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Although the physiochemical merits of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts have garnered increasing interest in the fields of energy and environmental science, insufficient layer detachment has created a gap between fundamental research and practical applications. To unlock the intrinsic potential of g-C3N4, a bio-transformation of the ZnMn2O4 ((6)ZM) gel was employed to introduce highly-ordered modulation caused by steric hindrance during melamine pyrolysis. Phytomediated (6)ZM reorganized traditional carbon nitride into crossed C3N4 (CCN) monolayers, simultaneously engineering an auspicious Z-schematic system ((6)ZM/CCN). Phytoconverted (6)ZM retained the crystalline-amorphous configuration for facile charge transfer and provided a large surface area (288 m2 g−1) that was 2.3 times greater than that of thermally prepared g-C3N4 (TCN) monolayers. Additionally, (6)ZM exhibited a quantum confinement-promoted reduction capability and induced bulging on CCN monolayers to fully utilize photons through multilevel light scattering and reflection. Specific sequential two-step calcination of (6)ZM/CCN, furnishing affordable dual Z-schematic VO–(6)ZM/CCN, was specifically developed to introduce a third component into the structure without incurring additional operational cost or complexity. V2O5 (VO) nanoparticles were thermally anchored on (6)ZM/CCN to achieve highly efficient levofloxacin (LFC) detoxification under visible-light irradiation. After optimizing all effective synthesis parameters and experimental variables, VO–(6)ZM/CCN exhibited unsurpassed activity, achieving complete LFC photodegradation (50 mg L−1) within 120 min, which was 10.7, 8.7, and 24.7 times more kinetically efficient than the photodegradations achieved by (6)ZM, TCN, and VO, respectively. The outstanding performance of VO–(6)ZM/CCN was evident through complete mineralization of LFC, excellent decontamination of pharmaceutical wastewater within 300 min, resistance to performance deterioration during successive cycling runs, and the corresponding postcharacterization. The combination of simultaneous Z-scheme formation with photogenic (6)ZM provides a promising strategy to bridge the gap between experimental investigations and industrial applications of g-C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligent actuators are extensively explored for emerging applications such as soft robots, human‐machine interfaces, and biomedical devices. However, intelligent actuating systems based on synthesized polymers suffer from challenges in renewability, sustainability, and safety, while natural polymer‐based actuators show limited capabilities and performances due to the presence of abundant hydrogen‐bond lockers. Here this study reports a new hydrogen bond‐mediated strategy to develop mimosa‐inspired starch actuators (SA). By harnessing the unique features of gelatinization and abundant hydrogen bonds, these SA enable high‐sensitivity and multi‐responsive actuation in various scenarios. The non‐gelatinized SA can be irreversibly programmed into diverse shapes, such as artificial flowers, bowl shapes, and helix structures, using near‐infrared light. Furthermore, the gelatinized SA exhibit reversibly multi‐responsive actuation when exposed to low humidity (10.2%), low temperature (37 °C), or low‐energy light (0.42 W cm−2). More importantly, the SA demonstrate robust applications in smart living, including artificial mimosa, intelligent lampshade, and morphing food. By overcoming the hydrogen‐bond lockers inherent in natural polymers, SA open new avenues for next‐generation recyclable materials and actuators, bringing them closer to practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single- or few-layer forms of black phosphorus, so called phosphorene, were isolated by exfoliation in 2014 as 2D layered materials holding great promise in electronic and optoelectronic fields. In this perspective, we highlight recent developments in black phosphorus research, in particular, we will focus on the mechanical properties of its 2D form. Its unique puckered structure is responsible for strong anisotropy in mechanical and transport properties, different from graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenide 2D materials. This peculiar mechanical anisotropy can be exploited for applications such as nanomechanical resonators, thermoelectric devices, and motion sensors with tunable functions inaccessible by isotropic materials. Current bottlenecks hindering further progress in devices applications involve first surface degradation in environmental conditions which, in turn, can be exploited in surface friction mechanics to achieve superlubricity. In this framework, the investigation of mechanical properties of phosphorene will be pivotal for facile fabrication, transfer, and resolution of technical hurdles as well the discovery of novel applications. As research directions in next foreseeable future, we will discuss the challenge of crosstalk between mechanical and transport properties, in particular, how the stress–strain stimulations can be used to tune optoelectronic and thermoelectric performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is known as one of the most important causes of death in the whole world. Therefore, pollution reduction to achieve clean air was noticed by everyone. This way, using nanotechnology to control air and monitor is a novel approach. This paper investigates the effect of the number of graphene nano-pores on the SiO 2 separation from the H 2 O vapour in the presence of an external electric field with the magnitude of 0.01 V/Å using the molecular dynamics (MD) method. The electric field affects the charged particles and causes disturbance in the structure. It also prevents SiO 2 nanoparticles from passing through the graphene nanosheet. Also, the presence of carbon nanosheets acts as a membrane and affects the diffusion of water in the nanostructure. So, the results show that in the presence of a nano-pore, the number of H 2 O molecules reaches to 496 and 568 in reservoirs 2 and 3. Also, the number of SiO 2 nanoparticles reaches 10 and 4 in reservoirs 2 and 3. This shows that in reservoirs 2 and 3, about 80% and 60% of the SiO 2 nanoparticles are separated. As mentioned before, the electric field prevents the passage of SiO 2 nanoparticles through the graphene nanosheet. As the number of graphene nano-pores increases by 2, 3, 4, and 5, the number of passing water molecules increases. Considering that the number of graphene nano-pores has increased and the movement path of particles has increased, the number of passing particles almost increases. However, the electric field prevents the passage of SiO 2 nanoparticles. According to the results, the suggested setup can be employed for designing highly efficient nanostructured membranes for air purification and monitoring. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytotoxicity of ionic liquids (ILs) has been receiving attention in the context of the biological and environmental impact of their vast field of applications. It has been ascertained that the cell membrane is the main target of ILs when they interact with microorganisms, cells and bacteria; nevertheless, studies at the micro- and nano-scale aiming at better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of toxicity of ILs are lacking. In this work, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the impact of room-temperature ILs on the mechanical, morphological and electrostatic properties of solid-supported DOPC phospholipid bilayers, taken as models of biomembranes. In particular, we have characterized the concentration-dependent and time-dependent evolution of the morphological, structural and mechanical properties of DOPC lipid membranes in the presence of imidazolium-based ILs with different alkyl chain lengths and hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics. The majority of ILs investigated were found to possess the ability of restructuring the lipid bilayer, through the formation of new IL/lipid complexes, showing distinctive morphological features (increase of area and roughness). The nanomechanical analysis of the lipid membrane exposed to ILs revealed a progressive, concentration-dependent perturbation of the structural ordering and rigidity of the membrane, evidenced by a decrease in the breakthrough force, Young's modulus and area stretching modulus. AFM detected a modification of the electrostatic double-layer at the membrane surface, in terms of a reduction of the original negative surface charge density, suggesting a progressive stratification of cations on the exposed leaflet of the lipid membrane. Our findings may be helpful in designing novel ILs with tailored interaction with biological membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the regulatory effect of hyaluronic acid (HA)—coating silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers during epithelialization of urinary tract for urethral regeneration. The obtained electrospun biomimetic tubular HA‐SF nanofiber scaffold is composed of a dense inner layer and a porous outer layer in order to mimic adhesion and cavernous layers of the native tissue, respectively. A thin layer of HA‐gel coating was fixed in the inner wall to provide SF nanofibers with a dense and smooth surface nano‐topography and higher hydrophilicity. Compared with pure SF nanofibers, HA‐SF nanofibers significantly promoted the adhesion, growth, and proliferation of primary urothelial cells, and up‐regulate the expression of uroplakin‐3 (terminal differentiation keratin protein in urothelium). Using the New Zealand male rabbit urethral injury model, the scaffold composed of tubular HA‐SF nanofibers could recruit lumen and myoepithelial cells from the adjacent area of the host, rapidly reconstructing the urothelial barrier in the wound area in order to keep the urinary tract unobstructed, thereby promoting luminal epithelialization, smooth muscle bundle structural remodeling, and capillary formation. Overall, the synergistic effects of nano‐topography and biophysical cues in a biomimetic scaffold design for effective endogenous regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]