Jianli Zou

Scalable synthesis of catalysts for the Mizoroki–Heck cross coupling reaction: palladium nanoparticles assembled in a polymeric nanosphere

Palladium nano-spheres 160 nm in diameter, as an assembly of uniform 5 nm nanoparticles, are accessible using a facile one step method under continuous flow on a spinning disc with hydrogen gas as the reducing agent. The stable colloidal system is an effective catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction, as established for the reaction between several aryl halides and n-butyl acrylate, and can be readily recycled without a change in their catalytic activity.

Pd-induced ordering of 2D Pt nanoarrays on phosphonated calix[4]arenes stabilised graphenes

p-Phosphonic acid calix[4]arenes render high stability to exfoliated graphenes in water. These calix[4]arenes modified graphenes can be used as highly effective substrates to nucleate ultra-small Pd nanoparticles, which in turn serve as galvanic reaction templates for the generation of high density 2D arrays of Pt nanoparticles.

Hierarchical patterning of multifunctional conducting polymer nanoparticles as a bionic platform for topographic contact guidance

The use of programmed electrical signals to influence biological events has been a widely accepted clinical methodology for neurostimulation. An optimal biocompatible platform for neural activation efficiently transfers electrical signals across the electrode-cell interface and also incorporates large-area neural guidance conduits. Inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) have emerged as frontrunners as soft biocompatible alternatives to traditionally used metal electrodes, which are highly invasive and elicit tissue damage over long-term implantation. However, fabrication techniques for the ICPs suffer a major bottleneck, which limits their usability and medical translation. Herein, we report that these limitations can be overcome using colloidal chemistry to fabricate multimodal conducting polymer nanoparticles. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these polymer nanoparticles can be precisely assembled into large-area linear conduits using surface chemistry. Finally, we validate that this platform can act as guidance conduits for neurostimulation, whereby the presence of electrical current induces remarkable dendritic axonal sprouting of cells.

Biogenic production of palladium nanocrystals using microalgae and their immobilization on chitosan nanofibers for catalytic applications

Spherical palladium nanocrystals were generated from aqueous Na2[PdCl4] via photosynthetic reactions within green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris). Electrospun chitosan mats were effective for immobilizing these biogenic nanocrystals, as a material for recycling as a catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction. This photosynthetically-driven metal transformation system can serve as a good candidate for an environmentally-friendly method for the synthesis of metal nanocatalysts.

Colloidal graphenes as heterogeneous additives to enhance protein crystal yield

In the structural analysis of proteins via X-ray diffraction, a rate-limiting step is in favourable nucleation, a problematic obstacle in successful generation of protein crystals. Here graphene and graphene oxide were applied to protein crystallisation trials, offering improvements in crystalline output and nucleation.

Room temperature synthesis of upconversion fluorescent nanocrystals

Synthesis of nanocrystals that exhibit strong upconversion (UC) luminescence upon infrared excitation has been challenging due to the stringent control needed over experimental variables. Herein, we report a method to synthesize nanocrystals demonstrating high UC at room temperature in aqueous solution on graphene.