Long-Term Efficient Interfacial Solar Desalination Enabled by a Biomimetic 2D Water-Transport Structure Based on Silicone Nanofilaments

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) has drawn increasing attention for seawater desalination. Two-dimensional water-transport structures (2D-WTS) can enhance SIE performance by reducing heat loss of conventional evaporators but suffer from poor salt resistance due to insufficient water supply, which inhibits vapor escape and thus reduces evaporation rate. Inspired by the transpiration of plant leaves, we report the design of a 2D-WTS with controllable morphology by growing silicone nanofilaments on a polyethylene/polypropylene fabric. 2D-WTS has a hierarchical micro-/nanostructure for fast water supply like the multiscale vascular system of leaves. Consequently, the separated solar evaporator composed of 2D-WTS and polypyrrole/attapulgite@aluminium photothermal sheet achieves long-term efficient SIE, i.e., high evaporation rate (2.23 kg m–2 h–1, 3.5 wt % NaCl(aq), 1 sun), stable SIE of concentrated brine over 10 days (∼2.10 kg m–2 h–1, 10 wt % NaCl(aq), 7 h irradiation per day, 1 sun), and high practical evaporation rate of 7.36 kg m–2 during 7 h outdoor SIE under weak sunlight and low temperature (0.3–0.6 sun, 2–13 °C). This is because fast water transport in 2D-WTS forms a small salt deposition area close to the edge of the horizontal area of 2D-WTS during long-term SIE, which hardly affects the vapor escape

Green Synthesis of Ant Nest-Inspired Superelastic Silicone Aerogels

Green synthesis of aerogels with high mechanical properties has long remained a big challenge ever since Kistler’s report in 1931. Inspired by ant nests, we report a green method to synthesize strong, superelastic and flexible silicone aerogels. The aerogels are prepared by hydrolytic condensation of silanes with trace amounts of catalyst and surfactant (0.094 mmol mol^–1) followed by drying the hydrogels at ambient pressure. The aerogels can quickly recover their original shape after repeated compression and bending. The aerogels can be functionalized via their Si–OH or vinyl groups for specific purposes. We also extend the method for forming aerogel coatings on diverse types of materials. Our study demonstrates that green synthesis of superelastic aerogels is feasible and bioinspiration is an efficient strategy

Long-Term Efficient Interfacial Solar Desalination Enabled by a Biomimetic 2D Water-Transport Structure Based on Silicone Nanofilaments

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) has drawn increasing attention for seawater desalination. Two-dimensional water-transport structures (2D-WTS) can enhance SIE performance by reducing heat loss of conventional evaporators but suffer from poor salt resistance due to insufficient water supply, which inhibits vapor escape and thus reduces evaporation rate. Inspired by the transpiration of plant leaves, we report the design of a 2D-WTS with controllable morphology by growing silicone nanofilaments on a polyethylene/polypropylene fabric. 2D-WTS has a hierarchical micro-/nanostructure for fast water supply like the multiscale vascular system of leaves. Consequently, the separated solar evaporator composed of 2D-WTS and polypyrrole/attapulgite@aluminium photothermal sheet achieves long-term efficient SIE, i.e., high evaporation rate (2.23 kg m–2 h–1, 3.5 wt % NaCl(aq), 1 sun), stable SIE of concentrated brine over 10 days (∼2.10 kg m–2 h–1, 10 wt % NaCl(aq), 7 h irradiation per day, 1 sun), and high practical evaporation rate of 7.36 kg m–2 during 7 h outdoor SIE under weak sunlight and low temperature (0.3–0.6 sun, 2–13 °C). This is because fast water transport in 2D-WTS forms a small salt deposition area close to the edge of the horizontal area of 2D-WTS during long-term SIE, which hardly affects the vapor escape

Green Synthesis of Ant Nest-Inspired Superelastic Silicone Aerogels

Green synthesis of aerogels with high mechanical properties has long remained a big challenge ever since Kistler’s report in 1931. Inspired by ant nests, we report a green method to synthesize strong, superelastic and flexible silicone aerogels. The aerogels are prepared by hydrolytic condensation of silanes with trace amounts of catalyst and surfactant (0.094 mmol mol^–1) followed by drying the hydrogels at ambient pressure. The aerogels can quickly recover their original shape after repeated compression and bending. The aerogels can be functionalized via their Si–OH or vinyl groups for specific purposes. We also extend the method for forming aerogel coatings on diverse types of materials. Our study demonstrates that green synthesis of superelastic aerogels is feasible and bioinspiration is an efficient strategy

Green Synthesis of Ant Nest-Inspired Superelastic Silicone Aerogels

Green synthesis of aerogels with high mechanical properties has long remained a big challenge ever since Kistler’s report in 1931. Inspired by ant nests, we report a green method to synthesize strong, superelastic and flexible silicone aerogels. The aerogels are prepared by hydrolytic condensation of silanes with trace amounts of catalyst and surfactant (0.094 mmol mol^–1) followed by drying the hydrogels at ambient pressure. The aerogels can quickly recover their original shape after repeated compression and bending. The aerogels can be functionalized via their Si–OH or vinyl groups for specific purposes. We also extend the method for forming aerogel coatings on diverse types of materials. Our study demonstrates that green synthesis of superelastic aerogels is feasible and bioinspiration is an efficient strategy

Green Synthesis of Ant Nest-Inspired Superelastic Silicone Aerogels

Green synthesis of aerogels with high mechanical properties has long remained a big challenge ever since Kistler’s report in 1931. Inspired by ant nests, we report a green method to synthesize strong, superelastic and flexible silicone aerogels. The aerogels are prepared by hydrolytic condensation of silanes with trace amounts of catalyst and surfactant (0.094 mmol mol^–1) followed by drying the hydrogels at ambient pressure. The aerogels can quickly recover their original shape after repeated compression and bending. The aerogels can be functionalized via their Si–OH or vinyl groups for specific purposes. We also extend the method for forming aerogel coatings on diverse types of materials. Our study demonstrates that green synthesis of superelastic aerogels is feasible and bioinspiration is an efficient strategy

MiR-520b targeted MEKK2 and cyclin D1 contribute to hepatoma cell growth <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>(A) The expression levels of MEKK2 and cyclin D1 were examined by western blot analyses in HepG2 and H7402 cells treated with two different siRNAs targeting MEKK2 (termed siMEKK2-1 and siMEKK2-2) or two different siRNAs targeting cyclin D1 (termed sicyclinD1-1 and sicyclinD1-2). (B) The effect of transient transfection of siRNAs targeting MEKK2 (siMEKK2-1 or siMEKK2-2) or cyclin D1 (sicyclin D1-1 or sicyclin D1-2) on the growth of HepG2 and H7402 cells was examined by colony formation assays. (C) The effect of transient transfection of sicyclin D1-1 or siMEKK2-1 on the growth of HepG2 and H7402 cells was examined by EdU incorporation assays. (D) HepG2 and H7402 cells were transfected with miR-NC, miR-520b, NC, sicyclin D1-1 and/or siMEKK2-1, respectively. The effects of miRNAs or siRNA targeting cyclin D1 or MEKK2 on hepatoma cell proliferation were determined by MTT assays at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfection. *<i>P</i><0.05, **<i>P</i><0.01, Student's <i>t</i> test. (E) Tumor growth measured after subcutaneous injection of HepG2 cells transient transfected with NC, siMEKK2-1 or sicyclinD1-1. The tumor volume was calculated every 3 days. Points, mean (n = 6); bars, SD.</p

Durable, Transparent, and Hot Liquid Repelling Superamphiphobic Coatings from Polysiloxane-Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Although encouraging progress in the field of superamphiphobic coatings has been obtained, the superamphiphobic coatings with high durability, transparency, and repellency to hot liquids are very rare. Here, durable, transparent, and hot liquid-repelling superamphiphobic coatings were successfully prepared using polysiloxane-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs@POS) as the templates. The hydrolytic condensation of <i>n</i>-hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) and tetraethoxysilane on the surface of MWCNTs formed MWCNTs@POS, which are highly dispersible in toluene. The superamphiphobic coatings were prepared by spray-coating the homogeneous suspension of MWCNTs@POS in toluene onto glass slides, calcination in air to form the silica nanotubes (SNTs), and then modification with 1<i>H</i>,1<i>H</i>,2<i>H</i>,2<i>H</i>-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane in dry toluene. The changes in the surface microstructure, surface chemical composition, and wettability were characterized by various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the microstructures of the SNTs have great influences on superamphiphobicity and transparency of the coatings and can be regulated by the concentration of HDTMS and the diameter of MWCNTs. The SNTs with tunable wall thickness and diameter could be obtained using the method. The superamphiphobic coatings showed high contact angles and low sliding angles for various cool and hot liquids of different surface tensions. The superamphiphobic coatings also exhibited high transparency and comprehensive durability

Pressure-Sensitive and Conductive Carbon Aerogels from Poplars Catkins for Selective Oil Absorption and Oil/Water Separation

Multifunctional carbon aerogels that are both highly compressible and conductive have broad potential applications in the range of sound insulator, sensor, oil absorption, and electronics. However, the preparation of such carbon aerogels has been proven to be very challenging. Here, we report fabrication of pressure-sensitive and conductive (PSC) carbon aerogels by pyrolysis of cellulose aerogels composed of poplars catkin (PC) microfibers with a tubular structure. The wet PC gels can be dried directly in an oven without any deformation, in marked contrast to the brittle nature of traditional carbon aerogels. The resultant PSC aerogels exhibit ultralow density (4.3 mg cm^–3), high compressibility (80%), high electrical conductivity (0.47 S cm^–1), and high absorbency (80–161 g g^–1) for oils and organic liquids. The PSC aerogels have potential applications in various fields such as elastomeric conductors, absorption of oils from water and oil/water separation, as the PSC aerogels feature simple preparation process with low-cost biomass as the precursor

Cyclin D1 overexpression rescues miR-520b depressed growth of hepatoma cells.

<p>(A) The effect of miR-520b or sicyclinD1-1 on phosphorylation levels Rb (p-Rb) was examined in HepG2 and H7402 cells by western blot analyses. (B) Western blot analyses showed the expression levels of cyclin D1 and p-Rb in HepG2 and H7402 cells treated by miR-520b or both pcDNA3-cyclin D1 and miR-520b. (C) The effect of cyclin D1 overexpression on the miR-520b-inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells was examined by flow cytometry analyses. (D) The effect of cyclin D1 overexpression on the miR-520b-inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells was examined by MTT assays at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfection. *<i>P</i><0.05, ** <i>P</i><0.01, Student's <i>t</i> test.</p