Fabrication of Multifunctional Silylated GO/FeSiAl Epoxy Composites: A Heat Conducting Microwave Absorber for 5G Base Station Packaging.

A multifunctional microwave absorber with high thermal conductivity for 5G base station packaging comprising silylated GO/FeSiAl epoxy composites were fabricated by a simple solvent-handling method, and its microwave absorption properties and thermal conductivity were presented. It could act as an applicable microwave absorber for highly integrated 5G base station packaging with 5G antennas within a range of operating frequency of 2.575-2.645 GHz at a small thickness (2 mm), as evident from reflection loss with a maximum of -48.28 dB and an effective range of 3.6 GHz. Such a prominent microwave absorbing performance results from interfacial polarization resonance attributed to a nicely formed GO/FeSiAl interface through silylation. It also exhibits a significant enhanced thermal conductivity of 1.6 W/(mK) by constructing successive thermal channels.

In Vitro Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Ag3PW12O40 Composites against Candida Species.

Fungal infections pose a serious threat to human health. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are metal-oxygen clusters with potential application in the control of microbial infections. Herein, the Ag3PW12O40 composites have been synthesized and verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antifungal activities of Ag3PW12O40 were screened in 19 Candida species strains through the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the microdilution checkerboard technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) values of Ag3PW12O40 are 2~32 µg/mL to the Candida species. The MIC80 value of Ag3PW12O40 to resistant clinical isolates C. albicans HL963 is 8 µg/mL, which is lower than the positive control, fluconazole (FLC). The mechanism against C. albicans HL963 results show that Ag3PW12O40 can decrease the ergosterol content. The expressions of ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11, which impact on the synthesis of ergosterol, are all prominently upregulated by Ag3PW12O40. It indicates that Ag3PW12O40 is a candidate in the development of new antifungal agents.

Polyoxometalate-based microcrystal arrays patterned on air-grid superwettable surface.

Surface patterning of polyoxometalates (POMs) is an important step to gain functional materials and devices. However, some special requirements such as complex operation steps or strict synthesis environment greatly limit their further applications. Herein, we have employed a simple and universal strategy for patterning POM-based microcrystal arrays on air-grid superwettable surfaces. The size and distribution of POM crystals were precisely adjusted by varying the pillar parameter of superwettable surface and concentration of POM mother liquid. We envision that this POM patterning method may bring valuable insights for designing POM-based functional materials and devices.

Self-assembly and photocatalytic property of germanoniobate [H6Ge4Nb16O56]10-: encapsulating four {GeO4} tetrahedra within a {Nb16} cage.

An unprecedented organic-inorganic hybrid germanoniobate compound Na4[Cu(en)2(H2O)2]5[Na6Ge8Nb32O108H8(OH)4]·41H2O (1) was synthesized under the hydrothermal condition. In compound 1, the {Nb16} cage containing four {GeO4} tetrahedra in its internal cavity results in a heteropolyniobate anion [H4Ge4Nb16O54(OH)2](10-) ({Ge4Nb16}), which is connected by a {Na6} cluster into the first germanoniobate-based sandwich-type structure. Further, the sandwich germanoniobates are connected by [Na2Cu(en)2O6H8] groups into a porous network with one dimensional channels along the a-axis. Photocatalytic study reveals that compound 1 exhibits good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue.