Polymer cubosomes (PCs) are bicontinuous mesoporous colloidal particles that feature high surface areas and an extremely ordered crystalline pore network. PCs have attracted tremendous attention because of their potential applications in many fields. Herein, we obtained new microparticles with carbonaceous reticulated networks via templated synthesis using PCs as templates. The water-channel networks of the PCs were translated into a carbonaceous skeletal cubic structure. Carbon precursors were polymerized inside the water-channel networks of the PCs under acidic conditions without collapsing the internal crystalline mesophases. The carbonaceous interconnected networks created by the templated synthesis exhibited cubic crystalline skeletal networks similar to those of the PCs. These cubic-ordered mesoporous carbon (cOMC) microparticles exhibited several properties in electrochemical experiments. In addition, the nanoscopic structures and surfaces of these microparticles sustain electrochemically perturbing environments, and thus retain more than 90% capacitance after 1000 charge–discharge cycles.

Intrinsically stretchable organic light-emitting diodes (ISOLEDs) are becoming essential components of wearable electronics. However, the efficiencies of ISOLEDs have been highly inferior compared with their rigid counterparts, which is due to the lack of ideal stretchable electrode materials that can overcome the poor charge injection at 1D metallic nanowire/organic interfaces. Herein, highly efficient ISOLEDs that use graphene-based 2D-contact stretchable electrodes (TCSEs) that incorporate a graphene layer on top of embedded metallic nanowires are demonstrated. The graphene layer modifies the work function, promotes charge spreading, and impedes inward diffusion of oxygen and moisture. The work function (WF) of 3.57 eV is achieved by forming a strong interfacial dipole after deposition of a newly designed conjugated polyelectrolyte with crown ether and anionic sulfonate groups on TCSE; this is the lowest value ever reported among ISOLEDs, which overcomes the existing problem of very poor electron injection in ISOLEDs. Subsequent pressure-controlled lamination yields a highly efficient fluorescent ISOLED with an unprecedently high current efficiency of 20.3 cd A−1, which even exceeds that of an otherwise-identical rigid counterpart. Lastly, a 3 inch five-by-five passive matrix ISOLED is demonstrated using convex stretching. This work can provide a rational protocol for designing intrinsically stretchable high-efficiency optoelectronic devices with favorable interfacial electronic structures.

Metallohydrolases are ubiquitous in nearly all subclasses of hydrolases, utilizing metal elements to activate a water molecule and facilitate its subsequent dissociation of diverse chemical bonds. However, such a catalytic role of metal ions is rarely found with glycosidases that hydrolyze the glycosidic bonds in sugars. Herein, we design metalloglycosidases by constructing a hydrolytically active Zn-binding site within a barrel-shaped outer membrane protein OmpF. Structure- and mechanism-based redesign and directed evolution have led to the emergence of Zn-dependent glycosidases with catalytic proficiency of 2.8 × 109 and high β-stereoselectivity. Biochemical characterizations suggest that the Zn-binding site constitutes a key catalytic motif along with at least one adjacent acidic residue. This work demonstrates that unprecedented metalloenzymes can be tailor-made, expanding the scope of inorganic reactivities in proteinaceous environments, resetting the structural and functional diversity of metalloenzymes, and providing the potential molecular basis of unidentified metallohydrolases and novel whole-cell biocatalysts.

Redox-active organic materials (ROMs) hold great promise as potential electrode materials for eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable batteries; however, the poor cycle stability arising from the chronic dissolution issue of the ROMs in generic battery systems has impeded their practical employment. Herein, we present that a rational selection of electrolytes considering the solubility tendency can unlock the hidden full redox capability of the DMPZ electrode (i.e., 5,10-dihydro-5,10-dimethylphenazine) with unprecedentedly high reversibility. It is demonstrated that a multiredox activity of DMPZ/DMPZ+/DMPZ2+, which has been previously regarded to degrade with repeated cycles, in the newly designed electrolyte can be utilized with surprisingly robust cycle stability over 1000 cycles at 1C. This work signifies that tailoring the electrode–electrolyte compatibility can possibly unleash the hidden potential of many common ROMs, catalyzing the rediscovery of organic electrodes with long-lasting and high energy density.

Graphene, a nanomaterial made of sp2 hybridized carbon atoms, has recently been investigated as a novel surface treatment for promoting osseointegration. This study aims to evaluate the biological effects of graphene oxide (GO) on turned and sandblasted, large-grit, and acid-etched (SLA) titanium surfaces. In vitro, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) are seeded onto titanium discs, whose surfaces have been treated in four different ways (SLA and/or GO), to observe its effects on cellular responses such as adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. In vivo, a rabbit tibia model is used to observe the effects of the four surface treatments on osseointegration of screw-shaped titanium implants. The bone-to-implant contact is analyzed using light microscopic histomorphometry. GO significantly promotes the viability, proliferation and osteoblast differentiation of BMSCs, and it enhances the attachment and proliferation of HGFs. SLA and GO treatment of implant surfaces results in significant improvement of osseointegration in vivo. Physicochemical modification of the titanium surface by SLA treatment and GO coating stimulates osteogenic activities of mesenchymal stem cells and improves biocompatibility to connective tissue cells, leading to enhancement of bone healing at the bone-implant interface.

Cell-based assays can monitor virus infection at a single-cell level with high sensitivity and cost-efficiency. For this purpose, it is crucial to develop molecular probes that respond selectively to physiological changes in live cells. We report stimuli-responsive light-emitters built on a T-shaped benzimidazole platform, and consecutive borylation reactions to produce a library of homologs displaying systematic changes in fluorescence quantum yield and environmental sensitivity. We find that certain fluorophores localize selectively at the endoplasmic reticulum, and interact with proteins involved in the stress signaling pathways. Notably, the mono-borylated compound responds selectively to the stress conditions by enhancing fluorescence, and detects avian influenza virus infection at the single-cell level. Our findings demonstrate the unprecedented practical utility of the stress-responsive molecular probes to differentiate cellular states for early diagnosis.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) is an attractive option for storing renewable electricity and for the sustainable production of valuable chemicals and fuels. In this roadmap, we review recent progress in fundamental understanding, catalyst development, and in engineering and scale-up. We discuss the outstanding challenges towards commercialization of electrochemical CO2R technology: energy efficiencies, selectivities, low current densities, and stability. We highlight the opportunities in establishing rigorous standards for benchmarking performance, advances in in operando characterization, the discovery of new materials towards high value products, the investigation of phenomena across multiple-length scales and the application of data science towards doing so. We hope that this collective perspective sparks new research activities that ultimately bring us a step closer towards establishing a low- or zero-emission carbon cycle.

Sulfite and sulfide are substances commonly present in food, biological and industrial processes. While excess amounts of these anions can elicit physiological disorders in humans, there are only limited examples of probes capable of selectively detecting both of them. In this study, we present a sulfite/sulfide dual-functional probe 1 based on a dimethylaminonaphthalene-oxazaborine fluorophore and a dicyanovinyl reaction site. Probe 1 enabled a highly selective detection of sulfite under acetonitrile/tris buffer (85:15, v/v), discriminating sulfite from common interfering species such as sulfide, cyanide, and biothiols. The probe fully responded to sulfite within 4 min, with an 18-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity. Besides, probe 1 was also able to selectively sense sulfide in pure acetonitrile, while displaying a detection limit as low as 96 nM. Mechanistic studies revealed that a large 170 nm Stokes shift of the probe after sulfite/sulfide detection can be ascribed to the nucleophilic addition of sulfite/sulfide to the dicyanovinyl moiety, which broke the conjugation system between the fluorophore scaffold and the dicyanovinyl group, thereby triggering the intramolecular charge transfer effect. Finally, the probe displayed good capability for sensing sulfite and sulfide in real samples with good recoveries, proving its potential in the determination of sulfite and sulfide concentrations for real-life applications.

Electroorganic synthesis is a sustainable technique that effectively combines electrochemistry and organic synthesis. However, the investigation of its mechanism remains a challenge owing to the complexity of the heterogeneous electron transfer process. Electroanalytical methods can offer valuable insights into its mechanism through simple and rapid procedures. In this short review, we highlight the advancements achieved in the last two years in electroanalytical methods used for the mechanistic investigation of electroorganic synthesis, from widely used cyclic voltammetry to other advanced electroanalytical techniques. Finally, we discuss our perspective on these methods

Sulfite and sulfide are substances commonly present in food, biological and industrial processes. While excess amounts of these anions can elicit physiological disorders in humans, there are only limited examples of probes capable of selectively detecting both of them. In this study, we present a sulfite/sulfide dual-functional probe 1 based on a dimethylaminonaphthalene-oxazaborine fluorophore and a dicyanovinyl reaction site. Probe 1 enabled a highly selective detection of sulfite under acetonitrile/tris buffer (85:15, v/v), discriminating sulfite from common interfering species such as sulfide, cyanide, and biothiols. The probe fully responded to sulfite within 4 min, with an 18-fold increase in the fluorescence intensity. Besides, probe 1 was also able to selectively sense sulfide in pure acetonitrile, while displaying a detection limit as low as 96 nM. Mechanistic studies revealed that a large 170 nm Stokes shift of the probe after sulfite/sulfide detection can be ascribed to the nucleophilic addition of sulfite/sulfide to the dicyanovinyl moiety, which broke the conjugation system between the fluorophore scaffold and the dicyanovinyl group, thereby triggering the intramolecular charge transfer effect. Finally, the probe displayed good capability for sensing sulfite and sulfide in real samples with good recoveries, proving its potential in the determination of sulfite and sulfide concentrations for real-life applications.