The environmental pollution has become a serious issue because the pollutants can cause permanent damage to the DNA, nervous system, and circulating system, resulting in various incurable diseases, ...such as organ failure, malformation, angiocardiopathy, and cancer. The effective detection of environmental pollutants is urgently needed to keep them far away from daily life. Among the reported pollutant sensors, luminescent metal–organic frameworks (LMOFs) with tunable structures have attracted remarkable attention to detect the pollutants because of their excellent selectivity, sensitivity, and recyclability. Although lots of metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based luminescent sensors have been summarized and discussed in previous reviews, the detection of environmental pollutants, especially radioactive ions and heavy metal ions, still have not been systematically presented. Here, the sensing mechanisms and construction principles of luminescent MOFs are discussed, and the state‐of‐the‐art MOF‐based luminescent sensors of environmental pollutants, including pesticides, antibiotics, explosives, VOCs, toxic gas, toxic small molecules, radioactive ions, and heavy metal ions are highlighted. This comprehensive review may further guide the development of luminescent MOFs and promote their practical applications for sensing environmental pollutants.
Luminescent MOFs have attracted remarkable attention to detect environmental pollutants because of their excellent selectivity, sensitivity, and recyclability. In this review, the sensing mechanisms and construction principles of luminescent MOFs are discussed, and the state‐of‐the‐art luminescent MOF‐based sensors of environmental pollutants, including pesticides, antibiotics, explosives, VOCs, toxic gas, toxic small molecules, radioactive ions, and heavy metal ions are highlighted.
Hard carbon attracts considerable attention as an anode material for sodium‐ion batteries; however, their poor rate capability and low realistic capacity have motivated intense research effort toward ...exploiting nanostructured carbons in order to boost their comprehensive performance. Ultramicropores are considered essential for attaining high‐rate capacity as well as initial Coulombic efficiency by allowing the rapid diffusion of Na+ and inhibiting the contact of the electrolyte with the inner carbon surfaces. Herein, hard carbon nanosheets with centralized ultramicropores (≈0.5 nm) and easily accessible carbonyl groups (CO)/hydroxy groups (OH) are synthesized via interfacial assembly and carbonization strategies, delivering a large capacity (318 mA h g−1 at 0.02 A g−1), superior rate capability (145 mA h g−1 at 5.00 A g−1), and approximately 95% of reversible capacity below 1.00 V. Notably, a new charge model favoring fast capacitive sodium storage with dual potential plateaus is proposed. That is, the deintercalation of Na+ from graphitic layers is manifested as the low‐potential plateau region (0.01−0.10 V), contributing to stable insertion capacity; meanwhile, the surface desodiation process of the CO and OH groups corresponds to the high‐potential plateau region (0.40−0.70 V), contributing to a fast capacitive storage.
Hard carbon nanosheets with centralized ultramicropores (≈0.5 nm), accessible functional CO/OH groups, and large graphitic layer spacings exhibit excellent sodium‐storage properties. The desodiation process from graphitic layers and CO/OH groups results in a new sodium‐storage characteristic with dual‐potential plateaus during the charge process, which favors a high output of 95%, realistic capacity, and rapidly capacitive sodium storage.
Chromatin dynamics regulated by epigenetic modification is crucial in genome stability and gene expression. Various epigenetic mechanisms have been identified in the pathogenesis of human diseases. ...Here, we examined the effects of ten epigenetic agents on pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection by using GFP-reporter assays. Inhibitors of bromodomain protein 4 (BRD4), which receives much more attention in cancer than viral infection, was found to exhibit substantial anti-viral activity against PRV as well as a range of DNA and RNA viruses. We further demonstrated that BRD4 inhibition boosted a robust innate immune response. BRD4 inhibition also de-compacted chromatin structure and induced the DNA damage response, thereby triggering the activation of cGAS-mediated innate immunity and increasing host resistance to viral infection both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the inhibitory effect of BRD4 inhibition on viral infection was mainly attributed to the attenuation of viral attachment. Our findings reveal a unique mechanism through which BRD4 inhibition restrains viral infection and points to its potent therapeutic value for viral infectious diseases.
Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries hold the promise of the next generation energy storage system beyond state‐of‐the‐art lithium‐ion batteries. Despite the attractive gravimetric energy density (WG), ...the volumetric energy density (WV) still remains a great challenge for the practical application, based on the primary requirement of Small and Light for Li–S batteries. This review highlights the importance of cathode density, sulfur content, electroactivity in achieving high energy densities. In the first part, key factors are analyzed in a model on negative/positive ratio, cathode design, and electrolyte/sulfur ratio, orientated toward energy densities of 700 Wh L−1/500 Wh kg−1. Subsequently, recent progresses on enhancing WV for coin/pouch cells are reviewed primarily on cathode. Especially, the “Three High One Low” (THOL) (high sulfur fraction, high sulfur loading, high density host, and low electrolyte quantity) is proposed as a feasible strategy for achieving high WV, taking high WG into consideration simultaneously. Meanwhile, host materials with desired catalytic activity should be paid more attention for fabricating high performance cathode. In the last part, key engineering technologies on manipulating the cathode porosity/density are discussed, including calendering and dry electrode coating. Finally, a future outlook is provided for enhancing both WV and WG of the Li–S batteries.
The volumetric energy density (WV) of lithium–sulfur batteries is critical for mobile applications. Key factors that dominate WV progress on WV research are analyzed, and technologies for tuning cathode structure are discussed. A “three‐high one‐low (THOL)” strategy is proposed for high WV and gravimetric energy density (WG), and catalytic hosts are important to unlock the sulfur electroactivity.
Brain organoids are self-assembled three-dimensional aggregates generated from pluripotent stem cells with cell types and cytoarchitectures that resemble the embryonic human brain. As such, they have ...emerged as novel model systems that can be used to investigate human brain development and disorders. Although brain organoids mimic many key features of early human brain development at molecular, cellular, structural and functional levels, some aspects of brain development, such as the formation of distinct cortical neuronal layers, gyrification, and the establishment of complex neuronal circuitry, are not fully recapitulated. Here, we summarize recent advances in the development of brain organoid methodologies and discuss their applications in disease modeling. In addition, we compare current organoid systems to the embryonic human brain, highlighting features that currently can and cannot be recapitulated, and discuss perspectives for advancing current brain organoid technologies to expand their applications.
Developing nonprecious oxygen evolution electrocatalysts that can work well at large current densities is of primary importance in a viable water‐splitting technology. Herein, a facile ultrafast (5 ...s) synthetic approach is reported that produces a novel, efficient, non‐noble metal oxygen‐evolution nano‐electrocatalyst that is composed of amorphous Ni–Fe bimetallic hydroxide film‐coated, nickel foam (NF)‐supported, Ni3S2 nanosheet arrays. The composite nanomaterial (denoted as Ni‐Fe‐OH@Ni3S2/NF) shows highly efficient electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at large current densities, even in the order of 1000 mA cm−2. Ni‐Fe‐OH@Ni3S2/NF also gives an excellent catalytic stability toward OER both in 1 m KOH solution and in 30 wt% KOH solution. Further experimental results indicate that the effective integration of high catalytic reactivity, high structural stability, and high electronic conductivity into a single material system makes Ni‐Fe‐OH@Ni3S2/NF a remarkable catalytic ability for OER at large current densities.
An ultrafast (5 s) synthetic approach that produces a novel, nonprecious oxygen‐evolution electrocatalyst comprising a 3D hierarchical core@shell Ni‐Fe‐OH@Ni3S2 nanostructure supported on nickel foam is presented. The material integrates the structural and catalytic advantages of amorphous Ni–Fe–OH and Ni3S2 nanosheet arrays, possessing an excellent ability to efficiently and stably electrocatalyze the oxygen evolution reaction at large current densities.
The important role of gasotransmitters in physiology and pathophysiology suggest employing gasotransmitters for biomedical treatment. Unfortunately, the difficulty in storage and controlled delivery ...of these gaseous molecules hindered the development of effective gasotransmitters-based therapies. The design of a safe, facile, and wide-scale method to delivery multiple gasotransmitters is a great challenge. Herein, we use an ultrasonic assisted preparation γ-cyclodextrin metal organic framework (γ-CD-MOF) as a broad-spectrum delivery vehicle for various gasotransmitters, such as SO
, NO, and H
S. The release rate of gasotransmitters could be tuned by modifying the γ-CD-MOF with different Pluronics. The biological relevance of the exogenous gasotransmitters produced by this method is evidenced by the DNA cleavage ability and the anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the γ-CD-MOF composed of food-grade γ-CD and nontoxic metal salts shows good biocompatibility and particle size (180 nm). Therefore, γ-CD-MOF is expected to be an excellent tool for the study of co-delivery and cooperative therapy of gasotransmitters.
Solid-state color centers with manipulatable spin qubits and telecom-ranged fluorescence are ideal platforms for quantum communications and distributed quantum computations. In this work, we ...coherently control the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center spins in silicon carbide at room temperature, in which telecom-wavelength emission is detected. We increase the NV concentration sixfold through optimization of implantation conditions. Hence, coherent control of NV center spins is achieved at room temperature, and the coherence time T2 can be reached to around 17.1 μs. Furthermore, an investigation of fluorescence properties of single NV centers shows that they are room-temperature photostable single-photon sources at telecom range. Taking advantage of technologically mature materials, the experiment demonstrates that the NV centers in silicon carbide are promising platforms for large-scale integrated quantum photonics and long-distance quantum networks.
It is undoubtable that the use of solar energy will continue to increase. Solar cells that convert solar energy directly to electricity are one of the most convenient and important photoelectric ...conversion devices. Though silicon‐based solar cells and thin‐film solar cells have been commercialized, developing low‐cost and highly efficient solar cells to meet future needs is still a long‐term challenge. Some emerging solar‐cell types, such as dye‐sensitized and perovskite, are approaching acceptable performance levels, but their costs remain too high. To obtain a higher performance–price ratio, it is necessary to find new low‐cost counter materials to replace conventional precious metal electrodes (Pt, Au, and Ag) in these emerging solar cells. In recent years, the number of counter‐electrode materials available, and their scope for further improvement, has expanded for dye‐sensitized and perovskite solar cells. Generally regular patterns in the intrinsic features and structural design of counter materials for emerging solar cells, in particular from an electrochemical perspective and their effects on cost and efficiency, are explored. It is hoped that this recapitulative analysis will help to make clear what has been achieved and what still remains for the development of cost‐effective counter‐electrode materials in emerging solar cells.
Low‐cost counter materials for dye‐sensitized and perovskite solar cells are summarized, with a focus on the regular patterns that appear in their intrinsic features and structural design.
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