Multifunctional Hybrid Research Articles

CoFe2O4 nanoparticles modified amidation of N-doped carbon nanofibers hybrid catalysts to accelerate electrochemical kinetics of Li-S batteries with high sulfur loading

Lithium-sulfur battery have been considered as promising energy storage devices because of its superiority in energy density. However, the low active material utilization, low sulfur loading, shuttle effect and torpid kinetics of polysulfides, and poor cycling stability limit its commercial applications. Herein, the functionalized nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers containing amide groups were designed by electrospun and polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM) solution impregnation techniques. The obtained amide groups modified nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (ANF) were combined with spinel CoFe2O4 (CFO) nanoparticles (CFOANF) via hydrothermal method to design as membrane electrode containing Li2S6 catholyte for lithium-sulfur batteries. The introduction of nitrogen doped and amide groups modified ANF can increase fibers polarity, which have chemical adsorption capability toward lithium polysulfides. CFO nanoparticles can further absorb the soluble polysulfides by strong chemical interaction due to its intrinsic polarity and also serve as a catalyst to promote the redox kinetics of polysulfides conversion. Benefiting from the synergism of the physical confinement, polar chemical adsorption, and catalytic conversion, the as-prepared CFOANF delivers excellent electrochemical performances at high sulfur loading. The as-prepared CFOANF membrane with 6.3 mg cm−2 sulfur loading delivers a high initial capacity of 940 mAh g−1 and excellent long-term cycling stability up to 450 cycles with a low decay rate 0.059 % per cycle at 0.2C. Remarkably, even at 12.6 mg cm−2 and 16.4 mg cm−2 sulfur loading, the CFOANF membrane electrodes show high capacity of 9.7 mAh cm−2 and 11.8 mAh cm−2, respectively. The results show that the chemically anchoring polysulfides and catalyzing redox reaction by multifunctional CFOANF hybrid composite is promising for assembling with a high sulfur loading electrode, which exhibits a superior electrochemical performance in lithium-sulfur batteries.

Multifunctional hybrid T-PI-MPS composite coating: Corrosion resistance, low-wear/friction and heat-resistance

Despite methylphenylsiloxane (MPS) possesses heat-resistance and corrosion resistance, the brittleness hinders its widespread application. Herein, the polyimide (PI) and Ti3AlC2 were introduced for modifying MPS, thereby preparing the T-PI-MPS coating. The bilayer structure of surface-enriched MPS and internal-enriched PI was achieved by controlling the addition amount along with the density difference. The results indicate that the T-PI-MPS coating achieved a contact angle of 95.1° and exhibited corrosion resistance to salt spray for 28 days. Compared to PI-MPS, the wear rate of T-PI-MPS was reduced by 85 % and the friction coefficient declined from 0.75 to 0.58. As expected, T-PI-MPS exhibited exceptional excellent heat-resistance. The exceptional performance is attributed to the following three factors: I. the MPS-enriched layer is characterized by a stable SiO chain organization. This structure gives the corrosion resistance and water resistance, and prevents the hydrolytic swelling of PI. II. the PI-enriched layer is constructed from imide bonds, which give the coating superior friction performance due to its high load-bearing capacity. III. the incorporation of Ti3AlC2 plays a role in mitigating internal defects, prolonging the corrosion path, and inhibiting cracks due to its unique nanolayered structure, high temperature resistance, and hardness.

Improved Energy Harvesting Ability of Single-Layer Binary Fiber Nanocomposite Membrane for Multifunctional Wearable Hybrid Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Self-Powered Sensors.

While wearable self-powered electronic devices have shown promising improvements, substantial challenges persist in enhancing their electrical output and structural performance. In this work, a working mechanism involving simultaneous piezoelectric and triboelectric conversion within a monolayer-structured membrane is proposed. Single-layer binary fiber nanocomposite membranes (SBFNMs) (PVDF/CNTX@PAN/CNTX, DPCPCX) with two distinct interpenetrating nanocomposite fibers were created through co-electrospinning, incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), respectively. The resulting membrane demonstrated an exceptional synergistic effect of piezoelectricity and triboelectricity along with a high machine-to-electric conversion capability. The addition of CNTs increased the PVDF β-phase and the PAN planar zigzag conformation. As a result, the DPCPC0.5-SBFNMs-based piezoelectric nanogenerator exhibited excellent electrical output (187 V, 8.0 μA, and 1.52 W m-2), maintaining an exceptionally high level of output voltage compared with other piezoelectric nanogenerators. It successfully illuminated 50 commercial light-emitting diodes simultaneously. The output voltage of DPCPC0.5-SBFNMs was 5.1 and 4.6 times higher than that of PAN or PVDF single-fiber membranes, respectively. Furthermore, the peak voltage of DPCPC0.5-SBFNMs exceeded that of co-electrospinning PVDF/CNT1.0@PAN (DPCP1.0) and PVDF@PAN/CNT1.0 (DPPC1.0) by 20 and 10 V, respectively. The piezoelectric sensor made of DPCPC0.5-SBFNMs accurately sensed human movement, ranging from tiny to large, and demonstrated utility as an alarm in medical treatment, fire fighting, and monitoring. Endogenous triboelectricity is proposed in SBFNM piezoelectric materials, enhancing electromechanical conversion and electrical output capacity, thereby promising a wide application potential in self-powered wearable electronic devices.

Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Coupling in Hierarchical Nanoporous Gold-Polypyrrole-Water Hybrids

Nanoporous (np) metals made by dealloying is a novel class of nanostructured materials that offers numerous functionalities, ranging from sensing, energy storage, to (electro-)catalysis and beyond. A substantial amount of research in np materials has been focused on np gold due to its excellent structural and chemical stability, adjustable pore size, high conductivity, biocompatibility, and easy fabrication process via free corrosion or electrochemical dealloying. A considerable number of studies have been conducted to investigate np gold infiltrated with an aqueous electrolyte [1]. In that way, the material is considered as a hybrid so that one can reversibly tune the gold surface state by manipulating the superficial charge densities or adsorbate coverages via the applied electric potential [1]. The above-mentioned approach results in a number of intriguing properties of np Au revealed upon electrode potential variation in aqueous electrolytes such as actuation [2, 3], sensing [4], tunable strength [5] and elastic modulus [6]. The behavior is well-studied in case of weak ion adsorption and surface oxidation.One of the promising methods towards further improvement of functional and mechanical properties of np metals was implemented by Roschning and Weissmueller [7]. It was shown that the actuation strain of np Au can be enhanced via electrodeposition of a conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy) on the gold surfaces. The actuation strain of the np Au-PPy hybrids strongly scales with the PPy phase fraction. Moreover, Li et al. [8] observed variations of effective elastic modulus in np Au-PPy-water hybrids. Thus, introducing the conductive polymer into a pore space of the np metal yields a hybrid actuator with a significantly improved actuation amplitude and yield strength.Here, we employ PPy for surface functionalization of hierarchical (hc) np Au (Figure 1) to explore the impact of the conductive polymer coating on the functional behavior of the hierarchically structured np metals. Np metals with structural hierarchy made by dealloying [9] open up new opportunities for multifunctional hard-soft hybrids. The larger pores at the higher hierarchical level (characterized by diameters around 120 nm) can promote fast mass exchange, while nanopores at the lower hierarchy level (below 30 nm) provide a large surface area and high chemical activity. Actuation behavior of the hybrid materials was analyzed in situ in a dilatometer upon potential cycling in a 1 M HClO4 aqueous electrolyte. The elastic response was examined in situ in a dynamic mechanical analyzer in the same electrolyte. We revealed pronounced changes of the macroscopic length and Young’s modulus in response to the voltage-induced redox reactions of the polymer films at the np electrodes. In the contribution, we discuss the origin of the electro-chemo-mechanical coupling phenomena.[1] Shao et al., in Nanoporous Gold: From an ancient technology to a high-tech material. RSC (2012).[2] Kramer et al. Nano Lett., 4(5) 793 (2004).[3] Jin et al. Nano Lett., 10(1) 187 (2010).[4] Stenner et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 26 (28), 5174 (2016).[5] Jin et al., Science 332, 1179 (2011.)[6] Mameka et al., Acta Mater. 76, 272 (2014).[7] Roschning et al., Adv. Mater. Interfaces, 2001415 (2020).[8] Li et al., Acta Mater., 212 (1), 116852 (2021).[9] Shi et al., Science 371, 1026 (2021).Figure 1. Scanning electron micrograph of hierarchical nanoporous Au-PPy hybrid microstructure. Figure 1

L-Glutamine Coating on Antibacterial Cu Surface by Density Functional Theory

The protection of implant surfaces from biofilm and corrosion is crucial for osteogenesis and tissue engineering. To this end, an L-glutamine-based green corrosion inhibitor with recently established anticancer properties has been applied onto antibacterial Cu(111) surfaces that usually cover the Ti-based implants. Among several configurations, L-glutamine prefers the parallel to the surface orientation with the carbon chain along the [110] direction having the heteroatoms N and O atoms on top of Cu surface atoms, which is important for the creation of a planar two-dimensioned (2d) stable coating. L-glutamine forms well-localized, directional covalent-like bonded states (below −3 eV) with the Cu surface atoms, using mainly its backbone’s N1 atom that interestingly also shows electron charge occupation in the single-molecule highest occupied state, denoting its ability as an active center. The Mulliken analysis shows charge transfer from the molecule’s N, C and Cu neighboring atoms towards the O atoms revealing the strong bond tendency of L-glutamine and therefore its ability to act as a corrosion inhibitor on the Cu surface. Additional L-glutamine adsorption results in intermolecular covalent bonding between the molecules, proving the ability of this amino acid to form a stable protective 2d organic coating on Cu(111). These results could be used for the design of a multifunctional hybrid (organic–metallic) coating with anticorrosion, anticancer and antibacterial properties suitable for many technological applications.

Doping of ZnO Electron Transport Layer with Organic Dye Molecules to Enhance Efficiency and Photo-Stability of the Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells.

The solution-processed zinc oxide (ZnO) electron transport layer (ETL) always exhibits ubiquitous defects, and its photocatalytic activity is detrimental for the organic solar cell (OSC) to achieve high efficiency and stability. Herein, an organic dye molecule, PDINN-S is introduced, to dope ZnO, constructing a hybrid ZnO:PDINN-S ETL. This hybrid ETL exhibits improved electron mobility and conductivity, particularly post-light exposure. The catalytic activity of ZnO is also effectively suppressed.Consequently, the efficiency and photo-stability of inverted non-fullerene OSCs are synergistically enhanced. The devices based on PM6:Y6/PM6:BTP-eC9 active layer with ZnO:PDINN-S as ETL give impressive power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 16.78%/17.59%, significantly higher than those with pure ZnO as ETL (PCEs=15.31%/16.04%). Moreover, ZnO:PDINN-S-based device shows exceptional long-term stability under continuous AM 1.5Gillumination (T80 = 1130 h) , overwhelming the reference device (T80 = 455h). In addition, IncorporatingPDINN-S into ZnO alleviate mechanical stress within the inorganic lattice, making ZnO:PDINN-S ETL more suitable for the fabrication of flexible devices. Overall, doping ZnO with organic dye molecules offers an innovative strategy for developing multifunctional and efficient hybrid ETL of the non-fullerene OSCs with excellent efficiency and photo-stability.

Incorporation of Photo- and Thermoresponsive N-Salicylidene Aniline Derivatives into Cobalt and Zinc Layered Hydroxides.

In search of new multifunctional hybrid materials and in order to investigate the influence of chemical modification on the possible synergy between properties, the carboxylate and sulfonate derivatives of photo- and thermochromic N-salicylidene aniline were successfully inserted into Co(II)- and Zn(II)-based layered simple hydroxides, resulting in four novel hybrids: Co-N-Sali-COO, Co-N-Sali-SO3, Zn-N-Sali-COO, and Zn-N-Sali-SO3. All synthesized hybrids adopt a double organic layered configuration, which prevents the cis-trans photoisomerization ability of N-Sali-R molecules in the hybrids. However, the Zn hybrids exhibit fluorescence upon exposure to UV light due to the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. The thermally stimulated keto-enol tautomerization of N-salicylidene aniline in the hybrids was related with the changes in interlamellar spacings observed by temperature-dependent PXRD. This tautomerization process was prominently evident in the Co-N-Sali-SO3 hybrid (about 11% increase in d-spacing upon decreasing the temperature to -180 °C). Finally, the Co-N-Sali-R hybrids exhibit the typical magnetic behavior associated with Co(II)-based LSHs (ferrimagnetic ordering at TN = 6.8 and 7.7 K for Co-N-Sali-COO and Co-N-Sali-SO3, respectively). This work offers insights into isomerization in LSHs and the ESIPT mechanism's potential in new luminescent materials and prospects for designing new multifunctional materials.

Photothermally Enhanced Cascaded Nanozyme‐Functionalized Black Phosphorus Nanosheets for Targeted Treatment of Infected Diabetic Wounds

AbstractDue to the limitations of H2O2 under physiological conditions and defective activity, nanozyme‐catalyzed therapy for infected diabetic wound healing is still a huge challenge. Here, this work designs a novel multifunctional hybrid glucose oxidase (GOx)–CeO2@black phosphorus (BP)/Apt nanosheet that features GOx and CeO2 dual enzyme loading with photothermal enhancement effect and targeting ability for the treatment of infected wounds in type II diabetic mice. Combined with the photothermal properties of the BP nanosheets, the cascade nanozyme effect of GOx and CeO2 is extremely enhanced. The synergistic effect of peroxidase activity and photothermal therapy with targeting aptamer allows for overcoming the catalytic defects of nanozyme and significantly improving in vitro bacterial inhibition rate with 99.9% and 97.8% for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, as well as enhancing in vivo antibacterial performance with the lowest wound remained (0.05%), reduction of infiltration inflammatory cells, and excellent biocompatibility. Overall, this work builds a nanodelivery system with a powerful therapeutic approach, incorporating self‐supplying H2O2 synergistic photothermal and real‐time wound monitoring effect, which holds profound potential as a clinical treatment for infected diabetic wounds.

Utilizing a defective MgO layer for engineering multifunctional Co-MOF hybrid materials with tailored leaf-like and polyhedral structures for optimal electrochemical and photocatalytic activities

The hybridization of metal-organic framework (MOF) with inorganic layers would lead to the discovery of novel hybrid materials that can provide a compelling strategy for enhancing its photocatalytic and electrochemical response. In the present study, a highly efficient multifunctional hybrid material was developed by exploiting the defective layer formed on AZ31 Mg alloy through plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) as a nucleation and growth site for Co-MOF. The concentrations of the organic linker 2-Methylimidazole (2,MIm) and cobalt nitrate as a source of Co2+ ions were varied to control the growth of the obtained Co-MOF. Lower concentrations of the 2, MIm ligand favored the formation of leaf-like MOF structures through an anisotropic, two-dimensional growth, while higher concentrations led to rapid, isotropic nucleation and the creation of polyhedral Co-MOF structures. The sample characterized by polyhedral Co-MOF structures exhibited superior electrochemical stability, with the lowest corrosion current density (3.11 ​× ​10−9 A/cm2) and the highest top layer resistance (2.34 ​× ​106 ​Ω ​cm2), and demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic efficiency, achieving a remarkable 99.98 ​% degradation of methylene blue, an organic pollutant, in model wastewater. To assess the active adsorption sites of the Co-MOF, density functional theory (DFT) was utilized. This study explores the changes in morphologies of the coatings of Co-MOF with the change of solution concentration to form coatings with enhanced properties on the metallic substrate, which could establish the groundwork for the development of next-generation multifunctional frameworks with diverse applications.

X‐Ray Excited Luminescence Materials for Cancer Diagnosis and Theranostics

AbstractX‐rays are rays that penetrate the human tissue and are capable of penetrating water, air, and oxygen in various biological tissues or tumors. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the research of X‐ray‐excited luminescent materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the application of X‐ray‐excited luminescent materials is reviewed for tumor imaging and therapy. First, two classes of luminescent materials are briefly introduced for a form of enhanced X‐ray computed tomography, X‐ray‐excited optical luminescence imaging. Subsequently, the design of multifunctional hybrid materials is evaluated for radiotherapy and other treatments and their synergistic effects under X‐ray excitation are studied. Finally, current key issues and solutions in the field are discussed in detail.

Multifunctional hybrid oncolytic virus-mimicking nanoparticles for targeted induce of tumor-specific pyroptosis and enhanced anti-tumor immune response in melanoma

Pyroptosis, a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, has emerged as a promising antitumor approach by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and immunogenic substances upon cell rupture. However, non-specific pyroptosis potentially causes systemic damage to healthy tissues, and the heterogeneity of tumors limits the anti-tumor effect of pyroptosis. To address these challenges, we propose a simple yet powerful method for creating multifunctional hybrid oncolytic virus-mimicking nanovesicles (HVMNVs) that possess tumor-targeting capabilities, adjuvant activity, and the ability to evade immune clearance induced by virus modification. Based on this multifunctional nanovesicle, we developed a functional nanoparticle (HVMNVs@Fe-C) that significantly enhances the tumor targetability and cell uptake efficiency of the extremely small iron oxide nanoparticles (ESIONPs) and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), leading to rapid tumor pyroptosis. More importantly, HVMNVs@Fe-C ingeniously achieves a synergistic effect by incorporating the adjuvantic and tumor-targeting properties of oncolytic viruses with the cell lytic and pro-inflammatory functions of pyroptosis in a single nanoparticle. This leads to a cascade of specific anti-tumor immune responses and reprogramming of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, resulting in excellent tumor inhibition efficacy against primary melanoma growth and pulmonary metastasis. Overall, our novel strategy offers considerable promise for precisive targeted delivery and cancer immunotherapy.

Adipose Tissue Targeting Ultra-Small Hybrid Nanoparticles for Synergistic Photodynamic Therapy and Browning Induction in Obesity Treatment.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a means of locally and rapidly inducing adipocyte death via light illumination, in combination with adipose browning induction, a more gradual and widespread effect that could transform white adipose tissue into thermogenic adipose tissue, manifests a promising approach to combat obesity. Herein, adipose-targeting ultra-small hybrid nanoparticles (Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs) composed of an adipose-targeting peptide, Fe3+, a photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX), and a browning agent (baicalin) are introduced. Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs have been designed to simultaneously enhance the photodynamic effect and induce browning. After intravenous injection in obese mice, the hybrid nanoparticles can specifically accumulate in white adipose tissues, especially those rich in blood supply, and drive adipose reduction owing to the synergy of the PDT effect and baicalin browning induction. Overall, Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs exhibited superior anti-obesity potential through PDT synergistic with adipose browning induction. The designed multifunctional adipose-targeting hybrid nanoparticles present a prospective nanoplatform for obesity treatment.

Antibacterial-Antioxidative Thiolated Gelatin/Methacrylated Silk Fibroin Hydrogels with Nitric Oxide Release Catalyzed by Metal-Polyphenol Nanoparticles for MRSA-Infected Wound Healing.

Chronic wound infection often leads to irregular tissue closure and accompanies delayed healing and economy issues. Developing an ideal wound dressing that can control the occurrence of antibacterial infections and biological responses is highly desirable. In this study, a multifunctional hybrid hydrogel (GS@EG-Cu-CA NPs) containing synthesized thiolated gelatin, methacrylated silk fibroin, and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate-copper ionic-carrageenan nanoparticles (EG-Cu-CA NPs) was engineered by a thio-ene click reaction. The metal-polyphenol EG-Cu-CA NPs were encapsulated with kappa-carrageenan to enhance its aqueous-soluble, mechanical, and bioactive properties and endowed the hydrogel dressing with fascinating antibacterial, antioxidation, and nitric oxide (NO) generation by catalyzing. The hybrid hydrogels also illustrated a favorable cytocompatibility. Benefiting from the thio-ene click reaction, the hybrid hydrogels were injected and photocured rapidly in situ to cover an irregular wound. In an SD rat full-thickness skin-wound-infected model, the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound covered with GS@EG-Cu-CA NPs was almost completely healed after 10 days. This study presents a facile design of hydrogel dressing incorporating metal-polyphenol nanoparticles, which demonstrates a promising potential way for dealing with effective wound infection management and other complicated wound healings.

Photophysical Properties of S = 5/2 Zigzag-1D (2-Bromoethylammonium)3MnBr5 Antiferromagnet.

It has been challenging to design multifunctional lead-free organic-inorganic hybrid halides that can exhibit fascinating magnetic and photoluminescence properties since the dimensionality of the compounds has a contrasting impact on them. In this context, our newly synthesized compound (2-bromoethylammonium)3MnBr5 (BEAMBr) crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group with corner-sharing zigzag 1D chains of MnBr6 distorted octahedra. Intriguingly, it exhibits a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperature (∼2.5 K) along with a typical low-dimensional broad magnetic susceptibility hump. The magnetic properties modeled by the exact diagonalization approach indicate strong intrachain and weak interchain interactions with J1 = -50.1 K, J2 = -13.0 K, and J' = -1.25 K, respectively, suggesting excellent one-dimensionality. In addition, BEAMBr displays orange-red emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 15.2%. Interestingly, electron-phonon coupling was observed in this soft distorted compound with coupling strength γLO = 128.3 meV, confirmed from the analysis of temperature-dependent emission line width broadening and Raman spectra.

Sea water exposure and erosion impact on multifunctional ABS-based thermoplastic hybrid composites

In the present work, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)/glass fiber (varying fiber orientation angle) and with different % of carbon black (CB) particles-based hybrid composites are fabricated by hot press compression molding technique. Prepared composites were examined under marine conditions in sea water medium and erosion behavior under erodent particles entrained in gas fluid and found reduced impact. Morphological studies are studied through scanning electron microscope. Material removal mechanism is found to be micro-cracking at the impingement angle of 90°. Additionally, numerical analysis for the composite material with respect to single particle impact for erosion was conducted using LS-DYNA.

Fabrication of multifunctional bio-macromolecule organic-inorganic hybrid system for protein silk: Photochromic, UV protection, fire-proof and super durability

Nowadays, high value-added and multifunctional textiles have attracted widespread attention due to the changing demands of modern life. This study focused on the fabrication of silk with photochromism, flame retardancy, UV resistance and durability using riboflavin sodium phosphate (RSP) and various metal ions (Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, and Ti4+). Attractively, the photochromic performance was one of the most distinctive features of the modified silk, and the yellow silk fabric turned into fluorescent green under UV lamp. After a detailed comparison, it was determined that RSP/Fe3+ hybrid system was most effective in improving anti-UV performance of the silk with a high UPF of 25.8, achieving a “Good” level of UV protection. Specifically, it achieved a B1 fire protection with a low damaged-length of 9.4 cm and a high LOI of 28.3 %. Additionally, the modified silk showed the lowest smoke density, reducing by approximately 84.1 % versus that of pristine silk. Moreover, the modified silk was able to meet the B1 classification and the “Good” UV protection requirements even after 75 washing cycles, making it more durable than most functional textiles reported. The further analysis indicated that RSP and metal ions can synergistically enhance the condensed-phase action, thereby improving the fire resistance of silk.

Synthesis and Characterizations of Fe-Doped NiO Nanoparticles and Their Potential Photocatalytic Dye Degradation Activities

Recently, the preparation of smart multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles has captured significant interest in versatile areas, including medicine, environment, and food, due to their enhanced physicochemical properties. The present study focuses on the synthesis of Fe-doped NiO nanoparticles by the coprecipitation method using the sources of nickel (II) acetate tetrahydrate and iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate. The prepared Fe-doped NiO nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photon spectroscopic analysis. The XRD results clearly confirm the face-centered cubic structure and polycrystalline nature of the synthesized Fe-NiO nanoparticles. The Tauc plot analysis revealed that the bandgap energy of the Fe-doped NiO nanoparticles decreased with the increasing concentration of the Fe dopant from 2% to 8%. The XPS analysis of the samples exhibited the existence of elements, including Fe, Ni, and O, with the absence of any surplus compounds. The FE-SEM and TEM analyses proved the formation of nanostructured Fe-NiO with few spherical and mostly unevenly shaped particles. Further, the photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared Fe-doped NiO nanoparticles were identified by using the cationic dye rhodamine B (Rh-B). The photocatalytic results proved the 8% of Fe doped with NiO nanoparticles achieved 99% of Rh-B degradation within 40 min of visible-light irradiation. Hence, the results of the present study exemplified the Fe-doped NiO nanoparticles have acted as a noticeable photocatalyst to degrade the Rh-B dye.

Caffeic acid-grafted chitosan/sodium alginate/nanoclay-based multifunctional 3D-printed hybrid scaffolds for local drug release therapy after breast cancer surgery

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women all over the world. Mastectomy is the most effective treatment, but there are serious problems such as high tumor recurrence rate and side effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a therapeutic strategy that can effectively promote postoperative wound healing and inhibit local tumor recurrence. In this study, a 3D printing scaffold based on carbon dots-curcumin nano-drug release (CCNPs) was developed as a local drug delivery platform (named CCNACA using CCNPs, Sodium alginate, Nanoclay and Caffeic Acid grafted Chitosan as raw materials), which has the ability to visualize drug release. The 14-day drug release test in vitro showed that the tumor inhibition rate of CCNACA scaffolds on breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was 73.77 ± 1.68 %. And the CCNACA scaffolds had good long-term antibacterial (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) activity. Animal experiments have shown that implanting CCNACA scaffolds into surgical defects can inhibit postoperative residual cancer cells, reduce inflammation, promote angiogenesis, and repair tissue defects caused by surgery. In summary, the local drug delivery system of this manuscript has great potential in wound healing and prevention of tumor recurrence after breast cancer surgery.

High energy and sustainable solid-state lithium-sulfur battery enabled by the force-bearing cathode and multifunctional double-layer hybrid solid electrolyte

High energy and sustainable solid-state lithium-sulfur battery enabled by the force-bearing cathode and multifunctional double-layer hybrid solid electrolyte

Biochar-based materials for electroanalytical applications: An overview

Biochar-based materials, derived from renewable biomass resources, have emerged as promising candidates for electroanalytical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as high surface area, excellent biocompatibility, and good chemical stability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the development and application of biochar-based materials in electrochemical devices, including sensors, energy storage, and catalysis. We discuss the synthesis and functionalization of biochar materials, focusing on the effects of feedstock and pyrolysis conditions on their properties. The applications of biochar-based materials in electrochemical devices are reviewed, with a particular emphasis on enzyme-based biosensors, DNA-based biosensors, and immunosensors. Despite their promising performance, challenges such as reproducibility, electrical conductivity, and long-term stability need to be addressed to facilitate their widespread adoption in the industry. We also discuss emerging trends, such as the development of multifunctional hybrid materials and integration into flexible devices. Finally, we highlight the importance of policy, regulatory aspects, and environmental assessments to ensure the safe and sustainable use of biochar-based materials in electroanalytical applications.