A porous organic polymer for symmetric sodium dual-ion batteries through an adsorption-intercalation-insertion mechanism.

A porous organic polymer (POP) has been developed for dual-ion storage in all organic symmetric rechargeable batteries. The triphenylamine-pyrene-based POP could host sodium and hexafluorophosphate ions acting as the anode and the cathode, respectively, through the adsorption-intercalation and insertion mechanism. The current study highlights the concept of widening the potential window of a dual ion battery by judicious selection of the constituent moieties.

Structural Modulation of Nitrogen-Rich Covalent Organic Frameworks for Iodine Capture.

Developing efficient adsorbent materials for iodine scavenging is essential to mitigate the threat of radioactive iodine causing adverse effects on human health and the environment. In this context, we explored N-rich two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with diverse functionalities for iodine capture. The pyridyl-hydroxyl-functionalized triazine-based novel 5,5',5″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(pyridine-2-amine) (TTPA)-COF possesses high crystallinity (crystalline domain size: 24.4 ± 0.6 nm) and high porosity (specific BET surface area: 1000 ± 90 m2 g-1). TTPA-COF exhibits superior vapor-phase iodine adsorption (4.43 ± 0.01 g g-1) compared to analogous COF devoid of pyridinic moieties, 2,4,6-tris(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TAPT)-COF. The high iodine capture by TTPA-COF is due to the enhanced binding affinity conferred by the extra pyridinic active sites. Furthermore, the crucial role of long-range order in porous adsorbents has been experimentally evidenced by comparing the performance of iodine vapor capture of TTPA-COF with an amorphous network polymer having identical functionalities. We have also demonstrated the high iodine scavenging ability of TTPA-COF from the organic and aqueous phases. The mechanism of iodine adsorption by the heteroatom-rich framework is elucidated through FTIR, XPS, and Raman spectral analyses. The present study highlights the need for structural tweaking of the building blocks toward the rational construction of advanced functional porous materials for a task-specific application.

Graphene quantum dots from graphite by liquid exfoliation showing excitation-independent emission, fluorescence upconversion and delayed fluorescence.

Facile synthesis of 2-10 nm-sized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from graphite powder by organic solvent-assisted liquid exfoliation using a sonochemical method is reported in this study. Synthesized GQDs are well dispersed in organic solvents like ethyl acetoacetate (EAA), dimethyl formamide (DMF) and also in water. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry reveals its selective mass fragmentation. Detailed characterizations by various techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirm the formation of disordered, functional GQDs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation confirms HOMO-LUMO energy gap variation with changing size and functionalities. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of as-prepared GQDs were studied in detail. The ensemble studies of GQDs showed excellent photoluminescence properties comprising normal and upconverted fluorescence, delayed fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescence. PL decay dynamics of GQDs has been explored using time-correlated single-photon technique (TCSPC) as well as femtosecond fluorescence upconversion technique. In vitro cytotoxicity study reveals its biocompatibility and high cell viability (>91%) even at high concentration (400 µg mL(-1)) of GQDs in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells.

Proliferation and differentiation potential of human adipose-derived stem cells grown on chitosan hydrogel.

Applied tissue engineering in regenerative medicine warrants our enhanced understanding of the biomaterials and its function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) grown on chitosan hydrogel. The stability of this hydrogel is pH-dependent and its swelling property is pivotal in providing a favorable matrix for cell growth. The study utilized an economical method of cross linking the chitosan with 0.5% glutaraldehyde. Following the isolation of hADSCs from omentum tissue, these cells were cultured and characterized on chitosan hydrogel. Subsequent assays that were performed included JC-1 staining for the mitochondrial integrity as a surrogate marker for viability, cell proliferation and growth kinetics by MTT assay, lineage specific differentiation under two-dimensional culture conditions. Confocal imaging, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and flow cytometry were used to evaluate these assays. The study revealed that chitosan hydrogel promotes cell proliferation coupled with > 90% cell viability. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated safety profile. Furthermore, glutaraldehyde cross linked chitosan showed < 5% cytotoxicity, thus serving as a scaffold and facilitating the expansion and differentiation of hADSCs across endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm lineages. Additional functionalities can be added to this hydrogel, particularly those that regulate stem cell fate.