Surface Modification Strategy Research Articles

Nanoparticle-mediated dsRNA delivery for precision insect pest control: a comprehensive review.

Nanoparticle-based delivery systems have emerged as powerful tools in the field of pest management, offering precise and effective means of delivering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), a potent agent for pest control through RNA interference (RNAi). This comprehensive review aims to evaluate and compare various types of nanoparticles for their suitability in dsRNA delivery for pest management applications. The review begins by examining the unique properties and advantages of different nanoparticle materials, including clay, chitosan, liposomes, carbon, gold and silica. Each material's ability to protect dsRNA from degradation and its potential for targeted delivery to pests are assessed. Furthermore, this review delves into the surface modification strategies employed to enhance dsRNA delivery efficiency. Functionalization with oligonucleotides, lipids, polymers, proteins and peptides is discussed in detail, highlighting their role in improving stability, cellular uptake, and specificity of dsRNA delivery.This review also provides valuable guidance on choosing the most suitable nanoparticle-based system for delivering dsRNA effectively and sustainably in pest management. Moreover, it identifies existing knowledge gaps and proposes potential research directions aimed at enhancing pest control strategies through the utilization of nanoparticles and dsRNA.

Building a robust surface structure toward stable ultrahigh-nickel cathodes

Ni-rich cathodes especially with Ni content over 90 % are promising next-generation cathode materials for advanced high energy lithium − ion batteries. However, in comparison with Ni ≤ 80 % Ni-rich cathodes, these ultrahigh Ni-rich materials face more severe challenges in terms of harmful H2 − H3 phase transformations and structural degradation during cycling. Herein, we present a robust surface structure composted of defect-rich disordered structures and LiF/Li2SiO3 coating for stabilizing the ultrahigh Ni-rich cathode LiNi0.96Co0.03Mn0.01O2 (NCM96) by modification with (NH4)2SiF6. The surface disordered structures including Li/TM mixing, spinel, and rock salt structure play a crucial role in inhibiting the irreversible H2-H3 phase transition and reducing lattice volume changes by lattice coherence effect. Moreover, the disordered surface in collaboration with the co-coating restrains the rapid growth of surface rock salt phase into the bulk, enhancing structural stability. The modified sample NSF-0.5 delivers a capacity of 238 mAh/g at 0.1C and maintains a capacity retention of 88.5 % at 0.5C after 100 cycles in half cell as well as 82.3 % at 1C after 300 cycles in full cell, significantly superior to the NCM96. The findings provide a simple and cost-effective surface modification strategy to enhance the structural stability and electrochemical performance of ultrahigh nickel cathodes for high-energy density LIBs.

Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks and Nanoscale Coordination Polymers: From Synthesis to Cancer Therapy and Biomedical Imaging.

Recently, there has been significant interest in nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) characterized by ordered crystal structures and nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) featuring amorphous structures. These structures arise from the coordination interactions between inorganic metal ions or clusters and organic ligands. Their advantages, such as the ability to tailor composition and structure, efficiently encapsulate diverse therapeutic or imaging agents within porous frameworks, inherent biodegradability, and surface functionalization capability, position them as promising carriers in the biomedical fields. This review provides an overview of the synthesis and surface modification strategies employed for NMOFs and NCPs, along with their applications in cancer treatment and biological imaging. Finally, future directions and challenges associated with the utilization of NMOFs and NCPs in cancer treatment and diagnosis are also discussed.

A Comprehensive Review on Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as promising drug delivery systems. SLNs have garnered significant attention due to their unique properties, including biocompatibility, controlled drug release, and improved stability. The abstract explores the key aspects of SLN formulation, emphasizing the influence of lipid composition, surfactants, and production methods on particle size, drug loading, and release kinetics. The impact of these parameters on the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of SLN-incorporated drugs is discussed. Furthermore, the review delves into the various methods employed for characterizing SLNs, such as dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, highlighting their roles in ensuring product quality. The abstract also touches upon recent advancements in SLN research, including surface modification strategies and their implications for targeted drug delivery.In conclusion, this review consolidates current knowledge on SLNs, offering valuable insights into their formulation, characterization, and potential applications in pharmaceutical research. The synthesis of relevant literature provides a foundation for researchers and practitioners to navigate the evolving landscape of SLN-based drug delivery systems.

A Facile Surface Modification Scheme for Medical-Grade Titanium and Polypropylene Using a Novel Mussel-Inspired Biomimetic Polymer with Cationic Quaternary Ammonium Functionalities for Antibacterial Application.

Medical device-associated infection remains a critical problem in the healthcare setting. Different clinical- or device-related methods have been attempted to reduce the infection rate. Among these approaches, creating a surface with bactericidal cationic functionality has been proposed. To do so, a sophisticated multi-step chemical procedure would be needed. Instead, a simple immersion approach was utilized in this investigation to render the titanium and polypropylene surface with the quaternary ammonium functionality by using a mussel-inspired novel lab-synthesized biomimetic catechol-terminated polymer, PQA-C8. The chemical oxidants, CuSO4/H2O2, as well as dopamine, were added into the novel PQA-C8 polymer immersion solution for one-step surface modification. Additionally, a two-step immersion scheme, in which the polypropylene substrate was first immersed in the dopamine solution and then in the PQA-C8 solution, was also attempted. Surface analysis results indicated the surface characteristics of the modified substrates were affected by the immersion solution formulation as well as the procedure utilized. The antibacterial assay has shown the titanium substrates modified by the one-step dopamine + PQA-C8 mixtures with the oxidants added and the polypropylene modified by the two-step scheme exhibited bacterial reduction percentages greater than 90% against both Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli and these antibacterial substrates were non-cytotoxic.

Surface modification strategies of 304 austenitic stainless steel plate with different micromorphology and composition for improved mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding in metal–epoxy joints

304 austenitic stainless-steel (SS) strip-based carbon fiber metal laminates (CFMLs) have raised significant concerns, in terms of their mechanical performance. On top of that, the hybrid laminates’ interlamination performance is vital in regulating their failure patterns. Along these lines, in this work, SS strips with regulatable micromorphology and composition were obtained by using physical and chemical surface modification strategies, including polishing, acid etching, anodization, and thermal treatment. The shear strength of the treated-SS/epoxy single lap joints (two treated-SS strips bonded by the epoxy resin via hot curing process) was systematically explored, and the origins of the enhancement mechanism were attributed to the resulting surface microstructure, as well as the possible chemical reactions between the treated surface and the curing agent. The etching-anodizing-thermally treated-SS (EAT-SS)/epoxy joint exhibited the maximum shear strength (16.04 MPa) and work of fracture (5.85 kJ·m−2) due to the substantial cohesive failure pattern of the epoxy. The encouraging enhancement was mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of the micro-annular pit and the nanoporous array structure of the EAT-SS surface. These effects induced a significant mechanical interlock and a plausible chemical reaction at the interface, which led to improved bonding strength between the epoxy and treated-SS surface. Overall, in this work, it was demonstrated that the combination of the anodization and thermal treatment can effectively improve the interlamination bonding properties between the SS strip and the epoxy resin due to the combination effect of mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding.

Synergistic in-situ intercalation and surface modification strategy for Ti3C2Tx MXene-based supercapacitors with enhanced electrochemical energy storage

Ti3C2Tx MXene with unique physicochemical properties is a promising negative electrode for high performance supercapacitors, but its full potential for energy storage is limited by inherent restacking and unfavorable F surface termination. Here, a synergistic in-situ intercalation and surface modification strategy for enhancing the electrochemical performance of Ti3C2Tx is demonstrated. Ag nanoparticles were intercalated into the interplanar s of Ti3C2Tx using an in-situ reduction method to open ion diffusion channels and expose active sites, followed by annealing treatment to remove the deleterious termination. Benefitting from the structural modification, the obtained a-Ag/Ti3C2Tx film electrode possess an enhanced specific capacitance of 471 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 with a 2-fold increase in intercalation pseudocapacitance compared to the pristine Ti3C2Tx, accompanied by improved rate performance and cyclic stability. Furthermore, the asymmetric supercapacitor with a negative electrode of a-Ag/Ti3C2Tx and a positive electrode of RuO2@CC delivers a high energy density of 24.6 Wh kg−1. The present study demonstrates an effective strategy to improve the electrochemical energy storage of the Ti3C2Tx negative electrode by designing the intercalation and termination.

A Perspective on the Requirements of Ni‐rich Cathode Surface Modifications for Application in Lithium‐ion Batteries and All‐Solid‐State Lithium‐ion Batteries

AbstractThe increasing adoption of Ni‐rich cathode active materials in commercial liquid electrolyte Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is testament to the improvements in the cathode stability through various surface modification strategies. The development of a deeper understanding of the cathode/electrolyte interface in LIBs has resulted in coatings capable of mitigating both surface and bulk cathode degradation mechanisms. However, due to increasing demands for safe and high energy density cells, a large portion of the research has now shifted towards applying Ni‐rich cathode active materials in inherently safer all‐solid‐state Lithium‐ion batteries (ASSLBs), with the resulting cathode surface modification strategies evolving differently. In this regard, a review outlining the surface modification strategies of Ni‐rich cathode materials applied in both LIB and ASSLB systems is provided. Within, a review of the traditional, advanced and specialized surface modification strategies of each system is discussed, along with a final perspective on the likely future direction of research regarding the design of system‐specific Ni‐rich cathode‐based surface modification strategies.

Surface Modification of Silicon Nanowires with Siloxane Molecules for High-Performance Hydrovoltaic Devices.

Hydrovoltaic devices (HDs) based on silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have attracted significant attention due to their potential of high output power and good compatibility with Si-based photovoltaic devices for integrated power systems. However, it remains a major challenge to further improve the output performance of SiNW HDs for practical applications. Here, a new strategy to modify the surface of SiNWs with siloxane molecules is proposed to improve the output performance of the SiNW HDs. After modification, both the open-circuit voltage (Voc) and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of n-type SiNW HDs can be improved by approximately 30%, while the output power density can be greatly increased by over 200%. With siloxane modification, Si-OH groups on the surface of typical SiNWs are replaced by Si-O-Si chemical bonds that have a weaker electron-withdrawing capability. More free electrons in n-type SiNWs are liberated from surface bound states and participate in directed flow induced by water evaporation, thereby improving the output performance of HDs. The improved performance is significant for system integration applications as it reduces the number of required devices. Three siloxane-modified SiNW HDs in series are able to drive a 2 V light-emitting diode (LED), whereas four unmodified devices in series are initially needed for the same task. This work provides a simple yet effective strategy for surface modification to improve the output performance of SiNW HDs. Further research into the effect of different surface modifications on the performance of SiNW HDs will greatly promote their performance enhancement and practical applications.

Cyanuric Acid-Functionalized Perovskite Nanocrystals toward Low Interface Impedance, High Environmental Stability, and Superior Electrochemiluminescence.

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNs) have received much attention as luminescence materials in the field of electrochemiluminescence (ECL). However, as one key factor for determining the optoelectronic properties of the surface state of PNs, the surface passivation layer of PNs has enormous difficulty in simultaneously meeting the requirements of high ECL efficiency, conductivity, and stability. Herein, an effective surface modification strategy with cyanuric acid (CA) is used to solve such issue. As confirmed, the CA molecules are chemically anchored onto the surface of PNs via the Lewis interaction between π electrons of the triazine ring and the empty orbit of Pb2+. Benefiting from the above interaction, the electrochemical impedance of PNs is decreased greatly without the loss of light-emitting efficiency. Moreover, the stability of PNs under O2 exposure is improved by almost sixfold. These improvements are confirmed to be beneficial for enhancing the ECL behaviors of PNs under electrochemical operation. Upon cathode ECL driving conditions in aqueous media, the ECL intensity and efficiency of PNs are increased to 200 and 170%, respectively. This work provides a new modification strategy to holistically improve the ECL performance of PNs, which is instructive to exploring robust perovskite nanomaterials for electrochemical applications.

Salt-resistant solar water desalination system via surface modification and configuration engineering

Floating solar water desalination systems have received a lot of attention since they are portable, low cost, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient. However, salt accumulation on the evaporation surface and water transfer channels is one of the main obstacle to the development of these systems. In this work, two strategies of surface modification and configuration engineering are focused on to make the devices salt-resistant. First, the system becomes salt-resistant by formation of a hydration layer on the water manager and light absorber surface through cross-linking of polyethylene glycol diacrylate. Remarkably, the surface-modified device shows a water evaporation rate of 1.34 kg.m−2.h−1 and a conversion efficiency of 91.75 % in artificial seawater. There is no salt accumulation on the evaporation surface of surface-modified devices after desalination in the simulated seawater. In the second strategy, the water transferring to the evaporation surface and water evaporation rate are balanced by tuning the number of water transport channels and location. The engineered device shows an evaporation rate of 0.98 kg.m−2.h−1 and an efficiency of 75.5 % in a high saline solution (20 wt% NaCl). Simultaneous surface modification and configuration engineering improve the salt resistivity, showing that the configuration should be engineered according to the water salinity.

A universal strategy for rapid and scalable surface modification of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber

The high performance UHMWPE fiber usually demonstrates extremely poor surface adhesion with resin matrix. Therefore, improving the interfacial adhesion property becomes one of the toughest challenges faced by UHMWPE fibers. In this study, a simple and universal surface welding strategy is promoted to effectively modifying UHMWPE fiber with improved surface adhesion in a short time. The surface welding manufacturing approach is realized by the controllable Joule heating generated from the high contact resistance and rapid thermal response of the conductive nano-material layer coated on UHMWPE surface, which can locally melt the UHMWPE fiber surface and weld the nano materials on UHMWE with a strong and robust mechanical bonding. Since the whole welding process is simple and lasts only for a few seconds, it can be easily applied to the current industrial UHMWPE fiber and fabric manufacturing, enabling a continuous, fast, efficiency and scalable roll-to-roll UHMWPE surface modification process.

Surface-Mediated Modulation of Different Biological Responses on Anatase-Coated Titanium.

Various surface modification strategies are being developed to endow dental titanium implant surfaces with micro- and nano-structures to improve their biocompatibility, and first of all their osseointegration. These modifications have the potential to address clinical concerns by stimulating different biological processes. This study aims to evaluate the biological responses of ananatase-modified blasted/etched titanium (SLA-anatase) surfaces compared to blasted/acid etched (SLA) and machined titanium surfaces. Using unipolar pulsed direct current (DC) sputtering, a nanocrystalline anatase layer was fabricated. In vitro experiments have shown that SLA-anatase discs can effectively promote osteoblast adhesion and proliferation, which are regarded as important features of a successful dental implant with bone contact. Furthermore, anatase surface modification has been shown to partially enhance osteoblast mineralization in vitro, while not significantly affecting bacterial colonization. Consequently, the recently created anatase coating holds significant potential as a promising candidate for future advancements in dental implant surface modification for improving the initial stages of osseointegration.

Dual-Atom Co/Ni Electrocatalyst Anchored at the Surface-Modified Ti3C2Tx MXene Enables Efficient Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions.

Dual-atom catalytic sites on conductive substrates offer a promising opportunity for accelerating the kinetics of multistep hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER, respectively). Using MXenes as substrates is a promising strategy for depositing those dual-atom electrocatalysts, if the efficient surface anchoring strategy ensuring metal-substrate interactions and sufficient mass loading is established. We introduce a surface-modification strategy of MXene substrates by preadsorbing L-tryptophan molecules, which enabled attachment of dual-atom Co/Ni electrocatalyst at the surface of Ti3C2Tx by forming N-Co/Ni-O bonds, with mass loading reaching as high as 5.6 wt %. The electron delocalization resulting from terminated O atoms on MXene substrates, N atoms in L-tryptophan anchoring moieties, and catalytic metal atoms Co and Ni provides an optimal adsorption strength of intermediates and boosts the HER and OER kinetics, thereby notably promoting the intrinsic activity of the electrocatalyst. CoNi-Ti3C2Tx electrocatalyst displayed HER and OER overpotentials of 31 and 241 mV at 10 mA cm-2, respectively. Importantly, the CoNi-Ti3C2Tx electrocatalyst also exhibited high operational stability for both OER and HER over 100 h at an industrially relevant current density of 500 mA cm-2. Our study provided guidance for constructing dual-atom active metal sites on MXene substrates to synergistically enhance the electrochemical efficiency and stability of the energy conversion and storage systems.

Selenium treatment towards enhanced cyclic stability for single-crystal Ni-rich cathode at ultra-high voltage of 4.7 V

Developing high-voltage (≥4.3 V vs Li/Li+) single-crystal Ni-rich LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 offers an enticing strategy to achieve high energy density for lithium-ion batteries. However, at high-voltage operation, the cathode will be vulnerable to induce the intrinsic Oα- (α < 2) migration, triggering the serious structural degradation, notorious parasitic reaction and oxygen loss, which may ultimately result in the battery performance attenuation. Herein, an outside-in oriented nanostructure is well designed and constructed on the single-crystal LiNi0.6Co0.1Mn0.3O2 (SC-NCM) cathode materials, exhibiting an “anti-aging” effect of inhibiting the escape of oxygen from SC-NCM particles during the ultra-high voltage (4.7 V) cycling. Both theoretical calculation and experimental results confirm that the outside-in nanostructure would stabilize the oxygen lattice and suppress O2 release during long-term cycling. Meanwhile, the surface modification of thin Se layer will alleviate the parasitic reactions and improve the electronic conductivity. Under the synergistic strategy of surface modification and interface doping, the obtained SC-NCM exhibits boosted cyclic stability in coin half-cell and pouch full-cell simultaneously. Therefore, the reversible capacity of LiNi0.6Co0.1Mn0.3O2 at high voltage is competitive with comercial LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (x ≥ 0.8), demonstrating more superior safety ability and cyclic property. It provides an effective approach for improving the long-term performance of Ni-rich cathode materials for practical application under ultra-high working voltage.

Residual alkali-evoked cross-linked polymer layer for anti-air-sensitivity LiNi0.89Co0.06Mn0.05O2 cathode

High-energy density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with layered high-nickel oxide cathodes (LiNixCoyMn1−x−yO2, x ≥ 0.8) show great promise in consumer electronics and vehicular applications. However, LiNixCoyMn1−x−yO2 faces challenges related to capacity decay caused by residual alkalis owing to high sensitivity to air. To address this issue, we propose a hazardous substances upcycling method that fundamentally mitigates alkali content and concurrently induces the emergence of an anti-air-sensitive layer on the cathode surface. Through the neutralization of polyacrylic acid (PAA) with residual alkalis and then coupling it with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550), a stable and ion-conductive cross-linked polymer layer is in situ integrated into the LiNi0.89Co0.06Mn0.05O2 (NCM) cathode. Our characterization and measurements demonstrate its effectiveness. The NCM material exhibits impressive cycling performance, retaining 88.4% of its capacity after 200 cycles at 5 C and achieving an extraordinary specific capacity of 170.0 mA h g−1 at 10 C. Importantly, this layer on the NCM efficiently suppresses unfavorable phase transitions, severe electrolyte degradation, and CO2 gas evolution, while maintaining commendable resistance to air exposure. This surface modification strategy shows widespread potential for creating air-stable LiNixCoyMn1−x−yO2 cathodes, thereby advancing high-performance LIBs.

Effect of Surface Modification on the Luminescence of Individual Upconversion Nanoparticles.

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) hold promise for single-molecule imaging owing to their excellent photostability and minimal autofluorescence. However, their limited water dispersibility, often from the hydrophobic oleic acid ligand during synthesis, is a challenge. To address this, various surface modification strategies' impact on single-particle upconversion luminescence are studied. UCNPs are made hydrophilic through methods like ligand exchange with dye IR806, HCl or NOBF4 treatment, silica coating (SiO2 or mesoporous mSiO2), and self-assembly with polymer of DSPE-PEG or F127. The studies revealed that UCNPs modified with NOBF4 and DSPE-PEG exhibited notably higher single-particle brightness with minimal quenching (3% and 8%, respectively), followed by SiO2, F127, IR806, mSiO2, and HCl (84% quenching). HCl disrupted UCNPs's crystal lattice, weakening luminescence, while mSiO2 absorbed solvent molecules, causing luminescence quenching. Energy transfer to IR806 also reduced the brightness. Additionally, a prevalence of upconversion red emission over green is observed, with the red-to-green ratio increasing with irradiance. UCNPs coated with DSPE-PEG exhibited the brightest single-particle luminescence in water, retaining 48% of its original emission due to a lower critical micelle concentration and superior water protection. In summary, the investigation provides valuable insights into the role of surface chemistry on UCNPs at the single-particle level.

Lightweight, low dielectric and heat-resistant polyimide fiber bulkpaper developed via alkali activated strategies for advanced insulation

With the prosperity of aviation, aerospace, and military equipment, critical requirements asked for insulating materials, which not only seek outstanding insulation, and low dielectric but also put particular emphasis on lightweight and heat resistance features. Herein, to enhance polyimide (PI) fibers bulkpaper, surface modification strategies were proposed and researched. Specifically, the hydrolysis effects of NaOH/DMAc and NaOH/H2O systems on PI fibers and PI fibers bulkpaper were investigated. The results indicated that the NaOH/DMAc system possessed more effective activation, which was proved by the contents of O elements and CO groups. Besides, the PI fibers bulkpaper derived from alkali-activated PI chopped fiber was developed through a wet-forming route, whose exhibited excellent performance with a density of 0.26 g/cm3, stress strength of 15.83 MPa, interlayer bonding strength of 293.47 J/m2, and electrical breakdown strength of 6.88 kV/mm. In addition, the bulkpaper exhibited low dielectric constant and dielectric loss of 1.37 and 0.0043 (at 106 Hz), respectively. The activation strategies provided a feasible path for advanced bulkpaper enhancement.

Influence of surface and edge profile of a spinning disc on its atomization characteristics in direct drop mode

A spinning disc in direct drop regime is useful for contacting applications using one stream as drops. Here, we presenta systematic probe into the effect ofseveral edge and surface modification strategies on droplet characteristics. The characteristics of interest in this study are mean sizes of primary and secondary drops and their spread around respective mean values, and the evenness of circumferential distribution of drops. Exposure controlled static imaging is used to obtain blur free images in high resolution. Concentric grooving on surface offered stable film under limited flow condition, improves circumferential distribution, and significantly eliminates secondary drop formation. Serration at the disc edge controls the pitch of the drop detachment points, a feature naturally unique to only ligament mode. A new scale named maldistribution index (MI) is proposed to quantify circumferential distribution of released droplets.

Balancing the Anti‐Bacterial and Pro‐Osteogenic Properties of Ti‐Based Implants by Partial Conversion of ZnO Nanorods into Hybrid Zinc Phosphate Nanostructures

AbstractBacterial infection and inferior osseointegration are major complications associated with titanium (Ti) based implants. Although surface‐engineered zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods exhibit remarkable antibacterial ability, their potential biomedical applications are hampered by their pronounced cytotoxicity. Herein, inspired by the in vivo degradation process of znic, ZnO nanorods are converted into thermodynamically more stable zinc phosphate (Zn3(PO4)2 ）through a simple hydrothermal treatment in a hydrogen phosphate solution. By adjusting the conversion ratio, the surface morphology, release of zinc ions (Zn2+), and generation of reactive oxygen species can be finely tailored to overcome the cytotoxicity of ZnO nanorods while preserving their antibacterial capability. Furthermore, an optimized amount of Zn2+ released from the ZnO/Zn3(PO4)2 hybrid coating enhances osteogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix mineralization of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by reprogramming their metabolic configuration. An implant‐related infection model in rabbit femurs indicates that the hybrid ZnO/Zn3(PO4)2 coating can even promote osseointegration in the presence of pathogenic bacteria. This surface modification strategy which endows Ti‐based implants with superior anti‐bacterial and pro‐osteogenic properties holds great clinical potential for orthopedic and dental applications.