Using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have investigated the adsorption stability and conformation change of different proteins on the surface of pristine graphene (PG) and graphene oxide (GO). W...Using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have investigated the adsorption stability and conformation change of different proteins on the surface of pristine graphene (PG) and graphene oxide (GO). We find that: (i) with the cooperation of the electrostatic interactions between proteins and oxygen-containing groups, GO shows better adsorption stability than PG; (ii) the peptide loses its secondary structure on both PG and GO surface, and the a-helix structure of the protein fragment is partially broken on PG surface, but is well preserved on GO surface, while the secondary structure of globular protein has no distinct change on both PG and GO surface. In general, GO presents better biocompatibility than PG. Our results are of significant importance to understand the interactions between proteins and PG/GO and the applications of PG/GO in biotechnology and biomedicine.展开更多
The design and synthesis of high‐performance and low‐cost electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),a key half‐reaction in water electrolysis,are essential.Owing to their modest hydrogen adsorption ...The design and synthesis of high‐performance and low‐cost electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),a key half‐reaction in water electrolysis,are essential.Owing to their modest hydrogen adsorption energy,ruthenium(Ru)‐based nanomaterials are considered outstanding candidates to replace the expensive platinum(Pt)‐based HER electrocatalysts.In this study,we developed an adsorption‐pyrolysis method to construct nitrogen(N)‐doped graphene aerogel(N‐GA)‐supported ultrafine Ru nanocrystal(Ru‐NC)nanocomposites(Ru‐NCs/N‐GA).The particle size of the Ru‐NCs and the conductivity of the N‐GA substrate can be controlled by varying the pyrolysis temperature.Optimal experiments reveal revealed that 10 wt%Ru‐NCs/N‐GA nanocomposites require overpotentials of only 52 and 36 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^(−2) in 1 mol/L HClO4 and 1 mol/L KOH electrolytes for HER,respectively,which is comparable to 20 wt%Pt/C electrocatalyst.Benefiting from the ultrafine size and uniform dispersion of the Ru‐NCs,the synergy between Ru and the highly conductive substrate,and the anchoring effect of the N atom,the Ru‐NCs/N‐GA nanocomposites exhibit excellent activity and durability in the pH‐universal HER,thereby opening a new avenue for the production of commercial HER electrocatalysts.展开更多
Lightweight yet strong paper with high toughness is desirable especially for impact protection. Herein we demonstrated electrically conductive and mechanically robust paper(AP/PB-GP) made of reduced graphene oxide via...Lightweight yet strong paper with high toughness is desirable especially for impact protection. Herein we demonstrated electrically conductive and mechanically robust paper(AP/PB-GP) made of reduced graphene oxide via interfacial crosslinking with 1-aminopyrene(AP) and 1-pyrenebutyrat(PB) small molecules. The AP/PB-GP with thickness of over ten micrometer delivers a record-high toughness(~69.67 ± 15.3 MJ m^(-3) in average), simultaneously with superior strength(close to 1 GPa), allowing an impressive specific penetration energy absorption(~0.17 MJ kg^(-1)) at high impact velocities when used for ballistic impact protection. Detailed interfacial and structural analysis reveals that the reinforcement is synergistically determined by π-π interaction and H-bonding linkage between adjacent graphene lamellae. Especially, the defective pores within the graphene platelets benefit the favorable adsorption of the pyrene-containing molecules, which imperatively maximizes the interfacial binding, facilitating deflecting crack and plastic deformation under loading. Density functional theory simulation suggests that the coupling between the polar functional groups, e.g., –COOH, at the edges of graphene platelets and –NH_(2) and –COOH of AP/PB are critical to the formation of hydrogen bonding network.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.61575178 and No.11574272)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LY16A040014 and LY18A040001)the Scientific Research and Developed Fund of Zhejiang A&F University(No.2015FR022)
文摘Using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have investigated the adsorption stability and conformation change of different proteins on the surface of pristine graphene (PG) and graphene oxide (GO). We find that: (i) with the cooperation of the electrostatic interactions between proteins and oxygen-containing groups, GO shows better adsorption stability than PG; (ii) the peptide loses its secondary structure on both PG and GO surface, and the a-helix structure of the protein fragment is partially broken on PG surface, but is well preserved on GO surface, while the secondary structure of globular protein has no distinct change on both PG and GO surface. In general, GO presents better biocompatibility than PG. Our results are of significant importance to understand the interactions between proteins and PG/GO and the applications of PG/GO in biotechnology and biomedicine.
文摘The design and synthesis of high‐performance and low‐cost electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),a key half‐reaction in water electrolysis,are essential.Owing to their modest hydrogen adsorption energy,ruthenium(Ru)‐based nanomaterials are considered outstanding candidates to replace the expensive platinum(Pt)‐based HER electrocatalysts.In this study,we developed an adsorption‐pyrolysis method to construct nitrogen(N)‐doped graphene aerogel(N‐GA)‐supported ultrafine Ru nanocrystal(Ru‐NC)nanocomposites(Ru‐NCs/N‐GA).The particle size of the Ru‐NCs and the conductivity of the N‐GA substrate can be controlled by varying the pyrolysis temperature.Optimal experiments reveal revealed that 10 wt%Ru‐NCs/N‐GA nanocomposites require overpotentials of only 52 and 36 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^(−2) in 1 mol/L HClO4 and 1 mol/L KOH electrolytes for HER,respectively,which is comparable to 20 wt%Pt/C electrocatalyst.Benefiting from the ultrafine size and uniform dispersion of the Ru‐NCs,the synergy between Ru and the highly conductive substrate,and the anchoring effect of the N atom,the Ru‐NCs/N‐GA nanocomposites exhibit excellent activity and durability in the pH‐universal HER,thereby opening a new avenue for the production of commercial HER electrocatalysts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51772282,51972299)funding from Hefei Center for Physical Science and Technology。
文摘Lightweight yet strong paper with high toughness is desirable especially for impact protection. Herein we demonstrated electrically conductive and mechanically robust paper(AP/PB-GP) made of reduced graphene oxide via interfacial crosslinking with 1-aminopyrene(AP) and 1-pyrenebutyrat(PB) small molecules. The AP/PB-GP with thickness of over ten micrometer delivers a record-high toughness(~69.67 ± 15.3 MJ m^(-3) in average), simultaneously with superior strength(close to 1 GPa), allowing an impressive specific penetration energy absorption(~0.17 MJ kg^(-1)) at high impact velocities when used for ballistic impact protection. Detailed interfacial and structural analysis reveals that the reinforcement is synergistically determined by π-π interaction and H-bonding linkage between adjacent graphene lamellae. Especially, the defective pores within the graphene platelets benefit the favorable adsorption of the pyrene-containing molecules, which imperatively maximizes the interfacial binding, facilitating deflecting crack and plastic deformation under loading. Density functional theory simulation suggests that the coupling between the polar functional groups, e.g., –COOH, at the edges of graphene platelets and –NH_(2) and –COOH of AP/PB are critical to the formation of hydrogen bonding network.