Nanoscience News (<front>)

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE02365J, Review Article Open Access &nbsp This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence.Hao Zhang, Lei Chen, Feng Dong, zhiwen lu, Enmin Lv, Xing-Long Dong, Huanxin Li, Zhong-Yong Yuan, Xinwen Peng, Shihe Yang, Jieshan Qiu, Zhengxiao Guo, Zhenhai Wen
Active sites play a pivotal role in photo/electrocatalysis, particularly in the transition from fossil fuels to clean, efficient and renewable energy sources. Precise identification of catalyst active sites and understanding...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE00938J, PaperXiangqun Xu, Shiyong Chu, Sheng Xu, Shaohua Guo, Haoshen Zhou
A lattice-oxygen-stabilized interface is formed in situ by the interaction of indium and oxidized lattice oxygen in the interface of Li2RuO3 (LRO) and Li3InCl6 (LIC), mitigating the irreversible lattice oxygen loss and stabilizing the surface structure.
To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Prof Robert Katzschmann, ETH, Zurich
• Friday 29 November 2024, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: JDB Seminar Room, CUED.
• Series: Engineering - Dynamics and Vibration Tea Time Talks; organiser: div-c.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Dr Marcos Valdebenito Tu Dortmund University, Germany
• Friday 22 November 2024, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: JDB Seminar Room, CUED.
• Series: Engineering - Dynamics and Vibration Tea Time Talks; organiser: div-c.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Torodd Skjerve Nord, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Friday 18 October 2024, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: JDB Seminar Room, CUED.
• Series: Engineering - Dynamics and Vibration Tea Time Talks; organiser: div-c.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Liquid-like surfaces with repellency have shown great potential in the fields of biology, environment, energy, and catalysis. However, they currently encounter challenges in superior de-wettability and durability. This review summarizes the recent progress of LLSs with enhanced de-wettability and durability via novel structural designs. Furthermore, potential applications of LLSs with enhanced de-wettability and durability are reviewed.

Abstract

Liquid-like surfaces (LLSs) with dynamic repellency toward various pollutants (e.g., bacteria, oil, and ice), have shown enormous potential in the fields of biology, environment, and energy. However, most of the reported LLSs cannot meet the demands for practical applications, particularly in terms of de-wettability and durability. To solve these problems, considerable progress has been made in enhancing the de-wettability and durability of LLSs in complex environments. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on the recent progress in LLSs, encompassing designed structures and repellent capabilities, as well as their diverse applications, offering greater insights for the targeted design of desired LLSs. First, a detailed overview of the development of LLSs from the perspective of their molecular structural evolution is provided. Then highlight recent approaches for enhancing the dynamic de-wettability and durability of LLSs by optimizing their structural designs, including linear, looped, crosslinked, and hybrid structures. Later, the diverse applications and unique advantages of recently developed LLSs, including repellency (e.g., liquid anti-adhesion/transportation/condensation, anti-icing/scaling/waxing, and biofouling repellency) are summarized. Finally, Perspectives on potential innovative advancements and the promotion of technology selection to advance this exciting field are offered.

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Alex Schier, Biozentrum, University of Basel
• Tuesday 13 May 2025, 11:00-12:00
• Venue: The Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN.
• Series: Gurdon Institute Seminar Series; organiser: events.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Jean-Paul Vincent, Crick Institute
• Tuesday 25 February 2025, 11:00-12:00
• Venue: The Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN.
• Series: Gurdon Institute Seminar Series; organiser: events.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Olivier Pourquié, Harvard Medical School
• Friday 20 September 2024, 11:00-12:00
• Venue: The Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN.
• Series: Gurdon Institute Seminar Series; organiser: events.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Muzlifah Haniffa, Sanger Institute
• Thursday 30 January 2025, 11:00-12:00
• Venue: The Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN.
• Series: Gurdon Institute Seminar Series; organiser: communications.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

The Anne McLaren Lecture

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Alex Joyner, Sloan Kettering Institute
• Tuesday 18 March 2025, 11:00-12:00
• Venue: The Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN.
• Series: Gurdon Institute Seminar Series; organiser: Florence Leroy.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Ina Sonnen, Hubrecht Institute
• Tuesday 10 December 2024, 11:00-12:00
• Venue: The Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN.
• Series: Gurdon Institute Seminar Series; organiser: Florence Leroy.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE02835J, PaperChenyang Zhang, Cheng Fu, Haoyu Guo, Yuan Chen, Kun Fan, Zengyu Li, Jincheng Zou, Huichao Dai, Guoqun Zhang, Jing Ma, Chengliang Wang
Organic electrode materials (OEMs), particularly small molecules, are promising for the next-generation batteries due to their advantages of mass production with potentially low cost, flexibility, high capacity, and facile molecular...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

A bridging molecule, (2-aminoethyl)phosphonic acid (AEP), is utilized to modify the buried SnO2/perovskite interface in PSCs. The dual functionality of AEP with adjacent interface leads to significant benefits such as defects suppression, increased film quality, and interfacial charge extraction improvement. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.40% (certified at 25.98%) is achieved with ≈1400 h operational durability.

Abstract

The interface between the perovskite layer and electron transporting layer is a critical determinate for the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The heterogeneity of the interface critically affects the carrier dynamics at the buried interface. To address this, a bridging molecule, (2-aminoethyl)phosphonic acid (AEP), is introduced for the modification of SnO2/perovskite buried interface in n–i–p structure PSCs. The phosphonic acid group strongly bonds to the SnO2 surface, effectively suppressing the surface carrier traps and leakage current, and uniforming the surface potential. Meanwhile, the amino group influences the growth of perovskite film, resulting in higher crystallinity, phase purity, and fewer defects. Furthermore, the bridging molecules facilitate the charge extraction at the interface, as indicated by the femtosecond transient reflection (fs-TR) spectroscopy, leading to champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.40% (certified 25.98%) for PSCs. Additionally, the strengthened interface enables improved operational durability of ≈1400 h for the unencapsulated PSCs under ISOS-L-1I protocol.

Piezoionic hydrogels hold the potential to enable direct ionic gating of transistors. This research reveals that these hydrogels can exhibit gating behavior in response to mechanical stimuli, an analog to the mechanically gated phenomena observed in biological neurons. This breakthrough not only advances neuromimetic pressure sensors but also enhances fundamental understanding of the piezoionic mechanism.

Abstract

The human perception system's information processing is intricately linked to the nonlinear response and gating effect of neurons. While piezoionics holds potential in emulating the pressure sensing capability of biological skin, the incorporation of information processing functions seems neglected. Here, ionic gating behavior in piezoionic hydrogels is uncovered as a notable extension beyond the previously observed linear responses. The hydrogel can generate remarkably high voltages (700 mV) and currents (7 mA) when indentation forces surpass the threshold. Through a comprehensive analysis involving simulations and experimental investigations, it is proposed that the gating behavior emerges due to significant diffusion differences between cations and anions. To showcase the practical implications of this breakthrough, the piezoionic hydrogels are successfully integrated with prostheses and robot hands, demonstrating that the gating effect enables accurate discrimination between gentle and harsh touch. The advancement in neuromimetic tactile sensing has significant potential for emerging applications such as humanoid robotics and biomedical engineering, offering valuable opportunities for further development of embodied neuromorphic intelligence.

An integrated strategy combining one-for-all phototheranostic molecules with a modified optical fiber is developed to efficiently implement both second near-infrared fluorescence-photoacoustic-photothermal trimodal imaging and “inside-out” irradiation-triggered phototherapy for orthotopic breast tumors. Histological analysis results demonstrate thorough and complete tumor damage induced by the optical fiber-mediated phototherapy, in sharp contrast to the shallow treatment effect in a conventional manner.

Abstract

One-for-all phototheranostics based on a single molecule is recognized as a convenient approach for cancer treatment, whose efficacy relies on precise lesion localization through multimodal imaging, coupled with the efficient exertion of phototherapy. To unleash the full potential of phototheranostics, advancement in both phototheranostic agents and light delivery methods is essential. Herein, an integrated strategy combining a versatile molecule featuring aggregation-induced emission, namely tBuTTBD, with a modified optical fiber to realize comprehensive tumor diagnosis and “inside-out” irradiation in the orthotopic breast tumor, is proposed for the first time. Attributed to the intense donor-acceptor interaction, highly distorted conformation, abundant molecular rotors, and loose intermolecular packing upon aggregation, tBuTTBD can synchronously undergo second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence emission, photothermal and photodynamic generation under laser irradiation, contributing to a trimodal NIR-II fluorescence-photoacoustic (PA)-photothermal imaging-guided phototherapy. The tumor treatment is further carried out following the insertion of a modified optical fiber, which is fabricated by splicing a flat-end fiber with an air-core fiber. This configuration aims to enable effective in situ phototherapy by maximizing energy utilization for therapeutic benefits. This work not only enriches the palette of NIR-II phototheranostic agents but also provides valuable insight for exploring an integrated phototheranostic protocol for practical cancer treatment.

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the distribution and function of bacteria within tumors, highlighting their significance in cancer development and treatment.

Abstract

In recent years, advancements in microbial sequencing technology have sparked an increasing interest in the bacteria residing within solid tumors and its distribution and functions in various tumors. Intratumoral bacteria critically modulate tumor oncogenesis and development through DNA damage induction, chronic inflammation, epigenetic alterations, and metabolic and immune regulation, while also influencing cancer treatment efficacy by affecting drug metabolism. In response to these discoveries, a variety of anti-cancer therapies targeting these microorganisms have emerged. These approaches encompass oncolytic therapy utilizing tumor-associated bacteria, the design of biomaterials based on intratumoral bacteria, the use of intratumoral bacterial components for drug delivery systems, and comprehensive strategies aimed at the eradication of tumor-promoting bacteria. Herein, this review article summarizes the distribution patterns of bacteria in different solid tumors, examines their impact on tumors, and evaluates current therapeutic strategies centered on tumor-associated bacteria. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects for developing drugs that target these bacterial communities are also explored, promising new directions for cancer treatment.

The symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum in the SiNx PhC slabs engender azimuthal polarization field in the momentum space, which strongly interacts with the exciton emission from 1L WS2. Consequently, spin-dependent twisted spiral phase fronts are imposed on the exciton emission from 1L WS2, exhibiting helical wavefronts and doughnut-shaped intensity beam profiles in the momentum space.

Abstract

Owing to their strong exciton effects and valley polarization properties, monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides (1L TMDs) have unfolded the prospects of spin-polarized light-emitting devices. However, the wavefront control of exciton emission, which is critical to generate structured optical fields, remains elusive. In this work, the experimental demonstration of spin-locked vortex emission from monolayer Tungsten Disulfide (1L WS2) integrated with Silicon Nitride (SiNx) PhC slabs is presented. The symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (BIC) in the SiNx PhC slabs engender azimuthal polarization field distribution in the momentum space with a topological singularity in the center of the Brillouin zone, which imposes the resonantly enhanced WS2 exciton emission with a spin-correlated spiral phase front by taking advantage of the winding topologies of resonances with the assistance of geometric phase scheme. As a result, exciton emission from 1L WS2 exhibits helical wavefront and doughnut-shaped intensity beam profile in the momentum space with topological charges locked to the spins of light. This strategy on spin-dependent excitonic vortex emission may offer the unparalleled capability of valley-polarized structured light generation for 1L TMDs.

A novel strategy for pressure sensing is demonstrated for breaking through the saturation of electrical responses and sensitivity. The strain-effect-based pressure sensors can generate increased resistance changes with tensile strain of conductive films over an overwide linear detection range (over 1.5 MPa), and obtain unsaturated electrical response changes over 100% (from 5.22–70 MPa−1).

Abstract

The flexible pressure sensors with a broad pressure range and unsaturated sensitivity are highly desired in practical applications. However, pressure sensors by piezoresistive effect are always limited by the compressibility of sensing layers, resulting in a theoretically decreasing sensitivity of less than 100%. Here, a unique strategy is proposed that utilizes the strain effect, simultaneously achieving a trade-off between a wider pressure detection range and unsaturated sensitivity. Ascribed to the strain effect of sensing layers induced by interlaced microdomes, the sensors possess an increased sensitivity (5.22–70 MPa−1) over an ultrawide pressure range (45 Pa–4.1 MPa), a high-pressure resolution (5 Pa), fast response/recovery time (30/45 ms), and a robust response under a high-pressure loading of 3.5 MPa for more than 5000 cycles. These superior sensing performances allow the sensor to monitor large pressure. The flexible pressure sensor array can assist doctors in restoring the neutral mechanical axis, tracking knee flexion angles, and extracting gait features. Moreover, the flexible sensing array can be integrated into the joint motion surveillance system to map the balance medial–lateral contact forces on the metal compartments in real time, demonstrating the potential for further development into precise medical human–machine interfaces during total knee replacement surgery.

The carefully designed fang-structured surface generates a unique distributed 3D multi-curvature, yielding a response to liquid surface tension for customized control of multi-directional liquid spreading. This enables innovative functions beyond conventional surfaces, including constructing selective multi-path circuits, portably indicating surface tensions of wetting liquids with a resolution of 0.3–3.4 mN m−1, and temperature-mediated smart manipulation of liquids.

Abstract

Decorating surfaces with wetting gradients or topological structures is a prevailing strategy to control uni-directional spreading without energy input. However, current methods, limited by fixed design, cannot achieve multi-directional control of liquids, posing challenges to practical applications. Here, a structured surface composed of arrayed three-dimensional asymmetric fang-structured units is reported that enable in situ control of customized multi-directional spreading for different surface tension liquids, exhibiting five novel modes. This is attributed to bottom-up distributed multi-curvature features of surface units, which create varied Laplace pressure gradients to guide the spreading of different-wettability liquids along specific directions. The surface's capability to respond to liquid properties for multimodal control leads to innovative functions that are absent in conventional structured surfaces. Selective multi-path circuits can be constructed by taking advantage of rich liquid behaviors with the surface; surface tensions of wetting liquids can be portably indicated with a resolution scope of 0.3–3.4 mN m−1 using the surface; temperature-mediated change of liquid properties is utilized to smartly manipulate liquid behavior and achieve the spatiotemporal-controllable targeted cooling of the surface at its heated state. These novel applications open new avenues for developing advanced surfaces for liquid manipulation.