Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are protein antigens with normal expression restricted to adult testicular germ cells, and yet are aberrantly activated and expressed in a proportion of various types of ...human cancer. At least a subset of this group of antigens has been found to elicit spontaneous humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses in cancer patients, raising the possibility that these antigens could be cancer vaccine targets. More than 100 CT antigen genes have been reported in the literature, with approximately 30 being members of multigene families on the X chromosome, so‐called CT‐X genes. Most CT‐X genes are expressed at the spermatogonia stage of spermatogenesis, and their functions are mostly unknown. In cancer, the frequency of CT antigen expression is highly variable among different tumor types, but is more often expressed in high‐grade late‐stage cases in general. Cancer vaccine trials based on CT antigens MAGE‐A3 and NY‐ESO‐1 are currently ongoing, and these antigens may also play a role in antigen‐specific adoptive T‐cell transfer and in the immunomodulation approach of cancer therapy. (Cancer Sci 2009)
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of crystalline porous polymers with highly tuneable structures and functionalities. COFs have been proposed as ideal materials for ...applications in the energy-intensive field of molecular separation due to their notable intrinsic features such as low density, exceptional stability, high surface area, and readily adjustable pore size and chemical environment. This review attempts to highlight the key advancements made in the synthesis of COFs for diverse separation applications such as water treatment or the separation of gas mixtures and organic molecules, including chiral and isomeric compounds. Methods proposed for the fabrication of COF-based columns and continuous membranes for practical applications are also discussed in detail. Finally, a perspective regarding the remaining challenges and future directions for COF research in the field of separation has also been presented.
This review article comprehensively summarizes the recent progress in the development of covalent organic framework materials for separation applications.
The development of Na secondary batteries that exhibit both sustainability and high energy density as potential successors to lithium-ion batteries for certain large-scale applications has received ...considerable research interest in recent years. However, although the importance of the electrolyte in such systems has long been largely overlooked, it is becoming increasingly recognized as a key consideration (along with the electrode material) for the non-incremental improvement of Na secondary batteries. Among the candidate electrolytes in this context, ionic liquids (ILs), which are liquids consisting entirely of ions, offer many unique advantages. In this review, the fundamental properties of ILs and the design strategies employed to facilitate their application in batteries are introduced. Comprehensive summaries of the recent advances in the development of positive and negative electrode materials for Na secondary batteries are then presented. Most of the IL-based systems discussed exhibit remarkably enhanced performances compared to those of batteries based on conventional electrolytes. Furthermore, reversible capacity, rate capability, recyclability, and coulombic efficiency are synergistically enhanced by combining IL electrolytes and elevated temperature conditions. Finally, the practical prospects and future challenges associated with the development of electrode materials fabricated from cheap, abundant elements; the efficient utilisation of Na metal as a negative electrode material; and considerations related to the solid-electrolyte interphase are also discussed.
This review summarizes the use of ionic liquids in Na secondary batteries and discusses their electrochemical performance with various electrode materials.
We report the strong catalyst–support interaction in WC‐supported RuO2 nanoparticles (RuO2‐WC NPs) anchored on carbon nanosheets with low loading of Ru (4.11 wt.%), which significantly promotes the ...oxygen evolution reaction activity with a η10 of 347 mV and a mass activity of 1430 A gRu−1, eight‐fold higher than that of commercial RuO2 (176 A gRu−1). Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the strong catalyst–support interaction between RuO2 and the WC support could optimize the surrounding electronic structure of Ru sites to reduce the reaction barrier. Considering the likewise excellent catalytic ability for hydrogen production, an acidic overall water splitting (OWS) electrolyzer with a good stability constructed by bifunctional RuO2‐WC NPs only requires a cell voltage of 1.66 V to afford 10 mA cm−2. The unique 0D/2D nanoarchitectures rationally combining a WC support with precious metal oxides provides a promising strategy to tradeoff the high catalytic activity and low cost for acidic OWS applications.
Unique 0D/2D WC‐supported RuO2 nanoparticles anchored on carbon nanosheets with low loading of Ru (4.11 wt.%) were constructed as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, applying a cell voltage of 1.66 V to realize acidic overall water splitting (OWS) with excellent long‐term stability.
Aqueous Zn‐based batteries are attracting extensive interest because of their economic feasibility and potentially high energy density. However, poor rechargeability of Zn anode in conventional ...electrolytes resulting from dendrite formation and self‐corrosion hinders their practical implementation. Herein, a Zn molten hydrate composed of inorganic Zn salt and water is demonstrated as an advantageous electrolyte for solving these issues. In this electrolyte, dendrite‐free Zn deposition/dissolution reaction with a high Coulombic efficiency (≈99%) as well as long‐term stability, free from CO2 poisoning are realized. The resultant Zn–air cell exhibits a reversible capacity of 1000 mAh g(catalyst)−1 over 100 cycles at 30 °C. Combined with the intrinsic safety associated with aqueous chemistry and cost benefit of the raw material, the present Zn–air battery makes a strong candidate for large‐scale energy storage.
Zinc molten hydrate electrolyte is demonstrated to be an advantageous electrolyte for Zn‐based battery applications. The high Zn concentration and reduced water activity not only promote dendrite‐free Zn plating/stripping at a high Coulombic efficiency but also effectively suppress self‐corrosion of Zn, enabling Zn–air batteries a long‐term cyclability.
A series of new D2h symmetric porphyrins (MDA4, MTA4, and MDA8) with donor‐π‐donor structures have been synthesized as the hole‐transporting materials for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The novel ...porphyrin molecules feature a D2h symmetrically substituted ZnII porphyrin core and two kinds of donor systems (diarylamine (DAA) and triarylamine (TAA)), which can regulate energy level, increase thermal stability, solubility, and hydrophobicity via long alkoxyl chains. PSC devices based on MDA4 as the HTM showed impressive power‐conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.67 % under AM1.5G solar illumination. Notably, the device was sent for certification, and a PCE of 22.19 % was reported, representing the highest PCE from porphyrin‐based HTMs. Furthermore, the MDA4‐based PSCs showed excellent thermal stability under 60 °C and RH 60 % and preserved 88 % of initial performance after 360 hours. The strategy opens a new avenue for developing efficient and stable porphyrin HTMs for PSCs.
New D2h symmetric porphyrin hole‐transporting materials were synthesized for high‐efficiency perovskite solar cells. The best device based on MDA4 with two diphenylamino groups directly attached to the porphyrin core exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 22.67 % (certified value of 22.19 %) with exceptional thermal stability. The novel strategy paves the way for efficient and stable PSCs with porphyrin HTMs.
A one‐step core/shell electrospinning technique is exploited to fabricate uniform luminous perovskite‐based nanofibers, wherein the perovskite and the polymer are respectively employed in the core ...and the outer shell. Such a coaxial electrospinning technique enables the in situ formation of perovskite nanocrystals, exempting the needs of presynthesis of perovskite quantum dots or post‐treatments. It is demonstrated that not only the luminous electrospun nanofibers can possess color‐tunability by simply tuning the perovskite composition, but also the grain size of the formed perovskite nanocrystals is largely affected by the perovskite precursor stoichiometry and the polymer solution concentration. Consequently, the optimized perovskite electrospun nanofiber yields a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 30.9%, significantly surpassing the value of its thin‐film counterpart. Moreover, owing to the hydrophobic characteristic of shell polymer, the prepared perovskite nanofiber is endowed with a high resistance to air and water. Its photoluminescence intensity remains constant while stored under ambient environment with a relative humidity of 85% over a month and retains intensity higher than 50% of its initial intensity while immersed in water for 48 h. More intriguingly, a white light‐emitting perovskite‐based nanofiber is successfully fabricated by pairing the orange light‐emitting compositional perovskite with a blue light‐emitting conjugated polymer.
Uniform luminous perovskite nanofibers prepared by a one‐step core/shell electrospinning technique are demonstrated herein. The optimized perovskite electrospun nanofiber yields a high photoluminescence quantum yield with improved stability. Finally, a white light‐emitting perovskite‐based nanofiber is also successfully fabricated by pairing the orange light‐emitting compositional perovskite with a blue light‐emitting conjugated polymer.
Between 1700 and 1850, there were an estimated 125,000 wooden boats in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, with a load capacity of more than two million tons. The transport capacity and the wide ...distribution of these boats demonstrate that the relationship between multitiered markets was growing closer, and China’s national market was expanding more widely. In this period, direct supervision from government was so difficult to implement effectively that the task of ensuring the safety and order of water transportation fell to the commercial agencies, such as boat brokers 船行 and quay controllers 埠头. The wooden-boat shipping business in the middle Yangtze River during the Qing dynasty was not in a totally disordered state. The spontaneously formed boatmen gangs 船帮 and boatmen lineages 船民家族 played an active and influential role in a specific area of local river transportation in the middle Yangtze River, illustrating that local arbitration and mediation mechanisms were formed to deal with socioeconomic conflicts among shipowners, merchants, local communities, and local governments in the regional commercial transportation network. However, it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that a powerful shipping institution or merchant’s organization that could effectively regulate the water transportation emerged, nor were there socioeconomic mechanisms set up to deal with the many kinds of shipping disputes that existed in the reaches of the middle Yangtze.
The advent of solid-state electrolytes has unearthed a new paradigm of next-generation batteries endowed with improved electrochemical properties and exceptional safety. Amongst them, Li-stuffed ...garnet type oxides, sulfides, and NASICON type solid-state electrolytes have emerged with fascinating ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and high safety standards, besides creating an avenue for using metal anodes to maximize energy density. However, the actual performance of solid-state electrolytes is heavily encumbered by unexpected metal dendrite formation and typically manifests high resistances between the metal electrodes/solid-state electrolytes or grain boundaries, thereby restricting their practical applications. Recent studies have reported several novel approaches, such as modifying solid-state electrolytes using ionic liquids to form the so-called "pseudo-solid-state electrolytes". This class of electrolytes encompassing materials such as ionogel using ionic liquids and ionic plastic crystals has been gaining rekindled interest for their unique properties that promise great strides in battery performance and diversified utility. This minireview paper summarizes recent progress in pseudo-solid-state electrolytes utilizing ionic liquids, highlighting their fundamental properties while elaborating expedient design strategies. The realistic prospects and future challenges associated with developing pseudo-solid-state electrolyte materials present an insight into their properties to inspire far-reaching exploration into their material characteristics and functionalities.
This review summarises the properties and electrochemical performance of pseudo-solid-state electrolytes prepared using ionic liquids, along with insights into design strategies to improve their application in various secondary batteries.
Polymeric elastomers play an increasingly important role in the development of stretchable electronics. A highly demanded elastic matrix is preferred to own not only excellent mechanical properties, ...but also additional features like high toughness and fast self‐healing. Here, a polyurethane (DA‐PU) is synthesized with donor and acceptor groups alternately distributed along the main chain to achieve both intra‐chain and inter‐chain donor‐acceptor self‐assembly, which endow the polyurethane with toughness, self‐healing, and, more interestingly, thermal repair, like human muscle. In detail, DA‐PU exhibits an amazing mechanical performance with elongation at break of 1900% and toughness of 175.9 MJ m−3. Moreover, it shows remarkable anti‐fatigue and anti‐stress relaxation properties as manifested by cyclic tensile and stress relaxation tests, respectively. Even in case of large strain deformation or long‐time stretch, it can almost completely restore to original length by thermal repair at 60 °C in 60 s. The self‐healing speed of DA‐PU is gradually enhanced with the increasing temperature, and can be 1.0–6.15 µm min−1 from 60 to 80 °C. At last, a stretchable and self‐healable capacitive sensor is constructed and evaluated to prove that DA‐PU matrix can ensure the stability of electronics even after critical deformation and cut off.
A highly desirable elastic matrix is preferred to own not only excellent mechanical properties, but also additional features high toughness and fast self‐healing. Here, a polyurethane is synthesized with donor and acceptor groups alternately distributed along the main chain to achieve both intra‐chain and inter‐chain donor‐acceptor self‐assembly, which endow the polyurethane with toughness, self‐healing, and thermal repair, like muscle.