Nb-doped and pure TiO2 (anatase) nanoparticles were synthesized via a continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis reactor and investigated as electrode material for lithium-ion batteries.

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major threat to the practice of modern medicine. Photobactericidal agents have obtained significant attention as promising candidates to kill bacteria, and they have been extensively studied. However, to obtain photobactericidal activity, an intense white light source or UV-activation is usually required. Here we report a photobactericidal polymer containing crystal violet (CV) and thiolated gold nanocluster ([Au 25 (Cys) 18 ]) activated at a low flux levels of white light. It was shown that the polymer encapsulated with CV do not have photobactericidal activity under white light illumination of an average 312 lux. However, encapsulation of [Au 25 (Cys) 18 ] and CV into the polymer activates potent photobactericidal activity. The study of the photobactericidal mechanism shows that additional encapsulation of [Au 25 (Cys) 18 ] into the CV treated polymer promotes redox reactions through generation of alternative electron transfer pathways, while it reduces photochemical reaction type-ІІ pathways resulting in promotion of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) production.

Carbon‐based bifunctional electrocatalysts for both oxygen reduction and evolution reactions are potentially cost‐effective to replace noble metals in energy devices such as fuel cells, metal–air batteries, and photoelectrochemical converters, but enrichment of active sites holds the key to efficiency. Here, graphene frameworks with heteroatom‐doped carbon dots (CDs) are developed via a hydrothermal route followed by pyrolysis. The CDs are rationally prepared with careful selection of heteroatoms, embedded on the substrate to provide enriched active sites. Structural characterizations (e.g., transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy) reveal the successful addition of CDs with nitrogen and sulfur species. Especially, a heat‐treated N,S codoped sample, NS‐CD@gf_a900, exhibits the optimum oxygen electrocatalysis, even closer to noble‐metal counterparts, as a result of the effect of active sites of the CDs and the synergistic behavior of N and S. Considering the importance of size and dopants of the material, this approach not only suggests a straightforward preparation route of nanocarbons, but also appoints the utilization of a new class of non‐metal species as efficient oxygen electrocatalysts.

Recently, bioaerosols, including the 2019 novel coronavirus, pose a serious threat to global public health. Herein, we introduce a visible-light-activated (VLA) antimicrobial air filter functionalized with titanium dioxide (TiO2)-crystal violet (CV) nanocomposites facilitating abandoned visible light from sunlight or indoor lights. The TiO2-CV based VLA antimicrobial air filters exhibit a potent inactivation rate of ~99.98% and filtration efficiency of ~99.9% against various bioaerosols. Under visible-light, the CV is involved in overall inactivation by inducing reactive oxygen species production both directly (CV itself) and indirectly (in combination with TiO2). Moreover, the susceptibility of the CV to humidity was significantly improved by forming a hydrophobic molecular layer on the TiO2 surface, highlighting its potential applicability in real environments such as exhaled or humid air. We believe this work can open a new avenue for designing and realizing practical antimicrobial technology using ubiquitous visible-light energy against the threat of infectious bioaerosols.