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Herein, considering the great potential of nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbons in energy storage and CO 2 capture, we designed a convenient and easily large-scale production strategy for preparing nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon sphere (NHPCS) materials. In this synthesis route, spherical resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resins were selected as carbon precursor, and then the ZnCl 2 -impregnated RF resin spheres were carbonized in a NH 3 atmosphere at a temperature range of 600–800 °C. During the one-step heat-treatment process, nitrogen atom could be efficiently incorporated into the carbon skeleton, and the interconnected and hierarchical pore structure with different micro/mesopore proportion could be generated and tuned by adjusting the activating agent ZnCl 2 dosage and carbonization temperature. The resultant nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon sphere materials exhibited a satisfactory charge storage capacity, and the optimal sample of NHPCS-2-8 with a high mesopore proportion obtained at 800 °C with a ZnCl 2 /RF mass ratio of 2:1 presented a specific capacitance of 273.8 F g −1 at a current density of 0.5 A g −1 . More importantly, the assembled NHPCS-2-8-based symmetric capacitor displayed a high energy density of 17.2 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 178.9 W kg −1 within a voltage window of 0 ∼ 1.8 V in 0.5 M Na 2 SO 4 aqueous electrolyte. In addition, the CO 2 capture application of these NHPCS materials was also explored, and the optimal sample of NHPCS-0-8 with a large micropore proportion prepared at 800 °C exhibited an exceptional CO 2 uptake capacity at ambient pressures of up to 4.23 mmol g −1 at 0 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the fundamental trade-off in leaf traits related to carbon capture as described by the leaf economics spectrum is well-established among plant species, the relationship of the leaf economics spectrum to stem hydraulics is much less known. Since carbon capture and transpiration are coupled, a close connection between leaf traits and stem hydraulics should be expected. We thus asked whether xylem traits that describe drought tolerance and vulnerability to cavitation are linked to particular leaf traits. We assessed xylem vulnerability, using the pressure sleeve technique, and anatomical xylem characteristics in 39 subtropical tree species grown under common garden conditions in the BEF-China experiment and tested for correlations with traits related to the leaf economics spectrum as well as to stomatal control, including maximum stomatal conductance, vapor pressure deficit at maximum stomatal conductance and vapor pressure deficit at which stomatal conductance is down-regulated. Our results revealed that specific xylem hydraulic conductivity and cavitation resistance were closely linked to traits represented in the leaf economic spectrum, in particular to leaf nitrogen concentration, as well as to log leaf area and leaf carbon to nitrogen ratio but not to any parameter of stomatal conductance. The study highlights the potential use of well-known leaf traits from the leaf economics spectrum to predict plant species' drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To study the effects of source–sink ratio and nutrient supply on photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 elevation, we subjected white birch seedlings to two levels of nutrient supply (high vs. low) and CO2 concentrations (ambient vs. doubled [CO2]) for two months and then shaded the lower canopy on half of the seedlings to reduce source/sink ratio for an additional month. The CO2 elevation significantly increased P n and IWUE at both nutrient levels but the increase was greater in the high than low nutrient treatment. The CO2 elevation resulted in a down-regulation of V cmax in the low nutrient treatment but up-regulation of J max, TPU, and J c in the high nutrient after 3 months of treatment. Both the CO2 elevation and high nutrient supply increased the partition of total electron transport to carboxylation at the expense of oxidation. The seedlings responded to the shading of the lower canopy by reducing biomass allocation to roots rather than making physiological adjustments to unshaded leaves in the upper canopy. Our results suggest that the direction of photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 elevation in white birch was nutrient-dependent and an increase in sink strength could reduce the feedback inhibition of photosynthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Temporal changes in gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of Paeonia suffruticosa seedlings acclimated to three levels of light environments were investigated. There was a significant photosynthetic depression in seedlings acclimated to a long time of shading and then suddenly exposed to full ambient radiation. The decreased transpiration (E) resulted from ‘feed-forward effect’ mechanism [Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 5 (1978) 787]. An obvious photosynthetic plasticity was found when the seedlings were acclimated to respective light regimes for 1 month. The photosynthetic rate (Pn) for seedlings acclimated to high-light regime was significantly higher than that for seedlings acclimated to intermediate- and low-light regimes. The decreased Pn for seedlings acclimated to low-light regime was attributed to non-stomatal limitation when exposed to full ambient light. A significant decrease in Fv/Fm for the seedlings acclimated to low-light regime indicated that the photosystem II (PSII) was inactivated when seedlings were exposed to full ambient light. Nevertheless, the photosynthetic plasticity of the P. suffruticosa seedlings was limited temporally. A long time (2 months) of high-light exposure may damage the photosynthetic apparatus. The Pn for seedlings acclimated to intermediate-light regime was significantly greater than that for seedlings acclimated to high- and low-light regimes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Molten salt synthesis of 1T/2H mixed phase MoS 2 for boosting photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance via Schottky junction under EY-sensitized system. [Display omitted] Clean H 2 fuel obtained from the photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen reaction could efficiently alleviate current energy crisis and the concomitant environmental pollution problems. Therefore, it is desirable to search for a highly efficient photocatalytic system to decrease the energy barrier of water splitting reaction. Herein, the 1T/2H mixed phase MoS 2 sample with Schottky junction between contact interfaces is developed through molten salt synthesis for photocatalytic hydrogen production under a dye-sensitized system (Eosin Y-TEOA-MoS 2) driven by the visible light. In mixed phase MoS 2 sample, the photogenerated electrons of 2H-phase MoS 2 migrated to the 1T-phase MoS 2 are difficult to jump back because of the existence of Schottky barrier, which greatly suppresses the quenching of EY and therefore results in an enhanced hydrogen evolution performance. Therefore, the optimized MoS 2 sample (MoS 2 -350) has an initial hydrogen evolution rate of 213 μmol h−1 and corresponding apparent quantum yield of 36.1 % at 420 nm, far higher than those of pure Eosin Y. It is strongly confirmed by the steady‐state/time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra and transient photocurrent response experiments. With the assistance of Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the function of Schottky junction in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is well explained. In addition, a new and universal method (SVM curve) of judging oxidation or reduction quenching for photosensitizers is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Few-atom-thick two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) monolayers possess numerous crucial applications in energy storage. Usually, the strategy of activating interfacial electron transfer was employed to promote their performance. Herein, we reshape the structure of materials to excite their subinterfacial and interfacial electron transfer for superior metal-ion batteries. As an example, we rationally design and reconfigure the structure of 2D MoS 2 and propose a new stable structure, B-MoS 2 , which has an S–Mo–S sandwich structure with a buckled square lattice. The B-MoS 2 monolayer is a promising anode material for magnesium-ion batteries (MgIBs) with a high capacity (921.3 mA h g−1) and a low averaged open circuit voltage (0.154 V). Multiscale underlying mechanisms for the storage of Mg and Li ions in MoS 2 are provided. Based on the electronic level, the high capacity is ascribed to the occurrence of interfacial and subinterfacial electron transfer between metal ions and B-MoS 2. Based on the atomic level, the insertion-adsorption mechanism or adsorption-insertion mechanism is determined for different ion storage at B-MoS 2. The intrinsic metallic property of B-MoS 2 and the enhanced electronic conductivity of Mg/B-MoS 2 systems as well as low migration barriers (∼0.604 eV) of Mg ions at MoS 2 suggest that the B-MoS 2 anode has fast charge/discharge rates. This work offers novel concepts (i.e. subinterfacial electron transfer and its activation) for superior energy storage materials, and proposes new multiscale underlying mechanisms for ion storage in the MoS 2 family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can generate reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells by activating sonosensitizers under ultrasound (US) irradiation. Nevertheless, its application is greatly limited by low quantum yield of sonosensitizers, high levels of endogenous glutathione (GSH) and tumor hypoxia. Herein, a GSH-activated sonosensitizers with synergistic therapy effect (chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and SDT) are developed by depositing Fe(III)-artemisinin infinite coordination polymers (Fe(III)-ART CPs) in pores of mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs). The formed Fe(III)-ART-TiO 2 NPs have high sono-induced electron-hole separation efficiency because the deposited Fe(III)-ART CPs can provide isolated intermediate bands to capture sono-induced electrons in TiO 2 NPs. Meanwhile, Fe3+ in Fe(III)-ART-TiO 2 NPs are reduced to Fe2+ by GSH with oxygen-deficient sites generated to further capture sono-induced electrons in TiO 2 NPs. Based on this, the reaction efficiency between water molecules and sono-induced holes is high enough to generate numerous hydroxyl radicals (•OH) without oxygen participated for overcoming tumor hypoxia. Additionally, through consuming GSH, the generated Fe2+ can catalyze ART to produce C-centered free radicals for CDT. Owing to these characteristics, Fe(III)-ART-TiO 2 NPs show significant tumor suppression ability and good biocompatibility in vivo. The strategy of using CDT agent to modify sonosensitizers offers new options to improve SDT effect without introducing harmful substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyl radical (•OH) in fuel combustion gas seriously damages human health. The techniques for simultaneously detecting and scavenging •OH in these gases are limited by poor thermal resistance. To meet this challenge, herein, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with high thermal stability (80–400 °C) and dual function (•OH detection and elimination) are developed by coordinating Ce ions with terephthalic acid (TA) (Ce-BDC). Due to the reversible conversion between Ce3+ and Ce4+, and the high concentration of Ce3+ on the surface of Ce-BDC MOFs (89.6%), an •OH scavenging efficiency over 90% is realized. Ratiometric fluorescence (I 440 nm /I 355 nm) detection of •OH with a low detection limit of ∼4 μM is established by adopting Ce ions as an internal standard and TA as an •OH-responsive fluorophore. For real applications, the Ce-BDC MOFs demonstrate excellent •OH detection sensitivity and high •OH scavenging efficiency in gas produced from cigarettes, wood fiber and machine oil. Mouse model results show that the damage caused by •OH in cigarette smoke can be greatly reduced by Ce-BDC MOFs. This work provides a promising strategy for sensitively detecting and efficiently eliminating •OH in fuel combustion gas. [Display omitted] • Ce-BDC can realize ratiometric fluorescence detection of •OH at high temperature. • The reversible conversion between Ce3+ and Ce4+ make Ce-BDC high •OH removing effect. • Ce-BDC can simultaneously detect and eliminate •OH in high temperature gas. • Ce-BDC can modify cigarette to reduce hazard caused by •OH in cigarette smoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of highly efficient, inexpensive catalysts severely hinders the large‐scale application of electrochemical energy conversion technologies (e.g., electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for hydrogen production, metal–air batteries (Cathode: oxygen reduction reaction (ORR))). As a new class of nanomaterials with a high ratio of surface atoms and tunable composition and electronic structure, metal nanocluster (NCs) are promising candidates as catalysts. Herein, a novel catalyst using S,N‐doped carbon matrix (NSCSs) is synthesized to efficiently stabilize high density and ultra‐uniform ruthenium (Ru) nanoclusters (Ru@NSCSs) by small‐molecule self‐assembly pyrolysis approach. The obtained Ru@NSCSs catalyst exhibits outstanding HER activity in all pH conditions (especially with a low overpotential of 5 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH) and excellent ORR performance (half‐wave potential (E1/2) of 0.854 V in 0.1 m KOH). Based on the experimental investigations and theoretical calculations, it is discovered that the S‐atom can modulate the electronic structure and optimization of redox states on the surficial sites of Ru NCs during the ORR process. This work provides a feasible strategy for understanding and regulating the metal–support interface of ultra‐uniform nanoclusters catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• APV consists of the volume of micropore filling adsorption and monolayer adsorption. • APD is controlled by temperature, pressure, and pore size, while APV is not affected by temperature and pressure. • The SDR model considering adsorbed phase volume can offer significant advantages in assessing gas content. The evaluation of the in-situ gas content in deep coal seams, potentially containing free gas in saturated-oversaturated reservoirs, holds practical significance for exploration and production compared with shallow undersaturated-saturated reservoirs dominated by adsorbed gas. However, owing to the inherent limitations of volumetric and gravimetric methods, the accurate assessment of adsorbed and free gases faces significant challenges. In this study, based on molecular simulations, we focused on slit-shaped pores to explore the microscopic interaction mechanisms between coal and methane molecules under different pore sizes, temperatures, and pressures. By combining isothermal adsorption and pore structure experiments, the distribution characteristics of the adsorbed phase density (APD) and adsorbed phase volume (APV) were determined. The results showed that, in pores smaller than 1.5 nm, methane exhibited an aggregated state distribution (containing only adsorbed methane) characterized by micropore filling adsorption. In pores larger than 1.5 nm, methane showed a dispersed state distribution (coexistence of adsorbed and free methane) characterized by monolayer adsorption. The APD increased with pressure and decreased with temperature and pore size, whereas the APV remained independent of the pressure and temperature. In the in-situ gas content evaluation, three adsorption models (SL, SDR, and SL + SDR models) considering APV and APD were utilized to describe the methane adsorption behavior. The SDR model considering the APV was consistent with the actual physical properties and molecular simulation results. Traditional correction methods often lead to an overestimation of the adsorbed methane content, and neglecting the APV can result in an overestimation of the free methane content. In summary, the SDR model considering the APV can provide more rigorous scientific support for the refined study of methane occurrence states and gas content distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effects of elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) on relationships between nitrogen (N) nutrition and foliar gas exchange parameters, white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) seedlings were exposed to one of five N-supply regimes (10, 80, 150, 220, 290 mg Nl-1) in either ambient [CO2] (360 µmol mol-1) or elevated [CO2] (720 µmol mol-1) in environment-controlled greenhouses. Foliar gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured after 60 and 80 days of treatment. Photosynthesis showed a substantial down-regulation (up to 57%) in response to elevated [CO2] and the magnitude of the down-regulation generally decreased exponentially with increasing leaf N concentration. When measured at the growth [CO2], elevated [CO2] increased the overall rate of photosynthesis (Pn) and instantaneous water-use efficiency (IWUE) by up to 69 and 236%, respectively, but decreased transpiration (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) in all N treatments. However, the degree of stimulation of photosynthesis by elevated [CO2] decreased as photosynthetic down-regulation increased from 60 days to 80 days of treatment. Elevated [CO2] significantly increased total photosynthetic electron transport in all N treatments at 60 days of treatment, but the effect was insignificant after 80 days of treatment. Both Pn and IWUE generally increased with increasing leaf N concentration except at very high leaf N concentrations, where both Pn and IWUE declined. The relationships of Pn and IWUE with leaf N concentration were modeled with both a linear regression and a second-order polynomial function. Elevated [CO2] significantly and substantially increased the slope of the linear regression for IWUE, but had no significant effect on the slope for Pn. The optimal leaf N concentration for Pn and IWUE derived from the polynomial function did not differ between the CO2 treatments when leaf N was expressed on a leaf area basis. However, the mass-based optimal leaf N concentration for Pn was much lower in seedlings in elevated [CO2] than in ambient [CO2] (31.88 versus 37.00 mg g-1). Elevated [CO2] generally decreased mass-based leaf N concentration but had no significant effect on area-based leaf N concentration; however, maximum N concentration per unit leaf area was greater in elevated [CO2] than in ambient [CO2] (1.913 versus 1.547 g N m-2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophobic copper foam (CF) with excellent robustness and durability was successfully fabricated by using an in situ growth method combined with surface hexadecanethiol (HDT) modification of HKUST-1/CF. The wettability mechanism for the conversion of the superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic states was clarified and explored via density functional theory (DFT). The as-prepared HKUST-1/HDT/CF surface possessed good superhydrophobicity under the optimal conditions including the mass ratio of copper nitrate trihydrate (Cu(NO3)2·3H2O) to 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylicacid (H3BTC), HDT immersion time, in situ growth time and hydrothermal reaction temperature. The superhydrophobic surface can maintain a desirable hydrophobic state after immersing in different pH solutions, abrasion of weight, and continuous ultrasonic testing. The highest water contact angle (WCA) value of the obtained samples was 162.9° under the aforementioned harsh conditions. Additionally, the superhydrophobic CF has a bright future in the field of oil/water separation due to the obtained HKUST-1/HDT/CF surface with excellent water-repellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance over a plasmonic Z-scheme nanostructure. • A heterostructure constituted of MoO 3-x and g-C 3 N 4 was synthesized by in-situ hydrothermal method. • The nanohybrid shows enhanced light harvesting capacity due to the plasmon excitation. • The charge carrier recombination was significantly inhibited by the Z-scheme charge transfer pathway. • The photocatalytic H 2 evolution was boosted by the plasmonic Z-scheme heterostructure. Light-harvesting capacity and photoexcited charge carrier separation ability are two crucial requirements for high-efficiency semiconductor photocatalysis. Here, we report a plasmonic Z-scheme nanohybrid by hydrothermally in-situ growing two-dimensional (2D) oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide (MoO 3-x) nanoplates onto 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) nanosheets. The resultant 2D/2D MoO 3-x /g-C 3 N 4 nanohybrids not only construct a unique Z-scheme heterojunction, which improves the photogenerated charge carrier separation efficiency, but also possess numerous oxygen vacancies on the surface of MoO 3-x , which could excite its plasmon resonance for extending spectrum adsorption. Importantly, the plasmon resonance can be readily designed by tailoring the oxygen vacancy concentration via an annealing in air. Benefiting from the synergetic effect of interfacial Z-scheme heterojunction and the tunable plasmon resonance of MoO 3-x , the as-obtained nanohybrids achieve a remarkably improved photocatalytic H 2 evolution efficiency. The optimal Z-scheme heterostructure presents 2.6 and 1.7 times higher of H 2 evolution rate as compared to pure g-C 3 N 4 and the annealing nanohybrid under visible light irradiation. Even under light irradiation with wavelength longer than 590 nm, the hybrid photocatalyst displays a H 2 generation rate as high as 22.8 µmol h−1 due to the plasmonic sensitization effect. The result in our work can provide an alternative for fabricating Z-scheme heterostructures that take advantages of Z-scheme-induced charge carrier separation, accompanied with plasmon-enhanced light harvesting of semiconductor to advance the solar energy conversion efficiency in photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysosome visualization is very important for accurate diagnosis of human diseases. However, currently developed lysosome imaging probes usually have poor specificity and are easily quenched, leading to a low signal to noise ratio in lysosome labeling. To resolve this problem, herein, metal–organic framework-based probes of copper–terephthalic acid (CuBDC) are investigated, which show sensitivity to pH and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), simultaneously. By self-assembling under the template effect of soluble starch, the particle size of CuBDC can be well controlled for entering into cells and locating lysosomes. Based on the Fenton-like reaction, CuBDC can catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 into ˙OH, which in turn reacts with CuBDC to generate a stable fluorescent substance. Meanwhile, Cu2+ can be released from CuBDC under acidic conditions for reacting with H2O2 more thoroughly. And the synthesized CuBDC has a similar attraction to the electrophilic ˙OH at different pH values owing to the residual soluble starch in the particles. The above properties cause CuBDC to have a stable fluorescence signal with low pH values and high H2O2 concentration, simultaneously. The fluorescence imaging experiments in HeLa cells demonstrate that CuBDC acting as a pH/H2O2 responsive fluorescent probe holds great promise for lysosome-specific imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing the most appropriate wells for stimulation is one of the greatest challenges affecting reservoir production and economic development. In this paper, an integrated fuzzy decision-making methodology is developed to choose the most appropriate stimulation wells based on a number of criteria. The presented approach is able to determine the final decision priorities for multiple candidate wells considering uncertainty, incomplete information, and the large number of factors involved. The proposed modelling framework works as a stepwise procedure to fuse several different methods with combined benefits. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is adopted to build the factor framework. Grey theory is introduced to determine the influence weights of factors, and combined with the fuzzy logic concept, these values are used to rank candidate wells. A field application shows that the presented method is able to identify the wells with the highest potential for enhanced production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Glucose oxidase can be encapsulated in the interior of CaCO 3 particles. • Glucose oxidase can be protected from being damaged in blood circulation. • Ultrasound can improve Fenton reaction efficiency for killing cancer cells. • Ultrasound dosimetry only caused damage at its focal point by exciting sensitizer. Abstract We develop pH-responsive GOD@CaCO 3 -Fe 3 O 4 particles as catalytic nanomedicine for chemodynamic therapy through ultrasound-assisted Fenton reaction. By loading glucose oxidase (GOD) in the interior of the particles, GOD can be well protected and effectively delivered to catalyze glucose in cancer cells. A considerable amount of H 2 O 2 is then generated for Fenton reaction by reacting with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The introduction of ultrasound irradiation can significantly improve Fenton reaction efficiency in tumors owing to ultrasonic cavitation. Highly toxic hydroxyl radicals are then generated in abundance to kill cancer cells. Good cancer therapeutic effect was realized both in vitro and in vivo via this ultrasound-chemodynamic strategy based on the designed particles, providing a novel strategy for efficient cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The total stress distribution surrounding a perforation tunnel considering the influence of the casing, perforation tunnel and fluid penetration is derived to develop an optimal oriented perforation technique (OPT) for the hydraulic fracturing of a deviated cased well. The fluid penetration effect, injection rate, viscosity and compressibility and the rock permeability are coupled by combining Darcy's law and the equation of mass conversation. Published models and field results are used to verify the rationality of the presented model. The investigation results reveal that the well trajectory and perforation orientation have a significant impact on the fracture initiation pressure (FIP) due to a complex in situ stress field. A field application shows that oriented perforations could reduce the fracture initiation pressure by 16.6 MPa from that using a spiral perforation. The presented model sensitivity analysis implies the following. The fracture initiates away from the intersection of the wellbore and perforation tunnel. The relative magnitudes of the vertical stress, maximum horizontal stress, and minimum horizontal stress have a significant influence on the FIP and only a slight impact on the optimal perforation orientation. Under the normal faulting stress state, the perforation orientation decreases and the FIP increases slightly with increasing inclination angle. However, both the perforation orientation and FIP are highly sensitive to the azimuth angle. The FIP decreases with increasing rock permeability and fluid injection rate, whereas the FIP increases with the fluid viscosity. Highlights • A initiation pressure model for oriented perforations cased deviated wellbore in permeable formation is proposed. • An optimized perforation orientation procedure is presented for fractured cased well. • Oriented perforation could reduce the fracture initiation pressure effectively compared to that of spiral perforation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The light response range, reusability, and durability of photocatalyst are the key issues for its practical application. To address these problems, the C-doped TiO2/carbon nanofibrous (CTCNF) film with incorporation of C-doped TiO2 nanoparticles into carbon nanofibers was prepared by electrospinning and calcination (pre-oxidation and carbonization). All the obtained CTCNF films exhibited a promising light absorption in ultraviolet-visible region. With optimization of carbonization temperature, the CTCNF film carbonized at 800 °C (CTCNF-800) showed a strongest light absorption. Consequently, the CTCNF-800 possessed a highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 94.2% for degradation of rhodamine B. In addition, the CTCNF-800 possessed excellent flexibility and deserved mechanical strength, and hence, the CTCNF-800 could be easily segregated from solution and recycled. Satisfyingly, its degradation efficiency still exceeded 92% after using for six cycles, implying that the CTCNF had excellent reusability and well stability. Besides, the degradation efficiency was over 90% after the CTCNF-800 kept in air without illumination for 1 year, indicating its outstanding durability. The CTCNF film photocatalyst demonstrates tremendous potential in practical application for purification of wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Poplar catkins-derived N-doped hierarchical porous carbon microtubes were obtained. • Our facile approach represents an example of trash-to-treasure transformation. • The porosity, surface structure, tube wall thickness can be tailored. • The optimal porous carbon microtube sample shows a satisfactory CO 2 uptake. • It also exhibits an excellent CO 2 /N 2 adsorption selectivity and recyclability. Abstract Poplar catkins are an environmental pollutant because they can trigger sneezing, shortness of breath, skin allergy and even cause forest fire. It is very attractive to discover ways for reducing the threats of poplar catkins to the environment and human health and even to convert poplar catkins into useful materials. Herein we report on a facile and cost-efficient strategy for the synthesis of hierarchical porous carbon microtubes using poplar catkins as the carbon source. The synthesis involves pre-carbonization and subsequent ZnCl 2 activation. The resultant materials not only inherit the natural tubular morphology of poplar catkins, but also develop a hierarchical porous structure, with nitrogen from the biomass being self-doped in the resultant carbon skeleton. The hierarchical porosity, especially the microporosity with the pore size from 0.5 to 1 nm, surface structure, tube wall thickness and nitrogen content can be readily controlled by adjusting the activation temperature and the ZnCl 2 -to-precursor mass ratio. The produced materials exhibit an excellent CO 2 capture capacity. The optimal sample activated at 800 °C with a ZnCl 2 -to-precursor mass ratio of 4:1 shows an extraordinarily high CO 2 adsorption capacity of 6.22 and 4.05 mmol g−1 at 273 and 298 K, respectively, at 1 bar of CO 2. Furthermore, the material also displays an excellent recyclability and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity. Our approach not only relieves the environmental pollution of poplar catkins but also leads to the production of a high-performance CO 2 adsorbent, which is promising for industrial CO 2 capture and separation. It therefore demonstrates an example of trash-to-treasure transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing energy storage property with high rate capability during fast charging at the high current density has been a long-standing challenge for supercapacitors. In this work, a novel nitrogen-enriched graphitized hierarchical porous carbon (NGHPC) was synthesized by a convenient one-step carbonization process from melamine(M)-resorcinol(R)-formaldehyde(F) co-polymeric microspheres using nano γ-Fe 2 O 3 as template, graphitized catalyst precursor and activation promoting agent coupled with ZnCl 2 activation. The nano-sized γ-Fe 2 O 3 was reduced to Fe metal and other Fe-containing species in the carbonization process, and Fe served as catalyst to generate perfectly graphitized carbon skeleton, and other nanoparticles acted as the template of macropores. Meanwhile, CO 2 which generated from the oxidation reactions of CO and γ-Fe 2 O 3 reacted with carbon to bring the in situ CO 2 physical activation, resulting in the promotive tailoring in microporosity. Interestingly, the morphology of the obtaining NGHPC materials could be controlled from spherical aspect to the structure of sphere coated by thin sheet by varying the M/R mass ratio. As supercapacitor electrodes materials, the optimal material achieved an outstanding specific capacitance of 417.5 F g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 in 6 M KOH electrolyte. More importantly, a superb rate capability was also exhibited, and a capacitance of 296.4 F g −1 was still retained at an ultrahigh current density of 100 A g −1 . Besides, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor with the optimal material displayed a high integrated energy density of 33.9 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 809.9 W kg −1 within a voltage range of 0–1.8 V in 0.5 M Na 2 SO 4 natural electrolyte and an approximate 84.8% capacitance retention after consecutive 10,000 cycles at 5 A g −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of clean and renewable energy, hydrogen produced via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has attracted considerable attention. However, to develop the photoanodes with stable and excellent PEC ability is still a big challenge. In our work, TiO 2 nanorods decorated with boron doped g-C 3 N 4 (BCN/TiO 2 ) is fabricated via thermal polymerization method to improve the PEC performance. The BCN/TiO 2 displays 4-fold increase of the photocurrent density (1.01 mA cm −2 ) at 1.23 V vs. RHE under irradiation (100 mW cm −2 , AM 1.5 G). And the onset potential of BCN/TiO 2 exhibits a negative shift with 100 mV. Attributed to the broad light absorption of BCN and hetero-junction forming between BCN and TiO 2 , the IPCE value is increased to 87.8% in 380 nm, and the charge separation and transfer efficiency are both increased. Doping metal-free inorganic material with heteroatoms is a simple and efficient strategy to increase the light absorption within visible light and charge transfer efficiency in PEC and photocatalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni,Fe-based (oxy)hydroxides have been one of the most active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. In this article, reduced graphene oxide supported Ni doped FeOOH (RGO/Ni:FeOOH) was prepared for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. The RGO/Ni:FeOOH exhibited a lower over-potential (260 mV at 10 mA cm −2 ) and smaller Tafel slope (32.3 mV dec −1 ) than that of the FeOOH and Ni:FeOOH. Such significant enhancement is attributed to Ni doping and RGO, which reduce the over-potential, improve the conductivity and enlarge surface areas. Besides, RGO/Ni:FeOOH decorated the TiO 2 nanorods (NRs) was also fabricated for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation, which exhibited a higher photocurrent density and lower onset potential than that of TiO 2 NRs the bare under illumination due to the synergistic effect of RGO and Ni:FeOOH. These results demonstrate the RGO/Ni:FeOOH has great promising as a co-catalyst to improve the PEC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 2-aminoanthraquinone non-covalent anchored on N-RGO composite is synthesized. • The N-RGO@AAQ electrode exhibits a high specific capacity of 532.48 C g−1. • The symmetric supercapacitor delivers a high energy density of 21.13 Wh kg−1. 4. The symmetric supercapacitor has an ultra-long cycling stability (94.67%). Redox-active organic materials with the advantages of light weight, flexibility, and low-cost are promising alternatives to high-performance green energy storage devices due to their high theoretical capacitance and availability from renewable resources. Therefore, in this paper, we successfully synthesized a novel 2-aminoanthraquinone (AAQ) organic molecules non-covalent anchored on N-doped reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (N-RGO@AAQ) by a simple improved solvothermal method. Mainly benefiting from the enhanced ion/electron transport kinetics, the introduction of pseudocapacitance, and the stable nanostructure that facilitate fast ion intercalation and de-intercalation, the synthesized N-RGO@AAQ nanocomposite exhibits excellent electrochemical performances as an electrode material. A satisfactory high specific capacity of 532.48 C g−1 at 0.6 A g−1 and excellent rate capability (60.42%) from 0.6 to 60 A g−1 are achieved. Moreover, the assembled symmetrical supercapacitor device (SSD) assembled by using N-RGO@AAQ electrode delivers a maximum energy density of 21.13 W h kg−1 at a power density of 750 W kg−1 and an outstanding ultra-long cycling durability (maintain 94.67% of the initial capacity after 18 000 cycles at 30 mV s−1). This study provides a strategy and a potential electrode material for the development and application of green energy storage devices with high-performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,6-diaminopyridine (DAP), an active organic molecule containing amino groups and pyridine N is expected to be an attractive material for energy storage due to its fast and reversible proton-involved redox activity. Herein, the novel N-doped (or CNTs) and DAP organic molecules double-modified reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with hierarchical porous nanoarchitectures were successfully designed and synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. Benefiting from the advantages of the three components and the positive synergistic enhancement between them, the newly synthesized N-RGO/DAP and CNTs/RGO/DAP nanocomposites exhibit excellent electrochemical properties, such as high specific capacitance, excellent rate capability and cycling stability. Furthermore, the Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitor further assembled with the optimal N-RGO/DAP as cathode delivers excellent Zn-ion energy storage performance in aqueous electrolyte, with a high specific capacitance (capacity) of 320.2 F g−1 (158.3 mAh g−1), excellent energy density of 140.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 534 W kg−1, and an ultra-long durability of 95.3% capacitance retention after 16,000 cycles at a large current of 100 mV s−1. This paper provides a novel strategy and advanced electrode nanocomposite with excellent electrochemical properties, which shows great promise in high-performance energy storage devices with high-flexibility, light-weight and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we proposed a cost-efficient strategy to prepare nitrogen-doped porous graphitized carbon nanosheets, i.e. urea-assisted chemical blowing via foaming starch into the bubble networks of starch-derived polymers combining catalytic graphitization and subsequent KOH activation. In this synthesis route, starch acts as carbon precursor and foaming agent to build a bubble network of polymer, urea acts as nitrogen source and blowing agent to further blow bubble to form N-doped sheet-like carbons with ultrathin structure, γ-Fe 2 O 3 serves as a graphitization catalyst precursor to generate highly graphitized framework. Importantly, the thickness of sheets, the nitrogen content and the graphitization degree can be simply tuned by adjusting the mass ratio of urea/γ-Fe 2 O 3 /KOH. The optimal sample exhibited uniform sheet-like morphology with a thickness of ∼80 nm, a high surface area of 2129.8 m 2 g −1 , and a large pore volume of 0.97 cm 3 g −1 . Acting as an electrode for supercapacitor in 6 M KOH electrolyte, it presented a high specific capacitance of 337.6 F g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 . Moreover, the two-electrode symmetric cell was assembled in 1 M TEABF 4 /AN, and displayed a high energy density of 27.5 Wh kg −1 as well as an excellent cycling stability with 87.6% retention after 5000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many novel two-dimensional (2D) allotropes of carbon have been predicted to be (meta)stable at 0 K, however, their thermal stability and mechanical properties at finite temperatures remain unclear. In this study, the mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of five newly predicted monatomic thick carbon sheets (C 31 , C 33 , δ-graphyne (GY), γ-GY, C 63 , and graphene) are investigated using molecular simulations. The δ-GY, γ-GY, and graphene show brittle fractures in uniaxial tension testing at temperatures from 1 to 1200 K. The first signs of fracture in these brittle carbon sheets indicate that the C C bonds linking the benzene rings and linear acetylenic carbons break with strong directional preference, whereby the direction of the breaking C C bonds is parallel to the direction of tensile stress. A brittle-to-ductile transition is identified in the C 31 , C 33 , and C 63 sheets at high temperatures, which corresponds to the breakages of the C C bonds in the triangular carbon rings. Global and local order-order structural transitions as well as order-disorder transitions are obtained in different ductile carbon sheets, and are found in the same carbon sheet under tensile stress along different directions. These results suggest a strong correlation between the structure and the failure mechanism in 2D carbon sheets, which is of great importance in the future design, synthesis and application of novel 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bimetallic CuV n 0/+ clusters as well as bare V n +1 0/+ ( n = 1–5) clusters were studied using density functional calculations. The lowest energy geometries of CuV n 0/+ ( n = 1–5) along with V n +1 0/+ clusters were identified. Comparing geometries of CuV n and V n +1 clusters, it was found that CuV n clusters are formed by substituting a V atom with a Cu atom at the relatively lower coordination site of V n +1 clusters. The substitution brings a slight structural change to V n +1 clusters. The average binding energies, dissociation energies and ionization potentials were calculated for bimetallic CuV n ( n = 1–5) clusters. The calculated average binding energies show that the doping Cu makes the stability of CuV n ( n = 1–5) weakened as compared to V n +1 clusters, and cationic bimetallic CuV n clusters have better stability than those of the neutrals. The Wiberg bond order, bond length and molecular orbitals all show that the multiple-bonded V–V is involved in the bimetallic CuV n ( n = 1–5) clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, porous carbon nanospheres materials are usually prepared via a template method, which is a multi-steps and high-cost strategy. Here, we reported a porous carbon nanosphere solid acid with high surface area and superior porosity, as well as uniform nanospheical morphology, which prepared by a facile chemical activation with ZnCl 2 using resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) resins spheres as precursor. The activation of RF resins spheres by ZnCl 2 at 400 °C brought high surface area and large volume, and simultaneously retained numerous oxygen-containing and hydrogen-containing groups due to the relatively low processing temperature. The presence of these functional groups is favorable for the modification of –SO 3 H groups by a followed sulfonation treating with sulphuric acid and organic sulfonic acid. The results of N 2 adsorption–desorption and electron microscopy clearly showed the preservation of porous structure and nanospherical morphology. Infrared spectra certified the variation of surface functional groups after activation and the successful modification of –SO 3 H groups after sulfonation. The acidities of catalysts were estimated by an indirect titration method and the modified amount of –SO 3 H groups were examined by energy dispersive spectra. The results suggested sulfonated porous carbon nanospheres catalysts possessed high acidities and –SO 3 H densities, which endowed their significantly catalytic activities for biodiesel production. Furthermore, their excellent stability and recycling property were also demonstrated by five consecutive cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x photoanode is prepared by depositing Ti 3 C 2 T x on Fe-TiO 2 nanorods. • Ti 3 C 2 T x greatly accelerates the water-oxidation kinetics on Fe-TiO 2 photoanodes. • The PEC current density of Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x can reach 1.23 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. • The IPCE of 92.8% is obtained on the well-designed Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x at 380 nm. • The underlying PEC enhancement mechanism of the deposited Ti 3 C 2 T x is unveiled. As a promising photoanode material, TiO 2 confronts two challenges, weak visible light absorption and low catalytic activity for water oxidation, which limit its photoelectrochemical performance toward water oxidation. Doping and co-catalyst deposition provide effective ways to extending the light-absorption spectral range and accelerating the water-oxidation kinetics, respectively. Herein, an efficient TiO 2 -based photoelectrode for water oxidation is prepared by Fe doping and electrophoretic Ti 3 C 2 T x deposition. The Fe doping effectively extends the light absorption of TiO 2 toward visible region. Owing to the excellent water oxidation activity of Ti 3 C 2 T x , its deposition greatly accelerates the water-oxidation kinetics, which in turn enhances the photocarrier separation and injection efficiencies. The well-designed Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x exhibits a photoelectrochemical current density of 1.23 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is much higher than those of Fe-TiO 2. The maximum IPCE value is enhanced from 64.7% of Fe-TiO 2 to 92.8% of Fe-TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x at 380 nm. Our findings provide an effective way to fabricate efficient photoanode for water oxidation and are helpful to understanding the photoelectrochemical performance of hybrid nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, a pinene-derived amino alcohol [(1R,2R,3S,5R)-3-amino-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-2-ol] has been experimentally employed as an effective chiral catalytic precursor in the borane-mediated asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones to produce the corresponding secondary alcohols, which provides the products in 96% ee. In this paper, we suggest a mechanism for this reduction process and then theoretically investigate it in detail by density functional theory. Fully geometry-optimized reactants, products, transition structures, and intermediates were obtained at the B3LYP/6-31G (d,p) level, and the results reveal that this reaction has five steps. Further calculations show that the solvent effect of THF has no great influence on the enantioselectivity of this reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • High density Ag NPs arrayed on vertical WO 3-x nanoflakes are fabricated by in-situ redox method. • Ag NPs arrayed on WO 3-x nanoflakes are fabricated by in-situ redox method. • Superior LOD of thiram at 1.3 pM compared with other methods. • SERS substrates have been successfully applied for detection of thiram on the apple. As an emerging technique for rapid detection, Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has received much practical attention. Here, we report a uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles on well-defined tungsten oxide nanoflakes hierarchical nanostructures (Ag/WO 3-x) as flexible solid SERS substrate. The vertically aligned Ag/WO 3-x nanoflakes were prepared by in situ redox reaction without reductant additives, ensuring the clean surface and free of extra interferences with good signal-to-noise ratio. Using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as probe molecule, the enhancement factor of developed Ag/WO 3-x nanoflakes SERS substrate was found to be high as 2.41 × 107 with an ultrasensitive detection concentration of 10-12 M. Additionally, Ag/WO 3-x nanoflakes SERS substrate exhibited good reproducibility and long-time stability. Meanwhile, the pesticide thiram with a 1.3 pM limit of detection (LOD) can be readily determined via developed SERS substrate. To illustrate the potential practical value of the prepared substrates, 2.4 ppb spiked thiram on apple peel surface were both successfully detected. Notably, the developed SERS substrates could be cut into small pieces for detecting trace chemical or biological molecules and the flexible utilization of substrates would be improved dramatically. As a result, vertically aligned Ag/WO 3-x nanoflakes with well-defined shape and hierarchical structure have great potential as solid SERS substrate in the field of fast detection and trace analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We designed a convenient route to fabricate the ternary Au/TiO 2 @PCN photoanode. • The Au/TiO 2 @PCN remarkably facilitated the interfacial charge transfer and separation process. • The Au/TiO 2 @PCN presents a pronounced photocurrent density of 2.03 mA cm−2 (1.23 V vs. RHE). • The PEC performance of Au/TiO 2 @PCN can be enhanced both in UV and visible light region. Utilization of solar energy to split water via photoelectrochemical (PEC) technique is a desirable technology to address the development of sustainable carbon-free energy source. The key challenge of this advanced technique is to design a photoelectrode with both high solar to chemical efficiency and fast charge transfer and separation efficiency. Herein, the core-shell heterostructure of TiO 2 @PCN (P doped g -C 3 N 4) decorating with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) photoanode (Au/TiO 2 @PCN) is successfully fabricated for high-efficiency PEC water splitting. The resulting integrated Au/TiO 2 @PCN photoanode exhibits significantly enhanced PEC activities both in UV and visible light region with AM 1.5 G irradiation (100 mW cm−2). Each component of Au/TiO 2 @PCN plays a vital role in promoting the PEC performance. The TiO 2 @PCN core-shell heterostructure could remarkably facilitate the charge transfer and separation efficiency with the effect of an internal built-in electric field. The introduction of Au NPs could further enhance the charge transfer efficiency and improve the PEC activity of TiO 2 @PCN in visible light, which is attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Accordingly, the Au/TiO 2 @PCN presents pronounced photocurrent density of 2.03 mA cm−2 (1.23 V vs. RHE), which is four-fold higher than that of TiO 2 NRs (0.51 mA cm−2). This work supports a new approach to combine the advantages of the core-shell heterostructure and the LSPR effect of noble metal for high-performance PEC water oxidation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been restricted by the requirement of strongly acidic conditions, insufficient endogenous H 2 O 2 and upregulated cellular antioxidant defense. To overcome these obstacles, the carrier-free Fe(III)-ART nanoparticle is developed via coordination driven self-assembly of Fe3+ and hydrolyzed ART and evaluated as a redox-triggered C-centered free radicals nanogenerator for self-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and chemodynamic therapy. The carrier-free Fe(III)-ART NPs can be triggered by intracellular GSH to release ART and Fe3+, which is further reduced to Fe2+ that catalyzed the endoperoxide of ART to generate C-centered free radicals. Notably, unlike current CDT, such a free radical generation process is without reliance on pH or endogenous H 2 O 2. Meanwhile, the concurrent GSH depletion can diminish the antioxidation of tumors and enhance CDT. The C-centered free radicals-mediated apoptosis and GSH depletion-induced ferrotosis act in synergy, leading to potent tumor growth inhibition and superior anticancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Fe(III)-ART NPs exhibit redox-triggered T 2 relaxivity and contribute to activatable MRI-guided CDT. The development of biodegradable Fe(III)-ART NPs with superior anticancer efficacy, favorable pharmacokinetics and good biocompatibility provides a promising strategy to break through the bottlenecks of traditional CDT and greatly promotes the development of next-generation cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea level changes more frequently during the deposition of transitional shale than marine shale, resulting in the strong heterogeneity and instability of the sedimentary environment and making transitional shale gas evaluation difficult. The appropriate identification and classification of transitional shale lithofacies types can improve evaluation of shale reservoirs and can provide the geological basis for the evaluation and potential of shale gas reservoirs during exploration and development. The lower Permian shale in the northeastern Ordos Basin is selected as the focus of this research. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), total organic content (TOC), vitrinite reflectance (R o), nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption, and argon ion polishing scanning electron microscopy (AIP−SEM) data, the lower Permian transitional shale in the study area is divided into silty mudstone and muddy siltstone lithofacies. On this basis, the differences in the organic geochemical characteristics, pore development characteristics and influencing factors of the shale reservoir in the two lithofacies are compared. The results show that the mean values of w (TOC) and w (R o) in the muddy siltstone lithofacies are 1.9% and 1.0%, respectively. Siliceous minerals dominate the composition of the rock, and the main types of reservoir spaces are mineral matrix pores, including interparticle (interP) pores and intraparticle (intraP) pores related to inorganic minerals. Macropores and mesopores are the main components of the pore volume, and account for 40.8% and 49.8% of the total volume, respectively. The pore structure is mainly affected by the TOC and siliceous mineral contents. In the silty mudstone lithofacies, the average values of w (TOC) and w (R o) are 2.4% and 1.2%, respectively. The clay mineral content is relatively high. The main types of reservoir spaces are organic pores and interP pores. Additionally, the pore volumes of macropores, mesopores and micropores are almost the same, accounting for 24.9%, 44.6% and 30.4% of the total pore volume, respectively. The pore structure is mainly affected by the organic matter content and clay mineral content. • Lithofacies classification is an effective method to evaluate the reservoir development characteristics of the transitional shale. • The effect of organic carbon content and inorganic mineral composition on pore volume of different lithofacies shale is various. • Although the reservoir capabilities of transitional shale are considerable, the recoverable reserves are still lower than marine shale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Se-N bond modify strategy emerging from ebselen, a facile, solvent-free cascade selenenylation-acylation reaction for synthesis of novel 2-((2-oxopropyl)selanyl) benzamide organoselenium compounds was developed, by using 2-chloroselenobenzoyl chloride as biselectrophile reagent, where acetone as primary nucleophile for the selenenylation reaction, and amine as secondary nucleophile for the acylation. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by using CCK8 assay, and some of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited equally or superior activities to cisplatin against five cancer cell lines, including A549, EC109, HCT116, HepG2, and MCF-7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene-based conductive organic composites are a class of electrode materials with great potential for next-generation energy storage devices due to their good flexibility, high conductivity and abundant redox sites. Herein, a series of novel 7-aminoindole/rGO composites are successfully synthesized by a universal solvothermal method. With rGO as supporting framework, the morphology, structure and conductivity of the composites are optimized by the synergistic effect of 7-aminoindole and rGO to comprehensively enhance the electrochemical performance of the electrode. The obtained optimal electrode delivers a high specific capacitance of 391.88 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1. Simultaneously, the assembled symmetric device also exhibits an energy density of 11.97 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 325 W kg−1 and a super-long cycling stability (97.62%) after 25,000 cycles at a current density of 5 A g−1. Such measurement results strongly demonstrate that the synthesized novel composite electrodes have a great potential for application in new energy storage devices such as flexible electronics and wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size-effect of Au NRs on modulating the kinetic process of Aβ fibrillation. • CTAB-stabilized Au NRs inhibit the process of Aβ fibrillation. • The inhibition efficiency was related to the sizes and surface charges of Au NRs. • The inhibition efficiency of larger Au NRs is better. • The rate constant k is a quadratic function of diameters or lengths of Au NRs. Inhibiting the Aβ aggregation and understanding the kinetic process of Aβ fibrillation are very important for exploring possible tactics to treat AD. Here size-effect of Au NRs are reported to modulate the process of Aβ fibrillation. The results indicate that CTAB-stabilized Au NRs could efficiently suppress Aβ fibrillation and the inhibition efficiency of larger Au NRs is better. We calculated the relationship between Aβ aggregation rates and the sizes of Au NRs and found that the rate constant k was a quadratic function of diameters or lengths. This work provides a new strategy for exploring size-effect of nanoparticles on Aβ fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]