Preparation of Multi-Metal Oxide Hollow Sphere Using Layered Double Hydroxide Precursors

Layered double hydroxide-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications

Against the backdrop of increased public health awareness, inorganic nanomaterials have been widely explored as promising nanoagents for various kinds of biomedical applications. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), with versatile physicochemical advantages including excellent biocompatibility, pH-sensitive biodegradability, highly tunable chemical composition and structure, and ease of composite formation with other materials, have shown great promise in biomedical applications. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the recent advances in LDH-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Firstly, the material categories and advantages of LDH-based nanomaterials are discussed. The preparation and surface modification of LDH-based nanomaterials, including pristine LDHs, LDH-based nanocomposites and LDH-derived nanomaterials, are then described. Thereafter, we systematically describe the great potential of LDHs in biomedical applications including drug/gene delivery, bioimaging diagnosis, cancer therapy, biosensing, tissue engineering, and anti-bacteria. Finally, on the basis of the current state of the art, we conclude with insights on the remaining challenges and future prospects in this rapidly emerging field.

Hierarchically structured magnesium based oxides: synthesis strategies and applications in organic pollutant remediation

In this highlight, we review the design and formation of MgO based hierarchical structures and cover some selected examples on their applications in adsorption of organic contaminants.

Hierarchical NiFe Layered Double Hydroxide Hollow Microspheres with Highly-Efficient Behavior toward Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The exploitation of highly efficiency and low-cost electrocatalysts toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a meaningful route in renewable energy technologies including solar fuel and water splitting. Herein, NiFe-layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) hollow microsphere (HMS) was designed and synthesized via a one-step in situ growth method by using SiO₂ as a sacrificial template. Benefiting from the unique architecture, NiFe-LDH HMS shows highly efficient OER electrocatalytic activity with a preferable current density (71.69 mA cm^-2 at η = 300 mV) and a small onset overpotential (239 mV at 10 mA cm^-2), which outperforms the 20 wt % commercial Ir/C catalyst. Moreover, it exhibits a remarkably low Tafel slope (53 mV dec^-1) as well as a satisfactory long-time stability. Electrochemical studies reveal that this hierarchical structure facilitates a full exposure of active sites and facile ion transport kinetics, accounting for the excellent performance. It is expected that the NiFe-LDH microsphere material can serve as a promising non-noble-metal-based electrocatalyst toward water oxidation reaction.