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

Visible‐Light‐Mediated Stereoselective 1,2‐Iodoalkylation of Alkynes

Homogeneous free-standing SWCNT/GO hybrid network films were fabricated using vacuum filtration method and their performances to be used as flexible electrodes in electrochemical capacitors were studied. Firstly, the SWCNT/GO hybrid films were treated under different temperature to investigate the influence of oxygen-containing groups on GO nanosheets on capacitive performance of them. Our results showed that the content of oxygen-containing groups had great influence on the capacitive performance of SWCNT/GO hybrid films and that the film annealed at 250 degrees C under 5% H2/Ar flow displayed an optimal capacitive performance. For the film with SWCNT/GO mass ratio of 1:4, specific capacitances of 171.85, 162.9, 148.98, 133.8, 112.8 and 82.24 F/g corresponding to discharge current of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 A/g, respectively, were achieved. Secondly, the influence of mass ratio of SWCNT/GO on capacitive performance of SWCNT/GO hybrid films was also demonstrated. The hybrid films exhibited extremely high mechanical strength with tensile strength up to 461 MPa and specific capacitance of 105.2 F/g at current density of 5 A/g in case of 1:1 mass ratio of SWCNT/GO. A higher specific capacitance of 206.7 F/s at discharge current of 5A/g was obtained for the films with SWCNT/GO mass ratio of 1:8. Our SWCNT/GO hybrid network films showed good flexibility and durability over 2000 bending cycles test, indicating the potential to be used in flexible energy-storage devices.

Ultrastrong single-walled carbon nanotubes/ graphene oxide nanosheets hybrid network films as flexible electrode for energy storage.

Convective thermal metamaterials are artificial structures where convection dominates in the thermal process. Due to the field coupling between velocity and temperature, convection provides a new knob for controlling heat transfer beyond pure conduction, thus allowing active and robust thermal modulations. With the introduced convective effects, the original parabolic Fourier heat equation for pure conduction can be transformed to hyperbolic. Therefore, the hybrid diffusive system can be interpreted in a wave‐like fashion, reviving many wave phenomena in dissipative diffusion. Here, recent advancements in convective thermal metamaterials are reviewed and the state‐of‐the‐art discoveries are classified into the following four aspects, enhancing heat transfer, porous‐media‐based thermal effects, nonreciprocal heat transfer, and non‐Hermitian phenomena. Finally, a prospect is cast on convective thermal metamaterials from two aspects. One is to utilize the convective parameter space to explore topological thermal effects. The other is to further broaden the convective parameter space with spatiotemporal modulation and multi‐physical effects.

Convective Thermal Metamaterials: Exploring High‐Efficiency, Directional, and Wave‐Like Heat Transfer

Tunable, Regioselective Control of Iodine-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution of Cyclic Baylis—Hillman Adducts with Indoles.

Abstract A new seco-anthraquinone, crispuside A ( 1 ), and three new 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2 H )-ones, napthalenones A-C ( 2 – 4 ), were isolated from the roots of Rumex crispus L., along with 10 known anthraquinones ( 6–14 ) and naphthalenone ( 5 ). Their structures were fully determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including ECD, and X-ray crystallography in case of compound 5 , whose absolute configuration was determined for the first time. The isolates 1 , 6 – 14 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal activity against three skin fungi, e.g., Epidermophyton floccosum , Trichophyton rubrum , and Microsporum gypseum . Most of the isolates showed weak anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory activity. Only compound 9 exhibited obvious anti-fungal activity against E. floccosum (MIC 50 = 2.467 ± 0.03 μM) and M. gypseum (MIC 50 = 4.673 ± 0.077 μM), while the MIC 50 values of the positive control terbinafine were 1.287 ± 0.012 and 0.077 ± 0.00258 μM, respectively. The results indicated that simple emodin type anthraquinone is more potential against skin fungi than its oxyglucosyl, C -glucosyl and glycosylated seco analogues. Graphical Abstract 

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Dong Wang

Papers

Visible‐Light‐Mediated Stereoselective 1,2‐Iodoalkylation of Alkynes

Ultrastrong single-walled carbon nanotubes/ graphene oxide nanosheets hybrid network films as flexible electrode for energy storage.

Convective Thermal Metamaterials: Exploring High‐Efficiency, Directional, and Wave‐Like Heat Transfer

Tunable, Regioselective Control of Iodine-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution of Cyclic Baylis—Hillman Adducts with Indoles.

New seco-anthraquinone glucoside from the roots of Rumex crispus