A novel plasmonic gold nanocarrier using a modular RNA scaffold significantly improves delivery efficiency into diverse human cells, as presented by Norbert O. Reich and co-workers in article number 1602473. The orthogonal positioning of cell targeting peptides and functional RNA provides unprecedented control in the delivery of biologically active RNA. NIR light-triggered RNA release with spatio-temporal control further enhances the RNA delivery efficiency. Plasmon-Enhanced Spectroscopy Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is invented to break the long-standing material-and substrate-specific limitations in SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering), as presented by Jian-Feng Li and co-workers in article number 1601598. The metal nanoparticle acts as a plasmonic nanoantenna for near field amplification, and the ultra-thin dielectric shell prevents the interference of environmental species. Single Crystals Perovskite single-crystalline microplate arrays are fabricated on a large scale via inkjet printing technology by Mingzhu Li, Yanlin Song, and co-workers in article number 1603217. By modulating the inkjet droplet volume and the ink composition, a tunable single/multiple mode laser with high quality factors up to 863 and three primary-color microplates are achieved. This work makes a great step toward the multifunction of on-chip perovskite crystals, which can boost its promising applications on integrated coherent light sources and other optoelectronic applications. Recent progress in the development of metallofullerene nanomaterials for next-generation biomedical applications is reviewed. For example, the metallo-fullerenes are promising magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, which are attractive by shielding toxic metals from the bioenviroment. This nanoplatform readily allows specific targeting and multi-modality capability for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. reviews Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) has been invented to break the long-standing material-and substrate-specific limitations in conventional SERS. The noble metal nanoparticle acts as plasmonic nanoantenna for the near field amplification , and the ultra-thin and inert dielectric shell prevents the interference of environmental species. This SHINERS concept could be applied to a lager family of surface-enhanced spectroscopies. Catalysts Hydrogen is considered as sustainable and environmentally friendly energy for global energy demands in the future. Here a Co-FeS 2 catalyst with surface phosphide doping (P/Co-FeS 2) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic solutions is developed. The P/Co-FeS 2 exhibits superior HER electrochemical performance with overpotential of-90 mV at 100 mA cm-2 and Tafel slope of 41 mV/decade and excellent durability. communications MWCNTs self-assemble into various homocentric rings in a thermo-driven self-assembly system. Closely packed and scatteredly packed MWCNT rings self-assemble on a Si-SiO 2 substrate, whereas on a Au substrate ...

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We present a theoretical study on the mode of adsorption of the water dimer on the perfect MgO(100) surface using the ab initio embedded cluster method. Structures and normal-mode analyses were carried out at the HF level of theory, while energetic information was improved using the IMOMO methodology at the CCSD level using a smaller model system. We found that a single coadsorbed water molecule nearby can stabilize the hydroxyl species resulting from dissociation of the adsorbed water. The dissociative product is less stable by 25.5 kJ/mol compared to the molecular adsorbed water dimer. Since the reverse barrier is only 3.8 kJ/mol and is removed when zero-point energy correction is included, hydroxyl species would not be observed for the adsorption of a water dimer. Analysis on the degree of stabilization due to the coadsorbed water molecule suggests that two or more coadsorbed water molecules would yield observable hydroxyl species. These results support recent MIES experimental evidence of water dissociation on the perfect MgO(100) surface in the submonolayer regime. Our results also indicate that the effects of the Madelung potential are significant for studying chemisorption processes on ionic metal oxide crystal surfaces.

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Ambient electrochemical oxygen reduction into valuable hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via a selective two-electron (2e–) pathway is regarded as a sustainable alternative to the industrial anthraquinone process, but it requires advanced electrocatalysts with high activity and selectivity. In this study, we report that Mn-doped TiO2 behaves as an efficient electrocatalyst toward highly selective H2O2 synthesis. This catalyst exhibits markedly enhanced 2e– oxygen reduction reaction performance with a low onset potential of 0.78 V and a high H2O2 selectivity of 92.7%, much superior to the pristine TiO2 (0.64 V, 62.2%). Additionally, it demonstrates a much improved H2O2 yield of up to 205 ppm h–1 with good stability during bulk electrolysis in an H-cell device. The significantly boosted catalytic performance is ascribed to the lattice distortion of Mn-doped TiO2 with a large amount of oxygen vacancies and Ti3+. Density functional theory calculations reveal that Mn dopant improves the electrical conductivity and reduces ΔG *OOH of pristine TiO2, thus giving rise to a highly efficient H2O2 production process.

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Silicon (Si) anodes are imperatively required in the pursuit of high-energy-density batteries yet plagued by their large volumetric changes and the resultant fast capacity decay. The consensus is that polymeric...