Abstract The growing problem of energy shortage has undoubtedly promoted research and development in energy storage. Against this background, rechargeable sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered one of the most promising candidates for replacing lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their advantages of low cost, good thermal stability, and superior low-temperature performance. Therefore, the development of SIBs has received much attention and focus. Currently, research on SIBs faces the critical problem of large volume change of anode materials during charging and discharging. Despite the volume change problem, past research has been trying to buffer the volume changes, and there’s been a lot of progress. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) based on conversion reactions have become potential anode materials for SIBs due to their more stable crystal structures and good cycling stability. In this review, we first analyze the energy-storage principle of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Then, we outline a series of structural strategies for SIBs concerning the large volume change of the anode material during charging and discharging processes, and we classify and discuss the existing studies on nanostructures according to their morphological features. Finally, we summarize the challenges and future trends of TMOs for electrochemical energy storage in SIBs.
Abstract Nanoparticle (NP)-bound reporters for CRISPR/Cas biosensing can improve signal, simplify readout, and expand multiplexing capabilities; however, the proximity to surfaces can simultaneously hinder enzymatic activity through steric occlusion, reduced reporter accessibility, or enzyme interactions with the surface itself. Such effects are typically observed indirectly through comparison of limit of detection (LoD) or end-point signal against a standardized reporter in solution, and steric occlusion at surfaces has yet to be mechanistically isolated. To distinguish steric occlusion from other effects, we compared a Cy3/Cy5 hairpin reporter free in solution vs displayed on CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) or CdSe/CdZnS nanoplatelets (NPLs). Substrate proximity effects were distinguished from direct surface interactions by selective surface passivation, and multiacceptor FRET measurements placed the loop apex at 3.1 ± 0.5 nm from the QD surface, representing the upper bound on the distance of any cleavage site from the surface. For passivated QDs, we found that the on-surface and off-surface specificity constants were indistinguishable for both LbCas12a and LwCas13a; similar qualitative results were observed for LbCas12a and NPLs. In the absence of surface passivation, apparent kcat,obs/KM,obs decreased by approximately 2.3-fold on QDs and 4.5-fold on NPLs for LbCas12a, in line with enzyme adsorption or inactivation on insufficiently blocked surfaces. For surface-passivated QD and NPL chemistries tested here, we found that steric hindrance did not play a detectable role in enzyme inhibition, even for substrates within approximately 3 nm of the surface.
Abstract Cryogenic, noncontact temperature sensing is essential for emerging technologies. Here, ligand isomerism modulates photophysical properties of atomically precise nanoclusters, enabling cryogenic optical thermometry. We synthesized emissive [Ag17(m1-CBT)12]3– (Ag17m1-CBT; m1-CBT = meta-carborane-1-thiol) and compared it with structurally analogous but nonemissive [Ag17(o1-CBT)12]3– (Ag17o1-CBT). Despite nearly identical structures and steric environments, the weaker electron-accepting meta-carborane ligand enhances radiative decay, increasing the solid-state quantum yield from <1% to 33% at room temperature. Embedding Ag17m1-CBT in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix yields a highly emissive film whose photoluminescence lifetime increases from 18.4 μs at 300 K to 392 μs at 80 K. A thermally equilibrated excited-state manifold enables optical thermometry over 80–140 K, with absolute and relative sensitivities of 3.8 μs K–1 and >0.97% K–1, respectively. The resulting films exhibit red-emission quantum yields of 59% at 300 K and 99% at 77 K, with negligible spectral shifts, establishing ligand isomerism as a powerful strategy for nanocluster-based cryogenic thermometry.
Abstract Widespread testing identifies infectious diseases early and reduces silent transmission. The large size of devices for testing limits their use in the field. We developed a portable device that miniaturizes nucleic acid testing: the QMini. The QMini simplified a fluidic module using direct connections between pumps and reaction chambers. It shielded an optical module from ambient light with a 3D-printed enclosure. We applied the QMini to detect synthetic nucleic acid sequences of respiratory syncytial virus B, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza A with a bead-based assay using quantum dot barcodes. The QMini detected 500 copies of respiratory syncytial virus B, 500 copies of SARS-CoV-2, and 1,000 copies of influenza A. We observed limited cross-reactivity in the QMini with six nontarget viral nucleic acid sequences. The QMini advances the portability of nucleic acid testing using quantum dot barcodes through device miniaturization.
Abstract Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have risen to the forefront of modern therapeutics by enabling the clinical success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In order for them to function as drug delivery vesicles, LNPs must have scalable, tunable, and targeted nanoscale platforms whose strengths in versatility, performance, and clinical relevance are driven by key design parameters and formulation strategies. This Tutorial Review traces the historical evolution of LNPs and examines the fundamental design principles governing their structure, physicochemical properties, and biological behavior. It further highlights modern analytical characterization techniques that have advanced mechanistic understanding of LNP composition, morphology, and function as well as targeting strategies to improve LNP delivery to extrahepatic sites. Current translational challenges and emerging advances are also discussed. This Tutorial Review provides a framework for understanding the foundations, current landscape, and future directions of LNP research.
