Multifunctional Wearable Electronic Based on Fabric Modified by PPy/NiCoAl-LDH for Energy Storage, Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, and Photothermal Conversion.

With the rapid advancement of electronic technology, traditional textiles are challenged to keep up with the demands of wearable electronics. It is anticipated that multifunctional textile-based electronics incorporating energy storage, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and photothermal conversion are expected to alleviate this problem. Herein, a multifunctional cotton fabric with hierarchical array structure (PPy/NiCoAl-LDH/Cotton) is fabricated by the introduction of NiCoAl-layered double hydroxide (NiCoAl-LDH) nanosheet arrays on cotton fibers, followed by polymerization and growth of continuous dense polypyrrole (PPy) conductive layers. The multifunctional cotton fabric shows a high specific areal capacitance of 754.72 mF cm-2 at 5 mA cm-2 and maintains a long cycling life (80.95% retention after 1000 cycles). The symmetrical supercapacitor assembled with this fabric achieves an energy density of 20.83 Wh cm-2 and a power density of 0.23 mWcm-2. Moreover, the excellent electromagnetic interference shielding (38.83 dB), photothermal conversion (70.2 °C at 1000 mW cm-2), flexibility and durability are also possess by the multifunctional cotton fabric. Such a multifunctional cotton fabric has great potential for using in new energy, smart electronics, and thermal management applications.

Hierarchical Carbon Nanocages as Superior Supports for Photothermal CO2 Catalysis.

The exploitation of hierarchical carbon nanocages with superior light-to-heat conversion efficiency, together with their distinct structural, morphological, and electronic properties, in photothermal applications could provide effective solutions to long-standing challenges in diverse areas. Here, we demonstrate the discovery of pristine and nitrogen-doped hierarchical carbon nanocages as superior supports for highly loaded, small-sized Ru particles toward enhanced photothermal CO2 catalysis. A record CO production rate of 3.1 mol·gRu-1·h-1 with above 90% selectivity in flow reactors was reached for hierarchical nitrogen-doped carbon-nanocage-supported Ru clusters under 2.4 W·cm-2 illumination without external heating. Detailed studies reveal that the enhanced performance originates from the strong broadband sunlight absorption and efficient light-to-heat conversion of nanocage supports as well as the excellent intrinsic catalytic reactivity of sub-2 nm Ru particles. Our study reveals the great potential of hierarchical carbon nanocages in photothermal catalysis to reduce the fossil fuel consumption of various industrial chemical processes and stimulates interest in their exploitation for other demanding photothermal applications.

Preparation of Graphene Oxide/Polymer Hybrid Microcapsules via Photopolymerization for Double Self-Healing Anticorrosion Coatings.

In this work, graphene oxide (GO)/polymer hybrid microcapsule-loaded self-healing agents were prepared via the combination of the emulsion template method and photopolymerization technology. The incorporation of GO in the microcapsule shell not only improved the impermeability, mechanical property, and solvent resistance property of the microcapsules significantly but also endowed the microcapsules with photothermal conversion property. By incorporating GO/polymer hybrid microcapsules in water-borne epoxy resin, a novel kind of anticorrosion coating with a double self-healing property was successfully fabricated. When the coating was scratched, the linseed oil (LO) encapsulated in the microcapsules could fill the crack, and the photothermal conversion property of GO could promote the molecular chain movement of the damaged area under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation to realize the close of the crack. Based on the filling of LO and photothermal conversion-induced scratch narrowing, the "filling" and "close" double self-healing effect can be realized under temporal NIR irradiation, which could lead to the complete recovery of the scratched coating. The |Z|f=0.1Hz value of the damaged coating with GO/polymer microcapsules after double healing was comparable to that of the intact coating, which was about 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of the scratched blank coating and single self-healing coating. As to the neutral salt spray test, the scratched blank coating failed in protection after 100 h, while the healed composite coating did not show any corrosion after 300 h.

Design and fabrication of porous three-dimensional Ag-doped reduced graphene oxide (3D Ag@rGO) composite for interfacial solar desalination.

Solar-driven interfacial desalination technology has shown great promise in tackling the urgent global water scarcity crisis due to its ability to localize heat and its high solar-to-thermal energy conversion efficiency. For the realization of sustainable saline water desalination, the exploration of novel photothermal materials with higher water vapor generation and photothermal conversion efficiency is indispensable. In the current study, a novel 3D interconnected monolithic Ag-doped rGO network was synthesized for efficient photothermal application. The Ultraviolet-Visible-Near Infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) and FTIR analyses demonstrated that the controlled hydrothermal reduction of GO enabled the restoration of the conjugated sp2 bonded carbon network and the subsequent electrical and thermal conductivity through a significant reduction of oxygen-containing functional groups while maintaining the hydrophilicity of the composite photothermal material. In the solar simulated interfacial desalination study conducted using 3.5 wt.% saline water, the average surface temperatures of the 3D material increased from 27.1 to 54.7 °C in an hour, achieving an average net dark-excluded evaporation rate of 1.40 kg m-2 h-1 and a photothermal conversion efficiency of ~ 97.54% under 1 sun solar irradiance. In the outdoor real-world application test carried out, the surface temperature of the 3D solar evaporator reached up to 60 °C and achieved a net water evaporation rate of 1.50 kg m-2 h-1 under actual solar irradiation. The 3D interwoven porous hierarchical evaporator displayed no salt precipitation over the 54-h period monitored, demonstrating the promising salt rejection and real-world application potential for efficient desalination of saline water.

Emerging trends in hydrogen and synfuel generation: a state-of-the-art review.

The current work investigated emerging fields for generating and consuming hydrogen and synthetic Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fuels, especially from detrimental greenhouse gases, CO2 and CH4. Technologies for syngas generation ranging from partial oxidation, auto-thermal, dry, photothermal and wet or steam reforming of methane were adequately reviewed alongside biomass valorisation for hydrogen generation, water electrolysis and climate challenges due to methane flaring, production, storage, transportation, challenges and opportunities in CO2 and CH4 utilisation. Under the same conditions, dry reforming produces more coke than steam reforming. However, combining the two techniques produces syngas with a high H2/CO ratio, which is suitable for producing long-chain hydrocarbons. Although the steam methane reforming (SMR) process has been industrialised, it is well known to consume significant energy. However, coke production via catalytic methane decomposition, the prime hindrance to large-scale implementation of these techniques for hydrogen production, could be addressed by coupling CO with CO2 conversion to alter the H2/CO ratio of syngas, increasing the reaction temperatures in dry reforming, or increasing the steam content fed in steam reforming. Optimised hydrogen production and generation of green fuels from CO2 and CH4 can be achieved by implementing these strategies.

A Multilayer Photothermal Superhydrophobic Anti-Icing Coating Applied to Asphalt Pavement with Remarkable Wear Resistance.

Superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit considerable potential in road anti-icing applications due to their unique water-repellent properties. However, the nanorough structure of superhydrophobic coatings is highly susceptible to degradation under wheel rolling in practical applications. To maintain effective hydrophobicity under prolonged exposure to wheel rolling, a multilayer superhydrophobic anti-icing coating was developed. This coating utilizes antifreeze protein (AFP)-modified emulsified asphalt as the substrate with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and silicon carbide (SiC) as surface coatings. Experimental results indicate that the inclusion of AFP enhances the viscosity of the emulsified asphalt, thereby stabilizing the nanorough structure of the coating. Even after 100 cycles of sandpaper grinding and 500 wheel rolls, the coating maintains robust hydrophobic properties. Moreover, when the coating is worn away by long-term high-strength loads, the exposed AFP-modified emulsified asphalt layer continues to exhibit effective anti-icing capabilities, significantly prolonging the complete freezing time of water droplets on its surface. Additionally, the incorporation of CNTs and SiC enhances the photothermal conversion performance, further improving the anti-icing efficiency of the coating under light irradiation. Overall, this coating shows promise for application in road anti-icing strategies.

Prussian Blue-Assisted NIR Triggered in-Situ Polymerized Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Wound Repair.

Hydrogels are commonly used as wound dressings to help maintain a moist environment around the wound and isolate contaminants, thus promoting healing. For irregular wounds, the slow healing process and even infection may occur due to the inability of dressings to adhere well to the wound. Prussian blue (PB) is a metal-organic framework (MOF) material with excellent photothermal conversion and superior stability. In this paper, a kind of near-infrared (NIR) light triggered in-situ polymerized antimicrobial hydrogel was prepared. The free radical initiator was encapsulated in the hollow PB by a phase change material (PCM) to maintain stability. The raised temperature triggered by NIR induced the release and decomposition of the initiator. The matrix was formed by the cross-linking of double bonds on modified chitosan. The quaternary amine groups of modified chitosan and the photothermal properties of PB enhanced the antimicrobial properties of the hydrogel. High-quality wound healing was demonstrated in the whole skin defect model. This study provides a new reference for the preparation of in-situ polymerized hydrogel dressings for irregular wounds.

Flexible Janus Black Silicon Photothermal Conversion Membranes for Highly Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Water Purification.

Photothermal conversion materials are critical in the development of solar-driven interfacial evaporation techniques; however, achieving a high energy conversion efficiency remains challenging owing to the high cost and instability of light-absorbing materials, in addition to the difficulties of simultaneously improving light absorption while suppressing heat loss. A black silicon (Si) powder with a porous structure was prepared by chemical etching of a low-cost commercial micron-sized Al-Si alloy, and a flexible Janus black Si photothermal conversion membrane was constructed. The partially broken spherical particles and porous structure obtained after etching enhanced the refraction of light from the Si powder, imparting the prepared membrane with an average light absorption rate of 95.95% over the solar spectrum. Evaporation from the membrane increased the intermediate water content and reduced the equivalent evaporation enthalpy. The thermal conduction loss was inhibited through a one-dimensional water transport structure, and the membrane achieved a water evaporation rate of 2.17 kg m-2 h-1 and a photothermal efficiency of 94.95% under 1 sun illumination. Benefiting from the broadband absorption and high photothermal efficiency of black Si powder, surface modification of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane, and directional salt-out structure design, the evaporation rate of the Janus black Si membrane-based system in a 10% NaCl solution was maintained >2.10 kg m-2 h-1 after 7 days of continuous evaporation cycles. The removal rate of metal ions from simulated seawater and from practical wastewater containing complex heavy metals reached >99.9%, indicating the promising potential of black Si membrane for application in solar-driven interfacial water purification.

Polysaccharide-Based Micro/Nanomotors for Active Ingredient Delivery in Food.

Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) are miniature devices that can generate energy through chemical reactions or physical processes, utilizing this energy for movement. By virtue of their small size, self-propulsion, precise positioning within a small range, and ability to access microenvironments, MNMs have been applied in various fields including sensing, biomedical applications, and pollutant adsorption. However, the development of food-grade MNMs and their application in food delivery systems have been scarcely reported. Currently, there are various issues with the decomposition, oxidation, or inability to maintain the activity of some nutrients or bioactive substances, such as the limited application of curcumin (Cur) in food. Compared to traditional delivery systems, MNMs can adjust the transport speed and direction as needed, effectively protecting bioactive substances during delivery and achieving efficient transportation. Therefore, this study utilizes polysaccharides as the substrate, employing a simple, rapid, and pollution-free template method to prepare polysaccharide-based microtubes (PMTs) and polysaccharide-based micro/nanomotors (PMNMs). PMNMs can achieve multifunctional propulsion by modifying ferrosoferric oxide (Fe3O4), platinum (Pt), and glucose oxidase (GOx). Fe-PMNMs and Pt-PMNMs exhibit excellent photothermal conversion performance, showing promise for applications in photothermal therapy. Moreover, PMNMs can effectively deliver curcumin, achieving the effective delivery of nutrients and exerting the anti-inflammatory performance of the system.

Photothermal modulation of gingival fibroblasts via polydopamine-coated zirconia: A novel approach for promoting peri-implant soft tissue integration.

Achieving robust soft tissue integration around dental implants is crucial for long-term clinical success, as it forms a protective biological seal against bacterial invasion. However, the soft tissue attachment to implants is relatively deficient compared to natural teeth, particularly in the connective tissue region lacking sufficient gingival fibroblasts and collagen fiber alignment. This study proposed an innovative strategy to enhance peri­implant soft tissue integration by modulating gingival fibroblast behavior via photothermal conversion. Zirconia surfaces were coated with polydopamine (PDA), a melanin-like polymer exhibiting near-infrared (NIR) absorption for photothermal conversion. Under NIR irradiation, the PDA coating enabled mild hyperthermia (42-43 °C) on the zirconia surface. Remarkably, this mild photothermal stimulation significantly promoted human gingival fibroblast proliferation, adhesion, and collagen production compared to unmodified zirconia in vitro. By utilizing the photothermal properties of PDA coatings to modulate cellular behaviors beneficial for connective tissue formation, this approach provides a promising avenue to achieve improved soft tissue integration and long-term stability of dental implants. The findings highlight the innovative potential of combining biomaterial surface engineering with photothermal therapy for applications in implant dentistry.

Multi-Functional 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks with Diketopyrrolopyrrole as Electron Acceptor.

2D covalent organic framework (COF) materials with extended conjugated structure and periodic columnar π-arrays exhibit promising applications in organic optoelectronics. However, there is a scarcity of reports on optoelectronic COFs, mainly due to the lack of suitable π-skeletons. Here, two multi-functional optoelectronic 2D COFs DPP-TPP-COF and DPP-TBB-COF are constructed with diketopyrrolopyrrole as electron acceptor (A), and 1,3,6,8-tetraphenylpyrene and 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene as electron donor (D) through imine bonds. Both 2D COFs showed good crystallinities and AA stacking with a rhombic framework for DPP-TPP-COF and hexagonal one for DPP-TBB-COF, respectively. The electron D-A and ordered intermolecular packing structures endow the COFs with broad UV-vis absorptions and narrow bandgaps along with suitable HOMO/LUMO energy levels, resulting in multi-functional optoelectronic properties, including photothermal conversion, supercapacitor property, and ambipolar semiconducting behavior. Among them, DPP-TPP-COF exhibits a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 47% under 660 nm laser irradiation, while DPP-TBB-COF exhibits superior specific capacitance of 384 F g-1. Moreover, P-type doping and N-type doping are achieved by iodine and tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene on a single host COF, resulting in ambipolar semiconducting behavior. These results provide a paradigm for the application of multi-functional optoelectronic COF materials.

Synthesis of Structure-Adjustable R-Au/Pt-CdS Nanohybrids with Strong Plasmon Coupling and Improved Photothermal Conversion Performance.

Noble metal nanomaterials with a localized surface plasmon resonance effect exhibit outstanding advantages in areas such as photothermal therapy and photocatalysis. As a unique plasmonic metal nanostructure, gold nanobipyramids have been attracting much interest due to their strong specific local electric field intensity, large optical cross sections, and high refractive index sensitivity. In this study, we propose a novel three-component hetero-nanostructure composed of rough gold nanobipyramids (R-Au NBPs), Pt, and CdS. Initially, purified gold nanobipyramids are regrown to form R-Au NBPs that have a certain degree of roughness. These R-Au NBP substrates with a rough surface provide more hotspots and strengthen the intensity of localized electric fields. Subsequently, Pt and CdS nanoparticles are selectively deposited onto the surface of R-Au NBPs. Pt nanoparticles can provide more active sites. Each component of this hetero-nanostructure directly contacts others, creating multiple electron transfer channels. This novel design allows for tunable localized plasmon resonance wavelengths ranging from the visible to near-infrared regions. These factors contribute to the final superior photothermal conversion performance of the R-Au/Pt-CdS nanohybrids. Under the irradiation of near-infrared light (1064 nm), the photothermal conversion efficiency of R-Au/Pt-CdS reached 38.88%, which is 4.49, 1.5, and 1.22 times higher than that of Au NBPs, R-Au NBPs, and R-Au NBPs/Pt, respectively.

TiN/anatase/rutile phase junction obtained by in-situ thermal transformation for efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen generation.

Phase junctions exhibit great potential in photocatalytic energy conversion, yet the narrow light response region and inefficient charge transfer limit their photocatalytic performance. Herein, an anatase/rutile phase junction modified by plasmonic TiN and oxygen vacancies (TiN/(A-R-TiO2-Ov)) is prepared through an in-situ thermal transformation from TiN for efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen production for the first time. The content of TiN, oxygen vacancies, and phase components in TiN/(A-R-TiO2-Ov) hybrids can be well-adjusted by tuning the heating time. The as-prepared photocatalysts display a large specific area and wide light absorption due to the synergistic effect of plasmonic excitation, oxygen vacancies, and bandgap excitations. Meanwhile, the multi-interfaces between TiN, anatase, and rutile provide built-in electric fields for efficient separation of photoinduced carriers and hot electron injection via ohmic contact and type-Ⅱ band arrangement. As a result, the TiN/(A-R-TiO2-Ov) photocatalyst shows an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 15.07 mmol/g/h, which is 20.6 times higher than that of titanium dioxide P25. Moreover, temperature-dependent photocatalytic tests reveal that the excellent photothermal conversion caused by plasmonic heating and crystal lattice vibrations in TiN/(A-R-TiO2-Ov) has about 25 % enhancement in photocatalysis (18.84 mmol/g/h). This work provides new inspiration for developing high-performance photocatalysts by optimizing charge transfer and photothermal conversion.

Metal-Loaded Synthetic Melanin via Oxidative Polymerization of Neurotransmitter Norepinephrine Exhibiting High Photothermal Conversion.

Polydopamine (PDA)-derived melanin-like materials exhibit significant photothermal conversion owing to their broad-spectrum light absorption. However, their low near-infrared (NIR) absorption and inadequate hydrophilicity compromise their utilization of solar energy. Herein, we developed metal-loaded poly(norepinephrine) nanoparticles (PNE NPs) by predoping metal ions (Fe3+, Mn3+, Co2+, Ca2+, Ga3+, and Mg2+) with norepinephrine, a neuron-derived biomimetic molecule, to address the limitations of PDA. The chelation between catechol and metal ions induces a ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) through the formation of donor-acceptor pairs, modulating the light absorption behavior and reducing the band gap. Under 1 sun illumination, the Fe-loaded PNE coated wood evaporator achieved a high seawater evaporation rate and efficiency of 1.75 kg m-2 h-1 and 92.4%, respectively, owing to the superior hydrophilicity and photothermal performance of PNE. Therefore, this study offers a comprehensive exploration of the role of metal ions in enhancing the photothermal properties of synthetic melanins.

ZnIn2S4-based multi-interface coupled photocatalyst for efficient photothermal synergistic catalytic hydrogen evolution.

Photothermal synergistic catalysis is a novel technology that converts energy. In this study, ZnIn2S4 with S-vacancy (ZIS-Vs) is combined with Nickel, Nickle Oxide and Carbon Nanofiber aggregates (Ni-NiO@CNFs) to create a multi-interface coupled photocatalyst with double Schottky barrier, double channel and mixed photothermal conversion effect. Theoretical calculation confirms that the Gibbs free energy (ΔG*H) of the S-scheme heterojunction in the composite material is -0.07 eV, which is close to 0. This promotes the adsorption of H* and accelerates the formation of H2. Internal photothermal catalysis is achieved by visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR, RT) irradiation. The internal photothermal catalytic hydrogen production rate of the best sample (0.9Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZIS-Vs) is as high as 17.24 mmol·g-1·h-1, and its photothermal conversion efficiency (η) is as high as 61.42 %. Its hydrogen production efficiency is 20.52 times that of ZIS-Vs (0.84 mmol·g-1·h-1) under visible light (Vis, RT) conditions. When the Vis-NIR light source is combined with external heating (75 ℃), the hydrogen production efficiency is further improved, and the hydrogen production efficiency (29.16 mmol·g-1·h-1) is 26.75 times that of ZIS-Vs (1.09 mmol·g-1·h-1, Vis-NIR, RT). Further analysis shows that the increase in hydrogen production resulted from the apparent activation energy (Ea) of the catalyst decreasing from 16.7 kJ·mol-1 to 9.28 kJ·mol-1. This study provides a valuable prototype for the design of an efficient photothermal synergistic catalytic system.

Glutathione-mediated copper sulfide nanoplatforms with morphological and vacancy-dependent photothermal catalytic activity for multi-model tannic acid assays.

Interface engineering and vacancy engineering play an important role in the surface and electronic structure of nanomaterials. The combination of the two provides a feasible way for the development of efficient photocatalytic materials. Here, we use glutathione (GSH) as a coordination molecule to design a series of CuxS nanomaterials (CuxS-GSH) rich in sulfur vacancies using a simple ultrasonic-assisted method. Interface engineering can induce amorphous structure in the crystal while controlling the formation of porous surfaces of nanomaterials, and the formation of a large number of random orientation bonds further increases the concentration of sulfur vacancies in the crystal structure. This study shows that interface engineering and vacancy engineering can enhance the light absorption ability of CuxS-GSH nanomaterials from the visible to the near-infrared region, improve the efficiency of charge transfer between CuxS groups, and promote the separation and transfer of optoelectronic electron-hole pairs. In addition, a higher specific surface area can produce a large number of active sites, and the synergistic and efficient photothermal conversion efficiency (58.01%) can jointly promote the better photocatalytic performance of CuxS-GSH nanomaterials. Based on the excellent hot carrier generation and photothermal conversion performance of CuxS-GSH under illumination, it exhibits an excellent ability to mediate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through peroxide cleavage and has excellent peroxidase activity. Therefore, CuxS-GSH has been successfully developed as a nanoenzyme platform for detecting tannic acid (TA) content in tea, and convenient and rapid detection of tannic acid is achieved through the construction of a multi-model strategy. This work not only provides a new way to enhance the enzyme-like activity of nanomaterials but also provides a new prospect for the application of interface engineering and vacancy engineering in the field of photochemistry.

3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified MXene on three-dimensional nonwoven fiber substrates for low-cost, stable, and efficient solar-driven interfacial evaporation desalination.

Recently, the solar-driven interfacial evaporation desalination has attracted more and more attentions due to the advantages of low cost, zero energy consumption, and high water purification rate, etc. One of the bottlenecks of this emerging technique lies in a lack of simple and low-cost ways to construct three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical microstructures for photothermal membranes. To this end, a two-step strategy is carried out by combining surface functionalization with substrate engineering. Firstly, a silane coupling agent 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) is grafted onto an ideal photothermal material of Ti3C2Tx MXene, to improve the nanochannel sizes and hydrophilicity, which are attributed to enlarged interspaces of MXene and introduced hydrophilic group e.g., -NH2 and -OH, respectively. Secondly, a low-cost and robust nonwoven fiber (NWF) substrate, which has a 3D micron-sized mesh structure with interlaced fiber stacks, is employed as the skeleton to load enough APTES-grafted MXene by a simple soaking method. Benefited from above design, the Ti3C2Tx-APTES/NWF composite membrane with a 3D hierarchical structure shows enhanced light scattering and utilization, water transport and vapor escape. A remarkable evaporation rate of 1.457 kg m-2 h-1 and an evaporation efficiency of 91.48 % are attained for a large-area (5 × 5 cm2) evaporator, and the evaporation rate is further increased to 1.672 kg m-2 h-1 for a small-area (2 × 2 cm2) device. The rejection rates of salt ions and heavy metal ions are higher than 99 % and 99.99 %, respectively, and the removal rates of organic dye molecules are nearly to 100 %. Besides, the composite photothermal membrane exhibits great stabilities in harsh conditions such as high salinities, long cycling, large light intensities, strong acid/alkali environments, and mechanical bending. Most importantly, the photothermal membrane shows a considerable cost-effectiveness of 89.4 g h-1/$. Hence, this study might promote the commercialization of solar-driven interfacial evaporation desalination by collaboratively considering surface modification and substrate engineering for MXene.

Harnessing Synchronous Photothermal and Photocatalytic Effects of Substoichiometric MoO3-x Nanoparticle-Decorated Membranes for Clean Water Generation.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation provides a promising pathway for sustainable freshwater and energy generation. However, developing highly efficient photothermal and photocatalytic nanomaterials is challenging. Herein, substoichiometric molybdenum oxide (MoO3-x) nanoparticles are synthesized via step-by-step reduction treatment of l-cysteine under mild conditions for simultaneous photothermal conversion and photocatalytic reactions. The MoO3-x nanoparticles of low reduction degree are decorated on hydrophilic cotton cloth to prepare a MCML evaporator toward rapid water production, pollutant degradation, as well as electricity generation. The obtained MCML evaporator has a strong local light-to-heat effect, which can be attributed to excellent photothermal conversion via the local surface plasmon resonance effect in MoO3-x nanoparticles and the low heat loss of the evaporator. Meanwhile, the rich surface area of MoO3-x nanoparticles and the localized photothermal effect together effectively accelerate the photocatalytic degradation reaction of the antibiotic tetracycline. With the benefit of these advantages, the MCML evaporator attains a superior evaporation rate of 4.14 kg m-2 h-1, admirable conversion efficiency of 90.7%, and adequate degradation efficiency of 96.2% under 1 sun irradiation. Furthermore, after being rationally assembled with a thermoelectric module, the hybrid device can be employed to generate 1.0 W m-2 of electric power density. This work presents an effective complementary strategy for freshwater production and sewage treatment as well as electricity generation in remote and off-grid regions.

NIR-Mediated Deformation from a CNT-Based Bilayer Hydrogel.

Shape-shifting polymers are widely used in various fields such as intelligent switches, soft robots and sensors, which require both multiple stimulus-response functions and qualified mechanical strength. In this study, a novel near-infrared-light (NIR)-responsible shape-shifting hydrogel system was designed and fabricated through embedding vinylsilane-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into particle double-network (P-DN) hydrogels by micellar copolymerisation. The dispersed brittle Poly(sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonate) (PNaAMPS) network of the microgels can serve as sacrificial bonds to toughen the hydrogels, and the CNTs endow it with NIR photothermal conversion ability. The results show that the CNTs embedded in the P-DN hydrogels present excellent mechanical strength, i.e., a fracture strength of 312 kPa and a fracture strain of 357%. Moreover, an asymmetric bilayer hydrogel, where the active layer contains CNTs, can achieve 0°-110° bending deformation within 10 min under NIR irradiation and can realise complex deformation movement. This study provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the design and manufacture of photoresponsive soft actuators.

Making the Brightest Ones Dim: Maximizing the Photothermal Conversion Efficiency of BODIPY-Based Photothermal Agents.

The successful implementation of photothermal therapy (PTT) in cancer treatment hinges on the development of highly effective photothermal agents (PTAs). Boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes, being well known for their high brightness and quantum efficiencies, are the antithesis of PTAs. Nonetheless, a systematic exploration of the photophysics and photothermal characteristics of a series of π-extended BODIPY dyes with high absorptivity in the near-infrared (NIR) region has achieved superior photothermal conversion efficiencies (>90%), in both monomeric state and nanoparticles after encapsulation in a biocompatible polyethyleneglycol 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy-(polyethylene glycol)-2000]. Optimal PTA candidates combine strong NIR absorption provided by extended donor-acceptor conjugation and an optimization of the electronic and steric effects of meso-substituents to maximize photothermal conversion performance. The PTT-optimized meso-CF3-BODIPY, TCF3PEn exhibits exceptional efficacy in inducing cancer cell apoptosis and in vivo tumor ablation using low-power NIR laser irradiation (0.3 W cm-2, 808 nm) as well as excellent biological safety, underscoring its potential for advancing light-induced cancer therapies.