One-dimensional titanium dioxide nanomaterials: nanotubes

Photoelectrochemical activities and low content Nb-doping effects on one-dimensional self-ordered Nb2O5–TiO2 nanotubes

Nb₂O₅-doped TiO₂ nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodization. Nb's beneficial effects exhibit an improved charge separation efficiency, resulting in higher photocatalytic/photoelectrocatalytic activities.

Comprehensive investigation of the reciprocity of structure and enhanced photocatalytic performance in finned-tube structured TiO2/BiOBr heterojunctions

The formation mechanism of the as-prepared 1D finned-tube structured TiO₂@BiOBr heterojunctions and a possible mechanism of the photocatalytic activity enhancement were proposed.

Surface engineering for an enhanced photoelectrochemical response of TiO2 nanotube arrays by simple surface air plasma treatment

A simple method to improve the photoelectrochemical performance of TiO₂ NTs by simple air plasma post-treatment is reported. The photocurrent density and IPCE are 3–4 times higher than that of the pristine TiO₂ NTs even after six months.

Titanate and titania nanostructured materials for environmental and energy applications: a review

The state-of-the-art development of fabrication strategies of multi-dimensional titanate and titania nanostructures is reviewed first. This is followed by an overview of their potential applications in environmental, energy, and biomedical sectors.

Theoretical studies of heteroatom-doping in TiO2 to enhance the electron injection in dye-sensitized solar cells

Density functional calculations have been explored to analyze the structural, electronic and charge transfer properties of a doped TiO₂ substrate and catechol–TiO₂ interfaces for dye-sensitized solar cells.

H₂ mapping on Pt-loaded TiO₂ nanotube gradient arrays

We describe a rapid screening technique for determining the optimal characteristics of nanophotocatalysts for the production of H2 on a single surface. Arrays of TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) with a gradient in length and diameter were fabricated by bipolar anodization, and a perpendicular gradient of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) was generated by the toposelective decoration of the TiO2 NTs. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was locally triggered with a UV laser beam, and the arrays were screened in the x and y directions for spatially resolved kinetic measurements and the mapping of the optimal hydrogen production. By using this technique, we demonstrate the time-efficient and straightforward determination of the tube dimensions and Pt loading for optimized H2 production. The concept holds promise for generally improving the study of many photoreactions as a function of the physicochemical characteristic of nanophotocatalysts, which renders it highly attractive for the optimization of various important chemical processes.

Nanotopographical Surfaces for Stem Cell Fate Control: Engineering Mechanobiology from the Bottom

During embryogenesis and tissue maintenance and repair in an adult organism, a myriad of stem cells are regulated by their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) enriched with tissue/organ-specific nanoscale topographical cues to adopt different fates and functions. Attributed to their capability of self-renewal and differentiation into most types of somatic cells, stem cells also hold tremendous promise for regenerative medicine and drug screening. However, a major challenge remains as to achieve fate control of stem cells in vitro with high specificity and yield. Recent exciting advances in nanotechnology and materials science have enabled versatile, robust, and large-scale stem cell engineering in vitro through developments of synthetic nanotopographical surfaces mimicking topological features of stem cell niches. In addition to generating new insights for stem cell biology and embryonic development, this effort opens up unlimited opportunities for innovations in stem cell-based applications. This review is therefore to provide a summary of recent progress along this research direction, with perspectives focusing on emerging methods for generating nanotopographical surfaces and their applications in stem cell research. Furthermore, we provide a review of classical as well as emerging cellular mechano-sensing and -transduction mechanisms underlying stem cell nanotopography sensitivity and also give some hypotheses in regard to how a multitude of signaling events in cellular mechanotransduction may converge and be integrated into core pathways controlling stem cell fate in response to extracellular nanotopography.