Photosynthetic-Membrane-Like Ion Translocation in Visible-Light-Harvesting Nanofluidic Channels.

The selective uphill and downhill movement of protons in and out of photosynthetic membrane enabled by ion pumps and ion channels is key to photosynthesis. Reproducing the functions of photosynthetic membranes in artificial systems has been a persistent goal. Here, a visible-light-harvesting nanofluidic channels is reported which experimentally demonstrates the ion translocation functions of photosynthetic membranes.

Cation-Selective Oxide Semiconductor Mesoporous Membranes for Biomimetic Ion Rectification and Light-Powered Ion Pumping.

Artificial membranes precisely imitating the biological functions of ion channels and ion pumps have attracted significant attention to explore nanofluidic energy conversion. Herein, inspired by the cyclic ion transport for the photosynthesis in purple bacteria, a bilayer inorganic membrane (TiO /AAO) composed of oxide semiconductor (TiO ) mesopores on anodic alumina (AAO) macropores is we developed. This inorganic membrane achieves the functions of ion channels and ion pumps, including the ion rectification and light-powered ion pumping.

Light-Powered Ion Pumping in a Cation-Selective Conducting Polymer Membrane.

The simulation of the ion pumping against a proton gradient energized by light in photosynthesis is of significant importance for the energy conversion in a non-biological environment. Herein, we report light-powered ion pumping in a polystyrene sulfonate anion (PSS) doped polypyrrole (PPy) conducting polymer membrane (PSS-PPy) with a symmetric geometry. This PSS-PPy conducting polymer membrane exhibits a cationic selectivity and a light-responsive surface-charge-governed ion transport attributed to the negatively charged PSS groups.

Electrochemical reduction of nitrate in a catalytic carbon membrane nano-reactor.

Nitrate pollution is a critical environmental issue in need of urgent addressing. Electrochemical reduction is an attractive strategy for treating nitrate due to the environmental friendliness. However, it is still a challenge to achieve the simultaneous high activity and selectivity.

Electrochromic Nanochannels for Visual Nanofluidic Manipulation in Integrated Ionic Circuits.

Nanochannel system provides a promising platform to create nanofluidic components in large-scale integrated circuits for "lab-on-a-chip" applications. However, it is a big challenge to achieve monitoring on microscopic nanofluidic manipulation of single nanofluidic components in the integrated ionic circuit. Herein, we present a simple approach to realize visual nanofluidic manipulation in asymmetric nanochannels by the functionalization of an electrochromic polyaniline coating, which demonstrates redox-tunable surface charge accompanied by a visible color variation.

An ionic diode based on a spontaneously formed polypyrrole-modified graphene oxide membrane.

Asymmetric membranes derived from the stacking of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have attracted great attention for the fabrication of ionic diodes. Herein, we described an ionic diode based on a polypyrrole-modified GO membrane with a vertical asymmetry, which was achieved by a spontaneous oxidation polymerization of pyrrole monomers on one side of the GO membrane in vapor phase. This asymmetric modification resulted in an asymmetric geometry due to the occupation of the interlayer space of one side of the GO membrane by polypyrrole.

A redox-generated biomimetic membrane potential across polypyrrole films.

Inspired by the formation mechanism of a biological membrane potential, we described the generation of an artificial membrane potential through redox-regulating anion distribution on the two sides of a polypyrrole film. The polarity of the membrane potential could be regulated by the redox reaction.

Rod-Cell-Mimetic Photochromic Layered Ion Channels with Multiple Switchable States for Controllable Ion Transport.

The controllable ion transport in the photoreceptors of rod cells is essentially important for the light detection and information transduction in visual systems. Herein, inspired by the photochromism-regulated ion transport in rod cells with stacking structure, layered ion channels have been developed with a visual photochromic function induced by the alternate irradiation with visible and UV light. The layered structure is formed by stacking spiropyran-modified montmorillonite 2D nanosheets on the surface of an alumina nanoporous membrane.

Anti-corrosion porous RuO/NbC anodes for the electrochemical oxidation of phenol.

Efficient anode materials with porous structures have drawn increasing attention due to their high specific surface area, which can compensate for the slow reaction rate of electrochemical oxidation. However, the use of these materials is often limited due to their poor corrosion resistance. Herein, we report a facile scale-up method, by carbothermal reduction, for the preparation of porous niobium carbide to be used as an anode for the electrochemical oxidation of phenol in water.

Layered photochromic films stacked from spiropyran-modified montmorillonite nanosheets.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets are a class of fascinating host material that demonstrates a high specific surface area for the immobilization of functional molecules. Herein, we describe a layered photochromic film using montmorillonite 2D nanosheets immobilized with spiropyran units, which demonstrates a remarkable and reversible photochromic behavior. The synthesis of the layered photochromic film includes the intercalation and exfoliation of montmorillonite powders into 2D nanosheets using a spiropyran-modified surfactant and a subsequent vacuum filtration.

Photosynthesis-inspired bifunctional energy-harvesting devices that convert light and salinity gradients into electricity.

Inspired by the bifunctional utilization of light energy and a proton gradient in photosynthesis, we proposed conceptually an energy-harvesting device that is capable of converting light and a salinity gradient into electricity simultaneously. Our bioinspired concept provided a potential opportunity to harvest multiple renewable energies and maximize the overall power output.

An electrochemical anodization strategy towards high-activity porous MoS electrodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is a promising non-precious metal electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we have described an anodization route for the fabrication of porous MoS electrodes. The active porous MoS layer was directly formed on the surface of a Mo metal sheet when it was subjected to anodization in a sulfide-containing electrolyte.