Search

Rice blast, caused by the filamentous fungus Pyricularia oryzae, has long been one of the major threats to almost all rice-growing areas worldwide. Metconazole, 5-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2, 2-dimethyl-1-(1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-ylmethyl) cyclopentanol, is a lipophilic, highly active triazole fungicide that has been applied in the control of various fungal pathogens of crops (cereals, barley, wheat), such as the Fusarium and Alternaria species. However, the antifungal activity of metconazole against P. oryzae is unknown. In this study, metconazole exhibited broad spectrum antifungal activities against seven P. oryzae strains collected from rice paddy fields and the wild type strain P131. Scanning electron microscopic analysis and fluorescein diacetate staining assays revealed that metconazole treatment damaged the cell wall integrity, cell membrane permeability and even cell viability of P. oryzae, resulting in deformed and shrunken hyphae. The supplementation of metconazole in vitro increased fungal sensitivity to different stresses, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, congo red, sodium chloride, sorbitol and oxidative stress (H2O2). Metconazole could inhibit key virulence processes of P. oryzae, including conidial germination, germ tube elongation and appressorium formation. Furthermore, this chemical prevented P. oryzae from infecting barley epidermal cells by disturbing appressorium penetration and subsequent invasive hyphae development. Pathogenicity assays indicated a reduction of over 75% in the length of blast lesions in both barley and rice leaves when 10 μg/mL of metconazole was applied. This study provides evidence to understand the antifungal effects of metconazole against P. oryzae and demonstrates its potential in rice blast management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer flake Ag/Ni(OH)2 nanostructures are synthesized with a facile hydrothermal reduction method. In the preparation process, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is used as a reducing agent, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is used as a surfactant. The effects of several influencing factors such as the concentration of silver nitrate, reaction temperature and reaction time on the crystal phase of the products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The morphology and chemical composition are characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In a three-electrode system, the electrocatalytic oxidation activity of Ag/Ni(OH)2 nanostructures for glucose was tested by cyclic voltammetry (CV) curve, current-time (i-t) responses and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that Ag/Ni(OH)2 modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) has better catalytic activity for glucose than the Ni(OH)2 modified electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterojunction structure photocatalysts are very promising for photocatalytic degradation dyes to resolve the organic industrial wastewater. In this work, an effective and solar light‐driven Z‐scheme heterojunction photocatalyst CAS/ZnO was prepared by two steps microwave irradiation method. The ZnO nanosheets were successfully compounded with CAS tetragonal particles aggregate. As the ZnO concentration increased, the absorbance decreased but the specific surface area increased. Rhodamine B (RhB) was tested for photodegradation by photocatalysts under a solar simulation in 120 min, and 3 M displayed the highest degradation rate (100 %), highest rate constant (0.021 min−1) and optimum stability. Furthermore, the main reactive species were superoxide radicals (O2−.) and hydroxyl radicals (HO⋅). Also, mechanism of the Z‐scheme migration of photon‐generated carrier and photocatalytic degradation was proposed. This paper provides a new Z‐scheme heterojunction CAS/ZnO photocatalyst for the treatment of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conveniently recoverable photocatalyst with self-floating and photothermal performance has attracted considerable attention. Herein, AgI/UiO-66-NH 2 was anchored on carbonized wood (CW) via a facile solvothermal and ion exchange deposition process. The catalytic properties and performance of the fabricated heterojunction were systematically characterized. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed AgI/UiO-66-NH 2 was anchored on CW surface. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the shift of Zr 3d and Ag 3d, proving the heterojunction formation of samples. The heterojunction exhibited the strong UV adsorption peaks between 400 and 800 nm. The infrared photothermal analysis showed the heterojunction (41.2 °C) can adsorb more heat than AgI/UiO-66-NH 2 (31.2 °C) within 15 min visible light irradiation. As the floating carrier, CW enhanced the adsorption and utilization of sunlight. More than 96% of Rh B were degraded within 150 min with irradiation when the heterojunction was applied, and above 85% degradation rate were preserved after 6 cycling recycles, confirming its outstanding stability. Conclusively, this study paved a new pathway for fabricating the potential of easy recyclability and high stability of AgI/UiO-66-NH 2 @CW from biomass for wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • AgI/UiO-66-NH 2 @CW was synthesized via a facile two-step procedure. • Carbonized wood solved the aggregating disadvantages of powder catalyst. • AgI/UiO-66-NH 2 @CW has good photocatalytic performance and recyclability. • The active species during the degradation process were identified as h+ and ∙O 2 −. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that excessive free radicals play an essential role in the initiation and progression of epilepsy and that a novel exogenous free radical scavenger edaravone (Ed) exerts some neuroprotective effects on seizure‐induced neuronal damage. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms of Ed associated with procaspase‐3 denitrosylation and activation through the FasL‐Trx2 pathway in seizures rats. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ed on the regulation of the combination of Fas ligand/Fas receptor and the major components of the death‐inducing signaling complex (DISC) in the hippocampus of kainic acid (KA)‐treated Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Treatment with Ed can attenuate the increased expression of FasL induced by KA and prevent procaspase‐3 denitrosylation and activation via suppression of the FasL‐Trx2 signaling pathway, which alleviates the neuronal damage in seizures. These results provide experimental evidence that Ed functions by preventing the denitrosylation and activation of procaspase‐3 and that Ed acts as a therapeutic option for epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, PANI/α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH composites were prepared by a facile one-step in-situ polymerization method under acidic conditions. The effects of various reaction conditions were studied. The properties of PANI/α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV–Visible absorption spectrum measurement. The results indicated PANI/α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH composites synthesized at the molar ratio of An, APS, and FeCl3 is 1:1:2 showed better crystallinity and no impurity phase. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of PANI/α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH composites on Rhodamine B (RhB) was superior to pure α-Fe2O3. During the synthesis process, hydrochloric acid plays a very important role, not only promotes the hydrolysis and precipitation of FeCl3·6H2O, but also acts as a dopant during the polymerization of aniline. The formation mechanism of PANI/α-Fe2O3/β-FeOOH was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asparagus-shaped CuO nanostructures were prepared by hydrothermal method using CuCl2·2H2O and NaOH as raw materials, using CTAB as surfactant. The effects of various factors such as the reaction temperature, the surfactant addition amount and the reactants concentration on the CuO crystal phase were studied by X-ray diffraction. The composition and morphology were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified by asparagus-shaped CuO nanostructures was used as the working electrode, the Ag/AgCl electrode was used as the reference electrode, and Pt wire electrode was used as the auxiliary electrode, the electrocatalytic activity for glucose was tested in a three-electrode system. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves show that the redox peak current of 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte with glucose is larger than that of NaOH without glucose, indicating that asparagus-shaped CuO nanostructures have good catalytic oxidation performance for glucose. The mechanism of electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin in black liquor can be used to manufacture carbon nanomaterials on a large scale. However, the effect of nitrogen doping on the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic performance of carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) remains to be explored. In this study, NCQDs with different properties were prepared hydrothermally by using kraft lignin as the raw material and EDA as a nitrogen dopant. The amount of EDA added affects the carbonization reaction and surface state of NCQDs. Raman spectroscopy showed that the surface defects increased from 0.74 to 0.84. Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) showed that NCQDs had different intensities of fluorescence emission at 300–420 nm and 600–900 nm. Meanwhile, NCQDs can photo-catalytically degrade 96 % of MB under simulated sunlight irradiation within 300 min. After three months of storage, the fluorescence intensity of NCQDs remained above 94 %, showing remarkable fluorescence stability. After four times of recycling, the photo-degradation rate of NCQDs was maintained above 90 %, confirming its outstanding stability. As a result, a clear understanding of the design of carbon-based photo-catalyst fabricated from the waste of the paper-making industry has been gained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rare-earth oxide nanoparticles along carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (M2O3/CNTs, M = Y, Nd, Sm) were prepared by in situ solvothermal method. Products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. M2O3/CNTs presented good morphology and large surface area. Furthermore, catalysis of M2O3/CNTs during the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was evaluated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Compared with Nd2O3/CNTs and Sm2O3/CNTs, Y2O3/CNTs nanocomposites showed the best catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of AP. With the addition of 2 wt.% Y2O3/CNTs nanocomposite, high decomposition temperature of AP decreased by 125.5°C, and the total DTA heat release increased by 2.027 kJ·g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylella fastidiosa causes Pierce's disease (PD) on grapevines, leading to significant economic losses in grape and wine production. To further our understanding of X. fastidiosa virulence on grapevines, we examined the PD1311 gene, which encodes a putative acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) synthetase, and is highly conserved across Xylella species. It was determined that PD1311 is required for virulence, as the deletion mutant, ΔPD1311, was unable to cause disease on grapevines. The ΔPD1311 strain was impaired in behaviours known to be associated with PD development, including motility, aggregation and biofilm formation. ΔPD1311 also expressed enhanced sensitivity to H2O2 and polymyxin B, and showed reduced survival in grapevine sap, when compared with wild-type X. fastidiosa Temecula 1 (TM1). Following inoculation, ΔPD1311 could not be detected in grape shoots, which may be related to its altered growth and sensitivity phenotypes. Inoculation with ΔPD1311 2 weeks prior to TM1 prevented the development of PD in a significant fraction of vines and eliminated detectable levels of TM1. In contrast, vines inoculated simultaneously with TM1 and ΔPD1311 developed disease at the same level as TM1 alone. In these vines, TM1 populations were distributed similarly to populations in TM1-only inoculated plants. These findings suggest that, through an indirect mechanism, pretreatment of vines with ΔPD1311 suppresses pathogen population and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited bacterium in plant hosts and causes Pierce’s disease (PD) of grapevines, which differ in susceptibility according to the Vitis species (spp.). In this work we compared X. fastidiosa biofilm formation and population dynamics when cultured in xylem saps from PD-susceptible and -resistant Vitis spp. under different conditions. Behaviors in a closed-culture system were compared to those in different sap-renewal cultures that would more closely mimic the physicochemical environment encountered in planta. Significant differences in biofilm formation and growth in saps from PD-susceptible and -resistant spp. were only observed using sap renewal culture. Compared to saps from susceptible V. vinifera, those from PD-resistant V. aestivalis supported lower titers of X. fastidiosa and less biofilm and V. champinii suppressed both growth and biofilm formation, behaviors which are correlated with disease susceptibility. Furthermore, in microfluidic chambers X. fastidiosa formed thick mature biofilm with three-dimensional (3-D) structures, such as pillars and mounds, in saps from all susceptible spp. In contrast, only small aggregates of various shapes were formed in saps from four out of five of the resistant spp.; sap from the resistant spp. V. mustangensis was an exception in that it also supported thick lawns of biofilm but not the above described 3-D structures typically seen in a mature biofilm from the susceptible saps. Our findings provide not only critical technical information for future bioassays, but also suggest further understanding of PD susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Precursor-heating strategy is introduced to tailor the stress of Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4. • 100℃ treated precursor contributes maximum stress reduction in Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4. • Decreased porosity contributes improved mechanical strength of Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4. • Precursor-treated device exhibits more satisfying bending stability. Co-existing feature with high efficiency and desirable mechanical tolerance for flexible solar cells plays a decisive role in potential industrialization. In this study, we demonstrated a precursor-heating strategy in fabricating flexible Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cell, which effectively decreased residual stress, enhanced mechanical strength and reduced carrier recombination of flexible CZTSSe solar cells. Compared to strategy without precursor-heating, the prepared CZTSSe thin film with 100 °C precursor treatment exhibited a decreased residual stress from −3.39 GPa to −0.71 GPa, featuring an increased efficiency from 3.07% to 4.40% and satisfactory mechanical stability even suffered from various harsh bending. The work paves a forward way for future large-scale application in portable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic poly(styrene−methyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate)/Fe3O4nanospheres with epoxy groups were prepared by modified one-step mini-emulsion polymerization in the presence of Fe3O4ferrofluids. The products were characterized by fourier-transform infrared spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer. After surface modification with diaminopropane, histidine was covalently linked to the amine group of magentic nanospheres using glutaraldehyde as crosslinker. Finally, the preliminary labeling study based on non-radioactive rhenium was carried out and the labeling efficiency reached 80.4%. Such magnetic nanospheres had promising potential in magnetically targeted radiotherapy of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Supramolecular amide hydrogen-bond interactions between bundles of necklace-like chains based on superparamagnetic hollow Fe3O4 nanoparticle beads could be indirectly quantified by shear stress and magnetorheological analyses. First, a facile magnetic field-induced method was developed for the preparation of the superparamagnetic Fe3O4 hierarchical chain structures. Primary Fe3O4 hollow nanospheres, hollow nanosphere-assembled chains, and partially hollow nanosphere-assembled chains were successfully prepared. These superparamagnetic nanoparticles and chains could be well dispersed in aqueous solutions. The magnetic hollow nanoparticle chains possess a strong magnetorheological effect in aqueous solutions. Bundle wire-like structures based on chains or nanospheres could be formed with different magnetic field alignments. The hollow nanostructure greatly strengthens the as-formed bundle wire-like structures such that the chains have a larger magnetorheological effect than that of the hollow nanospheres. It is envisaged that a specific cell transfection mechanism of chains and wires could involve a partial disassembly from bundles to individual chains/wires before endocytosis. The force that is exerted on this disassembly from bundles to individual chains/wires in a specific medium, which are quantified by shear stress and magnetorheological analyses, would shed light on cell magnetofection mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag–carbon composite materials were prepared without any template by hydrothermal carbonization of solvable starch. The composite materials are composed of Ag cores and carbonaceous shell to form a core–shell (Ag@carbon) structure. During the hydrothermal carbonization process, the aromatization and carbonization of solvable starch endowed the Ag@carbon composite structure with abundant aromatic, hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. The AgNO 3 concentration and HTC reaction time are two important factors for regulating the size, morphology and functional groups of the composite material. With the increasing of AgNO 3 concentration, morphologies of the composite material turned from spheres to wires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Water-soluble Fe3O4 nanocrystals have been prepared through hydrothermal approach. These nanocrystals capped with C6H6O6 (the oxidation state of ascorbic acid) could be readily dispersed in hydrated aqueous systems. The final product was characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. From XRD patterns, we confirm the product to be Fe3O4. The nanoparticles several nanometers long were well dispersed as shown in TEM image. Magnetic hysteresis loop measurements showed that the Fe3O4 nanocrystals display superparamagnetism. A possible formation mechanism of the Fe3O4 nanocrystals was suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: SiO2@CdSe core-shell particles were fabricated by controllable deposition CdSe nanoparticles on silica colloidal spheres. Step-wise coating process was tracked by the TEM and XRD measurements. In addition, SiO2@CdSe/polypyrrole(PPy) multi-composite particles were synthesized based on the as-prepared SiO2@CdSe particles by cationic polymerization. The direct electrochemistry of myoglobin (Mb) could be performed by immobilizing Mb on the surface of SiO2@CdSe particles. Immobilized with Mb, SiO2@CdSe/PPy-Mb also displayed good bioelectrochemical activity. It confirmed the good biocompatible property of the materials with protein. CdSe hollow capsules were further obtained as the removal of the cores of SiO2@CdSe spheres. Hollow and porous character of CdSe sub-meter size capsules made them becoming hopeful candidates as drug carriers. Doxorubicin, a typical an antineoplastic drug, was introduced into the capsules. A good sustained drug release behavior of the loading capsules was discovered via performing a release test in the PBS buffer (pH 7.4) solution at 310k. Furthermore, SiO2@CdSe/PPy could be converted to various smart hollow capsules via selectively removal of their relevant components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Silica core–polypyrrole shell composite particles were fabricated by chemical polymerization of pyrrole monomer on the surface of the silica spheres. The steric agent poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was used as anchor-molecule between core and polymer monomer during the polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that the polypyrrole (PPy) shell is uniformly coated over the silica surface. Furthermore, conductive polypyrrole hollow capsules were obtained after the removal of the core. In addition, the macromolecule PVP was retained in the capsules detected by UV-Vis spectra. The size of the core–shell particles and the thickness of the capsules are dependent on the size of silica template as well as the weight ratio of [silica spheres template]/[pyrrole monomer]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The synthesis and characterization of a highly ordered macroporous CdS with regular arrays of spherical pores comparable to optical wavelengths are discussed. The sample has been successfully fabricated using colloidal crystal of poly (styrene-acrylic) (PSA) spheres as templates. The pore size is tunable in the range of 100–400 nm based on the size of PSA spheres. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) show that the exactly three-dimensional structure of the template has been imprinted in the final materials. XRD pattern indicates that the walls of the macroporous material are composed of 4 nm CdS nanoparticles making the absorption spectrum shift blue. The sample was also characterized by Raman spectroscopy and photo luminescent spectra (PL). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Mg(OH)2 nanorods with diameters of ca. 8–10 nm and lengths of more than 250 nm have been prepared by a novel liquid–solid arc discharge technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the Mg(OH)2 nanorods were well-crystallized with the hexagonal structure. The structure features were also analyzed by TEM, HRTEM, and FTIR. Based on the investigation of the influence of current density, discharge time and pH of the electrolyte, the possible growth mechanism of the Mg(OH)2 was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For achieving successful chemotherapy against cancer, designing biocompatible drug delivery systems (DDSs) with long circulation times, high cellular endocytosis efficiency, and targeted drug release is of upmost importance. Herein, a well-defined PEG-b-P(MASSChol-co-MANBoc) block copolymer bearing redox-sensitive cholesteryl-side group was prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization (with non-redox PEG-b-P(MACCChol-co-MAN-DCA) as the reference), and 1,2-dicarboxylic-cyclohexene acid (DCA) was then grafted onto the hydrophobic block to endow it with charge-convertible characteristics under a tumor microenvironment. The amphiphilic copolymer could be assembled into polymeric spherical micelles (SSMCs) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the corona/shell, and anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was successfully encapsulated into the micellar core via strong hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. This nanocarrier showed high stability in the physiological environment and demonstrated "smart" surface charge conversion from negative to positive in the slightly acidic environment of tumor tissues (pH 6.5~6.8), as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Moreover, the cleavage of a disulfide bond linking the cholesterol grafts under an intracellular redox environment (10 mM GSH) resulted in micellar dissociation and accelerated drug release, with the non-redox-responsive micelles (CCMCs) as the control. Additionally, a cellular endocytosis and tumor proliferation inhibition study against MCF-7 tumor cells demonstrated the enhanced endocytosis and tumor cell inhibitory efficiency of dual-responsive SSMCs/DOX nanomedicines, revealing potentials as multifunctional nanoplatforms for effective oncology treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this paper, pure ZnS and Ni-doped ZnS nanostructures (Ni–ZnS) were prepared by facile template-free hydrothermal method. The as-prepared Ni–ZnS was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, and UV–Vis DRS. The effects of different Ni doping amounts and hydrothermal reaction temperatures were investigated. The photocatalytic ability was evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the doping of Ni effectively enhanced the photocatalytic activity of pure ZnS. Ni–ZnS exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic properties, the reaction rate constant (0.01154 min−1) is higher than that of pure ZnS (0.00218 min−1). Carrier separation efficiency and charge transport efficiency were investigated by transient photocurrent response (TPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Scavenger test was used to determine the role of active species, combining the analysis results of UV–Vis DRS, TPS, and EIS, accordingly the photocatalytic mechanism of Ni–ZnS was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major drawback of flexible Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cells is the inevitable residual stress in CZTSSe that considerably limits the efficiency and flexibility of these cells. Hence, in this work, TiN layers with varying thicknesses were sputtered between flexible Ti substrates and back contact Mo layers as diffusion barriers. The TiN barrier layer relieved residual stress, facilitated grain growth, and decreased the porosity of CZTSSe, thereby effectively suppressing the formation of carrier recombination paths and improving the mechanical strength of CZTSSe. Meanwhile, the band alignment of the CZTSSe/CdS heterojunction could be significantly tailored, leading to an improved "cliff-like" conduction band offset from −0.49 eV to −0.33 eV. Under the optimized TiN layer thickness of 50 nm, the power conversion efficiency of the fabricated flexible CZTSSe solar cell increased considerably from 3.43% to 4.85% along with high bending stability. Therefore, introducing the TiN diffusion barrier into traditional flexible CZTSSe solar cells improves the efficiency and flexibility of these devices. Moreover, this method could be a promising pathway for the large-scale production of smart, flexible, and portable electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to design multifunctional contact lenses for selective recognition and utilization of the eye drop ofloxacin (OFL). Modified silicone hydrogel (MSL) contact lenses were firstly synthesized via ultraviolet curing by using (hydroxymethyl)methyl aminomethane, polydimethylsiloxane, methacryloxypropyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane, and N,N-dimethylacrylamide as monomers and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NVP) as a modifier. The synthesized MSL contact lenses were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle and mechanical property tests. The results showed that compared with silicone hydrogel (SL) contact lenses, the MSL contact lenses had a more porous structure and good swelling and mechanical properties. The molecularly imprinted polymer/ofloxacin-modified silicone hydrogel (MIP/OFL-MSL) contact lenses were firstly synthesized via free radical polymerization, using ofloxacin (OFL) as the template molecule. Moreover, compared with chlorogenic acid and myricetin molecule, the MIP/OFL-MSL contact lenses exhibited an adsorption capacity for OFL that reached 2.86 mg/g. The antibacterial test showed that the MIP/OFL-MSL contact lenses displayed an inhibition ring size of 15.2 mm and 17.8 mm for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing the efficiency and mechanical endurance of flexible Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) thin film solar cells is challenging its potential applications of the day. Here, a straightforward strategy is developed to prepare flexible solar cells with the coexistence of photovoltaic performance and flexibility by introducing a novel SbCl 3 in precursor solution. Sb-doped CZTSSe thin film with progressive grain growth from nanoscale to microscale and strengthened toughness with porosity from 8.13 % to 2.44 % is obtained. By exploiting the benefits of upgrading the band matching and tailoring the residual stress, SbCl 3 solution with a concentration of 0.30 mol/L achieves the optimum heterojunction characteristic and mechanical performance. The final structured device with improved efficiency from 3.27 % to 4.98 % and indomitable mechanical endurance is attained, which can reserve 93 % of its original efficiency after bending 200 times. The present work indubitably paves a convenient way toward efficient and flexible photovoltaic devices. • Sb doping is applied to the tailor residual stress of flexible CZTSSe thin film. • Alleviated residual stress contributes to a superior microstructure of CZTSSe. • 0.30 mol/L SbCl 3 exhibits the best PCE with satisfying bending durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition bimetal oxides are widely used in the field of electrochemical sensing because of their variable valence and bimetallic synergies. In this work, we demonstrate the facile synthesis of snow-cake like NiCo2O4 nanostructures and its application as a working electrode modification material in enzyme-free glucose electrochemical sensing field. In a three-electrode system, the electrocatalytic oxidation activity for glucose of NiCo2O4 nanostructures is tested. The snow-cake like NiCo2O4 nanostructures are endowed with superior electron-transfer capability, large surface area, and abundant intrinsic redox couples of Ni2+/Ni3+ and Co2+/Co3+ ions. The modified electrode exhibits excellent glucose-sensing properties, such as detection of wide range of glucose concentrations with good linearity and high sensitivity of 983 μA mM−1 cm−2 at 0.45 V operating potential. Moreover, the interference from the commonly interfering species such as ascorbic acid (AA), sodium chloride (NaCl) and uric acid (UA) can be effectively avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform 3D rod‐like α‐Fe2O3 nanostructures are prepared by a simple ultrasonic‐assisted hydrolysis precipitation method. The obtained α‐Fe2O3 samples are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical workstation. These rod‐like α‐Fe2O3 nanostructures, with a mean diameter of about 38 nm, their ratios of length to diameter are about 5–8. The interfacial electron transfer properties of rod‐like α‐Fe2O3 nanostructures are verified. The current synthetic strategy provides a convenient, low‐cost, and nontoxic route to prepare 3D architectures of other semiconductors, and it is important for exploring oxide‐based nanostructures. Rod‐like α‐Fe2O3 nanostructures are successfully synthesized by a novel ultrasonic‐assisted hydrolysis precipitation method. The effects of the pH value and calcinations temperature on the crystal phase are investigated. The interfacial electron transfer properties of rod‐like α‐Fe2O3 nanostructures are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ga doping is applied to the tailor residual stress of flexible CZTSSe thin film. • Alleviated residual stress contributes a superior microstructure of CZTSSe. • Evaporated 20 nm Ga layer exhibits the best PCE with satisfying bending durability. Ga-doped CZTSSe is achieved by evaporating Ga layer in precursor combined with subsequent selenization to balance the efficiency and bending durability of flexible CZTSSe solar cells in this paper. Ga doping can simultaneously alleviate the residual stress and reinforce the microstructure of CZTSSe, retaining the original lattice structure of CZTSSe and suppressing Sn-related deep level defects. The gratifying residual stress reduction from -5.31 GPa to -3.82 GPa with decreased porosity from 6.24% to 3.24% of CZTSSe thin film spontaneously promotes the device performance after evaporating the 20 nm Ga layer. A desirable efficiency enhancement from 2.61% to 5.04% with preferable bending durability of flexible device is achieved, which strategy provides substantial assistance for the potential application of flexible solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuBi2O4 is a promising p-type semiconductor material with a theoretical maximum current density of about 19.7 mA cm‒2. Although CuBi2O4 has a very high theoretical photocurrent, its poor charge transmission efficiency makes its actual photocurrent far less than its theoretical values. Herein, an in situ modification method is adopted to prepare a photocathode material with Ag as conductive channels. A metal–organic coating method is used to introduce Ag conductive channels, promoting the charge transmission between grains. Ag particles play the role of electrical connection, and improve the separation and transmission of carriers, so as to obtain enhanced photocurrent density. In situ formed Ag conductive channels significantly enhanced the PEC performance of CuBi2O4 photocathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The cashmere industry is a crucial resource and pillar of animal husbandry in the desert and semidesert regions of the central and western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The development of embryonic hair follicles is vital in determining the quality and quantity of cashmere; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying embryonic hair follicle development remain unknown. This study employed proteomic and metabolomic techniques to analyse embryonic skin samples from cashmere goats. The results revealed that the oxytocin signalling pathway is crucial in embryonic hair follicle development by activating the MAPK and Ca2+ signalling pathways. The findings of this study expand our theoretical understanding of embryonic hair follicle development in cashmere goats and serve as a premise for future research. The hair follicle (HF) is the fundamental unit for fleece and cashmere production in cashmere goats and is crucial in determining cashmere yield and quality. The mechanisms regulating HF development in cashmere goats during the embryonic period remain unclear. Growing evidence suggests that HF development involves complex developmental stages and critical events, and identifying the underlying factors can improve our understanding of HF development. In this study, samples were collected from embryonic day 75 (E75) to E125, the major HF developmental stages. The embryonic HFs of cashmere goats were subjected to proteomic and metabolomic analyses, which revealed dynamic changes in the key factors and signalling pathways controlling HF development at the protein and metabolic levels. Gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes were used to functionally annotate 1784 significantly differentially expressed proteins and 454 significantly differentially expressed metabolites enriched in different HF developmental stages. A joint analysis revealed that the oxytocin signalling pathway plays a sustained role in embryonic HF development by activating the MAPK and Ca2+ signalling pathways, and a related regulatory network map was constructed. This study provides a global perspective on the mechanism of HF development in cashmere goats and enriches our understanding of embryonic HF development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Nerve injury‐induced maladaptive changes in gene expression in the spinal neurons are essential for neuropathic pain genesis. Circular RNAs (ciRNA) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression. Here, we identified a nervous‐system‐tissues‐specific ciRNA‐Kat6 with conservation in humans and mice. We aimed to investigate whether and how spinal dorsal horn ciRNA‐Kat6b participates in neuropathic pain. Methods: Unilateral sciatic nerve chronic constrictive injury (CCI) surgery was used to prepare the neuropathic pain model. The differentially expressed ciRNAs were obtained by RNA‐Sequencing. The identification of nervous‐system‐tissues specificity of ciRNA‐Kat6b and the measurement of ciRNA‐Kat6b and microRNA‐26a (miRNA‐26a) expression level were carried out by quantitative RT‐PCR. The ciRNA‐Kat6b that targets miRNA‐26a and miRNA‐26a that targets Kcnk1 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by in vitro luciferase reports test and in vivo experiments including Western‐blot, immunofluorescence, and RNA–RNA immunoprecipitation. The correlation between neuropathic pain and ciRNA‐Kat6b, miRNA‐26a, or Kcnk1 was examined by the hypersensitivity response to heat and mechanical stimulus. Results: Peripheral nerve injury downregulated ciRNA‐Kat6b in the dorsal spinal horn of male mice. Rescuing this downregulation blocked nerve injury‐induced increase of miRNA‐26a, reversed the miRNA‐26a‐triggered decrease of potassium channel Kcnk1, a key neuropathic pain player, in the dorsal horn, and alleviates CCI‐induced pain hypersensitivities. On the contrary, mimicking this downregulation increased the miRNA‐26a level and decreased Kcnk1 in the spinal cord, resulting in neuropathic pain‐like syndrome in naïve mice. Mechanistically, the downregulation of ciRNA‐Kat6b reduced the accounts of miRNA‐26a binding to ciRNA‐Kat6b, and elevated the binding accounts of miRNA‐26a to the 3′ untranslated region of Kcnk1 mRNA and degeneration of Kcnk1 mRNA, triggering in the reduction of KCNK1 protein in the dorsal horn of neuropathic pain mice. Conclusion: The ciRNA‐Kat6b/miRNA‐26a/Kcnk1 pathway in dorsal horn neurons regulates the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, ciRNA‐Kat6b may be a potential new target for analgesic and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study synthesized poly(vinyl alcohol)/carboxymethyl chitosan/cyanidin (PVA/CMCS/CY) hydrogel films. First, PVA and CMCS were used to synthesize hydrogel films by ultraviolet irradiation. Meanwhile, CY was in situ combined into the hydrogel films through the electrostatic attraction between CMCS and CY. Next, the products were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle test, swelling analysis, and mechanical property test. The results revealed that compared with PVA/CMCS hydrogel films, the PVA/CMCS/CY hydrogel films had an interporous structure and good swelling and mechanical properties. Moreover, the drug release experiments demonstrated that the PVA/CMCS/CY hydrogel films had a CY encapsulation efficiency of 33.5% with a sustained CY release of up to 60 h. Furthermore, the examined antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli showed that the porous PVA/CMCS/CY hydrogel films exhibited a certain inhibition. Cell viability experiments demonstrated that the PVA/CMCS/CY films displayed no obvious cytotoxicity to human umbilical vein endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of cholesterol-bearing poly(methacrylate)s with pendant cationic (l-)-lysine (Chol-PHML) was synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, followed by Boc-deprotection. Their structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Then, the average particle sizes and zeta potentials of the Chol-PHML/pDNA polyplexes were examined using dynamic light scattering (DLS), and their plasmid DNA (pDNA)-binding ability was analyzed using agarose gel retardation assay. In vitro cytotoxicity of the polycations was determined using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kits in HeLa cells. The polyplex's gene transfection effectiveness was investigated using a luciferase assay. The results revealed that the Chol-PHML series could efficiently bind/load pDNA with a high binding affinity (N/P < 3.0) and subsequently form nanoparticles with the sizes of 90–200 nm and zeta potentials of ∼+40 mV in an aqueous solution. The in vitro cytotoxicity and gene transfection efficiency considerably depended on the Chol-PHML vector's molecular weight. The optimal Chol-PHML27 exhibited a substantially higher gene transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than those of the linear structural PLL (15 K–30K) and PHML26 control. This study presents a simple method for synthesizing biocompatible and controllable cationic gene vectors by introducing hydrophobic cholesterol moieties, which will function as a promising foundation for gene delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiVO4 possesses a suitable band gap for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to produce hydrogen; however, the performance of BiVO4 is limited by several adverse factors. The bulk charge recombination and the slow surface water oxidation reaction of BiVO4 are main unfavorable factors. In view of these disadvantages, an Fe–Bi electrocatalyst is loaded on BiVO4 to improve the PEC performance of BiVO4. After modification, the onset potential of BiVO4 shifts negatively by 60 mV, and the saturated photocurrent is greatly increased. Systematic studies demonstrate that the Fe–Bi electrocatalyst not only enhances the bulk charge separation, but also accelerates the surface water oxidation rate of BiVO4 and greatly reduces the resistance of the reaction interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is important for hydrogen fuel production. In this study, we synthesized two different types of CoS 2 under low sulfur (LS) and high sulfur concentration (HS) conditions. Structural analysis results show that CoS impurity phase forms easily when the concentration of sulfur is low, while at high sulfur concentration the growth of CoS impurity phase is inhibited and leads to phase-pure CoS 2. Electrochemical investigation of HER performance reveals that the onset potential of CoS 2 (HS) electrode (ca. − 0.11 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) is 30 mV anodic of the CoS 2 (LS) one (ca. − 0.14 V vs. RHE). At a specific current density of 10 mA cm−2 the required overpotential on CoS 2 (HS) electrode is only 163 mV, which is 40 mV less than the CoS 2 (LS) electrode. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data further demonstrate that the charge transfer rate of CoS 2 (HS) electrode is faster than that of CoS 2 (LS) electrode towards HER. • CoS 2 electrocatalysts with two different nanostructures and stoichiometries are produced. • Sulfur concentration plays a key role in the synthesis of CoS 2. • High sulfur concentration is conducive to reducing the formation of sulfur vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fe3O4/reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4/RGO) nanocomposites with good dispersibility were synthesized for targeted delivery of paclitaxel (PTX). Firstly, the superparamagnetic Fe3O4/functional GO nanocomposites were prepared via hydrothermal method in which GO sheets were modified by surfactant wrapping. The Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites were successively prepared through the reduction of graphene oxide. The products were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectrum, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibration sample magnetometry. It was found that spherical Fe3O4 nanoparticles were uniformly anchored over the RGO matrix and the nanocomposites were superparamagnetic with saturation magnetization (Ms) of 9.39 emu/g. Then PTX was loaded onto Fe3O4/RGO nanocomposites, and the drug loading capacity was 67.9%. Cell viability experiments performed on MCF-7 demonstrated that the Fe3O4/RGO-loaded PTX (Fe3O4/RGO/PTX) showed cytotoxicity to MCF-7, whereas the Fe3O4/RGO displayed no obvious cytotoxicity. The above results indicated that Fe3O4/RGO/PTX nanocomposites had potential application in tumor-targeted chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TiN-Al 2 O 3 -Cr gradient layer is introduced to tailor residual stress of CZTSSe. • 60 nm sputtered gradient layer contributes the best heterojunction characteristic. • Gradient layer introduced device exhibits more satisfying bending stability. In an effort to promote the mechanical endurance of flexible Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) solar cells, a convenient and effective strategy for introducing a TiN-Al 2 O 3 -Cr gradient layer is proposed, which can effectively tailor the residual stress and improve the heterojunction characteristic of solar cell. Benefitted from the optimum TiN-Al 2 O 3 -Cr gradient layer with 60 nm, CZTSSe presents a released residual stress of −3.33 GPa and an optimized heterojunction characteristic with the CBO of −0.28 eV. Furthermore, the PCE of flexible device is remarkably improved from 3.31 % to 5.01 %, which can maintain 85 % of the original efficiency after harsh bending. The proposed gradient layer strategy may pave a thriving way for congener flexible and portable cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) TiO 2 was designed by assembling Ag nano-particles (NPs) into the network of 3DOM TiO 2 to form a 3DOM composite nano-architecture, the 3DOM-TiO 2 @Ag. The designed 3DOM-TiO 2 @Ag nano-architecture effectively amplified the Raman signal of Eosin Y (EY), owing to its interconnected 3DOM network, appropriate energy matching between EY and the 3DOM nano-architecture, and the surface plasmon resonances and optical antenna effect of Ag NPs. Firstly, interconnected 3DOM network improved the adsorption ability of 3DOM-TiO 2 @Ag for EY molecules as its interconnected 3DOM networks offered high surface area and porous volume which can drive EY solution into it by large capillarity forces. Secondly, energy matching between EY molecules and each components of 3DOM-TiO 2 @Ag promoted the photo-generated electrons to transfer from excited EY molecules through the Ag/TiO 2 heterojunction and inject into the Ag NPs to improve its surface electron density. Surface plasmon resonances of the Ag NPs also contributed to amplifying the Raman signals of the EY molecules. Detection limit of the 3DOM-TiO 2 @Ag substrate could 10 − 12 M for EY molecules. In addition, the designed 3DOM substrate exhibited favorable stability, reproducibility and universality for detecting EY and other with structural similar molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Cu 2 O–Au nanoparticles (NPs) heterojunction catalyst anchored on wood was developed by in situ reduction and hydrothermal treatment, and the properties of the catalyst were systematically characterized. The catalyst exhibited prominent photocatalysis of methyl orange (MO, 0.169 min− 1), and tetracycline (TC, 0.122 min−1) which were degraded completely within 20 min. Even after four recyclings, the efficiency of MO degradation by the catalyst remained at 80%. The natural wood with three-dimensional porous structures acted as a reducing agent and a stabilizer for Au NPs and Cu 2 O, which helped to maintain high performance and reusability. The presence of Au NPs mediated the light-induced electron transfer and enhanced the absorption of visible light for promoting photocatalytic activity. The intermediates of contaminants within the degradation process were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Additionally, the photogenerated superoxide radicals and holes were identified by electron spin resonance. Thus, the potential degradation mechanism catalyzed by the Cu 2 O–Au NPs-wood was proposed. This findings of this study valorizes biomass as a photocatalyst for wastewater remediation. Preparation of a heterogeneous Cu 2 O–Au NPs-wood photocatalyst and its application. [Display omitted] • Cu 2 O–Au NPs-wood heterojunction exhibits highly catalytic property. • Conductive porous carbonized wood enhances the photocatalytic performance. • Cu 2 O–Au NPs-wood can effectively photocatalytic degrade MO and TC. • The degradation of pollutant photo-catalyzed by heterojunction is elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide with water as the only oxygen source is achieved on Mo-BiVO 4 photoanode. Mo-BiVO 4 photoelectrode performs oxygen transfer reaction in PEC oxidation of MPS. [Display omitted] • Mo-BiVO 4 photoelectrode was applied to oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide. • PEC oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reaction was achieved on Mo-BiVO 4 photoelectrode. • Isotopic labelling experiment with H 2 18O revealed oxygen atoms in MPSO were mainly from water. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) selective oxidation is an environment-friendly strategy to obtain value-added chemicals. Herein, we report the PEC oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide (MPS) into methyl phenyl sulfoxide (MPSO) with 85.7 % selectivity and 36.2 % conversion on molybdenum doped bismuth vanadate (Mo-BiVO 4) photoelectrode under simulated sunlight illumination (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW cm−2). Isotopic labelling experiment with H 2 18O was conducted to clearly reveal that the oxygen atoms in the MPSO were mainly from water. Based on these results, the application of Mo-BiVO 4 has been extended to PEC selective oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanode was modified by antimony. • Ethylene glycol was an excellent solvent for antimony treatment. • The α-Fe2O3 photoanodes combined with antimony post-treatment showed the best photoelectrochemical performance. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanode suffers from the high carrier recombination rate and the short hole diffusion distance. Enhancing its carrier transport is an important way to improve its performance. In this paper, α-Fe 2 O 3 films were synthesized by hydrothermal method and further optimized by ethylene glycol assisted antimony treatment. Antimony treatment can be divided into pre-annealing and post-annealing treatment. The photocurrent of hematite photoanode post-annealing treated by Sb dissolved in ethylene glycol photoanode can reach to 1.18 mA cm−2, which is 1.6 times higher than that of bare α-Fe 2 O 3 photoanode. The improvement of PEC performance is mainly attributed to the effective inhibition of carrier recombination by antimony treatment. In addition, the slope of the Mott-Schottky curves of Fe 2 O 3 can be obviously changed by antimony treatment, demonstrating the significant increase of carrier concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Currently, not enough is known about the effect of histone modification on the epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells, and the lack of basic study limits the development of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of lysine crotonylation, a newly discovered histone post-translational modification, on the reprogramming of somatic cells from Cashmere goats. The results showed that the crotonylation level was increased in somatic cells with sodium crotonate treatment. At the same time, the treatment of somatic cells improved the cloned embryo cleavage rate. In conclusion, an increasing crotonylation level could promote the reprogramming of somatic cells and cloned embryo development. This finding provides an important reference for future improvements in the efficiency of in vitro Cashmere goat somatic cell nuclear transfer embryo production. Failure in the epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells is considered the main reason for lower cloned embryo development efficiency. Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) occupies an important position in epigenetic modification, while its effects on somatic cell reprogramming have not been reported. In this study, we detected the influence of sodium crotonate (NaCr) on the Kcr levels in three types of somatic cells (muscle-derived satellite cells, MDSCs; fetal fibroblast cells, FFCs; and ear tip fibroblast cells, EFCs). The three types of somatic cells were treated with NaCr for cloned embryo construction, and the cleavage rates and Kcr, H3K9cr, and H3K18cr levels in the cloned embryos were analyzed. The results showed that the abnormal levels of Kcr, H3K9cr, and H3K18cr were corrected in the treatment groups. Although there was no significant difference in the cloned embryo cleavage rate in the FFC treatment group, the cleavage rates of the cloned embryos in the MDSCs and EFCs treatment groups were increased. These findings demonstrated that the Kcr level was increased with NaCr treatment in somatic cells from Cashmere goat, which contributed to proper reprogramming. The reprogramming of somatic cells can be promoted and cloned embryo development can be improved through the treatment of somatic cells with NaCr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring cheap and efficient cocatalysts is particularly important for a photoanode during photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Herein, we demonstrate that composite CoOx/CuO cocatalyst could efficiently enhance the oxygen evolution activity of BiVO4. The onset potential of BiVO4 shifts negatively from 0.42 to 0.38 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and the photocurrent of BiVO4 increases from 0.42 mA cm−2 to 1.58 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which increases by about 3.76 times. It was confirmed by subsequent electrochemical and physical characterization that the charge separation and injection efficiency were improved, and the IPCE was also improved. Systematic studies indicate that composite CoOx/CuO cocatalyst exhibits better performance than the single CoOx or CuO cocatalyst for promoting the separation of electron‐hole, and accelerating the surface water oxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuSbS2 particles could be rapidly prepared by the microwave-assisted liquid phase method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as the directing agent for morphology and structure of CuSbS2 particles. Microwave irradiation could induce Cu2+, adsorbed on PEG chain structure, to reduce as Cu+. In the further reaction, the rod-like structure of CuSbS2 was formed. The results showed that the CuSbS2 particles prepared by the PEG400 structure directing agent had a higher first discharge specific capacity (~1499.6 mAh g−1) and excellent electronic and ionic conductivity. This method provides a new idea for the morphology control of anode materials for high energy density lithium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realizing flexible Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe) thin film solar cell with high efficiency and excellent mechanical durability has always been a challenging task in green demanded era. In this work, Cu 2 Cd x Zn 1-x Sn(S,Se) 4 (CCZTSSe) absorber was synthesized by selenizing Cd2+ treated CZTS precursor. Due to the powerful ability of Cd2+ soaking in boosting grain growth, the grain size of CCZTSSe was remarkably increased from nano to micron level. Cd atom actually act entering into the lattice and replaces Zn location in the post-selenization process. The band gap of CCZTSSe exhibits a decreasing trend (1.37 eV–1.29 eV) as x increases from 0 to 0.13. In comparison to CZTSSe absorber without Cd2+ soaking treatment, Cu 2 Cd x Zn 1-x Sn(S,Se) 4 (x = 0.03, 0.07 and 0.13) can establish the heterojunction with better matching effect with CdS buffer layer, demonstrating an enhanced conduction band offset (CBO). The improved heterojunction characteristic substantially prevents carrier recombination caused by interface state defects, which can be the crucial reason of the enhanced device performance. Finally, for x = 0.07, the device efficiency was optimized to 4.38%. This systematic work offers a novel solution for vital problems encountered in flexible CZTSSe thin film solar cells, which can lead to prospective applications in wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C,N,S-tridoped TiO 2 hollow spheres (labeled as C,N,S-THs) were synthesized using carbon spheres as template and C,N,S-tridoped TiO 2 nanoparticles as building blocks. The structure and physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS), N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Photoluminescence emission spectroscopy (PL). The results showed that the hollow spheres had average diameter of about 200 nm and the shell thickness was about 20 nm. The tridoped TiO 2 hollow spheres exhibited strong absorption in the visible-light region. C,N,S-tridoped could narrow the band gap of the THs by mixing the orbit O 2p with C 2p, N 2p and S 3p orbits and shift its optical response from ultraviolet (UV) to the visible-light region. PL analysis indicated that the electron-hole recombination rate of TiO 2 hollow spheres had been effectively inhibited when doped with C, N and S elements. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated for the degradation of X-3B (Reactive Brilliant Red dye, C.I. Reactive Red 2) aqueous solution under visible-light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. It was found that the C,N,S-tridoped TiO 2 hollow spheres indicated higher photocatalytic activity than commercial P25 and the undoped counterpart photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ellipsoidal FeCO3 microcrystals with length of ∼5–6.5μm and width of ∼2.5–3.5μm have been synthesized by an ascorbic acid assisted hydrothermal process. Both microsized ellipsoidal Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 microparticles were obtained using the spindle FeCO3 as sacrificial templates via direct thermal decomposition and sealed thermal decomposition for 2h at 500°C, respectively. The products were characterized with the X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. The influences of the experimental factors on growth of the FeCO3 micron crystals were also investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: By using a surface-modified templating method, Fe2O3@polypyrrole (PPy) core/shell spindles have been successfully prepared in this paper. The Fe2O3 particles with spindle morphology were initially fabricated as core materials. After the PVP modification, the Fe2O3 spindles were subsequently coated with a tunable thickness layer of PPy by in situ deposition of the conducting polymer from aqueous solution. Hollow PPy spindles were produced by dissolution of the Fe2O3 core from the core/shell particles. High-temperature treatment under vacuum condition covert the hollow PPy spindles into carbon capsules by carbonization of the PPy shell. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the formation of the Fe2O3@PPy core/shell particles, PPy and carbon capsules with spindle morphology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

One-dimensional (1D) CuO nanostructures with nanoribbons, scroll-like structure, arrays of CuO nanoparticles and nanorod-like morphologies respectively, have been successfully prepared using the single-crystalline Cu2(OH)2CO3 nanoribbons as precursors for sacrifice-template via heat-treatments. The series of morphologies images for decomposition kinetics process of Cu2(OH)2CO3 nanoribbons as heat-treatment temperature increased are presented in this work. The result demonstrates that the morphologies of the 1D CuO nanostructures obtained are mainly due to the ribbon-like shape of the precursors. The morphologies of CuO nanostructures also strongly depend on the heat-treatment conditions. At relatively low heat-treatment temperature and heating rate, the morphological features of the precursor can be preserved well, while arrays of CuO nanoparticles can be obtained at higher heating rate and CuO rod-like shape can be prepared with increasing heat-treatment temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel sonication method has been successfully developed for the preparation of anthracene nanoparticles. The as-prepared nanoparticles are characterized using transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence excitation and emission spectroscopy. Nanoparticles prepared with sonication are smaller and better dispersed than with magnetic stirring. Surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, bis(2-ethylhexyl)sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium dodecyl sulfonate and polyvinylpyrrolidone are used to control the size and morphology. Excimer band is found at 445 and 472 nm and possible mechanism is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]