Nanjing Tech University

About: Nanjing Tech University is a education organization based out in Nanjing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Membrane. The organization has 21827 authors who have published 21794 publications receiving 364050 citations. The organization is also known as: Nangongda & Nánjīng Gōngyè Dàxúe.

A Cobalt-Free Multi-Phase Nanocomposite as Near-Ideal Cathode of Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Developed by Smart Self-Assembly.

Abstract: An ideal solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathode should meet multiple requirements, i.e., high activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), good conductivity, favorable stability, and sound thermo-mechanical/chemical compatibility with electrolyte, while it is very challenging to achieve all these requirements based on a single-phase material. Herein, a cost-effective multi-phase nanocomposite, facilely synthesized through smart self-assembly at high temperature, is developed as a near-ideal cathode of intermediate-temperature SOFCs, showing high ORR activity (an area-specific resistance of ≈0.028 Ω cm2 and a power output of 1208 mW cm-2 at 650 °C), affordable conductivity (21.5 S cm-1 at 650 °C), favorable stability (560 h operation in single cell), excellent chemical compatibility with Sm0.2 Ce0.8 O1.9 electrolyte, and reduced thermal expansion coefficient (≈16.8 × 10-6 K-1 ). Such a nanocomposite (Sr0.9 Ce0.1 Fe0.8 Ni0.2 O3-δ ) is composed of a single perovskite main phase (77.2 wt%), a Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) second phase (13.3 wt%), and surface-decorated NiO (5.8 wt%) and CeO2 (3.7 wt%) minor phases. The RP phase promotes the oxygen bulk diffusion while NiO and CeO2 nanoparticles facilitate the oxygen surface process and O2- migration from the surface to the main phase, respectively. The strong interaction between four phases in nanodomain creates a synergistic effect, leading to the superior ORR activity.

Smart Design of Nanomaterials for Mitochondria-Targeted Nanotherapeutics.

Abstract: Mitochondria are the powerhouse of cells. They are vital organelles that maintain cellular function and metabolism. Dysfunction of mitochondria results in various diseases with a great diversity of clinical appearances. In the past, strategies have been developed for fabricating subcellular-targeting drug-delivery nanocarriers, enabling cellular internalization and subsequent organelle localization. Of late, innovative strategies have emerged for the smart design of multifunctional nanocarriers. Hierarchical targeting enables nanocarriers to evade and overcome various barriers encountered upon in vivo administration to reach the organelle with good bioavailability. Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers allow controlled release of therapeutics to occur at the desired target site. Synergistic therapy can be achieved using a combination of approaches such as chemotherapy, gene and phototherapy. In this Review, we survey the field for recent developments and strategies used in the smart design of nanocarriers for mitochondria-targeted therapeutics. Existing challenges and unexplored therapeutic opportunities are also highlighted and discussed to inspire the next generation of mitochondrial-targeting nanotherapeutics.