Bismuth oxide can store energy electrochemically in seventeen aqueous metal ion electrolytes with high capacity based on a “quasi-conversion reaction”.

A set of Co x Pt100−x nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized by the sol–gel method. The structure and magnetic properties of the produced samples were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and a vibrating sample magnetometer. When the Co content ranged from 25 to 75 at%, the results of XRD, HRTEM and SAED revealed the formation of L12 CoPt3, L10 CoPt and face-centred cubic Co3Pt NPs. Magnetic measurements indicated that CoPt3 and Co3Pt had soft magnetic properties. When the Co composition was 50 at%, the sample coercivity reached a giant value of ∼470 kA m−1.

Titanium(IV)-based metal-organic frameworks (Ti-MOFs) have received significant attention in recent years because of their numerous photocatalytic applications; however, the synthesis of new Ti-MOFs with precise crystal structures is still challenging. Herein, three new Ti-MOFs with single-crystal structures (denoted as FIR-125−FIR-127) are rationally synthesized by employing a large Ti 44 -oxo cluster as the precursor to assembly with the organic ligand. Big single-crystals can be successfully obtained and structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. During the synthesis, the large Ti 44 -oxo cluster is transferred to small Ti 8 O 8 (CO 2 ) 16 building units in the Ti-MOF. In addition, FIR-125 exhibit high stability, permanent porosity, and photocatalytic activity. This work provides a new strategy toward the big crystal growth of Ti-MOFs through the slow transformation of large titanium-oxo clusters.

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AG490 is a selective inhibitor of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. The present study examined its effects on the abnormal behavior of human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) and evaluated its potential use in the treatment of keloids. Human normal fibroblasts (HNFs) and HKFs were treated with increasing concentrations of AG490. The proliferation of HNFs and HKFs was inhibited by AG490 in both a time-and concentration-dependent manner by increasing apoptosis and inducing G1 cell cycle arrest. The downregulation of cyclin d1 and connective tissue growth factor (cTGF) expression was associated with a decrease in STAT3 expression in response to AG490. The effects of AG490 on TGF-β-stimulated fibroblasts, including HNFs, HKFs and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs) were also evaluated. The TGF-β1-stimulated excessive proliferation and cTGF production were markedly inhibited by the application of AG490 in the HNFs, HSFs and HKFs. In addition, the STAT3-specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (SOdNs) were transfected into HKFs. The invasive ability of the SOdN-transfected HKFs was determined and the expression of extracellular matrix components was quantified. Similarly, SODNs blocked the constitutive activation of STAT3. SOdNs inhibited the invasion and progression of HKFs, possibly via the upregulation of the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), and the downregulation of the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that STAT3-specific elimination, such as the application of AG490 and decoy OdNs, may serve as promising therapeutic strategies for the treatment of keloids.

Organolead halide hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become a shining star in the renewable devices field due to the sharp growth of power conversion efficiency; however, interfacial recombination and carrier‐extraction losses at heterointerfaces between the perovskite active layer and the carrier transport layers remain the two main obstacles to further improve the power conversion efficiency. Here, novel field‐effect passivation has been successfully induced to effectively suppress the interfacial recombination and improve interfacial charge transfer by incorporating interfacial polarization via inserting a high work function interlayer between perovskite and holes transport layer. The charge dynamics within the device and the mechanism of the field‐effect passivation are elucidated in detail. The unique interfacial dipoles reinforce the built‐in field and prevent the photogenerated charges from recombining, resulting in power conversion efficiency up to 21.7% with negligible hysteresis. Furthermore, the hydrophobic interlayer also suppresses the perovskite decomposition by preventing the moisture penetration, thereby improving the humidity stability of the PSCs (>91% of the initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) after 30 d in 65 ± 5% humidity). Finally, several promising research perspectives based on field‐effect passivation are also suggested for further conversion efficiency improvements and photovoltaic applications.

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