Fast-Charging Capability of Thin-Film Prussian Blue Analogue Electrodes for Aqueous Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Prussian blue analogues are considered as promising candidates for aqueous sodium-ion batteries providing a decently high energy density for stationary energy storage. However, suppose the operation of such materials under high-power conditions could be facilitated. In that case, their application might involve fast-response power grid stabilization and enable short-distance urban mobility due to fast re-charging. In this work, sodium nickel hexacyanoferrate thin-film electrodes are synthesized via a facile electrochemical deposition approach to form a model system for a robust investigation. Their fast-charging capability is systematically elaborated with regard to the electroactive material thickness in comparison to a ″traditional″ composite-type electrode. It is found that quasi-equilibrium kinetics allow extremely fast (dis)charging within a few seconds for sub-micron film thicknesses. Specifically, for a thickness below ≈ 500 nm, 90% of the capacity can be retained at a rate of 60C (1 min for full (dis)charge). A transition toward mass transport control is observed when further increasing the rate, with thicker films being dominated by this mode earlier than thinner films. This can be entirely attributed to the limiting effects of solid-state diffusion of Na+ within the electrode material. By presenting a PBA model cell yielding 25 Wh kg-1 at up to 10 kW kg-1, this work highlights a possible pathway toward the guided design of hybrid battery-supercapacitor systems. Furthermore, open challenges associated with thin-film electrodes are discussed, such as the role of parasitic side reactions, as well as increasing the mass loading.

Gigahertz-Based Visible Light Detection Enabled via CdS-Coated TiO2 Nanotube Layers.

Detection of visible light is a key component in material characterization techniques and often a key component of quality or purity control analyses for health and safety applications. Here in this work, to enable visible light detection at gigahertz frequencies, a planar microwave resonator is integrated with high aspect ratio TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layer-sensitized CdS coating using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. This unique method of visible light detection with microwave-based sensing improves integration of the light detection devices with digital technology. The designed planar microwave resonator sensor was implemented and tested with resonant frequency between 8.2 and 8.4 GHz and a resonant amplitude between -15 and -25 dB, depending on the wavelength of the illuminated light illumination on the nanotubes. The ALD CdS coating sensitized the nanotubes in visible light up to ∼650 nm wavelengths, as characterized by visible spectroscopy. Furthermore, CdS-coated TNT layer integration with the planar resonator sensor allowed for development of a robust microwave sensing platform with improved sensitivity to green and red light (60 and 1300%, respectively) compared to the blank TNT layers. Moreover, the CdS coating of the TNT layer enhanced the sensor's response to light exposure and resulted in shorter recovery times once the light source was removed. Despite having a CdS coating, the sensor was capable of detecting blue and UV light; however, refining the sensitizing layer could potentially enhance its sensitivity to specific wavelengths of light in certain applications.

2D FeSx Nanosheets by Atomic Layer Deposition: Electrocatalytic Properties for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

2-dimensional FeSx nanosheets of different sizes are synthesized by applying different numbers of atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycles on TiO2 nanotube layers and graphite sheets as supporting materials and used as an electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The electrochemical results confirm electrocatalytic activity in alkaline media with outstanding long-term stability (>65 h) and enhanced catalytic activity, reflected by a notable drop in the initial HER overpotential value (up to 26 %). By using a range of characterization techniques, the origin of the enhanced catalytic activity was found to be caused by the synergistic interplay between in situ morphological and compositional changes in the 2D FeSx nanosheets during HER. Under the application of a cathodic potential in alkaline media, the as-synthesized 2D FeSx nanosheets transformed into iron oxyhydroxide-iron oxysulfide core-shell nanoparticles, which exhibited a higher active catalytic surface and newly created Fe-based HER catalytic sites.

Evaluating the Use of TiO2 Nanoparticles for Toxicity Testing in Pulmonary A549 Cells.

Purpose: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, 25 nm in size of crystallites (TiO2 P25), are among the most produced nanomaterials worldwide. The broad use of TiO2 P25 in material science has implied a request to evaluate their biological effects, especially in the lungs. Hence, the pulmonary A549 cell line has been used to estimate the effects of TiO2 P25. However, the reports have provided dissimilar results on caused toxicity. Surprisingly, the physicochemical factors influencing TiO2 P25 action in biological models have not been evaluated in most reports. Thus, the objective of the present study is to characterize the preparation of TiO2 P25 for biological testing in A549 cells and to evaluate their biological effects. Methods: We determined the size and crystallinity of TiO2 P25. We used four techniques for TiO2 P25 dispersion. We estimated the colloid stability of TiO2 P25 in distilled water, isotonic NaCl solution, and cell culture medium. We applied the optimal dispersion conditions for testing the biological effects of TiO2 P25 (0-100 µg.mL-1) in A549 cells using biochemical assays (dehydrogenase activity, glutathione levels) and microscopy. Results: We found that the use of fetal bovine serum in culture medium is essential to maintain sufficient colloid stability of dispersed TiO2 P25. Under these conditions, TiO2 P25 were unable to induce a significant impairment of A549 cells according to the results of biochemical and microscopy evaluations. When the defined parameters for the use of TiO2 P25 in A549 cells were met, similar results on the biological effects of TiO2 P25 were obtained in two independent cell laboratories. Conclusion: We optimized the experimental conditions of TiO2 P25 preparation for toxicity testing in A549 cells. The results presented here on TiO2 P25-induced cellular effects are reproducible. Therefore, our results can be helpful for other researchers using TiO2 P25 as a reference material.

SiO2 Fibers of Two Lengths and Their Effect on Cellular Responses of Macrophage-like Cells.

The immunoreactivity or/and stress response can be induced by nanomaterials' different properties, such as size, shape, etc. These effects are, however, not yet fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the effects of SiO2 nanofibers (SiO2NFs) on the cellular responses of THP-1-derived macrophage-like cells. The effects of SiO2NFs with different lengths on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß in THP-1 cells were evaluated. From the two tested lengths, it was only the L-SiO2NFs with a length ≈ 44 ± 22 µm that could induce ROS. Compared to this, only S-SiO2NFs with a length ≈ 14 ± 17 µm could enhance TNF-α and IL-1ß expression. Our results suggested that L-SiO2NFs disassembled by THP-1 cells produced ROS and that the inflammatory reaction was induced by the uptake of S-SiO2NFs by THP-1 cells. The F-actin staining results indicated that SiO2NFs induced cell motility and phagocytosis. There was no difference in cytotoxicity between L- and S-SiO2NFs. However, our results suggested that the lengths of SiO2NFs induced different cellular responses.

The centrifugal spinning of vitamin doped natural gum fibers for skin regeneration.

The study investigates the use of fiber carriers, based on biopolymeric gums as potential candidates for cosmetic and dermatological applications, in particular for skin regeneration. Gum arabic (GA), xanthan gum (XA), and gum karaya (GK) were used as the main gum materials for the fibers, which were prepared by centrifugal spinning from an aqueous solution. These solutions of different mass gum ratios were blended with poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) for better spinnability. Finally, vitamins E and C were added to selected solutions of gums. The resulting fibers were extensively investigated. The morphology and structure of all fibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Most importantly, they were characterized by the release of vitamin E loaded in the fibers using UV-VIS spectroscopy. The presentation will show that the newly prepared fibers from GA and PEO represent a very promising material for cosmetic and dermatologic applications.

3D-Printed Coating of Extended-Release Matrix Tablets: Effective Tool for Prevention of Alcohol-Induced Dose Dumping Effect.

Tablets used for extended drug release commonly contain large amounts of drugs. The corresponding drug release mechanism thus has to be well-known and invariable under numerous conditions in order to prevent any uncontrolled drug release. Particularly important is the stability and invariability of the release mechanism in the presence of alcohol due to the possible occurrence of the dose dumping effect. The effect of 3D printing (3DP) coating on the drug release mechanism and the drug release rate was studied as a possible tool for the prevention of the alcohol-induced dose dumping effect. Three types of matrix tablets (hydrophilic, lipophilic, and hydrophilic-lipophilic) were prepared by the direct compression method and coated using 3DP. The commercial filament of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the filament prepared from hypromellose by hot melt extrusion (HME) were used as coating materials. Both coating materials were characterized by SEM, DSC, Raman spectroscopy, and PXRD during particular stages of the processing/coating procedure. The dissolution behavior of the uncoated and coated tablets was studied in the strongly acidic (pH 1.2) and alcoholic (40% of ethanol) dissolution media. The dissolution tests in the alcoholic medium showed that the Affinisol coating was effective in preventing the dose dumping incidence. The dissolution tests in the acidic dissolution media showed that the Affinisol coating can also be useful for the delayed release of active substances.

Anodic TiO2 Nanotubes on 3D-Printed Titanium Meshes for Photocatalytic Applications.

In this work, large 3D Ti meshes fabricated by direct ink writing were wirelessly anodized for the first time to prepare highly photocatalytically active TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layers. The use of bipolar electrochemistry enabled the fabrication of TNT layers within the 3D Ti meshes without the establishment of an electrical contact between Ti meshes and the potentiostat, confirming its unique ability and advantage for the synthesis of anodic structures on metallic substrates with a complex geometry. TNT layers with nanotube diameters of up to 110 nm and thicknesses of up to 3.3 µm were formed. The TNT-layer-modified 3D Ti meshes showed a superior performance for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in comparison to TiO2-nanoparticle-decorated and nonanodized Ti meshes (with a thermal oxide layer), resulting in multiple increases in the dye degradation rate. The results presented here open new horizons for the employment of anodized 3D Ti meshes in various flow-through (photo)catalytic reactors.

ALD coating of centrifugally spun polymeric fibers and postannealing: case study for nanotubular TiO2 photocatalyst.

This work describes the synthesis of highly photocatalytically active TiO2 tubes (TiTBs) by combining centrifugal spinning and atomic layer deposition (ALD). Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) fibers were first produced by centrifugal spinning and subsequently coated with TiO2 with various film thicknesses in a fluidized bed ALD reactor. After annealing of the TiO2 ALD coated PVP fibers, TiO2 tubes (TiTBs) with excellent textural properties and diameters in the range from approx. 170 to 430 nm were obtained. The morphology and structure of all TiTBs were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET). Liquid phase photocatalysis was conducted to determine the photocatalytic activity of the TiTBs. The photocatalytic activity of the TiTBs obtained after 50 TiO2 ALD cycles (degradation rate 0.123 min-1) was twice that of the reference TiO2 P25. The underlying reasons for the remarkable photocatalytic performance were textural properties of the resulting tubes along with suitable crystallinity, embedded within the 1D tubular morphology. The herein presented proof-of-concept approach paves a way for the processing of various polymeric fibers into various tubular nanostructures.

Mechanical properties of a biodegradable self-expandable polydioxanone monofilament stent: In vitro force relaxation and its clinical relevance.

Biodegradable stents are promising treatments for many diseases, e.g., coronary artery disease, urethral diseases, tracheal diseases, and esophageal strictures. The mechanical properties of biodegradable stent materials play a key role in the safety and efficacy of treatment. In particular, insufficient creep resistance of the stent material could result in premature stent collapse or narrowing. Commercially available biodegradable self-expandable SX-ELLA stents made of polydioxanone monofilament were tested. A new, simple, and affordable method to measure the shear modulus of tiny viscoelastic wires is presented. The important mechanical parameters of the polydioxanone filament were obtained: the median Young's modulus was [Formula: see text] = 958 (922, 974) MPa and the shear modulus was [Formula: see text] = 357 (185, 387) MPa, resulting in a Poisson's ratio of ν = 0.34. The SX-ELLA stents exhibited significant force relaxation due to the stress relaxation of the polydioxanone monofilament, approximately 19% and 36% 10 min and 48 h after stent application, respectively. However, these results were expected, and the manufacturer and implanting clinician should be aware of the known behavior of these biodegradable materials. If possible, a biodegradable stent should be designed considering therapeutic force rather than initial force. Additionally, new and more advanced biodegradable shape-memory polymers should be considered for future study and use.

TiO2 Nanotube Layers Decorated with Al2O3/MoS2/Al2O3 as Anode for Li-ion Microbatteries with Enhanced Cycling Stability.

TiO2 nanotube layers (TNTs) decorated with Al2O3/MoS2/Al2O3 are investigated as a negative electrode for 3D Li-ion microbatteries. Homogenous nanosheets decoration of MoS2, sandwiched between Al2O3 coatings within self-supporting TNTs was carried out using atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance of the Al2O3/MoS2/Al2O3-decorated TNTs were studied using scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and chronopotentiometry. Al2O3/MoS2/Al2O3-decorated TNTs deliver an areal capacity almost three times higher than that obtained for MoS2-decorated TNTs and as-prepared TNTs after 100 cycles at 1C. Moreover, stable and high discharge capacity (414 µAh cm-2) has been obtained after 200 cycles even at very fast kinetics (3C).

Cyclic Silylselenides: Convenient Selenium Precursors for Atomic Layer Deposition.

Three cyclic silylselenides were prepared in a straightforward manner. Property tuning has been achieved by varying the ring size and the number of embedded selenium atoms. All silylselenides possess improved resistance towards moisture and oxidation as well as high thermal robustness and sufficient volatility with almost zero residues. The six-membered diselenide proved to be particularly superior Se precursors for atomic layer deposition and allowed facile preparation of MoSe2 layers. Their structure and composition have been investigated by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy revealing vertically aligned flaky shaped nanosheets.

Complex cytotoxicity mechanism of bundles formed from self-organised 1-D anodic TiO2 nanotubes layers.

The present study reports on a comprehensive investigation of mechanisms of in vitro cytotoxicity of high aspect ratio (HAR) bundles formed from anodic TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layers. Comparative cytotoxicity studies were performed using two types of HAR TNTs (diameter of ∼110 nm), differing in initial thickness of the nanotubular layer (∼35 µm for TNTs-1 vs. ∼10 µm for TNTs-2). Using two types of epithelial cell lines (MDA-MB-231, HEK-293), it was found that nanotoxicity is highly cell-type dependent and plausibly associates with higher membrane fluidity and decreased rigidity of cancer cells enabling penetration of TNTs to the cell membrane towards disruption of membrane integrity and reorganization of cytoskeletal network. Upon penetration, TNTs dysregulated redox homeostasis followed by DNA fragmentation and apoptotic/necrotic cell death. Both TNTs exhibited haemolytic activity and rapidly activated polarization of RAW 264.7 macrophages. Throughout the whole study, TNTs-2 possessing a lower aspect ratio manifested significantly higher cytotoxic effects. Taken together, this is the first report comprehensively investigating the mechanisms underlying the nanotoxicity of bundles formed from self-organised 1-D anodic TNT layers. Except for description of nanotoxicity of industrially-interesting nanomaterials, the delineation of the nanotoxicity paradigm in cancer cells could serve as solid basis for future efforts in rational engineering of TNTs towards selective anticancer nanomedicine.

Thin TiO2 Coatings by ALD Enhance the Cell Growth on TiO2 Nanotubular and Flat Substrates.

The present work exploits Ti sheets and TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layers and their surface modifications for the proliferation of different cells. Ti sheets with a native oxide layer, Ti sheets with a crystalline thermal oxide layer, and two kinds of TNT layers (prepared via electrochemical anodization) with a defined inner diameter of 12 and 15 nm were used as substrates. A part of the Ti sheets and the TNT layers was additionally coated by thin TiO2 coatings using atomic layer deposition (ALD). An increase in cell growth of WI-38 fibroblasts (>50%), MG-63 osteoblasts (>30%), and SH-SY5Y neuroblasts (>30%) was observed for all materials coated by five cycles ALD compared to their uncoated counterparts. The additional ALD TiO2 coatings changed the surface composition of all materials but preserved their original structure and protected them from unwanted crystallization and shape changes. The presented approach of mild surface modification by ALD has a significant effect on the materials' biocompatibility and is promising toward application in implant materials.

Laser-induced crystallization of anodic TiO2 nanotube layers.

In this study, crystallization of amorphous TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layers upon optimized laser annealing is shown. The resulting anatase TNT layers do not show any signs of deformation or melting. The crystallinity of the laser annealed TNT layers was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The study of the (photo-)electrochemical properties showed that the laser annealed TNT layers were more defective than conventional TNT layers annealed in a muffle oven at 400 °C, resulting in a higher charge recombination rate and lower photocurrent response. However, a lower overpotential for hydrogen evolution reaction was observed for the laser annealed TNT layer compared to the oven annealed TNT layer.

2D MoS2 nanosheets on 1D anodic TiO2 nanotube layers: an efficient co-catalyst for liquid and gas phase photocatalysis.

One-dimensional TiO2 nanotube layers with different dimensions were homogeneously decorated with 2D MoS2 nanosheets via atomic layer deposition and employed for liquid and gas phase photocatalysis. The 2D MoS2 nanosheets revealed a high amount of exposed active edge sites and strongly enhanced the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanotube layers.

Bismuth Oxychloride Nanoplatelets by Breakdown Anodization.

Herein, the synthesis of BiOCl nanoplatelets of various dimensions is demonstrated. These materials were prepared by anodic oxidation of Bi ingots in diluted HCl under dielectric breakdown conditions, triggered by a sufficiently high anodic field. Additionally, it is shown that the use of several other common diluted acids (HNO3, H2SO4, lactic acid) resulted in the formation of various different nanostructures. The addition of NH4F to the acidic electrolytes accelerated the growth rate resulting in bismuth-based nanostructures with comparably smaller dimensions and an enormous volume expansion observed during the growth. On the other hand, the addition of lactic acid to the acidic electrolytes decelerated the oxide growth rate. The resulting nanostructures were characterized using SEM, XRD and TEM. BiOCl nanoplatelets received by anodization in 1 M HCl were successfully employed for the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue dye and showed a superior performance compared to commercially available BiOCl powder with a similar crystalline structure, confirming its potential as a visible light photocatalyst.

TiO2 ALD Coating of Amorphous TiO2 Nanotube Layers: Inhibition of the Structural and Morphological Changes Due to Water Annealing.

The present work presents a strategy to stabilize amorphous anodic self-organized TiO2 nanotube layers against morphological changes and crystallization upon extensive water soaking. The growth of needle-like nanoparticles was observed on the outer and inner walls of amorphous nanotube layers after extensive water soakings, in line with the literature on water annealing. In contrary, when TiO2 nanotube layers uniformly coated by thin TiO2 using atomic layer deposition (ALD) were soaked in water, the growth rates of needle-like nanoparticles were substantially reduced. We investigated the soaking effects of ALD TiO2 coatings with different thicknesses and deposition temperatures. Sufficiently thick TiO2 coatings (≈8.4 nm) deposited at different ALD process temperatures efficiently hamper the reactions between water and F- ions, maintain the amorphous state, and preserve the original tubular morphology. This work demonstrates the possibility of having robust amorphous 1D TiO2 nanotube layers that are very stable in water. This is very practical for diverse biomedical applications that are accompanied by extensive contact with an aqueous environment.

Ideally Hexagonally Ordered TiO2 Nanotube Arrays.

Ideally hexagonally ordered TiO2 nanotube layers were produced through the optimized anodization of Ti substrates. The Ti substrates were firstly covered with a TiN protecting layer prepared through atomic layer deposition (ALD). Pre-texturing of the TiN-protected Ti substrate on an area of 20×20 µm2 was carried out by focused ion beam (FIB) milling, yielding uniform nanoholes with a hexagonal arrangement throughout the TiN layer with three different interpore distances. The subsequent anodic nanotube growth using ethylene-glycol-based electrolyte followed the pre-textured nanoholes, resulting in perfectly ordered nanotube layers (resembling honeycomb porous anodic alumina) without any point defects and with a thickness of approximately 2 µm over the whole area of the pattern.

ALD Al2O3-Coated TiO2 Nanotube Layers as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The utilization of the anodic TiO2 nanotube layers, with uniform Al2O3 coatings of different thicknesses (prepared by atomic layer deposition, ALD), as the new electrode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), is reported herein. Electrodes with very thin Al2O3 coatings (∼1 nm) show a superior electrochemical performance for use in LIBs compared to that of the uncoated TiO2 nanotube layers. A more than 2 times higher areal capacity is received on these coated TiO2 nanotube layers (∼75 vs 200 µAh/cm2) as well as higher rate capability and coulombic efficiency of the charging and discharging reactions. Reasons for this can be attributed to an increased mechanical stability of the TiO2 nanotube layers upon Al2O3 coating, as well as to an enhanced diffusion of the Li+ ions within the coated nanotube layers. In contrast, thicker ALD Al2O3 coatings result in a blocking of the electrode surface and therefore an areal capacity decrease.