An ultra-sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor is demonstrated successfully, based on Ni/Au bilayer nanowire arrays (Ni/Au biNWAs). The Ni/Au biNWAs with 200-nm diameter and 16-mu m length were synthesized by using a simple template-assisted electrodeposition method in the pores of anodic alumina membrane (AAO). Each nanowire of the Ni/Au biNWAs is consisted of Ni and Au layers along the direction of length. The electrochemical measurements reveal that the non-enzymatic glucose sensor based on Ni/Au biNWAs exhibits extraordinary electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation. Specifically, the device successfully achieves an ultrahigh sensitivity of 5154.84 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2) in the range of 50 mu M-10 mM with R-2 as high as 0.99877 and that of 1750.16 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2) in the range of 10-65 mM with R-2 of 0.989. The developed sensor also demonstrates a low detection limit of 10.69 mu M, a rapid response time of 2.5 s and excellent selectivity to avoid the oxidation of other species existing in human blood. The as-prepared sensor based on Ni/Au biNWAs verifies preferable accuracy and precision for glucose detection in human blood serum with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.67-2.68%, showing great potential for the non-enzymatic detection in physiological glucose levels.

Three-dimensional nano-mulberries consisting of SnO2 nanoparticles have been successfully anchored onto the surfaces of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to construct hierarchical hybrids-SnO2@RGO with a one-pot approach. The SnO2 nano-mulberries with different amounts of RGO have been produced for optimizing their composition effect on Li storage performance. Specifically, SnO2@RGO hybrids incorporated with optimized amount of RGO nanosheets (similar to 20.8%) exhibit highly enhanced capacity of similar to 1025 mA h/g at 0.1 A/g and a reversible capacity of 750 mA h/g over 100 cycles at 0.2 A/g. The materials also deliver much better rate performance with average specific capacity of similar to 498 mA h/g at 2 A/g in comparison with that of SnO2 nano-mulberries. After cycling for 600 times at 1 A/g, the SnO2@RGO electrodes still maintain high reversible capacity of similar to 602 mA h/g, corresponding to 35% of the second cycle and 133% of the 70th discharge capacity.

A new non-enzymatic glucose sensor is demonstrated successfully, based on three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical Co3O4 nanobooks (Co3O4 NBs). The 3D hierarchical Co3O4 NBs are assembled with porous and high crystalline 2D Co3O4 nanosheets. The electrochemical measurements reveal that the device exhibits outstanding performance for glucose detection, achieving a maximal sensitivity of 1068.85 mu A mM(-1)cm(-2) with a high R-2 of 0.9836, a low detection limit of 7.94 mu pM with a signal-to-noise of 3 and wide linear range up to 6 mM. The results demonstrate that the non-enzymatic glucose sensor can respond swiftly and selectively to glucose due to the high electrocatalytic activity of the 3D hierarchical Co3O4 NBs. The sensor also shows its high sensitivity and selectivity in detecting glucose in blood serum, confirming the practical application of the device with appealing accuracy.

The effect of reduced graphene oxide coating on the electrochemical performance of monodispersed core–shell MoS2 spheres has been presented. The 3D nanoarchitectures constructed with 2D MoS2 and RGO nanosheets can be applied to assemble anodes with highly enhanced capacity in storing lithium. The amount of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets can dramatically affect the electrochemical properties of as-prepared 3D nanoarchitectures. Specifically, the MoS2 anode materials with ~ 7 wt% of reduced graphene oxide exhibit the highest average specific capacity of ~ 1134 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, and it recovers up to 89.2% after performing discharge–charge at 2000 mA g−1. The discharge capacity of the electrode can retain ~ 88.9% of its second discharge capacity after cycling for 100 times at 200 mA g−1 and keep ~ 98.3% of its average Coulombic efficiency after the first cycle. The cells also possess high rate with specific capacity of ~ 739 mAh g−1 even at 1000 mA g−1. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

The effect of reduced graphene oxide coating on the electrochemical performance of monodispersed core–shell MoS₂ spheres has been presented. The 3D nanoarchitectures constructed with 2D MoS₂ and RGO nanosheets can be applied to assemble anodes with highly enhanced capacity in storing lithium. The amount of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets can dramatically affect the electrochemical properties of as-prepared 3D nanoarchitectures. Specifically, the MoS₂ anode materials with ~ 7 wt% of reduced graphene oxide exhibit the highest average specific capacity of ~ 1134 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹, and it recovers up to 89.2% after performing discharge–charge at 2000 mA g⁻¹. The discharge capacity of the electrode can retain ~ 88.9% of its second discharge capacity after cycling for 100 times at 200 mA g⁻¹ and keep ~ 98.3% of its average Coulombic efficiency after the first cycle. The cells also possess high rate with specific capacity of ~ 739 mAh g⁻¹ even at 1000 mA g⁻¹.
© 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Monodispersed 3D core-shell superspheres consisting of oriented MoS2 nanosheets have been successfully synthesized on the large scale with a one-pot approach combining soft- and self-templated methods. Specifically, MoOx (x = 2-3) nanoclusters and MoS2 layers first self-assemble together with (CTAB)2Sy (y = 1 or 2) to form solid hybrids, MoOx-MoS2@(CTAB)2Sy spheres at 160 °C, and most of the MoOx nanoclusters then convert to MoO2 and 2H-MoS2 at 180 and 200 °C, respectively. 3D core-shell superspheres can be finally constructed with 2H/1T-MoS2 nanosheets with abundant O-dopants and defects at 220 °C. The expanded d-spacings of the (002) crystal plane reveal the formation of quasi molecular superlattices for partially intercalating (CTAB)2S molecules into 2D MoS2 nanosheets. The dynamic composition and nano/microstructural evolution of the materials in a one-pot reaction demonstrates a mimicked embryo formation based on in situ anion-exchange. The 3D core-shell superspheres can be applied to assemble anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with excellent performance, after being coated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO). © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2018.

We have realized the selective detections of acetone and H2S vapors through tailoring the surface microstructures of ZnO crystals. Specifically, ZnO prisms mainly incased in equivalent [1 0 0] facets exhibit the highest response to H2S, and ZnO twin-spheres exposed in +/-(0 0 1) facets show selective response to acetone. In comparison, the ZnO dumbbells exposed both in +/-(0 0 1) and equivalent [1 0 0] facets respond to acetone and H2S similarly. The selective responses of the sensors are closely related to the adsorption energies (E-a) of the chemicals to the special facets of ZnO supercrystals, based on the firstprinciples calculations. The +/-(0 0 1) and equivalent [1 0 0] facets of the ZnO crystals prefer to absorb acetone and H2S, respectively, which offer a chance of selectively sensing the chemicals. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ag@LiFePO4 cathode materials have been prepared successfully by performing solid-state reactions between AgNO3 and the ascorbic acid in the presence of LiFePO4 powders at ambient temperature. Metallic Ag nanoparticles of ca. 10 nm in diameter can be produced with the environmental benign approach and efficiently attached onto the surfaces of commercial LiFePO4 cathode materials. The asprepared composites show highly enhanced electrochemical performances in storing Li with ca. 22% increase in their discharge specific capacity from 128 to 156 mAhg(-1) at C/10 rate, after loading Ag additive of 2 wt%. The coulombic efficiency of the composites can retain 97%, after cycling for 80 times. They can also remain up to 94 mAhg(-1) of their discharge specific capacity at high rate of 5 C, which is almost twice higher than that of LiFePO4 cathode materials. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Porous Mn2O3 microspheres have been synthesized and in-situ coated with amorphous carbon to form hierarchical C@Mn2O3 microspheres by first producing MnCO3 microspheres in solvothermal reactions, and then annealing at 500 degrees C. The self-assembly growth of MnCO3 microspheres can generate hollow structures inside each of the particles, which can act as micro-reservoirs to store biomass-glycerol for generating amorphous carbon onto the surfaces of Mn2O3 nanorods consisting of microspheres. The C@Mn2O3 microspheres, prepared at 500 degrees C, exhibit highly enhanced pseudocapacitive performances when compared to the particles after annealed at 400 degrees C and 600 degrees C. Specifically, the C@Mn2O3 microspheres prepared at 500 degrees C show high specific capacitances of 383.87 F g(-1) at current density of 0.5 A g(-1), and excellent cycling stability of 90.47% of its initial value after cycling for 5000 times. The asymmetric supercapacitors assembled with C@Mn2O3 microspheres after annealed at 500 degrees C and activated carbon (AC) show an energy density of up to 77.8 Wh kg(-1) at power density of 500.00 W kg(-1), and a maximum power density of 20.14 kW kg(-1) at energy density of 46.8 Wh kg(-1). We can attribute the enhanced electrochemical performances of the materials to their three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure in-situ coated with carbon.