Extracellular vesicles are a heterogeneous group of cell-derived membranous structures comprising exosomes and microvesicles, which originate from the endosomal system or which are shed from the plasma membrane, respectively They are present in biological fluids and are involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes Extracellular vesicles are now considered as an additional mechanism for intercellular communication, allowing cells to exchange proteins, lipids and genetic material Knowledge of the cellular processes that govern extracellular vesicle biology is essential to shed light on the physiological and pathological functions of these vesicles as well as on clinical applications involving their use and/or analysis However, in this expanding field, much remains unknown regarding the origin, biogenesis, secretion, targeting and fate of these vesicles

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Shedding light on the cell biology of extracellular vesicles.

The lithium metal battery is strongly considered to be one of the most promising candidates for high-energy-density energy storage devices in our modern and technology-based society. However, uncontrollable lithium dendrite growth induces poor cycling efficiency and severe safety concerns, dragging lithium metal batteries out of practical applications. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the lithium metal anode and its dendritic lithium growth. First, the working principles and technical challenges of a lithium metal anode are underscored. Specific attention is paid to the mechanistic understandings and quantitative models for solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, lithium dendrite nucleation, and growth. On the basis of previous theoretical understanding and analysis, recently proposed strategies to suppress dendrite growth of lithium metal anode and some other metal anodes are reviewed. A section dedicated to the potential of full-cell lithium metal batteries for practical applicatio...

Toward Safe Lithium Metal Anode in Rechargeable Batteries: A Review.

Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Nitrogen (N)-doped carbon materials exhibit high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is essential for several renewable energy systems. However, the ORR active site (or sites) is unclear, which retards further developments of high-performance catalysts. Here, we characterized the ORR active site by using newly designed graphite (highly oriented pyrolitic graphite) model catalysts with well-defined π conjugation and well-controlled doping of N species. The ORR active site is created by pyridinic N. Carbon dioxide adsorption experiments indicated that pyridinic N also creates Lewis basic sites. The specific activities per pyridinic N in the HOPG model catalysts are comparable with those of N-doped graphene powder catalysts. Thus, the ORR active sites in N-doped carbon materials are carbon atoms with Lewis basicity next to pyridinic N.

Active sites of nitrogen-doped carbon materials for oxygen reduction reaction clarified using model catalysts

The recent advances in electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are thoroughly reviewed. This comprehensive Review focuses on the low- and non-platinum electrocatalysts including advanced platinum alloys, core–shell structures, palladium-based catalysts, metal oxides and chalcogenides, carbon-based non-noble metal catalysts, and metal-free catalysts. The recent development of ORR electrocatalysts with novel structures and compositions is highlighted. The understandings of the correlation between the activity and the shape, size, composition, and synthesis method are summarized. For the carbon-based materials, their performance and stability in fuel cells and comparisons with those of platinum are documented. The research directions as well as perspectives on the further development of more active and less expensive electrocatalysts are provided.

http://repository.ust.hk/ir/bitstream/1783.1-77094/1/acs.chemrev.5b00462_withlink.pdf

Recent Advances in Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A type of calcium coke was developed for use in the oxy-thermal process of calcium carbide production. The calcium coke was prepared by the co-pyrolysis of coking coal and calcium carbide slag, which is a solid waste generated from the chlor-alkali industry. The characteristics of the calcium cokes under different conditions were analyzed experimentally and theoretically. The results show that the thermal strength of calcium coke increased with the increase in the coking coal proportion, and the waterproof property of calcium coke also increased with increased carbonation time. The calcium coke can increase the contact area of calcium and carbon in the calcium carbide production process. Furthermore, the pore structure of the calcium coke can enhance the diffusion of gas inside the furnace, thus improving the efficiency of the oxy-thermal technology.

Development of calcium coke for CaC 2 production using calcium carbide slag and coking coal

Concentration Quenching of Eu[sup 2+] in 4SrO⋅7Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 2+] Phosphor

Three Archimedean copulas were employed to model annual maximum flood peak data of different lengths. Estimation methods based on ranks were employed for parameter estimation. Marginals were modeled with the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. Then, uncertainty in modeling results was investigated with the change in data length. The joint and conditional return periods were also analyzed with the selected copula model to see how it varied with data length. Results showed that the accuracy of modeling deteriorated with the decrease in data length and that the best-fitting copula model depended on the data length. The uncertainty of modeling results may be due to the uncertainty of the flow itself when the data length is shortened. The data length has a negative effect not only on copula modeling but may also have an adverse effect on the marginal, which is an important factor when using a copula model to do bivariate analysis.

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Impact of Data Length on the Uncertainty of Hydrological Copula Modeling

A protein-inspired facile approach to synthesise carbon-coated SnO2 nanocrystals (NCs) is presented. The carbon coating content could be readily tuned by adjusting the pH value of the reaction solution. The obtained carbon-coated SnO2 NCs showed a markedly improved lithium storage ability.

Dong Wang

Papers

Development of calcium coke for CaC 2 production using calcium carbide slag and coking coal

Concentration Quenching of Eu[sup 2+] in 4SrO⋅7Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]:Eu[sup 2+] Phosphor

Impact of Data Length on the Uncertainty of Hydrological Copula Modeling

Protein-inspired synthesis of SnO2 nanocrystals with controlled carbon nanocoating as anode materials for lithium-ion battery

Optimal moment determination in POME-copula based hydrometeorological dependence modelling