| 1. |
- Agostini, Marco, 1987, et al.
(författare)
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Designing Highly Conductive Functional Groups Improving Guest-Host Interactions in Li/S Batteries
- 2020
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 16:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Li-sulfur batteries are of great interest due to their potential to surpass the energy densities of other battery types, but the low electronic conductivity of both sulfur and its discharge products requires the use of a conductive host material. The most common is the use of different porous carbons which normally are hydrophobic and hardly retain the polar discharge products of the Li/S reaction, such as Li2S and lithium polysulfides (LiPs), at the working electrode. Functionalized hosts have been proposed as a strategy to improve LiPs interactions, including the use of heteroatom doping, organic frameworks, metals, metal oxides, sulfide particles, and conductive polymers. Despite demonstrating an improved cycle life, the functionalized structures often have an intrinsic limitation related to a low electronic conductivity resulting in slow kinetics and poor rate capability of Li/S cells. Herein, recent research trends aimed at designing sulfur electrodes with highly conductive functional groups on nanostructured hosts surface are reviewed. The main concepts, key developments, and parameters for building 3D hosts architectures that enable fast charge rates and long cycle life at high sulfur loadings are discussed.
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| 2. |
- Baldwin, William J., et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic Local Structure in Caesium Lead Iodide: Spatial Correlation and Transient Domains
- 2023
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Ingår i: Small. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Metal halide perovskites are multifunctional semiconductors with tunable structures and properties. They are highly dynamic crystals with complex octahedral tilting patterns and strongly anharmonic atomic behavior. In the higher temperature, higher symmetry phases of these materials, several complex structural features are observed. The local structure can differ greatly from the average structure and there is evidence that dynamic 2D structures of correlated octahedral motion form. An understanding of the underlying complex atomistic dynamics is, however, still lacking. In this work, the local structure of the inorganic perovskite CsPbI3 is investigated using a new machine learning force field based on the atomic cluster expansion framework. Through analysis of the temporal and spatial correlation observed during large-scale simulations, it is revealed that the low frequency motion of octahedral tilts implies a double-well effective potential landscape, even well into the cubic phase. Moreover, dynamic local regions of lower symmetry are present within both higher symmetry phases. These regions are planar and the length and timescales of the motion are reported. Finally, the spatial arrangement of these features and their interactions are investigated and visualized, providing a comprehensive picture of local structure in the higher symmetry phases.
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| 3. |
- Behi, Mohammadreza, et al.
(författare)
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Nanoassembled Peptide Biosensors for Rapid Detection of Matrilysin Cancer Biomarker
- 2020
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 16:16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Early detection of cancer is likely to be one of the most effective means of reducing the cancer mortality rate. Hence, simple and ultra-quick methods for noninvasive detection of early-stage tumors are highly sought-after. In this study, a nanobiosensing platform with a rapid response time of nearly 30 s is introduced for the detection of matrilysin—the salivary gland cancer biomarker—with a limit of detection as low as 30 nm. This sensing platform is based on matrilysin-digestible peptides that bridge gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) cores (≈30–50 nm) and carbon quantum dot (CDs) satellites (≈9 nm). A stepwise synthesis procedure is used for self-assembly of AuNP-peptide-CDs, ensuring their long-term stability. The AuNP-peptide-CDs produce ideal optical signals, with noticeable fluorescence quenching effects. Upon peptide cleavage by matrilysin, CDs leave the surface of AuNPs, resulting in ultra-fast detectable violet and visible fluorescent signals.
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| 4. |
- Boraschi, Diana, et al.
(författare)
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Addressing Nanomaterial Immunosafety by Evaluating Innate Immunity across Living Species
- 2020
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Ingår i: Small. - Weinheim : Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 16:21
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interaction of a living organism with external foreign agents is a central issue for its survival and adaptation to the environment. Nanosafety should be considered within this perspective, and it should be examined that how different organisms interact with engineered nanomaterials (NM) by either mounting a defensive response or by physiologically adapting to them. Herein, the interaction of NM with one of the major biological systems deputed to recognition of and response to foreign challenges, i.e., the immune system, is specifically addressed. The main focus is innate immunity, the only type of immunity in plants, invertebrates, and lower vertebrates, and that coexists with adaptive immunity in higher vertebrates. Because of their presence in the majority of eukaryotic living organisms, innate immune responses can be viewed in a comparative context. In the majority of cases, the interaction of NM with living organisms results in innate immune reactions that eliminate the possible danger with mechanisms that do not lead to damage. While in some cases such interaction may lead to pathological consequences, in some other cases beneficial effects can be identified.
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| 5. |
- Boschi, Alex, et al.
(författare)
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Mesoscopic 3D Charge Transport in Solution-Processed Graphene-Based Thin Films: A Multiscale Analysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Small. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 19:42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Graphene and related 2D material (GRM) thin films consist of 3D assembly of billions of 2D nanosheets randomly distributed and interacting via van der Waals forces. Their complexity and the multiscale nature yield a wide variety of electrical characteristics ranging from doped semiconductor to glassy metals depending on the crystalline quality of the nanosheets, their specific structural organization ant the operating temperature. Here, the charge transport (CT) mechanisms are studied that are occurring in GRM thin films near the metal-insulator transition (MIT) highlighting the role of defect density and local arrangement of the nanosheets. Two prototypical nanosheet types are compared, i.e., 2D reduced graphene oxide and few-layer-thick electrochemically exfoliated graphene flakes, forming thin films with comparable composition, morphology and room temperature conductivity, but different defect density and crystallinity. By investigating their structure, morphology, and the dependence of their electrical conductivity on temperature, noise and magnetic-field, a general model is developed describing the multiscale nature of CT in GRM thin films in terms of hopping among mesoscopic bricks, i.e., grains. The results suggest a general approach to describe disordered van der Waals thin films.
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| 6. |
- Cavallaro, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Multiparametric Profiling of Single Nanoscale Extracellular Vesicles by Combined Atomic Force and Fluorescence Microscopy : Correlation and Heterogeneity in Their Molecular and Biophysical Features
- 2021
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 17:14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Being a key player in intercellular communications, nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer unique opportunities for both diagnostics and therapeutics. However, their cellular origin and functional identity remain elusive due to the high heterogeneity in their molecular and physical features. Here, for the first time, multiple EV parameters involving membrane protein composition, size and mechanical properties on single small EVs (sEVs) are simultaneously studied by combined fluorescence and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, their correlation and heterogeneity in different cellular sources are investigated. The study, performed on sEVs derived from human embryonic kidney 293, cord blood mesenchymal stromal and human acute monocytic leukemia cell lines, identifies both common and cell line-specific sEV subpopulations bearing distinct distributions of the common tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, and CD81) and biophysical properties. Although the tetraspanin abundances of individual sEVs are independent of their sizes, the expression levels of CD9 and CD63 are strongly correlated. A sEV population co-expressing all the three tetraspanins in relatively high abundance, however, having average diameters of <100 nm and relatively low Young moduli, is also found in all cell lines. Such a multiparametric approach is expected to provide new insights regarding EV biology and functions, potentially deciphering unsolved questions in this field.
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| 7. |
- Chen, Jun, et al.
(författare)
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Novel Intrinsic Self-Healing Poly-Silicone-Urea with Super-Low Ice Adhesion Strength
- 2022
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Ingår i: Small. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 18:22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Accumulation of snow and ice often causes problems and even dangerous situations for both industry and the general population. Passive de-icing technologies, e.g., hydrophobic, liquid-infused bionic surfaces, have attracted more and more attention compared with active de-icing technologies, e.g., electric heating, hot air heating, due to the passive de-icing technology's lower energy consumption and sustainability footprint. Using passive de-icing coatings seems to be one of the most promising solutions. However, the previously reported de-icing coatings suffer from high ice adhesion strength or short service life caused by wear. An intrinsic self-healing material based on poly-silicone-urea is developed in this work to address these problems. The material is prepared by introducing dynamic disulfide bonds into the hard phase of the polymer. Experimental results indicate that this poly-silicone-urea has a self-healing efficiency of close to 99%. More interestingly, it is found that the coating prepared from this poly-silicone-urea has a super low ice adhesion force, only 7 ± 1 kPa, which is almost the lowest value compared with previous intrinsic self-healing de-/anti-icing reports. This material can maintain low ice adhesion strength after healing. This intrinsic self-healing poly-silicone-urea can meet several practical applications, opening the door for future sustainable anti-/de-icing technologies.
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| 8. |
- Chen, Mengyun, et al.
(författare)
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Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Quasi-Square CsPbI3 Nanoplatelets with Excellent Stability
- 2023
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Ingår i: Small. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanoplatelets (NPLs) share excellent luminescent properties with their symmetric quantum dots counterparts and entail special characters benefiting from the shape, like the thickness-dependent bandgap and anisotropic luminescence. However, perovskite NPLs, especially those based on iodide, suffer from poor spectral and phase stability. Here, stable CsPbI3 NPLs obtained by accelerating the crystallization process in ambient-condition synthesis are reported. By this kinetic control, the rectangular NPLs into quasi-square NPLs are tuned, where enlarged width endows the NPLs with a lower surface-area-to-volume ratio (S/V ratio), leading to lower surficial energy and thus improved endurance against NPL fusion (cause for spectral shift or phase transformation). The accelerated crystallization, denoting the fast nucleation and short period of growth in this report, is enabled by preparing a precursor with complete transformation of PbI2 into intermediates (PbI3-), through an additional iodide supplier (e.g., zinc iodide). The excellent color stability of the materials remains in the light-emitting diodes under various bias stresses.
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| 9. |
- Do, Xuan Huy, et al.
(författare)
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Membrane Assemblies with Soft Protective Layers : Dense and Gel-Type Polybenzimidazole Membranes and Their Use in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
- 2022
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 18:50
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes show excellent chemical stability and low vanadium crossover in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), but their high resistance is challenging. This work introduces a concept, membrane assemblies of a highly selective 2 µm thin PBI membrane between two 60 µm thick highly conductive PBI gel membranes, which act as soft protective layers against external mechanical forces and astray carbon fibers from the electrode. The soft layers are produced by casting phosphoric acid solutions of commercial PBI powder into membranes and exchanging the absorbed acid into sulfuric acid. A conductivity of 565 mS cm−1 is achieved. A stability test indicates that gel mPBI and dense PBI-OO have higher stability than dense mPBI and dense py-PBI, and gel/PBI-OO/gel is successfully tested for 1070 cycles (ca. 1000 h) at 100 mA cm−2 in the VRFB. The initial energy efficiency (EE) for the first 50 cycles is 90.5 ± 0.2%, and after a power outage stabilized at 86.3 ± 0.5% for the following 500 cycles. The initial EE is one of the highest published so far, and the materials cost for a membrane assembly is 12.35 U.S. dollars at a production volume of 5000 m2, which makes these membranes very attractive for commercialization.
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| 10. |
- Duznovic, I., et al.
(författare)
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Ultrasensitive and Selective Protein Recognition with Nanobody-Functionalized Synthetic Nanopores
- 2021
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 17:33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The development of flexible and reconfigurable sensors that can be readily tailored toward different molecular analytes constitutes a key goal and formidable challenge in biosensing. In this regard, synthetic nanopores have emerged as potent physical transducers to convert molecular interactions into electrical signals. Yet, systematic strategies to functionalize their surfaces with receptor proteins for the selective detection of molecular analytes remain scarce. Addressing these limitations, a general strategy is presented to immobilize nanobodies in a directional fashion onto the surface of track-etched nanopores exploiting copper-free click reactions and site-specific protein conjugation systems. The functional immobilization of three different nanobodies is demonstrated in ligand binding experiments with green fluorescent protein, mCherry, and α-amylase (α-Amy) serving as molecular analytes. Ligand binding is resolved using a combination of optical and electrical recordings displaying quantitative dose–response curves. Furthermore, a change in surface charge density is identified as the predominant molecular factor that underlies quantitative dose–responses for the three different protein analytes in nanoconfined geometries. The devised strategy should pave the way for the systematic functionalization of nanopore surfaces with biological receptors and their ability to detect a variety of analytes for diagnostic purposes. © 2021 The Authors. Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
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