Fe Shell Research Articles

Elemental Distribution and Melting Characteristics of FeNi nanoparticles on W(110) surfaces

In this report we describe new findings on the structure, composition and thermal stability of FexNi1−x nanoparticles, synthesized via a magnetron sputtering source and deposited on a clean W(110) surface. The elemental distribution of the nanoparticles was determined by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The melting behavior of the nanoparticles was studied under UHV by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) upon heating. Notably, it has been observed that the nanoparticle’s core is characterized by an enrichment of Ni atoms, while the shell shows a higher amount of Fe atoms. Specifically, in the case of Fe0.75Ni0.25 and Fe0.25Ni0.75, where a Ni core is surrounded by a Fe shell, all nanoparticles completely liquefy after heating at 540 K. In contrast, the Fe0.50Ni0.50 nanoparticles, which exhibit a homogeneous distribution of both elements, only begin to melt around 540 K.

Synthesis of Fe3O4 core/MIL-100(Fe) shell nanocomposites for tumor chemo-ferroptosis combination therapy and MR imaging

The application of both chemotherapy and ferrotherapy together has shown great potential in increasing the effectiveness of cancer treatment. To achieve such a combination, we herein have synthesized Fe3O4 core/MIL-100(Fe) shell nanocomposites (FM) that can be used for tumor chemo-ferroptosis combination therapy. In these nanocomposites, the anticancer drug 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) and iron ions could be co-delivered into tumors. On one hand, the released HCPT molecules can enter the cell nucleus and bind with DNA, resulting in induction of tumor cell apoptosis. On the other hand, the iron ions could react with H2O2 leading to the production of ROS through the Fenton reaction, thereby triggering tumor cell ferroptosis. Consequently, a superior antitumor effect was achieved through the combination of the apoptosis and ferroptosis. Additionally, the Fe3O4 core endowed FM with high performance for magnetic resonance imaging, which further provided novel avenues for imaging guidance therapy. Therefore, we anticipate that application of these nanocomposites could have great potential in the field of tumor therapy.

Photothermal effect-enhanced peroxidase-like performance for sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides on a visual test strip

Pesticides pose a serious risk to public health, even in trace amounts. The sensitive, rapid, visual, and on-site detection of pesticides in a real sample remains a challenge. Herein, we report a visual and rapid organophosphorus pesticide (OP) sensing device with excellent sensitivity, ease of application, and specificity based on a photothermal effect-based peroxidase (POD) mimetic. The ultrathin MIL-101-NH2(Fe) (Fe-MOF) shell-coated Au nanobipyramide (NBP) not only possesses POD-like activity, but also exhibits excellent photothermal effect under near-infrared (NIR) light. The results reveal that the excellent photo-to-thermal conversion of the Au NBPs can rapidly heat the MIL-101-NH2(Fe) shell, which subsequently induces a markedly enhanced POD-like activity. Using paraoxon-ethyl as model OP, the combination of the OP inhibition effect on the biocatalytic activity of acetylcholinesterase with the inhibition effect of thiocholine on the colorimetric assays of the POD-mimicking Fe-MOF leads to a significant improved selectivity for OP sensing. In particular, the NIR light irradiation increased the OP detection sensitivity by 100 times. Importantly, based on this detection strategy, a visual test strip with high sensitivity was developed and enabled real-time detection through a simple color analysis software on a smartphone. The successful detection of OP residues in fruit peel using this test strip further confirmed its application potential in real sample analysis.

TiO2 supported non-noble Ni-Fe catalysts for the high yield production of 2,5-dimethylfuran biofuel

The establishment of the future biorefinery schemes requires the sustainable conversion and valorisation of renewable bioresources into eco-friendly fuels and chemicals. To this end, 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) is a promising biofuel competitive to benchmarks like ethanol due to high-value intrinsic properties. It can be produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) platform molecule, one of the biobased intermediate chemicals derived from the abundant lignocellulosic biomass. We evidenced that bimetallic NiFe alloys supported on TiO2 are earth-abundant non-noble metal-based catalysts allowing the high yield production of DMF to be achieved. We showed that the preparation method and the reduction temperature of the catalyst are of prime importance, and are directly influencing the structure of the supported NiFe bimetallic particles and in consequence the catalyst behaviour. The highest yield to DMF is obtained on a catalyst prepared by co-impregnation and reduced at 500 °C, that features an unperfect core/shell structure of the NiFe alloy, with a partial Fe shell surrounding an Fe-enriched Ni core. The key-feature necessary for achieving high performance lies on the surface structure of the NiFe alloy that allows for an optimum availability of highly active Ni domains. The Ni atoms were maintained highly dispersed by the presence of Fe-containing surface phases. The specific surface structure is proposed to promote the HMF adsorption through the carbonyl group, while preventing from the hydrogenation of the aromatic furan ring to maintain high selectivity.

Investigation through the antimicrobial activity of electrospun PCL nanofiber mats with green synthesized Ag–Fe nanoparticles

Wound or device infections with drug resistant microorganisms are a major challenge in medicine that could increase morbidity and mortality rate, with a great financial burden on the health care system. Nanofibers with antimicrobial coating have been widely applied in wound dressing and tissue engineering to decrease the risk of infections. In the present study, Ag–Fe core-shell NPs were green synthesized by applying Ducrosia anethifolia plant extracted as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The novel nanocomposites by a combination of Ag–Fe and polymeric polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were produced. Synthesized nanoparticles and nanocomposites were characterized using several physical and mechanical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering method (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), and tensile test. The mean size of the synthesized Ag and Ag–Fe core-shell nanoparticles were 4.1 and 18.4 nm. Silver nanoparticles were successfully coated with Fe shell and nearly spherical core-shell shape. SEM images showed that PCL nanofibers have an average size of 265 nm. The results revealed that the increase in the Ag–Fe core-shell NPs' concentration leads to the smaller size of nanofibers. The antimicrobial properties of Ag–Fe core-shell and PCL/Ag–Fe nanocomposites were evaluated against some clinically important bacteria and fungi. Also, the cytotoxicity of PCL/Ag–Fe nanocomposites on fibroblast cells Natural man (NHDF) was assessed for 24, 48, and 72 h. The results of the study confirmed minimal cellular toxicity and considerable antimicrobial properties of green synthesized PCL/Ag–Fe nanocomposites, especially against some drug resistant pathogens, which could be promising new insight to improve the PCL-based composites applications in wound dressings or medical devices.

The transformation matrix in the 7DOFs beam formulation

A non-negligible percentage of steel products for civil and industrial constructions is realised with members characterised by a mono-symmetric cross-section. The non-coincidence between the centroid and the shear centre reflects in a quite complex behaviour that is remarkably influenced by the warping effects. Usually, frame design is based on the output data of commercial Finite Element Analysis Packages (FEAPs) but only few of them offer a refined beam element formulation able to reproduce the response of non-bisymmetric cross-section members (like the 7 degrees of freedom, DOFs, beam element). As a consequence, warping effects are usually neglected in routine design, leading in several cases to assess non-correct internal stresses, global displacements and critical buckling multipliers.This paper is focussed on mono-symmetric cross-section members and deals with the influence of the interaction between axial force, bending moments and bimoment in linear elastic range. In particular, the two strategies that FE developers usually adopt, in the 7 DOFs beam formulation, to pass from the local to the global reference system are herein shortly introduced and discussed. The effects of the associated transformation matrices have been investigated in few examples, also reproduced via closed expressions derived from the mixed torsion theory and FE shell models. Paper outcomes show that the results in terms of generalised displacements, internal forces and, consequently, stress distribution along the member cross-section are significantly different, strictly depending on the adopted transformation matrix. The importance of a correct evaluation of the bimoment distribution is stressed also by the fact that the new edition of the EN1993-1-1, expected in the next months, includes also the bimoment contribution for member checks.

Influence of shell thickness on the thermal stability and melting-like behavior of Al@Fe core–shell nanoparticles from atomistic simulations: a structural and dynamic description

Core–shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) are a class of functional materials that have received important attention nowadays due to their adjustable properties by a controlled tuning of the core or shell. Understanding the thermal response and structural properties of these CSNPs is relevant to carrying out an analysis regarding their synthesis and application at the nanoscale. The present work is aimed to investigate the shell thickness effect on thermal stability and melting behavior of Al@Fe CSNPs by using molecular dynamics simulations. The results are discussed considering the influence of the Fe shell on the Al nanoparticle and analyzing the effect of different shell thicknesses in Al@Fe CSNPs. In general, calorific curves show a smooth energy decline for temperatures greater than room temperature for different shell thicknesses and sizes, corresponding to the inward and outward atomic movement of Al and Fe atoms, respectively, that produce a mixed Al–Fe nanoalloy. Here, the thermal stability of the Al@Fe nanoparticle is gradually lost passing to a liquid-Al@solid-Fe configuration and reaching a mixed Al–Fe state by an exothermic mechanism. Combining quantities of the atomic diffusion and structural identification, a stepped structural transition of the system is subsequently observed, where the melting-like point was estimated. Furthermore, it is observed that the Al@Fe CSNPs with greater stability are obtained with a thick shell and a large size. The ability to control shell thickness and vary the size opens up attractive opportunities to synthesize a broad range of new materials with tunable catalytic properties.

Distillation of 56Fe in Ultramassive O–Ne White Dwarfs

When white dwarfs freeze, the plasma mixtures inside them undergo separation processes that can produce radical changes in the composition profile of the star. The abundance of neutron-rich elements, such as 22Ne or 56Fe, determines whether or not the first crystals are more or less dense than the surrounding fluid and thus whether they sink or float. These processes have now been studied for C–O–Ne and C–O–Fe mixtures, finding that distillation and precipitation processes are possible in white dwarfs. In this work, we calculate the phase diagram of more complicated O–Ne–Fe mixtures and make predictions for the internal structure of the separated white dwarf. There are two possible outcomes determined by a complicated interplay between the Ne abundance, the 22Ne fraction, and the 56Fe abundance. Either Fe distills to form an inner core because the first O–Ne solids are buoyant, or an O–Ne inner core forms and Fe accumulates in the liquid until Fe distillation begins and forms an Fe shell. In the case of an Fe shell, a Rayleigh–Taylor instability may arise and overturn the core. In either case, Fe distillation may only produce a cooling delay of order 0.1 Gyr, as these processes occur early at high white dwarf luminosities. Fe inner cores and shells may be detectable through asteroseismology and could enhance the yield of neutron-rich elements such as 55Mn and 58Ni in supernovae.

Magnetic Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) core-shells decorated with gold nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and degradation of azo dye

In this contribution, the metal-organic framework Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) have been successfully synthesized via in situ single-step hydrothermal route, where Fe3O4 not only acts as a core but also provide Fe(III) for uniform growth of MIL-100(Fe) shell around Fe3O4 microspheres. Compared with Fe3O4, both surface area and pore volume of Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) is significantly enhanced while the magnetism is slightly affected. The synthesis procedure is facile since it eliminates the need of the functionalization of Fe3O4 core with mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), addition of external iron source and repeated cycles of growth and washing. The as-prepared MIL-100(Fe) were decorated with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by deposition-reduction method for the first time and applied for fast detection and reduction of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) and azo dye to reduce their environmental and health issues. With N2 physisorption, XRD, TEM, SEM, VSM and FT-IR characterization, the metallic Au NPs were identified to be highly dispersed in the Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) cages without affecting the magnetism. For Au/Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe), complete reduction of 4-NP and azo dye occurred within 16 min with reaction rate constant (k) of 0.25 and 0.2 min−1, respectively superior to Fe3O4 core and Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe), which is attributed to well dispersive Au NPs, texture, and core shell surface of Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe). Furthermore, the excellent reusability of Au/Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) makes it attractive to be used for multiples cycles in catalysis.

Persistent luminescent metal-organic framework nanocomposite enables autofluorescence-free dual modal imaging-guided drug delivery.

Molecular imaging-guided therapy was essential for realizing precise cancer intervention, while designing an imaging platform to achieve autofluorescence-free imaging for dual modal imaging-guided drug delivery remains a challenge. Near-infrared persistent luminescence nanoparticles (NIR PLNPs) were promising for tumor imaging due to no background interference from the tissue. Herein, a persistent luminescent metal-organic framework (PLNPs@MIL-100(Fe)) is prepared via a layer-by-layer method for dual-modal imaging-guided drug delivery. The PLNPs@MIL-100(Fe) exhibit NIR persistent luminescence emitting and T2-weighted signal, achieving precise in vivo dual-modal imaging of tumor-bearing mice by providing high spatial resolution MR imaging and autofluorescence-free NIR imaging. The porous MIL-100(Fe) shell provides PLNPs@MIL-100(Fe) with up to 87.1% drug loading capacity and acid-triggered drug release for drug delivery. We envision that the proposed PLNPs@MIL-100(Fe) platform would provide an effective approach for precise tumor imaging and versatile drug delivery.

Highly Ordered and Thermally Stable FeRh Cluster Superlattice on Graphene for Low-Temperature Catalytic CO Oxidation.

We report on bimetallic FeRh clusters with a narrow size-distribution grown on graphene on Ir(111) as a carbon-supported model catalyst to promote low-temperature catalytic CO oxidation. By combining scanning tunneling microscopy with catalytic performance measurements, we reveal that Fe-Rh interfaces are active sites for oxygen activation and CO oxidation, especially at low temperatures. Rh core Fe shell clusters not only provide the active sites for the reaction, but also thermally stabilize surface Fe atoms towards coarsening compared with pure Fe clusters. Alternate isotope-labelled CO/O2 pulse experiments show opposite trends on preferential oxidation (PROX) performance because of surface hydroxyl species formation and competitive adsorption between CO and O2 . The present results introduce a general strategy to stabilize metallic clusters and to reveal the reaction mechanisms on bimetallic structures for low-temperature catalytic CO oxidation as well as preferential oxidation.

Effects of pressure on volatilisation of pure Bi nanoparticles and Bi–Fe core–shell nanoparticles during continuous heating: a molecular dynamics study

In the present work, the molecular dynamics study method has been utilised to investigate the effects of pressure on the volatilisation of pure Bi nanoparticles and Bi–Fe core–shell nanoparticles during continuous heating. Computational total energy curves between 300 and 2000 K are used to explore the structural changes of nanoparticles under different pressures. On the other hand, the radial distribution function is examined to determine the structural evolution of a system. The calculated root mean square displacement curves under pressures of 0–5 GPa between 300 and 2000 K are employed to explore the diffusion of Bi element and the calculated volatilisation rate of Bi element is used to quantitatively obtain the volatilisation characteristics. The volatilisation patterns of pure Bi nanoparticles and Bi–Fe core–shell nanoparticles are different under different temperatures and pressures. The results show that the volatilisation of Bi element is increasing during the heating from 300 to 2000 K, and the volatilisation decreases with the increase of pressure. Furthermore, the Fe shell can effectively decrease the volatilisation of the Bi element.

Positively Charged Pt-Based Nanoreactor for Efficient and Stable Hydrogen Evolution.

Positively charged Pt can work as the active center for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) but the corresponding design of state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts at high current densities has never been realized. Here the application of positively charged Pt in an effective Fe‐PtNiPO nanoreactor for highly efficient and stable HER is demonstrated. Synchrotron radiation X‐ray absorption spectroscopy confirms the formation of internal positively charged Pt and the in situ experiments reveal the quick charge transfer in the nanoreactor. Ni‐based materials around Pt are used to tune the electronic structure and promote the water dissociation to form locally enriched H+, while a porous Fe shell can both prevent the loss of active material and allow the efficient material transport. All the beneficial compositions work together to form an effective nanoreactor for HER. As a result, the Fe‐PtNiPO nanoreactor shows a low overpotential of 19 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 and exhibits a high mass activity of 10.93 A mgPt −1 (at 100 mV). Most importantly, it only needs an ultra‐low overpotential of 193 mV to achieve a high current density of 1000 mA cm−2 with an excellent stability over 300 h, which represents one of the best electrocatalysts for alkaline HER and might be used for large‐scale industrial application in the future.

Fabrication of Au nanostar/MIL-101(Fe) architecture for surface-enhanced Raman scattering detections

In the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements, it is very important to fabricate “hot spots” and concentrate the analytes into these regions. In this work, a hybrid structure of Au nanostars (NSs) with high SERS sensitivity and metal-organic framework MIL-101(Fe) with high molecular adsorption capability was constructed as high performance SERS substrate. The MIL-101(Fe) shell between AuNSs is several nanometers, promoting the construct of “hot spots” and the aggregation of target molecules. The as-prepared AuNS/MIL-101(Fe) has achieved high SERS sensitivity, long-time stability, reproducibility, and capability of universal detections. The limit of detection for rhodamine 6 G is down to 0.29 nM. Meanwhile, the SERS activity of AuNS/MIL-101(Fe) is kept for at least 30 days. Furthermore, the relative standard deviations of signals on five substrates are all less than 10 %. The as-prepared AuNS/MIL-101(Fe) also exhibit the SERS activities for various molecules including dyes, organic contaminants, pesticides, and amino acids, indicating that the AuNS/MIL-101(Fe) substrates have wide applications in chemical analysis and environmental monitoring.

Zn/Co-ZIFs@MIL-101(Fe) metal–organic frameworks are effective photo-Fenton catalysts for RhB removal

Treating dye-contaminated wastewater using the visible light–driven photo-Fenton reaction is beneficial to environmental remediation. This paper reports the synthesis of a novel, highly effective photo-Fenton catalyst, the Zn/Co-ZIFs@MIL-101(Fe) composite, by a facile internal-growth method. The composite, which had an MOF-in-MOF structure, activated H2O2 to decompose RhB, a polluting-dye model, under visible-light illumination. The transfer of the electron–hole pair was synergistically accelerated by the reaction centers of the composite (the MIL-101(Fe) shell and Zn/Co-ZIFs core), which enhanced H2O2 activation. The generated OH, O2−, and 1O2 effectively decomposed RhB. The composite’s catalytic performance was significantly enhanced by the electronic hybridization of its Fe3+, Co2+, and Zn2+ metal centers. Thus, the composite demonstrated a remarkable capability to remove RhB. The composite polymetallic MOFs loaded with 3% Zn/Co-ZIFs prepared by us showed good reusability and water stability, and their morphology and structure did not change significantly after four runs, depending on the iron, cobalt, and zinc metal leaching concentrations 0.134 mg/L, 0.06 mg/L and 0.054 mg/L respectively. This study provides a novel method to construct an Zn/Co-ZIFs@MIL-101(Fe) catalyst with dual reaction centers that enhance the transfer of electron–hole pairs. Our findings inspire the application of MOF-based photo-Fenton catalysts to wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Combined Layer-by-Layer/Hydrothermal Synthesis of Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) for Ofloxacin Adsorption from Environmental Waters.

A simple not solvent and time consuming Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe), synthesized in the presence of a small amount of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (27.3 wt%), is here presented and discussed. Layer-by-layer alone (20 shell), and combined layer-by-layer (5 shell)/reflux or /hydrothermal synthetic procedures were compared. The last approach (Fe3O4@MIL-100_H sample) is suitable (i) to obtain rounded-shaped nanoparticles (200–400 nm diameter) of magnetite core and MIL-100(Fe) shell; (ii) to reduce the solvent and time consumption (the layer-by-layer procedure is applied only 5 times); (iii) to give the highest MIL-100(Fe) amount in the composite (72.7 vs. 18.5 wt% in the layer-by-layer alone); (iv) to obtain a high surface area of 3546 m2 g−1. The MIL-100(Fe) sample was also synthesized and both materials were tested for the absorption of Ofloxacin antibiotic (OFL). Langmuir model well describes OFL adsorption on Fe3O4@MIL-100_H, indicating an even higher adsorption capacity (218 ± 7 mg g−1) with respect to MIL-100 (123 ± 5 mg g−1). Chemisorption regulates the kinetic process on both the composite materials. Fe3O4@MIL-100_H performance was then verified for OFL removal at µg per liter in tap and river waters, and compared with MIL-100. Its relevant and higher adsorption efficiency and the magnetic behavior make it an excellent candidate for environmental depollution.

Proposed Method of Distribution of Horizontal Loads on Stiffening Walls

Numerical methods are commonly used to determine internal forces in stiffening walls. Extreme internal forces can be easily generated not only in slab-and-wall structure, but also in the bar system. It is always time-consuming to build such a structure, thus it is not used in single- or multi-family buildings with a simple wall arrangement. Then, a simple analytical model can be used to calculate internal forces in walls. Eurocode 6 (prEN 1996-1-1:2017) does not contain specific guidelines to calculate internal forces in walls and to use numerical methods or other reliable methods. This paper presents the procedure for determining internal forces in a building with a simple wall arrangement. The proposed method is based on the division of a wall with openings into components. The results were compared with values of internal forces determined by the linear elastic FE shell model. Rotation centre (RC) of the wall plan was demonstrated to be a significant factor which, besides bending and shear stiffness, had an impact on load distribution.

Fabrication of high strength and plasticity of iron matrix composite with Ti@(TiC + α-Fe) core-shell structure by near-eutectic temperature hot pressing sintering

To overcome the trade-off between strength and plasticity of traditional particulate reinforced iron matrix composite, a novel Ti@(TiC + α-Fe) core-shell structure reinforced iron matrix composite with high strength and plasticity was designed and fabricated via near-eutectic temperature hot pressing sintering process at 1100 °C for 2 h. The composite consists of three-dimensional Ti@(TiC + α-Fe) core-shell structure and iron matrix. Predominant features of the Ti@(TiC + α-Fe) core-shell structure include a isolated soft Ti core and a continuous hard TiC–Fe shell. The obtained composite reinforced with such core-shell structure reinforcing particulates achieves an unprecedented compressive fracture strain of 43.9% while maintaining high yield strength of 425.6 MPa and ultimate compressive strength of 798.3 MPa. Thus, this work provides a novel material design approach and alleviates the strength-plasticity trade-off of iron matrix composite.

Simultaneous removal of multiple heavy metals from wastewater by novel plateau laterite ceramic in batch and fixed-bed studies

The wastewater in mining is usually contaminated by multi-heavy metals, and the removal of heavy metals in aqueous solutions by adsorption is a hot topic nowadays. Low-cost, multi-target, sufficient capability, and good reusability are always the first considerations for adsorbents. In this study, a unique plateau laterite ceramic (PLC) made from a characteristic clay soil that naturally contained rich Fe and Al ions was used to simultaneously adsorb six heavy metals from wastewater in batch and fixed-bed experiments. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and pH effects were investigated thoroughly. The Langmuir model, pseudo-first-order, and pseudo-second-order kinetic models fitted the experimental data, indicating that the adsorption process was monolayer adsorption, and both physisorption and chemisorption occurred. The pH of the zero-point charge (pHzpc) of the prepared PLC was 6.8, and the best adsorption efficiencies were 97.38% (As), 96.55% (Cr), 95.62% (Pb), 89.85% (Cu), 87.14% (Cd), and 81.08% (Hg). The crystalline morphology observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with new and enhanced X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks revealed that heavy metals were successfully adsorbed onto the PLC. In the fixed-bed study, breakthrough occurred at 270 bed volume (12.72 L). The regeneration ability of the PLC could meet at least three cycles. The adsorption capacity was ranked as As > Cr > Pb > Cu > Cd > Hg in both the batch and fixed-bed experiments. The removal efficiency of As was the best because, except for the dominant complexation and precipitation reaction, As ions had a wider reaction pH range, underwent ligand exchange, and were involved in the formation of an As–Fe shell. Hence, plateau laterite was used for the first time in this study as a ceramic adsorbent to simultaneously adsorb six heavy metals from wastewater. The PLC exhibited a solid structure and easy separation qualities in all experiments, thus having significant implications for removing multiple heavy metals from wastewater in practice.

CuFeSe2-based thermo-responsive multifunctional nanomaterial initiated by a single NIR light for hypoxic cancer therapy.

Integration of various therapeutic modes and novel hypoxic therapy are two emerging aspects in the current anti-cancer field. Based on this, we designed a multifunctional therapeutic system combining photothermal therapy (PTT), the newly defined chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and AIPH-based hypoxic therapy ingeniously, which can take effect well in hypoxic tumor environments. The CuFeSe2-based heterojunction was controllably constructed by the coating of a MIL-100(Fe) shell layer by layer, and the large mesoporous cavities were subsequently filled with a polymerization initiator (AIPH) and phase change material (tetradecanol) to achieve higher drug loading and controlled heat release of radicals. When irradiated by a single 808 nm laser, the photothermal agent of CuFeSe2 plays a significant role of the initiating switch in the whole nanoplatform, whose hyperthermia not only realizes fundamental PTT but also promotes greatly the Fenton reaction of the MIL-100(Fe) shell for oxidative ˙OH production and the generation of toxic AIPH radicals while melting tetradecanol. Due to the sensitive heat-responsive therapies independent of oxygen concentration, the nanoplatform showed a superior therapeutic effect for hypoxic tumor environments. Besides, on account of the effective attenuation for X-rays and the presence of the magnetic element Fe of CuFeSe2, the nanoplatform was also certified to be a superior diagnosis agent for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As expected, cell experiments in vitro and mice experiments in vivo further verified the excellent biocompatibility and antitumor effect, suggesting that this nanoplatform of CuFeSe2@MIL-100(Fe)-AIPH is promising for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment in hypoxic cancer therapy.