A new class of multimetallic hierarchical aerogels composed entirely of interconnected Ni-Pdx Pty nano-building-blocks with in situ engineered morphologies and compositions is demonstrated. The underlying mechanism of the galvanic shape-engineering is elucidated in terms of nanowelding of intermediate nanoparticles. The hierarchical aerogels integrate two levels of porous structures, leading to...

We designed and fabricated binder-free, 3D porous silicon nanostructures for Li-ion battery anodes, where Si nanoparticles electrically contact current collectors via vertically grown silicon nanowires. When compared with a Si nanowire anode, the areal capacity was increased by a factor of 4 without having to use long, high temperature steps under vacuum that vapour-liquid-solid Si nanowire gro...

PIC (Phase Inversion Composition) O-W nanoemulsions was used as a template for the synthesis of Hierarchical Porous Silica (HPS), and the oil phase of the nanoemulsion was used as a nanoreactor for the preparation of magnetic gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles, confined within the silica matrix.

Convective assembly at high volume fractions was used to assemble gold nanoparticles into structured porous films templated by colloidal crystals. These gold nanofilms have hierarchical porosity and were proven to be stable and efficient substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The control over the film structure allowed optimization of their performance for potential sensor a...

Enantioselective anti-L-amino acid antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles are shown to facilitate the detection of latent fingermarks by interacting with amino acids present in friction ridge secretions. This antibody-based system is particularly effective for the enhancement of aged and dried fingermarks on non-porous surfaces, an area unexploited by current techniques.

Hierarchically porous zeolite supported metal nanoparticles are successfully prepared through a base-assisted chemoselective interaction between the silicon species on the zeolite crystal surface and metal salts, in which in situ construction of mesopores and high dispersion of metal species are realized simultaneously.

It happens inside: highly active nanoreactors are prepared by encapsulating dendritic Pt nanoparticles (NPs) grown on a polystyrene template inside hollow porous silica capsules. The catalytic activity of these Pt NPs is preserved after encapsulation and template removal. Different metals, such as Ni, can thus be reduced inside the capsules, thereby leading to the formation of composites with t...

Noble metal nanoparticles are directly and homogeneously grown onto graphene-oxide (GO) sheets in oleylamine. After the oleylamine is removed, the GO sheets are exfoliated by the nanoparticle pillars to further form hierarchical GO nanostructures with molecule accessible nanopores. With specific sensing-groups modified, the porous-layered nanostructure can be constructed onto resonant microcant...

Porous silicone sponges are fabricated by polymerization of organosilanes in the presence of Fe3O4@silica nanoparticles. The sponges feature fast magnetic responsivity, superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity, high compressibility and stability. The sponges can selectively absorb floating oils on a water surface, heavy oils under water and even emulsified oils.

A morphology-conserved transformation yields Sn@C nanowires (UTP@CW, ∼21 wt% carbon and ∼77 wt% tin) with a high encapsulation density of ultrafine tin nanoparticles in porous carbon nanowires, which exhibit excellent reversible capacities and cycling performance for lithium ion batteries, especially at high current rates.