Ordered WO₃ nanowire arrays on carbon cloth (WNCC) conductive substrates are successfully prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM and directly functionalized as supercapacitor (SC) and lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes without using any ancillary materials such as carbon black or binder. The unique structural features endow them with excellent electrochemical performance. The SCs demonstrate high specific capacitance of 521 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and 5.21 F cm⁻² at 10 A cm⁻² and excellent cyclic performance with nearly 100% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at a current density of 3 A g⁻¹. All-solid-state SCs based on the integrated electrodes are also presented, exhibiting high flexibility without obvious performance declination at different bending states. A high capacity of 662 mA h g⁻¹ after 140 cycles at a 0.28 C rate and excellent rate capabilities are also obtained for LIBs due to the unique structures of the integrated electrodes.

Efficacious chemotherapy mainly hinges on the tumor-specific delivery of anticancer drugs. Herein we report a successful fabrication of highly photoluminescent and water dispersible ZnO quantum dotsvia a new ligand exchange free strategy. In addition to bioimaging, ZnO QDs have also been evaluated as a platform for targeted and pH responsive intracellular delivery of an anticancer drug. The cancer targeting feature is endowed by conjugating folic acid on to the surface of ZnO–NH₂ QDs via an amidation reaction. Doxorubicin (DOX) is then successfully loaded onto the folic acid functionalized ZnO QDs by capitalizing on its marked tendency towards the formation of metal complexes. Drug loaded ZnO-FA QDs remain stable at physiological pH but readily disintegrate in the mildly acidic intracellular environment of cancer cells as validated by a drug release profile, confocal microscopy and a cell-cytotoxicity assay. Compared to the conventional drug nanovector, ZnO-FA QDs themselves manifest a significant therapeutic activity after reaching their targeted site, therefore, combined DOX and ZnO QDs can be more efficacious than either alone. Hence, this approach provides a valuable ZnO QDs-based nanovector that can simultaneously realize targeting, diagnosis, and therapy of cancer cells.

A branch-like α-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ heterostructure has been synthesized controllably through an electrospinning method combined with a hydrothermal approach.

Manganese-based oxides have been proven to be promising materials for applications in high voltage and high energy density Li-ion batteries. In this work, by using hydrothermally synthesized β-MnO₂ nanorods as the templates, we prepared single-crystalline CoMn₂O₄ nano/submicrorods with diameters of about 100 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers. The electrochemical tests showed that the CoMn₂O₄ products have a reversible capacity of 512 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 200 mA g⁻¹ with a coulombic efficiency of 98% after 100 cycles. A specific capacity of about 400 mA h g⁻¹ was obtained even at a current density as high as 1000 mA g⁻¹, exhibiting a high reversibility and a good capacity retention. This study suggests that CoMn₂O₄ nano/submicrorods are promising anode materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries.