Polaronic Nonlinear Optical Response and All-Optical Switching Based on an Ionic Metal Oxide.

It has been well-established that light-matter interactions, as manifested by diverse linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) processes, are mediated by real and virtual particles, such as electrons, phonons, and excitons. Polarons, often regarded as electrons dressed by phonons, are known to contribute to exotic behaviors of solids, from superconductivity to photocatalysis, while their role in materials' NLO response remains largely unexplored. Here, the NLO response mediated by polarons supported by a model ionic metal oxide, TiO, is examined.

Ultrasmall iron-gallic acid coordination polymer nanodots with antioxidative neuroprotection for PET/MR imaging-guided ischemia stroke therapy.

Oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a reperfusion injury factor that can lead to cell damage and death. Here, ultrasmall iron-gallic acid coordination polymer nanodots (Fe-GA CPNs) were developed as antioxidative neuroprotectors for ischemia stroke therapy guided by PET/MR imaging. As proven by the electron spin resonance spectrum, the ultrasmall Fe-GA CPNs with ultrasmall size, scavenged ROS efficiently.

Observation of Emergent Dirac Physics at the Surfaces of Acoustic Higher-Order Topological Insulators.

Using 3D sonic crystals as acoustic higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs), 2D surface states described by spin-1 Dirac equations at the interfaces between the two sonic crystals with distinct topology but the same crystalline symmetry are discovered. It is found that the Dirac mass can be tuned by the geometry of the two sonic crystals. The sign reversal of the Dirac mass reveals a surface topological transition where the surface states exhibit zero refractive index behavior.

Efficient preparation of unsymmetrical disulfides by nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling strategy.

Disulfides are widely found in natural products and find a wide range of applications in life sciences, materials chemistry and other fields. The preparation of disulfides mainly rely on oxidative couplings of two sulfur containing compounds. This strategy has many side reactions and other shortcomings.

Higher-Order Topological States in Surface-Wave Photonic Crystals.

Photonic topological states have revolutionized the understanding of the propagation and scattering of light. The recent discovery of higher-order photonic topological insulators opens an emergent horizon for 0D topological corner states. However, the previous realizations of higher-order topological insulators in electromagnetic-wave systems suffer from either a limited operational frequency range due to the lumped components involved or a bulky structure with a large footprint, which are unfavorable for achieving compact photonic devices.

Self-Supplied Tumor Oxygenation through Separated Liposomal Delivery of HO and Catalase for Enhanced Radio-Immunotherapy of Cancer.

The recent years have witnessed the blooming of cancer immunotherapy, as well as their combinational use together with other existing cancer treatment techniques including radiotherapy. However, hypoxia is one of several causes of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we develop an innovative strategy to relieve tumor hypoxia by delivering exogenous HO into tumors and the subsequent catalase-triggered HO decomposition.

Emerging Trends in Phosphorene Fabrication towards Next Generation Devices.

The challenge of science and technology is to design and make materials that will dominate the future of our society. In this context, black phosphorus has emerged as a new, intriguing two-dimensional (2D) material, together with its monolayer, which is referred to as phosphorene. The exploration of this new 2D material demands various fabrication methods to achieve potential applications- this demand motivated this review.

In Vivo Long-Term Biodistribution, Excretion, and Toxicology of PEGylated Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides MS (M = Mo, W, Ti) Nanosheets.

With unique 2D structures and intriguing physicochemical properties, various types of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted much attention in many fields including nanomedicine. Hence, it is of great importance to carefully study the in vivo biodistribution, excretion, and toxicology profiles of different TMDCs, and hopefully to identify the most promising type of TMDCs with low toxicity and fast excretion for further biomedical applications. Herein, the in vivo behaviors of three representative TMDCs including molybdenum dichalcogenides (MoS), tungsten dichalcogenides (WS), and titanium dichalcogenides (TiS) nanosheets are systematically investigated.

Visible and Near-Infrared Photothermal Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Gaseous CO over Nanostructured Pd@NbO.

The reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction driven by NbO nanorod-supported Pd nanocrystals without external heating using visible and near infrared (NIR) light is demonstrated. By measuring the dependence of the RWGS reaction rates on the intensity and spectral power distribution of filtered light incident onto the nanostructured Pd@NbO catalyst, it is determined that the RWGS reaction is activated photothermally. That is the RWGS reaction is initiated by heat generated from thermalization of charge carriers in the Pd nanocrystals that are excited by interband and intraband absorption of visible and NIR light.

Catalase-Loaded TaOx Nanoshells as Bio-Nanoreactors Combining High-Z Element and Enzyme Delivery for Enhancing Radiotherapy.

A novel type of bio-nanoreactor with catalase loaded inside TaOx hollow nanoshells is fabricated via a mild one-step method. Such bio-nanoreactors could efficiently improve the tumor oxygenation by supplying oxygen via decomposition of endogenic H2 O2 in a tumor microenvironment, and thus synergistically enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy by both depositing radiation energy within the tumor and overcoming hypoxia-induced radiotherapy resistance.

High-Performance Li-O Batteries with Trilayered Pd/MnO /Pd Nanomembranes.

are fabricated as the cathode catalysts for Li-O batteries. The combination of Pd and MnO facilitates the transport of electrons, lithium ions, and oxygen-containing intermediates, thus effectively decomposing the discharge product LiO and significantly lowering the charge overpotential and enhancing the power efficiency. This is promising for future environmentally friendly applications.

Bio-Inspired Leaf-Mimicking Nanosheet/Nanotube Heterostructure as a Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Catalyst.

Plant leaves represent a unique 2D/1D heterostructure for enhanced surface reaction and efficient mass transport. Inspired by plant leaves, a 2D/1D CoO heterostructure is developed that is composed of ultrathin CoO nanosheets further assembled into a nanotube structure. This bio-inspired architecture allows a highly active Co electronic structure for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the atomic scale, ultrahigh surface area (371 m g) for interfacial electrochemical reaction at the nanoscale, and enhanced transport of charge and electrolyte over CoO nanotube building blocks at the microscale.