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Metal sulfides are receiving increasing interest for lithium-ion batteries owing to their good reaction reversibility and high reversible theoretical capacity. However, their development still stays at the infancy stage due to the low conductivity and the volume change during charging and discharging processes, resulting in poor rate performance and cycling stability. Herein, a bimetallic sulfide heterostructured SnS/CoS embedded in reduced graphene oxide substrate (SnS/CoS@rGO) is designed by an ingenious design of a one-step method. The rich interphase boundaries in SnS/CoS heterostructures can significantly improve ionic and electronic diffusion kinetics because of the built-in electric field. In addition, the three-dimensional rGO substrate provides extra efficient transfer paths for electrons and ions, and can buffer volume changes to maintain outstanding structural stability. As a result, the SnS/CoS@rGO electrode exhibits high reversible capacity of 1223 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g−1. Even at a current density of 1 A g−1, the capacity remains at 846 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid detection is crucial for the control and management of infectious diseases. The lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) is a prevalent method for quick diagnostics. However, its sensitivity remains a significant limitation. In this study, we report the development of an enhanced test line for LFIA, incorporating spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPBs) to create a nanoparticle (NP)-based 3D antigen capture matrix, resulting in increased sensitivity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens and inactivated viruses. SPBs, characterized by their densely charged polymer-decorated polystyrene NPs, enable efficient immobilization of capture antibodies. By sufficiently utilizing this nanoscale feature of SPBs, a robust "antigen capture matrix" through the volumetric layering of SPBs NPs was established on the LFIA test line. This modification, denoted as the LFIA-SPB strip, retains the foundational architecture and signal interpretation duration of standard LFIA while significantly improving its analytical performance. The limit of detection (LOD) value for detection of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant antigen was improved from 255.90 pg/mL of traditional LFIA to 81.33 pg/mL of LFIA-SPB. It also demonstrated exceptional specificity for SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of other respiratory viruses, achieving a LOD of 0.26 TCID50/mL and a cutoff limit of 0.62 TCID50/mL by naked eye for the inactivated wild type variant. The proposed LFIA-SPB combines high sensitivity and specificity, offering an innovative and straightforward approach to overcome the current limitations of commercial LFIA products. With the benefits of simple production and cost effectiveness, this approach holds significant promise for widespread practical applications in rapid disease diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are recognized for their practicality in homecare and point-of-care testing, owing to their simplicity, cost-efficiency, and rapid visual readouts. Despite these advantages, LFIAs typically fall short in sensitivity, particularly in detecting viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, thus limiting their broader application. In response to this challenge, we have innovated an approach to substantially enhance LFIA sensitivity. This involves the integration of a water-soluble dextran–methacrylate polymer wall with a 15% grafting degree positioned between the test and control lines on the LFIA strip. This novel modification significantly improved the sensitivity of the assay, achieving detection limits as low as 50 pg mL−1 and enhancing the sensitivity by 5–20-fold relative to existing LFIA kits available on the market. Furthermore, our developed LFIA kit (WSPW-LFIA) demonstrated exceptional specificity for SARS-CoV-2. Coupled with a straightforward fabrication process and robust stability, the WSPW-LFIA represents a promising advancement for real-time in vitro diagnosis across a spectrum of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]