Display omitted
•Tannic acid was used as precursor to modify lanthanum oxide based nanoadsorbent.•La/C nanorods doped membrane with dual functions was synthesized.•Simultaneous removal of suspended ...solids and phosphate was achieved by the membrane.•Phosphorus in practical diluted wastewaters can be readily reduced to <0.1 mg/L.
Finding effective ways to control eutrophication issue and achieve phosphate recycling remains a long-term challenge. Here, a composite membrane with dual functions of adsorption and filtration was proposed to remove phosphorus from diluted wastewaters. Firstly, a new adsorption material, lanthanum oxide-doped carbon material (La/C), was synthesized to selectively remove phosphorus ions from aqueous solution. Batch-experiment results revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity of La/C reached 48.8 mg-P/g at pH 7.0 with simulated phosphorus solution, which was superior to that of La compounds without C doping (37.4 mg-P/g). Combining with a serial of characterizations, ligand exchange involved multilayer adsorption was the main mechanism for the phosphorus removal. With a moderate doping amount of La/C into casting solution, the composite porous membrane was fabricated and applied to remove the particles and phosphorus from the diluted wastewaters such as secondary effluent and surface waters. Carbon component in La/C material was found to be beneficial for the pores development and hydrophilicity improvement of membrane, which resulted in a higher water flux and better anti-fouling performance. This work may provide the valuable information for the feasible application of phosphorus adsorption material and enlighten the technical development for the low phosphorus polluted wastewater remediation.
At present, the commercial application of Li─S cells is impeded by many challenging issues, especially the shuttle effect of dissolved lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and severe dendritic growth. ...Applying a sole kind of host material owing dual functions, including inhibiting LiPSs dissolution/shuttling andguiding Li plating/stripping, has recently become a prospective solution. Currently, a systematic review of advanced dual‐functional electrodes aiming at the cathode and anode side simultaneously is scarce. Herein, this review points at such dual‐functional electrodes and summarizes the recent progress from the select host materials to designs. First, the rough challenges and ordinary solutions on the single side of the Li─S cell are illustrated. Then, the potentials of different materials to dual‐functional electrodes are discussed, such as carbon‐based materials, single‐atom catalysts (SACs), transition metal compounds (TMCs), heterostructure hybrids (HHs), and polymers. After that, the design methods for dual‐functional electrodes with high performance are explored and summarized by slurry‐coating and self‐supporting (electrospinning (ES), 3D printing (3DP), solvent method (SM), chemistry vapor deposition (CVD) and vacuum filtration (VF)). Besides, the possibility of applying the dual‐functional electrodes to other metal‐sulfur cells is discussed. Finally, design principles and prospects in dual‐functional electrodes for future research and commercial application are proposed as guidelines.
This work points at dual‐functional electrodes for Li─S cells and summarizes the recent progress from the select host materials (carbon‐based materials, single‐atom catalysts, transition metal compounds, heterostructure hybrids, and polymers) to design methods (electrospinning, 3D printing, solvent method, chemistry vapor deposition, and vacuum filtration).
A full‐spectrum (300–700 nm) responsive porphyrin supramolecular photocatalyst with a theoretical solar spectrum efficiency of 44.4% is successfully constructed. For the first time, hydrogen and ...oxygen evolution (40.8 and 36.1 µmol g−1 h−1) is demonstrated by a porphyrin photocatalyst without the addition of any cocatalysts. The strong oxidizing performance also presents an efficient photodegradation activity that is more than ten times higher than that of g‐C3N4 for the photodegradation of phenol. The high photocatalytic reduction and oxidation activity arises from a strong built‐in electric field due to molecular dipoles of electron‐trapping groups and the nanocrystalline structure of the supramolecular photocatalyst. The appropriate band structure of the supramolecular photocatalyst adjusted via the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels of the porphyrin gives rise to thermodynamic driving potential for H2 and O2 evolution under visible light irradiation. Controlling the energy band structure of photocatalysts via the ordered assembly of structure‐designed organic molecules could provide a novel approach for the design of organic photocatalysts in energy and environmental applications.
A full‐spectrum dual‐function porphyrin supramolecular photocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution from water is achieved. The theoretical solar spectrum efficiency of self‐assembled tetra(4‐carboxylphenyl)porphyrin is 44.4%. The high activity of photocatalytic reduction and oxidation comes from the strong built‐in electric field due to molecular dipoles of electron‐trapping groups and the nanocrystal structure of the supramolecular photocatalyst.
Development of high-performance membranes for biogas upgrading is an urgent demand for the application of membrane technology in the field of renewable energy. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) ...exhibit promising potential in membrane-based separation for their highly ordered crystalline porous structure, total organic backbone and tailored functionality. However, the limited functional groups on frameworks and relatively larger pore size of existing COFs restrict further improvement in the separation efficiency especially for gas mixtures. This work reports a novel strategy for modifying the pore of COF-300 with imidazolium-based ionic liquid bmimTf2N by post-impregnation and then incorporate the composite particles IL@COF-300 into Pebax matrix to prepare mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). The IL decreases the pore size of COF-300 from 1.28 nm to 1.09 nm and increases the diffusion coefficient difference (DCO2/DCH4) between CO2 and CH4. Moreover, the presence of IL with high CO2 solubility endows the COF-300 pores with CO2-facilitating ability and thus increasing the solubility difference (SCO2/SCH4). The dual functions of IL lead to an enhanced separation performance of the resultant IL@COF-300/Pebax MMMs with an optimal permeability of 1601 Barrer and a CO2/CH4 gas selectivity of ~39, i.e. 209% and 87% higher than the pristine Pebax membrane, respectively, breaking the trade-off between permeability and selectivity and surpassing the Robeson 2008 upper-bound. The membrane also exhibits superior long-term operation stability during two months.
Display omitted
•Covalent organic framework (COF) modified by ionic liquid (IL) is prepared.•Such modification improves the CO2 solubility and reduces the pore size of COF.•IL@COF-300 composite is incorporated to fabricate MMMs for biogas upgrading.•Gas separation performance of MMMs is enhanced due to the dual functions of IL.•Gas separation performance of MMMs is stable over more than two months of testing.
Rational optimization on chemical composition and microstructure is a hot topic for magnetic carbon-based composites to overcome their challenges in microwave absorption. In this study, we ...demonstrate the synthesis of uniform Co/C microspheres with tunable chemical composition through a solvothermal reaction followed by high-temperature pyrolysis. It is found that this simple strategy greatly benefits from the dual functions of glucose. On one hand, glucose is the source of gluconate as the organic ligand to complex with Co ions and produce uniform Co-gluconate microspheres, and on the other hand, glucose can be converted into carbon nanoparticles and accommodated in Co-gluconate microspheres. The final Co/C microspheres display quite different electromagnetic properties as compared with pure metal Co particles. The presence of carbon component and high dispersion of Co nanoparticles induce positive reinforcements in both dielectric loss and magnetic loss. As a result, these Co/C microspheres can produce better microwave absorption performance, especially for Co/C-1.0 (the weight ratio of glucose to cobalt nitrate is 1.0), whose strong reflection loss and wideband response are also superior to those similar composites in previous reports. It is believable that this work may provide a new strategy for magnetic carbon-based composites with desirable microstructure and chemical composition.
Display omitted
•Highly dispersed Co/C microspheres have been successfully prepared by a MOFs-derived strategy.•Dual functions of glucose during the solvothermal process have been firstly revealed.•The chemical composition of Co/C microspheres could be easily manipulated by glucose dosage.•These Co/C nanospheres exhibit tunable electromagnetic properties microwave absorption.•Easy preparation and good performance favor the application of Co/C microspheres.
Abstract
Prolactin (PRL) and its receptor, PRLR, are closely related to the occurrence and development of breast cancer. hPRL-G129R, an hPRLR antagonist, has been found to induce apoptosis in breast ...cancer cells via mechanisms currently unknown. Recent studies have indicated that PRLR exhibits dual functions based on its membrane/nucleus localization. In that context, we speculated whether hPRL-G129R is a dual-function antagonist. We studied the internalization of the hPRLR-G129R/PRLR complex using indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot assays. We found that hPRL-G129R not only inhibited PRLR-mediated intracellular signaling at the plasma membrane, but also blocked nuclear localization of the receptor in T-47D and MCF-7 cells in a time-dependent manner. Clone formation and transwell migration assays showed that hPRL-G129R inhibited PRL-driven proliferation and migration of tumor cells in vitro. Further, we found that increasing concentrations of hPRL-G129R inhibited the nuclear localization of PRLR and the levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5 in tumor-bearing mice and hPRL-G129R also exerted an antiproliferative effect in vivo. These results indicate that hPRL-G129R is indeed a dual-function antagonist. This study lays a foundation for exploring and developing highly effective agents against the proliferation and progression of breast malignancies.
Display omitted
In this work, we demonstrate the grafting of thick poly((2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) layer on PDMS via subsurface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization ...(SSI-ATRP). The self-migration of DMAEMA monomers into the subsurface of PDMS is proven to be the dominant factor for the success of SSI-ATRP. The as-prepared thick microscale graft layer on PDMS shows much better abrasion resistance than nanoscale graft layer obtained by conventional surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) under identical condition. Taking advantage of the tertiary amines of PDMAEMA, the simultaneous zwitterionization and quaternization of the PDMAEMA thick layer is realized through a facile one-step process. The effect of zwitterionization and quaternization degree on the antibiofouling and antibacterial properties is investigated. The results show that a relatively high zwitterionization degree (75 mol%) and a low quaternization degree (25 mol%) exhibit a good well-balanced effect on both fouling repellence and bactericidal activity. This work may lead to the development of robust bifunctional antibiofouling and antibacterial surfaces via SSI-ATRP strategy.
Bent functions are maximally nonlinear Boolean functions. They are important functions introduced by Rothaus and studied firstly by Dillon and next by many researchers for more than four decades. A ...systematic construction method of bent functions by modifying the support of Rothaus’s bent function was given in Su (IEEE Trans Inf Theory 66(5):3277–3291, 2020). In this paper, we give a further study on that construction method. Two more flexible construction methods of bent functions by modifying the support of Rothaus’s bent function are given respectively. The newly constructed bent functions contain the result in Su (2020), which is simply a special subclass of the newly constructed bent functions. The dual functions of these bent functions are determined. The methods of constructing self-dual bent functions are given. And the numbers of the newly constructed bent functions are also presented.
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have aroused much attentions for their excellent ROS regulating properties. However, there is still few reports systematically discuss the dual properties of CQDs for ...ROS-generating and ROS-scavenging. This review attempts to systematically summarize the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of CQDs on ROS-regulation, and comprehensively summarize their biomedical applications. Generally, ROS generation could be attributed to the coexistence of the excitonic and charge-carrier aspects, while scavenging of free radicals can be attributed to electron transfer or hydrogen donation ability of the sp2 carbon core, functional surface groups and other introduced reaction sites. The intrinsic ROS generating and/or scavenging properties could be tuned through doping with nonmetal/metal elements, combining with metal nanoparticles, combining with semiconductors, etc. Especially, it is interesting to note that doping with non-metal elements (such as N, P, S, Cl) or combining with gold nanoparticle could both enhance ROS generating and scavenging ability of CQDs. Thus, CQDs with appropriate design could be used as ROS-generator or -scavenger depending on ambient conditions (the presence or absence of light source) for anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, wound healing, etc.
•CQD has dual functions of ROS-generation and -scavenging.•ROS is generated via type Ⅰ and Ⅱ pathways under light.•Enhancing e−-h+ separation could increase ROS generation.•ROS is cleared by carbon core, surface group, etc.•Raising e transfer or H donating increase ROS scavenging.
Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have attracted great attention because of their high energy density and high theoretical capacity. However, the “shuttle effect” caused by the dissolution of ...polysulfides in liquid electrolytes severely hinders their practical applications. Herein, we originally propose a carboxyl functional polyamide acid (PAA) nanofiber separator with dual functions for inhibiting polysulfide transfer and promoting Li+ migration via a one-step electrospinning synthesis method. Especially, the functional groups of −COOH in PAA separators provide an electronegative environment, which promotes the transport of Li+ but suppresses the migration of negative polysulfide anions. Therefore, the PAA nanofiber separator can act as an efficient electrostatic shield to restrict the polysulfide on the cathode side, while efficiently promoting Li+ transfer across the separator. As a result, an ultralow decay rate of only 0.12% per cycle is achieved for the PAA nanofiber separator after 200 cycles at 0.2 C, which is less than half that (0.26% per cycle) of the commercial Celgard separator.
