Featured
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| Open AccessBiocompatible aggregation-induced emission active polyphosphate-manganese nanosheets with glutamine synthetase-like activity in excitotoxic nerve cells
Glutamine synthetase (GS) relies on Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to activate glutamate (Glu) and are vital for maintaining ammonia and Glu homeostasis, but GS function is impaired during ATP-deficient neurotoxic events. Here the authors report polyphosphate-manganese nanosheets having GS-like activity independent of ATP to promote the conversion of Glu to glutamine in excitatory neurotoxic cells.
- Jing Wang
- , Xinyang Zhao
- & Wei Wei
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| Open AccessKinetically controlled metal-elastomer nanophases for environmentally resilient stretchable electronics
Metal-elastomer nanophases are critical for stretchable electronics but face mixing challenges. This study introduces a kinetic method for precise mixing, yielding gyrified nanophases with improved durability and strain-invariant conductivity, which holds promise for resilient stretchable devices.
- Soosang Chae
- , Won Jin Choi
- & Tae Il Lee
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| Open Access3D printing by stereolithography using thermal initiators
Common stereolithography-based 3D printing relies on photopolymerization using photoinitiators. Here, the authors replace the conventional photoinitiators with low-cost, widely used thermal initiators to achieve 3D-printed objects.
- Doron Kam
- , Omri Rulf
- & Shlomo Magdassi
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| Open AccessTough soldering for stretchable electronics by small-molecule modulated interfacial assemblies
“The interface mismatch of soft substrates and rigid silicon-based microelectronics frequently causes failures of integrated circuits. Here, the authors develop a stretchable solder based on liquid metal-polymer composites which enables seamless integration of electronic components with soft substrates, showcasing high conductivity and stretchability”.
- Liqing Ai
- , Weikang Lin
- & Xi Yao
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| Open AccessSmart dynamic hybrid membranes with self-cleaning capability
The performance of membrane desalination of seawater is hampered by fouling. Here the authors develop smart gating hybrid membranes by surface coating with polymer-embedded thermosalient crystals. These membranes enhance pure water flux by over 40% in saltwater desalination by osmotic distillation.
- Elvira Pantuso
- , Ejaz Ahmed
- & Gianluca Di Profio
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| Open AccessAn approach to MOFaxanes by threading ultralong polymers through metal–organic framework microcrystals
Mechanically interlocked architectures inspired the fabrication of numerous molecular systems, but the topological design of such architectures has not been fully explored from the nano- to the macroscopic scale. Here, the authors propose a MOFaxane, comprised of long chain molecules penetrating a microcrystal of metal– organic framework.
- Tomoya Iizuka
- , Hiroyuki Sano
- & Takashi Uemura
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| Open AccessA non-Newtonian fluid quasi-solid electrolyte designed for long life and high safety Li-O2 batteries
Lithium dendrite growth and liquid electrolyte volatilization limit the further development of lithium-oxygen batteries. Here, authors report a non-Newtonian fluid quasi-solid electrolyte to address those issues, which improve the life duration of the lithium-oxygen batteries.
- Guangli Zheng
- , Tong Yan
- & Huiyu Song
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| Open AccessExplosive percolation yields highly-conductive polymer nanocomposites
Materials with correlated localisation of percolating particles and emergent conductive paths can realise sharp transitions and high conductivities characteristic of the explosively-grown network. Here the authors exploit explosive percolation to realize a low-loading composite material with enhanced electrical properties by in-situ reduction of graphene oxide.
- Manuela Meloni
- , Matthew J. Large
- & Alan B. Dalton
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| Open AccessNano- to macro-scale control of 3D printed materials via polymerization induced microphase separation
3D printing allows the macroscopic structure of objects to be easily controlled but controlling the nanostructure of 3D printed materials has rarely been reported. Here, the authors report an efficient and versatile process for fabricating 3D printed materials with controlled nano-scale structural features.
- Valentin A. Bobrin
- , Yin Yao
- & Cyrille Boyer
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| Open AccessEfficient aqueous remote loading of peptides in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)
Encapsulation of bioactive peptides in slow-release particles is complex and relies on organic solvents. Here, the authors absorb peptides in a polymer phase from water, creating a simple low-cost encapsulation process in a class of polymer depot.
- Morgan B. Giles
- , Justin K. Y. Hong
- & Steven P. Schwendeman
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| Open AccessPick up and dispose of pollutants from water via temperature-responsive micellar copolymers on magnetite nanorobots
Pesticide and heavy metal pollution in water can cause environmental and public health issues. Here, the authors report thermoresponsive magnetic nanorobots that can efficiently pick up and dispose of pollutants from water by adjusting the water temperature.
- Jayraj V. Vaghasiya
- , Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez
- & Martin Pumera
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Article
| Open AccessEngineering transient dynamics of artificial cells by stochastic distribution of enzymes
Here the authors develop a coacervate micromotor that can display autonomous motion as a result of stochastic distribution of propelling units. This stochastic-induced mobility is validated and explained through experiments and theory.
- Shidong Song
- , Alexander F. Mason
- & Jan C. M. van Hest
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| Open AccessBowls, vases and goblets—the microcrockery of polymer and nanocomposite morphology revealed by two-photon optical tomography
The morphology of semicrystalline plastics on the 1-100 μm scale, such as spherulites, strongly affect mechanical and other properties of the material but currently only 2D imaging techniques are available. Here, the authors use fluorescence labels and confocal microscopy to visualize the internal structure of neat polymers and composites in 3D and reveal unsuspected morphologies.
- Shu-Gui Yang
- , Zhen-Zhen Wei
- & Goran Ungar
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| Open AccessTransparent origami glass
Glass is indispensable but its processing options are limited. Here the authors extend origami techniques to shaping three-dimensional transparent glass by introducing physical cavitation and chemical dynamic bond exchange in the pre-glass polymer-silica nanocomposites.
- Yang Xu
- , Ye Li
- & Tao Xie
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| Open AccessSemi-conducting 2D rectangles with tunable length via uniaxial living crystallization-driven self-assembly of homopolymer
Semi-conducting two-dimensional polymer nanoobjects are promising materials but examples of self-assembled 2D nanosheets with controlled dimensions has not been shown before. Here, the authors precisely tune the length of 2D sheets of conjugated polymers by using blending, heating, and seeded-growth strategies.
- Sanghee Yang
- , Sung-Yun Kang
- & Tae-Lim Choi
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| Open AccessElectrical switching of high-performance bioinspired nanocellulose nanocomposites
Switching mechanical properties in stiff bioinspired nanocomposites is challenging as they contain high fractions of hard reinforcements. Here, the authors demonstrate reversible electrical switching in highly-reinforced cellulose nanopapers using an applied low direct current.
- Dejin Jiao
- , Francisco Lossada
- & Andreas Walther
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| Open AccessAsymmetric polyamide nanofilms with highly ordered nanovoids for water purification
Structure and morphology are critical to the performance of permeable and selective polyamide membranes in water purification. Here, the authors report a two layer asymmetric polyamide nanofilm in which a spherical polyamide dendrimer porous lower and a polyamide dense upper layer form hierarchical nanovoids.
- Bingbing Yuan
- , Shengchao Zhao
- & Q. Jason Niu
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| Open AccessBiocatalytic nanoparticles for the stabilization of degassed single electron transfer-living radical pickering emulsion polymerizations
The use of solid particles to stabilize Pickering emulsions is a particularly attractive avenue, but oxygen sensitivity remains an obstacle in controlled polymerization reactions. Here, the authors show that lignin nanoparticles coated with chitosan and glucose oxidase enable efficient stabilization of Pickering emulsion and in situ enzymatic degassing of living radical polymerization.
- Adrian Moreno
- & Mika H. Sipponen
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| Open AccessAromatic nonpolar organogels for efficient and stable perovskite green emitters
Perovskite nanocrystals are promising emitters but suffer from environmental instabilities. Here, Park et al. introduce aromatic nonpolar organogels as a soft passivating matrix of perovskites, demonstrating highly efficient and environmentally stable luminescent nanocomposites.
- Jae-Man Park
- , Jinwoo Park
- & Jeong-Yun Sun
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| Open AccessPolymer/molecular semiconductor all-organic composites for high-temperature dielectric energy storage
Dielectric polymers are widely used in electrostatic energy storage but suffer from low energy density and efficiency at elevated temperatures. Here, the authors show that all-organic composites containing high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors exhibit excellent capacitive performance at 200 °C.
- Chao Yuan
- , Yao Zhou
- & Qi Li
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| Open AccessPreserving nanoscale features in polymers during laser induced graphene formation using sequential infiltration synthesis
High temperatures induced during lasing can deform the substrate polymer used for fabrication of electrically conductive membranes. Here, the authors show that sequential infiltration synthesis of alumina stabilizes polyethersulfone (PES) membranes against deformation above the polymers’ glass transition temperature.
- David S. Bergsman
- , Bezawit A. Getachew
- & Jeffrey C. Grossman
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| Open AccessCryopolymerization enables anisotropic polyaniline hybrid hydrogels with superelasticity and highly deformation-tolerant electrochemical energy storage
Energy storage devices that can endure large and complex deformations are central to the development of wearable electronics. Here the authors present a cryopolymerization strategy for preparing an anisotropic polyvinyl alcohol/polyaniline hydrogel for flexible supercapacitor electrodes.
- Le Li
- , Yu Zhang
- & Tianxi Liu
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| Open AccessAn unexpected N-dependence in the viscosity reduction in all-polymer nanocomposite
Addition of small nanoparticles into polymer melt can lead to decrease in viscosity but the underlying mechanism for such viscosity reduction remains unclear. Here, the authors investigate the reduction in viscosity by large-scale molecular dynamics simulation and experimental rheology measurements for an all-polymer nanocomposite formed by linear polystyrene chains and PS single-chain nanoparticle.
- Tao Chen
- , Huan-Yu Zhao
- & Zhao-Yan Sun
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| Open AccessCarbon-nanotube reinforcement of DNA-silica nanocomposites yields programmable and cell-instructive biocoatings
DNA composite materials have potential for biomedical sciences; however, control over the materials can be an issue. Here, the authors report on a carbon-nanotube reinforced DNA-silica gel with controllable mechanical properties to steer the attachment, proliferation, migration and release of cells.
- Yong Hu
- , Carmen M. Domínguez
- & Christof M. Niemeyer
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| Open AccessHighly efficient dandelion-like near-infrared light photoinitiator for free radical and thiol-ene photopolymerizations
Photo-induced polymerizations are being utilized to design and fabricate macromolecular structures with spatial and temporal control. Here the authors use a near-infrared light free-radical photoinitiator consisting of oxime-ester coumarin functionalities on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles for free-radical and thiol-ene photopolymerizations.
- Zhiquan Li
- , Xiucheng Zou
- & Yusuf Yagci
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| Open AccessAbsorbable hemostatic hydrogels comprising composites of sacrificial templates and honeycomb-like nanofibrous mats of chitosan
Sacrificial templates are used for a range of different applications. Here, the authors synthesise a hyperbranched cyclodextrin polyester template with large void spaces, which is degraded in physiological conditions, and use it to create high surface area chitosan scaffolds for haemostatic applications.
- Eric E. Leonhardt
- , Nari Kang
- & Mahmoud Elsabahy
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| Open AccessPorous hypercrosslinked polymer-TiO2-graphene composite photocatalysts for visible-light-driven CO2 conversion
Renewable CO2 conversion to useful products presents a sustainable, carbon-neutral method to limit climate change, yet few materials can perform this complex chemistry. Here, authors prepare a polymer-TiO2-graphene composite that can take up CO2 and convert it to CH4 using light and water.
- Shaolei Wang
- , Min Xu
- & Bien Tan
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| Open AccessConverting organosulfur compounds to inorganic polysulfides against resistant bacterial infections
Garlic has a mild antibacterial activity due to its organosulfur content. Here, the authors develop an approach to convert natural organosulfur into iron-sulfur nanosheets, with significantly higher antibacterial activity that can be used against infections as well as biofilms.
- Zhuobin Xu
- , Zhiyue Qiu
- & Lizeng Gao
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| Open AccessCoupled molybdenum carbide and reduced graphene oxide electrocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution
The development of low-cost and earth-abundant non-noble-metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction remains a challenge. Here, the authors report and evaluate a catalyst based on a two-dimensional coupled hybrid of molybdenum carbide and reduced graphene oxide.
- Ji-Sen Li
- , Yu Wang
- & Ya-Qian Lan
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| Open AccessHigh-performance thermoelectric nanocomposites from nanocrystal building blocks
Nanomaterials provide a route to efficient solid-state conversion between thermal and electrical energy. Here, the authors demonstrate that a combination of metal and semiconductor colloidal nanocrystals can produce thermoelectric nanocomposites with high performance.
- Maria Ibáñez
- , Zhishan Luo
- & Andreu Cabot
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| Open AccessDirect observation of mineral–organic composite formation reveals occlusion mechanism
The occlusion of biomacromolecules can endow biominerals with enhanced mechanical properties. Here, the authors usein situatomic force microscopy and micromechanical simulations to trace micelle incorporation in calcite to shed light on the mechanism of occlusion and cavity formation.
- Kang Rae Cho
- , Yi-Yeoun Kim
- & James J. De Yoreo
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| Open AccessPhase stability and dynamics of entangled polymer–nanoparticle composites
The lowering of polymer viscosity upon addition of small amounts of nanoparticles is counter-intuitive and has puzzled researchers. Here, Mangal et al. explain this intriguing phenomenon using a model polymer–nanocomposite system comprised of well-dispersed nanoparticles in an entangled polymer melt.
- Rahul Mangal
- , Samanvaya Srivastava
- & Lynden A. Archer
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Na+ intercalation pseudocapacitance in graphene-coupled titanium oxide enabling ultra-fast sodium storage and long-term cycling
There are intensive efforts in developing anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Here, the authors present a graphene-titanium dioxide composite as an anode material and show that sodium ion intercalation pseudocapacitance charge storage leads to excellent electrochemical properties.
- Chaoji Chen
- , Yanwei Wen
- & Yunhui Huang
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Confinement enhances dispersion in nanoparticle–polymer blend films
Blending polymers with nanoparticles is a way to generate new functional materials, whose properties can be tailored by the degree of dispersion of nanoparticles. Chandran et al.show geometric confinements improve dispersion, which leads to a reduced glass transition temperature compared to the bulk.
- Sivasurender Chandran
- , Nafisa Begam
- & J.K. Basu
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High strain rate deformation of layered nanocomposites
Bullet-proof materials made of nanostructured composites outperform conventional materials, yet little is known of their nanoscale response to high-speed impact. Using laser-propelled microscopic projectiles, Lee et al.directly visualize this process in layered nanocomposites.
- Jae-Hwang Lee
- , David Veysset
- & Edwin L. Thomas