Plasmonic metal/semiconductor hybrid nanomaterials for solar to chemical energy conversion

Plasmonic nanomaterials are sources of light,heat and electrons at nanometer scale.Given the outstanding performance in harvesting and converting solar energy under visible light irradiation,hybrid nanomaterials with plasmonic activity have recently emerged as a new class of advanced photocatalysts.Because of the enhanced charge-separation at hybrid interfaces,the hybrids usually exhibit higher catalytic activity compared with their monometallic counterparts.Here,we review the recent progress on synthesis of plasmonic hybrid nanomaterials and their applications in photocatalysis,including H2 production,CO_(2) reduction and N2 fixation.We hope this review will give systematic and valuable reference on plasmonic solar to chemical energy conversion.

Flexible electronics based on one-dimensional and two-dimensional hybrid nanomaterials

Research on flexible or wearable electronics has been grown remarkably due to the advent of nanomaterials,such as metal nanowires,graphene,or transition metal dichalcogenides.Although each nanomaterial has mechanical and electrical characteristics that can be applied into flexible electronics,the limitations of each nanomaterial are also clear.In order to overcome the limitations of these nanomaterials,research on the hybrid structures of nanomaterials has been extensively conducted.In this study,we introduce the properties of one-dimensional nanomaterials,twodimensional nanomaterials,and their hybrid nanomaterials.And then,we provide information concerning various flexible electronics based on these nanomaterials.

Two-dimensional hybrid nanomaterials derived from MXenes(Ti3C2Tx)as advanced energy storage and conversion applications

The development of two-dimensional hybrid nanomaterial derived from MXenes as high performance electrode material is the key component for the advanced ene rgy storage and conversion systems.In the past decades,MXene derived nanomaterials have attracted greatly interest in scientific activity and potential applications because of their unique synergistic properties such as high thermal stability,excellent electrical conductivity,large surface area,easy to handle and outstanding electro and photo chemical properties.This review is focused on the synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials from MXene(Ti3C2Tx)for renewable energy conversion and storage application including hydrogen evolution reaction,supercapacitor,lithium-ion batteries and photocatalysis.Finally,we also summarized the prospect and opportunities of novel two-dimensional hybrid nanomaterials derived MXene(Ti3C2Tx)fo r futuristic sustainable energy technology.

Synthesis and Characterization of W-doped TiO_2 Supported by Hybrid Carbon Nanomaterials of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and C_(60) Fullerene by a Hydrothermal Method

W-doped TiO2 supported by hybrid carbon nanomaterials of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and C60 fullerene was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The material displayed high visible light photocatalytic activity. X-ray diffraction, field emission transmission electron microscopy, ultra violet/visible light absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the material as photoeatalyst. Photocatalytic activity on the degradation of Rhodamine B dye in an aqueous solution under ultraviolet light and visible light irradiation was also studied. The experimental results indicated that the photocatalytic activity of the material was much higher than that of pure TiO2 or Degussa P25 TiO2.

Engineered Hybrid Materials with Smart Surfaces for Effective Mitigation of Petroleum-Originated Pollutants

The generation and controlled or uncontrolled release of hydrocarbon-contaminated industrial wastewater effluents to water matrices are a major environmental concern.The contaminated water comes to surface in the form of stable emulsions,which sometimes require different techniques to mitigate or separate effectively.Both the crude emulsions and hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater effluents contain suspended solids,oil/grease,organic matter,toxic elements,salts,and recalcitrant chemicals.Suitable treatment of crude oil emulsions has been one of the most important challenges due to the complex nature and the substantial amount of generated waste.Moreover,the recovery of oil from waste will help meet the increasing demand for oil and its derivatives.In this context,functional nanostructured materials with smart surfaces and switchable wettability properties have gained increasing attention because of their excellent performance in the separation of oil–water emulsions.Recent improvements in the design,composition,morphology,and fine-tuning of polymeric nanostructured materials have resulted in enhanced demulsification functionalities.Herein,we reviewed the environmental impacts of crude oil emulsions and hydrocarbon-contaminated wastewater effluents.Their effective treatments by smart polymeric nanostructured materials with wettability properties have been stated with suitable examples.The fundamental mechanisms underpinning the efficient separation of oil–water emulsions are discussed with suitable examples along with the future perspectives of smart materials.

Green synthesis of Au@WSe_(2) hybrid nanostructures with the enhanced peroxidase-like activity for sensitive colorimetric detection of glucose

We report a colorimetric method for glucose detection based on Au nanoparticle-decorated WSe_(2)(Au@WSe_(2))hybrid nanostructures.These hybrid structures are easily synthesized by simply stirring HAuCl_(4) precursor with WSe_(2) nanosheets in aqueous solution.Owing to strong synergistic catalytic effects of Au nanoparticles and WSe_(2) nanosheets,the Au@WSe_(2) hybrid nanostructures exhibit enhanced peroxidase-like activity(about 2-fold higher compared to WSe_(2) nanosheets alone)for 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine oxidation by H_(2)O_(2).Based on the highly catalytical property,the colorimetric method for glucose detection is established by coupling glucose oxidase(GOx).The detection limit of glucose is 3.66 pM.Moreover,the proposed colorimetric method is applicable to glucose detection in serum samples and is promising for applications in biomedical fields.

Hybrid functional microfibers for textile electronics and biosensors

Fibers are low-cost substrates that are abundantly used in our daily lives. This review highlights recent advances in the fabrication and application of multifunctional fibers to achieve fibers with unique functions for specific applications ranging from textile electronics to biomedical applications. By incorporating various nanomaterials such as carbon nanomaterials, metallic nanomaterials, and hydrogel-based biomaterials, the functions of fibers can be precisely engineered. This review also highlights the performance of the functional fibers and electronic materials incorporated with textiles and demonstrates their practical application in pressure/tensile sensors,chemical/biosensors, and drug delivery. Textile technologies in which fibers containing biological factors and cells are formed and assembled into constructions with biomimetic properties have attracted substantial attention in the field of tissue engineering. We also discuss the current limitations of functional textile-based devices and their prospects for use in various future applications.

Spontaneous,scalable,and self-similar superhydrophobic coatings for all-weather deicing

Herein,we proposed and demonstrated a facile and scalable strategy to fabricate multifunctional self-similar superhydrophobic coatings.Firstly,a hydrophobic cationic cellulose derivative containing imidazolium cation was synthesized by a controllable derivatization.It could effectively disperse one-dimensional(1D)multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNT),because the imidazolium cations formed cation–πinteractions with MWCNT.Further,the synergy effect of the cationic cellulose derivative and MWCNT dispersed two-dimensional(2D)reduced graphene oxide(rGO)to obtain a three-components nano-dispersion.Finally,via a simple spaying process,a superhydrophobic coating with self-similar micro-nano structures spontaneously formed from inside to outside,owing to the various nanostructures with different shapes and sizes in the dispersion and the adhesive effect of the cellulose derivative.This superhydrophobic coating was easy to scale,exhibited superior stability owing to the renewal micro-nano structures.It retained the superhydrophobicity even if it was treated by rubbing for 1500 times.Moreover,it had outstanding photo-thermal and Joule-heating performance,because of the strong solar absorption and high electrical conductivity of MWCNT and rGO.It provided both passive anti-icing and active deicing effects.Thus,it could achieve all-weather anti-icing for wind power generators under sunlight and low voltage conditions.Such facile preparation method and multifunctional renewable superhydrophobic coating hold great application prospects.

Ordered SnO nanoparticles in MWCNT as a functional host material for high-rate lithium-sulfur battery cathode

Lithium-sulfur battery has become one of the most promising candidates for next generation batteries, and it is still restricted due to the low sulfur conductivity, large volume expansion and severe polysulfide shuttling. Herein, we present a novel hybrid electrode with a ternary nanomaterial based on sulfur-impregnated multiwalled carbon nanotubes filled with ordered tin-monoxide nanoparticles （MWCNT-SnO/S）. Using a dry plasma reduction method, a mechanically robust material is prepared as a cathode host material for lithium-sulfur batteries. The MWCNT-SnO/S electrode exhibits high conductivity, good ability to capture polysulfides, and small volume change during a repeated charge-discharge process. In situ transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet-visible absorption results indicate that the MWCNT-SnO host efficiently suppresses volume expansion during lithiation and reduces polysulfide dissolution into the electrolyte. Furthermore, the ordered SnO nanoparticles in the MWCNTs facilitate fast ion/electron transfer during the redox reactions by acting as connective links between the walls of the MWCNTs. The MWCNT-SnO/S cathode with a high sulfur content of 70 wt.% exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 1,682.4 mAh·g^-1 at 167.5 m·g^-1 （0.1 C rate） and retains a capacity of 530.1 mAh·g^-1 at 0.5 C after 1,000 cycles with nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. Furthermore, the electrode exhibits the high capacity even at a high current rate of 20 C.

Functional DNA Structures and Their Biomedical Applications

Since the discovery of the double-helix structure in 1953,nucleic acids have been developed from natural genetic codes into functional building blocks in a wide range of biotechnology and materials sciences.Taking advantage of their design diversity and biocompatibility,functional nucleic acids facilitate the“bottom-up”fabrication of nanomaterials that are highly potential for molecular medicine to treat different diseases,such as cancers.The present perspective article introduces recent advances in the use of these unique properties of nucleic acid biopolymers for biomedical applications.Specifically,nanomaterial/nucleic acid hybrid structures for sensing,controlled drug release,programmable intracellular imaging,and apoptosis,as well as logic calculation,are discussed.Furthermore,the detailed operation for both extracellular and intracellular bioactivity regulation with these new design functional nucleic acid nanostructures are fully illustrated.