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Unconventional nanoporous antenna-like heterostructure arrays, inspired by insect tentacles, are developed for efficient interfacial sensing of biomolecules and cellular activities. The obtained nanoporous cubes (head segments) serve as a robust substrate for site-selective cell adhesion and culture, allowing for sensitive detection of biomolecules. Meanwhile, the single-crystalline nanowires (arm segment) provide efficient charge transport toward the electrode substrate. The inspired hetero-biointerfaces exhibit substantial enhanced electrocatalytic activity and sensitivity for biomolecules.
A novel two-step approach is presented for the fabrication of self-assembled monolayers of platinum nanocrystals (SAM-Pt) uniformly deposited on a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) surface to serve as a counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A true self-assembled Pt nanocrystalline monolayer with a mean particle size of ∼3 nm at facet {111} was unambiguously observed in the high-resolution TEM images. We emphasize that the SAM-Pt films feature a clean surface, uniform morphology, narrow size distribution, small Pt loading and great catalytic activity; the present approach is hence not only suitable for DSSCs but is also promising for many other energy-related applications that require platinum as an efficient catalyst to expedite the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
Large-area and high-crystalline photoreduced graphene oxide films are fabricated by the combination of solution-processable strategy and subsequently room temperature photoreduction directly on flexible conductive substrates.
Spinel Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticle has been demonstrated as an Mg-ion insertion anode material with ‘zero-strain’ characteristics (only ∼0.8% volume change) during Mg-ion insertion/extraction cycles, and a remarkable capacity retention capability of >95% after 500 cycles.
Antimicrobial-containing nanocomposite coatings can respond to bacterial challenge through multiple mechanisms and show unprecedented antibacterial efficacy. Coatings composed of similarly charged montmorillonite (MMT) clay nanoplatelets and polyacrylic acid (PAA) can take up and sequester large amounts of antibiotics under normal physiologic conditions, preventing the development of antibiotic resistance. When challenged with media-acidifying bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis or Escherichia coli), they release PAA-bound gentamicin and increase their water uptake, while retaining MMT-bound antibiotics. These multiple bacteria-triggered responses, together with biocompatibility to tissue cells, make these coatings promising candidates for protecting biomaterial implants and devices against bacterial colonization.
