Ionically conducting Li- and Na-phosphonates as organic electrode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Facilitating rapid charge transfer in electrode materials necessitates the optimization of their ionic transport properties. Currently, only a limited number of Li/Na-ion organic cathode materials have been identified, and those exhibiting intrinsic solid-phase ionic conductivity are even rarer. In this study, we present tetra-lithium and sodium salts with the generic formulae: A-Ph-CHP and A-Ph-PhP, wherein A = Li, Na; Ph-CHP = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-phenylene bis(methylphosphinate); Ph-PhP = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-phenylene bis(phenylphosphinate), as novel alkali-ion reservoir cathode materials.

Correction: Ion pair extractant selective for LiCl and LiBr.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4SC03760J.].

Making an inverted Keggin ion lacunary.

The century-old inverted Keggin ion has been revisited in an effort to unleash its potential in the structural engineering and functional development of polyoxomolybdates (POMos). Over the past hundred years, attempts to program the metal-oxo scaffold of inverted Keggins have been conducted continually but without any success. In this work, a structurally inert, inverted Keggin-type POMo could finally be altered by means of a binary heterogroup-templated approach, resulting in the successful isolation of two lacunary species.

Non-cationic hyper-crosslinked ionic polymers with hierarchically ordered porous structures: facile synthesis and applications for highly efficient CO capture and conversion.

Hyper-crosslinked porous ionic polymers (HCPIPs) have garnered significant attention due to their unique ionic properties and high specific surface areas. However, the limited variety of monomers, low ionic density, and difficulty in functionalization restrict their development. Herein, a series of functionalized non-cationic HCPIPs with high ionic density are designed and directly synthesized an innovative and straightforward approach - anion (and cation) hyper-crosslinking of tetraphenylborate-based ionic liquids (ILs).

Probing the microstructure and deformation mechanism of an FeCoCrNiAl0.5 high entropy alloy during nanoscratching: a combined atomistic and physical model study.

High entropy alloys (HEAs) exhibit superior mechanical properties. However, the nanoscratching properties and deformation behaviour of FeCoCrNiAl0.5 HEAs remain unknown at the nanoscale.

Iodoarene-directed photoredox β-C(sp)-H arylation of 1-(-iodoaryl)alkan-1-ones with cyanoarenes halogen atom transfer and hydrogen atom transfer.

Site selective functionalization of inert remote C(sp)-H bonds to increase molecular complexity offers vital potential for chemical synthesis and new drug development, thus it has been attracting ongoing research interest. In particular, typical β-C(sp)-H arylation methods using chelation-assisted metal catalysis or metal-catalyzed oxidative/photochemical generated allyl C(sp)-H bond processes have been well developed. However, radical-mediated direct β-C(sp)-H arylation of carbonyls remains elusive.

"Turn-on" and pinhole-free ultrathin core-shell Au@SiO nanoparticle-based metal-enhanced fluorescent (MEF) chemodosimeter for Hg.

This study reports a metal-enhanced fluorescence chemodosimeter for highly sensitive detection of Hg ions. Silica-coated Au nanoparticles (Au@SiO NPs) with a pinhole-free 4-5 nm shell were synthesized and functionalized with a monolayer of turn-on fluorescent probes. Compared to other organic fluorescent probes suffering from poor biocompatibility and detection limits, this design of a monolayer of turn-on fluorescent probes immobilized on the Au@SiO NPs with a pinhole-free 4-5 nm shell avoids fluorescence quenching and allows the fluorescent probe within the field of the inner Au NPs to experience metal-enhanced fluorescence.

Stabilized four-electron aqueous zinc-iodine batteries by quaternary ammonium complexation.

Four-electron aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (4eZIBs) leveraging the I/I/I redox couple have garnered attention for their potential high voltage, capacity, and energy density. However, the electrophilic I species is highly susceptible to hydrolysis due to the nucleophilic attack by water. Previous endeavors to develop 4eZIBs primarily relied on highly concentrated aqueous electrolytes to mitigate the hydrolysis issue, nonetheless, it introduced challenges associated with dissolution, high electrolyte viscosity, and sluggish electrode kinetics.

Xanthene-based near-infrared chromophores for high-contrast fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging of dipeptidyl peptidase 4.

Near-infrared (NIR) chromophores with analyte tunable emission and absorption properties are highly desirable for developing activatable fluorescence and photoacoustic (PA) probes for bioimaging and disease diagnosis. Here we engineer a class of new chromophores by extending the π-conjugation system of a xanthene scaffold at position 7 with different electron withdrawing groups. It is demonstrated that these chromophores exhibit pH-dependent transition from a spirocyclic "closed" form to a xanthene "open" form with remarkable changes in spectral properties.

Synergistic effect of composition gradient and morphology on the catalytic activity of amorphous FeCoNi-LDH.

The rational design of electrocatalysts with well-designed compositions and structures for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is promising and challenging. Herein, we developed a novel strategy - a one-step double-cation etching sedimentation equilibrium strategy - to synthesize amorphous hollow Fe-Co-Ni layered double hydroxide nanocages with an outer surface of vertically interconnected ultrathin nanosheets (Fe-Co-Ni-LDH), which primarily depends on the etching sedimentation equilibrium of the template interface. This unique vertical nanosheet-shell hierarchical nanostructure possesses enhanced charge transfer, increased active sites, and favorable kinetics during electrolysis, resulting in superb electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Cooperatively designed aptamer-PROTACs for spatioselective degradation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein for enhanced combinational therapy.

Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling proteins (NSPs) have emerged as a promising class of therapeutic targets for many diseases. However, most NSPs-based therapies largely rely on small-molecule inhibitors with limited efficacy and off-target effects. Inspired by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, we report a new archetype of PROTAC (PS-ApTCs) by introducing a phosphorothioate-modified aptamer to a CRBN ligand, realizing tumor-targeting and spatioselective degradation of NSPs with improved efficacy.

A universal orthogonal imaging platform for living-cell RNA detection using fluorogenic RNA aptamers.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, offering valuable insights into disease mechanisms and prospects for targeted therapeutic interventions. Herein, we present a class of miRNA-induced light-up RNA sensors (miLS) that are founded on the toehold mediated principle and employ the fluorogenic RNA aptamers Pepper and Squash as imaging modules. By incorporating a sensor switch to disrupt the stabilizing stem of these aptamers, our design offers enhanced flexibility and convertibility for different target miRNAs and aptamers.

A collagen-immobilized nanodevice for ratiometric imaging of cancer biomarkers in the tumor microenvironment.

Monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of cancer biomarkers within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical to understanding their roles in tumorigenesis. Here, we reported a multifunctional fusion protein (collagen-binding domain and duck circovirus tag fused to mCherry, CBD-mCherry-DCV) capable of binding collagen with high affinity and covalently binding specific nucleic acids with exceptional efficiency. We then constructed a chimeric protein-nucleic acid nanodevice (CPNN) using CBD-mCherry-DCV and an aptamer-based sensing module to enable spatially controlled ratiometric imaging of cancer biomarkers in the TME.

Single-nucleobase resolution of a surface energy transfer nanoruler for measurement of aptamer binding at the receptor subunit level in living cells.

identification of aptamer-binding targets on living cell membrane surfaces is of considerable interest, but a major challenge, specifically, when advancing recognition to the level of membrane receptor subunits. Here we propose a novel nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET) based nanoruler with a single-nucleobase resolution (SN-nanoruler), in which FAM-labeled aptamers and single-sized gold nanoparticle (GNP) antibody conjugates act as a donor and an acceptor. A single nucleobase resolution of the SN-nanoruler was experimentally illustrated by molecular size, orientation, quenching nature, and other dye-GNP pairs.

Facile synthesis of Ag/ZIF-8@ZIF-67 as an electrochemical sensing platform for sensitive detection of halonitrophenols in drinking water.

Halonitrophenols (HNPs) are an emerging type of aromatic disinfection byproduct, with detected concentrations of ∼nmol L in source water and drinking water. Currently, there are no standard methods for identifying HNPs, and most of the reported methods are time-consuming and equipment-dependent. A core-shell metal-organic framework (MOF) based electrochemical sensor (Ag/ZIF-8@ZIF-67) capable of detecting 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (2,6-DCNP) is reported in this study.

hsa_circ_0000519 promotes the progression of lung adenocarcinoma through the hsa-miR-1296-5p/DARS axis.

Emerging research indicates that circRNAs serve a crucial role in occurrence and development of cancers. This study aimed to uncover the biological role of hsa_circ_0000519 in the progression of LUAD (lung adenocarcinoma). hsa_circ_0000519 was identified by bioinformatic analysis, and its differential expression was validated in LUAD tissues and cell lines.

oxidized TiO/MXene ultrafiltration membrane with photocatalytic self-cleaning and antibacterial properties.

Self-cleaning, antimicrobial ultrafiltration membranes are urgently needed to alleviate the low flux problems caused by membrane fouling in water treatment processes. In this study, generated nano-TiO MXene lamellar materials were synthesized and then 2D membranes were fabricated using vacuum filtration. The presence of nano TiO particles as an interlayer support layer widened the interlayer channels, and also improved the membrane permeability.

Growth of nanostructured CuAl alloy films by magnetron sputtering for non-enzymatic glucose-sensing applications.

Enzymatic glucose sensors usually exhibit excellent sensitivity and selectivity but suffer from poor stability due to the negative influence of temperature and humidity on enzyme molecules. As compared to enzymatic glucose sensors, non-enzymatic counterparts are generally more stable but are facing challenges in concurrently improving both sensitivity and selectivity of a trace amount of glucose molecules in physiological samples such as saliva and sweat. Here, a novel non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on nanostructured CuAl alloy films has been fabricated by a facile magnetron-sputtering followed by controllable electrochemical etching approach.

Engineering fluorescent protein chromophores with an internal reference for high-fidelity ratiometric G4 imaging in living cells.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are significant nucleic acid secondary structures formed by guanine-rich sequences. Many single-emission G4 fluorescent probes that are lit up by inhibiting intramolecular rotation have been reported. However, they are non-fluorescent unless structurally rigidified, making them sensitive to other intracellular crowding and confinement environments in the cell, like viscosity.

Interlayer structure and dynamic properties of CTMAB-montmorillonite: experiment and molecular dynamics.

The intercalation of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) into montmorillonite will cause interlayer expansion and surface charge reversal. In this study, CTMAB-Mt is prepared by adding CTMAB with different multiples of montmorillonite cation exchange capacity (CEC), and the intercalated CTMAB structural arrangement, as well as the dynamics behavior, are investigated by combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with experimental characterization. According to RDF analysis of MD simulations, the interaction between CTMA and the surface of montmorillonite is mostly electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond production.

Fully-fused boron-doped olympicenes: modular synthesis, tunable optoelectronic properties, and one-electron reduction.

We report here a novel family of boraolympicenes, structurally featuring boron-doping at the concave 11a-position of their π-skeletons and synthetically prepared a facile one-pot triply borylation-based double-fold borocyclization reaction. Despite having no bulky protecting groups, these boraolympicenes exhibit excellent chemical stability against air and moisture, ascribed to the significant π-electron delocalization over the vacant p orbitals of boron atoms as evidenced by both single-crystallographic and theoretical analyses. More importantly, the modular synthesis of these boraolympicenes allows the fine-tuning of their physicochemical properties, endowing them with intriguing electronic features, such as intense visible-to-NIR absorption and low-lying LUMO energy levels (∼-3.