Graphdiyne bearing pillar[5]arene-reduced Au nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic performance towards the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and methylene blue

Bifunctional Polymer Brush Reactor for In Situ Synthesis of Hollow Silica-Supported Gold Nanocatalysts

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on carriers have received wide attention as catalysts as a result of their excellent stability and catalytic performance. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of hollow silica-supported gold nanocatalysts (SNPs@AuNPs) composed of highly dispersed AuNPs with approximately 4.30 nm using an in situ colloidal polyelectrolyte template strategy. The monodisperse polystyrene nanospheres accompanied by poly[(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride] brushes were first synthesized. Subsequently, the facile polymer-brush-engaged strategy for the synthesis of hollow SNPs@AuNPs involves in situ reduction of AuNPs, hydrolytic condensation of silica, and a chemical etching process. In combination with dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the as-obtained polymer brushes were proven as effective versatile nanoreactors for the synthesis of AuNPs and silica nanoparticles without any catalysts. Benefiting from the structural advantages, the resultant hollow SNPs@AuNPs manifested superior catalytic activity and reusability for the reduction of p-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride in aqueous solution. With a delicate design, we believe that this synthetic strategy can be extended to fabricate multifunctional nanomaterials with diverse compositions, which would be of great interest in catalysis, energy, and many other important domains.

Exploring the Role of 2D-Graphdiyne as a Charge Carrier Layer in Field-Effect Transistors for Non-Covalent Biological Immobilization against Human Diseases

Graphdiyne's (GDY's) outstanding features have made it a novel 2D nanomaterial and a great candidate for electronic gadgets and optoelectronic devices, and it has opened new opportunities for the development of highly sensitive electronic and optical detection methods as well. Here, we testified a non-covalent grafting strategy in which GDY serves as a charge carrier layer and a bioaffinity substrate to immobilize biological receptors on GDY-based field-effect transistor (FET) devices. Firm non-covalent anchoring of biological molecules via pyrene groups and electrostatic interactions in addition to preserved electrical properties of GDY endows it with features of an ultrasensitive and stable detection mechanism. With emerging new forms and extending the subtypes of the already existing fatal diseases, genetic and biological knowledge demands more details. In this regard, we constructed simple yet efficient platforms using GDY-based FET devices in order to detect different kinds of biological molecules that threaten human health. The resulted data showed that the proposed non-covalent bioaffinity assays in GDY-based FET devices could be considered reliable strategies for novel label-free biosensing platforms, which still reach a high on/off ratio of over 10⁴. The limits of detection of the FET devices to detect DNA strands, the CA19-9 antigen, microRNA-155, the CA15-3 antigen, and the COVID-19 antigen were 0.2 aM, 0.04 pU mL^-1, 0.11 aM, 0.043 pU mL^-1, and 0.003 fg mL^-1, respectively, in the linear ranges of 1 aM to 1 pM, 1 pU mL^-1 to 0.1 μU mL^-1, 1 aM to 1 pM, 1 pU mL^-1 to 10 μU mL^-1, and 1 fg mL^-1 to 10 ng mL^-1, respectively. Finally, the extraordinary performance of these label-free FET biosensors with low detection limits, high sensitivity and selectivity, capable of being miniaturized, and implantability for in vivo analysis makes them a great candidate in disease diagnostics and point-of-care testing.

Controlled release of drug molecules by pillararene-modified nanosystems

Stimuli-responsive nanosystems have attracted the interest of researchers due to their intelligent function of controlled release regulated by a variety of external stimuli and have been applied in biomedical fields. Pillar[n]arenes with the advantages of a rigid structure, electron holes and easy functionalization are considered as excellent candidates for the construction of host-guest nanosystems. In recent years, many pillararene modified nanosystems have been reported in response to different stimuli. In this feature article, we summarize the advance of stimuli-responsive pillararene modified nanosystems for controlled release of drugs from the perspectives of decomposition release and gated release, focusing on the control principles of these nanosystems. We expect that this review can enlighten and guide investigators in the field of stimuli-responsive controlled release.

A hydroxy-containing three dimensional covalent organic framework bearing silver nanoparticles for reduction of 4-nitrophenol and degradation of organic dyes

A hydroxy-containing three dimensional covalent organic framework bearing Ag nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and degradation of methylene blue and Congo red.

3D Carbiyne Nanospheres Boosting Excellent Lithium and Sodium Storage Performance

Reasonable design of electrode materials with specific morphology and structure can efficiently improve the metal ions storage and transmission properties of metal ion batteries. Here the preparation of spirobifluorene-based three-dimensional carbiyne nanosphere (SBFCY-NS) that is composed of spirobifluorene (SBF) and alkyne bonds is reported. Benefiting from the rigid spatial structure of SBF, numerous precursors are coupled through the connection of acetylene bonds, extending to form solid nanospheres. Abundant storage spaces and convenient multi-directional transmission paths for metal ions are available inside the three-dimensional (3D) carbiyne structure. Thus, SBFCY-NS is applied as efficient anode for lithium-ion battery and sodium-ion battery. The good stability of SBFCY-NS-based electrode and its improved Coulombic efficiency can be attributed to the special morphology of nanospheres, which can easily form thin and stable solid electrolyte interface film on the surface. Those results further promote the preparation of spherical carbon-based materials with abundant pores that can be applied in the field of electrodes.

Multifunctional Pillar[n]arene-Based Smart Nanomaterials

The construction of smart nanomaterials from host macrocycles that are responsive to specific stimuli has gained significant attention in recent years. The application of pillar[n]arenes has been of particular interest given their ease of functionalization and tunability of the intrinsic cavity electronic properties that allows them to encapsulate a great variety of guests and complex with metal ions with high selectivity via noncovalent interactions, endowing them with captivating properties and functions. Herein, we present the most recent advances in the design and functionalization of pillar[n]arene-based smart nanomaterials, and their applications for sensing, catalysis, drug delivery, and artificial transmembrane channels.

Role of Functionalized Pillararene Architectures in Supramolecular Catalysis

The many useful features possessed by pillararenes (PAs; e.g. rigid, capacious, and hydrophobic cavities, as well as exposed functional groups) have led to a tremendous increase in their popularity since their first discovery in 2008. In this Minireview, we emphasize the use of functionalized PAs and their assembled supramolecular materials in the field of catalysis. We aim to provide a fundamental understanding and mechanism of the role PAs play in catalytic process. The topics are subdivided into catalysis promoted by the PA rim/cavity, PA-based nanomaterials, and PA-based polymeric materials. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first overview on PA-based catalysis. This Minireview not only summarizes the fabrications and applications of PAs in catalysis but also anticipates future research efforts in applying supramolecular hosts in catalysis.