Showing papers by "Rong Wang published in 2017"

Carbon-Based Functional Materials Derived from Waste for Water Remediation and Energy Storage.

Abstract: Carbon-based functional materials hold the key for solving global challenges in the areas of water scarcity and the energy crisis. Although carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene have shown promising results in various fields of application, their high preparation cost and low production yield still dramatically hinder their wide practical applications. Therefore, there is an urgent call for preparing carbon-based functional materials from low-cost, abundant, and sustainable sources. Recent innovative strategies have been developed to convert various waste materials into valuable carbon-based functional materials. These waste-derived carbon-based functional materials have shown great potential in many applications, especially as sorbents for water remediation and electrodes for energy storage. Here, the research progress in the preparation of waste-derived carbon-based functional materials is summarized, along with their applications in water remediation and energy storage; challenges and future research directions in this emerging research field are also discussed.

Preparation of Superhydrophilic and Underwater Superoleophobic Nanofiber-Based Meshes from Waste Glass for Multifunctional Oil/Water Separation

Abstract: The deterioration of water resources due to oil pollution, arising from oil spills, industrial oily wastewater discharge, etc., urgently requires the development of novel functional materials for highly efficient water remediation. Recently, superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic materials have drawn significant attention due to their low oil adhesion and selective oil/water separation. However, it is still a challenge to prepare low-cost, environmentally friendly, and multifunctional materials with superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, which can be stably used for oil/water separation under harsh working conditions. Here, the preparation of nanofiber-based meshes derived from waste glass through a green and sustainable route is demonstrated. The resulting meshes exhibit excellent performance in the selective separation of a wide range of oil/water mixtures. Importantly, these meshes can also maintain the superwetting property and high oil/water separation efficiency under various harsh conditions. Furthermore, the as-prepared mesh can remove water-soluble contaminants simultaneously during the oil/water separation process, leading to multifunctional water purification. The low-cost and environmentally friendly fabrication, harsh-environment resistance, and multifunctional characteristics make these nanofiber-based meshes promising toward oil/water separation under practical conditions.

BiVO4/TiO2(N2) Nanotubes Heterojunction Photoanode for Highly Efficient Photoelectrocatalytic Applications

Abstract: We report the development of a novel visible response BiVO4/TiO2(N2) nanotubes photoanode for photoelectrocatalytic applications. The nitrogen-treated TiO2 nanotube shows a high carrier concentration rate, thus resulting in a high efficient charge transportation and low electron–hole recombination in the TiO2–BiVO4. Therefore, the BiVO4/TiO2(N2) NTs photoanode enabled with a significantly enhanced photocurrent of 2.73 mA cm−2 (at 1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and a degradation efficiency in the oxidation of dyes under visible light. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, and UV–Vis absorption spectrum were conducted to characterize the photoanode and demonstrated the presence of both metal oxides as a junction composite.

Biobased copolyesters: synthesis, crystallization behavior, thermal and mechanical properties of poly(ethylene glycol sebacate-co-ethylene glycol 2,5-furan dicarboxylate)

Abstract: A series of biobased copolyesters, poly(ethylene sebacate-co-ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PESF), were synthesized from available biobased ethylene glycol (EG), sebacic acid (SA) and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) through a two-step melt polycondensation method. The composition, molecular weight and its distribution, crystal structure, and crystallization behavior of PESFs were investigated by 1H NMR, GPC, WAXD, and DSC methods, respectively. Tensile properties were also evaluated. While increasing the content of the FDCA unit, the glass transition temperatures of PESFs increased and the crystallization rates of PESFs decreased. Compared with poly(ethylene sebacate) (PES), PESF20 showed two melting peaks due to the formation of secondary crystals (small and imperfects crystals) caused by the incorporation of FDCA during the isothermal crystallization process. POM data showed that the nucleation density of PESF10 and PESF20 increased and the size of spherulites decreased due to the chain irregularity caused by randomization distribution with the introduction of FDCA. However, the crystal structure remained unchanged. Ring-banded spherulites were not detected for PESF20 in a wide temperature range (28–44 °C) as the incorporation of FDCA can restrict lamellar twisting and scrolling of PES segments. The thermal transition and mechanical properties of copolymers are tunable with the composition.

Kinetic and high-throughput profiling of epigenetic interactions by 3D-carbene chip-based surface plasmon resonance imaging technology

Abstract: Chemical modifications on histones and DNA/RNA constitute a fundamental mechanism for epigenetic regulation. These modifications often function as docking marks to recruit or stabilize cognate “reader” proteins. So far, a platform for quantitative and high-throughput profiling of the epigenetic interactome is urgently needed but still lacking. Here, we report a 3D-carbene chip-based surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) technology for this purpose. The 3D-carbene chip is suitable for immobilizing versatile biomolecules (e.g., peptides, antibody, DNA/RNA) and features low nonspecific binding, random yet function-retaining immobilization, and robustness for reuses. We systematically profiled binding kinetics of 1,000 histone “reader–mark” pairs on a single 3D-carbene chip and validated two recognition events by calorimetric and structural studies. Notably, a discovery on H3K4me3 recognition by the DNA mismatch repair protein MSH6 in Capsella rubella suggests a mechanism of H3K4me3-mediated DNA damage repair in plant.