Synergistic stabilization of a menthol Pickering emulsion by zein nanoparticles and starch nanocrystals: Preparation, structural characterization, and functional properties.

A Pickering emulsion was synergistically stabilised with zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) and starch nanocrystals (SNCs) to prepare it for menthol loading. After response surface optimisation of the emulsion preparation conditions, a Pickering emulsion prepared with a ZNPs:SNCs ratio of 1:1, a particle concentration of 2 wt% and a water:oil ratio of 1:1 provided the highest menthol encapsulation rate of the emulsions tested (83%) with good storage stability within 30 days. We examined the bilayer interface structure of the emulsion by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results of simulated digestion experiments showed that the release rate of free fatty acid was 75.06 ± 1.23%, which ensured bioavailability. At the same time, the emulsions facilitated the slow release of menthol. Bacteriostatic studies revealed that the Pickering emulsion had a protective effect on menthol, with the most significant inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under the same conditions. Overall, this study proposes a novel approach for the application and development of l-menthol by combining it with Pickering emulsion.

Self-Adaptive Graphdiyne/Sn Interface for High-Performance Sodium Storage.

Efficiently reconciling the substantial volume strain with maintaining the stabilities of both interfacial protection and three-dimensional (3D) conductive networks is a scientific and technical challenge in developing tin-based anodes for sodium ion storage. To address this issue, a proof-of-concept self-adaptive protection for the Sn anode is designed, taking advantage of the arbitrary substrate growth of graphdiyne. This protective layer, employing a flexible chain doping strategy, combines the benefits of 2D graphdiyne and linear chain structures to achieve 2D mechanical stability, electronic and ion conductions, ion selectivity, adequate elongation, and flexibility. It establishes close contact with the Sn particles and can adapt to dynamic size changes while effectively facilitating both electronic and ion transports. It successfully mitigates the detrimental effects of particle pulverization and coarsening induced by large-volume changes. The as-obtained Sn electrodes demonstrate exceptional stability, enduring 1800 cycles at a high current density of 2.5 A g-1. This strategy promises to address the general issues associated with large-strain electrodes in next-generation of high-energy-density batteries.

A Low-Strain Cathode by sp-Carbon Induced Conversion in Multi-Level Structure of Graphdiyne.

A multi-level architecture formed alternatively by the conformal graphdiyne (GDY) and CuS is well engineered for Li-free cathode. Such a proof-of-concept architecture efficiently integrates the advantages of GDY and produces new functional heterojunctions (sp-C-S-Cu hybridization bond). The layer-by-layer 2D confinement effect successfully avoids structural collapse, the selective transport inhibits the shuttling of active components, and the interfacial sp-C-S-Cu hybridization bond significantly regulates the phase conversion reaction. Such new sp-C-S-Cu hybridization of GDY greatly improves the reaction dynamics and reversibility, and the cathode delivers an energy density of 934 Wh kg-1 and an unattenuated lifespan of 3000 cycles at 1 C. Our results indicate that the GDY-based interface strategy will greatly promote the efficient utilization of the conversion-type cathodes.

Controlled Growth of 3D Interpenetrated Networks by NiCo2O4 and Graphdiyne for High-Performance Supercapacitor.

In this paper, the 2D all-carbon graphdiyne, which possesses superior 2D strength and high mixed conductivities for both electrons and ions, is used to protect nickel cobalt oxide nanostructures with multidimensions. The in situ grown graphdiyne seamlessly wraps on nanostructures to form 3D interpenetrating networks, leading to significant improvement in the conductivity and avoidance of the structural degradation. The assembled hybrid asymmetric supercapacitor showed a high specific capacitance of 200.9 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 with an energy density of 62.8 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 747.9 W kg-1. The device also showed a preeminent rate capability (86.4% capacitance retention, while the current density was increased from 1 to 20 A g-1) and an ultrastable long-term cycling performance (the capacitance retention is about 97.7% after 10 000 cycles at a high current density of 20 A g-1).

Sensitive detection of strong acidic condition by a novel rhodamine-based fluorescent pH chemosensor.

A novel rhodamine-based fluorescent pH probe responding to extremely low pH values has been synthesized and characterized. This probe showed an excellent photophysical response to pH on the basis that the colorless spirocyclic structure under basic conditions opened to a colored and highly fluorescent form under extreme acidity. The quantitative relationship between fluorescence intensity and pH value (1.75-2.62) was consistent with the equilibrium equation pH = pKa + log[(Imax - I)/(I - Imin)]. This sensitive pH probe was also characterized with good reversibility and no interaction with interfering metal ions, and was successfully applied to image Escherichia coli under strong acidity.