Controlling the Number of Branches and Surface Facets of Pd-Core Ru-Branched Nanoparticles to Make Highly Active Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts.

Producing stable but active materials is one of the enduring challenges in electrocatalysis and other types of catalysis. Producing branched nanoparticles is one potential solution. Controlling the number of branches and branch size of faceted branched nanoparticles is one of the major synthetic challenges to achieve highly active and stable nanocatalysts. Herein, we use a cubic-core hexagonal-branch mechanism to synthesize branched Ru nanoparticles with control over the size and number of branches. This structural control is the key to achieving high exposure of active {10-11} facets and optimum number of Ru branches that enables improved catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction while maintaining high stability.

Ultrasensitive detection of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in whole blood using dispersible electrodes.

The direct quantification of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment efficacy is an unmet clinical need. Herein, we demonstrate the first report of rapid, ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical detection of PD-L1 directly in undiluted whole blood using modified gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles as "dispersible electrodes" with an ultralow detection limit of 15 attomolar and a response time of only 15 minutes.

Thermal Conductivity on the Nanofluid of Graphene and Silver Nanoparticles Composite Material.

The composite material consisted of graphene (GN) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been essential topic in science and industry due to its unique thermal, electrical and antibacterial proper- ties. However, there are scarcity studies based on their thermal properties of nanofluids. Therefore, GN-AgNPs composite material was synthesized using facile and environment friendly method and further nanofluids were prepared by ultrasonication in this study. The morphological and structural investigations were carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) as well as ultra violet (UV)-visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, thermal conductivity measurements were performed for as-prepared nanofluids. As a result of thermal conductivity study, GN-AgNPs composite material was considerably enhanced the thermal conductivity of base fluid (water) by to 6.59% for the nanofluid (0.2 wt% GN and 0.4 wt% AgNPs).

Synthesis and Characterization of the Graphene-Fe3O4 Hybrid Composite.

Graphene and iron oxide composites have attracted huge attention in the fields of nanoelectronics and nanodevices due to their superior magnetic and electric characteristics. However, their synthesis methods are composed of many steps and use toxic chemical reactants. Accordingly, in this study, a GN-Fe3O4 NP hybrid composite was prepared using an eco-friendly and facile method. Its morphological and structural characteristics were then investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer and UV-visible spectroscopy. The results indicated that the GN structures as well as Fe3O4 NPs were significantly associated with the composite of GN-Fe3O4 NPs.