RSC Advances最新文献

We report the development of a diglycosyldiselenide-based fluorescent probe for the rapid detection of sulfhydryl-containing biomolecules. The probe facilitates a chemoselective coupling reaction with sulfhydryl groups in aqueous buffer under ambient conditions, resulting in the formation of homogeneous Se–S conjugates within one hour. Using glutathione, a sulfhydryl-containing biomolecule, as a proof of concept, the probe achieved a detection limit of 0.75 μM based on the 3σ criterion. The method was further extended to the fluorescent labeling of cysteine-containing peptides, proteins, and living bacterial cells, showcasing the utility of Se–S covalent-directed chemistry as an analytical tool. This approach underscores the considerable potential of diglycosyldiselenide-based fluorescent probes for broader applications in biochemical research.

Perovskite-type solid electrolytes exhibit a diverse range of conductive properties due to the competition and coupling of multiple degrees of freedom. In perovskite structures, B-site and X-site ions form topological octahedral sublattices, which are instrumental in regulating transport properties for various charge carriers. However, research focused on the relationship between octahedral distortion and conductive properties in perovskite-type proton conductors remains limited. In this study, dopants such as Ge, Sn, Pr, and Ce were selected to modify the degree of BO₆ octahedral distortion in CaHf_0.9Sc_0.1O_3−δ. The relationships between conductivity, transport number, mobility, and the distortion degree were systematically investigated. The data indicate that both proton and oxygen ion mobilities initially increase with the octahedral distortion angle and then decrease, and CaHf_0.8Sn_0.1Sc_0.1O_3−δ with an octahedral distortion angle of 15.6°, exhibited the highest ionic mobilities and conductivities. The BO₆ octahedral distortion appears to limit oxide ion conduction while enhancing the proton transport number. However, excessive doping generates additional oxygen vacancies, which adversely affect proton conduction. Under the combined influence of these factors, CaHf_0.8Ce_0.1Sc_0.1O_3−δ achieved the highest proton transport number of 0.503 at 800 °C. Overall, this work provides insights into the relationship between octahedral distortion and conductive properties, suggesting that co-doping is a feasible approach for further regulating carrier mobility properties.

The study looks into how Sr₃PBr₃ and Sr₃NCl₃ double perovskite materials can be used as absorbers in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Computational Sr₃PBr₃ and Sr₃NCl₃ simulations were employed to assess the performance of each absorber together with electron transport layers (ETL), with a particular emphasis on optimizing ETL thickness to improve charge transport and synchronize current outputs. The simulations yielded valuable insights into the electronic and optical characteristics of the individual absorbers. Subsequently, a tandem simulation was performed to adjust each layer's thickness, ensuring that both devices' current outputs were aligned for maximum system efficiency. The findings revealed that the tandem configuration of Sr₃PBr₃ and Sr₃NCl₃ surpassed the performance of the individual absorber setups, attributed to the optimized ETL thicknesses that enhanced charge transport and facilitated effective current matching. This study makes a significant contribution to the design and optimization of tandem PSCs utilizing Sr₃PBr₃ and Sr₃NCl₃ absorbers, paving the way for improved overall device efficiency. We investigated three device configurations to find the optimum structure. FTO/SnS₂/Sr₃PBr₃/Ni, FTO/SnS₂/Sr₃NCl₃/Ni, and FTO/SnS₂/Sr₃PBr₃/Sr₃NCl₃/Ni are considered as Device-I, II, and III. In Device-I, the execution parameters are power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.26%, an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 1.23 V, a short-circuit current density (J_SC) of 24.65 mA cm⁻², and a fill factor (FF) of 87.42%. For Device-II, PCE, FF, V_OC, and J_SC are correspondingly 20.35%, 87.91%, 1.28 V, and 18.07 mA cm⁻². The further refined tandem configuration achieved a PCE of 30.32%, with a V_OC of 1.27 V, an FF of 90.14%, and a J_SC of 26.44 mA cm⁻², demonstrating the potential of this methodology in enhancing PSC performance.

Through a simple room-temperature process, different amounts of Keggin-type quaternary ammonium silicotungstate were successfully encapsulated into the metal–organic framework (MOF) material ZIF-67. The catalysts were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET analysis. An extraction and catalytic oxidation desulfurization system was studied using H₂O₂ as an oxidant and a deep eutectic solvent (DES) as an extractant. Using the 43.06%-SiW₁₂@ZIF-67 composite under optimal reaction conditions, DBT present in a model oil could be deeply and effectively removed. The catalyst was reused 6 times, and the desulfurization rate still exceeded 90%. Finally, a possible desulfurization mechanism is proposed.

The study shows that plant growth regulators (PGRs) have estrogenic effects, which may disrupt the normal physiological functions of endogenous estrogen in organisms. This study used electrochemical methods to investigate the electrochemical behavior and estrogenic effects of PGRs gibberellic acid (GA₃), ethylene (ETH), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on estrogen-free human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) cells when exposed individually or in combination. The results indicate that GA₃, ETH, and NAA, whether used alone or in combination, exhibit estrogenic effects on MCF-7 cells. The accuracy of the electrochemical method was validated against the E-Screen method, with consistent results between the two methods. Analysis of the combined estrogenic effects of PGRs detected by electrochemical and E-Screen methods revealed antagonistic effects for GA₃/ETH, synergistic effects for GA₃/NAA, additive effects for NAA/ETH, and synergistic effects for GA₃/ETH/NAA. The combined estrogenic effects of PGRs at environmental actual concentration ratios detected by the electrochemical method were consistent with the results of the E-Screen method. This study successfully established a simple, fast, sensitive, and low-cost electrochemical detection method for the combined estrogenic effects of PGRs, providing a new approach for detecting such effects.

The increasing prevalence of pharmaceuticals in water and complex matrices necessitates accurate measurement and monitoring of their environmental contamination levels. This is crucial not only for environmental conservation but also for comprehending the intricate mechanisms involved and developing more effective treatment approaches. In this context, electrochemical techniques show significant potential for the detection of pharmaceuticals across various matrices. Specifically, voltammetry is advantageous due to its rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective nature, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of multiple anticancer and antibiotic drugs. By utilizing nanomaterial-modified electrochemical sensors, the sensitivity and selectivity of detection methods can be significantly improved. The small size and customizable properties of nanomaterials enable these sensors to identify trace amounts of drugs in diverse samples. However, challenges persist in achieving reliable and accurate electrochemical monitoring of drugs in water and biological samples. Biofluids such as saliva, urine, and blood/serum, along with environmental samples from lakes and rivers, often contain numerous interfering substances that can diminish analyte signals. This review examines electrochemical methods and their potential applications for detecting pharmaceuticals and their metabolites, while also addressing the mechanisms of action and harmful effects of these drugs on both ecosystems and human health. Recent developments in electrochemical sensors utilizing nanomaterials for the detection of health-threatening pharmaceutical contaminants are examined, providing important insights into their underlying mechanisms. The emphasis is placed on the detection of anticancer agents and antibiotics, which relies on the electrocatalytic properties of the sensor materials. Additionally, discussions on density functional theory studies are included, along with an exploration of the emerging challenges and future directions in this area, aimed at enhancing readers' comprehension of the field and underscoring the necessary actions for a sustainable future.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a prevalent condition linked to oxidative stress from Orthokeratology (OK) lens use, causing significant discomfort and impacting quality of life. Herein, this study investigates the role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in modulating T cell responses, particularly Th17 cells and IL-17A production, which are central to DES pathogenesis. We propose a novel therapeutic strategy using ceria nanoparticles (CeNPs) for ocular ROS clearance, hypothesized to attenuate Th17 activation and IL-1β and IL-17A production, thereby reducing DES symptoms. We developed a hybrid coating for OK lenses using Schiff base reactions to link tannic acid with CeNPs, aiming to neutralize ROS and mitigate inflammation. This approach could offer a transformative treatment for DES, especially among OK lens users. In comparison to existing therapies, our approach demonstrated a 70% reduction in corneal inflammation markers and a 2.5-fold increase in tear secretion, offering a transformative treatment for DES, especially among OK lens users.

A flower-like CeO₂ catalyst was successfully synthesized using an acrylamide graft copolymerized on glucose under hydrothermal conditions and used for the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO₂ and CH₃OH in a packed-bed reactor with 2-cyanopyridine as a dehydrating agent. The synthesized flower-like CeO₂ exhibited both basicity and acidity properties with values of 300 μmol g⁻¹ and 80 μmol g⁻¹, respectively, according to CO₂-TPD and NH₃-TPD results. The effect of reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, feed ratio, catalyst quantity, and operating pressure on the DMC production over the flower-like CeO₂ catalyst was investigated. The optimum conditions were found to be a temperature of 120 °C, catalyst weight of 1.0 g, CH₃OH : CO₂ ratio of 1 : 1, and pressure of 30 bar, which provided the highest CH₃OH conversion, DMC selectivity, and DMC yield of 86.6%, 99.3%, and 86.0%, respectively. Furthermore, no changes were observed in the structure, morphology, and particle size of the flower-like CeO₂ catalyst after the DMC synthesis reaction, indicating that the synthesized catalyst was resistant to the reaction test under such optimum reaction conditions.

Nanocomposites of 20% and 30% Co-doped Ni/NiO were synthesized using a microwave-assisted sol–gel auto-combustion method. The 30% Co-doped Ni/NiO nanocomposite exhibited negative magnetoresistance (M-R) at various temperatures, including 2 K, 10 K, 80 K, 100 K, and 250 K. This behavior is interpreted as indicative of a Kondo-like scattering effect. The resistivity ρ(T) upturn observed at low temperatures in the 30% Co-doped Ni/NiO nanocomposite can be accurately described by a power series equation combined with a Kondo term. Furthermore, this sample demonstrated a metal–insulator transition around the Kondo temperature T_K ≈ 29.8(5) K, with noticeable resistivity changes at magnetic fields of 0 T, 1 T, 5 T, and 8 T. Additionally, a hump in resistivity at approximately 212 K, 170 K, 243 K, 251 K, and 209 K for magnetic fields of 0 T, 0.05 T, 1 T, 5 T, and 8 T, respectively, is attributed to the charge ordering of Co³⁺ and Co⁴⁺ ions within the Ni/NiO lattice, contributing to a further metal–insulator transition.

Daytime radiative cooling is a technique that relies on reflecting sunlight and radiating heat through mid-infrared wavelengths to cool objects. However, most daytime radiative cooling materials are not transparent, cannot be used for vehicle windows or other objects that need to retain their original color, and are susceptible to rain, dust, and other contamination, resulting in reduced cooling performance. Here, we developed a transparent, self-cleaning, radiative cooling, highly flexible PVDF composite film (PPF film), which was prepared by solvent evaporation phase conversion method and scraping coating method. The preparation method is simple and the material is easy to obtain. The obtained PPF film can be crimped to different degrees, has high flexibility, a transmittance of 94% in the visible light range (380–760 nm), and a water contact angle of 105° and above, and has self-cleaning performance. In the range of 8–13 μm, the average emissivity of the film reached 94.42%. Outdoor experiments show that, on sunny days, the cavity temperature of the device coated with PPF film glass decreases by 5–6 °C compared with that of bare glass, indicating that the PPF film has excellent radiative cooling performance. In addition, it has relatively strong mechanical properties, ultraviolet aging resistance and acid and alkali resistance. The design of the PPF film enables the radiative cooling material to be transparent, self-cleaning and flexible, with broad application prospects in the outer surface of objects requiring light transmission and cooling, such as special-shaped curved surfaces, solar panels, and architectural glass.