Lithiophilic and Eco-Friendly Nano-Se Seeds Unlock Dendrite-Free and Anode-Free Li-Metal Batteries.

A 3D host design for lithium (Li)-metal anodes can effectively accommodate volume changes and suppress Li dendrite growth; nonetheless, its practical applicability in energy-dense Li-metal batteries (LMBs) is plagued by excessive Li loading. Herein, we introduced eco- and human-friendly Se seeds into 3D carbon cloth (CC) to create a robust host for efficient Li deposition/stripping. The highly lithiophilic nano-Se endowed the Se-decorated CC (Se@CC) with perfect Li wettability for instantaneous Li infusion.

Electrocatalytically inactive copper improves the water adsorption/dissociation on NiS for accelerated alkaline and neutral hydrogen evolution.

Nickel dichalcogenides, especially Ni3S2, present inferior alkaline and neutral hydrogen evolution activity due to their sluggish water dissociation kinetics. Although these materials hold promise as non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media, developing efficient strategies to enhance the water dissociation processes of nickel dichalcogenides in alkaline and neutral solutions is also an important area of research. The present work discloses an electrocatalytically inactive copper doping strategy to promote the water adsorption and dissociation process of Ni3S2 (Cu-Ni3S2) nanoparticles supported on nickel foam (NF) towards improving the alkaline and neutral hydrogen evolution reactions.

Assembling of Bi atoms on TiO nanorods boosts photoelectrochemical water splitting of semiconductors.

Low photoconversion efficiency, high charge transfer resistance and fast recombination rate are the bottlenecks of semiconductor nanomaterials in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, where the introduction of an appropriate co-catalyst is an effective strategy to improve their performance. In the present study, we have purposely designed atomic-scale dispersed bismuth (Bi) assembled on titanium dioxide nanorods (TiO2), and demonstrated its effective role as a co-catalyst in enhancing the PEC water splitting performance of TiO2. As a result, functionalized Bi/TiO2 generates a high photocurrent intensity at 1.

Organic-inorganic hybrid (CHNH)FeCuICl and (CHNH)InCuI for ultraviolet light photodetectors.

Photodetectors play a key role in the military, aerospace, communications, bio-imaging, etc. In this study, we fabricate photodetector devices based on (CH3NH3)2FeCuI4Cl2 (MA2FeCuI4Cl2) and (CH3NH3)2InCuI6 (MA2InCuI6) for the first time. We find that the device based on MA2InCuI6 is highly selective for ultraviolet light (880 nA mW-1) and shows high anti-interference for visible-light (20-50 nA mW-1).

Recent Progress in Two-Dimensional Layered Double Hydroxides and Their Derivatives for Supercapacitors.

High-performance supercapacitors have attracted great attention due to their high power, fast charging/discharging, long lifetime, and high safety. However, the generally low energy density and overall device performance of supercapacitors limit their applications. In recent years, the design of rational electrode materials has proven to be an effective pathway to improve the capacitive performances of supercapacitors.

Semi-Transparent and Stable Solar Cells for Building Integrated Photovoltaics: The Confinement Effects of the Polymer Gel Electrolyte inside Mesoporous Films.

The semi-transparent solar cells are promising to be applied in building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and tandem solar cells. In this study, we fabricate semi-transparent and stable solar cells for BIPV by utilizing a poly (ethylene oxide) electrolyte and controlling the size of TiO nanoparticles and the thickness of the TiO film. The power conversion efficiency of the semi-transparent (over 50% transmittance at 620-750 nm) and quasi-solid solar cells is 5.

Enlarged Interlayer Spacing in Cobalt-Manganese Layered Double Hydroxide Guiding Transformation to Layered Structure for High Supercapacitance.

Cobalt-manganese layered double hydroxide (CoMn-LDH) has been known as a highly desired cathode material used with an alkaline electrolyte. However, the layered double hydroxide structure is unstable and changes almost instantly in alkaline solution due to the instability of a manganese(III) ion. Thus, it is important to investigate the true active phase for designing efficient electrode materials.

Progesterone maintains the status of granulosa cells and slows follicle development partly through PGRMC1.

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) mediates antimitotic and antiapoptotic actions of progesterone in granulosa cells, which indicates that PGRMC1 may play a key role in maintaining the status of granulosa cells. The current study investigated the effects of progesterone on intracellular signaling involved in differentiation, follicle development, inflammatory responses, and antioxidation, and determined the role of PGRMC1 in these processes. Our results demonstrated that progesterone slowed follicle development and inhibited p-ERK1/2, p-p38, caspase-3, p-NF-κB, and p-IκB-α signals involved in differentiation, steroidogenesis, and inflammatory responses in granulosa cells.

Synthesis and antitumour activity of arctigenin amino acid ester derivatives against H22 hepatocellular carcinoma.

Arctigenin (ARG) is famous in its abundant pharmacological activity. However, many researches in it entered the bottleneck period because of its poor water solubility. The derivatives of ARG have been synthesised with five amino acids which have t-Butyloxy carbonyl (BOC) as a protective group.

Progesterone amplifies oxidative stress signal and promotes NO production via H2O2 in mouse kidney arterial endothelial cells.

The role of progesterone on the cardiovascular system is controversial. Our present research is to specify the effect of progesterone on arterial endothelial cells in response to oxidative stress. Our result showed that H2O2 (150 μM and 300 μM) induced cellular antioxidant response.

In vitro controlled release of vitamin C from Ca/Al layered double hydroxide drug delivery system.

A new drug delivery system for vitamin C (VC), Ca/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH), is demonstrated in this work. VC anions were intercalated successfully in the Ca/Al LDH gallery by a coprecipitation method. The interlayer space of 9.

Enhanced luminescence of europium-doped layered double hydroxides intercalated by sensitiser anions.

Four sensitising anions naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate (15-NDS), naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate (26-NDC), benzoate (BA) and terephthalate (TA) were intercalated into a Eu(3+)-doped Zn/Al layered double hydroxide. The carboxylate anions enhanced the red luminescence of Eu(3+) much more strongly than the sulfonate, in the descending order TA > 26-NDC > BA > 15-NDS.