Impact of Morphology of Conductive Agent and Anode Material on Lithium Storage Properties

In this study,the impact of morphology of conductive agent and anode material(Fe3O4)on lithium storage properties was throughly investigated.Granular and belt-like Fe3O4active materials were separately blended with two kinds of conductive agents(i.e.,granular acetylene black and multi-walled carbon nanotube)as anodes in lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),respectively.It was found that the morphology of conductive agent is of utmost importance in determining LIBs storage properties.In contrast,not as the way we anticipated,the morphology of anode material merely plays a subordinate role in their electrochemical performances.Further,the morphology-matching principle of electrode materials was discussed so as to render their utilization more rational and effective in LIBs.

AgCl/Ag/g-C_3N_4 Hybrid Composites: Preparation,Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanism

The ternary plasmonic Ag Cl/Ag/g-C_3N_4 photocatalysts were successfully fabricated by a modified deposition–precipitation method, through which Ag/Ag Cl nanoparticles(5–15 nm in size) were evenly dispersed on the surface of g-C_3N_4. The Ag Cl/Ag/g-C_3N_4 composites exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than Ag/Ag Cl and g-C_3N_4. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to an efficient separation of electron–hole pairs through a Z-scheme mechanism, in which Ag nanoparticles acted as charge separation centers.

Water-soluble PANI:PSS designed for spontaneous non-disruptive membrane penetration and direct intracellular photothermal damage on bacteria

The major challenge in the field of antibacterial agents is to overcome the low-permeability of bacteria cell membranes that protects the cells against diverse drugs.In this work,water-soluble polyaniline(PANI)-poly(p-styrenesulfonic acid)(PSS)(PANI:PSS)is found to spontaneously penetrate bacteria cellular membranes in a non-disruptive way,leaving no evidence of membrane poration/disturbance or cell death,thus avoiding side effects caused by cationic ammonia groups in traditional ammonia-containing antibacterial agents.For aqueous synthesis,which is important for biocompatibility,the polymer is synthesized via an enzyme-mimetic route relying on the catalysis of a nanozyme.Owing to its fluorescent properties,the localization of as-prepared PANI:PSS is determined by the confocal microscope,and the results confirm its rapid entry into bacteria.Under 808 nm near-infrared(NIR)irradiation,the internalized PANI:PSS generates local hyperthermia and destroys bacteria highly efficiently from inside the cells due to its excellent photothermal effects.Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus),Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)and Escherichia coli(E.coli)could be effectively eliminated as well as the corresponding bacterial biofilms.Results of in vivo antibacterial experiments demonstrate excellent antibacterial activities of the water-soluble PANI:PSS without side effects.Therefore,the prepared water-soluble polymer in this study has great potential in the treatment of various bacterial infections.

A versatile solution-phase, precursor route to surface-mazelike hierarchical structures

In this work, surface-mazelike Zn O, Cu, and Ni hierarchical structures were synthesized via a versatile ethylene glycol- mediated solvothermal method. The structure evolution of these materials bore striking similarities, including(1) initial formation of metal alkoxides precursors and(2) subsequent structural evolution of products from tiered plates to jigsaw puzzles; then to extrusion ridges, nests and spindles; and thereafter to final mazelike structures driven by persistent thermal decomposition of preformed precursors. Based on their unique surface morphologies in sinuous asymmetry, it is anticipated that such mazelike hierarchical structures may shed new light on the development of morphology-controlled adsorption and heterogeneous catalysts.