Qingdao Center of Resource Chemistry and New Materials

Reference genomes are essential for metagenomic analyses and functional characterization of the human gut microbiota. We present the Culturable Genome Reference (CGR), a collection of 1,520 nonredundant, high-quality draft genomes generated from >6,000 bacteria cultivated from fecal samples of healthy humans. Of the 1,520 genomes, which were chosen to cover all major bacterial phyla and genera in the human gut, 264 are not represented in existing reference genome catalogs. We show that this increase in the number of reference bacterial genomes improves the rate of mapping metagenomic sequencing reads from 50% to >70%, enabling higher-resolution descriptions of the human gut microbiome. We use the CGR genomes to annotate functions of 338 bacterial species, showing the utility of this resource for functional studies. We also carry out a pan-genome analysis of 38 important human gut species, which reveals the diversity and specificity of functional enrichment between their core and dispensable genomes.

This review summarizes the advances in the derivation of one-dimensional porous and hollow carbon nanofibers from metal–organic frameworks for energy storage and conversion.

The urgent demand for clean energies and rapid development of modern electronic technologies have led to enthusiastic research on novel energy storage technologies, especially for supercapacitors.

An in-situ SEI with Zn₃(PO₄)₂ and ZnF₂ was built on Zn anode <italic>via</italic> KPF₆-induced chemical strategy. With high interface energy and fast kinetics, it leads to record cumulative capacity and the product of largest current density and areal capacity.

Colorimetric sensors fabricated <italic>via</italic> nanomaterials and nanotechnology exhibited promising applications in environmental science.

Highly conductive and stretchable electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane yarns with multi-walled and single-walled CNTs were prepared.

PPC/LLZTO composite solid electrolyte was developed for a flexible solid lithium battery.

This paper demonstrates a sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas sensor based on a transition-metal-doped molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanocomposite synthesized <italic>via</italic> a facile single-step hydrothermal route.

Carbon dots have attracted a great deal of attention because of their high performance, cheap and facile preparation, and potential applications in a wide area. In order to broaden their applications, especially to meet specific requirements, surface engineering, including tailoring surface functional group coating and subsequent chemical modification as required, is an effective strategy for further functionalization of carbon dots. In this article, representative approaches to coating the surface with various functional groups, and strategies for conjugating specific materials onto the surface of carbon dots for functional modification via covalent bonds, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds are highlighted, as well as the results from explorations of their various applications in target modulated sensing, accurate drug delivery and bioimaging at high resolution.

Nickel selenide (NiSe) nanoparticles uniformly supported on graphene nanosheets (G) to form NiSe-G nanohybrids were prepared by an in situ hydrothermal process. The uniform distribution of NiSe on graphene bestowed the NiSe-G nanohybrid with faster charge transport and diffusion along with abundant accessible electrochemical active sites. The synergistic effect between NiSe nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets for supercapacitor applications was systematically investigated for the first time. The freestanding NiSe-G nanohybrid electrode exhibited better electrochemical performance with a high specific capacitance of 1280 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 and a capacitance retention of 98% after 2500 cycles relative to that of NiSe nanoparticles. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor device assembled using the NiSe-G nanohybrid as the positive electrode, activated carbon as the negative electrode and an electrospun PVdF membrane containing 6 M KOH as both the separator and the electrolyte delivered a high energy density of 50.1 W h kg-1 and a power density of 816 W kg-1 at an extended operating voltage of 1.6 V. Thus, the NiSe-G nanohybrid can be used as a potential electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

Segregated PLLA/MWCNTs nanocomposites were synthesized with high-performance EMI shielding.

A 3D photothermal cone was developed to optimize light harvesting <italic>via</italic> multiple reflections within rational morphology for high-efficiency solar-driven evaporation.

An efficient polymer moist-electric generator is developed on the basis of conventional polyelectrolyte membrane to output considerable electric power under moisture.

Ni₂P nanoflake arrays on carbon cloth act as an efficient and durable catalyst electrode for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Its two-electrode alkaline electrolyzer needs 1.35 V for 50 mA cm⁻², which is 0.58 V less than that required for pure water splitting.

After optimization using percolation theory, excellent absorbing properties (90% absorption) were achieved for Ni/C nanocomposites with advantages such as thin thickness (1.75 and 1.5 mm) and light weight (25 and 30 wt%).

A mixed conductive garnet/Li interface consisting of electronic conductive nanoparticles embedded in an ionic conductive network is constructed for dendrite-free solid garnet batteries.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are attracting tremendous interest owing to their low toxicity, water dispersibility, biocompatibility, optical properties and wide applicability. Herein, CQDs with an average diameter of (4.0 ± 0.2) nm and high crystallinity were produced simply from the electrochemical oxidation of a graphite electrode in alkaline alcohols. The as-formed CQDs dispersion was colourless but the dispersion gradually changed to bright yellow when stored in ambient conditions. Based on UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), this colour change appeared to be due to oxygenation of surface species over time. Furthermore, the CQDs were used in specific and sensitive detection of ferric ion (Fe(3+)) with broad linear ranges of 10-200 μM with a low limit of detection of 1.8 μM (S/N = 3). The application of the CQDs for Fe(3+) detection in tap water was demonstrated and the possible mechanism was also discussed. Finally, based on their good characteristics of low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility, the CQDs were successfully applied to cell imaging.

Nitrile-based polymer electrolytes have unique characteristics such as a high dielectric constant, high anodic oxidization potential and favorable interaction with lithium ions. Recent progress in nitrile-based polymer electrolytes has been reviewed in terms of their potential application in flexible, solid-state or high voltage lithium batteries in this paper.

A facile strategy based on a nanocomposite is developed to fabricate a rGO–MWCNT membrane for the improvement of photothermal evaporation.

A novel composite PCM was facilely synthesized, which exhibited enhanced absorption peaks at visible and near-infrared region, and the photothermal conversion and storage efficiency was outstanding under simulated and actual sunlight irradiation.