Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods suitable to measure trace amounts of specific ions in fluid samples. An example system includes a resonator having an input coupler and an output coupler. The example system also includes an ion-selective membrane (ISM) optically coupled to at least a portion of the resonator. The system additionally includes a light source configured to illuminate the resonator by way of the input coupler. Furthermore, the system includes a detector configured to receive output light by way of the output coupler and provide information indicative a concentration of a specific ion proximate to tire ISM.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods suitable to measure trace amounts of specific ions in fluid samples. An example system includes a resonator having an input coupler and an output coupler. The example system also includes an ion-selective membrane (ISM) optically coupled to at least a portion of the resonator. The system additionally includes a light source configured to illuminate the resonator by way of the input coupler. Furthermore, the system includes a detector configured to receive output light by way of the output coupler and provide information indicative a concentration of a specific ion proximate to tire ISM.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured metal oxide material for use as a component of an electrode in a sodium-ion battery. The material comprises a nanostructured titanium oxide film on a metal foil substrate, which can be produced by depositing or forming a nanostructured titanium dioxide material on the substrate, and then, optionally, charging and discharging the material in an electrochemical cell to improve the capacity and Coulombic efficiency thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of CO2 reduction to methanol or CO using a Cu2O catalyst.

Abstract: A nanostructure comprises a MOX NP and a bidentate ligand on a surface of the MOX NP. A cancer recognition molecule is covalent coupled to the surface of the MOX NP via the bidentate ligand. A biocatalyst is also coupled to the surface of the MOX nanoparticle via the bidentate ligand. The cancer recognition molecule includes a structure configured to selectively recognize a corresponding antigen on a surface of a cancer cell and bind to the antigen. The biocatalyst is structured to selectively catalyze the oxidation of a light emitting compound to produce photons. The photons transform the MOX NPs into an excited state such that the MOX NPs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vicinity of the cancer cells in the excited state. The reactive oxygen species lyse or cause apoptosis in the cancer cells in situ. The biocatalyst includes luciferase and the light emitting compound includes luciferin.

Abstract: A nanostructure comprises a MOX NP and a bidentate ligand on a surface of the MOX NP. A cancer recognition molecule is covalent coupled to the surface of the MOX NP via the bidentate ligand. A biocatalyst is also coupled to the surface of the MOX nanoparticle via the bidentate ligand. The cancer recognition molecule includes a structure configured to selectively recognize a corresponding antigen on a surface of a cancer cell and bind to the antigen. The biocatalyst is structured to selectively catalyze the oxidation of a light emitting compound to produce photons. The photons transform the MOX NPs into an excited state such that the MOX NPs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vicinity of the cancer cells in the excited state. The reactive oxygen species lyse or cause apoptosis in the cancer cells in situ. The biocatalyst includes luciferase and the light emitting compound includes luciferin.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of CO2 reduction to methanol or CO using a Cu2O catalyst.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an efficient entirely man-made nanobio hybrid fabricated through cell-free expression of transmembrane proton pump followed by assembly of the synthetic protein architecture with semiconductor nanoparticles for photocatalytic H2 evolution. The system produces H2 at a turnover rate of 240 ?mol of H2 (?mol protein)?1 h?1 under green and 17.74 mmol of H2 (?mol protein)?1 h?1 under white light at ambient conditions, in water at neutral pH with methanol as a sacrificial electron donor. Robsutness and flexibility of this approach allows for systemic manipulation at nanoparticle-bio interface toward directed evolution of energy materials and devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an efficient entirely man-made nanobio hybrid fabricated through cell-free expression of transmembrane proton pump followed by assembly of the synthetic protein architecture with semiconductor nanoparticles for photocatalytic H2 evolution. The system produces H2 at a turnover rate of 240 ?mol of H2 (?mol protein)?1 h?1 under green and 17.74 mmol of H2 (?mol protein)?1 h?1 under white light at ambient conditions, in water at neutral pH with methanol as a sacrificial electron donor. Robsutness and flexibility of this approach allows for systemic manipulation at nanoparticle-bio interface toward directed evolution of energy materials and devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured metal oxide material for use as a component of an electrode in a lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery. The material comprises a nanostructured titanium oxide or vanadium oxide film on a metal foil substrate, produced by depositing or forming a nanostructured titanium dioxide or vanadium oxide material on the substrate, and then, optionally, charging and discharging the material in an electrochemical cell from a high voltage in the range of about 2.8 to 3.8 V, to a low voltage in the range of about 0.8 to 1.4 V over a period of about 1/30 of an hour or less. Lithium-ion and sodium-ion electrochemical cells comprising electrodes formed from the nanostructured metal oxide materials, as well as batteries formed from the cells, also are provided.

Abstract: A thermally conductive electrochemical cell comprises a lithium ion-containing liquid electrolyte contacting a cathode and anode. The cathode and anode are in the form of electroactive sheets separated from each other by a membrane that is permeable to the electrolyte. One or more of the cathode and anode comprises two or more layers of carbon nanotubes, one of which layers includes electrochemically active nanoparticles and/or microparticles disposed therein or deposited on the nanotubes thereof. The majority of the carbon nanotubes in each of the layers are oriented generally parallel to the layers. Optionally, one or more of the layers includes an additional carbon material such as graphene, nanoparticulate diamond, microparticulate diamond, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured metal oxide material for use as a component of an electrode in a lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery. The material comprises a nanostructured titanium oxide or vanadium oxide film on a metal foil substrate, produced by depositing or forming a nanostructured titanium dioxide or vanadium oxide material on the substrate, and then charging and discharging the material in an electrochemical cell from a high voltage in the range of about 2.8 to 3.8 V, to a low voltage in the range of about 0.8 to 1.4 V over a period of about 1/30 of an hour or less. Lithium-ion and sodium-ion electrochemical cells comprising electrodes formed from the nanostructured metal oxide materials, as well as batteries formed from the cells, also are provided.

Abstract: A nanostructure comprises a MOX NP and a bidentate ligand on a surface of the MOX NP. A cancer recognition molecule is covalent coupled to the surface of the MOX NP via the bidentate ligand. A biocatalyst is also coupled to the surface of the MOX nanoparticle via the bidentate ligand. The cancer recognition molecule includes a structure configured to selectively recognize a corresponding antigen on a surface of a cancer cell and bind to the antigen. The biocatalyst is structured to selectively catalyze the oxidation of a light emitting compound to produce photons. The photons transform the MOX NPs into an excited state such that the MOX NPs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vicinity of the cancer cells in the excited state. The reactive oxygen species lyse or cause apoptosis in the cancer cells in situ. The biocatalyst includes luciferase and the light emitting compound includes luciferin.

Abstract: A thermally conductive electrochemical cell comprises a lithium ion-containing liquid electrolyte contacting a cathode and anode. The cathode and anode are in the form of electroactive sheets separated from each other by a membrane that is permeable to the electrolyte. One or more of the cathode and anode comprises two or more layers of carbon nanotubes, one of which layers includes electrochemically active nanoparticles and/or microparticles disposed therein or deposited on the nanotubes thereof. The majority of the carbon nanotubes in each of the layers are oriented generally parallel to the layers. Optionally, one or more of the layers includes an additional carbon material such as graphene, nanoparticulate diamond, microparticulate diamond, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A cathode comprises, in its discharged state, a layer of hollow ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles disposed between two layers of carbon nanotubes, and preferably including a metallic current collector in contact with one of the layers of carbon nanotubes. Individual particles of the hollow ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles comprise a crystalline shell of ?-Fe2O3 including cation vacancies within the crystal structure of the shell (i.e., iron vacancies of anywhere between 3% to 90%, and preferably 44 to 77% of available octahedral iron sites). Sodium ions are intercalated within at least some of the cation vacancies within the crystalline shell of the hollow ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising nanoparticles and uses thereof. Such nanoparticles include gold nanoparticles conjugated to glucose or a glucose derivative, which are useful as contrast agents in imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT). Nanoparticles disclosed herein are useful in imaging various cells, tissues, and organs, and are particularly useful in imaging tumors and tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: A cathode comprises, in its discharged state, a layer of hollow ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles disposed between two layers of carbon nanotubes, and preferably including a metallic current collector in contact with one of the layers of carbon nanotubes. Individual particles of the hollow ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles comprise a crystalline shell of ?-Fe2O3 including cation vacancies within the crystal structure of the shell (i.e., iron vacancies of anywhere between 3% to 90%, and preferably 44 to 77% of available octahedral iron sites). Sodium ions are intercalated within at least some of the cation vacancies within the crystalline shell of the hollow ?-Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured metal oxide material for use as a component of an electrode in a lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery. The material comprises a nanostructured titanium oxide or vanadium oxide film on a metal foil substrate, produced by depositing or forming a nanostructured titanium dioxide or vanadium oxide material on the substrate, and then charging and discharging the material in an electrochemical cell from a high voltage in the range of about 2.8 to 3.8 V, to a low voltage in the range of about 0.8 to 1.4 V over a period of about 1/30 of an hour or less. Lithium-ion and sodium-ion electrochemical cells comprising electrodes formed from the nanostructured metal oxide materials, as well as batteries formed from the cells, also are provided.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic cell comprising a composite substrate of a nanotube or nanorod array of metal oxide infiltrated with a monomer precursor and subsequently polymerized in situ via UV irradiation. In an embodiment, the photovoltaic cell comprises an electron accepting TiO2 nanotube array infiltrated with a photo-sensitive electron donating conjugated polymer. The conjugated polymer may be formed in situ through UV irradiation polymerizing a monomer precursor such as 2,5-diiodothiophene (DIT).

Abstract: The invention provides a system for separating oppositely-charged charge carriers, the substrate comprising a semiconductor; a ligand in electrical communication with said semiconductor; an ion-exchange resin attached to the semiconductor; an ion-exchange membrane; and an electrical conduit attaching said resin to said membrane. Also provided is a method for producing hydrogen gas, comprising: inducing charge separation in semiconductor particles so as to produce electrons and holes; oxidizing water with the holes to produce oxygen ions and protons, wherein the protons are sequestered from the oxygen ions as the protons are produced; and directing the sequestered protons to a cathode. The invention also provides a method to produce electricity comprising, inducing charge separation in semiconductor particles so as to produce electrons and holes, and completing the circuit with an electron hole transporter.