Reinforcing oxygen reduction reaction and accelerating charge migration kinetics on In4SnS8 by polypyrrole for photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production.

Solar light-driven hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production through the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) from the earth-abundant O2 and water is a potential alternative to the energy-consuming anthraquinone oxidation process, although the activity of the common photocatalysts is still insufficient to satisfy the industrial demands. Poor accessibility of O2 to surface/interface and fast carrier recombination is the limiting-factor for catalytic systems. Herein, we develop a nanohybrid photocatalysts by introducing 1D conducting polymer of polypyrrole (PPy) nanotube on In4SnS8 to promote H2O2 evolution under visible light, obtaining up to 254.8 µM in 2 h, which is 2.4- and 13-fold larger than that of individual In4SnS8 and PPy. The detailed characterizations of hybrid structure, O2 adsorption behaviors, charge carrier dynamics over PPy/In4SnS8 in conjunction with computational calculations corroborate that the modification of PPy could enlarge the amount of O2 adsorption amount, expedite the cycle of O2 adsorption/desorption and accelerate the transportation of electrons from In4SnS8 to the interface, eventually speeding up H2O2 photoproduction via indirect 2e- ORR pathway. This work establishes a paradigm of regulating the interfacial microenvironment by polymer for boosting H2O2 photogeneration through high selectivity of ORR.

Porous FeNi Prussian blue cubes derived carbon-based phosphides as superior sulfur hosts for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries.

In contrast to lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries have higher theoretical energy density and lower cost, so they would become competitive in the practical application. However, the shuttle effect of polysulfides and slow oxidation-reduction kinetics can degrade their electrochemical performance and cycle life. In this work, we have first developed the porous FeNi Prussian blue cubes as precursors. The calcination in different atmospheres was employed to make precursors convert into common pyrolysis products or novel carbon-based phosphides, and sulfides, labeled as FeNiP/A-C, FeNiP/A-P, and FeNiP/A-S. When these products serve as host materials in the sulfur cathode, the electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries is in the order of S@FeNiP/A-P > S@FeNiP/A-S > S@FeNiP/A-C. Specifically, the initial discharge capacity of S@FeNiP/A-P can reach 679.1 mAh g-1at 1 C, and the capacity would maintain 594.6 mAh g-1after 300 cycles. That is because the combination of carbon-based porous structure and numerous well-dispersed Ni2P/Fe2P active sites contribute FeNiP/A-P to obtain larger lithium-ion diffusion, lower resistance, stronger chemisorption, and more excellent catalytic effect than other samples. This work may deliver that metal-organic framework-derived carbon-based phosphides are more suitable to serve as sulfur hosts than carbon-based sulfides or common pyrolysis products for enhancing Li-S batteries' performance.

Nuclear import carrier Hikeshi cooperates with HSP70 to promote murine oligodendrocyte differentiation and CNS myelination.

Dysregulation of factors in nucleocytoplasmic transport is closely linked to neural developmental diseases. Mutation in Hikeshi, encoding a nonconventional nuclear import carrier of heat shock protein 70 family (HSP70s), leads to inherited leukodystrophy; however, the pathological mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we showed that Hikeshi is essential for central nervous system (CNS) myelination. Deficiency of Hikeshi, which is observed in inherited leukodystrophy patients, resulted in murine oligodendrocyte maturation arrest. Hikeshi is required for nuclear translocation of HSP70s upon differentiation. Nuclear-localized HSP70 promotes murine oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination after white matter injury. Mechanistically, HSP70s interacted with SOX10 in the nucleus and protected it from E3 ligase FBXW7-mediated ubiquitination degradation. Importantly, we discovered that Hikeshi-dependent hyperthermia therapy, which induces nuclear import of HSP70s, promoted oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination following in vivo demyelinating injury. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Hikeshi-mediated nuclear translocation of HSP70s is essential for myelinogenesis and provide insights into pathological mechanisms of Hikeshi-related leukodystrophy.

Sec13 promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin repair through autocrine pleiotrophin signaling.

Dysfunction of protein trafficking has been intensively associated with neurological diseases, including neurodegeneration, but whether and how protein transport contributes to oligodendrocyte (OL) maturation and myelin repair in white matter injury remains unclear. ER-to-Golgi trafficking of newly synthesized proteins is mediated by coat protein complex II (COPII). Here, we demonstrate that the COPII component Sec13 was essential for OL differentiation and postnatal myelination. Ablation of Sec13 in the OL lineage prevented OPC differentiation and inhibited myelination and remyelination after demyelinating injury in the central nervous system (CNS), while improving protein trafficking by tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) or ectopic expression of COPII components accelerated myelination. COPII components were upregulated in OL lineage cells after demyelinating injury. Loss of Sec13 altered the secretome of OLs and inhibited the secretion of pleiotrophin (PTN), which was found to function as an autocrine factor to promote OL differentiation and myelin repair. These data suggest that Sec13-dependent protein transport is essential for OL differentiation and that Sec13-mediated PTN autocrine signaling is required for proper myelination and remyelination.

Anchoring of Formamidinium Lead Bromide Quantum Dots on Ti3C2 Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2.

Metal halide perovskite with a suitable energy band structure and excellent visible-light response is a prospective photocatalyst for CO2 reduction. However, the reported inorganic halide perovskites have undesirable catalytic performances due to phase-sensitive and severe charge carrier recombination. Herein, we anchor the FAPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) on Ti3C2 nanosheets to form a FAPbBr3/Ti3C2 composite within a Schottky heterojunction for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Upon visible-light illumination, the FAPbBr3/Ti3C2 composite photocatalyst exhibits an appealing photocatalytic performance in the presence of deionized water. The Ti3C2 nanosheet acts as an electron acceptor to promote the rapid separation of excitons and supply specific catalytic sites. An optimal electron consumption rate of 717.18 µmol/g·h is obtained by the FAPbBr3/0.2-Ti3C2 composite, which has a 2.08-fold improvement over the pristine FAPbBr3 QDs (343.90 µmol/g·h). Meanwhile, the FAPbBr3/Ti3C2 photocatalyst also displays a superior stability during photocatalytic reaction. This work expands a new insight and platform for designing superb perovskite/MXene-based photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.

Visible- and NIR-Light Responsive Black-Phosphorus-Based Nanostructures in Solar Fuel Production and Environmental Remediation.

Direct utilization of the full spectrum of renewable solar light, in particular the visible- and near-infrared (NIR) portions, is currently receiving a great deal of attention in solar-to-chemical energy conversion-a clean, economically, and environmentally sustainable process. Black phosphorus (BP), a newly emerging class of ultrathin 2D nanomaterials rediscovered in early 2014, fulfills this purpose due to its unique properties like high charge-carrier mobility and tunable direct-bandgap. To this end, the rational combinations of BP in the form of few-layer nanosheets or ultrasmall quantum dots with a range of organic and inorganic nanomaterials offer more versatile and robust hybrids and nanocomposites that are functional in solar fuel production and environmental remediation. Herein, the most recent and key achievements of BP-based nanostructured photocatalysts in water splitting, organic pollutant degradation, and nitrogen fixation under either visible- or NIR-light illumination are summarized. Furthermore, perspectives on the potential future research directions are provided.

Black phosphorus nanostructures: recent advances in hybridization, doping and functionalization.

Owing to its high charge-carrier mobility, tunable direct-bandgap and unique in-plane anisotropic structure, black phosphorus (BP), a rising star of post-graphene two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, has been intensively investigated since early 2014. To explore its full potential and push the limits, research into BP-based novel functional nanostructures (i.e., nanomaterials and nanodevices) by means of hybridization, doping, and functionalization is rapidly expanding. Indeed, the cutting-edge developments and applications of BP nanostructures have had a significant impact on a wide range of research areas, including field effect transistors, diodes, photodetectors, biomedicine, sodium-ion batteries, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, memory devices, and more. This tutorial review summarizes the recent advances of BP nanostructures and outlines the future challenges and opportunities.

Insights into the structure-photoreactivity relationships in well-defined perovskite ferroelectric KNbO3 nanowires.

Structure-function correlations are a central theme in heterogeneous (photo)catalysis. In this study, the geometric and electronic structure of perovskite ferroelectric KNbO3 nanowires with respective orthorhombic and monoclinic polymorphs have been systematically addressed. By virtue of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, we directly visualize surface photocatalytic active sites, measure local atomic displacements at an accuracy of several picometers, and quantify ferroelectric polarization combined with first-principles calculations. The photoreactivity of the as-prepared KNbO3 nanowires is assessed toward aqueous rhodamine B degradation under UV light. A synergy between the ferroelectric polarization and electronic structure in photoreactivity enhancement is uncovered, which accounts for the prominent reactivity order: orthorhombic > monoclinic. Additionally, by identifying new photocatalytic products, rhodamine B degradation pathways involving N-deethylation and conjugated structure cleavage are proposed. Our findings not only provide new insights into the structure-photoreactivity relationships in perovskite ferroelectric photocatalysts, but also have broad implications in perovskite-based water splitting and photovoltaics, among others.

Efficient removal of formaldehyde by nanosized gold on well-defined CeO2 nanorods at room temperature.

Gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on well-defined ceria (CeO2) nanorods with exposed {110} and {100} facets were prepared by a deposition-precipitation method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Both nanometer and subnanometer gold particles were found to coexist on ceria supports with various Au contents (0.01-5.4 wt %). The catalytic performance of Au/CeO2 catalysts was examined for formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation into CO2 and H2O at room temperature and shown to be Au content dependent, with 1.8 wt % Au/CeO2 displaying the best performance. On the basis of the results from hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy observations, the high reactivity and stability of Au/CeO2 catalysts is mainly attributed to the well-defined ceria nanorods with {110} and {100} facets which present a relatively low energy for oxygen vacancy formation. Furthermore, gold NPs could induce the weakened Ce-O bond which in turn promotes HCHO oxidation.

Origin of tunable photocatalytic selectivity of well-defined α-Fe(2)O(3) nanocrystals.

Visible-light induced degradation of an aqueous mixture containing MO and RhB on well-defined α-Fe2 O3 nanocrystals shows that MO degradation is more favorable and such selectivity on the {012} facet is greater than that on {001}. The origin of selectivity is rationalized as the inherent surface structural difference and preferential molecular adsorption.