Nanostructured Li3V2(PO4)3 Cathodes

To further increase the energy and power densities of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), monoclinic Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ attracts much attention. However, the intrinsic low electrical conductivity (2.4 × 10^?7 S cm^?1) and sluggish kinetics become major drawbacks that keep Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ away from meeting its full potential in high rate performance. Recently, significant breakthroughs in electrochemical performance (e.g., rate capability and cycling stability) have been achieved by utilizing advanced nanotechnologies. The nanostructured Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ hybrid cathodes not only improve the electrical conductivity, but also provide high electrode/electrolyte contact interfaces, favorable electron and Li⁺ transport properties, and good accommodation of strain upon Li⁺ insertion/extraction. In this Review, light is shed on recent developments in the application of 0D (nanoparticles), 1D (nanowires and nanobelts), 2D (nanoplates and nanosheets), and 3D (nanospheres) Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ for high‐performance LIBs, especially highlighting their synthetic strategies and promising electrochemical properties. Finally, the future prospects of nanostructured Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathodes are discussed.     

Immobilization of Photo‐Immunoconjugates on Nanoparticles Leads to Enhanced Light‐Activated Biological Effects

The past three decades have witnessed notable advances in establishing photosensitizer–antibody photo‐immunoconjugates for photo‐immunotherapy and imaging of tumors. Photo‐immunotherapy minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue when using a cancer‐selective photo‐immunoconjugate, but requires a threshold intracellular photosensitizer concentration to be effective. Delivery of immunoconjugates to the target cells is often hindered by I) the low photosensitizer‐to‐antibody ratio of photo‐immunoconjugates and II) the limited amount of target molecule presented on the cell surface. Here, a nanoengineering approach is introduced to overcome these obstacles and improve the effectiveness of photo‐immunotherapy and imaging. Click chemistry coupling of benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD)–Cetuximab photo‐immunoconjugates onto FKR560 dye‐containing poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles markedly enhances intracellular photo‐immunoconjugate accumulation and potentiates light‐activated photo‐immunotoxicity in ovarian cancer and glioblastoma. It is further demonstrated that co‐delivery and light activation of BPD and FKR560 allow longitudinal fluorescence tracking of photoimmunoconjugate and nanoparticle in cells. Using xenograft mouse models of epithelial ovarian cancer, intravenous injection of photo‐immunoconjugated nanoparticles doubles intratumoral accumulation of photo‐immunoconjugates, resulting in an enhanced photoimmunotherapy‐mediated tumor volume reduction, compared to “standard” immunoconjugates. This generalizable “carrier effect” phenomenon is attributed to the successful incorporation of photo‐immunoconjugates onto a nanoplatform, which modulates immunoconjugate delivery and improves treatment outcomes.     

Retracted: Dual Effects of Nanostructuring and Oxygen Vacancy on Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Activity of Superstructured and Defective Hematite Nanorods

An Ar atmospheric treatment is rationally used to etch and activate hematite nanoflakes (NFs) as photoanodes toward enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The formation of a highly ordered hematite nanorods (NRs) array containing a high density of oxygen vacancy is successfully prepared through in situ reduction of NFs in Ar atmosphere. Furthermore, a hematite (104) plane and an iron suboxide layer at the absorber/back‐contact interface are formed. The material defects produced by a thermal oxidation method can be critical for the morphology transformation from 2D NFs to 1D NRs. The resulting hematite NR photoanodes show high efficiency toward solar water splitting with improved light harvesting capabilities, leading to an enhanced photoresponse due to the artificially formed oxygen vacancies.     

Pseudocapacitive Sodium Storage by Ferroelectric Sn2P2S6 with Layered Nanostructure

Sodium ion batteries (SIB) are considered promising alternative candidates for lithium ion batteries (LIB) because of the wide availability and low cost of sodium, therefore the development of alternative sodium storage materials with comparable performance to LIB is urgently desired. The sodium ions with larger sizes resist intercalation or alloying because of slow reaction kinetics. Most pseudocapacitive sodium storage materials are based on subtle nanomaterial engineering, which is difficult for large‐scale production. Here, ferroelectric Sn₂P₂S₆ with layered nanostructure is developed as sodium ion storage material. The ferroelectricity‐enhanced pseudocapacitance of sodium ion in the interlayer spacing makes the electrochemical reaction easier and faster, endowing the Sn₂P₂S₆ electrode with excellent rate capability and cycle stability. Furthermore, the facile solid state reaction synthesis and common electrode fabrication make the Sn₂P₂S₆ that becomes a promising anode material of SIB.     

Natural Plant Materials as Dielectric Layer for Highly Sensitive Flexible Electronic Skin

Nature has long offered human beings with useful materials. Herein, plant materials including flowers and leaves have been directly used as the dielectric material in flexible capacitive electronic skin (e‐skin), which simply consists of a dried flower petal or leaf sandwiched by two flexible electrodes. The plant material is a 3D cell wall network which plays like a compressible metamaterial that elastically collapses upon pressing plus some specific surface structures, and thus the device can sensitively respond to pressure. The device works over a broad‐pressure range from 0.6 Pa to 115 kPa with a maximum sensitivity of 1.54 kPa^?1, and shows high stability over 5000 cyclic pressings or bends. The natural‐material‐based e‐skin has been applied in touch sensing, motion monitoring, gas flow detection, and the spatial distribution of pressure. As the foam‐like structure is ubiquitous in plants, a general strategy for a green, cost‐effective, and scalable approach to make flexible e‐skins is offered here.     

Progress in additive manufacturing on new materials: A review

Recent efforts and advances in additive manufacturing (AM) on different types of new materials are presented and reviewed. Special attention is paid to the material design of cladding layers, the choice of feedstock materials, the metallurgical behavior and synthesis principle during the AM process, and the resulted microstructures and properties, as well as the relationship between these factors. Thereafter, the trend of development in the future is forecasted, including: Effects of the particles size and size distribution of powders; Approaches for producing fine microstructures; Opportunities for creating new materials by AM; Wide applications in reconditioning of damaged components; Challenges for deep understanding and applications of the AMed new materials. The idea of “Develop Materials” or “Create Materials” by AM is highlighted, but a series of scientific, technological and engineering problems remain to be solved in future.