Search

Graphene/metal oxide (rGO/MOx) heterostructures hold great promise for energy storage, yet a full understanding of their synthesis remains elusive. Herein, a general, efficient, and scalable synthesis strategy is designed for the preparation of various rGO/MOx heterostructure materials featuring robust interfacial interactions. The heterogeneous nucleation growth mechanism of metal oxides on graphene is elucidated through ex situ characterization and theoretical simulation. The surface of graphene oxide (GO) is enriched with reactive oxygen‐containing functional groups, serving as potent nucleation sites that facilitate the rapid and heterogeneous nucleation of MOx grains. Simultaneously, a stable interface (C−O−M bond) is in situ formed between graphene and adsorbed metal ions during heat treatment, producing rGO/MOx heterostructure materials. Notably, the resultant rGO/CoO heterostructure material is employed as an anode and LiCoO2 as a cathode to assemble a soft packaging quasi‐solid‐state battery, which has demonstrated an impressive energy density of 341.4 Wh kg−1 and maintains outstanding capacity retention at 93.4% after 300 cycles at a 1C current. These findings provide valuable insights into the preparation and potential applications of rGO/MOx heterostructure materials for energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust bacterial metabolism and the immunosuppression on peripheral immune cells cause biofilm‐associated infections (BAIs) extremely refractory to be eradicated via antibiotics alone. Herein, hierarchical mesoporous UiO‐66 metal–organic framework is decorated with selenite, polypyrrole, and macrophage membrane (MM) to develop a biomimetic nanosphere (USPM). Following the recruitment of USPM to the biofilm microenvironment (BME) via the pathogen‐targeting ability derived from MM. The BME‐responsive USPM can precisely release selenite to penetrate the loosened biofilm in synergy with near‐infrared‐induced mild photothermal therapy (mPTT). Selenite can quickly react with reducing substances to generate hydrogen selenide (H2Se) inside the biofilm. H2Se can competitively inhibit bacterial metabolic processes and disrupt biofilm metabolic homeostasis by cascade amplification effects. Furthermore, H2Se inside the biofilm further sensitizes photothermia to exert a precise local photothermal effect. Outside the biofilm, USPM can simultaneously promote the phagocytosis and autophagy of macrophages to kill and decompose the phagocytosed bacteria. Finally, the well‐decomposed bacterial antigens in macrophages can be presented to antigen‐presenting cells to arouse adaptive immune responses and enhance anti‐biofilm effectiveness further. Such powerful mPTT‐enhanced bacterial metabolic disruption and macrophagic autophagy‐promoted adaptive immune activation suggest an alternative therapeutic strategy to cure refractory BAIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin‐derived porous carbon (LPC) shows great potential as electrode material for supercapacitors. However, precise control over the pore structure during the conventional carbonization–activation process remains challenging. Here, a molecular‐level strategy to tailor the pore structure through tuning inter‐/intra‐molecular bonding of lignin in a pre‐carbonization process is shown. Based on operando pyrolysis analysis, a molecular evolution model is proposed to elucidate the relationship between pre‐carbonization and the resulting porosity of LPC. Lignin undergoes a condensation process with an increase of sp2‐hybridized carbon bonding during pre‐carbonization, causing the extension of polycyclic aromatic structure and leading to an increased mesopore volume in the final porous carbon. The variation in the content ratio of sp2‐ and sp3‐hybridized carbon bonding provides insights into the spatial structure evolution of pre‐carbonized lignin, which correlates well with changes in the porous structure of LPC. The LPCs show ultrahigh specific surface area up to 3219 m2 g−1 and tailored meso‐/micropore distribution. The lithium‐ion capacitor full‐cell tests demonstrate the great potential of LPCs in energy storage applications with superior energy density and power density. This work provides a feasible strategy to precisely design the microstructure of LPC, offering promising prospects for energy storage technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive glasses with hierarchical nanoporosity and structures have been heavily involved in immobilization of enzymes. Because of meticulous design and ingenious hierarchical nanostructuration of porosities from yeast cell biotemplates, hierarchically nanostructured porous bioactive glasses can provide a simple, cost-effective way to enhance catalytic activity of directly immobilized enzyme. Its unique chemical surface properties and hierarchical meso/macroporous structures lead to highly efficient catalytic performances of the directly immobilized enzymes. The enzyme molecules were spontaneously entrapped into the highly curved macropores (200-500 nm) via multipoint metal ion binding in electrical double layers. Hence, the enzyme activity and enzyme loading were enhanced, the cost of enzyme use was reduced, showing higher thermal and storage stabilities than free enzyme. The reactant and products of catalytic reactions can freely diffuse through open mesopores (2-40 nm). The formation mechanism of hierarchically structured porous bioactive glasses, the immobilization mechanism of enzyme and the catalysis mechanism of immobilized enzyme are then discussed. The novel nanostructure with advanced properties is expected to be utilized as a solid support for any enzyme for bioconversion, bioremediation, biosensors and drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]