Single-molecule junctions,integrating individual molecules as active components between electrodes,serve as fundamental building blocks for advanced electronic and sensing technologies.The application of ionic liquids...Single-molecule junctions,integrating individual molecules as active components between electrodes,serve as fundamental building blocks for advanced electronic and sensing technologies.The application of ionic liquids in single-molecule junctions represents a cutting-edge and rapidly evolving field of research at the intersection of nanoscience,materials chemistry,and electronics.This review explores recent advances where ionic liquids function as electrolytes,dielectric layers,and structural elements within single-molecule junctions,reshaping charge transport,redox reactions,and molecular behaviors in these nanoscale systems.We comprehensively dissect fundamental concepts,techniques,and modulation mechanisms,elucidating the roles of ionic liquids as gates,electrochemical controllers,and interface components in singlemolecule junctions.Encompassing applications from functional device construction to unraveling intricate chemical reactions,this review maps the diverse applications of ionic liquids in single-molecule junctions.Moreover,we propose critical future research topics in this field,including catalysis involving ionic liquids at the single-molecule level,functionalizing single-molecule devices using ionic liquids,and probing the structure and interactions of ionic liquids.These endeavors aim to drive technological breakthroughs in nanotechnology,energy,and quantum research.展开更多
Membrane tension plays a crucial role in various fundamental cellular processes,with one notable example being the T cell-mediated elimination of tumor cells through perforin-induced membrane perforation by amplifying...Membrane tension plays a crucial role in various fundamental cellular processes,with one notable example being the T cell-mediated elimination of tumor cells through perforin-induced membrane perforation by amplifying cellular force.However,the mechanisms governing the regulation of biomolecular activities at the cell interface by membrane tension remain elusive.In this study,we investigated the correlation between membrane tension and poration activity of melittin,a prototypical pore-forming peptide,using dynamic giant unilamellar vesicle leakage assays combined with flickering tension analysis,molecular dynamics simulations,and live cell assays.The results demonstrate that an increase in membrane tension enhances the activity of melittin,particularly near its critical pore-forming concentration.Moreover,peptide actions such as binding,insertion,and aggregation in the membrane further influence the evolution of membrane tension.Live cell experiments reveal that artificially enhancing membrane tension effectively enhances melittin’s ability to induce pore formation and disrupt membranes,resulting in up to a ten-fold increase in A549 cell mortality when exposed to a concentration of 2.0-μg·mL^(-1)melittin.Our findings elucidate the relationship between membrane tension and the mechanism of action as well as pore-forming efficiency of melittin,while providing a practical mechanical approach for regulating functional activity of molecules at the cell-membrane interface.展开更多
3D printing is widely adopted to quickly produce rock mass models with complex structures in batches,improving the consistency and repeatability of physical modeling.It is necessary to regulate the mechanical properti...3D printing is widely adopted to quickly produce rock mass models with complex structures in batches,improving the consistency and repeatability of physical modeling.It is necessary to regulate the mechanical properties of 3D-printed specimens to make them proportionally similar to natural rocks.This study investigates mechanical properties of 3D-printed rock analogues prepared by furan resin-bonded silica sand particles.The mechanical property regulation of 3D-printed specimens is realized through quantifying its similarity to sandstone,so that analogous deformation characteristics and failure mode are acquired.Considering similarity conversion,uniaxial compressive strength,cohesion and stress–strain relationship curve of 3D-printed specimen are similar to those of sandstone.In the study ranges,the strength of 3D-printed specimen is positively correlated with the additive content,negatively correlated with the sand particle size,and first increases then decreases with the increase of curing temperature.The regulation scheme with optimal similarity quantification index,that is the sand type of 70/140,additive content of 2.5‰and curing temperature of 81.6℃,is determined for preparing 3D-printed sandstone analogues and models.The effectiveness of mechanical property regulation is proved through uniaxial compression contrast tests.This study provides a reference for preparing rock-like specimens and engineering models using 3D printing technology.展开更多
基金primary financial supports from the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1200102,2021YFA1200101,and 2022YFE0128700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22173050,22150013,21727806,and 21933001)+4 种基金the New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZEthe Natural Science Foundation of Beijing(2222009)Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences(BNLMS202105)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(63223056)“Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter”at Nankai University(63181206).
文摘Single-molecule junctions,integrating individual molecules as active components between electrodes,serve as fundamental building blocks for advanced electronic and sensing technologies.The application of ionic liquids in single-molecule junctions represents a cutting-edge and rapidly evolving field of research at the intersection of nanoscience,materials chemistry,and electronics.This review explores recent advances where ionic liquids function as electrolytes,dielectric layers,and structural elements within single-molecule junctions,reshaping charge transport,redox reactions,and molecular behaviors in these nanoscale systems.We comprehensively dissect fundamental concepts,techniques,and modulation mechanisms,elucidating the roles of ionic liquids as gates,electrochemical controllers,and interface components in singlemolecule junctions.Encompassing applications from functional device construction to unraveling intricate chemical reactions,this review maps the diverse applications of ionic liquids in single-molecule junctions.Moreover,we propose critical future research topics in this field,including catalysis involving ionic liquids at the single-molecule level,functionalizing single-molecule devices using ionic liquids,and probing the structure and interactions of ionic liquids.These endeavors aim to drive technological breakthroughs in nanotechnology,energy,and quantum research.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12274307,32230063,21774092,and 12347102)the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(Grant No.2023A1515011610).
文摘Membrane tension plays a crucial role in various fundamental cellular processes,with one notable example being the T cell-mediated elimination of tumor cells through perforin-induced membrane perforation by amplifying cellular force.However,the mechanisms governing the regulation of biomolecular activities at the cell interface by membrane tension remain elusive.In this study,we investigated the correlation between membrane tension and poration activity of melittin,a prototypical pore-forming peptide,using dynamic giant unilamellar vesicle leakage assays combined with flickering tension analysis,molecular dynamics simulations,and live cell assays.The results demonstrate that an increase in membrane tension enhances the activity of melittin,particularly near its critical pore-forming concentration.Moreover,peptide actions such as binding,insertion,and aggregation in the membrane further influence the evolution of membrane tension.Live cell experiments reveal that artificially enhancing membrane tension effectively enhances melittin’s ability to induce pore formation and disrupt membranes,resulting in up to a ten-fold increase in A549 cell mortality when exposed to a concentration of 2.0-μg·mL^(-1)melittin.Our findings elucidate the relationship between membrane tension and the mechanism of action as well as pore-forming efficiency of melittin,while providing a practical mechanical approach for regulating functional activity of molecules at the cell-membrane interface.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51988101 and 42007262).
文摘3D printing is widely adopted to quickly produce rock mass models with complex structures in batches,improving the consistency and repeatability of physical modeling.It is necessary to regulate the mechanical properties of 3D-printed specimens to make them proportionally similar to natural rocks.This study investigates mechanical properties of 3D-printed rock analogues prepared by furan resin-bonded silica sand particles.The mechanical property regulation of 3D-printed specimens is realized through quantifying its similarity to sandstone,so that analogous deformation characteristics and failure mode are acquired.Considering similarity conversion,uniaxial compressive strength,cohesion and stress–strain relationship curve of 3D-printed specimen are similar to those of sandstone.In the study ranges,the strength of 3D-printed specimen is positively correlated with the additive content,negatively correlated with the sand particle size,and first increases then decreases with the increase of curing temperature.The regulation scheme with optimal similarity quantification index,that is the sand type of 70/140,additive content of 2.5‰and curing temperature of 81.6℃,is determined for preparing 3D-printed sandstone analogues and models.The effectiveness of mechanical property regulation is proved through uniaxial compression contrast tests.This study provides a reference for preparing rock-like specimens and engineering models using 3D printing technology.