successfully produced. The hybrid polymeric NPs were prepared following two different methods: (1) nanoprecipitation and (2) nanoemulsification-evaporation. These two methods were implemented in two different microprocesses based on the use of an impact jet micromixer and an elongational-flow microemulsifier.

A new method for the formulation of double nanoemulsions.

Double emulsions are very attractive systems for many reasons; the most important of these are their capacity to encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules simultaneously in a single particle and their potentiality to protect fragile hydrophilic molecules from the continuous phase. Double emulsions represent a technology that is widely present down to the micrometer scale; however, double nanoemulsions, with their new potential applications as nanomedicines or diagnosis agents, currently present a significant challenge. In this study, we propose an original two-step approach for the fabrication of double nanoemulsions with a final size below 200 nm.

Microfluidic nanoprecipitation systems for preparing pure drug or polymeric drug loaded nanoparticles: an overview.

Introduction: This review gives an overview of the different microfluidic setups used to produce either pure drug or drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles.

Area Covered: We propose a description of the different fluidic principles reported in the literature, explaining their respective design and configuration in parallel with the technical challenges related to the nanoprecipitation of the polymer, in relation with the results obtained, e.g.