Modulation of Single Atomic Co and Fe Sites on Hollow Carbon Nanospheres as Oxygen Electrodes for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

Efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are required for metal air batteries, to replace costly metals, such as Pt and Ir/Ru based compounds, which are typically used as benchmarks for ORR and OER, respectively. Isolated single atomic sites coordinated with nitrogen on carbon supports (M-N-C) have promising performance for replacement of precious metal catalysts. However, most of monometallic M-N-C catalysts demonstrate unsatisfactory bifunctional performance.

Altered Cerebrospinal Fluid Exosomal microRNA Levels in Young-Onset Alzheimer's Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia.

Background: micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are stable, small, non-coding RNAs enriched in exosomes. Their variation in levels according to different disease etiologies have made them a promising diagnostic biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Altered expression of miR-320a, miR-328-3p, and miR-204-5p have been reported in AD and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Surface-Modified Hollow Ternary NiCoP Catalysts for Efficient Electrochemical Water Splitting and Energy Storage.

Generally, a cost-effective electrocatalytic process that offers an efficient electrochemical energy conversion and storage necessitates a rational design and selection of structure as well as composition of active catalytic centers. Herein, we achieved an unprecedented surface morphology and shape tuning to obtain hollow NiCoP with a continuum of active sharp edges (spiked) on a hollow spherical surface by means of facile hydrothermal treatments. The highly exposed, branched spike-covered hollow structure of NiCoP shows remarkable performance enhancement for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in a wide range of Ph solutions.

Electrochemically Induced Amorphization and Unique Lithium and Sodium Storage Pathways in FeSbO Nanocrystals.

The increasing energy demands have prompted research on conversion and alloying materials, offering high lithium and sodium storage capacities. However, most of these materials suffer from huge volume expansion and degradation over the thousands of charging and discharging cycles required for commercial applications. In this study, we demonstrate a facile route to synthesize FeSbO nanocrystals that possess theoretical lithium and sodium storage capacity of 1220 mAh g.

Nanomechanical Microfluidic Mixing and Rapid Labeling of Silica Nanoparticles using Allenamide-Thiol Covalent Linkage for Bioimaging.

Rapid surface functionalization of nanomaterials using covalent linkage following "green chemistry" remains challenging, and the quest for developing simple protocols is persisting. We report a nanomechanical microfluidic approach for the coupling of allenamide functionalized organic derivatives on the surface of thiol-modified silica nanoparticles using allenamide-thiol chemistry. The coupling principle involves the use of a microfluidic surface acoustic wave device that generates acoustic streaming-based chaotic fluid micromixing that enables mixing of laterally flowing fluids containing active components.

Large-Area Silver-Stibnite Nanoporous Plasmonic Films for Label-Free Biosensing.

The development of various plasmonic nanoporous materials has attracted much interest in different areas of research including bioengineering and biosensing because of their large surface area and versatile porous structure. Here, we introduce a novel technique for fabricating silver-stibnite nanoporous plasmonic films. Unlike conventional techniques that are usually used to fabricate nanoporous plasmonic films, we use a room-temperature growth method that is wet-chemistry free, which enables wafer-scale fabrication of nanoporous films on flexible substrates.

Biosensing with the singular phase of an ultrathin metal-dielectric nanophotonic cavity.

The concept of point of darkness has received much attention for biosensing based on phase-sensitive detection and perfect absorption of light. The maximum phase change is possible at the point of darkness where the reflection is almost zero. To date, this has been experimentally realized using different material systems through the concept of topological darkness.

Polymeric Nanomaterials Based on the Buckybowl Motif: Synthesis through Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization and Energy Storage Applications.

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of buckybowl corannulene-based oxa-norbornadiene monomer is shown to give rise to polymeric nanomaterials with an average pore size of about 1.4 nm and a surface area of 49.2 m/g.

Melt-Spun Fe-Sb Intermetallic Alloy Anode for Performance Enhanced Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Owing to the high theoretical sodiation capacities, intermetallic alloy anodes have attracted considerable interest as electrodes for next-generation sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of intermetallic Fe-Sb alloy anode for SIBs via a high-throughput and industrially viable melt-spinning process. The earth-abundant and low-cost Fe-Sb-based alloy anode exhibits excellent cycling stability with nearly 466 mAh g sodiation capacity at a specific current of 50 mA g with 95% capacity retention after 80 cycles.

Light intensity field enhancement (LIFE) induced localized edge abrasion of silica-coated silver nanoprisms.

Silver nanoprisms (AgNPrs) exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the near infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. LSPR-driven electric field enhancement around AgNPr edges has been investigated in various studies. A coating of dielectric materials such as silica on the surface of the AgNPrs is employed to extend the application of these nanoparticles under biocompatible conditions and to increase the thermal stability.

Photopolymerization of Diacetylene on Aligned Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Microfibers for High-Performance Energy Devices.

Linear two-dimensional materials have recently attracted an intense interest for supercapacitors because of their potential uses as electrodes in next-generation wearable electronics. However, enhancing the electrochemical properties of these materials without complicated structural modifications remains a challenge. Herein, we present the preparation of a hybrid electrode system via polydiacetylene (PDA) cloaking on the surface of aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through self-assembly based in situ photopolymerization.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets as High-Performance Binder-Free Fire-Resistant Wood Coatings.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets are synthesized through a facile shear force liquid phase exfoliation method and their use as a binder-free oxidation and fire-resistant wood coating is demonstrated. Characterized by intrinsic low thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity, h-BN nanosheet coatings show an excellent fire resistance and oxidation resistance up to 900 °C in air.

Photon Driven Transformation of Cesium Lead Halide Perovskites from Few-Monolayer Nanoplatelets to Bulk Phase.

Influence of light exposure on cesium lead halide nanostructures has been explored. A discovery of photon driven transformation (PDT) in 2D CsPbBr nanoplatelets is reported, in which the quantum-confined few-monolayer nanoplatelets will convert to bulk phase under very low irradiation intensity (≈20 mW cm ). Benefiting from the remarkable emission color change during PDT, the multicolor luminescence photopatterns and facile information photo-encoding are established.

Real time monitoring of aminothiol level in blood using a near-infrared dye assisted deep tissue fluorescence and photoacoustic bimodal imaging.

The development of molecular probes for the detection and imaging of biological thiols is a major step forward diagnosing various types of diseases. Previously reported thiol imaging strategies were mainly based on a single mode of imaging with a limited application . In this work, we introduced an unsymmetrical near-infrared (NIR) squaraine dye (USq) as an exogenous contrast agent for photoacoustic and fluorescence bimodal imaging of thiol variations in live animals.

Photosensitizer anchored gold nanorods for targeted combinational photothermal and photodynamic therapy.

Silylated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was anchored onto silica-coated gold nanorods (AuNR) with retained local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Independent LSPR and singlet oxygen production of anchored ZnPc enhance the photothermal and photodynamic efficacy of the obtained AuNR-Si-ZnPc under NIR light excitation. AuNR-Si-ZnPc was further grafted with hyaluronic acid (HA).

A Three-Photon Active Organic Fluorophore for Deep Tissue Ratiometric Imaging of Intracellular Divalent Zinc.

Deep tissue bioimaging with three-photon (3P) excitation using near-infrared (NIR) light in the second IR window (1.0-1.4 μm) could provide high resolution images with an improved signal-to-noise ratio.

Recent advances in multifunctional silica-based hybrid nanocarriers for bioimaging and cancer therapy.

In recent years, there has been a considerable research focus on integrating cancer cell imaging and therapeutic functions into single nanoscale platforms for better treatment of cancer. This task could often be achieved by incorporating multiple components into a hybrid nanosystem. In this minireview, we highlight different types of silica-based hybrid nanosystems and their recent applications as integrated multifunctional platforms for cancer imaging and treatment.

Quantum dot decorated aligned carbon nanotube bundles for a performance enhanced photoswitch.

Photoactive materials that are triggered by the irradiation of light to generate an electrical response provide an ecofriendly platform to afford efficient power sources and switches. A chemical assembly of well-known elements with aligned carbon nanotube bundles is reported here, which was employed to form an efficient photo-induced charge transfer device. The primary elements of this device are ultra-long multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) bundles, polyaniline (PANI) thin film coating, and CdSe quantum dots (QDs).

Near-IR squaraine dye-loaded gated periodic mesoporous organosilica for photo-oxidation of phenol in a continuous-flow device.

Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) has been widely used for the fabrication of a variety of catalytically active materials. We report the preparation of novel photo-responsive PMO with azobenzene-gated pores. Upon activation, the azobenzene gate undergoes trans-cis isomerization, which allows an unsymmetrical near-infrared squaraine dye (Sq) to enter into the pores.

Near-Infrared Squaraine Dye Encapsulated Micelles for in Vivo Fluorescence and Photoacoustic Bimodal Imaging.

Combined near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging techniques present promising capabilities for noninvasive visualization of biological structures. Development of bimodal noninvasive optical imaging approaches by combining NIR fluorescence and photoacoustic tomography demands suitable NIR-active exogenous contrast agents. If the aggregation and photobleaching are prevented, squaraine dyes are ideal candidates for fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging.

Three-photon-excited luminescence from unsymmetrical cyanostilbene aggregates: morphology tuning and targeted bioimaging.

We report an experimental observation of aggregation-induced enhanced luminescence upon three-photon excitation in aggregates formed from a class of unsymmetrical cyanostilbene derivatives. Changing side chains (-CH3, -C6H13, -C7H15O3, and folic acid) attached to the cyanostilbene core leads to instantaneous formation of aggregates with sizes ranging from micrometer to nanometer scale in aqueous conditions. The crystal structure of a derivative with a methyl side chain reveals the planarization in the unsymmetrical cyanostilbene core, causing luminescence from corresponding aggregates upon three-photon excitation.

Immobilizing gold nanoparticles in mesoporous silica covered reduced graphene oxide: a hybrid material for cancer cell detection through hydrogen peroxide sensing.

A new kind of two-dimensional (2-D) hybrid material (RGO-PMS@AuNPs), fabricated by the immobilization of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, ∼3 nm) onto sandwich-like periodic mesopourous silica (PMS) coated reduced graphene oxide (RGO), was employed for both electrocatalytic application and cancer cell detection. The hybrid-based electrode sensor showed attractive electrochemical performance for sensitive and selective nonenzymatic detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline, with wide linear detection range (0.

Upconversion nanoparticles as a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging in live mice.

An inclusion complex of NaYF4 :Yb(3+) ,Er(3+) upconversion nanoparticles with α-cyclodextrin in aqueous conditions exhibits luminescence quenching when excited at 980 nm. This non-radiative relaxation leads to an unprecedented photoacoustic signal enhancement. In vivo localization of α-cyclodextrin-covered NaYF4 :Yb(3+) ,Er(3+) is demonstrated using photoacoustic tomography in live mice, showing its high capability for photoacoustic imaging.

Spacer intercalated disassembly and photodynamic activity of zinc phthalocyanine inside nanochannels of mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Hydrophobic photosensitizer zinc(II) phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was loaded into adamantane (Ad) modified nanochannels of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). The Ad units on the surface of MSNPs were complexed with amino-substituted β-cyclodextrin to enhance the solubility of the hybrid in aqueous solution. The amino groups on β-cyclodextrin also provide functional sites for further conjugation with targeting ligands toward targeted cancer therapy.