Yichao Wang

Western Sydney University

Atomically thin, mechanically flexible, memory‐functional, and power‐generating crystals play a crucial role in the technological advancement of portable devices. However, the adoption of these crystals in such technologies is sometimes impeded by expensive and laborious synthesis methods, as well as the need for large‐scale, mechanically stable, a...

Artificially augmented photosynthesis in nano‐bionic plants requires tunable nano‐antenna structures with physiochemical and optoelectronic properties, as well as unique light conversion capabilities. The use of nanomaterials to promote light capture across photosystems, primarily by carbon dots, has shown promising results in enhancing photosynthe...

Visible-light responsive heterojunctions exhibited unique performance in environmental remediation due to their ability to form complexes with various Lewis bases and a synergetic effect between their constituents. However, the photocatalytic activities of those composites are significantly restricted by low contact between two semiconductors or po...

Nanoparticles of varying formats and functionalities have been shown to modify and enhance plant growth and development. Nanoparticles may also be used to improve crop production and performance, particularly under adverse environmental conditions such as drought. Nanoparticles composed of silicon dioxide, especially those that are mesoporous (meso...

Seaweed extracts are a prominent class of biostimulants that enhance plant health and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses due to their unique bioactive components. However, the mechanisms of action of biostimulants are still unknown. Here, we have used a metabolomic approach, a UHPLC-MS method, to uncover the mechanisms induced following appli...

Various non-stratified two-dimensional (2D) materials can be obtained from liquid metal surfaces that are not naturally accessible. Homogenous nucleation on atomically flat interfaces of liquid metals with air produces unprecedented high-quality oxide layers that can be transferred onto desired substrates. The atomically flat and large areas provid...

Nanobionics-driven synthesis offers a process of designing and synthesizing functional materials on a nanoscale based on the structures and functions of biological systems. An approach such as this is environmentally friendly and sustainable, providing a viable option for synthesizing functional nanomaterials for catalysis and nanoelectronic compon...

Today's electronic products are moving toward personal, portable, and flexible electronics with the integration of multifunctional sensors and self-powering technologies. Consequently, efficient and high-performance mechanical-electronic interfaces will be heavily considered in the development of future electronics. Piezotronic materials are active...

Surface and interfacial electron transfer tends to be the rate-limiting step in multiple electron electrocatalytic reactions such as oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Constructing a heterojunction structure is an effective approach to strengthen the processes. Here, CoMnLax-MOF/CF has been synthesized via a one-pot solvothermal pathway to integrate...

Plasmon-induced hot electrons offer unique advantages in solar-light-driven chemical reactions. Noble metal nanostructures have been the most studied plasmonic materials, but the hot electron lifetime is extremely short. Here, we have discovered extraordinarily long-lived hot electrons in degenerately doped molybdenum oxides with surface plasmon re...

Gas-liquid reaction phenomena on liquid-metal solvents can be used to form intriguing 2D materials with large lateral dimensions, where the free energies of formation determine the final product. A vast selection of elements can be incorporated into the liquid metal-based nanostructures, offering a versatile platform for fabricating novel optoelect...

Eutectic gallium‐indium (EGaIn) liquid metal droplets have been considered as a suitable platform for producing customized 3D composites with functional nanomaterials owing to their soft and highly reductive surface. Herein, the synthesis of a 3D plasmonic oxide framework (POF) is reported by incorporating the ultra‐thin angstrom‐scale‐porous hexag...

Biosensors are essential components for effective healthcare management. Since biological processes occur on molecular scales, nanomaterials and nanosensors intrinsically provide the most appropriate landscapes for developing biosensors. Low-dimensional materials have the advantage of offering high surface areas, increased reactivity and unique phy...

Nickel phosphide (NiPx)-based nanocomposites emerged as a new class of highly promising non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). However, conventional synthesis for this type of nanocomposite involves using harsh organic solvents and multiple complicated procedures as well as the release of concomitant toxic ga...

Biofouling is a common but significant issue in the membrane process as it reduces permeate flux, increases energy costs, and shortens the life span of membranes. As an effective antibacterial agent, a small amount of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) immobilized on membrane surfaces will alleviate the membrane from biofouling. However, loading AgNPs on...

Two-dimensional (2D) metal oxides and chalcogenides (MOs & MCs) have been regarded as a new class of promising electro- and photocatalysts for many important chemical reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction, CO2 reduction reaction and N2 reduction reaction in virtue of their outstanding physicochemical properties. However, pristine 2D MOs & M...

The emergence of piezoelectric properties in two-dimensional (2D) layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has triggered the intensive research on using low dimensional materials for conversion of mechanical stimuli into electrical signals or vice versa. While the bulk intrinsically presents no piezoelectric property, the origin of the piezo...

The design and preparation of nanoporous metal (NPM)/metallic oxides (or hydroxides) electrodes with good flexibility as well as high energy storage performance has become a great challenge for applications in wearable electronic products. Herein, we report a novel strategy to synthesize flexible nickel oxide/hydroxide coated nanoporous nickel (np-...

Nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts prepared from amino-functionalized metalorganic frameworks (amino-MIL-101(Al)), were investigated for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) with a special emphasis on elucidating the role of different nitrogen species (e.g., pyridinic, pyrrolic and quaternary N) as active catalytic sites. Careful optimization of pyrol...

Two-dimensional (2D) metal oxides (MOs) have attracted considerable amount of attention for various biological applications due to their unique physicochemcial properties such as high photothermal response, temperature superconductivity, photoluminescence, flexibility, unique catalytic capability, plasmonic tunability and relatively low toxicity. H...

Nickelous oxide (NiO) is a promising anode for Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. However it suffers from rapid degradation due to large volume change upon cycling. In this work, a novel strategy to accommodate the volume change of NiO-based anodes during charge/discharge cycling through employment of the advantages of bimodal porous Nickel–Silicon (N...

Functional materials coated on optical fibers have demonstrated great potential for optical gas sensing applications. However, their sensitivity is typically limited to the sub‐parts per million (sub‐ppm) range. Here, for the first time a 2D near‐infrared plasmonic tungsten oxide (WOx) enabled ultrasensitive fiber optics gas sensor on a side‐polish...

Microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) has been widely used in enzymatic reactions. Further improvement of its performance requires a better charge transfer and more exposure of its active site in the enzymatic conversions, which can be achieved by immobilisation of MP-11 into functional materials. However, conventional immobilisation techniques always suffer...

The use of conductive and biocompatible neural scaffolds is an attractive strategy for nerve tissue regeneration. Herein, a conductive molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) thread based scaffold was developed by incorporating MoS2 nanoflakes onto common cotton threads and its viability for nerve tissue application was explored. Two dimensional nature of the...

Transition metal oxide Cu2O anode is still not meeting the current market demands due to the low theoretical capacity and poor cycle stability. We herein report the synthesis of a nanoporous GeO2/Cu/Cu2O network by a straightforward dealloying method. The resulting material possesses high porosity which served to alleviate the stress incurred durin...

In this work, a unique three-dimensional (3D) structured carbon-based composite was synthesized. In the composite, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) form a lattice matrix in which porous spherical reduced graphene oxide (RGO) completes the 3D structure. When used in Li–S batteries, the 3D porous lattice matrix not only accommodates a high conten...

Developing a facile and environmentally friendly approach to the synthesis of nanostructured Ni(OH)2 electrodes for high-performance supercapacitor applications is a great challenge. In this work, we report an extremely simple route to prepare a Ni(OH)2 nanopetals network by immersing Ni nanofoam in water. A binder-free composite electrode, consist...

Silicon photonics has demonstrated great potential in ultrasensitive biochemical sensing. However, it is challenging for such sensors to detect small ions which are also of great importance in many biochemical processes. A silicon photonic ion sensor enabled by an ionic dopant–driven plasmonic material is introduced here. The sensor consists of a m...

Abstract Due to the severe volume expansion and poor cycle stability, transition metal oxide anode is still not meeting the commercial utilization. We herein demonstrate the synthetic method of core-shell pomegranate-shaped Fe2O3/C nano-composite via one-step hydrothermal process for the first time. The electrochemical performances were measured as...

Seeking for an efficient and stable electrocatalyst in a wide potential range is vital for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into high-value added liquid fuels. Herein, the nanoporous Sn/SnO2 (np-Sn/SnO2) composites with high mesoporosity are fabricated through a two-step dealloying strategy. At all the applied potentials, the as-prepared np-Sn...

Molybdenum based compounds are an emerging class of non-metal catalytic materials for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media. However, most of them lose considerable catalytic performance and exhibit poor long-term stability in alkaline media. Here, planar molybdenum oxide, with high alkaline stability and ordered intracrystalline pores,...

Metal sulfide has been considered as one of the most promising anode materials in lithium‐ion batteries. However, large volume change and low intrinsic electrical conductivity significantly restrict its performance. Herein, flexible electrode materials comprising of ZnS nanotubes/carbon cloth are prepared by combined solvothermal and ion‐exchange s...

Liquid phase exfoliation techniques of layered crystals establish the basis for high yield production of two dimensional (2D) flakes suspension. However, such techniques generally require long processing time. The recent demonstration of piezoelectric phenomenon in non-centrosymmetric layered transition metal dichalcogenides, such as molybdenum dis...

A facile and industry-accepted dealloying method was used to synthesize Mn3O4 particles, which were then employed to prepare sulfur/Mn3O4 (S/Mn3O4) composites as cathode materials for lithium-sulfur batteries. The composites delivered initial discharge capacity reaching up 1184 mAh·g−1 at 0.1 C with capacity retention of 679 mAh·g−1 after 150 cycle...

Two dimensional (2D) amorphous MoSx (a-MoSx) has been confirmed to be a highly active and economic electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The development of its hybrid cocatalyst is envisioned to bestow more active sites with appropriate crystal engineering and modified electronic properties for enhancing catalytic performance. In t...

Dispersing graphene oxide (GO) in low-polar solvents can realize a perfect self-assembly with functional molecules and application in removal of organic impurities that only dissolve in low-polar solvents. The surface chemistry of GO plays an important role in its dispersity in these solvents. The direct transfer of hydrophilic GO into low-polar so...

Amorphous molybdenum sulfide (a-MoSx) have been demonstrated as economic and efficient hydrogen evolution catalysts for water splitting. Further improvements of their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities could be achieved by coupling them with appropriate electron transfer intermediates via interfacial engineering. In this work, a novel ter...

While the remarkable properties of 2D crystalline materials offer tremendous opportunities for their use in optics, electronics, energy systems, biotechnology, and catalysis, their practical implementation largely depends critically on the ability to exfoliate them from a 3D stratified bulk state. This goal nevertheless remains elusive, particularl...

Plasmonic biosensors based on noble metals generally suffer from low sensitivities if the perturbation of refractive-index in the ambient is not significant. By contrast, the features of degenerately doped semiconductors offer new dimensions for plasmonic biosensing, by allowing charge-based detection. Here, this concept is demonstrated in plasmoni...

The local hydrogen ions intercalation behavior in α-MoO3 nanoflakes is explored under the electric field of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip. Protons are excited by AFM tip bias-induced electrolyzation of absorbed water molecules on the surface of α-MoO3 nanosheets in ambient environment, and then intercalated into α-MoO3 lattice. The formed Hx...

Attributing to their distinct thickness and surface dependent physicochemical properties, two dimensional (2D) nanostructures have become an area of increasing interest for interfacial interactions. Effectively, properties such as high surface-to-volume ratio, modulated surface activities and increased ease in oxygen vacancy induction make these ty...

A highly oriented AlN layer has been successfully grown along the c-axis on a polycrystalline chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond by RF reactive magnetron sputtering. Structural, morphological and mechanical properties of the heterostructure were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Transmission Elec...

Two-dimensional (2D) tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanoflakes were synthesised and hybridised with carbon dots (CDs) using a facile two-step method of exfoliation of bulk tungsten disulphide followed by microwave irradiation of nanoflakes in a solution of citric acid. Physicochemical characterisation indicated that the hybrid consists of graphitic carbo...

This work presents the development of a highly selective wireless NO2 gas sensor based on a resonant antenna circuit using a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technique. The wireless LTCC based gas sensor consists of a planar inductor-interdigital capacitor (LC) resonant antenna, which incorporates two dimensional (2D) SnS2 nanoflakes as a mo...

Developing scalable methods of growing two dimensional molybdenum disulphide (2D MoS2) with strong optical properties, on any desired substrates, is a necessary step towards industrial uptake of this material for optical applications. In this study, Si/SiO2 substrates were functionalised using self-assembled monolayers of three different aminosilan...

The evolution of polymer-based nanoparticle as a drug delivery carrier has greatly contributed to the development of advanced nano and micro-medicine in the past few decades. The polymer-based nanoparticles of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers such as poly (lactide-co-glycolide) and chitosan which have been approved by Food & Drug Administra...

The evolution of polymer based nanoparticles as a drug delivery carrier via pharmaceutical nano/microencapsulation has greatly promoted the development of nano- and micro-medicine in the past few decades. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan, which are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, have been approved by both the Food & Drug Ad...

Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) in its two dimensional (2D) morphology has favorable catalytic properties for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To fully take advantage of this capability and in order to enhance this material’s HER performance, viable methods for synthesizing and tuning electronic properties of 2D MoS2 should be developed. Here, w...

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a gas species that plays an important role in certain industrial, farming and healthcare sectors. However, there are still significant challenges for NO2 sensing at low detection limits, especially in the presence of other interfering gases. The NO2 selectivity of current gas sensing technologies is significantly traded-of...

Radio frequency (RF) reactive magnetron sputtering was utilized to deposit Li-doped and undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) films on silicon wafers. Various Ar/O2 gas ratios by volume and sputtering powers were selected for each deposition process. The results demonstrate that the enhanced ZnO films are obtained via Li doping. The average deposition rate for...

At a relatively low loading concentration (≈0.02 wt%) of 2D MoS 2 flakes in PDMS, the composite membrane is able to almost completely block the permeation of NO2 gas molecules at ppm levels. This major reduction is ascribed to the strong physisorption of NO2 gas molecules onto the 2D MoS2 flake basal planes. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA,...

Abstract Folate-chitosan nanoparticles, co-loaded with 5-fluourouacil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) and prepared by ionic gelation technology were physically microencapsulated by enteric polymer using a solvent evaporation method. Average particle size of the microencapsulated particles was in the range of 15 to 35 µm. High drug encapsulation efficien...

The use of membranes for gas permeation and phase separation offers many distinct advantages over other more energy dependent processes. The operational efficiencies of these membranes rely heavily on high gas permeability. Here, we report membranes with significantly increased permeability without a considerable decrease in mechanical strength or...

This paper reports the development of nanoporous tungsten trioxide (WO3) Schottky diode-based gas sensors. The nanoporous WO3 films were prepared by anodic oxidation of tungsten foil in ethylene glycol mixed with ammonium fluoride and a small amount of water. Anodization resulted in highly ordered WO3 films with a large surface to volume ratio. Uti...

Abstract The incorporation of a high percentage of targeting molecules into drug delivery system is one of the important methods for improving efficacy of targeting therapeutic drugs to cancer cells. PLGA-based drug delivery carriers with folic acid (FA) as targeting molecule have a low targeting efficiency due to a low FA conjugation ratio. In thi...

Two-dimensional tungsten disulphide flakes are developed via a two solvent grinding assisted liquid phase exfoliation method. Our investigations show the distinct advantages of this approach that include reduced residues of the solvent used, high yield and creating relatively thin flakes suitable for electronic, optical, catalytic and energy storag...

Solvothermally synthesized Ga2O3 nanoparticles are incorporated into liquid metal/metal oxide (LM/MO) frameworks in order to form enhanced photocatalytic systems. The LM/MO frameworks, both with and without incorporated Ga2O3 nanoparticles, show photocatalytic activity due to a plasmonic effect where performance is related to the loading of Ga2O3 n...

The exhibition of plasmon resonances in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor compounds is desirable for many applications. Here, by electrochemically intercalating lithium into 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes, plasmon resonances in the visible and near UV wavelength ranges are achieved. These plasmon resonances are controlled by the high do...

Solvothermally synthesized Ga2O3 nanoparticles are incorporated into liquid metal/metal oxide (LM/MO) frameworks in order to form enhanced photocatalytic systems. The LM/MO frameworks, both with and without incorporated Ga2O3 nanoparticles, show photocatalytic activitydue to a plasmonic effect where performance is related to the loading of Ga2O3 na...

Quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a photoluminescence (PL) material with unique properties. The recent demonstration of its PL, controlled by the intercalation of positive ions, can lead to many opportunities for employing this quasi-2D material in ion-related biological applications. Here, we present two representativ...

While layered materials are increasingly investigated for their potential in nanoelectronics, their functionality and efficiency depend on charge injection into the materials via metallic contacts. This work explores the characteristics of different metals (aluminium, tungsten, gold, and platinum) deposited on to nanostructured thin films made of t...

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors offer unique electronic and optical properties, which are significantly different from their bulk counterparts. It is known that the electronic structure of 2D MoS2, which is the most popular member of the family, depends on the number of layers. Its electronic structure alters dra...

Shortage of functional groups on surface of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based drug delivery carriers always hampers its wide applications such as passive targeting and conjugation with targeting molecules. In this research, PLGA nanoparticles were modified with chitosan through physical adsorption and chemical binding methods. The surface cha...

Drug-delivery carriers must endure harsh pH conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and still maintain a high drug load-ing (DL) for oral therapeutic drugs to be effectively delivered to the colon area. In this research, a pH-sensitive drug-delivery system with an enhanced DL was developed by the coating of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-loaded poly(lactid...

Both 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) are hydrophilic drugs which are used in combination for the treatment of colon cancer. Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation technology, and then used for trapping 5-FU and LV. Combination drugs were encapsulated into CS nanoparticles as a result of electrostatic interactions, whi...

Folate-chitosan (FA-CS) conjugates synthesized by coupling FA with CS render new and improved functions because the original properties of CS are maintained and the targeting ligand of FA is incorporated. In this work, FA-CS conjugates were synthesized based on chemical linking of carboxylic group of FA with amino group of CS as confirmed by Fourie...

High drug loading (DL) carrier is an effective way to cure the cancerous cells. High drug loading is also one of the key issues in the drug delivery research, especially the colonic drug delivery system by oral administration. The times of drug intake could be remarkably reduced if high drug loading carriers are administered. At the same time, the...

Fe-doped, N-doped, (Fe,N)-codoped and undoped TiO2 were prepared by a hydrothermal treatment, followed by a calcination process, using TiOSO4, CO(NH2)2 and Fe(NO3)3 as raw materials. The samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, PL, FT-IR and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra. Photocatalytic experiments were carried out by decomposition of meth...

A combined drug loaded system containing two most common anti-cancer drugs 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) was designed and prepared by ion crosslinking technology. The resulted nanoparticles are spherical in shape, and the particle size becomes larger when drug combination are loaded. Efficient drug encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug...

fluorouracil (5-FU), a hydrophilic anticancer drug, was successfully encapsulated into biodegradable chitosan (CS) to form CS/5-FU nanoparticles (NPs) by ionic crosslinking technology. The surface morphology of the pure CS NPs and 5- FU loaded NPs was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the interaction between CS and 5- florouracil...

Titanate nanotubes were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment in concentrated NaOH solution followed by HCl washing. The as-prepared nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm measurements (BET). The results displayed that the hydrothermal treatment temperat...

(La, N) co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized using TiCl4 sol-gel autoigniting synthesis (SAS) starting from a complex compound system of TiCl4-La(NO3)3-citric acid-NH4NO3-NH3.H2O, in which the (La, N) co-doped process was accomplished in the formation of TiO2 nanocrystals. The prepared samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction...

AbstractThe nitrogen-doped and (metal, nitrogen)-codoped TiO2 photocatalysts (metal = Ag, Ce, Fe, La) were synthesized by sol-gel auto-igniting synthesis (SAS) with the complex compound sol of TiCl4-NH4NO3-citri acid-metal nitrate-NH3·H2O as a precursor. The products were characterized by means of XRD, XPS, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, a...