Enhanced Peroxidase‐Like Properties of Graphene–Hemin‐Composite Decorated with Au Nanoflowers as Electrochemical Aptamer Biosensor for the Detection of K562 Leukemia Cancer Cells

Graphene composites with hemin and gold nanoparticles show a better performance for hydrogen peroxide decomposition compared to that of the three components alone or duplex/hybrid complexes. Our previous studies showed that the morphology of the Au nanoparticles may greatly influence the catalytic activity of graphene‐family peroxidase mimics. Recently, we found that Au nanoflowers could grow in situ and form on the surface of hemin/RGO (reduced graphene oxide). The prickly morphology of this Au nanoflower brought a higher catalytic ability with enhanced kinetic parameters than traditional Au nanoparticles that showed a smooth surface. Therefore, based on this discovery, a smart electrochemical aptamer biosensor for K562 leukemia cancer cells was further presented with good performance in selectivity and sensitivity attributed to the excellent mimetic peroxidase catalytic activity of this newly synthesized Au nanoflower decorated graphene–hemin composite (H‐RGO‐Au NFs).     

Preparation of 3D MnO2/Polyaniline/Graphene Hybrid Material via Interfacial Polymerization as High‐Performance Supercapacitor Electrode

MnO₂/polyaniline/graphene composite as a supercapacitor electrode material was synthesized through an interfacial polymerization approach in the interface of oil/water phase. The as‐synthesized MPG is characterized by infrared spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, SEM and TEM, and its electrochemical performance is measured by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The 3D nanostructure of MPG and loose nanorod structure of polyaniline (PANI) coated with round MnO₂ pellets could be clearly observed. The maximum energy density of MPG is 45.4 Wh/kg (at a power density of 67.8 kW/kg) and the highest power density is 229.2 kW/kg (at an energy density of 25.7 Wh/kg). The capacitance retentions after 500 cycles at the scan rate of 5 mV/s for MGP composite and PANI/graphene are 70.4% and 59.1%, respectively, and the capacitance values after 500 cycles are 158.4 F/g and 114.8 F/g, respectively. The improved performance of MPG is due to the 3D nanostructure, loose nanorod structure of PANI and stable support of graphene, which prevent the mechanical deformation effectively during the fast charge/discharge process and facilitate the diffusion of the electrolyte ions into the inner region of active materials. The composite material is very promising for the next generation of high‐performance supercapacitors electrode.     

Enhanced Electrochemical Kinetics on Conductive Polar Mediators for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have been recognized as promising substitutes for current energy‐storage technologies owing to their exceptional advantage in energy density. The main challenge in developing highly efficient and long‐life Li–S batteries is simultaneously suppressing the shuttle effect and improving the redox kinetics. Polar host materials have desirable chemisorptive properties to localize the mobile polysulfide intermediates; however, the role of their electrical conductivity in the redox kinetics of subsequent electrochemical reactions is not fully understood. Conductive polar titanium carbides (TiC) are shown to increase the intrinsic activity towards liquid–liquid polysulfide interconversion and liquid–solid precipitation of lithium sulfides more than non‐polar carbon and semiconducting titanium dioxides. The enhanced electrochemical kinetics on a polar conductor guided the design of novel hybrid host materials of TiC nanoparticles grown within a porous graphene framework (TiC@G). With a high sulfur loading of 3.5 mg cm^?2, the TiC@G/sulfur composite cathode exhibited a substantially enhanced electrochemical performance.     

Aryl Radical Geometry Determines Nanographene Formation on Au(111)

The Ullmann coupling has been used extensively as a synthetic tool for the formation of C?C bonds on surfaces. Thus far, most syntheses made use of aryl bromides or aryl iodides. We investigated the applicability of an aryl chloride in the bottom‐up assembly of graphene nanoribbons. Specifically, the reactions of 10,10′‐dichloro‐9,9′‐bianthryl (DCBA) on Au(111) were studied. Using atomic resolution non‐contact AFM, the structure of various coupling products and intermediates were resolved, allowing us to reveal the important role of the geometry of the intermediate aryl radicals in the formation mechanism. For the aryl chloride, cyclodehydrogenation occurs before dehalogenation and polymerization. Due to their geometry, the planar bisanthene radicals display a different coupling behavior compared to the staggered bianthryl radicals formed when aryl bromides are used. This results in oligo‐ and polybisanthenes with predominantly fluoranthene‐type connections.     

Partially Hydrogenated Graphene Materials Exhibit High Electrocatalytic Activities Related to Unintentional Doping with Metallic Impurities

Partially hydrogenated graphene materials, synthesized by the chemical reduction/hydrogenation of two different graphene oxides using zinc powder in acidic environment or aluminum powder in alkaline environment, exhibit high electrocatalytic activities, as well as electrochemical sensing properties. The starting graphene oxides and the resultant hydrogenated graphenes were characterized in detail. Their electrocatalytic activity was examined in the oxygen reduction reaction, whereas sensing properties towards explosives were tested by using picric acid as a redox probe. Findings indicate that the high electrocatalytic performance originates not only from the hydrogenation of graphene, but also from unintentional contamination of graphene with manganese and other metals during synthesis. A careful evaluation of the obtained data and a detailed chemical analysis are necessary to identify the origin of this anomalous electrocatalytic activity.     

Autonomously Propelled Motors for Value‐Added Product Synthesis and Purification

A proof‐of‐concept design for autonomous, self‐propelling motors towards value‐added product synthesis and separation is presented. The hybrid motor design consists of two distinct functional blocks. The first, a sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) granule, serves both as a reaction prerequisite for the reduction of vanillin and also as a localized solid‐state fuel in the reaction mixture. The second capping functional block consisting of a graphene–polymer composite serves as a hydrophobic matrix to attract the reaction product vanillyl alcohol (VA), resulting in facile separation of this edible value‐added product. These autonomously propelled motors were fabricated at a length scale down to 400 μm, and once introduced in the reaction environment showed rapid bubble‐propulsion followed by high‐purity separation of the reaction product (VA) by the virtue of the graphene–polymer cap acting as a mesoporous sponge. The concept has excellent potential towards the synthesis/isolation of industrially important compounds, affinity‐based product separation, pollutant remediation (such as heavy metal chelation/adsorption), as well as localized fuel‐gradients as an alternative to external fuel dependency.     

Pseudopeptide‐Based Hydrogels Trapping Methylene Blue and Eosin Y

We present herein the preparation of four different hydrogels based on the pseudopeptide gelator Fmoc‐l ‐Phe‐d ‐Oxd‐OH (Fmoc=fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl), either by changing the gelator concentration or adding graphene oxide (GO) to the water solution. The hydrogels have been analysed by rheological studies that demonstrated that pure hydrogels are slightly stronger compared to GO‐loaded hydrogels. Then the hydrogels efficiency to trap the cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic eosin Y (EY) dyes has been analyzed. MB is efficiently trapped by both the pure hydrogel and the GO‐loaded hydrogel through π–π interactions and electrostatic interactions. In contrast, the removal of the anionic EY is achieved in less satisfactory yields, due to the unfavourable electrostatic interactions between the dye, the gelator and GO.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Coordination Polymers with Aromatic Dioxide as Bridge Ligands

Two coordination polymers, namely, two-dimensional complex 1 {[Cu(μ- L)1.5(ClO4)2(H2O)].(H2O)0.5}n (L = pyrazine-1,4-dioxide) and one-dimensional complex 2 [Co(μ-L)Br2(H2O)2]n, have been synthesized with pyrazine-1,4-dioxide as bridging ligands, and their crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data for complex 1: monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a = 23.310(3), b = 12.2338(17), c = 10.6075(15) , β = 110.487(2)°, V = 2833.6(7) 3, Z = 8, C6H9Cl2CuN3O12.5, Mr = 457.60, Dc = 2.145 g/cm3, F(000) = 1832 and μ = 1.998 mm-1; and those for 2: monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a = 11.012(3), b = 7.483(2), c = 11.451(3) , β = 101.654(4)°, V = 924.2(4) 3, Z = 4, C4H8Br2CoN2O4, Mr = 366.87, Dc = 2.637 g/cm3, F(000) = 700 and μ = 10.487 mm-1. 1 shows a two-dimensional sheet structure on the ac plane through the coordination of μ-L bridging ligands with Cu(II) ions, while 2 displays a zigzag one-dimensional chain along the c axis via the coordination of μ-L bridging ligand with Co(II) ions. Hydrogen bonds in 1 and 2 make the sheets (or chains) connect each other to form a three-dimensional structure.     

金属改性煤基石墨烯复合材料的制备及其光催化性能

石墨烯由于其大的比表面积和良好的电子传输特性,在光催化领域具有巨大的应用潜力。本文通过水热法原位合成制备得到CuO/TiO₂/煤基石墨烯复合材料（CTG）,采用XRD、SEM、TEM等手段对样品结构、形貌等进行了表征和分析;进而以CuO/TiO₂/煤基石墨烯复合材料为光催化剂,在可见光条件下还原CO₂制备甲醇以考察其光催化性能。结果表明,CuO/TiO₂/煤基石墨烯复合材料具有良好的光催化活性,当其中Cu的负载量为2%（质量分数）时,目标产物甲醇的产率最高可达94.79 μmol/g.cat,为同样条件下单独采用煤基石墨烯作为光催化剂时甲醇产率的5倍。