The Sb2O5 modified SnO2 porous nanocomposites serving as NO2 gas sensing material have been successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method followed by a calcination process. The porous Sb2O5/SnO2 nanocomposites display a dominant pore size of ca. 20 nm and specific surface area of 37.2 m2 g−1, which can provide large contact area for the chemical adsorption of NO2 molecules and abundant channels for the import and export of NO2 gas. Gas sensing tests demonstrated that the as-prepared porous Sb2O5/SnO2 nanocomposites (1 mol% Sb2O5) achieved superior sensing performances including high selectivity to NO2, low optimal operating temperature (ca. 100 °C), high response (800–5 ppm NO2), and short response and recovery times (20 s and 70 s to 5 ppm NO2, respectively). Comparing with pure SnO2 porous structure, the enhanced gas sensing performances of the porous Sb2O5/SnO2 nanocomposites are mainly ascribed to the p-n junctions generated from the hybrid of n-type SnO2 with p-type Sb2O5, which not only improved the response and selectivity to NO2 gas, but also reduced the operating temperature.Download high-res image (174KB)Download full-size imageSb2O5 modified porous SnO2 nanocomposites have been synthesized and exhibited superior sensing performances for NO2 detection attributing to the hybrid of p-type Sb2O5 with n-type SnO2 to form p-n junctions.

An unsymmetrical phthalocyanine conjugated with an RGDyK moiety (6) was synthesized and characterized. Its photophysical properties, including electronic absorption, fluorescence emission (ΦF = 0.20), singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ = 0.63) and two-photon absorption cross section (TPACS) at different wavelengths were studied. The in vitro cell study data demonstrate that this Pc conjugate possesses significantly high cellular uptake toward the ανβ3 positive DU145 prostate cancer cells along with an efficient photocytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.04 μM), showing this compound is one of the most promising photosensitizers for targeting photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer.

Potassium ion (K+) plays a central role in several fundamental physiological processes. Detection of the K+ concentration is an essential diagnostic tool for various medical diseases. However, most commercial detection methods are complex and expensive, which are not easily implemented in community hospitals or at home, in this study, we present a simple fluorescent K+ detection system based on the formation of G-quadruplex between K+ and dual-labelled thrombin aptamer oligonucleotide derivative (5′-FAM-TTTTTTAGGTTGGTGTGGTTGG-TAMRA-3′). Furthermore, based on this method, highly sensitive and selective detection of K+ in actual serum was realized by using EDTA as chelating agent to avoid the interference of Ca2+ and Mg2+ at physiological concentrations. Thus, this study paves the road toward the design and manufacture of portable potassium ions sensors based on fluorescence.

Porous TiO2/Mn3O4 nanocomposite microspheres have been successfully fabricated through impregnating Mn2+ ions into the lab-made porous TiO2, followed by an annealing process. The carbon-coated TiO2 and MnTiO3 (TiO2/MnTiO3@C) ternary hybrid composites with a specific surface area of 40.0 m2 g−1 were obtained by carbonizing the pyrrole coated porous TiO2/Mn3O4 microspheres. The carbon coating with a thickness of 1–2 nm was deposited on the surface and inner wall of pores. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the as-prepared TiO2/MnTiO3@C porous electrode materials possessed a reversible capacity of 402.6 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and the capacities of 259.8, 237.3, 200.4, 150.5 and 103.3 mA h g−1 at the current densities of 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mA g−1. The MnTiO3/TiO2@C porous composites exhibited superior cycling and rate performances, arising from the synergistic effect that was created by little volume variation of the TiO2 matrix, high capacity of MnTiO3 and good electrical conductivity of the carbon coating during the charge/discharge processes.

A hydrophilic near-infrared (NIR) photosensitizer featuring a naphthalocyanine core and peripheral carboxylate acid groups was synthesized and characterized. Its photophysical and photochemical properties were studied and compared with phthalocyanine. Due to the extended π-conjugation, both the Q band and fluorescence emit of this naphthalocyanine bathochromically shift to NIR region. It also exhibits superior NIR photodynamic efficiency to phthalocyanine as evidenced by high efficiency in generating singlet oxygen (ΦΔ = 0.66) and in vitro phototoxicity toward Hela human cervical cancer cells. Therefore, this novel naphthalocyanine could potentially be a NIR photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

Monodispersed Ni flower-like architectures with size of 1–2 μm were synthesized through a facile solvent-thermal process in 1,2-propanediol solution in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium alkali for electromagnetic absorption application. The Ni architectures are composed of nanoflakes, which assemble to form three dimensional flower-like structure, and the thickness of nanoflakes is about 10–40 nm. A possible formation mechanism for Ni flower-like architectures was proposed and it was confirmed by the control experiments. The Ni architectures exhibited a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 47.7 emu/g and a large coercivity (Hcj) of 332.3 Oe. The epoxy resin composites with 20 vol% Ni sample provided good electromagnetic wave absorption performance (reflection loss <−20 dB) in the range of 2.8–6.3 GHz over absorber thickness of 2.6–5.0 mm.Graphical abstractMonodispersed Ni flower-like architectures composed of nanoflakes were synthesized through a facile solvent-thermal process. The Ni architectures exhibited a large coercivity and enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption in GHz.Highlights► Flower-like architectures composed of nanoflakes. ► A possible formation mechanism for Ni flower-like architectures was proposed. ► Sodium alkali, PEG, and NaCl played the important roles in the final morphology. ► Ni architectures exhibited a large coercivity (Hcj) of 332.3 Oe. ► Efficient electromagnetic absorption (RL<−20 dB) was provided in 2.8–6.3 GHz.

An unsymmetrical phthalocyanine conjugated with an RGDyK moiety (6) was synthesized and characterized. Its photophysical properties, including electronic absorption, fluorescence emission (ΦF = 0.20), singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ = 0.63) and two-photon absorption cross section (TPACS) at different wavelengths were studied. The in vitro cell study data demonstrate that this Pc conjugate possesses significantly high cellular uptake toward the ανβ3 positive DU145 prostate cancer cells along with an efficient photocytotoxicity (IC50 = 0.04 μM), showing this compound is one of the most promising photosensitizers for targeting photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer.

Porous TiO2/Mn3O4 nanocomposite microspheres have been successfully fabricated through impregnating Mn2+ ions into the lab-made porous TiO2, followed by an annealing process. The carbon-coated TiO2 and MnTiO3 (TiO2/MnTiO3@C) ternary hybrid composites with a specific surface area of 40.0 m2 g−1 were obtained by carbonizing the pyrrole coated porous TiO2/Mn3O4 microspheres. The carbon coating with a thickness of 1–2 nm was deposited on the surface and inner wall of pores. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the as-prepared TiO2/MnTiO3@C porous electrode materials possessed a reversible capacity of 402.6 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and the capacities of 259.8, 237.3, 200.4, 150.5 and 103.3 mA h g−1 at the current densities of 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mA g−1. The MnTiO3/TiO2@C porous composites exhibited superior cycling and rate performances, arising from the synergistic effect that was created by little volume variation of the TiO2 matrix, high capacity of MnTiO3 and good electrical conductivity of the carbon coating during the charge/discharge processes.