Preparation of boron-doped mesoporous carbon with aromatic compounds as expanding agents

Mechanism underlying joint loading and controlled release of β-carotene and curcumin by octenylsuccinated Gastrodia elata starch aggregates

This study aimed to fabricate a novel codelivery system to simultaneously load β-carotene and curcumin in a controlled and synergistic manner. We hypothesized that the aggregates of octenylsuccinated Gastrodia elata starch (OSGES) could efficiently load and control the release of β-carotene and curcumin in combination. Mechanisms underlying the self-assembly of OSGES, coloading, and corelease of β-carotene and curcumin by relevant aggregates were studied. The OSGES could form aggregates with a size of 120.2 nm containing hydrophobic domains surrounded by hydrophilic domains. For coloading, the increased solubilities were attributed to favorable interactions between β-carotene and curcumin as well as interactions with octenyl and starch moieties via hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions, respectively. The β-carotene and curcumin molecules occupied the interior and periphery of hydrophobic domains of OSGES aggregates, respectively, and they did not exist in isolation but interacted with each other. The β-carotene and curcumin combination-loaded OSGES aggregates with a size of 310.5 nm presented a more compact structure than β-carotene-only and curcumin-only loaded OSGES aggregates with sizes of 463.5 and 202.9 nm respectively, suggesting that a transition from a loose cluster to a compact cluster was accompanied by coloading. During in vitro digestion, the joint effect of β-carotene and curcumin prolonged their release and increased their bioaccessibility due to competition between favorable hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions and the unfavorable structure erosion and relaxation of the loaded aggregates. Therefore, OSGES aggregates were designed for the codelivery of β-carotene and curcumin, indicating their potential to be applied in functional foods and dietary supplements.

Recent Advanced Supercapacitor: A Review of Storage Mechanisms, Electrode Materials, Modification, and Perspectives

In recent years, the development of energy storage devices has received much attention due to the increasing demand for renewable energy. Supercapacitors (SCs) have attracted considerable attention among various energy storage devices due to their high specific capacity, high power density, long cycle life, economic efficiency, environmental friendliness, high safety, and fast charge/discharge rates. SCs are devices that can store large amounts of electrical energy and release it quickly, making them ideal for use in a wide range of applications. They are often used in conjunction with batteries to provide a power boost when needed and can also be used as a standalone power source. They can be used in various potential applications, such as portable equipment, smart electronic systems, electric vehicles, and grid energy storage systems. There are a variety of materials that have been studied for use as SC electrodes, each with its advantages and limitations. The electrode material must have a high surface area to volume ratio to enable high energy storage densities. Additionally, the electrode material must be highly conductive to enable efficient charge transfer. Over the past several years, several novel materials have been developed which can be used to improve the capacitance of the SCs. This article reviews three types of SCs: electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), pseudocapacitors, and hybrid supercapacitors, their respective development, energy storage mechanisms, and the latest research progress in material preparation and modification. In addition, it proposes potentially feasible solutions to the problems encountered during the development of supercapacitors and looks forward to the future development direction of SCs.

Fabrication of high B-doped ordered mesoporous carbon with 4-hydroxyphenylborate phenolic resin for supercapacitor electrode materials

The high B-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (HPB-OMC) was prepared by using 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid-modified phenolic resin (HPBPF) as a boron and carbon precursor via the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) approach. The chemical composite, mesoporous structure, and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared HPB-OMC are investigated. The results show that both highly boron-doped and well-ordered mesoporous structure are achieved for HPB-OMCs, owing to the improvement of solubility of the resins in ethanol, and the enhancement of thermal stability of pore channels during carbonization. Moreover, the HPB-OMCs exhibit an ideal electric double-layer capacitor performance. With the increase of the B-doped content, the specific capacitance of the HPB-OMC electrode rises gradually, then drops off a little. The HPB-OMC with a high B content (3.96 wt%) shows a much high specific capacitance of 183 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹, suggesting its promising application in the field of supercapacitors.

The HPB-OMCs, with 3.96 wt% boron-doped and well-ordered structure, show a much high specific capacitance of 183 F g⁻¹ at the current density of 1 A g⁻¹ and ideal electrochemical performances.