TY  - JOUR
A1  - Michaelis, Vivien
A1  - Aengenheister, Leonie
A1  - Tuchtenhagen, Max
A1  - Rinklebe, Jörg
A1  - Ebert, Franziska
A1  - Schwerdtle, Tanja
A1  - Buerki-Thurnherr, Tina
A1  - Bornhorst, Julia
T1  - Differences and interactions in placental manganese and iron transfer across an in vitro model of human villous trophoblasts
JF  - International journal of molecular sciences
N2  - Manganese (Mn) as well as iron (Fe) are essential trace elements (TE) important for the maintenance of physiological functions including fetal development. However, in the case of Mn, evidence suggests that excess levels of intrauterine Mn are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although Mn is known to cross the placenta, the fundamentals of Mn transfer kinetics and mechanisms are largely unknown. Moreover, exposure to combinations of TEs should be considered in mechanistic transfer studies, in particular for TEs expected to share similar transfer pathways. Here, we performed a mechanistic in vitro study on the placental transfer of Mn across a BeWo b30 trophoblast layer. Our data revealed distinct differences in the placental transfer of Mn and Fe. While placental permeability to Fe showed a clear inverse dose-dependency, Mn transfer was largely independent of the applied doses. Concurrent exposure of Mn and Fe revealed transfer interactions of Fe and Mn, indicating that they share common transfer mechanisms. In general, mRNA and protein expression of discussed transporters like DMT1, TfR, or FPN were only marginally altered in BeWo cells despite the different exposure scenarios highlighting that Mn transfer across the trophoblast layer likely involves a combination of active and passive transport processes.
KW  - manganese
KW  - iron
KW  - placental transfer
KW  - TE interactions
KW  - BeWo b30
KW  - trophoblasts
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063296
SN  - 1422-0067
VL  - 23
IS  - 6
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Bande, Annika
A1  - González, Leticia
A1  - Klamroth, Tillmann
A1  - Tremblay, Jean Christophe
T1  - Theoretical chemistry and quantum dynamics at interfaces
BT  - Celebrating the career of Peter Saalfrank on the occasion of his 60th birthday
T2  - Chemical physics : a journal devoted to experimental and theoretical research involving problems of both a chemical and physical nature
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2022.111509
SN  - 0301-0104
SN  - 1873-4421
VL  - 558
PB  - Elsevier Science
CY  - Amsterdam [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Crovetto, Andrea
A1  - Kojda, Danny
A1  - Yi, Feng
A1  - Heinselman, Karen N.
A1  - LaVan, David A.
A1  - Habicht, Klaus
A1  - Unold, Thomas
A1  - Zakutayev, Andriy
T1  - Crystallize It before It diffuses
BT  - kinetic stabilization of thin-film phosphorus-rich semiconductor CuP2
JF  - Journal of the american chemical society
N2  - Numerous phosphorus-rich metal phosphides containing both P-P bonds and metal-P bonds are known from the solid-state chemistry literature. A method to grow these materials in thin-film form would be desirable, as thin films are required in many applications and they are an ideal platform for high-throughput studies. In addition, the high density and smooth surfaces achievable in thin films are a significant advantage for characterization of transport and optical properties. Despite these benefits, there is hardly any published work on even the simplest binary phosphorus-rich phosphide films. Here, we demonstrate growth of single-phase CuP2 films by a two-step process involving reactive sputtering of amorphous CuP2+x and rapid annealing in an inert atmosphere. At the crystallization temperature, CuP2 is thermodynamically unstable with respect to Cu3P and P-4. However, CuP2 can be stabilized if the amorphous precursors are mixed on the atomic scale and are sufficiently close to the desired composition (neither too P poor nor too P rich). Fast formation of polycrystalline CuP2, combined with a short annealing time, makes it possible to bypass the diffusion processes responsible for decomposition. We find that thin-film CuP2 is a 1.5 eV band gap semiconductor with interesting properties, such as a high optical absorption coefficient (above 10(5) cm(-1)), low thermal conductivity (1.1 W/(K m)), and composition-insensitive electrical conductivity (around 1 S/cm). We anticipate that our processing route can be extended to other phosphorus-rich phosphides that are still awaiting thin-film synthesis and will lead to a more complete understanding of these materials and of their potential applications.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c04868
SN  - 0002-7863
SN  - 1520-5126
VL  - 144
IS  - 29
SP  - 13334
EP  - 13343
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tung, Wing Tai
A1  - Maring, Janita A.
A1  - Xu, Xun
A1  - Liu, Yue
A1  - Becker, Matthias
A1  - Somesh, Dipthi Bachamanda
A1  - Klose, Kristin
A1  - Wang, Weiwei
A1  - Sun, Xianlei
A1  - Ullah, Imran
A1  - Kratz, Karl
A1  - Neffe, Axel T.
A1  - Stamm, Christof
A1  - Ma, Nan
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - In vivo performance of a cell and factor free multifunctional fiber mesh modulating postinfarct myocardial remodeling
JF  - Advanced Functional Materials
N2  - Guidance of postinfarct myocardial remodeling processes by an epicardial patch system may alleviate the consequences of ischemic heart disease. As macrophages are highly relevant in balancing immune response and regenerative processes their suitable instruction would ensure therapeutic success. A polymeric mesh capable of attracting and instructing monocytes by purely physical cues and accelerating implant degradation at the cell/implant interface is designed. In a murine model for myocardial infarction the meshes are compared to those either coated with extracellular matrix or loaded with induced cardiomyocyte progenitor cells. All implants promote macrophage infiltration and polarization in the epicardium, which is verified by in vitro experiments. 6 weeks post-MI, especially the implantation of the mesh attenuates left ventricular adverse remodeling processes as shown by reduced infarct size (14.7% vs 28-32%) and increased wall thickness (854 mu m vs 400-600 mu m), enhanced angiogenesis/arteriogenesis (more than 50% increase compared to controls and other groups), and improved heart function (ejection fraction = 36.8% compared to 12.7-31.3%). Upscaling as well as process controls is comprehensively considered in the presented mesh fabrication scheme to warrant further progression from bench to bedside.
KW  - bioinstructive materials
KW  - cardiac regeneration
KW  - function by structure;
KW  - modulation of in vivo regeneration
KW  - multifunctional biomaterials
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202110179
SN  - 1616-301X
SN  - 1616-3028
VL  - 32
IS  - 31
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mei, Shilin
A1  - Siebert, Andreas
A1  - Xu, Yaolin
A1  - Quan, Ting
A1  - Garcia-Diez, Raul
A1  - Bär, Marcus
A1  - Härtel, Paul
A1  - Abendroth, Thomas
A1  - Dörfler, Susanne
A1  - Kaskel, Stefan
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Large-Scale Synthesis of Nanostructured Carbon-Ti4O7 Hollow Particles as Efficient Sulfur Host Materials for Multilayer Lithium-Sulfur Pouch Cells
JF  - Batteries & supercaps
N2  - Applications of advanced cathode materials with well-designed chemical components and/or optimized nanostructures promoting the sulfur redox kinetics and suppressing the shuttle effect of polysulfides are highly valued. However, in the case of actual lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries under practical working conditions, one long-term obstacle still exists, which is mainly due to the difficulties in massive synthesis of such nanomaterials with low cost and ease of control on the nanostructure. Herein, we develop a facile synthesis of carbon coated Ti4O7 hollow nanoparticles (Ti4O7) using spherical polymer electrolyte brush as soft template, which is scalable via utilizing a minipilot reactor. The C Ti4O7 hollow nanoparticles provide strong chemical adsorption to polysulfides through the large polar surface and additional physical confinement by rich micro- & mesopores and have successfully been employed as an efficient sulfur host for multilayer pouch cells. Besides, the sluggish kinetics of the sulfur and lithium sulfide redox mechanism can be improved by the highly conductive Ti4O7 via catalyzation of the conversion of polysulfides. Consequently, the C-Ti4O7 based pouch cell endows a high discharge capacity of 1003 mAhg(-1) at 0.05 C, a high-capacity retention of 83.7% after 100 cycles at 0.1 C, and a high Coulombic efficiency of 97.5% at the 100th cycle. This work proposes an effective approach to transfer the synthesis of hollow Ti4O7 nanoparticles from lab- to large-scale production, paving the way to explore a wide range of advanced nanomaterials for multilayer Li-S pouch cells.
KW  - lithium-sulfur batteries
KW  - pouch cell
KW  - spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB)
KW  - Ti4O7
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/batt.202100398
SN  - 2566-6223
VL  - 5
IS  - 6
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lepre, Enrico
A1  - Heske, Julian
A1  - Nowakowski, Michal
A1  - Scoppola, Ernesto
A1  - Zizak, Ivo
A1  - Heil, Tobias
A1  - Kühne, Thomas D.
A1  - Antonietti, Markus
A1  - Lopez-Salas, Nieves
A1  - Albero, Josep
T1  - Ni-based electrocatalysts for unconventional CO2 reduction reaction to formic acid
JF  - Nano energy
N2  - Electrochemical reduction stands as an alternative to revalorize CO2. Among the different alternatives, Ni single atoms supported on carbonaceous materials are an appealing catalytic solution due to the low cost and versatility of the support and the optimal usage of Ni and its predicted selectivity and efficiency (ca. 100% towards CO). Herein, we have used noble carbonaceous support derived from cytosine to load Ni subnanometric sites. The large heteroatom content of the support allows the stabilization of up to 11 wt% of Ni without the formation of nanoparticles through a simple impregnation plus calcination approach, where nickel promotes the stabilization of C3NOx frameworks and the oxidative support promotes a high oxidation state of nickel. EXAFS analysis points at nickel single atoms or subnanometric clusters coordinated by oxygen in the material surface. Unlike the wellknown N-coordinated Ni single sites selectivity towards CO2 reduction, O-coordinated-Ni single sites (ca. 7 wt% of Ni) reduced CO2 to CO, but subnanometric clusters (11 wt% of Ni) foster the unprecedented formation of HCOOH with 27% Faradaic efficiency at - 1.4 V. Larger Ni amounts ended up on the formation of NiO nanoparticles and almost 100% selectivity towards hydrogen evolution.
KW  - CO 2 reduction reaction
KW  - Noble carbon
KW  - Ni-O4 electrocatalysts
KW  - Formic acid
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107191
SN  - 2211-2855
SN  - 2211-3282
VL  - 97
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pham, Duong Tung
A1  - Quan, Ting
A1  - Mei, Shilin
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Colloidal metal sulfide nanoparticles for high performance electrochemical energy storage systems
JF  - Current opinion in green and sustainable chemistry
N2  - Transition metal sulfides have emerged as excellent replacement candidates of traditional insertion electrode materials based on their conversion or alloying mechanisms, facilitating high specific capacity and rate ability. However, parasitic reactions such as massive volume change during the discharge/ charge processes, intermediate polysulfide dissolution, and passivating solid electrolyte interface formation have led to poor cyclability, hindering their feasibility and applicability in energy storage systems. Colloidal metal sulfide nanoparticles, a special class that integrates the intrinsic chemical properties of metal sulfides and their specified structural features, have fairly enlarged their contribution due to the synergistic effect. This review highlights the latest synthetic approaches based on colloidal process. Their corresponding electrochemical outcomes will also be discussed, which are thoroughly updated along with their insight scientific standpoints.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2022.100596
SN  - 2452-2236
VL  - 34
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pessanha, Tatiana
A1  - Paschoalino, Waldemir J.
A1  - Deroco, Patricia B.
A1  - Kogikoski Junior, Sergio
A1  - Moraes, Ana C. M. de
A1  - Carvalho Castro de Silva, Cecilia de
A1  - Kubota, Lauro T.
T1  - Interfacial capacitance of graphene oxide films electrodes
BT  - Fundamental studies on electrolytes interface aiming (bio)sensing applications
JF  - Electroanalysis : an internatinal journal devoted to electroanalysis, sensors and bioelectronic devices
N2  - The understanding of bidimensional materials dynamics and its electrolyte interface equilibrium, such as graphene oxide (GO), is critical for the development of a capacitive biosensing platform. The interfacial capacitance (C-i) of graphene-based materials may be tuned by experimental conditions such as pH optimization and cation size playing key roles at the enhancement of their capacitive properties allowing their application as novel capacitive biosensors. Here we reported a systematic study of C-i of multilayer GO films in different aqueous electrolytes employing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the application in a capacitive detection system. We demonstrated that the presence of ionizable oxygen-containing functional groups within multilayer GO film favors the interactions and the accumulation of cations in the structure of the electrodes enhancing the GO C-i in aqueous solutions, where at pH 7.0 (the best condition) the C-i was 340 mu F mg(-1) at -0.01 V vs Ag/AgCl. We also established that the hydrated cation radius affects the mobility and interaction with GO functional groups and it plays a critical role in the Ci, as demonstrated in the presence of different cations Na+=640 mu F mg(-1), Li+=575 mu F mg(-1) and TMA(+)=477 mu F mg(-1). As a proof-of-concept, the capacitive behaviour of GO was explored as biosensing platform for standard streptavidin-biotin systems. For this system, the C-i varied linearly with the log of the concentration of the targeting analyte in the range from 10 pg mL(-1) to 100 ng mL(-1), showing the promising applicability of capacitive GO based sensors for label-free biosensing.
KW  - Interfacial capacitance
KW  - Graphene oxide
KW  - Functional groups
KW  - Electrochemical impedance
KW  - Graphene derivates
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.202100220
SN  - 1521-4109
VL  - 34
IS  - 4
SP  - 692
EP  - 700
PB  - Wiley-VCH
CY  - Weinheim
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wang, Peixi
A1  - Geiger, Christina
A1  - Kreuzer, Lucas
A1  - Widmann, Tobias
A1  - Reitenbach, Julija
A1  - Liang, Suzhe
A1  - Cubitt, Robert
A1  - Henschel, Cristiane
A1  - Laschewsky, André
A1  - Papadakis, Christine M.
A1  - Müller-Buschbaum, Peter
T1  - Poly(sulfobetaine)-based diblock copolymer thin films in water/acetone atmosphere: modulation of water hydration and co-nonsolvency-triggered film contraction
JF  - Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
N2  - The water swelling and subsequent solvent exchange including co-nonsolvency behavior of thin films of a doubly thermo-responsive diblock copolymer (DBC) are studied viaspectral reflectance, time-of-flight neutron reflectometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. 
The DBC consists of a thermo-responsive zwitterionic (poly(4-((3-methacrylamidopropyl) dimethylammonio) butane-1-sulfonate)) (PSBP) block, featuring an upper critical solution temperature transition in aqueous media but being insoluble in acetone, and a nonionic poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (PNIPMAM) block, featuring a lower critical solution temperature transition in water, while being soluble in acetone. 
Homogeneous DBC films of 50-100 nm thickness are first swollen in saturated water vapor (H2OorD2O), before they are subjected to a contraction process by exposure to mixed saturated water/acetone vapor (H2OorD2O/acetone-d6 = 9:1 v/v).
The affinity of the DBC film toward H2O is stronger than for D2O, as inferred from the higher film thickness in the swollen state and the higher absorbed water content, thus revealing a pronounced isotope sensitivity. 
During the co-solvent-induced switching by mixed water/acetone vapor, a two-step film contraction is observed, which is attributed to the delayed expulsion of water molecules and uptake of acetone molecules. 
The swelling kinetics are compared for both mixed vapors (H2O/acetone-d6 and D2O/acetone-d6) and with those of the related homopolymer films. 
Moreover, the concomitant variations of the local environment around the hydrophilic groups located in the PSBP and PNIPMAM blocks are followed. 
The first contraction step turns out to be dominated by the behavior of the PSBP block, where as the second one is dominated by the PNIPMAM block. 
The unusual swelling and contraction behavior of the latter block is attributed to its co-nonsolvency behavior. 
Furthermore, we observe cooperative hydration effects in the DBC films, that is, both polymer blocks influence each other's solvation behavior.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00451
SN  - 0743-7463
SN  - 1520-5827
VL  - 38
IS  - 22
SP  - 6934
EP  - 6948
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kuntze, Kim
A1  - Viljakka, Jani
A1  - Titov, Evgenii
A1  - Ahmed, Zafar
A1  - Kalenius, Elina
A1  - Saalfrank, Peter
A1  - Priimagi, Arri
T1  - Towards low-energy-light-driven bistable photoswitches
BT  - ortho-fluoroaminoazobenzenes
JF  - Photochemical & photobiological sciences / European Society for Photobiology
N2  - Thermally stable photoswitches that are driven with low-energy light are rare, yet crucial for extending the applicability of photoresponsive molecules and materials towards, e.g., living systems. Combined ortho-fluorination and -amination couples high visible light absorptivity of o-aminoazobenzenes with the extraordinary bistability of o-fluoroazobenzenes. Herein, we report a library of easily accessible o-aminofluoroazobenzenes and establish structure-property relationships regarding spectral qualities, visible light isomerization efficiency and thermal stability of the cis-isomer with respect to the degree of o-substitution and choice of amino substituent. We rationalize the experimental results with quantum chemical calculations, revealing the nature of low-lying excited states and providing insight into thermal isomerization. The synthesized azobenzenes absorb at up to 600 nm and their thermal cis-lifetimes range from milliseconds to months. The most unique example can be driven from trans to cis with any wavelength from UV up to 595 nm, while still exhibiting a thermal cis-lifetime of 81 days. <br /> [GRAPHICS] <br /> .
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00145-4
SN  - 1474-905X
SN  - 1474-9092
VL  - 21
IS  - 2
SP  - 159
EP  - 173
PB  - Springer
CY  - Heidelberg
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Xie, Dongjiu
A1  - Xu, Yaolin
A1  - Wang, Yonglei
A1  - Pan, Xuefeng
A1  - Härk, Eneli
A1  - Kochovski, Zdravko
A1  - Eljarrat, Alberto
A1  - Müller, Johannes
A1  - Koch, Christoph T.
A1  - Yuan, Jiayin
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Poly(ionic liquid) nanovesicle-templated carbon nanocapsules functionalized with uniform iron nitride nanoparticles as catalytic sulfur host for Li-S batteries
JF  - ACS nano
N2  - Poly(ionic liquid)s (PIL) are common precursors for heteroatom-doped carbon materials. Despite a relatively higher carbonization yield, the PIL-to-carbon conversion process faces challenges in preserving morphological and structural motifs on the nanoscale. Assisted by a thin polydopamine coating route and ion exchange, imidazoliumbased PIL nanovesicles were successfully applied in morphology-maintaining carbonization to prepare carbon composite nanocapsules. Extending this strategy further to their composites, we demonstrate the synthesis of carbon composite nanocapsules functionalized with iron nitride nanoparticles of an ultrafine, uniform size of 3-5 nm (termed "FexN@C "). Due to its unique nanostructure, the sulfur-loaded FexN@C electrode was tested to efficiently mitigate the notorious shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in Li-S batteries. The cavity of the carbon nanocapsules was spotted to better the loading content of sulfur. The well-dispersed iron nitride nanoparticles effectively catalyze the conversion of LiPSs to Li2S, owing to their high electronic conductivity and strong binding power to LiPSs. Benefiting from this well-crafted composite nanostructure, the constructed FexN@C/S cathode demonstrated a fairly high discharge capacity of 1085 mAh g(-1) at 0.5 C initially, and a remaining value of 930 mAh g(-1 )after 200 cycles. In addition, it exhibits an excellent rate capability with a high initial discharge capacity of 889.8 mAh g(-1) at 2 C. This facile PIL-to-nanocarbon synthetic approach is applicable for the exquisite design of complex hybrid carbon nanostructures with potential use in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.
KW  - poly(ionic liquid)s
KW  - nanovesicles
KW  - sulfur host
KW  - iron nitride
KW  - Li-S
KW  - batteries
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c01992
SN  - 1936-0851
SN  - 1936-086X
VL  - 16
IS  - 7
SP  - 10554
EP  - 10565
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pan, Xuefeng
A1  - Sarhan, Radwan Mohamed
A1  - Kochovski, Zdravko
A1  - Chen, Guosong
A1  - Taubert, Andreas
A1  - Mei, Shilin
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Template synthesis of dual-functional porous MoS2 nanoparticles with photothermal conversion and catalytic properties
JF  - Nanoscale
N2  - Advanced catalysis triggered by photothermal conversion effects has aroused increasing interest due to its huge potential in environmental purification. 
In this work, we developed a novel approach to the fast degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-Nip) using porous MoS2 nanoparticles as catalysts, which integrate the intrinsic catalytic property of MoS2 with its photothermal conversion capability. 
Using assembled polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymers as soft templates, various MoS 2 particles were prepared, which exhibited tailored morphologies (e.g., pomegranate-like, hollow, and open porous structures). 
The photothermal conversion performance of these featured particles was compared under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. 
Intriguingly, when these porous MoS2 particles were further employed as catalysts for the reduction of 4-Nip, the reaction rate constant was increased by a factor of 1.5 under NIR illumination. 
We attribute this catalytic enhancement to the open porous architecture and light-to-heat conversion performance of the MoS2 particles. This contribution offers new opportunities for efficient photothermal-assisted catalysis.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2nr01040b
SN  - 2040-3372
VL  - 14
IS  - 18
SP  - 6888
EP  - 6901
PB  - RSC Publ. (Royal Society of Chemistry)
CY  - Cambridge
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zhao, Yuhang
A1  - Sarhan, Radwan Mohamed
A1  - Eljarrat, Alberto
A1  - Kochovski, Zdravko
A1  - Koch, Christoph
A1  - Schmidt, Bernd
A1  - Koopman, Wouter-Willem Adriaan
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Surface-functionalized Au-Pd nanorods with enhanced photothermal conversion and catalytic performance
JF  - ACS applied materials & interfaces
N2  - Bimetallic nanostructures comprising plasmonic and catalytic components have recently emerged as a promising approach to generate a new type of photo-enhanced nanoreactors. Most designs however concentrate on plasmon-induced charge separation, leaving photo-generated heat as a side product. 
This work presents a photoreactor based on Au-Pd nanorods with an optimized photothermal conversion, which aims to effectively utilize the photo-generated heat to increase the rate of Pd-catalyzed reactions. Dumbbell-shaped Au nanorods were fabricated via a seed-mediated growth method using binary surfactants. Pd clusters were selectively grown at the tips of the Au nanorods, using the zeta potential as a new synthetic parameter to indicate the surfactant remaining on the nanorod surface. 
The photothermal conversion of the Au-Pd nanorods was improved with a thin layer of polydopamine (PDA) or TiO2. 
As a result, a 60% higher temperature increment of the dispersion compared to that for bare Au rods at the same light intensity and particle density could be achieved. 
The catalytic performance of the coated particles was then tested using the reduction of 4-nitrophenol as the model reaction. Under light, the PDA-coated Au-Pd nanorods exhibited an improved catalytic activity, increasing the reaction rate by a factor 3. 
An analysis of the activation energy confirmed the photoheating effect to be the dominant mechanism accelerating the reaction. Thus, the increased photothermal heating is responsible for the reaction acceleration. 
Interestingly, the same analysis shows a roughly 10% higher reaction rate for particles under illumination compared to under dark heating, possibly implying a crucial role of localized heat gradients at the particle surface. 
Finally, the coating thickness was identified as an essential parameter determining the photothermal conversion efficiency and the reaction acceleration.
KW  - Au-Pd nanorods
KW  - PDA
KW  - photothermal conversion
KW  - surface plasmon
KW  - 4-nitrophenol
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c00221
SN  - 1944-8244
SN  - 1944-8252
VL  - 14
IS  - 15
SP  - 17259
EP  - 17272
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington, DC
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Floyd, Thomas G.
A1  - Song, Ji-Inn
A1  - Hapeshi, Alexia
A1  - Laroque, Sophie
A1  - Hartlieb, Matthias
A1  - Perrier, Sebastien
T1  - Bottlebrush copolymers for gene delivery: influence of architecture, charge density, and backbone length on transfection efficiency
JF  - Journal of materials chemistry : B, materials for biology and medicine
N2  - The influence of polymer architecture of polycations on their ability to transfect mammalian cells is probed. Polymer bottle brushes with grafts made from partially hydrolysed poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) are used while varying the length of the polymer backbone as well as the degree of hydrolysis (cationic charge content). Polyplex formation is investigated via gel electrophoresis, dye-displacement and dynamic light scattering. Bottle brushes show a superior ability to complex pDNA when compared to linear copolymers. Also, nucleic acid release was found to be improved by a graft architecture. Polyplexes based on bottle brush copolymers showed an elongated shape in transmission electron microscopy images. The cytotoxicity against mammalian cells is drastically reduced when a graft architecture is used instead of linear copolymers. Moreover, the best-performing bottle brush copolymer showed a transfection ability comparable with that of linear poly(ethylenimine), the gold standard of polymeric transfection agents, which is used as positive control. In combination with their markedly lowered cytotoxicity, cationic bottle brush copolymers are therefore shown to be a highly promising class of gene delivery vectors.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tb00490a
SN  - 2050-750X
SN  - 2050-7518
VL  - 10
IS  - 19
SP  - 3696
EP  - 3704
PB  - Royal Society of Chemistry
CY  - London [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Abbasi, Ali
A1  - Xu, Yaolin
A1  - Khezri, Ramin
A1  - Etesami, Mohammad
A1  - Lin, C.
A1  - Kheawhom, Soorathep
A1  - Lu, Yan
T1  - Advances in characteristics improvement of polymeric membranes/separators for zinc-air batteries
JF  - Materials Today Sustainability
N2  - Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are gaining popularity for a wide range of applications due to their high energy density, excellent safety, and environmental friendliness. A membrane/separator is a critical component of ZABs, with substantial implications for battery performance and stability, particularly in the case of a battery in solid state format, which has captured increased attention in recent years. In this review, recent advances as well as insight into the architecture of polymeric membrane/separators for ZABs including porous polymer separators (PPSs), gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) and anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are discussed. The paper puts forward strategies to enhance stability, ionic conductivity, ionic selectivity, electrolyte storage capacity and mechanical properties for each type of polymeric membrane. In addition, the remaining major obstacles as well as the most potential avenues for future research are examined in detail.
KW  - Ionic selectivity
KW  - Ionic conductivity
KW  - Gel polymer
KW  - Ion exchange
KW  - Porous
KW  - polymer
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtsust.2022.100126
SN  - 2589-2347
VL  - 18
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mayer, Dennis
A1  - Picconi, David
A1  - Robinson, Matthew S.
A1  - Gühr, Markus
T1  - Experimental and theoretical gas-phase absorption spectra of thionated uracils
JF  - Chemical physics : a journal devoted to experimental and theoretical research involving problems of both a chemical and physical nature
N2  - We present a comparative study of the gas-phase UV spectra of uracil and its thionated counterparts (2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil and 2,4-dithiouracil), closely supported by time-dependent density functional theory calculations to assign the transitions observed. We systematically discuss pure gas-phase spectra for the (thio)uracils in the range of 200-400 nm (similar to 3.2-6.4 eV), and examine the spectra of all four species with a single theoretical approach. We note that specific vibrational modelling is needed to accurately determine the spectra across the examined wavelength range, and systematically model the transitions that appear at wavelengths shorter than 250 nm. Additionally, we find in the cases of 2-thiouracil and 2,4-dithiouracil, that the gas-phase spectra deviate significantly from some previously published solution-phase spectra, especially those collected in basic environments.
KW  - Thiouracil
KW  - Uracil
KW  - UV-VIS Spectroscopy
KW  - Excited-state calculations;
KW  - TD-DFT
KW  - Gas phase
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2022.111500
SN  - 0301-0104
VL  - 558
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ilic, Ivan
A1  - Schutjajew, Konstantin
A1  - Zhang, Wuyong
A1  - Oschatz, Martin
T1  - Changes of porosity of hard carbons during mechanical treatment and the relevance for sodium-ion anodes
JF  - Carbon : an international journal sponsored by the American Carbon Society
N2  - Lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized battery technology. However, the scarcity of lithium in nature is driving the search for alternatives. For that reason, sodium-ion batteries have attracted increasing attention in recent years. The main obstacle to their development is the anode as, unlike for lithium-ion batteries, graphite cannot be used due to the inability to form stoichiometrically useful intercalation compounds with sodium. A promising candidate for sodium storage is hard carbon a form of nongraphitisable carbon, that can be synthesized from various precursor materials. Processing of hard carbons is often done by using mechanochemical treatments. Although it is generally accepted and often observed that they can influence the porosity of hard carbons, their effect on battery performance not well understood. Here, the changes in porosity occurring during ball milling are elucidated and related to the properties of hard carbons in sodium storage. Analysis by combined gas physisorption and small angle X-ray scattering shows that porosity changes during ball milling with a significant increase of the open porosity, unsuitable for reversible sodium storage, and decrease of the closed porosity, suitable for reversible sodium storage. While pristine hard carbon can store 58.5 mAh g(-1) in the closed pores, upon 5 h of mechanical treatment in a ball mill it can only store 35.5 mAh g(-1). The obtained results are furthermore pointing towards the disputed "intercalation-adsorption" mechanism.
KW  - Hard carbons
KW  - Sodium-ion batteries
KW  - Anodes
KW  - Microporosity
KW  - Ball milling
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2021.09.063
SN  - 0008-6223
SN  - 1873-3891
VL  - 186
SP  - 55
EP  - 63
PB  - Elsevier Science
CY  - Amsterdam [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gupta, Banshi D.
A1  - Pathak, Anisha
A1  - Shrivastav, Anand
T1  - Optical Biomedical Diagnostics Using Lab-on-Fiber Technology
BT  - a review
JF  - Photonics : open access journal
N2  - Point-of-care and in-vivo bio-diagnostic tools are the current need for the present critical scenarios in the healthcare industry. The past few decades have seen a surge in research activities related to solving the challenges associated with precise on-site bio-sensing. Cutting-edge fiber optic technology enables the interaction of light with functionalized fiber surfaces at remote locations to develop a novel, miniaturized and cost-effective lab on fiber technology for bio-sensing applications. The recent remarkable developments in the field of nanotechnology provide innumerable functionalization methodologies to develop selective bio-recognition elements for label free biosensors. These exceptional methods may be easily integrated with fiber surfaces to provide highly selective light-matter interaction depending on various transduction mechanisms. In the present review, an overview of optical fiber-based biosensors has been provided with focus on physical principles used, along with the functionalization protocols for the detection of various biological analytes to diagnose the disease. The design and performance of these biosensors in terms of operating range, selectivity, response time and limit of detection have been discussed. In the concluding remarks, the challenges associated with these biosensors and the improvement required to develop handheld devices to enable direct target detection have been highlighted.
KW  - fiber optic sensors
KW  - synthesis
KW  - interferometry
KW  - fluorescence
KW  - SERS
KW  - SPR
KW  - immunosensors
KW  - enzymatic sensors
KW  - molecular imprinted polymers
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9020086
SN  - 2304-6732
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Yue, Yanhua
A1  - Melani, Giacomo
A1  - Kirsch, Harald
A1  - Paarmann, Alexander
A1  - Saalfrank, Peter
A1  - Campen, Richard Kramer
A1  - Tong, Yujin
T1  - Structure and Reactivity of a-Al2O3(0001) Surfaces: How Do Al-I and Gibbsite-like Terminations Interconvert?
JF  - The journal of physical chemistry / publ. weekly by the American Chemical Society. C, Energy, materials, and catalysis
N2  - The alpha-Al2O3(0001) surface has been extensively studied because of its significance in both fundamental research and application. Prior work suggests that in ultra-high-vacuum (UHV), in the absence of water, the so-called Al-I termination is thermodynamically favored, while in ambient, in contact with liquid water, a Gibbsite-like layer is created. While the view of the alpha- Al2O3(0001)/H2O(l) interface appears relatively clear in theory, experimental characterization of this system has resulted in estimates of surface acidity, i.e., isoelectric points, that differ by 4 pH units and surface structure that in some reports has non-hydrogen-bonded surface aluminol (Al-OH) groups and in others does not. In this study, we employed vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) and density functional theory (DFT) simulation to study the surface phonon modes of the differently terminated alpha-Al2O3(0001) surfaces in both UHV and ambient. We find that, on either water dosing of the Al-I in UHV or heat-induced dehydroxylation of the Gibbsite-like in ambient, the surfaces do not interconvert. This observation offers a new explanation for disagreements in prior work on the alpha-Al2O3(0001)/liquid water interface -different preparation methods may create surfaces that do not interconvert-and shows that the surface phonon spectral response offers a novel probe of interfacial hydrogen bonding structure.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c03743
SN  - 1932-7447
SN  - 1932-7455
VL  - 126
IS  - 31
SP  - 13467
EP  - 13476
PB  - American Chemical Society
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tarazona Lizcano, Natalia Andrea
A1  - Machatschek, Rainhard Gabriel
A1  - Balcucho, Jennifer
A1  - Castro-Mayorga, Jinneth Lorena
A1  - Saldarriaga, Juan Francisco
A1  - Lendlein, Andreas
T1  - Opportunities and challenges for integrating the development of sustainable polymer materials within an international circular (bio)economy concept
JF  - MRS energy & sustainability : science & technology & socio-economics & policy
N2  - The production and consumption of commodity polymers have been an indispensable part of the development of our modern society. Owing to their adjustable properties and variety of functions, polymer-based materials will continue playing important roles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)s, defined by the United Nations, in key areas such as healthcare, transport, food preservation, construction, electronics, and water management. Considering the serious environmental crisis, generated by increasing consumption of plastics, leading-edge polymers need to incorporate two types of functions: Those that directly arise from the demands of the application (e.g. selective gas and liquid permeation, actuation or charge transport) and those that enable minimization of environmental harm, e.g., through prolongation of the functional lifetime, minimization of material usage, or through predictable disintegration into non-toxic fragments. Here, we give examples of how the incorporation of a thoughtful combination of properties/functions can enhance the sustainability of plastics ranging from material design to waste management. We focus on tools to measure and reduce the negative impacts of plastics on the environment throughout their life cycle, the use of renewable sources for their synthesis, the design of biodegradable and/or recyclable materials, and the use of biotechnological strategies for enzymatic recycling of plastics that fits into a circular bioeconomy. Finally, we discuss future applications for sustainable plastics with the aim to achieve the SDGs through international cooperation. <br /> Leading-edge polymer-based materials for consumer and advanced applications are necessary to achieve sustainable development at a global scale. It is essential to understand how sustainability can be incorporated in these materials via green chemistry, the integration of bio-based building blocks from biorefineries, circular bioeconomy strategies, and combined smart and functional capabilities.
KW  - biomaterial
KW  - degradable
KW  - functional
KW  - life cycle assessment
KW  - renewable
KW  - sustainability
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1557/s43581-021-00015-7
SN  - 2329-2229
SN  - 2329-2237
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
SP  - 28
EP  - 34
PB  - Springer Nature
CY  - London
ER  -