lizhendong

We investigated the effects of composite electrospun polyurethane (PU)/loess powder (LP) fibers for absorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air. PU films containing different amounts of LP (0, 10, 30, and 50 wt% LP with respect to PU) nanoparticles (NPs) were analyzed using FE-SEM, FTIR, and XRD experimental analyzers. Electron microscopy and spectroscopy indicated that the proper content of LP NPs is homogeneous dispersion in a polymer matrix. In addition, 50 wt% of LP results in a higher concentration spinning nanosuspension that leads to some agglomeration on the film surface. The chloroform, benzene, and toluene (VOCs) absorption capacity of PU/LP composite films showed a trend of toluene > benzene > chloroform. The highest VOC absorption capacity was found with PU composite mats containing 30 wt% LP NPs. The high VOC absorption capacity of PU/LP composite films can be used to remove VOCs from a new house or car.

Prof. Qunwei Tang, Xiaopeng Wang, Prof. Peizhi Yang and Dr. Benlin He

A flexible solar cell that can be excited by sunlight and raindrops is presented. The solar-to-electric conversion efficiency is created by complicated photoelectrochemical reactions, while electric signals, produced by dropping raindrops on rGO film, arise from π-electron|cation pseudocapacitance at the rGO/raindrop interface. This work could guide the design of all-weather solar cells.

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The journey matters: Self-propelled particles are induced to assemble into different chiral structures that rotate persistently in an electric field. Rather than energy preference, dynamic factors during the non-equilibrium assembly determine which structure is selected.

[Communication]
Jie Zhang, Jing Yan, Steve Granick
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., March 24, 2016, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201509978. Read article

Tessy S. Thomas, Wonseok Hwang and Prof. Lawrence R. Sita

The tail that wags the dog: Living coordinative chain-transfer polymerization of α-olefins provides entry to end-group functionalized poly(α-olefinates) (x-PAOs) serving as non-polar building blocks with tailorable occupied volumes. Application of these x-PAOs for sugar–polyolefin hybrid conjugates demonstrates the ability to manipulate the morphology of the ultra-thin film nanostructure by variation in occupied volume of the x-PAO domain.

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The local magnetic anisotropy NaYF4:Yb/Er upconversion nanoparticles as a mesoporous electrode into organolead halide perovskite solar cells makes it possible to operate the cells in near-infrared light. In their Communication on page 4280 ff., Z. Lin et al. show that the upconversion material broadens the solar spectral range used by the solar cell to near-infrared light and minimizes the non-absorption energy loss, thus leading to an enhanced photovoltaic performance.

[Cover Picture]
Ming He, Xinchang Pang, Xueqin Liu, Beibei Jiang, Yanjie He, Henry Snaith, Zhiqun Lin
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., March 08, 2016, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201601639. Read article