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Fire safety has always been an important research topic in safety science. MXene nanosheets are considered one of the most promising flame retardants due to their unique physical structure and chemical properties. Chemical modification or synergistic use with other flame retardants can enhance their flame retardancy. Currently, there are various methods for preparing MXene nanosheets with advantages and disadvantages. This paper summarizes the research progress of MXene nanosheets in polyurethane, polylactic acid, polyimide, epoxy resin, cotton fabric, and wood, based on the fire-retardant mechanism. With the increasing demand for engineering applications, the multifunctionalization of MXene nanosheet-based composites will become a crucial development direction. These materials will play a significant role in safety protection across various fields, such as fire-retardant, thermal protection, electromagnetic shielding, and corrosion protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anode materials based on IV main group elements like Si, Ge, and Sn show great potential for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high specific capacity and low working potential. However, issues such as volume expansion and lattice pulverization hinder their practical usage. To address these issues for Ge, a novel F127 triblock polymer/acetylene black dual‐assisted strategy is proposed to achieve uniform dispersion of polycrystalline Ge, enabling the preparation of Ge@C nanocomposites via hydrogen reduction. The introduced F127 triblock polymer and acetylene black serves a dual purpose to enhance electrical conductivity and prevent Ge nanoparticles from agglomeration. When tested as anode material for LIBs, the Ge@C nanocomposites exhibit exceptional electrochemical performances, demonstrating a sustained specific discharge capacity of 780 mA h g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 100 cycles. Moreover, the capacity remains at 767 mA h g−1 even after 300 cycles at a higher current density of 0.5 A g−1. These enhanced lithium storage performances are attributed to the combined effects of well‐dispersed tiny Ge nanoparticles, uniform carbon coating, and an abundance of defects. These factors effectively mitigate the volume expansion and lattice pulverization of Ge nanoparticles and concurrently enhance their conductivity, leading to improved overall performance in LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new iridoid glycosides, maytenhoiridosides A (1) and maytenhoiridosides B (2), along with three known compounds (3 – 5), were isolated from the branches of Maytenus hookeri. Their chemical structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR spectra, acid hydrolysis analysis, and comparison with literature data. Among the isolated compounds, compound 5 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the HCT-116, SKOV3 and SK-Hep-1 cells, with IC 50 values of 9.49±1.40, 34.66±1.48 and 12.66±3.32 µM, respectively, while the others showed weak or no activity at 50 μM. [Display omitted] • Two new iridoid glycosides were isolated from Maytenus hookeri. • The structures were confirmed by extensive spectroscopic analyses. • Compound 5 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic cancer therapies offer opportunities for precise tumor ablation and reduce side effects. The cyclic guanylate adenylate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway has been considered a potential target to stimulate the immune system in patients and achieve a sustained immune response. Combining photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies with cGAS-STING agonists represents a newly developed cancer treatment demonstrating noticeable innovation in its impact on the immune system. Recent reviews have concentrated on diverse materials and their function in cancer therapy. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanism of photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic cancer therapies and the connected role of cGAS-STING agonists in treating cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calciumion batteries (CIBs) are an appealing energy storage technology owing to the low redox potential of Ca2+/Ca and the abundant Ca reserves in the earth's crust. However, suitable cathode materials with high capacity and long lifespan are scarce. Herein, VO2(B)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) heterojunction formed by interfacial V─O─C bonds is constructed and first reported as a cathode material for CIBs, which exhibits an ultrahigh discharge capacity of 319.2 mAh g−1 and exceptional long lifespan (3000 cycles at 500 mA g−1 with capacity retention of 85%). In addition, VO2(B)/rGO heterojunction also shows an outstanding rate capability at 50 °C (127.1 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1). The remarkable electrochemical performance is attributed to the big tunnel structures of VO2(B) and the role of rGO in enhancing electronic conductivity. Density functional theory calculations reveal a feasible Ca2+ diffusion path at the interface. Furthermore, a reversible single‐phase insertion/extraction reaction is revealed by in situ X‐ray diffraction, ex situ Raman, and ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This work demonstrates that VO2(B)/rGO holds great potential for building high‐capacity and long‐lifespan CIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) are appealing alternatives for energy storage systems based on the high theoretical capacity, low price and high security of the Mg metal anode. Nevertheless, the shortage of high‐performance cathode materials severely obstructs its development. As an important conversion material, transition metal selenides, with desirable theoretical capacity and weak bond energy (Mg−Se), have attracted more attention in recent years. In this study, CuFeSe2 (CFS) nanoparticles were produced by a hydrothermal approach and its feasibility as a cathode material for RMBs was further investigated. Given the synergistic effect between Cu and Fe, the optimized CFS shows a reversible capacity of 120 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, outstanding long‐term cyclability (86 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 600 cycles), and prominent rate capability (85 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1). Density functional theory (DFT) computations conclude CFS exhibits a suitable migration barrier for Mg2+ along the tunnel of 0.92 eV. An in‐depth investigation of the mechanism demonstrates that the Mg storage process can be divided into solid solution reaction and the conversion processes by ex‐situ techniques. This work contributes to further investigate the Mg2+ storage mechanism of cathode materials for RMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]