A Freestanding Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Film Decorated with N-Doped Carbon-Encapsulated Ni Nanoparticles as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

Noble-metal free, cost-effective, and highly stable catalysts with efficient activity for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have attracted tremendous research interest in recent years. Here, a flexible, self-standing hybrid film comprising a N-doped single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) network on which are anchored Ni nanoparticles encapsulated by a monolayer of N-doped carbon (NCNi) is reported. The films are prepared by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition followed by NH treatment.

Simultaneous detection of 15 respiratory pathogens with a fluorescence probe melting curve analysis-based multiplex real-time PCR assay.

Acute respiratory tract infections are common worldwide and caused by a great diversity of pathogens. A rapid and accurate diagnosis method of respiratory infection is crucial for timely clinical intervention. Here, by combining fluorescence melting curve analysis and multiplex real-time assay, we developed a novel method which can simultaneously detect 15 respiratory viruses.

Correction: Hydrogel microfibers with perfusable folded channels for tissue constructs with folded morphology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8RA04192J.].

Self-assembly of 2D-metal-organic framework/graphene oxide membranes as highly efficient adsorbents for the removal of Cs from aqueous solutions.

The potential toxicity and irreversibility of radionuclide Cs place severe pressure on the natural environment, which has become one of the most forefront pollution problems in nuclear energy utilization. To solve this problem, novel self-assembled membranes consisting of two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and graphene oxide (GO) were prepared by a facile filtration method, which can efficiently absorb Cs from aqueous solutions. The batch experimental results showed that the sorption of Cs on the GO/Co-MOF composite membrane was strongly dependent on the addition mass and the membrane compositions.

Mesoporous silica-protected silver nanoparticle disinfectant with controlled Ag ion release, efficient magnetic separation, and effective antibacterial activity.

Ag is the most effective metal disinfectant against pathogenic microorganisms and thus, various approaches have been exploited to enhance the dispersity and control the release of Ag ions from Ag nanoparticles. In this study, a superparamagnetic FeO@SiO@Ag@porous SiO disinfectant with a double-layer core-shell structure was developed. Its superparamagnetic FeO nanosphere core ensured its good dispersity in water and allowed its easy magnetic separation after treatment.

An AC electrothermal self-circulating system with a minimalist process to construct a biomimetic liver lobule model for drug testing.

Liver-on-chip, due to its precision and low cost for constructing models, has tremendous potential for drug toxicity testing and pathological studies. By applying APAP (acetaminophen) treatment of different concentrations, a dynamic self-circulating liver lobule model for drug testing was proven useful for emulating the human physiological system. However, the demand for a dynamic system of on-chip organs is difficult to fulfil due to the relatively cumbersome fabrication processes.

Facile metal-free reduction-based synthesis of pristine and cation-doped conductive mayenite.

In the present study we synthesized conductive nanoscale [CaAlO](4e) (hereafter denoted as CA:e) material, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was produced, which was unexpected; graphene oxide was removed after melting the sample. The conductivity of CA:e composites synthesized at 1550 °C was 1.25 S cm, and the electron concentration was 5.

Hydrogel microfibers with perfusable folded channels for tissue constructs with folded morphology.

Fiber-based materials with microchannels have drawn considerable attention in recent years owing to their ability to mimic intrinsic morphologies of living tissues. Folded morphologies, which are common , such as in skeletal muscle capillaries and intestine luminal endoderm, play important roles in the achievement of tissue functions. Here, microfibers with folded hollow channels are fabricated.

A Nacre-Like Carbon Nanotube Sheet for High Performance Li-Polysulfide Batteries with High Sulfur Loading.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered as one of the most promising energy storage systems for next-generation electric vehicles because of their high-energy density. However, the poor cyclic stability, especially at a high sulfur loading, is the major obstacles retarding their practical use. Inspired by the nacre structure of an abalone, a similar configuration consisting of layered carbon nanotube (CNT) matrix and compactly embedded sulfur is designed as the cathode for Li-S batteries, which are realized by a well-designed unidirectional freeze-drying approach.

Dual-spectra encoded suspension array using reversed-phase microemulsion UV curing and electrostatic self-assembling.

The rapid growth of demand for high-throughput multiplexed biochips from modern biotechnology has led to growing interest in suspension array based on multi-channel encoded microbeads. We prepare dual-spectra encoded PEGDA microbeads (DSEPM) by reversed-phase microemulsion UV curing method and layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly method. Excitation of the synthesized DSEPM results in two spectra, including fluorescence spectra from quantum dots and laser induced breakdown spectra from nanoparticles with specific elements.

Lavender-like cobalt hydroxide nanoflakes deposited on nickel nanowire arrays for high-performance supercapacitors.

Hierarchical nanostructured electrodes with excellent electronic properties and high specific surface areas have promising applications in high-performance supercapacitors. However, high active mass loading and uniform structure are still crucial in fabricating such architectures. Herein, Co(OH) nanoflakes were homogeneously deposited on nickel nanowire arrays (NNA) through a hydrothermal approach to form an NNA@Co(OH) (NNACOH) composite electrode.

White light-induced cell apoptosis by a conjugated polyelectrolyte through singlet oxygen generation.

A cationic conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) PPET3 with a poly(-phenylene ethynylene terthiophene) backbone and quaternary ammonium side chains was designed and synthesized. It serves as an efficient photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy under white light irradiation and induces cell death through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Catalytic Effects in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Promoted Sulfur Transformation and Reduced Shuttle Effect.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery has emerged as one of the most promising next-generation energy-storage systems. However, the shuttle effect greatly reduces the battery cycle life and sulfur utilization, which is great deterrent to its practical use. This paper reviews the tremendous efforts that are made to find a remedy for this problem, mostly through physical or chemical confinement of the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs).

A Facile Surface Reconstruction Mechanism toward Better Electrochemical Performance of LiTiO in Lithium-Ion Battery.

Through a facile sodium sulfide (NaS)-assisted hydrothermal treatment, clean and nondefective surfaces are constructed on micrometer-sized LiTiO particles. The remarkable improvement of surface quality shows a higher first cycle Coulombic efficiency (≈95%), a significantly enhanced cycling performance, and a better rate capability in electrochemical measurements. A combined study of Raman spectroscopy and inductive coupled plasma emission spectroscopy reveals that the evolution of LiTiO surface in a water-based hydrothermal environment is a hydrolysis-recrystallization process, which can introduce a new phase of anatase-TiO.

High-Density Microporous LiTiO Microbars with Superior Rate Performance for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Nanosized LiTiO (LTO) materials enabling high rate performance suffer from a large specific surface area and low tap density lowering the cycle life and practical energy density. Microsized LTO materials have high density which generally compromises their rate capability. Aiming at combining the favorable nano and micro size properties, a facile method to synthesize LTO microbars with micropores created by ammonium bicarbonate (NHHCO) as a template is presented.

Mining from transcriptomes: 315 single-copy orthologous genes concatenated for the phylogenetic analyses of Orchidaceae.

Phylogenetic relationships are hotspots for orchid studies with controversial standpoints. Traditionally, the phylogenies of orchids are based on morphology and subjective factors. Although more reliable than classic phylogenic analyses, the current methods are based on a few gene markers and PCR amplification, which are labor intensive and cannot identify the placement of some species with degenerated plastid genomes.