Removal Of Template Research Articles

Eco-friendly micro-mesoporous carbon from sucrose and sodium metasilicate template for ciprofloxacin adsorption: Effect of molecules self-association over diffusion mechanisms

A green synthesis route of ordered mesoporous carbon by nanocasting of sucrose/sodium metasilicate with template removal only by hot water (70 °C) is proposed. The metasilicate-sucrose mesoporous carbon (MSMC) was characterized by structural, textural, surface chemistry properties and their effect on ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption. Phenomenological modeling was applied, including two surface-reaction models: adsorption on adsorbent sites (AAS) and on heterogeneous surface (AHS), and two mass transfer models: external film (EFD) and intraparticle homogeneous (IHD) diffusion. A controlled porous structure containing mesopores (3.8 nm) with micropores (1.8 and 0.87 nm) allowed the “pore filling effect” mechanism and strongly favorable kinetics. A highly oxygenated carbon material (C: 81.84 % O: 15.04 % Si: 1.72 % Na: 1.29 %) with efficient template removal was obtained. Unusual behavior of the rate-limiting step (AAS or IHD) as a function of CIP concentrations was observed, with mechanism changes due to self-aggregation of CIP molecules (dimers, trimers and tetramers).

Synthesis and characterization of core–shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposites for the detection of interleukin-6

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) belongs to the cytokine family and plays a vital role in regulating immune response, bone maintenance, body temperature adjustment, and cell growth. The overexpression of IL-6 can indicate various health complications, such as anastomotic leakage, cancer, and chronic diseases. Therefore, the availability of highly sensitive and specific biosensing platforms for IL-6 detection is critical. In this study, for the first time, epitope-mediated IL-6-specific magnetic molecularly imprinted core–shell structures with fluorescent properties were synthesized using a three-step protocol, namely, magnetic nanoparticle functionalization, polymerization, and template removal following thorough optimization studies. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were characterized using dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS and ELS), revealing a hydrodynamic size of 169.9 nm and zeta potential of +17.1 mV, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques showed characteristic peaks of the polymer and fluorescent tag, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations confirmed the successful encapsulation of the magnetic core within the ca. 5-nm-thick polymeric shell. The MMIP-based electrochemical sensing platform achieved a limit of detection of 0.38 pM within a linear detection range of 0.38–380 pM, indicating high affinity (dissociation constant KD = 1.6 pM) for IL-6 protein in 50% diluted serum samples. Moreover, comparative investigations with the non-imprinted control polymer demonstrated an imprinting factor of 4, confirming high selectivity. With multifunctional features, including fluorescence, magnetic properties, and target responsiveness, the synthesized MMIPs hold significant potential for application in various sensor techniques as well as imaging.

Capacitive deionization and electrochemical performance of a hierarchical porous electrodes enabled by nitrogen and phosphorus doped CNTs and removable NaCl template

Capacitive Deionization (CDI) is an electrochemical desalination technique based on the electrical double layer, which accumulate salts from the water stream; however, achieving higher salt adsorption for low-concentration salt is hindered due to several obstacles, such as low adsorption capacity and slow kinetics on the electrode surface. In this study, we reported a novel electrode fabrication method designed to enhance the hydrophilicity of the electrode material and activate hierarchical porosity, making a more accessible adsorption surface area. This modification enables more than 210 % improvement in salt adsorption capacity, achieving 17.5 mg g-1 in a single pass process with good stability in an 850 mg/L NaCl solution at 1.2 V, surpassing most reported carbon-based electrodes under similar operating conditions. Electrode formulation consists of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) doped hierarchical carbon nanotubes (CNTs) network blended with additional NaCl as a green and removable template to reach higher levels of porosity. The electrochemical sorption behavior of the sample was characterized over a voltage range of –0.5 to 0.7 V. Furthermore, the electrode materials were characterized utilizing various characterization methods, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) to explore the correlation between microstructure, morphology, and properties. Our finding reveals that not only N and P can affect adsorption, but also the novel cathode preparation method, which employs a removable NaCl templated hierarchical porous electrode, has a profound effect on the electrochemical and CDI results. This finding will open a new perspective in designing electrodes for all electrochemical systems.

High activity of cobalt-atomically dispersed catalyst on mesoporous carbon for rechargeable Zn-air batteries via effective removal of the hard template

The use of oxygen from air in Zn-air batteries requires the smart design of materials with bifunctional activity for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER), and with a porous structure to facilitate the diffusion of oxygen gas to active sites. Kit-6 template-assisted porous structures have been proposed to this end; however, traditional methods for the removal of Kit-6 templates are highly aggressive and environmentally harmful. In this study, we present the synthesis of a cobalt atomically dispersed catalyst (Co-ADC) with interlayer engineering using mesoporous Kit−6 templates, focusing on two removal strategies: sodium hydroxide (0.5, 1, and 2 M) and hydrofluoric acid (15, 30, and 45 %). Physicochemical results indicated that Co-ADC-containing nanoparticles were obtained using the proposed methodology, while the use of HF promoted the loss of cobalt in the catalyst. During the activity evaluation for the ORR, and it was found that 0.5 M NaOH and HF at 15 % displayed similar activity, which could be related to the effect of carbon material as co-catalyst, but the first enabled a close 4e− pathway, and thus, the Co-ADC presented a ΔEOER-ORR of 640 mV. This optimized ADC displayed improved functionality owing to diffusion improvements by the mesoporous structure, presenting a maximum power density of 130.6 mW cm−2 and 30 % higher specific activity than the Pt + IrO2/C reference material. Rechargeability was evaluated, yielding a ΔV = 0.87 V at 5.175 mA cm−2 with a round-trip efficiency of 57.5 %. Nonetheless, the optimized material presented higher rechargeability, displaying no significant round-trip changes after 100 cycles, while Pt + IrO2/C presented changes due to OER issues after only 48 cycles.

An impedimetric determination of zearalenone on MIP-modified carboceramic electrode

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin that poses significant risks to human and animal health due to its mutagenic, immunosuppressive, and carcinogenic properties. This study presents a novel analytical method for detecting ZEN using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) combined with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). ZEN, used as the template molecule, was incorporated into polypyrrole on screen-printed electrodes (SPE), and a ZEN-sensitive MIP sensor was created through template removal. The modified sensor surfaces were characterized by EIS and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An impedimetric MIP sensor for ZEN was developed, offering a detection range from 1 pM to 500 pM. The method's limit of detection (LOD) was established at 1 pM (0.3 pg/mL) with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N = 3). The method demonstrated high precision and accuracy, with a maximum relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 4.4% at a 95% confidence level, and relative error (RE) values ranging from −0.8% to −2.7%. The selectivity of the developed MIP sensor was evaluated using ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, and aflatoxin B1, with no significant interference observed. ZEN recovery from spiked samples was between 95% and 105%, indicating that the method was successfully applied to grain samples, including corn, rice, and wheat.

Mesoporous Silica Administration as a New Strategy in the Management of Warfarin Toxicity; In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Purpose: Warfarin is one of the most widely used anticoagulants that function by inhibiting vitamin K epoxide reductase. Warfarin overdose, whether intentional or unintentional, can cause life-threatening bleeding. Here, we present a novel warfarin adsorbent based on mesoporous silica that can act as an antidote to warfarin toxicity. Method: Amino-functionalized mesoporous silica (MS-NH2) was synthesized based on co-condensation method through a soft template technique followed by template removal. The prepared structure and functional group were studied by FT-IR, XRD. The morphology was checked by SEM and TEM. The capacity of MS-NH2 in the adsorption of warfarin was evaluated in vitro, at pH=7.4 and pH=1.2. In vivo evaluation was performed in control and warfarin-overdosed animal models. Overdosed animals were treated with MS-NH2 by oral gavage. Biomarkers of organ injury were assessed in animal serum. Results: The MS-NH2 were relatively uniform, spherical with defined diameters (400 nm) and homogeneous structure. synthesized particles had a large surface area (1015 m2 g-1) and mean pore diameter 2.4 nm which leaded considerable adsorption capacity for warfarin 1666 mg/g. In vivo studies revealed that oral administration of MS-NH2 in mice poisoned with warfarin caused a significant difference (p < 0.05) on International Normalized Ratio (INR) and prothrombin time (PT). Moreover, the warfarin with MS-NH2 group demonstrated a notable decrease in biomarkers associated with tissue damage, such as bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Conclusion: The results confirm that MS-NH2 administration can be an effective treatment for warfarin toxicity and could potentially mitigate the adverse effects of warfarin poisoning.

Green self-templated synthesis of P-doped mesoporous carbon from dual sodium salts with improved average pore size for capacitive deionization

Mesoporous carbon materials hold significant potential in capacitive deionization (CDI) technology owing to expansive accessible surface area, more adaptable pore structure, excellent conductivity properties and effective surface modification and functionalization. While templating is a common method for synthesizing mesoporous carbons, the commonly used hard and soft templating approaches among them suffer from the challenges of expensive precursors and templating agents, complex procedures, secondary contaminants and difficulties in template removal. In contrast, the self-templating method not only circumvents the traditional template removal or combustion steps but also eliminates the use of organic solvents and hazardous chemicals, thus minimizing environmental impact. In this paper, we have successfully synthesized phosphorus-doped mesoporous carbon with a large average pore size (paver) using a green and convenient self-templating method employing dual sodium salts of sodium alginate (SA) and sodium phytate (SP). Compared to single SA (6.76 nm) or SP (3.74 nm) self-templated carbonization, the average pore size of carbon materials obtained from dual self-templated carbonization with a proportional mixture (12.97 nm) is significantly improved. The larger average pore size provides a greater surface area for electrode-electrolyte interactions, allowing for easier access and faster diffusion of ions into the pores, thereby enhancing the electrochemical and capacitive deionization properties of the material. The resulting material demonstrates promising electrochemical and desalination performance as evidenced by possessing a specific capacitance of 175.8 A/g and an adsorption capacity of 19.65 mg/g, underlining its potential for application in capacitive deionization utilizing mesoporous carbon materials with large average pore size.

Developments and Applications of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based In-Tube Solid Phase Microextraction Technique for Efficient Sample Preparation.

Despite advancements in the sensitivity and performance of analytical instruments, sample preparation remains a bottleneck in the analytical process. Currently, solid-phase extraction is more widely used than traditional organic solvent extraction due to its ease of use and lower solvent requirements. Moreover, various microextraction techniques such as micro solid-phase extraction, dispersive micro solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, liquid-phase microextraction, and magnetic bead extraction have been developed to minimize sample size, reduce solvent usage, and enable automation. Among these, in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) using capillaries as extraction devices has gained attention as an advanced "green extraction technique" that combines miniaturization, on-line automation, and reduced solvent consumption. Capillary tubes in IT-SPME are categorized into configurations: inner-wall-coated, particle-packed, fiber-packed, and rod monolith, operating either in a draw/eject system or a flow-through system. Additionally, the developments of novel adsorbents such as monoliths, ionic liquids, restricted-access materials, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), graphene, carbon nanotubes, inorganic nanoparticles, and organometallic frameworks have improved extraction efficiency and selectivity. MIPs, in particular, are stable, custom-made polymers with molecular recognition capabilities formed during synthesis, making them exceptional "smart adsorbents" for selective sample preparation. The MIP fabrication process involves three main stages: pre-arrangement for recognition capability, polymerization, and template removal. After forming the template-monomer complex, polymerization creates a polymer network where the template molecules are anchored, and the final step involves removing the template to produce an MIP with cavities complementary to the template molecules. This review is the first paper to focus on advanced MIP-based IT-SPME, which integrates the selectivity of MIPs into efficient IT-SPME, and summarizes its recent developments and applications.

Low-tech innovation: biomimetic solid-contact potentiometric sensor for nanomolar-level atrazine detection.

Despite the fact that there are already a number of solid-contact-based ion-selective electrodes designed for atrazine detection, our ground-breaking contribution lies in introducing the first-ever atrazine potentioselectrode, enabling the ultra-sensitive detection of atrazine at nanomolar levels. Solid-contact ion-selective electrodes can offer advantages, such as improved stability, reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity compared to their liquid-contact counterparts. Here, a biomimetic potentiometric sensor for Atrazine was developed using economic, light weight, and flexible carbon cloth as solid-contact material. Our methodology entails the synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) through straightforward precipitation polymerization, showcasing a streamlined and efficient method for creating highly specific molecular recognition elements. The validation of template removal is confirmed via meticulous analysis employing EDX and FTIR techniques, ensuring the efficacy of our methodology. The resulting sensing membrane are casted by dispersing the MIP in 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether plasticizer and embedding it within a PVC matrix containing sodium tetraphenyl borate as a lipophilic additive. The developed sensor responds to atrazine in the pH range of 2.8-3.3 over a wide concentration range of 1 × 10-8M to 1 × 10-5M & 1 × 10-5M to 1 × 10-1M with respective slopes of 29.2 mv & 58.7mV and a limit of detection of 1 × 10-9M. An impressive feature of this sensor lies in its swift response time, registering a rapid reaction within a mere 10s. Emphasize the sensor's commendable attributes of reproducibility, selectivity, and sensitivity underscoring its successful application in field monitoring.

Bioinspired synergy strategy based on the integration of nanozyme into a molecularly imprinted polymer for improved enzyme catalytic mimicry and selective biosensing

Nanozymes offer many advantages such as good stability and high catalytic activity, but their selectivity is lower than that of enzymes. This is because most of enzymes have a protein component (apoenzyme) for substrate affinity to enhance selectivity and a non-protein element (coenzyme) for catalytic activity to improve sensitivity. The synergy between molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and nanozymes can mimic natural enzymes, with MIP acting as the apoenzyme and nanozyme as the coenzyme. Despite researchers' attempts to associate MIPs with nanozymes, the full potential of this combination remains not well explored. This study addresses this gap by integrating Fe3O4-Lys-Cu nanozymes with peroxidase-like catalytic activities within appropriate MIPs for L-DOPA and dopamine. The catalytic performance of the nanozyme was improved by the presence of Cu in Fe3O4-Lys-Cu and further enhanced by MIP. Indeed, the exploration of the pre-concentration property of MIP has increased twenty-fold the catalytic activity of the nanozyme. Moreover, this synergistic combination facilitated the template removal process during MIP production by reducing the extraction time from several hours to just 1 min thanks to the addition of co-substrates which trigger the reaction with nanozyme and release the template. Overall, the synergistic combination of MIPs and nanozymes offers a promising avenue for the design of artificial enzymes.

Novel design of Sn4P3@NxC electrodes and their electrochemical properties

Tin phosphide (SnxPy) is recognized as one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to its exceptionally high theoretical capacity. However, its application is hampered by significant volume expansion during charge-discharge cycles and inferior electrical conductivity. Proper structural design plays a pivotal role in addressing these challenges, paving the way for high-performance anode materials. This study introduces a nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Sn4P3 nanosphere with a core-shell structure, employing dopamine as the nitrogen source. This innovative approach, utilizing template removal and solid-phase phosphorization, results in both the core and shell acting as active materials, thereby enhancing the volumetric energy density of the electrode. The internal voids within the shell layer mitigate volume expansion during charge-discharge cycles, while the presence of the nitrogen-doped carbon layer maintains the material's stability throughout cycling and improves its electrical conductivity. Electrochemical performance tests confirm this material's outstanding energy storage capability, with an initial Coulombic efficiency reaching up to 73.6 %. Furthermore, it maintains a stable capacity of 585 mAh g−1 after 1200 cycles at a current density of 2 A g−1. This research offers a design paradigm for developing novel energy storage materials.

(Invited) The Influence of Magnetic Fields on the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyzed By Cobalt-Iron Oxide Nanowire Arrays

To mitigate climate change through the establishment of a renewable energy infrastructure, advancements in energy storage technologies are imperative. Electrochemical water splitting via electrolyzers enables the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy. However, the performance of these devices, particularly that of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurring at the anode, still needs to be improved. Previous studies have demonstrated that magnetic fields can induce convective flow to the electrode through Lorentz and Kelvin force effects, thereby improving the mass transport.[1] In contrast to the Lorentz force, the Kelvin force can be substantially increased by introducing magnetic nanostructures to create high magnetic field gradients in the vicinity of the electrode surface.[2] Given the magnetic properties inherent to many earth-abundant metal-based and nanostructured electrocatalysts promising for the OER, there is potential for intelligently designing electrodes to leverage magnetic field effects in the future. However, a comprehensive understanding of these magnetic field effects is currently lacking. In the scope of this work, we aimed to systematically investigate the influence of magnetic fields on the oxygen evolution reaction. Considering the substantial magnetic field gradients generated by magnetic nanowires, we fabricated arrays of freestanding cobalt-iron oxide nanowires to explore the influence of magnetic fields on the oxygen evolution reaction catalyzed by these nanostructured electrocatalysts. Templated electrodeposition of cobalt-iron alloy into the pores of anodic aluminum oxide membranes enabled a straightforward control over nanowire diameter and length. Subsequent removal of the aluminum oxide template in alkaline solution yielded cobalt-iron oxide nanowires composed to 60% of Fe and 40% of Co standing freely on an electrochemically stable gold substrate. Superimposing a magnetic field during water oxidation on the so-prepared nanowire arrays resulted in an increase in the measured oxidation current (see Figure). To deconvolute the contributions of the Lorentz and Kelvin force, experiments were conducted in two different magnetic field orientations: either parallel or perpendicular to the electrode surface. In the parallel orientation, a linear correlation between the increase in current and the strength of the applied magnetic field was observed. In contrast, when the magnetic field was aligned perpendicular to the electrode surface, a plateau in the current enhancement manifested at higher magnetic field strengths, indicating different dominant effects in the two configurations.[1] K. Ngamchuea, K. Tschulik, R. G. Compton, Magnetic control: Switchable ultrahigh magnetic gradients at Fe3O4 nanoparticles to enhance solution-phase mass transport, Nano Res. 2015, 8, 3293–3306.[2] L. M. Monzon, J. Coey, Magnetic fields in electrochemistry: The Kelvin force. A mini-review, Electrochem. commun. 2014, 42, 42–45. Figure 1

Cinquefoil Knot Possessing Dynamic and Tunable Metal Coordination.

While the majority of knots are made from the metal-template approach, the use of entangled, constrained knotted loops to modulate the coordination of the metal ions remains inadequately elucidated. Here, we report on the coordination chemistry of a 140-atom-long cinquefoil knotted strand comprising five tridentate and five bidentate chelating vacancies. The knotted loop is prepared through the self-assembly of asymmetric "3 + 2" dentate ligands with copper(II) ions that favor five-coordination geometry. The formation of the copper(II) pentameric helicate is confirmed by X-ray crystallography, while the corresponding copper(II) knot is characterized by XPS and LR-/HR ESI-MS. Upon removal of the original template, the knotted ligand facilitates zinc(II) ions, which typically form four- or six-coordination geometries, resulting in the formation of an otherwise inaccessible zinc(II) metallic knot with coordinatively unsaturated metal centers. The coordination numbers and geometries of the zinc(II) cations are undoubtedly determined by X-ray crystallography. Despite the kinetically labile nature and high reversibility of the zinc(II) complex preventing the detection of 5-to-6 coordination equilibrium in solution, the effects on metal-ion coordination induced by knotting hold promise for fine-tuning the coordination of metal complexes.

Amine-impregnated as-synthesized silicas for CO2 capture: Experimental study and mechanism analysis

Porous silicas have been extensively investigated as amine carriers for the production of CO2 adsorbents, while few studies demonstrated that as-synthesized silicas (without template removal) can also serve as good amine carriers for efficient CO2 capture. This raises a fundamental question of whether the time-consuming and energy-intensive process of removing the template from as-synthesized silicas is still necessary. More importantly, a reasonable mechanism is quite needed to explain the as-synthesized silicas as effective amine carriers. To this end, in this study, four types of as-synthesized silicas were compared together with their corresponding porous silicas as amine carriers for CO2 capture. Experimental results show that as-synthesized silicas exhibit comparable or even better performance at medium amine loadings (50 ∼ 60 wt%), including larger CO2 adsorption capacities and better cyclic stability, while porous silicas predominate at high amine loadings (70 wt%). Molecular simulation results indicate that the amine species are located in the interparticle cavities in the silicas rather than in the structural pores. This work provides important guidance for the future design of practical solid-amine CO2 adsorbents.

Synthesis of an ion-imprinted starch phosphate porous carbonaceous material removing U(VI) from wastewater: Kinetics and mechanism

Uranium enrichment and separation are important for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. In this study, reverse-phase emulsion crosslinking polymerization was used to synthesize spherical hollow porous carbon materials (II-CLSPC) with a “red blood cell” morphology after roasting. The soft template method was used to modify II-CLSPC to obtain an open pore structure, which increased its contact area. Based on this, ion imprinting was conducted to improve the selective adsorption of U(VI). A spatial site matching the size of U(VI) was formed after ion template removal, which played a crucial role in this process. Multifaceted and multilevel improvements of II-CLSPC facilitated rapid adsorption, reaching equilibrium at 40 min and a removal rate of 94.6 % (pH 5, 298 K). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isothermal model indicated that the adsorption process of uranyl ions by II-CLSPC involved via monolayer chemisorption with a theoretical saturation adsorption capacity of 653.6 mg g−1. In addition, II-CLSPC exhibited excellent selectivity (KdU = 3.7 × 104 mL g−1), cyclic stability, and salt tolerance, making it a promising candidate for uranium removal from wastewater.

Computer-Assisted Implant Planning: A Review of Data Registration Techniques.

Computer-assisted implant planning allows for a comprehensive treatment plan by combining radiographic data provided by a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) with surface optical scan (IOs) data that includes patient intraoral situation and the intended restorative planning. Integrating a tailored restorative design with the patient's anatomical conditions through virtual implant planning allows for an ideal bio-restorative treatment planning to maximize biological, functional, and esthetic outcomes. This article discusses dataset registration techniques that combine radiographic CBCT data with restorative information as the main path to create a virtual patient. The described techniques include the use of removable radiographic templates with radiopaque markers, dual scan technique, and direct digital file registration of intra-oral scans using anatomical references. Depending on the individual clinical situation, different factors must be considered to appropriately select methods that achieve an optimal registration of diverse datasets. An inherent challenge lies in the presence of scattering artifacts in CBCT scans. Two approaches are proposed for these situations - the use of chairside-fabricated composite resin markers or adhesive spot-markers fabricated for the use with CBCT scans. Both techniques exhibit limitations that need to be taken into consideration. Further approaches should be developed for situations involving scattering in CBCT.

Lanthanum‐Nickel‐Based Mixed‐Oxide‐Coated Nickel Electrodes for the OER Electrocatalysis

ABSTRACTThe anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a bottleneck for electrocatalytic water splitting due to its sluggish kinetics and, thus, high overpotentials. This limits water electrolysis as a key technology for the generation of hydrogen as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. For alkaline water splitting, perovskite phases (ABO3) with earth‐abundant first‐row transition‐metals have emerged as a promising material class for OER electrocatalysts. Among these, LaNiO3 has been found to exhibit high intrinsic OER activity. To increase catalyst utilization, a high surface area of the catalyst is desirable and can be achieved by impregnation of porous templates. In this work, La–Ni‐based oxides were prepared via impregnation of activated carbon and subsequent heating, combining precursor calcination and template removal into one step. The phase structure of the samples is analyzed via powder X‐ray diffractometry, and the morphology is determined by scanning electron microscopy. The synergistic effect of B‐site mixing iron as well as A‐site mixing strontium into LaNiO3 is studied and found to increase its OER activity, confirming the activity‐enhancing effect of Fe in Ni‐based OER electrocatalysts. To allow for facile technical application of the catalysts, the electrodes are prepared by coating a perovskite ink onto Ni‐metal as industrially relevant substrates, followed by calcination.

Construction of a MoS2@mSiO2 nanocarrier as a near-infrared/pH dual-responsive platform to control the drug release for anti-tumor

Designing new-type nanosystems to realize the combination of multiple treatment is an efficient routine to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy in clinic. In this study, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was selected as a photothermal agent, and mesoporous silica (mSiO2) was coated on the surface of MoS2 using the solvothermal and template removal methods. The chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as a model drug was then loaded into the above MoS2@mSiO2 nanocarrier to prepare the tumor-targeting MoS2@mSiO2-DOX nanosystem. XRD, UV–Vis, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and DLS results jointly confirmed that the MoS2@mSiO2-DOX nanosystem with a particle size of approximately 370 nm was successfully synthesized. The XPS and BET analysis identified that the outer layer of MoS2@mSiO2 nanocarrier was SiO2, which has a large surface area of 99.41 m2/g with an average pore size of 3.5 nm coated on the MoS2. The in-vitro cytotoxicity and photothermal performance of the MoS2@mSiO2 nanodrug delivery system was tested, and the results show that MoS2@mSiO2 has a low toxicity to normal human liver cells (HL-7702), and which also exhibits a good photothermal stability with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 28.8%. With the aid of the large specific surface area of mSiO2 and the opposite zeta potential, a high amount of DOX was loaded on MoS2@mSiO2 nanocarrier, and the measured loading efficiency of DOX can reach up to 48.87%. The 48 h-drug release rate of MoS2@mSiO2-DOX reaches 35.65% under the conditions of near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation at pH=5.0, which is nearly 5 times higher than that of 6.26% under the normal physiological environment (pH=7.4 without NIR laser irradiation), indicating that the MoS2@mSiO2-DOX nanosystem possesses obvious pH and NIR laser responsive release characteristics. The MoS2@mSiO2 nanocarrier has good cytocompatibility, outstanding photothermal conversion and drug loading properties, and after DOX adsorption, the system exhibits excellent pH and laser responsive drug controlled release performance, which is expected to be widely used in the field of combining the photothermal-chemotherapy to synergistically resist tumor.

Soft template-induced self-assembly strategy for sustainable production of porous carbon spheres as anode towards advanced sodium-ion batteries

Doped porous carbon is a prominent sodium anode material with high specific surface area (SSA) and abundant pore structure. Compared with the traditional “hard template” technique for the synthesis of porous carbon, the “soft template” method offers a more efficient synthesis process and simplified template removal. In response to the urgent need for eco-friendly synthesis methods for functional doping, our research introduces an innovative method using biomass-derived tannic acid as a precursor. We have successfully synthesized N/S double-doped porous spherical carbon materials (DF-N/S) through a self-assembly process driven by hydrogen bonding and solvent evaporation. As an anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), DF-N/S demonstrates superior electrochemical performance, achieving a specific capacity of 327.04 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.05 Ag-1 in ether-based electrolytes. The remarkable sodium storage efficiency of DF-N/S has been thoroughly examined through kinetic analyses and ex-situ characterization methods. This study aims to provide a sustainable and widely adaptable method for the soft template production of doped carbon, while also shedding light on the intricacies of energy storage mechanisms in both ether/ester-based electrolytes.

Disodium Cromoglycate Templates Anisotropic Short-Chain PEG Hydrogels.

Anisotropic hydrogels have found widespread applications in biomedical engineering, particularly as scaffolds for tissue engineering. However, it remains a challenge to produce them using conventional fabrication methods, without specialized synthesis or equipment, such as 3D printing and unidirectional stretching. In this study, we explore the self-assembly behaviors of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), using disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal, as a removable template. The affinity between short-chain PEGDA (Mn = 250) and DSCG allows polymerization to take place at the DSCG surface, thereby forming anisotropic hydrogel networks with fibrin-like morphologies. This process requires considerable finesse as the phase behaviors of DSCG depend on a multitude of factors, including the weight percentage of PEGDA and DSCG, the chain length of PEGDA, and the concentration of ionic species. The key to modulating the microstructures of the all-PEG hydrogel networks is through precise control of the DSCG concentration, resulting in anisotropic mechanical properties. Using these anisotropic hydrogel networks, we demonstrate that human dermal fibroblasts are particularly sensitive to the alignment order. We find that cells exhibit a density-dependent activation pattern of a Yes-associated protein, a mechanotransducer, corroborating its role in enabling cells to translate external mechanical and morphological patterns to specific behaviors. The flexibility of modulating microstructure, along with PEG hydrogels' biocompatibility and biodegradability, underscores their potential use for tissue engineering to create functional structures with physiological morphologies.