Let It Shine: A Transparent and Photoluminescent Foldable Nanocellulose/Quantum Dot Paper

Exploration of environmentally friendly light-emitting devices with extremely low weight has been a trend in recent decades for modern digital technology. Herein, we describe a simple suction filtration method to develop a transparent and photoluminescent nanocellulose (NC) paper, which contains ZnSe quantum dot (QD) with high quantum yield as a functional filler. ZnSe QD can be dispersed uniformly in NC, and a quite low coefficient of thermal expansion is determined for the resultant composite paper, suggesting its good dimensional stability. These results indicate that the meeting of NC with ZnSe QD can bring a brilliant future during the information age

Cellulose Nanocrystal-Templated Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO₂ with Dominantly Exposed (001) Facets for Efficient Catalysis

The mesoporous structure and high exposure of the (001) facet are of great importance to the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂. In this Letter, we report using cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as a sacrificial template to develop mesoporous TiO₂ with dominantly exposed (001) facets, for which CNC can provide confined space for the controlled crystal growth of TiO₂ and create mesopores after being removed. Owing to the photoluminescence up-conversion, furthermore, carbon quantum dot (C-dot) is introduced to realize visible light catalytic property of TiO₂. In particular, the TiO₂/C-dot composite with an extremely low content of carbon dot exhibits high catalytic performance, for which the mechanism is discussed. These results indicate such biotemplating method offers the potential to develop more mesoporous nanomaterials with desirable structures

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil from <i>Filifolium sibiricum</i> (L.) Kitam

<p>The essential oil from <i>Filifolium sibiricum</i> (L.) Kitam were extracted using hydrodistillation and GC-MS was used to analyse the essential oil. The main components were espatulenol (8.55%), geranyl acetate (8.03%), caryophyllene oxide (5.47%), calamenene (4.79%), geraniol (4.28%), calamenene (4.53%), geraniol (4.06%), cedrene epoxide (3.23%), myrtenol (3.18%), transgeranylgeranio (3.13%), etc. The essential oil showed intensive inhibitory effects against MCF-7 with IC₅₀ level of 0.78 mg/mL, HepG-2 with IC₅₀ level of 0.44 mg/mL, SKOV-3 with IC₅₀ level of 0.27 mg/mL, BGC-823 with IC₅₀ level of 0.34 mg/mL. In the antibacterial test, the essential oil showed the significant antibacterial activities. The MIC and MBC values were 5.20 and 5.20 mg/mL against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.</p

Chemical composition and cytotoxicity of the essential oil from different parts of <i>Datura metel</i> L.

<p>The essential oil from different parts of <i>Datura metel</i> L. were extracted using hydrodistillation and GC–MS was used to analyse the essential oil. The main components of flowers were ketone (23.61%) and ethyl palmitate (15.84%). The main components of leaves were ketone (18.84%) and phytol (18.71%). Ketone (39.45%) and phytol (31.32%) were the major components of petioles. Palmitic acid (30.60%) and ethyl linoleate (21.56%) were the major components of seeds. The major ingredient of roots was palmitic acid (52.61%). The main ingredients of the stems were palmitic acid (38.38%) and ethyl linoleate (17.38%). All the different parts of essential oil were screened for cytotoxicity. The roots and stems showed the inhibitory effects against HepG-2 with IC₅₀ levels of 613.88 and 341.12 mg/L. The leaves and roots showed the inhibitory effects against HeLa with IC₅₀ levels of 267.76 and 348.35 mg/L. All the six parts have inhibitory effects against SGC-7901 cell lines.</p

Biomimetic Optical Cellulose Nanocrystal Films with Controllable Iridescent Color and Environmental Stimuli-Responsive Chromism

As a wise and profound teacher, nature provides numerous creatures with rich colors to us. To biomimic structural colors in nature as well as color changes responsive to environmental stimuli, there is a long way to go for the development of free-standing photonic films from natural polymers. Herein, a highly flexible, controllably iridescent, and multistimuli-responsive cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) film is prepared by simply introducing a small molecule as both plasticizer and hygroscopic agent. The presence of the additive does not block the self-assembly of CNC in aqueous solution but results in the enhancement of its mechanical toughness, making it possible to obtain free-standing iridescent CNC films with tunable structural colors. In response to environmental humidity and mechanical compression, such films can change structural colors smoothly by modulating their chiral nematic structures. Notably, the chromism is reversible by alternately changing relative humidity between 16 and 98%, mimicking the longhorn beetle Tmesisternus isabellae. This chromic effect enables various applications of the biofilms in colorimetric sensors, anticounterfeiting technology, and decorative coatings