Advanced Science

Exploring new electrocatalysts for water splitting is one main focus of clean hydrogen fuel conversion and utilization. This review summarizes the recent development of one-dimensional earth-abundant nanomaterials, including metal-based or metal-free materials, as catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and both. The rational design and preparation of novel electrocatalysts with structure and performance optimization will certainly suggest new opportunities of utilizing hydrogen fuel for global energy requirement.

CD44v6 peptide functionalized nanoparticles are fabricated in a facile and controllable way to selectively bind to CD44v6 positive tumor cells with highly efficient anticancer and antimetastatic properties. Our modular synthesis and facile preparation makes this system highly potent for developing novel multifunctional nanocarriers for therapeutic and/or diagnostic anticancer applications.

Ultrathin 2D metal alloy nanomaterials have great potential applications but their controlled syntheses are limited to few noble metal based systems. Herein Ni_xCo_1−x alloy nanosheets with ultrathin (sub-3 nm) single-crystalline 2D structure are synthesized through a topochemical reduction method. Moreover, the optimized composition Ni_0.6Co_0.4 alloy nanosheets array exhibits excellent performances for hydrazine oxidation reaction and direct hydrazine fuel cells.

The influence of 3D surface curvature on stem cell migration and differentiation is reported. Concave surfaces enable the cell body to lift off the surface resulting in increased motility while on convex surfaces, cytoskeletal tension induces nuclear deformation and enhances osteogenic differentiation. The study reveals curvature-sensation of stem cells with relevance for biomaterial design and tissue regeneration.

Amorphous-like Ni–Fe–S ultrathin nanosheets by oxygen incorporation and electrochemical tuning show excellent OER activity at high current densities. Such excellent performance could be attributed to the unique 3D porous configuration composed of amorphous-like ultrathin nanosheets with much more active sites and improved conductivity, as well as the proper electronic structure benefiting from the oxygen incorporation and electrochemical tuning.

A one-step self-assembled 3D sulfonated reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (S-RGOH) is developed to detect various important gaseous chemicals with high performance. The S-RGOH sensor displays remarkable 118.6 and 58.9 times higher responses to NO₂ and NH₃, respectively, compared with the unmodified counterpart. An imbedded microheater is employed to differentiate various gases by identifying the characteristic patterns on the fitted response–temperature curves.

Recent approaches and methods of specifically functionalizing nanoparticles to better equip the molecular imaging techniques like confocal and fluorescence microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography are reviewed while providing an overview of chemistry behind functionalization and development of various advanced probe models including theranostics, multimodal imaging, and intraoperative therapies through functionalization.

For mimicking cell-like functions membrane permeability of hollow capsules is generally tunable by pH and temperature stimuli in phosphate-containing environment. This allows the controlled post-uptake and release of nanometer-sized cargo (≤11 nm) by/from hollow capsules under mild conditions, combining pH 7.4 or 5.5 with temperature of 25, 37, or 45 °C, usable for purposes in synthetic biology.

This review focuses on the physical and chemical properties of MoS₂ and its applications in Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. Significant recent progress is summarized. Reaction mechanisms and relationships between morphologies (from 0D to 3D) and the electrochemical performances of MoS₂-based nanocomposites in the three typical and promising rechargeable systems are discussed.

Giant Faraday rotation is obtained in vitreous films of xFeO·(100 − x)SiO₂, beating the performance of any other glassy material by up to two orders of magnitude. The effect is related to the incorporation of ferromagnetic clusters of atomic iron. The size of these clusters underbids the present record of metallic Fe incorporation and experimental verification in glass matrices.

Efficient charge generation via exciton dissociation in organic bulk heterojunctions necessitates donor–acceptor interfaces. It is shown that their energy landscape is reflected in interfacial charge transfer transitions, probed via luminescence spectroscopy, and depended on the existence of disordered/ordered interfacial domains, which are experimentally applied by ternary blending of amorphous and semicrystalline polymer, in various ratios, with fullerenes.

Why is the proximal base of flight feather shaft round but the distal end square? Nature seldom produces square shapes, but the feather rachis is one exception. Here fundamental reasons are provided explaining the unique structural design: the gradient in shape and the varying fiber orientations work synergistically, tailoring the flexural stiffness along the shaft length while minimizing weight.

Structurally well-defined heterogeneous N-glycoclusters are prepared on albumin via a double click procedure. The number of glycan molecules present, in addition to the spatial arrangement of glycans in the heterogeneous glycoclusters, plays an important role in the in vivo kinetics and organ-selective accumulation through glycan pattern recognition mechanisms.

Glass–glass fluidic devices are presented for large-area integration with adaptive façades and smart windows, enabling harnessing and dedicated control of liquids for added functionality in the building envelope by wrapping buildings into a fluidic layer.

Periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) coated Prussian blue (PB) is successfully synthesized for the first time. The PB@PMO nanoparticles have organic–inorganic hybrid framework, uniform size, high surface area, uniform pore size, excellent photothermal conversion capacity, good biocompatibility, and high drug loading capability with a pH-responsive drug release. Utilizing the nanoplatforms, dual-modal magnetic resonance and photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal-chemotherapy has achieved encouraging therapeutic outcomes for triple negative breast cancer.

The association between bisphenol A (BPA) and breast cancer has been a concern over the years. However, most current studies focus on the carcinogenic effects of BPA at high doses without considerable attention being paid to extremely low doses. In this review, recent findings on the carcinogenic effects of low-dose BPA on breast cancer and possible mechanisms are summarized.

The synthesis, sorting, and characterization of monodisperse gold nanorods with dimensions around 10 nm in length and below 6 nm in diameter is reported. They display tunable plasmon resonance in the near infrared, a region where cellular absorption is reduced. A dual color photothermal microscope is developed to demonstrate that they are promising single molecule probes for bioimaging.

A kind of novel poly (vinylene carbonate)-based solid electrolyte with good interfacial compatibility for high voltage lithium batteries is generated via a facile in situ polymerization process. LiCoO₂/Li battery using this poly (vinylene carbonate)-based solid electrolyte displays stable charge/discharge profiles, considerable rate capability, excellent cycling performance, and decent safety characteristic.

Hybrid electrolyte of ionic liquid and ethers is used to passivate the surface of Li metal surface via modification of the as-formed solid electrolyte interphase with N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (Py₁₃TFSI), thereby reducing the side reactions between the Li metal and electrolyte, leading to remarkably suppressed Li dendrite growth and mitigating Li metal corrosion.

A low-cost, solution-processed, versatile, microfluidic approach is developed for patterning structures of highly conductive metals (e.g., copper, silver, and nickel) on chemically modified flexible polyethylene terephthalate thin films by in situ polymer-assisted electroless metal deposition. This method has significantly lowered the consumption of catalyst as well as the metal plating solution.

A new label-free tomographic interferometry approach is presented, which provides rapid 3D imaging of single live cells in suspension without labeling. The cells flow in a microfluidic channel, are trapped and rapidly rotated by dielectrophoretic forces, with full angular coverage on any axis, and their interferometric projections are acquired and processed into the cellular 3D refractive-index maps.

A versatile and unique photothermal platform based on gold nanoshells is developed to overcome the thermal resistance of cancer cells. The dual functional near infrared light specifically releases small interfering RNAs from gold surface for silencing heat shock protein, and increases temperature to synergize with the gene silencing effect for sensitized hyperthermia therapy.

Red blood cells are “shaken” with a holographic optical tweezer array. The flow generated around cells due to the periodic optical forcing is measured with an optically trapped “detector” particle located in the cell vicinity. A signal-processing model that describes the cell's physical properties as an analog filter illustrates how cells can be distinguished from each other.

Solution processed ternary blends of the dopant F4TCNQ, the semiconducting polymer P3HT, and the insulating polymer PEO are shown to retain their thermoelectric performance up to an insulator content of more than 60 wt%. Flexible tapes illustrate that the insulator enhances the mechanical robustness of the otherwise brittle doped semiconductor.

Hydrogen production from water splitting by photo/photoelectron-catalytic process is one promising route to solve both energy depletion and environmental pollution at the same time. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotubes have attracted much interest and show potential applications in photocatalytic degradation, water splitting and lithium-ion batteries etc. In this review, we comprehensively review the recent progress of TiO₂ nanotubes on the synthesis processes and modification used to improve the performances of photo/photoelectro-catalytic water splitting. The future development of TiO₂ nanotubes are also briefly discussed and addressed.

The working principle of a voltage amplifier based on an organic electrochemical transistor is demonstrated. By implementing a drain load resistor, a voltage to voltage transduction can be achieved with an amplification of up to 30 V/V, paving the way for a direct implementation in the clinic as an active organic electrode for electrophysiological activity.

Modules of two representative types of perovskite solar cells, mesoporous structure and planar structure, are designed for cost assessment consists of materials, manufacturing technique and investment. A detailed cost analysis of module efficiency and lifetime highlights the strategy and importance of cost-performance for the future development of perovskite solar cells.

Linear-scaling density functional theory simulation of methylated imogolite nanotubes (NTs) elucidates the interplay between wall-polarization, bands separation, charge-transfer excitation, and tunable electrostatics inside and outside the NT-cavity. The results suggest that integration of polarization-enhanced selective photocatalysis and chemical separation into one overall dipole-free material should be possible. Strategies are proposed to increase the NT polarization for maximally enhanced electron–hole separation.

Large-area 2D carbon nanosheets doped with phosphorus (P-CNSs) are first produced from carbon dots prepared by a novel and extremely simplified methodology. The obtained P-CNSs show extraordinary electrochemical sodium storage performances with high capacity, excellent cycling stability, and superior rate capability.

The discovery of a novel oxide photocatalyst, β-SnMoO₄, is demonstrated via a rational search of 3483 known and hypothetical compounds with various compositions and structures using first-principles calculations. A low temperature route is used to successfully synthesize the novel crystal, β-SnMoO₄, which is active for the photocatalytic decomposition of a methylene blue solution under daylight.

Extremely stretchable self-healing strain sensors based on conductive hydrogels are successfully fabricated. The strain sensor can achieve autonomic self-heal electrically and mechanically under ambient conditions, and can sustain extreme elastic strain (1000%) with high gauge factor of 1.51. Furthermore, the strain sensors have good response, signal stability, and repeatability under various human motion detections.

A simple seaweed biomass conversion strategy is proposed to synthesize highly porous multishelled Ni-rich Li(Ni_xCo_yMn_z)O₂ hollow fibers with very low cation mixing. The low cation mixing results from the cation confinement by the novel “egg-box” structure in the alginate template. These hollow fibers exhibit remarkable energy density, high-rate capacity, and long-term cycling stability when used as cathode material for Li-ion batteries.

A pH-sensitive nanoparticle-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery system (PNSDS) is developed. PNSDS is a positive-charge-free nanocarrier, composed of siRNA chemically crosslinked with multi-armed poly(ethylene glycol) carriers via acid-labile acetal linkers. PNSDS with mannose targeting moieties can selectively accumulate in mice liver, induce specific inhibition of macrophage TNF-α expression in vivo, and consequently protect mice from inflammation-induced liver damages.

Nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion applications are highly in demand. However, research for highly stable electrodes/catalysts materials remains a challenge. Nickel cobalt sulfide capped in S, N co-doped graphene aerogels is developed with the aim to optimize the electrochemical performances for rechargeable alkaline battery electrodes and oxygen reduction reaction, especially the cycling performances.

In this review, recent advances in the facet-engineered surface and interface design—an important subfield of photocatalysis—are highlighted. Enabled by deeper understanding on the related fundamentals, the research can potentially lead to the design of photocatalysts with higher performance and make important contributions to energy and environmental applications.

A perfect marriage between electrochemistry and thin film fields! The formation of lithium dendrites induces the safety issue and poor cycling life of energy storage devices, such as lithium–sulfur batteries and lithium–air batteries. A surface energy model is proposed to describe the interface between the lithium anode and electrolyte. A universal strategy is suggested for hindering formation of lithium dendrites via tuning surface energy of the relevant thin film growth.

A flexible solar cell based on n-ZnO/p-SnS core–shell nanowire array is fabricated. The piezo-phototronic effect is applied to effectively improve the relative conversion efficiency of the solar cell under a moderate vertical pressure or by a gentle bending of the device, showing its potential for application in curly geometries.

Based on reactive-oxygen-species (ROS)-responsive materials, design principle and recent advances on the ROS-responsive carrier systems for drug delivery systems including polymeric nanoparticles, hydrogels, inorganic nanoparticles, and activatable prodrugs are reviewed.

The in vivo behaviors of three representative transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) including MoS₂, WS₂, and TiS₂ nanosheets with polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating are investigated. While mice injected with WS₂-PEG and TiS₂-PEG show high levels in their organs for months. MoS₂-PEG can be degraded and then excreted. Such distinctive in vivo excretion behaviors of TDMCs can be attributed to their different chemical properties.

Combining chemotherapy and phototherapy (chemophototherapy, CPT) is a potent, complex, and underutilized strategy to treat solid tumors. This review summarizes the current state of CPT, from preclinical to clinical studies. The growing emphasis on nanocarrier-enabled CPT is discussed.