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Photocatalytic technology provided an environmentally friendly, green simple and efficient method to treat the pollutant. Interfacial interaction in heterojunction systems has significant effect on photocatalytic activity due to the large discrepancy in lattice parameters. In this work, the [Bi 2 O 2 ]2+-containing materials was used to construct an Bi 2 O 2 S/Bi 12 TiO 20 (BOS/BTO) heterojunction via in-situ growth, and characterized by various approaches to analyze their structural, photoelectrochemical and optical properties. The BOS/BTO composite showed excellent visible light photodegradation of 2, 4-dichlorophenol (2, 4-DCP). Among, the optimal BOS/BTO composite exhibited the removal rates of 2, 4-DCP were 3.5 times and 1.6 times higher than pure BTO and BOS. Meanwhile, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, GC/MS test and a series of experimental results confirmed the type-I photocatalytic mechanism and possible degradation pathway. This work offered a novel ideal for designing heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity via the interfacial engineering of [Bi 2 O 2 ]2+-layer structures. • The Bi 2 O 2 S/Bi 12 TiO 20 heterojunction was synthesized via a simple and economic method. • Designing interfacial engineering of [Bi 2 O 2 ]2+-layer structures for promoting carrier transfer. • The Bi 2 O 2 S/Bi 12 TiO 20 heterojunction exhibited a significant removal rate for 2, 4-DCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To completely utilize the high redox ability of photo-induced charge carriers. Here, a Z-scheme photocatalyst of TiO 2 QDs/Bi 12 TiO 20 (TBT) composites with TiO 2 QDs fragment attached to the surface of Bi 12 TiO 20 (BTO) was prepared and the photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degradation of gatifloxacin (GF). The optimal photocatalytic performance of TBT displayed 3 times higher than bare BTO. The improved photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the effective separation of the charge carriers between TiO 2 QDs and BTO via the direct Z-scheme heterojunction. Such a strategy for the construction of Z-scheme TBT composites for removal of organic pollutants, proving new insights into design photocatalyst. • A TiO 2 quantum dots fragment was prepared and covered on the surface of Bi 12 TiO 20. • A Z-scheme heterojunction was formed between TiO 2 QDs and Bi 12 TiO 20. • The TOQs played as the sensitizer to increase the photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a biofiber was used as the natural polymer carrier to design a BiVO 4 QDs/cellulose fiber composite for photocatalytic application. The biofiber was obtained from bamboo, which was green, abundant and short growth cycle in Asia. Naturally rich groups of biofiber provided many sites to absorb the Bi3+ to form the uniform distribution for BiVO 4 QDs. Moreover, a series of results indicated the strong connection was formed between biofiber and BiVO 4 QDs, which could increase the stability and electron transfer. Therefore, the new composite photocatalyst exhibited better stability and effectively photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the possible mechanism of synthesis and photocatalytic were discussed, which provided insight for synthesizing photocatalytic based on biomaterials. Extracting cellulose fiber of bamboo to designed a novel BiVO 4 QDs/fibers composite photocatalyst via the in-situ method, which showed an enhanced stability and photocatalytic activity. Image 1 • Bamboo as the source to prepared cellulose fibers due to its abundant and short growth cycle. • A novel BiVO 4 QDs/fibers composite photocatalyst was obtained via the in-situ method. • Rich groups of natural cellulose fibers provided many sites to form the stability and distribution BiVO 4. • The mechanism of synthesis and the photocatalytic process were discussed and proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The CDs were firstly fabricated using osmanthus fragrans leaves as carbon source by hydrothermal treatment methods. • A molecular imprinting ratiometric fluorescence sensor for detection of ciprofloxacin has been synthesized. • The MIPs@CdTe/CDs@SiO2 sensor was displayed ultrasensitive and excellent selective determination tociprofloxacin. • A novel photocatalyst of TiO2/CDs/CdTe QDs was fabricated for the degradation of ciprofloxacin. Abstract The sensitive monitoring and rapid removal antibiotics residues are great challenges and hugely significant for the environmental protection. In this work, a green and facile strategy was obtained for the fabrication of highly fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) through hydrothermal treatment of osmanthus fragrans leaves as carbon source and polyethyleneimine as nitrogen source. Then the prepared blue CDs were combined with red CdTe quantum dots (QDs) for constructing MIPs@CdTe/CDs@SiO 2 was applied to selectively and sensitively assay ciprofloxacin (CIP) and TiO 2 /CDs/CdTe QDs as photocatalyst for the degradation of CIP. Under optimum conditions, MIPs@CdTe/CDs@SiO 2 has exhibited lower detection limit of 0.0127 nM with the linear range of 0–60 nM, and successfully applied to monitor CIP in human urine samples. Moreover, the TiO 2 /CDs/CdTe QDs also displayed good photocatalytic degradation of activity to CIP under sunlight irradiation. This present work which was rational constructed materials based on CDs and CdTe QDs illustrates the great practicability and potential to rapid and efficient determination and removal environmental pollutants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• One-step hydrothermal for the synthetization of BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite. • Lignin was controlled the self-assembly process of BiVO 4. • The lignin was carbonized to porous carbon materials. • BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite showed the enhanced photocatalytic activity. Explorations of biomass materials have emerged as a novel strategy to control the synthesis of semiconductor and improve the photocatalytic performance. Here, a lignin-derived porous structure of BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite was prepared via one-step hydrothermal approach. In the preparation process, lignin not only effectively controlled the growth of BiVO 4 but also carbonized to form a porous structure of biochar-based semiconductor photocatalyst. The studies demonstrated that the BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite have enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the departure of electron-hole pairs and charge migration. These insights provided useful insight for the design of efficient biomass-based photocatalyst for environmental protection and green energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon materials was obtained from green tea and acted as the electron transfer medium to effectively enhance photocatalytic performance. • Charge was transferred through dual paths. • The Ni 2 P and CDs were all acted as the active sites for improving the photocatalytic performance. Carbon materials can act as electron transfer media to effectively enhance photocatalytic performance. In this study, carbon dots (CDs) were prepared using green tea to modify Ni 2 P/NiCo-LDH heterostructures. Benefitting from the Co-P bond formed between Ni 2 P and NiCo-LDH and biomass CDs, charge transfer was improved via dual channel. Ni 2 P and CDs acted as active sites for improving the photocatalytic performance. Owing to the synergistic process, the photoresponse capability of CDs/Ni 2 P/NiCo-LDH was significantly increased. In addition, the possible active species in the photocatalytic process are discussed. This study provides a design for ternary photocatalysts with carbon materials and phosphides. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Traditional methods to study leukemia stem cells have potential pitfalls. • The mRNAsi index could avoid these potential pitfalls via machine learning. • We generated differential expression genes by data from the TCGA and GTEx databases. • We constructed the first gene network of leukemia stem cells. • RFC4 and RFC5 were screened as prognostic stemness genes and validated by the TCGA and GEO databases. Traditional methods to understand leukemia stem cell (LSC)'s biological characteristics include constructing LSC-like cells and mouse models by transgenic or knock-in methods. However, there are some potential pitfalls in using this method, such as retroviral insertion mutagenesis, non-physiological level gene expression, non-physiological expansion, and difficulty to construct. The mRNAsi index for each sample of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) could avoid these potential pitfalls by machine learning. In this work, we aimed to construct a network of LSC genes utilizing the mRNAsi. First, mRNAsi value was analyzed with expressions distributions, survival analysis, age, and gender in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples. Then, we used the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to construct modules of stemness genes. The correlation of the LSC genes transcription and interplay among LSC proteins was analyzed. We performed functional and pathway enrichment analysis to annotate stemness genes. Survival analysis further identified prognostic biomarkers by clinical data of TCGA and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We found that the result of mRNAsi overall survival is not significant, which may be due to the heterogeneity of AML in the stage of myeloid differentiation, French–American–British (FAB) classification systems. Enrichment analysis indicated that the stemness genes were biologically clustered as a group and mainly associated with cell cycle and mitosis. Moreover, 10 key genes (SNRNP40, RFC4, RFC5, CDC6, HSPE1, PA2G4, SNAP23P, DARS2, MIS18A, and HPRT1) were screened by survival analysis with the data from TCGA and GEO. Among them, RFC4 and RFC5 were the distinguished biomarkers for their double-validated prognostic value in both databases. Additionally, the expression of RFC4 and RFC5 had the same trend as mRNAsi score in FAB subtypes. In conclusion, our result demonstrated that mRNAsi based LSC-related genes were found to have strong interactions as a cluster. These genes, especially RFC4 and RFC5, could be the therapeutic targets for inhibiting the stemness characteristics of AML. This work is also a comprehensive pipeline for future cancer stem cell studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel non-precious-metal-based composite photocatalysts was developed using layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) and transition metal phosphide (Ni 2 P) to explore the performance of high-efficiency photocatalytic composite materials containing no precious metals. The developed Ni 2 P/NiCo-LDH composites displayed an enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible-light illumination. Further researches confirmed that a unique Co–P bond, which led to an increased light absorption, was formed in the composites. Importantly, this unique Co–P bond reduced the interface transfer resistance of the Ni 2 P/NiCo-LDH composites, enhanced their charge separation efficiency, and formed a rapid charge transport channel between Ni 2 P and NiCo-LDH in the composites to provide improved photocatalytic activity. Additionally, a mechanism was proposed for the further exploration of non-precious metal-based composites. The study provides novel insight into the research on the use of non-precious metal materials and NiCo-LDH in the field of photocatalysis. Image 1 • The Ni 2 P/NiCo-LDH is a composite photocatalyst containing no precious metals. • The Co–P bond accelerated the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers as a charge transfer channel. • Proposed a possible charge transport mechanism for degradation of tetracycline under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]