A self-assembled peptide nanofibrous hydrogel composed of N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) was used to construct a smart biointerface. This biointerface was then used for enzyme-based electrochemical biosensing and cell monitoring. The Fmoc-FF hydrogel had two functions. One was as a matrix to embed an enzyme model, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), during the self-assembly of Fmoc-FF peptides. The other was use as a robust substrate for cell adhesion. Experimental data demonstrated that HRP was immobilized in a stable manner within the peptide hydrogel, and that HRP retained its inherent bioactivity toward H2O2. The HRP also can realize direct electron transfer in the Fmoc-FF hydrogel. The resulting third-generation electrochemical H2O2 biosensor exhibited good analytical performance, including a low limit of detection of 18 nM, satisfactory reproducibility, and high stability and selectivity. HeLa cells were then adhered to the HRP/Fmoc-FF hydrogel-modified electrode. The sensitive in situ monitoring of H2O2 released from HeLa cells was realized. This biointerface based on the Fmoc-FF hydrogel was easily prepared, environmentally friendly, and also versatile for integration of other cells and recognized molecules for the monitoring of various cellular biomolecules. The smart biointerface has potential application in broad physiological and pathological investigations.
Unique hollow hybrid structures composed of well-dispersed catalyst nanoparticles embedded in a carbon matrix offer great advantages for constructing advanced supported catalysts. Herein, we report the designed synthesis of Co9S8 and nitrogen doped hollow carbon sphere (Co9S8/NHCS) composites by carbonization of metanilic anions within the confinement of the two-dimensional galleries of hollow spherical cobalt-aluminum layered double hydroxides. The Co9S8/NHCS are composed of numerous porous carbon nanoflakes, and monodisperse Co9S8 nanoparticles are embedded within the carbon nanoflakes. Electrochemical measurements show the Co9S8/NHCS catalysts prepared at 900 °C exhibit superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, resulting in the highest ORR performance to date among all transition metal sulfide-based ORR catalysts in both alkaline and acid electrolytes. This interlayer confined reaction approach may provide an efficient platform for the synthesis of other functional materials for alternative applications.Monodisperse Co 9 S 8 nanoparticles embedded within nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanoflakes are synthesized by an interlayer confined reaction and exhibit excellent oxygen reduction reaction activity.
New pink organic-inorganic layered cobalt hydroxide nanofibers intercalated with benzoate ions [Co(OH)(C6H5COO)·H2O] have been synthesized by using cobalt nitrate and sodium benzoate as reactants in water with no addition of organic solvent or surfactant. The high-purity nanofibers are single-crystalline in nature and very uniform in size with a diameter of about 100 nm and variable lengths over a wide range from 200 μm down to 2 μm by simply adjusting reactant concentrations. The as-synthesized products are well-characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), fast Fourier transforms (FFT), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis). Our results demonstrate that the structure consists of octahedral cobalt layers and the benzoate anions, which are arranged in a bilayer due to the π-π stacking of small aromatics. The carboxylate groups of benzoate anions are coordinated to Co(II) ions in a strong bridging mode, which is the driving force for the anisotropic growth of nanofibers. When NaOH is added during the synthesis, green irregular shaped platelets are obtained, in which the carboxylate groups of benzoate anions are coordinated to the Co(II) ions in a unidentate fashion. Interestingly, the nanofibers exhibit a reversible transformation of the coordination geometry of the Co(II) ions between octahedral and pseudotetrahedral with a concomitant color change between pink and blue, which involves the loss and reuptake of unusual weakly coordinated water molecules without destroying the structure. This work offers a facile, cost-effective, and green strategy to rationally design and synthesize functional nanomaterials for future applications in catalysis, magnetism, gas storage or separation, and sensing technology.
Chinese lantern-like MnO@N–C is prepared via a facile process, and exhibits excellent electrochemical performance as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
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