The development of modular strategies for programming self-assembled supramolecular architectures with distinct structural and functional features is of immense scientific interest. We reported on the intrinsic antibacterial capability of anionic amphiphilic gold nanoclusters (GNCs) capped by para-mercaptobenzoic acid, which was closely related to the protonation level of terminal carboxylate groups. By using of the metal−ligand coordination-driven and solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly, we constructed GNCs-based mixed-metal metal−organic network (MM-MON) films on titanium disks as antibacterial nanocoatings. Taking the reasonable utilization of tetravalent metal ions M 4+ (Ti, Zr, Hf; hard Lewis acid) and bactericidal divalent metal ions M 2+ (Cu, Zn; borderline acid) co-incorporated metal−carboxylate coordination bonds, the MM-MON films exhibited superior stability due to the robust M 4+ −O bonds and M 2+ releasing behavior resulting from the labile M 2+ −O coordinating. Together, the MM-MON films integrated the bacteria-responsive character of GNCs, exceptional chemical stability, and greatly enhanced antibacterial activity, ultimately killing adherent bacteria and initiating a self-defensive function. In a rat model for subcutaneous implant-associated infection, the MM-MON nanocoating showed an approximately 2 and 1 log lower multidrugresistant Staphylococcus aureus implant and tissue colonization, respectively. The generalizable modular strategy of the GNC− metal networks is amenable to facilitate the functionalization of metal surfaces for combating implant-associated infections.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

MoS2/RGO composite hollow microspheres were hydrothermally synthesized by using SiO2/GO microspheres as a template, which were obtained via the sonication-assisted interfacial self-assembly of tiny GO sheets on positively charged SiO2 microspheres. The structure, morphology, phase, and chemical composition of MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres were systematically investigated by a series of techniques such as FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, TGA, BET, and Raman characterizations, meanwhile, their electrochemical properties were carefully evaluated by CV, GCD, and EIS measurements. It was found that MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres possessed unique porous hollow architecture with high-level hierarchy and large specific surface area up to 63.7 m2·g−1. When used as supercapacitor electrode material, MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres delivered a maximum specific capacitance of 218.1 F·g−1 at the current density of 1 A·g−1, which was much higher than that of contrastive bare MoS2 microspheres developed in the present work and most of other reported MoS2-based materials. The enhancement of supercapacitive behaviors of MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres was likely due to the improved conductivity together with their distinct structure and morphology, which not only promoted the charge transport but also facilitated the electrolyte diffusion. Moreover, MoS2/RGO hollow microsphere electrode displayed satisfactory long-term stability with 91.8% retention of the initial capacitance after 1000 charge/discharge cycles at the current density of 3 A·g−1, showing excellent application potential.

Hierarchical micro-mesoporous carbon (denoted as HPC-2 in this study) was synthesized by pre-carbonization of biomass Sichuan pepper followed by KOH activation. It possessed well-developed porosity with the specific surface area of 1823.1 m2 g−1 and pore volume of 0.906 cm3 g−1, and exhibited impressive supercapacitive behaviors. For example, the largest specific capacitance of HPC-2 was tested to be ca. 171 F g−1 in a three-electrode setup with outstanding rate capability and stable electrochemical property, whose capacitance retention was near 100% after cycling at rather a high current density of 40 A g−1 for up to 10,000 cycles. Furthermore, a two-electrode symmetric supercapacitor cell of HPC-2//HPC-2 was constructed, which delivered the maximum specific capacitance and energy density of ca. 30 F g−1 and 4.2 Wh kg−1, respectively, had prominent rate performance and cycling stability with negligible capacitance decay after repetitive charge/discharge at a high current density of 10 A g−1 for over 10,000 cycles. Such electrochemical properties of HPC-2 in both three- and two-electrode systems are superior or comparable to those of a great number of porous biomass carbon reported previously, hence making it a promising candidate for the development of high-performance energy storage devices.

Nickel silicate hydroxide/reduced graphene oxide (Ni3Si2O5(OH)4/RGO) composite hollow microspheres were one-pot hydrothermally synthesized by employing graphene oxide (GO)-wrapped SiO2 microspheres as the template and silicon source, which were prepared through sonication-assisted interfacial self-assembly of tiny GO sheets on positively charged SiO2 substrate microspheres. The composition, morphology, structure, and phase of Ni3Si2O5(OH)4/RGO microspheres as well as their electrochemical properties were carefully studied. It was found that Ni3Si2O5(OH)4/RGO microspheres featured distinct hierarchical porous morphology with hollow architecture and a large specific surface area as high as 67.6 m2 g–1. When utilized as a supercapacitor electrode material, Ni3Si2O5(OH)4/RGO hollow microspheres released a maximum specific capacitance of 178.9 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1, which was much higher than that of the contrastive bare Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 hollow microspheres and bare RGO material developed in this work, displaying enhanced supercapacitive behavior. Impressively, the Ni3Si2O5(OH)4/RGO microsphere electrode exhibited outstanding rate capability and long-term cycling stability and durability with 97.6% retention of the initial capacitance after continuous charging/discharging for up to 5000 cycles at the current density of 6 A g−1, which is superior or comparable to that of most of other reported nickel-based electrode materials, hence showing promising application potential in the energy storage area.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s11671-017-2094-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

No abstract